Ponytail Journal

There’s something about Japan’s geography that lends itself to the world of fantasy. If the snowcapped peaks of Takayama are akin to the north wall in A Game of Thrones, then Kyushu is something like the stretch of land between Rivendell and Mordor, with its fantastical floating waterfalls and spewing volcanoes. This week on the journal, we’ll zip across Kyushu from the jagged cliffs of Takachiho gorge to the southern coast where the sea meets the sky, to see if we can find a little bit of magic to bring back home.

In Hong Kong, the cool air of autumn also marks the start of hiking season. This city is known for its high-rise buildings and tightly packed business districts, but can be delightfully surprising once you cross the boundaries that distinguish the urban jungle and well, the real jungle. Today, we’ll explore the best kept secret in the saltiest side of Hong Kong: Mount Davis.

The hokuriku shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa has opened a door for those wary of the long hours and unnecessary stops accompanied with train travel. This week, Ponytail correspondent Anne Berry takes you on a detour through the chilly calm of the Hida Region, and the salty winds of the Kanazawa coast.

Hong Kong, a powerful sensory punch in the face, is somewhere yo need to visit before you die. Besides the Michelin starred dim sum joints that will have you queuing round the block for a table, and the incredible hikes you can take in the mountainous landscape, it has so much to offer the Ponytail traveller. One of our favourite things to do in any city would be thrifting for old things, a treasure hunt if you want to call it that, and Ponytail correspondant Anne Berry shows us how it’s done in the balmy harbour city...

Ponytail correspondant Anne Berry went to Hanoi to hunt for all that goodness we so love. This is all you need to know about eating, drinking, shopping, playing, and seeing in the wild world of sensory explosions.