| By nature, you are an adventurer | | | | old-world gardens, and plenty of nightclubs; |
| | | | and Hiroshima is home to the Peace Memorial |
| By nature, you are an adventurer, full of | | | | Park and its museum, Hiroshima Castle. |
| amazement and curiosity about a world bigger | | | | |
| than life itself. Learning about cultures in | | | | If you travel to China, you must go to |
| faraway lands fascinates you, and engaging in | | | | Beijing and visit the Forbidden City, |
| new experiences gives you an incomparable | | | | formerly the Imperial Family’s private |
| rush. You are a born explorer, and destined | | | | kingdom, which features a maze of corridors, |
| to travel the continent of Asia. | | | | through-gardens, shrines, and meditation |
| | | | halls. Most of the treasures that adorned the |
| Exploration of Asia – the largest | | | | places are now on exhibit in the Palace |
| landmass on Earth – will reveal a land | | | | Museum. |
| of diverse cultures and philosophies; natural | | | | |
| and constructed landscapes; and monuments | | | | In North Korea, a great destination is Mount |
| that tell stories of times past and those to | | | | Kumgang, which is celebrated in mythic |
| come. | | | | legend and folk songs. Head to Seoul in South |
| | | | Korea and visit the National Museum of |
| Journey into Southeast Asia and discover the | | | | Korea, which displays thousands of relics |
| lands of Thailand, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar, | | | | from ancient times. |
| Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, | | | | |
| Indonesia, Bali, Singapore, East Timor, and | | | | On a trip to Hong Kong, you can scurry |
| Brunei. | | | | through the bustling metropolis of the New |
| | | | Territories, or you can travel out to |
| While strolling along the River of Kings | | | | peaceful fishing villages or Tai Mo Shan |
| (Chao Phraya) in Thailand’s capital | | | | (Big Misty Mountain), which stands 3,144 |
| city of Bangkok, you can see the Temple of | | | | feet tall (the highest point in Hong Kong). |
| the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of Dawn, and | | | | |
| the Temple of the Reclining Buddha – | | | | In Taiwan, visit historic cities such as |
| all of which contain monumental statues of | | | | Kaohsiung, where a mountain road lies amidst |
| Buddhist deities. Travel south and explore | | | | the interior of marble mountains lined with |
| the Thai “paradise islands” of | | | | pagodas and pavilions. Or, you can |
| Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, | | | | experience life in aboriginal villages such |
| Krabi, and Ko Samui in the Andaman Sea and | | | | as Wulai. |
| Gulf of Siam. | | | | |
| | | | In Central and Southwest Asia, you’ll |
| The Royal Palace Grounds in Cambodia’s | | | | find Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, |
| capital city of Phnom Penh is a fantastic | | | | Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and |
| place to view a vast collection of Buddha | | | | Mongolia. In Southwest Asia, you can visit |
| statues and royal artifacts. Nearby, the | | | | Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, |
| National Museum has an immense collection of | | | | Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, |
| original Khmer sculpture. | | | | Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, |
| | | | Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. |
| In Burma/Myanmar, you can view the Sule | | | | |
| Pagoda, a shrine built in the 3rd century | | | | In Uzbekistan, take a trip to the Museum of |
| that today remains a center for Ayurvedic | | | | Fine Arts for a glimpse of artifacts from |
| astrology and Buddhist worship. In Vietnam, | | | | pre-Russian Turkistan, including bronze |
| a walk through the popular Binh Tay market | | | | Buddhas and Zoroastrian relics. You can also |
| in Saigon will lead you to fresh produce, | | | | travel through the country’s walnut |
| pottery, incense, and other goods. The city | | | | tree forest and grassy meadows. While in |
| of Hanoi is a center for Vietnamese culture | | | | Kyrgyzstan, you can bathe in thermal springs |
| and intellect, while the countryside is home | | | | in the capital city of Bishkek. |
| to rock formations, rural villages, and | | | | |
| tropical landscapes. | | | | In the country of Turkmenistan, visit the |
| | | | city of Merv and view 7th century ruins at |
| Go to the ancient Laotian royal capital of | | | | Kyz-Kala. You can also travel to Mongolia in |
| Luang Probing, where you can witness | | | | the summer to observe the Naadam Festival, a |
| cultural and religious festivals any time of | | | | time when Mongolians travel across the |
| the year. In Malaysia, just outside Kuala | | | | country on horseback to celebrate their |
| Lumpur, watch worshipers carry their patron | | | | ancient heritage. |
| deities into the Batu Caves during the annual | | | | |
| Thaipusan Festival. | | | | While in Turkey, visit the Topkapi Palace and |
| | | | view the embroidered robes of sultans, |
| In the Philippines, on the island of Luzon, | | | | jeweled weaponry, an immense collection of |
| the bustling capital city of Manila is home | | | | porcelain, and an elaborately decorated |
| to Fort Santiago and San Augustin Church. An | | | | harem. In Iran, go to the world-famous Iman |
| hour away in the town of Tagaytay, you can | | | | Square; and in Jordan, view Byzantine mosaics |
| see the Taal Volcano. If you want to learn | | | | while traveling through Madaba. If you |
| about Indonesia’s culture and history, | | | | journey to Israel, go to Jerusalem’s |
| visit the country’s National Museum, | | | | Haram Al-Sharif, which is purportedly the |
| located in the capital city of Jakarta. | | | | Temple Mount that is sacred in Christianity, |
| | | | Islam, and Judaism. |
| In Bali, you can go to the Ubud, the | | | | |
| country’s cultural center, and absorb | | | | Explore the Jeitta Grotto caves in Beirut, |
| authentic Balinese dances and music. In | | | | Lebanon. In Syria, travel to Crac De |
| Singapore, you can observe worshipers at the | | | | Chevaliers, which is said to be the largest |
| Sri Mariamman Temple, which also features | | | | and best-preserved Crusader castle in the |
| frescoes and statues of deities. Nearby, you | | | | Middle East. You can also trek through the |
| can stroll along Arab Street by the | | | | hill-town villages of the island of Cyprus; |
| Sultan’s Mosque and shop for batik, | | | | or journey to Saudi Arabia and see |
| rattan, jewelry, and Muslim figurines. | | | | Jidda’s 853-foot King’s Fountain |
| | | | that illuminates at night. In the United |
| Travel to South Asia and explore the | | | | Arab Emirates, you can take a trip to the |
| countries of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, | | | | Dubai Museum and view exhibitions that |
| Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. | | | | depict mosques, traditional Arab homes, and |
| | | | the fishing and pearl diving trades. |
| In India, visit the capital city of | | | | |
| Delhi’s Red Fort, an isolated area of | | | | In Bahrain, travel to the village of |
| palaces, dancehalls, and meeting places. | | | | A’ali (nine miles away from the |
| Another must-see is the Raj Ghat, which is | | | | capital city of Manama) and tour thousands of |
| where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In Nepal, | | | | burial mounds. In Qatar, travel to the rocky |
| you can stop at the royal palace of Durbar | | | | hills of Al Jassasiya and view stone carvings |
| Square and temples of Hanuman Dhoka, all of | | | | dating back to prehistoric eras. In Oman, |
| which date to the 12th century. | | | | visit the city of Jabrin and tour a 17th |
| | | | century fortified palace. |
| While in Bhutan, a visit to the Bhumthang | | | | |
| region will reveal valleys amidst blue pine | | | | While in Yemen, marvel at ancient Islamic |
| forests surrounded by mountains. There are | | | | architecture as well as the mountainous and |
| also many places in this region that are | | | | desert landscapes of the walled city of |
| associated with myths and legends, such as | | | | Sanaa. Travel to Kuwait and see the remains |
| “The Castle of the White Swan.” | | | | of the ancient Old City Wall Gates, which |
| | | | guarded against invasion from desert tribes |
| In Pakistan, you can take a camel safari | | | | for decades until the 1950s. |
| through the sand dunes of the Tharparkar | | | | |
| Desert. In Maldives, go deep-sea fishing for | | | | In Armenia, travel to the capital city of |
| marlin and tuna at the Soneva Fushi. While | | | | Yerevan and see the Hellenistic temples of |
| in Sri Lanka, a trip to the north-central | | | | Garni and the Geghard monastery. In the |
| plains will lead you to the Citadel of | | | | Republic of Georgia, visit the monumental |
| Sigiriya (Lion Rock), which rises 600 feet | | | | statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the |
| and features images of Buddhist grottoes | | | | city of Tbilisi. While in Azerbaijan, you can |
| carved out of its red stone. Journey to | | | | see the ancient Walled City of Baku on the |
| Bangladesh, and visit the Bangladesh | | | | western shore of the Caspian Sea. |
| National Museum in Dhaka, which features | | | | |
| ancient and contemporary art. | | | | If you go to North Asia and Russia, be sure |
| | | | to tour Moscow’s Red Square (Krasnaya |
| A tour of East Asia will take you through | | | | ploshchad), the former site of military |
| Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea, | | | | parades and public executions. You could also |
| Hong Kong, and Taiwan. | | | | head to St. Petersburg and visit the |
| | | | Peterhof Palace and Garden (Petrodvorets), |
| In Japan, you’ll enjoy the cities of | | | | which was built for Peter the Great and |
| Kyoto, Tokyo, and Hiroshima. Kyoto has an | | | | currently houses marble statues, sculptures, |
| abundance of teahouses, temples, and | | | | and other artifacts belonging to the late |
| decades-old shops. In Tokyo, you can visit | | | | ruler. While in Siberia, go to Krasnoyarsk |
| the Mingei Museum (National Museum), | | | | and walk along the magnificent Enisey River. |