Joanna James
Asia is on every discerning traveller's bucket list. The continent is home to some of the world most exotic destinations, ancient cultures and traditional heritage sites. Discover and explore the best.
The quintessential holiday destination, Singapore, is a fine example of the proverb 'good things come in small packages'. The little nation delivers quite a punch in terms of attractions, culture, heritage and food. It is a jungle of huge sky-scrapers and also an oasis of the most fascinating and verdant parks in Asia. Sentosa Island, for instance, is home to Universal Studios, water parks, an artificial beach and other thrilling entertainment venues. You can shop till you drop at Asia's ritziest venue, Orchard Road; explore the Chinatown and Little India for a riot of colourful festivals and traditional food. Do remember that Singapore is a country of diverse ethnic groups comprising mainly of Chinese, Indians and is also home to many from around the world who has come to call this garden city "home", the country is also well renowned for its best luxury, upscale and midscale hotels in Asia.
This fabulous archipelago is spread across 5,200kms of sea, between Asia and the Australian continent. Comprising of 17,000 tropical islands, the spread comprises of multi-ethnic groups, cultural variety and diverse linguistics; which comprises of over 500 different languages. The customs and traditions of this archipelago have fascinated travellers for centuries, giving way to a huge array of ancient attractions and traditions that keep tourists pouring in to explore. Hugely popular, the Indonesian islands are some of the most visited holiday precincts. Take Bali, for instance, the island is a huge tourist lure, offering all modern amenities and loads of local and vintage charms. With the likes of Park Hotel Group, offering accommodation across Asia, places like Bali are now favoured by the cosmopolitan globetrotter.
A marvellous mix of ancient world attractions and the most modern innovations makes Japan a top holiday destination in Asia to explore. A slim archipelago of 6,800 islands, Japan is much more than sake and sushi, although indulging in both are to be looked forward to. This is a modern hub combined with the ancient land of Gods, fine craftsmanship, customs and an utterly polite population. The ever inspiring punctuality of the nation extends to the high speed trains, which will whisk you away in a matter of minutes to distant destinations. Visit the fishing islands, where pearl diving is still a part of the culture and explore the vintage temples, Geisha homes and old bamboo homes of past aristocrats by exploring vintage towns like Kyoto.
Anyone hankering for a beach holiday will have the Maldives on their minds. An archipelago of over a 1000 coral islands, clustered into 26 beautiful atolls, the Maldives offers island living at its best. Here, you will find powdery soft, sun bleached white sand beaches and gorgeous coral reefs, which one can easily swim out to, and be surrounded by a myriad of marine life. Indulge in sunset cruises, explore pristine islands and have a picnic on a sandbar in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Ancient culture, dynasties and customs are just part of the allure of China. This vast land will beguile and enchant, from the Great Wall of China to the beautiful mountain provinces. The food is world famous for a reason, Sichuan, Cantonese, Shandong and Jiangsu cuisine are just part of the repertoire, placing Chinese cuisine as one of the most popular across the world. It's not just the foodie in you that will be in for the treat, China is home to the Terracotta Warriors, ancient pagodas, and the most stunning manicured gardens, cherished and set up by master-craftsmen centuries ago.
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A travel writer who has a pas...
