| AFRICAThe best adventure. The newest natural | | | | Chinese games, such as dai-siu and keno. |
| thrill available in South Africa is the | | | | Slot machines are known locally as "hungry |
| underwater shark watching. Four shark | | | | tigers".The best place to honeymoon. Macau's |
| spotters at one time can spend three hours in | | | | Pousada de Sao Tiago, avenida da Republica; |
| sturdy cages, watching the great whites | | | | became a hotel in 1980-it was built 350 years |
| circling in search of prey. Contact Exotic | | | | ago as a fortress (the Fortaleza da Barra). |
| Drive Tours, 45 Rosmead Ave., Kenilworth, | | | | Every historical feature was preserved during |
| Cape Town 7700The best Java. Kenya produces | | | | the transformation, including the Portuguese |
| the best coffee in the world and is one of | | | | marble, hand-painted tiles, ancient |
| the world's leading exporters of Arabica | | | | stonewalls, gentle cascades, hand-carved |
| coffee. The Coffee Board of Kenya, Mama | | | | mahogany and even the trees that shade the |
| Ngina Street, serves the most tempting coffee | | | | multi-level terraces. Overlooking the South |
| in town, as well as light snacks. A light | | | | China Sea, enveloped in warm, salty breezes, |
| snack consists of coffee, mandazi (fried | | | | the pousada is an ideal romantic hideaway, |
| dough) and samosa (meat pie in the Indian | | | | perfect for a honeymoon. You could have your |
| fashion as interpreted by Kenyan cooks). | | | | wedding here too-small weddings can be |
| Coffee was introduced to Kenya by the French | | | | arranged in the chapel (which holds only 15 |
| Holy Ghost Fathers (who liked a good cup of | | | | people). The pousada is complete with |
| coffee) in the 1890s. It was developed in | | | | restaurants, gardens, a pool and reading |
| the region north of Nairobi. African farmers | | | | rooms-you never need to venture beyond its |
| were forbidden to grow coffee until 1954. It | | | | grounds. The pousada has 20 rooms and three |
| is now Kenya's main export crop (which causes | | | | suites, starting at $125 a night.MEXICOThe |
| problems when the coffee crop fails). The | | | | world's grandest canyon-and most exciting |
| berries are handpicked twice a year. The | | | | train ride. Chihuahua's Barranca del Cobre |
| second leading export crop is tea. Today the | | | | (Copper Canyon) is four times larger and 300 |
| region around Limuru supports more than | | | | feet deeper than the U.S. Grand Canyon. Its |
| 100,000 African smallholders, who grow enough | | | | mountain peaks rise 10,000 feet and its |
| tea to make Kenya the third-largest producer | | | | valleys drop 1,500 feet. Until 1961, when |
| in the world, after India and Sri | | | | the Chihuahua al Pacifico train line opened, |
| Lanka.CENTRAL ASIAThe best travel tip of all | | | | the canyon was inaccessible and known only to |
| for the countries ending in "stan" Don't | | | | the isolated Tarahumara Indians living in |
| forget to carry a roll of toilet paper with | | | | caves. The train line climbs from sea level |
| you. It is not yet common in Central Asia. | | | | at Los Mochis on the Pacific to 8,000 feet |
| Bathrooms may be quite a shock. Potable | | | | before descending to Chihuahua. It passes |
| water is also a problem in Kazahkstan. Don't | | | | the most spectacular scenery in Mexico-sheer |
| drink the tap water. And limit your locally | | | | cliffs that change color as the sun sets, |
| bottled mineral water intake, because it can | | | | giant rock formations, deep gorges and |
| be very salty. Bottled soda and juices are | | | | mountain peaks. You can catch the train |
| your best bet; they're plentiful. Drink | | | | every day in Chihuahua at 7 a.m. or in Los |
| boiled water when possible; carry a canteen | | | | Mochis at 6 a.m. The cost of a one-way trip |
| with you and fill it with boiled water at | | | | from start to finish is $80.The best place to |
| every opportunity. Carry iodine tablets for | | | | stay in the canyon is the Hotel Cabanas |
| when none of the above is available and | | | | Divisadero-Barrancas, in Divisadero, midway |
| Lomotil just in case.CHINAThe old Red Light | | | | along the route. This rustic log-cabin hotel |
| district Until 1949, the area west of | | | | is perched on the rim of the canyon and |
| People's Park, off Fuzhou Road, was the heart | | | | affords dizzying views. Several Indian |
| of Shanghai's world-famous red-light district | | | | families live in caves nearby. These timid |
| known as Blood Alley. Before it was cleared | | | | people sell handwoven baskets, wood carvings |
| out, it was inhabited by thousand of opium | | | | and necklaces. Surrounding the hotel are |
| addicts and prostitutes. Liberation Lane | | | | trails that the Indians follow to the bottom |
| alone, then known as Meet-With-Happiness | | | | of the canyon, 5,000 feet below.The best |
| Lane, had 34 brothels worked by more than | | | | place to hear the flutter of butterfly wings. |
| 1,000 women. From 1949 until 1954, the | | | | A three-hour drive from San Miguel de |
| brothels and opium dens were closed, the | | | | Allende is the colorful old mining town of |
| prostitutes given new work and new identities | | | | Angangueo. And only an hour from Angangueo, |
| and the addicts detoxified.MACAUThe best | | | | up a steep, unpaved road, is the Monarch |
| gambling tables in Asia-and the ugliest hotel | | | | Butterfly Sanctuary, now open to the public. |
| in the world. Macau is famous for its | | | | The park's 12,000 acres became a protected |
| casinos. The biggest is the Casino de | | | | area in 1986 in response to warnings from |
| Lisboa, avenida da Amizade, in the Lisboa | | | | conservation groups that the logging |
| Hotel. The Lisboa is probably the ugliest | | | | operations threatened to destroy the area's |
| hotel in the world, designed to look like a | | | | unique butterfly habitat and migration site. |
| roulette wheel, which it wears like a crown | | | | The butterflies seclude themselves in the |
| upon its head. The Macau Palace, known as | | | | abies religiosas (a type of fir tree) at the |
| the Floating Casino, is a more exotic place | | | | summit of the 10,000 foot climb. When you |
| to gamble. This red and gilded Chinese boat | | | | climb to the top, you are overwhelmed by the |
| is moored on the inner harbor off avenida de | | | | noise created by the fluttering wings of 10 |
| Almeida Riveiro. Games include both those | | | | million butterflies. |
| familiar to Westerners, such as blackjack and | | | | |