Asia Archives - Page 2 of 2

December 12, 2013 by author

Chichibu: A Natural Haven

Chichibu City is located in the Saitama prefecture of Japan. The city is popular for its festivals during autumn season. The scenic landscape of Chichibu is splendid as most of the areas are left untouched. The city offers a relaxing view and stress free environment with majestic gardens, mountains, parks, and more that could captivate anyone’s eyes as well as feelings.

The beauty of Chichibu is elegant to see, and would make anyone’s trip a truly memorable one. Chichibu is a city waiting for anyone to experience the natural scenery in it. There’s no doubt your visit in Chichibu will be a magnificent one with memories that will surely last a lifetime.

Gorgeous Scenery

Chichibu City has some of the finest landscapes such as the Okuchichibu Mountains which offers a breathtaking view overlooking the interior of the mountains. The forest that leads to the mountains is superb with trees swaying back and forth as the wind blows, which is always remarkable to watch. The refreshing scene always makes me eager for a picnic or rest. But if you’re like me, I get bored quickly while resting so when I wait for my friends to get themselves together for our next trip, I always play some of my favorite online games; the best being poker. Bwin online poker games are simply accesible and help you learn the tricks of the trade very easily. Soon, you’ll be playing like a pro and can possibly even make money while you travel around. Woo!

After a nice round of online poker and a relaxing break of seeing mountains, now it’s time to head to another scenic site of Misotsuchi, with its splendid display of natural icicles. The icicles can best be seen during the cold weather of January to February and witness the formation of icicles which is slowly being build up by dripping waters. The scene is so wonderful to watch as if one is inside a fairy tale.

Festival

Chichibu City is widely known for its night festival especially during the Chichibu Yomatsuri held annually in December. The event lasts for three days with fun filled activities. The floats in the festival are heavily ornate with carvings, tapestries, and lanterns with some accompanying music. The floats’ shape like houses is paraded into the streets and there are some displays of kabuki plays in the afternoon.

The floats’ lantern decorations are lighted during the closing stages of the festival with magical portrayal of a colorful atmosphere. The lighted lantern is astonishing to see which makes one feel enlightened with revived energy. The climaxes of the event are a spectacular two and half hours of fireworks display and watching the genius of Japanese pyrotechniques.

Autumn Times

During autumn season when most feel excited to watch and unfold the brightly colored leaves of red and yellow. The remarkable scene of autumn foliage will surely brighten anyone’s mood. The trees displaying cluster of beautifully colored leaves shedding. Arakawa River gives a scene of forest trail with colorful environment that should be enjoyed by all.

The autumn foliage will take place around October to December that gives an astonishing view of the neighboring surrounding. The fascination of the autumn leaves is a relaxing thing to do with the time to enjoy a memorable adventure and scenery. The shedding of leaves in bright colors is a highlight during autumns, just like the cherry blossom in spring.

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Photo by 16582492@N00 on Flickr

June 18, 2013 by Arlene

Exploring Central Asia: A Guide to the Region’s Adventure Hotspots

If you’re anything like me, you won’t be looking for a conventional holiday, but will be searching for somewhere to explore that’s not packed with hoards of other travellers and that is certainly classed as well off the beaten track.

Recently I’ve been searching around for interesting places to visit for my next holiday and I think I’ve at least narrowed it down to one region – central Asia. Now I have the difficult task of choosing a specific country! The following three destinations have jumped out at me and look like ideal candidates for an overseas adventure holiday.

1. Tibet

My first choice is Tibet, which I thought of quite early on having visited Nepal a few years ago. I love trekking so this seemed like a logical place to consider, especially given that it’s become a bit easier to travel to this remote Himalayan region in recent years.

The Tibetan Plateau boasts outstanding views of the Himalayas – and Mount Everest in particular – as well as being home to some fascinating cultural sites like the Potala Palace and the Jorkhang Temple in Lhasa. What also appeals to me about Tibet is that you can take a walking tour that will lead you up to the north face of Everest and around to the base camp, allowing you to follow much less crowded trails than you’d get if you approached this spot from the Nepalese side of the border.

2. Uzbekistan

Another country I’m very tempted by is Uzbekistan, partly because it sounds absolutely beautiful and partly because it’s peppered by outstanding historical and cultural sites. Many of its most famous cities were on the Silk Route that ran all the way from Asia to Europe and they are home to some astounding monuments.

If I’m totally honest, I’d love to have the time to walk a significant part of the Silk Route, but unfortunately I don’t have the luxury of that much free time at the moment. So, a tour that visits a selection of the most important stops in Uzbekistan seems like a very appealing proposition.

Samarkand is one city that’s caught my eye. The settlement was established in the 7th century BC and has thrived ever since. One site I’d especially like to visit is Registan Square, a beautiful public square surrounded by mosques, madrassas and khans that date back to the 14th century. Another stop I’d like to make on a tour of Uzbekistan is at Khiva, with the majority of this desert city’s most important monuments located in its centre.

3. Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is my final choice and this country appeals to me because of the range of unique experiences you can have during a trip here. Among them is swimming in an underground lake near the Kopetdag Mountains, eating dinner with a local family in a traditional village and camping in the vast Karakum Desert.

I think the Karakum Desert would actually be a highlight of exploring Turkmenistan, as it’s just so unusual. Firstly, it’s made up of black sand, which makes the landscape incredibly interesting.

Secondly, it’s home to the Darvaza Gas Crater, which is a real sight to behold. This huge 70 m-wide hole was created by Russian geologists in the early 1970s when they were trying to tap into a gas deposit. Their rig collapsed into the hole and the decision was taken to burn off the gas in an attempt to prevent poisonous fumes escaping into the atmosphere – over 40 years later, the fire is still burning.

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit central Asia, where did you go and what would you recommend seeing?

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Photo by theowright on Flickr

June 3, 2013 by author

Top 4 Caves in China

While China is most often associated with things like the Great wall, the terracotta warriors and the large cities of Shanghai and Beijing, what many people don’t know is that it is also awash with caves. Not just ordinary caves but awe inspiring caves. This has given rise to China being also known as the Kingdom of the caves. But in saying that, I didn’t know about it immediately until researching for a trip there.

There are so many caves in the various regions of China that it is hard to choose the best. These are just 4 of them, that are really worth seeing. Undoubtedly I have missed many out. Just worth thinking about – tens of millions of people currently live in caves in China

Benxi Cave

The Benxi Cave is the longest known water-saturated cave in the world. The cave features a huge lake measuring over than 1,000 square meters. Around and above the lake are many many stalactites. You are also able to take a boat ride on this lake within the cave. Seriously interesting and not the expected. The Benxi Cave can be found in the province of Liaoning.

The Xueyu Cave

This cave is located in Chongqing, and is famous for its stalactites which are as white as snow. The orginal name Xueyu literally means ‘snowy jade.’ There are said to be healing properties within the cave due its microclimate and the caves exposure to air. It is said that being in the caves can cure many things such as the common cold, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Huanglong Cave

These are the worlds largest caves and is set in a pristine environment. Huanglong caves can be found in the Hunan province. Huanglong Caves contains two types of caves – the hangdong (those without water) and shuidong (those with water). The mineral deposits inside the cave are multi-colored, giving rise to an amazing spectacle. . The cave is also filled with unusual stalactites and stalagmites. Very eerie but spectacularly beautiful.

Zhijin Caves

The Zhijin Caves conatin caves within caves and is known as the ‘museum of caves’ in China. Not only are the caves awesome but their location. in a typical Chinmese viallge with many streams and waterfalls surrounding them, make it the complete package. Zhijin Caves can be found in the Guizhou province.

The Mogao Caves

These caves are carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River located 25 km from the center of Dunhuang county in the province of Gansu in China. It comprises of a system of 492 buddhist temple cells and sanctuaries containing some of the finest examples of Buddhist art that goes back to more than 1000 years ago. Due to its religious and cultural influences, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Mogao caves are also known as the Dunhuang caves or the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas.

So I didn’t know about the caves before, but now I do. I hope you also include these on a trip to China.

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Photo by 39483037@N00 on Flickr

May 20, 2013 by Arlene

Experience the Best of Beijing

Not many people can imagine how beautiful the large country of China is. Given the large expanse of land that this country has, it is no wonder that it is filled with so many beautiful and scenic tourist spots which keeps many travellers coming back. Many of these said destinations are usually scattered all over the country, but in Beijing, one can find all these and more.

Sightseeing in Beijing

Being a country that is rich in culture and wonderful architecture, a tour around the different attractions in Beijing is a definite must. This is a place that many people who want to see and learn about China’s culture should go. One of the most famous attractions in the place is the Huanghacheng section of the Great wall, the only man-made structure which is visible from outer space. What makes this special from the other sections of the Great Wall is the water bodies that surrounds it: a great lake and a crescent-shaped reservoir. During high tides, parts of this section of the Great Wall become submerged in water. There is also the famous Forbidden City, a grand complex where the Emperor houses his concubines. It is composed of about 9,000 beautifully designed rooms and a charming garden at the back. Other must see structures include the Summer Palace with its ancient pavilions and temples, and the Temple of Heaven built around the 1400s and the Lama Temple. In Beijing, photographers and admirers will surely have his or her fill of picturesque structures found nowhere else in the world.

Enjoy Cultural Performances

The Chinese people are also well-known for their theatrical performances, and you can catch them in one of the many theatres in Beijing. One of the most frequented shows by both local and foreign tourists alike is the Golden Mask Dynasty Show which performs at the Happy Valley. This is a huge production of 200 performers clad in beautifully designed costumes, performing in an equally beautiful stage setting. The stage props are noted to be some of the best in the place, and even the world. There is also the Legend of Kung Fu Show, which narrates a simple folk story about Chinese kung fu. If you are a fan of acrobatics, then be sure to check out the Tiandi Theatre Acrobatic Show and the Choayang Theatre Acrobatics show, where some of China’s greatest acrobats and gymnasts perform.

Go on a Food Trip

Not to be missed of course is Beijing’s culinary travel experience. Although there are many classy hotels and restaurants in the place where one can enjoy international cuisines, it is sometimes better to look around and find other places to eat in. For example, the Kai Xiao Zao restaurant is known for its traditional and home-cooked meals like the dry fried cauliflower and the bullfrog hotpot. These are just two of the about 100 cuisines that you can choose from in the restaurant. There is also the tea trip in Beijing, where you are treated to a tour around Maliandao Tea City and get to taste authentic Chinese tea, as the most well-known tea traders in all of China conduct their affairs here.

Beijing is truly a beautiful place, both culturally and naturally. There are many things to do and see in the place, and all these things combine to make a trip to Beijing both enjoyable and educational tour.

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Photo by stuckincustoms on Flickr