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Asia Travel
Asia is the largest continent in the world, covering almost 9% of the entire globe, and providing sustenance for over four billion people, making it also the most populated continent.
Despite these impressive figures, Asia still remains more of a loose description of a part of the world which contains a vastly varied array of different sub-regions, trying to paint an overall picture of Asia is impossible, Asia is more of a descriptive word used to group certain cultures and societies, than to define physical boundaries. For the purpose of this guide it is possibly best that we sub-divide Asia into its significant parts.
First we will take a look at the major cultures that can be found within Asia, before moving on to take a look at some of the travel highlights of taking a trip to the area, finally we will move on to discussing each of the sub-regions of Asia, more factual content, allowing you to judge which areas would be advanced enough in travel facilities for you to include in a list of possible holiday destinations.
Whilst Asia is often seen as being all about exotic locations, holidaymakers should consider the fact that certain areas, such as Northern and North West Asia are very much more westernised than the regions found towards the South and East. If you enjoy something a little different, but dislike dealing with cultural and language problems, there are still many options available to you in parts of Asia which are more compatible with our western culture.
On the flip side, if your ideal holiday is about overcoming the challenge of living day to day life in an alien environment, learning how to conduct yourself in tune with the local inhabitants, and challenging your stomach by sampling extreme foods and local produce, then Asia will not disappoint. The further east and south you travel, the more exotic things become, although there are still oasis of western culture to be found in the form of luxury resorts and new hotels.
It seems each year, air flight costs become less and less, making Asia an affordable travel destination for everyone, remember that the cost of the plane ticket is often offset by the relatively low cost of living and accommodation once you arrive at your destination. Asia is fast becoming one of the easiest, most diverse, and most keenly priced holiday destinations to be found. A decade ago, tour operators were just beginning to look at the continent of Asia as a package destination, now ten years on, many of the major tour operators have a whole host of excellent deals on offer, many designed to provide a first rate holiday for the entire family.
Society and Culture
Whole books have been written upon the subject of Asian culture, the continent contains a very mixed set of societies, and many are widely apart from the normal view of Asian society that most often springs to mind. Asian culture is most obviously influenced by religion, and many nations that fall within the borders of Asia, still treat religion extremely seriously. For many, their religion is still a part of daily life, unlike mainstream western society.
The two predominant forms of religion in Asia are Abrahamic based religions such as Islam and Christianity and Indian based religions such as Buddhism and Taoism. Depending upon which nation you visit, one religion will be the basis of the culture as a whole. Taking Thailand as an example, the primary religion is Buddhism, and it is visible in daily life in many ways, from small offerings made to Buddha outside hospitals, to the very firm roots of all major holiday celebrations in the Buddhist religion.
Visitors to most parts of Asia also need to consider that in general, it is far less developed economically than the western world. This has serious effects upon the society and culture of the area. Old style family values are still important, people live in much closet knit communities, and life is generally simpler. Of course, in the major tourist centres, this situation is far less evident, but a short jaunt off the beaten track will reveal a lifestyle that has not changed very much at all in the last decade. It is still possible to find local farmers, using nothing but their own muscle to plant their fields and harvest their crops. In most areas the local food market is still the premier place to buy fresh produce, and street stalls still line the pavements offering mouth-watering local foodstuffs to tempt passers bye.
Of course, this very broad description does not hold true for every area of Asia, it is a pointless exercise trying to discuss overall culture of such a huge area and such a large quantity of different people and nations. Possibly the single comment that can be made which makes the most overall sense, is to remember when you are visiting Asia, it is nothing like the western world. It may seem so on the surface, but social, religious, economic and political influences are so vastly different that the basic fabric of Asian society has very little in common with our western ways. Leave your preconceptions at home when visiting, and allow yourself to relax and enjoy life in a completely new way.
If you are intending to take a trip to an Asian country, then it is recommended that you take the time to learn a little about the culture of the people you will be visiting, learn some of their customs, if for no other reason than making sure you do not give offence by doing something that they may find insulting. For example, in many Buddhist countries it is considered an offence to touch somebody on the head, which sounds quite strange to somebody who has grown up in the western hemisphere. A little background research before you arrive will make sure you are behaving as expected, and receiving the best from your holiday time.
Don't be put off by the food, although food in Asia can be challenging to some people, western food is widely available in all of the major tourist centres, worrying about your stomach is definitely no reason to scratch Asia off your list of possibly holiday destinations.
Health risks are negligible these days, although some diseases still flair up from time to time, it is advised you inform your doctor of the location of your visit to Asia so that he can advise you of any vaccinations that may be needed before you travel.
Highlights of Asia
Asia offers a fully diverse range of holidays, certainly something for everybody, from budget backpackers to first class, luxury travellers. Let us explore some of the more common forms of holiday package that can be enjoyed in Asia. Whatever your travel tastes, there is bound to be something of interest to you in one form or another, let's take a look at some of the more traditional types of vacation, and find out how capable Asia is of supply a holiday to remember.
Sun & Sand
Sri Lanka, The Maldives, The Islands in the Gulf of Thailand, all globally renowned as exceptional places to spend a beach holiday. Many of these locations were originally discovered by backpackers twenty or so years ago, what they all had in common was an incredible amount of unspoilt beaches, a local culture which was friendly and open, and an economy which made making an extended stay on a shoestring more than possible. Fast forward twenty years and we find modern resorts, five start hotels and the whole host of facilities which holidaymakers enjoy.
Let us take the small island in the Gulf of Thailand, named Koh Samui as an example. Originally a backpacker's haven, palm huts on the beach and no running water, loved by a whole generation of young people who missed out on the 60s. Modern Koh Samui is populated by international hotel chains, top class restaurants and English speaking locals. From the superior service at the local airport, to the pristine beach, everything is geared towards providing that perfect beach holiday.
Historical Sites
Asia is home to some of the most significant historical sites on the planet, if history and archaeology is your thing, then you will find plenty of options. Either ancient sites such as Angkor Wat, the incredibly well kept Khmer temple in Northern Cambodia, often compared to other acknowledge architectural masterpieces such as the colossus in Rome, this incredible example of just how fascinating Asia can be should be on every list of places to visit in a lifetime.
For more modern history we can consider another location to be found within Cambodia, the aptly named Killing Fields. During the 1975 revolution, led by Pol Pot, which saw the Khmer Rouge seize power, it is estimated that over two million Cambodian people were executed and then buried at this site.
Historically important sites can be found all over Asia, some dating back to the earliest empires.
Off the Beaten Track
If one aspect of travelling to Asia needed to be selected, that was head and shoulders above the rest, then it would have to be the relative ease with which one can experience a truly incredible holiday, by visiting places that have still to be touched by the influences of large scale tourism. Asia is relatively undeveloped for most of its area, although most large urban centres are on par with large cities in the western world. What this means is that it is very easy to travel to Asia, and equally easy to taste some old world culture.
Laos springs to mind as a great venue for such a trip, hop onto a tour boat at Houei Xay and spend a delightful couple of days cruising down the impressive Mekong River, depart the boat at Luang Prabang and spend a few days exploring this delightful town, completely Laos with a huge amount of French colonial influence, one of the most fascinating cities on earth from an architectural viewpoint. Hop on to a local bus and head for Vien Vieng, with its astounding natural beauty and great value trekking, kayaking and camping tours.
There are an incredible amount of such experiences to be found within Asia, making a fantastic destination for adventure tourists and backpackers.
Scuba Diving Delights
Asia is home to many of the most spectacular dive sites in the world, from Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, sitting on the shores of the Red Sea, to the first class resorts of The Maldives, the quality of diving found around Asia is excellent. Many divers return year after year, as the continued development of Asian nations means that new and untouched dive sites are opened up regularly. Currently there are some incredible dive spots being made available in Myanmar (Burma), many of which have never been dived before. Learning to Scuba Dive in Asia is one of the cheapest options for anybody wishing to become a qualified diver, often savings of up to 70% can be made by travelling to this cheaper location and taking either a PADI or SSI certified course.
Conclusion
These are just a very few examples of the style of holiday that can be found in Asia, it really is an extremely diverse place, one that could take a lifetime to explore. Many holidaymakers return to Asia year after year, finding that the incredible combination of easy travel, keen pricing and destinations unlike anything available in the western hemisphere, make for a fantastic holiday for single travellers, couples or whole families.
Asia is slowly changing, and as it does, new areas become accessible that were previously impossible to experience within a standard vacation format, current shining stars are quickly being caught up by developing nations such as Vietnam and Malaysia, which are able to offer world class holidays at a vastly reduced cost. All inclusive deals are also very good value throughout Asia, and are a perfect option for those travellers who enjoy the ultimate in luxury.
Whatever your taste in holidays, there can be no doubt that Asia will be able to cater to it in some shape or form, from laid back family beach holidays, to full on adventure holidays, mountain climbing and white water rafting, Asia has it all.
Areas of Asia
Many people never realise how big Asia is, they also never realise just how far it stretches into the west, would you have previously known that Cyprus is considered to be within Asia? Or that part of Egypt is actually in Asia? This is one of the beauties of Asia, its ability to surprise us; it also makes the continent and incredibly diverse location from which to choose a holiday destination. Below are outlined the basic areas of Asia, along with the countries and nations which lay within their borders. Some of these areas are scarcely suitable for holiday travel; others have become world leading vacation destinations in their own right.
Central Asia
The boundaries of Central Asia are defined by the border to Southern Russia at its most northern edge, China over to the east, Pakistan at the bottom, with the Caspian Sea forming the western border.
Major territories include the Chinese provinces of Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, along with the republics of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and the nations of Mongolia and Afghanistan.
Although there are some excellent tourism spots within Central Asia, such as the enigmatic Tibet, the area is far from being a package holiday orientated, budget travel location. Far more suited to adventurous types ad backpackers looking for some excitement.
East Asia or the Far East
In stark contrast to Central Asia, East Asia is a heady mix of modern metropolises and traditional culture, one of the most vibrant and varied areas of the globe to visit. Comprising of the nations of China, Japan as well as North and South Korea, the entire area is deemed to fall within the Chinese culture sphere.
Travel options abound within East Asia, with every form of destination to be found within its borders, from city breaks in swinging Tokyo with its wild nightlife and world leading shopping districts, to trekking in the hills of China and visiting local villages, experiencing first hand a culture that has changed little in several centuries.
Traveling to the Far East is easy; many major airlines run competitively priced flights into all of the major cities, as well as serving some of the remote areas with short haul domestic flights. Communication should not pose a problem in the big metropolitan cities, although moving outside of these westerner friendly areas is likely to provide something of a challenge.
North Africa
Most people do not realize that a part of North Africa is actually in Asia, only a very small part, but an extremely impressive piece none the less. The entire Sinai Peninsula, which is part of Egypt, falls within the border of Asia. This area is one of the most spectacular regions in the work to visit, nestled on the shores of the Red Sea, with the Sinai Mountains to the west, truly breathtaking. It is also one of the finest scuba diving locations to be found anywhere.
Northern Asia
This part of Asia is made up entirely of Russian territories, including Siberia. Offering a very western style of travel, definitely opening up since the fall of the USSR. Siberia has begun to present itself as a new holiday destination, and has become increasingly popular; the city of Omsk has seen a huge rise in the number of people visiting over the last five years.
Southeast Asia
When folks are discussing Asia, they usually have their conceptions of Southeast Asia fixed in their minds, as this area has been at the front of Asian tourism for decades. Often synonymous with an image of remote sandy beaches, gently swaying palm trees and rich, spicy food served by inexpensive restaurants. Whilst this picture is in many ways correct, it is by no means the only face of travel to Southeast Asia. The countries of Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, East Timor, Cambodia and Brunei make up this incredibly diverse part of the continent of Asia. From luxury shopping in Singapore, through the seedy nightlife of downtown Bangkok, to the still unspoiled beaches of Malaysia, Southeast Asia is a fantastic choice of holiday destination.
Over the last decade we have seen the tourist industry bloom in Southeast Asia, with a huge amount of world class hotels and resorts opening up. Plane flights have dropped in price, and the local cultures have assimilated the effects of westerners upon their local economy, maintaining great value price despite inflation.
Southern Asia
Southern Asia is another incredibly interesting place to take a vacation, exotic and entertaining, with a rich cultural background and a completely different lifestyle to the one we enjoy in the western world.
The nations of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh make up Southern Asia. Places such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives have become well known as exceptionally great locations to take a holiday. Other areas such as India are fast becoming major tourist areas in their own right, as people search for ever more exotic holiday destinations.
Western Asia
The area of land covered by Western Asia is vast, and includes the nations of Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Georgia, Cyprus, Bahrain, Armenia and Afghanistan.
No other area of Asia is both so easily accessible from the west, and varied in the type of holiday experience it can provide.
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