Eerie Travel Secrets

Who has not seen the pics in TV in 2007-soldiers up to their teeth in weapons- hitting unarmed people to death – like a Japanese journalist. Monks with bloody heads. This is how the mass-demonstration of the monks was crashed.

Mandalay today is a rather (not tops) modern city- noisy – but without the hectic of other Asian metropoles. And you see relatively few soldiers. Modern buildings surround the clock – tower, erected by the colonial masters to teach their oriental charges to be "on time" – which is so much likely as the proverbial snow in hell. A few streets from there you find the Zegyo market.

In a few years – so the talk goes – this will vanish and be replaced by yet another neon-lit supermarket hall, but right now, the market-women still reign over the food on this town. Tomatoes, bananas, two dozen kinds of dried fish – but also with mountains of crab-paste, bean-cookies, and the best of all:  snake fish – supposed to supercharge male potency.  Not too far away we find men with white streaked faces – and flex-machines drilling into a huge white marble block – ahhh – we hear with surprise – this is going to be one of Buddhas toes.

Other families work on Buddhas elbow and Buddhas stomach. A very special artist will be in charge of Buddhas face. Apparently this is a real profession in Burma – "the maker of Buddhas face".  A rather strange profession, we find, but interesting all the same, just like the other one – that of the gold-beater: he beats 10m2 hair-thin foil of gold out of a 32gram piece of real gold, as he hammers on that piece for days on end. This – is also for the Buddha, of course.

We all love Thailand, but let’s face it, it has it’s ugly side, too. Whereas Myanmar is – on the surface of course- the virgin – (as yet untouched by Tommy Hilfinger, Mercedes and Burger King style buildings and stores, it is still somewhat authentic) and Thailand (in comparison) is the whore. 

Apparently 400 000 tourists came to Mayanmar in 2006, 20 000 of those were Germans. After the monks’ demonstrations and the following unrest, tourism collapsed.  Hotels released staff or closed down all together, souvenir shops closed.

The generals don’t really care. They are making big profits with  Jade, Teak-wood, gas and minerals. The chambermaids, bell-boys, gardeners – in short – the small people of the population have no income now.  And even the more educated people don’t understand the "boykott" for political reasons = the cold shoulder the Western world is showing them.

Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon is surely fascinating. Especially in the evening, when the last rays of sun touch the golden needle of it’s top, with a slight pink-rosè touch…. Women with jasmin-chains around their neck kneel in awe and prayer. Pink clothed nuns are saying their ritsch-ratsch prayers in endless monotony.  Pictures of peace and pure bliss. These are just as true as the other side: the violence – the death of innocent people.

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RE: TWO MONTHS IN MAYANMAR POSSIBLE?

As above, overstaying is your only in-country option to stay beyond your 28 days, they stopped with extensions long ago. Even arrival Immigration at the airport and the govt. MTT tourist office tell y…   Read more…

UN: International Support is Still Critical for Mayanmar after One …

Marking the one year anniversary since Cyclone Nargis devastated much of Myanmar, the United Nations is reviewing an impressive life-saving effort but also pointing to the equally daunting work, and …   Read more…

Global Voices Online » Bangladesh: Maritime boundary dispute with …

Dayoub said,” I am very happy to be practicing with the club and am looking forward to the Mayanmar trip.” Sebastien was also happy with the proceedings. Overall East Bengal seemed a fit ou…   Read more…

Willie Nelson’s Water From Air Assists Mayanmar Victims …

Willie Nelson’s Water From Air Assists Mayanmar Victims .. Willie Nelson’s Water From Air and Wataire International have teamed up to assist cyclone victims in Myanmar, and you are invi…   Read more…

Comment on Bangladesh: Maritime boundary dispute with Mayanmar by …

Baire wonders whether the recent tensions between Myanmar and Bangladesh over maritime boundary dispute and the troop build up by Myanmar near Bangladesh border could delay the impending election in […   Read more…

Burma’s Rohingya Mayanmar Muslims–a forgotten minority « RUPEE …

Some relief was sent to Mayanmar. 2 C-130s will not be enough. Pakistan is one of the few countries that is allowed into Myanmar. Pakistan must leverage this access to help the Muslims of Burma…   Read more…

baldilocks: World is Crazy (UPDATED: Lebanon)

Mayanmar has been lost many more people by nargis cyclone and China’s disaster prep seems to be better than that of Myanmar’s. This suitation in this country take care of his aid and he…   Read more…

Mayanmar Yet Again

I’m sorry to say that Myanmar is still in the news for brutally abusing human rights. Around 150 people were given sentences – from 2 – 65 years. Many were held in secret, sometimes with no counse…   Read more…

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coming accross the news and media lately has been the city of mayanmar and the news breaking peaceful protests which have evolved in to violent massacres. monks began protesting the rise of fue…   Read more…

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the military junta in mayanmar is not allowing foreign aid workers to come and help their own people. how diabolical can a government become? during natural calamities of such humongous proport…   Read more…

UNICEF UK’s Work Continues in Mayanmar

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Op-Ed / Merrellyn Stark: Mayanmar and democracy

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Jawa 175, Mandalay, Burma on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

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mayanmar finally accepts help from all nations

the un secretary-general met the junta supremo in his remote new capital of naypyidaw for more than two hours.   Read more…

Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, eco tours, historical travel, luxury bargain travel, luxury resorts, off the beaten path, tour package

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Some peopleare lucky enough to realize that the last shirt has no pockets – meaning, you cannot take your money into the grave. We folks get older, there is always the danger that something happens and you are immobilized for the rest of your remaining days. I’ve met such people. What they regrettet most was – why did I not travel and see the places I want to see still while I still could? 

For a traveling experience out of the ordinary, consider a luxury tour of the world. Many people are not attracted by traditional tours, but these tours are different. They are more like a customized vacation, with your every need and want taken care of. You decide where to go and what to do, and the luxury tour planners’ job is just to make it come true. Lack of money should also not be a hindrance, on this site you’lllearn how to travel in luxury but on a shoestring budget.

We have millions of choices when it comes to destinations. Some are more interesting than others and some are rather unusual. There are destinations that are easy to get to and others that are quite complicated. Another way to enjoy your holidays is to buy a timeshare that is also great fun.

Try a getaway that will lead to the other side of the world. If you want to go 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 scrumptious fish dishes.
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If you are interested in monuments you might go to the Angkor Temples in Cambodia. It is one of the most famous archeological sites in the world and also one of the best. The Great Wall in China is a fascinating travel destination. An authentic part of the wall remains in Simatai and you will be delighted by the grandeur of the Chinese Empire.

Those who enjoy travel destinations that involve mountains and deserts are in luck. In Algeria you will find one of the best views of the Sahara Desert. Visit France and gaze at the Alps. Be sure to visit Chamonix which is a very popular tourist attraction. If you go to India, you can see the Himalayan Mountains in all their grandeur. You can hike through beautifully landscaped areas and meet the friendly folks who live in the area.

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Davos Day 1: Gauging The Pain Around The World

The title was Update 2009: North America, but it might as well have been called, A Tour of the World: Who’s Got It Worse? From Pakistan to Afghanistan to Israel, Iran and yes, North …   Read more…

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World tour biker suffers heart attack after 3000 miles. By Laura Kennerley. Other. 28 January 2009 14:28. A thrill-seeking biker was just 3000 miles in to a four year around the world ad…   Read more…

FOODALOGUE: A Culinary Tour Around the World

A Culinary Tour Around the World. This is my dream trip: to travel for an extended period of time, ‘living’ in each location until I really got to know the culture and meet the people w…   Read more…

xx

By: Daniel Wright

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Technorati Tags: Adventure Luxury Travel, Best Kept Secrets Travel, Eco Tour, eco tours, european tours 2009

Eye to Eye With A Sumatran Tiger

called Panthera Tigris Sumatrae, the Sumatran Tiger weighs in the range of two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds for males and one hundred and sixty to two hundred pounds for adult females. Length is about seven and a half feet for males and six and a half feet for females. Body color is darker than other tiger variants and stripes are narrower. Face and neck is characterized by marked growth of hair, giving the appearance of a mane. Paws have webbing between toes that enables the big cat to swim at quite a rapid pace.

An inhabitant of dense lowland and mountain forests, swamps and peat moss forests, the Sumatran Tiger is a solitary and nocturnal feline that takes a variety of prey animals for food. These include wild boar, tapir and deer typically but also fowl and fish at times. Even orang-utans are hunted when they come down from trees.

Our guide was taking us up Bukit Lawang in the North of Sumatra so that we could meet one of Sumatra’s last orang-utans. Walking in front of us with his long bush-knife in an atmosphere that reminded me very much to my last sauna-visit back home, we hassled to keep up with him when he suddently disappeared. We heard him crying out loud "Ouhouhouhouhou!" After a while he came back with a bit of anger on his face – "I’ll bring him into your sight – I promise!" But the orang-utan keeps in hiding.

Meanwhile, we are allowed to taste from a huge Chinin-tree, it tastes really bitter; I make a mental note to drink a Gin and Tonic tonight, which also contains chinin.

After an hour we sit down on an old tree-trunk fully exhaused, scratching our thorn-wounds and moskito-bites. Then we hear a growling far away, I feel a chill crawl over my spine and forearms, we exchange looks while the guide makes a sign for us to hush-up. Then we can take a glimpse of him through the shrubbery – a tiger! I’m so scared and elated at the same time, I can hardly breath. Luckily, he takes no notice of us but, after pausing a while, he proceeds in the other direction.

So we got to see one of the last Sumatran tigers; other animals included in the cat’s diet are porcupines, crocodiles, snakes and young rhinos. Our guide tells us, the tiger has been seen forcing some of its prey to take to water in a chase, where it swims over and kills them.

Early in the twentieth century, tigers occupied nearly the entire island of Sumatra. They are now only found in some scattered and segregated reserves. Many tigers live outside the protected areas and are shot by poachers or come into conflict with locals. They are among the many species on the once serene island of Sumatra that are losing the battle of survival to human encroachment.

Mating season for Sumatran Tigers is in the times of Winter and Spring though they have been known to mate year round. Pregnancy lasts three and a half months following which a litter of up to six cubs is born, with two to three being the norm. The young begin to venture outside their den at two weeks of age and start hunting at around six months. Independence is gained at two years of age. Lifespan is known to be fifteen years in the wild and twenty years in captive programs.

If you also want to take a chance to see a tiger, you should fly via Singapore to Medan in Indonesia, from where it is not too far into Gunung Leuser National Park.

You can enjoy a luxury holiday, and take half-day trekking tours into the jungle – be sure to hire a professional guide.  To really see the best, you should book 2 days and stay overnight in a camp. It’s eerie, yes -; but actually, in 2 days you do stand  a good chance to meet up with an organg utan. Calculate Euro 50/person/day for such an adventure.

The author, Brigitta J. Vetter, is a member of Global Resorts Network and can as such travel extensively. If you are interested to check out the incredible club-memberships, check Global Resorts Network 

B. Vetter

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