Singapore, Bali & Myanmar

With its beautiful rice fields watered by shallow rivers and forests with many kinds of flora and fauna, Bali is one of Earth's most idyllic places. The friendly locals create a warm, inviting atmosphere, encouraging you to explore the many attractions that the island has to offer including incredible temples, rugged coasts and sandy beaches.

With its beautiful rice fields watered by shallow rivers and forests with many kinds of flora and fauna, Bali is one of Earth's most idyllic places. The friendly locals create a warm, inviting atmosphere, encouraging you to explore the many attractions that the island has to offer including incredible temples, rugged coasts and sandy beaches.

Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, this dynamic city-state is the perfect cocktail of culture, cruising, arts and architecture. This global financial centre with a tropical climate and multicultural population is passionately working towards its dream of a ‘City in a Garden’.

Getting around Singapore is a fairly rapid affair, thanks to one of the world’s most efficient and widespread public transport systems.[ReadMoreMob] Its colonial core centres on the Padang, a cricket field since the 1830s and now flanked by grand buildings such as City Hall, and its multitude of Corinthian columns. The 19th century red-and-gold Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, allegedly houses one of Buddha's teeth.

The concrete that once dominated the city skyline is slowly being replaced by ‘green skyscrapers’, which look more like living ecosystems than office buildings. Visitors stepping out of the centre will find walking trails, treetop bridges, indigenous wildlife and the city's green jewel, the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Singapore Botanic Gardens.

A tantalizing selection of food sold from street markets is dotted around the city. Food is taken very seriously: from cheap street fare to Michelin-starred dining, Singaporean foodies will happily queue for it. Of course, for sheer elegance, nothing beats a Singapore Sling in the Raffles Hotel.

Singapore has always drawn visits from a variety of sea craft. Merchants of every race, colour and faith were quickly drawn to the island, and by 1911, Singapore’s population comprised of 48 races, speaking 54 languages. Malay is now the official language.  

The rain-forested, mountainous island of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, has some of Thailand’s most spectacular beaches situated along the clear blue waters of its western shore. This idyllic high-end island resort contrasts nicely with the culturally-rich capital, Phuket Town, which offers busy markets and fabulous food.

Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, is connected to the southern tip of the country by a couple of short road bridges.[ReadMoreMob] The island has wonderful soft white beaches, fringed by shady palm trees and grass huts. Just offshore, many uninhabited outcrops of tall limestone crags rise straight out of the sea and cry out to be explored. Phuket is the ideal spot to truly relax and unwind with incredible views of the surrounding bays. 

In Phuket Town, the Thalang National Museum has fascinating displays about the island’s indigenous culture. [ReadMoreDesk]There are a couple of Hindu Temples on the island, as well as a number of Buddhist shrines, including the Wat Chalong Temple, which is the centre for worship on Phuket. High in the Nakkerd Hills, northwest of Chalong Circle, the 45m-high Big Buddha sits in imposing fashion on the island's finest viewpoint.

Yangon has earned the nickname ‘The Garden City of the East’ due its lush green trees, shaded parkland and beautiful lakes. But Yangon (formerly Rangoon) is also the commercial and increasingly cosmopolitan capital of Myanmar. 

From the port Thilawa, a visit to Yangon reveals a mix of British colonial architecture, modern high-rises and gilded Buddhist pagodas that define its eclectic skyline.[ReadMoreMob] The downtown pavements are one huge open-air market, and feature some of the most impressive colonial architecture in Southeast Asia, alongside a swathe of new shops, restaurants and bars.

The city has barely changed at all, and the Shwedagon Paya, a glistening, awe-inspiring golden Buddhist monument is seemingly the centre of everything. An eye-catching wealth of colour and pigments on its 326ft-high curved exterior gives way to the top of the Pagoda’s crown which is encrusted with diamonds, rubies and other gemstones. Locals and monarchs often donate gold to ensure this incredible structure maintains its beauty.

The city's other notable religious sites include the Botataung and Sule Pagodas, both containing Buddhist relics.

Yangon has earned the nickname ‘The Garden City of the East’ due its lush green trees, shaded parkland and beautiful lakes. But Yangon (formerly Rangoon) is also the commercial and increasingly cosmopolitan capital of Myanmar. 

From the port Thilawa, a visit to Yangon reveals a mix of British colonial architecture, modern high-rises and gilded Buddhist pagodas that define its eclectic skyline.[ReadMoreMob] The downtown pavements are one huge open-air market, and feature some of the most impressive colonial architecture in Southeast Asia, alongside a swathe of new shops, restaurants and bars.

The city has barely changed at all, and the Shwedagon Paya, a glistening, awe-inspiring golden Buddhist monument is seemingly the centre of everything. An eye-catching wealth of colour and pigments on its 326ft-high curved exterior gives way to the top of the Pagoda’s crown which is encrusted with diamonds, rubies and other gemstones. Locals and monarchs often donate gold to ensure this incredible structure maintains its beauty.

The city's other notable religious sites include the Botataung and Sule Pagodas, both containing Buddhist relics.

The port city of Colombo is rich with colonial heritage, religions, races and cultures. With a population of over 4.5 million people, Colombo is a bustling, fascinating and noisy city. It combines Dutch and British colonial buildings, with Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, Christian churches, and modern gleaming skyscrapers. The impressive Colombo National Museum, dedicated to Sri Lankan history, is worth uncovering and it borders the sprawling Viharamahadevi Park, home to a giant Buddha. [ReadMoreMob]

The narrow cobbled streets of Pettah, the main bazaar district, are full of shops and street markets selling an amazing array of goods at bargain prices. There are plenty of places to eat, from small shops selling pancakes to coffee shops and upmarket restaurants.

A more rustic, slow-paced Sri Lankan experience can be found in nearby Negombo, with its quaint village streets and lively fish market. Alternatively, sun seekers can venture to the private beach of Mt. Lavinia, located on the breath-taking Golden Mile beachfront.

The port city of Colombo is rich with colonial heritage, religions, races and cultures. With a population of over 4.5 million people, Colombo is a bustling, fascinating and noisy city. It combines Dutch and British colonial buildings, with Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, Christian churches, and modern gleaming skyscrapers. The impressive Colombo National Museum, dedicated to Sri Lankan history, is worth uncovering and it borders the sprawling Viharamahadevi Park, home to a giant Buddha. [ReadMoreMob]

The narrow cobbled streets of Pettah, the main bazaar district, are full of shops and street markets selling an amazing array of goods at bargain prices. There are plenty of places to eat, from small shops selling pancakes to coffee shops and upmarket restaurants.

A more rustic, slow-paced Sri Lankan experience can be found in nearby Negombo, with its quaint village streets and lively fish market. Alternatively, sun seekers can venture to the private beach of Mt. Lavinia, located on the breath-taking Golden Mile beachfront.