New York Times has a new piece on nightlife in Tokyo, titled: Hidden Tokyo

Tokyo, especially after dark, is notoriously hard to penetrate. With its winding mazelike streets, the city is a challenge for even seasoned taxi drivers. (Many bicyclists have GPS devices on their handlebars.) So imagine hunting down the restaurants, bars and clubs that are stashed away in patchwork alleys, nondescript apartment buildings, faceless office towers and basement stairwells illuminated by red bulbs.

Discreet, out-of-the-way bars have been a staple of Japanese culture for decades. Before World War II, Tokyo was filled with these pocket-sized dives — called nomiya (counter bars) — with space for just six or seven stools. Behind the counter was a proprietor, whose role was both confidant and caregiver to the regulars. When the city was rebuilt, however, most were bulldozed in favor of larger, glossier, more Westernized offerings.

Now a younger, postwar creative class is reviving nomiya culture — with a decidedly modern spin.

Complete story here: Hidden Tokyo. Technorati Tags: asia, tokyo, japan

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Inbound tourism to Bali is rebounding strongly, with a record-high 472,000 foreign visitors for the first four months of 2007.

Due to several bombings (the last on Sept 2005) in Bali, the Bali’s tourism situation have taken a roller-coaster ride in the past years.

But looking at the current number the it seems that recovery is well underway, with international arrivals for the 12 months to April 2007 growing to 1.39 million, only 10% behind the September 2005 peak.

President of Bali Discovery Tours Mr Jack Daniels:

Bali is benefiting from strong growth from India and Russia due to improved air access and visas on arrival. But, Australia, one of Bali’s biggest source markets, was still down on 2005 levels but recovering slowly.

Info source: PATA Newsletter

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White sandy beaches, islands, sun.

All of that makes me thiking whether The Caribbean Island is similar travel destination to Asia, which also famous for its beaches, islands and the sun.

One of the major advantage, specially for US traveler is that its proximity to North America which makes traveling and time that people took to travel is so much effiecient, perfect for last minute holidays.

The Caribbean is a region of America consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. Comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays, the region is located southeast of Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north and west of South America.

Famous travel destination in the Caribbean, include: Aruba, Barbados, Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.

For more information about holidays to the Caribbean visit these links:

• Wikipedia Carribean
• Carribean Wiki Travel
• Carribean.com

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After featuring Pnom Penh, the NY Times Travel section now published a review on another Southeast Asian city: Hanoi, Vietnam

On the piece “The Awakening of Hanoi” the writer described Hanoi with these words:

A stylish, European-influenced metropolis with manicured lakeside promenades, tree-lined boulevards, ancient pagodas and French-colonial buildings painted in a peeling palette of jade, turquoise and burgundy.

Located at the northern part of the country, this current capital of Vietnam was once was was the capital of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1976 and home to about 3 million people.

Check out these links for more information about Hanoi:

• Hanoi, Vietnam (Wikipedia)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (Wikitravel)
• Traveling to Hanoi (Lonely Planet) 

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In the near future you will be able to use AirAsia with their low cost tickets for those long-haul flight from Asia to US and Europe.

The Malaysian Government has given AirAsiaX rights to 36 destinations where more will be granted over time.

AirAsiaX is preparing to fly to Britain (probably Gatwick Airport) by July, follow by:

• Tanjian, China
• Hangzhou, China
• Melbourn, Australia
• Osaka, Japa
• Amritsar, India

According to this “Asia’s discount airlines reach for the West” Malaysia’s AirAsiaX, for example, will launch low-cost flights to London – a global hub – and also to the cities of Birmingham and Manchester.

And AirAsia by all means is not the first that is doing this

Oasis, a start-up airline in Hong Kong, has begun daily flights to London for as low as $147 one way and plans this year to offer similar deals to Oakland, Calif. and Chicago. Jetstar Airways, a subsidiary of Australia’s Qantas Airways, sells bargain tickets on routes between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Does this means you will be trapped on your seat for long hours without food, water or entertainment? Not necessarily.

Oasis offers free meals and in-flight entertainment, while Jetstar, which flies between Sydney and Honolulu, has blankets, food, and movies for sale.

So how can they keep fares so low? The secret, says Steve Miller, CEO of Oasis, lies in the efficient use of aircraft and crews, flexible pricing, and an attractive business class.

Advertised one-way fares from Hong Kong to London start at $147, but most flyers pay more (HOW MUCH MORE?), and business-class seats start at $920.

Nice to see all the competition in this area, next time you plan to travel to London from HK for example, perhaps the price will be even cheaper.

Airline links:

• Oasis Hong Kong Airline
• Jetstar

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ROYAL FLORA RATCHAPHRUEK 2006, the International Horticultural Exposition for His Majesty the King will be held on 1 November 2006 - 31 January 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand to celebrate celebrate the most auspicious occasions of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60th Anniversary or the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne together with His Majesty’s 80th Birthday Anniversary.

The 3 months flower festival (92 days), a one-of-a-kind event, is being organized to present to the world the marvels of plants and breeds of over 2,200 species of tropical plants and flowers, in total of 2,500,000 plants.

Situated on 80 hectares of land at the Royal Agricultural Research Center in Mae Hia sub-district, Muang district, Chiang Mai Province in Northern Thailand, the royal festival will be joined by over 30 countries to participate in ‘Gardens for the King’ and expected to draw an audience of over 2 million visitors from around the world or approximately 20,000 to 50,000 visitors a day.

Highlights

“Gardens for the King” comprises of “International Gardens” and “Corporate Gardens” are the main attraction of the event, with other exhibitions competing for the visitors attentions mainly: Thai Tropical Garden, The Royal Pavilion and Orchid Pavilion

The area for International Gardens is allocated for exhibitions of national blossoms, blooms, and horticulture as well as the cultural arts and architecture of 30 countries, each garden will reflect a historic diplomatic, cultural and trade ties between nations, people or, where possible, royal families of the two countries.

Among the participating countries are:
Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, Brunei, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Mauritania, Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Burundi, Qatar, Iran, Yemen, Trinidad & Tobago, Canada

Ratchaphruek Flower
‘Ratchaphruek’ — the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia Fistula L.), is considered to be an auspicious tree.

The dazzling yellow flowers signify two out of the three most important institutions of the Thai nation – the national religion, Buddhism, and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was born on Monday. Yellow is the color associated with Monday.

The shape of the pollen resembles the Thai numeral for nine; another fascinating characteristic that is symbolic of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, the ninth ruler of the illustrious Chakri dynasty.

More information over at the official Website

• Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006

• Programs and Activities

• Visitor information

• International Conferences, Symposiums and Workshops

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Monday, 17 July 2006, Pangandaran was one of the area hit by Tsunami triggered by 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in South of Java Island.

Killing at least 262 people and leaving more than 160 missing with at least 23,000 people fled their homes, either because they were destroyed or in fear of another tsunami.

A Pakistani national, a Swedish national and a Dutch national were among the dead. Most of the victims were believed to be Indonesians.

Pangandaran itself known as one of the beach resorts and fishing villages as well as tourist destinations in West Java Provinces, Indonesia.

VirtualTourist provide us with several user written guides and photos about Pangandaran:

Hotels in Pangandaran:

• Our own privat accomodation…
• Our own privat accomodation…parth II
• affordable & clean
• Seaside Resort Stay
• Delta Gecko Village

Things to do in Pangandaran:

• and after the puppets and the sugar , finally.
• Sugar palms…
• Yes , yes , puppets…
• The bridge…
• The green canyon.
• A national park…
• The end of the day…
• We went snorkeling…
• 20 000 people…
• Pananjung Pangandaran & Her Flower

Several pictures of Pangandaran:

More here:

• Pangandaran.com
• Archie’s Pangandaran Photo Gallery

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Bali, Indonesia named as the 2006 World’s Best Island by Travel + Leisure Magazine after won the same award last year.

Quite surprising since the island have been getting bad news this past several years, with the bombings in 2002 and again in 2005.

The Top 10 Island 2006 Worldwide by Travel + Leisure

Several hotels in Bali also suceeded in getting into the top 10 Hotels Worldwide namely the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan and at Jimbaran Bay in 2nd and 5th position, follows by Rizt-Carlton Bali at 7th position.

Top resources links about Bali:

• Indo.com
• Bali Blog

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