Getting In An Out Of Trouble In Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok has proven to be a hugely popular destination for tourists and expatriates for many years now. However occasionally people visit Bangkok and find themselves getting a bit more than they had bargained for and not in the positive sense.

Whilst the vast majority of Thais are overwhelmingly friendly and happy, (in fact they are world famous for this) there are of course, as in any country a minority that can and will attempt to take advantage of you. Why would they do so? Well, Thailand is still a developing country and whilst Bangkok is highly developed in many areas it is still a developing country and the mindset of the people occasionally reflects this. Many Thais come to Bangkok from the countryside looking for work and the salaries in Bangkok do not really providea satisfactory level of living, even for qualified individuals. Indeed it is said that even to flip burgers in MacDonald's you need to have been to University, which is often an expense a family can ill afford.

The need for money is also exacerbated slightly by the type of family structure that exists whereby once children become adults it is deemed it is now their turn to repay their parents for looking after them during their childhood by providing them with a good standard of living, namely by giving them money. Caring for their parents is often seen as the number one goal for their lives, being more important than anything else! Often the Thai persons drive to provide for their parents is fiercely overwhelming and can on occasion make them do things they would otherwise not do. Again it must be emphasized this is far from the norm, but does these things do happen.

These factors of course provide impetus for all sorts of different money making activities. A few common methods for unscrupulous people to extract money from foreigners, ranging from simple rip-offs to intricate scams are as follows:

a) Taxi drivers, these can spot a newbie from a mile off, they will gladly take you where you want to go via all the shops that they are given commission at. These are often suit shops, gem shops, massage parlours, gold shops and so on. Also you had better ask for them to switch on the meter or you could end up paying a much higher price than necessary. A aimple rule of thumb, if they refuse to put the meter on, get out of the cab! There will be plenty more. An easy solution to this problem is to walk a block away from the tourist area and you will normally find a taxi driver unused to taking tourists and very happy to turn on the meter (without you asking) and take you wherever you wish, no questions asked.

b) Card scams. At some point you maybe approached by a foreigner seemingly quite incidentally. Maybe you are looking at your map and a friendly stranger offers you help. You may then be asked normal everyday questions such as where you are from. Do not be surprised to hear an answer such as 'Really, my sister is due to go and study there next month.' this will open a lead of conversation to get you to meet their sister. Yes this is a real account reported on numerous occasions. If you are suitabley gullible or willing they will very hospitably lead you to a house somewhere in the suburbs where they may offer you food and drink. The sister will probably not appear but another person may do and so the introduction of card games becomes reality whilst awaiting for the sister to arrive. Whilst the story sounds implausible these people do this for a living and are very slick and excellent confidence tricksters. For a tourist caught off their guard by dis-orientation, fatigue, alcohol, excitement or whatever this can lead to considerable loss of money and dangerous situations. Be warned.

c) Simply not knowing the prices. Do not buy from the first place you see. You may be offered a bag for 1000 baht and whilst you know you are supposed to negotiate a lower price you settle on 600 thinking you have got a bargain, however wander around the corner and you may only be asked for 300 and be able to get this down to 180 baht. A few words of advice, negotiate with a smile and yes whilst you can get the same price as a local, prices in Bangkok are more based on the ability to pay as opposed what the price is. In their eyes you may be a rich foreigner therefore it is only fair that you pay more than a local. Whatever you do though, do it with a smile, it will go a long way!

d) Collecting change. It is common in night clubs in Bangkok for the waiters to be on as little as 3,000-6,000 baht per month (100 pounds sterling or 200 US dollar per month), it is possible for them to just about live on this, however if someone who has had a couple of beers pays for a drink with a thousand baht note and there are a couple of hundred notes missing in the change, don't be surprised! Always check, even ask the name of the person collecting the money beforehand and point out that you are giving them a thousand baht note as opposed to a 100 or 500 baht note at the time of paying.

The above are just a few helpful hints on what to look out for. If you should ever find yourself in trouble the tourist police are used to dealing with these type of complaints in their own inimitable way. Furthermore if you did find yourself losing all your money it is possible for a family member to transfer money overseas to you using a money transfer service, these are quick and simple services that can get you out of trouble fast. Having said all this Thai people are fantastic and you will be very unfortunate indeed to encounter the above situations, so relax and enjoy yourself in the Land of Smiles.

Money Transfer Review provides free money saving comparison charts, safety tips and money saving advice for all your money transfer needs. Simply click: Money Transfer or Transfer Money Overseas to discover more.

Backpacking South East Asia On An Adventurous Route

The South East Asian region of the world - especially Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - has become increasingly popular as a destination for those travelers seeking a more adventurous holiday than can be had merely sipping fruity, ice-cold drinks at your typical beach resort. However, an adventurous trip to these developing countries raises many questions and one of the first is what route to take, which I will try to answer in this article.

Most people with enough time would like to get a taste for all four that I’ve mentioned earlier, so I’ll concentrate on a route that includes all of them. It would take about three months if you spent a few days at each stop. Keep in mind that there certainly are options available that would allow you to skip countries or even shorten the trip to fit into a more constrained timeline, but this should give you a good starting point for further research.

As far as getting around, travel by public bus, train, and boat is readily available and often full of adventure after all, traveling with a busload of chickens or the occasional box of frogs just adds to the fun, right? However, those looking for a little more comfort will usually be able to find
more upscale options.

Many people that intend on doing a circuit though South East Asia will fly into Bangkok since it is a major hub. Bangkok is also rich with markets, temples, and plenty of fabulous food. Around Bangkok, there are several options for some side trips which allow you to get your feet wet. Kanchanaburi is a few hours away and is the location of the infamous bridge over the River Kwai and the Death Railway, the Erewan National Park, and the Three Pagodas Pass near the Myanmar border. If you are not going to the southern islands, but wouldn’t mind checking out the beach scene, you could also take a few days and visit Ko Samet or Ko Chang (less expensive) to get a taste of island life. Both are only a few hours from Bangkok by bus.

Once you’ve had your fill of the Bangkok area, work your way north to Chiang Mai. I like the train and it can be taken overnight, for those low on time, or during the day for those that wish to see some of the beautiful countryside. Chiang Mai is much less hectic than Bangkok, has some opportunities for great sight seeing, and also has a great cooking school! If you want to check out some smaller towns in Thailand, you can do that from Chiang Mai with a little add-on side trip. It’s a loop that goes by public bus to the wonderful village of Pai which is set up in the misty valleys that are laden with lush rice paddies, and then continues by bus or boat to Mae Hong Son, then by bus back to Chiang Mai.

In any case, from Chiang Mai, continue your journey north to Chiang Rai and onwards to Chiang Khong, which is the jumping point into your second country, Laos. You cross the Mekong River with a short boat ride and enter Laos on the opposite bank at Huay Xai. From there you immediately continue on to Luang Prabang by slow boat or fast boat (latter not recommended, unless you enjoy wearing a crash helmet), making an optional overnight stay in the rustic village of Pacbeng.

After spending a few days in Luang Prabang you could do a side trip up north, exploring the small northern villages of Laos for a few days, or just head down to the chilled-out town of Vang Vieng by bus or air. The road route to Vang Vieng is sometimes the target of bandits, so be sure to check what recent activity has been like, and then make your decision - but the safety record of air travel may not be much more inspiring!

Vang Vieng is full of fun kayaking, biking and caving opportunities, so you’ll want to plan for a few days there before moving on to the capital city of Vientiane. It doesn’t seem too exciting for a capital city, so I wouldn’t plan to spend too much time there, other than to visit the strange, but interesting Buddha Park.

Take the bus from Vientiane to Hanoi via the mountains and the Cau Treo border crossing into Vietnam. Hanoi is a very interesting place with lots to do and also offers a few interesting side trips: Sapa is a beautiful village set in the mountains, and Halong Bay, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers amazing views of thousands of mountainous karsts jutting up from the ocean waters.
In Hanoi, you can buy an “Open Tour” bus ticket that gets you all the way south to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). It has a standard set of stops, but allows you to purchase add-ons for a few dollars each, two of which I highly recommend being Ninh Binh and Dalat. From Hanoi, the first stop will indeed be Ninh Binh. Not a particularly touristy town, but the launching point to visit the spectacular Tam Coc park and/or the Cuc Phuong National Park.

From Ninh Binh, move to Hue for a day or two, then on to Hoi An to check out the amazing tailors and beaches, then to Nha Trang (a partying beach town that can be skipped if you wish), and then on to your second add-on which is the mountain town of Dalat. >From Dalat, you can do another addon stop in Mui Ne which is very quiet and good if you just want to relax and maybe poke around the local market a little bit.

The last stop in Vietnam will be Ho Chi Minh which offers plenty to see and do including a massage at the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Institute for a couple of dollars. From there, you can cross into Cambodia in a couple ways. The first is a bus ride through some beautiful country to Phnom Penh, and the second is a boat tour through the Mekong Delta which also deposits you in Phnom Penh. Be warned though: the roads in Cambodia are dirt and very slow going, but the scenery is incredible if your backside can take it.

Phnom Penh gets mixed reviews but does have a couple of must visits before you continue: the Killing Fields and S-21. When you do move on, you again have the choice of bus or boat up to Siem Riep. I prefer the bus because of the fantastic views and the insight into the lives of the country folk - trust me, you’ll never forget it.

After spending some time gawking at the awesome ruins of Angkor Wat at Siem Riep, you can fly or bus it back to Bangkok, once again back where you started! Again, the bus is harsh, but worth it to see Poipet (I’ll say it again: not to stay, but to see) and the night-and-day change visible in a matter of a few meters when you cross from the poverty of Cambodia into developing Thailand.

There you have it. That route can be done in 3 months if you don’t choose every side trip mentioned (to do it all you’ll want to add another couple of weeks). If you work it out, you’ll find you can spend a few nights in each place, but don't make the mistake of creating some sort of concrete itinerary. Just be aware of your time, because you will want to spend lots of time in some places, while spending little in others and you really won’t know which until you get there. Be flexible within reason, and remember: it’s all about having fun!

Once back in Bangkok, you now have the option to work your way south to the islands, and perhaps, onward to other countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, or perhaps they will have to wait until your next trip, and yes, you will want to come back.

One of the next logical questions is: What is it like to travel around these countries on a route like this? That’s precisely the experience I detail in my book Rice Crust from the Bottom of the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust). It’s full of crazy adventures, wonderful stories of my interactions with the locals, and even a few recipes collected directly from their kitchens.

The Los Angeles Disney's California Adventure

When considering a family vacation, you have to take into consideration that your idea of the perfect vacation might differ from that of your children. Yours is, of course, beaches, relaxation, sightseeing tours, and museums. The child, however, is prone to more of an imaginative vacation getaway. Their perfect vacation would consist of castles, cartoon characters and faraway kingdoms. Fortunately, you can please the entire family in Los Angeles California.

The Family Vacation

There are tons of attractions in L.A. for the adults in the groups, including those mentioned above. There are also tons of celebrity attractions, shows to view, and activities. For the children, however, you need to set one day aside for a trip to the Los Angeles Disney's California Adventure.

On the same par for excellence as the Orlando Disney world theme park, the L.A. Disney's California Adventure Park presents hundreds of attractions that will hurl you and your family into a wonderland of fantasy, where fictional cartoon characters become real, and fantasy kingdoms are yours for the taking.

The Rides

Within this magical theme park, you will find the newly added attraction, the Indiana Jones Adventure. This is the biggest ride that has been instituted in any theme park in the world for over 4 decades! The entire experience is fast, adrenaline pumping and exciting as you race down the rails just like those in the movie adventure, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Another highly popular ride at the park is the California Screaming' Roller Coaster, where you are given the sensation of actually taking flight over famed California landmarks. The list of rides goes on and on, such as Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, The Matterhorn, and the highly sought after Pirates of The Caribbean ride.

The Themes

With over five separate themes, there is enough action at this park to keep the family laughing and having fun for hours on end. There is the Sunshine Plaza, Paradise Pier, Golden State, Bus Land, and Hollywood Back Lot Pictures. Each section has its own rides, shows, and individual characters that visitors can interact with as they stroll from one attraction to another.

The Disney California Adventure does not require that you leave the park for the entire day. There are plenty of places to get snacks or eat entire meals within the park. Also, the park is loaded with shops where you can get items to remember the trip by. If you are looking for the perfect vacation spot, look toward the West. Over a half a million visitors a year visit this park. That should tell you something!

http://juble.com/a150-the-los-angeles-disneys-california-adventure.aspx) Juble.com


Article Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article151879.html

All-Inclusive Luxury Cruise Ships Vacations - Advantages and Disadvantages of Choosing It

All-inclusive cruise ships packages are vacation deals where just about everything is included. The cost of your drinks, food, and entertainment and some other facilities are often taken care of. If you are wondering whether or not you should book reservations aboard a traditional luxury cruise vacation or an all-inclusive cruise ship, you are not alone in this world. A large number of travels wonder the same thing, the travel agents can vouch for that.

When it comes in all-inclusive cruise ship vacations, there are a number of things to consider before you get on board for trip. To determine whether you could benefit from an all-inclusive luxury cruise vacation, you are encouraged to weight the advantage and disadvantages each. Only after you have considered each, you can make an informed decision. Obviously, if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages then an all-inclusive vacation package may be just what you need and visa versa.

In all-inclusive luxury cruises is that most of your needs are taken care of. If you are drinking large amount of alcohol or feasting on the food on board, you can get all that at no extra cost from your pocket. You may also be granted exclusive admittance into movie theatres(yes we do have theatres and casinos on luxury cruise ships) and video arcades.

Entertainment provided free of charge sounds too good to be true and in some cases, it may be. While many of your food and drinks are included in such a package deal, not all are, you should inquire with your travel agency. It is possible that you may be required to pay for your alcoholic beverages. There are some cruise ships vacations where alcohol beverages are included in the package, but on others it is not.

The more smart ones can prevent the extra expenses by eating a large meal in case small meals are not included in the package deals. You may also be able to save money by bringing your own snacks on board(not a bad idea) if the cruise line allows it.

As mentioned above, entertainment is often included. As with food and drinks, the entertainment is often limited. It is likely that you will have free entrance tickets into a dance or ball, but you will not be able to gamble in casinos free of charge. If you are interested in gambling aboard the cruise ship's casino, you will have to come up with your own funds.

When it comes to the cost of an all-i inclusive cruise, there are many travelers who get confused. The cost may seem high, but it is often that way to cover the cruise line's expenses. For many individuals, the cost of an all-inclusive cruise is a great value. Your personal consumer habits should be taken in consideration to determine whether or not you will save money aboard an all-inclusive cruise or whether you should opt for cheaper cruise ship deals. You need to estimate your cost of food, drinks, and entertainment aboard a traditional luxury cruise. Simply by comparing the two, you can easily determine which cruise package offers the better deal.

The advantages and disadvantages of all-inclusive cruise ship vacations are important. By analyzing each and comparing them to what you want and need out of your cruise ship vacation. Also, have a look at our luxury cruise vacation FAQ located at http://luxurycruisevacations.net/luxury-cruise-holiday-faq.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacques_Pointeau

Enjoying Ireland, The Enchanting Emerald Isle

The lush and verdant island of Ireland has long been beloved of the British and American and now it is becoming a more popular European destination for travellers from further afield as well. Part of the popularity of the location lies in the fact that its people are so hospitable and the Irish way of life so laid back and easy to get used to!

If you're looking for a striking holiday location for all the family, where you can enjoy everything from castles to beaches and outdoor activities from hiking to mountain biking and you don't mind so much about the weather - visit Ireland.

Many American and British families can trace their ancestry back to Irish roots and so this may spawn the idea of travel to the Emerald Isle, as it is popularly called. And if you too have Irish heritage and Irish roots you can spend many enjoyable hours plotting your family's path across the Irish landscape. You can visit the libraries and public record offices in main towns from Clifden to Galway, Castleport to Dublin and trace your family tree.

On the other hand, if you're simply lured by all the tales you've heard about how stunningly beautiful the west Irish coastline is or how exciting Dublin's nightlife and how high-end its shops, why not fly in to the international airport on the outskirts of the capital city and then have a multiple destination stop on your itinerary.

In Dublin you can visit the historic centre, you can take in the university and even head out to the seaside, you can then head across country and enjoy the wild and rural interior, the breathtakingly dramatic mountains and some of the barren yet beautiful landscapes that have fuelled a thousand poets and a thousand novelists.

When you reach the west Irish coast you will again be struck by the majesty of the windswept vistas, the dramatic cliff formations, the pure sandy beaches and the green, green sea.
Ireland is a truly vibrant and passionate land that you will find it hard not to love. Many who have visited in recent years have found that a thriving real estate industry has made it an attractive place to buy a second home or an investment property. But now that the Irish housing market is being impacted by affordability issues and a strong euro situation, that may no longer be the case - at least for the short term. Despite this fact, nothing can detract from the appeal of Ireland on all levels, which is why many who visit vow to return and stay for longer.

If you want to take an extended vacation in the Emerald Isle what about living and working in Ireland for a year or more? Depending on the country you come from it can be a relatively painless process to expatriate to Ireland or to get a working visa for a fixed length of time.
There are plenty of employment opportunities, and because the native tongue is certainly English despite the presence of traditional Irish now being everywhere you turn, if you herald from the US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand for example, you will find it easy to adapt.

Why not take a short trip first to determine whether you enjoy the nation enough to want to live there before enquiring at your nearest Irish embassy about your eligibility for a visa.

Rhiannon Davies writes about living and working abroad, to read more about living and property in Ireland as well as visiting Ireland, check out her site ShelterOffshore.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Davies

Cruise Travel - The Pinnacle Of Luxury

Cruise travel represents a pinnacle of luxury. Cruising is really all about the journey and while the destination is certainly important, many people find that they cherish the memories they make while on board ship. Cruise prices are going up every year. Cruisers can rate ships from one to five in each of several areas including food, service, accommodations, entertainment, shore excursions, overall condition of ship, children's facilities and value for money.

Cruise
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of primary advantage of all inclusive cruises, is that all the planning is taken care of for you – right down to the times and places you will stay and eat and be entertained. These cruise packages are put together for people who just want to go and don’t want to worry about the details. They’re finding that when you’re aboard a cruise ship, life slows down and things go and a much calmer pace.
Generally speaking, a cruise in any category of room tends to be a fairly hefty investment. Find an exciting destination that will fulfill your thirst for adventure and enjoy your cruise expedition. Most cruise vacation lines provide plenty of supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the adventure of new places, they’ll love a family cruise expedition. Some travel companies have found it helpful to specialize in being cruise travel agents. Their specialty is in gaining the consumer the best deal possible on a cruise.

Cruise
Since cruise travel agents are general book about 90 percent of a ship’s rooms, the cruise lines often work with them to reduce rates. The cruise travel agent often gets better deals for their clients than the cruise line itself may offer. A cruise ship sailing with empty rooms is basically losing money. They would prefer to virtually give rooms away at drastically reduced rates and often work with cruise travel agents to find people to fill them. Also, after booking if you see lower fares don’t be embarrassed to contact your cruise travel agent to see about a refund of the difference.

Another trick agents know is that as with airlines booking early gets you the best price, and for the most part that’s true; on a cruise ship, however, booking closer to the sailing date through a cruise travel agent is often the better way to reduce the costs. If you’re thinking about taking a cruise vacation, then you definitely want to work with one of the use agencies.
More and more people are choosing a cruise to add a bit of adventure or relaxation into their lives. A cruise expedition is the most popular option for honeymoon vacations. Because of the expedition nature of the cruise, the atmosphere on board was more casual than on other cruises. Safety is First and although expedition cruising is adventurous in its nature; the safety of passengers is paramount.

Nicole Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of http://www.expertsoncruises.com/. She provides more information about cruise and cruise issues that you can research in your pajamas on her website.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Scott