Things to Do in Asia

Only in Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Hong Kong can you spot Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson or get your picture taken with local and international celebrity Jackie Chan. Located inside the Peak Tower, the Hong Kong installment of the world’s most popular wax museum houses more than 100 eerily lifelike wax figures of both local and international stars.

The museum is divided into six areas: Hong Kong Glamour, SCREAM, World Premier, Historical and National Heroes, The Champions and Music Icons. Unlike the other five areas, you won’t find many familiar faces inside SCREAM, Hong Kong’s first permanent haunted house. Instead, you’ll wander through the halls of an asylum filled with both wax figures and live actors, making it difficult to distinguish what’s real from what isn’t.

Watching the locals and Mainland tourists come up with quirky poses next to their favorite wax celebrities can be just as entertaining for foreign tourists as the wax sculptures themselves.

The Mae Ping River cuts through Chiang Mai just a few blocks east of the old city and night market. In central Chiang Mai the banks of the river have been developed and are home to hotels, open-air restaurants, and bars, while in the countryside the river retains its natural charms. The ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam is also set on the banks of the Mae Ping River south of Chiang Mai.

Sight-seeing tours and dinner cruises along the Mae Ping River available. For the more adventurous, kayaking and rafting trips can be arranged.

Mahsuri’s Tomb - or Makam Mahsuri - is a shrine to one of the most beautiful women to have ever lived on Langkawi.

There are at least 14 versions of the legend of Mahsuri although we do know that she was the daughter of Thai immigrants and married the warrior Wan Darus. The legends revolve around an accusation of adultery and her death by stabbing.

The stories say that white blood flowed from her proving her innocence and that with her final breath she cursed Langkawi for seven generations. The last of those seven generations passed just as tourism came to Langkawi and it began to prosper again.

Aside from a small museum about the Mahsuri legend there is also a traditional Langkawi house to explore and a handicrafts shop at the memorial compound.

Reminiscent of the Mayan ruins in Central America, a complex of stone temples are all that remain of the eighth century Pallava dynasty along the coast two hours south of Chennai. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram’s (Mamallapuram) most iconic landmark, consists of two intricately carved towers standing watch over the Bay of Bengal. With shrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, the temple is considered one of the oldest in India. The nearby Panch Pandava Rathas, five stone shrines each carved from a single piece of rock, clearly display the astounding talent of the ancient stonemasons who built them.

Besides the monolithic stone shrines and temples, the town of Mahabalipuram gives travelers a sun-and-sand escape from the clamor of nearby Chennai. Get an early start to tour the stone monuments in the morning before the heat and domestic tourists descend; and spend your afternoon lazing on the wide, sandy beach and snacking on freshly prepared seafood at a beachside restaurant.

In April 1521, Catholic explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the shores of Cebu and ordered a wooden cross planted there. According to local legend, the very same cross still resides in Cebu today, housed within an eight-sided stone chapel built over 300 years later near Cebu City Hall. A large mural on the ceiling of the building depicts Magellan in the act of planting the cross. You'll see a similar painting at Fort San Pedro.

The original cross has been encased in new wood to protect it from visitors who remove small splinters of wood to take as a souvenir. Catholic devotees flock to Cebu’s most popular attraction to light a candle in front of the cross while offering up a prayer for protection. Whether or not you're religious, you should still set aside some time to visit this free attraction.

Located just off the coast of Cebu Island, Mactan Island is a popular choice for diving, snorkeling and water sports. If you're planning to island hop while you're in Cebu, chances are you'll depart on your excursion from Mactan.

Before the Spanish arrived in the Philippines during the sixteenth century, Mactan Island was home to a small Muslim settlement. It was also here where explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by a bamboo spear thrown by one of the island's chieftains during a tribal conflict. Visitors to the island will notice a shrine in his honor.

Apart from being a major tourist destination, modern Mactan is known for its musical instrument industry, particularly for its locally made guitars and ukuleles which you can buy at various stores on the island. Water sports enthusiasts will enjoy the bountiful options, including sailing and jet skiing, and if you're traveling with kids, take some time to visit the Mactan Island Aquarium, the only aquarium in the region.

Located in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Mae Sa Waterfall is one of the most enjoyable waterfalls to visit in Chiang Mai province. The waterfall consists of eight tiers which cascade over rocks in the midst of the jungle. A well-worn path leads from the lowest fall to the highest and each tier has a marker sign. Since the individual falls are not that high or fast-moving, they are ideal for swimming.

Mae Sa Waterfall is a popular retreat from the city and full facilities are available including washrooms, picnic tables, and food stalls.