Malyasia & Indonesia

Thanks to its spectacular natural beauty and rich culture, Bali has long been Indonesia’s most popular destination. Stone inscriptions dating from around the 9th century A.D. are the earliest records found on Bali; by that time, the island was already developing irrigation systems and a lifestyle that drew many comparisons to what visitors find here today.

Semarang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, situated on Java’s north coast between the shore of the Java Sea and a small ridge of mountains. Ceded to the Dutch West India Company in 1677 by King Amangkurat I in payment of his debts, it became their headquarters and the seat of the Dutch governor of the northeast provinces. Semarang’s usefulness as a port waned due to the gradual silting up of the harbor. By the 19th century, Surabaya had eclipsed Semarang as Java’s premier port.

Semarang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, situated on Java’s north coast between the shore of the Java Sea and a small ridge of mountains. Ceded to the Dutch West India Company in 1677 by King Amangkurat I in payment of his debts, it became their headquarters and the seat of the Dutch governor of the northeast provinces. Semarang’s usefulness as a port waned due to the gradual silting up of the harbor. By the 19th century, Surabaya had eclipsed Semarang as Java’s premier port.

Towered over by the world’s most famous architectural siblings – the Petronas Twin Towers – Kuala Lumpur is a staggering melting pot of influences. These twin towers stand 451 metres over the city and bathe in bright lights as night’s cloak descends. The glittering skyline mingles with colonial architecture and ornate temples, which decorate lush hillsides around the city. Haggle your way through humming markets, visit cultural treasures and historic sites, and dive headfirst into this city, where tradition collides head-on with modernity.

With beaches plucked fresh from the dreamiest depths of your imagination, world-class food and dazzling hospitality, George Town is the quintessential Caribbean experience. Set on the largest of the heavenly Cayman Islands – a collection of autonomous British Overseas Territories to the west of the Caribbean Sea – it’s a place to take things slow. Swing on the gentle breeze in a hammock, scuba dive among undulating stingrays, or stroll powder white sand, with impossibly blue water lapping against your feet. View less George Town invites you to relish in the finest, most-refined Caribbean bliss imaginable. Meet swathes of stingrays gliding smoothly below the waters at Stingray City. Or head out to scuba dive and snorkel offshore, to explore a rich tapestry of coral reefs – where bright clownfish, angelfish and butterflyfish swirl amid elaborate fields of patterned corals. Deliberately sunken shipwrecks – like the Kittiwake – add extra interest for experienced divers, and have been enthusiastically adopted and inhabited by the glittering sea-life within. The elite waterfront of Seven Mile Beach is a slice of Caribbean perfection, where the villas of the rich and famous overlook a dappled crescent of the soft white sand. It’s also perfectly angled for admiring some of the Caribbean’s most dramatic, blood-red sunsets as evening rolls around. Dining options range from rustic beach huts, rustling up fresh batches of calamari and spicy fish tacos, to fine-dining restaurants – where expert chefs produce tender lobster and serve up their dishes on terraces with sweeping sea panoramas. George Town’s National Museum tells the island’s story succinctly, while quality shopping opportunities also await – whether you’re seeking authentic handmade jewellery and crafts, or tax-free brand bargains.

Langkawi is the main island in a group of 104 islands that comprise the Langkawi archipelago, which is located where the Straits of Melaka meet the waters of the Andaman Sea. Once a sanctuary for pirates, Langkawi Island was a well-kept secret until it was made a duty-free port in 1987. Since then, the construction of modern amenities has created an idyllic Malaysian getaway. Its natural beauty and intriguing past make Langkawi a treasure trove for visitors to discover. The name is coined from the Malay words Lang, a brown eagle, and Kawi, a local manganese stone.

Thailand’s only island province is connected to the mainland by the Thep Krasettree Causeway. Known as the “Pearl of Thailand,” Phuket offers pristine beaches, lush vegetation, traditional villages and seascapes of huge limestone pillars that rise above the turquoise waters of Phang Nga Bay. With a land area of 215 square miles, Phuket Island is Thailand’s largest island and about the same size as Singapore. Arab and Indian navigators have called here since the end of the 9th century, while the first Europeans arrived in the 16th century.

Malacca City (also spelled Melaka) is the capital of the coastal state of Malacca, in southwestern Malaysia. At its center, Jonker Street, Chinatown’s main thoroughfare, is known for antique shops and its night market. Nearby, the 17th-century Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng temple has ornate decorations and multiple prayer halls. A green, 3-tiered roof tops the 18th-century, Javanese-influenced Kampung Kling Mosque. ― Google

Advanced, airy and elevated, Singapore is a spectacular, futuristic vision of utopian city life. A healthy population of almost six million call it home, but this is a city designed with space to breathe, and gorgeous outdoor parks, massive indoor greenhouses and beautiful recreational spaces spread between the City of Gardens’ skyscrapers and soaring structures. Once a quiet fishing village, now a glistening island city-state and an international beacon of science, education and technology. View less

Singapore is almost intimidatingly clean – and the hyper-efficient public transport system whips residents and visitors across the city’s neighbourhoods in a heartbeat. Glorious fountains and audacious skyscrapers loom up – nodding to traditional feng shui beliefs – and putting on dazzling illuminated displays after dark. The lush green botanical gardens are a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering 52 hectares and decorated with impressive colourful orchids. Or breathe in more of the freshest air by heading up to wander the canopy strung bridges of MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Head for the iconic Marina Bay – a landmark of the city crowned by three interconnected towers, which watch out over island sprinkled waters. Jaunt between Little India and the atmospheric Chinatown in minutes, where beautiful temples – like the Chinese Thian Hock Keng Temple and Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple add rich cultural intrigue. Singapore’s cuisine is a mouthwatering fusion of its Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, and Malay influences, taking and enhancing the best of each. Enjoy dishes in towering restaurants, or toast the glowing skyline with the city’s eponymous gin-soaked cocktail – a Singapore Sling.

Advanced, airy and elevated, Singapore is a spectacular, futuristic vision of utopian city life. A healthy population of almost six million call it home, but this is a city designed with space to breathe, and gorgeous outdoor parks, massive indoor greenhouses and beautiful recreational spaces spread between the City of Gardens’ skyscrapers and soaring structures. Once a quiet fishing village, now a glistening island city-state and an international beacon of science, education and technology. View less

Singapore is almost intimidatingly clean – and the hyper-efficient public transport system whips residents and visitors across the city’s neighbourhoods in a heartbeat. Glorious fountains and audacious skyscrapers loom up – nodding to traditional feng shui beliefs – and putting on dazzling illuminated displays after dark. The lush green botanical gardens are a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering 52 hectares and decorated with impressive colourful orchids. Or breathe in more of the freshest air by heading up to wander the canopy strung bridges of MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Head for the iconic Marina Bay – a landmark of the city crowned by three interconnected towers, which watch out over island sprinkled waters. Jaunt between Little India and the atmospheric Chinatown in minutes, where beautiful temples – like the Chinese Thian Hock Keng Temple and Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple add rich cultural intrigue. Singapore’s cuisine is a mouthwatering fusion of its Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, and Malay influences, taking and enhancing the best of each. Enjoy dishes in towering restaurants, or toast the glowing skyline with the city’s eponymous gin-soaked cocktail – a Singapore Sling.