tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33109639527070044762024-03-13T22:58:14.502-07:00Southeast Asia Travel AdviceSoutheast Asia stories, suggested trips and destinations, helpful hints, advice, adventures and more from seasoned travelers; learn the hot spots, the off the track places, what dirt roads are the best to explore, the best foods to risk trying as well as about human rights and responsible tourismIndigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-36573534271945552032012-08-01T23:43:00.001-07:002012-08-01T23:46:02.928-07:00Vietnamese Water Puppets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>If you are in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi a great way to spend a few hours in the evening is to visit a traditional Vietnamese water puppet theatre. These are the only water puppets in the world, and they are magical!</i></div>
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History of Vietnamese Water Puppets</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7696116642_a9657b08fd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7696116642_a9657b08fd_z.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Vietnamese Water Puppet<br />
Fishing</td></tr>
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The water puppets, known in Vietnamese as <span class="st"><i>múa rối nước</i>, represent an ancient art. They have their origin in North <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> around Hanoi in the </span>Red River Basin, the flat plain formed by the Red River and its tributaries joining in the Thai Binh River.<span class="st"> Historians believe that some form of the theatre originated as early as the 11th century in this area, and it is only more recently that it spread further south with one of the main performance venues now being in <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city" target="_blank">Ho Chi Minh City</a> (Saigon). Traditionally, however, it was found only in northern and central Vietnam, The </span>Thăng Long Puppet Company (<i>Nhà hát Múa rối Thăng Long</i>) of Hanoi explains that puppet troupes were formed as local guilds that zealously guarded their secrets. Puppeteers were limited to males who passed their skills down to their sons. This meant, however, many secrets of the art were lost due to travel away from home villages, early deaths, and other causes that disrupted transmission. The relationship of today's theatre to that of the 11th century is debatable, but no doubt it has undergone significant changes as has Vietnam itself.</div>
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Performance of Water Puppets</h3>
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7696323118_a724c9c131_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7696323118_a724c9c131_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In former times, the ponds and flooded rice paddies after harvest were the stage for these puppet shows. It is said that the puppeteers had noticeably shorter lives, the assumption being that they acquired parasites from standing in the waters for so long (the Vietnamese then, as many do now, used human waste as fertilizer, facilitating the life cycles of many parasites that depended on human hosts). Now most performances take place on specially designed stages, or for touring groups, portal tanks--not rice paddies fertilized with human feces!<br />
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Up to 8 puppeteers stand behind a split-bamboo screen, decorated to resemble a temple facade, and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. Many of the puppets can be quite heavy, up to 15 kilos (30 pounds) or so, so holding them up away from the puppeteers body is physically strenuous and might account for why puppeteers were traditionally all male. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Water_Puppet_Vietnam.jpg/531px-Water_Puppet_Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Water_Puppet_Vietnam.jpg/531px-Water_Puppet_Vietnam.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A puppet from the famous<br />
Buddhist "ox-driver" parable</td></tr>
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The puppets are made of enameled wood, and many of them are capable of quite complex manipulations from turning of the head, moving their arms to casting fishing lines or checking fish traps. Because the puppets were constantly immersed and exposed to water, very few earlier puppets survive and they have short lifetimes compared to some other traditional Asian puppets, such as Japanese <a href="http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/" target="_blank">bunraku puppets</a>, many of which have been in use well over two hundred years, or <a href="http://youtu.be/RS9LR0KML9c" target="_blank">wayang kulit</a> puppets of Indonesia and Malaysia, many of which are approaching a century in age. Twenty to thirty years is a very good lifespan for a Vietnamese water puppet.<br />
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A traditional Vietnamese orchestra provides the music accompaniment for the performance. Its instrumentation includes vocals, drums, wooden bells, cymbals, horns, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%90%C3%A0n_b%E1%BA%A7u" title="Đàn bầu">Đàn bầu</a> (monochord), gongs, and bamboo flutes. The bamboo often accompanies puppets of royalty or high status while the drums and cymbals are used for exciting and dynamic scenes such as a dragon's entrance. The puppets story is told by a traditional North Vietnamese opera choir called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A8o" title="Chèo">chèo</a> who often voice over the puppets' actions. However, the musicians sometimes add vocals as well, such as shouting to a puppet to watch out. One imagines that in traditional performances audiences may have participated in the same way, shouting our their encouragement or expressing their consternation with the puppet's antics.<br />
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Event though performances are in Vietnamese, foreign audiences will still appreciate the puppeteers skills and be able to laugh at their antics. Among these performances, the most interesting are probably the dragons spurting fire and water or the synchonized "fairy dance" in which the puppets inexplicably seem to cross paths. How is water spurted out from dragons with multi-sectioned bodies? How to set off fireworks when dragons are in the water? How do puppets on bamboo poles and strings cross paths? They are wonderful secrets from the hundred-year experience of Vietnamese water puppetry.<br />
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Where to See Vietnamese Water Puppets</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7696219302_5d2ea9d747_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7696219302_5d2ea9d747_z.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vietnamese puppets at the<br />
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre<br />
in Ho Chi Minh City</td></tr>
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There are two main venues for water puppet performances today and both are very popular with domestic as well as international tourists.</div>
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Ho Chi Minh City</h4>
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<a href="http://www.goldendragonwaterpuppet.com/Schedule.asp" target="_blank">The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre</a> puts on two nightly shows at 5:00 and at 6:30. The shows are 50 minutes long with no intermission and are completely performed in Vietnamese although multilingual programs are available. The theatre is located about a 10 minute walk from the Ben Thanh Market and is just a couple minutes from the Independence Palace. It is located at 55 Bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Dist. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. You must book at least one day in advance to get a seat during most times, and it is not unusual during high season for performances to be fully booked three and four days in advance. Your hotel or guesthouse can usually make a booking for you.</div>
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Hanoi</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Thang_Long_Water_Puppet_Theatre2.JPG/800px-Thang_Long_Water_Puppet_Theatre2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Thang_Long_Water_Puppet_Theatre2.JPG/800px-Thang_Long_Water_Puppet_Theatre2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Thanglong Water Puppet Theatre </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org/" target="_blank">The Thanglong Water Puppet Theatre</a> has five performances each day at 4:00, 5:15, 6:30, 8:00 and 9:15. Show are about 50 minutes long with no intermission. The performances completely performed in Vietnamese although multilingual programs are available here as well. The theatre is located at 57b Dinh Tien Hoang Str., Hanoi and is well known. You should definitely book in advance as the Thanglong shows are even more popular than its southern cousin, and you should try to book two days in advance whenever possible. Again, during high season performances sometimes fill up three or four days in advance despite the multiple showings. Also be aware there is a separate camera fee and a video fee; the latter is the same price as you pay for admission. </div>
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To learn more about Vietnamese Water Puppets, you can visit the following links:</div>
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<li>An Article on the <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/waterpuppet.html" target="_blank">History and Construction of Vietnamese Water Puppets </a></li>
<li><a href="http://vietnamwaterpuppet.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Photos of Vietnamese Water Puppets</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roi_nuoc" target="_blank">Vietnamese Water Puppets on Wikipedia</a></li>
<li>A 60 page academic thesis on the development and modern <a href="http://www.takey.com/Thesis_22.pdf" target="_blank">Vietnamese puppet theatre</a></li>
</ul>
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Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-72215937198060077782012-07-27T21:42:00.001-07:002012-07-27T21:43:36.155-07:00Beaches, Diving and Adventure: Philippines Destinations Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i> In this second installment, travel writer Caryl Joan Estrosas takes us from the historical destinations of the Philippines to the adventurous ones, including the best beach and diving destinations to other outdoors destinations.</i></div>
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<b>Beach and Diving Destinations </b></h2>
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An hour flight away from Manila is a famous beach destination, <i>Boracay</i>. At par with the best beaches in the world, this small island is blessed with a long stretch of white sand and mesmerizing azure beach. Ranked as the world’s fourth best island by Travel + Leisure in 2011, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay" target="_blank">Boracay</a> offers tourists with endless of fun from daybreak to sundown. It has a long chain of hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and other commercial establishments. Nightlife is vibrant in this island; hence, tourists get to enjoy the waters and sport activities during the day and party by night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Beach, Boracay, on Wikitravel</td></tr>
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Regarded as the last frontier of the Philippines, <i>Palawan </i>is a great travel spot with remarkable seascapes. In 2007, National Geographic Traveler magazine recognized <a href="http://www.palawan.gov.ph/" target="_blank">Palawan</a> as the best island destination in Southeast Asia. It is the home of many breathtaking beaches, diving spots, rivers, and caves. Recommended sites to visit are Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, Coron Reefs, El Nido Marine Reserve Park, and the Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="description">Entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(254, 254, 254);"></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(254, 254, 254);"></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<i>Malapascua Island</i> in Cebu, located in the Southern part of the Philippines, is known for the excellent diving spots to explore the diverse marine life and to dive with the tresher sharks.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattkieffer/6201075724/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Brown soft corals on Quiliano Reef, Malapascua by mattk1979, on Flickr"><img alt="Brown soft corals on Quiliano Reef, Malapascua" height="300" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6172/6201075724_9435f334a7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Brown soft corals on Quiliano Reef, Malapascua</div>
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<i>Panglao Island</i> located in Bohol, which is just a ferry boat-ride from Cebu, is another fantastic island destination for beach bummers and divers. The fine white sand, pristine blue waters, and the line of commercial establishments—these make the island feel like Boracay, but with fewer crowds.</div>
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Many tourists visit <i>Donsol</i> in Sorsogon<i> </i>to dive with the whale sharks sometimes December to May when planktons are abundant. </div>
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Known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, <i>Siargao</i> was placed in the international map through John S. Callahan who featured the island and the Cloud 9 wave in many of his photos.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-pao/510095899/" title="Ride the Barrel by Paolo Mañalac, on Flickr"><img alt="Ride the Barrel" height="266" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/225/510095899_ca67a98516_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Outdoor Activities</b></h2>
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Famous for the hanging coffins, <i>Sagada</i> is a great destination for travelers who enjoy exploring caves, trekking or hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and joining tribal celebration.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sagada
big cave</span></span></div>
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The mesmerizing province of <i>Batanes</i> is a perfect place for weary travelers who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of the city life. Since it is located in the northernmost tip of the country and is far from the rest of the Philippine islands, Batanes has developed its unique culture. Activities organized in Batanes include sightseeing, hiking, bird- watching, diving, and island hopping.</div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Batanes_Hills.png/800px-Batanes_Hills.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Batanes_Hills.png/800px-Batanes_Hills.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Philippine’s Tilapia capital <i>Cagayan Valley</i> is regarded as a paradise for spelunkers, trekkers, and gamefishers. The Callao cave, Palaui Island, Portabaga Falls, and Cagayan River are some of the interesting spots to visit.<br />
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So, if you are in the mood for adventure above or under water or just looking for a beautiful destination for some R&R, The Philippines has something to offer.</div>
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This article is the first part of a three part feature brought to you by <a href="http://caryle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Caryl Joan Estrosas</a>, a freelance travel and food writer.</div>
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</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-28621675359543910552012-04-07T00:39:00.003-07:002012-04-07T01:43:50.372-07:00The Best Southeast Asia Twitters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When you are on the go or just want to stay in the
know, Twitter can be a great way to get the news. It can be a
great way to find out what is going on in countries you are visiting,
learn more about them before you go, or stay informed once you get
back. Many of the Tweeters who made our list Tweet to a local
as well as an international audience, and many of these follow and
retweet locals and other news organizations. So, without
further ado, here's our list.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufC1Ij7FsL0/T3_mT84OJKI/AAAAAAAAB6k/AJGM43Dm1io/s1600/Southeast+Asia+Twitter+Accounts.jpg"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="285" name="graphics1" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufC1Ij7FsL0/T3_mT84OJKI/AAAAAAAAB6k/AJGM43Dm1io/s320/Southeast+Asia+Twitter+Accounts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h1 align="LEFT" class="western">
Best Southeast Asia Twitters</h1>
<h1 align="LEFT" class="western">
1. <a href="http://twitter.com/southeastasia4u" target="_blank">Southeast
Asia News</a>
</h1>
<ol><ol><h2 align="LEFT" class="western">
<strike>@</strike>southeastasia4u
</h2>
</ol>
<div align="LEFT">
Southeast Asia News from Burma, Thailand, Laos,
Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines &
beyond.</div>
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So we are biased--this is the Twitter we maintain.
We are one of the few who Tweet the news, happening, and travel
information across Southeast Asia from Burma all the way to Papua.
And if you ever want to send us a message, get or give a tip, share
your travel blog of just say say, send us a Tweet!</div>
</ol>
<h1 align="LEFT" class="western">
2. Only In Burma
</h1>
<ol><ol><h2 align="LEFT" class="western">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/OnlyInBurma" target="_blank"><strike>@</strike>OnlyInBurma</a></h2>
</ol>
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Only in Burma is a great
source on this emerging Southeast Asia destination. While the
<a href="http://irrawaddy.org/" target="_blank">Irrawaddy</a> is our
favorite online news source, unfortunately it only Tweets links so
you don't know what they are Tweeting. No need to fear because
their headlines will show up in Southeast Asia News or in Only In
Burma.
</div>
</ol>
<h1 align="LEFT" class="western">
3. The Jakarta Globe
</h1>
<ol><ol><h2 align="LEFT" class="western">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/thejakartaglobe" target="_blank">@thejakartaglobe
</a>
</h2>
</ol>
<div align="LEFT">
Jakarta news, Indonesia news in English</div>
<div align="LEFT">
Jakarta · <a href="http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thejakartaglobe.com
</a>
</div>
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The Jakarta Globe is a great regional newspaper.
They focus on Indonesian news, but also cover regional stories.
They are a great source for information before heading out to do
some island hopping or staying in the know as you go.</div>
</ol>
<h1 class="western">
4. Richard Barrow</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/RichardBarrow" target="_blank">@RichardBarrow</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Full time travel blogger based in
Thailand. Promoting anything to do with Thailand Travel, Food &
Festivals, Expat Life and tweeting Breaking News.
</div>
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Paknam, Samut Prakan, Thailand ·
<a href="http://www.richardbarrow.com/" target="_blank">http://www.RichardBarrow.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Richard Borrow is the one of the rare
“non-institutional” Twitters on our list. Why? Because he is
great. While it is his personal Twitter, he provides great coverage
of what is happening in Thailand around the clock. You might even get
a chance to meet up with him while you are there.</div>
<h1 class="western">
5. The Nation Thailand
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/nationnews" target="_blank">@nationnews</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Thailand News ,Thai politics ,
Thailand travel</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Bangkok, Thailand ·
<a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/" target="_blank">http://www.nationmultimedia.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
The Nation is an English language
newspaper that covers national and international news. It tends to be
a good source of information, but you may also want to check out the
Bangkok Post's @BKK_Post.</div>
<h1 class="western">
6. Canby Publications
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Canby_Cambodia"><strike>@</strike>Canby_Cambodia</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Travel(ing,) tour(ing,) explor(ing,)
living Cambodia. Publisher of Cambodia's most up-to-date guide books
and maps.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Cambodia ·
<a href="http://www.canbypublications.com/" target="_blank">http://www.canbypublications.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Canby Publications make the best
guides about Cambodia, hands down, and they also have one of the best
Twitters about Cambodia as well. While you might show up with your
Lonely Planet in your hand, chances are you will soon have a Canby
Guide once you realize how helpful they can be!</div>
<h1 class="western">
7. RadioFreeAsia
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/RadioFreeAsia" target="_blank">@RadioFreeAsia</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Radio Free Asia's mission is to
provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries
whose governments prohibit access to a free press.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Washington, DC ·
<a href="http://www.rfa.org/english/" target="_blank">http://www.rfa.org/english/
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
While Radio Free Asia covers all of
Asia, not just Southeast Asia, it is still a great source of
information about the region. It tends to focus on human rights and
democracy issues.</div>
<h1 class="western">
8. The Star
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/staronline" target="_blank">@staronline</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
News updates from Malaysia's top
English-language daily and website</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ·
<a href="http://thestar.com.my/" target="_blank">http://thestar.com.my
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
While some might claim that The Star
is not independent when it comes to domestic politics, it is still a
good source about what is happening in the nation. Just don't
entirely trust it as it covers domestic opposition parties or
political leaders!</div>
<h1 class="western">
9. O Vietnam Culture
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ovietnamculture" target="_blank"><strike>@</strike>ovietnamculture</a>
</h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Fascinating news from Vietnam. Try
<a href="http://friendfeed.com/ovietnam" target="_blank">http://friendfeed.com/ovietnam</a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Asia ·
<a href="http://www.socialoomph.com/profiles/ovietnamculture" target="_blank">http://www.socialoomph.com/profiles/ovietnamculture
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
This is one of the best
English-language Twitter feeds on Vietnam we've found. From culture
to what is in the news, this Twitter feed tends to be pretty solid
day after day.
</div>
<h1 class="western">
10. Phnom Pehn Post
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/phnompenhpost" target="_blank"><strike>@</strike>phnompenhpost</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
The finest in news and analysis from
Cambodia's premier daily English-language newspaper</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Cambodia ·
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/" target="_blank">http://www.phnompenhpost.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Our friends from the Foreign Service
who were in Cambodia right after the Khmer Rouge tell us stories
about the guys and girls over at the Phnom Penh Post—and they are
legendary. The online newspaper is a great source of information
about what is going on in Cambodia on a daily basis.</div>
<h1 class="western">
11. Santel Phin
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/khmerbird" target="_blank"><strike>@</strike>khmerbird</a></h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
If you think Tuk Tuk drivers in
Cambodia are the richest men in the world, you're wrong!</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Cambodia · <a href="http://khmerbird.com/" target="_blank">http://khmerbird.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
By far Cambodia's most famous blogger,
Santel Phin offers a wealth of information about his country be it on
his blog, the Paper.Li newspaper he currates, and his Twitter feed. A
great guy always willing to give some advice or tips, if you are
visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia you should be following him before
you get there! While this is a personal Twitter account, the
news and information he shares is invaluable.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h1 class="western">
12. Philstar News
</h1>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-left: 0.98in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/PhilstarNews"><strike>@</strike>PhilstarNews</a>
</h2>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Philippine news and entertainment
portal for the Filipino global community</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
Manila, Philippines ·
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/" target="_blank">http://www.philstar.com
</a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
The Philippine
Star is a great daily news source with a terrific Twitter feed on
what is happening in the nation today. We especially like them
because although they do tweet international news their focus really
is on what is happening in this diverse country every minute of the
day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We also have a few honorable mentions
that you might find interesting as well. These include <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/voakhmer"><strike>@</strike>voakhmer</a>,
The Voice of America Cambodia Twitter, which is a great additional
news source for what is happening in Cambodia. For more about what
is happening in Thailand and around Bangkok <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/georgebkk">@GeorgeBKK</a>
always has something to say and does a great job Tweeting the news.
The Jakarta Post is another great Twitter feed on what is happening
in Indonesia <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/jakpost">@JakPost</a>.
Another great Cambodia Twitter is <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/LoveCambodia" target="_blank">@LoveCambodia</a>. Yahoo Philippines also have a good feed <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/YahooPH">@YahooPH</a>
that is nearly all in English. And <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/WSJSEAsia">@WSJSEAsia</a>,
the Wall Street Journal's Southeast Asia twitter, does a pretty good
job of sharing the news that appears within the Wall Street Journal
and its Southeast Asia Realtime Blog. Following the different county's Embassy Twitters is also a good idea if you want to stay informed about news that might relate to your nationality, including travel alerts and warnings and Embassy-sponsored events.<br />
<br />
There are lots more great Tweeters, though, than we can mention here--so don't feel bad if we didn't mention you. Take some time to explore who the above follow, and get in on the conversation, learn something new, connect and engage. So, we hope you save safe travels, and
remember—<i><b>knowledge is power</b></i>!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-18879123648765472652012-02-25T17:41:00.000-08:002013-03-16T23:47:32.121-07:00Five Things You Must Know Before Traveling to Southeast Asia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Traveling to Southeast Asia</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
About three years ago, a friend who had never been out of the United States accompanied us on a trip from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh. Having spent more than half of our adult lives in South and Southeast Asia, we'd forgotten many of the little things that we took for granted that turned into major hurdles for our friend. There were some things he was prepared for--like mosquitoes and malaria. However, there were some things that had just never crossed his mind. They are little things, but if you are not prepared for them, they can really throw you for a loop. Therefore, we put together this quick list of five "little things" that knowing can make a big difference.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
1. Toilets & Toilet Paper in Southeast Asia (or lack thereof)</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm9yulowUYg/Tmf9zfyCPpI/AAAAAAAABik/W3WtabVhLYo/s1600/asia+toilet+southeast+asia+squat+toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm9yulowUYg/Tmf9zfyCPpI/AAAAAAAABik/W3WtabVhLYo/s320/asia+toilet+southeast+asia+squat+toilet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On our first morning in Singapore we went to have breakfast at a little spot I like on near the Lavender Street bus station. My friend excused himself to go to the toilet--behind the restaurant--and in a few moments he reappeared with a puzzled look on his face.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There is no toilet paper," he told me with a distressed look on his face. I actually had to think for a long minute before I answered him. I am pretty sure I was thinking, "Now, surely there is a bucket . . . " Then it dawned on me--he's never gone to the bathroom in Southeast Asia before. Now, I thought, how do I put this.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My nephew, who is now 13, once asked me if it was true that people "over there" used "their hand" to wipe their bottoms. I explained that they used water. He thought this was just disgusting, but I think I may have changed his mind. I asked him if there were peanut butter smeared on the table did he think you could clean it up with just with a paper towel, or if you'd need water. He saw the point. I had to be a little more delicate with my friend, though, telling him to use the smaller bucket inside the water bucket and then use that and his left hand to clean his bum.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Just wash your hands when you are done." Of course, I had to come back in once he was done to show him how to flush--by pouring water into the toilet bowl with enough force to wash everything down. He was still a little queasy about it all, but it didn't take long for him to get used to it and also realize why I was always packing a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer--along with toilet paper, soap isn't always in a Southeast Asian bathroom, either. And by the way--for those of you who decide to pack your own toilet paper (insert seasoned traveler look of derision here), just be aware that those toilets are not made to flush toilet paper--so put it in tje waste basket if there is one. </div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
2. It's Called Chafing</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw5XNHew16Q/TmlXrWak8jI/AAAAAAAABio/zhVTiAHt1Os/s1600/Butt+hurts+southeast+asia+chafing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw5XNHew16Q/TmlXrWak8jI/AAAAAAAABio/zhVTiAHt1Os/s320/Butt+hurts+southeast+asia+chafing.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Southeast Asia is hot. It stays with the low 30s Celsius (that would be about the high 80s to low 90s if you are an American) and the humidity is generally high almost everywhere. For example, today in Singapore and it will be 33 C/ 92 F with a relative humidity between 85-90%. And while there are plenty of ways to beat the heat, no doubt you will be out and walking around quite a bit. And this brings me back to the story of my friend . . .</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At this point in time, we are in Melacca. During the day, we are exploring the Museum of Enduring Beauty and the remnants of Dutch church or the Portuguese fort, <span class="st">A Famosa, </span>and at night are running around with an aged Triad boss. I notice my friend, who is wearing jeans, keeps tugging at his pant's bottom.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Are you okay?" I finally asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He gave me a slightly embarrassed look and said, "My butt hurts."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The combination of clothes, heat and humidity often results in chafing, particularly on your butt and inner thighs. For travelers who are a little heavier, it can particularly be a problem. As the cloth rubs your skin, it literally rubs you raw, and as you keep going it just keeps getting worst and worst. There are several ways to prevent it--smarter clothing choices for the environment, and liberal use of baby powder. For more on how to pack smart, see our <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/01/southeast-asia-packing-list.html" style="color: blue;">Southeast Asia Packing List.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
3. Some Massage Parlors are Just Massage Parlors</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlk1cozzU8U/Tmla0NNqPmI/AAAAAAAABis/Q___uKAzKdc/s1600/massage+parlor+thailand+no+sex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlk1cozzU8U/Tmla0NNqPmI/AAAAAAAABis/Q___uKAzKdc/s1600/massage+parlor+thailand+no+sex.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Southeast Asia is the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">sex tourist</a> capital of the world. And it isn't just the unfortunately named Bangkok, but sex is for sale all over, especially Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Most traditional Southeast Asian massage is great--imagine a combination of massage and chiropractic, where you not only get rubbed but also get bent, stretched and popped. And just because there is a prevalence of seedy massage parlors doesn't mean you shouldn't treat yourself to a massage, and it is easy to find a place where you won't be offered a "happy ending." Here are some very quick tips for finding a massage parlor that is just that--a massage parlor. And, of course, if you <i>are</i> looking for your happy ending--just do the opposite of what is advised here.</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>It doesn't have a name like "<a href="http://www.love-teen.net/home.php">Love Teen Massage</a>" </li>
<li>It isn't open 24 hours.</li>
<li>There are not "private rooms" for massages and it isn't based in a place that resembles a motel. </li>
<li>It doesn't have a fish bowl of scantily clad women to pick your masseuse from</li>
<li>It doesn't offer "soapy massage"</li>
<li>It doesn't advertise erotic massages.</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
4. If You Are Paying Them, They Might Not Really be Your Friends</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-Iej8QRCew/Tmlf7SCgVGI/AAAAAAAABiw/Gl4Xl9cPrlI/s1600/tuktuk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-Iej8QRCew/Tmlf7SCgVGI/AAAAAAAABiw/Gl4Xl9cPrlI/s320/tuktuk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We all depend on people, but when we are in a foreign setting and don't know how much things might cost or don't know our way around, we depend on people even more. And our tour guides and drivers--taxis or tuk tuks--are often the folks we depend on most. It is pretty common that the same driver will try to get you to use their services multiple days. In highly touristed areas, like Siem Reap, Cambodia or Chang Mai, Thailand, competition is fierce and earnings are small. That is in part why a plethora of not scams per se but "arrangements" are made by the drivers. These mean commissions on shops, hotels, massage parlors, brothels, and more. And while we often form bonds with our friendly tour guides, these are not enough for them <i>not </i>to take us for double-priced massages or to ridiculously overpriced souvenir stands. In the end, we are customers, and their life is hard. Every bit they can get out of us helps, and while we are often more than generous (especially when we've formed a "bond"), it is best not to forget that if we weren't paying them, they probably wouldn't be our friends. There are exceptions--there are always exceptions--but it is something that is always best to keep in mind.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
5. Tap Water (otherwise known as "Traveler Poison")</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSEwMI3nqhw/S1N7vN-vNaI/AAAAAAAAAmk/H8sJLrn-pp0/s1600/tap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSEwMI3nqhw/S1N7vN-vNaI/AAAAAAAAAmk/H8sJLrn-pp0/s320/tap.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most people
know that you can't drink the water in Southeast Asia. I see travelers
requesting their drinks without ice (almost all ice is now commercially
produced from filtered water--you don't have to worry about it except in
really out-of-the-way places). However, most people don't think about
the fact that you do a lot more with water than just drink it--like
brushing your teeth or rinsing out your mouth. The stuff that comes out
of the tap should be treated as poison. Think
about it as some deadly soap. You can use to to wash your body off
(usually), but you never want to ingest it. That means you don't use it
to rinse out your mouth, clean your toothbrush, and you certainly do
not drink it. Keep a bottle of filtered water in your bathroom to have
for brushing your teeth and rinsing your brush. This also means avoiding
foods that may have been washed in tap water. Generally, travelers who
have not spent a lot of time in this part of the world should avoid
salads and raw vegetables that might have been washed in tap water. On "safe water tips" see our article on "<a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/01/be-wary-of-water-or-dont-drink-water.html">Is the Water Safe in Southeast Asia</a>?" (short answer: no).</div>
<br /></div>
Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-64500416418079059742012-01-27T10:11:00.000-08:002012-09-21T17:44:01.686-07:00Amazing Philippines Travel Destinations Part 1 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWnCyxtG_ok/TyLoM3-GosI/AAAAAAAAByo/t9ZnD1tabAM/s1600/go+to+the+philippines.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWnCyxtG_ok/TyLoM3-GosI/AAAAAAAAByo/t9ZnD1tabAM/s400/go+to+the+philippines.gif" width="183" /></a></div>
When planning for a trip to Southeast
Asia, never miss the Philippines. The archipelago, consisting of
7,107 tropical islands, offer tourists with best holiday
destinations. Many beaches in the Philippine are among the most
fantastic in the world. Great scenic spots await and wow travelers.
Different regions of the country give unique island experience. In this three part feature, we'll bring some of the highlights from historical landmarks, the best beaches in the Philippines to the best beaches.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Majority of the Filipinos understand
and speak English well—a plus factor as this makes easy for
tourists to communicate with the people.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What turns off travelers to include <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html" target="_blank">the Philippines</a> in their itinerary is the news about terrorism on TV and
on print media. Moreover, the US Department of State Bureau of
Consular Affairs issued <a href="http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_999.html" target="_blank">a travel warning</a> as of June 2011 and included
the Philippines in the list of countries that Americans should avoid.
The Australian Government, on the other hand, warned to exercise a
high degree of caution when traveling to the country.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The warnings, however, doesn’t cower
many adventurous backpackers or vacationers who wish to experience
the beauty of the islands. Besides, not the entire nation experience
threat of terrorism activities. Unless you will be going to Zamboanga
or Sulu—both Muslim regions, located south of the country— where
it is highly suggested that you go with military escorts, the country
is still a safe place to live. Expats are living comfortably and
foreign visitors are freely traveling anywhere in the country.
Makati, Ortigas, Angeles, and Boracay—these are just few of the
areas that are havens or second homes to many tourists and expats.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b></b><br />
<h2>
<b>Historical landmarks</b></h2>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9aNnu3VKH8/TyLiQJZjU7I/AAAAAAAAByg/YSUnLlEcKaw/s1600/Intramuros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9aNnu3VKH8/TyLiQJZjU7I/AAAAAAAAByg/YSUnLlEcKaw/s320/Intramuros.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="lightbox-meta-title" id="yui_3_4_0_3_1327686070060_1802">Intramuros</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Experience the rich and colorful
history of the Philippines in the old city of Manila called
<i>Intramuros</i>. It is surrounded by massive stone walls, gates,
and fortification built during the 300 Spanish rule. Within the walls
are the remnants of the old Spanish buildings like palaces, convents,
monasteries, shrines, schools, and houses. Some of the establishments
were turn into museums or offices. Walking is the popular way of
getting around the old city, but a ride on a calesa or horse-drawn
carriage is a more relaxing way to go from one place to another.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
History enthusiasts would definitely
love the small tadpole-shaped rocky island called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor_Island" target="_blank"><i>Corregidor</i></a>,
also known as “The Rock”. It plays a significant role during the
WWII as it was an island fortress of the Filipino and American forces
against the Japanese invaders. Located near Manila Bay, ferry boats
bring tourists to the island to see the remains of the battleground.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Corregidor_DN-ST-86-01667.JPEG/800px-Corregidor_DN-ST-86-01667.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Corregidor_DN-ST-86-01667.JPEG/800px-Corregidor_DN-ST-86-01667.JPEG" width="400" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Corregidor Island</span></h1>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Seven to ten-hour drive from Manila is
an old charming city of <i>Vigan</i>. Listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, this enchanting town is known for the fusion of the
Oriental and Spanish architecture.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//d/d4/Cobblestone_street_-_Vigan_-_Philippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//d/d4/Cobblestone_street_-_Vigan_-_Philippines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vigan's Streets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces" target="_blank"><i>Banaue Rice Terraces</i></a> in the
northern region of the country, built 2000 years ago by the
indigenous people, is an awesome landscape that captures the
admiration of many tourists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site displays
the ingenuity of the Filipino ancestors who elaborately developed
this farming system.</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/migee_castaneda/4640528681/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Happao Rice Terraces by -miguelito-, on Flickr"><img alt="Happao Rice Terraces" height="500" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4006/4640528681_9e09fc71fb.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banau Terraces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, there is much more to the Philippines than historical landmarks. Later this week, we'll continue looking at fun in the Philippines with the next installment!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * *</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This article is the first part of a two-part feature brought to you by <a href="http://caryle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Caryl Joan Estrosas</a>, a freelance travel and food writer.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-39853397708368893892011-12-30T17:23:00.000-08:002012-01-14T23:03:55.384-08:00How To Get Your Southeast Asia Trip Paid For (Practically)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0clNvsU6Z8/Tv5dQxwCYmI/AAAAAAAABvc/0TRzgeKvt_Y/s1600/go+to+southeast+asia+for+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0clNvsU6Z8/Tv5dQxwCYmI/AAAAAAAABvc/0TRzgeKvt_Y/s200/go+to+southeast+asia+for+free.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not exactly free . . . but about close<br />
as you are going to get!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Southeast Asia is generally a
wonderfully inexpensive place to travel with a few caveats. If you
are like most of us though--that famous 99%--it is still a pretty
serious undertaking with plane tickets alone costing a pretty penny.
However, be encouraged . . . you can practically get your trip paid
for if you plan ahead.<br />
<br />
No, we aren't talking about writing a guide
book or reviewing fine restaurants or some scheme to get a free plane ticket but taking a couple days (or
hours) out to do what you would have to do back home like shopping or
visiting the dentist. By taking advantage of some items and services
that are so much cheaper in Southeast Asia than they are in the West,
particularly the USA, you can off-set the entire cost of your trip.</div>
<h1 class="western" style="text-align: justify;">
How to Get a Trip to Southeast Asia Paid For
(Practically)</h1>
<br />
<h2 class="western" style="text-align: justify;">
Get Your Glasses in Southeast Asia</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sx1KJQlIHAo/Tv5d4kNvX9I/AAAAAAAABvo/DG4lcocu_P8/s1600/get+glasses+in+southeast+asia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sx1KJQlIHAo/Tv5d4kNvX9I/AAAAAAAABvo/DG4lcocu_P8/s200/get+glasses+in+southeast+asia.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
How much did you pay for your last pair
of glasses? $200? Maybe even $400. I got the glasses on my nose
for $40, including my eye exam. My last pair (from India) had cost
$450.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
Now I don't advocate completing
skipping your next eye exam back home, but usually your glasses cost
a lot more than an optometrist visit. However, Cambodia is one place
where you can get a free eye exam (basically just to determine your
prescription) and a basic pair of attractive glasses for $40 or less. Contacts, while less readily available, can also be cheaply purchased in Thailand and Malaysia including getting an eye test for your prescription. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Savings:
$200-$500</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="western" style="text-align: justify;">
Have Your Next Dental Checkup or Dental Work In
Southeast Asia</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqjgFGpY7aI/Tv5esMEVmNI/AAAAAAAABwA/qKy_6jmnaCU/s1600/southeast+asia+dentist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqjgFGpY7aI/Tv5esMEVmNI/AAAAAAAABwA/qKy_6jmnaCU/s200/southeast+asia+dentist.jpg" width="150" /></a>While not many people think of going to the dentist while on "vacation," doing so can save you a bundle of money. Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thailand both have dental clinics aimed primary at Western customers, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia now also sport several Western-focused clinics that specialize in cosmetic dentistry. A tooth cleaning at a local dentist in Cambodia, most of whom will have studied dentistry in Thailand or Vietnam, will cost you $5-20.<br />
<br />
Many cosmetic dentists also study in neighboring countries, or perhaps even Australia, Europe, Japan or the United States. They can provide tooth implants for as little as $150 up to $300 for very high end implants. Ceramic caps can also be done for less than $100 each. Compared to the $4000-$6500 for a single tooth implant in the United States, you could have every tooth in your head pulled and replaced for less than what you would pay for one in the USA (not that we advocate that, either--it just does not sound very fun at all). <br />
<br />
Teeth whitening procedures at cosmetic clinics run about $80, or at cheaper local clinics as little as $40. For major operations, like root canals, we recommend you find high-quality clinics with some Western-trained staff. Most will have brochures listing staff members and their credentials. If not, just ask. But even if you are just getting your sixth month cleaning or getting an implant, the savings from a visit to the dentist between a visit to the islands and temple exploring help off-balance the cost or could pay for your whole ticket!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Savings:
$200-$5,000+</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<h2 class="western">
Get Your Next Medical Check-Up, Minor or Major
Surgery Done</h2>
While it may sound a bit scary to come to Southeast Asia for
medical treatment (I can hear the uninitiated gasp--”Isn't that
somewhere you go and <i>get </i><span style="font-style: normal;">sick?”)
Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore offer world-class medical care from
heart transplants, cancer treatments, rhinoplasty (that's a nose job)
to sex changes. You can read our earlier article about <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/05/medical-tourism-in-thailand.html">medical
tourism in Thailand</a> to learn more about some of the many options.
While a trip to Southeast Asia for cancer treatment or a heart
transplant is probably not what you would call a vacation, if you've
been thinking about a nose job, having some moles removed, or other
out-patient procedures it can be an ideal way to combine R&R with
a little adventure either before or after your procedures--recovering from your lipsuction while showing off your new beach-ready body on an Andaman Sea island doesn't sound too shabby.</span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Savings:
$180-$10,000+</b></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="western">
Buy Your Traveling Supplies, Including Malaria
Medication, Once You Get There</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another idea is to pack light and plan
to spend your first few days shopping for your essential traveling
gear. When I travel to Southeast Asia, I pack ultra-light: a few
changes of underwear, a pair of pants and a pair of shorts, three
shirts, my flashlight and some of the harder to find items on our
<a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/01/southeast-asia-packing-list.html">Southeast
Asia Packing List</a>. What is probably a couple hundred dollars
worth of “stuff” can be picked up for half that in Southeast
Asia, and you can save at least another $200 more <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/01/get-your-malaria-medicine-overseas-and.html">getting
your malaria medication once in Southeast Asia</a>. You should get
the needed vaccinations/immunizations, though, before you go.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Savings:
$200-$300</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="western">
Buy Your New Wardrobe in Southeast Asia</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JtiwO3alGg/Tv5g0NyIscI/AAAAAAAABwM/kFoTFkTqXLU/s1600/Southeast+Asia+Market+Petaling+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JtiwO3alGg/Tv5g0NyIscI/AAAAAAAABwM/kFoTFkTqXLU/s320/Southeast+Asia+Market+Petaling+Street.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petaling Street Night Market--at day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Whether
you shop cheap at Wal-Mart of high-end like Guess and The Gap, much
of your clothes are coming from Southeast Asia anyway. And plenty of
that same apparel (and with whatever name brand you want on it,
too--”We've got this same shirt in Armani, D&G and Puma . . .”)
is on the market here, and cheap. </span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> Let's face it—clothing, even for
bargain shoppers, can be expensive. However, you can buy a suit and
have it fitted in Southeast Asia for $50 or less, or you have a suit made
for you for about $80-$120. And six or seven dollars can buy you
very nice button-down dress shirts or blouses that would cost $25 or
more back in the USA. Jeans are more hit and miss—be sure to try
them on because many on the market here are seconds from the export
industry, so the pockets will be funny or the seam won't run right.
But still, a sexy pair of jeans can still be had for under $20 (or
even $5 in local markets). And skirts and nice dresses can also be
easily had for $25 or less. Wallets, checkbook covers, purses, and
leather jackets and other leather products are also usually much
less. </span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Shoes, unfortunately, aren't so much of a bargain as a good
pair of leather shoes won't equal much of a savings while much
cheaper shoes—often of <i>faux</i> leather despite what you might
be told—are shoddier made. A day or two shopping in local markets
(malls will be less of a savings, but still can be) to fill a
suitcase before coming home can go a long way in off-setting the
expense of your travel.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Savings:
$200-$1500</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="western">
Write an Article for Southeast Asia Travel
Advice!</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While it won't pay for your trip, a <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/southeastasiatraveladventures/submit" target="_blank">travel article for Southeast Asia Travel Advice</a>
will cover the price of a couple of great meals. We love to hear
(and print) traveler's stories, reviews, destination guides and more.
For original material not published elsewhere, we pay from $2 to $20
per article, and for republishing your awesome blog post we pay from
$1-$10. While it won't pay for your plane ticket, at least you can
brag to your friends from behind your slick new glasses with your
shiny white teeth that you “made some money travel writing” while
in Southeast Asia. And we admit there are other publishers out there
that might be interested in your story—but you'll have to find them
on your own ;)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Earnings:
$2-$100</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-65406193307650110542011-12-08T01:56:00.000-08:002011-12-09T06:17:11.257-08:00Mount Kinabalu, Love and Ghosts: Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXYerxBwu4c/TuCE39Dau7I/AAAAAAAABsA/HG4xCocw9ww/s1600/kota+kinabalu+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXYerxBwu4c/TuCE39Dau7I/AAAAAAAABsA/HG4xCocw9ww/s320/kota+kinabalu+stories.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">B.T. Newberg's
book, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13137524-love-and-the-ghosts-of-mount-kinabalu-and-other-stories-of-malaysia" target="_blank">Love and The Ghosts of Mount Kinabalu</a> </i>(GoodReads, e-book $8.00)<i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">should be required reading for anyone going to Southeast Asia seeking
more than a beach vacation or three weeks of drunkenness. Instead,
it is for those who come to a different place seeking something other
than good times and pretty girls. It is the story of a quest for
meaning, and one that stretches further than the individual to the
edges of culture and beyond into an exploration of the universal
human condition. The journey for the reader is not an arduous one,
however, as </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">'s prose have a particular beauty all of their own.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
introduction provides a succinct summary of what one will find within
in terms of subject and narrative, but it belies the deeper and
moving philosophical and existential considerations that only “being
an alien” can provide. Newberg, with the clarity only the
perspective of afterthought can give, explores these considerations
like few other authors have.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The first piece, a narrative essay called "Why Climb a Mountain?", sets the tone for the book. It hunts down the motivations underlying the somewhat absurd idea of climbing a mountain. The brush is cleared away to reveal the search for a sense of significance in one's life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The second piece gives its title to the book as a whole: "Love and the Ghosts of Mount Kinabalu." In this six-chapter story of romance and solitude, a young teacher revisits an ex-lover on the island of Borneo, and finds more than he bargained for. When hopes for reunion evaporate, he goes on a journey to find himself in the rotting jungles. Meanwhile, a mountain said to be a place of ancestral spirits beckons from behind a shroud of clouds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Finally, the last piece is a story told in letters. "Confessions of a Culture-shocked Alien" reveals the experience of the same young man three years earlier as an exchange student in Penang, where he first meets the ex-lover from the second piece. In a Muslim country as the World Trade Towers fall and his own country retaliates, he confronts a foreign culture as well as an increasingly alien America. The pitfalls and switchbacks of living abroad lead him on a journey of self-discovery.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">In
the first piece, “Why Climb a Mountain,” we meet our protagonist
who surely is </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> himself. We learn he has come to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo" target="_blank">Borneo</a> from
somewhere (Japan, it seems) to reunite with an old flame, only to
discover that he is “in love with a woman who was happier than ever
and [he] had no place in the picture.” Dejected, his response is
to see himself as inconsequential and insignificant and in turn he
projects his feelings across humanity. We are tiny, no more than
“motes of dust in the wind.” He seeks to flee, to console
himself by going into the “rotting jungle,” surrounded by the
smell of decay and rot away himself. To pursue such an end he starts
off for a remote village even after being warned by his old lover's
sisters that the villagers there will poison him. On the way,
though, inspiration falls upon him, a way to test his own minuteness
against something monumental. He decides to climb and “conquer”
Gunung Kinabalu, Mount Kinabalu. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1005627286"><br /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/search/label/kota%20kinabalu">Mount Kinabalu</a> is the one place in Southeast Asia that I have ever been
where I've seen natural ice. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo'
and is the tallest mountain in the entire Malay Archipelago. Only in
the last of the Himalayas, in Myanmar, will you find a taller
mountain in Southeast Asia outside of the single higher peak on vast
New Guinea island in the further Pacific. On my own soul-searching
trip, at least indirectly caused by the same loss of love and
subsequent soul-searching as </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">, I too went to the market to find
a raincoat and gear. As one moved into the park surrounding the
mountain, itself a money-making monopoly of climbing permits and
forced accommodations, one feels something unusual for Southeast
Asia—cold, as you are already thousands of feet above sea level.
And before you, dominating the skyline, is that rocky mountaintop,
above the treeline and wrapped in the concealing vapor of clouds.
One has only to see it to understand why the locals would, as </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">writes, believe it to be a “place of ghosts . . . It was where you
go after you die.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">climbs his mountain, and this inaugural essay sets the tone for the
two stories that are to follow, presented backwards in time. It is
this reverse sequence, seeing the aftermath of what we will learn
came before, that provides the reader a critical insight. We can
rest assured that </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">, assuming he is the protagonist of all we
read, emerges not with a feeling of insignificance. He does not
ultimately condemn us to “rot in the jungle like a fallen coconut.”
It isn't, though, because we are not minute. It isn't that we are
not more than motes of dust blowing in the wind. <span lang="ms"><i>Kami
masih orang kecil</i></span><span lang="ms">—we
are still little people. Instead, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">writes, </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">“<span lang="ms">Mountains
outscale us. They tower, they loom, they put us in our place. In
their shadow, we feel insignificant. There is a sense of majesty and
awe. When we climb mountains, we </span><span lang="ms"><i>participate</i></span><span lang="ms">
in that awe. It’s not that we become greater than the mountain, but
that its greatness </span><span lang="ms"><i>becomes
part of us</i></span><span lang="ms">.”
(my italics)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">In Satre's
famous essay, “Existentialism is a Humanism,” he reminds us
that man is “on the one hand, the [free] individual subject and, on
the other, that man cannot pass beyond human subjectivity.” We
cannot escape ourselves as </span><span lang="ms"><i>orang
kecil</i></span><span lang="ms">,
little people, but it is still within our power to climb mountains
whether they be in the jungles of Southeast Asia or within our own
hearts. This, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">writes, is not an insignificant fact.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">'s
greatest strength is not his skill as an essayist, though, with a
penchant for tight prose and more rumination that engagement. It is
when we move to “Love and Ghosts of Mount Kinabalu” that we truly
find our reward as readers. His prose are eloquent and absolutely unpretentious. It is a rare treat to read something so obviously
autobiographic yet so frank and open not only about what is happening
around him but also what is happening inside of him in his thoughts
and imagination. As a reader one feels almost embarrassed at times,
as if one had slipped in and secretly began reading a diary one had
found left in open. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">identifies himself a a “humanistic
pagan” and in fact curates the Web site <a href="http://humanisticpaganism.com/">humanisticpaganism.com</a>.
Perhaps it is a philosophical commitment to naturalism and humanism
that motivates him as an author to “lay bare his soul” in a way
not often encountered in prose and always obscured by literary
pretenses in poetry. I certainly found philosophical parallels with
existential humanism, and perhaps his stylistic choices are also
motivated by underlying philosophical commitments. Unlike the
initial essay, however, the story isn't focused internally and rich
descriptions and dialog hang like ornaments, pleasing to the mind's
eye, but complimentary—there is no </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">Byzantine
excess, and throughout naturalism pervades</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">The
stories of </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13137524-love-and-the-ghosts-of-mount-kinabalu-and-other-stories-of-malaysia" target="_blank"><span lang="ms"><i>Love and Ghosts of Mount Kinabalu</i></span></a><span lang="ms">
are like a secret promise. They tell the reader what it can be like
to be part of somewhere else, but at the same time, like </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms">, they
keep you just on the outside. They echo in many ways that other
alien author in the islands, Joseph Conrad, and </span><span lang="ms"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1466203250/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1466203250">Outcast of the Islands</a></i></span><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;"> where, despite Peter Willems' life and marriage “among the natives”
they ultimately remain inscrutable to him in a way that they are not for
Conrad's other famous protagonist of the archipelago, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486406504/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486406504">Lord Jim,</a> who “goes native” absorbing both the language and sensibilities
of the culture much to the chagrin of his sponsor, Marlowe. Both of Conrad's stories are ultimately tragedies; Newberg's is not. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">While
sophisticated in his understanding, </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">remains outside the
culture his stories are embedded in. In his trying to make small
talk with the man he thinks is the boyfriend of his former lover, we
get a sense of this outsideness: “On the way I tried to talk to
Lanny. We were limited to things like, “I like curry… Do you like
curry?”” The linguistic isolation of Lanny, one of the few
characters we meet who cannot speak English, provides a trope for </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">'s own isolation—from his lover, who now is a wife and
mother, from the culture surrounding him, and even from his own
culture, having been transformed into something of an alien even at
home because of the cultural accretions from his time abroad.
Perhaps this is why we find him coming to Borneo not from the
heartland of America but instead on his Christmas break from work in
Japan.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
sense of outsideness doesn't detract from his work, however. It just
makes it honest, a sense of which never leaves the reader. What we
encounter is not the glorification or bastardization of a place,
people or experience, but instead what seems to be an authentic
retelling, a man's retrospective look at a slice of his life, defined
by where he was, and the lessons and changes that time brought. As
such, it has the potential to change the reader or at least to
prepare the reader for transformation deeper than a Phuket tan.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">* * * </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Newberg</span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ms"><span style="font-style: normal;">'s book is available for purchase exclusively at <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13137524-love-and-the-ghosts-of-mount-kinabalu-and-other-stories-of-malaysia" target="_blank">GoodReads</a> in .pdf and .epub format.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-61353676322915640382011-11-03T01:05:00.000-07:002011-12-08T03:42:25.507-08:00Five Must Try Filipino Street Foods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h1>
Philippines' Street Food</h1>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Travelers looking for authentic
Filipino food in the Philippines need not go to a restaurant; they
can easily find it in the streets sold in kiosks or food carts. For
just $2 or even less, you can already feast on several delightful
treats with your friends.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The streets in the Philippines may not
be a sanitary and relaxing place to eat, but it is where you can find
delectable Filipino food. The vendors don’t offer you chairs or
seats and often you stand elbow to elbow with other customers while
taking your turns to get your order. Foreigners who wish to
understand or adapt the Filipino culture can start by joining the
hungry mob in the streets.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
Balut</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2DGWzvk8Yk/TrJJ66A0XII/AAAAAAAABoo/RBJln5oueA4/s1600/balut+duck+egg.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2DGWzvk8Yk/TrJJ66A0XII/AAAAAAAABoo/RBJln5oueA4/s320/balut+duck+egg.JPG" width="320" /></a> </h2>
</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Balut </b>is a boiled
fertilized duck egg, which is a very popular street snack in the
Philippines. It is high in <span id="goog_1401670702"></span><span id="goog_1401670703"></span>protein and believed to be aphrodisiac.
Foreigners may look at it with disgust, but it is an all-time local
favorite. What makes it notorious and terrifying is the nearly
formed embryo—features like the beak, feathered wings, and the
legs are almost evident.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
It is typically
eaten by cracking a small hole first, sprinkling a little salt, and
sucking the fluid out. Then, you eat the chick and the yolk. The
partially formed chick adds a crunchy texture to it. The egg white is
typically hard and bland; some would just skip it. Others love to dip
it in vinegar and enjoy munching it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Though it is
usually served as a snack or appetizer, but because Filipinos love it
so much some are using it as ingredient for their recipes like adobo
and soup.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Locals would offer
it as a rite-of-passage gastronomy to their foreign guests. Some may
gag, but others would realize that it is truly delicious.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
For just 15 to 20
pesos (more or less 46 US cents), you get to enjoy this protein-rich
Filipino treat.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
Isaw</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_HNP3opqvs/TrJJ-LmrOUI/AAAAAAAABow/jS06Tg5v1MI/s1600/isaw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_HNP3opqvs/TrJJ-LmrOUI/AAAAAAAABow/jS06Tg5v1MI/s320/isaw.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<ol start="2">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Isaw </b>is chicken intestines
washed thoroughly inside and out before it is cooked. Vendors
typically boiled, skewered and barbecued the isaw and serve it with
Filipino vinegar or with a special sweet and spicy black sauce.
Other preparation of isaw includes dipping it in a batter and
deep-frying. It is then skewered and served with vinegar.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The risk of eating
isaw is the possibility of digesting fecal residue. Nevertheless, it
is a Filipino favorite. Many locals—students and working class
alike—would stop in a nearby stall or cart to have this tasty snack
before going home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
You can buy isaw
for just two to three pesos (7 US cents).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
Kwek Kwek or Tokneneng</h2>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
</div>
<ol start="3">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Kwek kwek or tokneneng </b>is
another popular street food. It is a hard-boiled quail egg, dip in
an orangey batter, and deep-fried. It is sometimes skewered or
served in plastic cups. Locals would eat it with spicy vinegar,
black sweet gravy, sweet and sour pinkish sauce, or combination. For
just 10 pesos (23 US cents) per stick, you can enjoy this delightful
dish.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<h2>
Fish Balls</h2>
</div>
<ol start="4">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Fish balls </b>are popular in
many Asian countries including in China, Singapore, Malaysia, and
Taiwan. In the Philippines, you can see many fish ball vendors in
any corner of the street.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Fish balls are made
from pulverized fish meat, either cuttlefish or pollock. It is
usually flat in shape and, sometimes, yellowish in color. It is often
served in bamboo skewers or have it in plastic cups. Fish balls go
well with variety of sauces, depending on your preference—spicy
vinegar, sweet gravy, and sweet and sour sauce.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Other edible balls
you’ll find in the streets include chicken balls, squid balls, and
kikiam.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<h2>
Kakanin</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avMtcGPRdKk/TrJKALvUY-I/AAAAAAAABo4/mh6HLObTBMo/s1600/kakanin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avMtcGPRdKk/TrJKALvUY-I/AAAAAAAABo4/mh6HLObTBMo/s320/kakanin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<ol start="5">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Kakanin </b>is actually a
collective term used for a variety of rice recipes in the
Philippines. Many of these kakanin are very colorful and tempting. A
serving or a pack usually cost around 10 to 25 pesos (23 to 57 US
cents). Popular kakanin that you can easily buy in the streets
includes puto, suman, and bibingka.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b>Puto</b> is made
with glutinous rice, coconut milk or evaporated milk and sugar. It is
typically white in color and topped with cheese. You can also find
puto with variety of colors and in bite-sizes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b>Suman</b> is a
kakanin made of glutinous rice wrapped in leaves either banana or
coconut leaves. It is served with sugar or grated coconut. It is a
perfect snack to go with a hot cocoa drink or coffee.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b>Bibingka</b> is
a rice cake made either with glutinous rice or cassava flour, mixed
with brown sugar, coconut milk, and margarine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When you are in the Philippines,
walking in the streets can be a gastronomical trip. Some street food
like balut may look intimidating at first, but successfully passing
the first-time jitters may overthrow the notion that it is
disgusting. Prepare your taste buds for a street adventure!<br />
<br />
-<i>Article and images by Caryl Joan Estrosas</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Filipino Food</h3>
<br />
Hungry for some Filipino street food but no money to go to Manila or no Pinoy eateries nearby? At least some of these tasty treats can be prepared at home. Perhaps one of the easiest of these foods to make is the last, bibingka, the tasty coconut and rice dessert (and of course, if you have ducks, you can always make your own balat, too). If you want more tasty Filipino recipes, check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1844769496/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1844769496">A Taste of the Philippines: Classic Filipino Recipes Made Easy. </a><br />
<br />
<h3>
BIBINGKA RECIPE</h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>2 1/2 lbs. (5 1/2 c.) mochi rice</li>
<li>1 (12 oz.) can frozen, coconut milk, thawed</li>
<li>1 (1 lb.) pkg. dark brown sugar</li>
<li>1 can condensed milk</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rinse rice and cook in rice cooker. In a saucepan, combine coconut milk and 1 1/4 cups of the brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Preheat electric oven to 350 degrees. Put cooked rice into a large bowl. Stir remainder and remaining brown sugar evenly into the hot rice. Put into pan. Pour condensed milk on top and spread. Bake for 15 minutes, cut into small pieces. That is it!<br />
<br />
Enjoy!</div>
</div>
</div>
<script src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=souasitratip-20&o=1" type="text/javascript">
</script>
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</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-19705835572239700502011-10-12T23:57:00.000-07:002011-11-03T03:34:06.506-07:00Southeast Asia Flood Warnings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faZCaEAvmOw/Tpf22h5FvjI/AAAAAAAABlo/Er_u45iZKFk/s1600/Southeast+Asia+Flood+Warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faZCaEAvmOw/Tpf22h5FvjI/AAAAAAAABlo/Er_u45iZKFk/s320/Southeast+Asia+Flood+Warning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Flooding is currently effecting central Thailand with some effects being felt in Cambodia and Vietnam, but much less so in the past week. However, it is extremely important to learn about local conditions before traveling to or leaving any destination.<br />
<br />
Our <a href="http://www.twitter.com/%21/southeastasia4u">Southeast Asia News Twitter</a> is updated around the clock, and we are reporting on the flood conditions several times a day as news become available.<br />
<h1>
Thailand Floods</h1>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">All non-essential travel to Bangkok is strongly discouraged. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
Floods have become more <b>widespread </b>in many parts of Bangkok and residents in Don Muang, Sai Mai, Bang Phlad and Thawi Wattana districts have been <b>urged </b>to evacuate to safety <b>immediately</b>. Residents along riverbanks and on the banks of Khlong Maha Sawat are urged to leave immediately. A <b>substantial volume</b> of floodwater from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani is flowing into the Chao Phraya River, which <b>breached </b>its <b>banks</b>, inundating riverside and canalside <b>communities</b>. Chinatown, the royal Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, popular tourist attractions, are also experiencing flooding.</h4>
Northern Bangkok and areas north of Bangkok are experiencing flooding with many foreign Embassies evacuating employees living in the northern parts of the city. Currently, Bangkok is under a flood advisory that has been extended with the areas around the <span id="articleText">Chao Phraya River sure to flood. </span>Bangkok residents living along Choa Praya River have been warned that
the October 27-31 high tide would raise the river level to as high as
2.6 meters above mean sea level, which is higher than the city's
concrete floodwall of 2.5 meters. It is, therefore, expected to see
water overflowing banks along the Chao Praya River. <br />
<br />
<br />
Don Mueang has been breached. Nok Air and other airlines have been forced to suspend services from airport with some flights diverted to Suvarnabhumi. Parts of Bangkok including Don Mueang, Sai Mai and Lak Si
districts in the north and Bang Phlad district near the central have
been flooded already. Authorities have closed off areas around Khao San Road. Sukhumvit Road
remain above water, but already manyoutlying suburbs of Bangkok have
been affected, including Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. Officials were working to shore up flood barriers along Khlong Rangsit in Pathum Thani,. Flooding has spread to West Bangok.. The Bangkok Post reports in Don Muang, water levels were reported at 30 to 40cm along Songprapa Road to the Pracha Uthit intersection. On Nawongpattana Road, running to Songprapa, floodwaters reached as high 50cm, impassible for most small cars. On Phahon Yothin Road, near the National Memorial and Thupatemee Stadium, water reached 30cm.<br />
<br />
Additionally, 20 provinces are experiencing severe flooding including: Sukhothai, Pichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singhburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Lopburi, Sara Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Pracheen Buri, Chacherngsao, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Kamphang Peth, and Tak. <br />
<br />
An interactive map from Google is now available at at http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?crisis=thailand_floods_en (below). Also very helpful is Google's Crisis Response page which lists emergency contact information for Bangkok and local authorities, emergency services, Embassies, and other organizations in English which can be found at http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/thailand-flood-2011.html.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="1" height="450" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="yes" src="http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?crisis=thailand_floods_en&lat=16.008583187479974&lng=101.0400410625&z=6&layers=1319731748955&t=roadmap&embedded=true" vspace="0" width="420">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;As of October 7,
according to Thai government sources including the Department of
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, portions of 54 highways are closed.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;
This includes the Asia Highway, the main highway north out of Bangkok. Bus and train service linking Bangkok with points to the north is suspended. Bus routes between Bangkok and northeast Thailand are operating. Trains are running between Bangkok and northeast
Thailand. However they have been rerouted to an eastern line and are not
serving smaller stations in and near Bangkok. We advise you to monitor local media and our Twitter updates, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; More than 20 embassies have warned to avoid all unessential travel to Thailand.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe="" src="http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?crisis=thailand_floods_en&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lat=16.008583187479974&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lng=101.0400410625&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;z=6&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layers=1319731748955&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;t=roadmap&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;embedded=true"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe="" src="http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?crisis=thailand_floods_en&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lat=16.008583187479974&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lng=101.0400410625&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;z=6&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layers=1319731748955&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;t=roadmap&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;embedded=true"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="paragraph"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Cambodia Floods&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A number of days without rains have caused conditions to greatly improve across Cambodia, and in Siem Reap, Cambodia and the Angkor area the waters have greatly receded.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; While some roads may still be covered (such as between Siem Reap and Tonle Sap), most of Siem Reap is now above water, and the Angkor area is largely free of flooding.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; At this moment, there is still some minor flooding near the Psar Chaa area, but the Siem Reap River is in its banks.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; Also, Phnom Pehn is also dry, with the Tonle Sap River within its banks as well. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;However, continue to be aware of associated risks with areas still flooded and the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;health risks they may pose.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; Also, additional caution is still advised in using tapwater and eating raw foods possibly washed or exposed to water&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span id="articleText"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;. While flash floods continue to be a possibility, no areas of Cambodia are currently considered majorly at risk.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; However, closely monitor local conditions as, because of ground saturation, water can rise within a matter of minutes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="paragraph"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="paragraph"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h2 style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
Flooding in Siem Reap&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h2 style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fkdxUwUxJNQ" width="450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>
</div>
<br />
As of October 7,
according to Thai government sources including the Department of
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, portions of 54 highways are closed.
This includes the Asia Highway, the main highway north out of Bangkok.
Bus and train service linking Bangkok with points to the north is
suspended. Bus routes between Bangkok and northeast Thailand are
operating. Trains are running between Bangkok and northeast
Thailand. However they have been rerouted to an eastern line and are not
serving smaller stations in and near Bangkok. We advise you to monitor
local media and our Twitter updates, confirm travel arrangements, and
defer travel to or through flood impacted areas. More than 20 embassies
have warned to avoid all unessential travel to Thailand.<br />
<h1>
<span id="articleText">Vietnam Floods</span></h1>
<span id="articleText">More than 55 people are now reported dead due to Vietnam flooding. </span>The National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Centre (HFC) said water in
the upper Mekong River, Dong Thap Muoi region, and Long Xuyen quadrangle
would ebb slowly over the next five days, but remain high at Grade 3
warning level until early November. <span id="articleText">We highly advise tourists and others to reconsider travel to the Mekong Delta area until water levels significantly recede to decrease the chance of impact by flash floods. The Vietnamese </span>Meteorological Service has reported above-flood level conditions at all of its southern monitoring stations today as as water continues to drain from Thailand and Cambodia, conditions and water levels are not expected to immediately recede.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Video of Previous Flooding</h2>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_JCCcKtVlDs" width="450"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h1>
How to Stay Safe</h1>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Always check travel conditions before moving to another destination.</li>
<li>Ensure you have local emergency contact information or your Embassy's contact information with in case of emergency.</li>
<li>Monitor news, radio, and our Twitter account for updated information about areas that may become impacted by flooding. </li>
<li>Do not attempt to cross flooded areas with fast-moving water on foot or by vehicle. Hundreds have died in Southeast Asia this month because of trying to do precisely that.</li>
<li>Be <b>extremely cautious</b> about possible downed <u>power lines</u> or touching water that <u>may be exposed to submerged electrical lines or devices</u>. <span style="background-color: red;"> Electrocution is a major risk in flooded areas. </span></li>
<li>Do not drink water from flooded areas and be very cautious about consuming food. In these conditions even dishes washed in tainted waters can trigger illness. Do not use water that could be<br />contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or make baby formula.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-81583596539261643342011-10-01T22:08:00.000-07:002014-02-16T11:25:50.743-08:00In-Depth New Guidebook On Northern Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935850032/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1935850032" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1935850032&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=souasitratip-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Other Places Publishing’s
newest edition to their lineup of culturally-smart and travel-savvy
guidebooks is entitled </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935850032/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1935850032"><i>Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand</i></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">. <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1935850032&camp=217145&creative=399373" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
(Amazon &
Retail: $13.82, 216 pages).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Like their other publications on Africa,
Europe and Latin America, Other Places Publishing uses former Peace
Corps Volunteers to lead their team of writers. The concept is
simple: former volunteers will know the culture and the country
better than the normal travel writer, so why not employ that depth of
cultural, linguistic and practical knowledge for a travel series. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935850032/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1935850032"><i>Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand</i></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> is their first
foray into Southeast Asia travel experience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935850032/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tfrh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1935850032">The
North of Thailand</a> is emerging as a
standalone, off-the-beaten-path destination in the otherwise
well-traversed Southeast Asia travel route. With the northern
mountains covered in verdant jungle and sprinkled with age-old
hill tribes, elephant camps, and ancient ruins, it is no
wonder that the North is becoming an unforgettable experience
for travelers. Laid-back cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
offer a burgeoning restaurant and nightlife scene that provides
the perfect respite after experiencing the natural beauty of
Northern Thailand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">What’s interesting
about this guidebook is that uses experienced writers. <a href="http://tfrhoden.blogspot.com/">T.
F. Rhoden</a>, the lead writer for this project, has spent seven
years exploring this fascinating country—first as a college
student, then as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and finally as an aid
worker on the Thai-Burma border. Through his unique
experiences, <a href="http://tfrhoden.blogspot.com/">Rhoden</a>
provides insight into the country that has become his second
home. With a comprehensive background section covering the
history, culture, and logistics of travel, and sixteen sections
dedicated to each stop on his recommended travel route, this book
will allow travelers to feel like locals while enjoying the
indisputable beauty that the North has to offer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Some highlights that I
really enjoyed and found useful:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">• </span><span style="font-size: small;">Sights &
Activities: From the elephant treks around Chiang Mai to the
ancient ruins of Sukhothai Historical Park, the book provides
everything one will need to experience the beauty of the North.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> • </span><span style="font-size: small;">Volunteering:
There are a lot of opportunities to give back, and in so many
different ways. But I think this guidebook will tell you where,
why — and most importantly — how to get involved.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> • </span><span style="font-size: small;">Nightlife: The
North offers travelers a night out that many thought only
Bangkok could offer. There are some really cool spots to steal a
cocktail, spend a relaxing evening, or party with the best of
Thailand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> • </span><span style="font-size: small;">Guesthouses
& Resorts: There is a vibrant scene to be discovered here with
backpacker guesthouses and a world-class lineup of
luxurious hotels and spas; all without breaking your budget.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> • </span><span style="font-size: small;">Language: Thai
is not an easy language to learn, but provided the essential
everyday phrases and a few more slangy ones just for fun!</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935850032/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1935850032"><i>Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand</i></a>
by Other Places
Publishing can’t be recommended enough! Finally, there is a
guidebook on the market for those of us who need a break from the
LonelyPlanet series.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Review by Mike Fruct, former Education Officer with
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Jesuit Refugee Services</i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
Mae Hong Son, Thailand</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-72578901390899174912011-08-31T18:49:00.000-07:002011-08-31T18:49:16.584-07:00Southeast Asia Travel: Five Highlights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Traveling is what we love to do most, and Southeast Asia is our first love. However, it is a big place. What is it exactly that we love so much? To answer that question, we've put together what we think are five highlights. Are these the "top five travel destinations" in Southeast Asia? Maybe not--but they are certainly not to be missed if you are in the area. If your particular favorite destination didn't make the list, let us know!</div>
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1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia</h2>
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Angkor Wat is certainly one of the highlights of Southeast Asia. Part of an extensive temple compound, Angkor is just one of many temples in the area just north of Siem Reap, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia">Cambodia</a> that date from 800-1400 years ago. It is the largest--in fact, it is the largest religious structure in the world. Other noteable temples in the area are Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom, and Preah Khan.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkKsQObW1tI/Tl7YSrLzQvI/AAAAAAAABiI/CQ1nSodoAJk/s1600/angkor+wat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkKsQObW1tI/Tl7YSrLzQvI/AAAAAAAABiI/CQ1nSodoAJk/s400/angkor+wat.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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2. Pagan, Burma</h2>
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When we first visited Pagan (also known as Bagan) in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma">Burma</a> late last century, Myanmar was still largely closed off from the world. In fact, we were told that there were no more than 25 tourist visas given at any one time. While there have been developments since then, including a golf course built by the military junta, one really feels like one has gone back in time as one explores temples, many still very active, set among fields and home to herds of goats. Explore it by bicycle or take a horse cart.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8IKV-7ZQLc/Tl7aZer5EQI/AAAAAAAABiM/7XyiCtIrcsM/s1600/pagan+burma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8IKV-7ZQLc/Tl7aZer5EQI/AAAAAAAABiM/7XyiCtIrcsM/s400/pagan+burma.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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<h2>
3. Luang Prabang, Laos</h2>
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<span closure_uid_2q6aza="276" style="color: black;">This sleepy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos">Laos</a> city was formerly the capital of a kingdom of the same name. Until the <span closure_uid_2q6aza="261">communist</span></span> <span style="color: black;">takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the <span closure_uid_2q6aza="277">Kingdom of Laos</span></span>. The main part of the city consists of four main roads located on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Every morning, hundreds of monks from the various monasteries walk through the streets collecting alms. One of the major landmarks in the city is a large steep hill on which sits Wat Chom Si.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGaVIoneSw/Tl7cGYTL5CI/AAAAAAAABiQ/YGSZ-1eatQY/s1600/monks+in+luang+prabang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGaVIoneSw/Tl7cGYTL5CI/AAAAAAAABiQ/YGSZ-1eatQY/s400/monks+in+luang+prabang.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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4. Koh Mook, Thailand</h2>
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The islands of Southeast Asia, from the Philippines all the way to Vietnam, are spectacular. Koh Mook made our highlights for a few reasons. First, it tends not to be as touristed as places like Koh Phi Phi or the other Andaman Sea <a href="http://www.tourismthailand.org/">Thailand</a> isles. It also contains a gem, the so-called "Emerald Cave" or Morakot Cave. The cave entrance is a small passage on the islands western side that is accessible by boat during low tide although usually you have to jump out and swim throughh it. The cave itself winds for about 80 meters to the other exit, opening onto a clean white beach with an emerald color open pool which is surrounded by high cliffs.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pfDk0hdqQ0/Tl7gTiIQseI/AAAAAAAABic/hHzla7sdzUA/s1600/koh-mook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pfDk0hdqQ0/Tl7gTiIQseI/AAAAAAAABic/hHzla7sdzUA/s400/koh-mook.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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5. Danau Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia</h2>
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This is another "largest"--in this case, the world's largest crater lake. This breathtaking volcanic lake, located within <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia">Indonesia</a>'s Sumatra Island--with an island in its center, Samosir--was formed by what is known as The Toba Eruption (the Toba Event) occurred at what is now Lake Toba about 67,500 to 75,500 years ago. The last eruption had an estimated Volcanic Explosivity Index of 8 (described as "mega-colossal"), making it possibly the largest explosive volcanic eruption within the last 25 million years. It is also very possible it almost led to the extinction of the human race--according to the <a closure_uid_2q6aza="657" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toba_catastrophe_theory">Toba catastrophe theory</a> proposed by Dr. Stanley H. Ambrose, human populations may have been reduced to only a few tens of thousands of individuals by the Toba eruption. Few if any plants and animals in Southeast Asia would have survived. Today, though, it is one of the most laid-back places in the world. The native Batak population, converted to Christianity by intensive missionary work, are known for playing guitar, drinking tuak, or fresh palm wine, and marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms show up on menus.</div>
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Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-65262519241946505122011-07-14T14:21:00.000-07:002011-12-08T03:44:10.094-08:00Southeast Asia Travel Reading Books: The Top Twelve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7eLgjkADZg/Th9Z0331U7I/AAAAAAAABgs/30wl9Df6288/s1600/southeast+asia+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7eLgjkADZg/Th9Z0331U7I/AAAAAAAABgs/30wl9Df6288/s320/southeast+asia+books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We read more when we travel than any
other time--and one of us is a full time graduate student. Be it relaxing on the beach or whiling away time on the
airplane, a book in hand (and increasingly our Kindles) is a way we
pass along the spaces between adventures like trekking, SCUBA diving
and visits to temples and mosques. And while sometime we might be reading esoteric philosophy, we decided to put together our
top twelve books (thirteen, actually, because we sort of cheated on
one!) for reading on a trip to Southeast Asia, with a mix of fiction,
non-fiction, regional literature and just plain great books and in no particular order. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h1>
Top Southeast Asia Books </h1>
</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Far-Eastern-Tales-Somerset-Maugham/dp/0749316020?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"></a></i>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Far-Eastern-Tales-Somerset-Maugham/dp/0749316020?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Far Eastern Tales</a></i> </h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Far-Eastern-Tales-Somerset-Maugham/dp/0749316020?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Far Eastern Tales" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0749316020&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0749316020" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />This collection by Somerset Maugham, issued in 1993, features some of
Maugham's best short stories, and as such, they are nice, digestible
snippets of colonial life in Malaya, Borneo and elsewhere in
Southeast Asia. This collection offers an outsiders view of many of
the same things you might be seeing today—only a hundred years
ago—and a testament of its colonial past. There is the story of Mabel, related by a narrator who has just come to visit the temple city of Pagan in Burma or the story of Neil MacAdam, a biologist gets dragged into a fatal expedition by his employers wife. <br />
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travellers-History-Southeast-Asia/dp/1566564395?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia</a></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travellers-History-Southeast-Asia/dp/1566564395?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia (The Traveller's History Series)" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1566564395&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a>A good introduction to Southeast
Asia is hard to find. Most either focus on ancient history and
<img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1566564395" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />ignore contemporary Southeast Asia or focus on the conflicts from
the Second War War to the post-Vietnam War era. After much angst
about which among many to recommend, we came down on the side of <i>A
Traveller's History of Southeast Asia</i> by J. M. Barwise and N. J.
White. Unfortunately, this book ignores Burma and the Philippines,
but otherwise it offers a concise and readable history of the area
with its emphasis really on 1500 to present. It is an easy read and
goes quickly. For those who might already be familiar with
Southeast Asia or are looking for a more academic approach, then <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emergence-Modern-Southeast-Asia-History/dp/0824828909?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The
Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0824828909" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> by a collection of academic
experts offers a new and up-to-date perspective on this complex
region. It describes the long-term impact of global forces on the
region and traces the spread and interplay of capitalism,
nationalism, and socialism. It acknowledges that modernization has
produced substantial gains in such areas as life expectancy and
education but has also spread dislocation and misery.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jataka-Tales-Ellen-C-Babbitt/dp/0557687470?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Jataka Tales</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0557687470" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jataka-Tales-Ellen-C-Babbitt/dp/0557687470?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Jataka Tales" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0557687470&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0557687470" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />The <i>Jataka Tales </i>
(we
suggest the collection by Ellen C. Babbitt) are stories of the
Buddha's previous incarnations. These read like Aesop's fables—the
Buddha is sometimes an monkey or sometimes a bird, but each story
ends in a moral of peace, patience and non-violence, emphasizing the
Buddhist message. These stories are popular across Buddhist
Southeast Asia and a offer fine, whimsical window into popular
Buddhist belief. They are also wonderful bedtime stories for those
traveling with children.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Broken-Glass-Floats-Growing/dp/0393322106?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">When Broken Glass Floats:
Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0393322106" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Broken-Glass-Floats-Growing/dp/0393322106?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0393322106&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><i><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0393322106" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />When Broken Glass Floats:
Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge</i> by Chanrithy Him is one of many
biographies of Khmer Rouge survivors and books on this dark period
of Cambodian history. While some have cast into doubt the
authenticity of her earliest memories, none doubt that her biography
captures the true horrors faced by this brutal ultra-communist
regime that worked and starved a fifth of the population to death
and executed perhaps hundreds of thousands more. Chanrithy had to
watch her mother, father, and five of her brothers and sisters die,
murdered by the Khmer Rouge or fatally weakened by malnutrition,
disease, and overwork. Now living in Oregon, where she studies
posttraumatic stress disorder among Cambodian survivors, Chanrithy
has written this first-person account of the killing fields that's
remarkable for both its unflinching honesty and its refusal to
despair.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-War-Reader-Documentary-Perspectives/dp/0807859915?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Vietnam War Reader: A
Documentary History from American and Vietnamese Perspectives
</a></i><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0807859915" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-War-Reader-Documentary-Perspectives/dp/0807859915?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="A Vietnam War Reader: A Documentary History from American and Vietnamese Perspectives" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0807859915&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0807859915" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />This reader, edited by Michael H. Hunt provides a variety of perspective, both
American and Vietnamese, into this conflict that shaped much of the
modern history of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and even Thailand. It
also helps one understand better the urgency felt throughout
Southeast Asia in combating communism. HistoryNet.Com says of it,
“Hunt has put together a first-rate collection of documents. His
editorial comments are most helpful and illustrate his broad
knowledge of the war in Vietnam. He succeeds in his goal of
illustrating the various perspectives of the conflict. . . . Will be
a real eye-opener for anyone interested in learning how the
Americans and Vietnamese went to war with one another, the nature
and impact of the fighting, and the long-term consequences of the
conflict on both sides.”</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Burma-Aung-San-Suu/dp/0141041447?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Letters from Burma</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0141041447" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Burma-Aung-San-Suu/dp/0141041447?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Letters from Burma" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0141041447&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><i><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0141041447" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Letters from Burma</i> by Aung
San Suu Kyi provides another moving portrait of a country in
conflict. Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese opposition politician and
the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the
1990 general election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% (392 of 485)
of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained
under house arrest before the elections. She remained under house
arrest in Burma for almost 15 of the 21 years from 20 July 1989
until her release on 13 November 2010. Amazon.Com reviewer
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3TDLPOQO65P6X/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Maurizio
Giuliano</span></a> describes it as “vivid, direct, it makes the
reader feel as if she/he is listening to Suu Kyi, with her wonderful
Asian voice and Oxford accent. Suu Kyi talks about Burma, about her
people, about herself. She tells of the tragedies of her people, in
the most natural and serene way, as if she were telling of everyday
life - because indeed, this is the Burmese everyday life.”</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Philippine-Folklore-Stories-Maurice-Miller/dp/1153736195?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Philippine Folklore Stories</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1153736195" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Philippine-Folklore-Stories-Maurice-Miller/dp/1153736195?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Philippine Folklore Stories" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1153736195&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1153736195" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Another collection of short
stories we love is <i>Philippine Folklore Stories</i> by John
Maurice Miller. This collection is now in the public domain (there
is a free Kindle edition and one can download other formats at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10771">The
Gutenberg Project</a>), having been originally published in 1904.
It reads like the old Dick and Jane books many of us may have grown
up with. These stories are lovely and endearing, and the author
even warns that “As these stories are only legends that have been
handed down from remote times, the teacher must impress upon the
minds of the children that they are myths and are not to be given
credence; otherwise the imaginative minds of the native children
would accept them as truth, and trouble would be caused that might
be hard to remedy.” Like <i>The Jakata Tales</i>, they may excellent
readings for children as well as the adult seeking a window into the
culture around them.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Islam-Southeast-Asia-Background/dp/9812307583?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Islam in Southeast Asia</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9812307583" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Islam-Southeast-Asia-Background/dp/9812307583?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Islam in Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia Background Series)" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=9812307583&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9812307583" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Just as challenging as finding a
solid history of Southeast Asia is finding a book about Islam in
Southeast Asia that isn't completely focused on the separatist
movements in Ache or Moros Island and terrorism. There are a few
very good texts that have appeared in recent years but they tend to
be priced at the rate of college textbooks, meaning more than $50
per text. <i>Islam in Southeast Asia</i> by Hussein Mutalib offers a
balance of price, depth, and readability. It is an academic text,
but not overly scholarly and is accessible to the general reader
with no previous knowledge of the subject. It also offers case
studies of not only Islamic-majority Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia
but also Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos which makes it a valuable resource for
understanding events like the current conflict in Southern Thailand
or the present day Chams of Cambodia and Vietnam.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Dangerously-Christopher-Koch/dp/0140065350?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Year of Living
Dangerously</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0140065350" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Dangerously-Christopher-Koch/dp/0140065350?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Year of Living Dangerously" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0140065350&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><span style="font-style: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0140065350" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Perhaps
more people know the Mel Gibson film,</span><i> The Year of Living
Dangerously, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">than the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">novel by
Christopher Koch. The story is about a love affair set in Indonesia
during the overthrow of President Sukarno. It follows a group of
foreign correspondents in Jakarta on the eve of an attempted coup by
the so-called 30 September Movement in 1965. The story has a
complicated psychological plot and political intrigue, but it makes
great reading. The book was banned in Indonesia until the collapse
of the Sukarno regime. </span>
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rain-My-Drink-Han-Suyin/dp/9810844859?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">And the Rain My Drink</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9810844859" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i><br /><i></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rain-My-Drink-Han-Suyin/dp/9810844859?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="And The Rain My Drink" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=9810844859&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><span style="font-style: normal;">
<i><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9810844859" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />And the Rain My Drink</i> is a novel by Han Suyin. It is set against a backdrop of the Malayan
Emergency of the late 1940s and 1950s. It is 1948 and the British in
Malaya are struggling to put down a Communist uprising and deal with
rising nationalism in the colony. Chinese girl Suyin falls in love
with a British police officer and is able to see both sides of the
war but she sympathizes more with the Communist guerrillas and is
critical of the British colonials. A much-loved classic and an
important work in the canon of Singapore literature It describes
the methods used by the British colonial authorities and the
left-wing rebels, and how individual lives were affected. It was
republished in 2010 by Monsoon Books, a publishing house that
specializing in Southeast Asia fiction in English. There is a less expensive mass-market version available also.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stage-IV-Healing-Thailand-Murder/dp/9810854358?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Stage
IV: Healing in Thailand Can Also Be Murder</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9810854358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stage-IV-Healing-Thailand-Murder/dp/9810854358?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Stage IV: Healing in Thailand Can Also Be Murder" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=9810854358&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><span style="font-style: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9810854358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />A
clever mystery novel set in contemporary Thailand by ex-pat author
Erich Sysak and one of Monsoon Publishing's popular writers, </span><i>Stage
IV: Healing in Thailand Can Also Be Murder</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
is full of twists and turns. American Lawson Banks is terminally
ill with stage IV cancer and wants to spend the last days of his
life on a beach in Thailand. Where does he get the money?
Viatication, also known as death futures. He sells his life
insurance benefit to the highest bidder. An investor is waiting for
him to die, but thanks to the pleasures of Thailand s well as
inexpensive and high-quality healthcare, ahe lives longer than
anyone expected, including himself. However, when someone tries to
kill him he realizes that he may have outlived his illness but he
may not outlive someone else's greed. The pages will turn quickly
on this thriller.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Islands-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0192838407?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">An Outcast
of the Islands</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0192838407" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Islands-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0192838407?ie=UTF8&tag=souasitratip-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="An Outcast of the Islands (Oxford World's Classics)" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0192838407&tag=souasitratip-20" /></a><span style="font-style: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" hnhralxqynumdptnwmpl" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=souasitratip-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0192838407" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />We
love Joseph Conrad. In fact, one of us has read </span><i>Heart of
Darkness</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> more than 30 times in
the last three years. That is almost once a month. While </span><i>Lord
Jim</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> is probably the better
known of his Southeast Asia novels, we also love </span><i>An Outcast
of the Islands</i> and it actually makes our list rather than the better
known and much heavier book about the misadventures of Tuan Jim. <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
This is the second book in our list that is in the public domain,
and a free Kindle edition is available of it as well as being
available free in a variety of formats at gutenberg.org. The novel,
Conrad's second, details the undoing of Peter Willems, a
disreputable fellow and former trading clerk in Makassar. Now on the
run from a scandal in Makassar, he finds refuge and protection in a
native village, only to betray his benefactors over lust for the
tribal chief's daughter as falls ever more hopelessly into traps set
by himself and others. A parable of human frailty, with love and
death the major players, this is a story of a man unable to
understand others and fated never to possess his own soul. The story
features Conrad's recurring character Tom Lingard, who also appears
in </span></span><i>Almayer's Folly</i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
(1895) and </span></span><i>The Rescue </i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(1920),
in addition to sharing other characters with those novels. Marlowe
is sadly not present.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We hope that you find the selection we've provided helpful, and we'd love to hear your suggested reading while cooling off in a coffee shop in Jakarta or trying to stay warm on Kota Kinabalu! Where ever your travels take you, be they on the road or from your armchair, enjoy!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<b>Appendum</b>: Check out our review of <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/12/mount-kinabalu-love-and-ghosts-book.html" target="_blank"><i>Love and the Ghosts of Mount Kinabalu</i></a> for another great Southeast Asia book!</div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-55394138247659915242011-06-29T01:19:00.000-07:002013-02-25T08:37:13.063-08:00Kuala Lumpur in 24 Hours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 closure_uid_x6xkw5="114" style="text-align: justify;">
Kuala Lumpur in Twenty Four Hours</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rC33fEo8aD4/SiYxwndUSxI/AAAAAAAAAAk/jEtrLQzxF8k/s1600/DSC03541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rC33fEo8aD4/SiYxwndUSxI/AAAAAAAAAAk/jEtrLQzxF8k/s200/DSC03541.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petaling Street during the day. <br />
Every evening, the street <br />
transforms into a night market <br />
of fake watches, fake designer bags<br />
and real deals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div closure_uid_x6xkw5="60">
Kuala Lumpur is definitely one of the most fascinating cities in the world. This star of Southeast Asia has it all--the shiny newness of Singapore, the gritty backstreets of Phnom Penh, and the diversity you will find nowhere else except <a href="http://www.tourism.gov.my/">Malaysia</a>. With world famous mosques, Dravidian-style Hindu temples, and massive Buddhist sites, markets, and food, food, food, it is a city one can spend years unlocking. We, however, have put together a breakneck itinerary for those willing to make every minute in KL count.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
KLIA</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d6Z9kc3Uuoc/SPgb1XgP0aI/AAAAAAAABaU/KfQ82bl91DM/s400/malaysia_klia.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d6Z9kc3Uuoc/SPgb1XgP0aI/AAAAAAAABaU/KfQ82bl91DM/s200/malaysia_klia.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KLIA-KL International Airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most travelers begin their journey at KLIA, or the <a href="http://www.klia.com.my/">Kuala Lumpur International Airport</a>. It is an architectural marvel in itself--not every airport has a patch of rainforest growing in it (of course, you will fly over miles and miles of palm plantation on your approach and can see the devastating effects of monoculture yourself). It has been designed to resemble a giant Bedouin tent, and it is very attractive and very accessible. You can take a bus from here to <a href="http://www.klsentral.com.my/">KL Sentral</a>--the transportion hub of all Malaysia (you can take the train to Bangkok from here)--or you can opt for the fast railway connection--the KLIA Expres--that takes you to KL Sentral in 28 minutes or so. Do take note that there are two terminals--the budget/freight terminal, serviced mostly by AirAsia, and the main terminal. There is only train connections to the main terminal, and it is at least 30 minutes drive between them. On my last trip back to the airport, I had the unpleasant task of explaining to two Dutch backpackers that they were going to miss their <a href="http://www.airasia.com/" target="_blank">AirAsia</a> flight because they were going to the wrong terminal and had cut it too close. That really hurts when you bought the non-refundable cheap fare.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once you get to KL Sentral, you can grab a budget taxi for about 15 RM or you can take the rail. We suggest you begin your voyage by heading to the Pasar Seni station on the LRT--the Central Market station. From here, it is a five minute walk to Jalan Petaling, where we suggest you find a room among the numerous accommodation offerings from gritty hotels doubling as brothels to nice, mid-range offerings. The Hotel Chinatown Inn and the Swiss Garden Inn are both mid-range recommendations, the Swiss Garden being a little nicer and the rooms are a little larger. Drop off your bags and hit the street--two hours have already passed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Pasar Sini</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Pasar Seni</a>, the Central Market, is an old market that has been converted to a tourist hub. This is a great place to get a glimpse at the traditional arts and crafts of Malaysia and buy a few souvenirs or even some finer objects de art like aboriginal carvings by the Jahut or Mabetesik (also known as the Mah Meri). We aren't telling you to go here just for the crafts (although they are wonderful, and despite being touristy we love the Pasar Seni!). There is a great food court upstairs serving up fantastic pan-Malaysian fare in a very clean environment. Have a <i>kopi ais susu</i> (Iced coffee with sweet milk) and cool down and try a sampling of Malaysia food. We recommend the Kelantan counter--try the <i>nasi lembu</i> (cow rice), or, try Malaysia's famous <i>laksa</i>. There is also a nice Old Town coffee shop on the ground floor in case you feel like an expresso to pick you up.</div>
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Masjid Negara and the Islamic Arts Museum</h2>
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Islam is the national religion of Malaysia and it continues to be one of the strongest cultural forces at play. Islam exists throughout Southeast Asia, and therefore it makes sense to engage with it during your short time here. From Pasir Seni, you can walk to the Masjid Negara, the National Mosque--it is just under 2 km away. But it is a quick taxi ride away if you don't want to try to find it on your own and want to beat the heat. It is open from 9:00AM-12:30PM, 2:00-3:30PM, and 5:00-6:30PM. No shorts or uncovered shoulders are allowed, and they have headscarves for women visitors to dawn when going inside. The mosque is very nice, a very contemporary open design overall but modeled after the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Next door is the Islamic Arts Museum--a nicely air-conditioned way to spend a few hours in case you arrived while the mosque was closed. The museum is open 10AM-6PM. </div>
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<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Pasar+Seni,+City+Centre,+50480+Kuala+Lumpur,+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur,+Malaysia+%28Pasar+Seni%29&daddr=masjid+negara&hl=en&geocode=FTfzLwAdT78PBinr9kXiz0nMMTHmXVKWJ0QHNA%3BFcLwLwAdPLEPBilnbohjz0nMMTHZsaRV1WobEg&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=3.138416,101.690741&sspn=0.009641,0.027595&ie=UTF8&ll=3.140291,101.693337&spn=0.003214,0.003219&z=17" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Walking Map from Pasar Sini to the Masjid Negara</a></small></div>
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There are various points of interest close by--the National Museum is not far, and the overrated Butterfly Park is close. We are skipping these, though. Assuming it is still in the afternoon, it is time to see a little more culture.</div>
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Thean Hou Temple</h2>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thean_Hou_Temple">Thean Hou Temple</a> is a fairly new, very beautiful Hainan Buddhist temple. It is a 20 minute taxi ride from the Masjid or Pasar Sini. Its architecture is described as "[a] grandiose structure [that] represents a successful combination of modern architectural techniques and authentic traditional design featuring imposing pillars, spectacular roofs, ornate carvings and intricate embellishments." Like most Chinese temples in Malaysia, it is a syncretic mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and indigenous worship. </div>
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The temple is dedicated to Tian Hou (Thean Hou), also known as Mazu or Matzu, an indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons. Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Tian Hou began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Southern Chinese inhabitants. Despite the dedication, Guan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, features prominently with one prayer hall dedicated to her. </div>
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It is about time to head back home. But on the way, there is another temple to take it--then you will have covered three of Malaysia's rich cultural traditions. So, it is back to the Chinatown area to visit the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, or the Great Great Mariamman Temple.</div>
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Sri Mahamariamman Temple</h2>
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Open from 8AM until 8PM, a quick visit to this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Mahamariamman_Temple,_Kuala_Lumpur">temple</a>--a short walking distance from Petaling Street--is a great example of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravidian_architecture" target="_blank">Dravidian</a> or Southern India temple architecture. Mariamman, or "Mother Mari," is a traditional village goddess of Southern India and not originally a Vedic deity although as Southern Indian religion traditions merged with the Brahamical tradition of the Aryan invaders, she was gradually brought into the fold. Mariamman was the goddess of smallpox before the disease was eradicated in India. Now she cures all so-called "heat-based" diseases like pox and rashes. Devotees also pray to Mariamman for familial welfare such as fertility, healthy progeny or a good spouse. The most favoured offering is "pongal", a mix of rice and green gram, cooked mostly in the temple complex, or shrine itself, in terracotta pots using firewood. It is Kuala Lumpur's oldest Hindu temple. </div>
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Petaling Street</h2>
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By now, the vendors will have began setting up their stands as Petaling Street transforms itself into the famed Chinatown Night Market. Fake watches, fake handbags, fake shoes . . . well, about anything that is name brand can be found copied here from Roladexes to Nikes, perfume to DVDs. It is a copyright lawyer's nightmare. As you return home, you will be able to browse through and have a good look at their wares. There are several Chinese eateries, including a very nice hawker center just off one of the side streets that offers a variety of mostly Southern Chinese dishes but also features a Burmese and Indian stand. Don't stay up too, late, though. There is an early morning appointment for you at the Petronas Towers.</div>
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The Petronas Towers</h2>
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The <a href="http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/">Petronas Towers</a> are the world's tallest twin towers and, thanks to their spires, were the tallest buildings on earth for a short time. It is reported the office space in them is still mostly empty, having exceeded even Kuala Lumpur's demand for real estate. They are connected by the iconic sky bridge. You, too, can go up to the sky bridge. It is free, but you have to get there early if you want a ticket as it fills up fast. We suggest you leave Chinatown by six in the morning in order to get an early ticket to go up. You can reach them via taxi, bus, or rail. The rail station is KLCC, named for the modern mall housed in the bottom stories and also home to Malaysia's largest bookstore. You will want to leave at least three and a half hours in order to make it to the airport and get checked in for your onward flight. There are plenty of places to eat, including a Starbucks for a little get up and go for your early morning start.</div>
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Although you won't have "seen it all" in just 24 hours, you will have gotten a glimpse of different cultures, different religions, eaten some great food, had at least two or three great shopping opportunities, and also seen the slick, ultra-modern side of this emerging market and Southeast Asian tiger. </div>
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Malaysia Quick Facts:</h2>
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<li><b>National Religion:</b> Islam but has large Chinese Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities</li>
<li><b>Government:</b> Constitutional monarchy with a system of revolving sultans serving as king </li>
<li><b>Languages Spoken:</b> Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese (Hokkien, Mandarin most common), Tamil--and lots of other minority languages</li>
<li><b>Currency:</b> Ringgit</li>
<li closure_uid_x6xkw5="116"><b>Exchange Rate:</b> 1.00 USD = 3.10 RM (February 25, 2013) </li>
<li><b>Geography: </b>Composed of West Malaysia, or Peninsular Malaysia, and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo </li>
<li><b>Borders</b>: (West Malaysia) Singapore, Thailand, and (East Malaysia) Kalimantan, Indonesia. You can reach Sumatra, Indonesia by ferry from West Malaysia and the Philippines from East Malaysia.</li>
<li><b>Weather:</b> The rainy seasons are in March to April and September to November. Temperatures range between about 22 to 31 degrees. Daytime temperatures are high as is humidity year around.</li>
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Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-72500829514404009312011-06-16T06:03:00.000-07:002011-06-19T02:39:24.635-07:00Siem Reap's Pyongyang: The Regime Restaurant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Pyongyang's Restaurant</h1>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PeaWWmwh8uo/TWjLtNvw9NI/AAAAAAAABPI/rz243ubdcf4/s1600/DSCN0285.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PeaWWmwh8uo/TWjLtNvw9NI/AAAAAAAABPI/rz243ubdcf4/s320/DSCN0285.JPG" width="320" /></a>In case you didn't know it, in order to raise revenue for the regime North Korea operates a chain of restaurants. That is right--the evil empire makes its bucks by selling <i>kimchi</i>. </div>
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You can read a now outdated article at YaleGlobal, <a href="http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/NK-quest-for-dollars-part2">Tunnels, Guns and Kimchi: North Korea’s Quest for Dollars</a>. To quote Bertil Lintner's above article in some length:
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"The restaurants were used to earn additional money for the government in Pyongyang – at the same time, they were suspected of laundering proceeds from North Korea’s more unsavory commercial activities. Restaurants and other cash-intensive enterprises are commonly used as conduits for wads of bills, which banks otherwise would not accept as deposits. For years, there have been various North Korean-themed restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai and other Chinese cities. But the first in Southeast Asia opened only in 2002 in the Cambodian town of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Siem Reap</a>. It became an instant success – especially with the thousands of South Korean tourists who flocked to see the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat. It was so successful that Pyongyang decided to open a second venue in the capital Phnom Penh in December 2003. A fairly large restaurant in the capital’s Boulevard Monivong, which offered indifferent Korean staple kimchi and other dishes and live entertainment by North Korean waitresses, closed earlier this year for lack of business." </blockquote>
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North Korean Food in Siem Reap, Cambodia </h2>
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Since the first of these restaurants in Southeast Asia was opened right here in Siem Reap I took the opportunity to visit one of these restaurants and get a glimpse of North Korean food culture. One of the Siem Reap restaurants closed, too, but one remains, so I am my wife went there one evening. The live entertainment has stopped--I understood the staff had been cut. The place was eerily empty with long tables of silence and shadowy booths. I imagine that Pyongyang has the same haunting emptiness. My wife thought the place was closed at first. </div>
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We were sat in a booth that offered nearly complete privacy, with high walls around it, despite the fact there was no one else in the entire place. The walls were lined with paintings of natural scenes, and there was an impressive bar of <i>shoji</i>--a Korean traditional liquor--but impressive prices.
The menu did feature a lot of dog dishes, but we went with duck and I had a North Korean sort of </div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3qzmOgt39Gw/TWjKwMwO6dI/AAAAAAAABO8/kZ6UIDcoLUY/s1600/DSCN0276.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3qzmOgt39Gw/TWjKwMwO6dI/AAAAAAAABO8/kZ6UIDcoLUY/s200/DSCN0276.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajeon"><i>pajeon</i></a> or a scallion and seafood pancake. </div>
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My coffee was mostly water and cost $2. The meal in total cost us nearly $50 (without alcoholic drinks) which is <i>amazingly </i>expensive for Cambodia--we eat in nice places for $20 with a couple of drinks or a few cocktails. I hope Kim Jung Il uses it for something nice, like cognac, rather than throwing a few extra dollars into one of his bad movies or crappy nuclear reactors. </div>
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<b>Little known fact: Kim Jung Il is the largest individual customer of Hennessey. </b></div>
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All in all, it wasn't so impressive. My simple questions like, "Do you like Cambodia?" and "Do you like North Korea" got affirmative answers from shy and not so attentive waitresses ("Come on, we are the only customers--some service, please?") and it was quickly clear they were trained to say polite affirmatives to anything. </div>
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I understand they all live under supervision--I guess you have to worry about your staff defecting when you are a regime running a restaurant. You have to admit, though, it creates a dependable work force . . . but it puts a new spin on the Soup Nazi, doesn't it . . . can you imagine if all Pizza Hut's workers were like indentured servants . . . or serfs. "I'll sell you the pizza place, and of course all the delivery boys come with it, as well as any children they might have . . .."
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The duck was good, but nothing exceptional, and the <i>pajeon </i>was just adequate. My wife, who is Cambodian herself, really doesn't get the whole North Korea/South Korea thing. She just thought I was nuts to pay so much for a meal like that or, worst, suspected perhaps I had a thing for Korean girls. However, I couldn't resist getting a picture taken with the North Korean waitresses in their rather unflattering traditional dresses before I went. At that point my significant other was convinced I must have a thing for Korean girls . . . and I have yet to convince her otherwise. Be advised, though, it will be a long time before I really want to eat at Pyongyang again--even if I am allowed.
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</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-28844760858306914282011-06-12T08:17:00.000-07:002011-09-17T22:34:54.261-07:00Southeast Asia Travel Budget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>After seeing so many questions, from how much does it cost to travel in Southeast Asia to how much bug repellent costs, we tried to put together a pan-Southeast Asia budget resource for a regular traveler. Of course, your cost depend a lot on your destination, but we've tried to break it down for you as much as possible as well as discussing some of the things that you are going to need to pay for.
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Before you Go to Southeast Asia<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1AEFCh36bM/TfTVE7FJFzI/AAAAAAAABd0/hRSWsmtFiZM/s1600/monk+by+waterfall.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1AEFCh36bM/TfTVE7FJFzI/AAAAAAAABd0/hRSWsmtFiZM/s320/monk+by+waterfall.JPG" width="320" /></a></h2>
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See our <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/01/southeast-asia-packing-list.html">Southeast Asia Packing List</a> before you go so you know what to take at the minimum. If you <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1AEFCh36bM/TfTVE7FJFzI/AAAAAAAABd0/hRSWsmtFiZM/s1600/monk+by+waterfall.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>need help finding <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/05/how-to-get-cheap-ticket-to-southeast.html">cheap airfare to Southeast Asia</a>, we've put together some resources as well to help you save some money from the get-go. Also, we recommend you always carry at least $200 emergency cash at all times and a backup credit card. Keep these separate from the rest of your money, and don't even carry this all in the same place.
Before you go, you probably need close to $200 in gear unless you already have a good backpack. Essential items to bring include things like extra glasses or contacts, long socks, a flashlight and some other essential items. Also, don't forget a passport. Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar do not offer visas on arrival to many foreign nationals, so be sure that you also pay for your visas in advance. </div>
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Southeast Asia Travel Budget</h1>
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We will come out and say it—you can't live in Southeast Asia on $5 a day, and unless you can make a lot of sacrifices $20 a day isn't going to keep you on the road, either. It is less expensive, generally, to go fewer places and stay longer. If you come to Cambodia and just stay in Siem Reap for the entire month, you can get by on less than $20 per day and see Angkor Wat to boot. However, the more places you go the more likely you are to add additional costs to your trip. Plan your budget to include the cost of traveling between destinations, particularly if flights or ferries are required. But remember—you can't see Vietnam in a week. Traveling quickly is like looking at the outside of a beautifully ornamented treasure chest—it is nice to look at, but the real treasure is inside. In terms of traveling, that means taking time to find the key and unlock the treasure chest. </div>
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We've given estimated costs for travelers to help figure how much your specific itinerary will cost. It is possible, of course, to trim all of these costs in almost every way. Many a backpacker like to brag that they can eat on $4 a day, but then they are probably also having ramen noodles for every meal. The estimates below also don't factor in days you may be able to cook for yourself or sterilizing your own water (which is a great idea for your budget and the environment). Buses are cheaper than flights, and many regional flights on low cost carrier AirAsia can be booked for $75 or less if you book in advance (and it is a good airline, too). Washing your own clothes, taking local buses, eating more cheaply, and taking night buses to save on a night's accommodation can all reduce these estimated costs.</div>
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These estimated costs though are all ample enough to plan your trip by, but the prices are not inflated. If you follow these figures, you will have enough to be safe and relatively comfortable for your journey.
In our first chart, we've included some costs for that might not have crossed your mind before heading out but are critical and in part may impact your itinerary. Also, don't forget the cost of getting in certain destinations. The Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur costs about $4 admission while a one day pass to Angkor Wat is $20 and three days is $40. Do some research and budget the admissions costs to must-see sites. Additionally, if there are certain activities you want to do, budget those as well. You can SCUBA dive for about $50 a day or less, but we'll probably shell out close to $200 or more to climb <a href="http://www.mrbrowngoesaround.com/2009/07/kota-kinabalu-climbing-southeast-asias.html">Kota Kinabalu</a>. Again, do some research and see how much it costs to do what you want.
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Travel in Southeast Asia: Hidden Costs</h2>
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<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>What?</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Estimated Costs</b></div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
<b>How Often?</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Intracity Bus Fare</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $12 per ticket</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
One per city
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Regional Airfare</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $150 one way</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per flight</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Visas</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $25 per visa to have one arranged</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
One per country if required (usually per month)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Water</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $2 per day</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per day</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Food</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $12 per day</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per Day</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Innercity Transport</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $5 per day</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per day</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Laundry</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $5 per week</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per week</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Toiletries</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
Estimate $15 per month</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per Month</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="128"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Admission Tickets</b></div>
</td>
<td width="159"><div align="CENTER">
$1-$60</div>
</td>
<td width="138"><div align="CENTER">
Per Destination</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEAn7aHuNUI/TfTWmtjOvXI/AAAAAAAABd4/sNwIUi6lvCM/s1600/cambodian+lantern+festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7uoIvcZAMU/TfTXddxEvOI/AAAAAAAABd8/3graBjHIoFM/s1600/bad+accomodation.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7uoIvcZAMU/TfTXddxEvOI/AAAAAAAABd8/3graBjHIoFM/s320/bad+accomodation.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad Accommodation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next biggest budget item is
accommodation. We've put together some sample budgets per night for
different major locations and taste. Our nice hotels aren't resorts,
but they are ones where there is no smell from the bathroom,
everything is clean, and it probably isn't a brother. These are
rough estimates, but they should work for most major cities. I know
someone will say that they know a great hostel in Penang that is just
$2 a night or there is a magnificent hidden hotel in Hanoi that is
just $20, but these are good estimates to go on. More off the beaten
track you get usually your accommodation options are cheaper as well.
All prices are in US $ and per night.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Accommodation Costs in Southeast Asia</h2>
<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; width: 450px;">
<colgroup><col width="99"></col>
<col width="99"></col>
<col width="114"></col>
<col width="104"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Country</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Hostel/Dorm</b></div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Cheap Hotel</b></div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
<b>Nice Hotel</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Singapore</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$10.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$30.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$50.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Malaysia</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$10.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$40.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Thailand</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$40.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Cambodia</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$12.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Laos</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$12.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Myanmar</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$10.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Vietnam</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$20.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$30.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Philippines</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$10.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$30.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="99"><b>Indonesia</b></td>
<td width="99"><div align="CENTER">
$5.00</div>
</td>
<td width="114"><div align="CENTER">
$10.00</div>
</td>
<td width="104"><div align="CENTER">
$30.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
How Much Does Insect Repellant Cost in Southeast Asia (and other questions)</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For Western items, including OFF, the prices are about the same. Crest Toothpaste costs about $3 in Phnom Pehn or in Guardian Pharmacy in Kuala Lumpur. Nivia deodorant costs $2.50 in Siem Reap and $3.00 in Bangkok. Less common items tend to be priced up just a bit. A can of insect repellant like OFF costs $4.50 and a dozen mosquito coils may cost $0.75 or a dollar. For other items, like groceries, Singapore tends to be close to Western prices on many items outside fresh produce. Everywhere imported produce items like strawberries and apples will be more expensive that in the west. Preparing your own food can save you costs, but only if you will be somewhere long enough to use your ingredients. Usually, cooking one's own food is mostly boiling ramen in the hostel kitchen or having cold cereal with milk. Anyway, we suggest for real budget travelers to estimate an additional $30 per week for splurges (a better hotel room for a couple nights), purchases (like a Khmer silk scarf and a couple for your friends), and the occasional treat (like a $7 beer in a Malaysian bar or a $10 massage in Cambodia).
</div>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
So How Much Does a Southeast Asia Trip Cost?</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPOffYggkQQ/TfTSkYZ_ivI/AAAAAAAABdw/ZjLYQPCIS1Y/s1600/cambodian+country+scene.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPOffYggkQQ/TfTSkYZ_ivI/AAAAAAAABdw/ZjLYQPCIS1Y/s320/cambodian+country+scene.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southeast Asia Rice Paddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Using the above figures, and not including what you have packed or your plane ticket, here are some budgets for certain itineraries. These aren't exactly customized itinerary, but the purpose is to give you some sense of the cost of such a trip. Comfortable budgets assume you have your laundry done for you and always stay in comfortable hotels. The tight budget assumes no laundry service and you stay in hostels or dorms. The supertight budget assumes you use local transportation services, do your own laundry, only use local transportation every other day (meaning you walk a lot), and that you don't drink alcohol (which just lowered your food costs an average of $2 per day). Also, these total budgets all don't include $200 emergency cash, but it should be considered a must-have expense. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia in Six Weeks</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Kuala Lumpur – Penang – Kota Bharu – Hatyai – Bangkok – Chang Rai – Siem Reap – Phnom Pehn -Sihanoukville – Phnom Pehn – Kuala Lumpur (fly back to depart) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>IN COMFORT:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$833 Visa for Cambodia, Food, Water,
Laundry, Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$120 Bus Fares</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$728 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$180 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$150 Airfare (PP to KL)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$2081 Total (without trip insurance) in
comfort or $49.54 Per Day</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>BUDGET:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$803 Visa for Cambodia, Food, Water,
Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$120 Bus Fares</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$350 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$180 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$100 Airfare (PP to KL—you booked
ahead!)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$1623 Total (without trip insurance) or
$39.59 a day</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>TIGHT BUDGET:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$616 Visa for Cambodia, Food, Water,
Laundry, Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$100 Bus Fares</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$350 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$130 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$100 Airfare (PP to KL—you booked
ahead!)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$1366 Total (without trip insurance) or
$33.32 per day
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam in
three weeks</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Bangkok – Siem Reap – Phnom Pehn –
Ho Chi Mihn
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>IN COMFORT:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$494 Visas for Vietnamese and Cambodia,
Food, Water, Laundry, Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$48 Bus Fare</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$364 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$90 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$1066 Total (without trip insurance) or
$50.76 per day</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>BUDGET:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$479 Visas for Vietnamese and Cambodia,
Food, Water, Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$48 Bus Fare</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$105 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$90 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$792 Total (without trip insurance) or
$37.71</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>TIGHT BUDGET:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$387 Visas for Vietnamese and Cambodia,
Food, Water, Toiletries, Daily Transportation Costs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$40 Bus Fare</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$105 Accommodation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$70 Admissions</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$45 Miscellaneous Expenses</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
----</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
$647 Total (without trip insurance) or
$30.81 per day</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
+$200 Emergency Money (that hopefully
you get to take back home with you)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEAn7aHuNUI/TfTWmtjOvXI/AAAAAAAABd4/sNwIUi6lvCM/s1600/cambodian+lantern+festival.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEAn7aHuNUI/TfTWmtjOvXI/AAAAAAAABd4/sNwIUi6lvCM/s320/cambodian+lantern+festival.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Southeast Asia is an amazing place, and even if it does cost a bit more than what you were expecting, it is still completely worth the time and savings to explore it in a comfortable way that also helps support the local economy. We hope that these figures and budgets offer some help in planning your stay in Southeast Asia. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEAn7aHuNUI/TfTWmtjOvXI/AAAAAAAABd4/sNwIUi6lvCM/s1600/cambodian+lantern+festival.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-78072573908919307062011-06-10T10:10:00.000-07:002011-06-10T10:16:56.539-07:00Cambodia Travel Itinerary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Cambodian
Travel Itinerary</h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b> C</b>ambodia
is a wonderful place to visit or make an extended stay. Tourist visas
are good for 30 days, and can be renewed once for an additional 30
days. Tour operators charge $45-50 dollars to arrange an extension
and is worth it to avoid the trip to do so yourself. We also suggest
getting a visa on arrival rather than an E-Visa. We have give one
itinerary for travelers, assuming you are entering from Bangkok. The suggested time for the intinery below to two weeks. Beginning at the border in Poipet, you will first go to Sisaphon where you will stay for two nights as you set out for the remote ruins of Bantaey Chmar. From there, you will travel to the provincial capital of Battambang, and then by boat to Siem Reap where you will take in Angkor Wat and other unique treats. From here you will go to the bustling capital of Phnom Penh with local markets and glistening malls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></h2>
<h2>
<b>Banteay
Chmar and Sisaphon</b></h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RL9sJJ85KD4/S0rKeLUEBKI/AAAAAAAAAks/43nd6W23Auo/s1600/DSC05172.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Two
Nights</b> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RL9sJJ85KD4/S0rKeLUEBKI/AAAAAAAAAks/43nd6W23Auo/s1600/DSC05172.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RL9sJJ85KD4/S0rKeLUEBKI/AAAAAAAAAks/43nd6W23Auo/s320/DSC05172.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poipet Border Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Most
travelers coming from Bangkok will enter enter through the
Aranyapathet/Poipet border </span><span style="font-size: small;">crossing. You can simply walk up the
window and get your tourist visa. There will be touts trying to
convince you that you have to get your visa from them. They will
charge you $10-20 more than the price of simply doing it yourself.
The border crossing is clearly demarcated. Aranyapathet and its acres
and acres of market is interesting for a night if so feel like
hanging in Thailand another day. The border is an easy walk from the
market—they connect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A
tax costs $30-40 all the way to Siem Reap. However, for an
adventurous look at Cambodia that you will never forget is breaking
up the journey with a dirtbike ride to <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/11/banteay-chmar-travelers-tale.html">Banteay
Chmar</a>. Don't pay more than $15 or $20 for a shared car. You will
need to tell the driver to let you out as Sisaphon (pronounced
Sis-a-poon), and as Poipet is a lifeless city, I'd go there
immediately. On the other side of the border, though, is There is one
decent hotel and two very basic guesthouses. You are actually dropped
in front of the main hotel where there are usually a few motorcycle
taxis to hire. After a night here—the ride from Bangkok and
crossing the border and getting here takes 10 hours—you will come
back here to find a moto to take you to Banteay Chmar, a remote
temple ruin.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIDNAy2Xu_Q/S0rLk22YYVI/AAAAAAAAAk0/1l8NseecSQc/s1600/DSC05338.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIDNAy2Xu_Q/S0rLk22YYVI/AAAAAAAAAk0/1l8NseecSQc/s320/DSC05338.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3310963952707004476" name="SPELLING_ERROR_18"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3310963952707004476" name="SPELLING_ERROR_17"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3310963952707004476" name="SPELLING_ERROR_16"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3310963952707004476" name="SPELLING_ERROR_15"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3310963952707004476" name="SPELLING_ERROR_14"></a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The 12th-13th century temple of
Banteay Chmar,
built in the Bayon style, if far off the beaten </span><span style="font-size: small;">track. It takes more
than an hour or an hour and a half to reach. The route is all a red
dirt road, and it is all on the back of a Khmer motorcycle. It is not
for the faint of heart, but the contrast it provides to the hordes at
Angkor is amazing, and it would be appreciated by all who might find
Angkor just a little too crowded than they had dreamed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The temple itself is in
disrepair. Most of the jungle has been cleared from it, but the task
of putting it back together is still years and years from being
complete. There are ancient halls, partially standing, pillars rising
up from tumbled down stones, reliefs carved into standing walls and
scattered about where other walls have fallen, pushed out of place by
roots and time. As such, it provided a glimpse of what Angkor and
surrounding temples might have been like before their 40+ year
restoration process. There were tumbled down towers, ancient halls.</span></div>
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<h2>
<b>Battambang</b></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Three
Nights</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back
in Sisapon, you can easily arrange transportation to Battambang from
here. <a href="http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/battintro.htm">Battambang</a>
is an interesting colonial town and in the middle of Cambodia's
breadbasket, having some of the most productive rice paddy as
anywhere. It is not frequently visited by tourists, but enough that
it has ample accommodations available for backpackers and luxury
travelers alike—it is actually Cambodia's second largest city. Of
it, however, Canby Publications notes that, “unlike more touristed
towns, the local economy is truly local, based firmly in rice, wood,
sapphires and food crops, and [this] is reflected in the character of
the town.” Taking in the colonial architecture of the town,
observing the bustling life of the Khmer farmers and business people
around you can be a great way to relax after the hustle and bustle of
Bangkok or the hordes of beach tourists. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You could make an outing to
nearby <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/northwestern-cambodia/wat-ek-phnom">Ek
Phrom</a>, an 11</span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size: small;">
century ruin. Not often visited by tourists, it is popular as an
outing location for locals. Phnom Banan could also be taken in from
Battambang. The Provincial Museum </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; font-size: small;">(hours:
8AM-11AM/2PM-5PM) is also not to be missed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Arranging
transportation from here to Siem Reap by boat can be arranged. It is
much more expensive than bus fare, and takes six to eight hours—about
twice that of a bus—but offers a change to glimpse river life as
well as exotic birds. Just try to get a seat inside—otherwise, you
will sun burn on top of the boat. And also, choose your board wisely.
Otherwise, bus transportation is easy to arrange from your guesthouse
or on your own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></h2>
<h2>
<b>Siem
Reap</b></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Six
Nights</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Arriving
after a six hour boat ride, you are going to want to find a place to
relax. Accommodation is readily available—there are literally
hundreds of places to stay from the suites only sheiks can afford to
two dollar a night dorm beds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5Vu9WhCZsI/TfJK3vZuLGI/AAAAAAAABdE/ZBMaNZHkDRk/s1600/angkor+wat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5Vu9WhCZsI/TfJK3vZuLGI/AAAAAAAABdE/ZBMaNZHkDRk/s1600/angkor+wat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angkor Wat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The
next day, get yourself a tuk-tuk early and hit the temple circuit and
see <a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/ancient/lost-tombs/angkor-wat-video.html">Angkor
Wat</a>. Three days to do the temple circuit here is perfect. While
it may be almost too many temples to take in, if you just see Angkor
Thom and Angkor Wat, you will be missing a lot of amazing art and
architecture. There are other things to see and do around Siem Reap.
For your next two full days in Siem Reap, we recommend you take in
some other activities besides just temple exploring.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We
suggest spending a morning learning to cook a Khmer dish at the <a href="http://www.letigredepapier.com/">Le
Tigre de Papier</a>. Usually classes cover a unique Khmer dish, like
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">amok</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">,
and a side like fresh spring rolls. The cost is under $12 at time of
press, and the proceeds benefit students at a local hotelier school.
It begins with a guided trip to the psar (market) at 10 AM, and then
you return to the kitchen to cook. Exploring <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/11/eating-angkor-adventures-with-cambodian.html">Cambodian
food</a> is a true adventure in itself! You get to make your own
lunch!If you are a bigger spender, <a href="http://www.helicopterscambodia.com/scenic.php">helicopter
rides over Angkor Wat</a> begin at $90 for 8 minutes up to $300 for
30 minutes. Or perhaps hot air balloon ride would be more to your
taste—your tuk-tuk driver can take you there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7FaDylvVaU/TfJLS0EZz7I/AAAAAAAABdI/FiExh-SwsIs/s1600/bike+siem+reap+country+scene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7FaDylvVaU/TfJLS0EZz7I/AAAAAAAABdI/FiExh-SwsIs/s320/bike+siem+reap+country+scene.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have a bike ride to take in the country scenery<br />
at your own place</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Renting
a <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/06/siem-reap-bike-routes.html">bike
in Siem Reap</a> or morning or afternoon for a leisurely bike ride
through the Cambodian countryside is also a great way to get exercise
if climbing around in temples wasn't enough. It costs about $2 a day
to rent a bicycle. An evening massage before having drinks on Pub
Street is wonderful. Most massage parlors really are just massage
parlors, and massages cost $5-7 per hour, but you should always tip
your masseuse. There are also some excellent spas, and thirty dollars
will go a long way towards getting you pampered. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You could go to the
Western Baray, about thirty minutes outside of town. This Angkor-era
man-made reservoir is popular with Khmer families and is also visited
by the occasional bus of Korean tourists. While we don't recommend
swimming in fresh water in Southeast Asia, it is up to you if you'd
like to get your feet wet or take a boat to the Linga Island in its
center. </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></h2>
<h2>
<b>Phnom
Penh </b></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Three
Nights</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Phnom
Penh is the last stop on our itinerary, and is 30 minutes by air and
six hours by bus. From here, you can arrange transportation to Ho Chi
Minh City in Vietnam or Chau Duc in Vietnam or transportation on to
Laos as well as the needed onward visas. The international airport
here also offers flights linking Cambodia to regional travel hubs as
well as to major international carriers. That includes Bangkok
Airlines and Thai Airways to Bangkok, Lao Airlines to Vientiane,
Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Dragon Airlines to
Hong Kong, Silk Air to Singapore, Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines to
Kuala Lumpur, EVA Air to Taipei, Asiana Airlines to Seoul and
multiple Chinese airlines flying to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
It can also serve as the next logical jumping off point to other
Cambodian destinations like <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/02/sihanoukville-hotels-and-activities.html">Sihanoukville</a>
or Krati. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VT_zLOhm5_4/TfJOGoIfZlI/AAAAAAAABdQ/nGn6_ioMGBY/s1600/Psa+Thmei+-central+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VT_zLOhm5_4/TfJOGoIfZlI/AAAAAAAABdQ/nGn6_ioMGBY/s200/Psa+Thmei+-central+market.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central Market Before Its Make-Over</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">We
suggest you begin your journey in the recently remodeled Central
Market, a structure that was emptied by the Khmer Rouge but stands as
a testament—the market will survive. It is a contrast both in goods
and in price from the sleek Western-inspired mall just a hop, skip
and a jump away. Sorya Mall, the largest mall in the country and a
place to see happening Khmers hanging out. It also featured a very
hygenic and really quite spectacular food court and is a great way to
go street fare in a clean albeit more pricy establishment. Starting
in the Central Market in the morning and then having lunch in the air
conditioned mall can be a wonderful way to beat the heat for a little
while. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The riverfront
area along Sisowath Quay is an excellent place for fine Western
cuisine, although a few of the establishments are overpriced due to
the cost of rent in an expensive real estate area. Places to avoid
include McPaddy's and the Green Vespa. French cuisine is predominant,
but Thai and other Western dishes are well prepared all along the
riverfront. More cultural sites in the area include the Royal Place,
also in the riverfront area. The huge compound is a full city block
and features the Silver Pagoda. The temple's official name is Preah
Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo
in Khmer. It houses Cambodia's Emerald Buddha and is the official
temple of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Cambodia">King
of Cambodia</a>. Nearby the National Museum houses Angkorian
artifacts and other exhibits mostly about Cambodia's glorious past
and not the more recent, darker days of the Khmer Rouge. For that,
many tourists find themselves at <a href="http://www.tuolsleng.com/">Tuol
Sleng Genocide Museum</a>, also known as S-21. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Id-aSXcXRc/TfJNGGHWpwI/AAAAAAAABdM/iES5kxJ5FEM/s1600/S-21+prisoner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Id-aSXcXRc/TfJNGGHWpwI/AAAAAAAABdM/iES5kxJ5FEM/s200/S-21+prisoner.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo ©
Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Tuol Sleng, </span><span style="font-size: small;">the
former torture/prison death camp, is a grim reminder of just how
recently the genocidal Khmer Rouge terrorized this nation. The Khmer
Rouge's surviving leadership is only being prosecuted today with the
leader of S-21, the notorious Comrade Dutch, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khang_Khek_Ieu">Khang
Khek Ieu</a>, already convicted of crimes against humanity. The Khmer
Rouge obsessively documented their killing machine, and haunting
photos of the 10,000 victims who came through these walls now line
them. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choeung_Ek">Choeung
Ek</a>, the infamous "Killing Fields," are located 15km
south of Phnom Penh. Visitors walk between excavated mass graves, the
land still littered with pieces of clothing and bone shards. It also
houses a three story stupa filled with human skulls, a mound of
clothing at its bottom. It is a chilling and emotional tolling
experience to visit, and sensitive tourists often tear up when
confronted with the enormity of human suffering the Khmer had endured
in the last forty years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Three nights or two full
days is enough to take in many of the prime sites of Phnom Pehn, but
an extra day can make your visit more leisurely. It costs about $7-10
for a tuk-tuk to the airport from about anywhere in the city, and
there is an airport departure fee of $25 for foreigners that will
have to be paid in cash. Transportation on to Ho Chi Minh is $12-15.
To other Cambodian destinations, the price varies accordingly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Safe travels, and enjoy your
time in the wonderful Kingdom of Cambodia.</span>
</div>
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</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-11395094537260572532011-06-04T04:08:00.000-07:002013-03-16T23:45:42.739-07:00Siem Reap Bike Routes: Cycling in Siem Reap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWvZGoYZB04/TeoKqBRj4AI/AAAAAAAABbs/jQ1dQ5Jdhho/s1600/bike+siem+reap+country+scene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="f"><cite></cite></span><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWvZGoYZB04/TeoKqBRj4AI/AAAAAAAABbs/jQ1dQ5Jdhho/s320/bike+siem+reap+country+scene.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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Cycling in <a href="http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srhome.htm">Siem Reap</a> is great.<br />
<br />
Most hotels have bikes to rent (about $2 a day is standard), and to purchase a bike costs starting at about $30. Combined with the flat terrain and the relatively light, bicycle-conscious traffic, cycling can be a great way to venture into the countryside and not be at the mercy of your tuk-tuk driver.<br />
<br />
We've put together a bike routes in and around Siem Reap, <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia">Cambodia</a> for most fitness levels--you can do the whole loop or cut it short at anytime and still not have to backtrack. We've also not included anything inside the <a href="http://www.autoriteapsara.org/en/apsara.html">Apsara Authority</a> which requires Angkor admissions. We will share a Temple Bike Route at another time, but just for those of you venturing out be aware it is 10 kilometers from the Old Market to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat">Angkor Wat</a>. Doing a temple circuit on a bike if for the fit only.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVgMtZJF7qU/TeoJwmYSWhI/AAAAAAAABbU/LsbYDsN_cHM/s1600/bicycle+southeast+asia.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVgMtZJF7qU/TeoJwmYSWhI/AAAAAAAABbU/LsbYDsN_cHM/s200/bicycle+southeast+asia.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes a bike is the best <br />
way to get out of town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
Siem Reap Bike Trail</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
This beautiful bike route dodges most of the city traffic and takes your through the heart of Khmer country, through paddy fields and on all paved roads. You'll be delighted by the countryside scenes of children swimming in ponds or the waves of farmer's from their trucks or fields. Traffic is very light except the last leg on Highway Six. but it has a wide shoulder for bikes and after the halfway point were it intersects Airport Road there is an empty service lane. It is perfect for a cool down. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFqyLEiFQRA/TeoJ0IUQewI/AAAAAAAABbk/Ddsq135hmgg/s1600/cambodian+monsoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFqyLEiFQRA/TeoJ0IUQewI/AAAAAAAABbk/Ddsq135hmgg/s200/cambodian+monsoon.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be sure to check the skies.<br />
In rainy reason, it is best to bring an<br />
umbrella and freezer bag for your <br />
camera, phone, or anything that <br />
can't get wet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Starting from the Old market, Cross the bridge over the river (heading east). There is immediately a roundabout--continue going straight, away from the river. You will stay on this--<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/DPQhz" target="_blank">High School Road</a>--until it intersects a wide paved road and then you will turn <b>right</b>. On the other side of this intersection, High School Road is only paved for a few meters and becomes a dirt road, so if you come to a dirt road you know you should have made a right a few meters before.<br />
<br />
You will continue straight on this stretch for quite a while, and it
goes through some lovely, lovely countryside. You will cross an bridge
and then immediately a paved intersection. For those of you with less
endurance, you can make a <b>right </b>here and will arrive back at the Old
Market by following this river road--<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/jqCs1" target="_blank">Highway 63</a>. This is the Quarter
Country Route and is 9.7 km long. That is about 6 miles for you Americans.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Siem Reap Quarter Country Bike Route</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Sivatha+Rd&daddr=High+School+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:Sivatha+Rd&geocode=FRDEywAdgK0wBg%3BFfKgywAdWgoxBg%3BFXN2ywAdKaIwBg%3BFRvCywAdP60wBg&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=3&sz=15&sll=13.347032,103.861399&sspn=0.0195,0.027595&ie=UTF8&ll=13.337595,103.857665&spn=0.0195,0.027595&t=h&output=embed" width="400"></iframe></div>
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Sivatha+Rd&daddr=High+School+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:Sivatha+Rd&geocode=FRDEywAdgK0wBg%3BFfKgywAdWgoxBg%3BFXN2ywAdKaIwBg%3BFRvCywAdP60wBg&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=3&sz=15&sll=13.347032,103.861399&sspn=0.0195,0.027595&ie=UTF8&ll=13.337595,103.857665&spn=0.0195,0.027595&t=h" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPr56eW38EU/TeoJ0jqi2fI/AAAAAAAABbo/sHLCLKZyHcM/s1600/evening+in+cambodia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPr56eW38EU/TeoJ0jqi2fI/AAAAAAAABbo/sHLCLKZyHcM/s320/evening+in+cambodia.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
For those of you with more endurance and an adventurous spirit, go <b>straight </b>over the bridge and enjoy more countryside scene. <u>Any right</u> you make will bring you back to Siem Reap, and this road ends by intersecting <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/2Us3t" target="_blank">Highway 6</a> (again, turn left to head back towards town), so you can cut the trip in about half if you find yourself too tired. Otherwise, continue on!<br />
<br />
You'll pass two noticeable intersections--both have pavement for a least the first few meters. Then you will come to a pave three-way intersection in which the road noticeably splits (there is a fourth, unpaved lane here so technically it is a four way intersection). If you <b>veer left</b> as indicated on the map you will be on the Siem Reap Bypass Road, a paved country road that is a great ride through the country and continues straight until it intersects National Road 6. From here, <b>turn </b>right and pedal your way back into town. This route is 26.7 km. That is just under 17 miles.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Siem Reap Full Country Bike Route</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=High+School+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:13.334083,103.8509912+to:Unknown+road+to:13.3708662,103.8214171+to:National+Route+6+%28Airport+Road%29+to:National+Route+6+%28Airport+Road%29+to:Unknown+road&geocode=Fae3ywAd658wBg%3BFRehywAd-gkxBg%3BFVJ9ywAdIugwBg%3BFUN2ywAd76MwBikXZ31QwxkQMTHcug0SNqRS5w%3BFazLywAdBncwBg%3BFfIFzAAdaTAwBikTpo0xNRcQMTFrTFI_IoCXow%3BFQBvzAAd7tsvBg%3BFfjqywAddrIwBg%3BFdK7ywAdyKEwBg&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=3,5&sll=13.348285,103.868866&sspn=0.039501,0.055189&ie=UTF8&ll=13.348285,103.868866&spn=0.039501,0.055189&t=h&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=High+School+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:13.334083,103.8509912+to:Unknown+road+to:13.3708662,103.8214171+to:National+Route+6+%28Airport+Road%29+to:National+Route+6+%28Airport+Road%29+to:Unknown+road&geocode=Fae3ywAd658wBg%3BFRehywAd-gkxBg%3BFVJ9ywAdIugwBg%3BFUN2ywAd76MwBikXZ31QwxkQMTHcug0SNqRS5w%3BFazLywAdBncwBg%3BFfIFzAAdaTAwBikTpo0xNRcQMTFrTFI_IoCXow%3BFQBvzAAd7tsvBg%3BFfjqywAddrIwBg%3BFdK7ywAdyKEwBg&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=3,5&sll=13.348285,103.868866&sspn=0.039501,0.055189&ie=UTF8&ll=13.348285,103.868866&spn=0.039501,0.055189&t=h" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">
Remember if you are planning on cycling:</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Headgear is always recommended</li>
<li>Don't ride after dark outside of town </li>
<li>Sunglasses can help protect your eyes from dust thrown up by other traffic--very important in the dry season especially</li>
<li>Wear sunscreen--you will burn or have a very apparent farmer's tan</li>
<li>Take a bottle of water with you--because this is a countryside ride you may not be able to buy water when you want it</li>
<li>Smile at people--it means a lot, and it will make your bike ride much more fun</li>
<li>You can find more <a href="http://wellnessletter.com/html/fw/fwFit06Cycling.html">cycling tips</a> at UK Berkeley's Foundations of Wellness</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
</ul>
</div>
Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-64327856648468999612011-06-02T11:30:00.000-07:002011-06-03T00:23:56.382-07:00Southern India Travel Itinerary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Q: What is the best South India itinerary? </span><i> </i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY018AN1-dM/TefVEMImsPI/AAAAAAAABa4/x4Ep-Ot6-qA/s1600/Belur+Goddess+Snake.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY018AN1-dM/TefVEMImsPI/AAAAAAAABa4/x4Ep-Ot6-qA/s320/Belur+Goddess+Snake.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naga Goddess, Belur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Response to a question from a reader about what is a good three </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>week South India travel itinerary. While outside of Southeast Asia, we thought we'd answer it with an article since of our editor lived in Southern India most of the last half decade.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A:</span>I suggest you begin in Southern Kerala, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kochi,_India">Kochi (Cochin)</a>, and work your way up the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Malabar Coast </a>all the way to Mangalore. From there, you can drive or take a bus on a good, mostly new highway connecting it to Bangalore. From Bangalore you can easily traverse across another good road or take the Shatabdi Express Train to Chennai.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Si_C4mBwahs/S7xFjfCffEI/AAAAAAAAAoA/zulERppVFk8/s1600/All+Camera+Pictures+284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Si_C4mBwahs/S7xFjfCffEI/AAAAAAAAAoA/zulERppVFk8/s320/All+Camera+Pictures+284.jpg" width="320" /></a>It would be leisurely time. Cochin is right in the <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Backwaters.png">Backwaters</a>. From there, you can easily organize your trip to the backwaters while you explore a place that was an ancient confluence of cultures. The <a href="http://www.jcpa.org/dje/articles/cochin-pref.htm">Kochin Jewish community</a> here dates back to the Babylon Exile and Nestorian Christians already long established here when the first Catholic missionaries came to India. <br />
<br />
After the backwaters and seeing a beautiful peak at India's human and natural landscape, you could hop over to an Arabian Gulf beach. Whether you want one that is one of the new "hot spots" for backpackers or try to find one less touched, it is easy from here. You could even plan on visiting both as you work your way north!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuLdAXy7l4k/TVKB4SL__UI/AAAAAAAABIk/OEE3cpxeoEM/s1600/DSC08780.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuLdAXy7l4k/TVKB4SL__UI/AAAAAAAABIk/OEE3cpxeoEM/s320/DSC08780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carving from Halebid Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the beach, a night or two in <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=mangalore&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x3ba35a4c37bf488f:0x827bbc7a74fcfe64,Mangalore,+Karnataka,+India&ei=Fs7nTeH4IYW0vgOLwbHtDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ8gEwAA">Mangalore</a> will give you enough time to plan a trip to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1378223359">Halebid </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX7waUUsbOo">and </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX7waUUsbOo">Belur</a> (there are a few other temples that can be covered in this "circuit" including a significant <a href="http://www.jainism.org/">Jain</a> shrine) as well as sample some Konkin Coast cooking. Mangalorean <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Konkani </a>food--a ethnic/linguistic group that are largely Christian--is delightful and like nothing else on the continent. If you are able, try the pork curries (buffat curried) and the famous crabs.<br />
<br />
Halebid and Belur lie halfway between Mangalore and Bangalore. They are popular with Indian tourists, but over the weekends there will be very few. They are very significant examples of Southern India art and architecture. It is best to hire a driver or rent a car, but tour operators can help you arrange things if you need help.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="286" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oX7waUUsbOo" width="450"></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSCs8yMCJdY/TefVZQhCPZI/AAAAAAAABa8/q5Q18RIwem8/s1600/South+India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSCs8yMCJdY/TefVZQhCPZI/AAAAAAAABa8/q5Q18RIwem8/s1600/South+India.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSCs8yMCJdY/TefVZQhCPZI/AAAAAAAABa8/q5Q18RIwem8/s320/South+India.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between Bangalore and Chennai</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.discoverbangalore.com/">Bangalore </a>is very cosmopolitan with lots of IT but not much infrastructure although a megabucks rail system is under construction. In the meantime, traffic can be glacial. I lived there for nearly four years. Really--you need to sometimes leave hours in advance in order to reach the other side of the city in time. I do suggest taking in the Hari Krishna Temple and visiting the Nandhi Temple. It and the one you would have seen earlier at Belur are among India's largest nandhis. In a single day you can take in the sights with an autorickshaw or by car. There is also Sri Sri has an ashram not far from the city center you can visit that is very beautiful, but if I remember you have to arrange your visit in advance. If you can make the four or five hour journey (depending on when you leave) to Mysore, the cultural heart of Karnataka, then I highly suggest it as an overnight trip. Otherwise, I suggest doing some shopping at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Commerical Street</a> and along MG Road or in some of the megamalls like Guruda Mall. <br />
<br />
If you liked, you could travel to Chennia from here. Take the <a href="http://www.indianrail.gov.in/shatabdi_trn_list.html">Shatabdi Express</a> train to Chennai. If you don't do a lot of train travel it can be a fun and comfortable trip. I used to commute back and forth from Chennai and Bangalore and take the midnight express and be in Chennai fairly early in the morning. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5zwv6YNZes/TefUxDhvnQI/AAAAAAAABa0/bND0lHrO0uQ/s1600/kanchipuram+scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5zwv6YNZes/TefUxDhvnQI/AAAAAAAABa0/bND0lHrO0uQ/s320/kanchipuram+scene.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kanchipuram Temple Carving</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A very interesting temple town off the beaten path is <a href="http://kanchipuram%20/">Kanchipuram </a>an hour or two from Chennai. You can get off a bus early to get here, and there is a train station (but the Shabadi doesn't stop here--it is an express train). I stayed in <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=Kanchipuram&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Kanchipuram,+Tamil+Nadu,+India&z=12">Kanchipuram </a>for five nights once and never saw another foreigner during my entire time. It is a much more intimate experience than going to somewhere like Madurai, and I thought more exciting. It is a small enough town you can easily walk everywhere and there is very little traffic. I took a very long, perhaps five mile walk out into the countryside from here once and it was really a special experience. I got invited into three or four houses for tea, sometimes when we only shared a handful or words with my broken Tamil and their broken English. <br />
<br />
If you go as far as Chennai, then you will have crossed Southern India to the Bay of Bengal. If you can, go to Mahabalipuram. If is again very popular with Indian tourists. There are several excellent resorts like Marina Beach that although expensive are well worth it. They would be a very relaxing place for a few days more on the seaside before probably facing the horror that is flying out of India. I am not sure about now, but when I flew out of Chennai in February I stood in the security line for two and a half hours because they are remodeling one wing! <br />
<br />
This would be a very great trip over three weeks and let you see a large swath of Southern India culture, nature and people.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All photos © Jarrod Brown 2007</span> </div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-78344564209781677232011-05-22T05:10:00.000-07:002013-03-16T23:27:05.502-07:00Southeast Asia Funk Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Southeast Asia travel isn't just about
beaches and ancient temples. It is also about <i>Rock and Roll!</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mr.
Brown (<a href="http://www.mrbrowngoesaround.com/">Goes Around</a>),who ocassionally posts mixes to his person blog as well, has been kind enough to share with us some of the gems of
his collection of 60's and 70's Southeast Asia Funk, an eclectic
blend of Eastern sounds and Western rock. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">In
this mix of fourteen fabulous and funky tunes, you can find songs
spanning from Medan to Saigon. Offering an excellent survey of the
progressive rock and funk traditions from across the Southeast Asia
region, it is the perfect companion to download to your iPod for
those long, cold bus from Bangkok rides, drown out the two drunk
Australians who just came back to the dorm, or impress your friends with how urbane your tastes are. Just click on the title to download the mix as a zipped file complete with playlist.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/2w3bkbjnoeq4jdn/southeast%20asia%20funk.ziphttp://www.mediafire.com/file/2w3bkbjnoeq4jdn/southeast%20asia%20funk.ziphttp://www.mediafire.com/file/2w3bkbjnoeq4jdn/southeast%20asia%20funk.zip" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4p7ssLzhdQ/TdZO7_Hm-8I/AAAAAAAABYI/0Wzul1cFF_M/s200/southeast-asia-funk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: orange; color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/100534766/southeast%20asia%20funk.zip" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Southeast Asia Funk Collection</span></b></span></a></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Never
Loved</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Hongthong Dao
Udon (</span><i>Thailand</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Gentlemen
Chill Out Bar</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Ros
Sereysothea and Sinn Sisamouth (</span><i>Cambodia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Hilang</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Golden
Wings (</span><i>Indonesia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Tóc
Mai Sợi Vắn Sợi Dài (Long, Uneven Hair)</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Thành
Mái (</span><i>Vietnam</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Evil
War</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Shark Move
(</span><i>Indonesia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Yang
Hai Mun Kong (Don't Let Them Cheat)</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Royal
Sprite (</span><i>Thailand</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Hờn
Anh Giận Em (Jealousy)</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Hùng
Cường & Mai Lệ Huyền</span><i> (Vietnam)</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Srey
No (Lady Named No)</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Sinn
Sismouth (</span><i>Cambodia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Cái
Trâm Em Cài (Your Hair Clip)</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">--Carol
Kim (</span><i>Vietnam</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Bong
Ja Bong</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Daw Bandon
(</span><i>Thailand</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Each
and Every Flower</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Grace
Lee and the Stylers (</span><i>Singapore</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Sa
Ra Wan</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Chantana
Kittiyapan (</span><i>Thailand</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Why
Are You Not Smiling</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Grace
Lee and the Stylers (</span><i>Singapore</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Unknown
Title</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">—Ros Sereysothea
(</span><i>Cambodia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">You
may notice there is no Filipino, Malay, Burmese or Laotian tunes here. If you want, Mr.
Brown suggests you check out <a href="http://www.myspace.com/zalehahamid">Zaleha
Hamid</a> for some happening Malay tunes from the 60's and 70's. Also, while it didn't make it onto this mix, you can download a great Filipino funk song from SMACK, </span><a href="http://aseam.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SMACK-Isang-Halik-Lang-Rock-Baby-Rock-OST.mp3">Isang Halik Lang (Rock Baby Rock).</a> It comes from the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Southeast Asia Music Archive</a>, which also has some other funk regional music to be found.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Classic Burmese or Lao funk—well, if anyone knows anything about it,
please let us know! </span>
</div>
</div>
Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-55839210920998860082011-05-21T22:27:00.000-07:002014-04-24T14:50:33.889-07:00How to Get a Cheap Ticket to Southeast Asia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MawzWnNRTXw/TfoAypoEW5I/AAAAAAAABfA/XDFsXh1nCv4/s1600/cheap+southeast+asia+ticket.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MawzWnNRTXw/TfoAypoEW5I/AAAAAAAABfA/XDFsXh1nCv4/s320/cheap+southeast+asia+ticket.jpeg" height="207" width="320" /></a><i>Southeast Asia is a wonderfully inexpensive place to travel. It
is just that getting there usually isn't so cheap. In case you are
looking for cheap flights to Southeast Asia, it is best to begin
looking early. As frequently fliers and Southeast Asia wanderers,
we've put together a list of ten tips to hopefully help you save
money on your Southeast Asian air fare to put to better use while
traveling on the ground.</i></div>
<br />
<h2>
Find a Cheap Southeast Asia Flight </h2>
<ol>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Book your air travel as far in
advance as possible, but set up a Kayak Alert to monitor fairs. </span></b>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
You can expect
air fares to increase rather than decrease as your travel date
approaches. However, there can be occasional market news, such as
dips in oil price, that can occasionally cause the cost of a ticket
to (temporarily) reduce. You can set up an alert on <a href="http://kayak.com/flights">Kayak.Com</a>
to track air fare costs to certain destinations. This can be
especially helpful if you are planning your trip more than six
months or more in advance. We still suggest you book your ticket
at least 90 days in advance, however, as after that fare will likely
only increase—and a lot.</div>
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book directly from the
airline's Web site.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
While Kayak.com
is our favorite search site for international tickets, but when
flying between Southeast Asian destinations, <i>look at the
airlines' Web sites directly</i>. Kayak can alert you to
what tickets are probably cheapest, and then you can go directly to
the airline to actually purchase your ticket. In our opinion,
Orbitz and Expedia are simply pains that tack on additional costs to airfares, and we've had poor experiences with them both. Now, we always buy a ticket from the airlines directly.
Most airlines guarantee a direct booking with them is the cheapest
available fare (or you get the difference back), but also it makes
customer service much easier as you deal with the airline directly,
not a third party reseller. <br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Look at other arrival
destinations.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
You might be
planning on a trip that starts in Singapore and allows you to work
your way up the Malay peninsula, or maybe Bangkok is your jumping
off point. If you can be flexible, though, you can compare the
fares to the major Southeast Asia travel hubs—<a href="http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/">Suvarnabhumi </a>in Bangkok, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Kuala
Lumpur International Airport</a>, and Singapore's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Changi</a>. Reversing your journey or other arrival/departure changes can sometime save you hundred of dollars. If flying west, Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh
or even Siem Reap can sometimes offer up deals. Also it can sometimes be
cheaper to arrive at another travel hub and then book a forwarding
ticket from there to your preferred arrival destination on another
airline. See<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>#7</b></span> below--we once saved $600 by flying to Bangkok and booking a forwarding flight to Siem Reap rather than booking a direct flight.<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>See if there are any promotions
you can avail. </b></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Promotions
usually require you book tickets during certain dates and then
travel during later, specified dates, and that means planning ahead.
These can, if you find them, result in big savings. You can often
register with specific airlines to receive notifications about deals
to certain destinations.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
For region
providers, you can check out Southeast Asia airfare promotions here, but look at your local providers' Web pages, too:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<a href="http://www.thaiairways.com/offers/special-fare-promotions">Thai
Airways Promotions</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<a href="http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/hq/en/deals.html">Air
Malaysia Deals</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<a href="http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.html">Air
Asia Promos<br /></a></div>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Think about making a trip
outside peak season.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
In Southeast
Asia, this generally means traveling during the rainy season. It also means you will<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NAbi54k6_w/TfoCK4NXQeI/AAAAAAAABfE/DFWhQtGDUhc/s1600/cambodian+monsoon.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NAbi54k6_w/TfoCK4NXQeI/AAAAAAAABfE/DFWhQtGDUhc/s320/cambodian+monsoon.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in the rainy season<br />
can have its advantages</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
save almost everywhere especially if you are staying in "higher class" places. However, if you come at the beginning or end of the rainy season you
are liable to encounter less rain, less tourists, cheaper hotel
prices, and a lusher, greener world of jungle and rice paddies. However, if diving or trekking are your prime pursuits check out the best times to go to the particular area you are considering. <br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If planning on air travel
within the region, consider a regional air pass.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.airasia.com/">AirAsia</a>
is the least expensive airline to air travel within the region.
Unfortunately, Malaysian Airlines discontinued its ASEAN pass this
year—one of the best deals in the region. Thai Airways currently
has a <a href="http://www.thaiairways.com/offers/special-fare-promotions/en/discover-thailand-fares-2011.htm">three
flight Thai domestic pass</a> for </span></span>US $278 <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
additional flights that can be added for less than $100. You can
also check out the <a href="http://www.skyteam.com/about/products/asia.html">SkyTeam
Asia Pass</a> that includes wider Asia with many SEA destinations.</span></span><br /><br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Consider booking forward
tickets separately.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Changing
airlines can be a pain. It means booking at least a four hour
layover (we suggest five), picking up your bags and then going back
and checking them in again. However, if it can save y</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ou
a few hundred dollars, it might be worth it. Here is a recent
example:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</li>
</ol>
<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup></table>
</div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Flight
directly to Siem Reap, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cambodia, from Portland, Oregon, USA:
</span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>$2200</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Flight
to Kuala Lumpur </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from from Portland, Oregon, USA: </span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>$1700</b></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Flight
to Siem Reap from Kuala Lumpur:
</span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>$190<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Savings
by booking onward ticket separately: About $300</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="7"><div style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ensure you check the baggage
allowance for your ticket</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is particularly if you are traveling budget. Many flights on the
airlines below will have a 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds) check-in
baggage limit, and you can expect to pay about $20 per kilogram
over. I once got stuck paying $350 for excess luggage in a $150
flight on Malaysia Airlines. It can be an expensive and unpleasant
surprise to learn your overweight luggage is more than your budget
plane ticket. And while your international ticket to Southeast Asia
may have had a big baggage allowance, if you are planning to do any
domestic flight travel, be aware. It can sometimes be less
expensive to stash your extra luggage in luggage storage if you will
be returning to the same airport. That being said, it can also sometimes be much cheaper to pay for an extra bag on the flight that shipping from less developed locales such as Cambodia or Laos.<br /></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enroll in frequent flier
programs and fly the same airline whenever you can.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Those
frequent flier miles really do add up, and if there is not a huge
difference in ticket price, go with the same airline for your long
legs. Two trans-Pacific flights on the same airline can often add up
to a free domestic USA ticket since a one-way trip to Southeast Asia
from the USA West Coast will be around 10,000 miles (a reward domestic
tickets usually start at about 25,000 miles). </span></span>
<br /><br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Try to Get Upgraded to
First Class</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
you are a frequent flier member, you can also request an upgrade if
available. Otherwise, book a full fare coach ticket—a Y class
ticket. Commonly referred to as "Y-up" tickets,
travelers with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_class">Y
booking code</a> may request complimentary upgrade to first class
seating. Airlines created the Y booking code to get around tighter
corporate travel policies, while still catering to their most
lucrative passenger segment. While not a sure deal, it can make an
eight hour trans-Pacific flight feel a lot more comfortable. <br /></span></span>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book ahead!</b></span><br />Probably the single most important thing to save money on a plane ticket is to book as far in advance as possible. As mentioned above, there can sometimes be dips in price but generally airline tickets go up as they approach the departure date--and sometimes dramatically. We once had a fare go up $600 WHILE we were booking the ticket. Don't let that happen to you. A little forward planning can pay off big time. And while you are in Southeast Asia, why not take advantage of some of the lower-costs to off-set the cost of your trip <br /><br />Read our article "<a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2011/12/how-to-get-your-southeast-asia-trip.html" target="_blank">How To Get Your Trip to Southeast Asia Paid For (Practically)</a>" to learn how!<br />
</li>
</ol>
</div>
Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-77123175383043693992011-05-16T20:17:00.001-07:002011-05-21T20:23:14.952-07:00Medical Tourism in Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPVm-ECS-EQ/TdHnbxBwAmI/AAAAAAAABX4/IhbIgIgvKpI/s1600/doctors.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPVm-ECS-EQ/TdHnbxBwAmI/AAAAAAAABX4/IhbIgIgvKpI/s320/doctors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span class="f"><cite></cite></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand">Thailand </a>is a well-known global tourist destination, as people from all around
the world come in to this beautiful country with countless options
and tourist destinations to choose from. Tourists can come relax on
Thailand's legendary beaches and islands, tour the amazing capital of
Bangkok or go sightseeing in Thailand's nature side. Tourists come in
to the country to spend a few magical weeks, and head home full of
stories to tell.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">However,
it may surprise you to know that there is another main attraction and
reason to come and visit Thailand. It is called "<a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Medical
Tourism</a>" and many tourists fly in to Thailand for the main
purpose of undergoing medical treatments in Thai hospitals. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">In fact, our own editor is departing to Bangkok today in order to have some otherwise expensive tests run. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">In
recent years Thailand has become a very popular medical tourism
destination, as countless medical centers around the country are
constantly investing funds in keeping the medical system modern and
keeping up with the latest medical technology up to par with American
hospitals. No less than 15 different medical centers have even been
awarded the prestigious <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Joint Commission International</a> (JCI)
accreditation, stating that they are up to par with the American
healthcare system hospitals. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><u><b>Medical
Tourism</b></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Before
we take a closer look at the Thai medical tourism industry, let's
take a general look and answer the question "What is medical
tourism"? Medical tourism describes a phenomenon in which
patients travel across national borders to receive medical care of
any kind. As this may seem that this is a new industry that has
recently developed, this is not the case as patients have been
traveling from their home countries to undergo different health
treatments for centuries. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The
latest blossoming of the industry came thanks to two major factors:
the internet which is constantly bringing all of us closer together
and to the massive improvements in the global transportation means as
no place is too far anymore.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">These
two factors have suddenly made medical tourism a logical option for
people who are in need. This can be because of improper medical
insurance (or not having any at all) which then leads to patients not
being able to afford surgery in their home country, long waiting
lists which force people to wait months and even years for surgery or
patients who have the means and would rather travel to a country with
a better and more advanced medical technology and research in the
field they need surgery in. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Combine
this with the fact the medical centers in Thailand practice the most
advanced medicine and there is no surprise Thailand has become a
popular choice for medical tourism around the world.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><u><b>Medical
Tourism in Thailand</b></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ticketmed.com/countries/thailand/medical-centers">Hospitals in Thailand</a> realized the potential of the industry and
developed their medical institutions into state-of-the-art medical
centers, up to par with the best hospitals in the world. In addition,
Thailand is one of the leading countries in the world in medical
institutions that are JCI accredited, assuring the highest medicine
standards.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Thailand
is no stranger to Medical tourism. Already 1.5 million medical
tourists have visited Thailand by 2008 and the number of inbound
tourist is growing annually and is expected to keep growing. Bangkok
is the main hub for medical tourism in Thailand as it receives
hundreds of thousands of patients every year. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">When
visiting these hospitals, patients have the option of being
hospitalized in first class accommodations, as the hospitals and
clinics offer private suites for the patients and friends or family
accompanying them. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Finally,
after one finishes with the medical procedure, they can enjoy a
vacation in the country or visit countries around Thailand as they
are in the heart of Asia. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><u><b>Medical
Tourism Services in Thailand</b></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Medical
tourists are free to visit Thailand for any medical procedure
available. However, there are some medical treatments that are more
popular when it comes to health travelers. Open heart surgery (heart
bypass and valve replacements) and orthopedic joint replacement
surgery (mainly knee and hip) are very popular in Thailand. These are
necessary and expensive surgeries in western countries, leading
medical tourist to search for them elsewhere. Both are available in
very high standards in Thailand.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Another
type of popular medical treatment travelers undergo in Thailand is
cosmetic surgery. As the recovery for procedures of this kind is not
as tough and long as other procedures, patients choose to travel and
undergo just about any type of plastic surgery, starting from breast
augmentation and enlargements to complete facelifts and tummy tucks.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">In
addition to all treatments mentioned, medical tourists can undergo
surgery in any other medical field they choose, including
gastroenterology, ophthalmology, organ transplants, urology,
neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, rheumatology, endocrinology,
pediatrics, dermatology, dentistry, gynecology, psychiatry, General
Medicine & General Surgery.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">There
are many private hospitals in Thailand. "The Bangkok General
Hospital and Bumrungrad hospitals" are just two excellent
examples of private hospitals excepting thousands of patients each
day providing the highest and the best medical care in Asia. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">If
you are searching for medical treatment abroad, be sure to check Thai
hospitals in your medical tourism query. Good luck.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">This
Article has been written by Stuart Ben, A professional medical
tourism facilitator. You can read more about medical tourism in
Thailand here</span></span>: <span style="color: navy;"><u><a href="http://www.ticketmed.com/countries/thailand/medical-centers"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Hospitals
in Thailand : TicketMed</span></a></u></span></div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-49702249306890149532011-05-09T22:26:00.000-07:002012-07-29T10:35:52.647-07:00Dengue Fever in Southeast Asia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTzTefGDgME/TcjPa5ZbpkI/AAAAAAAABWI/r0pC4RpKPU4/s1600/dengue+mosquito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTzTefGDgME/TcjPa5ZbpkI/AAAAAAAABWI/r0pC4RpKPU4/s200/dengue+mosquito.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Asian Tiger Mosquito</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 class="western">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/">Dengue
fever</a> is one of the most serious mosquito-spread diseases in the
tropics. The World Health Organization reports the incidence of
dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades.
Some 2.5 billion people – two fifths of the world's population –
are now at risk from dengue. WHO currently estimates there may be 50
million dengue infections worldwide every year. <a href="http://www.searo.who.int/">Southeast
Asia</a> and the <a href="http://www.wpro.who.int/">Western Pacific</a>
are the most seriously affected. All travelers to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia">Southeast
Asia</a> should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of this
disease.</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">An estimated 500
000 people with DHF require hospitalization each year, a very large
proportion of whom are children. About 2.5% of those affected die.
Without proper treatment, DHF fatality rates can exceed 20%. Wider
access to medical care from health providers with knowledge about DHF
- physicians and nurses who recognize its symptoms and know how to
treat its effects - can reduce death rates to less than 1%.</span></span><br />
<h2 class="western">
<i><a href="http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dengue</span></span></a></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is a cover name for four different but related viruses and is
transmitted by the bite of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes">Aedes
mosquito</a>, also known as the striped or tiger mosquito, that is
infected with any one of the four </span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dengue</span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
viruses. Dengue requires emergency medical treatment as it can
develop into dengue shock syndrome, also known as <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/">dengue
haemorrhagic fever</a>, which has a 6%-30% fatality rate. Dengue is
only spread through the mosquito vector—you cannot contract dengue
from an infected person. After being bitten by a mosquito carrying
the virus, the incubation period ranges from three days to two weeks
before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear. The onslaught of the
infection can last a week to two weeks in most cases with full
recovery sometimes taking as long as six to eight weeks.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="western">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Because there is no vaccine for dengue, preventing transmissions is the only way to prevent infection. Therefore, use of mosquito netting and DEET or other insect repellents is recommended especially in areas where dengue is reported. The aedes mosquito are most active in the mornings and evenings rather at night which makes daytime mosquito protection especially important.</span></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>DETECTING DENGUE</b></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dengue generally starts
with flu-like signs and symptoms such as chills, headache, pain upon
moving the eyes, and low backache. It usually quickly develops into
severe joint-pain, a sign that earned it its other moniker,
"breakbone fever." This painful aching in the legs and
joints occurs during the first hours of illness. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A fever quickly sets in,
with temperatures as high as 104 F (40 C), with relative low heart
rate (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/">bradycardia</a>) and low
blood pressure (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/">hypotension</a>). </span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Travelers may not always
be able to detect just how high the temperature is or be able to
detect low blood pressure and heart rate. The next signs are more
definitive and if they occur before medical treatment has been sought
then one should immediately seek emergency medical attention. <b>The
eyes become reddened and a flushing or pale pink rash comes over the
face and then disappears</b>. These are classic signs that one may
be infected with one of the dengue viruses and should not be ignored. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-juHEtQwzyNQ/TcjMDCtIN9I/AAAAAAAABWE/P4JI8yvAQ00/s1600/mosquito-main_Full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As treatment may require
medical evacuation in some locations in Southeast Asia where local
treatment is inadequate, acting quickly is of the essence. Bangkok,
Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur are recommended treatment locations;
Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Bali also offer acceptable
medical facilities. With treatment, the fatality rate of dengue
fever is just under 1%.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>DENGUE HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dengue haemorrhagic
fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is
characterized by high fever, often with enlargement of the liver, and
in severe cases circulatory failure. </span></span>DHF is also called
Philippine, Thai, or Southeast Asian hemorrhagic fever and dengue
shock syndrome. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
illness often begins with a sudden rise in temperature accompanied by
facial flush and other flu-like symptoms. Manifestations include
headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body.
Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in
the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all possible
signs of hemorrhage. The fever usually continues for two to seven
days and can be as high as 41°C, possibly with convulsions and other
complications.</span></span><br />
<br />
In moderate DHF cases, all signs and symptoms abate after the
fever subsides. In severe cases, the patient's condition may suddenly
deteriorate after a few days of fever; the temperature drops,
followed by signs of circulatory failure, and the patient may rapidly
go into a critical state of shock and die within 12 to 24 hours, or
quickly recover following appropriate medical treatment.<br />
<br />
Patients with DHF must be monitored closely for the first few days
since shock may occur or recur precipitously (dengue shock syndrome).
<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=23457">Cyanotic</a>
(bluish) patients are given oxygen. Vascular collapse (<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=85053">shock</a>)
requires immediate fluid replacement. Blood transfusions may be
needed to control bleeding. Patients may need platelet infusions and
like most dengue patients may require an IV to ensure hydration.
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>TREATMENT</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Because dengue
fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or
antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely
concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). </span></span>Use
of acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) and non steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen) is not recommended as it can
complicate the hemorrhaging associated with the disease. Instead,
Tylenol or other fever-reducing drugs can be administered and codeine
can be used to treat the pain. In severe cases, IVs, oxygen
administration and blood infusions may also be used in combating the
worst complications of the disease.
<br />
<br />
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>OVERVIEW OF DENGUE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
FROM MEDINDIA</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fever:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sudden and abrupt
onset</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">May go up to
39.5-41.4°C</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Lasts for about 1-7
days, then fades away for 1-2 days</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It soon recurs with
secondary rashes which is usually not as severe as before</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Headaches:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Fever is
usually accompanied by headache in front portion of head or behind
the eyes</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Muscular (Myalgia) or bone pain:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Occurs after onset
of fever</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Affects legs,
joints, and lumbar spine</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Usually the pain
gets severe after its onset</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The pain may last
for several weeks even after the fever has subsided</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Pain is usually
absent in DHF/DSS</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Other symptoms:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nausea and vomiting</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Loss of appetite</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Increased sensation
to touch</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Change in taste
sensation</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Symptoms maybe
milder in children than in adults</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The acute phase of
illness can last for 1 week followed by a 1 to 2 week period of
recovery period that is characterized by weakness, malaise and loss
of appetite.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rash - red and white
patchy rashes</span><br />
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever / Dengue Shock Syndrome</b></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Initial stages of the
disease resembles symptoms of dengue fever. However fever subsidies
after 2 to 7 days followed by signs and symptoms of:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Restlessness</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Signs of circulatory
failure</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bleeding or
hemorrhagic manifestations including:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Skin bleeds that
appear as blotchy red patches called <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petechiae/MY01104">Petechiae</a></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bleeding from Nose
or Epistaxis</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Black stools</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Easily bruising</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bleeding from gums</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bleeding from
Stomach - appearing as blood in the vomit</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Decrease in the
blood platelet count (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombocytopenia">Thrombocytopenia</a>)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leakage of plasma
from vascular compartment leading to increased blood concentration
and manifestations of shock.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
As a reminder to travelers, it is always a good idea to write down or put into your phone the local emergency medical contact number. However, hotels, guesthouses and locals can usually direct you to the best medical care facilities in the area.
</div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-79734185923608385072011-04-08T00:11:00.000-07:002011-04-08T00:13:57.814-07:00Southeast Asia Torrents Hand Selected by Our Staff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hey, we don't know if these are legal
(probably not), but they are out there. If you are planning a trip,
living in <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiA8n3XdEbs/TOTIreDAhOI/AAAAAAAAA4U/1ci5xGaQHTg/s1600/desk-computer.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiA8n3XdEbs/TOTIreDAhOI/AAAAAAAAA4U/1ci5xGaQHTg/s320/desk-computer.jpg" width="320" /></a>Southeast Asia or just looking for some local cinema or local dishes, we
have put together our top Southeast Asia torrents. These hyperlinked
titles should open the torrent file directly using whatever torrent
program you use like BitTorrent. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We suggest, of course, that if you really like what you download you purchase it although some of the resources herein are in the public domain like the FSI language course materials. And finally, be aware of the dangers of downloading and piracy, although a visit to any DVD shop throughout most of Asia will leave you grinning at what certainly seems an uphill battle to retain control over digital media.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>MOVIES</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
There just aren't very many good, informational films out there about Southeast Asia. Sure, there are some Thai action movies you can find torrents for and the occasional art-house film that we dig. Both of these handpicked selections, though, come from a single director, Cambodian Rithy Panh, a neo-Realist whose documentaries are power and films mirror life as it is.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/392E83207CB7DD0000EAF6523C1638E567BA8A1F.torrent">S-21,
The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine</a>: This documentary by the
Paris-trained filmmaker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0659454/">Rithy
Panh</a> is a must-see for any who want to engage from afar with the
human disaster that has continued to leave Cambodia a scarred country
in the wakes of the Khmer Rouge trials.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/CF4D649A34C3E67B110DEC832828555D49B5FD15.torrent">One
Evening After the War (Un soir après la guerre)</a>: A second film
by Rithy Pahn, this has our endorsement as the best and most
realistic Khmer movie ever. Set in post-war Cambodia during the UN-backed elections, it is the story of two young people's struggle in an unforgiving time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>LANGUAGES</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
There are plenty of public domain resources out there. For example, the Foreign Service Institute's
<a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/17E014AB69FC82551692D62EAC81536DE7F7FBC2.torrent">Cambodian
Course</a> is freely available and in the public domain. For
additional <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/12/learn-southeast-asian-languagefor-free.html">free
Southeast Asian language learning resources</a>, please refer to our
earlier entry on materials available and in the public domain and available for direct download that covers more languages that what are available over the torrent networks. The Foreign Service Institute's <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/2D47B45BF226BABA2BD811E0D7E0238261F14195.torrent">Thai
language course</a> is also available as a torrent. These courses
include a textbook in .pdf file format and a large library of
accompanying .mp3 files.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
What is doubtless a copy right
violation is the Pimsleur <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/930F658AAD70AE6FE78B7CFFA3D642C5FAAF8F0F.torrent">Vietnamese
course</a>. Consisting of 30 lessons, this is a fast way to learn.
The course is the Hanoi dialect and includes audio files and a pdf of
the reading. Refer back to our <a href="http://www.southeastasiatraveladvice.com/2010/12/learn-southeast-asian-languagefor-free.html">free
Asian language resources</a> for the FSI's course that focuses on the
Saigon dialect. Other torrents for learning Vietnamese include the Elementary Vietnamese (by Dr. Binh Nhu Ngo) course,
available as <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/42CDA86B67A1D98E84CFA9A9270A9C41D503A02E.torrent">Vietnamese
audio files</a> and <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/06C41C4039B30FC8278AB8B340743A998731D8B7.torrent">Vietnamese
textbook</a> in separate torrents.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>COOKBOOKS</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
We love to cook, and while there are many excellent cookbooks available out there, so popular ones have made it onto the P2P networks. We are actually glad one of our favorites, <a class="title" href="http://www.amazon.com/Cradle-Flavor-Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia/dp/0393054772/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302245601&sr=1-5">Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia</a>, has not yet been pirated and made it on these yet. <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/3EB286EFE8ED2027D8B4D010658C796F9E3207A6.torrent"><i>Cooking
the Vietnamese Way</i></a> is a .pdf file of this excellent Southeast
Asian recipe book series. In case fiery fare is more your style,
leapfrog over Cambodia to discover the chili-laden joys of <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/8173D8803260E23E33919000B44EAE1DF8B51357.torrent">Thai
cooking</a> in a second book in the series. In case you want to
learn Indonesian cooking, <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/9728395A27DF91F0E9319B402555AF877314CC72.torrent"><i>Cooking
the Indonesian Way</i></a> is again an excellent introduction. In
case you want <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/5AC2E9C9D97FC104E8CE74182AEB590B8AAD467E.torrent">Malaysian
cooking</a>, though, check out that torrent.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN BOOKS</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
Again, there is a dearth of freely available resources out there and online about this part of the world. However, there are a few valuable ones we are aware of.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/311D3E0D169B2FBA79B1E42D49E68E3CA6AC378B.torrent"><i>The
Encyclopedia of Modern Asia</i></a> covers the entire continent, but
this six massive volume set is an incredible resource with
contemporary and well written articles, many of which are related to
Southeast Asia. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
The <a href="http://torcache.com/torrent/63958913573490AD3F3546856134C8712F682A9D.torrent"><i>Vietnam
War Reader</i></a> offers a number of essays and perspectives on this
conflict that did so much to shape the modern history of Southeast
Asia. In our opinion the best book written on
the Cambodian genocide, and this by an anthropogist, not a historian,
<i><a href="http://www.torrentdownloads.net/download/3080528/Why+Did+They+Kill?:+Cambodia+In+The+Shadow+Of+Genocide">Why
Did They Kill: Cambodia in the Shadow of Genocide</a> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">is
an incredible book that is also available as a torrent. We highly
suggest readers purchase this text, however, to help further the
author's research. </span></div>
<span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We hope that you have found our selections helpful, and hope you enjoy some of them. If there are others you would like us and our readers to know about, please let us know. In the meantime, "<i>Arg</i>, ye maties"</span></span></div>
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</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-87070299630132542622011-03-24T19:00:00.000-07:002013-02-25T08:28:06.693-08:00Phnom Kulen, Cambodia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2>
Getting to Phnom Kulen</h2>
Getting to Phnom Kulen is a bit of an adventure in itself. While not necessarily off-roading, there was about ten miles of dirt road, recently grated, that went from two lanes to a single lane pretty rapidly. In the rainy reason, however, parts of the road would be impassable to a vehicle without a high axle and four-wheel drive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/?action=view&current=jungle.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/jungle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kulen Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It is beautiful. It is in the mountains, and like so many places in Asia there is a mysteriousness to the mountains. In Southeast Asia, they are where people who don't cultivate wet rice dwell, this being a major civilization divide through insular and mainland <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#%21/southeastasia4u">Southeast Asia</a> alike. Mountains are not the paddy; they are wild, undomesticated, foreign. This means that unlike most other places, they have not been bared of their forests and still are wild even if one sees paths penetrating them or gathers taking what they are allowed from the controlled forests, like fallen limbs and plant resins.<br />
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<h2>
History of Phnom Kulen</h2>
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Phnom Kulen is where the Angkorian era “officially” began, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_II#Java.2C_Chama.2C_Lava">Jayavarman II</a> initiated the cult of the king, a linga cult, in what is dated as 804 CE and declaring his independence from Java of whom the Khmer had <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/?action=view&current=ruins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/ruins.jpg" width="320" /></a>been a vassalage state (whether this is actually "Java" or "Lava" (a Lao kingdom) is debated, as well as the legend that he was earlier held as a ransom of the kingdom in Java. See Higham's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><i>The Civilization of Angkor</i></a> for more information about the debate). An inscription from the Sdok Kak Thom temple recounts that on the top of the Kulen Hills, Jayavarman instructed a Brahman priest named Hiranhadama to conduct a religious ritual known as the cult of the <i>devajara </i>(Khmer: ទេវរាជា) which placed him as a <i>chakravartin</i>, universal monarch. The cult established him as the supreme ruler of the land, and therefore he succeeded in unifying the country. But Hindu civilization had existed already for centuries in the region; the fact that Jayavarman was the second monarch to carry that name was an indication that there had been a powerful king of an earlier epoch.<br />
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This is also near the river head of the Siem Reap River. In the bedrock of the river are carved hundreds of linga images. There are also some minor ruins. It was not long after the declaration of independence that Jayavarman moved his capitol, not yet to Angkor but to what is known today as the Rolous Group, among the oldest temples with the Angkor area.<br />
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<h2>
What to do in Phnom Kulen</h2>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phnom_Kulen_National_Park">Phnom Kulen</a> is also a national park, and it houses a few very impressive waterfalls. On the weekends, it is very popular with Cambodians. However, if you'd like the place to yourself for at least a little while, try arriving by 9:00AM on a weekday. It is about 55 KM from Siem Reap, and the trip takes anywhere from an hour to ninety minutes. By 11:00AM on our last visit a few Cambodian holiday-makers showed up, and by noon foreign tourists began to pour in also. Also, be sure to view the carving of Vishnu in the river bedrock above the first falls, with Lakshmi as his feel and Brahma seated on a lotus growing from his navel.<br />
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A nice photo opportunity arose when a few monks showed up to get their feet wet and take in the view. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/?action=view&current=monk2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/monk2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A monk getting his feet wet <br />
at the Phnom Kulen water falls</td></tr>
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<a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/?action=view&current=waterfall.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/waterfall.jpg" width="300" /></a>We spent most of the morning at the waterfalls as outside of these wonders there is little to see. There are several Khmer eateries (as well as a few souvenir stands) that serve typical Khmer dishes. And the flocks of chicken running around the area are also available for your plate.<br />
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The ruins, while not particularly impressive in terms of structures are in terms of age—they are among the oldest Khmer ruins in the Siem Reap area, and no real restoration work has happened. Seeing the rubble makes one appreciate what a difficult job just re-visioning the temple would be. After having a lunch (or without), one can go for a swim at the bottom or the very impressive Kulen waterfall. Stay on the trial. While not known to be a mined area, parts of Kulen <i>are</i> undergoing de-mining. As elsewhere in Cambodia, stay on well-trod trails.<br />
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After the waterfalls, you can visit a very active temple, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phnom_Kulen_National_Park#Preah_Ang_Thom">Preah Ang Thom</a>, that has a 16 meter long reclining Buddha carved on the top of a huge bolder—maybe itself 20 meters tall. The carving dates to the 16<sup>th</sup> century. This is the largest reclining Buddha in the country. On the way, you can also stop and quickly view the "1000 Lingas" also carved in the river above the waterfalls.<br />
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There were about 100 steps climbing the hill to the pagoda and carving, and the first 75 were lined with beggars, mostly children and old women. There are a few money changers at the bottom so that you can get small change to pass out as you make the walk up, handing out between 100 riel notes and 500 reil bundles to the beggars. And at the bottom and top you can have an incantation recited for you over the loudspeakers for just $1—for luck, they say. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/?action=view&current=Buddha.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="300" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/jarrodwbrown_photo/Buddha.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is carved into the top of about a 20 meter tall boulder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It can be a long trip, so set aside at least a half day in order to visit. For more on Phnom Kulen, check out our first ever destination video, <a href="http://youtu.be/a6e81t6xNJ0" target="_blank">Destination: Phnom Kulen</a>.<br />
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Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310963952707004476.post-5150439696565746282011-02-23T13:09:00.000-08:002011-02-23T14:42:41.933-08:00Cambodian Festivals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Festivals are a great way to see a snapshot of local cultures. In this first of several articles we'll look at the local calendars of countries across Southeast Asia beginning with Cambodia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Om_Thook">Water festival or Bon Om Thook</a> (October or November)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abfFP2vam_o/TWVu_ZLXDyI/AAAAAAAABOI/t673kuSzwyM/s1600/cambodia-water-festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abfFP2vam_o/TWVu_ZLXDyI/AAAAAAAABOI/t673kuSzwyM/s320/cambodia-water-festival.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This vast festival is probably the most extravagant festival in the calendar.
Over three days starting with the last full moon day in October or the beginning
of November up to a million people from all walks of life from all over the
country flock to the banks of Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh to watch
hundreds of brightly colored boats with over 50 paddlers battle it out for top
honors. The boat racing dates back to ancient times marking the strengths of the
powerful Khmer marine forces during the Khmer empire. In the evening brightly
decorated floats cruise along the river prior to and complimenting the fireworks
displays. there is often a parallel festival at Angkor Wat and although it is
smaller in scale it is just as impressive due to the backdrop of Angkor Wat.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The festival marks the changing of the flow of the Tonle Sap and is also seen
as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile land
and abundant fish. It is at this time when the river flow reverts to its normal
down stream direction. The remarkable phenomenon that is the Tonle Sap sees the
river flowing upstream during the rainy season and then change direction as the
rains cease and the swollen Tonle Sap Lake empties back into the Mekong River
leaving behind vast quantities of fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pchum_Ben">Pchum Ben</a> (September)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is the most culturally and religiously significant event of the year and
is celebrated in September. This festival of souls concentrates on blessing the
souls of ancestors, relatives, and friends who have passed away. All Buddhist
temples, especially Wat Phnom, are the focal points for this festival and most
Cambodians visit the temples to make traditional offerings and pray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>King Sihanouk's Birthday Celebration (October 31)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This celebration revering the country's influential king take place in late
October or early November. People from all over the country come to the capital
to join in celebrations and festivities held throughout the capital. Often the
King's birthday and Water festivals coincide resulting in a mammoths celebration
in front of the Royal Palace and along the riverfront. Provincial villagers who
would ordinarily have no reason to visit Phnom Penh will save up and make this
occasion their sole visit to the capital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Celebrated at the same time as the Thai New Year all over the country, this
festival marks the turn of the year based on the ancient Khmer calendar and also
marks the end of the harvest done during the year. Cambodians decorate their
homes to please the Heaven God and many people can be seen on the streets armed
with small bags of water and water pistols to bless people passing by. This
festival is one of the happiest times of the year with joyous smiling faces
everywhere you turn. Cambodians do recognize International New Year on 1 January
but there are no celebrations then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Angkor Festival (November or December)</b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3eWHvp_WFk/TWV0E6CyilI/AAAAAAAABOU/DXQy8t7YyGs/s1600/DSC08252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3eWHvp_WFk/TWV0E6CyilI/AAAAAAAABOU/DXQy8t7YyGs/s320/DSC08252.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as a backdrop.
Performers from all over Asia attend this festival performing great epic stories
from myths and legends, including the Ramayana, with their own national dance
costumes and musical and rhythmic inter-pretations. King Sihanouk often attends
when he is in residence in Siem Reap and other dignatories come to witness this
wonderful spectacle.</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Royal Ploughing Day (May)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cambodia has a deep connnection with the Earth and farming, and there is a
deep astrological belief that the Ox has an instrumental role in determining the
fate of the agricultural harvest each year. Every year, in May, this cultural
ceremony takes place in the large park next to the Royal Palace and in front of
the National Museum. The King plays a key role in driving the Ox and depicting
real ploughing activities in the process of growing rice. The Ox is given a
selection of foods and beverages to consume and the royal soothsayers interpret
what the Ox has eaten. For this festival both men and women can be seen wearing
brightly colored traditional Khmer costume.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Independence Day (November 9)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This important ceremony takes place at the site of the Independence Monument
at the juntion of Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards. This ceremony celebrates
Cambodia's gaining of independence from France in 1953. All over the city flags
adorn the shop fronts and bunting stretched over all the main thoroughfares as a
sign of national pride.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_623793355"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Chinese New Year</a> (January or February)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fli65XbzSsM/TWVzZN7Bz_I/AAAAAAAABOQ/3lFe4qxPgt8/s1600/chinese+lantern+festival+piercing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fli65XbzSsM/TWVzZN7Bz_I/AAAAAAAABOQ/3lFe4qxPgt8/s320/chinese+lantern+festival+piercing.jpg" width="304" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Due to the large number of people of Chinese descent who run much of
Cambodia's business enterprises; and also Vietnamese immigrant communities, the
Chinese New Year is widely celebrated, especially in Phnom Penh. No Chinese
festival would be complete without fireworks and this time of year is no
exception with many wealthy families organizing their own private displays which
light up the skies for all to see. The last day is the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_623793350">Cambodian Lantern Festiva</a><a href="http://www.storieswithoutbordersdocumentary.org/2011/02/cambodian-street-scene-shot.html">l</a> in which spirits of ancestors take over living relatives bodies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>National Day (January 7)</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the more recent additions to the festival calendar, this day marks the
end of the Khmer Rouge Regime. However for many Khmers it also marks the start
of the Vietnamese regime seen as another period of foreign occupancy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Other Holidays and Festivals</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wv8cmXjQ2CQ/TWV2TgtxZII/AAAAAAAABOY/vaJjvIAlmEY/s1600/ss103960-custom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wv8cmXjQ2CQ/TWV2TgtxZII/AAAAAAAABOY/vaJjvIAlmEY/s320/ss103960-custom1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cambodia also celebrates other special days including: International Women's
Day (8 March), International Worker's Day (1 May), Genocide Day (9 May), <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">The Day of Hatred</a> </span>which commemorates the excesses of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge" title="Khmer Rouge">Khmer Rouge</a> regime that ruled the country between 1975 and 1979.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Vesak
Bucha Day - the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha
(Late May), Ploughing the Holy Furrow (Late May), Chol Vassa - Buddhist Lent
(July), and International Human Rights Day (10 December), and New Year's Eve (December 31).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Taken from http://www.cambodia-travel.com/information/events.htm </span></div>
</div>Indigo Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08337208714109341577noreply@blogger.com0