he Philippines is one of the world’slargest island groups, with 7,107 islandsthat host some of the world’s top,wonderfully pristine, sandy whitebeaches where you can slip into laid-back island time and truly unwind andrelax.A more undiscovered travel

destination than most of its neighbours,the Philippines might be the SoutheastAsian country where you’ll get mostvalue for your money. Some placeshaven’t changed much since before theSpanish colonisation in 1565, merginginto a complete and serene jungle scene

bursting with wildlife, walks andwaterfalls. Turquoise crystal-clear watersare filled with over 400 species of coraland an incredible abundance of seacreatures and the average annualtemperature is a pleasant 26.6°C.If you need some help to unwind,

pampering massages are widelyavailable. Massage ladies – from on thebeach to luxury spas and shoppingcentres in the bigger towns – will onlycost a fraction of their price back home.In general, the people are welcoming,friendly and curious, and English iswidely spoken. In summary, if you

simply want to find your dream beachand relax without further complications,then the Philippines is your place.

...to yoga on-endBali is often nicknamed the ‘Island of

Peace’ and probably has the world’shighest ratio of yoga retreat centres perinhabitant. A combination of stunningand diverse scenery, traditional Hinduculture and welcoming and friendlypeople, Bali really is the perfect locationfor the ultimate, soul-soothing, back-bending – maybe even life-changing –yoga vacation. »

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SOUTHEAST ASIA...where you can naturally relax. Written by Dini Martinez.

TFIVE TOP PLACES TO VISIT

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«Most retreat centres are scattered inand around Ubud – Bali’s culturalheart, renowned for its highlydeveloped arts and music. A fewothers can be found along the slopes ofMount Batur, Bali’s most activevolcano, across the lush green ricepaddies or near the endless black andwhite sandy beaches. Styles vary frombasic eco-lodges to luxurious, all-inclusive resorts.The island home of Indonesia’s Hindu

minority is also known for its

exceptional coral reefs, which makesnorkelling, surfing and diving afantastic pass-time betweenunforgettable yoga classes, soothingspas and healing meditationindulgences in ancient temples. Around8º south of the Equator, Bali’s tropicalclimate and volcanic nature havecontributed to its exceptional fertility –so delicious, home-grown organicproduce promises to accompany youryoga practice and guarantee your “Om”to sound clearer than ever!»

challenge how the world sees SoutheastAsian history as a whole!

...to party until the sun risesTo be fair, Thailand has a lot more to

offer than partying: tropical beaches,world-class diving, lush jungles,opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins,ornate temples and Buddha figures,amazing food, cheap prices and superbease of travel. Having said that, if youare out to party – it won’t disappointeither!Bangkok will welcome you with

anything from local karaoke bars toall-night clubs. Styles range frombackpacker hang-outs all the way totop fancy expat luxurious bars withlive music, star-light dance-floors anda cocktail menu longer than the KhaoSan Road. The latter makes a simplestroll through its hip and hippy night-markets seem like a party all on itsown.The pinnacle of all parties is

unquestionably Koh Phangan’s world-famous, all-night Full Moon Party. It’stouristy, but that doesn’t mean it can’tbe a lot of fun! If sharing a beach withseveral DJs plus over 20,000 party-people sounds a bit too much, don’tworry: practically every island countswith its very own fabulous beach barsto keep you entertained on any night ofthe year for as long as your party legscan carry you. To name but a few,there’s sexy Koh Phi Phi, nightlifecentral Phuket, Ko Samet with its

breath-taking fire shows and, of course,‘Songkran’ in April – when the wholecountry turns into a hilarious waterfight to celebrate the Thai New Year.

...to eat with all the sensesVietnam’s culinary forte lies in

combining the crunchy freshness ofAsia with the indulgent sweetness oftraditional French cuisine. The food isnot fancy or expensive, but is rich inflavour – thanks to simple, freshingredients and adherence to the yin-yang principle. Worldwide,Vietnamese cooking is considered one

of the healthiest, with minimal use ofdairy and oil and a strong reliance onfresh herbs and vegetables. TypicalVietnamese delicacies includenourishing soups, an impressivevariety of Vietnamese pastries,crunchy spring rolls, fermented fish,pickled vegetables and not to forgetthe signature fusion dish: ‘Vietnamesebaguette’.Cooking and eating play an extremely

important role in Vietnamese culture.Traditionally, specific foods are used togreet the Lunar New Year; remind newcouples of perfection and harmony at

their wedding; and offered at ancestralaltars. As a visitor, you can exploreeverything from busy food-stands inlocal markets to more elaboraterestaurants, varying in style and menuthroughout the different regions. Ifyou’ve gone over-the-top in yourculinary explorations, you can rest inone of the many spas. Then pickyourself up with a uniquely Vietnamesecoffee served on ice and sweetenedcondensed milk to get some energy anddiscover more of this welcoming,diverse and easy-to-travel country bythe South China Sea.

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«...to explore more off the beaten trackCambodia sits at the heart of the

Indochina Peninsula and, as probablyits least ‘tourist-y’ country, is all themore interesting to explore. For thecurious, more adventurous traveller ithas a lot to offer, including theCardamom Mountains for jungletrekking and waterfalls; SoutheastAsia’s largest mangrove forest; theglittering Royal Palace, NationalMuseum and Toul Sleng Museum inthe busy capital of Phnom Penh;affordable off-the-beaten-trackmotorcycle tours through the MekongDelta or Cambodia’s low-lying plains;untouched rivers and islands and, ofcourse, the famous temple ruins ofAngkor Wat.This massive stone temple complex

sits in a UNESCO-protectedarchaeological park. Built during theKhmer Empire period, it has been thesubject of much speculation as to howthis empire developed, dominated theregion and then declined in around the15th century. Very recent, ground-breaking archaeological discoverieshave revealed multiple, previouslyundocumented mediaeval towns notfar from the ancient temple city. Thesefeature an array of elaborate watersystems that were built hundreds ofyears before the time that historiansbelieved the technology existed. Thissophisticated network of towns seemsto have formed the largest empire onearth in the 12th century and might

Above Mount Batur, Bali Below: Vietnam Top: Cambodian Buddhist monks in front of Angkor Wat Above: Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia Above right: Bali island

Bangkok nightlifeKoh Phangan’s world-famous, all-night Full Moon Party

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