Big, Vibrant, Pulsating and Crazy Asian Cities... Visit and Love Them

My Top 5 Asian Capitals

Below I will take you through 5 of my absolute favorite Asian capitals. Some are very touristy and filled with normal “must see” attractions, some are less frequently visited by tourists and you get more vibe and soul than actual attractions. All have found a special place in my heart. I believe all of them are worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. Some you will fall in love with and probably go back.

5. Hong Kong, China

Enjoy big pulsating city-life along with oriental beauty? Hong Kong is worth a visit because of its unique combination of east and west, blending Chinese heritage, British colonial influences, high-tech modernity, and Cantonese gusto.

Hong Kong Skyline

Best area to stay

If it is your first time visiting an Asian metropolis, I would recommend Sheung Wan, which has all a tourist needs in terms of art galleries, restaurants, antique stores and boutique shops, and Shanghai Lane.

3. Places to Go

Hong Kong Skyline is one of the city’s main attractions, viewing this amazing skyline is an absolute must, and not only once, but in the daylight, at sunset, at night, and for the Harbour show; every night introducing a light show featuring the tall and beautiful buildings of Hong Kong.
Victoria Peak gives a breath-taking view of the skyscrapers, the glittering harbor and the hills of the new territories. It is beautiful any time of day, but for a special experience, you can watch the sunset over the city’s skyline.
Wong Tai Sin Temple. Home to Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Another reason to go is that it claims to make every wish come true upon request.

Hong Kong at dusk

2. Markets to Visit

Mong Kok Ladies’ Market, a one-kilometer stretch containing over 100 stalls of bargain clothing, accessories, and souvenirs. This is the place to buy all the fake brands.
Temple Street Night Market, where you can bargain for just about everything as soon as the sun sets every night. Not in the mood for clothes? Then get your fortune read, buy an authentic tea set, or get a clay pot of rice to consume while watching the theater that is a Chinese night market.

3. Must-Eats

Dim Sum is a specialty, and there are tons of restaurants that offer this as a brunch option which is used by most Cantonese families on the weekend.
Sui mei, (‘fork burned’) is Chinese Barbecue and an absolute must for at least one meal while you stay on the island.
Shanghainese Dumplings

4. Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Discover the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia Phnom Penh. The people are kind, friendly, and will always give you a smile and a helping hand. Phnom Penh has a distinctive friendly and mellow vibe. You can even go around on foot without fearing for your life.

Royal Palace, PP

Best area to stay

Daun Penh.: Whether you are on a budget or like comfort Daun Penh is a great location.  The hostels offer accommodation in dorms from 3$, private rooms for around 10$ a night.

3. Places to Go

Choeung ek Genocidal center, also known as the killing fields of The Pol Pot regime. It is a dreadful tour in the fields containing mass graves and slaughter places where the regime killed 20.000 of their own people. During the regime, more than 3 million people lost their lives. When you go, do yourself the favor of getting the audio tour. It provides a lot of information and it gives you the opportunity of not talking with your fellow travelers while seeing these nightmares.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is another monument to the Pol Pot nightmares, also known as prison 21. If not for the barbed-wire fence, it would look like the school it once was.
A stroll by the waterfront, just wave at the children and enjoy the vibrant lives of the locals you meet. Quite a few Khmers like to say hello, practice their English, and get to know the people visiting their country. While walking down the waterfront you will walk by a pagoda and the royal palace. You can enter and visit both of these extremely beautiful locations.

Central Market, PP

3. Markets to Visit

Central Market: Here you can find treasures for every age and desire varying from ‘I  Cambodia’ t-shirts, to China and cutlery for the house.
The backside of the market has the food corner. Try as much as you can and sit and eat with the locals. Night Market: Located the river, and a place to go for clothing and traditional food. Open on the weekends. Enjoy your food in the picnic area while watching traditional Cambodian dance on the stage. Old Market: Located opposite Night Market. This is where the locals shop and you will find no souvenirs. Go here for a very authentic Cambodian experience.

Cambodia after Dark

Must-Eats

Amok, Amok, Amok : Amok refers to the thick soup cooked with fish, meat, vegetables, eggs and coconut milk-curry in banana leaves. Fish amok curry a slightly sweet curry in a banana leaf bowl, and the subtle flavors of lemongrass and kaffir lime go perfectly with a flaky white fish.

3. Manila, Philippines.

Manila is a pulsating, vibrant, giant city with smog, smelly allies and people everywhere. But the city has a soul and just the right kind of a soul. Beautiful skyline piercing the hazy sky, and manmade constructions as far as the eye can see. This is truly a chaotic megacity.

View from Mandaluyong

Best area to stay

Makati has an urban and hip new wave of restaurants, nightlife, and galleries, especially if you go out in the evenings. Here you can find chic restaurants, live music, rooftop bars and fine dining. Stay either in Makati or in Mandaluyong, it is just across the bridge.

3. Places to Go

Chinatown. Streets covered with Chinese lanterns of various colors and covered with shops selling holistic Chinese medicine, moon cakes, Min and Hokkien food stalls, and paraphernalia belonging to Chinese and Buddhist traditions. Chinese Cemetery: This surreal ghost-like town includes luxury tombs, some with running water and air-conditioning, just to be comfortable in the afterlife. And just to be sure the spirits do not get lonely, the North cemetery houses thousands of living residents who live, work and shop amongst the tombs. The Intramuros, The capital under Spanish rule, and now a walled area with old dungeons and gunpowder rooms, but with the makeover and added art galleries and theaters.

Divisoria Market

3. Markets to Visit

Divisoria: is the biggest market in Manila. You can buy literally everything and for a decent price.
Legazpi Market: It is the biggest weekend food market in Metro Manila and has a reputation as one of the best markets in the area for its wide array of foods and artisanal goods. It is a Sunday market, which makes it pretty crowded but still very much enjoyable. Legazpi is located at the Legazpi Car Park inside Legazpi Village.
The farmers market has been around for more than 40 years. it is located right at the heart of Cubao. It is widely famous for the best seafood in the city. Pick your own live fish or piece of seafood, tell them how you want it cooked and sit down and enjoy your meal at the dampa,

Must-Eats

Traditional dishes in the Philippines that must be tried at least once while visiting Manila are Lechón, longganisa, tapa, mechado and kaldereta.

 

2. Beijing, China

With its thousand temples, Beijing sounds like a city for archaeology students. But along with historical buildings, the city has modern new architecture. As it hosted the Olympics in 2008, the streets of Beijing were cleaned up and the city built lots of brand new malls and neighborhoods. But if you are looking for old China, it can be found all around, by visiting the old Hutton areas places all over the city.

3. Places to Go

The Great Wall: Beijing is home to (a piece of) the great wall. A massive wall built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China.
The Forbidden City was the home of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is a magnificent piece of architecture. The Palace park is located in the center of Beijing and was home to the royal family.
Insider tip, after visiting the city, run across the road and into Jingshan park and walk up the tallest hill. Here you will find the most amazing views of The Forbidden City.
Summer Palace located just outside Beijing. Here you could easily spend a day in beautiful nature and historical exciting surroundings.

3. Markets to Visit

If you like markets, Panjiayuan is an antique market where you can find things in every price-class. The Silk market is also a place worth a visit in the hunt for treasures.

Must-Eats

The most famous dish is Peking duck. There are thousands of restaurants serving it around the city, but Bianyifang is the oldest place in the city to serve it.
The Night market is a definite must. Here you can have every kind of food from insects and seahorses to “normal” meals.

1. Tokyo, Japan

Modern Japan has tall buildings (earthquake-secure). Hard-working Japanese businessmen, simply known as “salarymen”. Girls in short school uniforms. And entire parts of the city are dedicated to Anime, which is like stepping into a surreal parallel world of cartoons. Here even the people look like something taken out of a Pokémon movie. Modern Japan leaves no less of an impression.

3. Places to Go

Shibuya: This is where you meet the “pretty dolls” you wish you had as a child. Pretty dolls are Japanese girls with blonde hair, colored lenses, fake eyelashes and dressed in short skirts and hello-Kitty-ears. Shibuya is colorful and busy. Packed with shopping malls, dining areas, and nightclubs. View the Shibuya Crossing. Here an insane amount of people are crossing the street every-time the light turns green.
Akihabara: A district where you can find electronics, computers, games, anime and manga goods. Bright colors and tall figures are made to look like the most popular manga characters – and it can be slightly shocking. You can also enjoy a meal at a “french-maid café”while interacting with girls dressed in costumes. From a European perspective, it is a very fun experience to be entertained in one of these cafes.
Shinjuku Here you find Golden Gai, a district filled with more than 200 small bars and restaurants. And when I say small, I mean small. These restaurants can on average serve around 6 customers a time. Important to remember: these bars are for locals, and foreign guests are not always appreciated in the bars because they are designed as a safe-haven for salarymen after work hours.

Must-visit

An interesting idea for lonely people: Neko-cafés (or cat cafés) where people can order meals, but they can also pet cats. It is quite popular in Japan because cats provide a relaxing companionship in what may otherwise be a stressful and lonesome urban life for many men and women.
Tokyo Ueno market and its park is worth a stroll. Here you can find nice things for a decent price, and a chance to see the traditional Geishas performing a ceremony.
Odaiba: A big artificial island where you can see the Japanese Statue of Liberty, the rainbow bridge, and the Eiffel tower. A walk on this artificial, clean, fairly empty island is fun and very different from the rest of Tokyo, which is always crowded and stressful.

3. Must-Eats

Sushi at the giant fish-market. It is super fresh and the tuna is collected and sold next door.
Tempura: a dish in which seafood, fresh vegetables, and other ingredients are dipped in a flour and egg batter and fried in old. Udon which is a noodle-dish of kneaded wheat flour, and eaten with a sauce made from soy sauce and sugar, similar to soba.