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?
China Delight
Thursday 18th March 2010
Travel Counsellor: Rosemary Metcalf
China had never been a destination high on my “TO DO” list, so when the opportunity was offered to participate on an educational with China Bestours, I thought, why not!
Our early morning arrival at Beijing Airport was perfect as it avoided the crowds and gave us the chance to appreciate the enormity of the building and gave us a quick process through immigration. Before we knew it we were with our guide and on our bus.
The drive to our hotel was interesting as autumn still had traces of recent snowfalls with overcast and grey skies; I am not painting a great start to this new adventure! Within a few hours of arriving in China, the smiling faces and the fascination of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square soon had me over my gloomy start. These places were amazing as we listened tentatively to our knowledgeable guide. At this stage, I wished that I had listened more at school when we studied the Dynasties of China! To have a basic understanding of the history would be a bonus!... view full story
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