Singapore has
traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens and pearl luggers for towers of
concrete
and glass, and its steamy rickshaw image for hi-tech wizardry, but
you can
still recapture the colonial era with a gin sling under the languorous
ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel.
At first glance, Singapore appears
shockingly modern and anonymous, but this is an undeniably Asian
city with Chinese, Malay and Indian
traditions from feng shui to ancestor worship creating part of
the everyday landscape.
It's these contrasts that bring the city to life.
Ethnic Mix: Chinese 78%, Malay 14%, Indian 6%, other 2%
Currency: Singapore dollars
= 100 cents
Climate: Equatorial. Hot & humid, with heavy rainfall
all year round
AUSTRALIA
It's
a place where the light changes everything. From the friendly attitude
of its people, to the breathtaking blue of its skies and glistening gold
of its sandy beaches. A place unlike any other, with animals and
scenery you'll find nowhere else on earth and an unmatched diversity
of flavours, scents and sights. It is Australia, where the possibilities
are only as endless as your imagination.
Ethnic Mix: European 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal & other 1%
Currency: Australian dollars
= 100 cents
Climate: West & South are arid and very hot in summer. North
is hot throughout the year, and humid during summer monsoon. East,
southeast and southwest coastal areas are temperate
CAMBODIA
Located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, Cambodia has emerged from two decades of civil war and invasion from Vietnam. Rice is the principal crop.
Mostly low-lying basin. Tônlé Sap (Great Lake) drains into the Mekong River. Forested mountains and plateau east of the Mekong.
Ethnic Mix: Khmer 94%, Chinese 4%, Vietnamese 1%, other 1%
Currency: Riel = 100 sen
Climate: Tropical. High temperatures throughout the year. Heavy rainfall during May – October monsoon.
CHINA
Covering a vast area of Easter Asia, China is bordered by 14 countries. From the founding of Communist Chinas in 1949, until his death in 1976, Mao Zedong dominated the nation.
A land of huge physical diversity, China has a long Pacific coastline to the east. Two-thirds of China is uplands. The southwestern mountains included Tibet, the world’s highest plateau; in the northwest, the Tien Shan Mountaains separate the aird Tarim and Dzungarian basins. The rolling hills and plains of the low-lying east are home to two-thirds of the population.
Climate: China is divided into two main climatic regions. The north and west are semiarid or arid, with extreme temperature variations. The south and east are warmer and more humid, with year-round rainfall. Winter temperatures vary with latitude, but are warmest on the subtropical southeast coast. Summer temperatures are more uniform, rising above 70ºF (21ºC).
HONG KONG
Come and experience
2006 Discover Hong Kong Year, a lifetime of fascination and excitement
packed into one
visit, all in one place - incomparable Hong Kong.
There will also
be a wide range of special festive ‘Mega Events' to
celebrate the whole year through. And for insatiable shoppers,
Hong Kong offers an unrivalled shopping experience running the
full range from international
designer brands to hard-won bargains at local open-air markets.
Take time out to enjoy the famous Hong Kong food scene with delicious
international
cuisine and tasty local delights.
From captivating natural beauty
to fascinating heritage, Hong Kong is filled with special moments
that make treasured memories. With so much to see,
do, and discover - Hong Kong is a destination to truly inspire
you.
Climate: Subtropical; Typhoon is May to November,
Spring is March to mid May, Summer is late May to mid September,
Autume is late September to early December, Winter is mid December
to February
INDONESIA
Indonesia is the world's largest
archipelago state, consisting of about seventeen thousand islands stretching
from mainland South-East Asia in an arc down to Papua New Guinea and the
Australian continent. It has a coastline of about 80,000 kilometers. The
islands range from small, uninhabited islands a few square kilometers in
size to New Guinea and Borneo, which are one of the largest islands in
the world. The main islands are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan (on Borneo),
Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Iran Jaya (on New Guinea).
Ethnic Mix: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 8%, other 33%
Currency: Rupiah = 100 sen
Climate: Predominantly tropical monsoon. Dry
season June – September
MALAYSIA
In the heart of Asia lies a
land of many cultures, wonders and attractions. It's a bubbling,
bustling melting pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese
and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony. It is
also a land of fascinating extremes, where towering skyscrapers look down
upon primitive longhouses. Blessed with natural wonders galore, it is perfect
for a memorable eco-holiday. With some of the best beaches and diving spots
in the world, it is ideal for island getaways. Experience Asia in Malaysia.
Ethnic Mix: Malay 47%, Chinese 32%, Indian 8%, other 13%
Currency: Ringgit = 100 cents
Climate: Warm equatorial. Rainy seasons March – May
and September – November. Coastal areas are subject
to the alternating southwest and northeast monsoon winds
THAILAND
Thailand is divided into 4 natural
regions:
· The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured orchids, fascinating native
handicrafts and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit
cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches;
· The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many archaeological
and anthropological mysteries;
· The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and fruit-growing
areas with colourful traditional culture and way of life as well as the sandy
beaches of the East Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok;
· The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands
complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and fishing.
Languages: Thai, Chinese, Malay, Khmer, Mon, Karen, Miao,
English
Ethnic Mix: Thai 80%, Chinese 12%, Malay 4%, Khmer & other
4%
Currency: Baht = 100 stangs
Climate: Tropical. Hot, humid March – May,
monsoon rains May – October, cooler season November -
March
VIETNAM
Situated on the western edge of the South China Sea, Vietnam is still recovering from the devastating effects of the 1962-1975 war, the longest of the 20th century.
A heavily forested mountain range separates the northern Red River delta lowlands from the Mekong delta in the south.