The Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain, to give its full name, is an archipelago made up of in excess of thirty islands strewn in the Persian Gulf. While it’s long been a place to ‘do business’ (it is extremely rich in terms of natural oil and gas reserves) it’s not really a place on many people’s holiday hit list. But in fact there are plenty of reasons it perhaps should be, and more and more people are discovering them.
Doha is the capital of Qatar which is one of the richest countries in the world. Until about 30 years ago the city was little more than a pearl fishing village which means that it is late to the party in terms of Middle Eastern tourism. It was only after 1995 when Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took power that the country began to develop at an impressive pace thanks to revenue from its natural gas production. Today the city lags behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a tourist destination but continues to move quickly towards being a global centre of travel and tourism. November 2022 is a major date in the country’s diary as the eyes of the world will be on it when Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup. A good time to visit for general tourism purposes is February when temperatures little over 20C are bearable. The summer months are an impossible time for tourism due to soaring temperatures which are in excess of 45C on some days.
While it seems like we might be slowly easing our way out of the lockdown we have all been experiencing over the last few months, travel abroad may still be a little way off. Luckily, by getting creative in the kitchen you can bring the traditional tastes of some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations to your home – and sample some foreign flavours to get you in the mood.
Standing on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade looks across Victoria Harbour towards Wan Chai and Central on the north of Hong Kong Island. Hotel rooms with views over this iconic waterway are highly desirable but come at a price. More affordable options can be found away from the waterfront in the Hong Hum and Mong Kok areas of Kowloon along with the Tin Hau, Causeway Bay and Admiralty neighbourhoods of Hong Kong Island.
Sailing into Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is one of the cruise world’s great experiences. This natural deep-water harbour which separates the Kowloon Peninsula from Hong Kong Island is home to two major cruise terminals which cater for vessels large and small. Passengers arriving at the Ocean Terminal are within a stone’s throw of many of the city’s main attractions whilst those arriving at the Kai Tak Terminal can get around by means of the excellent public transport network. As well as enjoying the sights around the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade visitors can also hop on ferries across the bay and to outlying islands or head off to Macau to discover the Las Vegas of the East.
Overlooking Victoria Harbour from the Kowloon Peninsula, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade should be the first stop for visitors to Hong Kong. It runs from the former Clock Tower of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Station in the west to the residential district of Hung Hom in the east. The promenade is home to many shops and restaurants as well as some of the city’s top tourist attractions including the Avenue of Stars, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. A great time to visit is in the evening when a spectacular light show illuminates the whole harbour.
Hong Kong evokes images of bright lights, fabulous shopping, amazing dining and all the glitz and glamour of one of the world’s most popular destinations for visitors from all over the world. And it’s a reputation that’s perfectly well deserved – because it’s all that and so much more!
Merging an effortless connection between modern and traditional, Japan’s serene and beautiful countenance reveals a country that’s exciting, exotic and progressive – all while delivering an authentic experience to its many international visitors. Alongside the dazzling modernity and technology of its large cities, an ancient culture is on display abundantly and often in unexpected places.
With everything a little unusual right now, especially when it comes to planning your holidays, it can be easy to feel disheartened. However, just because we can’t travel just now there is no reason to stop daydreaming about all the future trips on the horizon!
Standing in the South China Sea to the east of the Pearl River estuary, Hong Kong has long been a major centre of world commerce. It is made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories together with more than 200 other islands of which Lantau and Lamma are of most interest to visitors. In 1997 when Great Britain’s 99-year lease of Hong Kong expired the territory was returned to China, now being officially designated as a ‘Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China’.
The mighty Mekong River flows from its source in Tibet to the Mekong Delta in south-west Vietnam where it empties into the South China Sea. On its way it travels through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia providing water for millions of people along its route. The Mekong Delta region produces more than a quarter of Vietnam’s agricultural output and over half of its rice crop. The region is made up of a vast network of distributaries where life is almost exclusively focused on the water. Visitors to the region can enjoy a glimpse of this local life on boat trips to floating markets and fish farms which are undoubtedly amongst the top tourist experiences in Vietnam.
Made up of an incredible 17,000+ islands and taking the crown as the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia has long been a holiday favourite – not only with dedicated beach lovers and sun worshippers, but also with die hard surfing and diving fans, off the beaten track adventurers and those looking to immerse in its rich and authentic culture.
Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations thanks to its long, sandy beach, fine accommodation and lively nightlife. It also provides a great base from which to explore natural attractions such as the Ba Ho Waterfalls together with historic places of interest like the Ponagar Towers which date back to the ancient Champa Kingdom.
