Saline Beach is St Barts’ untamed coastal masterpiece — a crescent of powdery sand where turquoise waves meet rugged hills in perfect harmony. The journey begins with a 200-metre trek through scrubland and over a low dune, rewarding visitors with a vista of undeveloped shoreline where the only distractions are seabirds and the rhythmic crash of surf. On a clear day, direct your gaze past the green dot of Île Coco and you'll just be able to spot St Kitts on the horizon. Come prepared: shade is scarce and facilities nonexistent. What you’ll find instead is raw beauty; the kind that draws naturists and photographers, all chasing that rare blend of wildness and tropical splendor. Time your visit for late afternoon when the light gilds the salt pond’s edges (the same salty pound that gave the beach its name), and you’ll understand why this beach remains the island’s best-kept escape.

The narrow alleyways of the Jewish quarter contain homes of many ancient Hebrew families. Here, while tourists take pictures, Jewish teenagers head to their Yeshivas, schools for Torah studies. Near the Cardo you will find the Hurva Synagogue: recently restored, it offers beautiful views over the roofs of the quarter. Built by Ashkenazi Jews in the 16th century, the synagogue has been destroyed and banned several times; for Jewish people it's a symbol of their tormented history.

Just a few minutes walk away from Place de Jaude, Jardin Lecoq is an English-style picturesque garden that offers an idyllic escape from the bustle of the city centre and a perfect place for a romantic walk or a picnic by the lake.

Myanmar is famous for its gems, so anyone interested in the history behind the gem industry will find this a good place to start. The main source of these gems was from the mines in the northeast, near Mandalay. Rubies, sapphires and jade were mined from these sites. Private companies as well as state run enterprises exhibit on three floors.