Asia Travex

PENANG LOCAL HISTORY Aquired in 1786 by Captain Francis Light for the East India Company, Penang is situated on the island Pulau Pinang (Penang).The settlement was on the site of the present Esplanade, happily a swampy, malaria-infested area no longer. Light apparently used the ship’s cannons to fire silver dollars into the jungle-a bonus incentive that speeded up the clearing of the thick undergrowth considerably! Penang became a free port, attracting trade away from rival Dutch trading posts and has attracted immigrants from China, India and other areas of Asia and the colonies. Penang is now a leading port in the country and a very popular tourist destination. PENANG ATTRACTIONS City...

The beautiful country of the Philippines comprises of over 7000 islands, however most of the developed tourism destinations are located on 4 or 5 of them. It is a wonderful country with genuinely nice people who are renowned throughout the world for excellent hospitality and smiles that sparkle. The Philippines will be one destination you will want to return to time and time again. The Philippines has it all, beautiful beaches, a great night life with excellent bars and restaurants, and offers visitors some amazing hotels to choose from. It would be very hard not to enjoy the Philippines. Manila has an enormous selection of hotels to choose from and while they may not be up to the very high...

Many people when arriving in Thailand, do not really know what to expect, and know very little about the country and the people. However once they have been to Thailand once or twice, they will be sure to return, it is a kingdom that offers many marvels of undiscovered enchantment. With surprises and delights around every corner your trip to Thailand will open your eyes to a new world. What you can do in Thailand from a tourist perspective, and much, much more. On this page we give you a little insight into Thailand and the People, a little lesson if you like into the history of this amazing country and its dynamic and beautiful people. Thailand covers an area of 513,115 sq. km. in the heart of...

An amazing country of unique cultures, charms and discover - Indonesia A beautiful country that seems to be in the news almost every day. Even with the turmoil in Indonesia, it is still an incredible country and a safe one (as long as precautions are taken in certain areas). With 17,071 Islands it covers an enormous distance. With exotic and developed destinations such as Lombok and Bali and the capital city Jakarta, it is a very interesting country to visit. Here we look at some of the hotels in Bali and in Jakarta, with special rates for you to take advantage of. Plus we advise on the bars in Jakarta, and other aspects of travelling around this multi cultural country. Jakarta is in the news almost...

Hong Kong is an amazing place, full of energy, life, new smells, sounds and amazing sights. Hong Kong, once you have visited, is one place that you will not and cannot forget. The harbour by itself is one of the most famous sights in the world, and actually crossing the harbour by one of the famous star ferries is an absolute must both in the daytime and at night, be sure though to have your camera at hand to grasp the magical moment. With so many things to do, great food, excellent night life, superb shopping and some outlying Islands for you to discover and explore, you could very easily spend a wonderful if not hectic few days in Hong Kong. Hong Kong hotels are among some of the finest in the...

Puerto Princesa the Southern Gateway Puerto Princesa shows itself a place with all the goodies you expect to find in a Filipino town - a legion of gaily painted tricycles and tricikads - mobile works of art - to adorn the streets; a central market brimming with colour and with humour, and friendly faces everywhere that show you all the time they're glad you came to see their town. Yet here in Puerto Princesa there is something else, a sensibility, that had the place looking very spic and span, hospitable, as well as very, very green. "Yield to children crossing";"Help save our children - jail the pushers"; "I am a law abider. I support oplin linis (law and order)"; "I am a Palaweno, I am not a...

Those beautiful red lanterns that hang invitingly outside so many establishments have come to signify a lot - in Kabul, of all the places. Kabul, embattled, bruised and bleeding is not quite broken. It's attracting Chinese restaurants by the dozens.I can imagine the tough Pathans as they make their way out of the restaurants, smacking their lips in delight, thinking, "Chinese tastes delicious".China Daily reports how many Chinese restaurants have sprung up in Kabul's upmarket areas. But the police are cracking down on them because a Chinese meal there signifies more than just chilly chicken and fried wantons. It signifies food of a higher (or lower) nature, depending on where you're coming from...

From the vibrant capital-city of Kuala Lumpur to the idyllic beach getaways of Langkawi, Malaysia is a land of intriguing diversity. A melting pot of cultures with exquisite cuisine and warm hospitality, the vacation to Malaysia offers you a whole gamut of Asian sights, tastes and sounds.A multifaceted blend of cultures and an eclectic blend of the old and the new are just some of the things you'll find in Malaysia. With the stunning beaches on the East coast, the glittering nightlife of the capital-city of Kuala Lumpur on the West coast, and the dense jungles of Sarawak and Sabah with Mt. Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia in between, there's a little something here for everyone.This...

Lots of businesses rave about "going the extra mile". Few do.In reality, just a few inches are often more than enough to differentiate your small business from the competition. A couple of travel examples from a recent trip to Japan illustrate this.The Westin Osaka is a great hotel to stay in. It's clean, and fairly new. The price is right. We'd call the Westin a nicely packaged hotel.But what really makes the Westin special are the barely seen little extras Westin staff provide. There is a shuttle to the Osaka train station--pretty standard in large hotels in Japan, where trains are one's best bet for transportation. But at the Westin the bus driver immediately sets a small stool out for the...

Tulipmania - this is the name coined for the first pyramid investment scheme in history.In 1634, tulip bulbs were traded in a special exchange in Amsterdam. People used these bulbs as means of exchange and value store. They traded them and speculated in them. The rare black tulip bulbs were as valuable as a big mansion house. The craze lasted four years and it seemed that it would last forever. But this was not to be.The bubble burst in 1637. In a matter of a few days, the price of tulip bulbs was slashed by 96%!This specific pyramid investment scheme was somewhat different from the ones which were to follow it in human financial history elsewhere in the world. It had no "organizing committee", no...

Peru recently had a huge record breaking Earthquake, a whopper at 7.8 on the Richter scale. Days later the volcano of Fire in Mexico erupted. Now we already know that President Bush is responsible for the Tsunami last year and both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. This was reported from a very reliable source; Al Sharpton, Louis Faracon, and Jesse Jackson recently, so you know it is true...

Financial Bill, 2006-2007...Government of IndiaThe following are the proposals announced by Union Finance Minister of India, in the Parliament on 28th Feb. 2006. Changes in Fringe Benefit Tax...as compare to Financial Bill, 2005-2006Fringe Benefit Tax introduced last year as a revenue raising measure; justified on the principles of horizontal equity and vertical equity; on review, following changes being proposed:B)Value the benefit in the form of 'tour and travel' at 5 per cent instead of 20 per cent;C)Value benefit in the form of 'hospitality' and 'use of hotel boarding and lodging facilities', in case of airline companies and shipping industry, at 5 per cent instead of 20 per cent;D)Exclude...

The Philippines is an island archipelago in Southeast Asia with more than 7,100 islands. With a coastline twice the length of that of the United States and at least a beach on every island, the Philippines is Asia's beach capital. Just the mention of the Philippines brings images of warm crystal blue waters and long, white sandy beaches. Here is a list of the most popular Philippine beaches:● Boracay Beach - the most popular beach located on the northwestern tip of Panay island, Western Visayas. Boracay has 4 kilometers of powder-white beach touted as the "finest beach in the world". Today the island of Boracay has numerous restaurants, bars, cafes and has one of the most vibrant nightlife...

You may not have considered it, but many people both young and old are heading off to teach English in Japan every day. It can be a life changing and very rewarding experience. Making the big move to Japan whether it be for a short working holiday, or if you plan to live in Japan for a longer duration, can sound daunting but you will get plenty of assistance from your school and employer-to-be.There are a large number of conversational English schools in Japan and among the bigger and best known ones are Geos, ECC, Berlitz and Nova. Most people that go to teach in Japan start off by attending a local information session. After going through with the interview process your suitability for the role...

Chhou Naach (Chhou Dance):There are very little documentations available on traditional art, craft and culture of tribal of Jharkhand, India. This article provides an overview of one of the most exciting tribal dance "Chhou Naach" which is yet to be explored completely. However, state government of Jharkhand, India organizes various cultural events in the state but Chhou dance is very rarely done. This is not because people performing Chhou dance are conservative, but because of lack of knowledge or lack of promotion of this traditional dance form. This article is a little effort for the promotion of Traditional Tribal Culture.Locality:Chhou dance is found in the tribal areas of Jharkhand and...

How long until the big Mexico City Quake? We all know it is way over due and many of us remember the last one in 1985. Can you imagine a city now with some 20 million people in it reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes and after shocks preventing rescue and causing even more destruction?Remember although some of their newer buildings now have building codes it is nothing like Los Angeles, Southern California or San Francisco building codes? Where will 20 million Mexico City Refuges go? Well, most will try to come to the United States and yet we are now putting the National Guard along the border to prevent illegal immigration and illegal aliens from crossing the border illegally into California...

Vietnam is a nice and peaceful country located in the South East of Asia. With a long coast line from the North to the South and a lot of mountains and highlands, Vietnam has both sea and mountain attractions. Having the area of 331,688 square km and a population of more than 84 million people, Vietnam is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world.Known as the heart of this beautiful country, Hanoi capital is one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam. This city is located in the Red River Delta in the North of Vietnam and is the economic centre of the whole delta. Hanoi is a cultured city with many traditions, old streets and houses. Even nowadays, when globalization is becoming...

Vietnam is a nice and peaceful country located in the South East of Asia. With a long coast line from the North to the South and a lot of mountains and highlands, Vietnam has both sea and mountain attractions. Having the area of 331,688 square km and a population of more than 84 million people, Vietnam is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world.Known as the heart of this beautiful country, Hanoi capital is one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam. This city is located in the Red River Delta in the North of Vietnam and is the economic centre of the whole delta. Hanoi is a cultured city with many traditions, old streets and houses. Even nowadays, when globalization is becoming...

A marvelous Massage really is a truly wonderful experience. There are many different types, styles and methods of massage practiced around the world, but one thing is certain and that is there will definitely be a massage parlor somewhere near you if you live in a major town or city. I urge anyone to try massage at least once in their life time. You owe it to yourself!I've been very fortunate as I've lived and worked in South East Asia for the past 11 years and a typical 2 hour massage in say Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam will cost little more than $8. And what a great 2 hours it is too. Dimly lit spaces, with the soft aroma of ancient herbs and incense sticks quietly and slowly burning in the...

House Energy Correction is the concept of controlling the 8 Directional Energies; 7 Chakras and 7 Energy Bodies of the People; Boosting and Balancing the 5 Elements of the Lands & Buildings. Simply stated, it is the Total Energy Rectification of Horoscopes of the Family Members and Business Partners; Vaastu and Fengshui Energy Correction for their Lands & Buildings. Read the revealing FAQs about unique Crystal Energy Fields based on the Ancient Siddha Programming Techniques for Karma Correction. This is the first of a series of 3 parts of FAQs.Question 1 : What exactly is "Energy Correction" ?Human beings, like all objects, receive different levels of energies from the 8 different directions. When...

We started our journey towards Kilinochchi and reached the Omanthai Military Check Point, the Northernmost Frontier of the Sri Lanka Army in the mainland and stopped for clearance.Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene spoke to the Military Officials and we were cleared after a few procedures and set on our journey towards North.In a few minutes’ time by passing the No Man Zone, we reached the LTTE Check Point.I spoke to an LTTE member who questioned me about our mission.I explained our mission and introduced the German team and others there.I told we had already informed the Political wing of the LTTE about our mission.They were highly concerned about our mission as we were about to visit the Mulaitivu...

Cell phones are a huge part of our lives these days. Everyone seems to have a cell phone because they make everything so much more convenient. The problem that we are facing with cell phones though, is how many car accidents they are causing.In the United States there are over 210 million people that use cell phones. People are relying on them more and more. Because of all the car accidents associated with cell phone use, we must decide whether this convenience is really worth it in the car.When drivers use the cell phone in the car, there are two big problems. First, you have to take your eyes off the road to dial. Second, cell phone conversations can be so absorbing that you lose the ability...

Halloween is quite possibly one of the most interesting, fun, and magical holidays we celebrate. There are so many things about the holiday that are still very mysterious and enchanting. Among those mysteries, sadly, is why there are people out there who would want to do something dangerous to ruin the fun of Halloween for others. There are many crimes reported each year during the Halloween holiday. Among the most common are vandalism, robbery, and assault. Others occur as well, including some cases of drunk driving and other such preventable hazards. However, it is very easy to prevent most of the hazards of Halloween from affecting you and your family as you celebrate.To begin with, one of...

In 2005 we saw some new innovations in robotics used in transportation. We saw disputes erupt with Rail Road Unions over locomotives, which do not need conductors. We have seen more and more telematic type information and communication, which flows between over the road trucks and dispatchers via satellite. We have seen new mechanisms that dispatchers can use to track shipments within meters of their location, even completely shut down trucks, which have been hijacked.Then we watched the DARPA Grand Challenge with driverless totally autonomous vehicles navigate steep cliffs, tunnels and treacherous desert roads full of obstacles on a course over 200 miles long and still average speeds of nearly 35...

Indonesian Holidays offer specially negotiated hotel deals, ground tours, and flights not just to Indonesia but also other Asian countries as add-on from Indonesia or as single or Multicentre holidays.9 Days Java (Bali to Jakarta)Day 1. Denpasar to Bromo...

We have millions of choices when it comes to travel destinations. Some are more interesting that others and some are rather unusual. There are travel destinations that are easy to get to and others that are quite complicated.Try a travel destination that will lead to the other side of the world. If you want to travel to a beautiful beach and the best place to dive in Asia consider Sipadan, Malaysia. This island is east of Borneo and has a fantastic underwater life.There is a lovely small village in the northern part of Palawan Island. El Nido has access to many islands and a secret lagoon. This travel destination is located in the Phillippines. Explore the islands and feast on the...

On a trip to Dubai I had the opportunity to visit the spectacular Burj Al Arab hotel, a luxuriously modern and decadent retreat for the rich and famous, often touted as the...

Every Paris travel guide seems to have something to add to the already voluminous information available on such well-known spots as the Louvre and Orsay museums, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower.Yet what about discovering the quaint neighborhoods of the 19th century Paris? Or taking pictures of the inn built for the paupers by Nicholas Flamel in the 15th century (yes, that's the same Nicholas Flamel written about in Harry Potter)?In my reckoning, there's a truly interesting way of discovering Paris, and that's to take the less traveled path. The one I take with my friends when we visit the French capital.So, let's assume you are as eager as we are to learn something new about Paris, and...

Australia is also known as the land down under, made famous by the song by "Men At Work". Beer does flow and men chunder. Beer does flow freely but Australia is also well known for its fine wine and good food. Besides the fine gourmet meals, Australia has a lot to offer to visitors from all over the world.Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It is almost a continent on its own and a giant island. It has only about two people per square kilometer, the lowest population density in the world. Australia has over 10000 beaches, more than any country in the world. There are over 40 million kangaroos in Australia, the most well known animal unique to Australia. The longest stretch of...

Shopping is always an important part when travelling. It is even more important and interesting in Japan where you can find many unique and beautiful souvenirs to bring back to your home country.Don't think that you can bargain in every Asian country. Japan is the exception. Don't try to bargain when going shopping in Japan, especially in large department stores. You can only ask for a small discount when you go to the flea markets. It is acceptable there.If you want to save some money in your shopping, try flea markets and one hundred yen shops (100 yen equals about $0.99). You can find almost everything there, from cosmetics to kitchen utensils. Don't miss them! They are the cheapest deals...

Christmas is the most mysterious holiday! Christians celebrate it all over the world. It is too special holiday as all the traditions were handled down from our grandparents and parents.From November nobody forgets that Christmas is coming. Colored lights decorate many town centers and shops and artificial snow painted on shop, cafe windows. In streets and shops, 'Christmas trees', real or plastic evergreen 'conifer' trees, are also decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.Shopping centers become busier. Speaker systems in them play Christmas 'carols', the traditional Christmas Christian songs. Very often groups of people sing these carols raising money for charity. By mid-December, most people...

When I first met Mary Jane at the recent Canadian-US Servas Conference in Vancouver, her youthful radiance struck me. I thought she might be in her early fifties, and then she revealed that she is 70! No wonder - here is a woman who exudes optimism, who always has a smile on her face. As a long-term member of Servas in the United States, Mary Jane has travelled the world, and by being a host she has brought the world into her home - in fact in almost 30 years she has opened her home to around 300 travellers from all over the world.Starting with her childhood during WWII, growing up with a mother from Austria-Hungary and a father from Japan, Mary Jane's intercultural sensitivities got sharpened very...

Ibanez guitars go way back to the 1800s (90 years ago) when Hoshino Gakki, who distributed a variety of musical instruments in Nagoya, Japan, started the Hoshino Gakki Group, the makers of Ibanez guitars. The makers of Ibanez guitars have a unique beginning in comparison to their top competitors in that the company's roots are in Nagoya, Japan. By the time the company made its way to the United States, they were in the business of duplicating well-known rock and jazz guitars, as were many guitar makers in the 1970s. Partly to follow the tradition of other top guitar makers and mostly by force of an impending lawsuit in the 1980s, the company teamed up with celebrity guitarists to design the famous S...

Here are 10 things you ought to try when you're in Kuching, Sarawak.1. Taste Kuching's favourite noodle dish called "kolo mee". This simple noodle dish with slices of barbecued pork, a sprinkling of spring onions and a bowl of soup drives Kuchingites (that's what we call people from Kuching) abroad mad with desire. Available at most coffeeshops and cafes in Kuching. If you can find "kolo mee", you should also try the spicy Sarawak laksa, another specialty dish of Sarawak.2. Try "umai". "Umai" is the Melanau's version of the Cantonese 'yee sang' (raw fish salad). Imagine a fiesty salad of shallots, raw fish, lime juice and salt.Never leave without giving this dish a try!3. Take a boat ride to the...

The transformer is an electrical device, which transforms voltage through magnetic coupling with no moving parts. It consists of a magnetic core, with two or more coupled windings, which either steps up or steps down the incoming voltage. This is done by the transfer of energy from one circuit to the other, through the magnetic core. These windings are generally termed as Primary and Secondary windings. The electromagnetic field thus created under goes a process of expanding and collapsing around the conductor and this changes the induced current, with the formation of an out put from the secondary coil, either stepping up or stepping down the input voltage.In order to understand the function of a...