Wantanee Khamkongkaew asked:


Hong Kong is a first-rate trading, financial and business centre. It does not have any major natural resources. It has one of the finest ports in the world. The country boasts a hardworking, industrious and well-qualified workforce of about 3.56 million. It forms the foundation of Hong Kong’s productivity and prosperity.

In spite of a few market crashes, Hong Kong’s residential market has long flourished owing to the country’s strong economy. The country’s free market economy mostly depends on international trade, as it has few natural resources. It has wide-ranging trade and market ties with China. As the island’s natural resources are limited, it has to depend on others for food and raw materials.

The land’s high position on the economic front is attributed to several reasons. It is situated halfway between Japan and Singapore. The charm of the island lies mostly in its nearness to the mainland of China. It lies near important shipping and air routes. Moreover, the country has an atmosphere conducive to business and commerce. The country’s economy has always been built upon commerce, and shipping. Today it competes with Singapore as the world’s busiest container port.

A property search in Hong Kong gives you a better understanding of properties available within your budget. You have to carefully take a look at the more popular condominiums, residential apartments and houses across the island. In order to get a clearer idea of which size would suit your requirements best, you have to carefully study the more popular listings across the land.

The size of a house is calculated in square feet, not in the number of rooms. House sizes are generally counted on the gross square footage. The active or useable footage is generally around 80% of the gross amount of space. In Hong Kong, rentals are collected monthly and additional charges such as management fees and government rent are not usually taken.

A number of real estate firms carry out customary market research. They keep databases for each market sector which allows you to watch changes in the working of the market. In addition to publishing property business update reports on a regular basis, many of them also conduct regular internal research programs such as detailed market studies and surveys.

Property searches help you asses the current value of apartments, condominiums and other properties in Hong Kong. They make the finding of your ideal house, apartment, villa, office, vacation rental or land easier. Bear in mind that you should view the land before you pay any money. A personal visit is an integral part of any property search.

There are many property locations and housing neighborhoods across the island and the surrounding areas. Owing to the country’s sprawling residential structure, it’s difficult to find out exactly which areas are the most sought-after in terms of high-end property - luxury developments come up just about everywhere.

There are several locations that are particularly attractive for reasons of accessibility, views and facilities. The most popular among them are Island East, The Peak, Hong Kong Island South, Happy Valley, Stanley, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Wanchai, the Kowloon Peninsula, and Kowloon Tong.

The embargo on luxury residential real estate in Hong Kong was recently raised and as a result The Peak is at the height of the country’s luxury market. It is the highest spot on the island and has long been a favorite hotspot for wealthy investors. It’s a much sought-after tourist attraction offering spectacular views of most of the surrounding islands.

It is not easy to enter the Hong Kong property market as it is the third most expensive high-end residential market in the world. As all land belongs to the government; buyers of property actually buy an agreement or a lease. Laws governing the real estate sector market allow you to own properties as an individual or through a company structure.

Property owners in Hong Kong are now at ease to wait for higher bids for their luxury properties owing to the upward adjustment in asking prices set off by recent land sales. Many investors in the country are reluctant to rent out their luxury properties since it would lessen their flexibility in trading the property.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Rajinder Dogra asked:


The SMERFs, a hardy and growing bunch, are travelling Asia for Social, Military, Education, Religious, and Fraternity reasons, offering vast untapped potential for this regions developing and recovering travel markets says Abacus International.

Their reasons for travelling are as diverse as war and peace, study and learning, seeking their god or just to catch up with like-minded people, but what they have in common is a will to travel even if times get tough. They do not mind even gathering in non peak times if it will help keep the costs down.

They are the SMERFS. No relation to their cuddly namesakes of television fame, they are the resilient groups travelling to and around Asia in their millions for social, military, education or religious reasons, or as part of fraternity groups such as alumni, workplace re unions or special interest groups.

Abacus International President and CEO, Mr Don Birch says that despite being budget conscious, the SMERFs collectively form a huge market and have vast untapped potential for developing or recovering Asian travel markets.

Abacus International estimates that the SMERF market across Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore alone is worth US$1.7 billion a year, based on an accepted US formula that the SMERF market is equivalent to about one third of the total meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.

Whereas their better known cousins the MICE are serviced by specialist divisions within major hotel groups, travel agencies and dedicated Government programmes, the SMERFS are often below the radar and therefore harder to measure.

They are hardy and budget-conscious travellers which make them ideal for developing or recovering markets or as a complementary segment in peak markets, Mr Birch continued.

The SMERFs helped sustain the US hotel and airline industry in the period following the 9/11 terrorist events, and have shown themselves to be very resilient in the face of international in the face of international events, Don Birch said.

Who are the SMERFS?

The SMERFs are part of a wider trend in the travel market towards more outcome based travel travel for a purpose other than just to see things, and they’re more prepared than ever to travel abroad to achieve their aims according to Mr Birch.

This seemingly diverse group is united by a willingness to travel despite the economic cycle, to go off-peak and even off the beaten track if that is what it takes to track down budget transport and accommodation, Don Birch said.

Social travel traverses the fields of sports, special interest, ethnic, talent and dance organisations, with more and more diverse ethnic and professional associations adding to the growth. Examples include womens groups, volunteer workers and social sports teams travelling domestically or inter country for tournaments.

The growing number of car owners joining clubs in Singapore such as BMW.sg, TeamChevy Singapore and the Toyota Club Singapore, are a case in point. Aside from their regular monthly meetings where enthusiasts exchange tips on the technical aspects their cars, these clubs also serve as a rallying point for trips overseas, either to Sepang in Malaysia for a day of track racing or to other regional destinations for leisure trips. Further afield, fans of the Lord of the Rings have travelled to New Zealand in their thousands to experience in person some of the magic of the film. A guide book to the filming locations has now sold over 300,000 copies becoming the fifth largest ever selling non-fiction book in New Zealand in the process.

The Lord of the Rings has created the largest film tourism event the world has ever seen. Thousands of people have flocked to Middle earth New Zealand to follow in the footsteps of the hobbits and to bring back some of the emotions they felt when watching the film or reading the book, says Ian Brody author of the Location guide, which is selling just as well a full three years after the last movie in the trilogy.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Director of the Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), Mr John Koldowski says there is also a well beaten path from India to the exotic film locations of Switzerland and Austria, as fans of Bollywood seek out the sets of their favourite movies.

The social category is a good market for hotel sales staff who want to fill room blocks in off-season and weekend periods, but attracting these bookings is reliant on repeat business, word of mouth from existing customers, and direct marketing to social organisers and providing the right kind of accommodation offers, Mr Birch said.

We used to think about SMERF groups as a market niche for budget hotels and hostel style accommodation, now they use convention and conference centres, university facilities, suburban hotels, downtown hotels, resorts and even unsold apartment complexes.

Military travel

Asias estimated 32 million soldiers are often on the move usually by military transport, but often by civilian travel networks in countries such as Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore. Not surprisingly, the Philippines is one of the largest military travel markets in the region. With its more than 400,000 strong army and vast territory of 7,000 islands, even the coming and going of soldiers on leave is a highly significant market.

While exact figures are difficult to procure due to the sensitivity of military travel, the growing number of websites specialising in military travel in this region, attest to the scale of interest in this market and present a highly focused audience for travel suppliers seeking to reach this market, Mr Birch said.

Education travel

The Singapore experience demonstrates the potential of the education travel market. Prospects for inbound educational travel are promising with the number of international students in Singapore for long-term studies (one month +) growing from 60,000 in 2003 to well over 70,000 in 2005 according to the Singapore Tourism Board. The Singapore Government is targeting to achieve 150,000 international students by 2015, particularly from China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.

From summer camps to immersion programmes, travel operators in Asia are beginning to discover the value of outbound educational tourism in the region.

One of Singapores most established travel operators, Chan Brothers Travel, set up its own Educational Travel Centre (ETC) in 2003 to cater to the emerging educational travel market in Singapore, conducting tours for student groups to destinations such as China, England, Germany, Australia and Turkey during the student vacation months of June and December.

Another relative newcomer on the educational tour scene, Wing On Travel in Hong Kong offers English language and activity tours to Britain, Australia, Singapore, Canada and mainland China. Reflecting their commitment to cater to this emerging travel market, the agency decided to create a dedicated educational tour division. The company launched its first study tours in 2004 and this year plans to take 14 groups to Britain alone.

Mr Birch says, This travel segment has a high growth potential but travel operators need to be aware of the challenges inherent in conducting educational tours for school groups. Parents expectations, differences in cultural understanding and catering for homesick young students are just some of the many issues that tour operators will have to address through equipping their staff with the necessary skill sets and expertise.

While students from Hong Kong and Singapore are venturing to foreign shores for a comprehensive educational experience, Indian students are discovering Indias own cultural identity and heritage. Mr P Saravanan, from Viking Tours and Travels in Chennai, South India said that school groups are mainly travelling to experience the history, culture and monuments of other Indian states generally in groups of 25-40 people.

The school groups are very budget in their accommodation needs. That is 1 or 2 star, with as many as 3 or 4 children sharing each room, but they’re definitely a valuable market, because schools come back a number of times, as do families of the children as they grow up, so it is a valuable part of marketing, Mr Saravanan said.

A pioneer in the educational travel segment, Thai tour operator Track of the Tiger has been running educational tours for students from Australia and the UK for more than ten years. Mr Shane Beary, Director, said that the demand for educational programmes at its Maekok River Village Resort & Outdoor Education Centre has been growing at an average rate of 25 to30% over the past five years and recorded 7,500 room nights in 2005. With a market base that has grown to include students from Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Thailand, Track of the Tiger now offers programmes at Pang Soong lodge, its new Outdoor Education & Research Centre in Mae On, Chiang Mai, covering a range of environmental, and outdoor programmes for student groups, as well as team building and ‘voluntourism options for the corporate sector.

Mr Beary commented, Our experience has shown that there are many overlaps between educational, volunteer and eco tourism, which we have tried to build on in developing our programmes.

Religious travel

As one of the worlds most populous and largest regions, Asia is also recognised as the birthplace of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the Philippines have a cultural heritage steeped in some of the worlds major religions, and government policies to develop joint tourist attractions such as the Buddhist circuit in Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka and India have definitely grown the pie for their respective religious tourism markets,said Mr Birch.

Agreeing, PATAs John Koldowski said, Religious traffic tends to be fuelled by domestic bookings but increasingly, there are more pilgrimages being organised for inbound tourists which usually cover more than one destination. For example, there is a distinct Buddhist circuit such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka and a trail covering revered Buddhist sites in India.

With a myriad of religious sites throughout the country, India has an established group of religious tour operators to cater to the many domestic and foreign pilgrims that throng India during the peak travel periods of April, May and November.

Mr Ashok Negi, from Rajarani Travels in Mumbai reports that the tours run by his agency and its network of six branch offices throughout India has facilitated pilgrimages for more than 50,000 tourists to various religious sites in the country. According to Mr Negi, visits to popular religious sites such as Vaishnodevi and the temple at Tirupati constitute as much as 25% of Indias domestic tourism.

Christianity is the other religion fuelling growth in another Asian destination, the Philippines. Having provided its services for more than four decades in Southeast Asias most populous Catholic country, Catholic Travel, Inc. has positioned itself as the Pilgrimage Specialist.

According to Ms. Carmina Orbe, General Manager, most pilgrims are from the Philippines, and they also have pilgrims from Hong Kong, Rome, Canada and Los Angeles not only joining a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel) but having a pilgrimage in the Philippines. Priests that have joined our pilgrimages to the Holy Land have found a renewed inspiration in their vocational work for the community. I guess the visits have brought new meaning to the places and events in the Bible that they had only studied in the seminary previously.

Across Asia, missionary teams are also frequent travellers, with agencies such as World Vision and Youth With a Mission (YWAM), mobilising large numbers of people annually. For example, YWAM Singapore takes approximately 150 volunteers to developing countries in the region such as Myanmar, Indonesia and India, over five to ten such trips every year.

Fraternal travel

Although not as significant a market as educational or religious travel, a growing number of civil associations and groups such as Rotary International and Lions Club International have begun to look towards Asia as a possible destination for their international gatherings.

The Rotary Club held its international convention in Singapore, its first Southeast Asian venue in 1999, and again in Osaka, Japan in May 2004 for more than 45,000 Rotary club members from 96 countries. Lions Club International held its 88th International Convention in Hong Kong from 27 June to 1 July 2005, catering to approximately 20,000 Lions Club members and their accompanying family members and friends. This generated almost US$19 million of direct tourism spending and spin-off business for the retail, catering and tourism-related sectors.

Traditional MICE destinations such as Singapore and Hong Kong have paved the way for Asias rise as a conventions venue on the world stage. This has allowed emerging economies in Thailand, India and Vietnam to offer companies and fraternal associations more variety in their choice of meeting venues Mr Birch said.

Targeting the SMERFs

There are some commonly accepted issues in targeting the SMERF market says Abacus Mr Don Birch. For example recent cost increases in the Asia hotel sector which saw average room rates rise in major cities (for example 17% last year in Singapore) are not good news for SMERFs.

More meetings and higher hotel prices can limit options for SMERFS, but SMERF planners can still find open arms in markets such as second and third tier cities eager to lure back budget groups,said Mr Birch.

For sales and marketing managers within the industry, finding SMERF planners is harder than just finding Association planners.

Seeking local contacts that are affiliated with these types of groups is critical. Local networking is also needed to identify SMERF groups and their planners. Resources such as the research directories of organisations, affordable meetings conferences, and even the personal networks of a propertys employees all have their place in pinning down the SMERFs, Mr Birch said.

The internet also plays a key role as both a research and communication channel for both SMERF planners and sales and marketing teams.

The internet clearly improves the chances of buyers and sellers in the SMERF universe finding a good match on location, venue and the experiences to be offered during the period of travel, Mr Birch added.



Entertainment Center

Naveen Marasinghe asked:


This prominent shopping area in Singapore is today frequented by a large number of tourists who come for its shopping offerings. Its origins are a far cry from what can be found today, and involved a fair amount of shady dealings especially involving the passing sailors visiting the country.

With a wealth of stores as well as dining and entertainment options being housed here, Bugis Village has come to be known as a Shopper paradise. Everything from air conditioned malls to street hawkers can be found here. Its popularity is further symbolized by the fact that millions of shoppers visit the retail outlets that are housed on this prominent shopping street.

The area also features sheltered walkways that are useful for avoiding the outside temperatures. There are also a large number of cafes and food stalls located throughout the vicinity that are perfect for shoppers who wish to take a break.

The area houses an impressive 600 stalls that is sure to deliver whatever you are seeking. The atmosphere at this shopping destination is quite unlike any other due to the area’s extremely important nature. There are several important tourist destinations that are located in the nearby area that results in a lot of commotion being added to the already bustling market activity.

Despite this one of the main attractions is the night market that provides an excellent shopping opportunity. The night market offers the chance to pick up cheap CD’s cassettes and watches.

With so many shopping opportunities visitors to the city of Singapore should definitely not miss the opportunity to visit all the stores that are on offer here.

Parkroyal on Beach Road Singapore offers Singapore hotel accommodation that is not only located close to this destination but also offers a range of amenities and facilities that ensure for a comfortable stay in the city.



Entertainment Center

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated places in the world, is famous for its charm and diverse culture. The residents here lead different way of life and the society is contemporary and capitalistic. Even though the people still follow the Chinese tradition. It is considered as one of the world’s vibrant cities since the olden days.

The history of the place has some connection with the Opium War. In the middle of nineteenth century, Great Britain colonized the island. In 1898, an agreement was signed and the city was handed over to British for 99 years. But by 1984, British agreed to give back Hong Kong to China.

Hong Kong is considered as one of the most popular tourist attraction around the world. The city is small but lively with a fantastic night life which is akin to the Caribbean. The city is situated near India and Philippines and is one of the best English speaking areas in Asia.

You can enjoy several mouth-watering cuisines in the region including Chinese, Indian, Mughalai, and international cuisines. Unique Chinese dishes like special dim sum are very tasty. You can also taste other Chinese specialties like chicken lo mein, fried whole trout, Peking duck, stuffed scallops, tofu dishes, mouth-watering Tong Cho oysters, and exotic seafood plates of soft-shell crab topped with crawfish tails.

There are several McDonald’s outlets and Western-style restaurants for American and European food. When compared to other tourist locations around the world, this destination is a bit expensive. If you want to reduce your cost of living in Hong Kong, you have to choose dormitories for stay and eat budget meals, usually Chinese dishes, instead of going to other big fancy restaurants. As it is a shopping paradise, it is difficult to resist your desire to buy. So it is better to embrace your money, if you do not need to overspend.

Hong Kong is well known for its thriving service industry and most of the residents are working in either banking, telecommunications, insurance or tourism. It is also popular for its entertainment industry and is considered as the Movie capital of Asia.

As it is both a modern and ancient city, you can find places to stay with out any problem when visiting Hong Kong. Accommodation facilities come in all types of excellence, shapes and prices. Cheap youth hostels with standard amenities and five star luxury hotels with luxurious facilities are offered.

Most of the luxurious facilities are available in Hong Kong Island, the central area of the city. For people looking for cheap accommodation, Kowloon and the New territories offer diverse sources. You can also find hostels in Hong Kong Island. As Hong Kong is a major transportation hub of Asia, it can cater to all budgets.

Hong Kong has a varied mix of characters as a result of lengthy British occupation and a great Chinese influence. The place has a lot to offer tourists around the world; this is the reason why more and more people visit this place year round. Situated in Kowloon, Hong Kong Museum of Art is the best place for history buffs. The Museum houses more than 14,000 items including paintings, calligraphy Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques and lithographs.

Hong Kong Disneyland, the fist Disneyland in Asia, offers an enchanting experience to the travelers and natives alike. The park features four main attractions, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA. You can have a view of the entire city from Victoria Peak which is situated around 1810 feet above sea level. Take a cruise around the water of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this water.

Have great fun in Ocean Park which is one of the great attractions in the city. The park houses Lowlands Gardens, Marine Land and Headlands amusement park where you can go and have a ride with cable cars and roller coasters. Have fun with your kids in Water World’s wave pools, play area, and water slides.

Hong Kong Space Museum is another major attraction in the city. It features several displays including robotics, telecommunications, energy, computers, and physics. Middle Kingdom, The Central district, Lamma Island, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery and Wet Market are also worth a visit. Plan your next vacation to this vibrant city now itself.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Hedin Johan asked:


Inside information

One of the things you’ll notice when you fly into the resort destination of Phuket, is the extent of the island’s lush vegetation and greenery. Sixty percent of the island is covered by forests, rubber and oil plantations.  The popular resort beaches lie on the west coast, whilst its mountain range stretches north to south of which the highest point is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Cains) at 529m above sea level.

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand with a population of around 320, 000 people and a land area of 543 square kilometres (about the same size as Singapore).  It is located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of southern Thailand and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

A brief check on the history of Phuket unravels a tin trade with the English, French and Dutch and skirmishes with the Burmese in the 17th and 18th century. Chinese workers and businessmen were employed in the tin mines during the 17th century, the influence of which still remains in Phuket today; notably with Phuket cuisine. In 1785 the Burmese attempted to attack Phuket. The siege which lasted two months ended after the Burmese were forced to retreat. Nowadays with the demise of the tin mining trade due to low tin prices, Phuket’s main industries are divided into two; one is rubber, the other tourism. Thailand is now the biggest rubber producer in the world. Whereas tourism has attracted millions of visitors to the resort region over the last 30 years.

Squeaky White on the Horizon

One of its main tourist attractions is, of course, the beautiful palm fringed beaches and golden or white sands that stretch for miles. Tiny palm coves and bays inundate the coastline where some of the most gorgeous and luxurious hotel resorts blend in with the natural beauty. When considering the quieter Phuket resorts, one particular beach comes to mind. That is Karon beach, a short distance south of the main Patong beach. Karon beach spans 6 km of coastline and is famous for its beautiful white sands which make that unique squeaking noise as you walk on it. Favored by couples and families, Karon beach can claim fame to the Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa located at the southern end of the beach and just a stone’s throw from the idyllic Kata beach. The resort itself is set on 16000 sqm of land and is surrounded by a forest vegetation of lush green. It’s slightly elevated position offers marvellous views which allows for guaranteed peace and tranquillity. Easy access to the area from Phuket town and the more lively Patong beach offers its visitors the chance to not only relax and enjoy Karon’s lush natural surroundings but also to participate in more vivacious activities such as exciting nightlife and shopping. The resort offers free scheduled transport to Patong Beach. Also available around Karon beach are marine activities such as diving and snorkelling, day trip excursions can also be arranged. Honeymooners who stay more than four nights may enjoy extra added on service at the Karon Beach Resort Hotels by receiving complimentary gifts on arrival. While families who reserve a second inter-connecting room for children can enjoy a 30% discount on the room-rate and a 20% discount on all beverages and food consumed at the hotel resort during their stay.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Naveen Marasinghe asked:


Opened in 1966, Ancol Dreamland is at present the largest incorporated tourism region in South East Asia, and is the largest and most popular leisure park in all of Indonesia. Located in Jakarta along Jakarta’s waterfront, the park was built on reclaimed beach land and offers many activities to tourists.

The Dreamland has a theme park called Fantasy World (Dunia Fantasi or Dufan). The park has over forty main rides and attractions and is divided into eight areas, Indonesia, Jakarta, Amerika (America), Eropa (Europe), Asia, Yunani (Greece), Balada Kera (Monkey Parody) and Hikayat (Fantasy). Some of the majr attractions here are the Halilintar twisted roller coaster ride, the Niagara flume ride, Kicir-Kicir (Power Surge), Perang Bintang (Star Wars), Meteor Attack and Tornado.

The Dreamland has many other attractions; one is the Atlantis Water Adventure, which is based on the legendary city of Atlantis. The water park has a wave pool, a continuous flowing river pool, a rainbow ball pool and two children’s pools, among other attractions here. There is also the SeaWorld, opened in 1996, was the largest aquarium in South East Asia at the time and is larger than Singapore’s Underwater World. It plays host to the popular antinessa tunnel as well as the alligator pool, shark pool, main pool and sea friends pool.

Dreamland also has many entertainment centres, the Jaya Bowling Centre and the Executive Golf Fun are some spots. The Executive Golf Fun is a 33 hectare golf course with 18 holes and includes a pro-shop, an executive room, a meeting hall and many restaurants. There is also the Art Market where you can find and buy many crafts and paintings by local artists. Here you can also see many of the artisans at work on their masterpieces.

There are many places to stay at Jakarta. Serviced apartments and serviced residences in Jakarta are available at the Somerset Grand Citra.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


Tanjung Benoa, otherwise known as Benoa Peninsula, is one of the most prominent attractions in Indonesia, situated on the Bali’s south-eastern coast. Once a small typical fishing village, the destination has now been transformed into one of the most sought after beach resorts in Indonesia. Located to the north of Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa is a picturesque five kilometer long peninsula, boasting of a breathtaking landscape consisting of gorgeous white sandy beach, majestic mountains, and incredible coconut plantations.

Further, Tanjung Benoa is only minutes away from some of the most tourist spots in Bali. For instance, it is just 15 minutes drive away from Kuta and about 25 minutes drive from Sanur. Tanjung Benoa is connected by a narrow bustling road packed with a plethora of upscale hotels, private villas, first class restaurants, and elegant open air restaurants.

The prime draw of Tanjung Benoa is unquestionably its stupendous beach with clean safe waters. The beach is truly a mecca for enjoying a number of water sport activities, from parasailing, wind surfing, and jet skiing to snorkeling, banana boat sailing, and reef fishing. Additionally, the beach provides excellent facilities for diving enthusiasts, with a number of certified diving centers. Apart from these, a plethora of shops operate here in order to make you available all types of rental equipments for enjoying several water sport activities.

But, attractions as well as activities that can be enjoyed in Tanjung Benoa are not just beach and its area, but beyond that. Tanjung Benoa also contains a number of other interesting tourist spots. A visit to the destination would not to be complete without taking a tour to Batubulan, a serene as well as calm village which is well-known for its stone carvings.

You can find here a large number of statues displayed in the street starting from Batubulan village to Tegaltamu. Apart from these stone statues, Batubulan is also renowned for its magnificent shrines. Of which, the most popular is Pura Paseh, which is noted for its exquisite art and architecture. The temple is just few blocks away from the main road. Further, Batubulan provides options to shop items such as textiles, handicraft and carved items, and traditional clothing items. There are also some shops conducting traditional Balinese performances such as Barong and Rangda dances.

Nearby Batubulan village is yet another popular tourist spot, namely, Taman Burung, which is an incredible park. Situated to the north of Tegaltamu, Taman Burung is spread across about two hectares of land, and is home to more than 1000 birds of about 250 different species, which in turn are collected from different parts of the world. Birds of paradise, African Hornbill, Bali Starling, Blue and Gold Macaw, and flamingos are just few among the specialties found here.

Also, within in this bird park is a reptile park, with an amazing collection of reptiles that have been primarily collected from different regions of Africa and Indonesia. Among the residents here are piton snake, monitor lizard, komodo, mega snakes, and crocodiles. A fine restaurant and several gift shops can also be found within the park. In short, with these rare bird and reptile species, the park is really worth a visit.

Points of interest in Tanjung Benoa also include the Bali Golf and Country Club, which is in turn is Asia’s one of the most popular golf courses. Equally fabulous would be to take a tour to the quiet port, with village-like atmosphere. Likewise, spiritual travelers should not miss to take a tour to the Chinese Buddhist Temple found here. Further, while your stay at Tanjung Benoa, take a tour to Serangan, otherwise known as Turtle Island. The focal point of this spot is a temple dating back to 16th century.

Above all, Tanjung Benoa is much famed for its world class restaurants serving sumptuous sea food specialties.

When comes to accommodation, Tanjung Benoa allows guests to choose from an array of accommodation choices. As mentioned earlier, many of the hotels in the area are concentrated around the beach area. Many of the hotels and resorts in the area come with a range of options such as double rooms, single rooms, and villas, all of which are attached with amenities such as air conditioning, direct dial telephone, iron and ironing board, television, in-room safe, king-size bed, and round the clock room service. In addition, some of the most sophisticated hotels offer a variety of dining options such as daily theme buffet dinner, beach restaurants, and relaxing bars.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Wantanee Khamkongkaew asked:


In the recent past the Asian market has become more and more biased towards foreign investment. Lot of countries in the region have completely removed their unnecessary restrictions on foreign investors. This attracted more investment in the property market as well. As a result there was a real boom in the property section of the market in 2007.

There was a steady increase in the average occupancy rate of office and residential buildings. The governments in the region have also become alert and have awarded business park sites and industrial sites. In the present circumstances an understanding of the various investment opportunities across Asia will be extremely helpful to you.

Thailand has been a tricky destination for tourists around the world. It is exotic island home to some of the best investment opportunities available in Asia. The influx of travelers from UK has increased as a consequence of budget airlines and consistent backup of expats who live in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. Investors can expect excellent returns from Thai beach property over the next couple of years. Thailand promises to be a profitable investment market for a good part of the next decade.

Seychelles islands are home to some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. Development has been given top priority in recent years and new laws which attract the investors have been formulated. A man-made island Eden has been constructed and this can be considered another foot forward in creating reliable investment opportunities.

Vietnam and Cambodia are trying their level best to forget their disturbing past and focus on building a happy and prosperous nation. These two nations are blessed with tropical climates, thick vegetation and enticing beaches. If they make the right moves there is a lot of space for investment in these nations with both having turbulent pasts.

Japan recently had some problems in their economy, but they are fighting back quite strongly. Clever investors will realize that Japan is a viable investment option now. Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya are places where prices and demand are predicted to rise considerably over the next three years.

The Philippines has offered some really profitable Asian property investment opportunities. The Philippines is treasured place when it comes to buying property, specifically in the capital city of Manila. They have got good ability to handle English and the business system is quite contemporary. Procuring an apartment and lending it to the workers seems to be the right choice if you are planning to invest in the Philippines. Boracay Island, the Philippine beach property is expected to progress at around 18 % per annum across the next few years.

Even though the political atmosphere in Sri Lanka is slightly troublesome there are some compelling attractions in Sri Lanka which has made it a hotspot for tourists around the world. The shrewd investor will find that Sri Lanka is a decent option when it comes to property investment. The major problem for the investors has been the huge taxes that they have to pay, even though the inconvenience can be avoided to a certain extent. If you are ready to research the market seriously, there are investment opportunities awaiting you.



Visit Singapore!

David R HUghes asked:


If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Asia this season, then you have many regions from which you can choose a specific region to take a trip to. The countries in Asia that are worth seeing are China, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Russia, Taiwan and South Korea and in the Southeast, there are countries like Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore.

When you go to Asia, there are some places that are absolute must-sees, and you cannot call your trip to Asia a trip if you don’t visit these places. China and Japan are two countries that have rich culture and traditions. The most essential places to visit in China are The Great Wall, which is also one of the wonders of the world. In Japan, the greatest tourist attraction is Rainbow Town, which has a series of amusement parks. Mount Fuji is another place in Japan that is highly recommended.

From amongst the Mid-Eastern countries, Dubai is an important place on the list and when you go to Dubai, your trip can’t be complete without the desert Safari. The camel racing is another event that is worth watching. Other than that, Burj al Arab is a grand hotel that is very tempting. Another new attraction in Dubai are the Burj Dubai, the highest building in the world and Hotel Atlantis.

If you are fond of beaches, then you should see the beaches of Philippines, which are popular all around the world for their exquisite scenery. Another place to visit is Hong Kong, which seems simply magical and has the latest attraction in the form of the new Disneyland. In Disneyland, you can get a truly magical experience and stay in hotels that have Disney themes. Cambodia is another country that has many attractions, the major ones being the Kep resort, the Preah Vihear temple and the Kirirom National Park.

The Taj Mahal, which is another of the world’s wonders, is located in Agra, India, and is a sight worth seeing. India also has many other attractions and has rich culture, royal cities, landscapes, the Himalayan Ranges and coastlines to offer. Other attractions are the Red Fort, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth and the Ellora Temple Caves.

Another great and interesting place to visit during your trip to Asia is Singapore. The interesting thing is that Singapore has districts which have been named according to their ethnicities. Some of the districts are the Arab Street, Little India, Chinatown, Geylang Serai and Katong. Other than that, there are also themed attractions like the Snow City, Escape Theme Park and the Singapore Discovery Centre.

Another colourful and cultural place is Thailand, which has attractions like Ko Samui, Ang Thong Marine National Park, Ko-Pha-ngan and Ko Tao. You can also choose from the countries in Central Asia. The most recommended sight is the Walled City of Baku, which is located in Azerbaijan. Some other places in Asia that are worth seeing are the Batu Caves, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Royal Grand Palace and several others in Southeast Asia.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

david123 asked:


Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator’s glory.

Those are transliteration of the lines on The Taj Mahal uttered by their creator, the great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Inspiring poets and painters through the ages, this mausoleum is considered the best showcase of Mughal architecture, a style that fuses elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. It has given rise to a thousand myths and legends, most of them, of course, are unsubstantiated by evidence.

Some of the main myths about the Taj Mahal, Agra are:

* Myth behind the Name of Taj Mahal

* Black Taj Mahal Myth

* Sinking Taj Mahal Myth

* Asymmetrical Taj Mahal Myth

* Taj Mahal a Rajput Palace Myth

* Taj Mahal a Shiva Temple Myth

* Demolition of the Taj Mahal Myth

* Theft in Taj Mahal Myth

* Mutilations in Taj Mahal Myth

* Third Graves Set In Taj Mahal Myth

* Beating the silhouette of the finial Myth

Among these some of the myths are so universal that they deserve a mention in some details. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal originated the enduring myth that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built for him in black marble across the Yamuna River. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built.

The appalling details of deaths, dismemberments and mutilations allegedly inflicted by Shah Jahan on various architects and craftsmen connected with the tomb are unsupported by evidence. Some stories allege that those engaged in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design but such claims are made for many illustrious buildings.

Another myth claims that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth; some believe it to this day and officials often get broken bangles around the silhouette.

All these legends of the Taj Mahal of India have added to its curiosity factor, attracting more and more tourists to this fascinating monument, aptly described by Rabindranath Tagore as

“a tear-drop…upon the cheek of time”.

Tourists coming to experience this monument to Love have a mind boggling number of options to stay at. Hotels in Agra come in every shape size and economic category, from the ultra luxurious Oberoi Amarvilas and ITC Mughal to the very homely yet comfortable Amar Yatri Niwas.



Singapore Tourist Attractions