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@eastside.asia

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𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.
less-explored paths | local trends | cultural shifts | lived perspectives
📧 [email protected]

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✈️ Now inviting applicants: Eastside Young Creators Residency, Japan edition 🇯🇵

We can’t believe it, it’s time for the third edition of our Residency, now in partnership with the good folks at @walkjapan! This one is for those who love exploring off the beaten path and meeting the local community wherever you go. You’ll be heading to the beautiful Kunisaki Peninsula in Japan to participate in the Kunisaki Project, as part of Walk Japan’s Community Initiatives, and explore nature on a special walking tour while you’re there.

If you’re a young Asian writer or photographer aged below 35 from across Asia who’s passionate about telling authentic travel stories, we invite you to apply. All you have to do is:

📧 Email hello@eastside.asia by Sep 4, 2026, with your details (name, age, writing/photography experience and portfolio, as well as where you’re based) and a paragraph on why you’re interested in this opportunity

To qualify, you must:
- Be from Asia and hold a valid passport
- Be below age 35 this year
- Be available to travel between Nov 8-14, 2026, and have the capacity to produce your story by end Dec 2026

One writer and one photographer will be chosen to be hosted at Walk Japan’s Kawasemi Guesthouse in the Kunisaki Peninsula for 7D6N, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the surrounding area and people – after which the Eastside team will work with you to produce one story or photo essay to be published on eastside.asia. Transport arrangements will also be covered from your nearest transport hub. Successful applicants will be notified by Sep 10, 2026. (We apologise in advance for not being able to respond to any non-successful applications.)

Apply now to be a part of this third edition of our Young Creators Residency – an initiative that aims to give travel, publishing and mentorship opportunities to young creatives from around the region. by @eastside.asia

Asia, in your inbox ✦

Once a month, we send a dispatch worth slowing down for — cultural adventures, local guides and travel stories from every corner of Asia, written by the writers and photographers who call it home.

It’s free, and we promise no spam — ever. It’s also filled with other goodies like interviews, travel opportunities and more.

If you’d like to go further: a paid subscription helps keep eastside independent. Every contribution lets us commission local and young writers, photographers and videographers — and keep building a publication that honours Asia’s rich cultures and contexts.

→ Sign up free at the link in our bio, or at eastside.substack.com 📨

#eastside #asiatravel #travelasia #substack #slowtravel by @eastside.asia

“Everyone wants a desk job. If you make masks for a living, no one values you in society anymore.” — Kosala de Silva, 75, mask maker.

Sri Lanka’s traditional handmade masks were once integral to the country’s folk rituals. Now, as those rituals fade from village life, they’re more often used as restaurant decor and bought by tourists as souvenirs.

Before the art disappears altogether, @zin10santafe captured the legacy of the mask makers of Ambalangoda — craftsmen who are very likely the last of their kind 😢

📷 @zin10santafe by @eastside.asia

The Ugly Things exhibition in Hangzhou isn’t just a showcase of crowd-nominated, bizarre-looking products from China’s designers. It’s a reflection of what the country’s new-gen consumers want: imperfect, kitschy objects that provide relief from societal pressure and serve as tools for social connection.

Check out the weird and wonderful exhibits at this year’s edition 👆🤡

📹 @siyichusiyi
🎬 @cvsindac by @eastside.asia

In August, @cindyjulia___ and @kalebsitompul joined us in Singapore for the second edition of our Young Creators Residency, in partnership with @marinabaysands. Today, we’re so proud to publish the first of their contributions, a photo essay by Kaleb that takes us inside the iconic landmark’s rarely seen heart-of-house operations.

Check it out at the link in bio. We’re already looking forward to the next one ✈️

📹 @cvsindac by @eastside.asia

Modern Kuala Lumpur’s skyline has long been defined by new-build skyscrapers, but a ground-up movement over the past few years is quietly working on a citizen-first rejuvenation of the city.

From converting old buildings and landmarks into community zones, to digging deep into history to design new spaces, the Malaysian capital is re-emerging as a design hub – so much so that it was named a UNESCO Creative City of Design last year.

@raditmahindro points to where to go on KL’s growing design trail.

📷 @raditmahindro by @eastside.asia

In Singapore, it’s not always easy to spot Orchard Road’s soul amid the high-powered gloss. But look into the iconic precinct’s hidden corners, side streets and basements, and you’ll be rewarded with unexpected charms.

From a rare magic shop kept alive by a magician who poured his life savings into it, to beloved old-school restaurants where the staff have worked the floor for decades, these are the most characterful corners of the district worth seeking out 💫🐰🎩

Get the full guide, presented by @grandhyattsing, at the link in bio.

✍️ @firesandtimbers
📹 @m.nabilnazri by @eastside.asia

Few destinations offer greater inspiration for slowing down than Magelang in Indonesia.

Recently named the country’s ’capital of slow living’, it’s a place surrounded by majestic mountains and meandering rivers; where you rarely find traffic jams even though the only way to enter is by road.

That doesn’t mean life here is all about relaxation — ‘kerja bakti’ (communal obligations) mean the whole town is expected to come together to build and fix public infrastructure. But what Magelang does offer is the rare space and peace to focus on work that you truly want to do.

Watch the video for a sense of Magelang’s pace of life; and get the full story at the link in bio 🚲⛰️🍃

✍️ @whereiscristian
🎬 @cvsindac by @eastside.asia

In Turtuk, one of India’s most remote villages, polo has a long history and locals have been known to sell their homes just to buy a horse 🐎

Although play declined after royal rule ended in the mid-20th century, in recent years local organisations and clubs have revived the sport that is so integral to the Balti spirit. Now a few tournaments a year are held in the traditional style, with music running through every match and the winners walking away with a prize of meat.

@reemkhokhar discovers how polo in Turtuk is becoming an experience worth travelling for.

📷 Marie-Ève Aubertin, Gaby Conn, @virsaladakh @reemkhokhar by @eastside.asia

Singapore’s major green spaces couldn’t be better-known: Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Gardens by the Bay is one of the most photographed icons in the world.

But ask a local and the city’s best verdant charms are really to be found in its simpler, more intimate gardens, cultivated lovingly by residents all over the island.

Respected plantswoman and President of the Singapore Gardening Society @tendergardener shares some of these more hidden green spaces worth visiting. Swipe to read and get the full story at the link in bio 🍃🪾

📷 @laurynishak by @eastside.asia

Last week, we gathered at our Joo Chiat store to celebrate the launch of our limited edition zine with @eastside.asia, joined by contributors and neighbours who helped bring its stories to life.

It was a special evening shared with the community that continues to shape our new home, accompanied by drinks and a menu created specially by @miura.sg

Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking the occasion! by @eastside.asia

As part of our collaboration with @eastside.asia, we’ve created a series of experiences that offer different ways to get to know Joo Chiat.

Join longtime local and food writer @desireekoh13 on a food tour through the neighbourhood’s many cultures, with stories and tastings along the way.

28 & 29 August
8:30am

Sign up via our link in bio. by @eastside.asia