ONLINE PORTFOLIO
The following is a selection of recent features in PDF format plus some work published online as free content. A listing of all publications in which Philip Sen's byline has appeared can be found at the links page.
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FROM THE NATIONAL, ABU DHABI (2008)
Impressions on the Banks (The National website)
The stereotype of an ancient metropolis, Varanasi is a maze of alleyways patrolled by vigilant mongooses, not to mention a few stray dogs and the occasional sacred cow. At the core of Varanasi, however, are the ghats, gateways between the temporal life of the urban jungle and the goddess embodied in the river Ganges.
See also Pedal Powered (My Town - Amsterdam)
FROM GUARDIAN UNLIMITED (2007)
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL (2006)
FROM OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION MAGAZINE UK (2006-2007)
With modern warfare changing rapidly, from the chess-like East versus West face-off of yesterday’s Cold War to today’s terrifyingly complex guerrilla campaigns, giving the conventional soldier an unconventional advantage is the Holy Grail of military research. A slew of programmes are now in the offing, such as the UK’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST), America’s Future Force Warrior (FFW) and France’s FÉLIN (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés) – all of which promise the kind of combat tech that Tom Clancy lives and breathes. It’ll be five years plus before active soldiers get their hands on the gear, but much of it is already in test.
Turn on any TV news report about Iraq or Afghanistan and, as often as not, you’ll see tall figures with their bushy beards and Ray Ban shades loitering in the background, armed to the teeth and looking hard as nuts. You don’t know who they are – but you don’t
want to mess with them. These men are not soldiers, however, but the faces of Private Military Contractors...
Philip Sen has worked for many of the English language magazines in China including: Asia and Away (formerly Voyage), a nationwide publication distributed in hotels, airports and aircraft (including selected Virgin flights) focussing on travel in China, Asia and around the world; the That's city and lifestyle guides; and 8 Days, a weekly listings, travel and entertainment magazine for Shanghai.
FROM VOYAGE (2004-2005)
Appalled at the poor conditions in which the majority of working elephants are kept, in 1996 former tourist guide Lek Chailert decided to offer an alternative. Set amongst the wild terrain of the Mae Taman valley, the Elephant Nature Park offers visitors a chance to get to know these noble beasts - intimately. No saddles, no chains, no confinement. It's cheap, comfortable, family friendly and, what's more, it's ethical.
FROM THAT'S BEIJING/THAT'S SHANGHAI (2004) First produced in 1998, the three That's magazines (That's Shanghai,That's Beijing and That's Guangzhou) are China's best-known general interest English language publications, with a total circulation of around 100,000.
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL MAGAZINE (2003)
FROM THE SUNDAY HERALD (2003)
FROM THE ENGINEER (2002)
Detective Inspectors (PDF 715k)
FROM JANE'S NAVY INTERNATIONAL (2001)
Surviving Subsunk (Jane's website)
A printed portfolio is available, including many more articles not published as free content on the Internet.
You can also visit the writer's profile page at Travel Intelligence. Founded in 1999 by James Dunford Wood, AA Gill, Philip Marsden and 70 top travel writers, Travel Intelligence is a specialist travel publishing company and hotel booking service of which Philip Sen is a contributing member. The Webmaster is not responsible for the content of external links, which may change over the course of time.
Top 10 Amsterdam Cafes (Guardian website)
Amsterdam is changing fast — a third of its brothels are being closed down and coffee shops face a no-smoking ban next year. But Philip Sen discovers a thriving alternative to the 'alternative' scene.
See also Top 10 Amsterdam Hotels
Riding with Rembrandt (Sunday Times website)
This year is the 400th birthday of Holland’s second- most-famous son (Van Gogh beats him only by virtue of being madder and having fewer ears), and the nation is in the throes of a painterly party to celebrate his achievement. There are new art installations, birthplace walking tours, even a new musical inspired by Rembrandt’s life. More important, there is the largest collection of his masterpieces ever gathered in his homeland — which means it’s a great time to get on your bike and see them.
Revealing the Future of War (PDF 4.2MB)
Guns for Hire (PDF 7.5MB)
The Big Picture (Asia and Away website)
Trekker's Mecca Chiang Mai is surrounded by elephant camps offering the same blend of activities, shows and rides. And though the profession of the mahout - the lifelong trainer, driver and companion assigned to each animal - is still alive, in the cut-throat market of Thai tourism many of its more noble traditions have been forgotten.
Photographic illustrations also by Philip Sen.
Walled In (PDF 487k)
There's few other areas of China that have escaped the modern world in quite the same manner. Pingyao provides a brief glimpse into the way China once was, and the way many would like it still to be.
From the same issue:
China's Top Ten UNESCO Sites (PDF 380k) - A personal choice.
World Pride (PDF 221k) - China's Heritage: The battle between conservation and exploitation.
Out of this World (That's Beijing website)
(PDF 573k)
In 2004, NASA began its much anticipated exploration of Mars. But it could have saved its money. The red planet is here, on Earth. Tucked into the deepest recess of Asia, Tibet is the closest thing to an alien world most travellers will ever see.
Photographic illustrations by Philip Sen.
State of Confucian (That's Beijing website)
(PDF 721k)
Qufu looks like many other Chinese cities - the sky is blackened around the edges by the stain of pollution while world-weary ponies haul gaudy carriages, vying for road space with squadrons of orange and green pedicabs charging five yuan a ride. It's as typical of a tourist town as you could hope to find. Yet here in modern-day Shandong province was born a man whose influence has lasted for millennia.
Photographic illustrations by Philip Sen.
Reprinted in Australian Financial Review
Lost and Lonely on the Khao Sanh Road (PDF 254k)
Immortalised in Alex Garland's novel The Beach, the KSR is as vibrant as it is seedy, as atmospheric as it is commercial. It encapsulates everything that is Asia and everything that is not.
The AIDS Attraction (greatreporter.com website)
Each naked corpse was either laid out on a concrete slab or pickled in a tank of formaldehyde. Plinths held cards detailing the names and ages of each victim and, more pointedly, how they contracted HIV. Promiscuous unprotected sex, using dirty needles and dodgy tattoo parlours were the most common culprits.
Reprinted in The Irish Sunday Tribune and Bizarre.
With weapons inspectors ready to return to Iraq after four years, faster and more accurate technology should make the job easier. But will it be good enough for the job? Written prior to the 2003 invason of Iraq, this article includes material from David Kelly, the government scientist at the heart of the Hutton Inquiry.
Fuelling the Hydrogen Revolution (PDF 633k)
Most of the large car makers are investing in hydrogen as a clean fuel for the future, and BMW believes the technical problems of distribution and storage of the gas have been solved. But without government support will the hydrogen infrastructure ever be built?
Sea Soldiers (excerpt - Jane's website)
With the separation of their likely operational environment from the home region, the UK's armed forces have now re-awakened to the unique military value afforded by their amphibious capabilities.
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