Bite. Chew. Swallow. It is easier said than done. Particularly when faced with a deep fried tarantula the size of your hand or an embryonic egg, sevens weeks in the making. Travelling through Asia can challenge many of your attributes but none more acutely than your tastebuds and, perhaps, gag reflex. If you’re game, start chewing through this list and see where you end up.

There I was, sitting on the back of an elephant, having her spray water at me from puddles that she walked past. In the Thai jungle, with the sun beating down mercilessly.

Steffi Chang writes: Bangkok is known for three things: the steaming heat, incredible shopping and ladyboys. The first two are characteristic of anywhere in South East Asia, but ladyboys — known as ‘katoeys’ locally — are a Thai institution. For those sheltered few, katoeys is a term popularly used to refer to men who endeavour [...]

Each morning she is there, her stall set up beneath the stairs of the Thong Lo skytrain station long before the sun is up, writes Damian Doyle from Thailand.

One of the trickier ethical dilemmas of traveling through Asia comes in the form of the treatment of animals. So how does one deal with the elusive ‘tiger elephant’? asks Kevin O’Faircheallaigh.

Kevin O’Faircheallaigh examines the paradox of the tourist. All the amazing sites are packed with tourists because they are amazing. Yet, tourists are annoying, obnoxious brats.