What are the world’s most expensive cities to live? Singapore and Zurich, Switzerland have tied to secure the top spot, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey.
17.11.2023 - 16:25 / cntraveler.com
You can listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify each week. Follow this link if you're listening on Apple News.
Lale chats with journalist and author Louisa Lim about her recent book, Indelible City, which dives deep into the untold stories of Hong Kong, both past and present, through a cast of calligraphers, street artists, and more, while also reflecting on her own personal connection with a place she long-called home.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Lale Ariokglu: Hello, I'm Lale Arikoglu. And in today's Women Who Travel, we're visiting Hong Kong with Louisa Lim. Her book, Indelible City, is both memoir and journalism.
Louisa Lim: I thought, you know, I want to write a history of Hong Kong or book about Hong Kong where Hong Kongers are the main players. They're not just sort of nameless, faceless people handed over by one power to another, but they're actual people.
Speaker 3: Free Hong Kong!
Protesters: Free Hong Kong!
Speaker 3: Free Hong Kong!
Protesters: Free Hong Kong! Whoo!
LA: We're going to chat about uncovering the real Hong Kong and how to discover it as a traveler. You know, you grew up in Hong Kong, you live in Melbourne. How often do you go back to Hong Kong right now?
LL: I can't go back to Hong Kong since the book came out. So, you know, even when I was writing that book, I was always erasing it in the knowledge that this book would make it hard for me to go back to the city that I was writing about, the city that I think of as my hometown. In many ways the book, it was a love letter, it was a farewell letter, it was a, [laughs] a pretty hard book to write.
LA: How certain were you that you were going to just... that the book was more important than being able to return again, like that's a really difficult decision to make.
LL: I mean, well, I started writing the book a long time ago. I'm a pretty slow writer and it took me eight years to write this book. And I never, obviously, [laughs] meant it to be that long. And of course, when I started, you know, it was a really low risk project.
LA: Well, I was gonna say, eight years ago, that's a very different time in Hong Kong's recent history.
LL: That's right. And I never imagined that, you know, there would be any consequences. My children, um, said to me, "Oh, mom, mom, we really love Hong Kong, you know, don't say anything bad. You know, we [laughs] we want to be able to go back." And I was like, "Of course, it'll be fine. You know, Hong Kong's completely different, you know, none of that applies." And then, of course, everything changed.
LA: Your dad is Chinese, your mom is British
What are the world’s most expensive cities to live? Singapore and Zurich, Switzerland have tied to secure the top spot, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey.
One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its food and beverage offerings. For the holiday season, check out these excellent wines from under-the-radar wine regions in different parts of the world (which we should be drinking more from!) for your wanderlust wine-loving friends who are eager to try something new. Note: All wines mentioned are available in the United States.
The UK Short-Term Accommodation Association (UKSTAA) conducted new research that identified nearly 2 million homes that local authorities consider “deliverable,” with as many as 1.5 million of them in the next five years.
With a population of almost 10 million, Seoul is one of Asia's largest and most vibrant metropolises. City workers spill out of futuristic skyscrapers at the end of the day, heading to the city's delicious and varied restaurants. On the weekends, nightlife rules—think neon-signed karaoke spots and lively bars in addition to the popular grab-and-go eateries. By day, however, the city is an underrated shopper's paradise. Forget the high-fashion boutiques (although you'll find those here, too), as it's all about neighborhood hotspots. From ceramic studios to sustainable zero-waste havens, these are the best places for shopping in Seoul.
All-in-one online travel platform, branded “BusinessToGo,” to meet corporate travel demand from small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses in the UK and France.
Since its inception, Alpine’s vision has been and continues to be, to ensure students gain the specific skills, professional attitude, updated knowledge and practical experiences in the hospitality industry that employers want and need, now and in the future.
Dijana brings a wealth of experience acquired globally, having worked in various hospitality and human resources roles in Canada, Germany, Scotland, and Croatia.
Hotel Lutetia Paris named hotel of the year, Capella voted leading luxury hotel brand, Japan shines as most popular holiday hotspot and Portrait Milano recognised as best new hotel, while Dubai wins multiple airline and airport accolades.
China will soon allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia.
The ultimate tropical getaway, the Caribbean conjures images of palm-fringed beaches, rum-fueled dancing and lush jungle excursions. Pick any of the 700-odd islands that form an arc between Florida and Venezuela and you’ll get all these things and more.
Americans’ desire to visit the Asia-Pacific region has reached a high, and airlines are rushing to provide new routes that capture the rising interest.
It’s been nearly a decade since my first time in an airport lounge, but it was an experience that reshaped my predeparture routine. However, as any frequent flier knows, the quality of a lounge can vary greatly, similar to sitting in the last row of economy versus the front of first class.