Asian Travel Blog

The small quiet city of Luang Prabang, overlooked by Mount Phousi, is in north central Laos, on the Mekong River. Relaxing and beautiful, it was formerly the capital of a kingdom of Luang Prabang, and, until the communist takeover of 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The architecture of Luang Prabang is a combination of Lao traditional wooden houses and the European colonial architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries, Laos once having been part of the French colony of Indochina.

Mount Phousi is really more of a hill than a mountain, and if you climb up it, which makes a great day out for the reasonably energetic, you get a panoramic view over the whole area. From here you will see many shining, golden roofs – these are the temples, also known as wats. Visit one of these and you will find that they are decorated with mosaics and murals of the life of Buddha. The city has some thirty monasteries as well as the old Royal Palace, Haw Kham. The oldest, and probably the most beautiful, monastery isVat Xieng Toung, which is well worth a visit.

For your shopping there is a night market where you can find all the traditional Lao arts and crafts.

Local natural wonders include Kuang Si Falls, which are 29 km to the south. This is a large cascade, with multiple stages and pools at different levels, which makes it very impressive. You can even bathe in the pools. Altogether, besides being very picturesque, this is a great place to chill out and meet other travellers.

Laos is still relatively undiscovered, and Luang Prabang is a good place to start your exploration of this intriguing country.

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The Indonesian island of Bali has long been a popular tourist destination. The culture of the island has flourished under Chinese and Indian influences, with Buddhism and Hinduism being introduced around about 800BC, and Islam being introduced later on. Bali came under Dutch control in 1909, from when there was a steady stream of European professionals, artists, tourists and intellectuals, and some Dutch influence remains today. By the 1930’s Bali was well-known as an exotic and sophisticated resort.

As well as golden beaches, great food and nightlife, Bali offers exciting attractions such as Goa Gajah Bedulu’s Elephant Cave, which is one of the southern region’s most famous tourist sights. In addition to the caves running through the mountain, the complex above the Petanu River includes temples, statues, pavilions and three pools for bathing. On the outside of the entrance to the cave is the dramatic, carved head of a devil. Once you get inside the cave, it is really dark, so you are well advised to take a flashlight. Inside there is a niche with a statue of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god who is the son of Shiva.

The Taman Burung Bali Bird Park, in Batubulan, has more than a thousand birds of both Indonesian and worldwide origin. The park is set in magnificent gardens, with lush tropical plants and beautiful water features. The park is also has an excellent restaurant where you can sit out and eat, enjoying the natural environment and the birds.

Another must-see of Bali is the Gitgit Waterfall, which is the most impressive waterfall on the island, and can be found not far from the town of Singaraja, which is on the north coast of Bali. If you enjoy walking, it is a pleasant walk through the jungle from Singaraja to the waterfall, but don’t forget to wear decent footwear if you want to do this.

In my next post I will tell you a little about the delightful cuisine of this fabulous island.

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When you think of Hong Kong, you probably think of skyscrapers and shops, bustling streets and double decker buses. Hong Kong has all this, but I found that one of the most scenic and enjoyable parts of my trip to Hong Kong, was my journey up, and walk around, the Victoria Peak.

Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong, located in the western half of Hong Kong Island, and is 552 metres high. Although the summit of Victoria Peak is occupied by a radio telecommuncations facility which is closed to the public, the rest of the peak is mostly publicly accessibly park land, including a circular Hikers’ Trail around the peak, which affords magnificent views over the city of Hong Kong, its harbor, and the surrounding islands. The Trail is well laid out and signposted, and a stroll around it is a wonderfully peaceful way in which to spend a day, well away from the hustle and bustle of lively downtown Hong Kong.

You can get to the top of the Peak by means of the Peak Tram, which is a funicular railway, and in a mere 12 minutes whisks you from Hong Kong’s busy financial district to the top of the Peak. Alternatively, you can catch a bus, as I did, having chosen the one day that the Tram was closed for maintenance. Both tram and bus bring you into the shopping and leisure centers above the park, composed of the Peak Tower, and the Peak Galleria. At either of these you can grab a nice meal, with fine views, before setting off on your hike.

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