Things to Do in Asia

Cebu's Basilica del Santo Niño (Basilica of Santo Nino, Basilica Minore de Sto Nino) was literally born from fire. In 1565, the church was built on the site where one of conquistador Legazpi's men supposedly found a miraculous statue of Jesus in the burning ruins of a hostile native village. The statue -- considered the oldest religious artifact in the country -- was completely unharmed. The building still houses the statue, even after burning down three times since its initial construction.

The basilica you see today dates back to 1737, and you can see the miraculous "Santo Niño," or Holy Child, within the aptly named Santo Niño Chapel inside the basilica. Each year, the Basilica del Santo Niño celebrates Cebu's largest annual event, the Cebuano festival of Sinulog, centered on this small Flemish statue of Jesus. The festival features a street parade with performances by brightly costumed dancers from all over the Philippines.

Baphuon began life in the 11th century as a Hindu temple meant to represent mystical Mount Meru, like most temples in the region. It was later rededicated to Buddha but hasn't weathered the intervening years as well as its neighbors, with much of the construction lying in countless pieces.

A vast reclining Buddha forms a wall of one of the temple's three tiers, but you will have to exercise your imagination to visualize the divinity's features. Despite "“ or maybe because of "“ its present state, Baphuon is one of the most magical Angkor sites, with shaded pavilions looking out on elaborately-carved stone pieces battling the jungle for supremacy.

During the nineteenth century, the seaside village of Danshui was Northern Taiwan's busiest shipping and commerce port. Today, it's known for its European architecture, delicious seafood and stunning sunsets.

The Danshui area was settled by the Spanish in 1629 and the Dutch in 1641, and one of the most impressive remnants of Danshui's colonial days is the Hongmao Castle, also called Fort San Domingo. The structure briefly served as the British Consulate before being returned to Taiwan in 1980.

After you've visited the castle, spend the rest of your time in Danshui wandering through the waterfront area and Old Street. It is here you'll find a majority of the city's famous seafood restaurants and traditional handicraft shops. Try the fish ball soup, it's a specialty of the town. As the sun sets, head down to Fisherman's Wharf to watch with views of Lover's Bridge, the large pedestrian bridge that spans the harbor.

In few places throughout Macau are the colonial influences of European rule more evident than at the historic Church of St. Dominic. Set at the back of a lively square this Baroque style church is instantly recognizable by its pastel-yellow and cream-colored façade. It's more picturesque on the outside than lively on the inside, and in an artistic touch the front of the church features green shuttered windows which symmetrically flank the three-story bell tower.

Built in 1587 by three Dominican priests from Acapulco, Mexico, the original chapel was ultimately destroyed and replaced in the 17th century with the building which stands today. Notable for being the first place to print a Portuguese language newspaper on Chinese soil (A Abelha da China: The China Bee), the Church of St. Dominic is better known for a violent and tumultuous past.

In what was perhaps the most notorious event, a military officer in 1644 who supported the Spanish against Portugal was murdered at the altar of the church during a regular Mass. Similarly, in 1707, upon receiving orders calling for their excommunication, an order of Dominicans locked themselves inside of the church and bombarded soldiers with a hailstorm of stones during a three-day standoff.

With the occasional violence having subsided long ago, the church now houses a collection of paintings and religious artifacts which date to the 16th century and are collectively known as the "Treasury of Sacred Art." A functioning place of worship for Macau's sizeable Christian population, the Church of St. Dominic is included as one of the buildings listed as part of the UNESCO recognized Historic Centre of Macau.

A curious activity for a rainy day: if you have ever owned a cat or have been interested in the historical role cats have played in music, theater, advertising, mythology and ancient societies around the globe, then the Kuching Cat Museum might be of interest to you.

Located in the modern looking North City Hall building only ten minutes outside of the city center, you won't find a museum quite like the Kuching Cat Museum anywhere else in the world, an appropriate reality seeing as "kucing" is actually the Malay word for cat. With over 2,000 exhibits on display, artifacts range from a mummified cat from Egypt that is believed to be over 5,000 years old, to the world's only mounted specimen of the Bay Cat, a highly endangered wild cat that is endemic to the island of Borneo.

A separate exhibit is devoted to the five wild cats of Sarawak and Borneo, whereas other corners of the 1,035 square meter facility discuss various types of global cat food, the Broadway musical "Cats", and of course, a section devoted to "Hello Kitty" dolls.

Though entrance to the museum is free, all visitors still must pass through a doorway that, as you might have guessed, is through the mouth of an oversized cat. The Cat Museum is a hilarious place to visit for some, and completely lost on others.

When the Casino Lisboa first opened in 1970 it set the stage for the gambling legacy which continues to power Macau's economy to this day. With the original 12"“story building was spearheaded by real estate magnate and entrepreneur Stanley Ho, the 2006 addition of the Grand Lisboa brings the total number of rooms in the Lisboa complex to a staggering 2,362 rooms. Located in the Central Business District of Macau, the Casino Lisboa is the iconic, "original" casino of Macau which came to prominence prior to the recent explosion of neighboring casinos built on the reclaimed land of the Cotai Strip.

Despite frequent renovation, the Casino Lisboa manages to retain its welcoming charm and avoids the ostentatious display some of the newer casinos thrust at their deep-pocketed, starry-eyed visitors. With the newly designed Grand Lisboa crafted around the style of a towering lotus leaf, the casino deftly manages to incorporate elements of both Portuguese as well as Chinese features into its design. In addition to the myriad gaming opportunities available within the complex, the Casino Lisboa similarly features award-winning restaurants, a fitness room and salon, and even a swimming pool where gamers can cool off before turning up the heat at the baccarat table or the casino's infamous Cabaret show.

For a fun day out with the family head to the Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium. The zoo is home to over 400 species of animals including tigers, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, penguins, and koalas, but the crowd favorite is certainly the pair of giant pandas on loan from China. Visitors also have the opportunity to interact with the zoo animals during feeding sessions and performances.

The Chiang Mai Aquarium opened in 2008 and is more modern than the zoo. More than 25,000 fish are on display including species native to Thailand like giant Mekong catfish, barracuda, moray eels, and jellyfish. Don't forget to take a walk through the aquarium's 133 meter underwater tunnel "“ officially the longest in the world "“ surrounded by sharks and stingrays.

The Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium grounds are quite expansive and you can save yourself a lot of walking by taking the zoo tram or monorail between the exhibits.