With China beating a path to its door, Laos may have tough decisions to make about the future. Richard Waters reports

On the island of Flores, Paul Spencer Sochaczewski finds out more about the lost species of ‘hobbits’ that may once have inhabited this part of Indonesia

Visitors flock in droves to the temples of Angkor Wat, but what effect are they having on the irreplaceable treasures? Leisa Tyler reports from Siem Reap

Official depictions of Chairman Mao may be fading away, but the communist leader is still an inspiration for artists and tourists. Gary Bowerman reports

Libya is increasingly opening up for visitors. Dan Hayes sees the attraction

Japan’s Nada festival is a testosteronefuelled celebration of community and history. Simon Rowe packs his picnic

In Thailand’s Golden Triangle, Leisa Tyler discovers a project to put Thailand’s street elephants back on the right path

The historic Vietnamese city of Hue took a battering during the Vietnam war. Gemma Price reports on how the restoration process is progressing

Algeria’s Tuareg can survive in desert conditions that would be fatal to most people. Mark Eveleigh joins them

Travellers on the China-Tibet railway will have plenty of time to consider the long, complex relationship between the two places, says Gary Bowerman