Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Asia travel news

Asia travel news

Centara offers free room nights during Chiang Mai green season

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 01:01 AM PDT

Vietnam: Cat Ba island

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:49 PM PDT

Hanoi - a mixture of discreet charm and excitement

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:06 PM PDT

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VIETNAM-A tour in Hanoi is to steep yourself in history, tradition, and legend in a capital that has been inhabited continuously for almost a millenium. Visitors often note that the city is quieter, greener, and "cooler" than other big cities of Vietnam. Indeed, Hanoi itself, and the Northern Vietnam, have quite clear four seasons, and October to March are lovely pretty cool months whilst other towns southward just have dry and rainy times. It probably influences in the mentality of the inhabitants and the city seems attract more intellectuals and artists, while Saigon is great for entrepreneurs and hustlers.

Hanoi's present architecture is mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the French-built section of the town is largely intact. Yet, the city preserves many old religious temples and shrines dedicated to the nation's heroes or deities, who supported the farmers to cultivate and protect the fertile land on the Red River right bank and gather the first commercial guilds to form what later became an exciting urban town. Hanoi street life now is fascinating. In the early morning, you can see people both young and old practicing "tai chi quan" or martial arts in the parks and joggers along pretty lakes. Outdoor barbers with mirrors simply hung on the street walls and women selling great French baguettes and flowers are also at every street corner. If you go for a walk, the motorbikes and cyclos may make you wonder a bit which directions they move on, but as soon as you get a chance to try one of them, you could say they are not so risky like they seem to be, as the local drivers have extremely special skills to avoid one another (!). Thus a deliberate Cyclo tour for one or two hours is so far the best way to visit the Old Quarter, 90% of which are narrow and short streets.

During the two Indochinese Wars in 20th century, Hanoi had been heavily damaged, but there is virtually no evidence that now and the particularly thin, tall, often awkward-looking buildings that you see on streets are not a result of bombing, but are created by landowners who own only a thin slice of land so build up rather than out. Hanoi has a number of lovely parks and big Lakes which inspire the ancient architects to build graceful temples nearby, and Museums with precious exhibits of Vietnam's Fine Arts, Ethnology, History and Recent Wars that attract not only historians but foreign visitors and local people.

Finally, the Hanoians are reckoned the warmest and most approachable in the country. Though English is not as commonly spoken as in Saigon, most of the shopkeepers have learnt English quite enough to discussion on the commodities and price, and many of the older generation have a working vocabulary of French. Regardless of language, people will attempt to chat with you irrespective of whether you can understand them. Many of the cyclo drivers speak some English and often have very interesting pasts that they are now willing to discuss with foreigners. At times in Hanoi, you could be sitting in a cafe sipping excellent coffee that Vietnam plant in the Central Highlands for domestic use and export, eating great pastries that is a pleasant trace of the French time, chatting in French to an old beret clad gentleman, whilst as you look out the window you can see posh French-style villas in the shadows of fig trees or malabar-almon trees. Then you can really wonder just what country you really are in. In a single word, Hanoi is a city to be savoured.

The 7 most beautiful temples in Asia

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 01:35 AM PDT

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Unless you’re born and raised in Asia, you probably haven’t even heard of some of these places. But just like the much more famous European cathedrals and churches, Asia’s temples are amazing works of art just waiting to be discovered. Here’s a look at the seven most beautiful holy places in Asia.

7. Kinkaku-ji, Japan
Also known as the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for one of Japan’s famous shoguns. It was his son who turned it into a Zen temple. This three-story building is where many important relics of Buddha are being kept.

It was burned down twice during the Onin War and once in 1950 accidentally, by a monk who then tried to kill himself. Kinkaku-ji was completely rebuilt in 1955 and the decaying gold leaf covering the top two stories was replaced by a thicker new one. The setting of the Golden Pavilion is also, as you can see, breathtaking.

6. Prambanan, Indonesia
Built sometime around 850 CE, the Prambanan temple complex in Indonesia is one of the world’s largest remaining Hindu legacies. The foundation rises 47 meters above the ground and it symbolizes the triumph of the Hindu religion in Indonesia. It has been added on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 1991.

There are over 200 temples in the Prambanan temple complex, but the most impressive ones are the three set in the primary yard and dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The highest and largest one is dedicated to the goddess Shiva and it is beautifully decorated with statues and paintings depicting Hindu legends.

5. Borobudur, Indonesia
One of the oldest holy places in Indonesia, Borobudur is a Buddhist monument built sometime in the ninth century, where those of strong faith still come to pray. The three levels of Borobudur, that the pilgrims have to ascend, symbolize the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu and Arupadhatu.

Borobudur was deserted for centuries until 1814 when the English ruler of Java Island at that time learned about it from the locals. Restoration started immediately and now this Buddhist place of pilgrimage is on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. Unlike other temples, Borobudur was built atop a bedrock hill, 265m above sea-level.

4. Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
Measuring 98 meters in height, this giant stupa is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in all of Myanmar, hosting relics of the last four Buddhas enshrined inside it. There are no records of when the Shwedagon Pagoda was built, legends say it was 2500 years ago but archeological reports say the stupa dates back to somewhere between the 6th and 10th centuries.

Shwedagon Pagoda is also known as the Golden Pagoda and unlike other structures that are painted golden, this Buddhist place of worship is actually covered with real gold. In the 15th century the queen ordered that it be leafed in gold and to this day, visitors sometimes buy small gold leafs and decorate the pagoda.

3. Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan
The most sacred place in Bhutan, Tiger’s Nest Monastery is also one of the most beautiful and impressive holy structures in the world. It sits atop a cliff, at a height of 3,120 meters, watching over the Paro valley below. Legend says Guru Rinpoche (an important figure in Buddhism) flew to this place on the back of a tiger and meditated in a cave for three months. The cave is said to be part of Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery we see today was built in 1962, but it was seriously damaged in a fire that broke out in 1998. Reconstruction was done using old photographs and writings but there was hardly any documentation on the inside of the monastery and the objects it housed. People can journey to this incredible place by foot or on mules.

2. The Golden Temple, India
Sri Harmadir Sahib, as it is known in India, is one of the most sacred places for Sikhs everywhere. It started out as a quiet lake in the middle of a forest, a place where Buddha himself is said to have stopped for meditation. Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion also stopped there and after his death, his followers continued to come here for meditation. Over the centuries this Sri Harmadir Sahib became more and more beautiful under the rule of each guru of the Sikhs.

Today, the Golden Temple is regarded as a symbol of original Sikh architectural style where the Moslem and Hindu ways of construction come together in harmony. The Golden Temple is built out of marble and gold and decorated with countless valuable gems. It is as peaceful as it is beautiful.

1. Wat Rong Khun, Thailand
The White Temple built in the Chiang Rai province is unlike any of the other temples of Thailand. It is a modern masterpiece built by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a popular artist who dedicated 10 years of his life to this grand project, in the name of Buddha. It is a modern project built almost entirely out of white materials and decorated with small pieces of mirrored glass that make it glitter, especially during the night.

Asked about his project, Chalermchai Kositpipat said he intended to build a replica of the magnificent and resplendent heaven. He managed to blend traditional Buddhist elements with modern, contemporary themes and that’s what makes Wat Rong Khun unique. If you‘re ever in Thailand be sure to stop by the White Temple, it is more than worth the time.

Jeju - An Official finalist of the "New7Wonders of Nature"

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 01:07 AM PDT

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KOREA-Located just south of the Korean peninsula, Jeju is a volcanic island that was formed by five millions of years ago. It is beloved by scientists and tourists alike for its stunning natural features.

Over the past decade, Jeju Island has received three different UNESCO certifications; it was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and a Global Geopark in 2010. The island is also one of the official finalists of the worldwide ‘New7Wonders of Nature’ campaign.

The Official ‘New7Wonders of Nature’ is the second global campaign run by the New7Wonders Foundation in Switzerland, following its first campaign to elect the ‘New Man-made Wonders of the World’ (a campaign which drew over 100 million votes). After two rounds of voting and input from a Panel of Experts, the list of 28 Official Finalists has been announced and Jeju Island is proud and privileged to find itself among the chosen few.

Vietnam Travel Advice

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 12:50 AM PDT
at 1:13 AM