A look at a photo compilation of these landmarks and you would understand why the Marina Bay has also become the subject of choice by many aspiring and professional shutterbugs.

1) Marina Bay panorama

Marina Bay with the Esplanade Theaters in the background (Photo by Choo Yut Shing)

On the southern part of Singapore and east of downtown, Singapore’s prime waterfront is a picture of efficient urban planning – of course with human touches thrown in – to make the city not just conducive for commerce, trade and logistics, but also for healthy and productive interaction with each other and with the city’s natural resources. Putting into account the challenges of limited commercial space, access to naturally breathtaking views, efficient transport of people and products, and social dimensions that encourage exploration, exchange and entertainment, the Marina Bay of Singapore – an engineering feat by day and a simply exhilarating view at night – exemplifies what a small yet determined country can do in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges that make countries far bigger than itself push the limits of their own potentials.

2) The Marina Barrage

The Marina Barrage (Photo by akosihub)

Water reservoirs in Singapore have become architectural wonders and venues of water-based activities and not just simply sources of water. Such is the case of Marina Barrage, the most recent of Singapore’s effort to dam the mouth of Marina Channel, pool rainwater for a larger volume of freshwater supply, and alleviate flooding in prone areas such as Geylang, Chinatown, Jalan Besar and Boat Quay. But since the water level of the catchment basin is kept constant year-round, the Marina Barrage has also become a playground for water enthusiasts of kayaking, windsurfing and dragon-boating. Various pumps force out the water to sea in case of heavy rains, and the by-product force resulting to fountains of water, as pictured above, also provide an engaging entertainment.

3) The Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge (Photo by Erwin Soo)

The Helix Bridge makes it possible to explore the Marina Bay and Marina Center on foot, and to take delight in the Singapore skyline from one of its canopies furnished with seats and adorned with works of art. Inspired by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, this sinuous bridge was constructed with extreme precision and remarkable feat of engineering. A walk along this bridge at night treats pedestrians with colorful lighting that creates different moods.

4. The ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience Museum (Photo by Michael Elleray)

Conspicuously designed after a lotus flower, the ArtScience Museum, found within the vicinity of Marina Bay Sands, is a welcoming gesture to all Singapore visitors as much as it is a venue for cultural, scientific, artistic and design/architecture exhibits curated by its partner museums.

5. Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands (Photo by Choo Yut Shing)

Billed as the most expensive standalone casino property right in the heart of Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands was developed by its namesake management from Las Vegas. Featuring a staggering 1.3 million square feet of convention/exhibition center and 2,561 rooms, the Marina Bay Sands also holds two theaters, one museum, a 800,000 square-foot shopping mall, an ice skating rink, and an atrium casino featuring 1,600 slot machines and 500 tables, easily the largest of its kind. The Marina Bay Sands is also the venue of choice for the mesmerizing Singapore Light Shows.

6. The Light Shows at Marina Bay Sands

The Helix Bridge (Photo by Erwin Soo)

Making an extravagant hotel even more spectacular, the Light Show is to Singapore what the aurora borealis is to the poles (OK, the comparison may be extreme). But if you want to see for yourself, come early and grab a strategic seat. Shows run nightly for 15 minutes at 8PM and 9:30PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays, an additional show runs at 11PM.

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A songthaew typically seats 8 (Photo by goflashpacker)

Meaning “two benches,” “song-tee-ow” is an adapted pick-up fitted with two benches facing each other so it converts into a passenger vehicle and become a shared taxi. In Thailand, songthaews transport passengers in the city along shorter distances compared to longer routes offered by proper buses.

A songthaew that could seat more than 8 (Photo by jeffr_travel)

In rural areas, songthaews could seat more than 8 especially if transport is scarce. It is even necessary to fill the songthaew to the rafters, a practice popular in rural Philippines as “top-loading,” not because the driver wants to, but because passengers are often willing to risk life or limb to get to where they need to go.

A two-seater scooter (Photo by Marshall Astor)

Scooters are increasingly becoming popular modes of transport for single backpackers or a couple on vacation. They are easily rented and operated, consume reasonable amount of fuel, navigable even in tight situations, and bring you wherever you wish as long as you are willing to brace the difficulties of in-your-face travel on dirt roads with potholes the size of serious craters.

A two-seater scooter seats more than two (Photo by Tanel Teemusk)

In Thailand as it is in most of Southeast Asia, overloading is often necessary because of circumstances despite the reality that road mishaps and severe injuries may result from demanding more capacity from vehicles not clearly designed for heavy duty. This scene is as true in Thailand as it is in the Philippines, where the local “habal-habal” sometimes even dares to carry squealing livestock, sacks of rice and squirming children.

A bicycle with a child basket (Photo by Marshall Astor)

To the Western eye, a child put out front of a wheeled conveyance is begging for an accident. It does not exactly look safe anywhere you look at it, but a child basket is a nifty way to carry not only groceries but also young children who cannot be left behind at home especially in areas that are not crowded or populated with suicidal drivers. It’s energy-efficient, too, despite not being so child friendly.

A bicycle rickshaw called “trishaw” (Photo by Peter Rowley)

Bicycle rickshaws are characteristically Southeast Asian. The Filipinos call it “padyak,” the Vietnamese call it “cyclo”, the Malaysian and Indonesian, “becak.” Whichever way you look at it, bicycle rickshaws display the region’s ingenuity and resourcefulness, especially as it applies to eking out a livelihood in the bustling corners of capital cities.

Motorized “tuktuk” could easily seat 4 (Photo by Marshall Astor)

“Tuktuks” are characteristically Thai (although similar versions can be found in India). These motorized pedicabs are as much a cultural part of Bangkok as it is a staple of its highways.

Elephants carry logs – and people – from one stop to the next (Photo by chrisada)

Elephants are another iconic symbol of Thai culture. Traditionally employed as log carriers in the thick forests of Northern Thailand, elephants have been reduced to transporters and entertainers that perpetuate their alleged abuse by their “mahouts.” Nowadays, elephants are heavily utilized in the tourist trade, a practice that should be put to end if only to save these gentle beasts the suffering that usually comes after their service life has ended.

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Unlike the well-trodden traveler circuit of neighboring country Thailand, Burma’s trails are yet to be scuffed up by tourists looking for something authentic. Decades of self-imposed isolation (and embargoes sanctioned by international authorities) left Burma’s indigenous culture relatively unsullied by outside influence.

Burma’s isolation is good news to travelers who have become tired of multinational chains and brands following them even in the remotest corners of the globe. It’s time to see a country that has not yet succumbed to the imperialism of McDonald’s or Starbucks. To ease yourself into this new world of wonders, take a look at how other travelers saw Burma before its recent breakthrough.

Former Burmese capital Yangon (Photo by McKay Savage)

Yangon, despite the transfer of capital to Nay Pyi Taw, is still the gateway to the rest of Burma. Founded in 1755 by King Alaungpaya, the “Garden City of the East” is the bustling center of commerce where degrees of outside influence can be felt.

Street food in Burma (Photo by McKay Savage)

Street food in Burma is just as ubiquitous and cheap as they are in neighboring Thailand. Burmese cuisine, in particular, often comes with helpings of condiments to customize taste.

The Shwedagon Pagoda, a sacred site for Buddhists
(Photo by Arian Zwegers)

The most visited and photogenic attraction of Yangon is the Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2,500-year-old temple which contains the relics of Buddha.

Bodhi Tataung in Monywa, a city in Northern Burma (Photo by McKay Savage)

Stupas, or conical mounds that contain relics of Buddha, are featured prominently in Burmese Buddhist temples. Golden stupas like these found in Bodhi Tataung usually number in thousands in one temple complex.

Bagan temples by the thousands (Photo by Stefan Munder)

Long before Burma fell into the hands of its British colonizers and the junta, it was a country of divided kingdoms, and the kingdom that unified what constitutes modern Burma rose in the Mandalay region which we now know as Bagan. That ancient kingdom of “Pagan” built about 10,000 pagodas, temples and monasteries. The remains, about 3,000 strong, are now enlisted in the Bagan Archaeological Zone, a hotspot in Burma’s nascent tourism.

Burmese rubies are some of the most coveted gems in the world (Photo by Azmil77)

Burma is rich in mineral resources. Flawless – and therefore expensive – rubies are mined in Burma, which is one reason why international jewelers are eyeing to gain entry into this country.

Sunset over Ngwe Saung Beach (Photo by stephen_khine)

Burma has 2,000 kilometers of coastline that face the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. This means that like Thailand, beaches in Burma are just as sumptuous and sunsets are just as dramatic.

Mergui archipelago on the western border of Thailand (Photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

If there is one thing that describes Burma’s beaches best, it is “undertouristed.” The dearth of traveler-sourced images suggests that Burma’s beaches are indeed yet to be explored. So far, this is the best (NASA) view of Mergui Archipelago, a collection of about 800 islands inhabited by the Moken who still live the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

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Such is the case of Burma, whose censorship board has only been recently dismantled. Thanks to travelers who made it through Burma’s tough entry policy and brought back images of this exotic country, we are better able to keep the suspense to a minimum when we finally come face to face. Here’s hoping that these glimpses prepare us for this unique encounter.

A Karen girl with a “long” neck (Photo by Steve Jurvetson)

The Karen people were originally from southern and southeastern Burma and only got displaced when they were driven by the Myanmar junta (Burmese military government) out of their domains. They now mostly live in Thailand-Burma border as stateless citizens. Their necks are not long; brass coils that are fitted in their childhood depress the shoulder bones, giving an illusion of elongated neck.

Chewing tobacco, betel nuts and leaves is a national habit (Photo by McKay Savage)

“Kun-ya” chewing is fashionable in Burmese culture. Made from betel leaves, areca nuts, tobacco and slaked lime paste, “kun-ya” or paan is thought to have narcotic effects. Understandably, Western visitors consider this habit gross, as chewers spit on the streets and practically paint the town red. Among the Burmese, an offering of paan is a gesture of hospitality and goodwill.

A young Burmese girl with “thanaka” (Photo by Stefan Munder)

The ubiquitous make-up in Burma is “thanaka”, made from the bark of the tree of the same name (Limonia acidissima) believed to control oiliness, tighten pores and cool the skin. This paste has been applied by girls and women, and to a lesser extent men and boys, for over 2,000 years and has become a distinctive mark of the Burmese.

Mohinga (rice noodles and fish soup), a national dish (Photo by cumi&ciki)

The Burmese diet consists mainly of steamed rice, soup, meat, vegetables and fish which are all served at the same time and with so many condiments on the side. When eating in Burma, eat with the right hand, as the left is associated with hygienic duties and therefore considered unclean.

Selling produce in a traditional market (Photo by Brian Snelson)

Agriculture is still the major economic driver of Burma. Selling produce with the barest of fixtures keeps overhead to a minimum.

Burmese women in traditional clothing (Photo by Esme Vos)

“Longyi” is a piece of fabric sewn into a cylindrical shape so it can be worn around the waist and fastened in place by folding the fabric over (women fold the fabric on the sides while men on the front). The wearing of “longyi” is still a daily fashion. It is one thing that tourists can participate in without offending local sensibilities (although prepare to be snubbed when buying “longyi” in certain markets).

“Longyi” worn by Burmese man (Photo by Esme Vos)

In Burma, men wear “skirts”. Unlike the national (male) costume of the Philippines (Barong tagalog) which is only worn in formal and special occasions, the Burmese wear theirs on a daily basis. In public, the men often wear “longyi” with sensible underwear, but at home, they favor “free air-conditioning.”

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Below is a compilation of “side trips” you may want to tick off your boxes after you have melted at the sight of Angkor Wat and Borobudur.

The Minangkabau clan house in Western Sumatra, Indonesia (Photo by Marc Veraart)

Few very societies are truly egalitarian, let alone matrilineal. In Western Sumatra, Indonesia, Minangkabau daughters inherit land and other property from their mothers, and participate in any decision-making, from the affairs of the homes to the affairs of the state. The nucleus of this female-centric society is a bull-horn-roofed clan house where families gather during special occasions and important meetings, and around where daughters are expected to build their own homes.

Sinuous roofs and intricate carvings define this Laotian architecture (Photo by Michel Guilly)

The elaborately decorated temples and houses in the town of Luang Prabang are a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its elegant fusion of Lao traditional and French colonial architecture. The townscape is remarkably preserved, found in the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Mekong and Khan.

Beyond pink facades, Jaipur is also known to host the biggest literature festival in Asia
(Photo by John Haslam)

The Pink City of India was founded in early 18th century and already displayed foresight of an urban area with its wide boulevards and grid patterns. Beyond urban design, however, Jaipur is well-known for its pink facade, first painted as such in late 19th century to welcome Edward VII, then Prince of Wales.

A Burmese jewel that has stood the ravages of time (Photo by Stefan Munder)

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (former capital) is not only grand, it is also very old. At 2,500 years old, the pagoda is easily the repository of Burmese heritage, although the pagoda itself is an early Pyu (indigenous inhabitants) architecture. What makes the Shwedagon Pagoda a real jewel though, is not just its unbelievable longevity, but also its blinding diamonds – 4,531 of them – that adorn the “stupas” or mound-like structures that contain sacred relics related to Buddha. Interestingly, this structure has a replica, the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw, the new capital of Myanmar.

Not exactly bejeweled, but old and extant just the same (Photo by Stefan Munder)

Temple fatigue easily sets in in Thailand and Cambodia. But very few people suspect that the same thing can happen to visitors in Burma. In Bagan, Myanmar along the banks of the Irrawaddy River, dot some 3,000 pagodas across 30 square miles. Built around 1057 until 1287, the Myanmar junta has been restoring these structures, albeit with little regard to copy the original.

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Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon of Arizona is justifiably (at one point) one of the Seven Wonders of the World (the new list, depending on who makes it, often leaves it out). Easily one of the most recognizable and magnificent rock wonders the world over, this steep-sided canyon reveals about 2 billion years of Earth’s geological past, thanks to the Colorado River that carved it over time to expose the Proterozoic and Paleozoic strata. The canyon’s sheer immensity and combination of geologic colors and patterns overwhelm any first time visitor, and its thick sequence of ancients rocks are a goldmine of information for geologists to study.

The Upper Antelope Canyon

Part of the larger Antelope Canyon, also found in Arizona, the Upper Antelope Canyon is every photographer’s dream landscape. A slot canyon that could easily trap travelers as seen in “127 Hours”, the Upper Antelope is famous for its “flowing” landscape that mimics the movement of water, having been formed by millennia of flash floods that could still catch unsuspecting day trippers off-guard.

Monument Valley

Another rock wonder that straddles the Arizona-Utah border is the Monument Valley, famous to moviegoers the world over as the definition of American Wild West (because of its frequent use as a setting to various films of the same theme). Monument Valley is identifiable with its towering “buttes” (some reaching 1,000 feet above the valley floor), isolated “hills” that have been carved by wind erosion in the arid plains.

The Delicate Arch

Another Utah “rock superstar” is the Delicate Arch, a freestanding geologic sculpture made of Entrada Sandstone that has been shaped by a combination of weathering and erosion. This compelling rock formation is depicted in Utah license plates and postage stamps.

“Hoodoos” in the Bryce Canyon National Park

Travelers may realize that Utah seems to have an inordinate amount of rock superstars given that another geologic wonder is just at its doorstep. The Bryce Canyon National Park, unlike the Grand Canyon, was formed by the dissolving power of frost and rainwater. This park is filled with thousands of towering jagged limestone rocks known as “hoodoos.”

The Devil’s Tower

For hard-core geo-adventurers who would want to see how a volcanic plug looks like (the remains of a volcano when all of its flank are removed), they may want to troop to the Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming for a closer view. Declared in 1906 as the United States’ first national monument, the Devil’s Tower is consecrated by the Cheyenne and Lakota Indians as a ground for religious worship.

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Plus, rickshaws make for interesting side notes as far as cultural heritage goes.

Southeast Asia, where transport is as colorful as cuisine, is where most of these contraptions can be found, roaming back streets and snagging (unsuspecting) passengers for a (wild) ride. Whereas the West has only recently latched on to this green trend, Southeast Asia has long been riding this bandwagon, it being a region where people need to get creative to eke out a living.

Below is a collection of each country’s version of rickshaw, modified to suit local safety standards, cultural context and weather conditions. Despite differences in appearance, however, rickshaws generally seat two people (because in the Philippines, when push comes to shove, rickshaws can seat three), are far cheaper than cabs, and their drivers are more than willing to be tour guides to leg-weary tourists.

The Philippines’ “Padyak”

A “traysikad” and its driver in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila (Photo by Fechi Fajardo)

Frivolously known as “padyak” (to push pedal) and more formally known as “traysikad”, the Philippine rickshaw is assembled such that the driver sits on the left side of the passengers. The “padyak” is rather diminutive, easily crushed and intimidated by bigger conveyances. To avoid road fatalities, operation of “padyak” is only limited to back streets and roads of slow-moving traffic, and quite helpful in cases when one is running late, one is carrying luggage, rain is about to pour, or when walking under the heat is unbearable.

Thailand’s “Samlor”

In the north, they drive it up front; in the south, they do it on the right
(Photo by Akuppa)

The green, non-motorized version of noisy “tuktuk”, “samlor” refers to both any three-wheeled vehicle (as it literally means “three wheels”) and the person driving it. Allowed to roam the side streets of Bangkok, “samlors” are a more common sight in Thai provinces. Unlike the “padyak”, bicycle taxis in Southern Thailand often have drivers on the right. North of Bangkok, “samlors” drive up front.

Indonesian “Becak”

The driver is most likely privy to all conversation going on between the passengers
(Photo by Soham Banerjee)

Jakarta once teemed with this traditional transport, but due to congestion they cause, “becaks” have been banned in the capital’s major thoroughfares (“becaks” still exist, but rarely). Outside of the capital city, like in Yogyakarta, “becaks” are still favored mode of transport, especially for a tourist wanting to cover more ground at a leisurely pace without expending energy reserves and without paying exorbitant amounts to be driven around. Unlike the Philippine “padyak”, a “becak” is driven from behind.

Malaysian “Beca”

Kota Kinabalu will soon be crawling with these pedestrian-pulled contraptions (Photo by Trevor Mills)

In an interesting turn of the wheel, Malaysian “beca” is not driven the way Filipinos or Indonesians would of their rickshaws. The Malaysian version has the driver seated up front, with the passengers directly behind the former’s rear trajectory. “Becas” are more appropriate in the colonial district of Penang and less so in the gridlocked streets of Kualu Lumpur.

Vietnam’s “Cyclo”

This Ho Chi Minh City “cyclo” has the driver sitting higher than the Hanoi variety (Photo by Stephan Ridgway)

A passenger could either feel like a monarch driven around for a tour, or an ambulatory patient slowly pushed around for a leisurely appointment in the Vietnamese version of bicyle taxis. Pronounced “seek-lo”, this Vietnamese contraption seats one passenger with the driver pedaling from behind. More than passengers, however, “cyclos” are notorious for transporting queen-sized bedroom effects to squealing swine, making the Philippine “padyak” with all the overloaded luggage look like a sissy.

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Whatever the reason, caves are seriously undertouristed (not that speleologists – scientists who study them and would want to leave them in pristine form – complain) and remains one of those realms where you can be by yourself and literally get lost. Here’s a collection of some of the region’s entrance to the underworld, with so many yet to be mapped and photographed (and, heavens forbid, converted to tourist spots).

Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

Parking 747s inside this behemoth cave should be a walk in the park (Photo by guido da rozze)

It is but proper to start this list with the world’s largest, and it fortunately is found in Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s Hang Son Doong (“mountain river cave”) should not be confused with the man-made tunnels that the guerillas carved during that unfortunate war. Despite its mammoth size however, Hang Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was only recently discovered (1991) and has just been mapped (2009). Speleologists who did the mapping claimed that a skyscraper could easily fit in the gargantuan caverns, and that the end is not yet in the horizon.

Batu Caves, Malaysia

If you have heard of Thaipusam, this is where the procession of pain and agony ends
(Photo by skrebsmaus07)

Located 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves are famous not only among Hindu devotees but also among tourists who want to experience a slice of the netherworld without diving to the deep end. Despite the fact that it is a pilgrimage site, the cave complex is actually home to some exciting 160 rock climbing routes which also rightfully makes it a pilgrimage site for mountaineers.

Deer Cave, Malaysia

Deer are not pictured in this cave, but they do come to seek shelter and lick rocks for salt
(Photo by NeilsPhotography)

The Malaysian side of Borneo is not only home to a staggering number of species (as what an ancient forest should contain) but also to superlative caves. The Deer Cave, named after deer who come to the cave to lick salt-bearing rocks, was actually thought to be the longest in the world until it was trumped by Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave.

Tham Pha Thai, Thailand

Why are caves in Thailand undertouristed? Snakes is a good guess
(Photo by Heiko S)

It’s easy to overlook amazing Underworlds in a land where blinding beaches are a dime a dozen and glitzy temples are a penny apiece. But in northern Thailand where the staples are national parks, caves are a logical diversion to beach boredom and temple fatigue. Pha Thai Cave in Lampang easily fits the bill. Considered as one of Thailand’s most extensive and deepest, this cave is home to a population-explosion species of snakes.

St. Paul Cave, Philippines

“Jellyfish” stalactites are a staple in Puerto Princesa Underground River (Photo by Ewen Roberts)

Now more popularly known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, this cave is just one of the many spectacular caves in the Philippines, with navigable subterranean body of flowing water and complete sea-to-summit ecosystem. While this is a must-see for tourists (and no, PPUR is not undertouristed; elbowing your way in for entrance application is more like the scene), the current scene-stealer in spelunking circles is the Calbiga Cave Complex in Northern Samar, Central Philippines (public domain photos are yet to populate the social media). The sheer size of the cave complex is mind-boggling: It is currently considered the third largest cave complex in the world. If mapped in its entirety, it could give Hang Son Doong a run for its money.

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