Sunsets and dolphins in a rain forest

Sitting on the deck of a small cruise ship called Aqua, I listened to the never-ending sounds of the Amazonian rain forest. Beside me was a retired executive, a fellow passenger whom I had met the day before. As the sinking sun bled into the darkening sky and the riverbanks along this tributary of the Peruvian Amazon turned from green to black, he told me of his days in Lagos in the 1970s and Dubai in the 1990s, then lapsed into silence. The moment was all the sweeter because we were playing hooky from an outing to view nocturnal birds, opting for perfectly chilled white wine over mosquitoes.

Welcome to a mansion of memories to relive the past

As the saying goes, Xi'an encapsulates three thousand years of Chinese history and Beijing, one thousand. But if you want to see what China went through during its turbulent times in the 20th century, visit Tianjin, which neighbors Beijing.

Behind the scenes in the DPRK

When it comes to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Simon Cockerell and Nicholas Bonner have been there, skied the prestige-project resort (Masik Pass), made a "feminist" propaganda movie, Comrade Kim Goes Flying, and dealt with the ensuing mixed bag of criticism.

Step back in time

In an age of video calls, all-night restaurants and high-speed trains, we often forget that the world was not always as interconnected, brightly lit or fast paced. A visit to The Astor Hotel, a 150-year-old establishment in Tianjin, can serve as a reminder of times gone by.

Sponsors flee Clippers after racist remarks

The National Basketball Association faced mounting pressure on Monday to impose a harsh punishment on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his alleged racist comments as several of the team's sponsors pulled their backing.

Widespread support for Alves after banana taunt

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has received an outpouring of support for his response to a racist taunt during a game, with other players posting photos of themselves with bananas on the Internet.

Score board

Baseball

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Jose aiming to knock Atletico off its cloud

The tepid 0-0 draw in the Vicente Calderon resembled a phoney war but Chelsea and Atletico Madrid will surely up the ante at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday when a place in the Champions League final is on the line.

Factfile: Chelsea vs Atletico

Coaches

Gunners firm their Euro grip

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to get carried away despite his side taking a major step toward Champions League qualification with a convincing 3-0 Premier League win at home to Newcastle on Monday.

Cool Ko hangs on to notch first win as full-fledged pro

With the 18th pin and a championship in sight, Lydia Ko found herself in the rough again in a day filled with off-target drives.