Asia Travel

Taiwan is located in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean and off the southeastern coast of mainland China. It is known by many names — Formosa, Republic of China, or Chinese Taipei Swimsuits. Taiwan possesses its own individuality although it is Chinese in some ways and is often associated with mainland China. It has been influenced too by Japanese, Confucian, Han Chinese, American and European cultures.

Taiwan is also dubbed as one of the ‘Four Asian Tigers’ together with Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. However, its rapid economic growth has taken its toll on its ecological resources. Thus, the Taiwanese government has tried to preserve what is left of its natural wealth by establishing six areas as national parks, each boasting of naturally beautiful landscapes, mountain ranges, bodies of water, rainforests and wildlife, marine ecosystems, and many more.

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is home to the famous 508-meter tall Taipei 101, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 until the emergence in 2010 of the 828-meter tall Burj Khalifa, of Dubai in The United Arab Emirates. Aptly called Taipei 101 because of its 101 floors, it has an Indoor Observatory (89th floor), an Outdoor Observatory (91st floor) and shopping malls from the basement to the 6th floor.

Aside from Taipei 101 and the six national parks, there are many other places to visit or see in Taiwan — among others, the National Palace Museum (holding 600,000 pieces of antiquities, paintings and calligraphic works); temples (in Tainan, Taiwan’s temple town); Shilin Night Market; Taipei Zoo; traditional folk festivals; and natural attractions outside of the metropolitan areas.

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Taiwan has two international airports in Taoyuan, and the other in Kaohsiung. Several airlines serve both airports connecting them to North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Taiwan can also be reached by sea from Macau and Okinawa, Japan on board ferries to Keelung and Kaohsiung.

The country is evenly hot and humid during summer (June to August). So, it is ideal to go there at other times of the year. However, it is best to avoid the holidays like the Chinese New Year (in late February) and the various festivities in October when streets, hotels and transport can become crowded to overcrowded.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE), formed in 1971, is a constitutional federation of seven emirates namely Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. It is located along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It has an area of 83,600 sq km of which Abu Dhabi (the capital) accounts for 85%.

The UAE has a distinctive mix of traditional Islamic culture and values and ultra-modern living environment, making it a favorite tourist destination in the Middle East. It has also become a popular entry point for tourists bound for other parts of the Middle East.

Dubai is the favorite access point of tourists of the UAE. It is home to state-of-the-art hotels and resorts and magnificent skyscrapers including the Burj Khalifa which, at 828-meter tall, is the tallest building in the world today. Dubai is known as the “shopping capital of the Middle East” because of its large shopping malls.

Abu Dhabi has the Garden City of UAE, or Al Ain, among other attractions. Being the most fertile region in the country, Al Ain features working farms, palm plantations, winding walkways, intricate fountains and beautiful parks. The Al Ain National Museum, the largest in the UAE, and the Al Ain Zoo are also found in the region. The city of Sharjah has been named by the UNESCO as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World.

The main international airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi connect UAE to major European cities (London, Paris and Frankfurt) and to major Middle East cities. There are a few international airports in Ras al Khaimah, Fujairah and Al-Ain. The UAE can be accessed via a road that links Oman and Qatar. There is also a daily bus service between Dubai and Muscat, Oman. International seaports are located in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras-al-Khaimah.

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It is best to go to the UAE from November and April when the weather is not too hot. Tourists may also consider not going to the emirates during the Ramadan (month of fasting), when public restrictions like eating, drinking or smoking in public are in place. Ramadan is observed with due solemnity by all Muslims. Non- Muslims, while in Muslim regions, are also expected to respect Ramadan.