World cruise (Asia)

Lake Linow and Mount Tampusu are two distinct but closely linked natural landmarks in the Minahasa Highlands near Tomohon on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Asia. Lake Linow, located in Lahendong village, is a volcanic lake famous for its water that changes between shades of blue, green, and brownish-yellow due to shifting sulfur levels and sunlight reflection. Just about 5.5 kilometers away, Mount Tampusu rises to approximately 1184 – 1500 meters and features its own hidden crater lake.

Driving past some of the chaotic electric connections in the town of Tomohon on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Asia. Like in many other countries electricity is mainly transported via utility poles, sometimes requiring complex connections. Tomohon is uniquely powered by the Lahendong Geothermal Project, supplying a significant portion of its electricity through clean, geothermal energy.

A white Hibiscus in full bloom thrives in the fertile, cool highlands of Tomohon on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Asia. Benefiting from volcanic soils and tropical weather, the delicate petals and striking orange stamens create a beautiful contrast against lush green leaves in the region's serene gardens.

Admiring some yellow Canna lilies in the gardens of a restaurant near the town of Tomohon on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Asia.

Yellow Canna lilies (often locally referred to as Bunga Tasbih in Indonesia) thrive in the fertile, volcanic highlands of Tomohon, North Sulawesi. Their bright, tropical blooms and large paddle leaves make them a staple in local gardens and on the slopes of the region's volcanoes.

While driving back to the cruise ship we got this view of the Yesus Memberkati statue in the city of Manado on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Asia.

The Yesus Memberkati statue (Christ Blessing) is a major religious landmark and was completed in 2010. It stands as one of the tallest statues of Jesus in the world and has become a symbol of peace and blessing for the city. The total structure is 50 meters tall, consisting of a 30 meter statue atop a 20 meter pedestal.

While sailing on the Queen Mary 2 during the 2026 World Voyage we got to experience a lot of incredible sunsets. This was on the promenade deck (deck 7) about ten minutes until sunset while sailing on the Sulu Sea near the Philippines, Asia.

The is the view we had after we had just left Central Pier #9 in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, China. It was the start of an hour long luxury harbour cruise with unlimited snacks & drinks to explore the heart of Hong Kong's waterfront. The cruise was also specifically timed for the 8:00 pm light show called "A Symphony of Lights".

While on a harbour cruise we wondered what this piece of art was. Turned out it was the Central-Wan Chai Bypass East vent shaft which is a distinctive architectural landmark located in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, China.

It was designed to resemble a "swaying sail," the shaft's sleek, spiraling form was chosen through a public engagement process to complement the surrounding Victoria Harbour views. It is a vital component of the tunnel's air purification system, maintaining air quality by discharging filtered vehicle emissions and providing ventilation to the 3.7 km tunnel.

We passed the beautiful ship 'Aqualuna II' while on a harbour cruise in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, China.

This ship is a striking 29 meter traditional Chinese junk boat operated by the aqualuna Hong Kong fleet in Victoria Harbour. Featuring iconic Ming Dynasty-style imperial dragon sails and handcrafted wooden construction, it offers daily sunset, evening and Symphony of Lights harbor cruises.

Central Hong Kong by night while on a harbour cruise in Victoria Harbour, part of the city of Hong Kong, China.

Central Hong Kong illuminated at night offers one of the most iconic urban panoramas in the world, renowned for its glowing skyscrapers, traditional junk boats, and sweeping views across Victoria Harbour. The skyline’s glittering towers form a dazzling backdrop that brings the city to life after dark.

Admiring the concrete jungle of Hong Kong on Victoria Peak. The Peak is Hong Kong's ultimate vantage point. Rising 552 meters above Hong Kong Island, it offers an iconic, breathtaking panorama of the dense, vertical skyline, Victoria Harbour, and the lush, jungle-covered mountains that perfectly encapsulate the city's identity as both a high-tech metropolis and a natural paradise.

While walking along the flat Victoria Peak Circle Walk we found this dead tree with a city view of the city of Hong Kong in China. Definitely one of the most famous urban panoramas in the world with stunning views of Victoria Harbour, the Kowloon Peninsula, and the surrounding islands.

View from one of the special lookouts on Victoria Peak in the city of Hong Kong, China.

The lookouts on Victoria Peak offer some of the most famous panoramic views of the Hong Kong skyline, Victoria Harbour, and the Kowloon Peninsula. We used the cliffside walking trail which provided a completely free, unobstructed post-card view of the cityscape framed by natural greenery.

Walking up to the Lantau Link viewing point in the Tsing Yi area of the city of Hong Kong in China. It's a scenic lookout located at the northwest corner of Tsing Yi Island and offers premier panoramic viewpoints of Hong Kong's most iconic infrastructure, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, Kap Shui Mun Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge.

From the Lantau Link viewing point I had a great view of the Tsing Ma Bridge in the Tsing Yi area of the city of Hong Kong in China.

The bridge is a globally renowned engineering marvel and an iconic architectural landmark in Hong Kong. It functions as a vital transportation gateway, connecting the urban core of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island to Lantau Island and the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

Great view of the Ting Kau Bridge, located in the Tsing Yi area of the city of Hong Kong in China.

The bridge is an 1177 meter long multi-span cable-stayed bridge, that spans the Rambler Channel to connect the northwest of Tsing Yi Island with Ting Kau in the New Territories. It's a crucial, toll-free highway connection between the New Territories, Kowloon, and Hong Kong International Airport.

Looking at the pilot accompanying the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship out of Hong Kong on Kowloon Bay in the city of Hong Kong, China.

When a cruise ship departs from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Kowloon Bay, she is accompanied by a licensed harbour pilot from the Hong Kong Pilots Association (HKPA). The pilot assists the captain in safely navigating the massive ships out of the busy waters of Victoria Harbour and through the East or West Lamma channels.

The Linh Ung Buddhist temple, high up in the Marble Mountains near the city of Da Nang in Viet Nam, Asia. The Linh Ung Pagoda on the Marble Mountains is a historic Buddhist sanctuary. It is Da Nang's oldest Linh Ung temple. It perfectly blends royal heritage with natural caves.

This is a stone dragon statue, one of the many detailed decorations on the Son Tra Peninsula near the city of Da Nang in Viet Nam, Asia. It is decorating the staircase at the Linh Ung Pagoda, the prominent coastal Buddhist temple complex known for its large statue of Lady Buddha. The sculpture is intricately carved and holds a stone ball (pearl) in its claw, overlooking the sea.

We loved spending some time at the site with Lady Buddha on the Son Tra Peninsula near the city of Da Nang in Viet Nam, Asia.

The Lady Buddha statue is the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam, standing at 67 meters tall. It is located within the courtyard of the Linh Ung Pagoda. Positioned facing the sea, locals revere the Goddess of Mercy (Quan Am) as a patron saint who protects fishermen and shields the port city from typhoons.

I really loved this image of the red lady at the Thu Vien Buddhist temple on the Son Tra Peninsula near the city of Da Nang in Viet Nam, Asia.

The primary and most famous spiritual landmark on the Son Tra Peninsula is Linh Ung Pagoda (Chùa Linh Ứng), which houses a dedicated Buddhist library (thư viện) within its massive 12 hectare complex.

Admiring the impressive Dragon Bridge in the city of Da Nang, Viet Nam, Asia. The bridge is a world-famous architectural marvel shaped like a magnificent golden dragon leaping across the Han River. It serves as both a critical transit link and a massive tourist attraction.

Durians for sale in the city of Da Nang, Viet Nam, Asia. Durian is a large tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, widely celebrated as the "King of Fruits" for its formidable size, spiked outer husk, and highly polarizing aroma. The fruit is infamous for an intense, pungent smell caused by volatile sulfur compounds. It is frequently compared to rotten onions, gym socks, or sewage, which leads many hotels and public transit systems across Southeast Asia to completely ban the fruit.

After our cruise ship, the Queen Mary 2, arrived early in the city of Singapore, Asia we had an awesome, somewhat hazy view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel after sunrise.

Crossing the Helix Bridge in the city of Singapore, Asia is a seamless pedestrian stroll that links Marina Centre to the Marina Bay Sands waterfront. Officially opened in 2010, this 280 meter structural marvel is famous for being the world's first curved pedestrian bridge, meticulously designed to replicate the intricate geometry of a left-handed DNA strand.

While walking on the Helix Bridge we got an excellent close-up view of the ArtScience Museum in the city of Singapore, Asia. The museum is world-renowned for its striking architectural design that resembles an open white lotus flower or a welcoming hand. Designed by the architect Moshe Safdie, its unique structure consists of ten distinct "fingers" or petals anchored by a central round base.

Coming off the Helix Bridge in the city of Singapore, Asia we stepped into a bustling cultural and entertainment district. The Singapore Flyer ferris wheel and the Esplanade theatre were literally steps away. 

Coming from the Marina Bay area we got this nice view while walking under the Esplanade Bridge in the city of Singapore, Asia. Totally loved the sweeping, geometric views of the symmetrical concrete arches. Located at the mouth of the Singapore River, the 260-meter-long, low-level road bridge acts as a popular vantage point for cityscapes and fireworks.

The historic Anderson Bridge (completed in 1910) is a striking colonial-era arch bridge crossing the mouth of the Singapore River in the city of Singapore, Asia. Named after Sir John Anderson, former Governor of the Straits Settlements, it features stunning steel arches and has evolved from a vital commercial roadway into a pedestrian-only landmark and iconic Formula 1 street circuit backdrop.

Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall is a historic performing arts center and national monument within the city's downtown Civic District in the city of Singapore, Asia. First established as a Town Hall in 1862, it is the oldest performing arts venue in Singapore and has served as the permanent home of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Admiring the Sir Stamford Raffles statue in front of the Victoria Theatre at Empress Place in the city of Singapore, Asia. This original black bronze statue stands directly in front of the clock tower. Sculpted by British artist Thomas Woolner, this eight-foot-tall historical monument honors the statesman recognized as the founder of modern Singapore.

After admiring the area around the Victoria theatre we slowly walked back towards the city centre, looking back at the Anderson Bridge in the city of Singapore, Asia. It's a great area to explore some of the city's rich history.

We loved spending some time around the Mirror Balls sculpture in the city of Singapore, Asia. It's an interactive public art installation officially titled "24 Hours in Singapore." The artwork consists of five large, highly polished stainless steel spheres placed directly on the lawn. Beyond their reflective surfaces, the spheres act as an audio repository. They emit recorded, everyday ambient sounds of Singaporean life, including public transit audio, traffic noises and the chatter of local hawker centres.

Looking at the various restaurants in the historic houses on Boat Quay in the city of Singapore, Asia. The historic shophouses along Boat Quay house a vibrant mix of riverfront dining options, ranging from local seafood joints to contemporary western bistros. Dining here lets you experience Singapore’s heritage architecture while looking across the Singapore River toward the city skyline.

We really admired these Pagoda Street facades in the city of Singapore, Asia. The street is famous for its vibrant, meticulously restored two- and three-story shophouses. These facades blend Sino-Portuguese and Victorian colonial architecture with bright, pastel-colored walls, ornate timber shutters and intricate ornamental friezes. The windows are fronted by distinct painted wooden louvred shutters, designed to keep the tropical heat out while allowing cross-breezes.

We went up to the SkyPark Observation Deck on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the city of Singapore, Asia. This open-air viewing platform is located 200 meters above ground on the 56th floor. It spans across the resort's three massive towers, offering unparalleled 360-degree panoramic views. Here we are overlooking Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Strait.

Overlooking the Supertree Grove in the Gardens by the Bay in the city of Singapore, Asia.

Gardens by the Bay is Singapore's premier 101 hectare urban nature park, world-renowned for its futuristic Supertree structures, massive climate-controlled conservatories and immersive floral displays. Located adjacent to the Marina Reservoir, this award-winning destination seamlessly blends horticultural artistry with sustainable green technologies.

After having arrived very early and having to wait for about an hour, Garden Rhapsody has finally started at Gardens by the Bay in the city of Singapore, Asia.

The iconic light and sound show is a nightly signature event. Towering, vertical Supertrees transform into a glowing, synchronized musical display designed by award-winning local artists.

An orange Supertree close-up during the Garden Rhapsody show at (Gardens by the Bay in the city of Singapore, Asia.

The Supertrees feature an exoskeleton of steel panels that have been progressively blanketed by real flora. Over 162000 individual plants spanning more than 200 species grow vertically along the trunks. They mimic the biological and ecological functions of real, mature trees, During the nightly Garden Rhapsody shows millions of LEDs change colour driven by the music score.

Garden Rhapsody is a signature nightly light and sound show held at the Supertree Grove within Gardens by the Bay in the city of Singapore, Asia. This popular, immersive spectacle features futuristic, 25 to 50 meter tall vertical gardens that light up in perfect synchronization with a changing monthly musical soundtrack. Our favourite part was when the Supertrees were turning green.

Supertrees in the Silver Garden, part of the Gardens by the Bay in the city of Singapore, Asia. The Silver Garden is a specialized thematic zone, featuring three of the park's iconic Supertrees embedded within a landscape of silver-hued foliage. While the majority of the park's 18 vertical gardens reside in the massive Supertree Grove, the Silver Garden offers a quieter, less-crowded alternative with a striking aesthetic contrast.

We truly loved the Helix Bridge by night in the city of Singapore, Asia. It transforms into a spectacular, illuminated walkway at night, making it one of the most photographed modern landmarks in Singapore's Marina Bay area. Inspired by the double-helix structure of human DNA, this 280 meter pedestrian bridge uses dynamic, programmable LED lighting to highlight its intricate tubular stainless steel design.

Passing the ArtScience Museum by night at Marina Bay Sands in the city of Singapore, Asia offers one of the city's most spectacular visual experiences. Its iconic, lotus-inspired structure illuminates beautifully against the glittering city skyline, and the waterfront promenade provides a front-row seat to the city's legendary laser, light, and water shows.

Enjoying the blue fountains, part of the Spectra light & water show in the city of Singapore, Asia.

This spectacular show is pure magic and is inspired by Singapore’s journey to becoming the cosmopolitan city it is today. History, culture and modernity collide in a stunning choreography of fountain jets, colourful visual projections, lasers, lava and mist effects, all stirringly accompanied by a majestic orchestral soundtrack.

This orange symphony was part of Spectra, the amazing light & water show in the city of Singapore, Asia. Spectra is a free, nightly fifteen minute outdoor extravaganza at Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza. It is a beautiful four-part story told through a symphony of dancing fountain jets, colorful projections, lasers, lava, and mist effects. The entire experience is set to a majestic orchestral soundtrack by award-winning local producer Kenn C.

Although we had little time we admired the copper dome of the Sultan Abdul Samad building on Merdeka Square in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Asia.

The iconic shining copper domes of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building serve as the architectural crown jewel of one of the nation's most historic landmarks. Towering over Merdeka Square (Independence Square), these striking, onion-shaped structures capture the rich, multi-cultural tapestry of Malaysia's design history.

We loved this red temple in between the high rise buildings of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Asia. The Guan Di Temple (also known as Kuan Ti Temple) is a historic Taoist temple founded in 1888 by the Kwang Chao Association. Located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's vibrant Chinatown, this cultural landmark is dedicated to Guan Yu (General Guan Di), the legendary Chinese God of war, loyalty, and righteousness.