Travel Tales from Asia

This is a guest post.

Last year we traveled to the Maldives for our honeymoon and I can honestly say that it is heaven on earth. The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia and it is made up of around 1,190 coral islands, which are surrounded by warm cobalt blue waters. It is just paradise! I would definitely recommend this destination to anyone who wants a luxury holiday or romantic break.

Just imagine waking up in a luxury villa and looking out the window of your room to see translucent waters below you. That is exactly what it is like in many resorts in the Maldives. We stayed in one of the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa’s water villas, which was actually located in the sea. The photographs we had looked at of our villa prior to traveling were nice, but seeing and experiencing it in person is something else. We had breakfast every morning on the beach before soaking up the sun and exploring the coral reefs.

As you can imagine, a holiday in the Maldives is not cheap. You will definitely pay for peace, luxury and exclusivity, and of course the service you receive is faultless. From our experience you are more likely to spend less by booking all-inclusive packages or full board deals, which include flights, transfers, accommodation and catering. However, it is a good idea to shop around as you can still find cheap flights and accommodation by booking them separately online. We flew with British Airways, which is one of the most popular airlines offering direct flights from London Gatwick to Malé International Airport.

A holiday in the Maldives will probably be the most expensive you ever go on, but it is a once in a lifetime experience. Get your money box out and start saving now!

taiwan lantern festival

Taiwan is world famous for its festivals which date back to thousands of years ago.

Taiwan Lantern Festival
Every year for example they hold the Taiwan Lantern Festival. This now 20 years old and takes on ideas from ancient Chinese culture. Lanterns represent dead relatives and other spirits and are released into the air or onto rivers in their thousands during the Chinese New Year and the Lunar Festival.

In the Taiwan Lantern Festival, participants parade through the streets carrying lanterns in their hands.

Taipei and Kaohsiung Lantern Festival
There is also a Taipei and Kaohsiung Lantern Festival which is celebrated as a national festival as well as a major event in both cities.

The festival takes place at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial hall and there is even a gigantic lantern which is made to represent the current Chinese zodiac animal. During this festival the Love River is ablaze with thousands of lanterns slowly sailing out to sea.

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The unique event of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is when thousands of lanterns are released into the sky with some helium. The lanterns hovering through the air are beautiful to behold but have ironically contributed to many UFO sightings as well. Lanterns were used in the past in this way as warning signals to let family members know that you are safe. Today they are used as a symbol of good fortune.

Yenshui Fireworks Festival
The Taiwanese have been using fireworks and gunpowder for about 5,000 years – in fact, it was Marco Polo who brought this item back to Europe in the 15th century.

During the fire festival to the God of War in the temple in Yenshui, there is a massive fireworks display that is hard to forget if you’ve ever seen it. There is also a parade throughout the city with firecrackers being hurled day and night for several days.

When you are visiting a country such as Thailand it is always best to understand a bit about the culture that you shall encounter and certain types of behavior that you should avoid. The way the Thai people view and talk to each other or what is acceptable can be vastly different to what you expect and some off the cuff remarks could be inflammatory even although that is not your intention.

The first thing is that Thailand is a Buddhist country and it is difficult to get away from Buddhist symbolism during your visit. It is essential that you dress politely if you are visiting any religious place so you should not show your legs or arms as you may discover you are refused entry. You also have to respect their beliefs at all times as it is not a joking matter with their religion for them and the tolerance of what may be interpreted as a little joke is very low.

You shall probably already know about the Buddha. However in Thailand you should not climb over any statue no matter the size and in some places you are not allowed to take photographs of certain Buddhas so it is important to ask before you take. With monks, they are not allowed to touch or take anything from a woman, so do not ask. Also the monk shall not shake your hand even if you are a man and if you are on a bus look out for seats left especially for monks. It is disrespectful to sit on them.

Apart from religion the other main sector that you should not be disrespectful to is the King and the royal family. It is actually against the law to say or do anything that is disrespectful to them as they are revered by the people and anything that is seen as damaging or against them is a very serious matter.

These are only a few of the things you have to keep in mind when visiting Thailand. There are others which are regarded more as personal etiquette when greeting people but due to its position within Thai society things connected to religion take on extra significance.

Olu Deniz is a fantastic holiday destination for families, couples and groups of all ages but it’s important to pick your hotel carefully; you don’t want all night parties next door while your children are trying to sleep or kids running around, dive-bombing the swimming pool on your romantic getaway. So we’ve put together a compilation of some of the best hotels in Olu Deniz to help you book the perfect accommodation for your Turkey holiday.

Hotels for families
The most popular family-friendly hotel in Olu Deniz according to TripAdvisor is Lykia World Olu Deniz. Not only is it a five star luxury hotel in a stunning area of the resort but reviewers have also commented on the amazing quality of the restaurant’s food, the beautiful hotel gardens and the 19 swimming pools so there’s something for all ages! Sometimes family holidays need to be a little less luxurious but still packed with action and this is where the Karbel Sun Hotel comes in. It’s just 300 metres from the famous Belcekiz beach, 100 metres from the centre of Olu deniz and the beautiful Blue Lagoon is only 10 minutes’ walk away so it’s perfect for being right in the centre of the resort and there’s a childrens’ pool and play area too so you can relax whilst the kids keep busy.

Hotels for groups
The best accommodation for lively groups is in the centre of the resort so hotels such as Tonoz Beach hotel (just 30m from the beach), Hotel Asena (100m from the beach) and the ATA Lagoon Hotel are great choices. TripAdvisor reviewers have picked the Belcehan Hotel as one of their top choices for groups and it’s easy to see why with its large pools, snack bar, restaurant and beautiful surroundings but if you want something a little quieter, the Olu Deniz Resort Hotel is worth a look.

Hotels for couples
LykiaWorld is also a popular choice for couples as the beautiful rooms, massage services, adult pools, quality restaurants and its position right next to the beach make for a perfect romantic holiday in the stunning Turkish sunshine but if you need something a little less pricey, the villa-style Dorian Hotel is a great choice. It has everything you need including large pool, beautiful gardens and entertainment programmes, but without the hefty price tag.

Before setting off on your long-awaited holiday or business trip, it is important to consider taking out a travel insurance policy to ensure peace of mind during your travels. The tricky part is choosing the right policy based on your needs and your destination. Travel Insurance can protect you financially after unforseen events, such as illness, or if you have personal belongings lost or stolen. This article will aid in determining what to look for in a policy.

Experts recommend choosing a policy which has medical coverage of at least 5 million dollars. Such a policy should also cover personal liability, this is important in case you accidentally injure someone else while aboard. Make sure that your medical cover includes repatriation in the event of a medical emergency, ensuring you will be brought home in the event of severe illness.

Other variables in selecting a travel insurance policy will depend on your individual needs. If you are hiring a car or need cover for expensive equipment that you’re taking with you – most companies offer different levels of cover from comprehensive travel insurance to budget travel insurance.

Budget Travel insurance can be a great way of attaining inexpensive cover and peace of mind during your travels. The best place to start is by doing a travel insurance comparison online at as many providers do not have a bricks-and –mortar storefront, allowing them to bring costs down and provide services at lower costs. If you are renting a car while on holiday here is a tip: most travel insurance policies that cover rental vehicle excess will be much cheaper than what is available through hire companies.

As with any contract, it is important to check the fine print when taking out a travel insurance policy. Make sure everything that you require is covered in the policy, especially if you’re taking part in adventure sports such as rock-climbing or skiing.

It’s worth taking the time to understand what travel insurance policies cover, carefully choosing a policy that is within budget and will meet all travel needs.

Asia fascinates me and it really does seem to be the place to go these days…..especially for anyone planning a honeymoon or romantic break. I had traveled to Thailand, the Maldives and Indonesia, so the next destination on my list was the Philippines; a country which is sometimes overshadowed by the more popular tourist destinations. Unlike these resorts, the Philippines tends to attract fewer tourists and so it is a good place to go to avoid crowds of holidaymakers.

The Philippines is an archipelago located in the western Pacific Ocean. Some 7,000 tropical islands comprise this archipelago and they are renowned for their natural beauty both above and below land, as well as the people, culture and isolated beaches. In my opinion the Philippines is a destination for everyone regardless of budget as you can find anything from cheap accommodation perfect for backpackers, to luxury hotels for honeymooners and couples, or travellers in need of relaxation and pampering. There are also lots of different restaurants suitable for all travellers. Having said this, flights to the Philippines are expensive, but you should expect to pay similar fares for airline tickets to most destinations in Asia. If you are booking flights and accommodation separately, it is a good idea to use search and comparison websites to find the cheapest flights.

I love visiting countries in Asia because they are so different and are rich in natural beauty. The Philippines is by no means an exception to this rule. I spent about two weeks travelling in the Philippines to discover the rainforests and some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world. Before returning home I enjoyed a few days diving around Palawan Island. I had the chance to see Tubbataha sharks, turtles and explore hidden caves and life in the coral reef. What an experience!

My advice is start planning your trip to the Philippines now! It is one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

One thing that characterizes many visits to Korea is the vast crowds of people that you’re likely to come across no matter where you are. Luckily, this kind of experience tends to remain a part of a trip to one of the major cities. But if you’re the kind of person who would rather get away from the rat race and avoid large crowds, then Suncheonman Bay may be the place for you to go!

Suncheonman Bay is an incredible wildlife habitat made up of spacious tidal flats and reed fields which are in themselves a stunning landscape to take photographs of. In addition to the view though, the place is literally teeming with thousands of organisms, many rare and unique to the region. Suncheon itself has many tourist attractions – Seonamsa Temple which is celebrating its millenium, Naganeupseong Folk Village which dates back to the Joseon dynasty even though it is still inhabited and last but not least Suncheon Drama Film Set, which is the shooting location for many Korean popular TV shows and movies.

The Suncheon region is a mixture of both natural and ecological beauty and irreplaceable history in Korea.

Suncheonman Bay Eco-Observatory
The eco-observatory in Suncheon is one of the most popular destinations in the area. It is both a scientific station and a tourist hot spot. The center carries out research and also provides teaching in the ecology of the area. There is a collection of galleries, a theater, an ecology classroom and even a center to hold seminars. Outside, there is also a wetland observatory.

It’s possible to watch a host of wildlife such as migrating birds on CCTV cameras.

It’s very easy to get to Suncheonman Bay Eco-Observatory – it’s close to Yeosu airport which has direct links to Gimpo airport in Seoul.

Instead of booking an expensive hotel for your next holiday, consider saving money and booking a self-catering apartment or villa holiday as an alternative. An excellent rental option for long stays, group bookings and families, holiday apartments and villas are affordable and can help travellers feel at home away from home. Homey furniture, extra living space, privacy, kitchen facilities and private bedrooms make accommodation comfortable and these arrangements are usually cheaper than traditional hotels.

Some private residences come with private pools, recreation facilities and beachfront living. They can be as urban or as secluded as desired. An affordable and popular accommodation option in Europe, self catering apartments and villa options are becoming more and more common in the Caribbean, North Africa, and some parts of the United States.

Listings for apartments and villas are everywhere, from holiday house websites, to worldwide classified websites and even local newspapers for local holiday stays. Rural holidays, such as staying in restored farmhouses remodelled for holiday purposes in rustic areas, called agritourism lodges, are especially popular in Italy.

To make finding and renting apartments and villas even more affordable, Home Exchange allows the exchange of holiday rental property so registrants can swap holiday houses and go on holiday anywhere in the world. The Home Exchange network allows both parties to temporarily rent each other’s home at no cost, and can be a very creative and economical way to get free accommodation. Take precautions and develop a mutual trust relationship first before surrendering any keys.

A tropical paradise located on the west coast of India, Goa offers some of the best beaches in Asia. Goa has a varied and rich past being a Portuguese colony with a large number of cathedrals and Christian architecture, and although it is India’s smallest state it boasts one of the largest Christian populations. The capital of Goa, Panaji offers a breath of local culture topped with rich ambience that makes it one of the country’s favourite tourist destinations.

Most holiday packages to Goa are tailored around beach holidays and most flights to Goa transit through Mumbai, but there are also first class coaches that travel between Goa and Mumbai.

Once in Goa, there is no shortage of what to do or places to visit. The state is renowned for its sandy beaches, water sports, easygoing lifestyle and exotic festivals. Goa also boasts a rich tropical flora and fauna habitat that preserves a wild range of exotic wildlife.

Goa has a large collection of hotels that range from basic to five star ones which offer superb amenities of luxurious standard. You can always find cheap flights to Goa with a lot of travel companies offering packages and flight deals.

What makes Goa stand out as a perfect holiday destination is that it has a diverse and rich history influenced by being a former colony of the British Empire and the Portuguese colony which embolden the spirit of the state leading to a flowering, creative and undeviating character of its people. Goa is a place with soul, history and because it’s not so well know, is an excellent place to go to discover new horizons.