Remembrance at Hiroshima’s Nuclear Temple
Hiroshima's 1,200-year-old Mitaki-dera temple is tranquil but it’s also, a pilgrimage site for the victims of the nuclear age. ...
Ronan O'Connell
Kumaris: The Living Child Goddesses of Nepal
For more than 1,000 years, Kumaris have been a central part of Hindu and Buddhist culture in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu. ...
How India’s Last Emperor Came to Rest in a Small Yangon Basement
Zafar II – successor to Akbar II and the last Mughal Emperor – was laid to rest far from India, making his final resting place in a small basement at the shrine in Bahadur Shah Zafar Dargah....
Inside Kolkata’s Fading Chinatown
It all began with Tong Atchew, a tea trader from southern China who arrived in Kolkata in 1778. Today, that legacy clings on in one of India's most dynamic cities. ...
Keris: Smithing a Sacred Dagger in Bali
Travel writer Ronan O'Connell crafts a ceremonial dagger, or keris, with a 9th generation blacksmith on Indonesia's most fascinating island. ...
Beomeosa: Busan’s Temple of Fighting Monks
Nestled amid dense forest, Beomeosa famed for its fighting monks and the unique martial arts skills that helped repel Japanese invasions....
Rediscovering the Mysteries of Angkor Wat
The great ancient Khmer capital is a wonder of the world and beloved by 2.5 million tourists a year. But how did it come to be abandoned? ...
Magic and Ghosts: A Short, Odd History of Himeji Castle
Four hundred years of myth, superstition, bloodshed, and glory reverberate through the 83 buildings of this hilltop fortress. This is Himeji Castle....
Beauty and Bedlam in Mumbai’s Hectic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
More like a cathedral than a train station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of India's most fascinating places to see the many sides of Mumbai....
Review: Putting on the Ritz at Phulay Bay in Krabi
Inside Ritz-Carlton's Phulay Bay in Krabi deep in Thailand's idyllic south, there are private beaches, luxury spas, and the best sunsets anywhere in the kingdom. ...
Ao Dai: A Short History of Vietnam’s Most Popular Dress
For 300 years now, the ao dai has been a symbol of Vietnamese femininity. Since that time, however, it has evolved. ...
Sunthon Phu: The Bangkok Museum for Thailand’s Greatest Poet
Sunthon Phu was Thailand's greatest literary mind, and visitors can get a taste of his legacy at a little-visited museum in central Bangkok. ...
Ronan O'Connell
Ronan is an Australian journalist and photographer with 15 years' experience as a reporter. After nine years working for daily newspapers he went freelance and has since contributed to more than 50 media outlets across the world including CNN, BBC, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and Australian Financial Review. He is based in Ireland, Thailand, and Australia.