Travel_LeisureIndiaSouthAsia-January_2017

TRAVEL + LEISURE / JANUARY 2017 71

FOR TWITCHERS | Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

Have you resolved to find the most exotic bird species this year?

You must plan a trip to the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand that is

home to the rare Yellow-eyed penguin. You will also find the

world’s smallest penguin, the Little Blue Penguins, the royal

spoonbill, the white-faced heron, and the New Zealand Sea Lion.

Travel 32 kilometres from the city centre to the Royal Albatross

Centre, which is the world’s only breeding colony of albatross.

FOR WORLD WAR II BUFFS | Okinawa, Japan
If you’re trailing the World War II sites, don’t stop in
Europe. In another corner of the world, Okinawa, a
beautiful Prefecture in Japan, draws tourists with its
beaches and water sports, but it has a bloody history. The
battle was the biggest land-sea-air invasion in history. In
numbers: 5,45,000 Americans fought the Battle of Okinawa
and 2,00,000 people were killed, including civilians who
committed mass suicides.
It’s a sobering experience to visit the Former Navy
Underground Headquarters. In these passages and tunnels,
many soldiers committed suicide when it became apparent
that America has infi ltrated their defences. The Himeyuri
Monument and museum is made in the memory of 240
students and teachers who worked as nursing staff at the
army hospital and 227 of them lost their lives. The Okinawa
Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman City was
one of the battlegrounds. On the Cornerstone of Peace, the
names of those who died during the battle—soldiers from
each side and civilians—have been inscribed.
STAY The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa has views of the East China Sea
FROM TOP: VALERIY TRETYAKOV/ALAMY; AUSCAPE/UIG/GETTYIMAGES; ASTRAKAN IMAGES/ALAMY and Motobu Peninsula. ritzcarlton.com

TRAVEL + LEISURE / JANUARY 2017 73