Five Countries You Really Must Visit If You Travel
Author: Chris Haycock

As an avid traveller, there are five countries that stand
out in my experience as places you really ought to make an
effort to visit if at all possible. Here they are, together
with my reasons.

1. Egypt: The Pyramids, of course, King Tutenkhamens Tomb,
The Valley of The Kings. Wonderful places in their own
right, but it's not all about artefacts and spectacular
buldings etc. The Egyptian people are generous, kind, and
welcoming. Happy to share anything, even if they have very
little themselves.

Try a trip on the Nile in a felucca (traditional wooden
sailing boat). Late afternoon is best, when you can
experience the setting sun.

2. China: Not somewhere that immediately springs to mind
when planning a travelling trip, but you really should, and
it is becoming more popular as a destination, particularly
since the Beijing olympics. Plan for a minimum of 7 days,
a fortnight would be better. Take in Beijing, Xian,
Shanghai (great for shopping), and a Yangtze river cruise
is a must.

For the more adventurous, and a great experience go to
Guilin. The landscape is awe-inspiring. Not really
mountainous as such, but the peaks seem to rise almost
vertically into the sky. Take a ski lift to the top of one
of the peaks and get a toboggan down the 3000 feet.

3. Jordan: You could take in Jordan by combining it with a
trip to Egypt. Cairo is only just over 300 miles from
Amman, the capital, a wonderful place full of history, and
one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the
world.

Do also go to Petra. This archaeological site is renowned
for it's rock-cut architecture, and is one of the new seven
wonders of the world.

Of course no visit to Jordan would be complete without a
visit to the Dead Sea, this has so much concentration of
salt and minerals in it that you can actually sit in the
sea and read a book without getting it wet. Again, don't
plan on a flying visit, to do Jordan justice you should be
thinking of ten days.

4. Hong Kong: An amazing, frenetic, bustling place that
fortunately has been pretty much left as it was by the
Chinese since the end of the British lease in 1997.

As everyone knows, Hong Kong is the place to shop. Wander
along Nathan Road and visit Temple Street Market for some
teriffic bargains. Don't forget that the asking price is a
starting price, and haggling is the name of the game.
You'll probably get to enjoy it, as the chinese do.

As well as being a hustling metropolis, there is a wealth
of tradition in Hong Kong too. A trip to Victoria Peak is a
must do, although the weather does not always let you take
advantage of the spectacular views. But ever enterprising,
you will find locals at the top who will take your picture
and digitally impose a clear background of the view at its
best.

You can also take boat trips out to some of the surrounding
Islands. Agreat way to chill out after some hard shopping!

5. Thailand: Yes, I know, Thailand does have a somewhat
seedy reputation, especially in areas such as Bankok and
Phuket. But away from those well known areas there is a
remarkable country of culture and the most warm, friendly
people.

There is one place you can go called the Thai Tiger Temple
at Kanchanaburi where you can stroke live tigers, somewhat
domesticated by the monks. Whatever you may feel about
that, it is certainly an interesting experience.

Well, there you have it. Five countries you really should
make an effort to visit. I hope that I have given you food
for thought so that you may raise the bar a little when you
next plan a trip.


About the Author:

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