ASIA AND THE FAR EAST
With its mirage of different cultures, scenery and cuisine
Asia and the Far East invoke images of old and new; of
colourful costumes; of vibrant modern cities; of spices
and incense; of stunning beaches and rainforests; and of
markets. No where in the world has so much diversity as
Asia and the Far East.
China
 China's
history goes back 5000 years and it was East Asia's dominant
civilization and for many years the most advanced, credited
for the inventions of paper, printing, gunpowder and the
compass.
China has a diversity of land formations including mountains,
hills, highlands, plains and basins. The highlands and
hill regions account for 65 percent of the country's land
mass. The highest mountain peak is Everest, 8,848 metres
above sea level; the lowest point is the Turpan Basin,
154 metres below sea level. It has rivers totalling 220,000
kilometres in length; the Yangtze and the Yellow are the
two major ones.
China is one of the world's most incredible countries - a
huge land of contrasts, a land with amazing architecture
with some of the world's legendary sights - the Great Wall;
the Terracotta Warriors; Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden
City; to the natural splendours of the Yangtze River, Mt
Everest's northern face and the Gobi Desert; to the shop
until you drop metropolis of Shanghai.
China is so varied that it would be impossible to take
in the country in one visit. But where ever you go in China
it will whet your appetite so that you will want to return
again.
 travel facts [pdf]
Cambodia
 Ancient
temples, empty beaches, mighty rivers, remote forests ...and
(outside Angkor) only a handful of tourists. Built
over a period of 600 years during the dominance of the
Khmer civilisation, the vast city fell into disuse during
the 15 th century and was 'rediscovered' by a French explorer
in the late 19 th century. Cambodia has emerged from decades
of war and isolation and is well and truly back on the
Asian travel map.
travel facts [pdf]
Hong Kong
 This
is where East meets West! Formerly a British colony it
is now a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the Peoples
Republic of China.
Renowned as one of the world's most sophisticated cities,
Hong Kong is also a place where myths and legends inhabit
mountain peaks, wooded valleys and farmlands. Hong Kong
Island boasts award-winning architecture at the foot of
Victoria Peak and a scenic coastline. Victoria Harbour
is the perfect vantage point to view the coastal skyline.
Cruise liners move smoothly through its harbour amongst
the sampans, junks and ferries, and at night time the harbour
is aglow with the reflection of thousands of neon lights.
Kowloon Peninsula possesses some of the most interesting
cityscapes in Asia. In the New Territories, rural areas
and country parks are spread across massive mountain ranges,
lush valleys and grassy hills.
Hong Kong is known for its skyscrapers lined with markets;
with its natural harbour; with its temples and parks; where
21 st century combines with ancient Chinese traditions,
and let's not forget the shopping!!
travel facts [pdf]
India
 India is a vast country that will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity. Though India is the seventh largest in size, it is second only to China in population. Mountains, jungles, deserts and beaches, India offers all, from the exotic culture and buzzing streets of Delhi, to the stunning Taj Mahal, to Mumbai (aka Bombay) the glamour of Bollywood cinema, to the tigers of Rajasthan, to the quiet backwaters of Kerala in the south to the foothills of the Himalayas in the north. Nothing in the country is ever quite predictable, each day, India offers a new experience and whether you are a first time visitor or a regular traveller, you cannot fail to be swept up and carried along by the sights and sounds of this magnificent land. India is a test to many travellers, some are only too happy to leave and others return time and time again.
travel facts [pdf]
Japan
 The
land of the rising sun. An archipelago in the Pacific,
Japan is separated from the east coast of Asia by the Sea
of Japan . Japan is a modern country with a rich heritage.
There are four main islands which make up Japan: Hokkaido in
the North, Honshu the
mainland, Shikoku in
the South-East
Asia , and Kyushu in
the South. More than 4,000 smaller islands surround these
four main islands.
Japan offers a very wide range of attractions, from historical
and cultural treasures to modern and futuristic sights
and beautiful forests, mountains and sea coasts.
Japan will leave a lasting impression in your mind. From
Tokyo a sophisticated and energetic high-tech city, which
is in complete contrast to the beautiful Imperial city
of Kyoto; to the natural wonders of the snow capped Mount
Fuji and the hot springs of Beppu; to ancient traditions
and amazing scenery, this country has something for everyone.
travel facts [pdf]
Malaysia
 The
colourful country of Malaysia is made up of Peninsular
Malaysia and the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak on the
island of Borneo. It is a country of immense diversity,
of mountains and rain forests, jungles and huge rivers,
pristine beaches and mystical islands, historic colonial
towns and modern cities. It boasts amongst the tallest
buildings in the world, the highest peak in Asia and the
oldest rainforest.
Malaysia is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries
to visit in southeast Asia. It's buoyant and wealthy, and
has moved towards a pluralist culture based on a vibrant
and interesting fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous
cultures and customs.
Most visitors to Malaysia stick to the insane headlong
rush of Kuala Lumpur, the colonially soothing Cameron Highlands
Hill Station or the hedonistic torpor of Langkawi. However,
the island of East Malaysia offers spectacular wildlife,
longhouses and the awe-inspiring Mt Kinabalu.
It is home to orang-utans, giant turtles, many species
of birds and plants, even elephants and tigers, plus an
extraordinary mix of people and cultures.
travel facts [pdf]
Singapore
 Once
a small fishing village surrounded by swamps and jungle,
it 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. It was in 1819 that Sir
Thomas Stamford Raffles established a British trading post
on the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, and within
a few years, settlers from Malaya, India and South China
had arrived. 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. Singapore has become an ideal gateway for visitors
to Asia.
travel facts [pdf]
South Korea
 Korea
is one of Asia's best kept secrets. The Korean peninsula
extends southward from the eastern end of the Asian continent.
It has China looming to its west and Japan nudging it from
the east. Mountains cover 70% of Korea's land mass, making
it one of the most mountainous regions in the world. Its
history extends 5000 years and Korea has 13 UNESCO World
Heritage sites.
The Buddhist culture of the Silla Kingdom and the Confucian
culture of the Joseon Dynasty are well preserved in the
region of Gyeongsang. Awe-inspiring temples and palaces,
cultural festivals and experiences, beaches and mountains
and their distinctive cuisine are all waiting to be discovered.
travel facts [pdf]
Thailand
 Thailand
lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. Its shape and geography
divide it into four natural regions: the mountains and
forests of the 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 vast rice
fields of the Central Plains, is 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 semi
arid farmlands of the Northeast plateau, which still jealously
guards its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries;
and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula
South, where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands
complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation
and fishing.
travel facts [pdf]
Vietnam Liberated
from years of war, occupation and isolation from the world,
Vietnam has been charming travellers since reopening its
doors in the early nineties, whose history, both ancient
and modern, has forged a nation of proud yet friendly people.
Stretching from the Chinese border in the north to the
Mekong Delta in the south,
most visitors are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of
the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the
north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire
coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies
tended by women in conical hats.
There are some divine beaches along the coast, while inland
there are soaring mountains, some of which are cloaked
by dense, misty forests. Vietnam also offers an opportunity
to see a country of traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly
opening up to the outside world.
travel facts [pdf]
or contact:
CONNOISSEUR
TRAVEL SERVICES LTD
38 Silverknowes Road, Edinburgh, EH4 5LF
Telephone: 0845 1300 788
Fax: 0131 336 2220
E-Mail: enquiries@connoisseur-travel.co.uk
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