What’s your favourite takeaway; Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Malaysian, Nonya, Japanese? Hard to choose, isn’t it? Each is fantastic, yet very different from all the others.
Holidays in Asia are like that too.
With as much variety as a Chinese banquet, Asia serves up a holiday experience for all tastes, and every course is a delight. From vast and ancient China to tiny, brand-new East Timor, the range and types of holiday in this magical, mystical part of the globe are endless. And because we’re near neighbours we can get up there for a full-blown holiday or just a short break for a spot of retail therapy or a stretch on a tropical beach to recharge the batteries.
With such diversity in culture, cuisine and history there are countless choices to be made; even deciding which country to visit can be a struggle. The adventurer might consider a trekking holiday in Nepal; perhaps crossing the Gobi desert by 4WD, or tackling the Kokoda track in true ANZAC style. For an experience holiday how about a Vietnamese cooking school in ancient Hoi An, a decadent spa package at a luxury resort in Thailand’s achingly beautiful Hua Hin, or a narrow gauge rail expedition to the cool mountain station towns of northern India.
Family friendly is an often overworked phrase in our business, but nothing better describes the scene on Bali’s sublime beaches or the atmosphere in Hong Kong’s Disneyland, while nothing says “romance” like Banyan Tree or Aman, check them out for the ultimate in luxe. Hot new destinations appear daily and the early adopter might consider Bhutan and South Korea as viable options if the beaten track has become a little too predictable.
Absolutely chockers with unique attractions the big cities of Asia have called us for decades with their chaotic siren songs and timeless traditions. Think Bangkok for its riverfront temples, Shanghai for breakneck speed development, Osaka for cultural treasures, Saigon for street food, Singapore for a relaxing cool vibe, Delhi for a frenetic spice hit, KL for shopping and Seoul as the “new black” in exotic destinations.
What we love about Asia
No matter where we go, the people of Asia are universally cheerful and welcoming.
The streets are a key part of the Asian way of life and we love wandering down back streets, alleys and hutongs watching life being lived.
What’s not to love about the fabulous cuisines of our northern neighbours?
Bali, affordable paradise.
Saturday 23rd May 2009
Travel Counsellor: Veronica Hunt
Selamat datang !
My last trip to Bali was in May 2009, it had been quite some time since our last visit and it was great to be back.
Arriving at Denpasar airport already painted the picture of change. The airport was much bigger than I remembered. The smiling faces were, however, the same, much to our delight.
I had pre-arranged VIP customs clearance which meant that our visas were processed faster, avoiding long queues. Highly recommended as this 'on arrival' process can be quite tedious.
We were sipping cold bottled water in an air-conditioned car in no time at all heading towards our destination, a village approximately half an hour north of Seminyak. This time we had opted for a private villa, which offered everything a luxury resort offers but is more secluded and peaceful.
During the drive to the village of Cepaka, changes and progress were quite noticeable, the infrastructure somewhat improved, but although the city was very busy with the hustle and bustle of heavy traffic... view full story
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