Colonial Echoes
Rediscovering Asia as the Europeans saw it in the golden age of travel
Whether you’re unwinding at a stately old-world hotel in Cambodia, riding a horse-drawn carriage through cobbled Philippine streets, or letting Victorian Gothic architecture wash over you in India, the romance of a bygone era is everywhere in Asia.
The empires of the Dutch, British, Spanish, Portuguese and French may not have left a great deal to be proud of, but Asians are a forgiving lot. Across the continent there are vestiges of European colonial power that are carefully, and sometimes even proudly, preserved.
These centuries-old remnants of imperial influence – in Asia’s architecture, food and way of life – can form an interesting and educational dimension to your travels in the region.
So, for a moment, put on hold your zealous search for peculiar tribal customs and otherworldly nature: there’s almost certainly a fascinating colonial trail on your doorstep just waiting to be uncovered.
In the following pages, we track down the British and Portuguese in Hong Kong and Macau, reveal the French character in Cambodia, find out how the Spanish shaped the Philippines, unmask Dutch-tinged Malaysia, and discover the best of British in India.
