Just one week ago, I attended the International Travel Expo in Hong Kong. Due to my passion in travel, I pretty much grabbed every single brochure and pamphlet there was. Now I wanted to share some of the resources I got from this expo. We won’t go into details, just some websites and some references of different activities you can be doing at each place. Besides the cities in Switzerland, I hope the below cities are places that are less major cities and less visited by tourists.
Thailand
(Activity) Ran-Tong Elephant Save & Rescue Elephant Centre – www.bestelephantsanctuarychiangmai.com and email at [email protected]; different programs for you to interact with elephants
Saipan
(Accommodation) Aqua Resort Club – www.aquaresortsaipan.com; [email protected]; they got family & diving pools, aqua marine sports, gazebo rental, fitness center, ARC health spa & jacuzzi, gift shop & cafe etc. The restaurants and bars include Costa Terrace Restaurant, Kevin’s The Prime Rib & Seafood, Vino Spanish Bar, Sunset Beach BBQ, Michelle’s Pool Bar, Michelle’s Beach Bar. Yum!
Sabah
Official tourism website at www.sabahtourism.com; famous for scuba diving; also email at [email protected]. They got Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Mantanani Island, Pulau Tiga Park, Layang Layang, Lankayan Island, Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Mabul Island, Kapalai Island, Pom Pom Island, Mataking Island, Sipadan Island
Tawau & Semporna
To get to these two places, most people take a domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu. In Tawau town, nested nearby the oil palm plantation is the Tawau Hills Park, home to the world’s tallest tropical tree, an 88.32-metre Shorea or Seraya Kuning Sipur. Also must visit is the Maliau Basin with jungle trekking and bird watching and a spectacular 7-tiered Maliau Falls. Book at www.borneonaturetours.com
There is the Madai Cave, 85km away from the Tawau town, a cave of 25 chambers where valuable birds’ nests have been gathered for centuries.
For accommodations, there is the Sipadan Mangrove Resort and Balung Eco Resort. Golf lovers would like Shan Sui Golf & Country Club.
You can also visit the Cocoa Museum and Cocoa Plantation.
Eats in Tawau – local delights: Sabindo Hawker Centers seafood stalls, Sri Titingan Restaurant (another famous seafood option), Kedai Kopi Mui Lok (bread items), Restoran Haji Tamrin (famous Nasi Kuning), Kedai Kopi Amat Mee Tauhu (simple soya-sauced noodles accompanied by a bowl of Tauhu with fish filling in gravy), Kubota Square, LA Hotel Rooftop Garden, Tawau Tanjung Market, Central Market
For Semporna, it’s good for diving, and freshest and cheapest in the entire country as claimed by locals. Divers go to Pulau Mataking and Pom Pom and Timba Timba islands. Can also go to Mabaul. Accommodation can stay at Seaventures Rig Dive Resort.
Muck diving at Kapalai. The jewel in Sabah’s marine crown is undoubtedly Pulau Sipadan, one of the best dive locations in the world.
When in Semporna, you can check out Bukit Tengkorak, also known as Skull Hill.
Accommodations: Emas Hotel, Shervinton Executive Boutqieu hotel, Prince Hotel, L A Hotel, My Inn Hotel Tawau, Promenade Hotel Tawau, Mabul Beach Resort, Scuba Junkie Dive Lodge, Sipadan Pom Pom Resort & Tours, Seafest Hotel
Need to book an all inclusive Semporna Trip? Book your packages with mizume tours – [email protected] or [email protected] or visit https://web.facebook.com/mizumetours, for as low as USD 370 per person for 3 days 2 nights open water dive course and hotel stay and lunch all inclusive.
Nordic Travels
Want to join a travel tour? Go to www.nordictravels.edu
You get to snow sled, see the arctic lights, reindeer observation, jacuzzi, BBQ, massage, polar bear zoo, look at glaciers, go fishing, go on a boat, and more.
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Things to visit in Almaty – Republic Square, Republic Palace, Central State Museum, Almaty Museum, The Ykhlas Musical Folk Instruments Museum, Kunayev Apartment Museum, Central Mosque, Ascension Cathedral, Kazakh State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Named After Abay, Kazakh State Circus, Zhibek Zholy Walking Street, Arasan Wellness & Spa, Ile-Alatau State National Nature Park, Kaindy Lake, Sharyn Canyon National Park, Altyn Emel National Park, Issyk Lake, Tamgaly Tas, Hot Springs Chungja, Turgen Gorge, Assy Plateau, Aksay Gorge, Big Almaty Lake, The Main Botanical Garden
Emergency Numbers:
Fire-fighting service: 101
Police: 102
Ambulance: 103
Rescue service: 109
Emergency: 112
Almaty city code: +7 (727)
(Accommodation) Mountain resort & spa Lesnaya Skazka, www.skazka.kz
(Accommodation) Shymbulak Mountain Resort – www.shymbulak.com
Switzerland
Visit – The Lake – The Swiss part of Lake Maggiore, surrounded by the towns Locarno, Ascona, Brissago and further small villages, prides itself on its numerous and extraordinary nature beauty spots. Thanks to the enchating flowers and plants from all 5 continents, the Botanical Garden of the Brissago Island is of major importance. Near the lakeshore and the centre of Locarno lies the Camellia Park with over 900 species of this beautiful flower, some of which very rare. On the opposite shore of the lake are located the natural reserve Bolle di Magadino, a refuge for different animal and plant species and, on the hillside, the Park of Gambarogno, with great views over the lake and mountains.
Other important locations of Locarno are the Visconti Castle, the Rivellino and the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso in Orselina. In Ascona you can visit Monte Verità, the Museum of Modern Art and several art galleries located along pedestrian alleys. In Brissago you will find the Tobacco Factory. You can reach these charming sights taking the comfortable and pleasant boats of the NLM company. If you are a water lover you are in the right place: don’t miss the opportunity to practice many different water sports and enjoy a refreshing swim at one of the wonderful beaches.
(Activity) The Chocolate Train, advanced reservation at www.mob.ch, schedule starts form 8:57am to 5:34pm arrives and departs at Montreux. Operating periods – May-June: Monday to Thursday, July – August: Everyday, September – October: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
(Website) myswitzerland.com
(Activity) Skiing places – Leukerbad, Villars, Crans Montana, Verbier, Saas Fee, Schilthorn, Jungfrau Region, Titlis, Arosa, Davos, LAAX, St. Moritz, Aletsch Arena, Brig-Simplon, Zermatt-Matterhorn
Different places in Switzerland – www.aargautourismus.ch, www.graubuenden.ch, www.basel.com, www.j3l.ch, www.bern.com, www.lucerne.com, www.madeinbern.com, www.ostschweiz.ch, www.fribourgregion.ch, www.ticino.ch, www.geneve.com, www.valais.ch, www.lake-geneva-region.ch, www.zuerich.com
Cities to visit in Switzerland: Lucerne, Basel
