If you watched The Mummy: Curse of the Dragon Emperor, Empire of the Sun, and Mission: Impossible III, then you are familiar with the neon-lit streets of Shanghai. The city of Shanghai has long been a melting pot of European influences amidst the middle kingdom, a place of two cultures trade in material and ideas. Turned into a free port after the Opium War, Shanghai became an international settlement and has figured significantly in world events. Today, modern Shanghai is at the forefront of China’s economic growth, with buildings, highways, and bridges being built in anticipation of the boom in the coming decades. East and West, historical and modern, traditional and cutting-edge; all converge in this spectacular city.

Here are some attractions that give a glimpse of insight inside Shanghai.

The Bund - Shanghai’s famous waterfront offers a view of its colonial structures as well as its modern skycrapers. Banks, trading houses, consulates, and other heritage buildings, built by different European countries over a century ago line this four-kilometer stretch along the banks the Huangpu River. The Bund gets crowded during the day so its best to visit the 1-mile long stretch during the early morning or at night when the neon signs light up.

Nanjing Road - the world’ longest commercial street at 6 kilometers and certainly one of the world’s busiest. Both sides of this road is brimming with boutiques, restaurants, malls, bars, and entertainment centers. The focal point of the street is the centuries-old Central Market, where buyers can find all kinds of items for sale. During the Chinese New Year and other holidays, Nanjing Road becomes the venue for the city’s celebations.

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Posted in Attractions, China |

Traveling can really be fun, exhilarating, and exciting! You get to visit new places, try out new cuisines, experience different cultures and, of course, meet people then eventually make new friends. Plus, you can stay in really nice hotels like the Ascott Jakarta Hotel.

You will live through these and more during your trip to Indonesia. But before you head to the nearest restaurant, visit the museum, go on that tour or explore every corner of this energetic city, it is highly advisable to familiarize yourself with the various modes of transportation that you can take in Indonesia so that you can save time, money and most especially to ensure your safety.

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Posted in Indonesia, Transportation |

Anyone who has been to Kuala Lumpur (KL) would surely have heard of Bukit Bintang, or more popularly referred to as the Bintang Walk. It is located in what is called the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur. You can get to Bukit Bintang by taking a taxi, by bus or by taking the train.

It is the ultimate place to be and be seen when it comes to the KL night life. It is the center of KL’s night entertainment and recreation. If you stroll along Bintang Walk, you will be greeted by glitzy lights and a multitude of international restaurants and pubs that line the entire street.

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Posted in Malaysia, Things to do |

If you’ve ever watched a Korean romance movie, you may notice that the onscreen lovers will spend time to travel to Jeju Island. There, they will visit a theme park, or simply stroll along the beach hand in hand, slowly falling for each other.

That is the magic of Jeju Island, a volcanic landmass south of South Korea whose warm, subtropical climate, white sandy beaches, and multiple attractions have made it a favorite honeymoon vacation spot for newlyweds. Indeed, for a land that only has agriculture as the only other major industry, the residents of Jeju have gone out of their way to welcome not just young couples but tourists of all kinds, both local and foreign alike. Jeju is sufficiently distant from the rest of Korea to develop a culture distinct from the mainland. It boasts heritage sites, national parks, Buddhist temples, theme parks, museums, beach resort, and lots more so that visitors will come back again and again and still find something new.

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Posted in Attractions, Korea |

Singapore is a bustling city where everything seems to be in fast forward mode. You will see people walking so fast so early in the morning to catch the train or bus to work.

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Posted in Attractions, Singapore |

Bangkok is a bustling city always peppered with excited tourists and equally eager vendors who will do everything to make a sale. Since good buys abound in this pulsating city, then you must make sure that you get your hands on some real good bargains during your visit to Bangkok. The malls would be a good place to start as these multi-storey shopaholics’ heaven can accommodate every meticulous taste and budget.

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Posted in Thailand, Things to do |

For a Christian holiday, Christmas gets surprising attention in a continent dominated by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. For some countries, it is an after-effect of centuries of Western colonialism and Christian missionary work. For others, the commercial aspects of gift-giving and festivities encourage department stores and markets to dress up for the holidays. Still others see it as a romantic season, a time for couples and lovers to share intimate moments together.

Whatever the reason, Christmas is still celebrated the world over, and nowhere is this fact more proven than in the following major Asian cities.

Tokyo, Japan - less than 1% of Japan’s population are Christians, and December 25 is not a national holiday here. Christmas is seen more as a commercial season, a time for romance between couples and for corporations to deck their offices in lights. December is also a time for oseibo (end-of-the-year gift exchanges between companies) and boukenkai (”forget the year”) parties, and Christmas-themed parties tend to get mixed in with the celebrations.

Seoul, South Korea – South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday, with 30% of the population being Christians. Even non-Christian Koreans engage in gift-giving, card-sending, and plastic tree-decorating at this time of year, and engaging lights beautify the City Hall area for people to enjoy. What’s surprising is the locals treat the season to be a romantic affair, much like Valentine’s Day.

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Posted in Asia, Events, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |

Jakarta is another city in Asia that offers great shopping to all travelers. Prices here are said to be lower compared to some Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore. There are so many shopping destinations to include in your travel itinerary and these stops should include the city’s grand malls.

TAMAN ANGGREK MALL
Gatot Subroto St. Kav. 21 Slipi West Jakarta 11047
+62 21 564 3777

Locals would proudly tell you that this mall is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It is a place where you can find everything that you need. With over 400 shops and two department stores namely Galeria Matahari and Metro, what more can you ask for?

From the moment you walk through the huge revolving doors and step into the main lobby, you will immediately be mesmerized by this mall. After a few steps, you will find yourself in the middle of the spacious atrium where most mall events like product launches, concerts, fashion shows, etc are held.

Stores here cater to all kinds of shoppers. There are brand names that are affordable even for the young crowd. Of course, there are high end boutiques for those who are brand conscious and prefer designer brands. It is easy to lose track of time in all these shops where you can spend hours scouring through the finest merchandise.

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Posted in Indonesia, Things to do |

Cambodia may be one of the poorest nations in Asia, but it is rich in cultural heritage. From the majestic temples in the jungle to the memorials dedicated to the millions who died during the Khmer Rouge years, Cambodia has a few gems worth visiting.

Angkor Archeological Park

The home of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayom Temple. The best way to see the major parts of this heritage site is through a tour group, which has access to areas not easily reachable by individuals. Read more about this amazing temple city here which is famous for the Tomb Raider site location shooting.

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Posted in Attractions, Cambodia |

As the Christmas Season draws near, prices for everything go up! From Christmas gifts, to holiday packages and even seasonal delicacies! Even Santa Claus, with all the gifts he has to give to all the nice children, need all the savings he can get.

The HotelClub Family for discount hotels, last minute bookings and Asia hotels guide have decided to give everyone an early Christmas present by giving 30 Member Dollars equivalent to USD 30 for one-time hotel booking (per member, not to be used with existing promotions) any time within the next 30 days (or will expire on December 10, 2008).

Treat your family and friends for a discounted hotel stay from anywhere in Asia or the rest of the world and use this 30 USD to buy them more gifts.

Existing DreamClub Members have already received their USD 30 vouchers! All they need to do is claim it by clicking on their email notifications. If you are not yet a member, registration is easy and FREE! Take advantage of this Special Christmas hotels treat now and be sure to tell your friends and family about this great Christmas promo.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please visit http://www.hotelclub.com/christmas2008.asp for more details.

Posted in Asia, Events |