Asia Travel Guide

Asian Overview

Incorporating the worlds largest population, Asia could be described as having the most diverse and culturally different societies on the planet. A vast array of people live here, with many different religions and languages. Some of the oldest civilisations started in Asia, and many countries have a fine heritage and incredible areas of archaeological interest.

Culture

This part of the world is rich is stories and myths and the popularity of Chinese opera is one example of the continuity between ancient and modern that many western countries haven't been able to hold on to. Since 1997 Hong Kong has been under Chinese rule again and, despite the initial worries, is living up to its old reputation. The clubs and restaurants are still there, and with China's recent apparently more relaxed attitude to all things western, possibly being more outrageous than under British rule. Disney recently announced a new theme park is to built in Hong Kong, and if that doesn't show how China is changing, nothing will.

Elsewhere in Asia the cultures are gradually going the same way as in Europe, eroded by the American cultural revolution, but outside of the cities you can still find areas of relatively unchanged country. Countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia offer the best, and cheapest, escapes from civilisation.

Holidays in the Tropics

No longer limited to the hippies of the 70s and 80s, Thailand has become one of the most popular travel destinations for those looking for sun, tropical beaches and adventure sports on a budget - though the beach resorts of Phuket in the east have also attracted music and film celebrities getting away from it all. Travelling through Thailand is easy, though not always painless, and cheap and to go south to Malaysia and Singapore is a great way to split up a longer trip to Australia or New Zealand. Malaysia is fairly similar to Thailand in prices, though not in Kuala Lumpur where everything gets more expensive as expected in such a modern capital city.

Beach holidays in Malaysia are generally more relaxed than those on the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha-Gnan, though you are able to get the same style of accommodation, beach huts, for similar prices. Moving south to Singapore you end up almost on the equator, some people find Singapore a bit dull in comparison to the other South-East Asian countries, but that don't let that stop you staying for at least a couple of days. For shopping you can't beat Singapore, everything is for sale here, and the malls are clean, tidy and the people friendly.