South East Asia Cruise - from Yokohama - 125596

With a population of 3.4 million, Yokohama, on the western shore of the Bay of Tokyo, is the second largest city in Japan and the capital of the prefecture of Kanagawa. The city's port was one of the first to be opened to the western world in the 19th century and even today the metropolis is renowned for its international atmosphere. The city is home to both the largest Chinatown in the world and the tallest building in Japan, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of Yokohama and the port. Many futuristic shopping centres provide fantastic shopping, excellent entertainment and culinary delights all under one roof. The landscaped garden of Sankei-en, created in 1906 by a silk trader from Yokohama is also worth seeing.

With a population of 3.4 million, Yokohama, on the western shore of the Bay of Tokyo, is the second largest city in Japan and the capital of the prefecture of Kanagawa. The city's port was one of the first to be opened to the western world in the 19th century and even today the metropolis is renowned for its international atmosphere. The city is home to both the largest Chinatown in the world and the tallest building in Japan, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of Yokohama and the port. Many futuristic shopping centres provide fantastic shopping, excellent entertainment and culinary delights all under one roof. The landscaped garden of Sankei-en, created in 1906 by a silk trader from Yokohama is also worth seeing.

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.

Kaohsiung is the second-largest city in Taiwan and an important centre of industry. Visitors should be sure to visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mountain Art Museum. Longhu Pagoda, the memorial hall and the harbour are also must-sees.

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.