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10 Great Island Beaches
For that ultimate tropical idyll,nothing beats a ravishing stretch of sand—particularly when the beach in question is located on an equally serene isle. After a considerable amount of island-hopping around the region, our writers have identified 10 such strands that are among the best in Asia. Some of these picturesque shores are remote and undeveloped, while others pamper visitors with luxurious lodgings. But all share tha most elusive quality: paradise
Kiwi Country
A land of high mountains, deep fjords, and sparkling glaciers, the wild west coast of New Zealand’s South Island is a scene-stealer in a country full of natural wonders. Add to that its special way of life, and you have the makings of an adventure writ large
Karst Away
Island hopping among the picturesque limestone outcrops—and luxurious new resorts—of Thailand’s Phang-nga Bay
Where the Wind Blows
The Batanes Islands may be the smallest province in the Philippines, but with a windswept landscape akin to the Scottish Highlands, distinctive cultural traditions, and gregarious inhabitants, they’re bound to loom large in the mind of any visitor
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Far from the madding crowds of White Beach—Boracay’s epically beautiful but hopelessly overdeveloped strand—the Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa (63-36/288-4988; shangri-la.com; doubles from US$402) brings to the Philippine holiday isle its first international luxury brand-name lodgings.
Exhibition
AlFresco Art
Artists from more than 38 countries will be represented at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial (echigo-tsumari.jp; July 26–Sept. 13), an outdoor exhibition held in the Shinano River basin of Japan’s Niigata prefecture.
Attraction
Garden Variety
Built in the 19th century as a water tank, Sydney’s heritage-listed Paddington Reservoir (Oxford St., Paddington) was abandoned in 1991 when the roof over its western chamber collapsed, leaving a grotto of old brick columns and arches that proved irresistible to graffiti artists.
Culture
Shopaholics and scholars alike will be intrigued by the offerings at the recently opened Fiji Centre for the Arts (679/331-1754; fijiartcouncil.com). The cooperative gallery-cum-boutique is the first of its kind in Suva, the Fijian capital, and is a welcome platform for the Pacific nation’s creative talent.
Update
Capital Growth
A rash of new openings has given Jakarta’s dining and entertainment scene a much-needed shot in the arm. At Potato Head (G/F, Pacific Place, 52–53 Jl. Jend. Sudirman; 62-21/ 5797-3322), the eclectic menu plays second fiddle to an off-beat design (old teak louvers, vintage furnishings, a surreal wall mural by Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho) and a menu of creative cocktails like the pistachio- and-rockmelon martini.
Resorts
Deluxe Duet
A double debut in the Indian Ocean looks set to take the Maldives’ already impressive resort offerings to new heights. The 34 InOcean Villas at the Angsana Velavaru (960/ 676-0028; angsana.com; doubles from US$750) are stilted over the water, one kilometer offshore from the resort’s two-year-old lodgings on Velavaru Island.
Hot Spot
Samui Scenester
Dive into the seaside infinity pool at the Ocean Club (beachrepublic.com), the newest party spot on Thailand’s Koh Samui.
Traveler's Check
Hong Kong’s Ngong Ping 360 (np360.com.hk) cable car recently introduced glass-bottomed cabins, giving tourists a bird’s-eye view of the countryside as they traverse Lantau Island.
Lodgings Update
Set in a lush valley overlooking the Ayung River, Bali’s exclusive Kayumanis Ubud (62-361/972-777; kayumanis.com; doubles from US$488) recently added 13 pool villas, a honeymoon suite, and a spa facility to its existing resort offerings. The spacious new villas come with a gourmet kitchen, two plasma TVs, and state-of-the-art entertainment systems, not to mention private gardens and plunge pools.
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