HONG KONG (AFP) ― Trundling along slowly against a backdrop of glittering skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s trams are entering a new phase of their life but their well-loved retro look is here to stay.Since 2011 a handful of vehicles have had their wooden seats replaced and some now have air conditioning, but the network’s operator says that the small steps towards modernisation will remain subtle.The 109-year-old trams, fondly referred to as “ding ding” from the sound of their bells, retain a special pl

From Bourbon Street to the French Market, there is plenty to discover in the 300-year-old city

A New Zealand charity group is constructing what it claims to be the world’s biggest waterslide, as part of its effort to raise awareness about depression.Jimi Hunt and Dan Drupsteen, who cofounded antidepression group Live More Awesome, said they are building a 650-meter-long waterslide for their two-day fund-raising festival on Feb. 23 and 24, in Helensville, 40 kilometers northwest of Auckland.The slide is currently just a mud track through a field of cows, but it is expected to clinch the ti

The 14th Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China‘s northern Heilongjiang Province is touted as the world’s biggest ice and snow festival. (UPI)<관련 한글 기사>[포토] 세계최대 '하얼빈 빙등제' 열려중국 북부 헤이롱지앙 지역에서 세계 최대규모의 하얼빈 빙등제가 열렸다. 올해 14회다. (코리아헤럴드)

SINGAPORE (AFP) ― Malaysia has been rated the world’s top Muslim-friendly holiday destination in a survey released Wednesday that listed Egypt, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore as runners-up.The study by Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy Crescentrating ranked countries on how well they cater to the growing number of Muslim holidaymakers seeking halal ― or Islam-compliant ― food and services.It used criteria including the level of safety in a country, the ease of a

GANSBAAI, South Africa ― One night as my sister and I walked across the rugged yet strangely delicate terrain of a place called Farm 215, the path to our cottage lighted only by the stars and a flashlight, the wine-wobbly beam suddenly illuminated several sets of legs.A moment of what the ...? And then we realized that we were standing in the middle of a small herd of horses, including two mares and their foals, that roam the South African eco-retreat outside Gansbaai.It was a perfect mother-chi

Sheraton Incheon Hotel is offering a green getaway for readers of The Korea Herald. The “eco-friendly package,” which includes two consecutive nights’ stay on Saturday and Sunday with breakfast as well as food and beverage equivalent to 100,000 won in value during the stay, will be upgraded exclusively for readers of The Korea Herald, with a free upgrade to the Park View Deluxe Room that offers panoramic views of Central Park in Songdo and Incheon Bridge. The package is priced at 460,000 won, ex

With the start of the New Year, you’re bound to be making resolutions and trying to change patterns. Didn’t travel much last year? Didn’t take a vacation at all? Make a positive change right now by planning a trip in the next few months! With must-see spots for the next three months in mind, the members and editors of VirtualTourist.com were polled, and here are their “5 Spots to Hit in the Next 3 Months.”1. See the northern lights in NorwayNASA has predicted that the winter season in the Northe

Take advantage of all that Pyeongchang winters have to offer

I have seen the future and it is hot, wet, sandy and you can get one of those funny-colored drinks with a paper umbrella on top.I took a swim recently at Duke Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu in Hawaii. It will be the Best Beach of 2013, according to the popular “Dr. Beach” best beaches contest that will come out around Memorial Day.Officially, the 2013 winner is a closely guarded secret, with wire services, newspapers, radio and TV stations and (less consistently) websites promising to adhere to a stri

SOCHI, Russia ― Sochi, a resort area on the Black Sea in Russia, is the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. It’s a popular summer resort town because of its warm weather, beaches and a shoreline boardwalk that draws visitors from across Russia. All that makes it an interesting choice for the site of the Winter Games, scheduled for Feb. 7-23, 2014.Thirty minutes from the town center, a new Olympic park is under construction. The venues for figure skating, hockey, speed skating, curling and the open