Heritage

Kabul, standing fast in the gale of change, exemplifies strength but despite the horrors of unrest has maintained an impossible innocence and breathtaking beauty. The multitudes that call Kabul home relish in the diversity of opinion, culture and natural landscape.

Sepak takraw may have been around since the 15th century, but it’s no forgotten relic. Find out more about the history of this fast-growing sport – and its bid for Olympic recognition

Shinto is ‘the way of the gods’ and, just as it is for many mortals, sumo wrestling is a favourite pasttime. For nearly 2,000 years, sumo wrestlers have performed their martial art, first in intimate shrines, and then in stadiums before thousands of spectators. At least as early as the 3rd century AD, the wrestlers would perform complex rituals to purify both their body and their spirit, and then fight for the entertainment of the gods during the matsuri (religious festivals). It was a sacred act of ritual, not a sport.

A story of the ingenuity of a child and what is today the Cape of Stakes, Tanjong Pagar. In its heyday, Tanjong Pagar was a booming port filled with vessels from all over the world. This deep-water harbour is one of the reasons for Singapore's success as a trading hub in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the old railway station in the district has seen its last days as a bridge between Singapore and Malaysia.

Text & Photos by Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare   The thought of driving the road from Kabul, Afghanistan to Peshawar, Pakistan strikes fear into the...

WHAT do you give the man who has everything? How about the heavens? Not content with their earthly domains, kings have often looked to the stars for confirmation of their divine right to rule, and indications of what the future might bring. Their patronage and personal interest in astronomy has driven forward our understanding not only of our own Solar System but also of the planets beyond.

TASMANIA’S Richmond Bridge is a tribute to simple form and a lasting symbol of Australia’s European origins. While surviving convict-built bridges are still relatively...

Text and images by Bryan Chan and Marija Savic Fitted in an enormous cowhide coat and a colourful peaked hat ringed with fur, the qusbegi...