Crystal clear waters, white sparkling sand, tribal gongs and drums…none other than the Maldives offer all these combinations in one package. Ranked as the most famous beach holiday destination, the Maldives is a must-go for the beach lover. Once you reach this place, you’ll find yourself going back again and again for even more. Dive with the fishes and spot bejeweled corals and enchanting reefs. Indulge in the refreshing waters to your hearts content and let your mind drift away from your troubles. The Maldives, beach paradise on earth and reality to the beach holiday-maker. Don’t miss it for a lifetime!
Any travelling food lover must, at some point in his traveling exploits, experience Kuala Lumpur’s famous gastronomic havens. Kuala Lumpur, or KL for short, is the capital and the largest city of Malaysia and boasts of a wide range of specialty cuisines ranging from Indian, Chinese to Malay. When one decides to explore these gastronomical feasts, he or she should not forget to drop by KL’s largest “Little India”, Brickfields, which offers one of the best breakfasts a traveler in Malaysia can ever have. Situated just outside central KL, Brickfields is a quaint, little neighborhood with residents being mostly Indians (hence, the tag). A common favorite is the Roti Canai which is like a flat croissant served as an appetizer together with curry. Other must-tries while in KL are the pan meen (board noodles) and the Kuih (cakes and pastries).
India, land of the many gods, curry and spice paradise, amongst other titles. Where ebony runs supreme and faith runs deep. A trip to India is an enlightening experience, akin to dipping in a lake full of culture. If you’re a tourist who’s more for the experience than any other, this is the best place to start. Every year, India attracts millions of tourists. Mostly, they visit the Taj, the Goan beaches, and the green fields. The summer atmosphere doesn’t hurt a bit to those who seek a warmer climate.
India, contrary to popular belief, is highly advanced in technological terms, especially in medicine. The sad thing is, the gap between the poor and the rich is such that Indians are often stereotyped as poor and beggars. See for yourself the truth when you visit this amazing spectacle of a country!
For those who would want to experience the unusual combination of mud, sake and almost, if not completely, naked men, then Japan’s Hadaka Matsuri or the Naked Festival in Saidaiji, Okayama is the best place to go. Going for over 1200 years, this Shinto festival involves adult males who wear minimum amount of clothing or usually just a loincloth called fundoshi and is celebrated throughout Japan during summer or winter every year. Over 9000 men gather together and attempt to touch the chosen Shin-otoko or Naked Man. Imagine, a huge mob of scantily clad men starting to throw sake at each other while desperately trying to touch the consecrated Naked Man (who tries not to get crushed by the crowd). At the end of the day with nothing but cuts, bruises, broken bones, and their beliefs, all that these happy men can say is that they will surely be doing it again next year.
Pakistan is a like a fantasy painting come to life. There is something to explore for every kind of traveler, whether he be adventurous, placid, or simply loves to shop!
Go to the south you will find beaches teeming with palm, beautiful lagoons and lush mangrove forests. To the North lie the imposing peaks of the Himalayas, the Karakorams and the Hindu Kush mountains, a treat for the enthusiastic mountain climber. Modern shopping malls also dot the country as it takes a turn to developing its tourism attractions. This being, Pakistan is fast becoming a favorite on the tourist’s list of Asian tourist destinations.
Fond of shopping? Go to Hong Kong! Where’s Hong Kong you say? It’s a beautiful region, a miniscule group of islands beside China. Hong Kong is a special administrative region released from British sovereignty in 1997. With a startlingly diverse range of population, from Filipinos and Malaysians, to Europeans, Americans, and Indians, Hong Kong truly is a city endowed with the best of both the East and the West.
Aside from its towering city heights and lovely harbor views, Hong Kong is best known for its tourist spots. The newly built Disneyland as well as the newly renovated Ocean Park are sure to attract your vacation eye for a well needed time out.
While a trip to Afghanistan surely does not sound like a very appealing vacation holiday to your average tourist, taking the time to discover one of Asia’s forgotten treasures will definitely strike a chord in the heart of a genuine explorer. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the Minaret of Jam is said to be the holy grail of travel in Afghanistan. Located by the Hari River in the Shahrak District in Ghor, the 65-metre high minaret is built of baked bricks and is finely adorned with brick, stucco and glazed tile decorations patterned by kufic and nakshi calligraphy, geometric shapes and verses from the surat Maryam of the Holy Qur’an. The Minaret of Jam is an excellent example of Islamic brick architecture and is used by muezzins to call for prayers.
Geographically speaking, Boracay is part of the municipality of Malay in the province of Aklan, which is located in Panay, one of a cluster of islands that constitute the central section of the Philippine archipelago.
Boracay can be reached from Manila by daily flights on Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, Seair and Pacific Air. Caticlan is nearer the island, but the airstrip is short and narrow, and only the smaller planes of Asian Spirit, Seair and Pacific Air can land on it. The larger aircraft of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines fly to Kalibo, the capital of Aklan. From Caticlan it takes about 15 minutes by boat to Boracay; from Kalibo, an hour and a half by bus plus the 15-minute boat ride.
A city as small as Singapore can be toured in just three days, many would say, but to see all the highlights and get beneath the skin of this charming place definitely warrants a longer stay. A tour planned around the major districts allows one to appreciate its history, people and rich cultural diversity in an optimal period of time. Here is the best of Singapore not to be missed.
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From the outside, the Burj al-Arab architecture looked liked it was carved out of a painting by Picasso. Its style was so contemporary one would wonder how it could stand so sturdily on soiled seas. Dubai’s ingenious work of art was compelled the world to raise the usual five star ranking to a shocking seven just so that its beauty and majesty could be given justice. There are 202 duplex suites in the hotel. Each suite, no matter the class, has a floor- to-ceiling windows with spectacular views of the Persian Gulf. Another first for the over achieving Burj al-Arab is the fact that at 321 meters (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building to be used as a hotel alone. It stands on a man made island, 280 meters (919 ft) from the popular Jumeirah beach. This fact alone continues to flabbergasts tourists all over the world. Burj al-Arab is connected to the rest of Dubai through a private bridge. The Arabs, without a doubt, outdid themselves this time through the Burj al-Arab architecture.