Orient

The futuristic west meets the traditional east in a perfect blend that’s makes up the countries of the Orient.

Take part in the graceful tea ceremony of Japan. Be amazed by the jaw dropping Angkor Vat temple complex in Cambodia. Cruise down a river in Vietnam . Experience indoor skydiving in Singapore. Visit the Chinese terracotta soldiers. Take a walk on the Great Wall. Shop till you drop in Thailand. Go hiking on the Genting Highlands of Malaysia. Soak in the sun on the sparkling beaches of Bali...

It has all the exotic ingredients that are required for a perfect holiday. A taste of this will have you come back for more.

 

Beautiful beaches and islands. Friendly, charming people. Warm weather all year round. One of the world's most popular and delicious cuisines. Colourful, enchanting temples. An exotic culture preserved through the ages by a country that has never been colonised. Thailand’s beaches are mythical - tall palms angle over pearlescent sand and coral gardens flourishing in the shallow seas . With a long coastline and jungle-topped islands anchored in azure waters, Thailand is a tropical getaway for the hedonist and the hermit, the prince and the pauper.This paradise offers a varied menu of playing in the gentle surf of Bang Saphan Yai, diving with whale sharks in Ko Tao, scaling the sea cliffs of Krabi, learning to kiteboard in Hua Hin, recuperating at a health resort in Ko Samui and feasting on the beach wherever sand meets sea. Gleaming temples and golden Buddhas frame both the rural and modern landscape with exuberance. Adored around the world, Thai cuisine expresses fundamental aspects of Thai culture: it is generous and warm, outgoing and nuanced, refreshing and relaxed. A Thai meal is sure to keep you hooked.
From the western tip of Sumatra to the eastern edge of Papua is a nation that defies homogenisation. A land of so many cultures, peoples, animals, customs, plants, features, artworks and foods that it is like 100 countries melded into one. Dramatic sights are the norm. There’s the sublime - an orangutan lounging in a tree; the artful - a Balinese dancer executing precise moves seemingly loose-limbed; the idyllic - a deserted stretch of blinding white sand on Sumbawa set off by azure water and virescent jungled hills; the astonishing - the mobs in a cool and glitzy Jakarta mall on a Sunday; the solemn: the quiet magnificence of Borobudur. Conquer the slopes of simmering Mt Batur, explore an underwater world in Bali Barat National Park, feast on delicious Balinese cuisine and enjoy moments of absolute peace in Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Hindu-Buddhist lake temple dedicated to the goddess of the waters. Dotted with small, character-filled villages, smouldering volcanoes rising out of lush rich fields, idyllic beaches and colourful reefs, Bali is the perfect island getaway. A land of impressive volcanoes and the great Komodo Dragon, the island chain from East Java, Bali, Lombok to Rinca is stunningly diverse. Heritage Site of Borobudur is an amazingly well-preserved monument richly adorned with impressive reliefs and Buddha statues - visit the Wonderful Indonesia.
Singapore is transforming itself from the "Garden City" to "The City in a Garden". Singaporeans take great pride in their parks and gardens. Visit the Botanical Gardens, the Gardens by the Bay, HortPark at the "Southern Ridges" and the "Chinese" and "Japanese" Gardens. The Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari at the Zoo and the Jurong Bird Park are adored by travellers. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has more plant species than that in the whole of North America. The tortoise and turtle sanctuary in the Chinese Gardens is an must watch. Adventure activities include diving with sharks at Underwater World on Sentosa, mountain biking around Bukit Timah Reserve, waterskiing or wakeboarding on the Kallang River, go-karting and rock climbing. Other popular attractions are the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands and the Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa. Few cities in Southeast Asia can boast Singapore's fascinating ethnic brew. Where else in the world can you dip into the cultures of China, India and Malaysia all in one day, against a backdrop of ultra-modern Westernization. Singapore indeed is a melting pot of cultures.
Rugged mountains reach dramatically for the sky while their rainforest-clad slopes sweep down to floodplains teeming with forest life. Cool highland hideaways roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves. Much of the Peninsular Malaysia is covered by dense jungle, particularly its mountainous, thinly populated northern half. Sarawak is home to amazing limestone caves, headhunter trails and the razor sharp Pinnacles. Sabah is covered in impenetrable tropical rainforest where the Rafflesia – the world’s largest flowering plant, thrives together with an eclectic mix of other unusual plants. However, it is the wildlife and the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre that Sabah is best known for. One of Malaysia's key attractions is its extreme contrasts which further add to this theme of ‘diversity’. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts while five-star hotels sit just metres away from ancient reefs. For the perfect holiday full of surprises, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.
Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient, is a fascinating enclave that has managed to retain much of the Chinese cultural heritage and Noble House flavour of its colonial past.Brace yourself for Hong Kong is alluring, exotic, glamorous, and chaotic, all at the same time. Famous for its stunning Harbour, the Star Ferry and the Peak Tram, Hong Kong is constantly evolving. There is always something new to do and see ! Hong Kong's Attractions are many and varied, ranging from natural wonders to unique cultural and historical landmarks, amusement parks and a bustling harbour.The city is home to state of the art skyscrapers and sleepy fishing villages, chic boutiques sporting top designer labels and colorful knick knack markets, award winning international restaurants and quick and bustling food stalls and of course anything and everything in between! Whether this is your first Asian journey, a weekend getaway, a family trip, a romantic escape or just passing by, don't just travel to Hong Kong, get to know it, cherish the experience, be dazzled and enjoy the ride!
Ever-welcoming and always fascinating, Japan is a land of ancient cultures, austere traditions and groundbreaking technology. Experience the best that this diverse country has to offer from the excitement of lively Tokyo to the sacred resting places of shoguns at Nikko. Feast on local delights at a Takayama market, make a sobering visit to the Hiroshima Peace Park and explore magnificent Kyoto temples. Discover ancient castles, lush countryside and fascinating feudal history on this authentic travel adventure. Sitting in a robe on tatami mats eating raw fish and mountain vegetables may not be how you dine back home, but it is unforgettably delicious.If you pack a good sense of humour and leave all inhibitions behind, the Land of the Rising Sun rarely disappoints.
Cambodia is located in the heart mainland of Southeast Asia, which conjures images of a glorious and mysterious past and rich of the cultural heritages. Ascend to the realm of the gods, Angkor Wat. Descend into the hell of the Khmer Rouge at Tuol Sleng. Thanks to a history both inspiring and depressing, Cambodia delivers an intoxicating present for adventurous visitors. The divergent facets of the Kingdom provoke both the serious and casual traveler, generally charmed and sometimes bewildered by its mysteries. Not only Angkor Wat, Bayon, Taprohm, Sandstone of ancient holy places, the giantroots of ancient trees, the graceful shapes of Apsaras and some temples buried in the jungle, hill tribes settled in the remote areas, colorful pagodas, strings of pristine islands and the century beach, as part of cultural tour that Cambodia is proud of her presentation, but also the splendor of the Khmer civilization and its people who have shown their friendliness everywhere you move in the country.
Get a taste of adventure in Vietnam. Travel from the French influences of Hanoi to stirring Ho Chi Minh City on a journey that takes in Vietnam's most amazing sights. Cruise an azure ocean pierced by surreal- looking limestone islands in Halong Bay, explore the countryside around Hoi An by bicycle, relax on Nha Trang's perfect beaches and crawl through the humbling Cu Chi Tunnels. If you want visual dramatics, Vietnam delivers. Slalom through the majestic inland karst mountains of Cao Bang. Hike mountain tracks and explore tribal villages near Sapa and Bac Ha. Then witness the spectacular sandy bays of the central coastline and explore the reefs and coves of the Cham and Con Dao Islands.See the astonishing cave systems of Phong Nha, Cat Tien National Park and the bewitching back waters of the Mekong Delta. This is a country of myriad influences. In the south, Indian and Hindu culture had a lasting influence in the Cham temples and spicy regional cuisine, spiked with chilli and tempered with coconut. Head north and Chinese connections are far more apparent. Finally, no visit would be complete without experiencing the energy of big-city life in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The wilderness of Laos is drawing travellers looking for nature and adventure. Laos is surprisingly diverse...Colourfully dressed hill tribes populate the higher elevations, while in the lowland river valleys, coconut palms sway over the Buddhist monasteries of the ethnic Lao. The familiar smell of freshly baked bread and coffee mingles with exotic local aromas in morning markets, and many of the old shophouses of its larger towns now house French restaurants as remanents of colonial days. Away from the cities, there is so much more to see; the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang Province, the forested mountains of Northern Laos, the gothic limestone karsts around the backpacker-haven Vang Vieng and in the deep south, past the market town Pakse, is Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands), where the mighty Mekong spreads out and all the hammocks are taken.
Antique yet up-to-the-minute, familiar yet unrecognisable, outwardly urban but quintessentially rural, conservative yet path-breaking, space-age but old-fashioned, China is a land of mesmerising and eye-opening contradictions.Travel around China and you can quickly tap into a rich seam of antiquity: ponder the legends and myths of the Forbidden City, rediscover your sense of wonder on the Great Wall or attempt to fathom the timeless expressions of the silent Terracotta Warriors. Submit to the unique charms of Píngyáo – China's best preserved walled town – or get a glimpse of Nirvana at the serene Mògāo Caves outside Dūnhuáng. Meander among the historic villages of Wùyuán, wake with the cock crow in an ancient Hakka roundhouse. Trek your way around Tiger Leaping Gorge or cycle between the fairy-tale karst pinnacles of Yángshuò. Ponder the desiccated enormity of the Taklamakan Desert or swoon at Huángshān's preternatural mists. Become entranced by the Yuányáng Rice Terraces of Yúnnán, size up the awesome sand dunes of Dūnhuáng, hike your way around the exquisite landscape of Déhāng or, when your energy fails you, flake out for a tan on the distant beaches of Hǎinán island. China is vast. Off-the-scale massive.