Planning what to see is a matter of pure taste. However, if you’ve a couple of weeks to utilise and you’re looking culture then try this.

Laos – Luang Prabang and the Mekong:
The most salient of Laos’ destinations is Luang Prabang. A charming town isolated in the hills of central Laos, Luang Prabang is a beautiful fusion of French colonial charm, Laotian culture and Bhuddist heritage. Indeed, with a vibrant practising Bhuddist community rising early you’ll be treated to the sight of the Monks walking barefoot through the streets collecting alms from towns’ locals. Luang Prabang also has some great night markets, delectable dining options and coffee shops serving Laos’ famously rich coffee and French-inspired baked goods!
From Luang Prabang you can take a 5 hour drive and see the limestone casks of Vang Vien, take a 45 minute flight to Vientiane – Laos’ business hub, such as it is – which is idyllically set by the banks of the Mekong. For those with plenty of time then get yourself down to southern Laos. Here you can visit sweeping coffee plantations of the Bolivean Plateau or venture down to the 4,000 Islands where the Mekong breaks into hundreds of tributaries across Laos’ plains.
Throughout you’ll encounter hospitable, proud and carefree people who contradict the “tiger” side of developing Asia.

Vietnam – Saigon, Hanoi, Hoi An & Halong Bay:
In Saigon you’ll find streets heaving with mopeds, shops of every description alongside history and culture. Shop till you drop at the famous Ben Thanh Market or at the many boutiques before hitting the iconic Reunification Palace, informative War Remnants Museum which depicts Vietnam’s modern history before dining at some of Asia’s best restaurants.
A 1 hour flight and 1 hour drive later you’ll arrive in the UNESCO protected port town of Hoi An. Charming in every sense word you’ll find cosy coffee houses, world famous tailors and narrow streets resplendent with French colonial, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture. All set aside the calming waters of the river Thu Bon.
Next up is Hanoi. Flying to Hanoi from Hoi An takes around 1 hour 15 mins from Danang airport. Here you’ll be greeted by the beautiful old quarter, get to take in the daily life of locals by Hoan Kiem lake, explore Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and take the three hour drive out to the UNESCO protected Halong Bay.

Getting about:
Contrary to perception, regional airports do not double up as subsistence farmland! Flying from Hanoi (in Vietnam’s north) to Laos’ capital Vientiane will take around 1hr and from Saigon (in Vietnam’s south) will take around 1 hour 30 mins. Return flights can be booked from around $100 each way. Flying will save you precious time and the hassles associated with long road trips.

Sri Lanka has now thankfully recovered from the catastrophic tsunami that hit it on Boxing Day 2004, and the beaches have recovered their incomparable poise, with miles of crescent-shaped golden sands fringing its coastline as they always have.

There’s also plenty of history here for those of us who like our sightseeing to include at least a few imposing ruins. The first Sinhalese rulers of Sri Lanka built huge reservoir tanks that encircle the ancient cities of Pollonaruwa and Anuradhapura, for example, and there are remains of other epochs scattered about the countryside. The architectural landscape also includes many mosques, churches and temples, as the island has a rich mixed cultural heritage of Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, the proponents of which faiths have in the main managed to get along fairly amicably.

The impressively named Temple of the Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is appropriately located in Kandy and contains one of the Buddha’s teeth, presumably a sweet one. The tooth is duly brought out every six years in its solid gold Chedi casket for the public to admire, before being whipped back into the imposing sixteenth century temple.

Anuradhapura is one of the island’s oldest cities, a sacred site that has been magnificently preserved and which contains some of the most important remains of the ancient Lanka civilisation, after which the island is named. It was founded in the fifth century BC and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Here you’ll find several picturesque monasteries built into the older ruins, as well as some great scenery on the banks of the nearby Malvathu Oya River.

For a fine example of a primary tropical rain forest, one of Sri Lanka’s last, head for the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in the southwest lowlands. This is yet another of UNESCO’s protected sites and is home to 60 per cent of the tree species on the island, along with 50 per cent of its animals. It’s also popular with bird-watchers and some of the most colourful and exotic species in the world are found here. Visitors can take guided walks along the trails and really get back to nature in the raw.

Sri Lanka is of course popularly associated with elephants, familiar from countless films and documentaries in which they are invariably seen pushing logs around with their trunks. The Uda Walawe Elephant Transit Home was set up in 1995 to rehabilitate orphaned young elephants before their release back into the forest, and represents an increasingly enlightened attitude towards and care for nature on the island.

So Sri Lanka basically has it all, and whether you’re looking for jungle trekking, lazing on the beach, rambling through ruins or shopping in the packed streets of Colombo you’ll find something here to suit.

Go Shopping
Bangkok has outstanding shopping spots that will impress the most discerning customer. The enormous MBK shopping center houses more than 2,000 stores spread across eight floors. The city’s Chatuchak Weekend Market has 8,000 unique vendors.

Visit Phuket Island
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island. This picturesque destination is home to the beautiful Patong Beach. Visitors can check out many scenic landmarks and panoramic lookouts while touring the island.

Enjoy a Traditional Thai Massage
Luxury spas are a recent phenomenon in Thailand, but their traditional massage techniques have been used for thousands of years. Thai massages are designed to relax and rejuvenate the body by allowing energy to pass through invisible meridians and nerve points.

Go SCUBA Diving or Snorkeling
Every beach can be explored with a snorkel in Thailand. Certified SCUBA divers can tour unspoiled coral reefs in the Ang Thong National Marine Park. The waters off Ko Samui, Ko Lipe and the Similan Islands have many world-class diving sites.

Try Authentic Thai Food
From multi-course banquets to simple street food, Thailand has a diverse gastronomic culture. Enjoy traditional fried noodles, delicious curries, seafood delicacies and fruit-flavored desserts that are prepared on demand.

Tour an Ancient Temple
The ancient capitals of Thailand and many small villages are home to outstanding temple sites, which are called wats. Tourists who wish to explore the country’s culture and history must visit the ancient capital of Ayutthaya and the ruins of Sukhothai.

Photograph a Tropical Waterfall
Thailand’s slow-moving rivers and tropical streams produce many graceful waterfalls. Erawan Falls near the River Kwai are the most beautiful and most visited in Thailand. Other popular multi-tiered waterfalls include the Pala-U Waterfalls in Kaeng Krachan National Park and the Heo Suwat Waterfall in the ecologically diverse Khao Yai National Park.

Relax on a Beautiful Beach
White sand beaches dominate the coast of Phuket and the Gulf of Siam. Phuket’s Patong Beach is one of the most popular, but beautiful beaches are found along the coasts of the mainland as well. Every month, the popular island of Koh Pha Ngan hosts a moonlight party at Haad Rin beach during the full moon.

Explore Phang Nga Bay
This scenic bay separates the mainland from Phuket and dozens of coastal islands. Visitors will pass by mangrove forests, grottoes and towering rock formations as they tour the bay by boat or by kayak.

Visit a Wildlife Sanctuary
The Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary and the neighboring Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary are revered for their unspoiled natural habitats that make them the ideal places to see many rare animals, including rhinos, elephants and leopards. These parks are home to 40 reptile species, 100 types of fish, nearly 500 tropical bird species and approximately 150 rare and endangered animals.

There is so much to see and do in Thailand that 60 percent of the island’s tourists are repeat visitors. Cheap flights to Thailand are a great way to travel to this beautiful, tropical destination on a budget.

1. Bangkok – Bangkok. Well ok, it’s an obvious place to start really isn’t it? The Grand Palace has an entrance fee of 350 baht and a strict dress code, (so no bare shoulders or feet!), but if you forget to dress accordingly there are clothes to change into at the entrance (your passport must be left as security).

2. The Floating Market – The Floating Market is a beautiful place on the Damnoen Saduak canals and no trip to Thailand should bypass this one. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is worth a visit and at only 20 baht it’s a bargain, and for those who are looking for something a little different, the Philatelic museum, if stamps are your thing (or you just feel curious), then pop in – there are many stamps for sale to boost your collection, if that’s your thing.

3. Chang Mai – Chang Mai. Thailand’s highest mountain at 2,565 metres above sea level is west of Chang Mai. Doi Inthanon is two bus rides away (a total of 106 km) but is home to beautiful waterfalls and gorgeous sights. The Doi Inthanon National Park is open all year round. Make sure you don’t miss the famous Sunday evening market.

4. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs – A little bit closer to town at just 36 km away is the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, known its restorative properties, so after visiting the mountain it may be a nice place to unwind.

5. Hin Daeng – Hin Daeng. From the Thai meaning Red Rock, it is the number one scuba diving site in Thailand, and with a whole host of underwater sights from Barracuda to Manta Ray, it’s easy to see why. Oh and look out for the odd whale shark!

6. Koh Samui – Koh Samui. One of the more popular tourist destinations probably due to its gorgeous white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The Full Moon Party is a popular monthly for those who love the nightlife, and for those who love diving there are amazing coral reefs to explore.

7. Mae Hong Son – Mae Hong Son. Travel by bus for the complete experience from Chang Mai to Mae Hong Son. It can take 7 or 8 hours to get there but well worth a stay. With plenty of guest houses to choose from you won’t be short of a place to rest your head after a full day of trekking in the mountains off the Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand, or alternatively you may want to visit the Pha Sua waterfall for a more exotic walk. Handicrafts and artworks of the hilltribe people can be purchased at the night market, ideal for unique souvenirs or mementos of your trip. Mae Hong Son is home to the Padaung (Long-necked Karen). The Padaung are a group of Karen refugees who originate from the eastern Burmese state of Kayah on the Thailand border, they have their own language and call themselves “Lae Kur” or “Kayan”. Padaung women use brass rings to stretch their necks. The sad thing is the women who wear the rings recieve money from the Thai government due to the tourists they bring in, which then incentivises them to put the rings on their young children.

8. Ayutthaya – Ayutthaya is a UNESCO world heritage site and only an hour outside of Bangkok. The ruined city is packed with temples, museums and buildings with historical and architectural significance. Hiring a motorbike to cover the surrounding areas is most definitely recommended.

9. Railay and TonSai – Railay and TonSai are the places to visit for those who love an active holiday (and of course those who like to watch others being active). The area is well known as the place to be for rock climbing, and visitors can enjoy wonderful treks through the lush mountainside. This is all bordered by amazing sandy beaches and a beautiful tropical seascape. There is a variety of accommodation, enough to suit every taste and budget.

10. Phuket – Phuket offers fun of a different sort, yes there are gorgeous beaches surrounding by beautiful scenery, but here you can sample other delights such as the crocodile farm, butterfly farm and an aquarium, which is ideal for those who want the joy of the scuba dive without actually getting in the water.

Visiting Thailand is to visit a land of pure beauty in abundance – once you visit you will be hooked, it’s guaranteed.

Hong Kong Tramways is one of the three tramways in the world that have regular operation of double-decker trams (the others being Blackpool in England and Alexandria in Egypt), and is the only system that runs exclusively on double-deckers. 240,000 residents commute by tram every day. Serving from 1904, it is one of the earliest forms of public transport in Hong Kong.

Those trams are one of the quickest ways of transport as wall as are unique tourist attraction, that’s why you shouldn’t miss it once you visit Hong Kong.

We spent a while in Sogo, obviously not buying anything as it is also one of the most expensive shops to buy anything from, and you can’t haggle. That is something you have to do as everything starts more than double the real value. I can’t remember how much the above 103″ Plasma screen costs but I’m sure it’s more than the average yearly salary of most people.

After spending a few hours in the store trying to find all sorts of goods we took some time out and tried out the $40,000 massage chairs… Amazing.

Anyway they still sell sharks fin and birds nests which I refuse to eat, I’m not so concerned about the little swift which took 35 days out of it’s life to build a nest from it’s own salia but killing a shark just for it’s fin… no way. In case you want to try birds nest it is very high in calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. So at least it’s good for you.