I would like to warn travellers to Beijing, China about a scam that has hit me twice now personally. In the lead up to the Olympic games in Beijing, the warning may be very useful, especially for solo travellers who are particularly vulnerable. I have travelled in many developing countries such as Russia, Thailand, South Africa, Indonesia etc but never come across anything as subtle as this scam. There is an old saying “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”. I still don’t know whether to kick myself for letting this happen or be a bit more forgiving to myself because the scam is very subtle and its a trap that is very easy to fall prey to. I consider my self to be an experienced traveller, and yet I have fallen for this trick on two occasions now.

Basically the scam works as follows. Young residents of Beijing - mostly students - patrol the common tourist areas such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City looking for solo western travellers. They walk next to you and strike up an interesting conversation, usually about the differences in culture between China and the traveller’s country. After a few minutes they invite you to a nearby tea house to sit down for a traditional Chinese tea-serving ceremony.

After more interesting conversation and several cups of tea, the tea lady who served the brews presents the traveller for a bill. The bill runs into several hundred dollars and sometimes as high as USD$500 . They tell you that you have voluntarily consumed rare and expensive teas during the ceremony and now you must foot the bill.

Your new companion/s who invited you there in the first place are adamant that the bill is legitimate and not particularly pricey. Off course they are in on the scam and stand to receive commissions from the tea house provider. If you encounter this scam, report it to consular staff of your embassy and / or the local police.

A trip to Bali
Denpasar is the capital city of Bali. The island is a stunning tropical paradise with spectacular temples, impressive Balinese architecture and breathtaking views. However in contrast, Denpasar is also a thriving metropolis with international banks, modern buildings and a definite cosmopolitan atmosphere. This popular tourist destination offers visitors a truly rich cultural experience.

Flights to Denpasar
The Denpasar Bali International Airport, also known as Ngurah Rai Airport, is located in southern Bali 13kms south of Denpasar and just a stone’s throw from Kuta beach. It is Indonesia’s second largest airport and sees about five million passengers each year. The airport handles both domestic and international flights.

There are a number of transportation options in Denpasar, the most popular being taxis. Public buses are also available as are shuttles and car services. Most of the major hotels will provide a courtesy shuttle to and from the airport for their guest.

Sightseeing in Bali
There is a wide selection of noteworthy attractions in Denpasar. One of the attractions that delight locals and visitors is the traditional dance performances held at the Arts Centre. Here you can catch an exciting dramatic performance and the sensational Balinese dancing.

For history buffs and art lovers, the Bali Museum at Denpasar square offers excellent exhibits of carvings and artefacts as well as a marvellous collection of Balinese paintings and sculptures.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
The city has a plethora of stalls, eateries, markets and restaurants that serve up authentic and tasty local cuisine. For visitors who have a yearning for their home cuisine, rest assured; you will find something in Denpasar. From Chinese to American gastronomy, there is indeed something for everyone.

The city of Kuta is just ten minutes away from Ngurah Rai airport and is where many locals and tourists go to dance the night away. There is a wide selection of clubs and bars that range from pumping dance venues to laid back jazz clubs. Some of the more upmarket hotels in Denpasar have lounges and bars.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Bali is renowned for being a shopper’s paradise and Denpasar is no exception. Here you can find a plethora of beautiful handicrafts, pottery, textiles and silver. A shopping trip in Denpasar would not be complete without a purchase of the famous Balinese batik cloths. In a nearby town called Celup, you can find countless silver and goldsmith’s shops selling unique jewellery and trinkets at bargain prices.

One of the most interesting shopping areas is Sanggraha Kriya Hasta. Here you can find an extremely wide variety of handicrafts and works of art. Art enthusiasts should make sure that they visit the Taman Wedhi Budaya area. This is the art centre of Denpasar and also holds traditional dances every evening.

Surfers are plentiful in Denpasar as the surfing beaches are famous all over the world. People travel for miles to try their hand at the waves. Kuta beach is the most visited and is just a short distance from Denpasar.

Daytrips
Bali features a number of fascinating towns and villages, many of which make interesting daytrips. At the village of Batubulan, with its sandstone demons and divinities, tourists can watch new works in progress in the workshops. Stone figures line the road on the way into the village.

A short distance away from the capital Denpasar is the smaller town of Ubud, famed as being the centre of Balinese painting. Located at a higher altitude to the capital, the climate is pleasant and visitors can view art dating from the 19th century at Purl Lukisan and the Neka Museum.

Located in the wild of the countryside, the charming village of Penglipuran is lined with traditional Balinese houses and a collection of family temples. A child is usually on hand to show tourists around the village, whose residents practice both farming and forestry.

Must-see attractions
Bali is full of enticing attractions aside from the stunning beaches, and one not to be missed is the sacred spot of Gunung Agung in central Bali, one of four extinct volcanic complexes and the site of the important Besakih Temple.

Occupying the crater of another volcano is the magnificent Lake Bratan, which is an excellent spot to participate in water sports such as waterskiing, motor boating and other water craft activities.

Lovers of temple architecture should head to Pura Kehen, Bali’s religious heart, which is home to a great number of temples dating back as far as the 11th century. Another temple not to be missed is the Pura Besakih, which sits on the slopes of Mt Agung and is an important place of pilgrimage for the Balinese.

Bali’s highest temple, Pura Tegeh Koripan, can be reached by an energetic climb of more than 400 steps. Boasting panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the temple dates back to the 11th century.

The Monkey Forest in Ubud is a great place to take the family. Home to hundreds of entertaining monkeys, the beautiful forest also features a richly decorated temple. Another attraction that children can enjoy is the collection of hot springs at Yeh Panas. The whole family can enjoy the mud pots, swimming pools and mineral baths here.

Best time to go
Bali’s high seasons run through July and August and the Christmas season. But the best time to visit is any time between May and January, as between February and April temperatures and humidity soar. The monsoon rains fall between October and April, but usually only in short bursts and this can be a great time to visit. Even during the hottest months, you may get a bit chilly in the mountains at night-time.

Rainy day suggestions

With such an extensive rainy season, you never know when rain will come and spoil your plans. Luckily, Bali boasts some excellent indoor attractions. The Gedong Kirtya Library in Singaraja is stuffed full of Balinese history. Lovers of local art should head for the Neba Museum in Ubud or a few of the many craftsmen’s shops in the surrounding villages of Celuk.

Western Australia
Western Australia is the largest state of Australia with an area of 2.6 million square kilometres (about the same size as Western Europe). The population of the state is 1.98 million, representing 9.8 per cent of the total population of Australia. The state is so vast that there is a variety of landscapes and climates. With a low population density it sometimes seems as if you have the world to yourself from basking in the mile upon mile of golden beaches to touring the largely empty central and northern most parts of the state to taking in the lush greenery and forests of the southern parts of the state. The lifestyle is casual and easy going. Understandably in view of the unlimited sunshine; a large emphasis is placed on the great outdoors. Like all Australians, all Sandgropers as Western Australians are known are sports mad especially when it comes to Australian Rules football and cricket. The main population centres are Perth, Fremantle. Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie.

A brief history
The indigenous Nyoongar people arrived in Western Australia between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago. The first European to land here or indeed anywhere else in Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog in 1616. In December 1696, three ships in the fleet commanded by Dutch seafarer De Valmingh anchored off Rottnest Island. He mistakenly thought the native quokkas were rats so he named the Island Rottnest (Rat’s nest). It is thought that many early explorers landed in what is now Western Australia unintentionally while trying to find Batavia (now Djakarta). English and French seafarers were exploring the coast by the late 18th Century. Perth (then known as the Swan River Settlement) was founded in 1829. Convicts were brought there to overcome a labour shortage. The colony became a state of Australia at Federation in 1901. The great mineral wealth of the 1980’s brought more people to the state. Today there are many immigrants from New Zealand, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Italy, Yugoslavia Russia and Greece. Aboriginal people make up 1½ percent of the population.

How to get there
Some overseas airlines fly directly to Perth but most flights arrive via the eastern states. There is a daily bus service from Adelaide across the Nullarbor Plain around the coastline of the Great Australian Bight. The Indian-Pacific train runs from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide and Kalgoorlie and is recognised as one of the great train journeys in the world.

Geography
The southwest coastal area is relatively temperate while the rest of the state is semi-arid or desert. Most of the soils in Western Australia are remarkably infertile. Rainfall is erratic except in the northern tropical areas where there are heavy monsoonal downpours although there is a long virtually rainless season from April to November.

The Economy
Western Australia enjoys the highest per capita output of any Australian state. Ten percent of Australia’s population generates 25 percent of the nations export revenue. Mining and agriculture fuel a buoyant economy. Western Australia supplies one fifth of the world’s aluminium and 15 percent of the world’s iron ore. Natural gas, nickel and gold are also extracted here on a large scale. The state has been a large beneficiary of the recent increase in demand for commodities from the booming economy of China.

Perth
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. With 1.4 million people, almost three quarters of the states population live here. Perth is a beautifully clean city and is easy to get around. The city has a youthful outlook and with its outdoors focus, many people have time to sail, swim, jog or cycle after work and at weekends. Perth is known for its entrepreneurs many of whom made and lost fortunes in the boom times of the 1980’s. The city has a skyscraper skyline but after hours, the CBD nightlife is relatively unexciting so most people head for the suburbs, the beaches or leisure activities on the Swan River.

Swan River Cruises
Swan River day cruises to the popular Swan Valley are an excellent way to sample some of the premium wines from the Houghton and Sandalford estates. You can also take a scenic cruise to Fremantle and back from Perth while sampling some of the local wines and seeing some of the magnificent river front homes along the way.

Kings Park
There are superb views of the surrounding area from 17-hectare Kings Park high on a hill overlooking the CBD. Part of the park is preserved natural bushland, which shows what the local terrain was like before European settlement. Each spring you can see a cultivated display of famed Western Australian wild flowers. You can hire bikes here to explore the bike tracks in the area.

Museum of Western Australia
Located in Northbridge the museum features an excellent display of Aboriginal culture Australia, a gallery of dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton, meteorites and a preserved Megamouth shark one of only about five known specimens found of these huge benign creatures. The museum also includes the original Perth prison used from 1856 to 1888 and the site of many hangings.

Berndt Museum of Anthropology
You will find of the finest exhibitions of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art and artifacts from the Northern Territory and Western Australia at this museum. It is located at the University of WA in Nedlands.

Perth Beaches
Perth has some of the finest surf and sheltered beaches in Australia. Scarborough Beach is probably the most famous with its beachside cafes and restaurants and magnificent surfing facilities. There is also a popular nude beach at Swanbourne. Perth beaches are best enjoyed before the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ blows in the afternoons. You also need to be aware of the dangers from shark attacks and confine your swimming to the safe patrolled areas.

Rottnest Island
Rottnest is a sandy island 19 kilometres off the coast from Fremantle. The island is home to small indigenous marsupials known as quokkas which were thought to be rats by Dutch explorer de Vlamingh who named the island ‘Rats nest” in Dutch. The island is a popular playground for Perth locals and tourists with beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and some of the southernmost coral reefs in the world. There is a camping ground and a handful of restaurants. You can access the island by plane or ferry from Perth or Fremantle.

Margaret River
The town of Margaret River is in the far southwest of the state below Bunbury. The region has earned a reputation as one of the finest wine regions in Australia. Here you can sample the wine in gourmet vineyard restaurants in many of the fifty or so wineries in Margaret River. Among the many attractions in the area are caves, sandy white beaches, native forests and bush tracks to explore the rugged Indian Ocean coastline.

Fremantle
Although the port town of Fremantle is only 19 kilometres southwest of Perth’s CBD it has a strong identity and atmosphere of its own. The town was regenerated for the (unsuccessful) defence of the America’s Cup in 1987. It is now an eclectic mix of outdoor cafes, seafood restaurants and street markets. The AFL football club - The Fremantle Dockers - has also helped put the town on the map throughout Australia. Both the town and the team are colloquially known as “Freo”. Fremantle is easily accessed from Perth by road, train and Swan River ferry.

The Swan River
The estuary of the Swan River flows through the city of Perth and is widely used for sailing, boating, windsurfing and other forms of aquatic recreation. Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh named it in 1697 after the famous black swans in the area.

Kalgoorlie
The gold mining town of Kalgoorlie is 600 kilometres east of Perth and is on the route of the trans continental Indian Pacific rail service. It is also linked to Perth by daily services operated by Transwa. The population of 30,000 is around the same as it was in 1903. The concentrated area of large gold mines surrounding the original find is often referred to as the Golden Mile, and is thought to be the richest square mile of earth on the planet. The infamous Hay Street brothels enhance its reputation as a rough and tough male dominated town.

Broome
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley in the far northwest of the state. The 14,000 population grows to 30,000 during the tourist season which extends from April to September. Its beaches on the Indian Ocean are a major attraction. The wet season is subject to tropical downpours and occasional cyclones. Explorer William Dampier first visited the area in 1688. The pearling industry dates back to the 1880s when the harvesting of oysters for mother of pearl commenced. Today there is a cultured pearl farming industry. Many of the early pearl divers were Japanese, several of whom lost their lives in the industry. Broome was bombed twice by the Japanese in World War II killing more than 100 military personnel and civilians. Dinosaur prints from the Cretaceous Age can be seen at very low tide at Gantheaume Point.

Albany
The city of Albany is on the south coast of Western Australia 408 kilometres from Perth. The area is rich in history. The Dutch seafarer Francois Thijssen was the first European explorer to visit this part of the coastline in the ship Gulden Zeepaert in 1626. In 1791, English explorer George Vancouver took possession of New Holland for the British Crown. He entered and named King George Sound. Mathew Flinders entered King George Sound in 1801 as part of the first circumnavigation of Australia. Albany was the only deep-water port in Western Australia until the port of Fremantle was constructed in 1897. Today Albany is a thriving tourism, fishing and agriculture regional centre with beautiful beaches and a spectacular outlook over the Southern Ocean. Whaling was a major industry before the 1950’s but now the whaling station is a museum of whaling with exhibits including a whale chaser used when the industry was active. Albany’s proximity to the southern coastline has made it an ideal location for a large wind farm that generates 75% of the town’s electricity needs.

Esperance
The town of Esperance is around 7½ hours by road from Perth and 4 hours from the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. The town offers beautiful beaches for swimming, scuba diving and surfing. There are five national parks near the town including Cape Le Grand National Park that offers white sandy beaches, fishing and hiking terrain. The climate is Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool wet winters influenced by winds from the Southern Ocean. Esperance is also a busy deepwater port handling exports of grain and iron ore.

Daytrips
Perth is the perfect launching point to discover a wide variety of sites and landscapes. Whether you are a wine expert, willing to explore the desert or visit historic towns, Perth will provide you with plenty of thrilling daytrip choices.

Swan Valley is situated along the northern outskirts of Perth, and is loaded with vineyards and outdoor activities. A perfect mix of beautiful countryside and enjoyable culinary activities, the valley also hosts the Caversham Wildlife Park in Whiteman Park.

Perth Hills (east of the city) and Avon Valley (farther northeast) are other excellent choices to spend a delightful day away from Perth. Making your way through stunning scenery, you will enjoy some of the most famous tourist drives of the country. Heading to the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park will ensure you come face to face with splendid limestone formations shaped by erosion and wind.

A trip to the Serpentine National Park will provide you with the opportunity to hike in wonderful landscapes, with the main spot being the Serpentine Falls. The old mill town of Jarrahdale will immerse the tourist in the not-so-long-ago past of the area. Meanwhile, Rotnnest Island (‘Rotto’) off of Fremantle will please bird lovers, snorkelling aficionados and sun bakers alike.

Must-see attractions
Must-see attractions in Perth are numerous. The major one is King’s Park, a perfect mixture of bush land and manmade gardens which offers breathtaking views of the city and its skyscrapers.

Perth Zoo, located in south Perth, will please family visitors and hosts a wide range of animals and a native species breeding programme. The Aquarium of Western Australia allows visitors to discover Western Australia’s coastline and spot their own Nemo. The aquarium is located 20 minutes north of the city at Hillary’s Boat Harbour.

The Scitech Interactive science and technology centre and the Planetarium are great destinations to know more about the sciences that surround us in our daily lives and are suitable for the whole family.

Best time to go
Perth has a Mediterranean type of climate, which means that summers are dry and winters mild but rainy. The best time to go to Perth is from September to November (spring) and from March through May (autumn). The summer months are often too hot to fully enjoy the beauties and activities of Perth.

Rainy day suggestions
The Western Australia Museum exhibits the area’s heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions and is an ideal rainy day destination. Alternatively, the Art Gallery of Western Australia welcomes those interested in indigenous and contemporary art.

Your search for indoor activities might lead you to Fremantle Prison. The prison was decommissioned in the early 1990s and is now a museum presenting convict life in the 19th century. To meet the most precious stars, visit the Perth Observatory which offers daytime tour with knowledgeable guidance from the museum staff.

Hamburg Airport
The Hamburg airport is airport is located 8km (5 miles) north of the city and served by a transfer service that leaves every 15 minutes from 0600-2330 and taxis (around 25 Euros). All the major car hire companies have desks in the terminal. See EasyCar.com for the best deals on Rental cars in Hamburg.

Sightseeing Highlights
With its centuries long procession of sailors pouring out of schooners, destroyers, tankers and frigates it’s hardly surprising that Hamburg is home to the Disneyland of red light districts: Huge in scale, creative minds coming up with a new spin on the central theme all the time and a tourist attraction in its own right. It’s in the St Pauli district (ironically named for the celibate apostle) with the Reeperbahn its main street and cranks up in the late afternoon when up to 40,000 people come to cruise its bars, sex clubs, eateries, shows and cafes. Once a sleazy, crime-ridden ghetto, like Times Square it’s been largely sanitised, with the hookers almost an exotic add-on amongst the neon, boisterous crowds and carnival atmosphere.

The Port of Hamburg makes up 12% of the entire city and while a series of wharves and docks is not a usual tourist destination the history and scale of this one makes it worth a look. You can get a good view of of the sprawling complex at the Stingfang stone balcony above the Landungsbrucken U/S Bahn stop or take a cruise to view the harbour at sea level. Other maritime sights include the museum aboard the Rickmer Rickmers an 1896 windjammer and the immigration and shipping exhibits on the newer and larger vessel, Cap Son Diego.

Although not in the same league as Berlin’s showpiece civic museums, Hamburg has an interesting collection. The best include: The Kunsthalle for art from the middle ages to the 20th Century (Klee, Munch, Kokoschka) as well as a series of 19th Century Germa paintings; The Galerie der Gegenwart for modern pieces (Baselitz, Richter Koons, Hockney). The Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe (Arts and Crafts Museum) with a huge collection of everything from jewellery, porcelain, musical instruments and sculpture to posters, interior and graphic design and furniture. The Museum fur Volkerkunde (Museum of Ethnology) with objects and displays such as masks, sculptures, canoes, costumes and musical instruments from Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. The Museum der Arbeit (Museum of Work) focussing on the working environment that has evolved in and around Hamburg.

One of the city’s most idiosyncratic features blossoms for a few hours every Sunday morning and then with its frenetic energy expended lies dormant for the rest of the week. The attraction? The Fischmarket in St Pauli which starts around 5:00am (7:00am Oct-Mar) on the banks of the Elbe just south of the Reeperbahn. Of course, its myriad stalls offer all kinds of seafood - prawns, fish fillets, eels and shelfish but also all manner of flora, clothes, fruit and vegetables and hot snacks for the early risers or late finishers still reeking of beer looking for a bratwurst and roll to soak up some of the night’s excesses. The whole atmosphere is enlivened by the cheeky patter of the spruikers hawking their wares or just flirting with the passers by with a wink and a theatrical leer. Live music pumps from the nearby Fischauktionshalle (Fish Auction Hall) where the audience chorus mixes with the pungent aroma of beer and sausage to fill the senses. Around 10:00am it’s all over for another week and the debris is swept up and the city relaxes into its Sunday before the working week begins again.

Daytrips
Hamburg is less than an hour’s drive away from several Baltic and North Sea beaches. The most popular among Germans are Sankt Peter-Ording, a famous surfing destination, and the North Sea island of Sylt, the country’s northernmost point, boasting one of Europe’s longest unbroken beach strips. Another North Sea island, Heligoland, regularly boasts winter temperatures up to 10° different to mainland Hamburg and is virtually free from pollen.

The medieval Baltic city of Luebeck, 60km northeast of Hamburg, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, while the northeastern suburb of Ahrensburg features a Renaissance castle originally built in 1595. The world’s largest sailing event and one of Germany’s biggest festivals takes place each June in the city of Kiel, located an hour’s drive from Hamburg.
The Altes Land region, featuring farmhouses with elaborately decorated gateways, is the world’s northernmost fruit growing area, as well as Central Europe’s largest.

Must-see attractions
Hamburg is a city filled with street parties, parks, theatre, music, and history. Ohlsdorfer Friedhof includes one of the world’s largest graveyards, Planten un Bloomen features beautiful flower displays, and an old water tower converted into a planetarium is located in the middle of the Stadtpark. The city zoo is Hagenbecks Tierpark.

The HafenCity Viewpoint tower offers the most outstanding panoramic view of Hamburg’s skyline, harbour and surrounding Elbe River. The Alter Elbtunnel beneath the river, decorated with engravings of marine life, fishing boats, and other maritime symbols, is an even more unique way to view the city.

Sailing and boat tours of the city’s harbour and large artificial lakes, Binnenalster and Außenalster, are also popular. Zollenbrücke, Hamburg’s oldest existing bridge, was originally built during the 17th century.

One of Hamburg’s more unusual attractions, the Miniaturwunderland, allows visitors to explore the world without leaving the city. The American west, the Alps, and an exhibit of automated sailing ships representing Scandinavia are all represented in the world’s largest model railway layout.

Most of Hamburg’s small beaches are located between Blankenese and Övelgönne on the Elbe River’s north side. The Elbe is safe for swimming, except for the huge waves created by passing container ships. Visitors may also bring their own grills for beachside barbecuing, as long as they clean up afterwards.

Best time to go
Thanks to the North Sea’s breezes, Hamburg’s summers are usually hot and damp, while winter is typically chilly and windy, but rarely cold enough to freeze water. Hamburg is rarely crowded during the summer because many locals spend their holidays in warmer European countries, but showers are frequent, so rain gear is highly recommended for summertime visitors. The drier spring climate, with weather almost as warm as summer, is perhaps the best time to visit Hamburg. Autumn is also fairly mild and sunny.

Rainy day suggestions
A rainy Hamburg summer day provides the perfect opportunity to explore the city’s several churches and museums. Hamburg’s immense and historic city hall offers daily guided tours in English, French, and German. The steeple on top of the ruins of St Nikolai Church, the only one of Hamburg’s five main churches not rebuilt as an anti-war memorial, offers a beautiful view of the city’s skyline. There are also several English theatre and concert presentations throughout Hamburg.

In 2005, Singapore Airlines unveiled the slogan “First to fly the A380 - experience the difference in 2006″, to promote itself as the world’s first airline to take delivery of the A380-800 double-decker super jumbo, which was expected to occur in the 2nd quarter of 2006 but has since been pushed back to later in the year. Singapore Airlines was the first airline to offer free headsets and drinks. Its reputation for service quality has made it the world’s most awarded airline to date. Singapore Airlines has an in-flight entertainment system, KrisWorld, which screens the latest movies and includes Nintendo games. Each seat has it own personal television. Krisworld has recently been upgraded in all classes to feature On-demand video and audio, where each user can select any particular film or television programme from the considerably large in-flight library at any time, and can pause, rewind and fast forward through it from their in seat video controller and personal screen.

Singapore Airlines has been around for 60 years and can trace its roots back to when a Malayan Airways aircraft left Singapore’s Kalang Airport en route to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang on 1 May 1947. This thrice-weekly jaunt is how the airline got its wings, acquired more aircraft and subsequently growing to become one of the biggest and most respected airlines in the world. The carrier has gone through a few names to get to the simple moniker of Singapore Airlines. Having begun operations under the title of Malayan Airways Limited Airspeed Consul, when the federation of Malaysia was born on 16 September 1963, the airline was renamed Malaysian Airways Limited. Three years later, to include the city-state of Singapore, the name was again changed to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines.

Up until this point, the airline used a variety of aircraft for its flights. There were Fokker F27s, Vickers Viscount and a DC-4 Skymaster among other aircraft. In 1972, when the company split into two separate entities - Singapore Airlines and the Malaysian Airline System, Singapore Airlines took advantage of the situation and began to purchase Boeing planes. The new face of Singapore Airlines was that of modernity and a fleet of Boeing 747 jets was acquired and a new freight terminal and hangar for the 747s was constructed.

Singapore likes its planes big. In the 1980s, Singapore Airlines became the first airline in the world to use an Airbus A300 Superbus, and also used Boeing 747-300 and B757s. The next decade saw more ambitious purchases of behemoth aircraft and by 2000, with the order of 19 A380s from Airbus, the airline now has one of the largest and most modern fleets in the world. Anyone who has taken a flight with Singapore Airlines knows that there is no corners cut when it comes to service. Whether you’re first class or economy, the in-flight entertainment system is superb and will pass the time of any long-haul flight with ease. The airline boasts decent food and free drinks as well. Singapore Airlines was actually the first airline to start a free drinks service.

Make a flight booking on Singapore Airlines website

A gleaming portal between east and west, Singapore polarises opinion. Praised as a clean, safe, efficient multi-cultural metropolis or derided as a sterile, paternalistic, monotonous temple to mammon. Well, it’s your choice to see it as one or the other - Singapore doesn’t really mind, as long as you spend up big in the city’s emporiums (and don’t chew gum while you’re at it). The city rose from the ashes of World War II - a corrupt, mosquito-ridden colonial outpost eking a living as a trading centre by virtue of its strategic position at the centre of S-E Asia and its natural port.

Changi International Airport
The city is served by Changi Airport (IATA: SIN) is the major aviation hub in South East Asia. It is located in Changi, approximately 20 km (12 miles) northeast of the centre of Singapore. Operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Changi Airport is the home base of Singapore Airlines and is served by 78 other airlines. The airport hosts roughly four thousand flights per week to 177 cities around the world.

Sightseeing Highlights
Since then it has morphed into a wealthy, modern city-state that takes pride in its achievements and doesn’t care if it doesn’t meet western stereotypes of the inscrutable orient.So why visit it? Well you probably wouldn’t if you’re a twenty-something backpacker with a thirst for adventure and a taste for Asian mystique. But if you want a secure air-lock between back-home familiarity and a gentle oriental breeze then Singapore is a great way to acclimatise yourself to the rest of the region.
So, what to do? Singapore provides you with lots to see and do on an island just 42km wide by 23 km long. It all starts at the modern shopping mall that doubles as Changi Airport. A quick ride into town sees you at Singapore’s nerve-centre, Orchard Rd. The fruit trees have long gone, replaced with a wall-to-wall strip of department stores, malls, food courts, coffee shops, hotels and restaurants. Peak times will see you part of the thick but smoothly flowing stream of Singaporeans - an espresso mix of ethnic Chinese, Malays and Indians with a shot of steamed milk in the form of European expats and tourists. There are enough “highlight” spots to keep you on the go for a few days before you plunge into the exotica of Asia proper or scamper back to the familiarity of the west.

Singapore Zoo - Perhaps the best tropical zoo in the world, Singapore’s is more a taste of Eden where the visitor feels more a natural part of the environment rather than a consumer in an animal shopping mall. Spend an afternoon at the zoo, have some dinner, then at 7:30pm head for the Night Safari - a unique wildlife park given over specifically to nocturnal creatures such as leopards, tigers, bats and hippos.

The city has four or five museums worth a few hours apiece. There are two Asian Civilizations Museums known (efficiently enough) as One and Two. One is in the museum district at the southern end of Orchard Rd. It houses a range of artefacts and relics from the ancestors of Singapore’s ethnic cultures including textiles, lacquerware, jewellery, porcelain and jade. Two is on the Singapore River and has a series of themed galleries showing highlights from the region’s key cultures - Chinese, Islamic, Malay, Indian, Indonesian, Filipino etc. The Art Museum has a collection of paintings, sculpture and installations with a focus on Asian artists supplemented by travelling exhibitions from the US and Europe. The Singapore History Museum has a collection that focuses on the history of the city itself. It includes dioramas of key events in its evolution from Raffles’ landing to parliamentary independence.

Raffles
As London has The Ritz and New York the Waldorf-Astoria, Singapore’s grand, history-infused hotel is Raffles. More a secular cathedral to the faded glories of colonial grandeur, it is much, much more than just a place to stay. Home to fine restaurants, a culinary school, souvenir shops, a deli, cafes, a bakery and even its own museum. The casual visitor can soak up the atmosphere for the price of a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar or take high tea in the Tiffin Room.
ChijmesDiagonally opposite Raffles is a unique city block called Chijmes. Dominated by a glorious needle-spired chapel, once a convent, it is now a collection of hip restaurants, exhibition spaces and art and craft shops. Wander in for a peek during the afternoon and it will entice you to linger through the evening and into the night as the clubs start to fill with energised locals and the music of the region’s ubiquitous Filipino pop bands.

Sentosa
As Singapore is to the Malay Peninsula, so Sentosa is to Singapore: a small island off its southern tip. You can get there by ferry, over a causeway or, best of all, a cable car that affords a breathtaking view of the city and its lifeblood - the wharves and docks that are in perpetual motion. Sentosa has been developed into a daytrippers’ diversion replete with an aquarium, butterfly park, resort hotels, a diorama museum and a volcano show. It also has easily accessible beaches (though the sight of dozens of oil and cargo ships just offshore might make think twice before taking a dip).

“Little” Singapores
In an echo of its ethnically-ghettoed past Singapore has a well-preserved Chinatown, Little India and Old Malaya. The former, with its narrow warrens of streets and shophouses filled with cafes bars, shops and temples, gives you a sense of what life was like for Chinese coolies. But don’t glance up or your reverie will be popped by the skyscrapers of the city’s financial district a stone’s throw away. Highlights of Little India include an arcade of the same name with shops selling saris, Hindu religious paraphernalia, Ayurvedic medicines and Indian sweets and snacks; several Hindu temples; and the Tekka Centre markets with a bewildering array of spices, cooked food and household essentials. Kampong Glam is the centre of Muslim Singapore. Arab Street is full of shops selling cane & rattan goods, leather goods and Islamic religious effects; Istana Kampong Glam is the old sultan’s palace currently being redeveloped but worth a look from outside; and Sultan Mosque is a grand piece of Arabesque architecture.

Botanic Gardens
A verdant oasis that serves as the city’s lungs, the Botanic Gardens providesa respite from the grime and breakneck pace just a few streets away. It’s easy to become entranced by the lakes, waterfalls and landscaped fountains set amongst a mix of manicured lawns, primal jungle and orchid stands. The Gardens are complemented by a restaurant, a concert stage set on an island and a well-equipped visitors’ centre.

The Quays
Singapore makes good use of its river and there are two strips in particular where you can choose from a plethora of bars and restaurants. Boat Quay is closer to the bay and is lined with waterfront eateries of every description. Not sure what you might get? Don’t worry; there are full colour photos of most dishes on the menu and touts eager to extol the virtues of their particular cuisine. For the curious, the famous Harry’s Bar is at one end of the Quay where you can down an ale at the place where Nick Leeson, lived it up before he brought down Barings. Clark Quay is a mile or so upriver and while deserted during the day, comes alive when the sun goes down and the revellers come out. The usual range of drinking outlets is complemented by a micro-brewery and a gaggle of food stalls known collectively as the Satay Club (guess what the speciality is?).

Hawker Markets
Renowned for its range of and passion for food, a trip to Singapore would be missing something if you didn’t plunge into its communal kitchen-cum-dining-rooms - the hawker food markets. Once just places wherever mobile carts congregated, many (but not all) are now permanent fixtures replete with refrigerators, plumbing and regular health inspections. Great just to wander around for their colour, energy and sense of theatre, you can browse the displays of seafood, the satay braziers or the fruit juice stalls before settling on something that takes your fancy. It will invariably be prepared fresh to order, lip-smacking good and inexpensive. In walking distance of (or a short cab trip from) Orchard Rd, try Newton Circus Food Centre but there are lots of others around the city.

The Colonial Core
For those interested in neo-classical, colonial architecture there is a portfolio of historic artefacts that stand as a forlorn echo of England’s stamp of authority on its far-flung possessions. They are all clustered around Raffle’s landing site on a bend in the Singapore River and include the Supreme Court, Old Parliament House, the City Hall and the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. It can be vaguely satisfying to stroll around the district, admire the British appropriation of the stylistic ideas of ancient Greece and Rome and reflect on the transience of all once invincible empires.

Daytrips
Daytrips for visitors holidaying in Singapore can be made by hire car to destinations on the island itself or can be made by boat to neighbouring islands. The former option involves some personal planning, while the latter can be left in the hands of tour companies.

Popular excursions by boat include those to the Kusu and St John’s islands, the first reachable in about 20 minutes and the second in around 30 minutes. On Kusu Island, be sure to check out the Chinese temple and the Malay shrine, while on St John’s Island, you’ll find a small urban development with a mosque, bungalows and sporting facilities.

Also well worth a visit is Palau Ubin, an island where life still follows old traditions and visitors can observe authentic kampong villages while exploring the scenic rural landscape. Boats leave throughout the day for the island from the pier at Changi Village.

Must-see attractions
Singapore’s Chinatown is famed as one of its most significant attractions and for being one of the most authentic oriental districts in Asia away from mainland China. Visitors will find a wealth of great Chinese eateries as well as numerous traditional retail outlets selling everything from old-fashioned herbal medicines to Chinese artworks.

The Botanic Gardens are worth a trip if you enjoy viewing interesting tropical flora. This pretty nature centre is home to stunning landscaped areas with lakes and fountains. If you’re keen to see important Singaporean landmarks, then make the Parliament House your next stop. Dating back to 1827, this is the island’s oldest government building.

Next up, head for the Cenotaph, 10-metre high monument located in Esplanade Park. The statue was erected in honour of the 124 Singaporean soldiers who died during WWI. For something a little more light hearted, a trip to the thrill-packed water theme park Fantasy Island is a must. The park has numerous pools, slides and water rides and is the country’s most popular family attraction.

Best time to go
The climate is sub-tropical, bringing Singapore hot and humid weather for the greater part of the year. From a visitor’s perspective, the dry season from February through April or May is the best time to take a holiday in Singapore. Before that (November to January), there’s a high probability of rain and after that (June to August), temperatures can be stiflingly hot and high levels of humidity can make things uncomfortable.

Rainy day suggestions
On rainy days, consider spending your time in Singapore’s fascinating museums, of which there is a good selection covering a variety of themes and subject matter. The Asian Civilisations Museum is a popular choice for anyone interested in the history and heritage of Asian cultures while the Republic of Singapore Navy Museum will appeal to anyone with maritime interests.

If museums are not your thing, then head for any of the island’s 250 shopping malls where you can enjoy hours of air-conditioned retail therapy.

Brussels Airlines offers excellent choices for low-cost and flexible one-way trips from the UK to Brussels and to 50 other destinations in Europe. As the leading airline company that flies from the UK to Belgium, it aims to provide customers with services that are reliable, safe and friendly.

A new airline, Brussels Airlines was established on the 7th of November 2006 as a result of the merger between Virgin Expres – one of the first low cost European airlines - and SN Brussels Airlines - the biggest Belgian airline that offered full service to its passengers. Both airlines were reputed for their reliability, punctuality, and for their low cost flights. Brussels Airlines aims to continue to live by those criteria.

With their new name, the airline embarked its inaugural flight on the 25th of March the following year. Although Brussels Airlines is relatively new to the industry, its accumulated knowledge and experience in aviation in the new era has helped to earn it the trust of its customers. Along with its team of crew members, the airline takes pride in its respect to everyone working and contributing to the reputation and performance of the company. In order to achieve this, Brussels Airlines has established core its brand values that they are continuing to uphold.

Brussels Airlines puts itself in its customer’s shoes while focusing on things that can make a difference. They do this to be able to deliver the best value for their customer’s money. The airline is also takes pride in meeting the requirements of highly discerning customers and those with special requirements.

Today, Brussels Airlines flies a variety of different aircraft that depend on the destination and the length of the flight within the American, Europaen, and African continents. Every aeroplane is equipped with leather seats that are comfortable along with all the mod-cons its customers could desire. Brussels Airlines is currently offering long-haul and medium-haul flights daily to Brussels, Helsinki, , Moscow, Tel Aviv, several destinations in Africa. Its key departure points in the UK are at London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, London Heathrow, Newcastle, and Bristol.

Make a Flight Booking on the Brussels Airlines Website

Customers who book online also enjoy additional savings of £125 per person, which apply to overall package costs. Adriatic cruises, Dalmations cruises, and Black Sea cruises are also available. All prices include non-optional extras such as duty charges for passengers and fuel supplements. Balkan Holidays earned a place in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fastrack 100 which lists the fastest growing privately-owned companies in Britain in 2004. Balkan Holidays also won the British Travel Awards for Best Tour Operator to Other European Destinations in 2005 as well as the BMI Travel Award for Best Tour Operator to Central and Eastern Europe.

For their customer’s peace of mind, Balkan Holidays is a fully bonded member of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) as well as an accredited agent under the IATA (International Air Transport Association). All flights issued by the company also have ATOL (Air Travel Organizer’s License) protection as issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. The company is registered as Balkan Holidays Ltd in Wales and England.

Visit the Balkan Holidays Website

A Trip to Boracay
The butterfly-shaped island of Boracay is seven kilometres long and about one kilometre wide. It’s famous for its white, sandy beaches, tropical flora and fauna, large caves, and turquoise waters which are plentifully endowed with live coral and tropical fish species. Boracay island is surrounded by coral reefs and is ideal for people who like lazying about on beach resorts as well as those who enjoy more active pursuits such as diving, water skiing, fishing, jet skiing and wind surfing. Boracay sits at the northern tip of the much larger Panay Island in the Phillipines. Transport is available to Panay Island by air from Manila via Asian Spirit, Cebu Pacific Air or Seair. It will take about an hour to fly there by turbo prop and then transfer by speedboat about 30 minutes.

Cebu Pacific Air Landing at Kalibo Airport, Panay Island.
The island’s main tourist thoroughfare is White Beach where the sand is - yes you guessed it - as white as flour and and is surrounded with coconut trees from one end to the other. There is a great variety of hotels on the White Beach from five star luxury to the cheap backpacker haunts. Cars are banned on the island and so everyone must move about on foot, motorcycle or tricycles which can be hired for daily use inexpensively. On the beaches there are several restaurants where a variety of cuisine is served from many parts of the world. In close proximity to the sea, the beach restaurants often enable travellers to enjoy an amazing view of the sunset over dinner. Meals are prepared from fresh seafood and there is a large variety of eastern cuisine: Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Korean dishes, as well as European and even Mexican and Brazilian and many restaurants have “happy hour”. Prices in restaurants and cafes are generally very reasonable. There are many small shops, currency exchange and pharmacy in the White Beach district. For those keen to work up a sweat there are several sports available such as tennis, golf, bowling, mini golf, sailing and horse riding.

There are more than 20 diving schools on the island which offer instructions in several languages and there are dozens of places for scuba diving which are suitable for beginners as well as for experienced divers. Borcay has great night life and they often stage free concerts and parties featuring local rock bands and DJs. The bars, discos, restaurants, and karaoke clubs do a roaring trade. The most popular pub is “Cocomangas” where it’s possible to purchase exotic cocktails. If you can drink 15 “shooters” – a small glasswith a strong mixture of whisky, tequila, rum, gin you receive a gift, and your name will be engraved on the table alognside those of other winners.

Sightseeing
The so-called “dead wood” forest is situated near Bulabog Beach. Many decades ago the small dam near the beach collapsed and flooded the forest destroying the local flora. A local legend emerged about supernatural forces in the dead wood forest at night during the full moon. You’re unlikely to see evil spirits there but you can certainly take some amazing pictures. Kagban Beach in the eastern part of the island and is a perfect spot for diving and treasure hunting. According to a legend there are pirates’ chests with treasure that are hidden in many caves off the coast. The highest place in the island is Laho mountain which is 100 meters above sea level. There is a small café on the top of the mountain where you can purchase soft drinks and have a quip kip in a hammock. It’s easiest to get there by motorcycle or motorised tricycle. At Ilig-Iligan there is a private museum which exhibits a rich collection of sea shells of varying shapes and sizes.

Located on the rocky coastline on the eastern part of the island there are caves which are inhabited by fruit bats with wingspans often reaching more than a metre in length. They are nocturnal creatures and leave their caves to dine on fruit morselsa at night. The Gloria and Robert Tirol Heritage Museum is a free private museum located on White Beach which exhibits artefacts from the island’s historical heritage and is open from 9:00 AM to 9 PM . The world famous Puka Shell Beach is about 800 meters in length and is renowned for its small white cockleshells. which became popular in the 70s when Elizabeth Taylor appeared in public in a bead necklace that were made from them. Over at the “Talipapa” bazaar you can purchase ornaments and keepsakes that were made from local trees and cockleshells as well as figurines and other kitch souvenirs.

Climate and weather
Boracay has a classic tropical climate so it’s always hot and humid. The dry season is from March to May) and the the rainy season from June to November. From May to October the southwest monsoon - known as the “habakat” occursand from November and April there are the drier winds known as the “amihan”.
In October-November the weather is often windy, rainy and cloudy. The best time to travel from a weather perspective is from November to April. The largest influxes of tourists occur during the December- February holiday season as well as the Easter period which is known as “Holy Week” in the Phillipines.

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Daytrips
Boracay is small enough to theoretically walk to every attraction on the island, but renting a scooter is a fun alternative to hoofing it, especially when you consider the cool breeze created by cruising. Some of the finest beaches are located on the deserted north and south ends of the island, and a scooter will ensure an easy day trip spent lounging or snorkelling in sublime isolation.

The roads on Boracay are works in progress to put it politely, but still in good enough shape to handle easily on a scooter. Baling Hai’s pristine little cove, and end-of-the road Puka Beach are two destinations worth the drive. Alternatively, hire your own traditional outrigger boat for a cruise around Boracay. For pennies you can see the whole island from the unique offshore perspective.

Horseback riding is another superb way to get off the beaten track and check out local villages tucked into the island’s interior. Boracay Horse Riding Stables will ensure scenery only possible by horseback. There are also around 20 scuba diving shops around White Beach, offering countless day trips into Boracay’s surreal underwater realm.

Must-see attractions
The beaches of Boracay are what lure most travellers to this isolated Philippine destination, and White Beach is the epitome of tropical splendour. Powdery white sand, azure water and shady palms create a postcard ambience, despite the large range of tourist amenities along the beach. Rent a reclining chair and spend the day soaking in memories for when you’re back at home.

The Bat Cave is an interesting site offering a change of scenery from the sea and sand. This popular tour will take you on a short hike to a hidden cave in the jungle where fruit bats with wingspans over a metre swarm out every evening. This is an adventurous excursion best done at dusk, but you won’t forget the image of thousands of bats exiting their cave for the dinner hunt.

To get a better perspective on the layout of Boracay Island, make the trek up to Mount Luho, the highest point on the island. It takes a bit of effort to climb 100m above sea level but the panorama is worth every step and drop of sweat. Snorkelling and diving options are fantastic around Boracay. Ilig-Iligan Beach has some world-class snorkelling right off the beach, while the dive sites are just too numerous to mention.

Best time to go
Boracay has two seasons dominated by its two monsoons known as the Amihan and the Habagat. From November through March the Amihan weather is cooler and typically drier, with average temperatures between 25C and 32C. April through June is the hot season, with temperatures staying well into the upper 30sC. This is the prime season for diving due to high visibility. June to October brings the rainy Habagat season, with frequent heavy rain and high humidity.

Rainy day suggestions
If you have the bad luck of a rainy day on Boracay, check out the Kar-Tir Shell Museum on Iligan Beach, which features seashells as well as local handicrafts and impressive woven textiles. A massage is also a great way to unwind, especially from the professional blind masseurs at Fausto’s Shiatsu Massage. If you’re willing to don a rain jacket, check out the Talipapa central market, which will probably be pleasantly uncrowded on a rainy day.

Rotterdam Airport
Rotterdam Airport is 8km north-west of the city with a bus service (No 33) running a 20 minute shuttle to Central Station every 12 minutes. Taxis are around €20. All the major car hire companies have desks in the terminal. See EasyCar for the best deals on Rental cars in Rotterdam.

Flights to Rotterdam
For the cheapest flights to Rotterdam, try KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines and Transavia. The Belgian airline VLM also has a large fleet of Fokker F50 turboprops which fly non-stop to Rotterdam daily from London City Airport and can be booked online. Flights also depart from Jersey, Isle of Man, Liverpool and Manchester airports. KLM flies from several British airports to Rotterdam via Amsterdam (Schipol). VLM flies the Fokker F50 which is a twin engine turboprop carrying up to 58 passengers, but you will actually arrive in Rotterdam sooner because the aircraft does not fly via Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport. It flies non-stop from London City Airport to Rotterdam. This reduces the flying time from 90 to 60 minutes.

Sightseeing Highlights
Like a modern-day Venice, Rotterdam is bisected by a grand canal called the Nieuwe Maas although given its raison d’etre as a port, Rotterdam’s is not a quaint tourist trap but a vast shipping channel. The channel is criss-crossed by a series of bridges and tunnels with the waterfront itself being a 15 minute walk from Central Station. It’s a great place to get a feel for the heart and soul of the city and the enormous Port of Rotterdam has several interesting focal points for the visitor. The Scheepvaartkwartier (Shipping Quarter) is between the Euromast and the Erasmus Bridge around the Veerhaven Dock. The buildings in the district bear the marks of their nautical associations like tattoos on a sailor with their decorations of ships and other maritime scenes. The Westelijk Handelsterrein, once a commercial district made up of warehouses is now home to trendy galleries, restaurants and cafes. The Oude Haven (Old Harbour) is near the Blaak station and you can see some harbour remnants dating from the 14th century and some wonderfully preserved historic boats.

As interesting as it is to stroll around the hyperactive port itself, there are several maritime-themed museums that pay homage to the city’s lifeblood. The Maritiem Museum Rotterdam dates from 1874 and showcases the art and craft of shipbuilding, marine equipment and paraphernalia such as steam engines, cranes and navigational instruments, models of sea-going craft. There is also an entire floor dedicated to interactive exhibits for children called Professor Plons (Splash) including periscopes, unloading oil tankers and cargo ships and sailing simulators. The beautifully restored warship De Buffel built in 1868 is moored in the harbour right outside. The Rotterdam Historical Museum explains how the city developed into the dynamic port of today. The Openlucht Binnenvaart Museum is dedicated to inland water transport and has a good collection of barges in a basin some still undergoing restoration. Focussing on Dutch naval history is the Mariniers Museum (Naval Museum) which provides displays on the lives of the seamen and officers who served in the navy as well its history and ships. For those with more specialised tastes the Tax and Customs Museum provides an insight into the creativity of smugglers.

Apart from its marine-themed museums, Rotterdam has a wonderful collection of art-related and general museums. Ranking among the country’s, if not Europe’s, best art galleries is the Museum Boijmans van Breuningen. It covers an enormous span of art history and holds a continuing cycle of well-curated temporary exhibitions. The permanent collection ranges across all major schools of Dutch and continental art from old masters (Bosch, Bruegel, Rembrandt) to the Impressionists (Van Gogh, Monet, Gaugin, Degas) to the modernists (Duchamp, Magritte, Dali). There’s a lovely sculpture garden attached (featuring Oldenburg’s Bent Screw) and a user-friendly highlight is the “holographic projection portal” that helps visitors locate any piece in the collection instantly. With around 25 different temporary collections each year the Kunsthal can be fascinating or tedious depending on what happens to be installed at the time but is often experimental and covers a range of media including installations, design and photography. The Wereldmuseum (World Arts Museum) showcases international culture both historic and contemporary. The museum’s prize pieces are in The Treasury including pre-Columbian pottery, African sculpture, Buddhist carvings from Asia and Iranian lacquer. For a look at everyday Dutch life through the ages visit the Historisch Museum Het Schielandhuis situated in one of the city’s few preserved 17th century buildings. Photography aficionados will love the Nederlands Fotomuseum which, although small, has a superb collection of photographic art and also acts as an archive and information centre for photographers. Natural history is documented in the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam with a fairly standard collection of fossils, skeletons, insect displays and various stuffed animals.

As well as being inextricably linked to the sea, Rotterdam is also justifiably proud of its status as one the world’s cutting edge showcases of modern architecture. While its often spectacular built environment is immediately apparent to the visitor an excellent place to learn more about the art is the Nederlands Architectuur Instituut. As well as playing a role as an architectural archive it also has fascinating exhibitions about building design and has numerous models including those depicting urban planning, houses and public buildings. Of course, for the best architectural experience you simply have to wander (or cycle) the city from intriguing sight to intriguing site. Some you might find spectacular, others ugly and still others downright weird. But there are few places in the world that have such an enormous mix of the art in such a small area. Some of the highlights are: the Erasmusburg, an 800m bridge across the Nieuwe Maas; the Willemsbrug, the city’s other iconic bridge; the KPN Telekom building, Renzo Piano’s precarious-looking piece, the three Boompjestorens which are apartment blocks; the Huis Sonnenfeld, a 1930’s modernist house next to the Architectuur Instituut, Willemswerf used by shipping giant Nedlloyd as its global HQ; the Witte Huis, at 12 stories and dating from 1897, one of Europe’s first skyscrapers, the Kubuswoningen, an amazing tumble of cube-shaped apartments with a slender tower; the Groothandelsgebouw, literally “large business building” a post-war design; and the Euromast Space Tower, a 184m spire affording spectacular views over the city.

Daytrips
Because the city of Rotterdam is completely surrounded by water, boat excursions are common daytrips for visitors to the city. Kinderdijk is one of the United Nation’s
World Heritage monuments and visitors who embark on the cruise ship Nehalennia are transported to the historical site from Rotterdam and may roam around for over an hour.

Although many believe that Rotterdam gives tourists a real feel for Dutch life and traditions, a trip to Holland would not be complete without visiting the vibrant city of Amsterdam. Trains usually leave from the Rotterdam Central every hour and it’s best to purchase a roundtrip ticket. Explore the canals and popular tourist attractions like the Red Light District and Van Gogh Museum and make it back to Rotterdam by the end of the day.

For an international excursion, board the Rotterdam to Antwerp train at Rotterdam’s Central Station and arrive in Belgium’s diamond capital and largest port city. If sampling chocolate and hopping around from one diamond museum to the next sounds like a great way to spend a day, then the one hour trip to Antwerp will be well worth it.

Must-see attractions
The White House or ‘Witte Huis’ is one of the last standing buildings in Rotterdam’s city centre that survived the WWII bombings. For days where the weather is a bit more temperate, Rotterdam Zoo is a great venue to explore as it is full of entertainment for the entire family. Be sure to stop by the Aquarium as it is definitely one of the major highlights.

If weather permits, spend the day roaming around the Delfshaven walking area and enjoy many historic and scenic sights. If you are not claustrophobic and have ever wondered what it was like to live inside a cube, the Kijk Kubus Houses will give you the opportunity. This unique group of cubed-shaped show houses are located in the centre of Rotterdam and open for tourist visits.

The Waterstad is a historic walking site that is full of museums, boutiques, street performances and a number of other daytime and evening entertainments. Located in the harbour area, Waterstad is considered to be Rotterdam’s maritime heart. A tour up or down the New Meuse and Rhine rivers is a must-do activity as tourists can choose from sailboats, motorboats or paddle-steamers to complete the journey.

Best time to go
The summertime is an excellent time to visit Rotterdam. During the summer months, the weather is not as hot or uncomfortable as in many of the other countries in continental Europe. The middle of June until the middle of August is usually drier and warmer than the other months, which can be quite wet and dreary. Be aware that there will definitely be more tourists during this time of the year as the moderate weather attracts many.

Rainy day suggestions
Another family friendly venue is the Tropicana Theme Park. Escape to this indoor water park for a summertime feel in the middle of a rainy winter. Between the waterslides and wave pools, everyone is guaranteed to a have a thrilling adventure. For a cosier and more secluded experience, escape the city and head to the Thermen Holiday Sauna. Guests will enjoy a European spa experience and a full day of relaxation and pampering. It is highly recommended for couples and honeymooners on romantic retreats.