Asia has so many amazing parts to it – as well as the beauty of Nepal, there’s also the bright metropolis of Singapore, the ancient traditions of Japan, or the countryside of the Philippines. Each country offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience to reward visitors who go off the well-beaten tourist tracks of these places. Here’s how you can do that in three of our best picks of Asia.
Singapore – take a tour at night
This small country encapsulates what modern Asia is all about: sleek, modern buildings, stunning structures and bright lights. When is it best to see the bright lights? At night, of course!
Take a river cruise and see the city from the water, or explore the Marina Bay area – which really comes alive once the sun sets. If there’s one place you go to after dark, though, it’s the Gardens by the Bay.
This is where you can stare up in awe at the Supertree Grove with its beautiful plants and light displays, then wander through the calming gardens after a day of sightseeing. You can maybe pop in to the Flower Dome for its continuous spring-like conditions that present visitors with bright blooms.
Japan – make traditional foods
If you think of Japan, you may have an image of buzzing cities, something kawaii or even the beautiful cherry blossoms in spring. Great though those images may be, you just can’t take that feeling back home with you when your trip comes to an end. What if you could?
Nothing gets our memories going more than a smell or taste of a meal that we’ve had before. It takes us back to that time and place, so going for a cooking class means you can try and recreate the experience when you’re back home. You can also get to learn more about the traditional Japanese culture through making your food and from your host.
You can book classes to make any of the local delicacies, from sushi to noodles to gyoza (dumplings). They can be booked in most of the larger, popular tourist towns and cities of Japan.
Philippines – see the rainforest
The capital city, Manila, can get hot and busy so it might not be for everyone at first, but it’s worth the trip because it’s a fantastic base to explore this gorgeous country.
One must-do experience is to visit the Masungi Georeserve. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Manila, but the views you get when you arrive (and on the road journey there) are more than worth it.
Make sure you take a sturdy pair of boots when you go; there are rope courses on the main trail, as well as a hanging bridge, and the terrain is not for the faint-hearted. Yet the adventure of trekking through this rainforest, and the reward you’ll get as you reach the summit of each peak and obstacle, will give you memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.