South America Travel

South America Vacations & Tourism, South America Hotels, South America Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase South America: Search Travel Travel > Guides > South America Email this page Print South America Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of South America Top Cities in South America Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Santiago Sao Paulo Bogota Lima Caracas Cartagena Quito Salvador Belo Horizonte Barranquilla San Andres Island Buzios San Carlos de Bariloche Countries in South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Popular South America Cities Brazil Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo Salvador Belo Horizonte Buzios Venezuela Caracas Puerto La Cruz Porlamar Merida Maracaibo Peru Lima Cuzco Machu Picchu Arequipa Miraflores Bolivia La Paz Santa Cruz Cochabamba Huatajata Island Sucre Argentina Buenos Aires San Carlos de Bariloche Mar del Plata Mendoza Cordoba Ecuador Quito Guayaquil Cuenca Salinas Machala Chile Santiago Vina del Mar Easter Island Iquique Osorno Colombia Bogota Cartagena Barranquilla San Andres Island Medellin Related Information Popular Attractions in South America Cerro de Monserrate Corcovado Museo del Oro Machu Picchu Puerto Madero Ipanema Parque de la 93 Teleferico (El) Barrio La Candelaria Teatro Coln Popular Hotels in South America Copacabana Palace Hotel J W Marriott Hotel Quito Gran Melia Caracas Decameron San Luis Sofitel Hotel Santa Clara JW Marriott Hotel & Stellaris Casino Dann Carlton Hotel Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi Marriott Santiago Hotel Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Popular Cities in South America Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Santiago Sao Paulo Bogota Lima Caracas Cartagena Quito Salvador Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

Russia Travel Resources >

Russia Travel Guide - Health and Safety  You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Health and Safety Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Russia Travel Guide Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors Health and Safety - Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide With a little foresight and common sense, you can stay safe and healthy while traveling in Russia. Read on to learn what you need to know. Crime and Violence The U.S. State Department recommends that travelers avoid the Caucasus region of Russia, particularly Chechnya, because of continued unrest and violence. Like other European cities, occasionally there are acts of terrorism in large Russian cities. In October 2002, terrorists seized a Moscow theater and held its audience captive for several days before Russian Special Forces stormed it. More recently, a bomb went off in the Moscow subway. Travelers should be alert for unusual behavior, unattended luggage in public areas, and other possible indicators that something out of the ordinary is in progress. The U.S. State Department also has this important information to share: As a visitor to Russia, be alert to your surroundings. In large cities, take the same precautions against assault, robbery, or pickpockets that you would take in any large U.S. city. Be aware that women and small children, as well as men, can be pickpockets or purse-snatchers. Persons carrying valuables in backpacks, in back pockets of pants, and in coat pockets are especially vulnerable to pickpockets. Keep your billfold in an inner front pocket, carry your purse tucked securely under your arm, and wear the shoulder strap of your camera or bag across your chest. Walk away from the curb and carry your purse away from the street. The most vulnerable areas include underground walkways and the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports, markets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotel rooms and residences -- even when locked or occupied. Para. Members of religious and missionary groups have been robbed by people pretending to be interested in their beliefs. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Some travelers have been drugged at bars, while others have taken strangers back to their lodgings, where they were drugged and robbed. In many cases in which a credit card was stolen, thieves used them immediately. Victims of credit card or ATM card theft should report the theft to the credit card company or bank without delay. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Travelers have generally found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. Travelers are advised to be vigilant in bus and train stations and on public transport. Crime aboard overnight trains has occurred. On some trains, thieves have been able to open locked compartment doors. Always watch for pickpockets in these areas. Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. Be wary of persons representing themselves as police or other local officials. To avoid highway crime, travelers should try not to drive at night. Never drive alone at night. Never sleep in vehicles along the road. Do not, under any circumstances, pick up hitchhikers, who not only pose a threat to your physical safety, but also put you in danger of being arrested for unwittingly transporting narcotics or narcotics traffickers in your vehicle. Your vehicle can be confiscated if you are transporting marijuana or other narcotics. Violent, racially motivated attacks on people of color and foreigners have become widespread in Russia. Many of these attacks target university students, particularly those of Asian and African origin, but older tourists have also been targeted. Travelers are urged to exercise caution in areas frequented by "skinhead" groups and wherever large groups have gathered. Incidents of violent crime directed against homosexual men have also been reported. Four foreign men reported to have been gay have been murdered since 1999. It is not uncommon for Americans to become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by law enforcement and other officials. Authorities are concerned about these incidents and have cooperated in investigating such cases. Try to obtain the officer’s name, badge number, and patrol car number, and note where it happened, as this information assists local officials in identifying the perpetrators. Report crimes committed against you by persons presenting themselves as police or other governmental authorities to the U.S. embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate. Next page: What to do if your passport is stolen. Also information about sex in Russia and medical emergencies. Russia Travel Guide Index Profile of Russia City Profile: Moscow City Profile: St. Petersburg Before You Go Need to Know Money Matters Intercity Travel City Transit Driving Health and Safety Lodging Dining and Drinking Communications Shopping 1 2 Next        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings

Germany Travel

Germany Vacations, Germany Travel, Germany Luxury Resorts, Germany Hotels Germany Luxury Vacations, Germany Cruises, and Germany Hotels Guide Germany Vacation Guide: Romantic Germany Weddings and Honeymoons Germany Vacations and Cruise Consultants Germany Luxury Vacation :Call 1 800 330 8820 to book your tour or cruise Other places in Germany Berlin Bernau Hamburg Konigs Wusterhausen Potsdam Strausberg River Cruises Other Places in Europe Albania Andorra Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Vacation Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Wales Mediterranean Guide Germany Vacation, Tours and Travel Guide In this section you will find great Germany luxury vacation hotels . Great romantic tours in Germany. Germany Cruises . The best historic tours of Germany. Wonderful European river cruises on the beautiful Danube River. Don't miss our Berlin vacation guide and Hamburg vacation guide ---Plus tons of enjoyable virtual tours and streaming videos---You will find everything here, all the insider's secrets. Germany is becoming ever more attractive to visitors from around the globe, above all because of a plethora of cultural events, which take place throughout the year Music-land Germany is the homeland of many of the world's greatest composers: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Mendelssohn, Wagner, to name just a few, were born in Germany. Among Germany's traditional events and happenings, the Christmas Markets are a great attractions for attract visitors from near and far. Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Dresden, Leipzig, Cologne, Bremen, M?, Frankfurt are but a few of these magical markets, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. All major cities and most towns have Christmas markets during the Advent season. The new and modern Germany, its cities and their beautiful natural surroundings have become a favorite destination for people of all ages and diverse backgrounds. Berlin, the fascinating capital, with its great museums, theaters and restaurants, is one of the most sought-after metropolises in Europe. Great cities such as Munich, Hamburg and Dresden also offer extraordinary cultural and culinary fare. Last but not least, Germany's great tourist routes, among them the Romantic Road, the Castle Road and the Fairy Tale Road, make traveling in Germany an unforgettable, rewarding experience. Germany is historical, modern, busy, lazy, laid-back, quiet, musical, tasteful, dynamic, exhausting, hilly, flat, green, picturesque, sporty, poetic, beer-loving, wunderbar. Germany is a many-sided country. And the opportunities for vacationing in Germany are just as varied. Whether you are underway with family and friends, or on business, are seeking romanticism or planning a city trip, want to actively work out or just be healthily cosseted, take part in courses or seek out culture - all these different wishes can be ideally fulfilled in Germany. Germany's many modern cities stem from the time when it consisted of countless small states. The numerous kings, princes and bishops tried to outshine each other in fields like science, culture and architecture. These power politics were not restricted to the cornerstones for the diverse cityscapes. They were also responsible for the pulsating life in today's Germany. No other European country has as many shopping malls, cultural highlights, opera houses and theaters of world standard, universities, scientific and industrial centers, international airports, congress and trade fair centers distributed so evenly throughout the entire country. There is the old and new capital Berlin, speeding on its way to become a mega-metropolis. The 15 state capitals, the innumerable cultural gems, the business and commercial centers. German cities offer that which makes the whole country so appealing: endless variety. The first associations of Berlin in a nutshell: capital of Prussia, cultural metropolis of the twenties, Reichstag, Berlin wall, reunification, old and new capital. But Berlin is more than that, Today, it is also the gateway to eastern Europe. Berlin is culture. Only Berlin has three opera houses and two concert halls, 35 large and hundreds of independent theaters, numerous variety and musical theaters. Berlin is relaxation. Hardly any other capital has so many parks, forests and recreational lakes and such lovely surroundings for walking, cycling and resting. Berlin is nightlife. In 300 "in" places, 1500 bars and countless clubs and discos one can turn night into day without any threat of closing time. One can dance to techno and to pop and pub crawl from designer bars via beer gardens to quaint backyard pubs. Berlin is a museum. The many big and small galleries display from modern to ancient art. Different epochs of history and fields of interest can be viewed in 130 museums. The streets of Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Mitte and Prenzlauerberg invite you to take part in their cultural scene. Berlin is a market. No other city offers so many art, antique and flea markets, and weekly fruit & vegetable markets for culinary shopping pleasure. But despite its many superlatives, Berlin is still a regular city. The subway is sometimes late, the weather occasionally fickle and the people now and then irritable. But that's what makes Berlin sympathetic. Finding your way around Germany is pretty easy. Many Germans speak English and are pleased to help visitors. Still, there are a few things it is helpful to know before arriving here. Select exactly the components you want in your vacation. You choose your hotel, room category -from sea views to suites-, rental car, private transfers and customized sightseeing tours. We do it all! Our Virtuoso Travel and Cruise Consultants will create the Germany vacation you have always dreamed of. We always try to exceed your expectations! Book Your Gremany Vacation Submit planner to our Germany Specialists Client Testimonials about our services Search Your Vacation, Tour or Cruise Germany Overview Germany History Germany Culture Germany Geography Germany Practical Info Germany Luxury Accommodations Germany Luxury Hotels Germany Hotels and Resorts Europe Luxury Hotels European Hotels & Villas Germany & Europe Luxury Tour Vacations Germany Tours Central Eastern & Western England & Ireland Tours Scandinavia & Russia Tour Portugal & Spain Tours Escape to Europe Cruises Italy Luxury Tours Europe Train Vacations Europe River Cruises Eastern Europe Packages Europe Bike Vacations Europe Active Vacations Moderatly Priced Europe Tours England & Ireland Tours France Vacations Italy Tours Central & Eastern Europe Tours European River Cruises Europe Luxury Cruises Western Europe Cruises European River Cruises Luxury Cruises World Luxury Cruises Our Exclusive Specials Helpful Travel Links Other Helpful Travel Links Instant Passports in 24 hours Travelex Luxury Travel Insurance CSA Luxury Travel Insurance Travel Guard Insurance Travel Safety Expert Current Travel Warnings Travel Agent Career Opportunities Bookmark this page Full Service Luxury Europe Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury vacation with our full service Virtuoso Travel Consultants. We are recommended, authorized Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, and can arrange every little detail to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree cruise experience at no extra charge! You may call our Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, but first, we'd really appreciate it if you complete our "Luxury Vacation Planner" so we have all your requirements beforehand and are prepared to present you with all your options and up-to-the-minute specials. Thank you very much! Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Europe Tour Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury tour vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Tour Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your tour vacation, including air, and pre-tour and post-tour arrangements to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our "Luxury Tour Vacation Planner" our Europe Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe tour vacation . Full Service, Luxury Europe Cruise Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury cruise vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Cruise Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your cruise vacation, including air, excursions, and pre-cruise and post-cruise arrangements, to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our " Luxury Cruise Vacation Planner" our Virtuoso--Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe luxury cruise . 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European Vacation MyAccount |

Travel Stories - My European Vacation Home Hostels Tours InfoZone Community Home » Community » Travel Stories » My European Vacation MyAccount | Support Centre | Site Map In the Community... Community Home Travel Diaries Start a new Diary Travel Stories Travel Gurus Message Boards Log In Log in to your account to review past bookings, change your profile, become a travel guru and much more. Email: Password: Forgot your password? Not a member? Sign up here The ULTIMATE backpacker information exchange Travel Stories • Backpackers! Adventure Calling.. • The Shrimp Tax • Sleeping in Pamplona • Chile, the country and Santiag.. • Road to No Man's Land • Run Through the Jungle: • Andorra's Box • Mexico - 48 hours in Puerto Es.. • More Travel Stories Our Price Promise We offer you the best internet rate made available by the hostel. We do not mark up this rate so you can be confident that booking here is as cheap as it gets! close window lowest prices guaranteed Read Our Price Promise We accept the following cards Travel Stories My European Vacation By Denise Cassino I finally finished reading the last page of Micheners novel The Drifters, a story about six young people traveling through Europe in the late sixties. I closed the book and bit my bottom lip. I simply had to find a way to go to Europe. My heart ached with a yearning to see the world. I had been an English major/history minor in college and had studied the continent for years. Now I was determined to see them first hand. I contacted my old college roommate, Ellen, and set a plan I quit my job, borrowed $500 to supplement my savings and flew off to Europe for a six-week sojourn. We were nearing the end of a near perfect trip with only a week or so remaining before I would head for home. We had driven The Romantic Road through Germany, partaken in the revelry of Oktoberfest in Munich, woven our way through the high peaks of the Alps in a VW bus, ridden a Gondola across the Grand Canal in Venice, stared at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and even had a brief romance with two American brothers. Ellen had been forced by the powers that ruled her pocketbook to return home two weeks earlier than me, and now I was traveling with an affable Australian girl named Robyn who we had met in Venice and had previously been a solo traveler. Now, the two of us stood on the port side of the huge ship and gazed out from the top deck at the starlit sky above the Port of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. A statue of Cristobal Columbo (Christopher Columbus) peered down at us as we swore to sate our wanderlust ever after and reveled in our high adventure. We were on our way to the Balearic Islands, the island of Ibiza, to be exact, (pronounced Ibitha to the well-traveled tourist) and had secured a cabin on the ship for the nights trip. The ship and cabin were Spartan, and at first light, we disembarked and set foot on terra firma. The island, which had been touted as the happening spot for young people, was tiny and, aside from the ancient fortress and village around a small seaport, was mainly dry, brushy and agricultural. We wandered down the narrow, cobblestone streets amidst the tourists and the locals who were going about the business of daily living, baskets on their shoulders and bicycles laden with goods. The smiling proprietors of small cafes beckoned weary wayfarers like us to partake of their fine wine and vittles Hola, Senoritas! As the day wore on, our backpacks grew heavy and we stopped at a hand-painted sign offering a room. A dark Spanish woman, swarthy and a bit thick through the middle, took us through a door that opened directly off the street and then up a steep staircase. At the top was a small, Spartan foyer with four or five doors presumably leading to guest rooms. She opened a set of flimsy double doors, which didnt quite meet in the middle due to some sort of chopping at the space between them. The gap was now about three quarters of an inch wide and would have revealed to anyone who chose to look, the entire contents and characters within (along with the content of their characters, perhaps). To prevent just such chicanery a faded piece of cloth was hung on the inside of the door - a curtain, as it were. We surveyed the room with a jaded eye having already experienced the drill of expecting more from a room than we ever got during our extended tour of Europe. This one was a bargain at a buck and a half per night and was worth every peseta. The plaster was chipping and the chenille bedspreads were mismatched and worn. The curtains on the door that led to a small balcony overlooking the main street had seen better days, but we paid the small sum and dropped our packs to rest our travel-weary bodies while we sipped some local red wine. As evening approached our tummies rumbled so we changed into our other set of clothing and headed for the nearest restaurant for some more vino and una comida. Robin had discovered an interesting spot in Europe on $5 a day, so we located it and ventured in for dinner. A loaf of hot, homemade bread and a steaming bowl of succulent Paella filled with sumptuous shrimp, clams and rice were placed before us by a smiling Spanish waiter, and we ate with gusto, juice dripping down our chins. Soon after dinner, our explorations led us to an American style discotheque complete with black lights and flashing neon. We worked our way through the crowd looking for a seat and managed to squeeze into a spot near the bar to watch the tourists mingle with the locals. Scantily clad bodies gyrated to the beat of the outdated American tunes that blasted from the rickety jukebox. We Americans tourists stood out in a crowd with our sturdy walking shoes and nondescript clothing. I had packed two pairs of trousers, two sweaters, two tee-shirts, five pair of underpants, three pairs of socks and a down coat. My hair was cut as short as it had ever been for the ease of sink shampoos in cold water. Robyn looked like a Spaniard with thick, dark hair and tawny skin and a Rubenesque figure. Our apparel only seemed to draw attention to us, and we moved uneasily away from the gaze of more than one dark stranger who seemed to be assessing his prey. We mingled as only young twenty-something girls can do meeting an array of people ranging from strange to fascinating and by 2am or so my body begged for sleep. I said goodnight and left Robyn in the company of several young men and wandered back the short distance to the room (okay, maybe I staggered a little) and flopped into the lumpy bed for a deep doze enhanced by the abundance of red wine I had imbibed. Not long after, I was awakened suddenly by Robyns harsh Aussie whisper in my ear. Wake up! Wake up! Someones trying to break into our room! I jumped up rather unsteadily and approached the door with my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I beat against the door with my fist and hollered, Go away, get out of here! Who knows, in the heat of the moment, I may even have shouted Vamoose! Silence. We looked at one another and reluctantly crawled back into bed leaving the light on, hoping the would-be intruder had vanished into the night. But soon, I awoke to bloodcurdling screams coming from Robyn who sat bolt upright in her bed. I sat up and began screaming too, and saw a dark man turn and flee from the room leaving the two doors wide open and the curtain inside flapping between them. We continued to scream for a few more rounds until an Englishman arrived at our door dressed only in thin, cotton pants. What is the problem? he asked in his clipped British accent while rubbing his eyes. We saw . . . there was . . . someone tried . . . we panted breathlessly as we managed to reveal our plight and cause for such abject terror. He listened patiently and then said, It was probably just some Spaniard trying to rape you. Is that so terrible? We were stunned by his stiff upper lip approach to this whole scenario, but were deeply grateful when he offered to leave his two huge dogs with us for the remainder of the night. Stay, he said and they curled up between the two beds and went to sleep. However, we lay awake, eyes wide, contemplating who, why, when and where, terrified that the stranger would return to rape and pillage. We couldnt wait for morning when we quickly packed our belongings and departed. We ventured warily into the street, scanning each face wondering about the stranger who might recognize and be following us, but whom we would not recognize if we fell over him. We found some good American fellows we had met the night before and told them of our intruder. They quickly offered to share their room until the ship returned two days later, and we slept on the floor of their room, honest! Thoughts ran wildly through our minds as we relived the horrifying experience, but the only viable answer we found was that perhaps the man had followed Robyn from the disco thinking she was alone. When he burst into the room, hit the curtain and was assailed by two screaming banshees, he likely panicked and fled, forgetting his original intent. By the time the ship was ready to depart, we were exhausted and more than ready to say goodbye to the little island that had become little more than a frightening place. As I lay in my berth aboard ship that night chasing sleep, a tiny gnawing pain had begun to grow in the pit of my stomach. When we arrived in Barcelona, chills and fever had replaced the pain, but I persevered. We were anxious to board the overnight train to Paris but soon found ourselves sharing a small sleeping compartment with four other people of mixed race and gender. I was in the middle berth with my head near the door. As passengers entered the compartment, their faces were at my eyelevel, and I could smell their body odor and garlic breath, which only worsened my condition. I rotated from one end of the bed to the other where I could open the window and breathe a bit of fresh air. As the chills shook me, I donned all my clothing from my backpack only to quickly remove them as the fever and sweats returned. By the time we reached Paris, I had a full- blown case of the touristas, otherwise known as amoebic dysentery. Well, I wont go into the sordid details of the last few days of my trip. Lets just say, given the quality and texture of Parisian toilet paper, I was very glad when the morning came for me to board a train to Luxembourg for my flight home. I said goodbye to Robyn, descended the five flights of stairs at the Hotel Cluny on the left bank of the Seine and ventured out to hail a cab. I hailed and waved and shouted, but none stopped. Finally, I returned to the room where Robyn informed me that I must go to a cabstand, but now I had missed my train and, possibly, my flight home. My only choice was a plane. Low on funds, I borrowed the necessary amount for airfare from Robyn. Once aboard the transatlantic flight, I watched with empathy and pity a poor girl lying across three seats, literally green from her trip across the English Channel in a boat. With problems of my own, I dozed and dreamed of all the foods I couldnt wait to indulge in when I got back to the States, dysentery be damned. We played the food game with many of the Americans we met on our trip. Some wanted a grilled beefsteak with French fries; others craved bacon and eggs. I longed for my mothers juicy meatloaf and a crispy baked potato with butter. When my 8-hour flight finally landed, I was met by my mother and step-dad to whom I must have written at least two postcards during my six-week adventure. As we climbed in the car, my mom turned to me and said, I hope youre hungry. Ive got meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner. I sighed with pleasure and snuggled happily into the back seat, wondering if it was just a fluke or a classic case of mothers intuition. 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Asia Travel

Asia Travel Information: Things Asian: Asia Travel Magazine: Travel to Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore Experience Asia Through the Eyes of a Traveler Search Site: Advanced Search Photo of the Day | Stories | Photo Essays | Contributors | Travel | Gallery | Store Member: None ( Login ) Vietnam Thailand China Malaysia Japan India Indonesia More Destinations... Contributors Ira G. Barrows Jason Gibbs Planning a Trip to Asia? ThingsAsian Travel provides valuable resources for intelligent, independent travelers. December 28, 2005 Red Banner, Tokyo, Japan Photo by: Robert George This red banner hangs in an antique store in Gunma Prefecture outside Tokyo.The large white kanji symbols in the center denote a location near auniversity, the identity of which is obscured from view. And the handwrittenscript on either side represents two male names: Ichiro and Osamu. Who knowswho they were or what has become of them. SEND PHOTO TO A FRIEND. IT'S FREE! Bangkok Dazed Chopstick Cinema ThingsAnime Walking Hanoi's Old Quarter Photography by Lisa Spivey / Albert Wen Dawn of Happiness: Sukhothai By Kenneth Champeon ThingsAsian Store ThingsAsian Gallery To Asia With Love Edited & with contributions by Kim Fay Photographs by Julie Fay US $18.00 A concentrated collection of recent travel experiences in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Fifty seasoned travelers offer personal stories and insider advice on food, sightseeing and the love of being in Southeast Asia. LEARN MORE Artist Profile: Hoang An | Photo of the Day | Stories | Photo Essays | Contributors | Travel | Gallery | Store About Us Advertise in ThingsAsian -- | Press Information | Investor Relations | Our Privacy Policy | Partners | ThingsAsian Press ©1994-2005 Global Directions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Web Development & Design by Dayspring Technologies, Inc.