The island's natural landscape and warm culture works as the perfect backdrop for the annual jazz festival that takes place in Saint Lucia. Curated by 'Jazz at Lincoln Center' in New York, the line-up for the festival includes some of the world's most prominent jazz musicians and is sure to leave any music lover thoroughly impressed. Add to that the awe-inspiring natural landmark of Pigeon Island at the open-air stage and the impromptu dance parties that make the event uniquely Saint Lucian.

'Vinpearl' spell out the giant white letters across the bay from mainland Nha Trang, marking the location of a massive theme park and recreation area that is best reached via a scenic cable car ride (the world's longest sea-crossing cable car at 3.3km long). There is plenty to discover: from thrilling 'dry' rides such as the Sky Wheel and ZipLine to the extensive offerings of the water park, to seeing the park's animal residents (most notably on Monkey Island) at the on-site zoo and aquarium. There is a namesake resort here in case you want to stay close to the action, plus a few beaches that are much more pleasant for swimming than the public beach in Nha Trang city.

Ishiteji, as it's known in Japanese, is No. 51 of the 88 temples that form the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and you can usually see a few pilgrims in their white garb and cone hats. The main hall and pagoda are built in the architectural style of the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). Behind the temple buildings is a doorway to a dark hole in the mountain which forms the backdrop to Ishite. This leads to a series of tunnels filled with peculiar Buddhist statuary, leading out to an inner courtyard area containing a strikingly modern golden dome.

Religion is a very important part of life in Corfu — in the Old Town alone you'll find about twenty churches. Built in 1590, the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon is a typical example of the ecclesiastical architecture of the Ionian Islands in Greece. Saint Spiridon, the patron of Corfu, was born, lived, and died in this city.