June 01, 2003Asia for Visitors Blog Archives |
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One less tiger...It was a sad but ironic event at the Bandhavgarh National Park in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A young tiger (21 months old) died after eating a porcupine. The porcupine's quills injured the tiger's neck and stomach, according to a report in the Hindustan Times. The tiger was one of eight cubs born to a female tiger in the park in 2001. Twenty-four tigers now make the park the home.11:22 PM # Last SARS Travel Warning LiftedThe World Health Organization has lifted the last advisory against travel to destinations fighting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The last advisory - against travel to Beijing - was lifted this week. As a result, Asia is now on sale...04:49 PM # Taj Mahal in DangerConstruction of a shopping mall in Agra, India, has endangered the Taj Mahal. The Assocaited Press is reporting that construction of a mall on the Jamuna River, a mere 330 yeards away from the historic tomb, may result in the river flodding the Taj Mahal's gardens during the current monsoon season. Construction has been stopped; but the damage to the river may have already been done. Ironically, the mall complex was seen as a way to increase tourism at the site.03:59 PM # Temperature CheckDriving down the road today I heard a song, and suddenly I was transported... "K-k-k-k-k-k-kath-man-du! I think that's really where I'm going to. Hey if I ever get out of here, I'm going to Kathmandu." Bob Seger's voice filled my truck...I remember the other-worldliness of sunrise as I sat on a rooftop on one of the city's buildings, and the indescribable strangeness of walking past Durbar Square's temples, the "living goddess," the sadhus, and money changers, the Free Tibet! crowd, and so much more. It was 75F degrees today in Kathmandu and cloudy. The weather underground is calling for a low of 62F tonight. Tomorrow, a chance of rain. And if I ever get out of here, I'm going to Kathmandu... 07:44 PM # Bombay in the RainThe monsoon has finally arrived in Mumbai (the official name for Bombay). A recent article in the online version of the Bombay Afternoon Despatch & Courier talks about how much locals love the rain, and what they do in it. Anyone for some kanda bhajiya (onion dumplings, usually served with a red, spicy garlic chutney)? Takes the chill of the rain right out of you...02:38 PM # In the Buff on a beach in ThailandThere aren't many places in Asia where you can get away with sunbathing al naturale (as in "nude"). Leela Beach, on island of Koh Phangan, is perhaps the only place in Thailand where you can sun your buns without fear of reprisal. The island is also famous for its rowdy dawn-to-dusk beach parties on the night of the full moon every month. Crowds of up to 10,000 people enjoy music and dancing, jugglers and fire-eaters, alcohol and (of course) swimming.02:04 PM # An old toast... Archaeologists in western China have come across something unexpected: rice wine dating back to the early Western Han dynasty. The Associated Press is carrying a brief story about the still-liquid, blue-ish wine found in jars in a royal tomb in western China. The tomb (and the wine) dates from between 206 B.C. and 25 A.D. Western China holds a great deal of interest to the history buff. The most famous example is in Xi'an, where massive tombs are filled with some 8000 terracotta warriors.
11:00 AM # Rajawali Seafood RestaurantLooking for good seafood in Langkawi? Rajawali Seafood Restaurant is the place to be, according the Malaysian newpaper, the Star. Langkawi, in the Andaman Sea just north of Penang, is a beautiful place to go if you really need seafood - or just sand and sun. It is the Bahama's of Asia. The Star has an extensive section of other restaurant reviews you can browse online.09:27 AM # Looking Down on Iraq
It's amazing what you can see from space. Or, at least, that vantage point gives you a different perspective on the world. This picture of a sandstorm in Iraq is a great example. And it is just one of a dozen photos of Iraq taken from space and made available by the Earth Sciences and Image Analysis, NASA-Johnson Space Center. Other shots include images of Baghdad, Basra, and the path of the Euphrates River.
08:51 AM # Singapore Spa WarsSingaporeans are headed for the spa in record numbers. And if you're visiting S'pore in the near future, you may want to join them. The Straits Times, Singapore's leading newspaper, is reporting on the growth of the spa industry there. Try the Back, Shoulder and Neck Blast at Spa Trek: $40 US for an hour. Feeling like something more exotic? Try the Kung Fu Bouncing Herbs Therapy at the at the Rustic Nirvana spa. Of course, there's also more traditional Chinese acupressure. Get the lowdown on several choices from the Straits Times.08:16 AM # Bangkok's Grand Palace With Bangkok now on sale and travel deals to the city being promoted on a buy-one-get-one-free basis, all that's really left is to figure out what you'll do when you get there. Well, there's plenty. But high on the list of things to see is the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The Palace and grounds date back the 1780's, when Rama I, the founder of the current Chakri Dynasty in Thailand, moved the nation's capital to Bangkok. The Grand Palace covers an area of about 60 acres. Within the palace grounds are government offices, the Emerald Buddha wat, and the royal residences, and enough art and architecture to keep a the average site seer occupied for at least a day...
07:45 AM # HK, S'pore & Bangkok on SaleThe World Health Organization has lifted its travel advisories for much of Asia, and you can find travel packages to Hong Kong now for just $100 a day -- including airfare. USA Today reported this week on the available deals to Asia. According to the report, Singapore is auctioning off travel packages with no minimum bid. On top of that, buy-one-get-one-free packages are available to Bangkok. The most astounding deal available may be Cathay Pacific's All-Asia Pass; it lets pass holders fly to 18 Asian destinations from Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York for $699 over a 21 day period.10:50 PM # Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)I wasn't real big on making a trip to Singapore or Hong Kong this year. I mean, hey, everybody likes breathing: right? But was there really much of a chance that I'd catch SARS if I visited S'pore? Well, next year the choice may be simplier. The World Health Organization will probably have a vacine ready in about a year. (At least that's what Reuters is saying.) So next year I can go down to my doc's office and get the shot before I go - just like typhoid. Then I can sit at the Gorkha Grill and eat their Jheenge Papita (a papaya, filled with marinated prawns in thick wine-herb sauce) and drink a Tiger Beer without thinking about who might be breathing next to me!08:41 AM # Baguio in SummerAre you sweaty? Tired of the heat of L.A. or Houston? Wish you had some place else to be? Someplace cool? Let me take you to Baguio, in the mountains of the Philippines. The temperature rarely climbs above 80F degrees in the heat of the afternoon there. Usually it's about 75 during the day and 63 at night. You can breath the pine-scented fresh air, play a little golf, visit a hot spring, or just sit at a sidewalk cafe' in the city. You can Beat the Heat this summer. And you can do it in Asia...08:14 AM # |
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