Asia Countries and Capitals

Country	Capital	Currency	Currency Abbreviation
ASIA
Afghanistan	Kabul	Afgani	AFA
Armenia	Yerevan	Dram	AMD
Azerbaijan	Baku	Manat	AZN
Bahrain	Al-Manamah	Bahraini Dinar	BHD
Bangladesh	Dhaka	Taka	BDT
Bhutan	Thimphu	Ngultrum	BTN
Brunei	Bandar Seri Begawan	Brunei Dollar	BND
China	Beijing	Yuan	CNY
Cyprus	Nicosia	Cypriot Pound	CYP
Cambodia	Phnom Penh	Riel	KHR
East Timor	Dili	U.S. Dollar	USD
India	New Delhi	Indian Rupee	INR
Indonesia	Jakarta	Rupiah	IDR
Iran	Tehran	Rial	IRR
Iraq	Baghdad	Iraqi Dinar	IQD
Israel	Tele Aviv	Shekel	ILS
Japan	Tokyo	Yen	JPY
Jordan	Amman	Jordanian Dinar	JOD
Kazakhstan	Akmola	Tenge	KZT
Korea (North)	Pyongyang	Won	KPW
Korea (South)	Seoul	Won	KRW
Kuwait	Kuwait City	Kuwaiti Dinar	KWD
Kyrgyzstan	Bishkek	Kyrgyzstani Som	KGS
Laos	Vientiane	Kip	LAK
Lebanon	Beirut	Lebanese Pound	LBP
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysian Ringgit	MYR
Maldives	Male	Rufiyaa	MVR
Mongolia	Ulan-Bator	Tugrik	MNT
Myanmar	Yangon	Kyat	MMK
Nepal	Kathmandu	Nepalese Rupee	NPR
Oman	Muscat	Rial Omani	OMR
Pakistan	Islamabad	Pakistani Rupee	PKR
Philippines	Manila	Peso	PHP
Qatar	Doha	Qatari Riyal	QAR

Countries in Asia that you must visit

1. Thailand
Thailand has become one of South East Asia’s biggest tourist destinations. The country itself is enchanting, with its elephant-rich highlands, miles of pristine shoreline, and jewel-like tropical islands. Equally welcoming are the Thai people. Easygoing and quick to return a smile, the Thais have enjoyed centuries of relatively peaceful self-rule, and you can sense it. The local cuisine ranks among the best on the planet.

2. India

India’s rich life philosophies and religious traditions make it a destination for true believers, know-it-alls, and skeptics alike. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians, to name but a few, live alongside one other in this all-encompassing place. You'll feel that your eyes can't open wide enough to take in all the beautiful colors, sights, and people. Do not expect to see India in two weeks; indeed, plan to spend months here if you can.

3. Singapore

It would be easy to think that Singapore has one thing on its mind: money, and how to make more of it. You don’t get a booming economy, towering skyscrapers, and a thriving electronics and manufacturing industry by taking your eye off the dime. But visitors who take the time to walk around street markets or drop into the Raffles Hotel for afternoon tea will see that this highly regulated city-state has more than that to offer, with more to come.

4. China

Today, the People's Republic is officially open for business, and its cultural treasures are easier to reach than ever. In Shanghai, stroll down the old riverfront and see how colonial architecture contrasts with the garish lights of Pudong. If ancient history is more your thing, go to Beijing, where you can walk the squares of the Forbidden City, visit the Temple of Heaven, and take a day trip to the Great Wall. Xi’an is a lively city, but most people go only for its stunning hall of terracotta warriors.

5. Vietnam

Bamboo-pole skinny and a thousand miles long, energized Vietnam packs so much into its mountainous, slithery shape that repeat visitors still find things to shake their heads at. Now buddies with the USA, Vietnam is feasting over 21st-century business, and its book-end cities – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – change by the hour. Most itineraries start at one and finish with the other: Hanoi’s prettier, with more cultural history and closer to the mountains, but old Saigon’s food is better and its all-night energy unparalleled.

6. Japan

Cherry blossoms drift on an ocean breeze and fall without a splash into hot spring pools at the base of snow-capped Mt. Fuji. A hundred miles away, fashion-crazed hipsters sweat and pose and grind under the disco lights of a slick Roppongi nightclub. Japan is a contrast of tradition and modernity, with stereotypes and preconceptions confirmed and shattered at every turn. The one constant of travel in Japan is the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the Japanese people. The great challenge for the traveler is not to navigate a foreign land, but to find ways to express gratitude for the hospitality one is bound to receive.

7. Indonesia

Not everyone has the privilege of calling a massive expanse of as many as 18,000 islands stretched along the equator "home," but for Indonesians, the world's largest archipelago is a mysterious backyard spread out along the equator containing a tropical snow-capped mountain, komodo dragons, and even a 12-inch miniature deer. As a practical matter, it's really the five largest islands, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Papua and thirty smaller archipelagoes that see the most action. The country's beaches top the lists of dream locations for surfers and divers around the world. But landlubbers won't feel left out, as there are enough active volcanoes to occupy a lifetime's worth of trekking.

8. Malaysia

If there were ever an award for the easiest nation to visit in Southeast Asia, Malaysia would be very much in the running. Its geography, which offers forested countryside, mountains, and beautiful beaches on its west and east coasts, and its location, south of Thailand and north of Singapore and Indonesia, make it an ideal place to travel to and a wonderful jumping-off spot. And its trains, planes, and car rental services or, if you prefer, chauffeur-driven, make getting around pretty straightforward.

9. Maldives

In the turquoise expanses of the Indian Ocean, the emerald Republic of Maldives, along with its natural atolls astride the equator, has over a thousand islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. The country, reachable by air from all major international cities, offers unspoilt white sand beaches, coral reefs, top-notch diving sites, and rich marine life. The crystal clear water and warm climate make diving easy and enjoyable. The finest surf breaks in the North and South Malé Atolls can be explored from April to October. Catamaran sailing, surfing, and snorkeling are popular here. Visits to vibrant local markets, artificial beaches, and the presidential palace in the capital, Malé, are an experience by itself.

10. Philippines

Ask any random person about the Philippines, and you are likely to hear something like, “Isn’t that an island? I think my pants were made there.” Therein lies the allure of this tiny island nation: unlike neighboring countries such as the backpacking holy trinity of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, it is completely off the radar. With over 7,000 islands to explore, you can escape the hordes of tourists (and the locals who cater to them) and still have every kind of adventure imaginable. Few places on earth offer as much ecological diversity in such a small area. Whether you want to hike up a volcano or dive among pristine coral reefs, the Philippines has all of this and more.

42 interesting facts about Japan

1. Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan.

2. Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.

3. For many Japanese couples Christmas is celebrated like Valentine's Day in the western world.4. Poorly written English can be found everywhere, including T-shirts and other fashion items.

4. Poorly written English can be found everywhere, including T-shirts and other fashion items.

5. More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains, including more than 200 volcanoes.

6. Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.

7. Religion does not play a big role in the lives of most Japanese and many do not understand the difference between Shintoism and Buddhism.

8. A nice musk melon, similar to a cantaloupe, may sell for over $300US.

9. There are four different writing systems in Japan, romaji, katakana, hiragana, and kanji.

10. Coffee is very popular and Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee production.

11. Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.

12. Sumo is Japan's national sport, although baseball is also very popular.

13. Sumo wrestlers eat a stew called Chankonabe to fatten up. Many restaurants in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo serve this nabe (Japanese word for stew).

14. Many of the western style toilets in Japan have a built-in bidet system for spraying your backside.

15. When you use the restroom in some one's home, you may need to put on special bathroom slippers so as not to contaminate the rest of the home.

16. Noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), are slurped loudly when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating.

17. Japan is the world’s largest consumer of Amazon rain forest timber.

18. Vending machines in Japan sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, and other items.

19. When moving into an apartment it is often required to give the landlord a "gift" of money equal to two months' rent.

20. There are around 1,500 earthquakes every year in Japan.21. In Japan it is not uncommon to eat rice at every meal, including breakfast.

21. In Japan it is not uncommon to eat rice at every meal, including breakfast.

22. Average life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world. Japanese people live an average of 4 years longer than Americans.

23. Japan is the largest automobile producer in the world.

24. The Japanese language has thousands of foreign loan words, known as gairaigo. These words are often truncated, e.g. personal computer = paso kon. The number of foreign loan words is steadily increasing.

25. Tsukiji market in Tokyo is the world's largest fish market.

26. Although whaling is banned by the IWC, Japan still hunts whales under the premise of research. The harvested whale meat ends up in restaurants and supermarkets.

27. In the past men might shave their heads to apologize.

28. In the past women in Japan might cut their hair after breaking up with a boyfriend.

29. Tokyo has had 24 recorded instances of people either killed or receiving serious skull fractures while bowing to each other with the traditional Japanese greeting.

30. The first novel, The Tale of Genji, was written in 1007 by a Japanese noble woman, Murasaki Shikibu.

31. The term karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese.

32. In a Sumo training "stable" the junior rikishi Sumo wrestlers must wash and bathe their senior sumo wrestlers and make sure their hard to reach places are clean.

33. Contrary to popular belief, whale meat is not a delicacy in Japan. Many Japanese dislike the taste and older Japanese are reminded of the post-World War II period when whale meat was one of the few economical sources of protein.

34. Rampant inbreeding of dogs has resulted in one of the highest rate of genetic defects in the world for canines.

35. Raised floors help indicate when to take off shoes or slippers. At the entrance to a home in Japan, the floor will usually be raised about 6 inches indicating you should take off your shoes and put on slippers. If the house has a tatami mat room its floor may be rasied 1-2 inches indicating you should to take off your slippers.

36. Ramen noodles are a popular food in Japan and it is widely believed extensive training is required to make a delicious soup broth. This is the subject of the movies Tampopo (1985) and The Ramen Girl (2008).

37. On average, it takes about 7-10 years of intensive training to become a fugu (blowfish) chef. This training may not be needed in the future as some fish farms in Japan are producing non-poisonous fugu.

38. Ovens are not nearly as commonplace as rice cookers in Japanese households.

39. Geisha means "person of the arts" and the first geisha were actually men.

40. It was customary in ancient Japan for women to blacken their teeth with dye as white teeth were considered ugly. This practice persisted until the late 1800's.

41. In ancient Japan, small eyes, a round puffy face, and plump body were considered attractive features.

42. Some traditional Japanese companies conduct a morning exercise session for the workers to prepare them for the day's work.

Some Japan pictures:

Arigatou!

Oh China! Top 10 to see in China

China is a vast and extraordinary country spanning of miles from the desert in the west to the ocean and the east. Culturally, China has one of the most rich and textured histories of all civilizations that encompasses over 5,000 years. This is rich stuff for a traveler.

1. The Forbidden City 

The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, sits at the center of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square where the famous portrait of Mao Zedong hangs on the palatial crimson wall. It was the imperial seat for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 until 1912 when the last emperor, Pu Yi, abdicated. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

2. The Grat Wall

The Great Wall winds its way across China covering over 5,500 miles (8,850 km). While the latest construction occurred after 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall began over 2,000 years ago. In fact, the Great Wall is actually made up of a number of interconnecting walls spanning China that different dynasties and warlords constructed over the years.

3. The Terracota Warriors

Discovered in 1974 when a local farmer was digging a well, the terracotta army, buried in 210 BC with the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, is a breathtaking site. The thousands of life-size figures have individually unique faces and hair and armor styles appropriate to their rank. The museum of the Terracotta Army is located in Xi'An, Shanxi province.

4. Karst Mountains in Yangshuo

Illustrating the 20 Renminbi (Chinese currency) note, the karst mountains are famously beautiful in China. Located in the south of China in Guangxi province, they can best be viewed from Yangshuo, a small town outside Guilin, a major city in Guangxi Province.

5. Hangzhou - Paradise on Earth

China's "Paradise on Earth", Hangzhou is a lovely city centered around the famed West Lake. This green city is full of gardens, tranquil temples and pavilions and bustling historic streets to venture through. The hills surrounding the city grow the famous Longjing green tea. Hangzhou is close to Shanghai but is a much more laid-back, cultural city.

6. Jiuzhaigou Valley

Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve located in China's Sichuan province. A beautiful example of China's varied landscape, Jiuzhaigou is famous for crystal blue lakes and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number of Tibetan villages so is also a superb place to see and experience Tibetan local culture.

7. Potala Palace, Lhasa
Now a Chinese museum, the Potala Palace was traditionally the seat of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual leader. Famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red palace, the building sits at 3,700 meters or over 12,000 feet. The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

8. The Bund, Shanghai
The Bund, meaning embankment, was historically the seat of Shanghai's most powerful businessmen in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Bund is a fabulous place to see examples of Shanghai's rich architectural history, illustrated by the HSBC Building, built in 1923 and at the time said to be "the most luxurious building between the Suez Canal and the Bering Strait."

9. Giant Pandas and Chengdu

Heading out to Chengdu is a great way to get a taste of Sichuan as well as an in-depth understanding of Giant Pandas at the Breeding Research Base.

10. Modernity in Hong Kong

See modern China - and Asia - at the cutting edge with a visit to Hong Kong. Walking down the Kowloon side promenade gives the traveler a view of some of the most beautiful modern architecture in China, dominated by the Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei.