Hokkaido is thus a destination filled with beautiful landscapes all year long. The island looks heavenly in summer and spring, with greenery everywhere. Summer is the peak time for tourists in this region. This is also the best time to try your hand at a little mountain climbing and hiking.

As summer gives way to autumn, the hills turn red. All thoughts of leaving will leave your head. Winter comes afterward, changing the world to silver white. There are a great number of winter activities on offer.

Asahikawa is the main city in the north portion of Hokkaido. The city is home to an international airport, which facilitates easy access to the island. There are more than one million travelers coming to the island in a year, both from Japan as well as countries all over the world.

The temperature on average at Asahikawa from Jul to Aug is about twenty degree C. The daytime temperature is at its highest at 20 degree C. There is not much of humidity on the island. It is overall comfortable.

This is one of the smaller of the islands part of Philippines, and is just an eight sq kilo meters or so. The laid back life style, as well as the peaceful community on offer here is one of the best reasons for visiting this island.

The minuscule island of Cabilao is a location that is unparalleled in peace and quiet. Diving is one of the most popular activities on the island. There are three famous diving spots here that are placed the island on the list of best divers’ destinations.

The diving and snorkeling in the island is simply heavenly. You will be rewarded by some beautiful underwater sights. The South Point, the Cambaquiz Point and the Lighthouse are the three best dive spots in the island. These are among the best in entire Bohol, which is why the island has become so popular.

There are some of the most beautiful beaches in Bohol on the Cabilao Island. The island’s beaches are pristine paradises with crystal clear waters and pristine snow white sands.

The whole of the island has been earmarked as a Marine reserve / Park by the DENR or the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. There are some fees charged for conservation projects.

Lake Lanao, the only natural lake in Bohol, is one of the top most attractions found in the island. The lake is located close to Pantdulan, and is home to innumerous bird species. There are different species that can be spotted. Hunting is of course strictly prohibited.

The main tourist sights on Jeju Island are Cheonjiyeon and Cheonjeyeon waterfalls. These are beautiful locations, with a number of excellent sights. The Mount halla is another destination worthy of note. There are a number of challenging climbs and other adventurous activities you can engage in.

Also make sure that you visit the Hyeobje cave. This is an often vsited destination by travelers to the island. There are a huge number of top notch destinations within the island. Make sure that you have a good bit of time on hand, which will enable you to get better services on offer.

Activities abound at the Jeju Island. There are a great number of excellent activities for tourists on the island, and these are inclusive of mountain climbing, fishing, hunting, horse riding, golf and others. There are many festivals and other events hosted in the charming island. There are funny contests such as the penguin swimming contests in the winter, cherry blossom festival in the spring, as well as the jeju horse festival in autumn and midsummer night beach festival in summer.

Cat Ba Island can be accessed in less than a few hours trip from Hanoi. The island has a good number of sights, but there is a highlighted attraction that makes it stand out with respect to other island destinations. The island is home to the Cat Ba National Park which one of the most wonderful locations if you are a nature lover.

The island has a great wealth of flora and fauna. The bees here have so many different flowers to sample on that the honey produced here is among the best in Vietnam. There are a thousand five hundred sixty one species of flora and fauna in total, and these belong in a hundred and eighty six families.

Cat Ba Island is visited by four hundred and fifty visitors from all around the world. However, Cat Ba Island Park is visited by less than ten per cent of this number. Fewer than that enjoy the beautiful hiking trails.

Make sure you enjoy the hikes to the lookout point at the top of the mountain, to Frog Lake and theViet Hai village. Also make sure that you visit the huge number of tiny farming and fishing villages located at the island. There are a total of eighteen thousand people in these villages.

Even in the major guides and information sites, there is not much information about Lombok Island. In fact, much of the time, the island will be grouped together with Bali, or the Gili Islands. Almost as if the island is too negligible to be more than an afterthought.

However, these do not do justice to the heavenly destination that the island of Lombok really is. There are a great number of excellent attractions that make it a truly fascinating destination.

The beaches here are pristine stretches of sand that have crystal clear waters kissing it. There are many attractions related to culture and history as well. The islanders are a friendly lot, and the restaurants here top class.

To top it all, the relative lack of knowledge about Lombok Island makes it a destination that is visited by less number of tourists than Bali or the other popular islands.

The pace of life at Lombok Island is very much on the slow and easy going side, and you can have a pleasant time here enjoying some downtime from the rat race. There are a good number of relaxing activities you can indulge in, and recharge your batteries sufficiently. Lombok is about three fourths the size of Bali Island.

The sun shines here three sixty five days in a year. The temperature here is a tepid 29 ° C and 34 ° C. Island of Lombok enjoys hot and humid climate all year round, and you can visit it any time in the year. It is best to avoid the peak seasons of Jun – Jul and Dec.

The Palawan island is among the most complete destinations you will visit ever, in fact there is a whole lot of the best of what ever attraction you ask for. Beaches? A sheer abundance of some of the most splendid, the pristine sands and crystal clear water share make for a heavenly experience. There are a good number of beaches here that cater to all types of interests. There are a good number of the popular beaches that are visited by a whole number of people. These are the beaches that are filled with commercial resorts and other development, as well as big crowds, in addition to this, there are a whole number of excellent beaches that are a long distance away from the crowds, these remote and isolated destinations are the very destinations to head to if you want to refreshing time away from the crowding at the more popular beaches.

The rainforests here are also another aspect that makes the Palawan island a truly complete destination. There are a number of rain forests here that are lush green paradises, and have a whole range of exciting activities on offer. There is a whole number of rewarding locations to go here, and exploring these forests may take up quite a bit of your time. Hiking in the forests is the very activity that will help you appreciate the sheer wonder of the nature here.

Just make sure you do not disturb the forests in any way. The forests here are home to a whole number of unique species of flora and fauna that are endemic to this region. There are a whole number of exotic species here that have come over from Africa in primeval times. There are giraffes, zebras and a whole number of others. The regional creatures such as the Palawan bearcat, the Palawan Peacock peasant and the Calamian deer, are must visit. There are a whole number of destinations here.

The major Malaysian islands are Pulau Redang,Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Tioman and Pulau Perhentian. Pulau Redang is among the most loved among these and is one of the most tourist attracted destinations in Malaysia. The beauty of the island is compelling in the extreme, and there is no dearth to pristinely beautiful nature as well as snow white stretches pf beach, as well as turquoise waters kissing the sands. There is so much to see, like admire in Redang. The island is inhabited by a plethora of diverse species of flora and fauna, most of which are endemic to this region and have much of interest held to the first time visitor. The azure waters around the beautiful topaz waters are inhabited by a whole lot of marine creatures. The marine national park here is home to marine creatures in abundance.

The Pulau redang is located about 22 k m off mainland Malaysia and is reputed as oone of the major scuba diving as well as snorkeling locations in the whole of Asia. The beach that is most famous on the Pulau Tedang is the Pasir Panjang, ( meaning Long beach ), which extends for an 800 meter stretch. The ethereal island beach location has gleaming sands of a softness and purity never seen before.  The world class hotels and resorts that have spring up in this area are among the most loved due to the attention for detail, impeccable service and luxury accommodations. There is no dearth to beautiful places to stay at when you are in Redang.

There is so much to do here, diving here is among the best in the world, and the rewarding coral dives make for some of the heavenliest dives ever, and the multitude of creatures that populate the under waters have made diving here some of the most loveliest experiences in the world. Then riot of colors that the waters burst into whenever shoals of brightly colored fish swim by has to be seen to be believed.

Accessible by cable car, ferry or a road link that takes no more than a few minutes, Sentosa houses numerous attractions – theme parks, beautiful beaches plus luxury resorts, luxury spas, a Vegas style casino (the first of its kind in Singapore), tropical rainforests, a deep water harbor for yachts, luxury beachfront residences, top class hotels and a whole range of facilities including high quality golf courses, business centers, shopping malls. The list seems endless, and indeed Sentosa has loads to offer.

The small offshore islands, south of Sentosa, Kusu Island, St John’s Island, the Sisters Island and Pulao Hantu which are managed by Sentosa, are also accessible. These islands are perfect for a whole range of activities like diving, sailing, snorkeling, fishing, camping, hiking and so on. These islands are accessible by ferry or charter boat. These, while not exactly undiscovered islands, are great to have a bit of reclusion.

The beaches in Sentosa are the most popular attraction to the island’s visitors. The sands are pure snow white. As it should be, as all the sand has been imported from Perth, Australia. Singapore’s strict laws against littering have also helped to keep the sands immaculate. The waters however are another story. Singapore is among the very busiest ports in the world, and the constant traffic has made the waters rather gloomy, far from crystal clear. The sea is not at all suitable if you want to swim. But the exquisite sun and sand more than makes up for the murky sea, and these beaches are perfect for a day lazing on the beach, and other pursuits. The scenic promenade is lined by numerous restaurants, cafes and clubs. Palawan beach is purported to be the southern most tip of the Asian continental landmass. Tanjong beach is the quieter among the Sentosa beaches.

A beach train runs the length of the 3 Sentosa beaches, and is really convenient. Using the beach train is free of cost. You have to pay a sum of Singapore $ 2 to enter the Sentosa Island.

Siloso beach

Siloso beach is more of a young and hip beach than the other beaches in Sentosa. There are a lot of bars, bistros and restaurants in the area. There is also some excellent shopping. Just lying on the beach is really a fun way to relax, but you can take a dip if you get bored, and there are opportunities to surf; there is a manmade wave that makes for perfect breaks. Siloso also has exceptional volleyball courts, which are available free of cost, at a first come first serve basis. Skim boarding, rollerblading and kayaking are other options, and equipment can be got on hire at quite reasonable rates.  The nights at Siloso beach are a riot; vibrant and alive parties are held, and music blares in celebration and the parties go on pretty late.

Palawan Beach and the Southern most point of Continental Asia

The Palawan beach is accessible by the free beach train, and the suspension bridge which connects you to the opposite island which is said to be the Southern most point of Continental Asia. This is claimed to be the last piece of land that is part of the Asian continent that exists this far south.

Various shows and attractions are held at Palawan beach through out the day, and all are free. The 30 minute monkey show featuring really intelligent Macaques who show remarkable agility while performing various acrobatics, and plucking coconuts. Some special peacocks and chickens are also included in the show. The Bora Bora beach bar is a recent addition and the Full Moon parties are a new attraction.

Dolphin lagoon

The Dolphin Lagoon is just nearby Palawan Beach and the pink Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins live here. The main attraction is the Meet the Dolphins Sessions, which is a truly amazing experience, and getting to know these friendly and intelligent creatures is really worth one’s while. These sessions are held twice a day, and on Saturdays, Sundays and main public holidays, four times a week. The Singapore S $ 17 admission ticket to the Underwater World is inclusive of admission to the Dolphin Lagoon.

Tanjong beach

Of the 3 beaches, Tanjong Beach is the most quiet, although the beaches are not really crowded, in the real sense of the word.

One of the most heavenly locations on earth, Cocoa Island is part of Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Located in the South Male Atoll in the Maldives Islands, Cocoa island is one exquisite island paradise. In the west is the Kandooma Channel, which is one of the best dive sites in the world, and on the other side is a tranquil reef which is perfect for snorkeling. Cocoa Island is an unspoiled island, and the strict eco policy enforced takes care that the natural environment remains pristine.

How to get there

The Maldives consists of numerous islands and atolls that include the Cocoa Island. From the International Airport located in Male, Cocoa Island is just a 30 minute speed boat ride away.

Airlines like emirates, Indian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines operate to Maldives. There are also direct flights to Maldives from a range of destinations including London, New York and Singapore.

Accommodation Options

Dhonis

Accommodation options in Cocoa Island are excellent and offer the guests a taste of the culture of the locale. The accommodation is housed in unique suites which are in local fishing boats known dhoni. These are reminiscent of Kerala house boats. Staying in dhonis are a totally incomparable experience. These suites are built right in the sea with water below, and wooden walkways are built that connect the dhonis together and to the beach.

These Dhonis have full length glass windows, and the views afforded from these, of the ocean and the astoundingly beautiful horizon. Each Dhoni suite have an exclusive private deck which is an amazing place to catch the sun, or take dips from in privacy. There are also some villas and many other forms of accommodation.

What to do?

There is a huge variety of activities you can indulge in, if you are bored of lying in the beach, and taking in the sun and swimming in the crystal clear waters. This is the location of the best diving spot in the word, the Kandooma Channel and many consider this one of the most beautiful locations for diving. The coral reef is a truly magical place to go diving in, and is a perfect location to see a multitude of sea animals, and the marine wealth that Maldives is known the world over for.

There is also a brilliant snorkeling location, which is to the east of Kandooma Channel, and many people love this location more than the other locations because of the scenic abundance, and the crystal clear turquoise waters. The marine wealth is also notable.

Wind surfing is another favorite activity indulged in by visitors to this island. The perfect breezes that are helpful for this activity are found over here, and wind surfers find their paradise in Cocoa Island. Paragliding is also done.

The waters of Cocoa island is perfect for deep sea fishing, as these are filled with a large amount of marine wealth, and a perfect bounty for fishermen who indulge in deep sea fishing.

There is a water sports center, where one can practice a whole range of activities, rent equipment and receive guidance. Activities such as diving, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, catamaran sailing and so on and so forth are available at the water sports center, at the heart of the island.

There is also yoga, gymnasium, fitness centers, massage centers, salons, beauty treatments, meditation centers, hydrotherapy in the pools provided for this purpose, and a hotel boutique at Cocoa Island.

The inhabited islands in Lakshadweep are Agatti, Amini, Kalpeni, Chetlat, Andrott, Kadmat, Kiltan, Kavaratti, Bitra and Minicoy. Out of all the islands, only Bangaram and Kadamat are open for tourists. The islands are covered with pristine coral sand. These are the only coral islands in India, and are formed by the process of gradual taking in of calcium from the water by corals and building reefs.

Kadmat Island

Kadmat Island is 8km long and 550 m wide at its widest point. In the western side, there is an excellent lagoon that is ideal for all kinds of water sports.There is a water sports school here and water skiing apparatus, kayaks, glass bottomed and pedal boats are available on rent. The scuba diving center is much visited by water sports aficionados throughout the world. There is a good variety of fishes like sharks and rays, and excellent clear water with visibility upto 20-50 m visibility.

Bangaram Island

Bangaram Island is a small island situated next to Kavaratti. Bangaram is not inhabited and this is the only uninhabited island resort in Lakshwadeep. Bangaram is the perfect place to recharge your batteries, and getaway from the rat race for some time. At night, luminescent plankton that is washed up on the beach gives a light blue glow to the coral sands, creating a totally magnificent effect. To reach this island one has to travel by boat or helicopter from Agatti Island.

Other things to do

There is plenty of yachting, scuba diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, swimming, pedal boating, canoeing and kayaking in Lakshadweep. Apart from these, there is a light house and a Marine museum.

How to get there

There are two ways of reaching Lakshadweep from the Indian mainland, namely, by air and by sea

By Air

There are flights operating six days a week from Cochin International Airport, Kerala to Agatti, which is the only airport in Lakshadweep. Helicopter transfers have been made available from Agatti to select destinations. It takes approximately 90 minutes to reach Agatti from Cochin (also known as Kochi).

By Sea

Currently, there are four passenger ships operating between Cochin and Lakshadweep. The total time duration of the passage is between 14 to 10 hours. These ships do not operate during the Monsoon season (extending from 15th May to October 15th)

Accommodation

There are several resorts and tourist homes managed by SPORTS and several private companies.

Important

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is only allowed in Bangaram. Do not pick up corals as this is punishable by law.

Climate

The climate is variable and is warm most of the year and is mildly warm from November to February.

Best Time to Visit:

November to February.

Clothing

cotton clothes are suitable throughout the year.

Languages spoken

Malayalam, Mahl and English.