vice president,
purchasing, far east
This vast and most populous of the world’s continents conjures up the exotic, the colourful and the mysterious.
To the eye of a novice visitor, it offers glimpses of ancient traditions. For those that are compelled to return time after time, the veils of complexity lift gradually to offer an evermore intriguing mix of customs and practises rooted in ancient times.
Since my first experience of Asia over 20 years ago, many areas have changed beyond all recognition. Arriving in Bangkok, I was hit with an oppressive humidity, with noise levels that chattered and rattled. Tuk-tuks still hoot their way through the city’s streets but now, the slick, clean and air-conditioned Sky Train system runs overhead, efficiently linking Bangkok’s traditional sights . . . as well as its impressive shopping malls.
Throughout Asia, the old and the new now sit sometimes comfortably and sometimes incongruously side by side. But yet the attraction of Asia remains unchanged: in its people, rich with tradition and enterprise; in its landscapes of pure green paddy fields or teeming rainforests; in its beaches, some busy with people, others hidden and restful; in its ancient architecture skilfully carved; and in its depths of spirituality.
A lifetime of visits is unlikely to satisfy the curiosity evoked by travelling within this great continent.
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