It may be unknown to a lot of people that Oman is one of the most beautiful places in the Arab land. This country is a mixture of desert and pristine coastlines. One can say that it is an oasis in the desert because of the huge palm trees that stand tall in almost all corners of the country. It is also accentuated by the beauty of the immense deserts and craggy hills. Those who have had the pleasure to travel in this part of the world can attest to the unspoiled natural beauty of the place.

Maldives… another scenic place where the sea meets the sky. It is one location in the world where fun in the sun never ends. If you want endless sun, sand and sea you can take your pick from the 1, 196 Maldive Islands located in 26 distinct coral atolls. With this vast number of islands only 200 of them are inhabited. This collection of unique and picturesque tropical islands measures 90,000 square kilometers and 99% of this is covered by seawater. Some say that the formation of its islands is like a string of pearls on the Indian Ocean. Wow amazing isn’t it?

Are you craving for some good fun in the sun? The Philippines is one great place to be if you want to see some more awesome sights of nature, with the sun shining most of the time. The Bicol region is one of the most unspoiled haven of scenic places in the Philippines, though many are not aware of it.

Bicol particularly Camarines Sur is one of the excellent places to be if you want endless warmth of the sunshine, superb view and enjoyable in and out of the water activities. All of these you’ll be able to experience when you visit the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex. It’s fairly new park that’s designed for various water sports like wakeboarding, wakeskating, waterskiing and kneeboarding. The whole design of the complex is a show of technological architecture. All these watersports is made possible through the 6-point cable ski system. Even though it’s fairly new, there have already been some wakeboarding competitions for beginners and professionals held there. If want to wind down from the hectic sports activity no problem because they have restaurants, sand bars, spas, pro-shops and grand stands.

Traveling to Southeast Asia could bring you a lot of delightful experiences. The rich culture of the place, its friendly people, unspoiled beaches, diverse geography and exotic flora and fauna make this region an exciting place to visit especially for nature lovers and adventure seekers. One of the places you would not want to miss is Alaminos City of Pangasinan, Philippines, the home of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park.

It would take about five hours of bus ride from Metro Manila. That’s a bit exhausting if you are not used to long road trips but Alaminos City’s Hundred Islands are definitely worth the wait and the long trip. There are actually 124 islets in this national park, which covers an area of 1,844 hectares. The islands look like emeralds scattered across the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Lingayen Gulf. Based on a folklore, the islands are the tears of a primeval giant that lost his love.

The seemingly never-ending coastlines, bays, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and amazing forests with breathtaking caves are among the natural wonders of Vietnam. The beauty and serenity of nature mingles with the calmness and quietness of the pagodas and shrines in this enchanting country in Southeast Asia. These attractions and a number of world cultural heritage sites, ample historical events and traditional festivals make Vietnam indeed a splendid place to visit.

Hong Kong, situated in the southern eastern coast of China, is one of the most exciting cities to visit in Asia. It is a Special Administrative Region of China and is its richest city as well. It has the most vibrant commercial centers in the world, so if you want to experience the joys of modern living, Hong Kong is the place to go. Among its number one tourist attractions is the Victoria Peak or Shàn Déng in Cantonese, the highest mountain in the Hong Kong Island. Here you can have a spectacular view of the dazzling nigh skies of Hong Kong.

Traveling to India is not complete without visiting its most significant monument and in fact one of the world’s best architectural creations, the Taj Mahal, found in the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. Its grand design, which has Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Hindu and Mughal architectural influences, has attracted thousands of travelers from all over the world, and inspired poets and artists. But more splendid than its design is the story behind its creation.

How Japan continues to maintain its ancient practices and traditions while it embraces ultra-modern ideas, technologies and lifestyle fascinates me a lot. For me, their tribute to the past and their old traditions despite their being a highly progressive nation is a form of humility, which is also greatly exemplified by their choice of small and low furniture, their practice of taking off the shoes before entering the house, and their practice of sitting and sleeping on the floor covered with “tatami” mats.

One of the most exciting places to visit in Southeast Asia is Thailand, a country that offers a unique blend of old and modern cultures, a splendid variety of tropical treasures and warm hospitality of locals. Bangkok, its capital and largest city, has very dynamic economy that competes well against highly developed Asian cities Singapore and Hong Kong.

Beneath the deep blue waters of Donsol, Sorsogon, a small town in the southernmost tip of Luzon, Philippines lives the world’s largest fish, the whale shark or what is locally known as the butanding.

The Philippine Department of Tourism officially declared the town of Donsol as the sanctuary for these large marine species—a butanding can grow as much as 50 feet—as the biggest number of whale sharks in the world can be found here. The fish is usually colored grey with yellowish spots in its body.

Even an ardent surfer from Hawaii says he’ll go all the way to Siargao just to surf. This island, located at the southern edge of the Philippines is the surfing capital of the country and indeed, home of some of the best waves in the world.

The town of General Luna is where most foreign and local surfers go. It is famous for “Cloud 9,” considered as one of the toughest breaks in the world. Surfing is best here from July to November as the waves are stronger.

Luxury and wealth may not all be in forms of materials things, specifically, money. It is in this light that I consider a third-world country such as the Philippines a wealthy country. Proof of this wealth is the tropical island of Palawan, considered as the “nature sanctuary of the world.”

Palawan boasts of a fantastic marine life, thick rainforests, dazzling azure waters, long stretch of breath-taking white beaches, great diving sites, captivating mountains, picturesque caves and so much more. Truly, it’s a haven for those who seek serenity and a laid-back life, far away from the stressful and often chaotic urban lifestyle.

When you think of Japan, images of crowded streets, myriad small cars, bowls of rice, and Mt. Fuji may come to mind. And while all those images are ever-present, few foreigners know just how popular mountain climbing is in Japan. If you plan a trip to Japan, pack a good pair of hiking shoes. You won’t be sorry!

My friend Miho invited several of us Americans on a “hike” one Saturday. Whatever inspired me to wear my durable high top hiking boots saved my life, because our hike became a major mountain climb that took over five hours to complete.

You might think Oman is a desert with a lot of palm trees and a few wide streets … well you have never been more wrong!
Oman is a modern metropolis, with dazzling contrast deserts, mountains and beaches with all the comforts you can think of.
The capital of Oman is Muscat, “the jewel of Arabia” as it is known is green as green can get, and is a blend of the old and the new.
Oman as a whole is full of historical monuments, castles, mosques and souqs.
It is perfect for any kind of tourist; adventurer, shopper, relaxed kind, swimmer and discoverer.