As you wander through the streets of Phuket's Old Town, you’ll come across rows of pastel-hued shophouses and ornate Sino-Portuguese facades that still hint at the island’s trading past. Some are family homes, others have been converted into cafés, guesthouses, or small museums. It’s the kind of place where you can spend a few hours just walking, peering at tiled walls, old shop signs, and shrines tucked into corners. There’s everyday life mixed with the tourist scene: morning markets with fruit and noodles, long-standing noodle shops, and new coffee spots side by side. On Sundays, Thalang Road turns into the Lard Yai market from late afternoon, with food stalls, music, and crafts filling the street.

In Christchurch’s suburb of Addington, The Court Theatre company was founded in 1971 and is today one of the top groups of New Zealand. Different high quality performances are held throughout the year. Have a glance at their website to see what is on.

Nagoya Castle is where the Tokugawa shogun made their home for over 250 years up until 1868, the year in which Japan’s partial isolation from the West came to an end with the beginning of the Meiji period. The castle was nearly destroyed in bombing raids of 1945 and authentically rebuilt only in 2018.

The enchanting Kiso Valley, nestled in the heart of Japan, is a timeless treasure, where history breathes through its ancient pathways and rustic architecture. Four centuries ago, the picturesque villages of Magome and Tsumago served as crucial staging posts along the 500 km Nakasendo Highway, where feudal warlords journeyed annually to Edo (now Tokyo). Today, these villages retain their historic charm, with Magome seamlessly blending modern amenities with its traditional core, easily accessible by rail and bus from Nagoya. As you step onto the broad foot trail of 'old' Magome, the echoes of the past resonate, transporting you to an era untouched by time.