Top Five Places to Visit

After a series of devastating earthquakes and aftershocks, Nepal’s tourist industry is on the rise again. Though hundreds of thousands have been left homeless, and daily life is not fully back to normal, the country’s historic landmarks are slowly being restored. Trekking routes are reopening and the resilient Nepali people are finding their feet. Thoughtfully spent tourist dollars will go a long way here; choosing independent homestays and grass roots tour companies ensures money ends up in local pockets. With varied landscapes – from the Himalayas to jungles inhabited by tigers, elephants and rhinos – Nepal should be your first choice for travel in 2016.

While nearby Greece and Croatia are well established on the tourist trail, Albania remains something of a mystery to most. But those who go will find fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the ancient Greek city of Butrint, pristine beaches on the Ionian coast, gorgeous mountain lakes, Ottoman architecture, and friendly locals to point you in the right direction for discovery. Make the trip before the rest of the world realises what they’re missing.

The world is waking up to Romania’s wonders. There are multicoloured medieval cities, the forest-clad Carpathian mountains and in Bucharest a brilliant capital city with excellent dining and nightlife. Geographically, the country is perfect road trip material, as winding tracks lead you through beautiful wilderness landscapes, to countless historic towns and into mystical castles. With Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic architecture, fascinating history, and the opportunity to see bears and wolves in the wild, you’re running out of reasons not to visit.

Anyone who’s ever eaten sushi, read manga, or sipped sake may feel they know something about this slinky archipelago of some 6800 volcanic islands. And yet, from the moment of arrival in Japan, it’s almost as if you’ve touched down on another planet. Prepare to be pleasantly disorientated as you negotiate this fascinating land where ancient gods, customs and craftsmanship are mixed up with cutting edge modern technology, futuristic fashions and up-to-the-second style.

Hawaii is the only state in the USA where everyone is a minority. In addition to the original Hawaiians who sailed to Hawaii from the islands of Polynesia, the islands have attracted groups of people from around the world including Caucasians, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Hispanic/Latinos and more. Many were brought to the islands to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations that once were prevalent on every major island. Each of these various immigrant groups brought with them their own unique cultures. Today, Hawaii is truly a melting pot of all of these cultures. Almost 25% of island residents claim ancestry of two or more races. I encourage all visitors to learn about the cultures and history of all of the people of Hawaii.
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