At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are always surprised about everything the Asian continent offers us. Today we colour our week travelling to Indonesia to discover the lakes inside Kelimutu.

Kelimutu is a volcano located in central Flores Island. It is one of the few volcanoes containing a crater lake. But what makes this volcano even more amazing is that it contains three lakes.

These three striking summit crater lakes are Lake of Young Men and Maidens (Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai), which is the biggest one and dark turquoise, Bewitched or Enchanted Lake (Tiwu Ata Polo), which is light brown, and Lake of Old People (Tiwu ata Mbupu), which is usually dark blue.

The three of them have three different colours. It is the only place on earth where this amazing colour variation takes place. It is believed that the lakes change colours as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake. Their colours also vary depending on the season. Lake of Old People has become darker through the years; Enchanted Lake has gone from red to brown, while Lake of Young Men and Maidens has almost kept the same colour.

Kelimutu volcano, which is 1,639 metres high, had its last big eruption in 1968 and its responsible for the great amount of minerals, such as sulphur and copper, the lakes have.

The population of the island worships Kelimutu. They believe that when someone dies his spirit plunges into the water of one of the three lakes based on his character and age: parents and elder people´ spirits go to Lake of Old People, young people´ spirits plunge into Lake of Young Men and Maidens, and the spirits that belong to people who have committed any crime while they where alive go to Enchanted Lake.

At the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we don´t have different colour lakes, but we do have 7 spectacular Asian-style design outdoor pools. We look forward to seeing you this summer at our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean.

At the 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep travelling around the Asian continent to discover new spots. Today we are taking you to South Korea, in particular to Seoul, to find out about the spectacular Changdeokgung Palace.

The Changdeokgung Palace is one of the most beautiful and representative buildings in Seoul. It is considered to be the palace, which better exemplifies Korean culture details.

It was built in 1405, at the request of the Taejong of Joseon as a secondary palace of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Joseon´s Dynasty official palace. Due to its location, at the east of Gyeongbokgung, it is also known as the “East Palace”.

Both palaces were destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1592. Changdeokgung was rebuilt in 1692, becoming the official royal residence for over 300 years.

It is considered as one of the best kept royal palaces of its century. It keeps the architectural style of 15^th century.

Currently, the Changdeokgung Palace has 13 buildings and 28 pavilions. One of the main buildings of the complex is the Injeongjeon Hall, the throne hall of the palace. All the important events of the reign such as coronations or diplomacy meetings took place here. It also stands out the Donhwamun Gate, the main gate, which is the most ancient structure in the palace.

But the most important place you can find at Changdeokgung is the Huwon or the Hidden Garden. It covers an area of 300,000 square metres with hundreds of different species of trees, which are over 300 years old. Joseon kings used the garden to relax, write poems and celebrate banquets.

If you are an Asian nature lover, let yourself captivate by the lush gardens of the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. If you visit us this summer, don´t miss the chance to make our Botanical Tour.

If there is something we like at Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is discovering new Asian spots. Today we have climbed the Mount Popa in Myanmar to see the famous monastery this volcano hides on the top: Taung Kalat Monastery.

Taung Kalat Monastery is located at the summit of Mount Popa, an ancient volcano in central Myanmar.

Its incredible location is one of its main attractions. It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site, where monks, the powerful Nats and many macaques live.

Buddhists worship the Taung Kalat as a sacred mountain. According to tradition, 37 Nats or spirits live in the monastery. In the past, Burmese kings visited Taung Kalat to ask Nats for advice in relation to important issues. Currently, Nats worship is very important for Burmese families.

Mount Popa has many beautiful colour flowers. That is why Burmese people also called it the Mount Olympus of Burma. In Burmese, “popa” means flower.

To access Taung Kalat Monastery people have to go up 777 steps. It is a pilgrimage site during Nayon and Nadaw, the full moon of summer and winter solstice.

Let yourself captivate this summer by the landscapes our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean offers. The luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa has over 300 tropical species within approximately 370,000 square metres.

Every spot in our 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa takes us to a different place in Asia. Today we are travelling to India to discover the Lotus Temple.

The Lotus Temple, also known as the Baha’i House of Worship, is located in New Delhi. It is the most important temple for Baha’i religion. Open to everyone, it´s one of the most visited buildings in the world.

It is a place for prayer and meditation. Its construction was finished in 1986 and since then, it is considered as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent.

Styled after a lotus flower, with 27 white-marble petals, it can be seen from different points of South Delhi. A lotus flower symbolizes peace and purity. It is India´s national flower.

The Lotus Temple is 40 metres high. It was built with white marble, cement and sand. Around the temple there are 9 pools and bridges, which symbolize the nine spiritual paths of Baha’i religion.

The Lotus Temple has 9 doors, which symbolize the diversity of the human race. Besides prayer and meditation, inside the temple Bahá’u’lláh´s sacred writings are read and people also listen to music. The only requirement to access the temple is taking off your shoes and keeping silence.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we also have our own relax temple. If you visit us this summer, don´t miss out the chance to try our Thai Spa´s exclusive Asian treatments.

As every week, at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep travelling around the Asian continent to discover its hidden details and treasures. Today we are taking you to China to find out about the Mount Huangshan.

Mount Huangshan, also known as Yellow Mountains, is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in Eastern China. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the country.

It is one of the 5 sacred mountains of China. Mount Huangshan covers an area of 155 square kilometres. It was the last home of the Yellow Emperor, who was considered for Chinese mythology as one of the 5 emperors who established the Chinese civilization.

Huangshan Mountains were formed about 100 millions years ago, during the Mesozoic Era. From the Qin dynasty they were known as Yi Shan. The poet Li Po was the one who baptised the mount with its current name in 747.

Around the mountains there are 2 lakes, 3 waterfalls, 16 springs and 24 streams, which stand out for their beauty. The area has several thermal water fountains, whose water keeps a temperature of 45º during the year.

The most popular activity people do when they visit Mount Huangshan is walking around the mountains to contemplate the landscape the mount offers.

If you are a nature and an Asian lover, the luxury resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is your holiday destination this summer. Get lost walking around its dense tropical gardens and enjoy a few days off in Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we love learning about new Asian traditions and rites. Today we have travelled to South Korea to discover one of its most famous music traditions: pungmul.

Pungmul is a Korean folk music tradition that combines drumming, dancing and singing. It´s the Korean dance with the most ancient history.

Its origin dates back to the celebrations Korean farmers did to rest from their labours and to ask the gods for a good harvest during the year.

For Korean people agriculture was the most important activity. At first, it was a game but through the years it became an art.

Korean farmers played pungmul on rural holidays and at other village community-building events. Currently it´s performed outdoors.

It is performed by tens of actors. These ones are known by japsaek. They are the ones in charge of cheering up the show dressed up with caricatures and dancing with the audience.

Musicians are organized in groups, which are led by a kkwaenggwari player, accompanied by a janggu player, a buk one and a jing one. Pungmul performances sometimes include wind instruments too such as the taepyeongso.

On their behalf, pungmul dancers usually play sogo, a small drum, and perform tricky dances, which include different acrobatics.

If you are looking for some fun and relax this summer in a delightful environment, the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is your place. Let yourself captivate by Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering new Asian spots. Today we are taking you to Tibet to find out more about Namtso Lake.

The sacred lake Namtso is a saltwater lake located between Damxung County and Baingoin County, 250 kilometres away from Lhasa. Its name means “heavenly lake” in Tibetan. It´s considered one of China´s most beautiful lakes.

It´s China´s second biggest saltwater lake, and the largest one in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It has a surface area of 1,900 km² and lies at an elevation of 4,718 metres.

It is considered one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. The other two ones are Lake Yamdrok lake and Lake Manasarovar. Namtso Lake is surrounded by Nyantsentanglha Mountain. According to the local legend, Namtso Lake and Nyantsentanglha Mountain are a beloved couple, living together and deeply attached to each other. Another legend says Namtso is also the daughter of the god Indra.

According to history, Namtso Lake has been a holy site for centuries. The tradition of walking around the lake to pray in the Year of the Sheep began in the 12^th century, when Buddhist leaders practiced Esoteric Buddhism in the lake.

During the Year of the Sheep, many Buddhist monks visit Namtso Lake to walk around it. Worshipers take it as the symbol of happiness and believe that if they do it, their families will be blessed with good health and other virtues.

At the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we have our particular lakes. Visit our Asian spot in the Mediterranean this summer and relax at our Asian-style design pools.

Every week we discover you a new Asian spot or tradition from our luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Today we are travelling to Japan to learn about washi.

Washi is a style of paper that was first made in Japan.

There are different types of washi papers, depending on their origin or their manufacturing process. The three types of washi, which have become UNESCO´S intangible Cultural Heritage, are honminoshi (Gifu), hosokawashi (Saitama) and sekishubanshi (Shimane).

Washi is about 1,300 years old. Its manufacturing processes have passed down from one generation to another, without changing. This process is completely handmade.

According to Nihon Shoki, the second oldest book of classical Japanese history, Chinese manufacturing techniques were brought to Japan in 610 thanks to the Korean Buddhist monk Doncho. According to this book, Prince Shotoku thought Chinese paper was too thin and delicate, and requested his craftsmen to make Japanese paper with mulberry bark and hemp fiber.

Due to its manufacturing process, washi paper is tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp. It´s used in many traditional arts. Besides calligraphy, folding screens, lanterns, umbrellas and Japanese sunshades are all produced using washi.

Currently, there are only three Japanese communities producing washi: Misumi-cho district in Hamada, the city of Mino and Higashi-chichibu and Ogawa towns.

If you love Asia and its culture, 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is your destination. Don´t miss out the opportunity to visit Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean.

Every spot in our 5 stars hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa take us to a different place in Asia. Today we are travelling to India to discover the Golden Temple.

The Golden Temple, known in India as Harmandir Sahib, is a Sikh temple located in teh city of Amritsar, in the state of Punjab.

Amritsar is considered the spiritual capital of Sikhism. Sikhs must visit the Golden Temple at least once in their lives. They usually do it on special occasions such as birthdays, marriages or birth.

The fourth Sikh guru Guru Ram Das founded the city in 1574. The Golden Temple was built in 1588 at the request of the fifth guru Guru Arjan Dev. The construction was finished in 1604. By this time, Guru Arjan also completed the Adi Granth, Sikhism Holy Scripture, and installed it inside the temple.

The Golden Temple is located in the middle of an artificial lake called Amrit Sarovar, which means a pool of nectar. It has given the name Amritsar to the city. Sikhs and devotees wash their hands and feet in the lake, and some even take a bath, for purifying themselves before entering the Golden Temple.

The temple´s dome is gilded with 750 kg of pure gold. The temple is a symbolic representation of Sikhism. It has four entrances, one on each side, which symbolize the opening of their religion to the other ones.

At the luxury hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we also have our sacred spots. Plan a getaway to our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean and discover our wood canoe while enjoying a few days off.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering new Asian monuments and spots. Today we are taking you to Thailand to find out more about the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The Grand Palace or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang is located in Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It´s one of the most amazing places in the country. Currently it´s open to the public as a museum and it is also used for official events.

This complex of buildings has been the official royal residence since the 18^th century. Its construction started in 1792, at the request of the king Rama I, after taking the capital of the kingdom from Thonburi to Bangkok.

The Grand Palace had its own laws, as a small town. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the Palace until 1925. The current king Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama IX lives in Chitralada Palace.

The most important place in the Grand Palace is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It was one of the first constructions, which was built during Rama I´s kingdom.

There are a lot of important structures in the Grand Palace, but the major one is the Temple of Emerald Buddha. It keeps Thailand´s most sacred Buddhist sculpture: the Emerald Buddha or Phra Kaeo Morakot, which was carved from flawless green jade in the 5^th century.

If you are an Asian design and architecture lover, we suggest you to visit us this summer in the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. You will be able to enjoy a few days off in our little paradise in Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean.