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Lisbon capital of Portugal
Lisbon has a great seafaring tradition and was the starting point of numerous historical voyages made by Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan and Bartolomeu Dias.

The old Moorish quarter of Alfama is a mix of past and present, where Roman and Arabic influences are visible. The main attraction is Castelo Sao Jorge, a picturesque spot that also offers a sweeping view of Lisbon. Drop by the Tile Museum to see famous decorative ceramic tiles or azulejos made five centuries ago. Then, head to Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery for a taste of Lisbon’s adventurous past. You shouldn’t miss the beautiful futuristic Park of Nations or the Oceanarium! Said to be the world’s most amazing aquarium, it boasts of recreations of oceanic ecosystems, 25,000 fish, sea birds and mammals. Get your souvenirs at Baixa, Comercio Square and Rossio Square. The Santa Justa Elevator is a street elevator that connects Baixa to Chiado, a more upscale retail paradise.

Stay at the Hotel Anjo Azul in Bairro Alto. When hungry, visit the Cafe a Brasileira in Chiado for delicious charcoal-grilled sardines and cod fishcakes.

Don your designer shades, strap on those stilettos and step onto the catwalk that is Milan, the style capital of Italy. Besides being home to the cream of the fashion world - Donatella Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara to name a few-this gorgeous metropolis also boasts of world-famous art and dazzling elaborate architecture.

Start at the Piazza Del Duomo, one of the world’s largest and most beautiful cathedrals, which is within walking distance of dozens of other attractions, including palaces that are home to a host of significant works of art including da Vinci’s Last Supper. Fashionistas will want to check out the refurbished Nestle factory, which houses the Armani atelier and the Brera district, a quaint yet very fashionable area full of beautify shops.

From ristorantes (restaurants), trattorias (cheaper version of restaurants) to pizzerias, you’ll be spoil t for choice when it comes to food. Try Bagutta, a famous Milanese restaurant offering typical Milanese fare or step into the historic 600-year-old Antica Trattoria Monlue, mentioned by Manzoni in his novel The Betrothed. For truly low-budget eating, there are street markets scattered around the city where you can get fresh cheese, salami and fruit. For accommodation, you can choose from small family inns to dorm-style rooms such as Hotel Sabatino Milan.

Holidays in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a heady mix of spanking new malls that out do one another, twisty little streets that are home to the coolest hangouts, and dessert shops at just about every comer! Why do we love Hong Kong? Let us count the ways:

Hong Kong market
Guys will so get in the way if they can’t keep up with the Hong Kong shopping pace.
Joey from the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Singapore office, wasted no time in bringing us to the malls. If it’s hip, trendy buys you’re after, head straight for the amazing Langham Place Mall in Mongkok — it’s got 15 floors of goods and will give you a buyer’s buzz for sure! The Spiral Zone houses over 100 up-and-coming designer labels, accessories and collectibles, all laid out bazaar-style to get that shopping adrenaline pumping.

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Medieval German architecture. With buildings dating as far back as 1405, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Stadel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery, which has a fab collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 20th centuries;

Frankfurt Zoo, the most attractive in Europe; Palm Gardens, a tropical oasis of exotic plants and birds; Sachsenhausen, an area of quaint drinking houses; a cruise along the Rhine to soak up the city’s sights.

Pubs serve the standard German pork chop, sauerkraut and potatoes. Lodging is aplenty from swanky hotels to boarding houses. Butwhen trade fairs are on (which is almost all the time) lodging is tight and hotels will sell off rooms that haven’t been prepaid even if the guest arrives just one minute after check-in time!

Central Australia
Aboriginal heritage, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park:Kings Canyon, Standley Chasm, Alice Springs and unique animals such as shy wallabies and the notorious dingos. The region holds most of Australia’s Aboriginal culture and the sights will overwhelm you! This is also the best spot for star gazing!

Ayers Rock, the world’s largest monolith, is one of Australia’s most recognised symbols. The rock is considered sacred by the Aborigines so you’re not allowed to climb it, instead walk around it for a breathtaking showcase of Aboriginal paintings along the way! One of the highlights is its magnificent colour change during sunset and sunrise so make sure you allocate time for that! The Olgas, which is just 32km west of Ayers Rock, is made up of 30 brilliant red monoliths scattered across lush green plains - the view is simply awesome! The Olgas require you to do a fair bit of walking, but it’s well worth the trip! Don’t forget to check out The Lost City as well when you are there!

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Hiking to the summit can be hard work. To ensure you’re up to the task, practise these tips at least six weeks before departure:

Devise a workout plan made up of cardiovascular exercise such as running, cycling or dancing so your body is fit enough for the climb.

Practise climbing a hill, so you’ll get used to hiking an incline, which is different from walking or running a marathon. If there is no hill nearby, try climbing the stairs in your building instead. Try to get in at least three practice sessions a week.

Get a sturdy backpack for the hike, weigh it down and train with it to get used to the heavy load. For the first practice, put in water bottles weighing about 10kg. Increase the weight gradually so that by the end of training, the pack will match the weight of the items you’ll be lugging on the trip (about 30kg if you’re bringing all the essentials). This will help simulate the conditions of the actual climb and get you used to it.

Invest in a good pair of hiking boots at least one month earlier. This way, you’ll avoid having to break them in during your climb.

Lay off the training two days before the date of departure to give your body time to recuperate from the rigorous training.

A historical gold mine. Also, two famous films were shot here: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in Petra and Lawrence of Arabia in Wadi Rum.

At the capital, Amman, visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum and The Folklore Museum to get an overview of Jordanian culture and history. Then be wowed by architectural wonders the Temple of Hercules, Omayyad Palace and Byzantine Church in The Citadel. Head south to Madaba, “The City of Mosaics”, known for its brilliant Byzantine and Ummayad mosaic floors, the most famous being the 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem. Be sure to stop by Petra, an ancient city of tombs, temples, baths, etc. It’s also home to The Treasury, an elaborate building once thought to contain a huge treasure! In reality it’s the tomb of a ruler of the Nabatean Arabs. If you like Crusader legends, go to Karak Fort, a maze of tunnels and passages that’s a testimony to the Crusader’s architectural genius. Also, be sure to visit the gulf of Aqaba for its amazing marine wildlife, and the famous Dead Sea!

The three-star Firas Palace Hotel in Amman offers a double-room for great price. For a quick bite, grab a kebab at Shawerma Reem.