Few other countries are so dominated by their capital： Cairo is Egypt. For Egyptians to speak of one is to speak of the other. The 'Mother of the World' nurtures more than 16 million Egyptians， Arabs， Africans and sundry（各式各样的）international hangers-on in a collision of East and West， old and new， African and Arabic. She's overburdened with one of the world's highest population densities， which makes for a seething （原意为沸腾）mass of people， buildings and cacophonous（发音不和谐的）traffic.
Cairo has been the heart of Egypt for more than 1000 years. Here the medieval world and the contemporary Western world clash in a confusion of mud-brick houses and towering modern office buildings， of flashy cars and donkey-drawn carts（驴车）。 Cairenes see nothing strange in this. They aren't driven by the Western obsession to update and upgrade. The resulting pervasive sense of timelessness is one of the city's great charms. At the end of the day， it's a city travelers either loveor hate； few come away indifferent.
Finding your way about Cairo's vast sprawl is not as difficult as it may seem. Midan Tahrir is at the center. Northeast of Tahrir and centered on Sharia Talaat Harb is Downtown， a bustling commercial district. The city's main train station at Midan Ramses marks Downtown's northernmost extent. Heading east， Downtown ends at Midan Ataba and the old medieval heart of the city known as Islamic Cairo takes over.
Bordering Downtown to the west is the Nile River， which is obstructed （拦截）by two sizeable islands. The more central of these， connected directly to Downtown by three bridges， is Gezira， home to the Cairo Tower and the Opera House complex. The west bank of the Nile is less historical and much more residential. The primary districts are Mohandiseen， Agouza， Doqqi and Giza， all of which are light on charm and heavy on concrete. Giza covers by far the largest area of the four， stretching some 20km （12.4mi） west on either side of the long， straight road that ends at the foot of the Pyramids.
2008年2月1日星期五
Brasilia (Brazil)
Fifty years ago， the spot where Brasilia now stands was nothing but cerrado（塞雷多，巴西Mina 州的一个行政区）——short scrubby forest， stretching thousands of miles in every direction. That the entire city， this modernist architectural feat， was completed in the space of just 4 years is thanks to the will of one man， former president Juscelino Kubitschek. JK was elected president in 1956 on the promise that he'd move the capital inland from Rio de Janeiro（里约热内卢）。 Other politicians had made similar promises to no avail（完全无用）； the capital had even been mandated in Article 3 of the constitution of the first Brazilian republic. But few expected JK to successfully see it through.
The site， on Brazil's high interior plateau（高原）， was close to rivers and had a temperate climate. But it was literally in the middle of nowhere——over 360 miles from the nearest paved road， 75 miles from the nearest railroad， and some 115 miles from the nearest airport. JK pressed ahead， and held a competition for city plans. The winning design for the master plan was submitted by a Rio architect named Lucio Costa.
Costa's plan incorporated some curious ideas. In a country with no auto industry， the capital was designed almost exclusively for car use. Activities like shopping， banking， even living were segregated in discrete lumps. But viewed from high above the city grid looked bold and monumental——shaped like an airplane in flight， or an arrow shooting forward into the future.
Groundbreaking（奠基）began in 1957. Thousands of workers poured in from around the country. Living conditions were frightful. But by April 21， 1960， there was something that resembled a city enough for the grand inauguration to be held. Politicians and bureaucrats began to make the long shift inland.
In years since， Brasilia has been a source of some controversy. For the world of urban design it embodies the limitations of rational planning； the carefully designated use zones now feel stifling， ill-equipped to address the complexity of a true city. Some Brazilians have suggested that the money borrowed to build the new capital planted the seed for the debt crisis of the early 1980s. But its status as the federal capital is secure； if nothing else， Brasilia certainly succeeded in moving the country's focus from the coast to the vast interior.
For visitors， the attractions here are purely architectural. The city was meant to be a showcase for the country. Brazil's best designers， architects， and artists were commissioned to create the buildings and make them beautiful. A visit to Brasilia is a chance to see and judge on their success.
The site， on Brazil's high interior plateau（高原）， was close to rivers and had a temperate climate. But it was literally in the middle of nowhere——over 360 miles from the nearest paved road， 75 miles from the nearest railroad， and some 115 miles from the nearest airport. JK pressed ahead， and held a competition for city plans. The winning design for the master plan was submitted by a Rio architect named Lucio Costa.
Costa's plan incorporated some curious ideas. In a country with no auto industry， the capital was designed almost exclusively for car use. Activities like shopping， banking， even living were segregated in discrete lumps. But viewed from high above the city grid looked bold and monumental——shaped like an airplane in flight， or an arrow shooting forward into the future.
Groundbreaking（奠基）began in 1957. Thousands of workers poured in from around the country. Living conditions were frightful. But by April 21， 1960， there was something that resembled a city enough for the grand inauguration to be held. Politicians and bureaucrats began to make the long shift inland.
In years since， Brasilia has been a source of some controversy. For the world of urban design it embodies the limitations of rational planning； the carefully designated use zones now feel stifling， ill-equipped to address the complexity of a true city. Some Brazilians have suggested that the money borrowed to build the new capital planted the seed for the debt crisis of the early 1980s. But its status as the federal capital is secure； if nothing else， Brasilia certainly succeeded in moving the country's focus from the coast to the vast interior.
For visitors， the attractions here are purely architectural. The city was meant to be a showcase for the country. Brazil's best designers， architects， and artists were commissioned to create the buildings and make them beautiful. A visit to Brasilia is a chance to see and judge on their success.
Lima (Peru)
Straddling （坐落在…旁）both banks of the Rjo Rjmac at the foot of the Cerro San Cristobal， the capital of Peru is an eclectic（折衷的）mix of traditional colonial buildings， soaring skyscrapers and Pueblos（印第安人村庄）（shanty settlements that blanket the dusty hills overlooking the city）。
Home to two-thirds of Peru's industry and nearly one-third of the country's total population， pollution and poverty is highly present this city of seven million. A few miles southwest of the city center， Villa El Salvador shelters 350，000 people.
In spite of its troubles， the city boasts a great many historic monuments， museums for every palate（口味，品位）， a lively cultural and arts scene and the country's best food， drink and nightlife.
Most of Lima's sights can be found within the old city， declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO（联合国教科文组织）。
Attractions include the Palacio Torre Tagle， the city's best surviving specimen of secular（长期的）colonial architecture； the Museo de Oro del Peru， with its precolumbian（哥伦布发现新大陆前）metals， weavings and mummies and the Museo de Arte， with more than 7，000 exhibits giving a retrospective（回顾）of Peruvian cultures and art from 2，000 years ago to the present day.
Lima's many markets overflow with hand-crafted （手工的）jewelry of silver and gold， Peruvian textiles and ceramics（陶器）， flowers and fresh produce.
For a break from the city's clamor， duck into（钻进）Lima's fine baroque churches（巴洛克式教堂）or take a stroll through its many parks and gardens， some established as early as the 17th century by Lima's Spanish aristocracy（贵族统治）。
Home to two-thirds of Peru's industry and nearly one-third of the country's total population， pollution and poverty is highly present this city of seven million. A few miles southwest of the city center， Villa El Salvador shelters 350，000 people.
In spite of its troubles， the city boasts a great many historic monuments， museums for every palate（口味，品位）， a lively cultural and arts scene and the country's best food， drink and nightlife.
Most of Lima's sights can be found within the old city， declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO（联合国教科文组织）。
Attractions include the Palacio Torre Tagle， the city's best surviving specimen of secular（长期的）colonial architecture； the Museo de Oro del Peru， with its precolumbian（哥伦布发现新大陆前）metals， weavings and mummies and the Museo de Arte， with more than 7，000 exhibits giving a retrospective（回顾）of Peruvian cultures and art from 2，000 years ago to the present day.
Lima's many markets overflow with hand-crafted （手工的）jewelry of silver and gold， Peruvian textiles and ceramics（陶器）， flowers and fresh produce.
For a break from the city's clamor， duck into（钻进）Lima's fine baroque churches（巴洛克式教堂）or take a stroll through its many parks and gardens， some established as early as the 17th century by Lima's Spanish aristocracy（贵族统治）。
Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Visitors to Argentina's capital city are pleasantly surprised by the European energy buzzing（弥漫在） in the South American air.
Like European cities， Buenos Aires is known for its late-late-night dining and clubs that let visitors dance until sunrise.
Buenos Aires is a sprawling（蔓生的；不规则地伸展的）giant， with towering glass skyscrapers casting shadows on 19th century Victorian houses and a wealth of unique neighborhoods， each with its own personality.
The San Telmo district， where Buenos Aires artists work and live， is noted for its mishmash（混杂物）of architectural styles， perfectly embodying （体现）Buenos Aires' multinational heritage in Spanish Colonial houses with Italian detailing and graceful French Classic buildings holding antique shops， tango bars and cafes. La Boca's pressed tin houses were painted a rainbow of colors by 19th century Italian immigrant families， colors which are still bright and set off by the colorful murals decorating the walls of side streets. The city's chicest（时髦的）neighborhood is the Barrio Recoleta， called the Beverly Hills of Buenos Aires for its art galleries and upscale（高档的）restaurants.
Culture flourishes here too. One of the world's finest opera houses， the Teatro Colon， has hosted the likes of Maria Callas， Toscanini， Stravinsky， and Caruso in its luxurious French Renaissance-styled theatre. Tickets are hard to come by（得到）as season ticket-holders crowd the seats， but visitors can tour the theater from 10am to 6pm weekdays.
Buenos Aires' famous Museo de Bellas Artes is Argentina's finest art gallery with a good collection of modern Argentine painters， wood sculptured artifacts from the provinces， and Impressionist and post-Impressionist （后印象派主义）paintings such as Monet， Degas， and Chagall. And any visitor includes the Plaza de Mayo on his or her itinerary（旅程）to see the plaza where the citizens gathered together to hear speeches by populist leaders Juan and Evita Peron.
Like European cities， Buenos Aires is known for its late-late-night dining and clubs that let visitors dance until sunrise.
Buenos Aires is a sprawling（蔓生的；不规则地伸展的）giant， with towering glass skyscrapers casting shadows on 19th century Victorian houses and a wealth of unique neighborhoods， each with its own personality.
The San Telmo district， where Buenos Aires artists work and live， is noted for its mishmash（混杂物）of architectural styles， perfectly embodying （体现）Buenos Aires' multinational heritage in Spanish Colonial houses with Italian detailing and graceful French Classic buildings holding antique shops， tango bars and cafes. La Boca's pressed tin houses were painted a rainbow of colors by 19th century Italian immigrant families， colors which are still bright and set off by the colorful murals decorating the walls of side streets. The city's chicest（时髦的）neighborhood is the Barrio Recoleta， called the Beverly Hills of Buenos Aires for its art galleries and upscale（高档的）restaurants.
Culture flourishes here too. One of the world's finest opera houses， the Teatro Colon， has hosted the likes of Maria Callas， Toscanini， Stravinsky， and Caruso in its luxurious French Renaissance-styled theatre. Tickets are hard to come by（得到）as season ticket-holders crowd the seats， but visitors can tour the theater from 10am to 6pm weekdays.
Buenos Aires' famous Museo de Bellas Artes is Argentina's finest art gallery with a good collection of modern Argentine painters， wood sculptured artifacts from the provinces， and Impressionist and post-Impressionist （后印象派主义）paintings such as Monet， Degas， and Chagall. And any visitor includes the Plaza de Mayo on his or her itinerary（旅程）to see the plaza where the citizens gathered together to hear speeches by populist leaders Juan and Evita Peron.
Havana (Cuba)
Havana， the capital city， can veer between inspiring and depressing. The inspiration comes from Havana's people， whose friendliness and hospitality seem boundless. But Old Havana is falling apart， and attempts at putting it back together have quite a ways to go. To walk its narrow cobblestone（鹅卵石） streets is to encounter sections that occasionally resemble earthquake zones. The government can't afford paint that resists salt air， so the color peels off the exteriors（表面）。 For many buildings， maintenance is long overdue： Sagging balconies are supported by planks， and the facades of once-beautiful buildings are etched by huge cracks.
Old Havana is still very interesting， however. Dilapidated as they are， the buildings really conjure up（回忆起） the earlier times. It has an authenticity that is missing in some other countries' overly refurbished historic districts， which can seem more like living museums than neighborhoods. In the past few years， renovation has accelerated， at least in the streets that tourists see， with construction crews working on entire blocks at a time. But buildings that can't bring in tourist dollars as hotels， restaurants， shops or museums are left to crumble. In the Central area of Havana， very little work has been started yet. One of the areas under renovation that's generated the most interest is Plaza Vieja， which is lined with colonial baroque mansions that will be converted into galleries， little museums and boutique hotels.
While most of the details on the art-deco buildings lining the streets are crumbling away， the Spanish colonial structures are well preserved. Be sure to see the Museum of the City of Havana， the Cathedral de San Cristobal de la Habana and Castillo de la Fuerza.
You'll also run across a few Hemingway haunts in Old Havana， including La Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio， two of Papa's watering holes. Be sure to take a look at some of the photos that line the walls of La Bodeguita del Medio： You'll recognize many celebrities of yesteryear（不久以前）， including Nat King Cole， Errol Flynn and Frank Sinatra. You'll also notice photos of Ted Turner and Jane Fonda， Martin Scorsese， Robert De Niro， Francis Ford Coppola， Robert Redford and other recent visitors.
Across the harbor from Old Havana is El Morro Castle and La Cabana Fort.
Central Havana， labeled Centro on maps， has little of interest to tourists， but Vedado， a modern area， has tourist hotels， nightclubs and the fascinating Columbus Cemetery， where the headstones and monuments are reminiscent of those in New Orleans.
Do take the time to walk along Avenida de Malecon， the road that winds along the city's extensive waterfront（滨水地区）。 If the sea is up， you'll see groups of kids playing in the waves that splash against the seawall（海堤）。 It makes a great picture. A visit to the waterfront is best undertaken during the daylight hours， however. For a tour of a cigar factory， go to the Fabrica Partagas in Havana.
Sites relating to the struggles of socialism are spread throughout the city. They include the Museum of the Revolution， located in the former Presidential Palace， and the motor launch Granma， on which Castro returned to Cuba in 1956 to renew his revolutionary fight.
At night， take in the glitzy show at the open-air Tropicana Club， seemingly unchanged since its opening in 1939. Rain can cancel the show， so keep an eye on the weather. Tickets， which include bus service， can be purchased at the better hotels.
Old Havana is still very interesting， however. Dilapidated as they are， the buildings really conjure up（回忆起） the earlier times. It has an authenticity that is missing in some other countries' overly refurbished historic districts， which can seem more like living museums than neighborhoods. In the past few years， renovation has accelerated， at least in the streets that tourists see， with construction crews working on entire blocks at a time. But buildings that can't bring in tourist dollars as hotels， restaurants， shops or museums are left to crumble. In the Central area of Havana， very little work has been started yet. One of the areas under renovation that's generated the most interest is Plaza Vieja， which is lined with colonial baroque mansions that will be converted into galleries， little museums and boutique hotels.
While most of the details on the art-deco buildings lining the streets are crumbling away， the Spanish colonial structures are well preserved. Be sure to see the Museum of the City of Havana， the Cathedral de San Cristobal de la Habana and Castillo de la Fuerza.
You'll also run across a few Hemingway haunts in Old Havana， including La Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio， two of Papa's watering holes. Be sure to take a look at some of the photos that line the walls of La Bodeguita del Medio： You'll recognize many celebrities of yesteryear（不久以前）， including Nat King Cole， Errol Flynn and Frank Sinatra. You'll also notice photos of Ted Turner and Jane Fonda， Martin Scorsese， Robert De Niro， Francis Ford Coppola， Robert Redford and other recent visitors.
Across the harbor from Old Havana is El Morro Castle and La Cabana Fort.
Central Havana， labeled Centro on maps， has little of interest to tourists， but Vedado， a modern area， has tourist hotels， nightclubs and the fascinating Columbus Cemetery， where the headstones and monuments are reminiscent of those in New Orleans.
Do take the time to walk along Avenida de Malecon， the road that winds along the city's extensive waterfront（滨水地区）。 If the sea is up， you'll see groups of kids playing in the waves that splash against the seawall（海堤）。 It makes a great picture. A visit to the waterfront is best undertaken during the daylight hours， however. For a tour of a cigar factory， go to the Fabrica Partagas in Havana.
Sites relating to the struggles of socialism are spread throughout the city. They include the Museum of the Revolution， located in the former Presidential Palace， and the motor launch Granma， on which Castro returned to Cuba in 1956 to renew his revolutionary fight.
At night， take in the glitzy show at the open-air Tropicana Club， seemingly unchanged since its opening in 1939. Rain can cancel the show， so keep an eye on the weather. Tickets， which include bus service， can be purchased at the better hotels.
San Juan (Puerto Rico)
The capital of Puerto Rico is a spirited modern metropolis with high-rise beach strips and a major commercial center. It dates from the early 16th century， making it the second oldest city in the Americas （after granddaddy Cuzco， Peru）。 Today it's the engine of the island's economic and political life and the cultural beachhead for US influence in the Caribbean.
For an old timer， San Juan can seem pretty spry（精神好的；活泼的）- nothing like strips of high-rise hotels littered about the beaches to make a town look young. Even Old San Juan seems strangely fresh and well-preserved given that it's getting on for 500 years old. Many Caribbean adventurers never make it past San Juan： there's a lot to be said for being able to lay a towel down on an unmistakably white Caribbean beach， while having the culture and quaintness of a historic city and the convenience of a modern metropolis just minutes away. But if day tripping appeals， the capital also makes a good base from which to explore the compact island.
Proudly independent in spirit but technically a territory of the USA， Puerto Rico is where four centuries of Spanish Caribbean culture comes face to face with the American convenience store. This leads to some strange juxtapositions（并置，并列，同时存在）- parking lots and plazas， freeways and fountains， skyscrapers and shanties - but they're not hard to reconcile（调和；使一致）in the context of the Caribbean's hybrid（复杂的；混合的）history.
Although tourists have been visiting San Juan for decades， few ever felt the need to get out of the casinos， let alone （更谈不上）the city limits. Today， travelers who venture into the island's mountainous interior or explore its undeveloped southern and western coasts are coming across stately hill towns where the locals in the plaza seem to have been feeding the same pigeons for decades. Add to this a perplexing culture that is proud of its past yet unable to seize its independence and you have the ingredients for an intriguing （有趣的）adventure.
For an old timer， San Juan can seem pretty spry（精神好的；活泼的）- nothing like strips of high-rise hotels littered about the beaches to make a town look young. Even Old San Juan seems strangely fresh and well-preserved given that it's getting on for 500 years old. Many Caribbean adventurers never make it past San Juan： there's a lot to be said for being able to lay a towel down on an unmistakably white Caribbean beach， while having the culture and quaintness of a historic city and the convenience of a modern metropolis just minutes away. But if day tripping appeals， the capital also makes a good base from which to explore the compact island.
Proudly independent in spirit but technically a territory of the USA， Puerto Rico is where four centuries of Spanish Caribbean culture comes face to face with the American convenience store. This leads to some strange juxtapositions（并置，并列，同时存在）- parking lots and plazas， freeways and fountains， skyscrapers and shanties - but they're not hard to reconcile（调和；使一致）in the context of the Caribbean's hybrid（复杂的；混合的）history.
Although tourists have been visiting San Juan for decades， few ever felt the need to get out of the casinos， let alone （更谈不上）the city limits. Today， travelers who venture into the island's mountainous interior or explore its undeveloped southern and western coasts are coming across stately hill towns where the locals in the plaza seem to have been feeding the same pigeons for decades. Add to this a perplexing culture that is proud of its past yet unable to seize its independence and you have the ingredients for an intriguing （有趣的）adventure.
Tehran (Iran)
Iran is not blessed with one of the world's loveliest capitals. Pollution， traffic snarls， chronic overcrowding（长期过度拥挤）and a lack of responsible planning have all helped to make Tehran a metropolis that even the most effusive travel agent would have difficulty praising.
If you're expecting an exotic（异国请调的）crossroads steeped in oriental splendour， you'll be sadly disappointed. The main sights are spread out， but the hotels are good， the variety of restaurants is impressive， the facilities are far ahead of those anywhere in the provinces， and the Tehranis are friendly.
There is no real central area， though many budget travellers base themselves near Emam Khomeini Square in the less appealing south of the city， where there's cheap accommodation， fine kebab（烤肉串）and good access to bus and train transport. Getting lost in Tehran is easy. If you need landmarks， the Alborz mountains， known as the 'North Star' of Tehran， are to the north； and the huge telephone office at Emam Khomeini Square dominates inner southern Tehran. Fortunately， most streets that travellers are likely to take are signposted（给……加路标）in English. Other than that， many streets， such as those around the Tehran Bazaar（德黑兰集市）， have no signposts at all.
The best times to visit are during late spring （mid-April to early June） and autumn （late September to early November）。 Avoid coming in winter and the Iranian New Year （about 21 March） and two weeks after it. Many restaurants close between dawn and dusk during the month of Ramazan（斋月）。
Human settlement of the region dates from Neolithic times（新石器时代）， but the development of Tehran was very slow and its rise to prominence largely accidental. In AD 1197， after Mongols（蒙古人）sacked and destroyed nearby Rey - the major urban centre in Persia（波斯）at the time - Tehran began to develop in its place. From the mid-16th century， Tehran's attractive natural setting and good hunting brought it into the favour of the Safavid king， Tahmasb I. It developed from a moderately prosperous trading village into an elegant， if dusty， city， and European visitors wrote of its many enchanting vineyards（葡萄园）and gardens. In 1789， Agha Muhammed Khan declared Tehran his capital， and six years later had himself crowned as shah of all Persia. The town continued to grow slowly under later Qajar rulers.
From the early 1920s， the city was extensively modernised on a grid system， and this period marked the start of phenomenal population growth and uncontrolled urban development. An educated and cosmpolitan middle class elite， with an open attitude towards Western influence， flourished under the Shah， but the growth of the city began a trickle of poor， rural migrants that soon turned into a flood.
The depopulation（居民减少）of the surrounding regions continues to this day as the rural poor continue to stream into Tehran in ever greater numbers. This migration has put the city's infrastructure under enormous pressures. In 1930 the population was 300，000； in 2001 it was estimated to be 12 million. These pressures often translate into popular revolt， hence Tehran's central role in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and in more recent protests against the clerical monopolisation of political power.
If you're expecting an exotic（异国请调的）crossroads steeped in oriental splendour， you'll be sadly disappointed. The main sights are spread out， but the hotels are good， the variety of restaurants is impressive， the facilities are far ahead of those anywhere in the provinces， and the Tehranis are friendly.
There is no real central area， though many budget travellers base themselves near Emam Khomeini Square in the less appealing south of the city， where there's cheap accommodation， fine kebab（烤肉串）and good access to bus and train transport. Getting lost in Tehran is easy. If you need landmarks， the Alborz mountains， known as the 'North Star' of Tehran， are to the north； and the huge telephone office at Emam Khomeini Square dominates inner southern Tehran. Fortunately， most streets that travellers are likely to take are signposted（给……加路标）in English. Other than that， many streets， such as those around the Tehran Bazaar（德黑兰集市）， have no signposts at all.
The best times to visit are during late spring （mid-April to early June） and autumn （late September to early November）。 Avoid coming in winter and the Iranian New Year （about 21 March） and two weeks after it. Many restaurants close between dawn and dusk during the month of Ramazan（斋月）。
Human settlement of the region dates from Neolithic times（新石器时代）， but the development of Tehran was very slow and its rise to prominence largely accidental. In AD 1197， after Mongols（蒙古人）sacked and destroyed nearby Rey - the major urban centre in Persia（波斯）at the time - Tehran began to develop in its place. From the mid-16th century， Tehran's attractive natural setting and good hunting brought it into the favour of the Safavid king， Tahmasb I. It developed from a moderately prosperous trading village into an elegant， if dusty， city， and European visitors wrote of its many enchanting vineyards（葡萄园）and gardens. In 1789， Agha Muhammed Khan declared Tehran his capital， and six years later had himself crowned as shah of all Persia. The town continued to grow slowly under later Qajar rulers.
From the early 1920s， the city was extensively modernised on a grid system， and this period marked the start of phenomenal population growth and uncontrolled urban development. An educated and cosmpolitan middle class elite， with an open attitude towards Western influence， flourished under the Shah， but the growth of the city began a trickle of poor， rural migrants that soon turned into a flood.
The depopulation（居民减少）of the surrounding regions continues to this day as the rural poor continue to stream into Tehran in ever greater numbers. This migration has put the city's infrastructure under enormous pressures. In 1930 the population was 300，000； in 2001 it was estimated to be 12 million. These pressures often translate into popular revolt， hence Tehran's central role in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and in more recent protests against the clerical monopolisation of political power.
Manila (Philippines)
Many people dismiss Manila as nothing more than a 12 million person-strong entry point to more interesting rural destinations in the Philippines. And while the less built-up areas of the country do offer much to the adventurous traveller， those who stop to smell the incense and pollution find that the capital city has a few hidden treasures of its own. Manila is a modern-looking place， but the sprawling city boasts its fair share of colonial ruins - enough to keep those historically inclined amused for a while， anyway.
If you're looking for a good time， Manila could be just the ticket： bars and entertainment venues will keep you well fed， well greased and in the party mood for months on end（连续的）。 There is a high-profile tacky downside to the flashing neon， but there are plenty of options open to you even if you don't want nude dancers on your table. If you make it back to your room at night after all the fun and frolics（嬉戏）， you're likely to perform an exhausted manila-folder flop.
Manila， like most of the world's large cities， suffers from a huge and problematic urban sprawl（蔓延）。 Typically， urban sprawl also creates nightmares for travellers， although the main points of interest to visitors are centralised， making suburban navigation unnecessary. Manila sprawls east from Manila Bay along the Pasig River， and immediately south of the river is Intramuros， the old walled Spanish town where many of the city's historical sites are found. Further south again and you'll find yourself in the 'tourist belt' of the Malate and Ermita districts， where you'll find restaurants， accommodation and travel agencies.
Arriving in Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport is about as far as you'll ever get from a streamlined process. Poor signage（标志牌）， crowds and an illogical layout all contribute to the chaos， but if you're confused， you won't be alone. Once you finally make your way to the street， things begin to look up. The airport， only about 8km south of the centre of Manila， is well served by buses and taxis.
With maximum temperatures hovering above 30°C ， Manila isn't the place to go to cool off. There are two seasons： the dry season lasts from December to May； the rest of the year is sodden with heavy rain. From June to November you might find yourself in a typhoon. The best time to visit Manila and surrounds is February to April.
If you're looking for a good time， Manila could be just the ticket： bars and entertainment venues will keep you well fed， well greased and in the party mood for months on end（连续的）。 There is a high-profile tacky downside to the flashing neon， but there are plenty of options open to you even if you don't want nude dancers on your table. If you make it back to your room at night after all the fun and frolics（嬉戏）， you're likely to perform an exhausted manila-folder flop.
Manila， like most of the world's large cities， suffers from a huge and problematic urban sprawl（蔓延）。 Typically， urban sprawl also creates nightmares for travellers， although the main points of interest to visitors are centralised， making suburban navigation unnecessary. Manila sprawls east from Manila Bay along the Pasig River， and immediately south of the river is Intramuros， the old walled Spanish town where many of the city's historical sites are found. Further south again and you'll find yourself in the 'tourist belt' of the Malate and Ermita districts， where you'll find restaurants， accommodation and travel agencies.
Arriving in Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport is about as far as you'll ever get from a streamlined process. Poor signage（标志牌）， crowds and an illogical layout all contribute to the chaos， but if you're confused， you won't be alone. Once you finally make your way to the street， things begin to look up. The airport， only about 8km south of the centre of Manila， is well served by buses and taxis.
With maximum temperatures hovering above 30°C ， Manila isn't the place to go to cool off. There are two seasons： the dry season lasts from December to May； the rest of the year is sodden with heavy rain. From June to November you might find yourself in a typhoon. The best time to visit Manila and surrounds is February to April.
Singapore (Singapore)
The Cavenaugh Bridge is a must-see for visitor， especially newlyweds.
According to Malay legend（马来传说）， a Sumatran （苏门答腊人）prince encountered a lion - considered a good omen - on Temasek， prompting him to found Singapura， or Lion City. It mattered little that lions had never inhabited Singapore （more likely the prince had seen a tiger）； what did matter was the establishment of the region as a minor trading post for the powerful Sumatran Srivijaya empire and as a subsequent vassal state （封建时代的诸侯国）of the Javanese（爪哇人的）Majapahit empire in the mid-13th century.
Singapore might have remained a quiet backwater（荒僻处）if not for Sir Stamford Raffles' intervention in 1819. The British had first established a presence in the Straits of Malacca （now called Melaka）（马六甲海峡）in the 18th century when the East India Company set out to secure and protect its line of trade from China to the colonies in India. Fearing another resurgence（卷土重来）of expansionism（扩张主义）in the Dutch - which had been the dominant European trading power in the region for nearly 200 years - Raffles（废弃的物品）argued for an increased British presence， which he was promptly given. Under his tutelage（指导，托管）， Singapore's forlorn（荒凉的） reputation as a fetid（有恶臭的）， disease-ridden （疾病盛行）colony was soon forgotten. Migrants attracted by a tariff-free port poured in by the thousands， and a flourishing colony with a military and naval base was established
According to Malay legend（马来传说）， a Sumatran （苏门答腊人）prince encountered a lion - considered a good omen - on Temasek， prompting him to found Singapura， or Lion City. It mattered little that lions had never inhabited Singapore （more likely the prince had seen a tiger）； what did matter was the establishment of the region as a minor trading post for the powerful Sumatran Srivijaya empire and as a subsequent vassal state （封建时代的诸侯国）of the Javanese（爪哇人的）Majapahit empire in the mid-13th century.
Singapore might have remained a quiet backwater（荒僻处）if not for Sir Stamford Raffles' intervention in 1819. The British had first established a presence in the Straits of Malacca （now called Melaka）（马六甲海峡）in the 18th century when the East India Company set out to secure and protect its line of trade from China to the colonies in India. Fearing another resurgence（卷土重来）of expansionism（扩张主义）in the Dutch - which had been the dominant European trading power in the region for nearly 200 years - Raffles（废弃的物品）argued for an increased British presence， which he was promptly given. Under his tutelage（指导，托管）， Singapore's forlorn（荒凉的） reputation as a fetid（有恶臭的）， disease-ridden （疾病盛行）colony was soon forgotten. Migrants attracted by a tariff-free port poured in by the thousands， and a flourishing colony with a military and naval base was established
Seoul (Republic of Korea)
Seoul is mega-modern and appealingly ancient city. Flattened in the Korean War， most of the city has been rebuilt since the 1950s. Peeking out from among the 12-lane freeways， overshadowed by high-rises（高楼大厦）， Seoul has a hidden history of centuries-old temples， palaces， pagodas and pleasure gardens. It also has cheap accommodation （住宿）， excellent public transport and cultural experiences aplenty. The Han-gang River bisects（一分为二） the city， with Chung-gu the central district， Chongno-gu （with most of the budget hotels and sights） to the north， and It'aewon-dong （packed full of shopping， bars and nightlife） just south of the city centre.
Seoul is justifiably famous for its palaces. Kyongbokkung Palace is the best known. Built at the beginning of the Yi Dynasty， most of the 500 buildings in the palace grounds were destroyed when the Japanese invaded. Reconstructed in the late 19th century， destroyed again in the Korean war， the palace and its grounds have now been entirely restored once more. The palace is actually several buildings， including one of the most exquisite（精致的）pagodas in the country and an enormous two-storey throne room. The National Folk Museum in the grounds of the palace is dedicated to showing how ordinary Koreans have lived through the ages. Another palace highlight is Ch'anggyonggung Palace， built in 1104. Once the rulers' summer palace， the Japanese downgraded Ch'anggyonggung to a park. Cross a footbridge from the palace and you're at the Chongmyo Shrine.
If a bit of a chat with the locals is what you're after， head south-west of Ch'anggyonggung to T'apkol Park， where crowds of friendly elderly folk sit around talking about the weather. This is where the Declaration of Independence was first read in 1919， and murals（壁画）around the park are dedicated to the independence movement. The park is named after the marble pagoda （t'apkol） in its grounds. The city's other great park is Namsan， south of the city centre. The third tallest tower in the world， the Seoul Tower is within the park， and it's packed full of tourist fun - an aquarium， games room and the Fancy World.
National Treasure No 1 is the Namdaemun Gate， once Seoul's chief city gate. The gate， built in the 14th century， is near the Seoul train station. Its solidity and calm elegance make it an island in a sea of traffic. South of the river， Lotte World has its own ice skating rink（溜冰场）， hotel， swimming pool and the Disney-clone Lotte World Adventure - hours of family entertainment.
Seoul is justifiably famous for its palaces. Kyongbokkung Palace is the best known. Built at the beginning of the Yi Dynasty， most of the 500 buildings in the palace grounds were destroyed when the Japanese invaded. Reconstructed in the late 19th century， destroyed again in the Korean war， the palace and its grounds have now been entirely restored once more. The palace is actually several buildings， including one of the most exquisite（精致的）pagodas in the country and an enormous two-storey throne room. The National Folk Museum in the grounds of the palace is dedicated to showing how ordinary Koreans have lived through the ages. Another palace highlight is Ch'anggyonggung Palace， built in 1104. Once the rulers' summer palace， the Japanese downgraded Ch'anggyonggung to a park. Cross a footbridge from the palace and you're at the Chongmyo Shrine.
If a bit of a chat with the locals is what you're after， head south-west of Ch'anggyonggung to T'apkol Park， where crowds of friendly elderly folk sit around talking about the weather. This is where the Declaration of Independence was first read in 1919， and murals（壁画）around the park are dedicated to the independence movement. The park is named after the marble pagoda （t'apkol） in its grounds. The city's other great park is Namsan， south of the city centre. The third tallest tower in the world， the Seoul Tower is within the park， and it's packed full of tourist fun - an aquarium， games room and the Fancy World.
National Treasure No 1 is the Namdaemun Gate， once Seoul's chief city gate. The gate， built in the 14th century， is near the Seoul train station. Its solidity and calm elegance make it an island in a sea of traffic. South of the river， Lotte World has its own ice skating rink（溜冰场）， hotel， swimming pool and the Disney-clone Lotte World Adventure - hours of family entertainment.
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