Sunday, September 16, 2007

Iran & Indonesia Documentaries, Film-Maker Seeks Investors

By Paul Davis

On my way back from a two week trip to glorious Indonesia, I was jet lagged, weary, and ready to come home. As I proceeded to the Air Tran ticket check in counter in Los Angeles, I saw a tall, handsome chap who kindly checked in my bags and gave me my air ticket.

The wait and queue was quite long, which made customers in line a bit irritable. It got a bit tense, but nevertheless I patiently had a brief conversation with this intellectual gentleman who was serving me. He told me he was from Iran, which immediately interested me further.

I told him that I was particularly interested in producing a documentary film on this country and traveling through it to see what life and sentiments are really like toward the western world. I care not to believe all American media propaganda, neither to be governed by fear.

My parents were greatly fearful about me going to Indonesia and acted as if I was going to die there. It was nothing of the sort as the Indonesian people greatly embraced and welcomed me. I even made friends with an entire company of army police who happily were snapping photographs with me. Veiled Muslim women in Java were doing the same at Borobudur Temple.

So you can't believe everything you hear in the media. Fear is self-centered and never a great way to live your life. People are people everywhere, all having similar needs and desires. We all have dreams and aspirations. We all want to be recognized, respected, and loved.

Therefore I always endeavor to leave my comfort zone and truly engage people worldwide. Having traveled now to over 50 countries and 6 continents, I am continually looking for opportunities to capture culture and people as it truly is abroad.

My Iranian friend (Davood) has since emailed me often and told me his friends back home in Iran are involved in filmmaking. His father is a historian and very intelligent man about Iran. Davood has invited me to go with him to Iran and film the documentary we discussed.

I am very excited and expectant about doing this. It will be a token of peace and international dialogue for the world to watch and behold. I already have all of the video equipment to make the production. I now only need to gather some noble investors to help us with our travel expenses and finance the promotion of the documentary.

These are the occurrences that serendipity can bring to you to have meaningful relationships and live a purposeful life when you remain open. Though I was coming home jet lagged and weary to Florida, I got some fresh fire and desire for my next project at the least likely time. Indeed sweet serendipity is most sublime and can occur suddenly any time.


Paul Davis is a motivational speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, change master, creative consultant, and turnaround specialist.

Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting &; Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul's Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.


Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:
RevivingNations@yahoo.com
407-284-1705
www.DreamMakerMinistries.com
http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Davis

The Happiest Country in Asia

By Richard Chapo

Given the recent history of Cambodia, you might wonder why I refer to it as the happiest place on earth. Well, there is a real reason if you understand what happy means in Cambodian slang.Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the west, Laos to the north and Vietnam to the east. As you may know, some very nasty things happened in Cambodia in the 1970s and 1980s.

During this period, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge ruled the country or werefighting to do so.Reign of terror is a phrase often over used, but not when it comes to the Khmer Rouge. The group implemented what can only be called bizarre policies and managed to starve and murder roughly twenty percent of the total population of Cambodia. The reign of terror was eventually ended when the Vietnamese invaded and pushed the Khmer into a small, isolated
pocket of land in the far north.

A few years back, I had the urge to travel. I get it every two or three years. I get it bad. I usually sell off whatever I have and travel for as long as I can. In this case, I flew into Thailand because I didn’t have a lot of money and the flight from Los Angeles was cheap, cheap, cheap! Thailand was pretty touristy, so off to the wilds of Cambodia I went.

To be honest, Cambodia is not as wild a place as you might think given its recent history. These are some seriously strong people from a mental perspective. If you walk around the major city, Phnom Phen, it looks like nothing happened. In fact, you keep seeing signs for happy this

and happy that just about everywhere. I am not kidding. The signs literally say “happy dinner”, “happy pizza” and so on. Gee, these people are happy.

As you might imagine, happy has a particular connotation in Cambodia. Do I even need to tell you? Yep, it refers to that funny tobacco that so many in the hippie generation liked to enjoy. Simply put, the Cambodians mix marijuana with just about any type of food stuff – pizza,
cake, shakes, tacos. It is used like a spice, to wit, it isn’t obvious it is in the food. If you don’t know what happy means, you can be in for a BIG surprise an hour or so after eating! It was not uncommon to see tourists giggling and staggering around the sidewalks.

At the end of the day, I found Cambodia to be a great place to enjoy notwithstanding its past and the happy food. Angkar Wat and the surrounding Khmer structures are stunning and definitely should be on your list of things to see. So go ahead and take off to Cambodia, but make amental note regarding the happy food!

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of journals that are great travel gifts.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo



The Best Time to Travel to Thailand

By Chris Sanderson

Probably the most common question any foreigner living in Thailand will hear from people planning to visit the Kingdom is "When is the best time to come to Thailand"...not an easy question to answer without knowing "why" a person wants to come to Thailand.

There are basically three seasons in Thailand (though of late the cold season seems to have gone missing), the seasons are, The Hot, The Wet and The Cold. Cold being a rather subjective description though, the shots of emergency blankets being handed out in the northern provinces when it drops to a chilly 10 degrees...that's 10 degrees Celsius. So what does each season offer.

The Hot
March to June : The hottest month is April when even the geckos stay inside and most expats look outside at lunch time and decide to not eat rather than melt on the walk to a food stall. The Hot season is beach season, if that's your thing then this is the time to come to Thailand, guaranteed sun sun sun all day long day after day. For Trekkers you might find this to be a tad hot to go trudging up hills unless mounted on an elephant, sun stroke and dehydration are high up on the list of things to beware of. Bangkok turns into a molten vat of pollution as the winds die and the smog just hangs around choking up the oxygen. Hotels are at their most expensive during the hot season and weekends will see many of the mid range ones fully booked.

The Wet
July to November : The change over from hot to wet is the worst time to be in Thailand regardless of what you're into. It's Hot, it's wet and the humidity is ruthless. You'll be desperate to take three showers a day at a minimum...living in a shower for a month might not be a bad plan. If you can imagine living in a sauna for a month then you get the right picture of Thailand at the start of the wet season...unless you're in Bangkok, then get in a sauna and pipe your car
exhaust into the sauna to get the right idea...hmmm yummy. Then thankfully the skies really open up, the wind blows and things freshen up . Rain is pretty much a guaranteed feature on a daily basis and usually kicks off in the afternoon, sometimes lasting all night, Floods are common along with power cuts. So why come to Thailand now...the cost.... hotels are empty, tourists are away, it's a great time to see Thailand with fewer tourists than usual and get the best
prices as even the Thai people stay home at the weekends.

The Cold
December to February : Thailand freezes over, snow falls from the sky and ice-skating is the nations most popular sport...well if you watched the TV or the Thai people running around dressed in winter jackets, boots, gloves and scarves you may start to think it's true.. in Bangkok it can drop to a bone chilling 15 degrees Celsius at night, and up north it has on occasions dropped down to 2 degrees, the south gets off much lighter and you can escape with a body warmer and a bobble hat. Thailand again is swarming with tourists who have come to take advantage of the cool weather to do see Thailand without burning up. This is the best time of the year to actually "see" Thailand, you'll enjoy seeing the sights and touring the cities and trekking will be at its best. Again prices will be up and hotels fairly full.

So in a nutshell the best time to come to Thailand is the time that suits what you want to do, Trekkers and Tanners will have different needs, those looking for bargains will have different needs. Just add that there are occasional down pours even in the hottest parts of the year and even the wet season can be dry for a week or more.....but leave your skis at home...there will be no snow.....guaranteed.



Article can be used with permission of Chris Sanderson as long as the signature and in place links are left unchanged. Chris Sanderson is an Affiliate Marketing Manager based in Bangkok Thailand with AMWSO.com and the owner of Xaap.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Sanderson


Saturday, September 15, 2007

Travel Hong Kong: 12 Must See Places

By Robert Thatcher

Hong Kong features a diverse mixture of characters as a result of long British occupation and a great Chinese influence. As a state of China, Hong Kong provides a good introduction to who ever wants to know more about China without entering the mainland plus a venue for more
attractions with western culture and Asian spirit.

1. Hong Kong Museum of Art – Located at 10 Salisbury Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is open to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s culture and history through its large collection of over 14,000 items ranging from calligraphy, paintings, Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques, and lithographs. The museum is open from 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Thursday (public holidays not included).

2. Hong Kong Disneyland – The newly open and the firstever Disneyland in Asia offers total fun and excitement for the wholefamily. The park is divided into four major attractions: Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA.

3. Victoria Peak – Soaring 1810 feet above sea level, the Victoria Peak is premier destination for tourists who want to take a birds eye view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. Go another step higher and take a 10-minute hike to the actual Victoria Peak.

4. Lantau Island – Travel Hong Kong and take a cruisearound the waters of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live inthis waters.

5. Ocean Park – Travel Hong Kong and visit Ocean Park. This is one Hong Kong attractions where you and your kids will have a great fun. The park is one big oceanarium containing Lowlands Gardens where pandas live, goldfish pagoda and butterfly house are located, Marine Land where atoll reef and shark aquariums are found, and Headlands amusement park where
you can go and take a ride with cable cars and roller coasters.

6. Water World – Travel Hong Kong with kids would never be so much fun without taking a plunge on Water World. Enjoy wave pools, play area, and water slides.

7. Middle Kingdom – A miniature China that houses Chinese shrines, street scenes, temples, and palaces only at Middle Kingdom.

8. The Central district – If you travel to Hong Kong because you love to shop, you better go to the central Hong Kong district where big shopping malls and several Western designer and signature boutiques are located.

9. Lamma Island - If you want to see a different Hong Kong, try Lamma Island. It hosts several outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. And if you love to taste fresh Hong Kong seafood in great dining ambiance, Lamma Island is still the preferred place to go.

10. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Sha Tin) – Located atNew Territories, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery features Buddha indifferent poses and colors.

11. Hong Kong Space Museum – See what’s in store for you in the future at Hong Kong Space Museum. The complex offers hundreds of displays ranging from telecommunications, robotics, energy, computers, and physics with hands on experience that will keep you interested.


12. Wet Market – In Hong Kong, everything is fresh. Andwhen they say fresh, they mean it. If you happen to travel Hong Kong tovisit a friend or someone you know, come along when they go to wet marketwhere the freshest among freshest seafood are for sale.


Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. Hepublishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides Hong Kong travel resources on http://www.your-hong-kong-travel.info
Article Source:
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Saturday, September 1, 2007

Explore Singapore, the Fascinating Mosaic of Cultural Diffusion!

By Lopa Bhattacharya

Singapore History:

It would not be an exaggeration to say that millions of global tourists, flocking to Singapore in search of fashion, shopping, glitz and glamour hardly know the proper history of this island city-state located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is a wonder, that being the smallest country in Southeast Asia, Singapore happens to be the site of several ancient port cities and a possession of several empires in its “not-so-well-known” history.

To start with, when Singapore was colonized by the United Kingdom in the 19th century, it was nothing but a small Malay fishing village, the first records of its existence being made in the Chinese texts as early as the 3rd century. The island which then bore the javanese name “Temasek” and which happened to be an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya (an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra) empire, gradually rose to become a significant trading city. However, throughout history, it had to bear the brunt of several political conflicts, which altered its destiny in course of time.

For example, Singapore was a part of the Sultanate of Johore, untill it was set ablaze by portuguese troops in the Malay-Portugal wars in 1617. Again, in 1819, British East India Company made a treaty with the Sultan of Johore and established Singapore as a trading post and settlement. Later, seeing instant growth and immigration from various ethnic groups to Singapore, it was declared a crown colony by Britain in 1867. Its status was soon raised to that of an entrepot town by the ruling British empire due to its strategic location along the busy shipping routes connecting Europe to China.

Destiny had written a few more dramatic twists and turns for Singapore, “The Lion City”, as it also called. Further occupied by the Japanese Empire in World War II, it finally became part of the merger which formed the “Federation of Malaysia. Finally, after much tussels with the Federal government in Kuala Lumpur, the nation ultimately acquired independence in 1965.

However, what we see today as a tousists’ paradise was for many years, a fledgling nation struggling for self-sufficiency. Overburdened with mass unemployment, housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as petroleum, it was a sociopolitically volatile and economically undeveloped nation, relying massively on foreign investment and government-led industrialisation. The situation started changing after Lee Kuan Yew joined as prime minister in 1959. Within three decades, his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of living and developed Singapore's economic infrastructure, thus elevating Singapore into a developing nation and subsequently to developed status.

In the recent years, the country has tackled various disasters, the major ones being the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the SARS outbreak in 2003, and terrorist threats posed by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

Singapore Economy:

It is really heartening to know that with 63 surrounding islets and with a total land area of 682 square km, the main island of Singapore, with its market-based economy, has grown into a thriving centre of commerce and industry in just 150 years. Successfully increasing its manufacturing base after being a 'backward fishing village' for many years, Singapore today thrives on various industries including shipping (Singapore today is the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines sending super tankers, container ships and passenger liners), electronic components manufacturing and above all its booming travel/tourism industry. The island city state located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula that has suffered various political and economic onslaughts is now home to four million people, also boasting of one of the highest per capita gross domestic products in the world. The economic progress of Singapore as a nation can be an enriching example of how a mere “fishing village” and a British naval base for decades can be reborn as an important financial, commercial and educational center for South East Asia.

The credit for this resurrection goes to the PAP Government, who, assisted by a far-sighted Dutch economic adviser, realized the need of maintaining its colonial inheritance by attracting foreign capital from the developed world to establish export-oriented industries, while at the same time building up a modern service sector in Singapore based on banking and financial services. Needless to say, this economic strategy proved a phenomenal success, producing real growth that averaged 8.0% from 1960 to 1999. Thus, relying on foreign investment and expertise, while at the same time building up strong state enterprises, the provision of infrastructure, housing, transport and other basic services for the local population began increasing notably, and the old Singapore consisting of overcrowded and unsanitary slums was demolished strategically.

In recent years, the trade policies of the Singapore government which included commitment to free trade, active export promotion strategy, the 'open arms' policy towards multinationals and the support of trade liberalization have made Singapore an economically stable nation. In due course of time, Singapore has also developed an export trade that thrives on medium and high-technology electronics components. Such trade undoubtedly focuses on the key-strengths of Singapore, including "hi-tech" sectors as information technology and bio-technology.

Singapore Culture/Religion:

A cosmopolitan society with harmonious interaction among various different races, the inherent cultural diversity of the island is a source of one of the prime attractions of the nation. To be precise, this cultural diversity is the ultimate result of the diversity of the population, the intermingling of various ethnic groups and the amalagamation of Chinese, Malay and Indian immigrants. It is not unnatural for one to witness a Malay wedding taking place beside a Chinese wedding at a void deck, on the ground floor of a HDB apartment block in the Singapore city. Infrequent intermarriage between the Chinese and Indians are not unusual occurences in Singapore. Besides indigenous Malay population, Singapore houses a majority of third generation Chinese as well as Indian and Arab immigrants. Thus, the diverse mix of races result in a significant degree of cultural diffusion with its unique combination of ethnic groups. Maybe that is one of the reasons why one would find very little culture that is specifically Singaporean. However, there exists a Eurasian community and a community of Peranakan or "Straits Chinese," (a community of mixed Chinese and Malay descent).

Such a significant degree of cultural diffusion has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. One of the prime examples is the Singapore's cuisine, a massive cultural attraction for tourists. Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian, Italian, Peranakan, Spanish, French, Thai and even Fusion tops the menu. To speak of art and culture, Singapore is identified globally an emerging cultural centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music. Often called the "gateway between the East and West”, it has seen the emergence of several performing arts groups, especially in theatrical arts. A number of productions were staged successfully and several groups, including TheatreWorks, have performed overseas too.

As a cosmopolitian and multi-racial society, Singapore has also been the seat of major festivals from various ethnic groups associated with their respective religions. Those again, reflect the diversity of races residing there. While the Chinese are predominantly followers of Buddhism and Taoism, there are even Christians, Catholics and “free thinkers”: ones who don’t confirm to any religious faith. Thus, in today’s Singapore, religions tend to cross racial boundaries and even merge in unusual ways, combining a little of the mysteries of the older generation with the realistic world of today.

Singapore Travel/Tourism:

Celebrated and renowned worldwide as a delightful haven for tourists, Singapore has been able to earn major revenues courtesy its booming tourism industry. With the rise of tourism in Singapore, there is a stiff competition among hotels to run for the best slot. There are cheap airline travels to Singapore today, including apex fare, discounted airfares to Singapore and the like. A seat for the world’s most delectable seafood, awe-inspiring sea-beaches, impressive bird-parks and night safaris that account for wonderful wildlife adventure, Singapore today happens to be a little dynamo in Southeast Asia, embodying the finest of both East and West. Truly, the dynamic city rich in contrast and colour captures the hearts of millions of global tourists with its harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture and above all, its unbridled energy.

While on entering this cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city, one experiences the mélange of flavours from around the globe, the multicultural heritage of the nation is bound to sweep one off his feet as he discovers an ever-changing mosaic of fascinating contrasts. Thus, the amalgamation of ancient beliefs and contemporary culture, of rich legacies and sleek modern living makes Singapore an ever-youthful, ever-enchanting nation for tourists.

Tourist interests in Singapore: While tourism is continually infesting ChinaTown, a cultural section of Singapore, with shops and street vendors offering a glimpse into the days of old, the Asian Civilizations Museum (a diverse cultural museum) is there to exhibit antiques like a ninth-century Buddha and a Chinese snuff box. For lovers of art and architecture, the Thian Hock Keng Temple (Historic Taoist temple near Singapore's waterfront) happens to be a “must watch” religious site. Another wonder is the unforgettable Singapore Art Museum, which, since its opening in 1996, offers an immense rotating collection of Singaporean and Malay sculpture and art. If you are a connoisseur of shopping and fine dining, there is Orchard Road, the ritzy shopping and dining area, often referred to as the "Park Avenue" of Singapore. For the lovers of spectacular underwater beauty, there is the Underwater World of Sentosa, showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty of a whole different world beneath the seas.

All said and done, the strategic location of Singapore, its cultural contrasts and diverse tourist attractions contribute to its success as a leading destination for both business and pleasure.


Lopa Bhattacharya (Banerjee) is a content writer/developer, now based in Buffalo, New York, United States, working for various overseas corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials. Has worked on numerous SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for the news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata, India.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lopa_Bhattacharya

Philippine Travel: When and Where

By John Grant

Be aware that the experiences you’re about to encounter is unlike anything you’d encounter anywhere else in the world. Each and every country has its own unique experience to offer you and when you travel to the Philippines, you should expect the same.

When Is It Best To Travel To The Philippines?

Are you allergic to rain? If so, it would do you good to avoid traveling to this part of Southeast Asia during the months of June till November as that’s when the occasional typhoon or two makes time to visit the Philippines. Traveling during the rainy season of the Philippines can be quite a hassle, especially if you don’t have a car. But if you do, you could expect smaller crowds to contend with as most people tend to stay indoors.

If you’re unable to take the heat and still be merry, then you should not travel to the Philippines during the months of March till May because that’s officially the summer season of the country. Everyone head for the nearest beach so if you don’t want to feel crowded when you’re sunbathing, set your travel date for another time of the year. The Easter season is always busy for everyone in the Philippines so expect a difficult time on reserving transportation when it’s Holy Week.

If you’re on the lookout for the world-famous fiestas that only the Philippines could offer, schedule your travel date for January, May or December. The flower season of Baguio – described as the summer capital of the Philippines because of its perennially cool weather – is something to look forward to. And then there’s the Santacruzan during May and which each and every town parades its most beautiful residents in a walk around town.

Where In The Philippines Is It Best To Travel To?

There are so many types of places to visit in the Philippines that it’s hard to enumerate each and every one of them. Beaches, however, are one of the most favorite travel spots of the country so if you want to enjoy your stay in a beautiful paradise of clear blue green water and cool white sand, you could check out Tali Beach, the world-famous Boracay or try surfing the secluded beaches of Surigao and La Union.

John Grant has been living in the Philippines for 5 years and has travelled the country extensively. His online Philippines Travel Guide covers major destinations like Boracay Puerto Galera and Palawan.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Grant

Learn Foreign Culture through Art

By Phuttan Mahawan

Aside from the stereo-typed package tourists who are mostly concerned with the quality of their accommodation and the food they are served at their destination, most people who make the effort to travel to a far-away country clearly have one goal in common: they want to get to know the people and culture of that foreign country.

Sounds fairly simple, doesn’t it? Isn’t it a given that once we travel to another country, we automatically get to know its people, their traditions and thereby their culture? Well, not necessarily. In fact, the more the world-wide travel industry develops and local entrepreneurs learn how to please foreigners by (ironically) catering to them what they are already used to from their home countries, the less it is likely that we get to know the ‘real’ local people in a foreign country. This is because most people working in tourism-related businesses, be it hotels, restaurants or other places that travelers usually frequent during their trips are trained to behave in a way to please their foreign guests. This is by itself nothing bad at all. However, it decreases the likelihood that travelers actually get to know the genuine people behind the ‘masques’ those people have to put on everyday in their dealing with foreign guests. Unless we get to know the ‘real’ people, how are we supposed to get to know their culture?

One of the best ways to do so is through arts. That is because local artists typically express their emotions and inner values – which are to a large extent based on their cultural beliefs - through their artwork in an undisguised and sincere way. Their works may be completely different in style, technique and themes, but they usually have some traditional features in common, which have their roots in the culture and society the artists were brought up in. Therefore, by looking at locally created artwork and talking to the respective artists, one can indeed get to know some important and genuine aspects of a foreign country’s culture. Best of all, this opportunity usually comes without great expenses, since most artists will be happy to open up their portfolio of works to interested people and talk about it in great length.

A good example in this regard is the art scene in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai being a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world for its charm and beautiful natural settings, it is - like many places in Thailand – a city focused on and well trained in catering to foreign tourists. Hence, by visiting this place, one will probably not get to know the ‘real’ Northern Thai culture. Visiting one of the numerous art galleries and artists in the city, though, will likely open up new perspectives about this place and its people to most foreign visitors - perspectives that are not easily found in any guide book. One added benefit is that this can be done throughout the whole year, irrespective of the season and weather conditions. A guide to local art galleries and artists is available at ‘Golden Triangle Art’.

Art is not only good for our senses, but it may be one of the best ways to learn more about the people, culture and beliefs of a foreign country. Even if there is only limited time available, the time spent with art is time well spent.



Phuttan Mahawan is co-editor at Golden Triangle Art -a website dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art and artists from Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, the countries of the 'Golden Triangle' on the Mekong river in Southeast Asia. Find out about local artists and their artwork, art galleries and art News & Exhibitions in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phuttan_Mahawan

Let Wei, The Most Brutal Form Of Combat, Is Back!

By Lorenzo Sonelli

Let Wei, also known as Burmese boxing or Myanma traditional boxing, is a violent martial art recently "discovered" by muay thai fanatics. Sharing a common past with muay boran and pradal serey, Let Wei was practiced by Burmese warriors since the 12th century but not much was known about it until a few years ago. Myanmar's past fifty years of self-seclusion kept this ancient native form of combat hidden away from the attention of martial arts practitioners. It evolved from battlefields to matches held in round sand pits during temples' fairs or important events patronized by Burmese kings, similarly to those organized in old Siam.

Every fight used to be "to the end", with no time limit, often ending with one winner and an unconscious loser. Boxers were specifically trained to endure pain and to keep on attacking even after being repeatedly knocked down and revived during the match. Head-butts, gouging and biting were also allowed. Therefore, many fights resulted in the death of one contender.

Let Wei, also known as Burmese boxing or Myanma traditional boxing, is a violent martial art recently "discovered" by muay thai fanatics. Sharing a common past with muay boran and praadal serey, Let Wei was practiced by Burmese warriors since the 12th century but not much was known about it until a few years ago. Myanmar's past fifty years of self-seclusion kept this ancient native form of combat hidden away from the attention of martial arts practitioners. It evolved from battlefields to matches held in round sand pits during temples' fairs or important events patronized by Burmese kings, similarly to those organized in old Siam. The famous Nai Kanomthom's story comes from those times. More recently (beginning of 20th century), rudimentary wooden rings were erected on temple or royal palace's grounds.

Every fight used to be "to the end", with no time limit, often ending with one winner and an unconscious loser. Boxers were specifically trained to endure pain and to keep on attacking even after being repeatedly knocked down and revived during the match. Head-butts, gouging and biting were also allowed. Therefore, many fights resulted in the death of one contender.

The Myanma Traditional Boxing, founded in 1996 with government support to promote Let Wei as a native sport, like the Thais did with muay thai, has defined the rules, the categories and the techniques allowed in the ring. Nowadays fights have 5 rounds of 3 minutes each on proper rings. Boxers still fight without gloves, using only cotton or elastic hand bands. Rules are now roughly similar to muay thai but still permit the use of head butts, wrestling and powerful take-downs. It is also allowed to strike an opponent when falling down (this used to be allowed in muay thai, too). Elbows and knees are the weapons of choice for all fighters, used with full force without any protection. I personally saw a few teeth fly out of a guy's mouth in Yangon after a powerful reverse-elbow hit him. Amazingly, the referee allowed him to continue the fight even though he was bleeding profusely, could barely stand and was visibly spaced-out by the blow.

From a spectator's point of view, Let Wei is fast, messy and brutally violent. Often both fighters attack simultaneously, hitting each other with powerful combinations of punches, elbows and kicks; the focus doesn't seem to be on defending themselves against the opponents' powerful blows but rather on attacking, all the time.

Let Wei fights are not "clean", in terms of techniques, but appear a lot more exciting than the majority of Lumpini's muay thai fights, which in comparison appear static, almost dull. In a Let Wei fight you'll see plenty of jump-flying knees, pull downs and all sort of tricks involving elbows. And all those vicious muay boran moves not allowed anymore in Thailand. Unfortunately, the fights can only be viewed in Yangon on weekends and during festivities upcountry. It's not easy to move around Myanmar (compared to Thailand) and such events are not tourist-oriented like in Bangkok.

A beautiful opportunity to see something very similar to Burmese boxing falls every year in April, during the Songkran festivities shared by all Buddhist countries in South East Asia. In the Thai town of Mae Sot, on a ring near the border, Burmese fighters meet their Siamese counterparts for a ancient-style (no gloves, old rules) boxing competition. The rivalry between the two old foes becomes alive every year and it's boosted by the great amount of betting going on around the ring. This event is recaptured in the Thai movie "Ong Bak" (2004), a Thai-made budget movie which generated great interest and demand for muay boran.

Even though there are well known Let Wei champions actively fighting in Myanmar, due to the brutality of certain techniques and Myanmar's government travel restrictions on its citizens, they aren't allow to compete neither in Thailand nor anywhere else outside their country.


Read more on http://www.best-muaythai-equipment.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorenzo_Sonelli



Travel Malaysia: With Some Tips

By Niraj Singh

Traveling requires a lot of planning and the most important factor is the money. Handling money at a foreign destination needs to have some important tips. Those tips might be regarding the currency, the way of shopping or on expenses of traveling the different parts of the country. No one can afford to ignore such an important aspect of traveling a foreign land where he finds himself or herself completely unaware of the value of that countries currency. So you need to be equipped with some essential tips before you start for any foreign country.

Talking of Malaysia, the local currency is Ringgit Malaysia. One RM equals to 100 sen, the smaller unit of Malaysian currency. Like in other countries, notes and coins are principal forms. Banknotes are issued in form of RM1, Rm2RM5, RM10, RM50 and coins are in sen like one sen, five sen, 50 sen and 1 RM denomination. You can get your currency converted into Ringgit at banks or authorized moneychangers throughout the country. Resident travelers can carry upto RM 1000 per person both in and out of the country. However, those who want to carry more than permissible limit need to obtain permission from the Controller of Foreign Exchange and declare in the Traveler’s Declaration Form the exact amount of Ringgit carried.

Non Resident travelers are allowed to carry any amount of foreign currency. Nevertheless, if the amount exceeds 2,500 UD dollar, the declaration in the Disembarkation Card issued by the Immigration Department need to be done. So travel Malaysia with these valuable tips in your hand!


For more information on Malaysia Travel visit: www.stayresmalaysia.com
Niraj Singh is working as Sr. SEO in Binary Semantics Ltd. Gurgaon, India. He has 5+ yrs. of experience in the field of Search Engine Optimisation. His expertise is in the travel domain make him specialist in the field of Websites related to Travels.
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Travel and Make Money - Malaysia Travel Affiliate Program

By Richard Wellis Sinyem

Are you into travel and making extra cash at the same time? There are so many affiliate programs based in the United States that actually pay you for promoting their travel packages. Needless to say, selling travel packages is a small percentage compare to the thousand of affiliate programs peddling e-books, prescribed drugs and weight loss programs.

It is even unusual to find a travel affiliate program that originates from Malaysia. For Malaysian who loves travel, there is an affiliate program based in Malaysia that promotes domestic travel packages within Malaysia major tourist destinations.

The travel packages cover Malaysia’s famous and popular destinations that includes cities, resorts, beaches, island and beautiful and tropical upcountry as well as themed packages (special activities) such as diving, 4x4 adventures, fishing, white water rafting, mountain climbing and cultural tours.

The above program is called View Malaysia and as a member you will earn commission for each package that you promote and sold. Earning can be in points and cash (Ringgit Malaysia). Registered member is given a Member page to keep track of commission, ads campaign, product or package links and other statistics page. Buyer meanwhile can purchase the package using local bank transfers, credit card and even postal order.

With accumulated earning, you may redeem it for cash to your local Malaysian bank account or purchase the travel package at a special rebate prices for members.

ViewMalaysia.com currently has over 56 categories of travel packages that not only give you excellent tour packages at a bargain prices but also allowed you as a member to sell your own package. Selling of travel packages is therefore very popular among tour or travel agency and even hoteliers. It is a good opportunity to discover and promote Malaysia and at the same time make money.


About the author:
Richard W Sinyem is an internet entrepreneur. He researches and promotes various affiliate programs and online opportunities to make money in the home-based business industry.
His website is http://www.EzRich.ws and his chronicles of internet entrepreneurship activities are blogged at http://www.ezrichproject.blogspot.com
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Travel to Indonesia - A Country of Thousands of Beautiful and Exotic Islands

By Martin Kleis

Indonesia, a Country of thousands of beautiful and exotic Islands, that spark off your imagination with thoughts of fine sandy beaches, huge temple complexes, great diving and the giant dragons of Komodo. The islands of Indonesia are spread over a vast expanse of ocean and technically speaking is divided by two Continents.

Some parts of the Country can be as different from each other as black is from white. The hustle and bustle of the modern capital Jakarta is like another planet when compared to the traditional Papuan tribes of the Baliem Valley.

Jakarta - Not only is it the largest City in the Country, Jakarta is also the heartbeat. Indonesian's from all over the archipelago come to the City to try and find their fortune or just to survive. The face of the City is constantly changing due to the construction of new skyscrapers, shopping malls and hotels.

Jakarta is mainly a business and political City and not really a tourist destination, but the older colonial parts of the City are very interesting and the museums have a lot of fascinating exhibits.

Jakarta, like you would expect, is the most expensive place in Indonesia, as well as the most polluted and most congested. It can be very hard to cope with all of the hustle, dirt, crime and cost, but if you can you will find an exciting City with plenty to offer.

Kota - This is the old Town of Batavia, which was the capital of the Dutch East Indies and the best example of the colonial era in Indonesia. Though much of the old town has been destroyed or demolished over the years, some of the old Colonial buildings are still in active use, and the area has a definite Dutch feel to it.

The centre of the old Town is the pebble stone square known as Taman Fatahillah and this is the key to being able to orientate yourself around the sights of the old Town. The canal of Kali Besar is one block to the west of the square and runs alongside the Ciliwung River. This was a very prosperous area and on the west bank are some of the high class homes that date from the eighteenth Century.

The Chicken market bridge is the last remaining drawbridge from the Dutch era, it is at the north end of the Kali Besar. Buses always come by on their routes and the city train also has a stop here.

Jakarta History Museum - This museum is housed in the old town hall of Batavia, which is on the south side of Taman Fatahillah. It is a well built building, which was originally constructed in 1627 and added to in the early 1700’s. It was from here that the Dutch administered their colony, and the cities law courts were also here as well as their main prison compound.

It contains plenty of heavy, carved furniture from the colonial, as well as other memorabilia from the Dutch period. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Wayang Museum - This museum is also on the Taman Fatahillah, and has a great assortment of Wayang puppets. It also has examples of puppets from other Countries like Cambodia, China and India.

This building was formerly the museum of old Batavia and was built in 1912 on the site of the former Dutch church which was demolished in 1808 as the Dutchman ‘Daendel’s’ plan to rid the City of its unhealthy areas. In the downstairs courtyard, there are memorials to previous governors who were buried on site. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Fine Arts Museum - Built in the 1860’s, the palace of Justice building is now the Fine arts museum. It has a nice collection of contemporary paintings from prominent artists. They also have some ceramics on show from Chinese items to Majapahit offerings. Open, 9am till 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 1,000Rp

Gereja Sion - This church was built in 1695, and is the oldest Church in Jakarta. It is on Jl Pangeran Jayakarta near the Kota train station. The exterior of the Church is actually pretty plain but inside copper chandeliers, the original organ and the baroque pulpit makes it very appealing. Though thousands of people have been buried here there are very few tombs left remaining.

Sunda Kelapa - Just a 10 minute walk from the Taman Fatahillah, the old City port of Sunda Kelapa is full of wonderful Macassar schooners and the brightly coloured sails of these boats make for great viewing. The ships are still a vital means of transporting goods to outlying Islands.

Guides hang around the docks and for a few thousand rupiah will show you around and tell you some insightful stories. You can also take a ride out to the offshore fish market for around 5,000Rp. Admission, 250Rp to the dock area.

Maritime Museum - This is an old VOC warehouse that was built in 1645 and is by the entrance to the Sunda Kelapa. It has examples of Indonesian crafts from around the ages and has photos of the voyages from Europe to Jakarta. The building itself is well worth the visit and the lookout posts are part of the old City wall.

Just before the entrance to the museum proper, is the old watchtower that was built in 1839, it has brilliant views over the harbour. Opening hours are hit and miss, so try to find the caretaker.

National Museum - This museum, constructed in 1862, is considered the paramount museum in Indonesia, and one of the finest in South East Asia. It has a huge ethnic and relief maps of Indonesia on which you can track your travels. The museum has a variety of different cultural displays that show a diverse collection of clothing, instruments, model houses and religious items. In addition the museum has a fine collection of Chinese ceramics that even date back to the Han dynasty of the third Century.

The museum is sometimes known as the Elephant house due to the giant bronze elephant that was a gift from the King of Thailand, and that now stands outside. Open, 8.30am till 2.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 750Rp. Guides are around who can conduct tours in various different languages.

National Monument - This 130 metres high monument stands over Merdeka square and is Jakarta’s chief landmark. The construction was started in 1961 but was not finished until 1975, when it was officially opened by President Soeharto. At the base is the National History Museum which tells the story of the Indonesian struggle for independence. On national holidays and at the weekends the queues can be long. Open, 9am till 5pm, daily. Admission: 600Rp or 3,100Rp which includes a ride to the top.

Lapangan Banteng - Just east of Merdeka square is this nineteenth century colonial square. It has some of the best examples of Dutch colonial architecture in the whole of Jakarta. The Catholic Cathedral was built at the turn of the twentieth Century, and is opposite the principal place of worship for Jakarta’s Muslim community, the Istiqlal Mosque. To the east of the square is the Supreme Court that was built, along with the Ministry of finance, in 1809 by that man ‘Daendel’ to replace those buildings torn down.


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