The capital city of Nepal, and the home to more than one million inhabitants, Kathmandu is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas. The gateway to a mystical land of temples, mountains and monasteries, Kathmandu’s reputation as a backpacker hub to the Himalaya\'s, sees legions of travelers head for adventure in the high mountain passes. In between expeditions, spend a few days exploring the medieval city-states that dot the valley floor. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 , the centre of Kathmandu still feels like a living museum of Hindu and Buddhist art scattered across its narrow streets.
The capital of the largest yet most desolate state in Australia, Perth is like an oasis in Australia\'s outback. Once considered a dull location, a resources boom in the 1960\'s has seen Perth blossom into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city with myriad bars, restaurants and cultural activities. Only here you will find one of Australia\'s most unusual birds, the black swan, paddling gracefully on the Swan River. Vineyards and pastures sit between stands of hardwood forest, with a subtle climate, and the surf is world-class.