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Asia
Asia is the largest of the
world's seven continents and is the most heavily populated. It is divided into
sections - Far East, Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.
China is the historical treasure house of the Far East with many contrasting
settings. Here you can see the modern world in the buildings of Shanghai and
Beijing and the ancient practices of the small villages. The beauty of the
geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestlers features the older culture of Japan,
as well as the pagoda temples and the ancient festivals. Taiwan is a potato
shaped island off the coats of China with rugged mountain areas and stretches of
flat land.
Armenia is one of the
countries in Central Asia where the landscape is studded with archaeological
finds and artefacts. The capital, Yerevan, is one of the oldest cities in the
world. Azerbaijan's strategic location has made it the gateway between the East
and the West and was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. The vast plains
of Kazakhstan are largely inhabited by nomads with many of the settlements
located in the eastern and south-eastern regions. There are many historical
monuments in this scenic country where the snow-capped mountains seem to reach
the sky. The breathtaking beauty of Kyrgyzstan will entrance you as you see the
mountains, glaciers and lakes. This area is paradise for those who like outdoor
adventure.
Bangladesh, on the Indian
sub-continent, has some of the largest mangrove trees in the world and is the
home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is one of the most densely populated
countries in this part of Asia. The numerous monasteries of Bhutan and the
sacred temples of the Punakha Valley make this country a historian's dream.
However, tourism is limited in Bhutan so that it doesn't get out of hand. India
is the largest country in this region of Asia and still retains its mystical
character with religious rites and festivals woven into all facets of everyday
life. The 25 natural atolls of the Maldives make it a
water sports paradise in a
string of low-lying coral islands.
Picturesque villages line
the slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal, which has some of the highest mountain
peaks in the world. The architecture of Pakistan rivals that of any other
country and is home to some of the oldest cultures in the world. Sri Lanka is an
island in the Indian Ocean that is shaped like a teardrop. It is home to many
different cultures and is filled with national treasures.
Bahrain is a country in the
Middle Eastern region of Asia that is characterized by an archipelago of 33
islands, considered at one time to be a heavenly paradise where there was no
disease or conflict. Israel is known as the Holy Land with spectacular cultural,
archaeological and religious attractions, as well as spas and beaches. Jordan is
a tiny desert kingdom where Bedouin still herd their sheep, yet the cities have
all the modern conveniences. Kuwait is an oil-rich country of elegant mosques
and palaces, yet religion is very important to the inhabitants. The Syrian Arab Republic is the official name of Syria. This country has had a long and varied
history with the traditional culture of the people still intact.
The landscape of Lebanon
resembles a patchwork quilt in the diverse terrain - Mediterranean coastline,
alpine peaks and fertile valleys. There are several World heritage Sites in this
country. The images of mountain villages and camels carrying goods and
passengers can become a reality in Oman, a country with over 200 forts and where
ancient crafts are still practiced. Qatar, whish is basically a flat peninsula
that extends into the Arabian Gulf, is one of the richest oil countries in the
world. Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country with dramatic mountain peaks,
glorious beaches and pristine lakes and rivers. However, travel is severely
restricted in this country. From sleep villages relying on the fishery for the
economy, the discovery of oil has transformed the United Arab Emirates into a
country that has sleek, modern cities and towns that contrast with the desert.
Yemen is one country where you can see more than 700 different species of
wildlife experience the culture of an earlier time and still have all the modern
amenities at your fingertips. The culture of Turkey features a blend of the East
and West with a varied landscape carved through centuries of volcanic eruptions
and earthquakes.
Brunei Darussalam is a
heavily forested country in South-east Asia. Here visitors will find
archaeological and architectural treasures in grand palaces and mosques. The
temples of Cambodia rise out of the jungle as a welcoming beacon to visitors.
This country is a mix of the old and the new in the modern cities and the tribes
of people that live in the hills and still carry out the ancient ways of life.
Indonesia is an archipelago of islands spread strung across the equator with
pristine beaches overlooked by volcanic ranges. Laos is just starting to open up
to tourism and gives visitors the ambiance of being in one large village.
Malaysia is characterized by tropical island resorts, the oldest rainforest in
the world and pristine coastlines.
Although there are more than
7000 islands in the Philippines, most of the population is centered on only 11
of them, which have dramatic landscapes, gorgeous coral gardens and modern
cities. Singapore is the cultural melting pot of the world. This tiny city-state
known as one of the safest places in the world to visit. Millions of visitors
choose Thailand as their destination because of the
colourful culture, the exotic
monuments, the stunning beaches and the numerous opportunities for hiking and
backpacking. Viet Nam is the easternmost country on the Indochinese Peninsula and
is the 13th most populated country in the world. South Korea has one
of the oldest civilizations in the world with archaeological evidence pointing
to settlement back to 2500 B.C.
Africa
Africa is the second larges
continent in the world and is regarded by scientists as the place where human
life began. Although Benin is one of the poorest countries on the continent, it
is the best place to choose as your vacation destination for traditional markets
and for seeing the native wildlife. Botswana is a vast African country highly
prized for the game safaris, bit almost 40% of the country is designated as
national parks. Burkina Faso is a landlocked state with wildlife as the key
feature of its tourism industry. Although Cameroon is a miniature country, it
has a mix of everything - rainforests, tropical beaches, deserts, and volcanic
mountains. Cape Verde consists of a string of islands with breathtaking scenery
and beautiful deserted beaches. The Congo is a vast country with many
picturesque scenes and villages, but transportation around the country is very
difficult.
Originally a colony of
France, Djibouti is a country of strategic importance in Africa because it
controls the access to the Red Sea. Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs and the
Pyramids, is truly a land of archaeological wonders in the many sites to
explore. Equatorial Guinea is a country where you will be entranced by the
glorious scenery of tropical forests, snow-capped mountain peaks and attractive
architecture. Ethiopia, a country with some of the highest locations in the
world, is the only country in Africa that was never fully colonized. Gabon is a
long sandy strip with lush inland vegetation along the Atlantic Ocean bordered
by Equatorial Guinea, the Cameroon and the Congo. The coastline of Ghana is
dotted with sandy beaches and spectacular lagoons, but the inland region of the
country consists of dense rainforest.
Lesotho is a tiny African
country completely encircled by South Africa. Many of the country's villages are
so remote they can only be reached by horseback. Madagascar is the fourth
largest island in the world and has over 3500 species of butterflies unique to
the island. The unique scenery of stunning rainforests and towering waterfalls
and the many national parks and wildlife reserves make Malawi an exciting
country to visit. Mauritius is one of the sunniest countries in Africa with
world-renowned hotels, spas and golf courses. Morocco is a desert country where
you will experience ancient traditions amidst a modern appearance.
Mozambique features
palm-fringed lagoons, excellent fishing locations and stunning wildlife. Namibia
is the desert country to choose if you want to see wildlife the African big game
and is more peaceful and prosperous than many of the other countries of Africa.
The tropical twist of Reunion is due to the influences of African, Indian,
Chinese and French cultures of the country. Senegal has a hip music heritage,
spectacular wildlife and stunning long sandy beaches, along with some of the
friendliest people in the world. Seychelles is an isolated island paradise where
there are plants you will never see anywhere else on Earth. From its lofty
mountains to its superb beaches, South Africa offers a scenic vista you won't
soon forget.
Swaziland is one of the
smallest countries in Africa, sandwiched in between Mozambique and South Africa.
Tanzania offers the ultimate in a safari vacation and has more land dedicated to
wildlife than any other country on the continent. Togo is only a tiny country
with dense rainforests, tropical lagoons, long sandy beaches and savannah.
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa where vestiges of the Roman
Empire dot the landscape. Uganda is known as the "Pearl of Africa" because of
the stunning scenery. Zambia is the location of the famous Victoria Falls as
well as 17 others and is the best place on the continent to witness an African
sunset. Zimbabwe has some of the best natural sites in the world and some of the
best wildlife parks in southern Africa.
Caribbean
The islands in the Caribbean
Sea are all well known as popular tourist destinations. This is an area between
North and South America. Anguilla is only a small island, but it has more than
19 km of coastline all if which is made up of serene beaches lapped by calm
waters. Antigua And Barbuda is one country that consists of two separate
islands. The numerous beaches of Antigua support the claim that there is a beach
here for every day of the year. They form part of the Leeward Islands in the
Caribbean Sea. The Antilles refers to a group of islands in the West Indies, a
part of the Caribbean that is divided into the Lesser Antilles and the Greater
Antilles, of which Cuba and Jamaica are a part. Jamaica is the third largest of
the Caribbean islands and is characterized by its white sandy beaches and blue
mountain peaks.
Aruba is associated with the
colour orange in the many buildings of this colour. It is also the site of the
most duty-free shops in the Caribbean. The Bahamas is actually made up of more
than 700 islands that have a slow pace of life, often called "island time".
Barbados has two coastlines - the Atlantic and the Caribbean - and there are
striking differences between the two. The Atlantic side has a rugged coastline
with steep cliffs, while the Caribbean coastline has stretches of sandy beaches.
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory located about 1000 miles northeast of
Florida in the North Atlantic.
The Cayman Islands were once
called the Turtles because of the abundance of these creatures on the islands.
It has also been long associated with a history of buccaneers and pirates who
once made their homes in the sheltered coves and inlets. Dominica is the largest
of the Windward Islands of the Antilles and is a very mountainous land. The
Dominican Republic takes up half of an island in the Caribbean, with the other
half being the country of Haiti.
Martinique, which has a
French and Creole heritage, is a premier shopping destination in the Caribbean
because of the items brought in from France. Saint Kitts And Nevis features an
easygoing way of life that has not yet been touched by the commercialism
associated with tourism. The island of Saint Lucia combines the beauty of
unspoiled beaches with lush rainforests and volcanic mountains to present you
with a panoramic vista in every direction.
St Vincent And The Grenadines have black sandy beaches due to the volcanic nature of the island.
Trinidad And Tobago is the home of the steel band and is famous for its street
festivals and carnivals. The Virgin Islands consist of a string of islands in
the Leeward Islands. Part of the islands is administered by Britain, known as
the British Virgin Islands. The other half is administered by the United States
and is known as the US Virgin Islands. Europe, North America, South
America and Oceania Guide
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