DOHA
The experience Desert tour
How long it takes
I had a full-day tour, but without lunch half a day is enough. But being able to enjoy some mezzes and naan in a bedouin tent in the middle of the desert is not an experience you should miss.
How much it costs
It is not something you can do yourself, so you have to turn to a local tour operator. Cost without meal is US$64 per person, with meal US$99 per person.
What it's like
In the comfort of a sedan, you are driven around the desert, sometimes down very steep declines. My driver had to take a deep breath for a few of those, so it is obviously not as easy as it seems. The landscape is absolutely beautiful, and you also get to lunch by the shore of the inner sea, in specially set up tents that really offer the Arabian experience. The food I had was fantastic, especially the freshly made naan.
Contact
www.discoverqatar.org
HONG KONG
The experience Kayaking
How long it takes
This one you can do on your own, relatively easy for a half day.
How much it costs
From Central you can take the Mass Transit Railway to Choi Hung for HK$13 (US$1.93), and then HK$8.4 (US$1.08) for a minibus (No 4) to Sai Kung, the favourite getaway for locals. From the town of Sai Kung, it's a 20-minute ride on No 7 minibus (HK$10.8/US$1.39) to Hoi Ha village. You can rent a kayak for the day for HK$150 (US$19.34).
What it's like
One of the greatest things about Hong Kong is the accessibility of the countryside. For this experience, you only need about two hours each way, but while you are in Hoi Ha you feel like you are a world away from the city.
SIEM REAP
The experience Banteay Srei
How long it takes
A full day
How much it costs
The going rate for hiring a tuk tuk for a full day is US$12, but the driver might ask you for more for this site as it is rather far. While you are in Siem Reap, you should also get a US$40 pass that gets you into all the major attractions.
What it's like
Most people think of Angkor Wat when talking about Siem Reap, but there are many other interesting temples in the city too. Banteay Srei is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and it is built of red sandstone with decorative wall carvings. There is a cafe here where you can sit down and chill out while soaking in the scenic surroundings.
Contact
www.tourismcambodia.com
SINGAPORE
The experience Palau Ubin
How long it takes
A half day is enough to visit this small but ecologically diverse island.
How much it costs
You need to take the MRT to Tanah Merah Station for the No 2 bus, and then from Changi Pier, the 10 minute boat ride to the island is S$2.5 (US$1.99). To rent a bike from one of the shops it's about S$5 (US$3.98).
What it's like
It is a small island you can explore in a few hours on the bike, and you can walk along the sea, see a mangrove swamp, run into families of wild boars and have an affordable plate of seafood fried rice for about S$4 (US$3.19). It is a great way to see a different side of Singapore.
Reggie Ho
