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Activity Asia Bangkok City Heritage Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand

You cannot spend a day in Bangkok without a visit to Wat Pho.  It is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples. The temple complex known as the Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds. The larger northern walled compound, is open to visitors and houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, and very famously the 46m long reclining Buddha. The southern compound, contains the living quarters for Buddist monks and a school.

The Temple of the Reclining Bhudda – Wat Pho – Bangkok – Thailand

Next on your list and be prepared to set aside a good few hours for this one, is a visit to the Grand Palace. The palace at one time was the king’s home (1782 -1925) as well as the place where the government of Thailand carried out their work.  The Great Palace is not a single building but a collection of buildings divided up into four main courts: the Outer Court, the Middle Court, the Inner Court and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Some buildings are open to the general public, whilst others are still used by various government departments.

Grand Palace – Bangkok – Thailand

For contrast take yourself shopping.  At one end of the scale head for Chatuchak Market which is open on Saturdays and Sundays.  With over 8000 stalls and at local prices you are bound to find a bargain or two here.  At the other end of the scale head for Siam Paragon.  You will only find 250 shops here, but they are high end brands and even include car manufacturers including Bentley, BMW and Porsche.  You will also find South East Asia’s biggest aquarium and numerous food outlets.

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Asia Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Across its 263 islands not only does East meet West in terms of culture, but those islands provide mountains with their natural beauty in contrast with the man made beauty of its skyscraper skyline.

Market - Jardine's Crescent
Market – Jardine’s Crescent

Part of the fancination with Hong Kong is the opportunity to shop till you drop. As a free trade city there are bargains to be had in the numerous markets and shopping centres that the city has to offer. If shopping is not your thing, then there is the historical side of Hong Kong to discover. An excellent starting place is the Hong Kong Museum of History which is located next to the Hong Kong Science Museum. Whatever your reason for visiting Hong Kong you will not be disappointed.

Temple Street Night Market - Copyright Hong Kong Tourist Board.

Temple Street Night Market

At the end of the day however tired you might feel, a visit to a night market is a must. You just cannot travel halfway round and world and not experience the unique sight, sounds and smells of a Hong Kong night market. What are you waiting for?

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Asia Singapore

Singapore Sling

Written 100 years ago, many of us will know the song “On a Little Street in Singapore” from Glenn Miller, Bob Dylan or Manhattan Transfer. Today, it’s the attraction of those “Little Streets” that draw us to this Island State. Those “Little Streets” are the result of Singapore’s multi-cultural, colonial and wartime past and make it a destination in its own right rather than just a stopover. Being uniquely placed at the tip of the Malay peninsula, at the cross roads of trade routes it has been the meeting point for Asian and European cultures.  British influence is clearly evident as many of us are familiar with the Raffles Hotel named after Sir Thomas Raffles who brought the British to the island and the Anderson Bridge named after the Governor of the Region in 1910. 

Due to its size and history there is so much to see and do, it’s all very easy to access and so much can be packed into such a short space of time.  On the one hand you have traditional Chinatown and on the other the Sands Skypark and shopping in Orchard Street.  Singapore’s nickname is “City in a Garden” and it’s possible to get away from it all at the National Orchid Garden and the Jurong Bird Park which home to 400 species of birds.

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Asia Japan

Japan 2021

Top of the list of places to visit after travel restrictions are lifted has to be Japan. For most of us visting Japan will take us as far out of our comfort zone as we can go in a society and culture that on the face of it looks very much like our own.

As the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games draws nearer, the government is working to put safety measures in place for overseas visitors, with a possible lifting of the current entry ban as early as April 2021. 

This would allow the Japanese authorities to fine tune the arrangements ahead of the July 23rd start date for the Olympics.