See the Buddha's being bathed in Myanmar
It’s a New Year and as you look ahead to where to go on your spring / summer / winter vacation, you might be tired of the usual tourist hotspots and fancy somewhere a bit different; but the only problem is, you don’t have a clue where to start!
Well never fear; us girls at FemaleFirst anticipated your indecision and have come up with an A - Z (yes, that’s 25 in total!) different places for you to go and ’discover’ in 2009. What could be better - unless of course you spent all your cash getting drunk over the festive period then it could just be a tent in your back garden!
Kiribati really is a hidden gem, and is home to some of the world’s most spectacular coral reefs, swimming with colorful fish and scattered with shipwrecks from the Second World War.
Situated in the Pacific Ocean near Equator, the weather is warm but the tourism fairly low. Next to Kiribati is Kiritimati, known as Christmas Island, which is the world's largest coral atoll, making this a truly magnificent destination for divers.
Lithuania is located next to Poland and Russia, and hosts some unique sights from its historical heretage, particularly the Soviet sculpture park.
It also hosts a combination of arts, courtyards, and beautiful baroque, as well as scenic forests and lakes to make this destination a fine contrast of historical man-made developments and nature’s most pristine features.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a soothingly religious location where signs of the western world are scarce. Ancient golden pagodas (monuments to Buddha) are high on people’s agenda to visit, and the Buddhas are bathed every morning.
Forests, villages, bays and rivers help contribute to an overwhelming sense of peace in this Southern Asian destination, and visitors are likely to feel humbled after even a short stay there.
For a completely diverse Pacific experience, travellers can visit the island of Niue. A combination of its blissful Fiji and adrenaline-junkie New Zealand neighbours, Niue is perfect for eventful days out and peaceful nights in.
Limestone caves, rocky coasts and underwater reefs provide plentiful activities, whilst cliff-top cafés and beach-front bars create a social, friendly atmosphere for true relaxation.
Although situated cloely to Iraq, Oman is actually a great destination for camping in the secluded deserts and montains. Golden sand dunes, beaten tracks and ancient tombs are wonderful places to explore in this under-rated destination of the Middle East.
Filled with culture, this is an unlikely place to run into hoards of people on any given day, making it the ideal location for campers craving some real individuality in the dusty outbacks.
By Kay Taylor