Today, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are bringing you to one of the most crowded and charismatic cities in India: Bombay, a city that never sleeps where tourists can learn as much about the local culture as they please.

Bombay, locally known as “Mumbai”, is the capital of the federal state of Maharashtra in India and is also the main port city in the sub-continent, and the highest populated city in India.

The following are the best places you shouldn’t miss out on when visiting Bombay:

– GETAWAY OF INDIA: It was built in the British colonial period as a tribute to the first visit to India of King George V and his wife, in 1911, and it was completed in 1924. It consists of a 26-metre high basalt arch which is the ceremonial entrance to India for members of the government of Bombay.

– ELEPHANTA ISLAND: This is a small island near Bombay. This island was named after the stone elephants decorating the port on the way in to the island, which are no longer there. The main treasure hidden there is part of UNESCO’s Heritage of Humanity, the Trimurti Temple carved on the mountain, with caves and sculptures paying tribute to Shiva.

– KANHERI CAVES: This is a group of monuments on the rocks located in the outskirts of Bombay, India; they date back to the 10th Century B.C. They are located in the Sanjay Gandhi Natural Park and they show the Buddhist influence in the local art and culture.

– MAHATMA GANDHI MUSEUM: Among the museums to visit in Bombay, this is a must. It is the house where Gandhi worked, and it holds an impressive scientific library. A visit to this museum is highly recommended, not only for what Gandhi represents but also because of how well preserved the statue of Gandhi remains.

There are some of Gandhi’s personal objects and a friendly letter to Adolf Hitler asking him for world peace.

– FORT AREA: This is very near Getaway o India, in the financial centre of the city, where most main banks and large companies can be found. This area is also emblematic due to the large number of British colonial-style buildings, anciently bordered by a fort.

– THE TOWERS OF SILENCE: Also known as “Dakhma or Dokhma”, they are funeral buildings part of the Zoroastrianism religion, belonging to modern-day Iran.

This religion considered the human body to be impure, unable to pollute the earth or fire, both basic significant and classic elements that represent purity. That was the reason why lifeless bodies were taken to the towers of silence.

As expected, after this tour through the monuments and most emblematic areas of Bombay, you will surely feel like relaxing for a while. Come visit us at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa in the Mediterranean, and enjoy peace and calm. Our massages will renew your energy.

Today, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, we are letting literature inspire us, as well as stories, tales and legends and our own imagination, and bring us to Shangri-La, the land of permanent happiness isolated from the rest of the world.

The true Shangri-La, is a product of the imagination of British novelist James Hilton, who in 1933 wrote the novel “Lost Horizon” in which some explorers on their way to the Himalaya discover a spectacular and fascinating place.

Shangri-La means “idyllic and peaceful place where happiness reigns”, inspired by Shambhala, another imaginary place of Tibetan traditions.

For a long time, a large number of explorers and specialists looked for the land J. Hilton wrote about, they searched all over Asia, especially around India, Nepal and parts of China. Until 1997, when after much deliberation of experts and scientists, the government of Yunnan, declared that Shangri-La was in Yunnan, and it covered the areas of Zhongdian, Weixi and Deqin, access used by Tibetans and others in ancient times.

However, the city officially known as Shangri-La since 2002, is Zhongdian, which has seen a significant increase in the numbers of visitors to this dream city.

Here, we can visit the Songzanlin Monastery; this is a monastic city with twenty temples and a hundred Tibetan homes where monks live. This is a place of harmony and peace and quiet and spectacular architecture.

Bita Lake (“Bitahai”, in Chinese) is located 25 kilometres from Zhongdian, and is also one of the main places to go to when visiting this area. There are wooden cabins where you can spend the night and light a fire.

But, without a doubt, the biggest attraction is the Shangri-La Canyon which is 10 kilometres long and between 10 and 80 metres wide. The canyon is a serenity haven, as if taken from a fairy tale.

If you also wish to live a truly idyllic experience, full of peace and happiness, we recommend a visit to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, an Asian luxury resort described by many as a temple of wellbeing and relaxation. Come to our very own “Shangri-La in the Mediterranean” this summer.

Live a unique dream experience, and let us, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, show you yet another fantastic Asian spot that will transport you to another world. Today, we are going to tell you about the Zhangjiajie Mountains.

These stunning mountains are in China, in the province of Hunan, and have been declared Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The mountains are part of a National Park by the same name, and have been the setting for one of the biggest box office hits in Hollywood.

This spectacular “THE SHILIN STONE FOREST”, also known as “The Southern Sky Columns”, has been out of tourist reach for many years. However, the hanging mountains of the movie Avatar were inspired by them and the forest has ever since received much tourist attention.

This place has become a must for film lovers who visit China. A fabulous walk on the Zhangjiajie Mountains makes you feel as if you were in the “Pandora Halleluiah Mountains”.

The National Zhangjiajie Forest Park includes more than 3,100 different-height stone pillars, some of them almost 800 metres high, next to exuberant valleys, forests, lakes, caves, cascades and streams over a 690 square metre surface.

There are five points of entry to the mountains, but only 2 main ones:

– The Zhangjiajie Valley, on the west side of the park.

– The Wulingyuan entry on the east.

Among all the magical parts of this park, the following are the most spectacular ones without a doubt:

– The Golden Whip Stream (Yuanjiajie), on the north.

– The Southern Sky Column.

– The Five-Finger Peak Park.

– The Bailong Elevator that surrounds one of the cliffs at the end of The Golden Whip Stream and brings you right to the summit, about 325 metres high.

– The Suoxi Valley, a very vast area where you can visit “The Ten-Mile Gallery”, “The Stone Sea or Eastern Sea”, and “The Bao Feng Lake” among others.

– The Tianzi Mountain or Son of Heaven Mountain, are the highest peaks reaching up to 1,200 metres above sea level.

If you also wish to live this out-of-this-world experience, come visit the 5-star Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a resort that will transport you to the most unimaginable Asian luxury. Why watch the movie when you can star in it?

Today, at our 5-star hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, we are travelling to another world, a world of fantasy, mythology and magic. Also, a world of tradition filled with Asian symbolism. Today we are going to reveal the meaning of the Dragon in Asia.

The dragon is one of the most important and popular symbols in Asia. This mythological animal is found in Asian ornaments, architecture and literature as an allegory of prosperity, strength and the mystical energies that rule the world.

The dragon in Asia represents the 4 elements (earth, wind, fire and water) and it holds the essence of life in it celestial breath, known as “Sheng Chi”. The “chi” it emits, is what “Feng Shui” bases all its theories upon.

In Asian culture, the dragon doesn’t represent the enemy as it does in western cultures, but wisdom, wealth, power and nobility.

The symbol of the dragon means that “something good will happen”, that is why it is so present in the daily lives of many Asian citizens.

The dragon has features of other animals: the body of a snake, the claws of an eagle, the legs of a tiger, the whiskers of a catfish, the horns of deer and the scale of fish. The dragon is also related to number 9 which in China is considered a lucky number.

These are the 3 most popular dragons in Asia:

– FUKU RIU: Is a legend in Japan, as this is the dragon of good fortune. It is said that it flies really high to be near the gods and carry out their wishes. This dragon has no wings, but it has powers that allow him to fly.

– LUNG DRAGONS: These are Chinese dragons which symbolize bravery and audacity, heroism, perseverance, nobility and divinity. In China, dragons are friendly and wise, that is why their people worship them with incense offerings, and pray to them. They are the ones who control the planet and look out for the balance in nature.

– KOREAN DRAGON: In Korea, dragons are called “Yong”, and are similar to Chinese dragons. However, they also have legends of their own. It is said that for a less important dragon, “Imugi”, to become a true Korean dragon, “Yong”, it had to catch a pearl called “Yeouiju” that fell from the sky.

If you are also into everything that’s fantastic, magical and extraordinary, we recommend a visit to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, our luxury resort in the Mediterranean where “something good will happen” for sure.

Some of the most significant things about Asia, are its impressive and stunning corners. Places where history is present as well as amazing landscapes and sensations that sometimes leave us speechless. At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, our luxury resort in the Mediterranean we offer a combination of Asian culture and philosophy of life.

Today, we are travelling to hasta Sri Lanka, to Sigiriya, an ancient fortress complex built in a rock as a result of a volcanic eruption 22 kilometres from Dambulla, a city north of the country which was declared Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1982.

This rock, in the middle of an immense plain, was a 370-metre volcanic plug in ancient times. The remains of an eroded and hardened magma eruption make Sigiriya visible today from all directions from miles away.

“Lions Rock”, as it is commonly known, was a Buddhist monastery on the 5^th Century B.C. The monastery is built in the rock and there are caves that were used by monks as living quarters and meditation rooms.

The monastery eventually became a royal palace for King Kasyapa, due to its privileged location as a fortress against enemies.

Legend has it that King Dhatusena ended up being murdered by his son Kasyapa who wanted the power. He also tried to kill his brother, who was to be the new King, but he escaped to India swearing revenge someday. In time, he put together an army to confront Hasyapa and declared war. During the battle, the Kasyapa armies abandoned him and when he realized he wasn’t going to be able to beat his brother, he committed suicide.

The fortress has two floors. The lower floor is built in the rock, and the upper one, of which there are only remains left, which may be accessed through the lion’s door, is where the “mirror wall” is located. There was where the king used to look at himself in the reflection of the water.

Sirigiya (LINK: http://www.drymartinez.net/2011/10/sri-lanka-sigiriya-un-palacio-en-el.html ) was abandoned in 1155 and rediscovered in 1828 by a British archaeologist and explorer. There are paintings covering the western 140-metre-long wall of the fortress. There are 500 magnificent paintings of celestial nymphs. Nowadays, there are only 18 left in good state on the natural cavities of the rock.

In order to enjoy the grandiosity of Sirigiya, visitors must walk up 1,200 steps, but it is worth the effort as from the top there is a beautiful view of this rare place and everything that surrounds it, gardens and graves among others.

If you are fond of palaces and luxury, at the 5-star hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are sure that you will feel the peace and warmth of Asian culture palpable at our resort. You will be treated like a king this summer. Are you going to miss out on it?

In Asia, traditions, rituals and legends are of great significance, and the festivals that celebrate those traditions are very important too, and that is why at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we would like to tell you about the Kite Festival.

The Japanese kite is called “Tako” and missionaries brought it to Japan from China and used them for religious and tribute ceremonies. However, these changed in time and their use was also modified. In Japan, they started being used to carry materials to build temples.

The first written reference regarding kites is in a dictionary where they are referred to as “Kami-tobi”, which literally means “paper falcon”, which according to Historians suggests that the first kites resembled birds.

The kite “Yakko-daro” was the most popular one among business and wealthy families. They represented human figures with open arms making funny poses, although the real funny fact was that they used to get their kites painted to look like their servants.

The Japanese “tako” was made out of traditional Japanese paper (“washi”) painted with natural ink, (“sumi”), and a bamboo stand. Nowadays, Cypress wood is also used.

In Japan, there are currently 130 different kites, many of which represent the specific regions of the country.

Asian tradition says that a kite must be flown during the Children’s Day Festival from 3rd to 5th of May as well as during other festivities throughout the year. Doing so, helps protect whoever flies the kite.

Another tradition still celebrated nowadays is giving a “tako” as a present to the first born child of a family to protect him every time he flies his kite up until he becomes an adult.

The most popular kites being used nowadays are:

– Fukusuke: showing a big-headed dwarf who is said to bring good fortune, or a crane or turtle, symbols of longevity.

– Kinorta: a carp, symbol of strength and bravery.

If you are a fan of kites, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, we offer you the best place to fly your “tako” by the sea, where the breeze of the Mediterranean will make your experience much more memorable.

Come and enjoy the Mediterranean in the best luxury hotel in Spain!

At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, our luxury hotel in the Mediterranean, we enjoy winding down after an Asian adventure such as visiting the city of Petra.

Petra is known by everyone as one of the most archaeologically popular and famous cities in Jordan. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning “rock”. This city is in the Middle East, three hours south from the capital, Amman.

The city was built 2,000 years ago by a group of Arabic nomads called “Nabataeans”, and is nowadays one of the SEVEN Wonders of the World. In addition, in 1985 Petra was declared Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Its highest splendour was during the time of the Nabataeans, who created an artificial oasis and managed to have, in the middle of the desert, a constant source of water.

The buildings were built in the rock of the cliff and the doors lead to chambers located behind the decorated facades. The most impressive building is the Al Khazneh (or Treasure).

Al Khazneh is almost 12 floors high and its name comes from stories spread by the Beduin about a treasure that was hidden there. However, it really is a tomb or temple that has plenty more buildings on the rock.

Other buildings that must be visited are: Siq, the royal tomb, Al Deir and the Roman ruins. As well as the Byzantine Church which is truly worth a visit, although it is run down due to the many earthquakes and large fires it has been hit by. In spite of this, the remains of its three main areas can still be admired.

Petra is one of the most magical, beautiful and mysterious places found among rocks. We could talk endlessly about his city as it has many things that make it stand out.

This is the most popular and attractive holiday destination in Jordan, which is why a visit to the city must be thoroughly planned ahead in order not to miss out on the main places of interest of the Archaeological Park of Petra. There are self-guided tours as well as more challenging routes which require an authorized tour guide. This is, without a doubt, a magnificent way to discover the lost city on foot.

If you also wish to lose yourself in these Asian wonders, come visit us at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a magnificent place to be pampered and where to enjoy a truly Asian experience.

In every trip there is a place everyone agrees must be visited. If you go to the Mediterranean, that place will surely be the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a 5-star luxury resort where we will bring you to the deepest corners of Asia.

If travelling further distances though, the place all travellers who go to Butan must visit  is Taktshang, a monastery called “The Tiger’s Nest” located half an hour from Paro on top of a 700-metre cliff, 3,100 metres high.

Just like almost all amazing and spectacular spots, in order to reach the Tiger’s Nest you will have to make a physical effort and walk uphill for two and a half hours. Nothing too demanding for those who are used to hiking.

Taktshang is a sacred Buddhist monastery which started being built in 1692 near the cave where the Guru Padmasambhava was believed to meditate for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours in the 8th Century.

Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tigress over Tibet and in doing so he managed to tame the evil tiger.

Although there is also another legend which tells the story of the wife of an emperor, who later became disciple of the Guru in Tibet, and then turned into a tigress, and it was she who brought him to Butan. Once there, Padmasambhava stayed in a cave meditating for a long time and only came back out after 8 incarnations, hence this place becoming a holy place.

This monastery, Taktshang has been hit by several fires throughout the years, but the dubkhang, the holiest chapel, where Guru Padmasambhava was, has always remained mysteriously protected.  This fact has led to many conjectures regarding the magic powers he possessed. People still believe in such powers nowadays.

Currently, in the Tiger’s Nest there are monks who live there and practise Buddhism, a religious retreat, which is the reason why that part of the monastery is forbidden to tourists.

At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, our 5-star luxury resort in the Mediterranean, you can enjoy facilities that will bring the Asian dream to you. What are you waiting for to come and live a unique experience?

The summer is around the corner and it’s starting to get hot, and that is why we need to start taking out our summer accessories that will protect us from the sun, such as sunglasses, hats and caps. At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa you can enjoy the Mediterranean sun and show off your accessories at any of our pools. Which look will you go for?

In Vietnam, Japan and China, the main accessory used is the “Cone-shaped hat”, which is called by different names depending on the country, caping, satgat, sugegasa, do’um, salakot, saklat or coolie.

In Vietnam it’s known as Nón Lá and wearing it is part of a 3,000-year-old tradition. In Vietnam this hat is made of straw and is mainly used by women, although the further south we go, we will also see some men wearing it.

The main use of this cone-shaped hat is as protection from the sun and rain as Vietnam is a hot and tropical country. It is mainly farmers who wear it, as well as fishermen and rice grower.

This hat is used all over the continent, not only for the purposes mentioned above but also as a way of protecting women and maintain Asian beauty standards. Their ideal of beauty is based on a pale complexion which is why this hat is very popular among country women.

The cone-shaped hat is made of straw and leaves held together by thread; the top is covered by a type of varnish which works as protection and keeps the elements away.

Some people even use this hat to collect rainwater.

If you wish to wear your hat to stay away from the sun, come visit us at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa and enjoy the Mediterranean sun and the pools of the best luxury resort.