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"Luang Prabang" Vera_und_alex's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep (travel pics)


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Laos Sites

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Travel Community Sites, Best Travel Blogs, Travel Social Network , Visit Laos


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Family Hotel Laos

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Planning Business Travel, Events, Hospitality & Teambuilding in Southeast Asia

Tired of the same old grind at work? Feeling like your employees are getting a little uninspired? Want to generate dedication, loyalty, teamwork and productivity among your teams and employees for years to come? Seeking to engage and impress your clientele with off-site hospitality?

If you're looking for a way to really spice up your office, consider organising a teambuilding trip for your employees or hosting hospitality and events for your customers and clients in Thailand and beyond. Adventure and fun activity-oriented trips and team challenges focus on group endeavours that cultivate motivation and teamwork among the group members, and can be anything from an adventurous outdoor trek to a series of tabled activities or a lavish evening of entertainments.

What Types of Teambuilding?
Classroom Origami or Adrenaline Pumping Adventure Challenges!

The scope and flavour of teambuilding challenges and events are limited only by imagination and good planners create and adapt themes to fulfil your specific objectives and requirements.

Adventure sports and activities are a popular choice because they are so effective at generating teamwork and motivation among participants.  Rafting, a ropes challenge, fast-paced cooking challenges; they all extract your employees from their normal environment and comfort zones and force them to re-evaluate the way in which they communicate and work together.

If you or your team aren't interested in anything too intense, you can organise a series of activities based around table challenges and indoor games, which work much the same way in teaching your group to communicate. During their off hours, they will have the chance to get out and explore a new culture in an exotic Asian country where all of their daily norms will be tested.

Why an off-site teambuilding trip?
There are a number of reasons you might want to consider investing in this type of trip for your team. A corporate teambuilding trip is the ultimate way to inspire and motivate your employees in their work and to get them away from the confines of their desks, phones and appointments.

Going above and beyond typical company fun days, corporate teambuilding trips are designed to teach your team the types of leadership skills and appreciation for diversity that can only be learned beyond the confines of the office.

That a happy workforce is a productive workforce is widely accepted and ZiZ Inspire provides the means to organise end-to-end business travel solutions for off-site teambuilding events that focus on teamwork, motivation and fun!

Why Southeast Asia for Teambuilding Events?
Most of the time, it's not enough to simply take your employees to the local park for a picnic or on an outing to see a sports fixture. These are things the people in your office do normally, in their spare time and with their families.

To really shake things up in your office and give your employees a chance to grow, you've got to get away. Southeast Asia lends itself to teambuilding and activities with a climate that makes Southeast Asia destinations accessible year-round and a highly developed infrastructure to support Hospitality in all its many guises.

From Thailand to Vietnam and beyond, you can plonk your teams in any number of exotic destinations and engage them in a wide variety of activities and challenges; city-based challenges, adventure treks and orienteering, military-style operations such as island assaults in the Andaman Sea and other reality show themed activities and team challenges. 

Alternatively opt for one of the many corporate event facilities in the modern metropolis of Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket for example for an a city based hospitality trip with meetings, private dining and city-based challenges that jettison your team deep into unfamiliar surroundings to test their Sales, Negotiation, Procurement and Creativity skills.

What about hospitality?
Hospitality events should benefit your company and your clients. Hosting hospitality events is an incredibly effective way for corporations to attract new customers and reward and nurture loyalty among their existing customers.  ZiZ Inspire is a catalyst for planning hospitality events in Thailand and Indochina working in unison with you and its extensive list of partners to fulfil your event objectives and deliver maximum impact to your company's bottom line.

What hospitality and entertainment to extend to your clients can be quite bewildering with the choices that are available and this is where ZiZ Inspire really excels.  Offering a portfolio of themed evening entertainment, spectator and participatory events, the process begins with profiling your guest list against the objectives that you have identified for the occasion.  Whether you choose evening entertainment (themed dinners and events etc), spectator events (sporting fixtures etc) or participatory events (company sailing regattas, polo lessons and driving experience days for example) is highly dependent on your objectives.

Thailand is a fantastic place to host a hospitality event for several reasons. First, it is one of the most friendly and accessible of all of the Asian countries with guaranteed hospitality from the moment you land. Secondly, Thailand is a cheaper country in which to host this type of event, meaning you can offer more to your clients for less. Third, Thailand's infrastructure is excellent and the country offers a vast range of options for entertaining, from sporting events (like golf tournaments, horse racing and sailing) to cultural activities (such as visiting an ancient temple or enjoying a day at a Thai spa) to recreation (like driving a Formula 1 race car, golf or taking a dinner cruise).

And corporate retreats?
The traditional notion of corporate retreats generally involves a group of executives being dragged away for a weekend of "brainstorming", smarting under their breath in the knowledge that the purpose of the exercise is really about the boss's ego.

Corporate Retreats can be used for off-site meetings but are equally good to reward your crew with a few days of well deserved R&R.  Whether you are planning a corporate retreat for off-site meetings and require assistance with facilitation and ironing-out the objectives or are looking for a venue for R&R, hidden within the travel destinations covered by ZiZ Inspire are venues for all occasions and purposes.

Disappear up to the coolness of the mountains or take over a rural retreat on the banks of the Mekong, such as Agalin, for the weekend.  With its plethora of white sand beaches and perfectly warm seawater, Thailand is the paradise of all paradises. Imagine escaping to a self contained, airy beachside luxury villa that is bristling with all the high technology that you require and is packages with catered meals, activities and entertainment.  Fancy hosting a company beach barbeque at your tropical island beachside luxury villa?

That is what a corporate retreat is all about, and ZiZ Inspire can set up this type of elegant getaway to suit your needs in one of the many lavish villas and resorts that are tucked-away within its Asia travel destinations including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and more.  Burn the candle at both ends with city breaks that feature Bangkok nightlife and Pattaya nightlife.  

Opt for Phuket for excellent business travel infrastructure, a playground of recreation and evening entertainment with restaurants and, of course, Patong Nightlife!  Likewise, if you mean to take ‘retreat' literally and just get away from it all, ZiZ Inspire will set you and your group up on a secluded island.

Why choose ZiZ Inspire?
ZiZ Inspire is a Bangkok travel agency that specialises in arranging inbound business travel, corporate events, whether they be teambuilding activities for a group of employees or classy hospitality events.  The ZiZ Inspire team is an east-meets-west group of experts that includes westerners who know what you want in a business trip and locals who know how to put things together on the ground in Thailand.

ZiZ Inspire doesn't offer a boring list of trip plans that you've seen on every other travel website; rather, together with you, they design customised trip plans, events and hospitality based on your needs, wants and requirements. Every itinerary that ZiZ Inspire puts together is custom-built just for you and addresses the needs of your employees or clients.  Developed with inspiration, creativity and great value in mind, you never pay for something that just won't work for you.

What does ZiZ Inspire offer?
ZiZ Inspire has an over-sized list of contacts, venues, activities and caterers, emanating outwards from its base in the bustling metropolis of Bangkok.  Like culinary ingredients, ZiZ Asia blends these resources to create your perfectly styled events of all themes, shapes and sizes.

ZiZ Asia also provides a portfolio of special travel services including Airport Fast-track, Meet and Greet and airport transfers utilising a wide variety of transport; standard private sedans to private helicopter transfers from the airport to your hotel. No matter how extravagant your request may be, ZiZ Inspire can accommodate you in making your corporate event in Thailand or any of its other Asia Travel Destinations, perfect.

About the Author

Adrian Gwyn-Evans is a Founder and Director of ZiZ Asia Co Ltd, a Bangkok Travel Agency that provides travel and event planning services in Southeast Asia and owns and manages zizinspire.com.  From its Bangkok offices the team behind ZiZ Asia draws on over 10 years of professional travel and hospitality industry experience in Southeast Asia to deliver seamless business travel solutions for Events, Hospitality, Team Building, Meetings & Corporate Retreats, Thailand Company Fun Days and more.  Send your RFP to ZiZ Asia for your next event in Southeast Asia.

Benz&Mui& my family Trip @ Vientiane


family hotel laos
family hotel laos

Laos Mar Hotel

laos mar hotel="laos mar hotel"

Communications In Iran

Overview

See also: Demographics of Iran

The government runs the broadcast media, which includes three national radio stations and two national television networks, as well as dozens of local radio and television stations. In 2000 there were 252 radios, 158 television sets, 219 telephone lines, and 110 personal computers for every 1,000 residents. Computers for home use became more affordable in the mid-1990s, and since then demand for access to the Internet has increased rapidly. In 1998, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (renamed the Ministry of Information & Communication Technology) began selling Internet accounts to the general public. In 2006, the Iranian telecom industry's revenues were estimated at $1.2 billion. By the end of 2009, Iran's telecom market was the fourth-largest market in the region at $9.2 billion and is expected to grow to $12.9 billion by 2014 at a CAGR of 6.9 percent.

The Fourth Five Year Economic Development Plan has proposed the following key benchmarks for 2010: 36 million fixed lines; 50% penetration rate for mobile phones; establishment of reliable rural ICT connections and 30 million internet users. Given the recent developments of the industry, the objectives are very likely to be achieved.

More than 23 million Iranians have access to the Internet and over 45 million own mobile phones. Tech-savvy citizens use text messages to communicate with friends and browse the Internet which the government controls in terms of access and speed for a multiplicity of purposes. Blogging is also immensely popular. Iran is among 5 countries with cyber warfare capabilities according to the Defense Tech institute (US military and security institute).

Press

See also: Media of Iran

The press in Iran is privately owned and reflects a diversity of political and social views. A special court has authority to monitor the print media and may suspend publication or revoke the licenses of papers or journals that a jury finds guilty of publishing antireligious material, slander, or information detrimental to the national interest. Since the late 1990s the court has shut down many pro-reform newspapers and other periodicals. Most Iranian newspapers are published in Persian, but newspapers in English and other languages also exist. The most widely circulated periodicals are based in Tehrn. Popular daily and weekly newspapers include Ettelaat, Kayhan, Resalat, Iran Daily and the Tehran Times (both are English-language papers).

Satellite

See also: Iranian Space Agency

Since the 1970s, there have been a number of proposals for a state-owned communications satellite, called Zohreh (en:Venus) from 1993 onwards. The planned satellite would have similar capabilities to a commercially-produced Western satellite, while such capabilities are already provided through leases owned by the Iranian telecommunications sector. Most recently, an agreement was signed between Iran and Russia in 2005 to develop the satellite with a planned launch date of 2007, but the launch has been postponed until at least 2009, set to follow actual construction of the satellite.

Telephone

Inadequate but currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected.

Domestic

As a result of heavy investing in the telephone system since 1994, thousands of mobile cellular subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of the system has been raised by the installation of thousands of digital switches.

Landlines

24.8 million (2008), with a penetration rate of 34%.

Mobile phone

Mobile: 41 million (Nov. 2008) from 35 million (early 2008) and 4.3 million in 2004.

Penetration rate: 60% as of January 2009.

Short Text Messages: Iranians send 80 million SMS per day (Nov. 2008).

Major mobile operators: Telecommunication Company of Iran (MCI/Hamrah Aval) with 70% market share in 2008, MTN Irancell (28%), Taliya (1%), and Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) who won a license for 300 million euros in December 2008. The two national operators, Mobile Company of Iran (MCI) and MTN Irancell both offer GPRS-based data services.

Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat and Tamin Telecom, the telecommunications investment arm of Iran social security and pensions department, will gain exclusive rights for two years to offer second- and third-generation services (3G) in Iran (2008). Assuming a minimum network investment of $4 billion, Etisalat can gain about 20 percent to 25% market share over five years of its operations (by 2013). In 2009 it was announced that Etisalat, however, failed to secure the right to be Iran exclusive 3G operator for two years. Later, Tamin Telecom announced that, IDRO and Imam Khomeini Decree Center have replaced Etisalat because of contractual disagreements.

International

Submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2007)

Radio

See also: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting

Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Number of Radios: 22 million (2005)

Television

See also: List of Persian language television channels

Television broadcast stations: 29 (plus 450 repeaters) (1997

Number of Televisions: 15 million (2007 est.)

Over 30 percent of Iranians watch satellite channels.

Internet

In 1993 Iran became the second country in the Middle East to be connected to the Internet, and since then the government has made significant efforts to improve the nation's ICT infrastructure. Iran's national Internet connectivity infrastructure is based on two major networks: the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the public data network. The PSTN provides a connection for end-users to Internet service providers (ISPs) over mostly digital lines and supports modem-based connections. The Data Communication Company of Iran (DCI), a subsidiary of TCI, operates the public data network. Iran's external Internet links use the basic Internet protocol of TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) via satellite exclusively. For data lines, copper, fibre, satellite and microwave are the available media, and popular services are high-speed Internet via digital subscriber lines (DSL), high-bandwidth lease lines and satellite. About 33 Iranian cities are connected directly by the Trans-Asia-Europe cable network, or "silk road", connecting China to Europe.

ISPs

The leading Data Communication Company of Iran (DCI) which belongs to Telecommunication Company of Iran (now privatized) and the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) are two government bodies that act as ISPs. The largest privately owned ISP is Parsnet, which serves only Tehran. The leading ISP with a provincial focus is Isfahan-based Irangate.net. The Neda Rayaneh Institute (NRI) was the first private ISP in Iran.

Domain names with the ".ir" suffix are assigned by the Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM). DCI maintains the network infrastructure, providing Internet access via the IRANPAK X.25 packet-switching network, which covers most major cities. DCI is the only ISP with a permit for supplying government agencies. DCI supplies both dial-up and leased lines to its users.

By the regulations of Iran, these ISPs should rely on the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) for their bandwidth. Previously serviced by TCI Public Switch Telephone Network, the ISPs have recently been provided with modern data line capacity through a national IP-based network. With the completion of this new network, Internet services in Iran is expected to improve dramatically.

Broadband Internet access

Iran IP-based 'national data network' is being developed by Information Technology Company (ITC), which is also a TCI subsidiary. This network currently covers 210 Iranian cities and has 60,000 high-speed ports to meet the needs of its end users such as business and ISPs (2009).

ADSL in Iran appeared in 2004, and is still gaining market from previous technologies specially dial up providers. Most of the current ADSL service providers provide multiple types of service including dial up, point-to-point wireless, as well as draft based implementations of WiMAX.

CTEL Kish is the first broadband ISP in Khorasan which offers ADSL2+ and ADSL services for residential and business users in Mashhad and other major cities.

DATAK is the first broadband ISP in Iran which offers ADSL2+ and ADSL services for residential and business users in Tehran and other major cities.

Laser Company, offers WiMax wireless internet access over some major cities.

Pars Online is the largest private ISP in Iran and is based in Tehran, but provides a range of services around the country, including voice, satellite and broadband.

Pishgaman Towseh Ertebatat (Pioneers of Telecomm Expansions) is the only Access provider Company that provides All xDSL Family types in Iran and have one of the largest access networks in Iran. The headquarters office is in Yazd and this company is a member of Pishgaman Group

Shatel

Statistics

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 12 certified for high-speed connections - Iran had 1,223 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in 2009, all private sector operated.

Country code (Top-level domain): IR

Internet users (including internet cafe users): 23 million (2007)

250,000 users have access to high-speed Internet service in Iran (June 2009)

Iran ranks 32nd in the world in terms of the number websites. Until 2009, 200,000 sites have been launched in Iran. 118,000 sites are using the domain ".ir".

Some 1,218 of Iranian cities have access to Internet and 1,460 telecommunication centers are operational there (2008)

Iran optical fiber network extends over 120,000 kilometers and has optical fiber connections with all neighboring states (2008).

There are an estimated 1,500 Internet cafes operating in the capital, Tehran (2008). Prepaid Internet-access cards are widely available throughout the country.

Usage

See also: Blogging in Iran and Internet censorship in Iran

Full Internet service is available in all major cities and it is very rapidly increasing. Many small towns and even some villages now have full Internet access. The government aims to provide 10% of government and commercial services via the Internet by end-2008 and to equip every school with computers and Internet connections by the same date. The Internet has become an expanding means to accessing information and self-expression among the younger population. Iran is also the world's fourth largest country of bloggers with approx. 60,000 Persian blogs although Internet censorship in Iran is amongst the most restrictive and sophisticated in the world.

Electronic commerce

See also: Shetab Banking System

Iran's electronic commerce will reach 10,000 billion rials ($1 billion) by March 2009. In 2007, Tetra-Tech IT Company announced that using VISA and MasterCard is now possible for online sales and in Iranian e-card terminals at shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies for Iranians and foreign tourists. Saman Bank was the first bank to introduce online banking services in Iran. Since, it has been at the forefront of expansion and enhancement of electronic banking. In 2010, a state-linked technology group (the Rouyesh Technical Centre) established the country's first online supermarket.

In 2004 the Majlis adopted the Electronic Commerce Law:

Articles 6266 of this law specify that Iran existing intellectual-property laws apply to all electronic transactions.

Articles 3349 of the Electronic Commerce Law of 2004 seek to ensure consumer protection in electronic transactions. This legislation ensures the right of consumers to complete disclosure of information by suppliers before, during and after electronic transactions. Also specified are the terms under which contracts for electronic commerce may be broken.

Article 37 gives consumers seven days to withdraw from any contract without penalty.

Article 42 stipulates that the protections laid down in this law do not apply to financial services, immovable property, automatic vending machines, transactions over public payphones and auctions.

Software development

See also: Science and technology in Iran, Foreign Direct Investment in Iran, and Intellectual property in Iran

According to the Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), the information and communications technology (ICT) sector had a 1.1-1.3% share of GDP in 2002. About 150,000 people are employed in the ICT sector, including around 20,000 in the software industry. There were 1,200 registered information technology (IT) companies in 2002, 200 of which were involved in software development. Software exports stood around $50 million in 2008.

Iran imports a large part of its software. According to the EJISDC, around 95% of the output of the domestic industry is bespoke development (including translation/adaptation from foreign source) s opposed to product workeaning export possibilities are low. Domestic firms involved in software production include Sena Soft, Dadeh-Pardazi, Iran Argham, Kafa System Information Network, Iran System and Puya.

Although there are no established clusters in Tehran, a major facility, the Tehran Software and Information Technology Park, is planned. International Development Ireland was selected as the consultant for the project in mid-2004. There are also plans for a technology park in the free-trade zone on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, which already contains the necessary technological infrastructure.

The government's drive to automate manual processes is expected to account for about 70% of demand for software development, but there are also some 15,000 private-sector factories that have software needs. Foreign investment in the sector is minimal, although some links are being developed with the Indian industry. Poor intellectual property protection in Iran has also hindered the development of Iranian software companies because of lack of foreign direct investment in this sector.

Consumer electronics

See also: Maadiran Group

The Middle East consumer electronics and technology sector amounts to a $37 billion high (2008), according to a study by the Dubai-based subsidiary of GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services. The study also predicts that the market will continue riding the wave of growth to hit $39-$40 billion in 2009. Mobile and smart phones make up 41 percent of the entire digital consumer market with sales of $10 billion expected in 2008. It followed by desktop and notebook computers at $5 billion and LCD televisions at $4 billion. The study also reveals the market structure by channel where, in Iran and the UAE, independent retailers still lead with 60-percent share in volume for product categories such as digital cameras, LCD televisions and mobile phones. However, large retailers like Plug-Ins, Emax and Sharaf DG are also making their presence felt by capturing the remaining 40 percent. The digital consumer technology sector is expected to see retail sales in excess of $24 billion by the end of 2008.

Iran domestic consumer electronic market, defined as including computing devices, mobile handsets and video audio and gaming products, was estimated at $7.3 billion in 2008, with 47% market share for computer hardware, 28% Audio/Video and 25% mobile phone (with growing demand for PDAs, smart phones and 3G handsets). Business Monitor International (BMI) forecasts that Iran demands for domestic consumer electronic devices will reach $10 billion by 2013.

Computers

See also: Pars Semiconductor Co. and Telecommunication & Computer Industries Consortium

Iran is manufacturing some computer components under license from international companies, predominantly in the area of monitors. Currently eight Iranian companies are manufacturing monitors under licence of LG, Samsung, Hyundai, Benq, Tatung and CTX. Motherboard, keyboard, mouse, computer case, power supply, CPU, hard drive and recently printers are other components that are now manufactured locally. Personal computer (PC) ownership in Iran stood at 7.3m in 2005, or 10.5 PCs per 100 people.

Among the leading domestic telecoms equipment manufacturers is the Iran Telephone Manufacturing Company (ITMC), which has licensing agreements with Siemens and Alcatel-Lucent of France. ITMC is owned by TCI (45%), Industry Bank (35%) and Siemens (20%). Other manufacturers include Iran Communications Industries Incorporated and Parstelhich produces under licence from Daewoo Corporation, a South Korean firm. Overall, ICT hardware sales were estimated to total US$700m a year in 2008.

Privatization

Main article: Privatization in Iran

Based on Note C of the general policies of the constitution's Article 44, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced that it will float the shares of affiliated companies such as Mobile Telecommunications Company in the stock market.

Under the general policies of Article 44, telecom companies are categorized in four groups as follows:

Group One: Among the 30 provincial telecom networks, the fixed telecom networks pertain to those of Tehran, Isfahan, Fars, Hamedan, Ahvaz, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan and East Azarbaijan. The first group concerns fixed line telecom networks, including those in the public sector with 30 subsidiary telecom networks in provinces. The non-governmental sector includes companies such as Iraphone, Novin, Zahi Kish, Kouh-e Nour, Montazeran Adlgostar and Pouya Ertebat with each having hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

Group Two: The second group concerns mobile telephone networks. In the public sector, they include the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI). In the non-governmental sector, they include telecommunications companies such as Omran Kish, Arse Telecom, Isfahan, Rafsanjan Complex and Irancell. Privatization Organization has forecast that shares of Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) will be floated in the stock market by late September 2007.

Group Three: There is only one public network in the data network sector, namely Data and Telecommunications Company of Iran which is considered a basic telecom network in terms of mobile networks and Shomal IT Company. In the non-governmental sector, there are over 100 companies with a shared data network.

Group Four: The subsidiary telecom network named Subsidiary Telecommunications Company is another basic telecom network. They are completely owned by the state and not targeted for privatization.

TCI's Infrastructure Telecom Company will be detached from it and it would continue its activities as a part of the ICT Ministry. 33 companies in the telecom sector are to be privatized by September 2007. This happened simultanisouly with the launch of MTN Irancell, a private second carrier with foreign ownership. The privatization and introduction of a second operator has created a significantly more competitive environment which has led to significant cost reductions for mobile owners and service benefits.

In 2009, 51% of the shares of TCI was sold to Etemad-e-Mobin, a consortium which some media claimed it was affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, for the sum of $7.8 billion.

Further reading

Iran: Strong Telecom Growth Expected, Despite Political Uncertainties - Pyramid Research 30-page report provides a profile of the country converged telecommunications, media and technology sectors based on proprietary data from Pyramid research in the Iranian market (2010).

See also

Iran portal

Supreme Council of ICT of Iran

Takfa - Iran's countrywide plan for ICT, also called "NICTA" in some countries.

Telecommunication Company of Iran

Iran Electronics Industries (IEI)

Shetab Banking System - Iran's electronic banking system

Pardis Technology Park - Iran's planned "Silicon Valley"

International rankings of Iran in ICT

List of Iranian companies

Media of Iran

Economy of Iran

Transportation in Iran

References

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^ "Telecoms And Technology Forecast for Iran", Telecoms and technology, Economist Intelligence Unit, 18 June 2008 

^ http://www.iran-daily.com/1386/2809/html/focus.htm

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Telecoms And Technology Forecast for Iran", Economist Intelligence Unit, August 18, 2008 

^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html#Econ

^ http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resource.aspx?n=1000014

^

^ http://voice-quality.tmcnet.com/topics/phone-service/articles/73387-iran-telecom-market-expected-reach-129-billion-2014.htm

^ http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=IR

^ Iran Daily: Software Exports Hit $45m Retrieved November 2, 2008

^ Iran Daily - Economic Focus - 10/09/06

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^ Iran's Twitter Revolution

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^ Howard, Roger (2007). Iran Oil: The New Middle East Challenge to America. I.B.Tauris. pp. 140. ISBN 1845112490. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=q9doOy4n6ioC&pg=PA140&dq=Zohreh++satellite&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0RpnK4ysY15AN_nsPaZquOtH90hQ#PPA140,M1. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 

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^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=109211&sectionid=351020102

^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html

^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html#Communications

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^ a b http://www.austrade.gov.au/ICT-to-Iran/default.aspx

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^ "Alcatel provides first DSL network in Iran to Asre Danesh Afzar". Payvand. 2004-03-24. http://www.payvand.com/news/04/mar/1156.html. 

^ "Tehran entirely under wireless Internet coverage". 2007-01-15. http://www.taliyanews.com/en/archive/2007/01/tehran_entirely_under_wireless.php. 

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^ http://www.payvand.com/news/09/may/1252.html

^ http://iran-daily.com/1386/3060/html/economy.htm

^ http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3286/html/economy.htm

^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_blogs

^ http://opennet.net/research/profiles/iran

^ Iranian net censorship powered by US technology - info-tech - 27 June 2005 - New Scientist

^ IRNA: Iran's e-commerce to reach rls10,000b Retrieved December 3, 2008

^ http://payvand.com/news/07/feb/1159.html

^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/04/iran-launches-online-supermarket-internet

^ http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=IR

^ Iran Daily: Software Exports Hit $45m Retrieved November 2, 2008

^ Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 04/19/08

^ http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3285/html/economy.htm

^ a b http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3472/html/economy.htm#s398070

^ http://www.austrade.gov.au/ICT-to-Iran/default.aspx

^ Iran-Daily: Privatization of Telecom Companies

^ Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 06/03/07

^ Telecommunication Company Of Iran to be privatized

^ Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 06/03/07

^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_telecom_2

External links

Ministry of Information & Communication Technology of Iran

Information and communications technology (ICT) to Iran - Australian Trade

Business Monitor International: Iran Telecommunications Report - Q3 2008

Iran Mobile Network - Iran Mobile Phone Information Network

Information Technology Company - affiliated with the Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (ICT) of Iran

Telephone Area Codes of Cities In Iran

Internet and Telecom in Iran - A Comprehensive Survey (1999)

Brief Study (2008) - Telecom in Iran

GSM Coverage in Iran

e-Business in Iran (Economist Intelligence Unit)

Information Technology in Iran (1997)

World Bank - Information, Communication Telecommunication (ICT) in Iran

Internet Traffic Report - Iran Routers

CIA FactBook (Iran Communications statistics)

Iran and Space Communications - Globalsecurity.org

Electronic Commerce Law of Iran

v  d  e

Communications in Asia

Sovereign

states

Afghanistan  Armenia1  Azerbaijan1  Bahrain  Bangladesh  Bhutan  Brunei  Burma2  Cambodia  People's Republic of China  Cyprus1  East Timor3  Egypt4  Georgia4  India  Indonesia  Iran  Iraq  Israel  Japan  Jordan  Kazakhstan4  North Korea  South Korea  Kuwait  Kyrgyzstan  Laos  Lebanon  Malaysia  Maldives  Mongolia  Nepal  Oman  Pakistan  Philippines  Qatar  Russia4  Saudi Arabia  Singapore  Sri Lanka  Syria  Tajikistan  Republic of China5  Thailand  Turkey4  Turkmenistan  United Arab Emirates  Uzbekistan  Vietnam  Yemen

States with limited

recognition

Abkhazia1  Nagorno-Karabakh  Northern Cyprus  Palestine  South Ossetia1 

Dependencies,

autonomies,

other territories

Aceh  Adjara1  Akrotiri and Dhekelia  Altai  British Indian Ocean Territory  Buryatia  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands  Guangxi  Hong Kong  Inner Mongolia  Iraqi Kurdistan  Khakassia  Macau  Nakhchivan  Ningxia  Papua  Sakha  Tibet  Tuva  West Papua  Xinjiang 

1 Sometimes included in Europe, depending on the border definitions.  2 Officially known as Myanmar.  3 Sometimes included in Oceania, and also known as Timor-Leste.  4 Transcontinental country.  5 Commonly known as Taiwan. 

Categories: Communications by country | Communications in Iran | Economy of Iran | Internet service providers of Iran | Iranian media

About the Author

I am an expert from China Toys Suppliers, usually analyzes all kind of industries situation, such as spa ozone generators , oily waste water.

Hotel Laos Mar 2009 Puerto Peñasco .. Visitanos !!!


laos mar hotel
laos mar hotel

Vacation Laos

vacation laos_3="vacation laos"
Do i need a VISA to enter Thailand for vacation?

I'm going on vacation to Thailand in 3 months, will i need a Visa to enter? I'm a U.S. permanent resident with a green card. I was born in Laos. I been living in the US since 1989. this will be first time ever leaving US.

Your requirements are as a Laotian citizen not an American. As such you can enter Thailand without a visa being visa exempt for a period of 30 days. http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2495

If you want to stay longer than 30 days you will need a visa, i.e. tourist visa which you will need to apply for at the Thai consulate in your area.

LAOS VACATION 2010 - BOON WAT BANH NAHXON


vacation laos

Lao Di Fang

lao di fang="lao di fang"

What Is Wudang Taoism?

The characteristics of Wudang Taoism are as follows: The major deity of its worship is God of Zhenwu; it puts emphasis on exercises of active substance in vivo; it is more skillful in averting disasters with talismanic figures and praying for rain; it lays stress on loyalty and filial piety; and it holds drawing on the enlightenment from Confucianism and Buddhism.

During the period from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to the last years of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), Mt. Wudang was already an important site of religious activities. Quite a number of high officials and noble lords came to Mt. Wudang for active cultivation.

Among them were Yin Xi, a senior official in the Zhou Dynasty(770-221BC), Dai Meng, a general of Emperor Wudi in the Western Han Dynasty (206-BC-24AD) and Ma Mingsheng and Yin Changsheng, both were famous alchemists. After Taoism was founded in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD), Mt. Wudang gradually became a center of Taoist activities in Central China. In the period from the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581AD), hundreds of officials resigned from their posts and left home for self-refining on Mt. Wudang due to the social and political disturbance.

In the Sui Dynasty (581-618AD) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), the feudal emperors held esteem for Wudang Taoism, which stimulated the Taoists to further efforts in developing Wudang Taoism. The emperors in the Tang Dynasty regarded Lao-tzu as their ancestor as the emperors and Lao-tzu have the same family name "Li", so, they supported and worshiped Taoism, making Taoism the most important ideology amongst Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

It was Yao Jian (the local official in charge of the military and administration affairs ) who made Mt. Wudang receive special favor from the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty. In the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, the country suffered from dry damage and a plague of locusts. The emperor issued an imperial edict that all religious followers in temples and monasteries should pray for rain. All of them failed except Yao Jian who led the Taoists on Mt. Wudang in praying for rain.

The emperor was so pleased that he ordered a hall to be built named Five Dragons at the foot of Mt. Wudang. At that time many Lofty Taoists were refining on the mountain, such as Sun Simiao (581-682), Tao You'an and Lu Dongbin, one of the eight famous immortals. In the last years of the Tang Dynasty, Mt. Wudang was listed as the 9th of the Seventy-two Blissful Realms.

In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the feudal rulers held the greatest esteem for (the) God of Zhenwu, improving the formation and widely spreading of Wudang Taoism. In the second year of Zhenzong's reign of the Song Dynasty (1018), the Emperor conferred the title of "Efficacious God of the Northern Mansions" on Zhenwu and ordered a statue of Zhenwu made on the mountain.

The Five-Dragon Hall was extended into a large temple. Again Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty worshiped God of Zhenwu as the God of the Imperial Court. The famous Taoists in this period were Deng Ruochuo, Fang Changxu, Xie Tiandi and Sun Jiran who made great contributions to the development of Wudang Taoism.

In the Yuan Dynasty, the imperial rulers bestowed great favors upon Taoism and Mt. Wudang became a grand service of the imperial court "to pray for longevity and consecration".

Wudang Taoism had greater influence on common people so that thousands of Taoist followers in the country made pilgrimages to Mt. Wudang every year. "It is said that the third day of the third lunar month is Zhenwu's birthday on which tens of thousand of Taoist followers carrying valuable birthday presents were going along the valley to Mt. Wudang to join in the divine celebration." Wang Zhenchang, Ye Yunlai, Zhang Shouqing and other lofty Taoists took advantage of the situation to enlarge the Taoist organizations. Before long, Mt. Wudang became as famous as Mt. Dragon and Tiger, another well-known mountain of Celestial Master Taoism.

In the Ming Dynasty, all the emperors held great esteem for Mt. Wudang, regarding the place as their "Imperial Ancestral Temple" and embracing Zhenwu in a way as God defending the Kingdom. As a result, Mt. Wudang was held reverence as "the First Mount of Immortals in the World", above the Five Sacred Mountain. Mt. Wudang had been the center of Taoist activities for about 200 years since. Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, believed in Taoism and God of Zhenwu, which had exerted great influence on the following emperors of the Ming Dynasty. It was Zhu Di, Emperor Chengzu, who made Wudang Taoism to enter a period of full bloom. Zhu Di was the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang and he was first conferred king of the Yan Kingdom, defending North China.

After the death of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yunwen, the eldest grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, succeeded to the throne. Zhu Di staged an armed rebellion in the name of "Ridding the emperor of evil ministers" and finally he seized state power from his nephew Zhu Yunwen. In order to consolidate his power, Zhu Di claimed that it was God of Zhenwu whohad assisted his father and himself to take over state power. To pay a debt of gratitude to God of Zhenwu, in the tenth year of Yongle reign (1412) Zhu Di sent Zhang Xin (Lord of Longping), Mu Xin (Minister of the Ministry o Rites) and Guo Jin (Vive-minister of the Ministry of Works) to Mt. Wudang to take the charge of the construction project. After more than ten years, on Mt. Wudang appeared a huge architectural complex, interspersing at 33 sites including nine palaces and nine temples.

In later years of the Ming Dynasty, the emperors, the imperial kinsmen, the local officials and Taoist followers from the four corners of the country, exerted their efforts in extending the complex. In order to fully control the Taoists activities on Mt. Wudang, emperors in the Ming Dynasty designated eunuchs and military governors to supervise the Taoist affairs.

Emperor Chengzu had 400 senior Taoists chosen from Taoist Temples around the country and sent to Mt. Wudang as a way to enforce and develop Wudang Taoism. Among the 400 senior Taoists 23 were chosen and conferred the title of "Superintendent" to control the Taoist activities in every temple.

The emperor also bestowed a large area of cropland near the mountain to the Taoist temples and 555 criminals were sent to till the land so the Taoists would have enough food. In the period of Jianing's reign (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty there were about 500 Taoists priests and 10,000 official supervisors over Taoist Congregation, common Taoists, armed men and craftsmen on the mountain.

In the Qing Dynasty, the rulers showed more favor to Buddhism than to Taoism, so Wudang Taoism gradually declined. However, there were still many Taoist followers among the people who went on a pilgrimage to Mt. Wudang every year.

In the period of the Republic of China, temples and palaces fell into disrepair and Taoist activities almost stopped due to chaos caused by war and the shortage of funds.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Central Government pursued a policy of freedom of religious belief and Taoist normal activities were restored. Especially since 1978 when China began to pursue the policy of economic reform and opening door to the outside world, Wudang Taoism has taken on a new look. In 1984 Mount Wudang Taoist Association was founded and The Articles of Regulations of Mount Wudang Taoist Association were formulated.

In the past 30 years, the people's governments at various levels and Taoist organizations have made large investments in rebuilding and maintenance of the Supreme Harmony Palace, the Purple Heaven Palace, the Imperial Tabled Pavilion, the Jade Terrace Temple and other buildings in bad disrepair.

The disquisition of Taoist culture has been conducted and the books on Taoist culture published include Brief History of Wudang Taoism, Mt. Wudang ----A Pearl of Historic Resort in China and The Twelve Channels and Collaterals of The Internal Classic of the Yellow Emperor.

Mount Wudang Taoist Association has held Wudang Taoist culture exchanges and Wudang Wushu exchanges with foreign countries and regions such as Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, promoting the publicity of Wudang Taoism around the world

The author maintains the Wudang Qigong site and The Art Of War

 

About the Author


Lao Di Fang - Evan Yo


lao di fang

Visit Laos

visit laos_3="visit laos"
How difficult is it for someone from Laos to visit me in the USA? How about for her to go to school?

My dear friend in from Laos. She is a student at the University of Laos. I have visited her and her family in Laos a few times and I would love for her to visit me. (My treat, of course) How hard it is for her to get a visa? What about if she would like to go to school in the USA? Has anyone ever done this and how difficult was it? (I am an English as a Second Language teacher - I met her when I was there volunteer teaching. I would happily sponser her...) THANKS!!

everything is possible if you put your mind into it and for you to do that, you have to go to the immigration website and see what would be needed so she can get a visa. here is the link and hope it can help you.

http://www.greencardplus.com/visa_f1.html

Popular place to visit in Laos.wmv


visit laos

Laos Visum

laos visum_3="laos visum"

"Into Laos" Baileyandkerry's photos around Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


laos visum
laos visum

Weather In Laos

weather in laos="weather in laos"

“experiences From ‘the Flow’ (9): New Girlfriend, New Life.”

“Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that’s good in life…”


By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo, Copyright February 2008


(Author “My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor,” Copyright August 2007. Pantejo - Y.N. Vurce Publishing.)


*Below is the ninth episode in a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places. These stories are also incorporated in “My Friend Yu – the Prosperity Mentor: Book II,” Pantejo - Y.N. Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.


I quickly found out that Nueng (Thai: “Number One”) was the ultimate “live-in everything.” She kept our place immaculate, prepared delicious, home-cooked Thai meals, and made sure that I had plenty of freshly laundered and ironed clothes to wear.


But after living together for a few months, I realized she was so much more…


- Saving Baht -


(February 2008) - Currently, one U.S. Dollar (USD) equals 33 Thai Baht.


…And Nueng knew how to stretch every baht we spent.


Coming from a large family and growing up in the poor, North East Region of Thailand, Nueng learned very early in life how to work hard, save money, and shop wisely.


In fact, we now live comfortably on a mere fraction of the money I used to give my ex-girlfriend just for living expenses.


Nueng has taught me how to properly buy things (meaning: haggle) at the local markets, finding bargains that most Farangs (Thai: foreigners) could never find on their own.


Many times, after I’ve chosen something I want at the Mall, Nueng will gently say, “Paeng maak [Thai: too expensive], tee rak [darling]. Chan bai dalat prueng nii [I will go to the local market tomorrow].”


And sure enough, the next day she hands me an identical (or better) item with a receipt showing that it cost us 30-50% less than the price at the Mall.


- No More Magic Acts -


Unlike my ex-girlfriend, Nueng is always there for me. I never have to guess where she is, who she’s with, or what she’s doing.


With the ex, I’d rush home after work – only to find the house empty.


She would often pull a “Disappearing Act” with her girlfriends for hours (or even days). I distinctly remember a nerve-racking, three day period when the ex disappeared. No notes. No SMS (text) messages, e-mails, or phone calls. I was worried sick!


But when she finally returned, I went from fret to furious! Her “reasons and explanations” were blatantly untrue. After repeatedly asking her to tell me the truth, she decided to just clam up.


And with that, we entered into another mutual silent period that lasted for about a week.


- Birds of a feather -


Her friends were as immature as she was.


While I was at work, I got a call from someone informing me that the ex and her friends were at a party and the police got involved, arresting the whole lot of them. The reason? Although the ex was above drinking age, others at the party were minors - and there was plenty of alcohol everywhere. Drugs were also suspected.


After many hours of stressful waiting, she was released. Fortunately, the results of her drug test were negative. That was one of the few times she ever apologized to me for anything.


Most of the time, she would just give me the silent treatment. It was always a guessing game with her. I never knew what was on her mind (or why she behaved so sweetly one minute; then so cold the next).


- Excuse to Leave, Excuses to Stay Away -


The ex was a Lao National and required to renew her visa every 27 days.


The trip to the Thai-Lao border and visa stamp can easily be accomplished in 3 days. But the ex always took at least 7-10 days (sometimes, up to 2 weeks) to do this “visa run.”


When I asked her why she took so many days to get her passport stamped, she would come up with some pretty lame excuses (e.g., “the weather was too bad to travel” – but checking the T.V. news and internet revealed no inclement weather in Laos; “I got sick” - then another friend tells me the ex called her from a karaoke bar; “I was visiting my sick mother, sister, father, friend, etc.” - then her sister or mother would call me asking about her whereabouts).


Of course, the only time she phoned or sent SMS messages while away was because she needed more “travel” money.


One time, I had to send her money because (supposedly) a Lao Taxi driver was holding her luggage hostage until she paid his high transportation fee. Feasible? Yes. Probable? No. The ex was both a Lao citizen AND an experienced “visa run” traveler, getting her visa renewed every month – with no hitches - for the last four years.


Nowadays, I rush home and am richly rewarded with sweet, genuine smiles, hugs, and kisses from Nueng.


- Friendship. What a concept! -


Here in Thailand, I used to think it was impossible to have a girlfriend who could also be a “real friend,” someone of the opposite sex that I could trust and just “pal around with.”


The ex-girlfriend was like all others that preceded her: incapable of having a true friendship with a man; and much too demanding, suspicious, and secretive.


But all that changed with Nueng.


Now I enjoy a relaxed, honest, and fun-loving companionship (the antithesis of all the unfulfilling relationships I’ve had during the last couple of years).


It doesn’t matter if it’s a quiet night at home or a night out on the town, we always have fun together.


And even though most of the humor between us consists of slapstick or “weird word definitions and pronunciation gymnastics,” the resulting laughter (and her smiles) makes everyday worthwhile.


Since Nueng is an ex-farm girl and not afraid to physically show her affection, any light-hearted teasing on my part often turns into rowdy, hilarious wrestling matches.


Like attracting magnets, we are naturally drawn to each other.


Whether it’s watching T.V. or reading separate books, we have some kind of constant, physical contact. It’s nice. It makes me feel loved AND liked.


It’s the closeness and affection I always wanted, but never got, from the ex.


- Communication -


Another huge contrast between Nueng and the ex-girlfriend is Nueng’s desire to learn my language (English) and her willingness to teach me hers (Thai).


Daily, we teach each other different words and phrases. Living with Nueng, I’ve learned more Thai words and phrases in the last three months than in the previous two years!


She is both an avid learner and patient teacher.


What a change! The ex would easily get flustered if I could not instantly understand her.


And of course, since she could not comprehend most of the things I said too, her frustration lead to “mental burn out,” and she would simply give up; tolerating a constant state of “mutual misunderstanding.”


Since relationships fail mainly because of two basic reasons: 1) Incompatibility and 2) Miscommunication, I’m convinced that half of our problems would have been prevented if she was willing to give learning my language (or teaching me hers) an honest try.


Oh well. It’s a moot point now. The ex is gone. Thank God, Nueng is here.


“It’s truly a ‘New Girlfriend, New (Better) Life’ in ‘The Flow’ for me now…”


…Continued in “Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (10): Falang or Thai? Some Polarized Views.”


“Until next time, find ‘The Flow’ and jump in!”


Your Friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,


Carl “J.C.” Pantejo


Falang, contrast, perspective, lovers, friends, baht, save, spend, immature, haggle, silent, communication, visa, renew.


Note: If you want to read more about overcoming heartbreak, unconditional love, exorcising past personal demons, and the Illusive Secret of Happiness, please read the following articles:


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’: From Heartbreak to Happiness”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (2): Coincidence or Synchronicity: FROM RELAPSE TO MIRACLES...”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (3): LOST AND FOUND - Kindred Spirits and Mistakes made in Haste.”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (4): LOST AND FOUND – Meant to Be?”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (5): “The Stray”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (6): “New Beginnings, Old Endings”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (7) - Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Myth”


“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (8) Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Reality, Stupidity, and Hard Knocks.”


“How Dare She! Out of Desperation I Learned How to Forgive”


“Remember Who You Are!”


“Need to Heal Your Broken Heart? Read on. Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of Happiness.”


(By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo and published internet-wide, keyword: [title of article] or “Carl Pantejo”)


Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com

About the Author

About the Author:

He is a retired U.S. Military veteran. Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an A.A., B.S., and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic. In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he free-fall parachuted out of airplanes and performed diving ops in very deep, open ocean water. He went to Thailand 1 year ago for a week’s vacation, fell into a teaching job, and has never left!

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo
Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com
Founder, Y.N. Vurce Publishing
http://www.ynvurcepublishing.com

The Secret War in Laos (Part 1)


weather in laos
weather in laos
weather in laos

Guide Laos

guide laos="guide laos"
Vatican Church tours plus train trips from Rome to Monte Carlo?

Hey guys,

My mom's aunt is coming from Laos and she wants to know if there are any private group tours or so along the Vatican Church at the Vatican City near Rome, Italy. I want to know how much the group tours cost and if there are any tour operators that allows tour groups some priority entrance into the Vatican Church because from what my mom had told me, they do not want to wait in line! Also, they want to have the freedom to walk around the Vatican Church - without being inclined with the tour guide and such.

Also, I want to know if there is a way to get to Rome, Italy to Monte Carlo in France (or is it in Monaco, no?) by train. I also want to know about if my mom's aunt needed a visa to enter the EU towards Italy and enter towards France and Monaco.

Do you have any suggestions?

Yes, she will need a visa to come as a tourist. The Italian ministry site for visas is here: http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp . There's a link to the application and it will tell you what additional documentation is required and where to apply.

There are quite a few tours of the Vatican if you search on line. Viator is one of the big tour providers here to give you an example: http://www.viator.com/photos/Rome-tours/Skip-the-Line-Vatican-Museums-Walking-Tour-including-Sistine-Chapel-Raphaels-Rooms-and-St-Peters/992086 . You can find many other possibilities including personal guides.

It's an 8 to 13 hour trip to Monaco from Rome on the train. You'll need to make at least one train change at the border in Ventimiglia, but most options require 2 or 3 train changes. If you're going to that area, take the time to go to Eze and take the bus to the old town at the top of the mountain. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD Rome to Ventimiglia will cost approximately 50 to 75 euro in 2nd class depending on the specific trains and it's only a few euro more from there to Monte Carlo. There are discounts available on the fast trains for early purchase of tickets.

Travel Guide- Laos


guide laos
guide laos

Luang Prabang Accommodation

luang prabang accommodation="luang prabang accommodation"

Why You Should Visit Laos

Laos

Imagine a sleepy French village on a drowsy afternoon at the end of summer. That is how Laos feels. Only less vibrant.

The land of crawling broadband and dawdling monks shatters – or at least quietly snuffs – the myth that southeast Asia is all tiger economy hustle and bustle. Every time a ripple of thunder breaks the stillness of the former French colony sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, the electricity goes down. Forget that fruit shake you ordered, which requires a blender’s input. Better make it a Beer Lao.

Careful how you handle the currency, as Kip are next to worthless, meaning that it’s necessary to keep track of lots of zeros.

All these surplus circles mean it’s easy to get confused and tender an insultingly small amount or a fortune, then only realise the gaffe because of the look on the cashier’s face. It’s easy to feel rich with all those zeroes in your pocket, but beware, you may not notice that you accidentally blew a billion, until you don’t have the million or so necessary to buy a packet of chewing gum.

Relax. Spend a while in Laos and you may find that you start to adopt the dreamy expression worn by many of the inhabitants. Aside from the non-too-insistent pestering of hawkers and tuk-tuk drivers, pressure scarcely exists. Time elapses at the speed of a lolloping ox.

Thank or blame Communism. No reason for rush exists in a state where enterprise is vaguely frowned upon. Just like sex outside marriage. It is illegal for a man to sleep with a woman who is not his wife in this, the highly regulated People’s Democratic Republic, which even has a midnight curfew. Not that you would necessarily notice, because the curfew is enforced ever so softly and by the subtlest of soldieries.

Many travellers return repeatedly, hooked on a country that regularly wins prizes for being so laidback and enchanting, the epitome of oriental charm. Few observers have a bad word to say about Laos.

The so-called Jewel of the Mekong may, however, seem a bit constricted, given that it has a smaller population than urban Paris and few places to visit. Tourists flock to three main towns: Vientiane, the temple-infested cultural capital with the strange rhyming name, Luang Prabang, and Vang Vieng. First-class accommodation can be obtained in only the first two of these destinations – see the listings sections on page xxx for hotels, food, spas and nightlife.

While Vientiane and Luang Prabang ooze style and atmosphere, Vang Vieng is rather ramshackle. If you miss the TV show ‘Friends’ and like it broadcast louder than the thunder that regularly deafens the village, this is the place for you. Younger and/or boozier travellers will enjoy its wildly popular signature activity, ‘tubing’, which entails drifting drunkenly downriver, slotted inside a tractor tube. Tubing is worth trying once, even if you are t-total, just for the peacefully panoramic views of the mountain-lined Mekong tributary, the Nam Som. Also for the amusement of watching the antics of the young and foolish, who swing from ropes across the river and do all sorts of inadvisable and dangerously daft things with ropes and ladders.

Alternatively, board the plane to Luang Prabang and be spellbound by the radiant temples and their saffron-clad incumbents. Watch the Mekong go by between drowsy spells half-reading a book in a river-bank restaurant, or just wander the streets absorbing the unspoiled antiquity.

Laos ranks as one of the world’s poorest countries. What a pity it is not easier to throw money around, there being a limit to the number of silk scarves, stone Buddhas and bottles of snake wine you want to stuff in your luggage. Unlike most of southeast Asia, this place makes you want to spend your money.

The biggest draws are the charm of the people, the French colonial influence on the architecture and the mystique that enshrouds the old Indochinese outpost.

Laos’ landmarks, for example Buddha Park, Vientiane’s twisted sculpture theatre, are hard to fathom. Then there is the Plain of Jars. Laos’ answer to Stonehenge, this Highlands plain is peppered with giant stone urns that defy conclusive explanation but serve as vehicles for informed speculation and fanciful guesswork. Be warned that this area contains a large amount of unexploded ordinance.

Laos has been conquered and occupied by pretty much every country on the planet except Monaco, in a history almost as blood-soaked as neighbouring Vietnam’s. After the communist Pathet Lao finally took complete control of the country in 1975 and sent the last King and Queen of Laos on a terminal visit to a re-education camp in a cave in the northeast of the country, they enforced a rigid closed-door policy that was to last more than a decade. The country has only recently opened up to tourism, so the inhabitants have yet to start to think of the visitor as no more than a mobile ATM. Laos is one of Asia’s last tourism frontiers, a country with a fascinating and largely intact cultural heritage, peopled by mostly friendly, funny and gentle folk. It can not be more highly recommended as a rewarding and relaxing destination for all travellers, regardless of the depth of their pockets.

Laos has great adventure sports possibilities, with fantastic rafting, mountain-biking, kayaking, trekking, rock-climbing and motor-biking available on www.greendiscoverylaos.com. Laos’ newest and greenest eco-adventure is at the Gibbon Experience, where guests stay in tree-top bungalows and use zip line cables to glide through the canopy of Bokeo Nature Reserve, in search of the elusive and playful Black Gibbon.

If visiting Thailand, why not visit 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

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About the Author

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

La Residence Phou Vao Hotel in Luang Prabang, Lao

luang prabang accommodation
luang prabang accommodation
luang prabang accommodation

Laos Tour

laos tour_2="laos tour"
Should I visit Angkor Wat while I am in Southeast Asia?

I am going with my Mom to Thailand and Laos in August in a tour group. We are spending are maximum budget for this years trip but there is an extension pre trip to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. But the only thing is that it is $1,000 extra, and we cant really afford more then we already are going to be spending. I hear a lot of wonderful things about Angkor Wat and how it is so beautiful and etc.

Do you think it is worth it to spend the extra money and visit Angkor Wat?

Some pictures from Cambodia and Angkor Wat may help you :

http://www.willgoto.com/1/024360/liens.aspx
and the related picture galleries in Dutch (language does not matter for pictures)
http://www.willgoto.com/6/144011/liens.aspx
or in French
http://www.willgoto.com/2/144025/liens.aspx


See also the travel guide to Cambodia:
http://www.willgoto.com/1/024319/liens.aspx

Are you interested by such a cultural trip ?
Does the tour extension offer enough time and support to really enjoy the tour to Cambodia?
May you have another opportunity to visit Cambodia later on?
Is it possible to replace the Laos tour with a Cambodia tour?

Above questions are probably the kind of factors you have to consider.


By the way, you find a Laos travel guide here:
http://www.willgoto.com/1/024115/liens.aspx

Somkhith Phapakdy - Trip to Ban Sythantay, Laos 2001 part 1


laos tour
laos tour

Lao Orchid

lao orchid="lao orchid"

Rhynchostylis Orchids

Rhynchostylis Orchids are originally from Thailand, Laos, The Philippines and surroundong areas. They are also refered to as 'Foxtail Orchids'

Temperature requirements for Rhynchostylis Orchids: a range of 60 - 80 degrees F .

Humidity requirements for Rhynchostylis Orchids.: 60 to 70 percent humidity is ideal for most species, however they are a tolerant species.

Water : Water when the mix approaches dryness during flowering or spike initiation. When not flowering allow the mix to become just dry between watering.

Repotting:
Repot in the early spring months from March to April using clay pots and a medium grade bark mix. Keep dry after repotting as many of the roots can crack due to their stiff nature.

There are 3 favorite Rhynchostylus spicies:

1. Rhynchostylis retusa

The plants die if the leaves are wet frequently. They prefer moderate waterings, heavy fertilizing, and very bright shade to direct morning light. Flowering is usually summer into fall.

The plant is found in semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests woodlands at elevations of sealevel to 700 m, native to Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

Rhynchostylis retusa have stout, repent, short stem carrying to 12, curved, fleshy, deeply channeled, keeld, retuse apically leaves and blooms on an axillary, pendant, to 60 cm long, racemose, densely many flowered, cylindrical inflorescence that occurs in the winter and early spring.

2. Rhynchostylis coelestis:

Rhyncostylis coelestis is native to Southeast Asia and can be found in Thailand India and Burma. This plant has a Vanda like growth habit with stiff-folded leaves that curve downwards. The beautiful 2 tone blue flowers emerge in summer and have the fragrance of grapes. The flowers are long lasting and the plant is easy to grow as long as there is enough light.

3. Rhynchostylis gigantea

Rhynchostylis gigantea are best grown in wood slat basket with little or no potting material and will grow massive fleshy roots entangled throughout the basket if given uniform water and fertilizer. The plants are warm to hot growing. They can grow somewhat like a Vanda but will tolerate cooler conditions and lower light.

4. Rhynchostylis violacea

These orchids have a full spray of many miniature lavender and white flowers. This plant blooms in the winter and in the spring. The orchid prefers intermediate to warm temperatures, filtered light, and even moisture.

About the Author

Soccer Jersey Shop Queensoccer

Info and good advices to plant cactus and succulent

Every thing about all flowers: planting, decoration

Tiny orchid blooms in a Lao forest.


lao orchid

Hotels In Hotel

hotels in hotel="hotels in hotel"
I have got a job offer from Canadian Hotels (Hotel Omni Mont Royal), Canada. Should I accept it ?

I was in two minds (somewhat). Can anyone give me some suggestions please. I would prefer people from Canada answering although I am not Canadian.

If you want to read up on the hotel from the point of view of travelers as well as travel writers and hotel critics, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g155032-d184305-Reviews-Hotel_Omni_Mont_Royal-Montreal_Quebec.html.

But for my money, a five-star hotel in the heart of beautiful Montréal? I say, go for it!

P.S. Je suis Québécoise, and several of my family members live in Montréal.

Moscow Hotels: Marco Polo Presnja Hotel - Russia Hotels and Accommodation


hotels in hotel
hotels in hotel

To Laos

to laos="to laos"
How to do a visa run from Thailand to Laos, via the border, after flying to Udonthani ..?

Can I just take a bus from Udonthani to the Laos border for the visa run, pay for the Laos visa, and not have to go to the Thai Embassy in Laos capital, but just come right back to Udonthani and do I still get the 30 days back for Thailand?

I don't suppose whatever you are saying is correct,for your info here are some pages to go through for the Lao visa run:
http://teakdoor.com/laos-travel-forum/5379-nong-khai-to-vientiane-visa-run.html
http://www.seansite.net/thailand/pattaya/visa-run-to-laos
http://www.easy-chiangmai.com/visa-run-from-chiang-mai-to-laos.html
http://babakfakhamzadeh.com/site/index.php?c=12&i=985

I will go to Laos tomorrow morning.


to laos

Laos News

laos news_2="laos news"

Travel to Vietnam and visit Vietnamese UNESCO heritage Sites, vietnam travel tips

Historical Vietnamese UNESCO Heritage site are:

Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi (2010) The Thang Long Imperial Citadel has become the 900th site to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south

Complex of Hué Monuments (1993)  Hue is one of places, which has many cultural heritages. Up to now, there is no places like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical vestiges as in this ancient Capital City

Hoi An Ancient Town (1999) Lying on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Quảng Nam province ( in the South Central Coast of Vietnam), Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.  Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO under the criteria C (II) and criteria C (V):

My Son Sanctuary (1999) The sanctuary was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1999.
After strolling around the sanctuary, you can see local dances being performed on a stage. Cham people have many folk festivals such as Rija Nugar, Rija Harei and Rijang Praung.

Natural vietnamese UNESCO heritage Site:

Ha Long Bay (1994) Halong Bay covers an area of 1500 square kilometres. Within this area is close to two thousand limestone islands (someone counted and claimed there're 1969 islands) that jut out in spectacular fashion from the sea. The islands are similar to those at Phangnga Bay in Thailand, and come in unusual shapes. Some of these have their own names, such as Fighting Cock Island, a pair of limestone outcrops that look more like a two chicks about to, not fight, but kiss. There are so many islands, but the ones I can name include Yen Ngua Islet, Ba Trai Dao Islet, Con Coc Islet, Cong Do Island, Soi Sim Islet. We stopped over at Ti Top Island where we climbed up to the view point right up at the top.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (2003) 

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a national park in the center of Quang Binh province in north-central Vietnam. It protects one of the world's two largest karst regions with several hundred caves and grottoes. Its name derives from Phong Nha cave, the most beautiful one, with numerous fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest. The plateau is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform in Southeast Asia.

Location: Geographically, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (PNKBNP) is located in central Vietnam, about 500km south of the capital, Hanoi, within the Quang Binh Province.

The western boundary of the Park partially forms Laos-Vietnamese border, which is only 42km from the sea. The Park is found within the geographical co-ordinates of 170 20'-170 48' N and 1050 46-1060 24' E in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa Districts.

Get info about travel to iran through IRTouring.com

About the Author

Iran Tour,Tours to Iran Planning Travel to Iran ? find favourite Iran Tour Packages IRTouring is managed by Private and personal Tourist guide in iran as iran tours offering Iran Cultural historical family tours to iran with Exclusive Iran tour itinerary, Price and Quality through the amazing Irn Tourist Attractions. for more info visit: irtoring.com

Lao News 07/05/10


laos news
laos news