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Showing posts from February, 2013

Myanmar Golden Rock Trek (Up -Hill)

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Day 1 - Yangon - Bago - Kyaikhto (L,D) After breakfast, depart for Bago (1.30 hours drive), it is an ancient capital known as Ramadesa. En-route visit at Shawnyaung Bin Nat Shrine to appeal for a safe journey and allied war memorial at Htauk Kyant. After that, proceed to Bago, visit Kyaik Pun; built by King Dhamazedi, it consist of four 30 m high Buddha images, Shwemawdaw Pagoda- is said to be over 1000 years old and originally built by the Mon King. Then, visit Shwethalyaung Buddha- it is huge reclining Buddha image and longer than Buddha image at Wat Pho in Bangkok. After lunch, commence your trip to Kyaikhto (approx. 2.30 hours drive). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy your day leisurely and freely with some activities like swimming or soothe your skin and muscle with traditional massage. Dinner and overnight stay at Sane Le' Tin Garden Hotel.  Day 2 - Kyaikhto - Golden Rock (B,L,D) After early breakfast, drive to Saung Daing Gyi village; it is...

Vietnam World Heritages Tour

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Day 1: Arrival - HANOI (-/-/-) On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel for check in. Then, a tour by cyclo around the old quarter streets to discover the local people life. O/N in Ha Noi. Day 2: FULL DAY HANOI CITY TOUR (B/-/-)  Morning: A half day city tour includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with its house on stilts and One pillar pagoda. An orientation drive via colonial quarter to the West lake before taking a visit to Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam?s first university. Drive back to hotel. Afternoon: Transfer to visit the Ethnology museum. Enjoy your time to learn about 54 ethics in Vietnam. Then continue visiting to the Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son temple. The rest of time for a walk to do shopping. Evening: Water puppets show, the unique Vietnam traditional art. O/N in Ha Noi Day 3: HANOI - HALONG BAY (B/L/D) 08h30: We are picked up at your hotel, and then transferred to Halong Bay. 12.30 We are welcome on the traditi...

Burma is Back

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Burma or Myanmar? A lot can be read into what you choose to call the country. Burma is the historic British name, but the old ruling military junta officially renamed it Union of Myanmar in 1989. The NLD does not recognize the legitimacy of that government to have changed the name. Many countries, including the UK, continue to use Burma, viewing use of Myanmar as tacit approval of the government, whereas the UN has adopted Myanmar as it believes all member states have the right to choose their names. However, Burma is not an inclusive term, but refers to the Bamar people, ignoring the many other peoples living within the borders. However, for the most part, local people call it Myanmar. In 2010, Myanmar received only 300,000 foreign visitors (excluding border tourists  on visa runs). Contrasted with Thailand’s 14 million tourists, you could be forgiven for thinking that you are headed to an undiscovered paradise. However, visitor numbers to Burma have explod...

The Lost City Of Mrauk U Tour

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Overview In 1431, King Min Saw Mon established as the capital of the last unified Arakanese Kingdom. An important trading port with links to Portugal, the Netherlands, Arabia, Persia and India, the city eventually reached a size of 120,000 in the mid sixteenth century. The city offers the visitor many chances to study the cultural and a proud heritage handed down to the present day Rakhine generation by their forefathers. Mrauk U can rightfully be claimed as the "Open-air Museum" of the arts and culture of the people of Rakhine. Starting from Sittwe, capital of the Rakhine state, you will uncover the traditional local lifestyles in this town that is located at the mouth of the Kaladan River by the Bay of Bengal. Often overlooked as a convenient stopping point for Mrauk U , Sittwe will reward you with visions of a colorful hinterland seaport with abundance of fish and crops. Cruising upstream along the Kaladan River on a private boat, you will arrive at Mrauk U...

Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Tet with 8 firework shows

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Under the Ho Chi Minh City High Command’s proposal that has been approved by city authorities, Ho Chi Minh City will celebrate Tet with 8 firework shows to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year), which falls on February 10 this year. The locations include the entry area of the Saigon River tunnel in District 2, the National Cultural and Historical Park in District 9, Ben Duoc Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District, Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11, Go Vap Cultural Park in Go Vap District, the Can Gio football course in Can Gio District, the Nga Ba Giong Memorial Area of Heroic Martyrs in Hoc Mon District, and the Lang Le-Bau Co historical relic area in Binh Chanh District. The fireworks by the river tunnel will be the most powerful, and will reach higher in the sky than at the other locations. The performances will last 15 minutes starting at midnight on February 10 (the first day of the lunar New Year). The cost for the fireworks will be covered and pu...

Out of the shadows: a new dawn in Burma

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Whether or not to travel to Myanmar (Burma) remains a difficult question. The country is ruled by the longest-lasting military dictatorship in the world and economic sanctions have been in place against it for decades. For many years, the democratic opposition – led by Aung San Suu Kyi – said it was unethical for travellers to come here, that they would lend moral and financial support to the regime in doing so. Yet in the summer of 2011, Aung San Suu Kyi declared that she wanted foreign travellers to visit Burma. The daughter of a hero of Burmese independence and a Nobel laureate herself, Suu Kyi is the political conscience of her country. Her only caveat was that visitors should avoid the tourist establishments that have close ties with the military regime. If you do decide to go, advance planning will ensure your trip is as ethical as possible (see our tips on travelling to Burma responsibly). Visitors to Burma are rewarded with that sense of a first trip overse...