CRUISE VACATIONS 2005 -

Antarctica Travel Antarctica Cruise Antarctica Vacation Antarctica Travel Cruises and Tours Antarctica Travel Cruises Tours Reservations & Inquiries ANTARCTICA TRAVEL CRUISE VACATIONS 2005 - 2006 Explore the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the M/S Andrea Cruise Antarctica on the m/s Andrea. Pre-departure materials and final documents for the trip. All meals on board including wine and beer served with lunch and dinner. On Antarctic Cruises Only: One night pre-cruise accommodation in Ushuaia, Argentina at a first class hotel on a bed & Breakfast basis. Group Transfer with porterage from the hotel to the ship and from the ship to the airport . All shore excursions including Zodiac cruising and landings where necessary. (On Antarctic Only). Services of a professional expedition leader and guest lecturers. Port Charges. Post Expedition Log. Special Expedition jacket (on Antarctic cruises only). Cruise Antarctica & Sub-Antarctic Islands Antarctica Adventure Cruises Choose from 9 luxury cruises aboard the M/S Andrea From 10 nights to 18 nights Departure Dates & Prices Cruise the South Shetland Islands , Drake Passage and the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the Grigoriy Mikheev Antarctica Expedition Cruises Choice of 9 Antarctica Cruises From 10 nights to 18 nights Falklands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula Our small, specially designed expedition ships journey south, taking full advantage of the 24 hours of daylight during the austral summer. Ice-strengthened hulls and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to navigate safely through the pack ice and narrow waterways. Our zodiac excursions, guided by foremost Antarctic experts, offer the freedom to explore remote locations and observe Antarcticas abundant wildlife. Our cruise itineraries include: the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. Departure Dates & Prices About Scantours General Conditions Travel Insurance Practical Tips CST # 2022206-40 SCANTOURS INC. USA Toll free US & Canada: 1-800-223-7226 Local Phone: 310-636-4656 Fax: 310-390-0493 Comments? Suggestions? E-mail us at info@scantours.com 2003 Scantours Inc. All rights reserved. HOME USEFUL LINKS Webmaster

Italy Travel Resources: Rome

Italy - Travel and Tourism Information for Italy  You are here: About > Travel > Italy for Visitors Travel Go Italy Essentials Italy Profile Top Ten Cities to Visit in Italy Eating Out in Italy Ski in Piedmont New Year's Celebrations in Italy Articles & Resources Planning and Information Florence, Italy Rome, Italy Venice, Italy More Italian Cities Regions of Italy Italy Pictures Food and Wine of Italy Language and Culture Festivals and Events Gay and Lesbian Travel Italian History Things to Do in Italy Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Italy for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Italy for Visitors From Martha Bakerjian , Your Guide to Italy for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Travel to Milan, Italy Milan is one of Italy's most fashionable and richest cities but it also has many great artistic and historical sights and a thriving cultural scene. Home to the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the famous opera house, La Scala, Milan has a lot to offer the traveler. If you want to travel in northern Italy, Milan, with 2 airports, makes a convenient starting or ending destination. Read our Travel Profile of Milan, Italy , to learn more about Milan. You don't have to spend as much money as the CIA did on their stay in Milan. If you want to look for a hotel, here are some Milan Hotel listings with links to Kayak so that you can compare prices and even book online if you find one you like. Tuesday December 27, 2005 | permalink 2006 Winter Olympic Update According to Northern Italy's Torino 2006 Blog , the Olympic Village in Turin is complete and ready for the Winter Olympics starting in February. The village has 750 apartments as well as service buildings and will be converted to residential and student housing following the games. Meanwhile, the Olympic torch is spending the Christmas holidays with friends and family in Sicily and will resume its travels on December 26. The travel route will take the torch into southern Italy where it will arrive in Naples on New Year's Eve. Naples has one of the best New Year's Eve fireworks displays in Italy. More on Celebrating the New Year in Italy . Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Where Are Italians Going This Christmas? According to AGI News , 7 million Italians will travel outside their city during the long Christmas weekend this year. 30% are families who will return on the 26th or 27th but 70% will take an extended vacation and travel through at least January 1. Where will they go? 65% will visit relatives or friends or their second home. The rest will travel to a mountain resort or visit one of the Italian art cities - Rome, Venice, or Florence. Most of those who plan to travel outside Italy will visit another European capital. Italy Travel Resources: Rome Travel Resources | Venice Travel Resources | Florence Picture Gallery | Winter Sports in the Piedmont Mountains Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Italy in the Travel Blogs: St. Nick and the Government Wine Bar Italians celebrate St. Nicholas in a feast day on December 6th. But did you know that St. Nick is buried in the coast town of Bari after sailors stole his body from Myra, Turkey? Gadling has the goods. Attitudes toward wine are different in Italy than in the US. Imagine the outcry in the US if the government financed a wine bar, just like the Italian region of Lazio did recently. Check out Gridskipper's Your Government Wine Bar . Friday December 23, 2005 | permalink Relive Casanova's Venice--or not Perhaps it was the movie Casanova ,but the old libertine's lusty ways seem to be undergoing a sort ofRenaissance. As you know, the legendary lover's heritage includes theoft publicized use of the early condom, which for Casanova consisted ofa reusable sheep-gut sheath tied on with a pink ribbon and rinsed, whenrequired, in the Grand Canal. Now, according to Venice Word ,"fourteen million tourists a year can now leave with a new"serenissimo" gadget that appears destined to be a hit: the Casanovacondom packed in a single-unit package with the image of GiacomoCasanova." You probably won't need to stand in line at Venice pharmacies toprocure a Casanova special, they'll be available in 2006 attobacconists and newspaper kiosks, the same place you get your bustickets, usually. And hold on you your...hats, "Beginning in January, the Casanova will also be sold in a seven-condom package shaped like a... gondola." Italy Travel Resources: Venice Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Florence Picture Gallery The off season is a wonderful time to capture the best light of Florence. Check out our new photo gallery: Florence Pictures - Monuments, Buildings and the art of Florence, Italy . The pictures, taken on Thanksgiving day, include a Florence street decorated for the winter holidays and two cow sculptures, part of Florence's CowParade open air exhibit that runs through January. Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink Ski in Northern Italy's Piedmont Region The mountains of Piedmont featured at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics provide a unique backdrop for winter sports, especially skiing. Piedmont features 53 ski resorts with 1,300 kilometres of run. Winter sports that can be practiced in the Piedmont region include alpine and cross-country skiing, telemark, snowboarding, ice climbing, free riding, ski mountaineering, horse trekking, driving sleighs pulled by Siberian huskies, paraskiing, and heliskiing. The Piedmont region is also noted for gastronomic specialties and wine. With early snows in Italy, the region is ready for winter sports. Read about where to go to Ski in Italy's Piedmont region . Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink Celebrating New Year's Eve in Italy Italy is a great place to be on New Year's Eve for the celebration of La Festa di San Silvestro . No matter where you are there will probably be a celebration including fireworks. In the bigger cities, you will find music and dancing in the squares. Food is a part of any Italian celebration and New Year's Eve is no exception. Here's how the Italians celebrate New Years and some special places to go for a big New Year's festival or party . You'll also find out where the Olympic torch will be on New Year's Eve! Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink A Look at Turin, Italy Turin, Torino in Italian, will host the 2006 Winter Olympics. As a result, the city of Turin is frantically spiffing up for an influx of visitors on February 10. Turin's central piazza , the Piazza Castello , will become the stage for the awards ceremonies, integrating the Olympic outcome with Italy's famous piazza culture. Turin is a beautiful city with a great cafe culture, excellent museums, Baroque palaces, and arcaded promenades. It also has some of the best food in Italy. It's often overlooked by tourists but well worth a spot on a travel itinerary. Take a look at our Profile of Turin Travel Essentials . Sunday December 04, 2005 | permalink Florence Hotel Recommendation I've just returned from Florence where I stayed in a very nice and comfortable 4-star hotel for just a little more than I paid last November for a cramped and smoky 2-star with a terrible bathroom! The Hotel Adler Cavalieri is conveniently located, has a helpful English-speaking staff, and is very quiet. Both the common rooms and bedrooms are attractive and welcoming. I would definitely stay here again! The hotel also gave us a great restaurant recommendation where we enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing dinner. The Club Culinario Toscano da Osvaldo , although centrally located, is a little difficult to find but well worth the search. This was definitely one of the best meals I've had in Florence! Sunday December 04, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Naples, Italy Overview Italian New Year Celebrations Top Ten Cities in Italy Italy Information Rome Italy Travel Essentials What's Hot Italian New Year Celebrations Florence Pictures - Copy of Michelangelo statue David in fro... Florence Pictures - View of the Tuscan countryside from the ... Florence Pictures - Pitti Palace Fountain from Boboli Garden... Florence Pictures - Florence CowParade - Cow Art Related Topics France for Visitors Europe for Visitors Greece for Visitors Italian Cuisine        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 Italian New Year Celebrations Florence Pictures - Copy of Michelangelo statue David in fro... Florence Pictures - View of the Tuscan countryside from the ... Florence Pictures - Pitti Palace Fountain from Boboli Garden... Florence Pictures - Florence CowParade - Cow Art Headlines Travel to Milan, Italy Milan is one of Italy's most fashionable and richest cities... 2006 Winter Olympic Update According to Northern Italy's Torino 2006 Blog, the Olympic Village... Where Are Italians Going This Christmas? According to AGI News, 7 million Italians will travel outside... Italy in the Travel Blogs: St. Nick and the Government Wine Bar Italians celebrate St. Nicholas in a feast day on December...

south america Travel Help,

south america Travel Help | south america Travel Tips & Advice | Travellerspoint U sername: P assword: R emember Me Car Hire Travel Insurance Airport Parking UK Cheap Accommodation Hotel Bookings Travellerspoint Travel Community Forums Blogs Destinations Accommodation Travel Help Reunions Tools Links south america Travel Help, Advice & Tips Travel Help south america Travel Help Ask these Travel Helpers for information about the south america region or select a country to find a Travel Helper for that specific country. Please remember that these Travel Helpers provide information on a volunteer basis and when they take the time to help you that a thank you is highly appreciated! Argentina Bolivia Brazil Cayman Is. Chile Colombia Dominica Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Surinam Uruguay Venezuela aaron chan [abearc] User Profile Log in to ask aaron about south america I have worked as a guide in South America since 1995. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Erica Keith [luvtravel] User Profile Log in to ask Erica about south america I am a travel agent and have sent many clients to South America. I am fluent in Spanish and am familiar with not only the tourism side of the continent, but also its customs, culture and history. Geoge Foster [georged1] User Profile Log in to ask Geoge about south america I am aformer south america tour leader (for over 5 years). I have traveled all around excepting venezuela and colombia (Wich I visited but never professionaly traveled) I still travel regularly to South America for business reasons... hope i can be of help Jackson Lima [Pluriacqua] User Profile Log in to ask Jackson about south america People planning to visit South America and need information I will always know something that can be of help to them like hotels, bus lines to wierd or far-away places mainly in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and border areas. Since I live on the border I have access to three countries. Would you like to go from Iguassu Falls to the Amazon by bus? Or to Patagonia, I can help with reservations, contacts and so on. jose bogado [calethai] User Profile Log in to ask jose about south america Living in Argentina. Used to work in a Tour Operator. Knowledgement of all southamerica. Joshua Feyen [findemundo] User Profile Log in to ask Joshua about south america I spend 12 months independent traveling throughout South America (NOT Brazil, Venezuela or Colombia). I speak Spanish and took several opportunities to get off the "Gringo Trail." Would like to help people interested in doing the same. Lindsay Simmonds [Loopy] User Profile Log in to ask Lindsay about south america living in bolivia since august 2004. very recent travels in la paz, lago titticaca, el choro trail, sorata to rurre by bike/boat, potosi, sucre, tarija, tupiza, trinidad, santa cruz. hablar un poco de espanol. Lucy Clitherow [Lucyc55] User Profile Log in to ask Lucy about south america I lived in South America for nearly 3 years, and worked for a travel agency. I can help especiially with Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Brasil. Luz light [luz22] User Profile Log in to ask Luz about south america by living in buenos aires, argentina i can help you by telling you everything i know about beautiful latin america:)i d just like to be helpful, so if you have any questions, just ask me!!i ll be glad to answer them, it ll be my pleasure... have fun and be sure to enjoy your stay in south america!!!(note that i ve only been to argentina, brazil, chile, uruguay, columbia and paraguay.) marco meneses [marcomenes] User Profile Log in to ask marco about south america I am an experienced nutritionist and manager with a MPH and a Master in Training and Development with fifteen years experience working in emergency relief and strong computer and financial skills. I have worked in Somalia and Sudan (1993- 1994) supervising programs for child survival, water and sanitation, immunizations, and food for work. In Angola (1991- 1992) I trained traditional birth attendants and community health workers in nutrition and primary care and oversaw therapeutic and supplemental feeding programs. I also worked in West Africa ,Central America and Colombia with the U.N. (1985- 1991) supervising food for work programs and refugee camps management with a focus on accessing the most vulnerable populations. I speak Spanish, English and I am familiar with Portuguese and Arabic margarita van beusichem [margaritav] User Profile Log in to ask margarita about south america by giving advice, tips and suggestions Maria Jesus Reinafarje [mjreinafar] User Profile Log in to ask Maria Jesus about south america Telling you my experiences about my trips throughout this regions. Tips and more. Mikko Eerola [meerola] User Profile Log in to ask Mikko about south america I have lived in Cochabamba, Bolivia for a year in 1999-2000 and also during that time traveled in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Perú. My wife is Peruvian and has also lived in Ecuador. Together we are happy to share what we know with all travellers interested in the region. We can be contacted in Finnish, English or Spanish. Unfortunately we are oftentimes quite busy with work and other duties, and the response can get delayed. Sorry for that! Please let us know in your question after which date you no longer need the response. Also, please don't request information on formalities such as visas etc. since you should always ask your local embassy or consulate for up-to-date information. Murillo Diniz [murillo] User Profile Log in to ask Murillo about south america I live in São Paulo, Brazil, and love traveling around. I'd love to help anyone who wanted to meet my country or others I've been before, like Bolívia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Paraguai, as well as others in Europe. Hope meeting someone, somewhere, sometime!!!! © 2002 - 2005 Travellerspoint Travel Community | Contact | FAQ | About | Terms | Site Map

RUSSIA Travel 309 Peters

Travel to Russia. Tours to Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Moscow city tour, St. Petersburg city tours. TRAVEL AGENTS Home Train Reservations Full visa services - Armenia - Azerbaijan - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan - Moldova - Russia - Turkmenistan - Ukraine - Uzbekistan Visa support only - Armenia - Belarus - Georgia - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyz stan - Moldova - Russia - Ukraine Fiancee visa - The Process - Services - Who we are Travel services - Cell Phone Rental - Guide and translator - Transport services and airport transfers - Tours and packages - VIP services - Travel Insurance Airport Transfers - Moscow Transfers - St.Petersburg Trans - Kiev Transfers - Odessa Transfers Hotels & Apartments - Hotels in Russia - Hotels in Ukraine - Apartments in Moscow - Apartments in St.Petersburg - Apartments in Yoshkar-Ola - Apartments in Ekaterinburg - Apartments in Kiev - Apartments in Odessa - Apartments in Lviv Airline Tickets - International - Domestic Adoption travel - Doing your own research - Buying your tickets - Airline recommendations - Passports - Travel visas - Hotels in Russia - Getting to your hotel - Safety Traveler’s essentials - Russian visa - Arriving by plane - Arriving by train - Foreign Embassies - Phone services - Internet Access - Exchanging money - Medical help - Time zones - Russian mail US Passports - New US Passport - Passport Renewal - Lost Passport - Second Passport - Adding Pages - Child US Passport - Child Lost Passport - Name Change Russia in Pictures Newsletter Internet Specials Gift Certificates Flower Delivery About us - What our clients say - Our staff - Our partners - Job Opportunities We operate individual and group tours to Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states and other countries of the former USSR. Some of the tour descriptions and prices are listed here , and if you do not see a package that interests you, please email us - we can easily customize your trip for you! Our guides in Moscow and St. Petersburg are highly experienced and state-licensed professionals. While you can have a self-guided tour of many sights, you would never find out as much and enjoy your tour as you would with a private guide . We offer comfortable private transportation options upon your arrival to or departure from Russia. You don't have to pay what VIP's do to feel like one. For those who want a truly VIP service , we offer just that at International terminals in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev airports . Depending on the airport, you would be personally escorted off the plane, whisked through passport control and customs, while everyone else would still be elbowing their way off the plane. [ Guide and translator ] [ Transport services and airport transfers ] [ Tours and packages ] [ VIP services ] [ Travel Insurance ] What our clients say about Go To Russia Apply for Visa Online -Make your selection- Visa to Armenia Visa to Azerbaijan Visa to Belarus Visa to Georgia Visa to Kazakhstan Visa to Kyrgyzstan Visa to Moldova Visa to Russia Visa to Turkmenistan Visa to Ukraine Visa to Uzbekistan Track Your Visa Online Online tracking for visa papers received by our office Last Name: Date of Birth: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 Save $$$ on travel to Russia and CIS! Our newsletter contains special announcements, sales, interesting stories & facts. GO TO RUSSIA Travel 309 Peters St., Unit A Atlanta, GA 30313 Phone: 1.888.263.0023 , 404.827.0099 Fax: 404.827.0435 Office hours Mon-Fri 9AM - 8PM EST Saturdays 11AM - 3PM EST 2004 GTR - Russian Visa All rights reserved Russian Visa Services

Asia Travel Blog Moves...

Asia Travel Blog: All about Asian travel destinations, news, stories and more. We are now a part of b5media.com . Watch out for updates and news on the merger . MAIN | About | Archives | Admin | Jump to navigation Asia Travel Blog Moves... Finally Category: General : Asia Travel Sorry for not having updated this blog for a while. We had server problems for most of last week, and now we're finally migrating. Do tune around. I'll be back to regular posting soon! Er, I hope. tags: asia , travel , blog 12/19/05 - 07:34:05 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 315 times. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Opens In Tokyo Category: Asian Hotels and Resorts Visiting Tokyo? Try the newly-opened Mandarin Oriental and let the Tokyo panorama take your breath away: Guests arriving at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Tokyo are ushered from a private entrance, whisked directly to the 38th floor Sky Lobby and presented with a breathtaking view of the dramatic cityscape. Above, the sky is revealed through the vast glass windows. There is no doubt the new Mandarin Oriental hotel epitomises sophisticated luxury. Located on Chuo Dori, the 5th Avenue of the rich historical district off Nihonbash, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is offering introductory internet rates . Rates may vary from day to day, but a deluxe room on a weekday start at about JPY 48,000 (a bit less than $400). A bit pricey for me, personally, but hey, it's Mandarin Oriental! tags: tokyo, , mandarin , oriental 12/13/05 - 06:28:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 430 times. The Shopping Paradise That Is Singapore Category: Shopping in Asia Blogger Christine , who is a Filipino expatriate based in Singapore, wrote an article about Singapore as shopping haven. With the gamut of shops in Singapore, Christine provides a short primer of where to find what, bringing us to a cyber-shopping trip across Orchard Road, Marina Bay and the food jaunts at the Hawker Centers. Go and have a look-see . tags: singapore, , shopping 12/12/05 - 12:52:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 474 times. Air Travelling With Pets Category: Getting There and Away : Asia So you want to go on a holiday and would like to bring your pet with you? Think twice, because although it is not impossible, it's gonna cause you a great deal of hassle. Think hard, and plan well in advance. In most aircrafts, unless it's a service animal (such as guide dogs for blind passengers), pets are not allowed inside the cabins. However, some, like Thai Airways does allow, small pets in the cabin, as long as there are no more than two animals aboard the cabin at the same time (you've got to coordinate with the airline). The regulations and requirements naturally depend on the destination, and in places like Hongkong , for example, pets need an import permit even for transit. But here are a few other factors you might want to consider: Import Permit: Contact the government bureau of your destination country (usually that dealing with Animal and Plant Quarantine) to check your pet's immigration requirements. For pets flying in to Taiwan for example, pet tags , no matter how fancy they may be, just won't suffice. The dog or cat to be imported shall have been implanted microchip and vaccinated against rabies when at the age of at least 90 days old; and the period between the day of vaccination and the day of shipment shall be no less than 30 days and no more than one year. Cages/Kennels: Whether your pet will join you in the cabin or in the cargo section, your pet will need a cage or a kennel. In some cases, the kennels would even have to be pre-approved with the airline you're flying. Quarantine: Find out how long will the destination country will keep your pet in quarantine, if this is necessary. In some countries, this can be up to 6 weeks! Pet Travel is a good starting place to browse information, but feel free to contact your airline. Any good airline should have their regulations in place and should be able to help you out if you have specific situations. Enjoy sharing your Asian travel experience with your pet (if you really must). tags: pets , airline 12/12/05 - 08:13:41 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 474 times. Dubai Shopping Festival 2006 Category: Shopping in Asia In a previous post , I've enumerated the various shopping festivals in Asia. Well, brace yourself, year 2006 will start with a shopping spree... at the 11th Dubai Shopping Festival ! I've had stop-overs in Dubai several times and I have to say, if the awesome array of fashion, electronics, cosmetics and especially jewelry at the Duty-Free is anything to go by, the Shopping Fetival is one to wow even the most shoppaholics of shoppaholics! Themed ''One World, One Family, One Festival'', the month-long extravaganza will start on the 4th of January. Aside from shopping, there are exhibitions, plays, concerts, bazaars, street performances, fashion shows or sports events to suit everybody. Are you lucky with raffle draws ? Well,then be sure to get your ticket for a chance to win these awesome prizes: Each day, a Lexus LX 470 or ES 300 will be given away, and every other day, you have a chance to walk away with... get this.. one kilogram of gold bars ! If you're flying in for this shopping fiesta, might as well fly Emirates, the official airline of the DSF, and take advantage of the DSF travel package : for $56 per person, choose to stay at any of the 21 hotels available and enjoy the following amenities: Airport-Hotel tranfers by chauffeur-driven cars Buffet breakfast. Emirates Holidays 24-hour emergency assistance. Additional 10 kg free baggage allowance on return/onward flights from Dubai. Stopover charges in Dubai waived for onward bound passengers. Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack. Ah, what to buy, what to buy? Well, here are some definite must-haves from Dubai: Arabic perfumes (attar), from the Perfume Souk near the city centre. Incense: powder, crystal, rock or wood. At the very least, have a look for frankincense Arabic spices: cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, dried fruit and nuts at the Spice Souk. Gold trinkets at the Gold Souk. Carpets and rugs : Persian rugs, Turkish kilims, as well as Turkoman, Kashmiri and Afghan rugs. Dates: these fruits are yummy and healthy fiber-rich snacks! Haute couture clothing, electronics and handicrafts When taking a break from shopping, be sure to check out the myriad of adventures Dubai has to offer: historical tours, cruises, and desert safaris! Enjoy and... don't forget the sunblock! tags: dubai , shopping 12/12/05 - 06:19:33 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 495 times. Is Asia Too Risky? Category: General : Asia Travel Apparently, a lot of Japanese tourists think so . According to a survey conducted by a Japan travel agency, the expected number of Japanese tourists travelling abroad during this holiday season increased in comparison to last years'. However, "Fewer people plan to visit China after the anti-Japanese demonstrations and due to worries about the bird flu outbreak." Indonesia, hit by suicide bombings on Bali, will probably attract fewer Japanese travellers, with the number expected to decline by 18.7 percent. OK, let's take the political anti-Japanese sentiments out of the list and we're left with bird flu and terrorist threats. I can imagine how these two can possibly turn off tourists, inlcuding those coming from outside Asia as well. I have to admit, I'm mighty afraid of bird flu, as well. But there's bird flu reported in Europe and North America (Canada) as well. Same with terrorism. Spain, Ireland, France, Great Britain and naturally, America is not immune to it, neither. Yesterday, I met my husband's cousin who barely escaped that Bali bombing I blogged about a couple months ago. She said she'd really love to go back and spend another holiday to Bali, in spite of. No fear, no paranoia, nothing. What accounts for the difference in perspective, I wonder? tags: asia , travel , bali 12/08/05 - 06:10:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 684 times. Fly Across Asia For Free Via AirAsia!!! Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Well, if my yesterday's posts on budget airlines didn't wake your urge to travel, maybe this one will: AirAsia is celebrating its 4th annivesary and is giving away 2 million (!) seats for FREE ! To be eligible, book your ticket online or via mobile (available on GPRS, 3G, EDGE mobile phones or wireless device) between now and to 28th December 2005, for travel between 7 Feb 2006 and 10th October 2006. Naturally, offer is subject to availability, but free seats are most often found on midweek travel dates. C'mon, that's travelling for NOTHING (not counting the taxes and airport fees, of course)! If that's not incentive enough to go and explore more of Asia, I don't know what is! tags: budget airline , airasia 12/07/05 - 08:26:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 765 times. Junk? Jewelry? A Bit of Both! Category: Shopping in Asia There's an "art space" -- store to us mortals -- along Silom Road in Bangkok that's gaining popularity for jewelry afficionados. You won't find fancy yellow diamond rings in Kitti Manoonphol's shop , but his creations have been seen on beauty queens and Hollywood stars. He calls his creations "contemporary ethnic arts", making use of ancient beading techniques, and incorporates common materials we see from day to day--plastic toys, Lego blocks, vinyl beads-- to put together a unique portfolio. Check it out on your next shopping trip in Bangkok! Alternatively, according to the Time feature on Manoonphol's jewelries, if you're too lazy slash busy to brave the Bangkok traffic, for the right price, you can also ask him to call, "carting his collection around in the trunk of his BMW". 12/06/05 - 10:07:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 622 times. Birthday Blow-out from Jetstar Asia! Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Jetstar Asia is treating us to a birthday blow-out! After one year flying the Asian skies, Jetstar tempts us to fly more! Have a look at these bargain airfares originating from Singapore: Phuket fr S$18 one-way Bangkok fr S$18 one-way Hong Kong fr S$68 one-way Manila fr S$98 one-way Taipei fr S$88 one-way Kolkata fr S$98 one-way Siem Reap fr S$138 one-way Phnom Penh fr S$138 one-way Yangon fr S$208 return Want to take part in this treat? Simply book by 13 December 2005 for travel from 4 January to 30 June 2006. Sounds like a great Christmas gift idea! tags: jetstar , asia , budget , airlines 12/06/05 - 07:01:00 - Ruth - 3 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 706 times. Budget Airline AirAsia FliesTo More Destinations Category: Getting There and Away : Asia Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia expands network and will soon add the following new connections (first flights this month or in January): From Kuala Lumpur to Balikpapan, Indonesia (RM99.99 / Rp 299.999), starting Dec 20, 2005 to Solo, Indonesia (RM49.99 / Rp 149.999), starting Dec 22. 2005 to Siem Reap, Cambodia (RM79.99 / US$ 22), starting Dec 27, 2005 to Pekan Baru,Indonesia (RM39.99 / Rp 119.999), starting Jan 12, 2006 From Johor Baru (tentatively set to begin on Jan 2006) to Tawau, Sandakan, Kota Bahru and Ipoh In addition to these new flights, AirAsia also increased frequency of flights to other stretches such as KL-Sibu KL-Macau Johor Baru-Penang Johor Baru-Kota Kinabalu Bangkok-Singapore Bangkok-Macau Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani 12/06/05 - 03:24:19 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 720 times. Is Expatriate Living In Asia For You? Category: General : Asia Travel The Bali Blog ponders: What would it take for you to move (for good, I guess he means) to Bali? Imagine your dream destination in Asia. Palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze... Warm sand and waters on the beach... drench in cheerful sunshine and witness to breathtaking sunsets. Who wouldn't want that 365 days of the year? Well, I don't. I think half of what makes holiday destinations extra-special is the distance to it all when you're not on holiday mode. The excitement begins as you make the first plans, and steadily increases as you book your tickets, and pack your stuff. When you get there, you've got nothing else on your to-do list except to relax, unwind, and enjoy. Whether it's a weekend get-away or a three-week holiday, you've got people pampering you, and your hotel room gets cleaned by people who, if the service is topnotch, you don't even get to see. No deadlines to meet, no housechores to do, no meetings to attend. All that will change if you're staying at that place for good. Suddenly sprouts the issues of residence permits, employment, insurance, pension, taxes, childcare and schooling. With these issues to attend to, I doubt you'd findmuch time to spend beachcombing and lying under the palm fronds. See how the perfect daydream breaks into shards? I will always yearn for an Asian holiday. Each trip is a glimpse of paradise. A glimpse, that's all. The mystery that remains and the prospect of novel experiences on the next visit are what make me yearn to come back for more. 12/06/05 - 02:23:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 695 times. Greg Bennett Finishes First at the 2005 Laguna Phuket Triathlon Category: Events in Asia A record-breaking field of 700 athletes competed at the 2005 Thai Airways International Laguna Phuket Triathlon held yesterday, Dec 4. Australian Greg Bennett bags $3000 prize money as the first finisher, with a time of 2:31:40. Last year's champ, Craig Alexander came second. Canadian Samantha McGlone finished first among the women, after 2:44:16 on the race. Congratulations to the winners, and goodluck for the Australian Ironman 2006! Special recognition also goes to the following: First overall amateur finisher Craig Johns from New Zealand Fastest Thai finisher Bunlubsak Doungdun First Thai female finisher Phuttrajit Sangkhaphan who was, at 14 years old, the youngest participant in this years Triathlon. See the finish times of all triathletes by category at the LagunaPhuket website . tags: triathlon , phuket 12/05/05 - 03:18:59 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 779 times. Hongkong Museums Category: Events in Asia There's more to Hongkong than just shopping and skyscrapers. How about museums? There are a couple of must-see museums in Hongkong that will give you an opportunity to dive into China's ancient dynasties. Here's something for you museum-afficionados out there: Until February 5, 2006, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hongkong will feature "Elegance in Relief: Carved Porcelain from Jingdezhen of the 19th to Early 20th Centuries" . ...the Art Museum presents 166 pieces of carved porcelain. The exhibits, made in the period from the Qianlong reign (1736-1795) to the 1950's, are extremely diverse, comprising brushpots, inkstick stands, brush rests, paperweights, vermilion boxes, inkstones, brush washers, waterpots, vases, bottles, snuff bottles, lamps, incense holders, ruyi sceptres, arm rests, belt ornaments, table screens, plaques and many the like. Together they give a comprehensive overview of Jingdezhen carved porcelain that developed fully in the two centuries. Consider that a primer to snuff bottles. Now if you want to see more, then head on the University of Hongkong's Museum and Art Gallery's " Heavenly Creations: An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles ". This exhibition will feature over three hundred snuff bottles from the collections of five Hong Kong connoisseurs: Anthony K. W. Cheung, Humphrey K. F. Hui, Po-ming Kwong, Mrs Tuyet Nguyet and Christopher C. H. Sin. Their collections include bottles made of glass, porcelain, jade, quartz and other soft stones, organic materials and inside-painted glass and rock crystal, of both imperial and non-imperial origins. The exhibition will be up until February 26. Admission is free. Both museums are closed on public holidays. tags: museums , Hongkong 12/01/05 - 05:59:52 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 944 times. Asia Travel Blog Moves Category: General : Asia Travel Nope, it's not a pun, but the Asia Travel Blog will move. If you've been following the developments of the merger between the Aboutweblogs and the b5media blogging networks, you'll know what I mean. The merger would mean a lot of work for us, behind the scenes, but hopefully, you won't be aware of it. What it means for you, readers, though, is that this blog will move to another url address, so you might have to change your bookmarks and links. But, I'd be sure to give you a heads-up before this blog finally migrates. We're also trying to come up with a more catchy title, so if you've got any ideas, just shoot me an email. tags: asia , travel , blog 11/30/05 - 08:55:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 961 times. Garden Cliff Resort & Spa Pattaya Category: Asian Hotels and Resorts Yet another five-star hotel opens in Pattaya: the Garden Cliff Resort & Spa which is managed by Sofitel will "soft-open" on Dec 1. To celebrate its opening, the hotel is offering a promotional rate of 4,000 baht (US$97) ++ a night double occupancy in a Deluxe Sea view Room including breakfast until 31 March, 2006 (except during the peak season from 24 Dec 2005 to 10 Jan 06). Because of its relative proximity to Bangkok, Pattaya is gaining popularity among companies as a venue for meetings and conventions. It has a high-tech business center and the hotel ballroom can accommodate up to 420 people theatre-style supported by five fully equipped meeting rooms. Doesn't mean it's off limits for non-business travellers, though. Anyone can enjoy the sweeping view of the bay and the spa facilities just as much... If you want to avail of the promotional rates, you may book your rooms directly from the hotel: tel: (66 38) 259 333 fax: (66 38) 259 332 email: rsvn@gardencliffpattaya.com Source: E-Travel Blackboard tags: Pattaya , hotels 11/30/05 - 05:21:00 - Ruth - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 1005 times. About Asia Travel Blog Looking for travel tips, ideas, stories, and more about different destinations in Asia? Ruth Schaffer is here to offer resources about Asian travel. Member, AboutWeblogs.com Asia Travel Blog is part of a network that offers personal views, tips, news, reviews and other resources about different niche topics. Our focus is on passions, personal growth and lifestyles. If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions, please feel free to contact us . Navigation Navigation MAIN Archives Network Stats Admin Asia Travel Blog Categories Asian Adventure/Trekking Asian City Tours Asian Hotels and Resorts Asian Spas/Wellness Retreats Culture Shock: Asia Events in Asia Family Destinations in Asia Gastronomy and Asian Cuisine General : Asia Travel Getting There and Away : Asia Shopping in Asia Travel Promos and Deals in Asia Total Entries in This Blog: 131 Subscribe / Feed What's This? Search Login Username : Password : Shared Computer Latest Comments justice says i find this site sooo good that i... Ruth says justice, check out airasia's promo... justice says haha that's why my family is... 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