Tad Lo Laos

tad lo laos="tad lo laos"

"Bolaven Plateau" Kwant's photos around Tad Lo, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


tad lo laos
tad lo laos

Hotels In Luang Prabang

hotels in luang prabang="hotels in luang prabang"

Tourism and Attractions in Bangkok City !!-woodlandsinn.org

Bangkok, sometimes called "The Big Chilli", is considered to be one of the world's tourist hotspots. Bangkok is Thailand's major tourist gateway, which means that the majority of foreign tourists arrive in Bangkok. The city boasts some of the country's most visited historical venues such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. There are numerous projects to maintain Bangkok's historic sites in the Rattanakosin area and river districts.

The tourism industry in Thailand truly took off when US soldiers started to arrive in the 1960s for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) during the Vietnam war period.Coinciding, international mass tourism sharply increased during the same period due to the rising standard of living, more people acquiring more free time and due to improvements in technology making it possible to travel further, faster, cheaper and in greater numbers, epitomised by the Boeing 747 which first flew commercially in 1970. Thailand was one of the major players in Asia to capitalise on this then-new trend.

Tourist numbers have grown from 336,000 foreign visitors and 54,000 R&R soldiers in 1967 to over 14 million international guests visiting Thailand in 2007. The average duration of their stay in 2007 was 9.19 days, generating an estimated 547,782 million Thai baht, around 11 billion Euro. In 2007, Thailand was the 18th most visited country in the World Tourism rankings with 14.5 million visitors. France, comparable to Thailand in land area and population, led the list with nearly 82 million foreign visitors.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 55% of the tourists in 2007 came from the Asia Pacific region, Japanese and Malaysians forming the two biggest groups. The largest groups of Western tourists come from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United States and Scandinavia. The number of tourists arriving from the Middle East and Russia is on the rise.Around 55% of Thailand's tourists are return visitors. The peak period is during the Christmas and New Year holidays when Western tourists flee the cold conditions back home.

Domestic tourism has also grown significantly in the past decade. Revenues from domestic tourism have gone from 187,898 million baht in 1998 to 380,417 million baht (approximately 7.8 billion Euro) in 2007.

Thailand has been receiving increased competition ever since Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam opened up to international tourism in the 1980s and 90s. Destinations like Angkor Wat, Luang Prabang and Halong Bay now contest Thailand's former monopoly in the Indochina region. To counter this, Thailand is actively targeting niche markets such as golf holidays, or holidays combined with medical treatment. Thailand has also plans on becoming the hub for Buddhist tourism in the region.Around 2 million foreigners visiting Thailand for medical treatment are expected in 2009, more than 3 times the amount of tourist visiting for that purpose in 2002. According to Lonely Planet, Thailand ranks second of "Best-value destinations for 2010" after Iceland; the latter having been hit very hard by the subprime mortgage crisis.

Attractions

Phanom Rung is a Khmer temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano in Buriram Province

Thailand offers a great variety of attractions. These include diving sites, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, exceptional flora and bird life, palaces, a huge amount of Buddhist temples and several World Heritage sites. Many tourists follow courses during their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai cooking, Buddhism and traditional Thai massage. Thai national festivals range from the fun-for-all water splashing Songkran to the almost fairytale like quality of Loy Krathong. Many localities in Thailand also have their own festivals. Famous are the "Elephant Round-up" in Surin, the "Rocket Festival" in Yasothon and the curious "Phi Ta Khon" festival in Dan Sai.

Only the most austere ascetics can resist shopping when in Thailand. Bangkok is renowned for its main shopping malls down town (with CentralWorld being the biggest shopping mall in South-east Asia), offering an astounding variety of international and local brands. Towards the north of the city, and easily reached by skytrain or underground, is "Chatuchak Weekend Market". It is possibly the largest market in the world, selling everything from household items to live, and sometimes endangered, animals. The "Pratunam Market" downtown, is nearly totally specialised in fabrics and clothing. The night markets in the Silom area and on Khaosan Road are mainly tourist orientated, selling items such as T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In the vicinity of Bangkok one can find several visually stunning floating markets such as the one in Damnoen Saduak. The "Sunday Evening Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen road inside the old city, must be the shopping highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai up in northern Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as foreigners. The "Night Bazaar" is Chiang Mai's more tourist orientated market, sprawling over several city blocks just east of the old city walls towards the river.

 

About the Author

 

http://www.woodlandsinn.org

Ancient Luang Prabang Hotel Traveler Photos - TripAdvisor TripWow

hotels in luang prabang
hotels in luang prabang
hotels in luang prabang

Laos Customs

laos customs="laos customs"
What is the eating customs,celebrations with food, table manners, and popular dishes in Laos!?!?!?!?!?

I REALLY NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Hi,

Lao people normally and traditionally eat with our hands, but we also use spoons and forks for soup. Lao traditional popular dishes are Chicken/Beef Larb (Salad), grilled chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice. You can find more info about Laos at http://www.laos411.com/. They have some Lao food pictures as well at http://www.laos411.com/forum/yaf_topics6_Food-Photos-and-Reviews.aspx

"Crossing the Tay Trang Border into Laos" Kateandlindsay's photos around Muang Khua (travel pics)


laos customs

Bangkok To Laos Flights

bangkok to laos flights="bangkok to laos flights"
I heard the entry requirements may have recently changed for getting into Thailand, is this true?

I am currently living in China, and I will have obtained my multi-entry chinese visa by February, when I will be traveling. I will be flying into Thailand from Guangzhou, spending about a week in Bangkok, then going into cambodia or laos or something. My flight back to china is from bangkok, so i will be returning to thailand for a couple days again.
What kind of visa requirements are there from the holder of a u.s. passport?
Thanks!

The new rule is that if you entry Thailand by air you will be 30 days visa exempt, if you arrive in thailand at one of it's border crossings you will be visa exempt for 15 days. So you will have no problem at all. So just have your passport and be sure you have more than 6 months left before your passport expires and your good to go.

"Cambodia" Wjrohde's photos around Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, Cambodia


bangkok to laos flights
bangkok to laos flights
bangkok to laos flights

Vietnam Laos

vietnam laos="vietnam laos"
How much will I need for a month long trip travelling through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam?

Can it be done, excluding transport to and from Asia, for $3000 US if I stay in hostels and eat cheap?

I would say easily. I spent three months living in the Philippines and spent twice that. These countries are cheaper than the Philippines.

Learn how to bargain though, because you will be expected to pay more in many places because you are a westerner.

Landing in venetian, Laos Vietnam Airlines A320 coming from Phnom Phen


vietnam laos

Holidays In Laos

holidays in laos="holidays in laos"

About Holiday Indochina - About our website

Holiday Indochina is a fully licensed tour operator by Vietnam National Association of Tourism. Since 2008, Holiday Indochina extended to the world through Internet with vital tool was a comprehensive website. Website of Holiday Indochina official launched from Sep 2008 and offered private packages for individuals and groups to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

HOW WE DIFFERENT?

We are fully licensed tour operator by Vietnam National Association of Tourism (No: 01-091/2009/TCDL-GPLHQT). We always consider that strictly following law of local authority is the fundamental factor of stable and sustainable development.  We have full legal rights to operate tours within Vietnam territory as well as taking Vietnamese to overseas and foreign tourists to Vietnam

We deal directly with you: Holiday Indochina develops its website to have chance interact directly with its current and potential customers. You can talk (via phone), email or live chat directly with our travel consultants to get immediate advice to plan your trips

We self-own our vehicles: Parent company of Holiday Indochina self-invested and owning hundreds of vehicles. The vehicles touring with your holidays are bought from the "manufacturer" then delivery "consumer's hands".

We directly deal with suppliers: Our team works very efficiently with all suppliers: hotels/resorts, cruises, other transporters, tour guides, restaurants ect. That allows us not only cut down any intermediary costs from "middle men" but  well control of all services in any parts of Vietnam and Indochina as well. That is the reason allow us guarantee the BEST RATES with BEST VALUE to our customers

Our website continuously updated: The travel industry always change with new products and new program. Our team make every efforts to bring you the newest and latest information of Vietnam travel. Furthermore, we try my best to keep you not miss any Hot deals and Promotion from suppliers (Hotels, cruises ect) at all parts of Vietnam. Online book a tour or just only keep updated with lastest news of Vietnam travel, click HolidayIndochina.com!

Your holidays – Our holidays: Each holiday is an experience, no one like any others. Holiday Indochina's experts consider each holiday of clients means ourselves going on this holiday. We desire not to be only travel planner but an accompany to share experiences, knowledge, memories and emotion of your holidays

ABOUT OUR WEBSITE

HolidayIndochina.com is a official website of Holiday Indochina Co., Ltd. The backstage team of Holiday Indochina's website has been trying their best to make our website as convenient and safe as possible. On the homepage, Internet users can find all necessary information for their holidays. The slide banners are most recommended tours while the lower module on the left showing more options for Overland Packages to Vietnam. Right under packages module is Promotion Section where offers best deals of tours, cruises and much more. Next, we move to right module where the best Vietnam beach resorts carefully selected by our Sales Team are shown.

The smaller banners designed with purpose is to minimum web users click as less as possible. Holiday Indochina works with hundred of partners and suppliers. They often send us their latest deals and promotion which sometimes can not put them all in Promotion section. Then we will put them on that banners to give most "eye-catching" position for web surfers.

Moreover, we put on Luxury Collection section which targets at high-end markets with special luxury products under the Promotion section. The Top Luxury Hotels module is placed right beside the Luxury Collection for customers' easy references while adding more accommodation options. Downward further is section of Destination which is on the left hand side of module News and Announcement. Module News and Announcement is an important part of our website as this is the place we continuously updating Vietnam travel news, Holiday Indochina news as well as official announcement from Board of Director of Holiday Indochina

The bottom menu is a place where users can learn all about Holiday Indochina from our history, our difference from others, our Working Team as well as our Policy.

Last but not the least, thoroughly understanding the concerns about Online card payment in Vietnam, Holiday Indochina integrated with Onepay and Vietcombank - the largest and most prestige bank in Vietnam - to install a Secured Oneline payment Gateway. Your card information will not be stored at our system (merchant) but in MasterCard organization with international security standard. OnePay is the representative of the MaterCard Internet Gateway Service (MiGS) in Vietnam. Your card information will be protected during the transmission by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL/168 bit) software, which encrypts the information that you provide online. OnePAY - MiGS payment system meet PCI Data Security Standard of PCI Security Standards Council. OnePAY - MiGS payment system also joins 3D- Secure program of Visa, MasterCard and JCB

The website HolidayIndochina.com is concrete base for our pride and confidence to bring you the most convenient and safe tool for your travel planning to Vietnam. Take a visual look to our site to understand more at http://holidayindochina.com

About the Author

Holiday Indochina offering both online and call center bookings for hotels, tours, flights, visa, travel packages, holidays, city breaks, car rental in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Cycling Southern Laos with SpiceRoads Cycle Tours

holidays in laos
holidays in laos
holidays in laos

Capital Laos

capital laos="capital laos"
What is the capital of Laos?

Vientiane.

Laos 450 yrs.History Anniversary of Vientiane Capital Group Parade. [ 7 ]


capital laos

Book Hotel With

book hotel with="book hotel with"
Has anyone used Priceline to book hotels in Vegas, if so what hotel(s) did you end up with?

i ended up with circus circus too and i wasn't thrilled. you should check out http://www.travelcusehotels.com to book your room. the site is an aggregator which means it takes offers from various online sites and shows you the best deals. a friend of mine used it recently for vegas and saved a lot. good luck!

5 Star Space Hotel? Book a cosmic tour now!


book hotel with
book hotel with

Long Cheng Laos

long cheng laos="long cheng laos"

Jin Town Heung Badge Legend

    Soil and water to support one side of people, different business circles to create a variety of legends, such as the Wenzhou businessmen.



They "skillfully deflected the question," in many small things that made a big article: the Western world, lit with a lighter, so that Jinxiang badge in many places around the world; they "knowingly mountain tiger, bias Tiger Mountain", when the war-torn Eastern Europe keep the Korean Peninsula, economic recession, many people avoided confidence, less fear, they have the courage to sell the commodities in Eastern Europe, so that the backlog of goods Zouqiao Yalu River on the other side; they lack the "snake" heart would dare to "swallow elephant", as many small Fu namely security, and stick to one corner, when they bought steel plate shipbuilding, swept to Beijing real estate speculators; ... ...



    When people praise Wenzhou businessmen "whole body full frame antenna," get smart "hair are empty", these "Oriental Jews" have no time to take into account long ago toward the next goal!



To showcase Winn-friendly style, beginning from this issue, "business story" launched, "Wen business image" column, inviting Wenzhou, Shaoxing Shen Zhen Daily senior reporter wrote an article about the story of Wenzhou businessmen, I believe you will be enlightening reading, You Suosi Wu.



In May 1991, Comrade Li came to visit Wenzhou Jinxiang badge factory, then follow the interview, I have a very deep impression: It works really small, not a little style. In particular, that the main building of cement stairs too narrow, and we should be filed into the shop queue, after which they tilt your body in order for those who have already visited the off ... ...



Today, this year that's an unassuming little plant has become a well-known manufacturers badge. October 1997, former President Jiang Zemin in New York with U.S. President Bill Clinton when they meet the medal chest Peigua Jinxiang badge factory is produced.



Jinxiang Badge Factory founder, called Ms. Ch'en shu added in at every turn, said business is group, the square, the center, saying that he is chairman and general manager, president, today, his company is also known as Jinxiang badge factory, he also called the manager.



  "Do not really try, the first" small supply ring placed in the Greater Shanghai



Chen Chia-Shu Jin Wenzhou, Zhejiang native town in 1975, after graduating from high school division Backstage railway corps unit for 4 years when the art soldiers, military service, he had hoped to be able With expertise in the cultural centers, looking for a job, but did not register the first time can be hired, After the county a few strokes, he Minglasunshan stem tests.



The early 80s of last century, cottage industries have mushroomed in the Golden Township, every household production badge, badges, medals and so on. 20 young people who "really try, not the first" plus-shu, Chen joined the ranks of the salesmen, selling badges of travel extensively.



The spring of 1981, Chen Chia-Shu came to Shanghai with a school badge samples, running a 1-week nothing. In desperation, he remembered to participate in the performances went to the Taiyuan Coal Mining Administration, he sat a dozen hours of bus arrived. At that time back and forth from the Golden Township to Shanxi 1 week time, including food, shelter, has spent a total of not 100, but before he went to Shanxi, 1 week on the set to 7000 yuan badge business, which sum he earned 3,000 yuan . So dig into this pot of gold, CHEN Jia-Shu really make a little bit scared.



As a result, Chen Chia-shu saw the badge industry, a huge market prospects. Jinxiang badge at that time to do the family-processing, small workshops bushel, he decided to run factories in order to obtain a competitive advantage. In 1983, the 27-year-old Chen Chia-hub with four friends raised 20,000 yuan to purchase a number of old equipment, and to Shanghai from plants brought in to run the master - this is the first one Golden township badge mechanical equipment manufacturers. He then gradually add some badges workshop's fold in 1985, another partner investment 29 million to recruit 70 workers and expand the scale, the official founder of the "Golden Township, badge factory."



1986 Jinxiang badge factory is a turning point in the development. This year September 23, beginning to take shape Jinxiang badge factory with more than 300 varieties of products, the Bund in Shanghai Ruyi Restaurant will host a product demonstration. They played when he was vice mayor of Wenzhou, specializes in calligraphy Ma Bo give them the inscription: "We dare to with the giant advance scientific, again-inch sub-brand competition," put down "ring", the open peer-makers to destabilize the country: 1 than quality, two more than the price three times larger than the credibility of four than the speed ... ...



, "Ring" an instant hit: Ningbo, Shanghai, Hangzhou and other places more than 300 businessmen participated in the demonstrations of Shanghai, many manufacturers require orders on the spot, while others are asked to trial the sample badge, Shanghai television news programs Lianbo five times "ring" live. "Jinxiang Badge Factory," a reputation, Shanghai, and foreign businessmen have door order.



However, just as the golden period of development of enterprises, the crisis created: the shareholders had serious differences, it was maintained the status quo and slowly move forward, some people think that money after the Sanhuo hand ... ... to get different views lead to slack factory management, production fell dramatically. Coupled with the market are becoming increasingly depressed, to the end of 1987, the factory has been confusion, the product often lost in the competition, has a loss of 20 million yuan.



Such a situation, the shareholders decided to sell the price at 35 million yuan badge factory, some even expressed: Those who would rather come up with 20,000 yuan and lose to him. Public shareholders Chen Chia-shu the youngest, but the most far-sighted. He bullish badge, then they would buy it without hesitation, and to assume all debts.



However, Chen added hub to make a comeback but has never been caught in a dilemma: He ran about busily restoring the old customers, to find new customers, but did not keep pace with production management, hard-won access to several business transactions are closed due to quality, but which are required to return, and some customers also rushed to the King Township for damages ... ... my friends tried to persuade him dead, and set up factories on this particular ambition: to find a stable job and forget.



Chen Chia-shu did not admit defeat, thinking out of the two steps later, he repeated chess: First, the introduction of advanced equipment and hardware to create conditions; second is sent to Shanghai doors to talented people, high salary to employ senior technicians, but also enhance the production, finance, supply and marketing and other management systems ... ... Through this effort, Jinxiang badge factory last year after a turnaround for the win, and stepped onto the path of orderly development.



Toward military to open up new chapter



  Chen Chia-shu in 1991 to Shanghai, badge factory tour, met the United States Munitions Company - Green, chairman of Baal. Ding. Mr. Stein, that he was prepared to look at the badge of manufacturing partners in China, Chen Chia-shu took the initiative to introduce themselves to each other, and to force Mr. Kung urged Pakistan to visit Pakistan, Mr. Li was noncommittal. However, just as Chen Chia-shu to refer the matter gradually forgotten, Palestinian forces suddenly appeared in Mr. Jinxiang badge factory, there is no statement after the visit, hastily left; Then, after two weeks, Pakistan once again came to a sudden, Mr. Li Jinxiang Badge plant, some conversation took out more than 100 varieties of the United States emblem, shoulder flower, flower collar, and Chen Chia-shu samples and contracted. After signing his contract, Mr. Baal smiled and Chen Chia-shu, said he had been lifted from the original in Japan and Taiwan, production agreements, as here, the price and technology is dominant.



In May 1991, then-chairman of CPPCC National Committee, came to visit in person.



Good luck continued. 1993 Spring Festival, a friend, Wenzhou, a telephone call from the United States: the United States Police Department to replace uniforms. Chen Chia-Shu will be flying to the United States to discuss business, did not expect the United States Police Department officials are extremely bother: You Chinese people can produce first-class badges do? Chen Chia-shu neither overbearing nor servile: "There is a saying 'ears as the virtual, seeing is believing', you may wish to send someone to examine." Doubts about the other side has sent two officials to come, Chen Chia-shu for a worker on the spot presentation: From expect the production of finished cast, the entire process as long as 35 minutes! The Americans are deeply impressed by the width After reading a few days later they returned with a report on 100 samples, and soon, 68 million sets of police badges and implement business hub here, Chen added.



Because the United States Police Department's kind words, and soon after the United Nations Secretariat also sent a letter, asking the United Nations peacekeeping force in matters relating to the production emblem. After that, Jinxiang Badge Factory also has the United Kingdom, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Laos and other countries has produced a large number of military police badge production.



From 1991 to date, Jinxiang badge factory in the end produced the number of pieces of emblem has been impossible to calculate. But one thing is certain, Jinxiang badge factory showroom has become an emblem museum world.



Chen Chia-shu did not give up the domestic market. In early 1993, the PLA started to develop the next century a new generation of military uniforms. Quartermaster Equipment Institute of General Logistics Department in 1994, researchers sent a special trip to visit King Township. After the implementation of production tasks, Jinxiang Badge Factory After three years of repeated trial, proofing, and finally get the leadership of the Central Military Commission approved and signed a production contract. July 1, 1997, the first troops stationed in Hong Kong is wearing the badge Jinxiang badge factory produced clothing stationed in Hong Kong.



Since then, Jinxiang badge factory has been awarded the General Logistics Department Quartermaster Equipment Institute "research trial base" title, and now it has become the Armed Police Force, the State General Administration of Customs, the State Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, the maximum People's Court and other departments of the badges manufacturers.



Lot of little badge story



Chen Chia-shu Jinxiang badge factory in operation and development in the trouble and frustration are also constant, but good to the people the idea of harmony in which money attitudes so that he always succeeded in resolving the crisis one by one.



In 1990, King Township, a salesman said he received a large order, is the 11th Asian Games commemorative coin 1 million yuan a contract, but also an advance payment of 60,000 yuan deposit. Chen Chia-shu is serious about these operations, in order to ensure quality, he spent over 10,000 yuan purchase of a number of high-quality steel, but also through the efforts of seven days and nights out at last trial samples. But when he sent the first batch of contact more than 2,000 commemorative coins products, they discovered that this was completely untrue, originally salesman had deceived.



How to do? Chen Chia-shu good salesman knows the difficulties, he not only voluntarily surrendered most of the deposit, but also to help these people salesman to sell these coins. From the marketing, Chen added that this is a one-axial business opportunities, and he also learned that a South Korean manufacturers have not yet come up with more than two months due to delays in the opening ceremony of Asian Games medals samples, the competent departments have to prepare it to go to technology, equipment, power Shunde, a joint venture a solid production, but manufacturers insist on the price of 3.50 yuan each chop, two sides failed to finalized. Access to this information, CHEN Jia-Shu decided to price of 2.50 each chop, come to compete. The other is responsible for personally watched the trial sample, but also with several experts to conduct a special discussion and finally agreed that the quality of his badge over Shanghai, Beijing, brand-name manufacturers, and the price is low. In this way, CHEN Jia-Shu suddenly got 500,000 orders.



In 1995, Chen Chia-Shu and a co-operation in Shenzhen, the U.S. military police badge Taiwanese economic disputes occur, the other side an excuse refused to pay 500,000 yuan loan. The public security departments to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, be brought from Shenzhen King Township, the other end after a half months of negotiations and paid 300,000 yuan loan, the remaining amount Chen Chia-shu no longer care about the. Did not expect two or three years this businessman, sent a letter asking whether they can continue to cooperate Chen Chia-shu ended old resentments towards generously give one's word, and he continued cooperation between the multi-pen business. Them with the Taiwanese in 2005, there has been a new cooperative projects, the two sides will jointly since 2006 in the United States trading company.



The new century, the 17th World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Japan, South Korea has approached customers door, they asked the township badge factory produced 2.6 million for their badges.



This is the middle of an episode. First, let's examine the two South Koreans, because they go to Taiwan before the visit, so I came to Jinxiang generated when differences: one that Jinxiang badge products of good quality, cheap, and advocates here and the production, while another South Korean others believe that Taiwan's production of badges has a long history in the international community have a certain well-known advocates in Taiwan. They refused to give ground, almost moving from coarse to. Last intermediaries insisted Jinxiang production: problems I am responsible! Wait until the demo came out badges, the original Korean operators who do not agree to change his mind Erhuameiyue. Korean gone from the Japanese business representatives to follow, the remaining 2.4 million badges business has to Jinxiang Badge Factory.



Soldiers and businessmen aiming at Huanqiu



Today, when a small unwanted Jinxiang Badge Factory has become a month of dozens of new varieties can be developed, one year the production of hundreds of thousands of products in the country's premier badge enterprise.



Just this year, 50-year-old Chen has been added hub and established, but as a well-known entrepreneurs, he was the original Nafu appearance: clothing and simple, for others modest, gentle, like in the factory all day long on the turn, there is no point boss's posture. He said: I was a soldier, it is necessary in order to soldiers of the perseverance and character will be doing a small badge exquisite incomparable; I was a businessman, it is necessary in order to businessmen of integrity and wisdom of small products made big business.



Industry endless. Currently Chen Chia-shu Apart from continuing to develop military forces insignia products, are further to the motorcycle trade marks, trademarks and other automotive product development, his goal is to Jinxiang Badge Factory Ban Cheng badge in today's world of large enterprises.
About the Author

I am China Crafts Suppliers writer, reports some information about xbox360 remote control , sony vgn tz.

Early Hmong Music: Looj Ceeb


long cheng laos

Laos Packages

laos packages_2="laos packages"
I wil go for short trip (about a week) to Sin from Batam and continuos to Laos. Shall i applay VISA?

Can anyone help me to get information any travel agent in Singapore? Wich has a short packages destination Asia (e.g Laos, Cambodia, thailand, Burma and Vietnam).Thanks

Go to any travel agent in Singapore (there are dozens in any shopping mall). Or check on line at Asiaair.com or Silk air, or Singapore air...

You will need VISA'a for most countries but some you get on arrival. just make sure you have plenty of small passport size photos of yourself. The travel agent where you boon the ticket can normally help you with your visas if needed.

"Land of a Million Hills" Kirstyandmike's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


laos packages

Travel Luang Prabang

travel luang prabang="travel luang prabang"
Could anyone give me some information on the distance and travel time between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang??

and how would one go about getting there, is there something interesting for tourists on the way??? Thanks for your input

Hello, are two route for to go from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, the first you have to go to Chiang Rai and after that whith the boat 2 days you can arrive to Luang Prabang, the second route you go to Vientiane by bus and after that with other bus (one night) for to arrive to Luang Prabang, I thing this route is more faster...the first route is more beautifull.
oaiC oaiC
Lorenzo

"Laid Back Laos" Michaelandsuzy's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep (travel pics)


travel luang prabang
travel luang prabang
travel luang prabang

Property In Laos

property in laos="property in laos"

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands: A Universal Meditation While Creating The Taoist Art of Kamidoro Tama

            Kamidoro tama as the universal symbol for Taoism has taken off.  Taoism is the universal approach to life.  Taoism teaches us to live in harmony with nature.  Taoism teaches us to do without doing, to value nothing more than anything else, to appreciate what we have without wanting more.  With kamidoro tama, as a physical symbol for Taoism, life, harmony, wu-wei, we put all those teachings into practice.

            The Taoist remains humble, low to the ground, which is the genesis of kamidoro tama.  While kamidoro tama has its roots deep in the heart of the art of Dorodango, it is fundamentally different.  It emerges as a powerful meditation tool, it is supposed to help you reveal and understand the basic Taoist truths. 

            The kamidoro tama is delicate like the balance of life.

            When we begin to make our tama we begin with water.  From Tao Te Ching: The Old Man's Guide to the Virtuous Path, Lao-Tzu says this in verse 41:

Nothing is softer,

More yielding than water.

But is has no equal

In wearing down hard things.

If everyone knows that soft overcomes hard,

That yielding overcomes force,

Then why don't they do it?

We fill our bowl with water and we contemplate the properties of water.  Lao-Tzu also says in verse 52:

Goodness is like water.

It benefits ten thousand things.

It fills the voids without working.

It always moves to the lowest place.

And as such is like Tao.

Tao is like water.  It is good.  It benefits everything, it fills the voids without working, and it moves to the lowest place.  We contemplate the power of water.

            We contemplate our bowl.  Lao-tzu says in verses 55 and 72:

A pot is made from clay,

But it is useful because of the hole.

and

Raw materials form the vessels,

Tao forms the void.

Our bowls are useful because of the void.  The void is formed because of Tao and we fill this vessel with living water; Tao.  This bowl represents our bodies.

            We add the toilet paper and let it dissolve into pulp and we contemplate our return to the uncarved state; our primordial beginnings.  The pulp, like the uncarved block, is full of potential; harboring the untapped power of Tao, can be formed into anything.  In kamidoro tama we choose to form it into the shape of a sphere.  Lao-Tzu says from verse 4:

"True beauty offends the eye.

 "Virtues are vices.  Truth:  imaginary."

 It is hard to make:

The corners of a square,

The void of a vessel,

The music you don't hear,

The image you don't see.

 Tao is hidden to us

And has no name.

Yet, Tao alone is the source of everything

We contemplate the sphere; as we squeeze the water out, shaping the primordial pulp into a denseness with space inside and out; still clinging to some amount of water, we recognize how Tao has shaped us and filled the spaces of our lives.

            As we begin the long process of building the outer shell with the softest mineral on the planet, we recall the Lao-Tzu's words from verse 27:

Big trees begin as tiny seeds.

Big buildings begin as tiny heaps.

Big journeys begin as tiny steps.

            In the end we can hold in our hand a ball, hard and shiny, yet delicate as life, that we have created from primordial nothingness that is the universal symbol for Taoism and for life itself.

About the Author

Mr. Young is a nationally certified activity director working at his local nursing home. He is currently working towards improving his state's education requirements for becoming a certified activity director. He has completed his master's level advanced coursework for his ACC certification.

He is an ordained minister and holds a MetD degree in metaphysics.

He consults with other nursing homes about how to meet spiritual needs and improve their activity programing.

"Beautiful Laos" Moretojr's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


property in laos

Environment In Laos

environment in laos="environment in laos"

Thailand's Northern Islands

Koh Chang

With no less than 50 offshore islets, Ko Chang is Thailand's second largest island, and the biggest in the Ko Chang National Park. .

Pretty much the first Western contact that the islanders of Koh Chang had was when the corpses of French sailors, killed in a sea battle with the Japanese in 1941, washed up on their shores. The backpackers who started arriving in the mid-1970’s didn’t smell much better to the islanders, but had big smiles underneath their big noses and had what seemed like a fortune to spend. In common with all Thailand’s islands, Koh Chang was then first developed for backpackers, who are now being displaced as the island is turned into a luxury destination: construction work is going on throughout the island, with basic huts being torn down to make way for luxury resorts. This is obviously unfortunate for the budget travelers but will hopefully be good for the environment, provided the developers don’t get carried away, as the more expensive resorts can afford better sanitation and waste disposal facilities than could their predecessors.

Koh Chang’s recent success is due not only to its proximity to Bangkok, but to its lovely mountainous topography, which is rich in primary forest, waterfalls and still thinly-populated sandy beaches. There are coral reefs to the west of the island which, whilst not amongst the finest of a kingdom blessed with such magnificent underwater treasures, are colourful and abundant with marine life.

Ko Samet

Located just 200 kilometres from Bangkok and a three-hour walk from top to bottom, the T-shaped island of Ko Samet is known for its exotic coral, crystal-clear waters and many little beaches covered in sugary white sand. The sand on the island, which has an alternative Thai name that means ‘Island with Sand like Crushed Crystal’, is so fine that it is prized by glass-makers which, in a country with so many gorgeous beaches as Thailand, is a compliment indeed. Forest blankets 80% of an unspoiled island which, whilst lacking the dramatic topography of other Thai islands, is lucky in that it has so far escaped overdevelopment. There is a low-key party scene on Hat Sai Kaew which, with its offshore winds, is also an excellent location for those wishing to do a bit of wind surfing. Windsurfers can be rented out, so you don’t have to lug your own all the way here.

The half-moon bay Ao Vong Duan, in the middle of the eastern side of the island, is particularly beautiful but is rather crowded and is unfortunately afflicted with the jet-skis that are supposed to be illegal in this marine park, so visitors looking for tranquility are advised to stay on one of the two closely-flanking beaches, Ao Chan and Ao Thian, or further afield. The deeply-pocketed should book in at Ao Kiu beach’s gorgeous Paradee resort, which discourages guests from bringing small children.

The pristine reefs and beaches of the four nearby uninhabited islets Ko Kudi, Ko Kruai, Ko Kham, and Ko Pla Tin make them lovely scuba and snorkelling day-trips, on which visitors are advised to bring their own food and water (always a good sign on an island-hopping daytrip). Ko Thalu, slightly further afield, is lushly forested and inhabited by seagulls, flying foxes, and turtles. Whilst high cliffs occupy the west, often-deserted white sandy beaches are to be found on the east and southern sides of the island. Happy days.

Whilst in Thailand, why not visit one of the country’s best three southern beach destinations:

Koh Lao Liang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/kohlaoliang.shtml

Ao Nang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml

Railay/Tonsai: http://www.andamanadventures.com/railay-tonsai.shtml

About the Author

Runs Andaman Sky Co., Ltd, specialising in climbing and diving trips to Thailand’s best beach destinations.

Lao Cartoon - Environment Awareness


environment in laos

Les Hotels

les hotels="les hotels"

An Oasis of Tranquillity, Le Récif Hotel Beats Other Mauritius Hotels

An incredible holiday retreat nestled at the tranquil fishermen's village of Pointe aux Piments in Mauritius, Le Récif Hotel brings a whole lot of new meaning to the word ‘charm'. Graceful settings, a warm welcome and personal attention from a highly competent staff are the trademarks of this wonderful hotel, and make it stand out among other Mauritius hotels.

The hotel blends the charm of sundrenched open spaces with wonderfully laid out purposeful decorations. Inspired by traditional dwellings, Le Récif Hotel is simple yet sublime and lets the guests focus on the rudiments. Le Récif Hotel in Mauritius is a remarkable white structure that is indicative of traditional Mediterranean dwellings, and offers a vivid contrast to the sky and the lagoon.

Accommodation

Le Récif Hotel features 70 rooms, and each one of them portrays the wonderful picture of warmth and comfort with beautiful shades of ideal settings. Available in Standard and Superior categories, the hotel rooms are equipped with all modern amenities to guarantee an enjoyable stay. The rooms feature huge glass-paned doors that let the stimulating sea breeze impregnate the room, meanwhile offering a staggering view of the ocean as well as the superb tropical garden. No wonder, Le Récif is an indispensable part of various travel deals offered by tour agents.

Restaurants & Bar

Le Récif Hotel in Mauritius offers a wonderful gustatory feast to its guests. The scrumptious spread offered at the hotel beats other hotels in Mauritius hands down.

Le Pointe aux Piments

Le Pointe aux Piments, the hotel's main restaurant, is a remarkable dining place that serves the finest of Mauritian cuisine with a dash of international flair. The joint can accommodate up to 90 people for a buffet breakfast, an à la carte lunch or an international buffet.

L'Océan

L'Océan is an à la carte restaurant that serves quality seafood to its patrons. It is a 25-seat restaurant that boasts a serene and peaceful atmosphere that offers an unparallel view of the ocean.

La Sirène Bar

La Sirène Bar is a vivacious place that is ideal for either a cocktail or a coffee, accompanied by few snacks. Enjoy the cosy ambience and unwind as the soothing ocean waves caress the shore.

Other Suggested Hotels for Budget Travellers

Apart from Le Récif Hotel, there are number of quality yet reasonably priced hotels in Mauritius. cheap hotels in Mauritius are very popular among tourists who want to enjoy the splendours of the place but have limited cash. Budget hotels in Mauritius are scattered throughout the country and a few of them are listed below.

Bougainville: It is one of the best cheap hotels in Mauritius and boasts an exotic atmosphere. A regular feature in travel deals,Bougainville is a perfect start for a wonderful holiday!

Blue Lagoon: A wonderful location defines Blue Lagoon. It is among the finest budget Mauritius hotels and treats its guests with liveliness and enthusiasm.

Mont Choisy Hotel, Klondike Hotel, and Manisa Hotel are various other options for budget to mid-range travellers.

About the Author

For More details about the Mauritius hotels, Holidays in Mauritius Visit our site - http://www.awayholidays.co.uk/mauritius/

Les Orangers Beach Hotel - Restaurant


les hotels
les hotels

Laos Tourism Information

laos tourism information="laos tourism information"

Luxury Travel Vietnam To Attract High-end French Travelers at Top Resa Paris

This year’s exhibition at Paris, 22 -25 September 2009, IFTM - Top Resa is the professional show B2B dedicated to the Travel Industry in France.

IFTM is bursting with potential; delivering a full program of strategic content and bringing together the largest global industry gathering of destinations, tour operators, hotels, airlines, technology and online travel services under one roof.

Vietnam increasingly is being recognized as a destination for high-end global tourists especially coming from Western European countries: France, the UK, and Germany.

Luxury Travel Company particularly eyes on French luxury travel market and look for a luxury tour operator and travel agencies selling Vietnam and Indochina. The company has a new representative office in Geneva.

Vietnam’s appeal is vast to attract high-end French travelers. Vietnam has world class hotels and resorts, cuisine and nature beauties, rich in history and culture. The French luxury travelers are keen to visit and discover the country in the lap of luxury.
 
Luxury Travel Co., Ltd, a 100% fully registered and privately-owned Vietnamese company, has an excellent French speaking team and very few tour operators in Indochina specializes in French Speaking Markets including Quebec (Canada), Belgium, Switzerland and France.

In 2008, Vietnam has welcomed 170.000 French tourists and they often travel to Vietnam in a big group. Luxury Travel (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) only targets in the luxury market segment which has not yet fully been tapped.

The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill French client expectations. French Ministers and the current French Embassador to The Socialist Republic of Vietnam are among the Luxury Travel Company’s Vip Customers.

Luxury Travel has won numerous travel awards. Luxury Travel is headquartered in Hanoi and has offices around Vietnam and management offices in all over Indochina.

Visit LUXury Travel’s booth sharing with the Vietnam National Of Administration of Tourism to see what Luxury travel team can do to help to arrange land services, luxury tours, mice groups to Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia).

For more information go to website in French at http://luxurytravelvietnam.com/FR/index.htm  or to make an appointment in advance, please contact a very francophone Mr. Ha PHAM at pham@luxurytravelvietnam.com.

About the Author

Award Winning Travel Advisors in Asia

Tourist information Center 45-47 Le Loi Hue city Vietnam


laos tourism information

Laos Human Rights

laos human rights="laos human rights"
Why does the U.S. view Cuba as an enemy?

Why is the U.S. consumed with anti-Cuba rhetoric, their communism, human rights violations... when we freely trade with China, Laos, and Vietnam?
Also, we could invest in Cuba... we do in Vietnam, China, and Laos.

because back in the cold war, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, The US government put a halt to ALL U.S. interaction, (thus no traveling, trading, etc...), with a trade sanction, embargos, after a blockade.


In 1962, President John F. Kennedy broadened the partial trade restrictions imposed after the revolution by Eisenhower to a ban on all trade with Cuba, except for non-subsidized sale of foods and medicines. A year later travel and financial transactions by U.S. citizens with Cuba was prohibited. The United States embargo against Cuba was to continue in varying forms and is still in operation today.

Deadly cluster bomb legacy in Laos - Australia Network News


laos human rights

Laos Flights

laos flights_2="laos flights"
What is the longest and shortest single plane ride you have ever been on?

I have been on a 50 minute ride from Vientiene to Xuam Nua in Laos. Also have been on a 14 hour flight from Toronto to Hong Kong.

My shortest flight was 10 minutes from wheels up to wheels down on a C-130 aircraft. We were testing some of the avionics, particulary the "weight on wheels" switch.

My longest flight would occur again on a military aircraft. We flew non-stop around the world with mid air refuels! It took approximately 23½ hours to complete the journey.

"Collecting alms" Allieadventures's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


laos flights

Pakse Accommodation

pakse accommodation="pakse accommodation"

"Pakse and the Bolevan Pleateau" Mcmactravels's photos around Pakse, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


pakse accommodation
pakse accommodation

Nightlife In Laos

nightlife in laos="nightlife in laos"

Getting to know Krabi the Town better

Krabi Town happens to be a Southern Province on the Andaman Seaboard of Thailand. The place comes with a rich history of aboriginal settlement. Stone tools, colored pictures, pottery, beads and skeletal remains are a routine in caves and cliffs. Krabi Town is also touted to be inhabited by Homo Sapiens during the era of BC 35,000 – 25,000.

 

During the period of A.D. 1200, Krabi Town was supposedly a part of the Kingdom of Ligor, situated on the Kra Peninsula's East Coast. The place rechristened in modern times as Nakon Si Thammarat.

 

The late Eighteenth Century in Thailand saw the commencement of the Rattanakosin when the capital was finally settled in Bangkok. An Elephant Kraal was established in Krabi Town with the orders of Chao Phraya Nakom, Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat. His vizier Phra Palad was sent to oversee this task to ensure a regular supply of elephants. Supporters followed his steps and the community started growing, expanding to boroughs such as Pakasai, Khlong Pon and Pak Lao.

 

The first Governor of Krabi Town was Luang Thep Sena. However, the management was revamped in 1875. Krabi was then raised to a Fourth Level Town and the Governorship got abolished.

 

The place is a highly sought after destination for island lovers and beach worshipers. A lot of national parks have been set up with some top destinations being Hat Noppharat Thara, Ao Nang, Railey etc. Scuba Divers, Kayaking Enthusiasts, Snorkelers and Day Trippers find their match in Phuket. This happens to be a holiday paradise not that far away from Krabi.

 

Nightlife in this part of Thailand is one of the most exciting and adrenaline gushing of all. Malls, Casinos, Motels, Eating Joints, Bars, Pubs etc. are certain common sites which people frequent and the noise seldom diffuses. One can groove to some typical Caribbean Tracks along with other tracks being played of artists from everywhere.

 

The factors that make nightlife better are the local bands. They play in almost every restaurant and play different tracks, suiting different interests and sensibilities. Internationally recognized bands stop over for concerts every holiday season. That again becomes a huge star attraction.

The coastal food is amazing. The eating joints set up open barbeques and grill fish, chicken and other delicacies. Beer is served as routine beverage with snacks. Various other alcohol forms are available a well.

 

Bangles, local handicrafts, beads, necklaces, sea findings, utensils, shells, oysters, baskets, drums etc. are some of the most cherished purchases. All of these have a mystical appeal about them which drives customers toward a purchase. They love to splurge on all these invaluable souvenirs for they serve as memory for a lifetime.

 

Visit the town for it happens to have all the ingredients of a wonderful vacation spot. The food, history, nightlife, locales and most importantly, the beaches are all good enough to make you spend at least a week exploring everything. You delight from being at the place where nature leaves you besotted with its marvel, a far cry from the cacophony that reverberates in routine life.

About the Author

Krabi is a historical place with stone tools, colored pictures, pottery, beads and skeletal remains.  Enjoy your Krabi trip with travelkrabi.

Jay Picasso [ Laos FamiLy]- Night Life #6


nightlife in laos

Country Laos

country laos="country laos"
Are people from the country of Laos?

Lao, Laotion or Laos? There's a new female in my class (not that it matters but she's smoking hot!) and I asked her where she's from. She told me Laos so I was just wondering. LOL you know where Hank Hill's (from king of the hill) neighbors are from.

The country is called Laos, though the people call the country and themselves 'Lao'. If you look on a map it is an Indochina country bordering Vietnam, Thailand and China.

The Memory (Lao movie by Toppu Mattiphob Douangmyxay)


country laos

Laos Music

laos music="laos music"
Is laogaeton or reggaeton from Laos popular yet? Is it well known especially in Laos? Or will it take time?

I heard recently that there is a new fusion of reggaeton and Lao music called laogaeton that is making history because, come on, you would think of that place as the last place in the world to find something like that (I almost had to laugh when I found out about it) and this has never happened before. This new fusion was created recently by a Lao American called Alex Tapanya also known as Alex San Dinero (he was the first one to call this fusion laogaeton), the first and only Lao reggaeton artist, after being exposed with a lot of Latin music especially reggaeton with which he fell in love with and so wanted to share it with his people of Laos. He wanted to share and bring a different form of urban music since they only knew and where interested in rap, hip hop, and RnB. So if any of you know something about it, do you know if it is becoming popular yet and is it well known? If not, do yo think it will ever become well known and popular or no?

Alex has only been in the music business for a little over a year. It wasn't something he had been dreaming and fantasizing about all his life. The whole Reggaeton thing and music fell in his lap when he invested into Bizzle Boy Productions with a couple of his friends. And since he liked Latin music so much, he decided to give it a shot to see if people would like it. His songs have been on Radio Free Asia, VOA News, Radio Xieng Kaen, Lao French radio, and a few others. Now people are really starting to hear about his work and are paying attention to his movement. He hasn't even completed his first album yet but people are talking about him in the Lao and Latin world as a pioneer. I talk to him time and time again and he's also putting out a Merengue song in Lao, too. Crazy isn't it? I think as time goes on, his work will eventually become the next biggest thing in the Lao urban/pop culture.

Sanga - Lao Music VDO


laos music

Champasak Grand Hotel Pakse

champasak grand hotel pakse="champasak grand hotel pakse"

Sandra at Champasak Grand Hotel 22.Dec.2008


champasak grand hotel pakse
champasak grand hotel pakse

History Of Laos

history of laos="history of laos"
Do we never learn from history?

Nixon and his Israeli Sec of State Kissinger, despite the loses in Vietnam attacked Cambodia and Laos..

Today, Bush and Blair are losing in Iraq, but want to extend the war to Iran... Are we ever going to learn?

"Temporary" troop build up in Iraq. More ships to Gulf. hmmmmm No, we will never learn. Peter, Paul and Mary ask that same question in the "60's" It is the same war, different time is all. Yes, in deed, how many roads must a man walk down. How many sea's must a white duck sail. I guess the answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.

Lao History on Tape #2


history of laos

Ngos In Laos

ngos in laos="ngos in laos"
Whats the cost of living in southeast Asia?

I'm American and I'm thinking of spending a gap year there. I would like to volunteer with NGOs in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, or Burma. I'm wondering how much it will cost for me to live in any of these countries while I try to find some sort of job.
All advice is helpful and welcome.
Thanks.

Cost of life in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is very low compared to the US. You can live easily with 600-700 bucks/month , there (with no frills, though).
Thailand is a quite more expensive place to live in , and there the Government has drastically reduced the operating licenses to many NGOs in the past few years. They feel as they do not need help.
Burma? forget it. The military junta does not like NGOs, and the few of them operating in the country are UN-related Funds. You won't last a single day there as a loner.
Laos and Vietnam also are difficult place to volunteer.
Cambodia is where International donors and NGOs are covering 85 percent of the national budget, and no hassle exists for the volunteers.
I have been volunteering in Cambodia for one year and a half already.
The biggest NGOs may ( and often they do)offer full boarding (only, no salaries nor pocket money, health insurance) to foreign volunteers. A very limited number of NGOs might even grant the use of a vehicle ( usually a 125 cc. motorbike) to their volunteers (while the management travels in brand-new, tax-free Lexus and Land Cruiser cars).
Contact them before you head for Cambodia to volunteer, don't go there and ask around because they don't like "walk-in"volunteers with no previous screening, they prefer people ( mainly tourists) who go there to visit their projects, shot some pics to the poor orphans/disadvantaged kids, make a donation and leave.
Expect to be asked an Interpol clearance if the NGO you 're working in is dealing with minors.
You can contact me at webdeveloping@rocketmail.com if you need names of the big NGOs in the country , or you can find many of them on the following website: http://www.ngoforum.org.kh/eng/core/

NGO Lao Hamutuk.mp4


ngos in laos

Beer Lao

beer lao="beer lao"

Bangkok Nightlife - Much More Than Sleaze

I was reasonably well-dressed and relatively sober, so why wouldn’t he admit me? Eventually the club’s manager explained to me that it wasn’t that they doubted my age and that they didn’t doubt I was old enough to be allowed in, it was that they thought I was too OLD to be admitted. I was speechless. Then, in typical Thai style, his face broke into a huge grin: ”ha ha, just joking but I fooled you, ha ha, we only need ID to help police”. He told me that I could come in provided I promised to write something nice about his club, which I refused to agree to do, but which I can in any case do.

The club is called ‘Curve’ and is better suited to the younger generation, as to most older clubbers the music will sound about as harmonious as finger-nails on a blackboard (this aversion on behalf of their elders being of course the reason that the kids love it so much). ‘Curves’ is packed with young Thais every night of the week, doing one of the things they are best at – partying to Thai music. If the Beijing Olympics were to include a ‘partying’ competition, the Thais would win hands-down, especially if teams got negative points for undesirable behavior like drug abuse and violence, which are less prevalent on the Thai club scene than elsewhere in the world. Maybe the judges of this putative partying Olympic event could award extra points for friendly behaviour like sharing your bottle with all-comers, with special bonus points awarded for dancing in a sufficiently foolish fashion as to make everybody else think that they might as well join in, as they couldn’t possibly dance any worse than you do. If such points were awarded, however, then there would no point in holding the competition at all, as Thailand would take the gold, silver and bronze medals every time.

Thais are some of the world’s biggest party animals and Bangkok is their capital, so it is not surprising that it has a humming club scene. The carousing is not confined to weekends in the many clubs offering music for every taste and to clientele of every sexual orientation.

Rooftop bars are a speciality. Classy Vertigo & Moon Bar, an open-air rooftop lounge, offers breathtaking views of the river and the city skyline. Or you can quaff premium beverages in a romantic al fresco ambience at Hu’u, a club, bar and restaurant, whose kitchens won’t disappoint even the most discerning of foodies. The music ranges from Jazz, acid jazz, lounge to tempo.

One of Bangkok’s biggest and best clubs, ‘Hollywood’, is popular with slightly older Thais and with tourists of all ages. Western dance-music is alternated with Thai cabaret in a sensational feast for the eyes as well as ears. It can sometimes be disappointing when the management have been let down by acts and try to fob the audience off with dancing girls, which is not what the place is really about. You can almost imagine the pandemonium backstage: “what, the band haven’t arrived yet, OK, get the girls back out on stage, this time tell them to get their tops off, maybe that will keep the punters happy”. It doesn’t.

One of the nicest things about Thai night-clubs is that they lack the undercurrent of mindless random violence present in many Western establishments, where for many men the second best choice for an evening’s entertainment, if they can’t attract a woman, is to get into a fight with a stranger who they don’t like the look of.

Things are done differently in a Thai club, which the would-be clubber is advised to take note of. Firstly, don’t march up to the bar and order a round of drinks. You should just wait until a waiter comes up to you and takes your order. He will then find you one of the least packed spots to stand and go off and get your drinks. When he returns he will bring a small waist-high drinks table along with your drinks. You never need to go to the bar:

Thailand taught me yet another lesson about patience when I went to a Bangkok club the other day. I was too impatient to hang about waiting to be served, so went to the bar and ordered a drink. After a while a waiter took my order and THB 1,000, then disappeared. For a long time. As my friends tucked into their drinks I became more and more impatient and went to complain. Just after I had got into my stride moaning, the waiter turned up with my drink and the change, making me feel so stupid that I wished the cracks between the floorboards would open up enough for me to be able to dive between them. He had been delayed by having to get change for my drink, which isn’t something that customers normally get until the end of the evening. I had thought that I had already learned the lesson that patience is best in Thailand, but obviously I had not learned it well enough.

One thing we have to thank deposed Prime Minister Thaksin for is for insisting that all clubs close at the ridiculously early hour of 2 am. No doubt he thought he was doing all our livers a favour, as prior to that it had been hard to resist the temptation to stay up all night in this most unabashedly hedonistic of party cities. Insomniacs and die-hards can still, however, find a late drink by going to the seedy Nana Plaza, where old dears serve unlicensed beer to the lust-lorn and where you can enquire as to the location of the latest all-night bars.

Looking for Love

If you are looking for love then wear nice clothes and don’t worry about over-dressing. Thais set great store by how well you dress. If you look presentable then your friends will call you ‘law jang leu-ee’ (handsome) even if you are suffering from a red-eyed hangover squared and the bags under your eyes are big enough to carry your shopping around in.

Much as we’d like to ignore it, something must be said about Bangkok’s sex industry. It is thriving, fuelled mainly by older Western men but also by younger ones who would like to behave better but whose hormones, like immigration officers, block their roads to better places. Trainloads of factory-farmed girls are still ‘harvested’ from the fields of Isaan every spring (directly after school’s-out) and are then sent to Patpong, Patong and Pattaya (the infamous three P’s). It is hard to know what to make of the business. On the one hand, many prostitutes undoubtedly do very well out of the job and drag their families out of poverty through it. On the other, successful prostitutes are the exception and many of the ones who succeed are so brutalized that they seem to lose sight of all morals: there are quite regularly cases in the press about prostitutes murdering their lovers to get their hands on their money.

Whilst in Thailand, why not visit out one of the country’s currently best three beach destinations:

Koh Lao Liang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/kohlaoliang.shtml

Ao Nang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml

Railay/Tonsai: http://www.andamanadventures.com/railay-tonsai.shtml

About the Author

Runs Andaman Sky Co., Ltd, specialising in climbing and diving trips to Thailand’s best beach destinations.

Beer Lao #1 ( Hot Girls )


beer lao

Hmong In Laos

hmong in laos="hmong in laos"

Hookah Tobacco, Water Pipe Bong, Hookah Shisha, Hookah Accessories

The concept of Hookah originated in India, once the province of the wealthy, it was tremendously popular especially during Mughal rule. The origins of the hookah come from the north western provinces of India along the border of Pakistan in Rajasthan and Gujarat nearly a millennia back . These hookahs were simple, primitive, and rugged in design, usually made from a coconut shell base and tube with a head attached. They were designed to smoke opium, and hashish . The hookah made its way through the Persian Kingdom , which also included Pakistan, Afghanistan, much of Middle Asia and Arab parts of Northern Africa. The hookah acquired tombeik on its way through Persia. Tombeik is a dark tobacco grown in modern day Iran. Tombeik is rinsed and packed in the large older style heads where hot coal is applied directly to the wet tombeik, which gives it a strong flavor. The hookahs designed in the Persian Empire are still hand crafted with each one being cut from a piece of wood.

Most hookah smoking countries serve Naklia shisha. Naklia shisha is a combination of foreign tobaccos, honey molasses and dried fruit. The smoke is filtered through ice cold water to make the smoke cool and soothing. Older generations smoked hashish and opium, which has created a. The hookah has been growing in popularity in the United States and Europe since the experimentation of the 60'S. Now they are in every college head shop and Middle Eastern market across the entire U.S. It is also growing in popularity in Japan. "Cigarettes are for nervous people, competitive people, people on the run . It teaches you patience and tolerance, and gives you an appreciation of good company.

Specialisation of various Hookah tobacco and Hookah products, a premium brand of flavored tobacco because of its unique smoking experience is used primarily by experienced Hookah users. Mixing of different flavors is a terrific experience. The hookah water pipe is imported from the United Arab Emirates and is properly equipped with the Swiss tobacco brand. To shop at Sinbad Hookah one must be at least 18 years old. Freshness and quality is our top priority and we even offer good quality hookah products like Al Fakher hookah tobacco, Al Fakher hookah water pipes, Al Fakher hookah accessories including Golden Al Fakher hookah tobacco, Golden Al Fakher hookah water pipes and Golden Al Fakher hookah accessories. Romman Shisha & Hookah Tobacco: Romman Shisha Tobacco is considered the highest quality hookah tobacco in the world. Hand-made with the highest quality shisha ingredients possible, is experienced an amazingly smooth, flavorful and intensely long-lasting hookah smoking experience.  Romman Tobacco is designed to be finest hookah smoking tobacco possible.

Nakhla Shisha & Hookah Tobacco: The original shisha producer, Nakhla Shisha Tobacco is made in Egypt and consists of long cut, lower grade, less washed (higher nicotine) tobacco.  Nakhla Shisha is a timeless favorite around the world with its consistent flavor and bold shisha smoking style.

Accessories: Plastic tips are designed to have a sanitary smoking experience. The male tips are designed to go inside the metal and wooden ended hookah hoses. All hoses vary and these fit 90% of the time.The female tips fit over the metal tips of the hose and are not recommended for wooden ended hookah hoses. The plastic can restrict the flow of smoking so please use properly and make sure the ends have no obstructions. The female tips work about 10% of the time and can be cut with scissors to fit larger hookah hoses.Metal Screen for Hookah Head: These metal screens are great for saving time and money. Cutting foil and poking holes take time and costs money. For the long term it is better to use a metal screen.

A bong is a smoking device, generally used to smoke cannabis, tobacco, or other substances.The construction of a bong is similar to a hookah. The functions of bongs and hookahs are analogous, as they produce similar results. A bong may be constructed from any air- and water-tight vessel by adding a screened bowl and stem apparatus.Bongs have been in use by the Hmong, in Laos and Thailand, for centuries. One of the earliest recorded uses of the word in the West is the McFarland Thai-English Dictionary, published in 1944, which describes one of the meanings of bong in the Thai language as, "a bamboo waterpipe for smoking kancha, tree, hashish, or the hemp-plant."

A hookah or Waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking tobacco .Originally from India, hookah has gained popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil

About the Author

Sindbad Shisha specializes all types of Hookah Tobacco, Water Pipe Bong, Hookah Shisha, Hookah Accessories and various Hookah Products. SEO services provided by Jigney Bachech, CEO Opal Infotech, India.

Hmong New Year in Laos 2010-2011


hmong in laos

Festivals In Laos

festivals in laos="festivals in laos"

The 2010 Annual Joy of Jazz Festival Johannesburg

It’s a festive of eminence and marvelous pleasure and ecstatic taste of Jazz that can fill you soul with the world’s most romantic of emotions and strongest of passions. It is the ultimate get-together of outrival musicians from round the world.

Every year in August top jazz performers from around the country, bring the four corners of the globe together at Johannesburg's greatest jazz gig. The city of Johannesburg blooms and moves with the rhythm of Jazz every year in August. As it’s the time of School holidays in UK and most of the Europe, The O R Tambo international Airport Johannesburg becomes one of the world’s busiest places. All European Airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss Air and Arabic Airlines like Etihad, Qatar, Emirates offer Direct and Indirect flights during the whole season. Cheap Flights to Johannesburg, Discounts, Promotional fares and early reservations for cheap flights to Johannesburg keep the phones ringing.

Joy of Jazz Festival is indeed the biggest annual jazz festival in Johannesburg. It is an ideal family outing, featuring a range of musical styles but with a strong emphasis on jazz. Over 200 local and international artists perform at different venues across the city, particularly in Newtown. The annual jazz festival in 2010 will be the 10 year of Jazz Festival Johannesburg and is expected to run from Thursday to Saturday, 27 to 29 August, in Newtown, Joburg's cultural precinct, where there is much more to expect apart from this thrilling festive of music.

International and local jazz musicians expected to perform include Ben Williams, Vusi Mahlasela, Jimmy Dludlu, Brian Thusi, Pops Mohamed, Jonas Gwangwa and Sweden's Grammy-award winner, Andreas Vollenweider. American singer Phil Perry; Main Ingredient's singers, Cuba Gooding Senior, Larry Moore and George Stanley Senior; trumpeter, Ingrid Jensen; Spain's Sumrra; Sterling EQ; Kesivan Naidoo; Nigerian All Stars; Kúnlé Ayo and Room 11 are also on the bill. So you can tell from the ingredients what the recipe will taste like…ummmmm

"Music lovers can expect to see an explosion of talent from the African continent," reads a press statement from Total Exposure, the event's publicists.

Keyboardist Lao Tizer, who will collaborate with Emmy Award-winning guitarist, composer, producer and arranger, Chieli Minucci, and international violinist, Karen Briggs, will be performing at the Jazz night. They will be complemented by Marion Meadows, the composer, a tenor and soprano saxophonist, and jazz guitarist and singer, Norman Brown.

The biggest annual jazz festival in Johannesburg, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival presents local and international stars at venues all over town, including Bassline and The Laboratory. Workshops and performances support the development of young musicians and in this world of falling economies and heart breaking disasters, these are the events that are keeping the human spirit alive !

About the Author

Travelhouseuk Offers Cheap flights and bargain holidays worldwide. Search millions of flights deals online and get Bargain Flights, Cheap Airline tickets, last minute flights. http://www.travelhouseuk.co.uk

Rocket Festival in Laos, 2011


festivals in laos

Adventure Travel Laos

adventure travel laos="adventure travel laos"
Where are the best places to backpack alone?

I want to go on a (last minute) solo backpacking trip sometime in April-May. I desperately need to get out of my town for a bit. I'm on a break from school and have some money saved up but I'm not sure where to go.
I'm 20, a girl and will be going alone(1st time travelling solo). I'm not really looking to party or hookup. I mostly want to have adventures, meet new people and have new experiences. I love nature, but I also enjoy cultural experiences, museums and art.
I'd love some suggestions on places to go that don't suck if you're alone. I am concerned about safety, affordability and getting around easily. I have been to Thailand and Laos before and I think I'd like to experience some new places before I go back there. I also have a contact in Hawaii, but I'm not sure if it's a very good place to backpack.
Any ideas?

The Mines of Moria

Travel to Indochina, this Intrepid adventure takes you to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos


adventure travel laos

Cheapest Hotel Reservations

cheapest hotel reservations="cheapest hotel reservations"

Cheap Paris Hotels – a Quick Guide to Paris Hotel Reservations

Finding a good hotel for a great price in a big city like Paris, France isn’t quite as hard as finding a needle in a haystack, but it’s not so easy! If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who knows Paris well, or better yet, lives there and can recommend a good hotel in a nice neighborhood in Paris, then by all means, get them to help you make your hotel reservation. However, we are not all so lucky! For most of us, using the internet to find a hotel that offers an excellent value for the money is the best alternative and making the hotel reservation is a potentially rewarding adventure.

 

Finding a Paris hotel bargain is quite possible if you follow a few essential guidelines. First of all you need to know where you want to stay. Paris is a big and diverse city and the location of your hotel can make the difference between a vacation filled with magical memories and a nightmare made real. A link to a good map with descriptions of the Paris arrondissements (districts) is available at the end of this article.

 

Secondly, you’ll need to decide what kinds of services you’ll need. Some people want everything from air conditioning to mini-bar to room service, with a four star restaurant on the premises. Others are content with a bed, a bathroom and a shower in a safe part of Paris.

 

The criteria for rating hotels vary from country to country, but in France, hotels are given a grade ranging from one to four stars based on the facilities that are available; but such ratings are not an indication of the quality of the accommodations. That means that the star rating will only give you a basic idea of what facilities a hotel has to offer. Two-star hotels must have an elevator (if appropriate), a telephone in every bedroom, and at least 40% of the rooms are required to have a bathroom in the room (en-suite). Three-star hotels must offer breakfast room service and 80% of the rooms must be en-suite, and four-star hotels are required to have a restaurant and all the rooms en-suite.

 

So once you’ve decided how many stars you need, you’re ready to get started. Going to a travel agent will generally only give access to a limited number of hotels, and they won’t be the cheapest hotels in their category. If a bargain is your objective, you’ll be better off searching the web for Paris hotel reservation websites that are based in France and because of that are able to offer you on-line booking for a wide range of boutique hotels. Such hotels often offer great value for the money!

 

Don’t forget that if a good price is your objective you should bear in mind that cheap Paris hotels are where you find them! A moderate quality three-star hotel in Paris may be less expensive than the best two-star hotel. Similarly, a good two-star hotel in the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, or the Marais, may cost the same or more than a three-star hotel in an out of the way corner of Paris.

 

Once you find the Paris hotel you’re looking for you’ll need to verify its availability for your desired dates and then make a booking. On most websites you’ll either be able to instantly check for availability or you’ll need to submit a form and wait for confirmation of availability. Either way, you’ll generally be asked to provide credit card information. As long as the reservation is submitted via a secure, encrypted connection (website addresses beginning with “https” are secure), you won’t have to worry about somebody intercepting your credit card information.

 

There’s one more thing you’ll need to pay attention to. Although some hotels don’t ask for any advance payment, they will authorize your credit card, meaning that a certain sum will be blocked until you arrive or cancel your reservation. Other hotels may require payment of one night in advance, with this payment being refundable if the booking is cancelled at least 24 hours before arrival. You'll have to look at each hotel's cancellation policy to know exactly how much flexibility you have. Either way, once you book your hotel, you'll probably no longer have access to the funds!

 

So there you have it, a brief summary of the issues involved in booking a hotel on the Internet. Following these simple guidelines will help you have a better chance of finding a good cheap hotel bargain in Paris and having an even more wonderful visit.

About the Author

Joshua Green lived in Paris for nine years and writes about travel and tourism.

Paris hotel reservations
Map and description of Paris arrondissements (districts)

Cheapest Hotel Reservations - Cheap Hotels - Discount Travel


cheapest hotel reservations
cheapest hotel reservations