The continent of Asia has always been an exotic destination for travelers in the United States; but as Europe becomes a more and more common hub for sight-seeing, and as Asia’s economy continues to propel forward, some of the continent’s older and less sought out cities are being visited more.
Bangkok

Known for its juxtaposition of affluence and poverty, Bangkok attracts a multitude of foreigners from all over the world creating a rich and diverse metropolis. Whether it’s dancing at a chic club like the Club 87 as seen here, or eating a splayed duck from a street vendor, this city has something for every modern traveler.


If Asian antiques are your thing, paying a visit to a store called Amantee provides a plethora of old Tibetan and Oriental artifacts.

A rather different and off-the-beat activity to do while traveling is to visit an inmate at the Bang Kwang prison. Most of these inmates have been charged with drug offences, and bringing news and reading materials could be a sobering experience. Be sure to dress respectively and bring your passport! While airfare from New York City is around $1,100 a person, hotel accommodations are fairly cheap starting at $27 a night and ranging to $131 a night at a place such as the Lebua State Tower, a suite hotel that provides rich and beautiful views of the city proper.
Seoul

A rather uncommon destination for Western travelers, Seoul is becoming a teeming urban center for fashion, entertainment, and history. The interesting thing about this city is that nothing is ever permanent here- people and places shift and rebuild themselves every few years or so. Because of that, Seoul has become a mixture of modernity and tradition. While its heritage is still intact with royal shrines and a fascinating museum on the Korean War, smokey Korean barbecue restaurants, saunas, and teashops bring this metropolis up-to-date.

One of the city’s biggest attractions is its cuisine. Taste a spicy tofu soup with some ginseng chicken or a meat and lettuce wrap. If that isn’t enough some restaurants give the chance to sample a royal court cuisine which consists of twelve dishes of rice, soup, vegetables, and meats served in bronzeware.

This is very uncommon to find outside of Seoul. Traveling here starts at around $1,050 for a plane ticket with hotels starting from the $80 range.
Mumbai

Recently popularized with Danny Boyle’s award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Mumbai is a rich blend of color, architecture, shopping, and traffic. More than half the population lives in slums; however, the beauty of this is that it creates the rich culture and tradition to a city quickly moving towards modernization. Paying a visit to the many bazaars, one can find many a souvenir from rich fabrics to ivory knick-knacks for home decoration.


If that’s not entertaining enough try eating at an upscale restaurant followed by some trendy clubs frequented by Bollywood starlets. A plane ticket to Mumbai will run for around $900 with hotel accommodations from around $200 a night.