Asia Travel Guide, Hotels, Tours, Holiday, Vacation

Must See Locations in Vietnam

asia travel — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:53:08 +0000

Though Vietnam as a country has been marred with plenty of unrest and is not considered a tourist location, the country definitely has some excellent locations that are popular with tourists. The locations are classified under various categories, such as cultural, historical and natural sights.
Locations like Sapa in the northern part of the country and Dalat in the southern region are excellent due to the cool climatic conditions. There are beautiful wooden cottages hidden within the cool pine forests in these locations. The cities also have some beautiful beaches of Cat Ba, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet.
The Northern part of Vietnam is reminiscent of the country’s dark history. The capital city of Hanoi is home to historical sites, such as Loa Citadel, Hoa La Prison, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. One can also visit the royal tombs at Hue and the architectural wonders at Hoi An.
A Buddhist country, Vietnam houses numerous pagodas dedicated to this religious following. Some of the famous pagodas in the country are Mot Cot, a single pillar pagoda, Chua Huong, Chua Thien and many more. The Catholic churches and the Cu Chi tunnels are also some of the most frequently visited locations in Vietnam.

Forbidden City

asia travel — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:21:21 +0000

The Forbidden City is the most treasured palace in China and also the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It’s also acknowledged to be one of the most important palaces in the world along with Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US and the Kremlin in Russia. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and the Palace Museum features Chinese cultural and historical relics. It’s located in the heart of Beijing and was a home to the emperor who “claimed to be the son of Heaven”, and believed Heaven’s power was showered upon him. It was build like a replica of the purple abode where God is believed to reside and hence ordinary people were forbidden to enter thus giving it the name!

Lake Pinatubo

asia travel — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:00:30 +0000

Next most important place to visit in Philippines is the Crater Lake Pinatubo. As it’s name suggests it’s located in Mount Pinatubo bordering Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, Philippines. This lake is fondly called “a wide jewel of blue and green” due to it is color. Originally reaching this lake was not easy and involved hours of trekking and hiking. Now with the Skyway done, it’s become possible to go via a four wheeler in about an hour and a half and then hiking for another 45 mins. Visiting the lake is advisable during the dry season which is between November and May.

Famous Pagodas in Vietnam

asia travel — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:46:45 +0000

Xa Loi Pagoda located in the city of Ho Chi Minh portrays the cultures of Buddhism and the Vietnamese history. In 1963, over 400 monks and nuns were arrested and this pagoda was used as the opposition center. The Xa Loi Pagoda contains seven tiers and has a sacred Buddhist relic. A publishing center is dedicated to print books on Buddhism.
Another famous monument in the Ho Chi Minh City is the Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda. This monument is a part of the daily lives of the residents. The local Buddhist followers prior to going to their work visit the pagoda and say a prayer by burning incense.
The Tay Ho Pagoda in Hanoi was constructed in the 17th century. The West Lake is a magnificent sight and is popular for the Vietnamese culture.
The Quan Thanh Pagoda in Honoi is located near the Truc Bach Lake. There is a massive idol of Huyen Thien Tran Vo, the God to whom the pagoda is dedicated. Made from bronze, the idol weighs four tons and is accompanied by a tortoise and a snake.
The visit to the Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi is cumbersome and takes a bit of travelling. The scenery during the drive is exotic and one needs to take a row boat to reach the mountain’s base. A two kilometer walk thereafter takes visitors to the pagoda. Though simple architecture dons the Perfume Pagoda, the sights offered atop the mountain are truly magnificent.

Japanese Need To See Castles

asia travel — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:11:14 +0000

Built in the 16th and the 17th centuries, the Japanese castles symbolize the power of the Gods. There are many types of castles in the country and touring a tower in a castle can be a memorable experience as one can see the mechanics that were in use during the Wars. Some of the famous castles of Japan are discussed below.
Hirosaki Castle: It is located in the northern part of Japan and features a tower museum that displays the Samurai swords, helmets and other Samurai items.
Odawara Castle: The castle was built in early 15th century and is amongst the largest castles of the country. The ruins of the castle are now known as the Odawara Joshi Koen and the most famous attraction is the restored donjon.
Nagoya Castle: Built in 1612 by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, there are two shachihoko that are displayed on the top of the castle.
Himeji Castle: Located in Hyogo, this is the most beautiful castle of Japan. It is also known as the White Heron because of its white walls.
Some of the other famous castles of Japan include, the Hikone Castle, Matsuyama Castle, Osaka Castle, Matsumoto Castle, Kumamoto Castle and the Shuri Castle.

Silk Road Travel

asia travel — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:20:37 +0000

One of the most exquisite journeys during a visit to China, the Silk Road is actually a run-through the ancient history and diverse culture of China. It’s unique and one of it’s kind with the range of attractions being unparalleled. A Journey from scorching desert to cool, watery mountain beauty and lush green upland pasture, and, if time permits cross the Taklamakan Desert to the outpost of Kashgar, which is a market as inviting and bustling much like olden days. The Sights on the Silk Road include The Terracotta Warriors Museum, The Bell Tower, White Horse Temple, The Mogao Grottoes and Southern Pasture. The Silk Road consists of almost everything that’s required for a cultural and historic expedition on China.

Korean War Memorial

asia travel — Mon, 16 May 2011 07:49:09 +0000

Located in Seoul, the Korean War Memorial was inaugurated in 1994. The museum like memorial provides tourists an insight in to all the different wars that the country has been involved in. There is a large collection of documents and war memorabilia displayed in numerous rooms. Military equipment is displayed in the outdoor exhibition center. Covering six display rooms are displayed over 13000 things from a large variety of themes.
The country has been involved in many wars both civil and foreign over the years. In the last many centuries, southern states seized neighboring regions and consolidated the complete peninsula in a single state. The Korean War Memorial was constructed to pay homage to the many victims of these wars over the years. Additionally, the memorial plays an active role in providing the younger generation an insight in to the country’s history through the various displays showcased in this museum.
The Korean War Memorial is spread over 20000 square meters and houses two underground levels and four levels above the ground. On the galleries on the right and the left side are marble monuments that list the names of the deceased soldiers and deceased policemen while on duty.
The compound has an artificial waterfall and resting areas where visitors can enjoy a picnic while admiring the surrounding beauty. In the center is displayed a Statue of Brothers symbolizing the country’s division.

Mount Wutai

asia travel — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:51:36 +0000

Mount Wutai meaning “Five Plateau Mountain”, also known as Wutai Mountain or Qingliang Shan, located in Shanxi, China, is one of the Four Sacred Mountains. Its a home of many important monasteries and temples and it’s cultural heritage consist of 53 sacred monasteries. It was added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site in 2009. Wutai was identified first followed by the other three mountains. In 2008, inhabitants complained that they were forced away so the site can be added to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nanshan Temple is the largest of the many temples here with seven terraces. Other important temples include Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple and Pusading Temple.

Famous Beaches in Andhra Pradesh

asia travel — Thu, 12 May 2011 07:35:10 +0000

Famous Beaches in Andhra Pradesh :

Beaches are the favorite hang-out spots for tourists. Andhra pradesh has its share of beaches too and listed below are the famous ones:
Bheemunipatnam Beach: This beach has a score of resorts near by, and is very famous in Vishakapatnam.
Manginapudi Beach: This has inbuilt parks, museums, ports, etc. People interested in history may find this place an interesting one.
Mypad Beach: It is located near Nellore and famous for its scenic beauty.
Rishikonda Beach: This beach is eight kilometers from Visakhapatnam beach and, the choice of water sporting people.
Vodarevu Beach: This beach is known for its serene surroundings.

Terracotta Army

asia travel — Tue, 10 May 2011 23:44:26 +0000

The Terracotta Army, which means “soldier and horse funerary statues” is the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. These structures date back to 210 BC and was discovered in 1974, by a few farmers near Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China close to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. The structures are of different heights depending on the roles and the tallest of them are the generals. The structures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Though three pits containing the Terracotta Army of over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses are found , most of them are still buried in the pits.