Travel Asia Articles

Sited atop Lantau Island on the Ngong Ping plateau, lies one of the most frequently visited sights in Hong Kong - the Po Lin Monastery.

If you are on a tour to China and decide to stop at Yunnan province, then you are guaranteed a wonderful time with Chinese minority groups. Yunnan is a beautiful province which is proud of its ethnic minorities and culture; this is reflected in the lifestyle of the locals who inhabit the community. Considered as one of the beautiful places to go in China, the province of Yunnan is a place that celebrates life. It can be divided into different cities namely Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian and Deqin. Each of these cities has various sightseeing and highlights which attracts tourists all year round.

You may ask yourself over and over again, “Is a trip to China worth it?” Well, I have the answers for you. China is a big country with a long history and unique culture; it is one of the most beautiful countries endowed with wonderful and natural sceneries which attract tourists every time of the year. A tour to China can be an educational tour, recreational tour, adventure tour, cultural tour or a religious tour. This depends on your preference and your length of stay, however whichever tour you decide to take, the trip is always worth it.

I went down to the pool in my apartment building today after work and swam for a while. When I got back to my apartment, it struck me that having my own pool (okay, I do share it with the other people in my building but I am usually in it by myself) is one of the things I love about living here in Thailand.

It was many years ago now but my recollections are still strong one of the first things you noticed in getting off the plane and into the huge Changi airport terminal is that its hot. Once you get through the hustle and bustle of a major connecting terminus you make it to the street and then you discover how air conditioned the terminal is, like opening an oven the tropical heat hits you. Singapore is situated almost on the equator so its HOT. Getting a taxi to Orchid Avenue the main tourist Hotel drag was not hard and it takes a little while to reach your hotel bed in the busy traffic. Hey over 3 million people squeezed into a small Island your bound to have a problem or two. Like all Singaporeans the driver spoke English - what dialect I'm not entirely sure, but he ensured me it was grade A+ English - I'll have to take his word for it because I couldn't understand much of what he said.

Tiger tales keep doing the rounds among the community living in villages around the largest mangrove rainforests in the world — the Sunderbans. To the villagers the big cat is ‘Dakhin Rai’, a sobriquet for the mighty lord of the jungles, uttered with reverence and fear. The tiger and the community in the deltaic island forests, interspersed by innumerable streams, cohabit in a love hate relationship. When the striped beauty strikes, the villagers mourn the deceased and curse the animal; and the tiger hates man knowing that the two-legged animal around its domain is the fiercest of all predators. So, it uses its cunning to take it one-up on him as opportunities present itself.

Vietnam’s 2100 mile coastline and thousands of islands provide many attractive beaches that invite travelers to relax and enjoy the sound of the surf and the warmth of the sun. Some of the beach locales are developed with hotels and restaurants to attract discriminating travelers, while others offer secluded primitive beaches for daytime picnics or small group camping.

More things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams of’. And the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi gives credit to this famous line of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poetry. Sheer faith brings in multitudes of people of all ages, races and religions to kowtow before the Goddess, who showers her grace on each of them and grants them their wishes. The pilgrimage requires great fortitude, both physical and mental, as you have to climb mile after mile, uphill, before getting a glimpse of the Goddess. But as they say ‘tough times never last, tough people do’ and millions of people make this journey successfully, year after year. So can you!

In a city of 6 million bicycles and 20 million people, driving on the streets of Shanghai is an experience in itself. Whether it’s deciphering foreign road signs, avoiding weaving bicyclists and taxi drivers, or locating a parking spot, driving in Shanghai is like navigating an obstacle course. If all this sounds like too much, then consider hiring a chauffeur-driven vehicle.

If you have never been to Singapore before, consider visiting this small island in Asia. This child-friendly island has almost everything to offer to everyone in the family. Over the years, the government has poured in millions of dollars to tourism projects and continuing to do so in it's effort to make Singapore a perfect family vacation destination in Asia.

I left Singapore via a long train for Penang, Malaysia. I would be traveling up the Malay peninsular to Butterworth and then taking a short car ride over to the nearby Penang Island.

Chinese New Year is the most important festival to the ethnic Chinese in Singapore. It is like no other festivals as people will not hesitate to spend an entire month's salary on preparing for this very important day.

If it were not for the 400 m stretch of the yellow sand beach lapped by the cerulean waves of the Bay of Bengal, at the edge of the town, Puri would have remained the quintessential pilgrim town of Orissa. The frolicsome antics by the seaside and the studied spirituality of the Jagannath temple may seem like strange bedfellows but it is this magic combination that lifts Puri from the mediocrity of an ordinary destination. One arm of the touristy Golden Triangle (the other two being the state capital Bhubaneswar and the city of the sun temple, Konark), Puri is a year round destination. But if you are headed for the seaside, the best time is winter.

"PLEASE madam here is your dinner and I have also laid out the table." Tiffin carrier in hand the caretaker of our Gangotri Forest Lodge stood at the door, "I will be here again tomorrow, early morning." I looked at my wristwatch – it was not even six thirty in the evening.

Located on the sprawling banks of the river Yamuna, Delhi, the capital of India, represents an intriguing blend of a myriad of ancient and the modern civilizations, reflected not only in its diverse cultural heritage and historical monuments but also in the present social structure and lifestyles. The city chronicles the history of the various civilizations and dynasties that flourished here for over 3000 years. Their legacy survives in the many ancient monuments left behind by their rulers, each a chronicle of the glory of its times and a reflection of the prevailing cultures. The remains of seven distinctive capital cities can be seen here.

Sited on the middle of Indonesian archipelago, first discovered by the European sailors, Bali becomes truly tranquil island. It is the earthy paradise for those, who are dedicated to the beauty of the tropical island. For summer holiday, honeymoon or even family perfect holiday. Not only its attractive view and exotic tourism spot but also the hospitality of the people you hardly find in a metropolitan city or highest civilization.

Travel to China can be a rich and rewarding adventure. Whether you are a novice or are an experienced world traveler, we think that this guide will be of assistance to you as you plan a safe and enjoyable trip.