South East Asia Cruise - from Kobe - 127309

Kobe is the capital of the prefecture of Hyogo and one of the largest cities in Japan. It lies between a large lake and the Rokko mountains and is one of the most beautiful and most cosmopolitan of Japan's cities. For many centuries, Kobe was the most important port in Japan and was the first to be opened for overseas trade.

Kochi is one of the few originally preserved castle towns in Japan and is located on the island of Shikoku. Alongside the Chikurin-ji temple, Kochi Castle is the city's most important tourist attraction. Kochi's diverse nature can be enjoyed on a walk through one of the impressive parks, for example, while the extensive caves in the surrounding area are also well worth a visit.

Naha is a vibrant city with a proud history. Even between the department stores and boutiques of Kokusai-dori ("international street") all kinds of Okinawan specialities are sold, such as lacquerware, textiles, glassware and local Tsuboya pottery. All this and more can be found in the many shops of Heiwa-dori, where goods are stacked high to the ceiling. The nearby public market is an excellent place to get an idea (and a taste!) of Okinawan cuisine. Naha, with a population of 300,000 is the capital of Okinawa. From Naha it is worthwhile doing some exploring in the surrounding area. One of the most famous attractions is Gyokusendo, a 5 kilometre long cave - the largest in the Orient - with a roof crowded with thousands of stalactites formed around 3 million years ago from coral. This region is also where you will find Gyokusendo Kingdom Village, a Ryukyu culture theme park, showing local handicrafts such as glass-blowing, pottery and Awamori brewing, as well as traditional local dances.

Keelung is a port town in the North of Taiwan. One of the attractions there is the statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, which sits atop the mountain summit. The north-eastern coast road leads through the foothills of the central mountain range, providing a breathtaking view of the East China Sea and the Pacific. Fascinating treasures in the National Palace Museum and the impressive memorial to Tschiang Kai-schek are also well worth a look.

The metropolis of Manila, which has a population of around 1.7 million, is the capital of the Philippines and is considered to be a very important port. The city lies in Manila Bay, Luzon, and consists of 7 main areas. Manila has several universities, an international airport, many shopping centres, oil refineries and other industrial trades. Sights include numerous Baroque churches, which were granted World Heritage Site status in 1993, "China Town", a magical area of Manila, the Chinese cemetery, "Intramuris", the oldest part of the city with many churches and ancient buildings and "Mataki", an ultra-modern and luxurious shopping centre.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah in East Malaysia. Sabah is on the north-eastern side of Borneo and has been known as the "land below the wind" since time immemorial, since it lies just below the typhoon belt. The city's landmark and the religious centre of Sabah is the state mosque, which is a splendid sight to behold with its magnificent dome and the blue and gold mosaics. Other sights include: Sabah Foundation (a 30-storey glass building and a technical masterpiece), the town of Tuaran (with a model farm for agricultural research) and the huge Kinabalu National Park at the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.