SEVEN DAY CULTURE CHALLENGE

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

What is your favorite type of cuisine?

If you could speak another language, what would it be?

If you were given a year to travel the world where would you go?

If you could speak every known language, how would you use your ability?

What countries did your ancestors come from/what is your nationality?

LEA MICHELE (USA)

KELLY CLARKSON (USA)

ABBA(Sweden)

Do you have a favorite artist from a country other than your own?

Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Must-see Attractions

Hong Kong is an endlessly fascinating destination due to its rich history, its cultural diversity and for its many faces.

From Buddha images to a vibrant nightlife to endless shopping opportunities to great fine-dining locations, the choices of what to see is mind boggling. Here are ten of the best that Hong Kong has to offer.

1

The Peak

Talk about getting high in Hong Kong: The Peak not only has tremendous views out over the harbour and neighbouring islands but it’s also a gastronomic destination, a place of historical interest, probably the coolest place in town as well as being the location for Madame Tussaud’s. The futuristic-looking building is also used as base camp for nature ramblers and trekkers. The Sky Terrace, standing at 428 metres above sea level, is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong and has stunning 360-degree panoramic views.

2

A Symphony of Lights

Tsim Sha Tsui

This nightly light show is a wonderful sight to behold. The show creates an all-round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights performing a stunning, unforgettable spectacle, all synchronised to music and narration. This must-see Hong Kong experience is best appreciated by taking a harbour cruise but other good vantage points are along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of Stars and on the promenade outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

3

Disneyland

The only Disneyland in the world built according to the rules of Feng Shui, the park consists of four themed lands similar to other Disneyland parks: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land are all expected to open very soon, bringing the themes up to seven in number. The park features daily firework shows and has special events to celebrate Christmas, Chinese New Year and has regular parades and even a live musical.

4

Giant Buddha

Lantau Island

The world’s tallest outdoors seated bronze Buddha, the Tian Tan, is a sight to behold and is located near Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. It was built to symbolise the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. A major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, the imposing image is also a popular tourist attraction. The image is 34 metres tall and weighs 250 metric tons and is so prominent that it can be seen from as far away as Macau on a clear day. The climb up the 268 steps to reach it is well worth it.

5

Stanley Market and Murray House

This seven-days-a-week market attracts visitors by the droves and no wonder: It’s a veritable treasure trove and bargain-hunters from all over the world join in the fun of haggling with shopkeepers and stallholders. Bargain for brand-name clothing and accessories, or simply irresistible souvenirs, ornaments and other Oriental bric-a-brac in a riot of colours, scents and sights.

6

Temple Street Night Market

Another busy market that will boggle the mind with its diversity. Temple Street Night Market ostensibly opens at 16:00 but it really gets going past dark, when it is a barrage of brightly lit stalls selling cheap goods with the emphasis on men’s accessories but also selling secondhand items such as radios and antiques as well as fascinating old newspapers. Half of the fun is to hunt down the side streets for hole-in-the-wall shops. The market is also a magnet for food lovers as it features many stalls and restaurants in which to have a hot pot.

7

Lan Kwai Fong & Soho

Lan Kwai Fong is an L-shaped, cobble-stoned lane surrounded by Central's cluster of skyscrapers. It takes up just a crowded two-block stretch but makes up for its lack of spread by exuding a lively and energetic feel. Revelers head here for the area’s world-famous collection of over 100 bars, clubs and restaurants and because of it handy location right next to the city’s business quarter which means that many of the drinkers are celebrating the end of a day at the office.

8

Jumbo Kingdom

A huge floating restaurant, Jumbo Kingdom has hosted royalty, movie stars and about 30 million other visitors. The ‘ship’ divides up into five culinary, themed restaurants and also sports a bronzeware exhibition and a wine garden. Jumbo Kingdom is quite a sight at night with its Classic Chinese design, brightly-lit decks reflected on the waters of Aberdeen Harbour. A meal here is an impressive experience.

9

Happy Valley Racecourse

The only legal form of gambling and the city’s recreational passion, Happy Valley Racecourse is immensely popular with the Honkongonese. Gambling on the horses is Pastime Number One here (and it's taken very seriously), with thousands of spectators flocking weekly to the impressive track, a green expanse with an electric atmosphere surrounded by high-rises. Atmospheric is certainly is, and night racing is particularly impressive with huge lighting arrangements and huge video screens. Established in 1846, the racecourse is an integral part of the city.

10

Wetland Park

New Territories

Located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, Wetland Park is a marvelous showcase of Mother Nature. The 61-hectare park has a 10,000sqm visitors’ centre and demonstrates the diversity of the Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlights the need to conserve it. The Wetland Discovery Centre, located in the Wetland Reserve, provides visitors more hands-on experience on local wetlands and shows interesting fauna. It is home to a stunning array of wildlife including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish.

Read more: Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong - Hong Kong Must-see Attractions http://www.hong-kong-hotels.ws/attractions/10mustsee.htm#ixzz1HFHLYYWf

Best Affordable Beach Resorts

Looking for a great escape without breaking the bank? Here, affordable beach getaways from Mexico to Thailand.

By Travel + Leisure Staff

Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Meads Bay, Anguilla

Photo: Susan Croft

Picture yourself waking to the warmth of sunshine slanting through your window, then enjoying the sound of gently crashing waves as you take your morning coffee out on your beachfront terrace.

Fortunately, putting yourself in this idyllic setting doesn’t have to break the bank. There are affordable beach resorts all over the world—from Mexico to Thailand—where a night’s stay doesn’t cost much more than dinner and wine with friends at your favorite local restaurant. Every year, the Travel + Leisure staff scours the globe to find great, inexpensive coastal resorts; none of the properties on our list costs more than $250 a night (and some cost much less).

So no matter when—or where—you’re planning on traveling, this is the list to check out if an affordable beach resort is on this year’s itinerary.

Anacaona Boutique Hotel

Meads Bay, Anguilla

On an island where $1,000-a-night rates barely raise an eyebrow, the recently reopened Anacaona Boutique Hotel manages to feel like a splurge. There’s Frette linens and free Wi-Fi in the 27 tropical-chic rooms, two pools—and even waiter service on the beach.

Cost: $250

Don’t Miss: Thursday nights at the hotel’s Fire Fly Restaurant & Bar, when a local troupe performs Afro-Caribbean dances

Cooper Island Beach Club, British Virgin Islands

Photo: Courtesy of Cooper Island Beach Club

Cooper Island Beach Club

British Virgin Islands

You won’t find shops, nightclubs, casinos, or even televisions in the rooms at this resort located on Manchioneel Bay on the northwest side of 480-acre Cooper Island. A casual beachside restaurant and bright but simple rooms with kitchenettes, radios, ceiling fans, and private baths with outdoor showers are about all there is here—but that’s enough. Don’t expect much more than palm trees, a sandy beach, clear water, and potent rum drinks.

Cost: $250

Don’t Miss: Many guests say the restaurant is their main reason for coming back—try the local specialty of conch fritters served with a spicy dip.

Sheraton Nha Trang, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Photo: Courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Sheraton Nha Trang

Nha Trang, Vietnam

At first glance, the 284-room Sheraton Nha Trang could be an upscale hotel anywhere in the world. But a closer look reveals local art at every turn and views of island-studded Nha Trang Bay. The hotel’s restaurants cook up a range of cuisines (from street food to European pastries), and you can have snacks delivered to your lounge chair on the palm-dotted, sugar-sand beach.

Cost: $180

Don’t Miss: An on-site cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make beef pho and shrimp rolls.

Present Moment Retreat, Troncones, Mexico

Photo: Courtesy of Present Moment Retreat

Present Moment Retreat

Troncones, Mexico

A still-authentic beach town on Mexico’s Pacific coast is hard to come by, but tiny Troncones, about 20 miles north of Ixtapa, fills the bill. At this Zen-inspired retreat, 10 thatched-roof bungalows, each with a white canopy bed, private wooden deck, and meditation garden, surround a pool that overlooks the beach. Wellness is the focus here, from the health-conscious menu and Ashtanga yoga classes to beachside massages and even life-coaching sessions.

Cost: $230

Don’t Miss: A surfing lesson on Saladita Beach, a nearby surfer’s paradise.

Anemomilos Apartments, Cyclades, Greece

Photo: Courtesy of Anemomilos Apartments

Anemomilos Apartments

Cyclades, Greece

Perched atop the cliffs of Folegandros island, you’ll find the family-run Anemomilos Apartments. Whitewashed walls, private patios, and vistas of the Aegean more than make up for the sparsely decorated rooms. The real draw, however, is the lovely stone-terraced pool and pergola lounge.

Cost: $232

Don’t Miss: A short boat trip from Karavostasis harbor to remote, quiet Katergo Beach.

Les Caranques, Collioure, France

Photo: Angus McComiskey / Alamy

Les Caranques

Collioure, France

Artists, including Matisse, have long flocked to the colorful fishing port of Collioure for its scenic vistas. And the views are just as enticing as ever, especially from the patio at this hotel, built into a dramatic cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. The 22 light-filled rooms are simply (and patriotically) decorated with white wooden furniture and blue and red accents. Unwind on a rattan chaise longue on one of the small terraces carved out of rock, with winding stairs that lead to small white sand beaches.

Cost: $175

Don’t Miss: A stroll along the town’s Fauvism walking trail to see 20 reproductions of vibrant paintings by Matisse and Derain in the spots where they were first created.

Las Olas Beach Resort, Chiriquí, Panama

Photo: Courtesy of Las Olas Beach Resort

Las Olas Beach Resort

Chiriquí, Panama

A 50-minute plane ride west of Panama City, Las Olas Beach Resort has 14 miles of volcanic-sand beaches and a mangrove forest. With paintings by local artists and cream tiled floors, all 48 rooms face the Pacific. Board the resort’s 34-footer for some of the world’s best sportfishing, or head to top breaks with the in-house surf pro.

Cost: $78

Don’t Miss: Nearby Coiba National Park’s 355-acre reef.

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa, Sepang, Malaysia

Photo: Courtesy of Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa

Sepang, Malaysia

A 90-minute drive south of Kuala Lumpur, the just-opened Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa pays homage to its name: 392 villas are raised on stilts in eight palm-frond-like rows that stretch out into the Straits of Malacca. The hotel offers a range of activities (morning walks; kayaking trips), but you’ll be just as content by the infinity pool.

Cost: $215

Don’t Miss: A traditional acupressure-focused Malay massage at the hotel’s spa.

Dune Hua Hin, Hua Hin, Thailand

Photo: Kelly Rainsforth

Dune Hua Hin

Hua Hin, Thailand

The tiny size of the five-room Dune Hua Hin makes for intimate service, even if its pool and restaurant are on the wee side. That’s a small price to pay for sexy, minimalist rooms right on a coveted stretch of beach along the Gulf of Thailand.

Cost: $127

Don’t Miss: Spotting langurs and macaques at Khao Sam Roi Yot nature reserve, an hour away.

Les 3 Chameaux, Mirleft, Morocco

Photo: Courtesy of Les 3 Chameaux

Les 3 Chameaux

Mirleft, Morocco

The village of Mirleft, on the southern Atlantic coast, has one of Morocco’s most dramatic beaches. Between the pounding surf you’ll find Les 3 Chameaux, a rustic-chic maison d’hôte with Berber furniture and carpets.

Cost: $112

Don’t Miss: An exfoliating black-soap body treatment in the hammam.