Category: Asia Oceania

Asia is too large to break down into a single destination. It offers something for even the most travelled visitor on their holiday, from the tallest mountain in the world to vibrant nightlife, and introspective rest. Take a look at our featured destinations, Maldives holidays 2011 and Hong Kong holidays 2011 for great guides to these sensational and exotic locations.

From the Great Wall of China to the bustling streets of Bangkok to the hi-tech city centre of Tokyo, there’s so much to see and do. As well as this, Asia is in general, a whole lot more accessible than it was even say twenty years ago. Indeed there has never been a better time to explore this fascinating continent full of ancient cultures and awe-inspiring sites.

Cities You Should See

Bangkok is an enormous city of over 11 million. It offers much; sightseeing, delicious cuisine, and vibrant nightlife. There are three temples one must-see while visiting Bangkok, The Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Within The Grand Palace is the Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred Buddhist site in all of Thailand.

You can Tour Jim Thompson’s House, the infamous CIA operative. Bicycle and canal tours are also popular for seeing the Chao Phraya River and the canals. Muay Thai tournaments are held daily and are great to watch, along with all the various cultural performances. Finally, Bangkok is famous for it’s spas built on natural mineral wells, and any hotel or resort of quality will have one available on the premises.

Beijing is the capital of China and has much to see. In the city centre, you will find Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Forbidden City, and the Qianmen Gate. The National Stadium was built for the 2008 Olympic Games, and the CCTV building and World Trade Center Tower 3 are nearby.

Hong Kong is a beautiful and eclectic mix of British and Chinese culture. Holidays between October and December are best between these months for the good weather and low humidity. Take a hike up Victoria Peak and its Victoria tower to take in a beautiful panoramic view of Hong Kong. Between September and June, there is professional horse racing biweekly. There’s Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park, and Ngong Ping 360 for a fun day out at theme parks. From September through January there are a large variety of festivals ranging from Chinese New Year, Spring Lantern Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival, and Halloween.

Mumbai was once Bombay, now the commercial capital of India, and the site of Bollywood. Mumbai is filled with museums like the Prince of Whales Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art, Kala Ghoda (a contemporary art gallery) and Nehru Centre Art Gallery at Worli. Besides culture, Mumbai’s markets are fantastic to behold, if just for the fervour of the crowds. You can easily catch a good show in Mumbai, as it’s frequented by people on tour when they go through Asia. There are Experience Bollywood tours where you can observe a Bollywood filming, and see a Bollywood movie in a cinema. You can watch Cricket for free, visit many of the various temples and even meet a guru, and take a slum tour through Dharavi, which is Asia’s largest slum.

Seoul is the capital of South Korea and a great cultural centre of East Asia. First, there are five major palaces in Seoul proper, each one belonging to a separate dynasty. They’ve been turned into museums and are open to the public, with tours given daily. Seoul also has four major mountains within its borders, and require little technical equipment. Seodaemun Prison has been turned into a museum with tours, it became famous during the Japanese Occupation, and features prison cells, wax dolls, and videos. The North Seoul Tower allows you to have a total panoramic view of Seoul and was once the tallest tower in Asia. Lotte World, Everland, Seoul Land and Children’s Grand Park are open year-round and offer fun for families. There are many opportunities for gambling on horse races, and various spas, saunas and massage rooms.

Tokyo has over 2,000 sq km to explore and will surprise even the most seasoned traveller. There are too many museums in Tokyo to mention, with subjects varying between tea, clocks, chopsticks, and even candy. When in Tokyo, you should enjoy a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Market. A bath at the local Sento shouldn’t be missed, but beware it is a public bath. You can see a baseball game at the Tokyo Dome or Jingu stadium, and walk through the Imperial Gardens. Of course, Japan offers quite a bit in the nightlife department, with host and hostess clubs and drum and bass clubs.