What's going on with Asia in 2014? We have the year of the Wooden Horse, which began this morning and in addition to the excitement I'm feeling, as my Chinese Zodiac Sign dog, which gets along with horses, there are travel trends you definitely need to know about that will literally knock your socks off, and we're here to tell you all about them!

 

As the start of a new year brings new beginnings and possibilities, 2014 is ushering in a list of Fantastic Travel Trends in Asia and here they are:

 

• CAMBODIA: There's no telling how long people have been living in what is now known as Cambodia. The only evidence there is in terms of life prior to 1 AD is a carbon14 dating from a cave in northwestern Cambodia, which suggests life as far back as 4000 BC. Did you know Cambodians can be distinguished from their citizens of neighborly countries by their apparel? Cambodians use checkered scarves known as Kramas as opposed to their neighbors who wear straw hats. Historians have dated more than 1,000 temple sites, one of which and most notable being that of King Suyavarman II's Angkor Wat (meaning "Temple City" or "City of Temples"). Located over three (3) miles north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and has since become a UNESCO site.

• MALDIVES: Coined as one of the top places in the world to dive, top 10 most romantic destinations, and top 10 dream trips, The Maldives is made up of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like atolls, and spread over 90,000 square kilometers. Imagine yourself in an over-water villa set in a turquoise lagoon teeming with marine life. See yourself visiting neighboring islands by bicycl, and talk about the perfect place for Honeymooners! Seclusion, Perfect Setting, and Intimacy, if that's not romantic, I don't know what is.

• MYANMAR: Bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) is unlike anywhere you've ever been... A gem located in a little corner of Asia where change has been very little in comparison to other parts of the continent. Stepping off the plane in Myanmar is like stepping out of a time machine where you're in a land where the horse and buggy is still used to get from place to place; where you can separate yourself from your cell phones, and where rock stars aren't at all who you think they'd be.

• BHUTAN: Another destination that is fascinatingly fantastic is Bhutan where sustainability is number one priority, so much so that buying cigarettes is actually illegal. Did you know the Bhutan's daily tariff of $200 USD a day is based on a party of three (3) or more? The tariff itself is all-inclusive with accommodation, food, transport and an official guide who'll introduce you to the landscape & heritage. Unlike other countries where school kids wear modern clothes, school kids in Bhutan still wear their Kiras (girls) and Goas (boys).

• MONGOLIA: Bordered by both China & Russia, it is safe to say Mongolia is land-locked, BUT with Khövsgöl who needs the ocean when you have meadows, lakes and running rivers? On the other end of Mongolia's beautiful spectrum are the thick forests, valleys, the Gobi, & rugged mountains. The Tsaatan, which are a minority ethnic group who live throughout the far north of the Aimag, herd Reindeer and live in teepees.

Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or one that has yet to sprout his or her wings, this is your wake up... As Joseph Campbell once said, "The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure".