Asia

Some travellers head to North Korea to take in the Kim Il-Sung tour, but you can also get a taste of the Hermit Kingdom from the north of the border, in Russia's Far East.

Omanis aren’t ones for pretending: they like drinking, whoring and shooting pool, and they don’t care who knows it. Here's how I ended up getting creamed at pool in one of their clubs...

Living with cancer is an everyday battle, but for those suffering in developing countries the cost of cancer is even greater than their health.

"The best place around" he said "But not too good...."

"It was dark as we passed through the cyclo-filled streets of Danang... A neon lit City with palm trees near the sea marked by a sense of decrepitude..."

Hallucinogenic drugs, liquor and death trap amusements on Laos' Nam Song river - what could possibly go wrong?

In 2008 I thought ‘The Tamil Tigers’ were an Indian cricket team. Then came a visit to Sri Lanka….

Eastern people don't just wipe with their hand, Cuba won't change for at least 20 years and not all Yanks are Colt-wielding maniacs...

So the introductions were as expected. Lots of weirdos. But I liked them. The centre itself was superb. Situated on a main road with the back streets behind it. Real and gritty, yet with students paying a ridiculous sum to be 'taught' our mother tongue.

While our media focuses on the Middle East, from the depths of South Asia to the scorching coasts of East-Africa, the world is at war. Here are five ongoing conflicts that you won't see on the news this evening.

An Englishman in China attempts to find a gaff and settle with the local culture.

Without any canoeing experience, but with a desire to see a part of the world I'd always dreamed of, I set about taking on the Mekong River in Laos - I kept a video diary of my trials.