Friday, February 29, 2008

Top Asian Destination

Asia is a melting pot of culture and heritage brimming with colour, smell and taste. Each of the seven spots has something unique to offer to the visitor, something that can be found only in Asia.

Japan

Japan is situated in north-eastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. It consists of four major islands, encircled by more than 4,000 smaller islands, Tokyo is the capital. Japan has coastlines and varied scenery, towering volcanic mountains, and twisted beautiful valleys. Japanese architecture reflects the merger of traditional and modern. It has elaborately designed fortresses, Shinto shrines of Japan's original religion, Shintoism, and Classic Buddhist architecture. Japanese are very proud of their gardens and rightly so. Their gardens are designed to be depictions of nature and to convey a sense of simplicity, and unspoiled beauty.

Climate—Japan pleasant weather, with four distinct seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter. The intensity of the seasons varies from north to south.

Culture— Japanese culture has evolved from its roots to a cosmopolitan culture it is now a mixture of Asian, European and North American cultures. Japan has a rich cultural tradition of arts and literature Painting, Calligraphy, dance and music.

Cuisine— Japanese have a refined taste in cuisine and are famous for seafood dishes like sushi and sashimi for instance. The staple food is rice and miso. Their tea ceremonies are as elaborate as they are elegant.

Hot spots— Tokyo, Nikko, Kamakura, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Nagasaki, Fuji Hakone Izu National Park, Daisetsuzan NP.

India

India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. India has mountain chains, foothill valleys, plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy deserts are beaches. India is a land of diversity and beauty it is full of historic traditional monuments and modern buildings. India is full of sounds, tastes and smells in other words it is a plethora of wonders. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore are its four main cities.

Climate--- India basically has three seasons -summer, winter and monsoon each of which can vary in duration and intensity from north to south.

Culture --Indian culture is rich and diverse. It has a multitude of religions and cultures in accordance. There is a vast range of music and dance forms both classic and modern. India is greatly influenced by its film industry, of which “Bollywood” in Mumbai is a great icon. There are historic monuments like the Taj Mahal. The Indian culture treats guests as god and serves them as one. Indians are generally warm hearted and welcoming in nature.

Cuisine—Once again great diversity is found in ingredients, spices and cooking methods. Rice and wheat are the staple. A wide variety of cuisine is found and there is a great disparity in the food from region to region, though spicy food is more common.

Hot spots-- Taj Mahal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Kashmir, Bollywood, Himalayan range, Mumbai, Delhi, Khajuraho, beaches and National Reserves and sanctuaries.


Singapore

Singapore is an island city at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city). It is said 14th-century Sumatran prince on taking refuge on the island after a thunderstorm, renamed it Lion City after spotting a lion. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself; you can find beautiful beaches and panoramic oceanic views everywhere in Singapore. Singapore of today has a highly developed and flourishing economy, which revolves around trade. It is a popular travel destination, with tourism as its largest industry.

Climate-- Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, temperatures remain uniform all year round.

Culture -- Like all of Asia Singapore also has a rich history filled with traditions. Chinese Singaporeans form the largest ethnic group then come the Malay Singaporeans, Indian Singaporeans, and Arab Singaporeans. Racial harmony is greatly respected all aspects of society, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christian’s all live peacefully. The architecture of Singapore is varied, reflecting the ethnic build-up of the country; it has Chinatown and Little India. Singapore has also become a centre for modern, architecture with huge malls and hotels. It’s a shopper’s paradise with ongoing shopping festivals and carnivals.

Cuisine— Singapore has a wide range of ethnic food available; like Chinese, Indian, French, Italian and Malay food.

Hot spots—Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, Supreme Court and City Hall, Parliament House and the Elephant Statue, Orchad Road, Raffles Hotel and all the malls and festivals.

0 comments: