Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. Its a great city still undergoing lots of development with lots of places to visit and sights to see as the city is divided into two banks of the river. Getting into Phnom Penh is easy via direct flights from all the major neighbouring cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and others.

In the last five years especially, the number of businesses and restaurants catering to tourists has exploded, and Phnom Penh offers just about anything a much larger and more developed capital could. Phnom Penh is also the stop-over point for many tourists venturing to the northern town of Siem Reap which is the gateway town to Angkor Wat.

The main sights in town include Wat Phnom from where you have great views over the city, the Silver Pagoda in the Royal Palace complex, where you can see the emerald Buddha and a Buddha made of solid gold. The National Museum is also worth a visit. Other sights include the Phnom Temple, the Orchid Garden, the central market and a 15th-century pagoda or you can take a boat ride on the Mekong River to see the floating villages and a crocodile farm.

On The Riverfront, take a romantic stroll or cycle along Phnom Penh's Sithowath Quay to enjoy the breeze and the view of the busy life of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. The water level varies greatly depending upon what time of the year you visit and is at it’s highest at the end of the rainy season in October. The sunrise can be spectacular over the river in front of the Royal Palace. There are also regular 2-hour cruises during the day which are particularly pleasant if combined with lunch or dinner and sunset on board a cruising restaurant.

You should try and visit at least one traditional market while you are in Phnom Penh. The two best known are The Russian Market and the Central Market. The Russian Market is not so centrally located but is the best for souvenirs, curious and silks and the vendors seem more realistic in their expectations. The 1935 art deco-style Central Market is architecturally interesting but is geared almost entirely to the tourist who doesn’t have time to venture further afield and the vendors are most aggressive. More exclusive shopping can be found along Streets 178 and 240 where there are a number of elegant boutiques and galleries displaying contemporary Cambodian art, fine silks and sculptures.

There is a host of fine dining opportunities in Phnom Penh. Most restaurants, ranging from small, family run affairs to 5-star luxury venues offer excellent traditional Khmer cuisine and this should not be forgotten when faced with the plethora of western food delights on offer in the city. Given Cambodia’s history and relationship with France, it is not surprising to find that some of the most elegant venues are French, with food and wine reflecting that relationship. There are a number of excellent Chinese restaurants in Phnom Penh, ranging from places near the Central Market offering noodles and dumplings for $1 a plate to the fine dining experience offered at the Inter Continental Hotel. There are a number of Dutch, Australian and American style restaurants around the city if your favourites include steak, burgers, chips and salads. For lovers of Mediterranean-style food should seek out the streets lining and just behind Sisawoth Quay offer a variety of styles to suit every budget.

Whether its a snack, a casual meal or a bedtime dessert, Phnom Penh's fine bakeries beckon. The traditional French baguette is available on virtually every street corner. A large expatriate community ensures that in more sophisticated (and expensive) venues, you can purchase wonderful baked delights such as muffins, croissants, pastries, doughnuts, cakes and tarts.

Phnom Penh is the heart of the Cambodia's nightlife. Providing a good balance of fun and safety it's a pleasant change from the hectic Bangkok scene. The recent explosion of bars in the city offers greater choice than ever before. In the late evening though, do take precaution as not to be wondering in the alleys and out of town areas unless escorted.

Last but not least, do ensure that you bring along enough US currency as it is widely used in the capital for almost everything including fees for visiting places of interests to dining.

Some of the major attractions are:

• Independence Monument
• National Museum
• Royal Palace and ‘Silver Pagoda’
• Wat Phnom
• Choeung Ek Memorial (The Killing Fields)
• Toul Sleng Genocide Museum
• The River Front
• Central Market
• Russian Market
• Old Market

Lombok, Indonesia

The island of Lombok which means 'Chilli' in Indonesian is located to the east of Bali. From the small black sand bays of Sengiggi, some of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet can be witnessed. The pace of life is slow to the point of stopping and the southern coast of Lombok has some of the most stunning beaches in Indonesia. From silhouetted palms, to mist ringed volcanoes, Lombok island is a haven of natural beauty and just the ticket for getting away from it all which explains the recent popularity of Lombok in recent years. Most tourists make the trip to here to get away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Bali and enjoy the serene beaches.

The flight from Bali to Lombok’s Mataram airport takes just 30 minutes but upon arrival its like stepping into a different era altogether. Getting around is quite convenient with reasonably priced Bemo (converted minivans) or the tourist favourite Cidomo (horse pulled cart).

The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks. They speak Indonesian as well as their local Sasak language. The other main ethnicity’s include Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese. Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.

When it comes to souvenirs from Lombok, its a choice between their woven textiles or potteries which is being exported throughout the world. There are also many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e; wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.

At the end of the day, Lombok's charm truly lies in its century-old, tranquil coastal areas with virgin white beaches and green mountains.

Some of the major attractions are:

• Mt. Rinjani
• Sendanggile Waterfalls
• Gili Islands
• Mayura Water Palace
• Masbagik Village
• Narmada Palace
• Pura Meru Temple
• Lombok Pottery & Weaving
• Sasak Village
• Mataram Museum

Bangkok, Thailand

Ahh.. Bangkok... one of the most exciting and populated city in Asia. Upon arrival and while making the trip into town from the airport, you will a good impression of the city. You will be greeted by numerous high-rise buildings and busy expressways which stretches for miles.

Bangkok in recent years have embraced westernization and modernization but it still remain a very true to their traditional values and culture which makes this city an ideal tourist destination. In between all the skyscrapers and modern shopping centres, there's still the remarkable Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Dawn and many more grand monuments to awe your senses.

Getting about the city might be slow going due to all the traffic, but at least it's cheap and there's plenty of options. There is a comprehensive bus service that will take you all over the city in varying degrees of comfort, but the price is never more than about 25 Baht, and can be only 3.5 baht on the ordinary buses. Even when going from one side of central Bangkok to another, a taxi fare is rarely above 120 Baht, the only real exception being the journey to and from the airport.

There are canal and river boats that effectively act as buses on the waterways, which are also very cheap and fast. The Khlong Saen Saep Canal Boats, in particular, are sadly underused by tourists as they provide a very quick and useful service, right across the city from Sukhumvit to Siam Square to Banglamphu for only 10 Baht or so.

The best place to shop is at the Chatuchak Weekend Wholesale Market. This is a shoppers dream come true where everything from cheap souvenirs, clothes, handicrafts to antique reproductions and even exotic animals can be found here. The maze of narrow alley ways is not for the claustrophobic as a minimum of space is reserved for walkways and wallets and purses should be closely guarded. A good sense of navigation would also help as its not easy to look for a shop again if youve given up on a purchase. Bring cash only and be prepared to literally shop till you drop. Open from 9am-6pm and easily accessible by Sky Train exit at Mo Chit Station. Other wholesale markets include the garment market in Pratunam and Sum Pang in Chinatown. You can find all sorts of T-shirts, clothes and accessories at very affordable price but dont expect to find any high fashionable items here.

Opened in 2003, the Suan Lum Night Bazaar on wireless road is Bangkoks latest addition to the night market scene. The choices here are endless and although prices are slightly higher the experience is much more comfortable than the weekend Chatuchak market. Most stalls are opened from 6pm and some stay open till 10 pm while al fresco cafes are around till past 11 pm.

Khao San Road offers everything to suit all budgets from internet cafes, stalls selling second hand goods, jewellery and tie-dye to cosy boutiques and travel agencies offering competitively priced air-tickets. Restaurants spill out onto the streets creating a very laid back atmosphere. Formerly devoted solely to the student/backpacker market, in recent years, this area has changed much of its image to accommodate many different tastes and budgets.

Bangkok is decentralized to a much greater degree than western cities, and it makes identifying the city center a tricky task. Perhaps the most commonly accepted area is the Siam Square area, but it could also be thought of as the Silom road district or the Ratchaprasong area. No area is really dominant, and you can be confident that wherever you are there will be huge shopping malls, restaurants and the like nearby.

When it comes to dining in Bangkok, the choices are endless. Thai restaurants are at every turn and corner and while the street hawkers are by far the most authentic in flavor there are many modern and pleasant restaurants venues of choice. Sukhumvit Road and Siam Square are definately a worthy visit for their array of food choices and restaurants.

Some of the notable must see attractions are:

• Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
• Wat Pho
• Suan Lum Night Bazaar
• Floating Market
• Jim Thompson House
• National Museum
• Safari World
• Chao Phraya River Cruise
• Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya is a small coastal city located on the east coast of Thailand or about 165km southeast of Bangkok. Once a sleepy fishing town, it is now renowned for its exciting nightlife, street shopping and most famous for its go-go and beer bars, it's also one of Thailand's best locations for all manner of sports and water activities.

When it comes to wholesome family activities, there is none other than visiting the beaches or half-day island hopping. The 2 more notable beaches are Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach.

The main downtown area is definately all within walking distance and easy to get around. The highlight of the day would be the closure of South Pattaya Road between 6pm-2am daily to be transformed into the ever famous Walking Street which is in itself a major tourist attraction for all the food, shopping and nightlife. The safest and easiest way to travel around in the evening is by songthaews (pickup trucks converted to buses) which will cost approximately about 10 baht for foreingers. The largest shopping centre with modern shops and facilities would be Royal Garden Plaza located adjacent to the Pattaya Marriott Hotel.

Some of the other major attractions are:

• Underwater World Pattaya
• Oasis Seaworld
• Elephant Village
• Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
• Buddha Hill