Below are short descriptions and basic information for some of the countries in Asia. This is meant to give you a simple quick insight into the fascinating countries that you can visit in Asia. These short summaries of the countries will hopefully help you narrow down your possible destinations so you can do some more in depth research to determine which county will be your next Asian adventure.

Cambodia

Situated on the Indochina peninsula, Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. This is acharming relaxed country, wounded by its recent past, with an archaeologist treasure of Angkor Wat located in Seam Reap.

Admire the power and beauty of the old Khmer Civilization / Get low by learning about the power and horror of the recent Khmer Rouge Regime / Help rebuilt the country by spending your dollars as generously as if you'd just won some online casino jackpot / Go where few travelers have been as some areas are just getting re-opened

The scars of the war : the wounded, the beggars, the horror stories,... / The safety issues : the firearms, the land mines, the robberies,... / The prostitution challenge / The (un)state of some "roads"

Cultural Highlights include The Angkor Complex puts shadow to all the other temples of the country / The Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh / The horrible testimonies of the Pol Pot Regime (S21, killing fields,...)

Many Natural Highlights to see include in Cambodia include The Mekong scenery / The dolphins at Kratie / The Forest Reserves around Kampot / The remote areas of the North

A minimum of a week should be spent to explore Angkor Wat in Seam Reap and Phnom Penh. Another two-three weeks for the rest of the country should give you plenty of time.

A visa is required and can be obtained at the borders or airport : US$20 or (more likely) 1000 Bahts. Bangkok or Saigon are good place to get a visa as well.

The best weather from December to February brings many tourists , you may prefer the hotter (March to May) or more humid (May to November) months. Try to avoid summer.

China

China is a large impressive country with a unique culture to match and the most diverse scenery of Asia. It is very easy to submerge yourself in a different world / Graduate as an Asian backpacker / Keep busy for a couple of months / Eventually make your own opinion about all the media fuss / Visit before the crowd / Test all the cheap local beers /

Some of the drawbacks include the language barrier / The relative higher cost / The size of the place and time it takes to visit thoroughly / The apparent ruddiness of the Chinese people / The lack of good cheap beaches /

The most familar and popular Cultural Highlights inlcude The Great Wall & Forbidden City (Beijing) / Buddhist Caves (Datong) / Terracotta warriors (Xian) / Minorities villages & traditions (Lijiang, Langmusi,...) /

Natural Highlights - Karsts Peaks (Yangshuo) / Rice Terraces (Guangxi & Yunnan) / Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan Province) / Sacred Mountains / Sand dunes (Dunhuang) /

How long - You would need 5 months to see it all but a good tour can also be done in 2 months.

A visa is needed befor entry and can be obtained in Hong Kong for about US$16..

When to go - Any time as it is big enough to find suitable weather in one part. Temperatures dip well below zero during winter in the north. Very hot during summer. Best season = Autumn

Hong Kong

Situated on a tiny Southeastern peninsula of China and the group of islands that surrounds it, Hong Kong is a surprisingly beautiful region of the world. A modern dynamic city full of contrasts plus lots of greenery just outside

Some good reasons to visit Hong Kong can include acclimating yourself with the Chinese world / Get a visa for China / Buy the latest electronic gadgets / Start a business / Visit some of the most colorful & active Chinese temples / Have fun at night /

Some of the drawback - The cost / The business of the locals doing business / The ruddiness of the shopkeepers, a few of them also dishonest / The pollution / The cold air cond / The contrast between the rich & the poor

Cultural Highlights ? The flashy city and its great buildings / Po Lin Monastery (Lantau) / A few temples & museums in town / Any market

Natural Highlights - The 100km of the MacLehose Trail (New Territories) / HK Park / Zoological Garden / Kowloon Park / Any Island

How long - 3 days would give you an idea of the place. 5 days are recommended.

Visa - No need. 90 days on arrival for most westerners.

When to go -The best time is from October to February. Not too hot and not too humid. Summer is the worst season with averages of 33C and 95% humidity from mid-May to mid-September. Typhoons are likely to occur from July to early October.

Laos

Laos is a less developed country in Asia meaning lots of exploration opportunities among minorities villages and untouched nature.

Try to escape the crowd of Thailand (bad excuse nowadays) / Follow the flow of backpackers (good excuse nowadays) / Spend some time among minorities, if possible in remote and untouristy villages / Trek around / Become an opium addict (hope not) / Complete Passplanet with more remote localities (hope so) / Relax on tropical islands and watch the Mekong flow /

Drawback - Visiting too late : the crowd is there already ! / The drug business / The worst roads and transports of Asia, making any trip time consuming / The lack of real cultural attractions / The look (or rather lack of look) of some locals who have been confronted with mass tourism too fast / The costs increase /

Cultural Highlights- Luang Prabang's or Vientiane's temples and colonial charms / The ruins of Wat Phu near Champasak

Natural Highlights- The North mountainous area / Kuang Si Falls near Luang Prabang / The scenic Mekong area of Si Phon Don

How long - Two weeks to stay on the track . At least one month to go further away and discover Laos without the crowd but the smiles.

Visa- Required. 15 days visa available at the Friendship Bridge or the International Airports for US$30. Best to get a 30 days visa in Bangkok.

When to go - Avoid the rainy season from July to October when some roads are turned into mug swimming pools.

Macau

For a laid back Mediterranean atmosphere one hour away from Hong Kong is Macau. Complete your Hong Kong visit / Relax / Go to church / Bet in casinos / Enjoy a bottle of Mateus with a Portuguses meal.

Drawback - The cost / The lack of real attractions / The ugly casinos /

Cultural Highlights - The ruins of St Paul's & the Fort / The numerous other churches / The few temples / The colonial buildings. Some of Natural Highlights are The islands' beaches / The gardens

How long - 1 day is basically enough. 2 days would let you visit the islands and experience the night life.

There is no need for a vois afor most nationalities so you can get a free 20 day stay on arrival.

When to go - Same weather as in HK but more refreshing atmosphere. Avoid WE.

Malaysia

The cultural melting pot of Southeast Asia, Malaysia seamlessly blends the flavours of the Orient, India and Europe with charming colonial cities, tropical islands, jungles walks and English speaking people

Why go there - Discover all Asia in one place / Taste all Asia in one kitchen / Compare all the religions under one sky / Share discussions with the local people / Explore jungles, tea plantations or the underwater toward wild animals, tea pickers or colorful fishes / Cultivate yourself in some of the best museum of Asia / Research all the records of Malaysia for the Guinness Book of Records /

Drawbacks - The conduct of some Malay toward western girls / The cost and availability of beer in Muslim Malaysia / The lack of big attractions / The dirtiness / The local tourism development turning forests into concrete jungles

Cultural Highlights - All the museums are interesting but those of KL, Melaka or Kota Bharu are the best / All the temples are holly but those of Penang are the most charming / All the Chinese districts are colorful but those of Melaka or Penang are the most active / All the Mosque are impressive but those of Kuala Kangsar and Shah Alam are the most striking / All the religious caves are intriguing but those near KL or Ipoh are the most filled /

Natural Highlights - The underwater of the Perhentian Islands / Spotting a turtle on the East coast / Any jungle walk / The tea plantations panorama at Cameron Highlands / The lake gardens of Taiping or KL /

How long - A good tour can be done in three to four weeks.

Visa - Not necessary. Up to 3 months given at the border for most foreigners (sometimes on request).

When to go - All year round is fine but March to early May are the best months for the popular islands of the East coast : after the monsoon and before the crowd...

Myanmar

Description - Also called the Land of the Million Temples, Myanmar is fast becoming a backpacker's favorite, thanks to its friendly people and great culture.

Why go there - Count the number of temples and turn Buddhist / Exchange ideas with the interesting locals / Spend some money on the people / Chek by yourself the living standard of the population / Meditate / Isolate yourself from the tourist crowd / Breath authenticity / Relax / Enter a partnership with the government to grow opium in the South /

Drawback -The military regime and its full scale propaganda / The internet ban / The restricted areas : you are not allowed to see it all... / The tourists who spend money straight on the government / The bureaucracy / The entrance fees in big dollars / The need to fly to visit /

Cultural Highlights - The great ruins of Bagan or Mrauk U / The ancient cities of Mandalay / Any discussion with any local / The colonial architecture

Natural Highlights - Inle Lake / The beach of Ngapali / The wilderness around Pyin U Lwin / Probably the areas off access : mountains in the North, exotic beaches in the South...

How long - One month is enough for a good circuit of the open area. More would not hurt...

Visa - Required. Bangkok's Burmese Embassy is the best place to get the basic 28 days visa : B800 (US$20), ready in the afternoon.

When to go- To avoid the crowd between December and February, I would recommend the hot season from March to May (most of the GH have air conditioning) or just after the rainy season from October.

Nepal

Description - A small, land-locked country to the north and west of India and south of China. Home to several of the world's highest mountain peaks but also steamy, tropical jungle. The world's only Hindu kingdom.

Why go there - To trek in some of the world's most beautiful high-altitude scenery / To visit remote villages where cars and electricity are distant possibilities / To visit a wide range of ethnic and linguistic communities in a pocket-sized country.

Drawbacks - A five year old Maoist insurgency is causing troubling times for the nation, especially in the wake of the massacre of the Royal family / Frequent electricity cuts / Incredibly bad roads that are made worse by landslides.

Cultural Highlights - The city of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley / The various Buddhist or Hindu temples and stupas / Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha / The women singing together as they weed the rice paddy.

Natural Highlights - Mountain scenery, tropical jungle, raging rivers and waterfalls - more potential for hydro electric power than any other nation, friendly people, a birdwatcher's paradise, amazing variety of butterflies.

How long - A month or more if you have the time. But at least four days for the Kathmandu valley, three days in Chitwan, a week or ten days for a trek followed by the ease of three days in Pokhara. And allow three days to travel between those places and an extra day to get to the airport.

Visa - Yes for most nations. Available at the airport or border on arrival for US$30 for single entry visa, valid for 60 days. Then US$50 for each extra 30 days.

Singapore

Singapore is an island city located at the southernmost tip of the Malaysian Peninsula in South East Asia. It is well-known for being one of the richest, most well organised, efficient countries in the world full of greenery and quality attractions

Why go there - Relax from your trip / Indulge yourself with western luxury / Traffic chewing gum / Meet animals at various theme parks / Spot some world's records / Shop happily / Converse in English / It is on your way !

Drawbacks - The cost / The clinical look / The rules / The basic guesthouses

Cultural Highlights - The museums / The Cultural corners : little India, Chinatown, Malay Village & Kampong Glam / Some corlorful Temples / See how Singaporean have fun on Sentosa Island

Natural Highlights - The zoo & night safari / The jungle of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve / Ubin Island

How long - 3 days would give you an idea of the place. One week would let you do most of the attractions plus some shopping

Visa - No need. 2 weeks on arrival for most westerners.

When to go - At any time : the weather is constant and the shops never close !

Thailand
The best cultures and backgrounds makes Thailand an interesting and memorable country to visit. More people visit Thailand than any other country in Southeast Asia. A taste of paradise stretching from the sand of the South to the jungle of the North along smiling faces.

Why go there- Start your own backpacking experience / Dip in the clear ocean toward colorful fishes / Trek jungles / Visit minorities villages / Party all night & sleep all day / Fall in love with Asia /

Drawbacks - The crowd / The look of some travelers / The consequent opinion of some local people toward backpackers and the potential breach of violence if at the wrong place / The sex industry with very professional ladies /

Cultural Highlights - Grand Palace (Bangkok) / The ruins of the former capitals (Sukhothai & Ayuthaya) / Thai & Khmer Temples / The Thai Boxing ceremonial / Minorities villages & traditions (The North) / The Thai architecture and teak houses / The spicy food /

Natural Highlights - The clear water around the exotic islands / The karts peaks around Krabi / The waterfalls & caves around Kanchanaburi / Any National Park (79 to choose from) / The jungle in the north / The Mekong riverside /

How long - From a couple of days to relax on the sand to the rest of your life... Three months would be good enough for a complete circuit.

Visa is not necessary. 30 days on arrival for most westerners.

Any time is suitable to go but the cooler weather is from November to February. Those are consequently the crowded months. Spring is therefore a good option. The east-coast monsoon occurs from November to January. The west-coast monsoon blast from June to September and most of the untouristy islands shut down.