Things to Do in Asia

Even if you don't have a burning interest in Japanese architecture this open air museum of restored  Meiji period buildings is a fun and offbeat way to spend an afternoon.

The buildings, spread out over many acres of parkland, are all authentic historical buildings either relocated or reconstructed from various places in Japan. This is one of the only places to see buildings of this style as most have been destroyed by redevelopment and earthquakes. There are middle class homes, bathhouses, working shops and restaurants, even the former residence of a prime minister. It's possible to explore both the inside and outside of many of the buildings, which are full of historical artifacts.

The effect is surreal. Film buffs may find some of the buildings look familiar; Hayao Miyazaki visited here for inspiration when making the famous film Spirited Away.

Opened in 2008, the Islamic Civilization Park treats visitors to the perfect mix of education and entertainment. Five interactive monuments and 21 replicas of the world's most iconic Islamic structures pay homage to the influence of this culture and its people all across the globe. From the Al-Hambra Citadel in Spain to the Taj Mahal in India, visitors can take an international tour without leaving Terengganu. The 23-hectares park also includes a beautiful Crystal Mosque, constructed with crystal shine glass and reflective steel panels. Though many of the international replicas are still under construction, visitors say this impressive mosque still makes the park worth a trip. 

What appears to be a bizarre sculpture garden in the middle of central New Delhi is in fact a rudimentary astronomical observatory dating back to 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur took a great interest in astronomy. He believed that the small observational tools of the time were inaccurate, so he constructed a series of 13 terracotta-colored instruments in a large, open-air observatory, the first of five he'd build during his lifetime.

Jantar Mantar is dominated by a large sundial, called Samrat Jantar, shooting 90 feet (27 meters) into the air. Other instruments in the park were used to predict the monsoons, show the sun's position during the equinox, determine the shortest and longest days of the year and measure the altitude of the stars.

Constructed for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 19th annual Asian Games, the Jamsil Sports Complex is situated along the banks of the Han River. Designed by architect Kim Swoo Geun, the profile of structures are intended to resemble the curving lines of a Joseon era porcelain vase. All told, the complex is capable of seating upwards of 100,000 spectators.

Opened in 1984, Jamsil hasn't housed a major international sporting event since the aforementioned Olympics. Today, the facility is home to equestrian events, the Seoul United FC soccer team, and concert events, including Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Roger Waters, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Pussycat Dolls, Backstreet Boys, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Tommy Lee, Celine Dion, Nine Inch Nails, and Limp Bizkit, and many others.

The nearby Jamsil Baseball Stadium, which, along with the main complex, is accessible by subway (line 2) and bus, as well as automobile. The LG Twins and Doosan Bears play to crowds of more than 30,000 people.

The combined complex (the foundations of which were begun in the 1970s) houses two swimming centers, a general sports facility, a track and field facility, and an indoor facility designed specifically for
students. The green lawns of the nearby park grounds are a popular setting for weddings and other public and private gatherings.

Though the massive international events predicted by developers and promoters in the early 1980s have failed to materialize, Jamsil is visited by millions of domestic sports enthusiasts yearly.

(Image courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto)

Visitors come from throughout Asia and the world to soak in the healing waters of Taiwan's natural hot springs, many of which are located in the close vicinity of Taipei. One of Taiwan's most famous collections of natural volcanic hot springs are clustered in Beitou District in an area known as Hell Valley, or Geothermal Valley.

Upon entering the valley, you'll understand how it gets its name. An ever-present sulfurous mist permeates the air with billowing clouds of hot steam rising up from hidden cracks in the ground. The hot springs pools here reach up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), rendering it too hot to swim. Locals used to come here to boil eggs in the highly acidic waters.

To experience the supposedly healing waters that generate in Hell Valley, visit the Beitou Hot Springs, a public hot springs that maintains pools at a much more comfortable temperature.

George Town is known for its colonial heritage and old-world architecture, but travelers to this Penang destination will find a unique mix of Indian, Chinese, and Muslim cultures along its European streets. Call to prayer rings out daily and tasty dim sum stalls start selling their tasty snacks as the sun rises.

It's impossible to miss the larger-than-life red shrine gate at the entrance to Kamigamo, one of Japan's oldest shrines. Built in the year 678, it pre-dates Kyoto's reign as capitol of Japan by over a century. Its longevity lends a hand to Kamigamo's regard as one of the country's most sacred and divine shrines: it housed and played host to four Emperors between the 8th and 18th centuries. Kamigamo's esteemed history is celebrated every year during Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto's three biggest festivals, when a large procession dressed in Imperial garb from the days of the Heian period marches to the shrine.

Kamigamo and its sister-shrine, Shimogamo, are situated in the ancient Tadasu no Mori, a preserved forest with trees over 600 years old. Visitors flock to two sand cones that rest in front of the shrine's main building. These structures are said to protect and purify the grounds. Of the shrine buildings, the worship hall is the most famous.