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Asia is The Best Travel Destination

admin — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:22:36 +0000

If the time has come for your vacation or a holiday getaway, read this article before making your plans. There are many places of great beauty and interest to be seen in the USA and Europe. But, whether transportation, touring, theme park, or food and lodging, it is expensive. This article is written for every traveler, whether a backpacker on a budget, or a first class – five star traveler.

Travel in Asia is cheap and opens the doorway to different cultural experiences. Planning can be for a short holiday, an extended stay, or choices of laying the groundwork for the ultimate stay, retirement. Nowadays, with so many opportunities to make money using the Internet it is not out of the question to “retire” early.

Medical Tourism in Asia growing in fame. It is high quality and affordable. Just one of International standard hospitals in Bangkok serves 400,000 international patients annually, In the USA cataract surgery for one eye runs around $8,000. At a prestigious International hospital in Thailand cataract surgery can be performed on both eyes for around $2,500. It is possible to have quality medical care, and an Asian holiday, for a fraction of the cost of the same procedure in the USA.

Let us take a tantalizing glimpse at just some of the countries.

Thailand – Land of Smiles. Often came to to as the most exotic country in Southeast Asia. A visit to the Grand Palace in Bangkok for sure. Trips to a floating market or to the Bridge on the River Kwai. From pristine beaches in the Southern Islands to the Northern mountains with its waterfalls, elephants bathing in mountain streams, and Hill Tribe villages.

India - Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. India Gate, an imposing structure, has emerged as one of the most popular tourist spots in Delhi. The Red Fort Delhi, a masterpiece of architecture, is a popular spot. A trip to India would not be complete without a visit to Agra, famous as the site of one of the world’s most romantic, graceful and photographed buildings, the Taj Mahal.

Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos - Three small countries neighboring Thailand. Each opens a different world of exploration. Cambodia – the highlight is visiting Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century. Vietnam – is a varied country, offering beaches, mountains and hundreds of years of history from the ancient Cham Towers to remnants from the Vietnam War. Laos – savor the crafts, culture and hospitality of Laos with a river trip, visits to ancient temples, gorgeous palaces, and traditional villages.

Nepal – Adventure, travel, trekking, birding, wildlife, and cultural & overland Safaris. Take an air flight along the Himalayas and view magnificent Mount Everest. Nearby, discover the serene beauty of Tibet, the country which inspired the Dalai Lama. .

Indonesia - Jakarta, the capital city of the world’s fourth most-populous nation. Bali is Indonesia’s main holiday destination. Flores is a pretty lush green island with forests, palm and banana trees, rice fields and many volcanoes. Highlights are the three small offshore islands of “Gillis” that invite snorkeling, diving and relaxing. For hikers, a climb to the top of the volcano Rijani.

Philippines - An island nation comprising over 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean.
Manila, the bustling capital has powerful reminders of the country’s past, along with attractive parks, fine museums, and exhilarating nightlife. The Ifugao Rice Terraces
are a testimony to the early technological advancement of the Ifugao people. Take a jeepney ride to the market. Be brave, try balut, a Philippine delicacy. Go diving in the Visayas.

Singapore - Shopping on famous Orchard Road, the dream of every woman. The Night Safari at Singapore Zoo is fabulous. Chinatown, a little glitzy, but you can buy all the souvenirs you want there. Interestingly, one of Singapore’s most beautiful Hindu temples is smack dab in the middle of Chinatown. Decide if a Singapore Sling is worth the hype in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel. There’s more to Singapore than urban glitz, like rambling in the rain forest of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Japan – Tokyo is the capital city and home of the Imperial Residence and Emperor’s Palace. Select a popular destination or region in Japan and explore its attractions. Ride the Bullet Train to the magnificent city of Kyoto. Visit Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park. Castles, temples, gardens, the list of top destinations in Japan is too long for this article..

Taiwan - Taipei, the country’s booming, vibrant capital remains steeped in Chinese, Japanese and native Taiwanese cultures. Some of its most impressive sights include the Grand Hotel, topped by the largest Classical Chinese roof in the world, the Shihlin Night Market, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial with the National Theater and Concert Hall located directly across from each other on the grounds. A popular day trip is Tailuge (Taroko Gorge), considered one of the natural wonders of the world.

Hong Kong - the Pearl of East and jewel of The Orient. Nathan Road is lined with shops, restaurants, nightspots and cheap places to stay. If you’re in Hong Kong with the little ones, they’ll probably appreciate Ocean Park (aquarium), Water World (swimming pools and water slides), and of course Disneyland. If you’re in Hong Kong for more than a few days, then there’s plenty of outlying islands to discover.

It is often said that for the traveler that has seen it all and done it all, there is still Katmandu, Nepal. And, that too is in Asia!

If you do not visit Asia, you will be missing not only a paradise of affordable travel, but the chance to see an alternative living location. For retirees, it is luxury living for pennies, not just getting by on their pension. Asia, a paradise experience is waiting for you.

The Beauty Of Bangkok – Thailand

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:33:49 +0000

One big vantage of staying in Bangkok is that it’s very inexpensive. Some rooms in luxurious five-star hotels are available for less than $100.00 USD at the moment because the recent riots have deterred tourists. Even when there are many tourists in Bangkok fine hotels are mostly cheaper than their American equivalents.

River Tour

A tour along the Klong Bangkok river is an excellent introduction to the city. Here you will see a procession of house boats and barges carrying goods. You will form a clearer picture of the city as you see the picturesque temples and expensive hotels as well as some of the buildings in the poorer areas.

Bangkok Palaces

No visitor should leave Bangkok without seeing its grand palace complex. This includes palaces, throne halls, and museums. The Grand Palace, built by King Rama 1 in 1782, is the most visited. There is so much gold here that it almost hurts the eyes and the ornate architecture and design is very impressive. Thai pagodas and symbols are mixed with European imperial architecture.

The throne halls were used for coronations and were mostly built in the Italian Renaissance style. Many have now become museums which hold exquisite Thai and European antiques and paintings.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is the most sacred site in Thailand. It is a tiny Buddha carved from a single block of jade.

The palace complex with its beautiful architecture and lush green lawns provides a haven from the busy streets of most of the city.

Colonial Buildings

Another haven is provided by the colonial buildings of the old city. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Jim Thompsons House are the most famous of these buildings.

White cane chairs, palm trees and large courtyards make the atmosphere of the famous Authors Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel very relaxing. Here it is possible to have High Tea surrounded by mementoes of authors fascinated by the East, such as Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad.

Jim Thompson was a merchant who made his fortune by selling Thai silk. His house is a traditional Thai one built from six antique Thai houses. His extensive art and antiques collection includes chandeliers obtained from Thai palaces.

Shopping in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world in which to shop. The shopping areas range from huge shopping malls, such as Central World and small boutiques to street markets with very cheap goods.

Bangkok has beautiful silks and batik. It also boasts fine tailors who can make a suit or jacket very quickly.

Jewelry is cheaper here than in the West but be sure to shop at a respectable store ? there are sharks about who will pass off costume jewelry as the real thing. The city is noted for its exquisite jewelry so it isnt difficult to find excellent value.

The city is also noted for its exotic Asian antiques, luxury products and inexpensive electrical goods.

There is much to enjoy in Bangkok. Even taking a short walk from the hotel can be fascinating in this city. This article is a short list of things to do in Bangkok, but there are many more, such as taking an excursion to Pattaya or the River Kwai Bridge .

A guide to the greener side of Hong Kong

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:57:32 +0000

With over 7 million indwellers it is not surprising that many of us believe Hong Kong to be a highly urbanised region – and in many parts it is. Yet, three quarters of its 1,000 plus kilometre square surface area is in fact countryside – and with an increasing number of available flights to Hong Kong from the United Kingdom and Ireland – it is expected that more and more of us are soon to discover its green side in 2010.

The landscape of the Hong Kong is very various, with a dramatic coastline of beaches and bays leading to tree-covered hills and mountains up to around a thousand feet. One such area, Repulse Bay, is now one of the most desirable parts of the region and includes a sheltered and popular beach which is perhaps best seen from the Ocean Park cable car ride.

In stark opposition to the still and protected coast, the Pat Sin Leng mountain range in the north east and includes eight amazing peaks all averaging around 520 metres in height and named after the Eight Immortals. The area is protected by the Pat Sin Leng Country Park and benefits hiking trails for visitors of all types of fitness, as well as habitat of significant natural interest – such as Sha Lo Tung and Ting Kok.

Apart from inland parks, there are also a number of marine-focused nature reserves and parks such as Tung Ping Chau Marine Park on the small north eastern island of Ping Chau. Unlike much of Hong Kong the island is very flat and population has declined in recent years with much of the area given over to nature. This is maybe most evident with the abundance of coral and other marine life – which are popular diving sites at weekends.

On of the oldest and most unspoiled regions of Hong Kong is Aberdeen Country Park which covers 423 hectares of the southern uplands and has grown to become known as Hong Kong Island’s ‘back garden’. Despite its distant feel, Aberdeen is accessible to everyone and even boasts a picnic area for those with disabilities – also as nature trails, a designated Tai Chi terrace, a hiking trail and a barbecue area. The park is also home to a number of dams which are visible at the beginning and end of the nature trail.

For an area that varies again, the Hong Kong Wetland Park is a well-developed conservation facility that offers galleries on conservation and habitats for a number of florae and faunae. The unique crocodile-like false Gharial can be spotted here, as well as the rare mouse deer or Chevrotain.