Let’s Visit Asia

Ok, I know this weblog is supposed to be about enticing you to come and visit Asia. But let’s face it, no matter where in the world you go, there will be times you’ll be disappointed, frustrated, even regretful that you ever went. And part of this blog’s aim is to make your trip to Asia as smooth and as pleasant as possible.
Having said that spiel, here’s an example of a hotel room you definitely NEVER EVER would like to end up staying in. A video clip of an unidentified hotel in Delhi, India. Avoid at all costs!

Seen from Hotel …read more

Comments Off

Business is booming in China. I know it, you know it, and the airline industry is definitely quick to act on it. Take, for example, the Dutch airline, KLM, which just established the “KLM Club China“, intended specifically for entrepreneurs active in the Chinese business market. According to their press release, KLM Club China membership offers access to:

an exclusive network of entrepreneurs;
an Internet platform to establish / maintain relations with business contacts;
valuable business & information services, offered by partners. For example, a special telephone line has been set up from which business contacts can obtain Chinese address details for …read more

2 Comments

Last Saturday (around 11 pm GMT), Yogyakarta, Central Java was struck by an earthquake that registered 6.3 on the Richter scale, killing more than 3,000 and leaving thousands injured. Yogyakarta is a city on the Southeast coast of the island Java, and is about 440 km southeast of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Relief operations and foreign aid are underway.
If you would like to extend help, send your donations to
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Comments Off

Planning a trip to Hong Kong? Here’s another attraction you might want to check out: the Ngong Ping 360. Their sales pitch call it the “Journey of Enlightenment”. As I’ve said in my previous entry, it’s definitely an interesting way to see more of Hongkong. But, strictly for those NOT afraid of heights.
For more details, tour packages and ticket prices, visit the Ngong Ping 360 online.

Comments Off

Shangri-La, a luxury chain hotel in the Asia Pacific, will be hold an online auction at eBay for the benefit of Care for Children, a foster care program for children in China.
Shangri-La is donating the money raised through eBay Giving Works. By placing the winning bid on one of the Journey to Shangri-La packages, your contribution will help abandoned and orphaned Chinese children find loving homes in China.
The Journey to Shangri-La Luxury escapes up for bidding include these experiences:

A private dinner in the highly exclusive and VIP access-only dining room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
A …read more

Comments Off

Airfares are soaring higher and higher. And to top it off, they seem to come up with all sorts of taxes and surcharges that bloat your airfare a couple of hunderd bucks more. Plain annoying!
Last week, Cathay Pacific flew their first “silver bullet” freight airplanes: planes stripped virtually most of its paint, except for the tail and a strip bearing the name of the airline (see photo). It’s a cost-cutting move: reduced weight means the aircraft would consume less fuel. And considering the amount of fuel these planes burn, especially duriing long stretches, that’s a considerable amount saved.
So far, they …read more

Comments Off

Since last month, China Southern Airlines, People’s Republic of China’s major carrier, resumed service to Pyongyang, North Korea and in addition, has also been flying to Guilin and Macau.
China Southern Airline’s Henan Branch will operate this new service operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday using either a Boeing 737-300 or Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Aditionally, the airline will be flying to Guilin and Macau daily, except Sundays.
[Source: China Southern Airlines]
Technorati Tags: China Southern Airlines, China, Pyongyang, North Korea, Guilin, Macau, airlines

2 Comments

This will be your villa:

This will be your bedroom:

A private space of 1,500 to more than 2,000 square meters. A wading pool just outside your bedroom. A plunge pool with fibre-optic lighting, extending to a lagoon.
All yours for a US$2,000 a night. (Go get it, because I can’t, arrgh!)
Book from July 1 til September 30 and get a complimentary second night’s stay.

Comments Off

In an effort to further boost tourism, especially during the lean season from April to September, Thailand is launching the Thai Grand Invitation 2006, so named to mark the King’s 60th year of reign. There will be special events til the end of the year, but the most commemorative event will take place next month, on June 12: The Royal Barge Procession.
The 3-kilometre long procession will take place at 7:30 p.m. on 12 June 2006 along the Chao Phraya River , from the Tha Wasukri landing to King Rama I Bridge in Bangkok. During the period, monarchs and their representatives …read more

Comments Off

Good news to those who book their travel needs online, especially those who use Priceline (Just recently, I wrote an entry suggesting this site for those planning budget holidays): Priceline is now offering vacation packages in Asia. I checked the website and one package that seemed especially good was the Tokyo/Crowne Plaza Metropolitan, with 6 nights starting at just $1217 (departing from NY). Not keen on Tokyo? Then take your pick from these other cities:

Bali
Bangkok
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jakarta
Manila
Phuket
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore

Made your choice? Then, click here to check the available package rates. Good luck!
Technorati Tags: travel, online booking, travel packages, asia travel, asia travel …read more

Comments Off