Chris Schalkx

Bangkok

Bangkok + Taiwan / 📝+ 📸 travel & design for @cntraveler, @travelleisure, @luxury, @washingtonpost, @Tmagazine, @afarmedia, @htsi etc.

Featured in: Favicon

cnn.com

msn.com

theguardian.com Favicon

nytimes.com Favicon

bloomberg.com Favicon

independent.co.uk Favicon

telegraph.co.uk Favicon

ft.com

nikkei.com Favicon

thetimes.co.uk + 97 more

Articles

This Under-the-Radar Island in the Indian Ocean Is Full of Breathtaking Natural Wonders

1 week ago | vogue.com | Chris Schalkx

It’s close to boarding time at Abu Dhabi airport, and the queue snaking from the gate comprises a remarkably colorful crowd. There are men in spotless white thobes and women veiled in silky hijabs, of course, but they’re joined by a motlier bunch: selfie-clicking 20-somethings yapping in Russian, Italian, and Afrikaans; Chinese families dripping in designer gear.
These secret Thai islands are the Southeast-Asian paradises we've been searching for

3 weeks ago | cntravellerme.com | Chris Schalkx

I met a man on Koh Surin Tai, and he didn’t know his age. A dozen wispy hairs curled from his chin, his eyelids drooped under the weight of decades spent reading horizons. He was a Moken, or sea nomad. His Austronesian ancestors roamed the Andaman Sea for centuries, and stories of their liquid lives lingered in his mind like the salt on his skin. He remembered his early days: a childhood spent on a flotilla of kabang houseboats, living by the and changing tides.
The best places to shop in Chengdu

3 weeks ago | cntravellerme.com | Chris Schalkx

Over the past decade, the capital of China's south-western province of Sichuan, Chenghu, has been busy building its reputation as thriving international city.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles is tailor-made for the fly-and-flop set

4 weeks ago | wallpaper.com | Chris Schalkx

The dreamy Seychelles have never been short on honeymoon-worthy resort options, but Cheval Blanc’s latest ‘Maison’ (as the hospitality brand calls its hotels and resorts) on Mahé island’s dramatic south-east coast might just be one of its dreamiest yet. With sprawling villas wrapped in jungle or perched along the ocean’s turquoise swell, it’s a place to tune out and let nature (and the group’s legendary service) work its soul-soothing magic.
What It's Like to Travel in China Right Now—And How to Do It

1 month ago | afar.com | Chris Schalkx

China, with its wildly diverse landscapes and a dizzying array of cultures, offers experiences that reach far beyond the Great Wall—and visiting now is easier than ever. For years, the country has been an enigma and a challenge for travelers. It’s a vast, deeply historic nation where ancient traditions fuse with hyperfast modernization and where language barriers, digital restrictions, and visa policies often deter casual tourists.
What It's Like to Travel in China Right Now—And How to Do It | Flipboard

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Chris Schalkx

5 hours agoNorth Korean Warship Seen Severely Damaged After Failed LaunchNorth Korea has placed a cover over a destroyer that suffered damage in a botched launch attempt, with the vessel now appearing to be on its side and …5 hours agoLow-Cost Airlines To Introduce Standing Seats From 2026 For More Passengers; Internet Drops Indian Local Train MemesSeveral low-cost airlines are considering standing-only seats for shorter flights in 2026.
5 African Adventures That Take You Beyond the Savannah

1 month ago | robbreport.com | Chris Schalkx

The word “safari” means “journey” in the Swahili language, but somewhere along the way, it became synonymous with bouncing around in a Land Cruiser while staring down lions and elephants through a pair of binoculars or a tele-lens. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but Africa is much bigger, wilder, and weirder than the Big Five. Below, five African adventures—from the deep jungles of Congo to the museums of Benin—that take you far beyond the savanna.
A guide to Kyoto, Japan through the city's craft scene

1 month ago | cntraveller.com | Chris Schalkx

As Japan’s ancient former capital, Kyoto has attracted craftspeople and artisans from all around the country. Members of the Imperial Court were both patrons and practitioners at the ateliers that opened here during their 1000-year reign and helped refine techniques such as nishijin-ori silk weaving and kyo-shikki lacquerware into the most superior in all of Japan. Now, more than a century later, Kyoto’s craft game is still going strong.
A guide to Kyoto, Japan through the city's craft scene

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Chris Schalkx

NowNew Delhi and Islamabad have provided contrasting claims about the incident as both sides attempt to control the narrative over the four-day conflict. Four days after India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire after a rapid escalation in a military conflict between them, key differences between their …
On the Road to Shangri-La: exploring the wild, wondrous landscapes of Yunnan

1 month ago | cntraveller.com | Chris Schalkx

“They’d come from there,” said Qing Lao, pointing a leathery finger at the snow-cloaked mountains from where the caravans would appear. We were in Niding, a tiny hamlet cradled by the mountains of northern Yunnan, in the southwest of China, drinking yak-butter tea around Lao’s kitchen stove. I was coaxing him to dive deeper into his memory.