Three highland Asia adventures
Thanks at least partly to Asia’s explosive economic growth, its once-mysterious lands are now jet-close and high-rise-familiar.

Thanks at least partly to Asia’s explosive economic growth, its once-mysterious lands are now jet-close and high-rise-familiar. That’s good news if you want to do business there, but it makes your search a bit tougher if you’re in the market for an exotic getaway. Particularly for those who’ve traveled often to Asia on business, cities such as Shanghai and Bangkok are today about as enigmatic as Los Angeles.

Of course, these modern mercantile hubs are not without their ancient attractions. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok and the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai certainly merit a visit. Once you’ve seen them, though, you’re back on the pavement in the Oriental versions of L.A. and New York, respectively. Still, the East remains exotic in spots. To uncover its charms, you have only to head for the hills–which gets you above the heat somewhat, as well as the fray.