Vietnam's Halong Bay

image from Lonely Planet

Considered as UNESCO world heritage site, the beauty of Halong Bay is featured in the movie Tomorrow Never Dies and in the reality show Amazing Race. Literally means descending dragon, this Asia travel spot features various limestone karsts and islands that adds it's majestic beauty among other places in Vietnam. With it's vast area lies different species and ecosystems including small freshwater lakes, sandy beaches, freshwater swamp forests and mangrove forests.


The islands found here were named according to the shape they formed such as Hòn Rông or Dragon Island and Hòn Cánh Buồm or Sail Island that looks like a sail struggling against the sea. From the far away distance, it looks like a painting but camera and even canvas can't capture it's majestic beauty.




You can venture the caves and limestones here by taking a boat or do island hopping. Sailing is also a wonderful activity to do here aside from shopping from local stores loacted in the vicinity. You can also do the kayaking or take a cruise to have a clearer view of the islands surrounding the bay. With it's diverse ecosystem and breath-taking panorama, no wonder that this asia destination will make it in Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Thailand's Siam Ocean World

image from Bangkok.com

The ambience of fishes and marine life relaxes every individual. The problem is, they are only found in seas and lakes. What if these cute marine animals are brought in the city? Well that's possible now that ocean parks are opened in every part of the world. But of course, most ocean parks are here found in Asia such as in Singapore, Philippines and Hongkong. One of which is Thailand's Ocean World.

Opened in 2006, this 10,000 square meter aquarium is filled with over 30,000 species of marine life including fishes, stingrays, penguins, sharks and crabs are living here. It also has the capacity to hold more than 4 million liters of water with a 360 degree view of this underwater oceanarium. Aside from fish-seeing, you can also check their 4D Adventrure Theater which also allows you to experience the excitement and fun while watching the film.


This oceanarium is divided into 7 different environments. They are ‘Weird and Wonderful’, ‘Open Ocean’, ‘Deep Reef’, ‘Rainforest’, ‘Rocky Shore’, ‘Living Ocean’, and ‘Sea Jellies’. You can also dive along with professional divers to take a closer look at the animals. So take your luggages along with your loved ones and experience another great adventure here at this side of Bangkok.

Malaysia's Snake Temple

image from China Daily

If you will hear it the first time, you may think that it's a temple that is designed like a cobra, or snakes of different kinds lie in this temple , much worse, they adore and worship snakes. Snake Temple lived up to its name. In fact, pit vipers (without venoms) of different kinds are present in the temple along with burning incense and statues of Gods and Deities honored in the temple.

The temple was built to honor the deity Chor Soo Kong. He was a Buddhist monk who lives an ascetic life in the mountains and gives free medical services for the poor. When a drought struck the town of Qing-Xi in Fujian, his prayers did miracles saving the town. It was believed that after his temple was built, snakes swarmed in but they are tamed by Cheng-Swee_Zu_Shi and whoever visits the temple isn't attacked by snakes.

As of today, another hall was added in order to honor the Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin. It is located at the back of the original facade. Visitors are still warned to handle snakes because even they are de-venomized, they still got their fangs. You can get there by riding public transportation like bus.