Ogasawara Islands – the Chichijima and Hahajima

If you like to watch whale and many different types of dolphin, and also looking for a chance to swim with bottlenose and spinner dolphins, then Ogasawara Islands (also known as Bonin Islands), a remote group of 30 small and flat islands in the Pacific Ocean should be in your travel itinerary. In fact, they have a sweeping, white beach which is also ideal for swimming, but do watch out for highly endangered green where they do come to lay eggs.

Anijima and Chichijima Islands

Ogasawara Islands, about 1,000 km away from Tokyo, were the result by ancient submarine volcano. What I understand is that they are home to more than 140 species of indigenous plants as well as insects such as the Ogasawara damsel fly. You may want to know that of the 97 species of tree on the islands, 73 are endemic.

Out of the 30 Ogasawara Islands, Chichijima (father island) and Hahajima (mother island) are the only inhabited with a population of about 2,500. Their main products are timber and fruit such as pineapples and bananas. True to be believed, Ogasawara is unspoiled and unpolluted, that I think is the reason the waters are crystal-clear and full of coral reefs and tropical fish.

Those who went there have commented that Ogasawara Islands is truly a great place for watching whales and dolphins. I suggest you to take a day trip out to the open sea for an amazing day whale and dolphin watching. While available to see all year round, humpback whales and their calves can usually be seen between February and April, while the best time to see sperm whales is from August to October.

Seoul - Economic Powerhouse to South Korea

Feel like to visit a city that has the most skyscrapers than any Asian city? Or want to see how a city that was left in tatters by war has reinvented itself to be one of the most populous and successful cities on earth?

I believe Seoul, the capital of the Korean peninsula in 1394, has those interesting places to visit and places to see to meet your needs. You may not know that it has a turbulent and bloody history, i.e. Seoul was colonized by Japan in the early 1900s, but gained independence in 1945. And despite the Korean War (1950-1953) fought between the north and south and hacked by communist China and the western allies that left Seoul in tatters, it has since totally reinvented itself. Many who knows its history will amaze with the speed with which it has been transformed and the fascinating combination of ultra-modernity and ancient tradition that it has produced.

The skyline at dusk

As a matter of fact:

• Seoul is South Korea's economic powerhouse, as well as its cultural and political centre;
• A quarter of South Korea's population lives in the greater metropolitan area of Seoul; and
• There are 40 universities there.

Seoul in South Korea is set amongst eight mountains, and is divided by the Han River, and is acknowledged by many (including tourists, of course!) is now one of the most populous and successful cities on earth. For tourist shoppers, Seoul is their favorite because they can ‘shop till they drop’ in designer stores, one of which has seventeen floors above ground and seven beneath, or buy electronic items in a market comprising twenty buildings containing 5,000 shops. Not only that, Seoul also has the most skyscrapers than any Asian city, nevertheless, you can still see millions of trees and that the city is full of splendid parks.

Changdeokgung Palace in winter

If tradition is more your thing, head on to the old Joseon Dynasty city that contains many historic buildings. There are five major palaces to see, including the fabulous Changdeokgung, it has been beautifully restored and listed by UNESCO as well. Other tourist attractions and places of interest shall include the wonderful Buddhist temples, who know you may want to take part in a tea ceremony with the monks there! Don't miss Namdaemun, the Great South Gate and Korea's national symbol. If you are interested in modern history, I suggest you to take a guided tour to Seodaemun Prison, it was notorious during the Japanese occupation.

From what I see, the city is safe and easy to get around, added to that its inhabitants are friendly and helpful. Another thing is that Seoul is packed with restaurants, grill houses, bars and clubs, this I think is largely due to Koreans love to socialize over food.

Other tourist attractions, places of interest, places to see and places to visit that you should not miss shall include:

• Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden;
• Gyeongbokgung Palace and its museums;
• Mount Inwang, its temple and the famous Shamanist shrine;
• Mount Namsan Park;
• Seoul Tower which offers the best panoramic view of the city; and 
• Yeouido Park. 

When is the best time to go? September to November or March to May.

Tokyo – Japan & Mt Fuji

If you are looking for places of interests that have something from beautiful gardens to theme parks, or fine art galleries to the biggest fish markets in the world or whatever from a city, then Tokyo in Japan might interest you.

Tokyo has over 30,000 residents, making it the largest metropolitan area in the world. In fact, Tokyo is one of the busiest cities on the planet, if you are there, you would agree with me that the pace of life there never seems to slow down but at breakneck pace.

Tokyo Tower

Besides a tourist attractions hot spot with a rich variety of cultural attractions and many places to see and places to visit, Tokyo has some of the best shopping in the world, you may find them in places like Ginza, Shibuya, Ikebukero and Shinjuku.

The Meiji Shrine

If you are interested to know more about Japanese history dated back from 1,500 years, then visit Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park, there has twenty galleries filled with artifacts waiting for you to explore. Also, the National Museum of Western Art nearby has a large collection of Impressionist works, and other institutions there include the Municipal Art Gallery, the National Science Museum, the National History Museum and the Gallery of Far Eastern Art.

As for popular centre for nightlife, I suggest you to visit Shinjuku. In addition, Shinjuku is also home to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, which has both Japanese and European style gardens, and a tea-house where visitors can take part in the traditional tea ceremony while Ginza is home to the Kabuki-za Theatre.

If you happen to visit Asakusa, you will find places to see and places to visit like the Sensoji Temple, the Five Storied Pagoda and Nakamise, a traditional shopping arcade, as well as the Hanayashiki Amusement Park. As I know, Harajuku is a place where the young like to hang out. Azabu-Juban is upmarket and Akihabara is the place to head to buy electronics. Don’t miss to take a traditional bath in the hot springs in Azabu-Juban.

Other tourist attractions, places to see and places to visit that you might not want to miss:

• The bullet train;
• The trip to Mt Fuji. Mt Fuji is Japan most recognizable landmark and is situated about 100 km west of Tokyo;
• The Meiji Shrine;
• Shomben Yokocho; and
• Tokyo Tower.

Other things you might want to know about:

Taxi door – do not try to open the taxi door, as Japanese taxis have automatic door-opening systems.

Crossing the street – use care because in Japan, driving is on the left.

Tattoos – don’t flaunt your tattoos, as it is forbidden in many hot springs and other places of interest.

Japan Rail Pass – I suggest you to get it as the pass will offer you unlimited travel on Japan Railways trains, and is definitely less expensive than a regular round-trip ticket. However, this pass is only available to people with tourist visas and not other visas like student, business and diplomatic visas.

Greet with a bow – it is interesting to know that Japanese of all ages bow in greeting each other, and is something not to be surprised if you see them bow even on the telephone!

When to visit those places of interest? Any time of the year.

Shanghai – The Oriental Paris

Feel like to dine at fantastic restaurant, visit cultural museums and look at stunning modern and traditional architecture? Or perhaps shop among one of the top fashion hot spots in the world?

If so, Shanghai which sits on the estuary of the Yangtze River, and the largest industrial city in China, should be one of the places to visit in your travel plan. To many people surprised, Shanghai is in fact a fascinating, frenetic city in which the best of traditional and modern China combine.

The Bund

Whether you are interested in modern skyline, world-class shopping and food, the culture or traditional buildings, many who has visited those places of interest there would agree that it is among the finest in China. Think that is the reason why it is also known as ‘Hu’ or ‘The Oriental Paris.’

For sightseeing and shopping, the areas around People's Square and along the Huangpu River have much to offer. However, Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road are where the best fashion shops are to be found. But if you are looking for antique shops, cafés or the marvelous old French Concession area, I would suggest you to go straight to Huaihai Road. For foot-weary shoppers, a toy train is available to transport them from one end to the other while shopping on Nanjing Road, sound great right? But not sure do you need to pay for it at the time of this writing.

Yu Yuan Garden

If you wish to admire the historical buildings and for great views across the river to Pudong, then don’t miss to wander along The Bund, a tourist attractions and a major financial hub today where it was once home to American, British, French, Japanese and Russian banks and trading houses. You will be able to see locals gathering on the promenade at dawn to practice qi gong, tai chi, kung fu as well as ballroom dancing. In fact, tourist will usually queue up on the docks for scenic riverboat tours.

If you want to break from the frantic pace in Shanghai, and looking for a serene and calming atmosphere, one of the places to visit is Yu Yuan Garden (‘Yu’ means ‘peace and health’ to Chinese). Although it may not be a great tourist attractions to some, but it is beautiful, and a tranquil area, with bamboos, stone bridges over waterways, ponds with koi and rock gardens all in one.

Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe

Among the old buildings and places to see in Shanghai are the Longhua Pagoda, the Jade Buddha Temple and the Tomb of Lu Xun. Before I forget, Chongming Island, Zhujajiao Water Town and Qibao Ancient Town are also places of interest that are worth visiting. How about cultural highlights and performance? Head on to the world-renowned Shanghai Museum and the performances in the Shanghai Grand Theatre, both are just amazing!

You may want to know that Shanghai offers culinary delights focusing on the traditions of Beijing, Yangzhou, Sichuan and Guangzhou plus its own local dishes. In fact, those went there commented that its restaurants are among the finest in China and that cutting-edge international cuisine can be enjoyed in a stylish surrounding! Whatever it is, don’t miss the steaming hot Shanghai dumplings!

When is the best time to visit those interesting places? Although it is a year-round destination, but summer is its peak travel season and also that air pollution can be a problem too, hence, spring or early autumn would be most ideal. Be aware that the number of road fatalities is incredibly high in Shanghai and the driving there might make your hair-raising!

Other tourist attractions, places of interest and places to see that you might not want to miss:

• The residences of Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-Shek; 
• The Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe; 
• The Art Deco Sassoon House; 
• The vast and fascinating antiques market in the French Concession; and  
• The glittering view of Pudong at night.

Some local customs that you might want to take note of:

• The Chinese aren’t very touchy feely, meaning that you should opt for greeting with handshakes over European-style cheek kissing, and limit public displays of affection to hand holding.
   
• The Chinese like to order dishes for several around a table when eating together, instead of ordering individual main dishes. For example, five people eating together might order a whole or half chicken, a fish dish, vegetable, fried rice, fried noodles, or some type of meat so that everyone can reach for it.
   
• Noisily slurping up soup and noodles, as is belching and to hold the bowl close to your mouth and shovel in contents without any qualms is a norm. In fact, covering the tablecloth in crumbs, drips and even spat-out bones is a sign that shows you enjoy your meal.
   
• Never point or play with your chopsticks while eating, or to place them on top of your rice bowl, or leaving your chopsticks standing up in a bowl of rice, these acts are considered bad manners. 

However, if you want to gain an insight into Chinese culture and traditions, I suggest you wander down the side streets where you will have the chance to gain the best insights of it as inhabitants go about their daily lives.

Hope you enjoy your trips to these tourist attractions and places of interest in Shanghai, and want to explore many other places to visit, places to see in other parts of China too.