Posts Tagged ‘Asia’
The Philippines: A Beautiful Travel Destination
The Philippines is a country rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Yet, sadly, few tourists make the effort to visit.
The Philippines boast some of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, and it offers great opportunities for scuba diving. Active volcanoes, verdant jungles, and emerald rice paddies are among its other natural attractions.
Cultural treasures of the Philippines include the ancient rice terraces of Banaue, the baroque churches and palaces of the Spanish era, and glimpses of the ancient cultures of the early pre-colonial Philippines.
if you have just a few days to visit, the cities of Manila and Cebu are worth a day or two each; but you should also visit Boracay and its white sand beaches, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and the wilderness areas of Palawan.
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Personal Vision
For those planning a Mexico vacation, a visit to the Sierra Madre in the western region of the country will be one of the highlights. This is the homeland of the Huichol Indians, one of the few indigenous peoples to resist the Spanish conquest and the catholicism brought with it.
Numbering less than 20,000, their greatest concentrations can be found in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Their settlements are scattered in an area that is ruggedly beautiful with mountains, high mesas, and steep canyons.
Their origin is as mystical as their art. Some say they are descendants of the Aztecs, others suggest they originally came from Asia (which would give credence to the thought that they are connected to certain coastal tribes), and others believe they are related to the Hopi Indians of Arizona.
Devotedly spiritual and deeply connected to nature, they believe all life is sacred. Ceremonies revolve around their trinity: deer, corn, and peyote. Inspiration for their art is believed to come from these ceremonies. The vivid colors within the art are part of their interpretation of these visions.
The Huichol believe they evolved from spirit animals, and in some circles they are known as the wolf people. The ability to transform oneself into a wolf is a very old shamanic skill, passed through the ages. However, there are only a select number of shamans who are able to master this technique, and are held in high esteem by their neighbors. The shaman is the vital link between the Huichol and their gods.
Their traditional dress of vibrant colors and exquisitely embroidered symbols on white cotton provides an unmistakable identification. Symbols include deer, jaguar, serpent, eagle, corn, peyote, scorpion, wolf, and many more. Each of these animals is honored and respected in the symbolic world of the Huichol.
The beadwork and yarn paintings of the Huichol are available throughout the country, but commercially, the greatest concentration of their art can be found in Tepic, Nayarit. Some of them set up tables along the west end of the plaza which are then filled with a varied selection.
If the selection at the zocalo is not enough, there are several stores in the vicinity that can provide you with more options. There is also a Huichol co-op with a great selection of beadwork and yarn paintings. If you’re able to establish a connection with one of them, perhaps you’ll be fortunate to visit their community overlooking the city.
The beaded pieces begin with a wood-carved figure that has been allowed to dry. Then a mixture of beeswax and pine resin is applied to the surface of the wood. The artist will use a long pin, quill or any object small enough to insert through the hole of the beads, which are then applied onto the beeswax, one bead at a time. Men, women and children all participate in this application. The women, due to their smaller fingers, are a bit more nimble when applying the beads. All, however, are a pleasure to watch as they move rapidly from color to color and symbol to symbol. Masks, animal figures, offering bowls and ornament pieces are the end result of this tedious process.
For the yarn paintings, a similar technique is employed with the exception that they now work on a flat surface, working with scissors. Today’s yarn paintings are produced using tightly spun acrylic yarn. Older yarn paintings, if you’re lucky enough to find one, were made with wool.
Purchasing Art
When considering a beaded art purchase, there are several things to remember. The bead art comes in two bead sizes: very small and very, very small. The spacing of the beads determines quality. Tightly placed beads with complex designs command higher prices. Even more so with the smaller beaded pieces. With the yarn paintings, look for tightly spun yarn and, like the bead work, closely placed yarn strands.
Because the beeswax mixture is a primary part of the artwork, exercise caution when leaving the piece in extreme heat for extended periods of time. If that occurs, be careful in handling it, placing the piece in a more temperate climate, and your artwork is safe. Properly displayed in your home or office, it will provide years of enjoyment and a glimpse into an other worldly vision.
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Istanbul has a well-established transportation network with bus routes reaching almost everywhere, trains from both Asia and Europe making it into the very city center, boats and ferries along the Bosphorus, a clean and fast subway although it only serves a route with limited stations. Yellow cabs are easy to find almost everywhere in the city and they are not expensive at all. They all charge using a meter and it does not cost much to ride cabs around the city unless the distance is really long. However, some taxi drivers are known to turn the ride into a thrill or a speed race which is not really fun unless you are late for your flight. Tipping is not necessary at the cabs but you can round up to the next lira. You do not have to leave any extra cash after that. The traffic, however, tends to slow down a lot or almost stop at many intersections during the rush hours. The city center, however, has a lot to offer so this might be the ideal time of the day to take a walk around and discover the city.
On most of the popular routes, it is possible to take a shared cab which is called Dolmus. They are slightly bigger than cabs and they are yellow as well. The sign on the top reads Dolmus instead of Taksi . Most of them have a seating capacity of approximately 10 people and they charge a flat fee along the route. You can take the city ferry to ply over the Bosporus in all directions from one continent to another. One of the best ways to explore Istanbul is to do so on water. That is really a sight while you will have the advantage of paying nothing more than a regular transportation charge. For a short trip from the European side, just hop on a ferry to Uskudar and you can be back in an hour.
If you are planning on riding the ferry, the bus or the subway, it is advisable to purchase akbil which is a pre-paid electronic chip embedded on a plastic similar to a key fob. You can use your pre-paid credit on the Akbil and you will have access to citys transportation network with just a tap. There is always a direct bus service between the airports and Taksim. Taksim is the center of the transportation network, with buses, subways and dolmus’ coming in from various destinations of the city. Taksim bus stop and the central subway station is only a few minutes from where Hotel Lamartine is located.
If you will arrive Istanbul by car, your safest option will be to park it in a parking lot and take advantage of other transportation opportunities during your stay. For a western driver, Istanbul’s traffic can prove to be really difficult to navigate in, the streets can get complicated and the local drivers sometimes may not be patient enough to show enough respect to slower drivers.
Hakan Silistre – is the author for Hotel Lamartine’s travel tips section. Please visit http://www.lamartinehotel.com for more travel tips and city specific information written solely for prospective travelers headed towards Istanbul.
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Asia occupies a quarter of the earth’s land mass, it spans a lot of time zones. Having a single travel guide for all of Asia is virtually impossible. Asia like any other continent, here are basic travel tips for a few of the most happening countries in Asia.
Vietnam
The country’s recommended tourist spots are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are both modernized. All tourists in Vietnam, except Thai and Philippine Nationals need a tourist Visa before entering the Country. Health wise, Malaria is prevalent in Vietnam, it would be best to bring with you anti-mosquito lotions to prevent being bit.
Indonesia
Aside from the usual prohibition of narcotics and deadly weapons, Radio cassette Players are banned in the Island of Bali, which is a prime tourist spot in Indonesia. Any object with Chinese characters written on it, are also prohibited in Bali.
Thailand
Thai people are very religious and very loyal to the monarchy. You would often see pictures of the king around the cities, never make fun of him. The Thai also consider the head as the highest part of the body, whether spiritual or physical. Refrain from touching anybody in the head, and try not to point at anything with your foot.
Malaysia
It’s best to bring light and cool clothing in Malaysia. You would usually find food stands in the cities selling the local delicacies, “teh tarik” a creamed tea, and “roti canai” a type of pancake, are a must try when you do encounter them. Malaysia has many religions, you would usually see, a variety of Christian churches, Muslim Mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples may be present in each city.
Philippines
The Philippine has 7,107 islands and islets; beaches are the main tourist spots in the country. There are several museums and Historical Landmarks in Manila, the country’s capital.Boracay Island is the boast of the country which has white sand beaches.
Hongkong
Hong Kong is a key destination for many travelers. It is located in Eastern Asia, near China and the South China Sea. Formerly, leased to Great Britain, Hong Kong was officially returned to China in 1997.Hong Kong offers diversity in: culture, religion, and lifestyles.
Chinese, (Cantonese) and English are both the official language here. So foreigners, who are planning to visit, should not have any problems exploring, and experiencing the culture of this vibrant place; since English is widely spoken here.
Hong Kong dollar is the currency in use here. One American dollar roughly equals around 7 Hong Kong dollars.
Hong Kong is known for: its unique energetic vibe, its wonderful food, and beautiful skylines. Hong Kong offers many great upscale shopping districts that rival the high end streets of: Shanghai, London and Paris. But the best places to shop here are the unique shops, and street markets that exhibit the charm and uniqueness of the locality.
General Tips
Each country in Asia has its own currency, although up-end establishments will accept dollars, there are very few of these around. It is best to have your money changed at the local bank. Some hotels also offer money changing, but usually at a lower exchange rate.
Like any kind of decisions people have to make, it is always important to know the area they will be visiting so as to familiarize themselves with the laws, locations of best tourist spots, and the kind of people they have to deal with.
Going to a place without having the slightest idea what it is all about is just as bad as going to the wilderness with beasts lurking everywhere and there’s no gadget to protect them.
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Planning is of essence knowing that it takes time and blood to accumulate funds for a decent adventure vacation.
Adventure Travel Companies -Memories of a life time
Getting away from the hustle and bustle of every day life requires many years of hard work and without vacation makes Jack a dull boy… When one is ready and set the question of where to visit creeps in… Asia? Africa? Or any other destination requires one to get proper information of a particular country and on different tour packages offered.
There are one million and one tour companies on the internet and one would get confused as to which one to use for their yearned or most hoped for vacation. Visit online travel forums to get a glimpse of what other travelers have to say concerning their upcoming vacation or others reveling on their experiences from a recent vacation abroad.
The first thing would be to look out for a reputable Tour company that gives advice on the best tourist spots in the country of visit and eventually plan a memorable vacation of a life time. Do not fear to ask as many questions as possible till one becomes almost familiar with that country of visit, one needs to be careful as many tour companies are masquerading as know it all, it would be prudent to seek for tour operators that offer or provide professional services; do not fall for cheap tour packages as this will ruin your longed for adventure vacation-I do not know how cheap is cheap but what I know is that cheap is expensive in the long run. Try to avoid briefcase tour operators; these companies will ruin you most desired holiday.
Do not be afraid to seek information on:
Travel tips
Medical covers and Health requirements or restrictions
What to carry or not carry
Vehicle and driver guide
Travel advisory
Highlights on areas to be visited etc
Do not forget your sense of adventure whenever on vacation and above all a holiday full of memories is a well deserved adventure of a life time!
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