Horta, Portugal - The island of Faial in the Azores is a small paradise where the Atlantic's foaming waves break upon a black volcanic shoreline.

There are just 13 communities on Faial, 12 of which lie right on the coast, and surrounding the island is an azure blue ocean with fertile green pastures the main feature of the interior.

With some luck, visitors to Faial will spot a whale at sea while standing upon one of the island's coastal roads that are lined by hydrangeas.

A short distance behind the main town of Horta, a farmer with hardly a care in the world, leads three, well-fed cows along a road a manifestation of the fact that Faial has more cattle than inhabitants.

Washington - Espionage is called the second oldest profession in the world and it's no less thrilling and wild as the world's oldest profession, prostitution.

For centuries, people have spied on each other, fascinated by the intrigue, deception and in modern times by the latest technical gadgetry used to uncover secrets. And naturally, after the end of the Cold War, stories of espionage and the objects used to spy during that historical era became an obvious subject for a museum.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong welcomed a record 29.5 million visitors in 2008 but fell short of its target of 30 million for the year, officials announced Wednesday.

The figure represents a 4.7 per cent increase on the previous record set in 2007 but will disappoint tourism board leaders who in early 2008 predicted the city would welcome 30 million visitors.

Linz, Austria  - The Austrian city of Linz is easily overlooked on the route between picture-perfect Salzburg to imperial Vienna.

The city on the Danube has no grand alpine panorama, no historic Baroque charm and gone are the days of the romantic horse-drawn carriages. The city's main claims to fame are Linzer Torte or cake and its role in Adolf Hitler's exorbitant architectural plans.

Weimar, Germany  - The eastern German city of Weimar has become a popular destination for holidaymakers in recent years.

Many people associate Weimar with Germany's literary past and figures such as Goethe, Schiller and the poet Johann Gottfried Herder. Weimar is also the location of the extensive Anna Amalia Library which claims to be the home of German classical literature.

But Weimar also has plenty to offer less literary-minded travellers such as its connection to the Bauhaus design movement.

Kitzbuehel, Austria  - Top polo players from around the world will gather in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuehel from January 16-18, 2009 for what is being billed as the world's biggest winter polo tournament.

Eight teams of three players from five nations are taking part in the action this time around, with 96 polo ponies due to compete. Previous contests saw only six teams involved.

Watching the polo matches at the snow-clad Muenichauer Wiese just outside the Tyrolean town is free of charge and organisers expect around 10,000 spectators to attend.