Sunny Asia

About the destination: Colombo, situated on the banks of the Kelani River and stretching along the coast with views out to the Indian Ocean, is the biggest city and the financial and commercial hub of Sri Lanka. Colombo is seen as the country’s capital, but the administrative capital is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, a suburb to the east of Colombo. The streets of Galle Fort have plenty to reveal about the city’s colonial past, with the Portuguese, British and Dutch all leaving their imprint here. To learn more about the Dutch-era in Colombo, pay a visit to The Dutch Period Museum. The city offers a captivating mix of cultures and religions, around the city you’ll find mosques, churches and temples. The Gangaramaya Temple is the most well-known Buddhist place of worship in Colombo. It includes a museum that houses a massive collection of Buddhist relics from around the globe. The Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Kovil Hindu temple is a vibrant and adorned temple worth a visit. The Wolvendaal Church, a church constructed by the Dutch settlers, is an impressive building and a must-see in Colombo. Colombo is often bypassed by tourists who come to the country to hit the beach, but the city is the most buzzing place in the country and offers high-end shopping, a vibrant nightlife, delicious restaurants and intriguing historical sights.

About the destination: Yangon, formerly Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar until it was superseded by Naypyidaw in November 2005. Today, with a population of over 5 million people, it remains the largest city and main economic hub of Myanmar. The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese and Indian influences, and is known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital. The Shwedagon Pagoda or Paya is the single most important religious site in all of Myanmar and is an interesting place for tourists. The Shwedagon captures the essence of both the informal nature as well as the strong ties that signify the relationship that the Burmese have with their Buddhism. There is no other pagoda like it in Burma and there is no other place like the Shwedagon Pagoda in the world. Yangon has been a cosmopolitan city with a polyglot mixture of peoples from its early days and has a friendly and welcoming attitude towards strangers.

About the destination: Hanoi, príomhchathair Vietnam, agus an dara cathair is mó sa tír freisin, is ea ceann de na cathracha is draíochtúla in Áise le carachtar uathúil. Tá rian fágtha ag blianta de ghabháil eachtrach ar an gcathair seo mar a léirítear sna músaemanna suimiúla, na foirgnimh stairiúla, na pagodas, an mausoleum, agus a cheantar Francach féin a thugann atmaisféar an-dhifriúil don chathair. Is é an bealach is fearr chun Hanoi a aithint ná ag siúl timpeall. Níl an lár stairiúil rófhairsing, tá go leor áiteanna le cuairt a thabhairt orthu ann nó sna timpeallachtaí láithreach, agus is é an siúlóid an bealach is fearr chun teagmháil a dhéanamh le muintir chairdiúil Hanoi. Tá Hanoi ar aithint mar chathair na lochanna mar tá go leor lochanna agus crainn timpeall ar an gcathair, an ceann is mó ná an Loch Thiar, Ho Tay, agus an ceann is cáiliúla sa lár cathrach ná Loch an Chlaidhimh Athchóirithe, Ho Hoan Kiem. An rud álainn faoi Hanoi ná na codarsnachtaí suimiúla ailtireachta, ó na seanfhoirgnimh traidisiúnta sa Cheantar Sean go dtí na foirgnimh ollmhóra stíle Eorpach sa Cheantar Francach go dtí na séadchomharthaí Coiméadaí ag Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh agus na ceantair máguaird, gan trácht ar an ailtireacht traidisiúnta álainn a bhaineann lena teampall, mar shampla an Pagoda Quan Su. Is cathair síochánta agus gniomhach í Hanoi, ag borbairt le beatha sráide agus margadh exótaigh ach síochánta timpeall na pagodas agus na dteampall ciúin. Is í Cathair an Dragan Ardaithe an áit le bheith i Vietnam.

About the destination: Phnom Penh, situated at the meeting point of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers, is the capital and biggest city of Cambodia. There's a very strong French influence in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh, to the extent that the city was once referred to as the Paris of the East. The French developed the canal system, ports, roads and buildings. Even though most of the city’s French charm has faded, there are still a few beautiful French colonial buildings left. The Riverside district with its delightful river walk, is packed with hotels, restaurants and bars overlooking the river and is very convenient for visiting the main tourist sites. The main tourist attractions in Phnom Penh are the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Killing Fields, the National Museum, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the temple Wat Phnom. Today, Phnom Penh is one of the fastest growing cities in Southeast Asia and you can find high-end cuisine, a very good arts scene and a vast array of markets. Phnom Penh is a worthwhile destination and a handy base to explore the rest of the country.