Things to Do in Asia

On the coast just north of Keelung sits one of Taiwan’s most fascinating geological parks, the Yehliu Coast. Over thousands of years, wind and rain eroded away parts of the softer top layer of rock to reveal interesting patters. Some areas look like honeycombs, others like potholes, a shoe and even a queen’s head. The exposed sandstone landscape is littered with fossils, old relics of a past era. The mushroom rocks and candle-shaped rocks are among the more alien-looking formations.

Since the Yehliu Coast is less than an hour drive from Taipei, it makes a convenient day trip, especially when combined with a visit to the seaport of Keelung and Yehliu’s Baoan Temple. It’s also an extremely popular option on Taiwan tours, so if you want to escape the crowds after you’ve snapped your pictures, take a stroll down to the end of the rocky peninsula to enjoy the views in relative isolation.

Yoyogi Park, one of the largest parks in Tokyo, was the site of the 1964 Summer Olympic Games before it was turned into a public area three years later. Today, Yoyogi is one of the most popular youth hangout spots, particularly for rock music fans. You can rent bikes or browse the wares at the Sunday flea market.

On weekdays, the park fills with walkers, joggers and picnickers enjoying the ponds and forested areas, but not so on Sundays. Each Sunday, bands and musicians set up throughout the park, and Tokyo’s Cosplay shows up in full force, donning all sorts of 50s-era rocker costumes. Don’t be surprised to see several Elvis impersonators and girls with poodle skirts or rockabilly getups. If you want a look at Japan’s youth culture, it doesn't get much better than this.

If you're here in the spring, Yoyogi has a great scene of cherry blossoms, while the park’s gingko tree forest makes for excellent leaf-peeping in autumn.

A maritime city with international flair, Yokohama was once one of Japan's preeminent ports for international trade. Yokohama's port was the first to open up to foreign trade after the end of Japan's isolationist economic policy in 1854. By 1923, the once small fishing village had emerged as a burgeoning metropolis but faced an early demise after experiencing devastating damage in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Before it could fully recover, World War II fire bombings ravaged the city again. Today, Yokohama steadfastly remains Japan's second largest city with a population of over three million and attracts foreign tourists and expatriates in large numbers. It boasts one of the world's largest Chinatown areas and preserves Western residences built in the 19th century to welcome international traders.

Strolling along the waterfront at Yamashita Park, visitors take in the famous Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world. Further inland, a ferris wheel towers over the city, affording views of the industrialized port, quaint residential streets, and ships in the bay. International restaurants cater to visitors and residents from China, Thailand, South Korea, and even western countries. Parks, stadiums, shopping centers, and skyscrapers adorn the city landscape. There's a cosmopolitan feel about the city with a laid back maritime vibe.

The Yangon Circle Train offers visitors an easy, affordable and relaxing way to take in the sites and sounds of local Yangon life. The 28.5-mile railway winds through 39 stops that travel across lush farmland, suburban neighborhoods and rural villages. The commuter railway is one of the cheapest ways to get around the city, making it ideal for people watching, visiting with locals and getting around on a budget.

Tourists can ride in cars reserved exclusively for foreigners, or join up with area residents as they travel to work or home from the market. Most trains traverse the loop in approximately three hours, but air conditioned trains can make the voyage in closer to two. Travelers hoping to capture photos of the scenery and people should opt for non-AC trains, since windows can’t be opened and are often too smudged to capture crisp pictures.