Things to Do in Asia

Beijing has modernized so rapidly that it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like in decades past. One neighborhood, however, has managed to hold on to its old-style hutong architecture: the Back Lakes (Hou Hai or Houhai). Named after the three Shichahai lakes in the area, the Back Lakes neighborhood is one of the last remaining places in Beijing where you can see traditional courtyard-style houses.

While wandering the hutongs allows visitors to see Beijing as it once was, the streets surrounding the lakes, particularly Hou Hai (the largest of the three) show you a modern, hip and multicultural side of Beijing. The banks are lined with shop, stalls, restaurants, bars and hookah dens catering to tourists, locals and the city’s sizable expatriate population alike, making it a fun and bustling place to browse for souvenirs. The breeze from the lake offers a respite from the heat, and boating activities are also available on the lake itself.

The best way to enjoy the Back Lakes area is to take a pedicab tour of the old hutong neighborhoods in the afternoon. Afterward, take a leisurely walk around the lake before settling in to a table at a restaurant or bar balcony for dinner and drinks as you watch the world go by.

One of the earliest temples in the region, Bakong was built in tiers within a strict geometric matrix, a style recognizable in the later Angkor Wat. Though significantly smaller than that complex, Bakong has a charm all its own.

The central temple rises on 5 tiers and was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It dates to 881 AD, though the tower which forms its focal point was added much later.

Around two dozen graceful, free-standing “satellite” temples dot the grounds in various states of repair, some garnished with jungle growth. Stupas reflect the temple’s later embrace of Buddhism, while an adjacent monastery ensures the site retains its spiritual significance into the present day.

At first glance, the Bagmati River might appear to be just an ordinary river, meandering its way through the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. However, the Bagmati holds a great deal of religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists in the country, making it a destination for Nepali and visitors alike.

From the temples lining its banks to the funereal ceremonies that take place in its waters, the Bagmati has been mentioned as a holy place for more than 2000 years and is considered the source of Nepalese civilization; Kathamandu has grown up along its banks. The river is lined with ghats, stone-paved embankments and stairs that lead down to the waters. These areas, often dotted with statues, are used for the open-air cremations that take place on the Bagmati as well as ritual bathing, though the bathing is becoming a less common practice due to the pollution and receding of the river.

Several temples can be found near the river, including the Gokarneswor Temple at Gokarna and the Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath, dedicated to Shiva, which is located north of Kathmandu on an area above the Bagmati. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, but they can go to view the river and the cremation rituals that are followed on the banks of the river.

Perhaps what draws most visitors to this area is the chance to see one of the many cremations that take place. Rather than a private affair, like most Western cremations, Hindu creations are public ceremonies. With the oldest son acting as chief mourner, the deceased is dipped into the Bagmati three times for purification before the pyre is lit; members of the family often enter the river or sprinkle themselves with water for spiritual purification.

Today, the Bagmati is suffering from pollution due to the large numbers of inhabitants in Kathmandu. As the garbage and raw sewage build up, there are efforts being made to clean up the holy river, but it’s a slow process. As there is little to no oversight from government to prevent companies from dumping in the river, the waste from large entities and individuals continues to multiply. There are efforts being made to clean up the Bagmati, but it’s going to take collaboration and cooperation to restore this heritage site.

The Bahá'í Temple in Delhi is one of the most visited buildings in the world, attracting over 50 million people since it opened in 1986. Also known as the Lotus Temple for its distinct half-open lotus design, the belief behind the Bahá'í house of worship is that it should be open for all, regardless of denomination. There are however certain rules: no sermons can be delivered, no ritualistic ceremonies and no musical instruments can be played. There are also no religious images displayed.

Bahá'í temples must all be a nine-sided circular shape as set out in their scriptures, hence the solution of a lotus shape. Bahá'í is an independent religion founded around 1844. Their belief is in a mystic feeling with unites man with God and they do not dictate how that be done, hence their openness to other forms of worship within their temples.

The Lotus Temple was designed by Fariborz Sahba, and has won many awards. It was designed in 1976, opened in 1986, and largely built with moneys left by Ardishír Rustampúr of Hyderabad who, in 1953,  bequeathed his life savings to the church to build a temple. The temple is made of white marble from Greece and sits on 26 acres (10.5 hectares) of land, which has nine ponds and extensive gardens.

The Baiyoke Sky Tower rises ominously over the rest of the Bangkok skyline as the tallest skyscraper in the city. Also known as the Baiyoke Sky Hotel it is 85 stories high and houses 673 guest rooms in addition to several restaurants and observatories.

Anyone can visit the public observatory on level 77. The view is amazing: you will see the various expressways and neighborhoods of Bangkok, the royal palace and the Chao Phraya River. During the day the view can be quite smoggy, so it's better to visit at night to see the city all lit up. For a classier experience head to the Roof Top Bar & Music Lounge and 360 degree revolving roof deck on the 83rd floor. The view is better but you'll either need to pay an admission fee or buy pricey drinks and dinner.

Bako National Park is Sarawak’s oldest national park and, at 2,728 hectares (6,738 acres), is also one of its smallest. It packs a lot in for its size, however, containing almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo.

Sitting on a promontory at the mouths of the Sarawak and Bako rivers, Bako National Park contains no less than seven eco-systems – from cliff and coastal vegetation to mangrove, peat swamp and dipterocarp forest and grasslands.

But it is the wildlife most people come for  - the rare proboscis monkey, macaques, monitor lizards and bearded pigs – that, and the amazing number of pitcher and canivorous plants that call the National Park home.

Butterflies are some of nature’s most fascinating, intriguing, and colorful creatures, and the best place to see them in Indonesia is the Bali Butterfly Park.