The largest continent in the world is a land of great diversity, having both the world’s highest point, Mount Everest along the border of Tibet and Nepal, and the lowest point, the Dead Sea located where Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories converge. From the scorching hot deserts of the Middle East to the frigid climate in Siberia, Asia is also a land of extremes both in its landscapes and people. While Asia has some of the most developed regions in the world like ultra-modern Japan, Singapore, China, and Russia, there are regions that are extremely poor like Laos, Yemen, and East Timor.
Its people too are as diverse as the landscape, with Russia forming its northern and eastern borders, the Middle East countries to its West and the Indian subcontinent to the South. It’s not easy to stereotype an Asian as the countries that come under the borders of this continent are so diverse. Most of the world religions like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism were founded in Asia and so the land is also steeped in spirituality. Predictably too, the continent has some of the most religious places in the world, such as Jerusalem, Varanasi, Mecca, and Bodh Gaya. A visitor to these lands is easily mesmerized by the uniqueness of the continent and drawn to its beauty, be it the magnificent ancient monuments such as the Great Wall of China, and the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, to the desert ruins and ancient cities of the Middle East, and the wide expanse of idyllic beaches, Asia has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.
Best hotel pools in Dubai attract vacationers from all over the globe. And for a good reason. Be it the heat, or a number of things to do in the “city of gold,” hotels with a pool is an authentic form of escape on its own. Nothing beats the stress out, unlike taking a dip…
It’s hard to imagine that 40 years ago, Abu Dhabi was a fishing village in the Arabian desert. Today, the glitzy UAE capital is as glamorous as neighboring Dubai. In fact, its one of the 6 Neighbouring Cities You Must Visit While On Your Trip To Dubai. What’s more, Abu Dhabi has gained prominence as…
The capital of Jordan Amman is one of the more modern Middle Eastern cities. While it has been somewhat overshadowed by Jordanian jewels Wadi Rum and Petra, exploring Amman gives you an insight into the country’s history. The city has everything from striking Roman ruins and international museums to leafy neighborhoods, coffeehouses, and souqs. Likewise,…
The capital of Qatar, Doha is one of the richest cities in the world. The gilded Middle Eastern city on the Persian Gulf puts a new spin on the word “luxury.” Think ostentatious shopping malls, cloud-touching architectural marvels, and grand cultural icons. However, its also known for traditional souqs, thrilling desert fun, and white-sand beaches.…
Dubai is ‘exotic desert glamour’ at its shimmering best. It’s hard to imagine that this ‘City of Gold’ overlooking the blue waters of the Persian Gulf is a former fishing village. Now, it is famous for its splendid shopping malls, scintillating souqs, culinary prowess, glitzy nightlife, and traditional splendor. The futuristic city is famous for…
There cannot be enough said about Jerusalem, Israel‘s capital city, and one of the world’s holiest cities. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains between the Dead and Mediterranean Seas, the scarred spiritual city has seen destruction and resurrection beyond mortal belief, and still radiates enduring magnetism. One of The 11 Most Religious Cities in the World,…
Sitting at the head of an enchanting archipelago in the Persian Gulf is Manama, the fascinating capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The coastal city’s charm lies in the fact that it doesn’t feature gauche commercialism as seen in other Gulf capitals. At the same time, Manama bears all hallmarks of modern Middle Eastern affluence.…
The sacred city of Mecca is Prophet Mohammed’s birthplace and the holiest city in Islam. ‘Makkah,’ as it’s usually spelled, is where Muslims arrive to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. What’s more, it also sees round-the-year pilgrims perform the Umrah pilgrimage. So, for those who live outside Saudi Arabia, Mecca is no less than a lifelong…
Tel Aviv on the eastern Mediterranean coast is one of the world’s best beach destinations. The shimmering Israeli city means “Hill of Spring” in Hebrew. Aside from lip-smacking cuisine, it also boasts a melting-pot of a kaleidoscopic culture. Surprisingly, Tel Aviv is a perennial party playground with a nonstop nightlife. Also, its UNESCO heritage “White…
Other than being known as one of the most luxurious travel destinations in the world, Dubai serves as a major business hub for international travelers. Hailed as ‘City of The Future’, you’d find a vast of forward-looking buildings and anything the modern world has to offer in the city. As one of the busiest professional…
The gilded desert oasis that is Dubai is one indulgent and luxurious vacation destination. It’s been unanimously hailed as the ‘City of the future,’ and boasts the most luxurious aspects of everything the modern world has to offer. Since Dubai is a desert city with sun-kissed days throughout the year, the best way to beat…
Just over 400 km (250 miles) long and 112 km (70 miles) wide at its widest point, Israel can be covered in a matter of hours, but we can assure you that you will want to stay for much longer. Home to some of the world’s most famous historic sites, gorgeous coastlines and rugged deserts, Israel…
Dubai is a complete world in itself. You get everything from pin to plane and the city is loved by both, the ones who eat with the golden spoon and the ones who live in an economical lifestyle. But for the locals who stay in the city and the tourists who stay in Dubai for…
Barring a small 26km stretch of coastline to the south, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a landlocked country with some of the most contentious nations at its borders. Despite the turbulence that surrounds it, Jordan has remained an oasis of calm and is one of the safest countries in the Middle East, Asia. Renowned…
One of the most embattled regions of the Middle East is the country of Yemen, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. From fighting an internal war against poverty and corruption to an al-Qaeda insurgency and Houthi rebellion, and a cholera epidemic, Yemen has endured a lot over the past few decades. However,…
Kuwait sits atop the world’s 6th largest oil reserves, has a thriving culture and a modernized society that is not as extremely religious as most of the Middle-Eastern counterparts. The attractions that it offers are some of the finest you will see in the Middle East. If you want to experience warm Arabic hospitality, this…
Bahrain is perhaps one of the most scintillating countries in the Middle East. Home to a burgeoning food and art scene, the country even has its own Formula 1 Grand Prix! What’s more, Bahrain is often considered one of the more tolerant of the Gulf States, especially when compared to its neighbor Saudi Arabia. So…
Decadent, dazzling, dynamic – these aptly sum up the gilded desert oasis city of Dubai. This city’s glass, gold, and steel splendor and deep-rooted traditions make for striking alchemy. As multi-culturally diverse Dubai is, it still has harsh anti-gay laws. That being said, Dubai is still something of a gay Mecca in the Middle East…
Magical, mystique, and integration of faiths abound in Jerusalem, Israel, one of the world’s most ancient cities. It lies around an hour southeast of the caltural capital Tel Aviv, and its Old City is holy to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. So, you can imagine how surprising it is to hear that Jerusalem is a…
Tel Aviv is often jokingly referred to as a ‘straight-friendly’ city because of the high population of gay people that live here. With an estimated 25% of the city’s population identifying themselves as gay, it is no wonder that the city was once touted as the gay capital of the world. Tel Aviv’s gay scene…
Though this city has had a recently troubled past, the Lebanese capital, once known as the Paris of the East, is busy reinventing itself again. Beirut, the only true cosmopolitan city in Lebanon, is a great place to start if you’re traveling to the Middle East for the first time, as the city symbolizes the crossroads…
Along the southernmost tip of the country of Jordan lie an exquisite and the country’s one and only coastal city, Aqaba. This happens to be a very important coastal city because of its strategic location between Asia and Africa. Aqaba has always been helpful to other countries with their trades, itself being such an important…
The beautiful Eilat is located in Israel and it happens to be the only Red Sea resort of the country which sits on the teensy stretch of the Red Sea shoreline, one of the most sought after tourist attractions of the country. This city is very popular throughout the continent for its sandy beaches and…
If one is ever fascinated by the lavish kingship of the Arabian Nights, Jeddah will represent you with the perfect modern version of the same. Jeddah is the largest urban center and commercial capital of Saudi Arabia. It is situated on the west coast of Arabia and happens to be the largest port on the…