Surabaya, the capital of the East Java province and the second largest city in Indonesia lies on the edge of the Madura straits. the city is also called the City of Heroes as the Battle of Surabaya, the battle that got Indonesia its freedom, was fought here. The name of the city is said to have originated from the words sura(which means a shark) and baya(meaning a crocodile) which according to legends are said to have fought to prove who the most powerful creature was.

Surabaya houses the fleets of the Indonesian Navy and is an important port. The city has a number of places of interest and the Submarine monument is one among them. The Maritime museum was actually a Russian submarine that was called Pasopati. The Mpu Tantular Museum has some ancient artifacts that reflect the Javanese tradition. Surabaya is also known for the Bonbin Surabaya which is credited to be the largest zoo in Southeast Asia. The Grand mosque of Surabaya which is the largest mosque in Java and the Cheng Ho mosque which is a unique example of Chinese architecture in Islamic tradition are other places of interest.

Almeria, the capital of the Andalucian province of Almeria is situated to the south-east of Spain on the shores of the Mediterranean. Almeria had been the part of a Muslim kingdom and served as the principle port in the region. The name Almeira came from the Arabic word Al-Mariyya which means a mirror – and place was called “The Mirror of the sea”.

Almeria has the largest Alcazaba in Spain and has some of the most beautiful palaces in Spain. The Palace of the Marquees of Cabra and the Palace of the Viscounts of the Castillo de Almansa are some places that are worth a visit. Almeria is also known for its beautiful  beaches with some of them even being naturist beaches. Almeria is also credited for having the largest naturist beach in Europe called El Playazo. The beaches in Las Salinas and La Almadrava de Monteleva are also known for their beauty and sitting back in the sands and enjoying the beauty of the sunset can be a great experience!

(Image courtesy of Rietje Swart)

Cadiz, is a beautiful city located in the south-western part of the Iberian peninsula and is the oldest inhabited city in the Iberian peninsula. Cadiz being the oldest city in the region has a lot of historic buildings and museums and beautiful parks that are home to a number of exotic plants. The city was actually named as Gadir by the Phoenicians which literally meant a walled stronghold. With time, the city took several names and finally came up to the name Cadiz.

The city boasts of a cathedral that stands as an example for several architectural styles. Cadiz actually consists of an old town and the new town and the Archaeological Museum in the Plaza de la Mina is a wonderful place to visit especially for the stone sarcophagus that was built by the Phoenicians. The cathedral in the old town offers some breathtaking views of the city and the Roman ruins found behind the cathedral is worth a visit. The Carnaval in Cadiz that takes place around the month of February is not to be missed as it is considered to be the third biggest carnival in the world.

(Image courtesy of Ruth L)

Lakshadweep, the smallest union territory in India is a group of islands located 200 to 300 kilometers off the coast of India in the Laccadive sea. These islands are mostly coral atolls are are geologically a part of the Maldivian group of islands. The name Lakshadweep literally means “A hundred thousand islands” in Sanskrit. The island group has about 10 inhabited islands and 17 uninhabited islands.

The island is accessible from the mainland by airplane or you could also take a cruise from Mumbai or Kochi. Just like any other tropical islands, Lakshadweep is all about Scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports. There are some beautiful diving spots and yachting and canoeing and some other activities that you can indulge in. The island is rich in coconut trees and the local cuisine is mostly Kerala cuisine which is known for the usage of coconuts in their preparations. Evening times can be really great if you lie back in the beach sands and enjoy the golden sunset!

(Image courtesy of Thejas)

Turin, the largest city and the cultural center of the Northern Italian region of Piedmont is situated on the banks of the Po River and is surrounded by the Alpine mountains. The city is called as the Capital of the Alps or the Automobile Capital of Italy. Turin was inhabited right from the times of the Romans and had about 5000 inhabitants then. Turin is just an hour’s drive from the French border and wooes tourists from the neighboring European countries.

Turin’s main attractions are the palaces, churches and a number of world renowned museums. The Mole Antonelliana is the highest masonry structure in Europe and is an important landmark in Turin. The palace of Venaria Reale located about ten kilometers to the North of Turin is a magnificent palace that sprawls out to 8000 square meters and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. The Museo dell’Automobile, The Egyptian museum and the National Cinema museums are some of the finest museums in Italy and are worth a visit!

(Image courtesy of dalbera )

Malacca, the third smallest state in the Islamic nation of Malaysia is located in the southernmost region of the Malay peninsula on the straits of Malacca. The Malacca town, the capital of the Malacca state has been a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been attracting a large number of tourists from around the world. The Malacca town was the center of the Malaccan sultanate and was the seat of social and cultural activities in the 15th and 16th century.

Malacca is known for its heritage buildings and the other beautiful temples and settlements in the region. The Stadthuys, that was completed in the year 1660 is now a museum and is the oldest Dutch building in the East. The Portuguese settlements with their small street lined with beautiful wooden houses is a good place to visit. The A Famosa fort which is one of the only surviving pieces of European architecture is visited by hundreds of tourists each year.

(Image courtesy of Marufish)

The city of Puerto Princesa, the capital of the island province of Palawan is city in the country of Philippines. The city is the largest in terms of area in Philippines and is known for its crocodile farms, splendid dive spots and rivers that flow underground. Local folk stories attribute the name of the island to a beautiful maiden who is said to have roamed the place on certain nights. However, the fact seems to be that Spaniards were the ones to name the place so as it was a wonderful port that could accommodate ships of any size!

Puerto Princesa is about an hour’s flight from the capital city of Manila and about a 22 hour ride if you decide to take the ferry. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the most important of the attractions here and is a 8.2 kilometer river that runs through limestone mountains. Tourists can take a tour along the world famous underground river that is also a UNESCO world Heritage site. Another beautiful place to check out is the Honda Bay that has a number of beautiful beaches and is the best place for snorkeling and swimming.

(Image courtesy of das farbamt)

KL or Kuala Lumpur as it is always called is the largest city and the capital of the Islamic state of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur had its origins in the 1850’s and what was once a small tin manufacturing city has now turned into a huge bustling metropolis with a population of about 7 million. The name Kuala Lumpur literally translates into “muddy confluence” in the local Malay language and the city has its name as it is situated in the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Kuala Lumpur has a year around Tropical Equatorial climate and receives abundant rainfall.

Though Kuala Lumpur doesn’t have lots of places to see, its all about having fun and seeing the few places that are scattered throughout the city. the Dataran Merdeka or the Independence square is where Malaysians celebrate their Independence day. Some colonial mosques are also found in the city that reflect the Islamic culture. Another place of interest for tourists is the Golden Triangle which is the main center for nightlife and shopping in KL. The Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest building is also found here.

(Image courtesy of ThisParticularGreg)

Named as the cultural and artistic capital of Southern Spain, Seville is the capital of Andalucia and the province of Seville. It is the fourth largest city in Spain and has so much to offer for the regular tourist. Seville is known to have been discovered by Hercules however, the city is known to have been inhabited for more than 2000 years. With a rich history that traces back to more than 2000 years, the region has a number of museums and monuments and is a heaven for any history lover.

The cathedral in Seville is considered to be the largest cathedral in the world ( in terms of volume). It was constructed between 1401-1519 and is a perfect example of the beautiful Gothic architecture. The Plaza de España that was built in 1929 stands as a good example for the Regionalist architecture. The Museum of Fine arts of Seville and the Andalusian Contemporary art Center are some of the finest museums in the city and has a number of masterworks by famous artists. With a warm Mediterranean climate, Seville is the perfect idea of a holiday with some historic touch in it!

(Image courtesy of Alaskan Dude)

Havelock Island, a part of the Andaman and Nicobar islands is located in the Indian ocean and forms a part of the Ritchie’s Archipelago. The island is located about 57 kilometers to the North East of the capital city of Port Blair. Havelock Island was named after a British General of British India,Henry Havelock. The island is being promoted by the Indian government as a center for eco-tourism and has some of the finest beaches in India.

The rather strange thing is Havelock island is that all the beaches are numbered rather than having names. So, it is really advisable to know the numbers of beaches that you would want to visit! The beach located on the west coast of the island, the beach no:7 or the Radha Nagar beach is considered to be one of the best beaches is Asia. Other than enjoying the beauty of the beaches and relishing the local seafood delicacies, scuba diving is the most important activity here.