Halong Bay passes wonders second round

Halong Bay - one of Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites - is officially a contender in the second phase of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The announcement was made on January 7 on the New 7 Wonders’ (N7W) website. To earn the elusive status, 261 national and international sites will vie to make it into the top 77.

The Mekong River, which flows China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar was nominated by six countries.

Voting will go on until July 7, 2009. Finalists will be chosen by the N7W Panel of Experts for short listing.

Twenty-one sites will be chosen in July 2009 to go forward to the next stage of voting.

The final voting stage will take place between 2010 and 2011. During this time, the N7W World Tour will visit all 21 sites. The N7W of Nature will be unveiled in the summer of 2011.

During the first phase of the campaign, which ran from July 2007 to December 31, 2008, three of Vietnam’s tourist hot spots were nominated, including Halong Bay, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Fansipan Mountain.

(Source: VNA)

Diverse cultural activities to welcome Tet

Diverse culture, tourism and sports events are taking place across the country to welcome the upcoming lunar New Year Festival (Tet) - the Year of the Buffalo.

The main streets in Nha Trang City of central coastal Khanh Hoa Province are bedecked with flowers, colorful lanterns, slogans and flags to welcome Tet. The director of the Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Truong Dang Tuyen, said many activities will be launched for the occasion, such as a Tet trade fair, a spring flower trade fair, a spring newspaper exhibition, a film week, photo and calligraphy exhibitions, a lion dance contest and a human chess competition.

Apart from film shows in Nha Trang City, two mobile film screening teams will be sent to the two mountainous districts of Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh to serve local ethnic minority people.

During a week-long cultural event in Khanh Hoa, many folk games and traditional ritual festivals will also be held, such as the Cau Ngu Festival, the Thap Ba Ponnaga ritual, a boat racing, a sea swimming competition, a junior football tournament and a sea volleyball competition. Organisations and individuals are encouraged to participate in all these events.

Firework displays will be launched in Nha Trang City and Dien Khanh District with generous sponsorship from local businesses.

To meet the people’s demand for entertainment during the Tet holiday from January 15-31, the central province of Quang Ngai will organise many sports, culture and tourism activities for local residents.

There will be a fireworks show on Lunar New Year’s eve in Quang Ngai City and in the Dung Quat economic zone along with many exciting programmes. Diverse cultural activities will also be held in a number of places in the province, including an exhibition on art and handicrafts, film shows, folk games, and sports games such as volleyball, badminton, Chinese chess, traditional martial arts and boxing. The national music and dance troupe and the provincial cinematographic centre will give performances to entertain local residents in seven mountainous districts and islands.

Local people will enjoy lion dances and performances and celebrate the 79^th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. An exhibition to display photos of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong will also be held.

(Source: VOV)

Tips on Traveling to Developing Countries

First Time in Africa?
If your first trip to Africa is also your first time visiting a developing country, you may be in for a cultural shock. Give yourself time to get used to being in a different environment. Don't compare things with "home" and just keep an open mind. If you are afraid or suspicious of local people's motives, you can needlessly ruin your vacation. Read the tips below, file them away and enjoy your visit to Africa.


Begging
The poverty in much of Africa is usually what strikes first-time visitors the most. You will see beggars and you may not know how to respond. You will realize you can't give to every beggar, but giving to none will most likely make you feel guilty. It's a good idea to keep small change with you and give to those who you feel need it the most. If you don't have small change, a kind smile and a sorry are perfectly acceptable.
If you can't handle the guilt, make a donation at a hospital or to a development agency that will spend your money wisely.

Children begging on their own will often have to give up the money to a parent, guardian or gang leader. If you want to give something to begging children, give them food instead of money, that way they'll benefit directly.

Unwanted Attention
You'll have to get used to people staring at you when you visit many African countries, even in areas where there are lots of tourists. The stares are harmless and just curiosity for the most part. Given the lack of entertainment available, checking out a tourist is just fun. You'll get used to it after a while. Some people like to wear sunglasses and feel more comfortable that way. Some people enjoy this new rock star status and miss it when they're back home.

For women, being stared at by groups of men is naturally somewhat threatening. But this is what you can expect when you travel to some African countries, especially in Northern Africa (Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia). Try not to let it bother you. You have to just learn to ignore it and not get annoyed by it. Read my article about "Tips for Women Traveling in Africa" for more advice.

Scams and Conmen (Touts)
Being a visitor, and often much wealthier than most people you see around you, means you also naturally become the target of scams, and touts (people trying to sell you a good or service that you don't want, in a deceitful way). Remember that "touts" are poor people trying to earn their living, they would much rather be official guides but often aren't in a position to pay for that kind of education. A firm "no thanks" is the best way to deal with persistent touts.

Common Scams and how to deal with them:

Assume nothing is Free
While hospitable and friendly folk are everywhere in Africa, be careful when you're in a touristy area and you're offered something for "free". It is rarely free. A "free" camel ride will quickly become an expensive one, when you wish to return to where you came from. A "free" guided tour around a tourist site will most likely lead to an uncle's jewelry shop or a demand for money at the end of the tour. A "free" cup of tea might include looking at a lot of carpets.

If you hear the word "free", the price you pay is often not in your control.

Hotels don't suddenly disappear, fill up or move to a bad location
This tip is especially useful for the independent travelers. When you arrive at an African airport, bus station, train station or ferry port you will be greeted by many people, inquiring rather loudly, where you want to go to. Many of these folks will earn a commission for taking you to a hotel of their choosing. This doesn't mean that the hotel will necessarily be bad, it just means you may end up in an area you don't want to be in; the price of your room will be higher to cover the commission; or the hotel could indeed be quite nasty.

Hotel touts may ask you what hotel you have booked and then tell you emphatically that that hotel is full, has moved or is in a bad area.

Make a reservation with a hotel before you arrive, especially if you're arriving in the evening and/or in a major tourist town. Your guide book will have phone numbers of all hotels they list, or you can research online before you go. Take a taxi and insist they take you to the hotel of your choosing. If your taxi driver pretends not to know the location of your hotel, take another taxi.

It's better to pay a little more for your first night in a town, than to end up somewhere you don't want to be.

Exchanging money on the street
When you arrive in an African country, you may meet people who will try to encourage you to exchange money, and will offer a better rate than that which the bank may give you. Don't be tempted to change your money this way. It's illegal and it's also not a great idea to show someone all your foreign currency. There are very few countries in Africa now where the black market rate for foreign currency is vastly different from the official exchange rate. (Zimbabwe is one of the exceptions to this rule).

Exchanging your money on the street is not worth the hassle or the risk of getting robbed or cheated.


Health and Safety
Health and safety are obviously big concerns when people travel to Africa. Here's a list of topics that should help you stay well and enjoy your vacation.

Dangers of traveling to Africa -- offers basic safety tips on avoiding theft and violent crime (which is rare outside some of the big capital cities).

Travel Warnings for Countries in Africa -- Travel warnings are regularly issued by the State Department in the US, for countries which are considered too dangerous for American citizens to travel to. The warnings often come as a response to civil war, terrorist attacks or outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like Ebola. Most locations are not exactly tourist destinations, but Kenya always manages to stay on this list.

Vaccinations you need when you travel to Africa
Packing a first aid/medical kit for travel to Africa
Avoiding malaria when traveling to Africa
List of African Embassies in the US (which you need to check with for current visa regulations).
Source: about.com

New York's best business hotels

Douglas Rogers picks out his top three hotels for those on business in the Big Apple.


The Ritz-Carlton sits in front of Times Square, with Central Park as its backyard

The location
With Central Park as your front-yard, Time Warner Center a few blocks west, and Times Square just behind you, this is the ideal balance between the classy elegance of Uptown and the busy corporate world of Midtown. You're also in easy walking distance of MoMA and flagship Fifth Avenue stores such as Tiffany and Bergdorf Goodman.

The business draw

No stone is left unturned to make visiting executives feel at home. Every public space has Wi-Fi access and four modern meeting rooms have videoconferencing and audio visual networking facilities. Foreign guests will appreciate the multi-lingual concierges, and who doesn't enjoy a chauffeur-driven Bentley ride to their meeting in Midtown?

The business drawback

The hotel's refined, Old World atmosphere - antique crystal chandeliers, wood-paneled walls - lacks the chic modern polish of most contemporary business hotels. Bankers and brokers may also find the distance to Wall Street, more than 60 blocks south, a hassle.

The facilities

Guests can rejuvenate in the small La Prairie Spa (one of only two outside Switzerland); enlist a personal trainer at the Fitness Center, and call up a Technology Butler if they have problems with their laptops or the multi-line cordless phones in their rooms.

Other guests

A sophisticated, older crowd attracted as much by the Ritz brand as the location. Travellers with kids are drawn to the proximity of the park.

The rooms

The 260 rooms, including 49 suites, vary from the cosy 425sq ft Deluxe Park View Rooms which come with a tabletop telescope, king-size bed and marble bath, to the lavish 1,150sq ft Ritz-Carlton Suite which has its own dining room. Expect 400-thread count linens on all the beds, Frédéric Fekkai bath amenities and mod-cons such as 27-inch Sony flat-screen TVs and DVDs.

The food

Under renovation and set to open in late 2007 is flagship restaurant BLT Market, helmed by chef Laurent Tourondel. In the meantime the lobby Star Bar has a superb modern American menu in the evenings and elegant high-tea with harp and piano music in the afternoon. The second-floor Club Lounge for suite residents serves complimentary sushi.

The service

Desk staff pre-call to inquire about transportation to the hotel, and also pre-register frequent guests meaning they can go directly to their favorite room on arrival. Baggage staff offer a complimentary packing and unpacking service.


The bottom line
Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park South, 50 Central Park South New York, NY (00 1 212 521 6058)
www.ritzcarlton.com
Doubles from US$595 (£294); Suites from US$995 (£492)
The Four Seasons

The imperious columned lobby at the Four Seasons is a hot post-work drink scene for Manhattan's moguls

The location

The I.M. Pei-designed 52-story hotel towers over Midtown's premier shopping and business district between Park Avenue and Madison. You're only three blocks from Central Park but the hotel is a star attraction in its own right.

The business draw

A slate of design restaurants and bars in its imperious columned lobby have become the hottest power breakfast and post-work drink scene for Manhattan's moguls. They conduct negotiations in the high-ceiling, glass-wall space of modern-American restaurant 57, and seal deals in celebrity chef Joël Robuchon's intimate French-Asian inspired restaurant L'Atelier, with its sweeping open-plan kitchen and red-black banquettes.

The business drawback

Will the presence of so many powerful people detract you from the job at hand?

Facilities

There are no less than eleven private boardrooms and conference spaces in the hotel, from the two 10-person Executive Meeting Suites on the fifth floor (one with a gorgeous city-view terrace), to the sprawling 190-person Cosmopolitan Suite above the Lobby, with its 12-foot high ceilings, backlit onyx panels and light beech-wood walls.

Other guests

Amex-carrying Armani-clad tycoons and a large smattering of movie stars and supermodels, along with those who like to be seen with them.

The rooms

Of the 368 rooms and suites try to get one of the 20 that come with fully-furnished terraces with Central Park views - perfect to intimidate business rivals you bring round. Crisp, earth brown interiors all have light wood walls, black leather armchairs, plasma screen TVs, and marble bathrooms with deep-soak tubs that fill up in 60 seconds.

The food

Sublime fusion dishes such as roast Japanese hanger steak or quail stuffed with foie gras at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon have set new standards in French-Asian cuisine, although make sure your expense account can cover it. Start the day with a Bloody Mary and "from the farm" eggs Benedict among the power breakfasters at 57.

The service

From doormen who always seem to know your name, to multi-lingual concierges who'll get you last-minute tickets to Jazz at Lincoln Center, it's among the best in the city. A complimentary Rolls-Royce is also on call to whisk you to meetings.

The bottom line
Four Seasons Hotel New York, 57 East 57th Street, New York, NY, 10022 (00 1 212 758 5700).
www.fourseasons.com
Doubles from US$595 (£294); Suites from US$1,950 (£964)
The Gansevoort

Models-in-waiting waitresses eagerly recommend their favorite cocktails at the Gansevoort's G Spa bar

The location

On a cobbled street in the uber-trendy Meatpacking District just north of the West Village, this sleek, glassy 14-story hotel overlooking the Hudson River caters to the cutting edge of the fashion, advertising and new media worlds.

The business draw

Perfect for the younger executive here for serious business but who might like to conduct it from a W-Fi accessible roof-top swimming pool next to a sunbathing model.

The business drawback

Although the rooms are sound-proofed, the scene on Hudson Street below gets loud and crowded at night with hooting stretch limos and raucous designer-clad revellers entering and leaving local restaurants and clubs such as Pastis, Spice Market and SoHo House.

Facilities

You get Wi-Fi access in every part of the hotel, including roof-deck cocktail bar Plunge, with its 45ft-long swimming pool. Multi-level indoor-outdoor Japanese restaurant-bar Ono attracts the scene crowd at street level, while the ultra-chic Gansevoort Spa & Lounge is a spa by day and bar by night. For corporate functions there's the panoramic Loft space on the roof-top, and two boardrooms below for executive meetings.

Other guests

Young, rich, fashionable professionals as well as various bratty celebrities.

The rooms

Done in muted grey and brown tones the 187 rooms are immaculately modern, with huge light-filled windows, mirrored walls, stainless steel basins and a single orchid in a vase on display. Amenities include 400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, mod-cons such as cordless phones and plasma TVs, and soundproof windows to keep out the street noise.

The food

Japanese Robatayaki barbecue and succulent fresh sushi is on offer at Ono, while more traditional modern American meals and bar food is on the menu at Plunge.

The service

Surprisingly good given this is the ultimate style hotel. Friendly concierges and doormen are eager to give you tips on neighborhood bars and restaurants, and models-in-waiting waitresses eagerly recommend their favorite cocktails at the G Spa.

Bottom line
Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave, New York, NY (00 1 212 206 6700).
www.hotelgansevoort.com
Doubles from US$455 (£225); Suites from US$725 (£358)
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Top 10 Travel Tips

1.Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.
2. Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.


3. Before travelling overseas register your travel and contact details online or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so we can contact you in an emergency.
4. Obey the law. Consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where local laws appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards.
5. Check to see if you require visas for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting. Be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry.
6. Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travellers cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
7. Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on travelling with medicines.
8. Make sure your passport has at least six months validity and carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
9. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas.
10. Before departing Australia check whether you are regarded as a national of the country you intend to visit. Research whether holding dual nationality has any implications for your travel.

Source: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au