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Experience the Far East in Style

By Paul Mcindoe

The perception of a holiday in the Far East has changed radically over the past few decades. Although long thought of as a wild and foreign region, for years the majority of visitors to the Far East have been looking for a unique cultural experience or a more back-to-basics feel. Nowadays, visitors can still take advantage of the cultural diversity of the east but now can also do it in style in some of the most luxurious resorts, spas and beaches around the globe.

Throughout the Far East, visitors are drawn to countries such as China, Borneo, Thailand and Malaysia for the widely different and colourful cultures, cuisine, religion and scenery which these countries offer. For those who have only travelled and experienced resorts in the west, the east offers a hugely different and fulfilling experience that continually pulls many people to the region. In addition to the new experiences on offer, visitors can also sample it all in the lap of luxury, in the many resorts that have sprouted up on the pristine shores of the East.

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Thailand, for example, has long been a holiday favourite, attracting beach goers and culture seekers alike for decades. Replete with beautiful beaches spread across many islands to explore, sets the scene for a perfect holiday in the sun.

Malaysia is an up and coming destination for those looking for an exotic adventure. Like Thailand, the country boasts beautiful beaches as well as the cosmopolitan city of Kuala Lumpur, which is complete with excellent shopping malls, top notch restaurants and a never ending list of sights to behold.

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For a truly unique cultural experience, China ranks among the best on offer when it comes to Far East holidays. Playing host to the most cities whose populations number over a million people each, China is a bustling country with a booming economy that visitors can feel the minute they arrive. In stark contrast to this, much of the countryside still practices traditional agricultural methods, all the while set in breathtaking countryside that is still relatively isolated from the modern conveniences of the 21st century. Some of the biggest attractions on earth are located in China, such as the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

For a heady mixture of breathtaking scenery and wildlife, the island of Borneo is a perfect choice for a far east holiday. A trip through the Borneo jungle feels like a trip through time. Take a boat ride through the lush rainforest, where lucky visitors will be able to see orang-utans in their natural habitat; while remarkable birds can be seen and heard on any trip and a vast array of exquisite plants blanket the forest in the most vibrant colours.

Destinations which, historically, were only open to the most intrepid of travellers have now opened up to visitors from all walks of life, and in recent years these previously out of reach locations have become much more attractive to tourists seeking adventure and the unknown on their holiday.

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Travel in Laos

By: Nick Pulley

You may have heard that the people of Laos are a little chilled and 'laid back'...frankly, if they were any more relaxed they'd fall over!

Laos is a wonderful country and one that is worth as few weeks of any serious travellers time. No-one leaves Laos disappointed, finding it an ideal destination to escape from the grind and stresses of day-to-day life. Its welcome charm invites you to immediately immerse yourself into the culture and natural beauty of a land that is home to the ever smiling Laotian people.

Travelling on a private adventure itinerary is a great way to see the country. The roads are bad…really bad, the distances are long and the public transport is lacking in comfort, convenience and punctuality. Travelling with your own driver and better quality of vehicle ensures you pack a lot into visit, but of course will cost extra.

Head north to Luang Namtha or Muang Sing where the trekking is outstanding, probably the best in Asia. The Laos government has insisted on a very eco friendly approach to tourism at a stage where it will really make a difference. You can visit, and stay with, a variety of hill tribe people, which is quite an experience.

You’ll trek virgin trails, learn the ways of the rainforest and the tribes that live within it. On many tips you’ll get to spend time with the Laos elephants (it’s not known as the ‘land of a million elephants’ for nothing you know!) and learn about the work being done to preserve them. Then there is the wonderful Luang Prabang, with its legacy of ancient red-roofed temples, French colonial architecture and refined cuisine. It is unquestionably one of Southeast Asia's most enchanting cities and is an essential stop on any visit. From here you can reach the likes of the Pak Ou caves and the Kuang Si Falls.

In the south you should make a beeline for Si Phan Don, the Four Thousand Islands, a landlocked archipelago and home to some of Laos' most traditional villages as well as rare freshwater dolphins and the thundering waterfalls.

About The Author

Nick Pulley is CEO of Selective Asia, a UK based specialist tour operator running privately guided itineraries in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Visit Selective Asia.com for further information

Courtesy of www.articlecity.com
 

 
Sabah Malaysia Overview

by: Alix Sunggin

The second largest state in Malaysia, Sabah is the northernmost province on the island of Borneo and together with Sarawak, is known as ‘east Malaysia’.

Called the ‘Land below the wind’, probably due to it being situated just south of the typhoon belt it is a popular destination for people looking for something a little different from the rest of Malaysia.
Despite its closeness to Sarawak it shares little of its neighbor’s tribal diversity and its culture tends to follow the lines of the nearby Philippines though, unlike Sarawak it shares strong Islamic traditions with the rest of peninsular Malaysia.

For those with a taste of adventure, Sabah has got it all. From her golden sanded beaches to her towering mountains and jungles where one of the highest mountains in South-East Asia and popular attractions, Mount Kinabalu proudly reigns.

Among nature lovers, Sabah is legendry and her jungles teem with life, some species of fauna and flora still undiscovered or unrecorded today, lie hidden in her generous, though rapidly decreasing lap.



It is here that you will see the rare and endangered Orang-utan, often known as the ‘Wild man of Borneo’, but due to deforestation throughout the area, sightings of these chestnut apes in the wild, is becoming a rarity.

The gateway to Sabah and its capital is the relatively new town of Kota Kinabalu or K.K. as it’s usually called. This is an excellent stepping off point when visiting other parts of the state and offshore islands in the area.

Climate

Sabah has an equatorial climate. Temperatures rarely rise above 32°C except on exceptionally hot days and along the coastal areas rarely drops below 20°C at night. Although in the interior and at higher altitudes it can get quite cold at nights. Relative humidity is usually 85-95 per cent.

Rainfall is common throughout the year and varies from about 150 cm to over 450 cm per year. In most parts of Sabah the wetter period occurs during the north-east monsoon from October to February and the drier season during the south-west monsoon from March to September.

More information about Sabah Malaysia


About The Author:

Alix Sunggin is webmaster of Business Health Articles and Malaysia Travel Agent

Courtesy of www.articlecity.com
 

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