Kashmir, India.

In India, miles of concrete dominate the crowded urban landscape. But in the remote northern region of Kashmir, the summer capital of Srinagar is dominated by Dal Lake, a glistening heart that gives the city its slow and steady pulse. Here, life’s pace is set by the spade-shaped paddles of the colourfully painted shikaras (canoe-like boats) rather than the chaotic movements of frenetic tuk-tuk drivers.

For centuries, Kashmir has been one of the most highly coveted areas of the Asian continent, regarded as paradise on Earth by the Mughal kings who holidayed in the valley, nestled between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Mountains. But for much of the second half of the 20th Century, periodic war and political strife have kept visitors from heaven's gate. Most of Kashmir's population is Muslim. Hindus also live in the region and the main language of Kashmir is Kashmiri.

Things to do:

1. Gondola

Take a deep breath and feels the excitement when you're in the gondola. This gondola will serve you a beautiful view in Gulmarg, one of the place in Kashmir. Once you're at the top, you'll fall in love with their natural beauty and their mountains fills with snow and cloud. This Gondola will take you up above 15,000 feet and is one of the highest in the world. Here, you can touch the skies and merge with the clouds. 

Official website of Gulmarg Gondola: Click here

2. Drink the Kashmiri Tea - Namkeen Chai

Like the rest of the country, tea in Kashmir is more of an obsession than a beverage, serving as simple refreshment in the afternoon, fuel for a political debate or a catalyst for business. But instead of the typical milky-brown, sweet and spicy chai found in the rest of the country, Kashmir prefers milky pink namkeen chai (salt tea), which uses local green tea leaves, almonds, pistachios, cardamom, salt and baking soda, giving it a characteristic pink colour. The clear yellow kawa uses the same green tea, nuts and cardamom, but is brewed without milk and with sugar and saffron, for which Kashmir is famous.

3. Dal Lake

Your travel will not complete in Kashmir if you're not going to Dal Lake. While  Srinagar’s streets have a vibrant character synonymous with the rest of India, the only sounds that stir Dal Lake are those of a paddle hitting the water, an echoing call to prayer, or the occasional salesman pitching his freshly-picked apples or kaleidoscopic arrangement of flowers as he floats by in his shikara.

4. Alpather Lake

Located in Gulmarg, tthe Alpather Lake is a picturesque alpine lake that remains frozen until late June. The lake lies across the Apharwat peak. The adventure tourists can take the one-day and thirteen km trip to the Alpather Lake from Gulmarg.

5. Pahalgam

The town of Pahalgam in the state’s northwest, 95km from Srinagar, is a hub for rafting and trekking, as well as a launching point for the Hindu pilgrimage of Amarnath Yatra in July and August. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus make this challenging five-day, 16km trek to Amarnath Temple - a shrine in a cave nearly 4,000m high, and one of the holiest in the religion - to see an ice stalagmite inside.

Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia.

Mabul Island is a small island off the south-east coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. The island is known as one of the best muck diving destinations in the world. The island is covered in palm trees and fringed with fine beaches. It is a famous diving spot for divers, both international and local alike, and is well known as the macro diving paradise. 

Mabul is populated by an interesting mix of Malay fishermen and Bajau sea gypsies, and it is always a pleasure to see the colourful boats of both ethnic groups return from a day on the surf. And the “floating” resort of Singamata, a hotel built on the shallow waters, is an immensely relaxing place where divers and non-divers alike can appreciate the beauty of one of Borneo’s best collection of off-shore islands.

Things to do:

1. Scuba diving

Known as their one of the best diving spot in world, Mabul offers approximately 2 square kilometers of reef with over 10 dive sites for Scuba divers to explore. Unlike Sipadan which is home to large pelagic species and huge schools of fish, Mabul is known for its unique and seldom seen critters. On a Mabul dive you will see snake eels, juvenile batfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and mimic octopi. Look again closely at the reef and you may see nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and harlequin shrimp. Dive sites include the Eel Garden, Gurnard Point, Lobster Wall, Nudibranch Center, Panglima Reef, and Ray Point. However the most notable sites are the Coral Reef Garden, Paradise, and the Seaventure Platform.

2. Snorkeling

Your travel will not complete in Mabul Island if you're not try one of this activities, scuba diving or snorkeling. Those who are afraid to diving, snorkeling is the best choice. This activity also suitable for children. While you're snorkeling, someone will coach you and keep you safe. 

3. Seafood in Mabul Island

In the morning a fishermen came to sell fresh crabs and lobsters for a low prices. The 'local chef' also help visitors to select fresh lobster and fish from the fisherman coming by, and cook for you the fresh sea foods for a small fee. One of the resorts here do not serve any seafood in meal because the management support sustainable fishing in the area.

Credit picture taken from: Here

Mount Fan Xi Pan, Sapa, Vietnam.

Surrounding Sapa are the Hoang Lien Mountains , nicknamed the Tonkinese Alps by the French. These mountains include Fansipan, which at 3143m is Vietnam's highest peak. The summit towers above Sapa, although it is often obscured by clouds and is occasionally dusted with snow. The peak is accessible all year to those in good shape and properly equipped, but don't underestimate the challenge. It is very wet, and can be perilously slippery and generally cold. Do not attempt an ascent if the weather is terrible in Sapa, as limited visibility on Fansipan could be treacherous. 

The summit of Fansipan is 19km from Sapa and can be reached only on foot. The terrain is rough and adverse weather is frequent. Despite the short distance, the round trip usually takes three days, some very fit and experienced hikers do it in two days, but this is rare. After the first morning you won't see any villages, just the forest, striking mountain vistas and perhaps some local wildlife such as monkeys, mountain goats and birds. No ropes or technical climbing skills are needed, just endurance. There are no mountain huts or other facilities along the way (yet), so you need to be self-sufficient. This means taking a sleeping bag, waterproof lent, food, stove, raincoat or poncho, compass and other miscellaneous survival gear. Hiring a reputable guide is vital and, unless you are a seriously experienced mountaineer, finding porters who will carry your gear is also strongly recommended. Weather-wise the best time for making the ascent is from mid-October to mid-December, and again in March, when wildflowers are in bloom.

Official website of Vietnam: Click here

Fairbanks, Alaska.

Those who are admire the rare and mystical event, Fairbanks in Alaska is one of the best place to go. This is the most reliable spot to see the 'aurora borealis' or known as 'northern lights'. Fairbanks is geographically under the 'aurora oval', where auroras are seen most frequently. Alaska is one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights – colorful bands of light that dance in the dark night sky. Travelers from all over the world come to Alaska each winter to see this stunning display and take advantage of other winter experiences like snowmobiling, dog mushing, skiing, festivals and sporting events.

Things to do:

1. Northern Lights Viewing Tours 

One of the most activity that tourists come to Fairbanks is because aurora borealis or northern lights. Every year, all tourists from all over the world come to Alaska to have this experiences. View the magnificent Northern Lights displays from a heated log cabin high above Fairbanks, far away from any city lights are one of the best activity. It's not a wasted time when you have to spend your whole night to see this great creature. 

2. Snowmobiling

One of the best activities at Fairbanks and do not miss the beautiful view. You can do this activity with your familiy members, friends or your love one. One of the challenges activity that can make you laugh and tired. 

3. Chena River State Recreation Area

Renowned as a wilderness hot springs spa, Chena is also the name of the river that flows northeast of Fairbanks. The SRA features several campgrounds along the road that parallels this northern river. Famous for its grayling (catch-and-release only) in the river, several nearby ponds are also stocked with keepers. The Chena River region is equally alluring for campers who enjoy paddling through the river’s Class I-II rapids. Wildlife abounds, but black and brown bear sightings are rare and seen mostly in the backcountry. Moose are more common as they feed in the ponds and sloughs along the entire length of the Chena River.

3. Kodiak Bear, Alaska

When your're visiting Alaska, the one of the adventurous activity is you can see the Kodiak Bear. Alaska has brown and black bears. But, the best bear safety is avoidance. Learn as much as you can before you visit/camp in bear country.

*The video below are not from Alaska. It's from Sequim, Washington. 

Pink Beach, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

A clear blue sky above, with fluffy white clouds drifting lazily across. Rolling green hills, covered luxuriantly in thick vegetation, interspersed with high, rocky cliffs. Calm, clear waters, tinted by the colorful corals beneath its surface, and alive with the movement of a hundred species of marine life. Last, but not least: a stretch of soft sand, but not white, not black, but PINK!

One of the '7 Pink Beaches in the World', Pink Beach on Komodo Island is famous for its beautiful pink sand. This color is a mixture of sand from white calcium carbonate and the bright red skeletons of organ pipe corals, which are relatively abundant in certain areas of Komodo National Park. Other pink sand beaches are found in some of the eastern bays on Komodo Island, as well as in southern Padar. Komodo National Park is the real wonder of the world.

The island is famous not only for its heritage of convicts but also for the unique fauna which roam it. The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, takes its name from the island. A type of monitor lizard, it inhabits Komodo Island and some of the smaller surrounding islands, as well as part of western Flores. Javan deer also inhabit the island, though they are not native. Other fauna include buffalo, civets, cockatoo and macaques.

*A few points to keep in mind, is that this is an uninhabited island, and it also is the natural habitat of the Komodo Dragon. If you see the creatures roaming the coast or in the water, be sure to keep a distance. Komodo Dragons are excellent swimmers and are even capable of swimming inter-island. Komodo Dragons are wild animals that could be potentially dangerous to people, so it is not recommended to visit this beach without the help of an experienced guide or ranger.

Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

Games? Maid Cafe? All kinds of electronic appliances and devices in the world? Where you want to search this kind of things? Maid cafe, games, and advance electronic appliances/devices are really synonyms with Japan. So, at Akihabara, you'll get it all.  Akihabara, known affectionately as Akiba, is one of the most well-known electronics districts in Japan. Yet, its popularity has led to a lot of redevelopment in recent years pushing out a lot of the smaller more specialist shops which attracted people in the first place, and replaced it with mammoth all-purpose electronic stores.

It is absolute that Akihabara is the largest town collecting all kinds of electronic appliances and devices in the world. The products at the very top of technology are always abundantly available here. 

In Akihabara, there are quite a lot of staff members who master 20 languages of the world. Communication here can be going on smoothly without any problems. Customers can easily purchase the overseas model products. 

Things to do in Akihabara:

1. Retro Games? Get it at Super Potato スーパーポテトレトロ館秋葉原店

Super Potato isn't really a shop, it's more like a video game museum where you can buy stuff. The store is actually from western Japan, but its Akihabara shop is the centrepiece and it has been visited by countless Japanese celebrities. Want a Japanese Famicom? Or how about a Dreamcast? Japanese PC Engine Games? This cramped, multi-storey shop is packed with them, like some great gaming repository. Prices here run on the high side, but the old game consoles and games are in great condition.

Super Potato website: Click here

2. Yodobashi Akiba: Biggest electronics store ever

If you get bored of looking at electronics, Yodobashi Akiba also offers a place to make suits and grab some grub. The largest shop in Tokyo's largest electronics chain, Yodobashi Akiba towers over the competition The nine-story mega complex - festooned, of course, with an equally gigantic super-cute mascot character - dominates the skyline on the east side of Akihabara station.

If you have time to visit only one electronics store in the area, you couldn't hope for a more target-rich environment. From cameras to computers to home electronics such as televisions and washing machines to Otaku stuff like toys and model kits, this is Akihabara at its most highly concentrated.

Yodobashi Akiba official website: Click here

3. Tokyo Anime Center 

Akihabara is sacred ground for Japan’s famous “otaku” (anime and video game fan) culture. The Tokyo Anime Center is located in Akihabara UDX, the core facility inside Akihabara Crossfield that serves a central role in the area. Many events, such as exhibitions, voice actor talk shows, screenings of anime films, and public radio broadcasting are held at Tokyo Anime Center in the UDX Building. There is an anime shop where anime character goods and original goods are exclusively available. You can experience post-recording as well (note: scripts and instructions are in Japanese only). In addition to anime-related information, you can get maps and detailed information on Akihabara. There is also a bulletin board on which famous guests, talents and voice actors have autographed that is a must-see.

Tokyo Anime Center official website: Click here

4. Nagomi : The 'little sister' cafe

Can you imagine Tokyo without Maid Cafe? There's a lot of Maid Cafe in Akihabara such as Cure Maid Cafe, Schatz Kiste: 'Akihabara Culture Café' and Cos-cha: Back to school. But, for those who want to experiences a little bit different from be serve by sweet and kind maid, this is the place. The maid in this cafe will serve you by their rude and bossy mood. This is known as 'Tsundere'.

Tsundere is, it’s a female character type that alternates between tsun-tsun (cold and cranky,combative) and dere-dere (sweet and affectionate)– usually turning soft only when she’s alone with her romantic interest. This personality type is so prevalent in manga and anime culture that the term Tsundere was coined as a necessary point of reference. The maid will throw serious attitude at the customers only to turn sweet on them before they leave.

In this cafe, the girls dress in frilly outfits and call you "big brother." Depending on their mood, they can be kind and sweet or rude and bossy, or both - an icy-hot.Sometimes they bully you for an hour and then cry when you leave. Score some conversation time with tabletop games for ¥500.

5. Gundam Cafe

This miniature Gundam theme park-like café isn’t just for hard-core Gundam fans looking to discuss the latest Gundam news – there’s also plenty here for both those who have only just started cultivating an interest in all things Gundam, as well as tourists from overseas who might be looking for more insight into the Japanese world of anime. Visitors will find at least one of the female staff members dressed in a uniform styled after one of the female Gundam characters, and there is even a corner of the shop dedicated to selling themed products ranging from ningyo-yaki (sweets filled with bean jam baked in the shape of a Gundam) right down to special Gundam coasters.

Ningyo-Yaki

Official website of Gundam Cafe and how to get there: Click here.

How to get there: 

Click here for Access map of Akihabara. 

Phi Phi Island, Thailand.

Phi Phi consists of six small islands 46km south of Phuket. Fine sandy beaches give way to soaring limestone cliffs to form spectacular scenery. Add crystal clear water, a refreshing lack of roads, plus a laid-back lifestyle, and it's easy to see why Phi Phi is one of southern Thailand's most popular destinations.

The smaller, uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh is a big tourist attraction. Surrounded by sheer limestone walls dotted with caves and passages the island's shallow blue-green lagoons and coral gardens are a snorkeler’s paradise. The island also has two magnificent beaches, Loh Samah and Maya Bay – used as a location for the Hollywood film The Beach.

Longtail boats make the many secluded beaches around Phi Phi Don accessible. Diving and snorkeling at Laem Thong and Hua Rah Ket is excellent. Many dive companies offer all-inclusive trips. In room after room, some of the most famous paintings in the world are side by side.

How to get there:

Definitely by the ferry or speedboat.

The ferry is by far the most popular method of reaching the islands. Ferries take about two hours from Phuket and 90 minutes from Krabi or Koh Lanta. The top deck of the ferry doubles as a sundeck, which is great for those who want to tan. The lower decks feature air-conditioned rooms and drinks and snacks are available onboard. The ferry terminal is a one-hour drive from Phuket Airport and Krabi's is 30 minutes from Krabi Airport.

Private speedboat transfer is the next most popular way of getting to Phi Phi. Basically, it's a private charter of a speedboat so departure and drop-off points are a little more flexible and you can go right up to the front of your chosen resort which can save a lot of time.