Crowned 'word of the year' by Oxford Dictionaries in 2013, the selfie has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a niche social media tag. But are selfies just a bit of harmless narcissistic fun, or is there a darker side?

Sightseeing in Paris usually involves a trip up the Eiffel Tower, soaking up culture at the Pompidou and taking photos of Notre-Dame. For those who prefer their holiday snaps to include a selfie, The Mandarin Oriental now offers a tour of the best locations for self-portraits.

Going on holiday no longer means having a well-earned rest by the pool. Affordable flights mean people are travelling for all sorts of new reasons; to get a facelift, to work, to shop, to give birth, and even to die. The first in a two-part series looks at travel for medical reasons.

Asia's selfie obsession – especially amongst women – is more prominent than ever. In response, there's been an explosion of beautifying apps that automatically detect facial features, and enhance them according to Eastern beauty ideals.