Thinking of traveling to Asia to celebrate any of the various colorful festivals, a trip or to live there for an extended period? You’ve made an excellent choice!
Asia is a continent full of such beauty, culture and history that you will be excited to visit. Here, we’ll discuss three of the must-visit countries in Asia and some interesting tidbits about them.
Let’s go!
Uzbekistan
If you’re a lover of ancient history, then you’ll absolutely love Uzbekistan as it is a historically rich country reaching back to the early Paleolithic times. The Republic of Uzbekistan includes 12 regions and the capital, Karakalpakstan. These cities boast of unique architecture and palaces. Uzbekistan is also home to some of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage cities – Bhukara,, Shakhrisabz, Khiva and Samarkand.
Activities
There are a lot of interesting activities to enjoy during your visit to Uzbekistan. You can choose to ride the camels in the Kyzyl Desert, visit the enchanting rivers of Syr Darya and Amu Darya. There are also resorts in Amisoy and various recreation centers.
Food
Uzbekistan has an amazing variety of dishes that promises to be an adventure for your taste buds. There is the Plov, the signature dish of the country and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is a rice dish spiced with onions, garlic and other spices and eaten with lamb or beef. There are also lagman, shurpa soup, among many others.
Security
Uzbekistan has one of the lowest crime rates among post-soviet countries so it’s a safe place for you to visit. However, you must take some safety precautions such as not flashing so much money at a time to not attract robbers and exercising caution while traveling alone.
China
What’s not to love about China? From the architecture to the clothing, festivals and even the people, China is a must-visit destination.
China is one of the oldest civilizations with an intriguingly rich culture spanning over 3000 years. China has numerous ancient architecture all over the country, a few being the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Ancient temples and palaces and several Buddhas.
Activities
There is no end to the exciting activities you can engage in when on a trip to China. You can choose the excitement of Bunjee jumping, or have a spiritual experience when you visit it’s quiet villages and nunneries. You can also take a hike in the different national parks.
Food
China is as rich in food as it is in history. It boasts a vast range of culinary delights. Indeed,you will continue to discover new and exciting dishes throughout your visit to China.
It is almost impossible to pick the best dishes to try, but we will mention a few.
Noodles: China is like the headquarters of noodles. There are a variety of noodles made from different ingredients like rice noodles, beef noodles, wheat noodles among others. It is one of the staple dishes in China, easy to prepare and enjoy any time of the day.
Stinky Tofu: Don’t let the name of this dish scare you, it actually tastes way better than it smells. Tofu is made from fermented milk, meat, vegetables and other herbs fermented over a period of time. It is then served cold or deep fried with a side serving of Soy sauce.
Security in China
China is a safe place to live in as a foreigner. Every year, lots of travellers around the world visit China and have lovely experiences. However, you should exercise simple security procedures for yourself like carrying around a digital copy of your passport and other important documents at all times, be careful when traveling alone and most importantly, don’t go near protests or demonstrations as it might cause issues for you with the government.
South Korea
South Korea is fast becoming one of the coolest places to visit in Asia as a result of its rapid economic growth. With people getting more interested in South Korea from K-Pop, K-Drama, and fashion, it’s no surprise that more visitors continue to troop to South Korea each year and indeed, the country is everything they dreamed of and more.
There are beautiful architectural displays such as the Changdeokgung Royal Palace (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site), various temples and shrines among others. These ancient buildings blend in perfectly with the more modern architecture built beside it, creating a truly unique feel that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
Activities
You can visit the traditional villages in South Korea, to have a feel of the serenity of the land and learn a bit of Korean history. You can also choose to see the sights while biking or taking a hike through the mountainside. If you’re a fan of K-Pop, then you can watch hologram concerts at Lotte Fitin Dongdaemun Store and SMTown Wonderland, buy merch at Myeongdong Underground Shopping Area and visit restaurants owned by K-Pop stars.
Food
South Korea has a variety of amazing dishes such as the kimchi, which is a delicacy made from cabbage, pumpkin,onion and various spices and eaten with rice or made into soups. There is also the Jajangmyeon, which is a black colored kind of noodles. It is usually eaten by people on Black Day, the day after Valentine’s day.
Security
South Korea is relatively safe in terms of crimes against foreigners. It would be a good idea to keep an electronic copy of your important documents on you at all times. If you are near the DMZ, you should take extra care and obey the local authorities.
Conclusion
Asia is a hub of beauty, history and speedy economic growth. Whether you choose to travel to Asia for a short trip or plan a relocation, you will find the people there to be warm, hospitable people.
Cheers to a life of adventure!
