mark March 20th, 2007
Goa has a certain reputation, which dates back as far as the 1960’s, where it was regarded as a hippy paradise, a place for dropouts, and flower power, a not to be missed place for travellers, and probably regarded as the world centre for dope.
All of this whilst not totally inaccurate might put you off a visit to Goa, which would be a mistake. Sure Goa can still be the place for all night parties, and beaches crowded with people selling hash to fund their alternative lifestyles, but there is much more to Goa than that.
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mark March 10th, 2007
When thinking of Thailand, many of us immediately think of its hectic capital city, Bangkok. A city overflowing with so many people, traffic, fumes, sights and sounds, that all to often it can be an incredible assault on the unsuspecting tourist’s senses. Yet Thailand is a country of overwhelming diversity, and thankfully located in its far north is a capital city that is light years away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. I am of course referring to the delightful Chiang Mai.
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mark March 9th, 2007
Day or night, Tokyo is a fascinating blend of contradictions. While exciting and fast-paced, the city is also clean and quiet. It often resembles an alternate New York City. There are millions of things to do, the skyscrapers appear to touch the clouds, and the fashion is top-notch. A seemingly endless stream of people and cars pour across the intersections in waves, yet rarely bump into each other, honk their horns or exchange angry words. The people tend to be friendly and polite.
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mark March 9th, 2007
Cambodia is bordered to the south by the Gulf of Thailand, on the east by Vietnam, to the north by Laos and to the west by Thailand. Though it’s primarily known in the west by virtue of its infamous “Killing Fields,” and still bears their scars, Cambodia’s a country that’s slowly embarking on the path to recovery. The peace is young but stable enough to have encouraged a tourism upswing. One that owes itself not only to the fame of Angkor Wat, but to the large numbers of endangered species, thought to be extinct elsewhere – including rhinos, leopards, gibbons, bats, elephants, tigers and crocodiles that are believed to be hidden away in its remote interiors.
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mark March 9th, 2007
Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year (January/February)
It is usually in the winter of a year. The exact date would follow the one in Lunar Calendar. Entering the New Year month, every family would clean and tidy both the inside and the outside of their houses. New Year food would also be prepared. ‘Lin Gao’, the Chinese cake symbolizing the rise of family every year, would be a must. New Year couplets would be displayed around house. All families would be busy until the New Year’s Eve and a big New Year eve’s dinner would be served for the gathering to welcome the beginning of a New Year. Children and unmarried adults would love the occasion because red packets would be given to them from all married couples and older generations. As a tradition, on the first few days of the first lunar month, people would spend their time visiting relatives and friends.
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mark March 4th, 2007
Of the Southeast Asian nations, Myanmar attracts fewer tourists than the more ‘trendy’ spots such as Thailand, Malaysia and recently Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. But a country that is known by two names evokes its own cloud of mystery and is sure to pique the interest of adventure seekers and the more intrepid traveller.
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mark March 4th, 2007
China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only partially open to the world from 1980 onwards and has been a communist country for many decades. Although there is much progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China, there remain areas that need to be improved before it can match the level that most tourist would require.
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mark February 27th, 2007
Do you know that Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Hong Kong are the most visited cities in China? Certainly this golden route has a good combination of everything: great historical heritages, beautiful landscape, delicious Chinese food, great shopping and so on. The best time to visit China is spring and autumn when China has beautiful weather and fewer tourists. If you are a first-time visitor to China, the golden route is your top pick. You would need at least two weeks to complete the tours.
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mark February 26th, 2007
There is a belief that Goa is one long beach, whereas the reality is that Goa has seven rivers, so what with that and the towns and roads, Goa is in reality several beaches on its 125 km coastline.
The beaches in fact cover 83km of the coastline, and almost wherever you go, you can choose your water sports, shop, eat remarkable food, and drink exotic cocktails and beers, all at an amazingly cheap price.
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mark February 26th, 2007
Laos is a wonderful country and one that is worth as few weeks of any serious travellers time. No-one leaves Laos disappointed, finding it an ideal destination to escape from the grind and stresses of day-to-day life. Its welcome charm invites you to immediately immerse yourself into the culture and natural beauty of a land that is home to the ever smiling Laotian people.
Travelling on a private adventure itinerary is a great way to see the country. The roads are bad…really bad, the distances are long and the public transport is lacking in comfort, convenience and punctuality. Travelling with your own driver and better quality of vehicle ensures you pack a lot into visit, but of course will cost extra.
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