Things to Do in Asia

Perhaps the most popular of Bangkok’s street markets, Sampeng Market—known by locals at Yaowarat—is an energetic and eclectic space in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood that’s jam packed with food, fabric, jewelry and other random items. Locals flock to crowded stalls in search of wholesale items, while tourists can be found sampling spicy dishes and combing through collections of t-shirts, handbags, jewelry and artwork. Travelers are encouraged to barter for lower prices, although most items are tough to find cheaper. Those who prefer a more typical shopping experience can head to nearby Terminal 21, a well-known shopping mall with fewer crowds and standard international offerings.

The capital of Sa Pa District in the Lao Cai province of Vietnam, Sapa and its surroundings are home to eight cultural minorities, including H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho. As there are numerous markets in Sapa as well as locals selling their wares on the streets, a good chance for interacting with these people is by perusing their local goods. Sapa is known for its embroidery, so if you’re looking for an authentic local souvenir this is a good idea.

Along with being home to an array of rich cultures, the mountain town of Sapa is a haven for hikers. Sapa resides in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and is home to Indochina’s highest peak, Fansipan at 3,143 meters (10,312 feet). Spend some time exploring the mountain scenery, rice terrace and farms through treks like the one to the ethnic Cat Cat village or Y Linh Ho. All around Sapa there are booths where you’ll be able to pick up hiking maps that are easy to read, so you’ll have plenty of options for scenic hikes.

Built in 1164, Sanjusangendo Temple impresses in scope, size, and detail, with 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, flanking the main image of a giant, seated Kannon. Carved in the 12th and 13th centuries, the statues are arranged in 50 columns, each two rows deep. It's said that the Kannon witness and protect against human suffering. To aid in their mission, the Kannon are equipped with 11 heads and 1,000 arms.

"Sanjusangendo" translates to hall with thirty three spaces between the columns," describing a traditional measurement system. The wooden temple building extends 118 meters (387 feet), making it the longest of its kind in the world. Originally built for former emperor Go-Shirakawa, the Temple today remains a religious destination and popular tourist stop. It represents some of the most exquisite Japanese Buddhist sculpture and architecture in the country.

The Rose Garden is a worthwhile day trip from the capital. Not a botanical garden as the name suggests (although there are roses in a well-maintained and beautiful garden), it's a cultural center that provides a one-stop shop for learning and experiencing all things Thai.

If you visit the center on a tour, your visit will be timed to take in the daily show at 2:45pm in the Thai Cultural Village. You'll see Thai folk dancing, Thai boxing, sword fighting and an elephant show.

If the show doesn't sound like your thing, there are plenty of hands-on art and craft activities to engage in throughout the Rose Garden. If you've ever wanted to plant rice or make a lantern out of palm leaves then this is the place to do just that.

When a Sichuan peasant in 1929 unearthed a piece of jade while digging ditches in a field, he set in motion a chain of events which would lead to the largest discovery of Shu relics known to modern China. Located 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) north of the city of Chengdu, the Sanxingdui (Three Star Piles) Archeological Site covers an area of nearly 5 square miles (12.9 square kilometers) and has yielded thousands of cultural Shu relics which are now on display at the Sanxingdui Museum.

Though mass excavations began in earnest in the early 1930s, it was the unearthing of two sacrificial chambers in 1986 which sent shockwaves through the archeological community. Included amongst the buried relics were ornate and peculiar bronze facial masks dating back nearly three thousand years as well as gold and jade objects which help prove that the Sanxingdui area was the capital of the Ancient Shu kingdom.

All of the relics which are now on display in the museum hold particular cultural, historical and scientific value, and are regarded as some of the finest and most insightful pieces of Sichuan culture ever to be unearthed. In addition to the myriad smaller artifacts discovered at Sanxingdui, larger pieces such as a 12 foot (3.7 meter) tall bronze tree and 8 foot (2.4 meter) tall bronze statue comprise some of the more mystifying and exceptional relics currently on display.

In addition to the treasures themselves an entire section of the Sanxingdui Museum is devoted to the archeological process of locating, removing and caring for objects which are miraculously intact after sitting forgotten for thousands of years. Open to the public since 1997, Sanxingdui Museum is a true cultural treasure set just on the outskirts of modern Chengdu.

Located in the historic Intramuros Manila's Walled City, the Church of San Agustin was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its Baroque architecture specific to the Philippines. A Roman Catholic church, it was constructed by the Spanish in the 16th century but was not consecrated until 1607. While its beautiful architecture is reason enough to visit, the church also houses the San Agustin Museum, as well as tombs of several historical figures, including conquistadors, statesmen, and artists.

Saint Thomas the Apostle, or ‘Doubting Thomas,’ as he was later called, came to India in 52 AD where he purportedly lived out the remainder of his days. The 16th century Sao Thome Cathedral, built by the Roman Catholic Portuguese and later rebuilt by the British, is said to house the bodily remains of St Thomas in a tomb below the white neo-Gothic structure.

A series of stained glass windows inside the basilica depict scenes from St Thomas’s life and carved wooden panels recount the last days of Jesus’s life from his last temptation to the crucifixion. As a working cathedral, visitors are welcome to stop in for mass (in both English and Tamil), though the church draws larger crowds for mass.

After visiting the main cathedral, view the tomb of St Thomas in the underground Tomb Chapel, accessible from outside the main church structure. Another structure on the grounds houses a small museum containing artifacts related to St Thomas and a theater showing a video about his life.