Archive for November, 2009
Enjoying Bangkok: The Great City Of Angels
It is very easy to enjoy a luxury Bangkok vacation because the city seems almost to have been designed for tourists. To the Asians it is Krungthep Mahanakhon Great City of Angels: they do not like the name ‘Bangkok’ so try to refer to as the locals do when you visit. The official name of this city contains 21 words and 167 characters and is named by the Guinness Book of records as the world’s longest place name. It shall not be repeated here!
A vacation in Bangkok is an experience of the traditions of the East together with the best of western culture and this great city has much to offer to those interested in Oriental history and the way of life that people in this part of the world live. It offers some of the best hotels in the East and the Bangkok Oriental is one of the finest hotels in the world. A stay here is worth the vacation itself but you get much more than that from a visit to this great city. You can enjoy your vacation while retaining the civilization with your are familiar if that is what you want.
It’s a shame that this wonderful city has the unsavory reputation it has gained but the authorities are taking steps to stop all that and a Krung Thep vacation can now be enjoyed by everybody including young families. The food history architecture sports and entertainment has something to offer everybody of all ages. The transportation systems are excellent with trains buses and other local means of transport although due to the river and delta many people travel in boats.
The Chao Phraya River is the lifeblood of this part of Thailand and a cruise along it is the most pleasant way to see the city on your Bangkok vacation and it is because of this and its associated waterways and canals that it is dubbed the Venice of the East. The canals and rivers are known as khlong and maenam and are a vey important means of transportation for many of the people of this part of the country. It is by the river that you find most of the traces that are left of the early Rattanakosin period of Thailand’s history.
The city itself is lowlying only around 6 7 feet above sea level and the monsoons can create many problems with flooding. The entire area lies on a series of delta plains and at one time each area of land separated by these waterways was a separate district of the city although that system has now been superseded.
You can use these waterways to enjoy the city and the outlying districts and you can take anything from a speedboat to a converted rice boat to enjoy a luxurious cruise through the city. Why not finish it off with a wonderful relaxing meal on board or even some Thai dancing and entertainment on your boat? You could even visit the water market where all the goods are sold from boats and you need a boat to visit. That’s where you will find the real Thai delicacies though you might be better off not examining some of them too closely!
When visiting this city you are advised to do so with professional guides and escorts that are familiar with the city and its history since otherwise it is easy to get entrapped in the popular downbeat culture that many visit the city to enjoy rather than experience the true history and flavor of this great oriental city. It contains many unique Buddhist temples or Wats that are well worth a visit but easily missed without a guide. The Wat Trimitr Temple of the Golden Buddha and Wat Po Temple of the reclining Buddha are two of the more famous that you must visit.
Thai food is famous the world over and although spicy has something offer all tastes. Krung Thep has a fabulous selection of restaurants and if you can’t get used to traditional Thai food then there is also a wonderful selection of restaurants of various types. To finish off why not enjoy some traditional Thai dancing after your meal.
Perhaps you will be so impressed by the Thai style of cooking that you want to take some of back home? Well why not learn yourself? Enjoying your Bangkok vacation can also mean learning how to cook Thai food. Visit a local market and choose your ingredient don’t worry your guide will keep you right. Then cook it in the Thai style and eat it yourself. What could be a better way to enjoy Thai food than to choose the ingredients cook it and then eat it!
Wouldn’t that be great skill to take back home with you? How about that for a great dinner party in Beverley Hills or Brooklyn? You would be the talk of the neighborhood with your newfound Thai cooking skills. It’s always good to go on vacation and return home with something that is going to be useful for you and what more useful than a Thai dinner in a room decorated with all those wonderful Thai souvenirs and decoratives you purchased in Krung Thep as you can take delight in calling it. It would be a great conversation topic.
About the writer: A Bangkok luxury vacation is a wonderful experience and to enjoy this with first class accommodation and the services of your personal courier check out Ultitude Travel where you will be offered the best quality of food and travel to ensure that you and family get the best possible experience from your visit to the Orient. Also be sure to visit UltitudeTravel.com our luxury travel blog on luxury vacations Bangkok.
Enjoy A Day Outing At The Escape Theme Park With Your Family
Singapore is a vacationers haven offering everything from sightseeing and relaxation to fun and frolic. While other tourist attractions are spread out over the whole citycountry the NTUC Downtown East on Pasir Ris Road is a complete selfcontained entertainment district. It offers food and beverages shopping bonanzas and entertainment at over 40 retail outlets. The star attraction is the Escape Theme Park Singapores largest outdoor entertainment park that opened its doors to the public in May 2000.
The park’s 16 rides include a pirate ship 2 gocart tracks with the Daytona Gocart a thrilling experience fairground style rides a haunted house experience and the highest logflume in Asia. A mishap at the indoor roller coaster led to its closure in 2005 and the place was made a nonsmoking park.
Fans of water sports and waterrelated activities have lots in store with rides such as the Flume Ride which is the highest water ride in Asia and the breathtaking 360 degree Cadbury Inverter.
Adjacent to the Escape Theme Park is the 4 year old Wild Wild Wet Singapores biggest water theme park that was inaugurated in June 2004. Funfilled attractions include raft slides an artificial wave pool Jacuzzi and Slideup. Wild Wild Wet won the 2004 World Water Park Association Innovation Award.
Food options include fast food bubble tea and snack items for a quick bite between action packed activities and the gourmet would also be spoiled for choice with delicacies from all international cuisines. Choose Asian favorites like Thai Chinese Japanese Malay Indian or opt for Western and Italian delights. Seafood lovers would be amazed at what lies in store.
Mementos of a memorable holiday gifts for family back home can all be picked up at the mini lifestyle arcade. All these attractions make the Escape Theme Park a great place for a family outing.
Before you arrive ensure you have made arrangements to stay at a luxury hotel in Singapore. Singapore offers everything that’s modern and convenient so most luxury hotels add a touch of tradition and culture to provide a unique hotelstay experience for their guests.
About the writer: Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in hotel Internet marketing industry.
Elephant-back Safaris In South Africa
South Africa Elephant Back Safaris following in the footsteps of the Ancients: Elephants the largest land animals in the world inspire a feeling of awe and respect in most people. Weighing up to 6 tons 11 000lb and reaching speeds of up to 40km/hr this monster of the animal kingdom has an impressive presence.
Whilst the majority of people will never have the opportunity to come close or even touch these animals many South African game reserves SEE: www.savenues.com offer the once in a lifetime chance to do an Elephant Back Safari. Imagine yourself perched 6ft in the air on the back of a 6 ton elephant slowly making your way through open velds or dense forests. It’s a safari like no other. As such Elephant Back Safari’s in South Africa are growing in popularity.
Game viewing on elephant back provides you with the unique opportunity of getting really close to wildlife SEE: www.savenues.com/wildlife that you could normally only view from far off. The smell of the elephants overpowers that of people so that other animals like rhino giraffe and buck etc will not be scared off by the scent of people nearby. As such you’re able to get close up to extraordinary wildlife. An elephant back safari at most game reserves is usually a well catered for event including meals and of course the elephant ride. The elephants are prepared with a comfortable saddle and you’ll be seated behind an experienced elephant handler. An elephant back safari will usually last around an hour and 30 minutes. Granted your initial few minutes on the back of this monstrous animal will be endured with more than a little apprehension but rest assured that as the safari begins and you become accustomed to the rhythmic and calm movements of the elephant the experience that follows will be incredible.
Many game reserves in South Africa also provide the unique and enjoyable opportunity to walk along with the elephants as you move through the velds and forests. Being surrounded by these enormous animals and moving along with them during the safari is a sobering experience and one that is not easily forgotten. The elephant sanctuary near the Magaliesberg Mountains offers the opportunity of spending an entire day out with these animals and taking part in activities like elephant walks elephant back safari rides feeding and brushing the elephants and much more.
A South African elephant back safari is a truly wonderful experience. Being immersed so deeply in nature and interacting with such powerful creatures is deeply rewarding and satisfying and is an opportunity that should not be missed.
About the writer: SAVenues.com is South Africa’s largest most comprehensive travel site which includes information about visas safaris activities hotels South Africa Accommodation maps photos attractions. To Visit: South Africa