readsontrains

The Ngong Ping Cable Car up to Big Buddha offers stunning views over Lantau Island's mountains and coastline — Worth every penny of the HK$245 round-trip fare for that ascent. But here's a literary traveler's secret: take bus #23 back down to Tung Chung for just HK$17, saving yourself HK$100+ while experiencing a completely different perspective of the island.

The bus descent winds through Lantau's interior on narrow mountain roads, past villages and forested hills that the cable car passengers never see. It's reminiscent of those winding bus journeys through Welsh valleys that Chatwin wrote about — Slow, contemplative, revealing the landscape's true character rather than just its postcard views. The 45-minute ride gives you time to digest the spiritual experience of the Big Buddha while watching rural Hong Kong unfold outside your window.

Practically speaking, the bus deposits you directly at Tung Chung MTR Station (just a 2-minute walk), while the cable car station requires a longer trek with your potentially tired legs. Use that saved money for a proper meal instead of the overpriced tourist fare in Ngong Ping Village. Bus #23 runs every 15-20 minutes from the Big Buddha area, and accepts Octopus cards.

I've done this descent while reading Ackroyd's writings on London's hidden paths — There's something beautifully fitting about taking the road less traveled, even when leaving one of Hong Kong's most visited attractions.

The Jordaan feels like stepping into the pages of a Dutch Golden Age painting, particularly in those hushed morning hours when the city hasn't quite stirred. Between 7-9am, you'll have Amsterdam's most photogenic canals virtually to yourself — A rare privilege in a city that welcomes 20 million visitors annually.

Begin your literary pilgrimage at Brouwersgracht, the canal that locals whisper is Amsterdam's most beautiful street. The morning light catches the 17th-century gables just so, casting reflections that ripple like watercolor across the water. Walk south along Prinsengracht — Where Anne Frank once gazed from her hidden window — Then meander to the quieter Lijnbaangracht via Elandsgracht.

Find a bench along Egelantiersgracht or Bloemgracht (the 'flower canal') and simply listen. You'll hear the gentle lapping of water against houseboats, the distant bell of a cyclist, the soft murmur of residents beginning their day. It's Amsterdam as the poets knew it.

Take tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt (€3.20 with GVB day pass), then let your feet guide you through these narrow streets. Allow 2-3 hours for proper wandering — This isn't a neighborhood to rush through, but to savor like a well-worn novel.

CentralWorld kinokuniya best english bookstore in thailand. Entire sections southeast asia guides, thai history, local authors translated english

Perfect rainy day browsing with air con. Hard-to-find books about thai culture and buddhism. Open 10am-10pm daily

Understand the country better through books you can't find elsewhere

One of the best English bookstores in Southeast Asia, though the CentralWorld location might have slightly more specialized sections. Huge travel section, novels, magazines, and maps. Great place to escape the heat and browse for hours

Located on 3rd floor of Siam Paragon mall. Prices are higher than home but the selection is incredible. They have guidebooks for every country and lots of books about Thai culture. BTS to Siam station, connected to the mall. Open 10 AM to 10 PM daily. Free wifi throughout the store

Tucked inside RexKL creative complex (80 Jalan Sultan, near Puduraya bus terminal), BookXcess occupies three sprawling floors of what feels like a bibliophile's fever dream. This isn't your typical tourist bookshop - it's where Kuala Lumpur's literati actually browse, with English titles starting at RM12 and rare art books priced at a fraction of downtown stores.

The ground floor stocks contemporary fiction and Malaysian authors like Tan Twan Eng and Preeta Samarasan, while the second floor houses an extraordinary collection of coffee table books, photography volumes, and design titles you'd pay RM150+ for elsewhere marked down to RM35-50. The real treasure lies on the third floor: a labyrinth of classic literature, philosophy, and out-of-print gems.

What transforms this from mere shopping into an experience are the integrated reading nooks and cafés scattered throughout each level. Order a white coffee (RM8) and settle into one of the vintage armchairs to sample books before purchasing - it's become an unofficial co-working space for local writers and students who treat it like a living room.

Reach via Pudu Sentral LRT (5-minute walk) or Pasar Seni station (8 minutes). Open 10am-10pm daily. Budget 90 minutes minimum if you're a proper book lover - the selection is genuinely overwhelming in the most wonderful way. The staff, mostly literature graduates, offer surprisingly insightful recommendations.