Thursday, January 2, 2020

Brunei Darussalam

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        The Istana Nurul Iman palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few miles south of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital.




Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei
Ulu Temburong National Park: The green jewel of BruneiUlu Temburong covers a whopping 500 square kilometres. In context, this is almost 10% of the country’s surface area. Only 1% of the virgin rainforest is open to visitors. Longboats ferry passengers in and out of the national park on tightly regulated tours. Activities include jungle trekking, canopy walks and swimming in natural pools. Scientists recently discovered the fascinating exploding ants in this national park too.

Cambodia

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       The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. Formerly, it was known as Wat Ubosoth Ratanaram. The temple's official name isPreah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo in Khmer.




Angkor Archaeological Park
Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia
Famous attractions can suffer from inflated or unrealistic expectations. That isn’t the case with the Temples of Angkor. The sheer size of the temple complex is bound to impress. Most tourists tend to congregate around the main events like Angkor Wat, Bayon and the vine-covered Ta Phrom. The rest of the 400 square kilometres? All yours to discover. Generations of Khmer rulers built hundreds of architecturally jaw-dropping temples around the site. One day isn’t nearly enough to see it all.

Indonesia

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 The Gili Islands (Indonesian: Tiga Gili [Three Gilis], Kepulauan Gili [Gili Islands]) are anarchipelago of three small islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. The islands are a popular destination for Western tourists looking for a remote island experience.




Mount Bromo

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Indonesia

By the time you head down the Indonesian archipelago, you might be suffering from temple fatigue. Fortunately, Indonesia has plenty else to impress, including stunning unearthly landscapes in its volcanic belt. It is on the Ring of Fire, after all. Mount Bromo, in particular, is one of the most stunning places on the entire planet to watch a sunrise. It’s full of tourists, yes, but Bromo’s desolately beautiful caldera will leave a lasting impression regardless of who you share it with.

Laos

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Pha That Luang  is a gold-covered large Buddhist stupa in the centre of VientianeLaos. Since its initial establishment suggested to be in the 3rd century, the stupa has undergone several reconstructions until the 1930s due to foreign invasions to the area. It is generally regarded as the most important national monument in Laos and a national symbol.



Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos
This UNESCO World Heritage site actually comprises an entire city. It’s rare to turn a corner here and not be confronted with remarkable colonial and Lao architecture. Beyond its quiet temples, Luang Prabang might be most famous for its haute cuisine and alms procession, a daily morning ritual in which monks clad in saffron robes take donations of food. Outside of town in the surrounding jungle, you can find surprisingly powerful waterfalls, bathing pools and echoing caves.

Malaysia

         The Petronas Towers (Malay: Menara Petronas, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers or Menara Berkembar Petronas in Malay) are twin skyscrapers in Kuala LumpurMalaysia. According to the CTBUH's official definition and ranking, they were thetallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 until surpassed by Taipei 101, but remain the tallest twin buildings ever built, surpassing the World Trade Center. The building is the landmark of Kuala Lumpur with nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower.





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Food of Penang, Malaysia
Penang, with its unique blend of Indian, Chinese and Malay influences, is an attraction to be savoured in the most literal sense. Spicy curries, delicious laksas and savoury soups are all on the menu. The vast majority of the restaurant food is extraordinarily cheap, so if you’re looking for an excuse to stop binging, look elsewhere. When you’ve finally had enough, Penang’s capital, Georgetown, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to 200-year-old temples, mosques and colonial buildings.

Myanmar

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Myanmar
The Shwedagon Pagoda officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw , also known in English as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a 99 metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Burma. The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair of Gautama, the historical Buddha.



Bagan Temples, Myanmar
Temples at Bagan, Myanmar
There are few sunsets in the world that compare to the light that shines on the thousands of temples on the Bagan plains. The appeal of the Buddhist temples at Bagan lies not in their individual majesty, but rather in the high-density and endless array of similar structures lunging out of the plains. 13,000 temples used to stand in the city of Bagan, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Pagan. Some 2,000 still remain, and it’s this spiritual plenitude that makes a trip to Bagan unmissable.

Singapore

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 Marina Bay Sands
            Marina Bay Sands is so much more than just a world-class hotel. It’s a sprawling compound chock full of things to do and must-see attraction. The hotel itself, standing fifty five stories high, is an architectural masterpiece and a wonder to behold. Gourmet restaurants and shopping boutiques dot the sprawling compound, which boasts two state-of-the-art theater with combined seating capacity of 4,000. Sitting atop of the hotel is a SkyPark, which offers 360 degree views of the skyline, lush gardens and an infinity pool.



Once you've glimpsed this beautifully designed green space (from the top of the Marina Bay Sands, perhaps) you won't be able to stay away. Wander through the Bay East Garden, perfect for enjoying the vibrant plant life and escaping the city bustle for a moment.