Managing editor of Action Asia magazine which this month celebrates its 10th anniversary To sightsee: The Himalayas and Angkor Wat In terms of the natural world, it has to be the Himalayas. No sight is as inspiring as waking up to a sun rising over 6,000-8,000 metre peaks, turning the snow first pink, then gold, orange and finally pure white, with a background of blue sky so deep you feel as if you're looking out of this world into space. Any of the Himalayan countries can offer this, but Nepal is the most accessible and is probably my favourite. If we're talking about human achievement, the temple complexes of Angkor Wat take some beating. They may be 'old news' to some, but they're an incredible expression of faith and architectural skill, and these days it's much easier to get to them, stay in relative comfort, and explore in much greater detail than it was only a decade ago. To relax: The Maldives It's the one place, more than any other, that allows me to forget the world and immerse myself in pure, unadulterated relaxation. My wife and I spent five days at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives in July, technically the 'off season', although it can't really be called that, as the weather was still fabulous. The staff were superbly trained, attentive but discreet, and we were treated as well as the Arab royal family in our water bungalow suite with its own private plunge pool (tel: [1960] 444 888; www.fourseasons.com/maldives ). The water was perfect, you could dive or kayak or sail, or simply do nothing but feel pampered and blessed. Okay, so it's not cheap, but as far as I'm concerned everyone should splash out and go to the Maldives at least once. It's a pocket of paradise in a world of weariness. To shop: Dubai and Delhi I collect Asian carpets, and wherever I travel I always check out what's being sold, and for what price. I can happily lose myself in a carpet shop for half a day - and if you're really serious about your carpets, you need to put that sort of time in. Earlier this year I was in Dubai, and although its modern, glitzy shopping malls don't inspire immediate confidence, there are some superb shops selling fantastic carpets, both new and antique. I spent a wonderful morning in Deira City Centre (tel: [971 4] 2951010; www.deiracitycentre.com ), drinking tea and discussing Pakistan with the owner of a shop while his staff unrolled dozens of carpets in front of me, each with a flick and a flourish. Eventually I came away with a full bladder, an invitation to stay with the owner's family in Peshawar, a huge smile on my face and an 80-year-old Afghan runner from the Mazar-e Sharif region. I paid half the original asking price, which was approximately half what that rug would have cost me in Hong Kong. Delhi is an even better place to shop for carpets if you're looking for bargains. Janpath has some quality shops, [or travel south to Bangalore] and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (144 Mahatma Gandhi Road. Tel: [91] 11 558 4083) is great for cheap but interesting presents. If you want a large Persian, Afghan or Kashmiri carpet, it's actually worth flying to Delhi for the weekend to buy it there - the saving on the price of the carpet will more than cover the return airfare and hotel charge (prices are often a third of what's charged in Hong Kong).