sapa vietnam.mp4

Du Lịch Nước Ngoài, Tour Du Lịch Nước Ngoài, Chương Trình Du Lịch, tour du lịch, tour du lịch phú quốc, tour du lịch mỹ tho ngày, tour du lịch , tour du lịch hạ long, tour du lịch trung quốc, tour du lịch xuyên việt, tour du lịch trong nước, tour du lịch chau au, tour du lịch ngoài nước, tour du lịch nước ngoài, tour du lịch cát bà, tour du lịch nha trang, tour du lịch bắc hải, tour du lịch hà nội sapa, tour+du+lịch+hạ+long, tour+du+lịch+phú+quốc, tour du lịch thái lan, tour du lịch tp hồ chí minh, tour du lich quoc te, tour khuyen maiDestination management tour wholesale company to the Indochina region including Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam tours, Vietnam travel, Vietnam hotels, Cambodia tours, Laos tours, Vietnam Tour Operator offers special rates, Tour Packages, Vietnam Vacation,vietnam holiday, good hotel, luxury tour, luxury hotel, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheap hotel..



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6us3q0lRWA&hl=en

Vientiane Guesthouses

Explore Vientiane Guesthouses on teakdoor.com Lao Forum Vientiane is the capital city of Laos situated across the river Mekong from Nong Khai in Thailand, in this video we show the following guesthouses in Vientiane with room rates from $5 per night. Phornthip Guest House, 72 Inpeng Road, Vientiane. Telephone (856 21) 217239 Mali Lamphu (malinamp[at]laotel.com - Tel: + 856 21 215093) The Saylomyen guesthouse, Saylom Road. Syri 2 Guesthouse, 63/6-7 Setthathirat Road, Vientiane, Phone, 021 241345. Phornthip Guest House, 72 Inpeng Road, Vientiane. Telephone: (856 21) 217239 Phetmanyxay Hotel, 186/1 Mahosot Road, Ban Sisaket, Unit 11, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, Tel; (856-21)263 351 Mobile; (856-20)555 5622 Sihom Guesthouse 27/1 Sihom Road B Sihom, M. Chanthaboury, Vientiane, Lao Tel; 856- 21 219081 mobile 856- 20 5619710 To learn more about Guesthouses and hotels in Vientiane check out teakdoor.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS0srVCP4bg&hl=en

Beat The Heat of the Sun on Thailand Songkran Festival

Image : http://www.flickr.com

People who have been witness the solemnity of the Thailand Songkran cannot deny the amazement on this particular celebration. Songkran Festival has been celebrated in different Northern part countries such as Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Lao State. But what made Thailand Songkran different from the other country? I think it is merely on the location that made it prominent from the other country. Since Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia, more travelers and vacationers have been part of this main event.

Songkran Festival is one of the most awaited festivities in Thailand. Local Thai people have different participation in this big celebration. From the beginning of the event up to the last part of it, you can't decline all the traditional part of it. Truly brilliant! It is celebrated during the hottest day of the month of April that is why tourists from different part opted to have their vacation in this awesome island during Songkran times.

Thailand Songkran has three major dissections which are called as Wan Nao, Wan Payawan and Wan Park Bpee. Before the exact event, housewives together with their families had their general cleaning. Old belongings such as clothing and other household rubbish are thrown and burned for it will transport bad fortune to the possessor and the family. Thorough cleaning known as Wan Sangkhan Lohng must be done in preparation for the big event.

Songkran is not just focus on the big Water Fight, though majority of the tourists recognized Songkran for 3 unending days and nights Water Battle. You'd probably ask on what to expect in Thailand Songkran, first is Wan Nao in which people prepare food that they'll bring on the next day when they visit the monasteries. In this day, they are making chedis or known as sand pyramid that are decorated with colorful paper cut flowers. On the second day or Wan Payawan it is the time they visit the monks' monasteries feed them and give them gifts and new set of robes. Water Fight starts on this day. The third day is known as Wan Park Bpee the time they give respect to their ancestors, elders and relatives.

Thai people believe that Thailand Songkran is the time for life renewal and rejuvenation. That is why people from this place await and prepare for this once a year event. Beat the heat of the sun and be a part of this once a year major celebration in Thailand!

Anantara Resort Golden Triangle Chiang Saen Traveler Photos - TripAdvisor TripWow

tripwow.tripadvisor.com - Created at TripWow by TravelPod Hotels Traveler Photos Of Anantara Resort Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen ★ Check Rates at: www.travelpod.com Reviews for Anantara Resort Golden Triangle: - "Fantastic!" from steiner "The Anantara was one of the best places I have ever stayed. The authentically decorated Thai resort has everything-- gorgeous property, outstanding food, a wonderful staff, tons of activities, and superb service. The elephant program was outstanding. The resort is focused on elephant conservation and the preservation of the forest. With that in mind, the ..." - "Fantastic stay" from corrine "My husband and I visited this hotel in June 2005. We stayed at the Anantara, Hua Hin the prevoius year and were not at all impressed. After reading the great reviews on this website we decided to book the Anantara, golden triangle and were hopeful of a much better experience. Wow! This hotel is beautiful and in a completely different class to the Hua ..." - "Luxurious Oasis" from dlcm "We visited the Anantara in March 2005 and spent 3 nights in absolute luxury, the service was 1st class and the best we have encounted in Thailand or anywhere else for that matter. The staff are more than just efficient, they appear to be mind readers as well, they know what you want before you do. On entering the hotel you are met with a smile and a ..." - "Incredible Taste of Thailand" from A TripAdvisor Member "Fantastic resort, nice rooms, and lots of really ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQzkzN3zRQw&hl=en

amazing adviser at hoi an vietnam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyNvb-5f8vk&hl=en

01. VTV4-02.wmv

VIETNAM BAMBOO FLOORING AND FURNITURE Friendly Environmental and Ecological Products Alternative Material to Hardwood for Your Home and Office Bamboo flooring can give you the natural beauty of hardwood floors in your home without you having to feel that your choice in home improvements is having a damaging affect on the environment. As one of nature's greatest gifts to mankind, bamboo has been used in many useful ways since the beginning of time. It's highly appreciated by many people! PINCTADALI is professional supplier and installer of high quality bamboo flooring, wall and ceiling covering as well as bamboo furniture, housewares and decoration. We are the first mover and leading company in Vietnam in producing furniture and houseware of press bamboo. In local market, we supply and install Bamboo Flooring to different projects and buildings, such as Pacific Place, The Manor, Ciputra in Hanoi and Sailing Tower in HCM city; tourist boats in Ha Long bay (Jasmine Cruise, Victory Cruise and White Dolphin Cruise); different Foreign Embassies offices in Hanoi and hundred other residence and houses... Recently, we have been installing bamboo flooring to different resorts, hotels and restaurant in Hanoi, Phan Thiet (Sailing Club), Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, Hai Phong... Our products are also exported to different countries : France, Germany, Hollands, Luxemburg, Czech, Russia, Australia, Laos... It's our great pleasure of introducing a range of bamboo flooring and bamboo ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4LSYm1ocH0&hl=en

Immersion au VIETNAM Part 3 [La Baie d'Halong] 1ère partie

Pour des raisons de temps sur internet, la vidéo "Immersion au vietnam [la Baie d'Halond]", est en deux partie. Je vous invite a regarder la suite : Immersion au Vietnam [la Baie d'Halong] 2ème partie.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCsTfJbAlEI&hl=en

Backpacking Southeast Asia - One and Two Week Itinerary Ideas For Cambodia

Image : http://www.flickr.com

If you are heading to Southeast Asia and are thinking of backpacking Cambodia, here are some ideas for your itinerary.

One week: If you have one week in Cambodia, you are probably only going to be able to see the major sites. If you are entering Cambodia by bus from Ho Chi Minh, head to Phnom Pehn. Spend 3 days checking out both the gruesome sites from the Khmer Rouge and the beauty of the Royal Palace.

Next, take the bus to Siem Reap to visit the Temples of Angkor. Spend 4 days in Siem Reap exploring the numerous temples scattered across the Cambodian jungle side. From Siem Reap, either return to Phnom Pehn to return home, or head by land to Thailand. This trip can be easily done in the reverse direction.

Two weeks: With two weeks in Cambodia, you can see the majority of the country, but some backtracking may be required if you aren't heading to Laos. Start by spending 4 days in Siem Reap checking out the temples of Angkor, before catching the bus to Phnom Pehn. Spend 2 days in Phnom Pehn, then head by bus to Sihanoukville, Cambodia's major beach destination.

After relaxing for a few days head back to Phnom Pehn for 1 night, before heading north to Stung Treng. Get some sleep in Stung Treng before catching the bus the next morning to Ban Lung. While in Ban Lung spend 3 days checking out the Yeak Laom National Park and the volcanic lake. You can also

False Alarm that Evolution is a Fact

Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, Berkeley, California, says, "Avoid Debates. If your local campus Christian fellowship asks you to 'defend evolution,' please decline....you probably will get beaten." (1) Footnotes: 1. Scott, Eugenie C., "Monkey Business," The Sciences (January/February 1996), pp. 20-25. Scott is Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, Berkeley, California, and received her Ph.D. in Anthropology, Missouri University, 1974. Past previous position, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1984-86, page 25. Science News, Jan 18, 1986 by Julie Ann Miller findarticles.com Romans 12:4-5 "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." The rainforest offers a rich variety of living things. Part of that richness can be seen in the flocks of birds that cooperate in the canopy, even though the flocks are made up of several species. The rainforest is actually two forests in one. The canopy that's formed by the tree tops supports an entirely different type of life than the part of the forest growing beneath the canopy. This lower forest is called the "understory." Flocks made up of various species of birds search for food, usually insects, in their respective territories -- either in the canopy or in the understory. Each flock has its own sentinel who ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcn_T-2TjOE&hl=en

50 COUNTRIES! Amazing Konn the Frog

Unbelievable Video Shot in 50 Countries with World's most traveled frog from amazing site www.konnthefrog.com. Countries include Serbia,Romania,Indonesia,Italy,Philippines,Borneo,Singapore,Holland,Colombia,Venezuela,Spain,Portugal,Sweden,Guatemala,Belize,Estonia,Honduras,Vietnam,Cambodia,Jamaica,France,Monaco,Brazil,America,Panama,Chile,India,Uruguay,Costa Rica,Mexico,Argentina,Andorra,Malaysia,Hong Kong,Laos,Canada,Czech Republic,Australia,England,Ibiza,Switzerland,Thailand,



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkKOlGvJltE&hl=en

Authors@Google: The Lost Girls

Two of the three "Lost Girls" stopped Google headquarters in New York to discuss their latest books and future projects with Google, and moderated by Lee Stimmel. The Lost Girls: three friends. Four continents. An unconventional way around the world. "This card is wonderful: funny, smart capture perfectly honest, and that the odd time in life when you are no longer a teenager, but I'm still wavering in adulthood." For more information: Jen, Holly and Amanda are at a crossroads. They feelthe pressure to hit certain milestones, marking a sharp increase in search of a soul mate, with 2.2 children before they reach their early thirties. For personal challenges to force them to rethink their lives, decide that it is now or never to do something bold. It can have a perspective in fast-Manhattan, close down the three teens within their jobs and leave their media friends, friends and everything familiar to travel around the world. Dubbing themselves the Lost Girls, theEmbark on an epic year-long search for inspiration and direction. Take a ride on www.google.com www.lostgirlsworld.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7SeD_cxVxQ&hl=en

Vang Vieng...tubing paradise!! - Vang Vieng, Laos (vang vieng tubing, tubing vang vieng)

A TripAdvisor™ TripWow video of a travel blog to Vang Vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep by TravelPod blogger Joshloz. See this TripWow and more at tripwow.tripadvisor.com Vang Vieng...tubing paradise!! "Well as reported via email we were in Vang Vieng a few days ago for a few days! This place is very touristy, but very relaxed and cruisey. So cruisey that all the cafes, bars and restaurants have cushions and pillows set up around low tables so you can lay back, eat food and watch the never ending dvd's on play. Josh was sick the first day so we just hung out, and planned a tubing day on the Nam Song river for the following day. Now Vang Vieng is known for its tubing, and we werent about to miss out on the fun, but instead of doing it by ourselves we splashed out $13 each to take another day trip. This one involved looking at four caves, passing through more villages within the area finished up with a trip down the river. The caves we visited at in the morning weren't that interesting. One had a buddha and a buddha's 'footprint' as they all do...another with a stalagtite in the shape of an elephant. One however was very deep and dark which we took on with the trusty headlamp Josh brought along for trip! Inside this cave was some huge stalagmite and stalagtite formations in different shapes which the locals play tunes on. This cave was used by the villagers to hide out during the war. After a huge cooked lunch, provided for us...we then walked to the last cave jumped on tubes and ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e8Fi-w149Y&hl=en

Plain of Jars Site 2 Tour with Sousath Phetrasy Part 5

I just found out today (1/20/2010) that Sousath died about five months ago from untreated high blood pressure. That's a shock, and his presence will be missed in Phonsavan in Xieng Khuang Province. I guess it makes this interview series even more important/historical... I think there are many reasons to travel to and through Xieng Khuang Province. Probably the main reason for most tourists though would be to visit the Plain of Jars. While most people visit Site #1, there are two more sites fairly accessible. In this video, Sousath Phetrasy, owner of the Maly Hotel and tour guide extraordinaire traveled with us and we recorded what he had to say about the Plain of Jars. We were there in December, which is a couple of months into the dry season, and you can see that the grass is brown and the wind is blowing, as it often does on the plateau where the Plain of Jars are situated. The Xiangkhouang Plateau or Tran Ninh Plateau is a plateau in the north of Laos and the highest peaks of the plateau are between 2000 and 3000 meters high. Several tributaries of the Mekong originate in the Plateau and of course it is the location of the Plain of Jars featured in this video, which is a collective name for several sites with archeological remains. The plateau is also one of the most heavily contaminated areas in the world from unexploded cluster munitions. As I found written on the web, Perhaps 2000 years old, the jars are one of the oldest archeological wonders of Southeast Asia ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hko5oP1wp_w&hl=en

Hands-On Holidays

I've never been a fan of the beach holidays that everyone I know seems to prefer. I'm sure that for them sitting by the beach and perhaps diving in occasionally is paradise. For me, though, I prefer to do something a little different, and luckily my husband agrees. I'm an active person and I prefer to be engaged with the culture I'm visiting, not cut off by resort walls and confined to a compound. So I began doing a little research into holidays that would allow me to learn new things and explore new places. There are museums almost everywhere, but I prefer to try things for myself, and so I looked for hands-on fun. As it turns out, there are a wide variety of places that have unconventional activities to bring a new couple together. I only had to look in two locations to find a variety of things to do that may not be possible anywhere else.

Since Laos is among the least modernized of all Asian countries, perhaps it isn't entirely a surprise that there are many traditional activities that a couple or even a single person can engage in, depending on the time of year. Rice is still cultivated the traditional way, and in more remote areas guests can try their hand at either planting or harvesting in the rice paddies. Experience for yourself the way that Laotian rice farmers have lived and worked for hundreds of years. I'd also have fun digging for gold in the nearby river. Finding a real gold nugget is unlikely, but would be so exciting! In that same river, you can spend a day fishing and have your day's catch prepared for your dinner. I'm not a fan of fish so I'm not sure I'd be thrilled about that, but certainly anyone who likes fresh, sustainably caught fish will delight in the day.

Thailand is more popular with tourists, and perhaps as a result many traditional Thai activities are available to experience. You can spend half a day learning a skill that will remain with you for the rest of your life, or experience historic Thailand for yourself. One of the best ways to do this is with a canal ride through Bangkok, seeing places that ordinary tourists rarely get to visit. There is plenty to visit in the city, of course, but once you leave, there is even more to do. If you've ever seen the film Bridge over the River Kwai, perhaps you'd also like to go over it yourself. You can also take a trip on the railroad, known as the "Death Railway", that took so many lives in construction during World War II.

There are a few more hands-on activities in Thailand as well. My favourite would be learning how to give a traditional Thai massage. This massage keeps the recipient fully clothed, but the masseuse tends to use elbows and even knees in various ways! Surely all the skills can't be imparted to me in just half a day, but I'm certain it would improve my current massage technique and provide a lot of fun in the meantime. Exciting and perhaps a little terrifying is the prospect of spending the day learning to be a mahout, or an elephant trainer. These huge animals are majestic and beautiful, but I'm not entirely sure I'd want to ride one. That, however, is entirely up to you! It's also possible to visit the Lisu Lodge and experience Lisu culture for yourself, enjoying a traditional steam bath or ox cart ride. Sadly I haven't found a place to learn the Lisu dances, but I'm sure a tour company will offer it eventually.

In short, there is a lot more to do on a luxury holiday than just sit by a beach, which you might as well do closer to home. There are a lot more ideas provided by Turqoise Holidays. If you spend a lot of money travelling to an exotic location, why not experience local culture to the fullest extent?

Tour the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa overlooking Myanmar and Laos

Let Mark show you around the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa. Offering views of Laos, Myanmar, and northern Thailand's bamboo jungle this luxury five star resort offers an enjoyable and relaxing experience amidst nature and wildlife. The Elephant's though are tame and, with the help of local mahouts, any guest can trek, drive, bath with, or play polo upon them. Well situated in the Mekong Valley and often shrouded by a morning mountain mist the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa is one of northern Thailand's premier luxury resorts.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMVj63jkk4w&hl=en

Taking Your Dog on Your Vacation

Image : http://www.flickr.com

More and more people are traveling with their dogs and/or want to travel with their dogs. They are part of the family and the family wants to include them in their vacation plans, leaving them in a kennel is just not an option for some people. Even the plush kennels are traumatic for your pets, they miss the family and their home turf.

Traveling with your pet does take extra time, planning, and extra fees for where you lodge. There are more and more hotels and resorts that have accommodations for pets, however, there are some restrictions and of course fees, always be sure to be informed what these are when you make your inquiries and reservations.

Make a travel packing list for your pet just like you do for any other member of the family, have their shot and immunization records with you and put them with your other important travel papers. Be sure you have a good supply of clean up bags and have them handy in your pet carry all bag. Have a separate carry all bag for your pet so that everything you will need, can be found easily and quickly, just like you would for a baby. Also included in your pet carry all bag would be their favorite treats; a sealed covered bowl for water or now they even have a bowl that folds up and fits in your pocket and/or purse, of course if you have a larger dog a small bowl would not work, so you need to take in consideration what size your per is; a favorite toy; carry crate and these also come in handy for the hotel room until your pet get familiar with their surroundings; be sure they have an information collar on so if you get separated the person who finds the dog can find you; a good sturdy leash and it would not hurt to take a spare on just in case.

Finding a pet friendly resort and/or hotel can be time consuming and tedious, so if your schedule is restricted, this is where a Personal Travel Website Agent comes in very handy, it is a website that has a personal contact with someone by either email or phone. They can do the research for you and find the accommodations that you want and that are also pet friendly, sometimes the hotels and resorts don't advertise that they are a pet friendly facility, but they will and do accept pets under certain conditions, and this time consuming task can be handed over to your Personal Travel Website Agent to do the research on, and all of your other reservations you can handle yourself if you choose.

Happy Travel Trails With Your Pet.

myHotelVideo.com präsentiert Novotel in Vientiane / Laos / Laos

More @ www.myhotelvideo.com Lage: Das in der Nähe des Mekongs gelegene Komforthotel befindet sich nur etwa 2 km vom Flughafen von Luang Prabang entfernt. Die nächstgelegene Stadt heißt Vientiane. Dort finden die Gäste verschiedene historische Sehenswürdigkeiten sowie Boulevards und Tempel. In ungefähr 1 km Entfernung zum Hotel liegen Restaurants, Einkaufsmöglichkeiten und eine Haltestelle der öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel. Ausstattung: Das komfortable Airporthotel verfügt in 2 Gebäuden über insgesamt 172 Zimmer. Den Gästen stehen in dem vollklimatisierten Hauptgebäude eineEmpfangshalle mit Rezeption (24-Stunden Service), Aufzüge, Geschäfte, ein Minimarkt, eine Wechselstube und Hotel-Safes zur Verfügung. Außerdem werden den Besuchern eine Diskothek, eine Cafeteria und eine Bar angeboten. Die Gäste können weiterhin eines der zwei Restaurants (mit Kinderhochstühlen) besuchen. Ferner gibt es einen Konferenzraum, einen WLAN Access Point und öffentliches Internet. Das Angebot wird durch den Zimmer- und den Wäscheservice sowie die medizinische Betreuung vervollständigt. Pkws können auf dem Parkplatz abgestellt werden. Zimmer: Die komfortabel eingerichteten Zimmer verfügen über Bad/WC, Haartrockner, Minibar und Klimaanlage. An technischen Geräten stehen den Gästen ein Direktwahltelefon, ein Internetzugang und ein Satelliten-/Kabel-TV zur Verfügung. Sport/Entertainment: In der Außenanlage des Hotels befinden sich ein Swimmingpool, eine Sonnenterrasse mit Liegestühlen und ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_u3Dgnc3qg&hl=en

Laos - My Top Ten Favourite Places to Stay in Laos

Accommodation is improving and Laos has some excellent places to stay whether staying in the city or a secluded hideaway far away from it all in the mountains or on one of its many rivers. The Capital Vientiane and the world heritage city of Luang Prabang have some great quality hotels some with exquisite colonial charm and all with a genuine friendly service. Getting away to countryside offers stunning views of the countryside. This list is not in any particular order as different hotels offer different experiences some offering the best facilities and others offering the best views. Here are my favourite ten places to stay in Laos taking in a varied selection from across the country.

Seng Arun Bungalows

Set on the banks on the Mekong on Done Khone Island these are small family run bungalows, they are pretty basic in western terms as there is still no electricity on the Island, but the wooden styled bungalows are comfortable, all with en suite showers. They overlook the old French Railway Bridge, with their excellent balconies the day could be spent relaxing on a hammock with a book and enjoying the great view.

La Residence Phou Vao

Set in the World Heritage City of Luang Prabang the city is full of old colonial charm and La Résidence Phou Vao Hotel complements this charm, built in the 1950's and renovated in 2001 it is set at the top of Vao hill. The hotel gives stunning views of the surrounding mountains of Luang Prabang as well as Phou Si Temple and the town. It also offers first class facilities and amenities such as a spa and swimming pool. The hotel uses traditional rosewood, cotton and silk so that the modern facilities and rooms do not lose their tradition feel.

Vansana Resort

Vang Vieng is a truly great town lying on the Nam Song River with stunning limestone karsts to its west. Vang Vieng was previously known as a backpacker town with cheap basic accommodation and lots of adventure activities to choose from. There are now however more upmarket places to stay now inviting a different class of tourist. The Vansana Resort is one of these on these built on the banks of the Nam Song River and boasting excellent amenities. The rooms are excellent with private balconies where you can enjoy the view of the mountains. Or enjoy one of the facilities on offer such as a traditional massage a meal on the balcony on the river or a swim in its top rate swimming pool.

Pakbeng Lodge

A few years ago when travelling between the Thai / Laos border town of Chiang Khong / Houei Sai to Luang Prabang the two day boat trip involved a very uncomfortable overnight stay at Pak Beng. This was an unavoidable stop when taking the slow boat. Recently however the opening of the Pak Beng Lodge has changed all of that, with great views of the Mekong and great facilities it has made the two day journey to Luang Prabang and unforgettable one in the best possible way.

Chan-a-Mar Resort, Nong Khiaw

Probably one of the only luxury bungalow's in this part of Laos, set in Nong Khiaw amidst a backdrop of mountains and two rivers this place truly gives the feel of the real Laos. The owners are also set on preserving and promoting textiles of locally grown and made textiles through the GreenHeart Foundation. The bungalows have been individually designed with local materials, each with its own bathroom, hot shower and private balcony offering stunning views.

Kingfisher Lodge

This lodge is set in the stunning Xe Pian National Protected Area about 60 Km south of Pakse in Champasak Province. It has marketed itself as being an eco-lodge, and its wooden bungalows blend in with the lush forest. There is also plenty of opportunities to explore the Xe Pian National Protected Area taking an elephant ride to Ban Pho Pho or enjoying a two day trek to Ta-Ong where you will hear and maybe even see rare Gibbons and excellent birdlife.

Senesothxeun Hotel

Senesothxeun is one of the newest places in Southern Laos, taking the accommodation options on Don Khong Island to a new level, with old charm and the great aura it gives out, it is a remarkable place to stay. The rooms are all luxury with mod-cons and private balconies, this is the place to stay if you are after luxury in the heart of the natural wetlands of Si Pan Don.

Settha Palace

The Settha Palace is set in the heart of Vientiane and has to be one of the best places to stay in Laos an old colonial style hotel build in the early 1930's, the hotel has been restored and is a true masterpiece, with an abundance of old colonial charm. Facilities and service is second to none with landscaped gardens and a swimming pool where you can cool off.

Maison Souvannaphoum

This was the former home of a Lao prince, a boutique hotel set in Luang Prabang it blends in a traditional and modern style excellently. The interior design leaves no compromise with rich silk textiles draped on the walls and ceilings. The facilities are first grade with a spa, swimming pool all set amidst tropical gardens, the food is excellent with top class French and Laotian cuisine and the views from the private balconies unmatched.

La Folie Lodge

On the Island of Don Daeng near the World Heritage site of Wat Phu, this resort is top class giving you the best of both worlds, excellent facilities with a swimming pool and a great sandy beach on the Mekong but you are also on a secluded Island with a great beach on the river! You can explore the island by bicycle or by foot and there are even some old ruins to see on the Island.

Language Teaching For Backpackers in Asia

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Teaching languages as a foreigner in Asia is really popular these days. Many backpackers from Europe really fall in love with Asia and ends up spending many years there, often doing jobs like language teaching. There is something special with Asia that makes you really not want to go back to work in boring Europe or the US again.

Anyways, most of these young backpackers end up becoming English teachers. There are several countries in Asia that you can teach English in, Thailand, Korea and Japan being the most common. I have also met people teaching English in Cambodia, Laos and Singapore on my travels in Asia however, and almost all of them seem to enjoy their job. There is a high demand for English teachers in Asia as it is often very hard to find local people that speak English well enough to be able to teach it.

The only bad thing with being an English teacher in most Asian countries is the salary. Countries like Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are really cheap to live in, but that is of course also reflected in the salaries. Like I said, being an English teacher is quite popular these days, so the language schools don not have to give high salaries to attract people to work for them. The salary is still quite good in Korea and Japan though, but again these countries are more expensive to live in.

Something that I would suggest is to look into teaching other languages than English. Often the salary will be quite a bit higher if you're teaching another language, as it is quite hard for language schools to find teachers qualified to teach other languages. There is a big market for the large languages like Spanish, German and French, and even speaking these languages as your second language chances are you can get a job.

Also when it comes to smaller languages there might be a market for teaching it somewhere in Asia. Take a country like Philippines, they speak good English there so there is not much of a market for that, but when it comes to other languages, even small ones like Norwegian and Swedish, there is a market. The reason is that it is very common for Filipinos to work abroad, both on ships and in different countries all over the world, and foreign companies prefer that they speak some of the local language then.

I have myself had the experience to teach languages in Manila, which was a very rewarding and interesting experience. There was a wide range of different students, my youngest 16 and my oldest close to 40 years old. Most of my students were planning to go abroad to work in the near future, and some just wanted to learn the language as they had relatives from my country.

The Lightest Backpacking Food

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Those who like to travel light in the wilderness are always looking for the lightest backpacking food they can take. Of course, light doesn't mean crackers or other things that have little weight for their volume. When hiking you need calories above all, so the lightest foods are those that provide the most calories for the weight. Here are some to consider, as well as two other ways to cut the weight of the meals you carry with you.

Nuts And Seeds

By far, one of the healthiest and most calorie-packed foods you can take with you are nuts and seeds. Mixed nuts, for example, typically have 170 calories per ounce, as well as the protein and amino acids you need. Sunflower seeds are similar (a bit lower in calories if raw). That compares to only 110 calories per ounce for pure sugar, or 75 calories for bread.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is not only one of the healthiest (and most delicious) oils you can eat, but it comes with 240 calories per ounce. This is the most calories you can carry for the weight, making this the lightest of the backpacking foods. It can be carried safely in a small plastic bottle, and used for salads made of wild greens, on pasta, or just for dipping bread into. An added advantage in cooler weather is that fats produce heat as they digest.

Other Lightweight Backpacking Foods

Some crackers have 120 calories per ounce, and chocolate has about 150. Look at the nutritional label and try to carry foods that have more than 110 calories per ounce. That is the average, by the way, for any basic carbohydrates, whether in the form of sugar, pasta or potato flakes. You can certainly mix the higher energy foods like nuts with a few carrots or other low-calorie foods brought for health purposes, but try to keep the overall average up there if you want to go light.

What should you aim for with your calorie count? I try to keep my average above 120 per ounce. With a pound and a half of food per day that means around 2,900 calories. You'll likely burn a little more than that each day on the average hiking trip, but losing a pound or two is no disaster for most people.

Skip The Backpacking Stove

Another way to save weight with your backpacking food is to bring only meals which don't have to be cooked. This will be a problem for those that can't get comfortable without a hot dinner, but some of us enjoy the break from cooking and washing pots. There is no reason you can't have a healthy diet without cooking, and most backpacking is done in the warmer months, so why not try a no-cooking trip?

You will save the weight of the stove, as well as the fuel. There is a compromise that gets you one hot meal, without carrying the equipment. Just put a few frozen hotdogs in a sealed plastic bag and wrap them in the clothing in your pack to insulate them. In this way it should take them a full day to thaw out, so on day two you can cook them over a fire.

More Radical Weight Savings

If you really want to go light on your backpacking food, there are two other tricks to use. The first is called carbo-loading. You essentially avoid carbohydrates for a week or so, and then eat a lot of them in the two days prior to your trip, causing you body to store them. With this routine, your body can store up to 1,800 calories of carbs in your blood, liver and muscles, in the form of glycogen. That means you can pack less food (okay, it only gets you half-day's worth).

The other less extreme and perhaps more enjoyable technique is to learn enough about wild edible plants to supplement your diet. I have eaten hundreds of calories of wild raspberries in a twenty-minute break while hiking in the Colorado mountains. If you know the seasons of the various plant foods where you'll be going, you can essentially replace some pack weight with your knowledge. Even if you don't want to plan on eating wild edibles, knowing them well means you can more safely carry the minimum amount of backpacking food you think you'll need.

Laos day-tripper allure (cont.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j_dfxJ7Wy8&hl=en