5 Days in Beijing
As the capital of modern day China and many of its past dynasties, Beijing has a long and rich history dating back over 3,000 years. Constantly reinventing itself over the centuries, this great city is as compelling as it is complex.
Amazing Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni in the Bolivian Andes, the world’s largest salt flat, is an other-worldly experience that has to be seen to be believed.
8 Days in Morocco
Morocco, also known as the Western Kingdom, is a fascinating country with a blend of Arab, indigenous Berber, Sub-Saharan African, and European culture.
2 Days to Phang Nga
Phang Nga Bay (Thai: อ่าวพังงา) is in the Strait of Malacca between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Most of the park consists of an area of the Andaman Sea studded with numerous limestone tower karst islands. The best known of these islands is Khao Phing Kan.
3 Days in Sydney
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is known for its beautiful harbors, relaxed lifestyle, ideal climate, and friendly locals. The city is a multi-ethnic hub of business, culture and creativity. The Opera House, Sydney Tower and the Harbour Bridge have become the city's famous landmarks to international visitors.
3 Days in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Sapporo (札幌市) is the largest city on the Hokkaido island, located north east of Japan. Before its establishment by the Meiji government in the late 1800s, the area was home to a number of indigenous Ainu settlements. Today Sapporo is known outside Japan for having hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics and home to the famous Sapporo Brewery.
4 Days in Tanzania Safari Wilderness
Tanzania is a country in Eastern Africa. Its unspoiled national parks rival any in the world. On Tanzania's Serengeti plain, white-bearded wildebeest and other mammals participate in a large-scale annual migration. This itinerary includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
2 Days in Da Lat
Known to the early residents as "Little Paris", Da Lat (also spelled as Dalat) is a blend of hillside rural Vietnam and European alpine town. It is the capital of Lam Dong Province, the local weather stands in contrast to the country's tropical climate. Mist covering the valleys almost year-round leads to its name "City of Eternal Spring".
1 Day in Kandy
Kandy is located at the centre of Sri Lanka 125 km away from Colombo and is generally recognised as the island nation's cultural capital. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A Long Weekend in Toronto
Toronto, also known as T.O. or Queen City, is the largest city in Canada and widely recognized as one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world.
Kumamoto (熊本市) is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. It is located approximately 113 km (70 mi) south of Fukuoka. The city's most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and, in its day, extremely well fortified Japanese castle.
Kumamoto-shi
Founded in 1871, Katō Shrine is a shrine in which Katō Kiyomasa (1562–1611) the daimyo (powerful feudal lord) is enshrined. In 1871, the shrine was built within Kumamoto Castle at the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism. Three years later it was moved to Kyōmachi because the Kumamoto Castle belonged to the Japanese Army in 1873. Over the centuries, the shrine was destroyed and reconstructed. The current site dates back to 1962. Visitors can take a tram from JR Kumamoto Station and get off at Kumamotojo-mae tram stop.
Originally built in 1467, Kumamoto Castle was a large and well fortified castle. The castle keep is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier castles in Japan and thirteen structures in the castle complex are designated Important Cultural Property. The signature curved stone walls, known as musha-gaeshi, as well as wooden overhangs, were designed to prevent attackers from penetrating the castle. Rock falls were also used as deterrents.
Sakura-no-baba Josaien is an Edo-themed complex located at the foot of Kumamoto Castle. Visitors get to learn about the food, history and culture of the region. The Wakuwakuza History and Cultural Experience tells the "Tale of Kumamoto Then and Now"; the Sakuranokoji Shopping Arcade has an array of shops and restaurants offering specialty souvenirs and foods unique to Kumamoto Prefecture.
Opened in 2002, Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto is a modern art museum showcasing an expansive and diverse collection of works by both Japanese and international artists. There is a focus on artists currently active in Kumamoto and Kyushu Island.
Suizenji Jojuen is a garden located in the Suizenji Park. Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi began construction of the garden in 1636 as a tea retreat. The site was selected because of its spring-fed pond, which clean water was excellent for tea. The park was named after a no-longer-extant Buddhist temple called Suizen-ji, and now hosts the Izumi Shrine, where members of the Hosokawa family are enshrined, and a Nōgaku-dō, a Noh theater. The garden has been declared a Historic Site of Scenic Beauty.
