Article by Alex J Smith

India

Come to the land of mysticism and modernity. Must visits include Rajasthan with its splendid forts and palaces. Enjoy desert Safari at Sand Dunes near Jaisalmer. Ride on top of the camels and live in nomad style tents with all modern amenities. Don’t forget to carry your own sunscreen and bottle of water.

Come; see the Taj, the gift of eternal love from an Emperor for his beloved Empress, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Agra. There are many other forts and palaces built by the Emperor all across Agra and the national capital, Delhi.

Known for its beautiful beaches and churches, Goa is a traveler’s paradise. There are many water sports activities and the food is extremely cheap. There are many places to visit and things to do in Goa.

There are many domestic no frills airlines which fly to most cities in India. Goa, Agra and Jaisalmer are well connected by flights. India is serviced by most international airlines and has a great well connected train network. There is a range of hotels to choose from. Budget hotels are clean, neat and offer many facilities to the foreign traveler. While the top end hotels offer the best in accommodating, dining and ambience. Apart from local food, you can find restaurants that serve Italian, Chinese, Thai and other foods. Always carry your own bottle of mineral water and lots of sunscreen lotion. The best time to visit India is the winter months from November to March.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka also known as Ceylon, Pearl Of orient is a Buddhist country and has some of the most beautiful Buddhist sites. The beaches are splendid as it’s an island nation, but the hills are very beautiful. Enjoy the tea plantations which are based in the South and the East of the country. The Ceylon tea as is popularly known is enjoyed by connoisseurs all over the world.

Places to visit include Colombo, which is the largest city and a very colorful city. The mosques and temples are very pretty and definitely worth a look. Kandy is one of the most sacred cities. The Octagonal Dalada Maligawa temple houses the sacred tooth of Buddha. Visitors can see the daily homage procession of monks clad in white carrying lotus blossoms. The city is old Buddhist capital and is steeped in history.

Sri Lanka has a great climate all year round. Visitors will find the locals as gracious hosts and the food is also cheap. The local food includes a lot of seafood and is very delicious. There are many restaurants that serve other cuisines and are very easy to find. Don’t forget to try the local “kasippu”(booze of the working class). It can be quite potent so be careful.

Singapore

The city nation is a very modern with huge towers that house huge malls, offices and great penthouses. Singapore is a global city and much of its population is European, Indian and Chinese. It has beautiful temples and Churches. Raffles Hotel is upmarket hotel named after the founding father of Singapore. Visit Singapore at any time of the year and as it has the same climate round the year. But time your visit around religious festivals or shopping festivals.

A great time to visit is the Christmas time where the entire Orchard Road is lit up. There are great bargains on shopping especially during the shopping festivals held in June and August. All international brands for clothing, electronics, shoes, home products are present in Singapore. Shopping in Singapore is more expensive than in the rest of Asia.

Enjoy the local food all over Singapore. The food is delicious, cheap and very hygienic. There are many restaurants that attract the best chefs from all over the world. The hotels are clean and offer many amenities. You can find great deals and even the three star hotels are clean having all modern amenities. Singapore is serviced by all international airlines and also by Singapore Airlines.

There are many places to visit and you can pickup great bargains for knick knacks at the Arab Quarter, Chinatown and Little India. Use your bargaining skills and learn to bargain like locals to find the things that you are looking for. Most shopping malls have fixed prices. The Singapore Zoo, Sentosa Island with its Underwater World and Jurong Bird Park is a must on every traveler’s list. The public transport is very efficient and economical and includes city buses, the Underground metro and local taxis. English is well spoken and understood as it’s an international city.

Malaysia

Malaysia is truly a beautiful country. The country has progressed in the last few decades after its Independence in 1957. The country has one of the finest beaches, mountains and tourist spots in the world. The country is well serviced by all international airlines and Malaysian Airlines that flies to most destinations around the world. The Malaysian society is a mix of the Malay, Chinese and Indian.

Kuala Lumpur or KL as its popularly known, boasts of the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest skyscrapers in Asia. It houses the Petronas Company and other multinational companies. Entry for visitors is free but only a 1700 free visitor passes are given out on first come first basis each day. It’s closed on Monday and the visitors are allowed only till the 41st floor.

Langkawi is an island off the coast of mainland Malaysia. You can reach here by a 45 minute ride on a ferry or fly out from KL. All domestic airlines service this small island. Most international chains of Hotels are present on the Island. While on the Island there are plenty of water sports activities and bargain shops for the shop-a-holics. The wildlife is abundant here and most of the hotels built almost inside the once pristine forests. It’s a duty free centre and most of the daily use stuff is quite cheap and readily available. The cable car ride at Mat Chinchang Mountain is a must when you are here.

Malaysia is a modern country, though its quite traditional with 90% population being Muslims. Wear covered clothes when visiting mosques and other religious places of interest.

About the Author

Alex J Smith writes for Datravelers.com It’s a website where travelers can host their own travel blogs, upload photos and find unbiased travel information.