wanderlust: August 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Madagascar

fly
Tue 6/29/2010 HKG-JNB 23:45-07:00+1
Wed 6/30/2010 JNB-TNR Antananarivo 10:00-14:10 pm
Wed night stay Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne
Th 7/1/2010 fly to Anjajavy
Fri 7/2/2010 stay Anjajvy
Sat 7/3/2010 fly to TNR stay Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne
Sun 7/4/2010 fly TNR-JNB 14:45 pm-17:25 pm stay JNB overnight
Mon 7/5/2010 fly JNB-HKR 12:35noon- 07:45+1 arrival
(would need to take 3 days off, 6/30 Wed, 7/2 Fri & 7/5 Mon)

Isolated by millions of years and miles of Indian Ocean, Madagascar’s exotic wildlife, cultures, and landscapes transport the intrepid traveler into a strange and wonderful world.

Madagascar is often called the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean—a forgotten world inhabited by strange and wonderful plants and animals.

All of the island’s mammals, most of its birds, and over eighty percent of its plants are found nowhere else on Earth, creating a nature-lover’s dream.

You’ll be captivated by the island’s lemurs literally dancing across trails, gigantic baobab trees framing tropical sunsets, and brilliantly colored birds and butterflies flying among a thousand species of orchids

when to go: Jan -March

get there: connect thru Paris

Anjajavy l'hotel http://www.anjajavy.com/ 3n/$1661 incl priv plane transfer, le domaine de fontenay http://www.lefontenay-madagascar.com/ $238, relais de la reine, http://www.tsarakomba.com/, vakona forest lodge http://www.hotel-vakona.com/ $154

info on T&L http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/madagascar-a-safari-tour/sidebar/1

hotel info from cntraveller.co.uk

Anjajavy L'hotel
Near Mahajanga, north-western Madagascar(00 33 1 44 69 15 00)
Anjajavy L'Hotel, a member of Relais & Châteaux, has 25 air-conditioned guest villas, simply furnished with a double bed on the ground floor and two singles on a mezzanine level. The villas in front are more private and have uninterrupted sea views. All have large verandahs and big bathrooms. The main lodge houses a bar, a dining room and an open-plan games room and lounge. There are well-organised land- and water-based activities. There's a three-night minimum stay. Price rating: 3/5
Le Pavillon De L'emyrne
Antananarivo, Madagascar(00 261 20 222 5945)
Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne is a sophisticated, 13-room boutique hotel in the capital with pretty grounds and a colonial ambience. Price rating: 2/5
Mandrare River Camp
Near Fort Dauphin, south-eastern Madagascar(00 261 20 220 2226)
Mandrare River Camp has six comfortable tents with four-poster beds and en-suite bathrooms with bucket showers and eco-friendly chemical loos. Generally excellent meals, accompanied by South African and French wines, are served with great care and attention to detail in the dining tent. There is an emphasis on cultural activities, including visits to local villages and markets. A four-night stay is recommended. Price rating: 4/5
Tarajava Guesthouse
Upper Town, Antananarivo, Madagascar
An eclectic B&B furnished with antiques and Venetian-glass chandeliers. There are four bedrooms, two of which have terraces with astonishing views across the city. Price rating: 2/5

Getting there
Air Madagascar operates a non-stop service between Paris and Antananarivo four times per week. It also operates a weekly service between Marseilles and Antananarivo. There are flights from London Heathrow via Milan.

Air France flies from London to Antananarivo via Paris four times per week. Corsair operates a weekly service from Paris Orly.

You can fly to Johannesburg, South Africa and connect with the Air Madagascar/SAAirlink flight to Antananarivo, which operates five day per week. Air Madagascar flies from Nairobi, Kenya once each week.

There are daily flights between Madagascar and Mauritius and through fares are available on Air Mauritius.

flights to Anjajavy only Tue Th Sat

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Kham

access thru Zhongdian or Chengdu
www.haiweitrails.com

Litang annual yaji

Abu Dhabi

http://www.arabian-adventures.com/ desert camping trips & day trips to other emirates
for Arabian onyx on on safari at Abu Dhabi's desert isands
http://www.desertislands.com/EN/Home/

kashmir

Himalayan glacier fed rivers, lakes & hiking
Indian controlled province of Jammu & Kashmir
Sonamarg (gateway to Ladakh) through 11575' Zojila pass (12 m away)
Intercontinental Grand Palace in Srinagar
or www.houseboatowners.org

India camel fairs

pushkar camel fair
Chandrabhaga camel fair
both in November
http://www.wildfrontiers.co.uk/
DEL food incl
BUKHARAITC Maurya Sheraton & Towers, Diplomatic Enclave (00 91 11 2611 2233). This restaurant is housed in the ITC Maurya Sheraton & Towers in south-west Delhi. Food is grilled behind a glass partition. You can watch the chefs thread the meat onto steel kebabs while you sip a chilled beer. Good choices include the murg tandoori (a whole chicken marinated in yoghurt, malt vinegar, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, chilli, turmeric and garam masala), the tandoori pomfret, a whole flatfish from the Indian Ocean roasted with spices; and bharvan kulcha, a baked bread stuffed with cottage cheese. Less delightful are the Flintstones-style décor and the absence of both cutlery and finger bowls. In deference to the restaurant's north-west frontier theme, diners are expected to tear chicken apart with their bare hands, with only an apron for protection.
CHOR BIZARRE Hotel Broadway, 4/15A Asaf Ali Road (00 91 11 2327 3821). For a truly northern Indian experience, head for Chor Bizarre, on the edge of Old Delhi (other branches have opened in the newly fashionable suburb of Noida and in London's Mayfair). Chor Bazaar mean 'thief's market', and the chef has indeed stolen dishes from across India. Who knows where the management got the 1927 Fiat, parked in the centre of the restaurant, from whose interior Bombay street snacks (chaat) are served? The bhel puri is excellent, but the real highlight here is the Kashmiri thali, a set menu that changes daily depending on what produce is available from the market and named after the brass try on which it is served, (a thali). With advance warning, the restaurant will also prepare wazwan, a 36-course feast.
DHABA Claridges Hotel, 12 Aurangzeb Road (00 91 11 2301 0211). Located at Claridges Hotel, a fine Art Nouveau building within which every effort has been made to recreate a roadside eatery such as you might find along the Grand Trunk Road. The designers have even tacked the side of a Tata truck onto the wall of the restaurant. The chairs are similar in style to the charpoys on which Indian lorry drivers like to recline after a good lunch, and the waiters are dressed in a colourful version of truckers' attire. Feast on yellow dal, alu masala (curried potatoes) and matter paneer (cottage cheese with peas).
KARIM'S Near the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Hidden away down a narrow passage, this renowned institution has been trading since 1913 and still serves the best grilled meat in town, the chicken tikka being a particular favourite. Dishes include murg Tandoori, nan and kebabs. Karim's is also famous for its brain curry, should you be brave enough to try it.
SEVENTYSEVEN The Manor Hotel, 77 Friends Colony (00 91 11 2692 5151). SeventySeven in The Manor Hotel - a modernist villa in Friends Colony - does a magnificent masala dosa, the paper-thin, crispy gram-flour pancake, served with a spicy sambal or curry sauce. The evening menu is, according to manager Ben, designed to introduce guests to a more modern version of Indian food.
SWAGATH 14 Defence Colony Market (00 91 11 2433 0930). Here you will be presented with your seafood to prove its freshness. Soft-shelled crab, one of many offerings, is deep-fried and coated in a sauce of sweet butter, garlic and green chilli.
THE SPICE ROUTE The Imperial Hotel, Janpath (00 91 11 2334 1234). If Dhaba is trying too hard to recreate an authentic experience, The Spice Route at the newly renovated Inperial Hotel on Janpath has moved into fantasy land, incorporating an Indiana Jones-style restaurant within the neo-classical building. The irachi stew of lamb and potato in coconut milk, served with appams (rice-flour pancakes). The more robust of appetite with coconut, curry leaf, black tamarind and mustard seeds. The days of starting a meal with fruit juice are back, try the spiced pineapple rasam with fresh curry leaves. And the vermicelli payasam, cooked in sweetened milk with fried cashews, raisins and grated coconut, is extraordinary.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

next Jordan trip

see desert castles from Ummayad times
Ajloun Nature Reserve
Dana's canyons

nile cruise

Abercrombie & Kent Sun Boat IV (internet access, http://www.abercrombiekent.com/ $1995 3N)
Assouan (16 passengers: no a/c or pool http://www.nourelnil.com/ $1570 7N) double masked sailing vessel
La Flaneuse du Nil (7 room sailboat http://www.vdm.com/ $1100)
Oberoi Zahra (wi-fi, http://www.oberoihotels.com/) $3790 7 days
Sonesta St. George I (groups of 18, Nile + upper delta $5795 12 days http://www.travcoa.com/)
Sudan (1885 steamship http://www.steam-ship-sudan.com/ $2600)

Fez for Easter 2010

Apr 1 2010 CX261 HKG 23:45 CDG 06:35 +1 12:50 breakfast in Paris 4/2/2010

friday, April 02, 2010
Departure: 01:50 PM Paris, France - Orly, terminal S
Arrival: 02:35 PM Fez, Morocco - Sais

pay for 3 nights hotel 4/2, 4/3, 4/4 (4/5/2010 checkout)

monday, April 5, 2010
Departure: 04:00 PM Fez, Morocco - Sais
Arrival: 08:40 PM Paris, France - Orly, terminal S

late dinner ?? in Paris
4/5 1 night at hotel luxembourg parc euro 216 per night

4/6 noon flight to HK arrive 4/7th
(should pick up CX tickets first as can always cancel or change dates)

most complete medieval city
the medina (fes el-bali) a tangle of more than 9000 alleys & dead ends
temperatures low 20s throughout winter

Ethiopian air

fly into Addis Ababa
traverse the Awash to Djibouti before crossing the Red Sea to Aden

Yemreha.... spa by Dos Architects

see Omo, lalibela, axum, gondar

Central Asia

14 weeks with Dragoman Overland entire 6803 mile trail from Istanbul to Beijing
or 15 night taster from Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan to Altai Shan mountains in Kyrgystan

guatemala

80miles of trekking (through rainforest) to Mayan site of La Mirador

Belize

Actun Tunichil Muknal (cave of the stone sepulchre)
45 min jungle hike, 1/2 mile swim into cave chamber w/intact ancient Mayan pottery, cave where they worshiped Chaac (rain god)
from guardian.co.uk
The knowledge that Francis Ford Coppola's decision to open a hotel in the dark heart of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in central Belize was inspired by the making of Apocalypse Now didn't fill me with confidence. "I was searching for the same jungle paradise I enjoyed in the Philippines ..." he writes in the hotel's brochure, "and invite you to do the same."
Its setting is certainly remote, close to the Guatemalan border, a bumpy 45-minute drive from the Western Highway, along an unpaved, red-clay track through a dense tropical woodland of exotic vines, strangler figs and palms that gradually gives way to pine forest, then blighted pine forest. For many of the trees are branchless, leafless, lifeless stumps. It's a blasted landscape, apocalyptic even, the legacy, it turns out, of a plague of bark beetles rather than Agent Orange, but even so thoughts of napalm, extreme prejudice and visions of Kurtz as general manager began to come to mind. What was this place?
I needn't have worried, for Blancaneaux Lodge itself could hardly be lovelier: six thatched hardwood casitas and seven villas on stilts arranged along a steep valley descending to a creek, fed by the gushing Privassion river, all rocks and rapids and waterfalls.
Coppola bought Blancaneaux, then a dilapidated guesthouse, in 1981, and 11 years later after a big family house party to celebrate both the wrap on Dracula and his birthday, decided to turn it into a hotel. Nothing glitzy or luxurious - the rustic decor favours guatemalteco textiles and brightly painted wooden animal masks and figures - just a hideaway, a retreat. There are no televisions or DVD players or even telephones - if you want to communicate with reception from your casita there's the "shell phone", a conch set on a wooden box concealing an intercom link. There's no swimming pool; why would there be when the river's been dammed to form pools (and generate electricity)? No air con. But there is a massage therapist offering Thai and oriental foot massages; as well as horses to ride; luxuriant tropical grounds and an immaculate organic vegetable garden to admire; waterfalls to bathe under; and rugged landscape to hike through. The air is fragrant; the atmosphere - bar the relentless roar of the river - tranquil; and sitting on the star-lit deck of our casita the first evening, watching the fireflies dance over the rapids, the sense of romantic escape was complete.
Though Coppola makes no play of his movies in the hotel, there is nevertheless a palpable sense of the man. All 15 wines on the wine list, from the US$6-a-glass house Rosso, Bianco and Talia Rosé (after Coppola's sister Talia Shire, better known as Connie Corleone) to the US$150-a-bottle premium Rubicon, are produced on his estate in Rutherford, California. Various members of his family have contributed recipes to the Italian-influenced menu, as incidentally has Mrs Scorsese, whose hearty garlicky lemon chicken I enjoyed. He even publishes an in-house magazine, Zoetrope, a Granta-like quarterly of new writing, the current issue of which contains pieces by Neil LaBute, Neil Jordan, Eric Bogosian, Michael Tolkin and FFC himself. (Blancaneaux hosts screen-writing workshops - in June Jane Smiley is teaching a short-story writing course here.) And if you opt for Villa 7, where the Coppolas stay when they're in residence, there are family photographs, notably a group shot taken in the 80s judging by the clothes, Nicolas Cage - with hair! - in the back row, a teenage Sofia Coppola sitting at her father's knee in the front.
We'd come to Blancaneaux from Guatemala, where we'd stayed at La Lancha, a three-hour drive away and the newest of Coppola's three resorts, on the rainforest-clad shores of Lake Petén Itzá and a small beach. The style here is similar to Blancaneaux - hillside cabanas on stilts overlooking water - but the concept is simpler, the rooms smaller and the rates lower. The rooms, all with large balconies strung with hammocks and scattered with Adirondack chairs, are beautiful but scantly furnished; a chair to put one's clothes on might be useful, I said to Elvin, the manager. "Ah," he said, "we had some chairs but they weren't right, so we got rid of them and are waiting for a container of new ones." Coppola's wife, Eleanor, who's in charge of the decor, has an exacting eye and won't countenance compromise, but the result is an ideal of perfection that's pretty close to mine.
La Lancha's ultimate appeal is its proximity to Tikal, arguably the most spectacular of all the ruined Mayan cities. And by staying so close, you can get there early - we were there by 7am (jet lag can be good for something) - the better to appreciate the extraordinary wildlife. Earlier that morning we heard the reverberating roar of howler monkeys - a sound so terrifying it's what Spielberg used as the dinosaur call in Jurassic Park. Now we were watching them, troupes of five or six, swinging through the tree canopy, their young on their backs, along with smaller, white-fronted spider monkeys. There are jaguars and ocelots, not that you ever see them, and tapirs and peccaries here, too. But Tikal's real glory is its birds. Nearly 300 species have been recorded here, and we saw richly coloured ocellated turkeys, more like peacocks than their overfed Norfolk cousins; blue-crowned motmots or birds of paradise; keel-billed toucans and emerald toucanets; hummingbirds no bigger than a thumb; oropendolas darting from their strange suspended nests; and myriad parrots.
Tikal may lack the sophisticated carving and friezes found on some of the Mayan sites in the Yucatán in Mexico, but its age (parts date back to 55BC), its area (370 sq km) and the dense jungle setting make it astonishing. There's no better way to get a sense of its magnitude than by climbing Temple Four, which has only been possible since last year when a ladder was installed. It's 105 steep rungs to the 58m summit, but the view of the central plaza and its acropolis is sensational, and the acoustic is incredible: up here you can still hear voices from the plaza.
There are lots of Mayan sites in this part of Guatemala - Uaxactún, El Mirador, Rio Azul, Yaxhá and Topotxe, and Caracol and Xunantunich across the border in Belize - many of them still wild, mysterious and undeveloped. But if after so much culture, you yearn for a little seaside R'n'R, then Coppola has a third resort on the Belizean coast, a three-hour drive south down the thankfully sealed Hummingbird and Southern Highways from Blancaneaux.
Turtle Inn sits at the southern end of the Placencia peninsula, a narrow strip of land flanked by a lagoon to the west and the Caribbean to the east, sheltered by a vast reef, where whale sharks congregate at full moon between April and June. Marine life is the big draw here, not least outstanding diving and snorkelling. But for those who prefer to stay above the surface there are kayaks and boat trips up nearby Monkey river. There we spotted not just howlers, but iridescent blue morpho butterflies the size of your hand; egrets, night herons, tarantulas, golden-silk spiders in their glittering webs and, best of all, rare manatees, for Belize has the largest population in the Caribbean of these shy elephantine aquatic mammals with their paddle tails and sad seal faces.
Like its sister hotels, Turtle Inn consists of a dozen or so two-person "cottages" and villas, as well as the family pavilion, dotted along a palm- sheltered shore. And if you stay in a sea-front unit, the distance from the end of the bed to the ocean is barely 10m. Each is open-fronted (so who needs air con?), with a mosquito-screened veranda and a private garden out back: ours had an open-air shower and a cashew tree full of viridescent iguanas.
While Blancaneaux and La Lancha are colourfully guatemalteco in style, the furniture and art here - further evidence of Eleanor Coppola's taste - have come mostly from Indonesia. But Belize, a British colony till 1981, is such a multicultural society - of Creoles, Maya, Garifuna, Mestizos, Ladinos, British, Chinese, Mennonites and Amish - so it doesn't feel out of place.
As at Blancaneaux, Turtle Inn grows its own veg in an organic garden presided over by its ebullient Sicilian chef, Antonio Fecarotta, the delivery of whose "Daily Bulletin" - that evening's menu introduced with some occasionally eccentric though winningly expressed pensées - is the highlight of a lazy afternoon in a steamer chair on the beach. For dinner - conch escalopes, smoked snapper, arugula pizza - is something else to look forward to. As are Coppola's wines. The sparkling blancs de blancs he calls Sofia (natch) may be a little sweet. But his proprietary claret is excellent, and his Blancaneaux 2000, a blend of Viognier, marsanne, roussanne and chardonnay outstanding (as, at US$87.50 a bottle, it should be).
I loved these places: their aesthetics, their laid-back ethos, their kind and friendly staff and above all the attention to detail. The sense that everything extraneous has been edited out, and that what we are left with, from the locally sourced deliciously scented soap to the aromatic salad leaves, is the best that can be. He's made great movies, he makes great wine, his hotels are fabulous, his daughter wins Oscars. Francis Ford Coppola: what a guy!
chaa creek (frommer's review)
This is definitely the premier lodging choice in this neck of the woods, and one of the nicest hotels in the country. Much loving care has gone into creating the beautiful grounds and cottages here. Located on a high, steep bank over the Macal River, this is one of the oldest of the original jungle lodges in the Cayo District, and it's only improved with age. All of the thatched-roof cottages are artistically decorated with local and Guatemalan textiles and handcrafts. Each comes with a quiet porch or balcony area set amid the flowering gardens. The choicest rooms are the treetop suites, which are quite large, and feature a queen bed, a sunken living-room area, and a wraparound deck fitted with a sunken Jacuzzi. Of the standard rooms, nos. 1 and 2 are my favorites.
The newest additions at Chaa Creek include a large, modern stable, and a canoe-building workshop. You'll also find a lovely little full-service spa, as well as an informative, but small, natural history museum, and a Blue Morpho butterfly breeding project. The guides here are well trained and knowledgeable. Chaa Creek has also taken over the former Panti Medicine trail and the neighboring Ixchel Farm, which you can explore with a guide or with a self-guided trail map. Canoes and mountain bikes are available, and horseback rides can always be arranged. Over 250 bird species have been spotted within a 5-mile (8km) radius of the lodge. Mick and Lucy Fleming, who originally began farming this land in 1977, are the engaging hosts, and much of the food served in the lovely screened-in dining room is organically grown on the hotel's own farm. There's also a separate open-air bar and lounge area, where guests congregate most evenings before and after dinner.

Facilities:Restaurant; bar; lounge; small, well-equipped spa; bike rental; tour desk; laundry service; free Wi-Fi; nonsmoking rooms

ryokan

Kinsuikan www.kinsuikan.jp/en
on Miyajima island
rooms look out over Seto Inland Sea

Ahilya Fort - India

go Oct-March
fly jet airways to Indore from Delhi (1 1/2 hr) or Mumbai (1 1/4) 2 1/2 hr taxi to Maheshwar
stay Ahilya Fort www.ahilyafort.com $520 incl meals bvg excursions 2 nights min
see
Mandu (25 bumpy miles from A. Fort, abandoned 6th century city of Mandu, built by Muslim ruler Hoshang Shah & famed for state of preservation)
Omkareshwar (sacred island in Narmanda River 34m upstream from A. Fort, site of important Shiva Mandhatta Jyotirling temple, close to center of shiva lingam manufacturing) gathering place for wandering sadhus, 8 hr slow boat ride 1 way
Rehwa society- weaving workshops

bangkok food

greyhound cafe (emporio shopping complex)
tamarind cafe www.tamarind-cafe.com (meatless, serene, airy spot amid hustle & bustle of Sukhumvit road, also doubles as gallery) 27/1 soi 20, sukhumvit road 66-2/663-7421

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Yemen (old Arabia)

Sanaa (Sheba hotel)
Aden (sheraton gold mohur)
Shibam (al-hawta palace)

Iran / Persia

fly to Tehran from Dubai
archaemenid ruins of Persepolis-seat of ancient achaemenid Empire, 70 km from Shiraz
mosques of Esfahan
stay Homa or (modern but lack of character) Pars international in Shiraz http://www.pars-international-hotel.com/ $107 atmospheric *Abbasi* http://www.abbasihotel.com/ $120 (in Esfahan)
other places to see
Shiraz: Citadel of Karim Khan Zand, & tomb of great poet Hafez in Shiraz
Meidan Emam, Esfahan
Tchogha Zanbil
Takht-e Soleyman
Bam and its Cultural Landscape
Pasargadae
Soltaniyeh
Bisotun
Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran

~Zeinoddin Caravanserai
Ranked among the best 'Final frontiers' hotels
Now that everyone is longing to get into the Axis of Evil as fast as their flying pants will allow, blow the competition out of the water by staying here. Sitting on the legendary Silk Route, surrounded by oases and hot springs, this is a building with history, where gold, ivory and spice traders would hole up and gossip. It has been beautifully restored and is utterly enchanting, unlike anywhere else you have been before. With large wooden doors, vertiginously high ceilings, carpeted brick floors and little wooden ladders up to your raised bed, hidden behind a wall of heavy curtains, it’s Harry Potter-gone-Persian. There’s an exquisite dining room where you feast on chicken with walnuts and pomegranate and bowls of saffron rice. The staff, from the Belushi tribe, are absurdly good-looking. After dinner, they whirl themselves into a frenzy.
Location: Yazd, Iran

Reservations: Simoon Travel (tel: 020 7622 6263)

Rates: Double, from £80

When to Go Iran's climate is at its best in spring or fall, but try to avoid the fasting month of Ramadan (October 4 to November 2 this year), when restaurants close during the day, and the weeks around Noruz, the Persian New Year (March 21, 2006)
consider side trips to Yazd, Hamadan, and Kerman, which offer more traditional Persian flavor

Tehran
Iran's capital is urban to the max, and the traffic is appalling, but it's worth more than just a stopover. The Tehran Bazaar is a must, though you'd be well served if you hired a guide to wind you through it. Indeed, great shopping is one of the city's primary attractions. Tehran's many museums are worth a visit, especially the Museum of Contemporary Art. Park-é Laleh and Park-é Mellat are where Tehranis gather to picnic, play soccer, and while away cool evenings. Don't even think of missing a morning hike in Darakeh, north of the city, or a cheap and homey breakfast at one of the myriad chaykhuneh (teahouses) along the trail.

WHERE TO STAY
Melal Apartment Hotel
Popular with business travelers, this all-suite hotel in north Tehran is the most comfortable in town, with a health club, pool, and in-house chauffeur service. Two-bedroom suites from $250 per night. 68 Naseri St.; 98-21/879-0543; www.melal.com

WHERE TO EAT
Nayeb Park-é Sa-i
This north Tehran landmark is the place to be for Friday lunch. The well-to-do wait up to two hours for a linen-covered table, where they feast on excellent kebabs and platters of perfectly cooked long-grain rice. Lunch for two $25. 1030 Val-ye-Asr Ave.; 98-21/871-3471

Maykhanechi
An old-school joint—just outside the Tehran Bazaar's carpet showroom, it's a pet resort of the dealers— serving fantastic ground lamb (kubideh) and chicken kebabs, paired with sour pickles, fiery raw onions, and delectable smoked rice. Dinner for two $6. 76 Lajevardi Alley, off Khayyam St.; 98-21/561-4152

Monsoon
Well-prepared Southeast Asian dishes (prawn curry, tamarind-glazed chicken) draw a young, Western- leaning crowd. Soft lighting, lacquer-topped tables, and walnut-paneled walls provide a soothing ambience. Dinner for two $36. Gandhi Shopping Center, corner of fourth St. and Gandhi Ave.; 98-21/879-1982

WHERE TO SHOP
Agate Gallery
Contemporary takes on classic Persian gold jewelry. 14 Kar & Tejarat St., off Vanak St.; 98-21/877-5571

Laal Jewelry
Rare and high-quality pieces, including earrings, pendants, Burmese rubies, and parures from Iran's Qajar period. 2 Golshahr Passage, Golshahr St., off Africa (Jordan) Ave.; 98-21/205-5552; www.laaljewelry.com

Z. Naghashpoor Carpets
One of the finer rug dealers at the Tehran Bazaar. Second floor, Shops 15 and 16, Saray Akbarieh (Carpet Showroom); 98-21/563-0793

Panje Tala
Small but well-curated boutique for handicrafts, carved wooden figurines, decorative boxes, kilims, table lamps, and metalwork. 151 Ostad Nedjatollahi Ave.; 98-21/880-1791; www.panjetala.com

Tavazo
The city's best selection of nuts (Iranian pistachios are outstanding), seeds, and dried fruits—including melons, mangos, apricots, limes, and anything else you can imagine. Multiple locations, including 1056 Val-ye-Asr Ave.; 98-21/871-7094; www.tavazo.com

Esfahan
By far the loveliest city in Iran, Esfahan retains great old-world charm in its gardens, mosques, and bridges, not to mention the graceful vernacular architecture of its everyday buildings. The 17th-century wooden palace of Chehel Sotun holds some of Iran's most accomplished frescoes, richly detailed tableaux of the Safavid kings' epic battles. The vast Imam Square at the center of town is said to be the second-largest urban plaza in the world, after Tiananmen Square; it's dominated by the dazzling, aquamarine-tiled Imam Mosque. The square's southern edge is fronted by Esfahan's evocative bazaar. Crossing the Zayandeh River are five historic bridges (and six newer ones), tucked into which are numerous waterside teahouses—ideal places to welcome the evening. For a good English-speaking tour guide, contact Abbas Alijanian (abbasalijanian@yahoo.com).

WHERE TO STAY
Abbasi Hotel
Iran's most atmospheric hotel, in a 17th-century caravansary surrounding a courtyard with rosebushes and persimmon trees. Interiors are all gilt- and mirror-encrusted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and brilliant frescoes. Request one of the restored Qajar suites that overlook the garden. Doubles from $170. 98-311/222-6010; www.abbasihotel.com

WHERE TO EAT
Wooden Bridge Teahouse
A classic chaykhuneh under the arches of Khajoo Bridge, catering to a student crowd. Women and men can be seen sharing hookahs here in cozy corners (despite a law forbidding women to smoke them). Under Pol-é Khajoo, Kamal Esmaeil St.; 98-311/221-8295

Chaykhuneh Sonati Azadegan
Another tea-and-hookah haunt that's popular with both students and bazari. The food is delicious and cheap, especially the goosht kubideh (a pastelike spread made from mashed lamb stew, to be slathered on lavash bread) and the piquant house-made torshi, a condiment of pickled vegetables. At the well of Haj Mirza, off Mir-emad St., near Imam Square

Shiraz and Persepolis
Shiraz has long been Iran's intellectual center, with several top-rated universities, as well as the avowed capital of Persian literature: the poets Hafez and Sa'di are buried here, and their garden-shrouded mausoleums are popular nighttime gathering spots. Old Shiraz, on the eastern side of the city, contains the wildly jumbled Bazaar-e Vakil, a plethora of mosques and madrassas, as well as the sparkling, mirror-covered shrine of Shah-e Cheragh. Just 40 minutes away by car are the ruins of Persepolis, an essential part of any visit to Iran. A fantastic guide for both Shiraz and Persepolis is the charming and eloquent Akbar Daghigh-Afkar (98-917/112-4249; akbard2003@yahoo.com).

WHERE TO STAY
Pars International Hotel
A new high-rise with all the mod cons and a central location. What it lacks in character it makes up for in convenience and service. Doubles from $95. Zand Blvd.; 98-71/233-6380

WHERE TO EAT
Hammam-e Vakil
Carved out of a historic hammam (bathhouse), with vaulted ceilings and a gurgling fountain, this is the most seductive setting in town. Order the fesenjan, a rich stew of chicken, pomegranate, and walnuts, and the albaloo polo, a hearty platter of rice studded with sour cherries. Dinner for two $15. Taleqani St.; 98-711/222-6467; www.hammam-vakil.com

Shater Abbas Restaurant
A convivial local favorite, occupying a beer hall–like cellar. The renowned, house-made taftun breads are baked and seared in a clay oven out front. The halim bademjan (eggplant and chicken mashed with yogurt) is excellent, as is the sabzi polo (rice with dill, coriander, parsley, and chives). Lunch for two $10. 1 Khakshenasi St.; 98-711/227-1612

next Peru trip

Lake Titicaca (stay at Titilaka)
Colca Valley beneath the Andes (stay at Las Casitas-part of Orient express)

Trans-Siberian Express (Golden Eagle)

Launched in April 2007, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express is Russia’s first luxury private train. The train serves the world's longest railway line from Moscow to Vladivostok as well as specially developed routes.

One of them - the Silk Road - goes through Kazakhstan stopping at Baikonur Space Centre, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, before traversing the Gobi and moving on to Beijing.
the train also provides westbound journeys departing from Beijing.

12 fully en-suite sleeping cars

Gold Class cabins have everything from power showers and under floor heating to DVD/CD players, LCD screens, and individual air conditioning units. At 7 sq m, these rail cabins are among the largest in the world. Fully en-suite, the bathrooms contain a separate shower cubicle.
Silver Class cabins are more compact at 5.5 sq m and have similar facilities as the Gold Class as well fully en-suite wet rooms.
Two restaurant cars
RATES:Silver Class Cabins are from GBP 5,495 per person (sharing)Gold Class Cabins are from GBP7,995 per person (sharing)
The price includes:
Arrival and departure transfers
Accommodation (4/5 star)
Sightseeing led by English speaking tour guides (Excludes flights, visas, all other excursions and pre and post tours)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

dunhuang

flight conf # 736171911 hotel conf # 113097642
12 September CX6878 HKG 19:30 PEK 22:55
03:25
15 September CX6891 PEK 18:20 HKG 22:05
03:45
must sees
crescent lake
jiayuguan
mogao caves (cave 96) (cave 17 diamond sutra)
mingsha shan (singing sand dunes)
fly in from Beijing 9/13 17:25 arrive 22:05
fly out from Dunhuang 11:40 arrive 14:40
http://www.dunhuangresort.com/

Saturday, August 16, 2008

LA spas & restaurants

http://www.kinaraspa.com/ in west hollywood
food

Axe 1009 Abbot Kinney Venice 310/664 9787 $75/2
Clifton's brookdale Cafe 648 s. broadway 213/627 1673 $22/2
R23 923 E 2nd St 213/687 7178 $90/2

cruise ships

Oberoi Zahra- old fashioned Nile cruiser
Apsara- Kerala's backwaters www.theparkhotels.com
Yangzi explorer (abercrombie)

Mexico

see Cacaxtla in Tlaxcala -day trip from mexico city
see labna, xlapak, sayil, kabah, uxmal

Thursday, August 14, 2008

dubai

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g295424-d526588-Reviews-Jumeirah_Bab_Al_Shams_Desert_Resort_Spa-Dubai.html

in Dubai stay at XVA Art hotel, Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert or al maha

things to see in Turkey

Sumela monastery near Trabzon

see also the library of Celsus at Ephesus, Canakkale, Izmir, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Ankara

fly Dubai to Istanbul on emirates

Oman

see Sur and Salaleh
Oman's desert hinterland borders the Empty Quarter, the bitter desiccated land, which knows nothing of gentleness or ease' made famous by Wilfred Thesiger in his 1959 bsepook Arabian Sands.
much of it is forbidding gravel plain, but Wahiba, with its dunes of honey-coloured sand & rust red valleys half-a-mile wide, enclosed by dunes of a uniform height of about 200 ft...blocked at intervals by gradual rises of hard sand, is a stunning landscape
when to go? Sept to May
alternative place to stay (other than 6senses) in Musandam Peninsula is the Golden Tulip in Khasab $239 (secluded, arid, diving 2-3 hr from Dubai)
in Muscat stay at the recently renovated Al Bustan Palace www.ichotelsgroup.com 360GBP

pristine desert w/Oryx & mountain wilderness
Qurm Natural Park Muscat festival in January
Hajar Mountains
coral gardens w/psychedelic squid
check out Majlis al-Jinn -- 158m rappel- world's 2nd largest cave
12 September CX745 HKG 23:55 DXB 04:25+1
8:30
15 September CX746 DXB 18:20 HKG 06:10+1
7:50

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Udaipur

23 Oct CX753 HKG 22:55 DEL 02:05 +1 0 5:40 330 eTicket Economy (Y)

Flight Date Depart Arrival Flight Details Class Of Travel
9W709 Sat, 24 Oct, 2009 Delhi 05:45 Udaipur 07:45 2h 0m/1 stops Economy (O)

Operated by Jet Airways - Departure: TERMINAL 1
9W3326 Mon, 26 Oct, 2009 Udaipur 18:40 Delhi 20:20 1h 40m/0 stops Economy (O)

Operated by Jet Airways - Arrival: TERMINAL 1

26 Oct CX694 DEL 23:55 HKG 07:25 +1 0 5:00 330 eTicket Economy (Y)

Fare Details

in udaipur stay at
oberoi udaipur or taj lake or Devi garh or Fateh Garh

take trains: thegoldenchariot.co.in or palace on wheels

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Taipei restaurants

http://blog.xuite.net/wineya/0/28824552
Taipei is really strange in that... if you google info on restaurants, you'll likely run into blogs before you run into any dedicated websites that are like ie hong kong's hong kong magazine, open rice or time out magazine.... but there're definitely plenty of foodies out there in Taipei, this wineya person's blog is worth checking out for up to date ideas of where to eat!

http://www.foodandwine.com/restaurants/list/taiwan

http://maps.google.com.tw/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=zh-TW&geocode=&q=%E5%8F%B0%E5%8C%97%E5%B8%82%E5%AE%89%E5%92%8C%E8%B7%AF%E4%B8%80%E6%AE%B5116%E8%99%9F1%E6%A8%93&sll=25.045909,121.545181&sspn=0.010886,0.026178&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A&brcurrent=3,0x3442aa2c196a3a0b:0x595d3af570d705b4
Aoba restaurant

¤ Silks Palace- by National Palace Museum

shi yang shan fang #60 lane 101 jingshan rd, shilin district 886-2/2862-0078
chili house 250-3 zhongxiao east rd sec 4 886-2/2721-6088 http://www.just-ho.com/ NT$1200 for two
gi yuan (best known for chicken soup) 324 dunhua south rd sec 1 886-2/27083110 NT$1400
VVG Bistro (cozy french) can rent apartment nextdoor 20 alley 40, lane 181 zhongxiao east rd sec 4 886-2/8773-3533 http://www.vvgbbb.com.tw/ $1790 for tso
sofa (swank lounge, retro furnishing) 56 lane 161 dunhua south rd sec 1 886-2/8773 0906
qi min organic hotpot- 128 zhongxiao east rd sec 4 886-2/2772-5123 NT$1200

hotels:
tango http://www.tango-hotels.com/ NT$ 6000
Sherwood http://www.sherwood.com.tw/ NT$10,200
Sheraton http://www.sheraton-taipei.com/ NT$10,000
see
http://www.travelandleisure.com.au/taipei/default.aspx
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/13154?pageNumber=10

Where To Go Next: Taipei
By Rob McKeown
Iconoclastic Chefs
Inspired by a small group of pioneering chefs, like Liu Xian Hua—who has been cooking at the groundbreaking restaurant Ah Tsai for 20 years—Taipei’s talented cooks have been developing highly personal cuisines that make use of the superior local ingredients and reflect the city’s cosmopolitan culture.

La Petite Cuisine
Justin Quek, who trained at numerous Michelin-starred restaurants in France, has been one of Singapore’s top chefs for years because of his cooking at the Les Amis restaurant group. Since he opened La Petite Cuisine in Taipei two years ago, he has become known for his lightened French haute-cuisine creations: white asparagus with a silken sauce of morels, langoustine carpaccio. The dishes can be paired with boutique Australian reds like the rich Pinot Noir from Bass Phillip. Details 45 Shuang Cheng St.; 011-886-2-2597-3838.

Cheers
The Grand Hyatt Taipei’s bistro-style restaurant—a music-industry hangout that’s being revamped by U.S.–based design star Tony Chi—is an unlikely home for some of the city’s best Chinese food. Originally intended as an American restaurant, it now devotes much of its menu to Chinese dishes. Chef Chien Huang creates stunning versions of the Taiwanese food he grew up on (pork rice with braised mushrooms and eggs) and other regional dishes (Sichuan wok-fried chicken). Details 2 Sung Shou Rd.; 011-886-2-2720-1200, ext. 3188.

Ah Zheng
Owner Ah Zheng, who likes to wear ties and suit vests under-neath his black apron and is never without an espresso in his hand, runs the kitchen in this brick-walled restaurant. Zheng’s food is a terrific hybrid of Taiwanese, Japanese and Southeast Asian. The menu changes constantly; on lucky nights there might be Hokkaido crab with pepper salt, or grilled pork with white miso and chiles. Details 20 Lane 81, Dun Hua Nan Rd., Sec. 2; 011-886-2-2702-5277.

Modern Japanese
Taiwan’s capital has long been full of sushi bars and teppanyaki joints, a legacy of the island’s past as a Japanese colony. But over the past few years, modern Japanese pop culture has been making greater inroads into the city’s restaurant and bar scenes.

Lao Kan Pai
This new crimson-hued spot turns out superb small-plate dishes of baby cherrystone- like clams in a sake-spiked broth, and rib eye served with dipping salts and fresh wasabi and cooked on a tabletop grill. Details 44 Lane 280, Guang Fu Nan Rd.; 011-886-2-2751-7388.

Ko Ji
Formerly known as Bamboo, this hip restaurant reopened six months ago as Ko Ji. It’s as popular for its bar, which makes excellent sake cocktails, as it is for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, in dishes like grilled tuna flavored with soy and ginger. Details 1/F, 15 Renai Rd., Sec. 4; 011-886-2-2779-1152.

Mitsui Cuisine
A cavernous underground restaurant revered for its outstanding omakase (chef’s tasting menus). On any given night, the parade of dishes might include milky-sweet Japanese sea urchin or steak with rock salt, served at black marble–topped tables under shadowy lighting. Details B1/F, 108 Dun Hua Nan Rd., Sec. 1; 011-886-2-2741-3394.

c'est bon
23 ln 33 zhongshan n rd s1

chili house 250-3 zhongxio e rd s4
barcode for drinks at 22 Songshou road

HK spas

¤ bliss spa - W hotel

Mongolia Mongolia- not the China inner Mongolia

¤ Terelj hotel in Gorjhi Terelj park, stay in normal room built in style of 19th century palace or in a yurt
www.slh.com $274

Kenya

Stay Majlis

Www.themajlisresort.com

Porini lion camp
Fly thai air then air kenya to nairobi olekiombo

**kiwayu** lamu
Run with effortless charm and insouciant efficiency, Kiwayu takes the concept of flip-flopped indolence and turns it into a fine art. There is nowhere else quite so laidback and carefree, nowhere quite so beautifully under-appointed. Tracey Emin is a fan, as is Roberto Cavalli. The few bandas on one of the best beaches ever flaunt a lack of modern tricks with breezy pride: open-sided, made of thatch, utterly bereft of doors, phones, TV or wi-fi. Check the seagrass matting on the bathroom floor for scuttling hermit crabs before you step out of the shower. Take a slow and lazy sail up the coast or fish for red snapper. The most unplugged place in the world.

Sweetwaters tented camp. Big five. $360 incl meals 2 hr drive from nairobi

Camps in the Mara, Kichwa Tempo, Bateleur (prime vantage points along migration route)
Tembo $375
Bateleur $855
www.ccafrica.com

2 new lodges in the Samburu National reserve, both linked to Northern Rangelands Trust set up to help communities protect the wildlife
¤ Sasaab_ overlooks Ewaso Ngiro River, 9 lodges, $530 all inclusive
¤ Saruni Samburu-in Masai Mara, overlooks waterjold, 4 houses £380 per person for 3 nights all inclusive until 12/30/08
http://www.lamuretreats.com/

sept 2010 Kicheche

take 2.5 days off
Leave
Wed, Sep 22 Cathay Pacific 731
Depart: 4:25pm
Arrive: 8:40pm Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

8hr 15min | Airbus A330
Change Airline. Time between flights: 5hr 55min

Kenya Airways 311
Depart: 2:35am
Arrive: 6:40am Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)
5hr 5min | Boeing 767

fly to Kicheche 10 am

fly from Kicheche 4 pm

Sun, Sep 26 Emirates 722
Depart: 11:35pm
Arrive: 5:35am Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

5hr 0min | Boeing 777
Time between flights: 12hr 40min

Cathay Pacific 746
Depart: 6:15pm
Arrive: 6:10am Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG)
7hr 55min
arrives Tue 6:10 am
$2700 USD

montenegro

6/30 wed night to airport
fly to Rome 7/1 th 00:05 arrive 7 am day tour in rome (breakfast/lunch)
Rome - Podgorica
1 Jul 10
17:30 Rome (FCO)
18:40 Podgorica (TGD)
Montenegro Airlines (YM)
1:10

3 nights at aman 7/1, 7/2, 7/3

Return: Podgorica - Rome
4 Jul 10
08:50 Podgorica (TGD)
10:00 Rome (FCO)
Montenegro Airlines (YM)
1:10 0 stop(s)

rome to HK arrive 7/5 mon 7 am

go to Budva
eat at Konoba Stari Grad (Njegoseva 14)
¤ bianca resort & spa
www.biancaresort.com
¤ hotel Milocer (part of Aman Sveti Stefan)
¤ Svetai Stefan (near small resort of Petrovac--14th cent walled village, part of Aman resorts) (fly in from Rome Montenegro airline YM 00991 PODGORICA 14:15 departure, free airport pickup by Aman)
Bianca resort & spa (in Kolasin) www.biancaresort.com, great base on River Tara
www.queenofmontenegro.com 71pounds per night
¤ EAT Belveder, Catovica Mlini
hike biogradska gora national park & whitewater rafting in Zabljak or Kolasin
fly to Tivat (20km from Budva) or Podgorica

take 2 days off in June
6/15 tue fly to Rome
6/16 wed Rome to Dubrovnik 6 pm - 7:20 pm
overnight Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
6/17 th Dubrovnik to Aman Sveti Stefan
overnight 6/17 th 6/18 (2 nights) cheaper option stay entire time at Dubrovnik (day trip by boat www.atlas-croatia.com) (or day trip to Mostar)
fri day trip possible Monte by bus
6/19 sat 3:45 pm Dubrovnik flight to Rome 5:10 pm
6/20 Sunday noon flight to HKG

things to see in Dubrovnik
City Wall
Dominican Monastery and Museum
Dubrovnik Cathedral (Church of the Assumption)
Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Luza Square
Onofrio's Fountains
Pile Gate
Ploce Gate
St. Blaise Church
Stradun

Thailand-hua hin

¤ the Barai
¤ 6 senses
¤ Chiva som

kep Cambodia

¤ STAY www.knaibangchatt.com $146 or La villa de thomas $25
• See Bokor, rabbit island, Kampot
¤ eat at www.veranda-resort.com

borneo

http://www.gayana-eco-resort.com/ $200
http://www.kudatriviera.com/ (in Sabah, Northern Borneo, 29 rice barns 6 km unspoilt coast, closest town 20 min drive away) $750

¤ hike Mt Kinabalu
www.suterasantuarylodge.com.my
¤ see Sepilok Orang Utan rehab centr
• Dive Sipadan,
http://www.swvresort.com/

Gayana Eco Resort

see the Maliau Basin (a natural wonder)

yarra valley- australia's next wine country

¤ 48km NE of Melbourne
¤ is to Melbourne what Hunter Valley is to Sydney, top of the class pinot noirs
¤ Giant steps/innocent bystander winery 336 maroondah hwy, healesville
¤ healesville sancturary, badger creek rd to view dingoes, koalas & kangaroos
stay at Balgownie estate vineyard resort & spa
eat: locale (de bortoli wines 58 pinnacle lane, dixon's creek) Healesville hotel @ 256 maroondah hwy, healesville
taste also: TarraWarra Estate @ 311 Healesville-yarra glen, YARRA YERING 4 Briarty Road, Gruyere

pakistan hunza valley

• (known for stunning scenery & welcoming locals) Visit summer & autumn esp sept
• Gilgit- madina hotel & guesthouse
• Karimabad hunza baltit inn www.serenahotels.com
• Darbar hunza www.hunzadabar.co.pk
www.sitra.com tours
• Islamabad to gilgit www.piac.com.pk pakistani int'l airlines
hunza baltit inn

kanchanaburi Thailand

¤ two hour drive, 3rd class trains leave 2x Bangkok Thonburi station, 3hr, kanchanaburo to nam tok (death railway route) 2 hour
¤ river kwai bridge resort
• www.safarine.com

Friday, August 8, 2008

Shanghai hotels

¤ waterhouse at south bund (new design hotel)
¤ park hyatt
http://www.ivyshanghai.com/

cambodia sihanoukville

Sihanoukville independence hotel

beijing nanluoguxiang

¤ zha zha cafe- nanluoguxiang 101, dongcheng district
¤ tibet cafe- 97 nanluoguxiang

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Cambodia Angkor

Bakeng Hill --Just past Angkor Wat, Bakeng Hill is meant to resemble Mount Meru, the center of the earth in the Hindu cosmology. The hill makes a great spot for sunrise or sunset viewing and gets crowded like a mosh pit in high season. The hike up is a good way to limber up and break a sweat predawn, but the crumbled steps and slippery mud are a bit much for some. Consider taking the trek in style high up on an elephant's back in a houda. Elephants for hire start at about $20 (£11) and wait at the bottom of the hill.
Koh Ker -North of Beng Melea is Koh Ker, another popular off-the-map temple
Kabal Spean- Known as the "River of a Thousand Linga" (a linga is a phallic symbol representing the Hindu god Shiva), Kabal Spean lay undiscovered by Westerners until a French researcher stumbled across it only recently. Dating from the early 11th century, the relief carvings that line the stream beds are said to purify the water before it fills the reservoirs (called barays) of Angkor. It's the journey here that's really interesting -- on some rough roads through rural villages north of Banteay Srei -- and there's a fun forest hike (about 30 min. to the first waterfall). Khmer folks come to picnic, and it's a good spot to swim or follow the path that trips along at brook side; from there, you can view the many carvings in relief on the banks and creek bed
Pre Rup -With it's three central spires, Pre Rup looks a bit like a mini Angkor Wat. Prerup was built by King Rajeindravarmen II in 961 and was dedicated to Shiva. The best views are from the Hindu temple's south side. It is made of gray sandstone, which is a less durable material than the pink sandstone of Banteay Srei. As such, time and weather have had its way with the temple and much of the intricate carvings and detail have been worn away by rain and erosion. It's a crumbling edifice but still completely awesome in size and structure. Plants have begun to grow on the central towers and you can see their bright green leaves working their way through the gray stone. You'll be scrambling over the fallen rock and debris near the bottom of the temple and you still feel like a humble, insignificant mortal. Climb to the top of the temple and look west; on a clear day, you can see Angkor Wat's spires (roughly 12km away) peeking out over the treetops.
Ta Kaeo - What's most interesting about Ta Kaeo is that it was never completed. Legend has it that the temple was struck by lightning during its construction, and all work was abandoned at a stage where the main structure was complete, but no adornment had been added; as such it serves as "Temple Structure 101." Also unique is the fact that Ta Kaeo is made of a rich green sandstone (elsewhere it's a deeper brown or grayish color). Built in the 10th century by Jayavarman V, the temple was dedicated to Shiva. The central prang once housed a lingum, and the three levels are all encircled by sandstone galleries. The climb to the top is very steep, a bit of "4-points" rock climbing really, but the view is well worth it.

2-3 wk temple trail
danang to hoi an to doc let to nha trang to Phan Rang to Mui Ne to HCM to Phnom Penh to Sambor Prei Kuk to Preah Vihear to Koh Ker to Angkor

temples yet to check out---Koh Ker or Banteay Chmar

Beijing things to do

Club Les Fleurs -
8Central Park building 7, Guandongdian Nan Lu, Chaoyang (朝阳区朝外大街6号新城国际7号楼6层)Beijing, China Phone: +86 (10) 6533 6288
One of the best massage deals in town, Club Les Fleurs offers half-price services before 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. One-hour Chinese body massages go for about 130 yuan, or roughly $20. Other draws include a funky modern Chinese décor and free snacks (pork dumplings and freshly squeezed fruit juice). It's conveniently located near Kerry Center Hotel and the new Rem Koolhaas-designed square CCTV Tower.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

havana

A PRADO Y NEPTUNO
Prado 408, on the corner with Neptuno, Centro Habana, Havana (00 53 7 860 9636). A happy mix of tourists and Cubans and performances by local ensembles give this excellent pizzeria an informal and occasionally frenetic atmosphere, making it ideal for a group night out. The pizzas are some of the most authentic in the city; the pasta, though less good, is better than the Cuban average.

D'GIOVANNI Tacón 4, Habana Vieja, Havana (00 53 7 633 3560), in a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion just off the Plaza de la Catedral. Despite all the competition, it can reasonably claim to offer the best pizzas in Havana.

EL PATIO PLAZA DE LA CATEDRALPlaza de la Catedral, Habana Vieja, Havana (00 53 7 867 1034). A good place to try the Cuban standard of chicken, plantain, and moros y cristianos (literally 'Moors and Christians', a combination of black beans and white rice).

EL TEMPLETE
Avenida del Puerto 12-14, on the corner with Narciso López, Habana Vieja, Havana (00 53 7 866 8807). A relatively recent and very welcome addition to the restaurant scene in Habana Vieja. The platters at this seafood specialist are prepared with a professionalism that's rare around here: there's no coincidence that the head chef is not from Cuba but the Basque Country, and dishes such as Galician-style octopus and dolphin fish with houmous and capsicum oil are dripping with flavour and a break from the national norm. The roadside location is nothing special, but who needs a colonial courtyard when the cooking is this good?

HANOI CALLES BERNAZA Y TENIENTE REY
Plaza del Cristo, Vedado, Havana (00 53 7 625 881). A hangover from the days when virtually every restaurant in Havana was named after the capital of a socialist soulmate, Hanoi has survived by offering good-value Cuban cuisine, as well as the odd Vietnamese variation.

LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO
Calle Empedrado 207, Habana Vieja, Havana (00 53 7 618 442). Even in the 'Special Period' (Fidel Castro's term for the economic meltdown following the collapse of Communism elsewhere in the world), this was one of the few places that continued to serve palatable food. Its most arresting feature is the graffiti covering the walls and tables. Drink the health of Ernest Hemingway, who started each evening with a mojito in the bar below.

LA COCINA DE LILLIAM
Calle 48 1311, between 13 and 15, Playa, Havana (00 53 7 209 6514). A fantastic garden restaurant bursting with tropical plants and a sense of exclusivity, particularly for a paladar. The intercom entry system adds to the feeling that you are entering a private club, one whose visitors have included Jimmy Carter. Among the flora you'll be served dishes such as the excellent ropa vieja, a traditional Cuban dish of shredded stewed meat (usually beef, but here they use lamb). Open Sun-Fri, and closed for the last two weeks of December.

LA GUARIDA
Calle Concordia 418, between Gervasio and Escobar, Centro Habana, Havana (00 53 7 863 7351; http://www.laguarida.com/). A ramshackle 19th-century residential neighbourhood in Centro Habana is not the place you'd expect to find some of the tastiest, most expertly prepared cuisine in the city, but La Guarida is not your average paladar. Scaling the winding staircase to the 3rd floor of this withered apartment building, the set of the award-winning Cuban film Fresa y Chocolate, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd got the wrong place, until a door opens into the atmospheric and idiosyncratic family-run restaurant. Dine on dishes such as sugar-cane tuna glazed with coconut, or fish salad with crunchy vegetables and peanuts in one of three intimate, moodily lit dining rooms, as you take in the eclectic wall displays, from abstract art and cigar labels to pictures of Castro.

LA TORRE
Edificio FOCSA, Calle 17, on the corner with M, Vedado, Havana (00 53 7 838 3088). It may be hard to concentrate on your food when the view from your table is this stunning, but the seafood-and-steak menu does its best to match the wonderful vista from this 36th-floor restaurant. An unforgettable dining experience.

see
Vinales: time amid strange limestone mogote mounds
santigao: cuba's colonial treasure trove
hike: comandancia la plata

WHAT TO SEE

JARDIN BOTANICO NACIONAL
Carretera El Rocio, Havana. Jardin Botanico Nacional has a well-kept collection of tropical plants that includes poinsettias the size of Christmas trees, hibiscus, bromeliads, coleus and bougainvillea. Open daily.
MUSEO DE LA REVOLUCION
Refugio 1, between Avenida de las Misiones and Zulueta, Habana Vieja, Havana. To learn a bit about the countrys history, visit the housed in a huge, ornate, dome-topped building which was once the presidential palace. The spirit of the greatest revolutionary of them all, Che Guevara, lives on in posters, statues and murals such as the one on Plaza de la Revolucion.
PARTAGAS CIGAR FACTORY
Industria 520, Habana Vieja, Havana. A national treasure that hides behind the Capitolio in Havana's main square, Partagas - formerly the second largest cigar factory in Cuba - is worth a visit.

4/7 tuesday 23:55 0545+1
4/8 Wed 0945 1415 Gatwick Havana
4/12 Sun 1645 0620 Mon 4/13
4/13 12:35 07:10+1
stay Nh parque central

must sees

namibia

18 Dec CX749 HKG 23:45 JNB 06:35 +1
02 Jan CX748 JNB 12:35 HKG 07:05 +1

S Af. Air 12/19 JNB Windhoek 0950-1150 (or air namib 0745-0845)
1/1/2010 S Af. Air Windhoek Jo'burg (6 flights to Jo'burg)

start with sesriem & sossusvlei

stay

hotel in between Windhoek Damaraland & etosha (www.erongowilderness.com)

Twyfelfontein lodge

etosha stay at
Onguma Safari Tented Camp
http://www.ongumanamibia.com/onguma-the-fort-etosha.html

http://www.mowani.com

Soussusvlei desert lodge 1/20
Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp 3/20

Skeleton Coast (ie Skeleton Coast camp or Serra Cafema)

http://www.eyesonafrica.net/african-safari-namibia/serra-cafema/index.html

sent enquiries for quotes to truly africa & www.wilderness-safaris.com (waiting for reply)

rome hotels and food

what to see
http://english.scuderiequirinale.it/Mediacenter/FE/CategoriaMedia.aspx?idc=40&explicit=SI
400th anniversary of Caravaggio's birth, exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale

il palazzetto
hotel de russie (between Spanish steps & Piazza del popolo) http://www.roccofortecollection.com/

budget hotel: hotel prati www.hotelprati.com

~RESTAURANTS~
Trastevere district
*Asinocotto www.asinocotto.com (seabass with spinach & tarragon vinegar)
*la cisterna (via della cisterna) (Roman style suckling lamb)
Piazza Barberini district
*Tuna @ 11 Via Veneto, minimalist seafood heavy 06-4201-6531

Cartagena

Avianca flies from London via Madrid to Bogota to Cartagena
where to stay
Sofitel santa clara- former convent
agua hotel- converted mansion
casa la fe- colonial house
casa pestagua- 16th cent house
hotel cartagena millennium- bocogrande contemporary hotel
hotel casa del arzobispado-historic mansion beside cathedral
hotel charleston cartagena
hotel quadrifolio- 8 suites 17th cent house
la merced hotel boutique- 8 room 18th cent
la passion - 8 rm

http://www.townandcountrytravelmag.com/vacation-ideas/best-vacations/cartagena-colombia-summer08

tangier

fly heathrow to tangier (sometimes have to fly through Casablanca)
villa josephine http://www.villajosephine-tanger.com/ 220pounds B&B
hotel nord pinus tanger
el minzah
le mirage
dar nour
continental 40pounds (colonial, above port, oozes run down charm
eat: raihani (00 212 3993 4866) own garden, french & moroccan food, Valencia (00 212 3994 5146) near seafront, seafood , saveurs de poisson (11 pounds), cafe de paris nearby place de france (coffee) hotel le mirage http://www.lemirage-tanger.com/ (sea view)
see Kasbah at the dar el-makhzen (a 17th century palace that houses an absorbing crafts museum)

India Shimla

Fri HK 22:55 arrive DEL 02:05+1
(5:40 min)
return Sun 14:30 arrive HK 22:35

DEL to Chandigarh 13:05-13:50 (4 hour drive to hotel)
IXC to DEL 14:25-15:10

26th floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway
india visa (same day)

similar choice Ananda (Himalayas) or wildflower hall

cambodia kampot

kampot
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/exotic-breaks-kampot-cambodia-769840.html

visit Kep, Bokor Hill, old shophouses, rab. island

Outbound Hong Kong (HKG) - Phnom Penh (PNH) Select
DRAGONAIR
KA0206
Departs: Fri 17 Jul 09 15:30
Arrives: Fri 17 Jul 09 17:00
Economy - Direct flight - Total travel time: 02 hrs 30 mins
Inbound Phnom Penh (PNH) - Hong Kong (HKG) Select
DRAGONAIR
KA0207
Departs: Sun 19 Jul 09 18:00
Arrives: Sun 19 Jul 09 21:50
Economy - Direct flight - Total travel time: 02 hrs 50 mins

HK 2009 public holidays

1 January Thursday
Lunar New Year’s Day

26 January Monday
The second day of the Lunar New Year
27 January Tuesday
The third day of the Lunar New Year
28 January Wednesday
Ching Ming Festival

10 April Friday
The day following Good Friday
13 April Monday

Labour Day
1 May Friday

28 May Thursday
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

1 July Wednesday
National Day

1 October Thursday
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

26 October Monday

Christmas Day
25 December Friday

Monday, August 4, 2008

Seoul weekend escape

fri midnight 00:20 arrive 03:35 (5hr flight)
return Sun night 22:20 arrive HK 1:05
$8536 on Cathay
Jongmyo Shrine (Unesco World Heritage Site since 1995)
Changdeokgung Palace, Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Deoksugung Palace,
National Museum of Korea-- a treasure trove of Korean antiquities

weekened escape to Chiang Mai

HK - Bangkok 2210 2355
BK - CM 0645 0755
CM - BK 1520 1630
BK - HK 1840 2235
Mandarin $391
Chedi $410
Puripunn baby grand $151
4 seasons $646
Tamarind $150
Villa Water Orchid $129
http://www.ratilannachiangmai.com/index.php

¤ veranda chiang mai-the high resort www.verandaresortandspa.com set in a private valley 69 rooms
¤ see Mae Rim

Thailand Ranong

www.phuketairlines.com & www.airasia.com fly daily Bangkok & Ranong (1 hr)
ferries leave Ranong's Saphan Pla pier for Koh Payam 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. daily Oct to March & once a day 9 a.m. low season
stay: www.bamboo-bungalows.com US$8
www.ppland.cabanova.de US$25 (solar powered bungalows private beach looks across water to Myanmar
visit Kawthaung, small Burmse trading port, dotted w/Buddhist temples, Victorian-era mansions & smugglers' market

Sri Lanka

see
polonnaruwa (1hr 13 east) dambulla (southwest:30min) kandy (south: 1h29min)

Kandy House (Gunnepana) http://www.thekandyhouse.com/ (a 200 year old manor house on the outskirts of SL's 2nd largest city)
(north of Kandy)Vil Uyana** http://www.jetwing.com/ offers views of Sigiriya from a private welands reserve
Warwick gardens http://www.jetwing.com/ refurbished planter's home
tintagel http://www.tintagelcolumbo.com/, mansion in tiny Columbo suburb of Cinnamon Gardens
kandalama sri lanka

vietnam to Siem reap

8:25-9:45 HCM to siemp reap
13:50-15:10 siem reap to HCM
18:55-22:35 HCM to HK

Cebu

Abaca
www.abacaresort.com
US$379 9 room boutique
on Mactan Island
cruises to Cumungi

~~ Abaca

India Golden Chariot

Karnataka's answer to Palace on wheels
golden chariot www.thegoldenchariot.co.in
US$1770 per person, full board
7 nights departing Bangalore or Goa
incl sites such as ruins at Hampi, sandstone cave temple at Badami, temple complexes at Belur & Halebidu

Stay Shreyas yoga

Shanghai restaurants

Char steakhouse at hotel indigo
Shook! At Swatch Art Peace hotel

Le Garcon Chinois (No 3 Lane 9 Hengshan Lu, near Dongping Lu)

Yong An (4/F, 600 Jiujiang Lu)

M1NT (24/F, 318 Fuzhou lu) & Kee Club (3/f 796 Huaihai lu)

Chengdu restaurants

Shi Mo Dou Hua (9 Renmin Nanlu, 8628 8559 9288)
Wenshu Yuan Shu Chanting (vegetarian, 15 Wenshu Yuan Lu 8628 8593 2018)
Da Rong He (56 Zijing Nanlu 8628 8514 2323)
Huang Cheng Lao Ma (20 Erhuan Nanlu 8628 8513 9999)
Baguo Buyi Shuangnan (8 Guangfuqiao Beijie 8628 8509 5777)

stay at
http://www.buddhazenhotel.com/chinese/contact.htm

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Beijing restaurants

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/beijings-new-nightlife-scene/1

Domus 115 nanchi zi lu, dongcheng
Santilun 1949: (courtyard 4, gonti beilu, chaoyang) cluster of 10 former factory buildings opened in 1949. the Hidden City restaurants (Duck de Chine 1/5 Taverna & noodle bar)courtyard 4, 55000 sq ft courtyard,12 seat noodle bar,glass walled Sugar Bar,1/5 taverna (strolling music duo), Well Bar, gallery 49
Fangshan (imperial cuisine) 1 Wenjin Jie, Xicheng 8610 6401 1879
Tian Di Yi Jia (occupies grand old courtyard house in a lane just east of the Forbidden City) 140 nan chi zi da jie, dongcheng 8610 8511 5556
Beijing Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant (stands among former imperial granaries) 22 Dongsishitiao, Dong cheng 8610 5169 0328
Hai Wan Ju (old fashioned street snacks, Beijing folk food, ie zha jiang mian) 11 Zengguang Lu, Haidian 8610 8207 0488
Made in China (Grand Hyatt) 1 east Chang An Ave 8610 8518 1234 x3608
Guo Yao Xiao Ju (tiny hutong restaurant specialises in Tan Jia Cia- household cuisine of Tan Zongjun, a late Qing dynasty official whose kitchen renowed for Cantonese/BJ cookery
Red capital club - 66 dongsi juitiao, dongcheng district
Haiku by Hatsune- 3/f 8 chaoyang gongyuan ximen (part of block 8)
Lan - 4/f LG Twin Towers B12 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang, upscale Sichuan
People 8- 18 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang
3 Guijou Men- bldg 7 Jianwai Soho, 29 Dongshanhuan, Chaoyang+86 (10) 65518517
whampoa club - 23a Jinrong Jie, Xicheng
Dali大理 - +86 (10) 84041430 tucked in a back alley without a sign. (It's the first hutong on the north side of the street when coming from the Jiaodaokou intersection). Dali is one of the city's finest spots to sample the pungent and spicy cuisine of the southwestern province of Yunnan, which features ingredients rarely found in Chinese cuisine, such as pungent cheeses. Dinner is a flat 100 yuan a person-cozy and casual courtyard setting reinforces its considerable appeal
opening 09 "capital M" at Qianmen St (5 min from legation quarter) newly restored pedestrian strip populated w/ Qing dynasty style laozihao shops, museum, Zhangyiyuan (tea), Quanjude (ducks), Dazhalan (Daguanlou Cinema) Ruifuxiang (silk) Neiliansheng (shoes) Goubuli (baozi)
¤ maison boulud a pekin/beijing - in legation quarter, ny based french chef daniel boulud 23 qianmen dong dajie, dongcheng 8610 65599200
legation quarter Maison Boulud a Peking 23 Qianmen Dong Dajie, Chongwen Dong cheng district(site of US embassy during Qing dynasty, string of 5 century old neoclassical buildings that flank a grassy courtyard) Sadler Ristorante (michelin starred milanese chef Claudio Sadler), Aqua group managed Shiro Matsu (8610 65596266) Hex Bar, and Agua (Spanish chef Jordi Valles' tapas) Fez (rooftop lounge, open tent booths) also see Beijing center for the arts also at the Legation

Bangkok attractions

next stay stay at
http://www.ariyasom.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=84

The Grand Palace
Hours Daily 8:30am-3:30pm; most individual buildings are closed to the public except on special days proclaimed by the king
Location
Near the river on Na Phra Lan Rd. near Sanam Luang
Transportation
Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to the Tha Chang Pier, then walk east and south
Phone
02222-8181
Prices
Admission 200B ($4.90). Price includes Wat Phra Kaeo and the Coin Pavilion inside the Grand Palace grounds, as well as admission to the Vimanmek Palace (near the National Assembly)
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
Hours
Daily 8am-5:30pm
Location
West bank of the Chao Phraya, opposite Tha Thien Pier
Transportation
Take a water taxi from Tha Tien Pier (near Wat Po) or cross the Phra Pinklao Bridge and follow the river south on Arun Amarin Rd
Phone
2465-5640
Prices
20B (50¢) admission (can stay at Arun Residence)
Wat Phra Kaeo (Kaen)
Hours
Daily 8:30am-3:30pm
Location
In the Grand Palace complex
Transportation
Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang Pier, then walk east and south
Phone
02222-0094
Prices
Admission included in the Grand Palace fee, 200B ($4.90)
Wat Po
Hours
Daily 8am-5pm; massages offered until 6pm
Location
Maharat Rd., near the river (about 1km/ 2/3 mile south of the Grand Palace)
Phone
02222-0933
Prices
20B (50¢) admission
The National Museum
Hours
Wed-Sun 9am-4pm. Free English-language tours: Buddhism culture, Wed 9:30am; art, culture, religion, Thurs 9:30am; call the museum or check a newspaper for more details and current schedule
Location
Na Phra That Rd. (about 1km/ 2/3 mile north of the Grand Palace)
Phone
02224-1333
Prices
Admission 40B ($1)

Paradise Koh Yao

Sat: 0700 Bangkok to Phuket 0815 arrival

Paradise Koh Yao

Jacuzzi Studio: Online Direct Rate
Tropical semi-outdoor bathroom with private jacuzzi. Stunning views overlooking the resort and the bay, luxurious king-size bed in airconditioned bedroom, open sala living area. 56 square meters living area.Room rate includes an appetizing breakfast buffet for two guests.
THB 5,700.00 x 1 Night
Rates include 10% VAT
return flight 1630 arrive Bangkok 1745

Indian hotels recommended by Tatler 2008 travel guide

Fri night departures

19:00 CX 111 Sydney Cathay Pacific

19:00 CX 673 Denpasar Cathay Pacific

19:00 KA 894 Shanghai Dragonair

CX 6866 Cathay Pacific

19:00 KA 906 Beijing Dragonair

CA 6516 Air China

CX 6878 Cathay Pacific

19:05 KA 824 Chengdu Dragonair

CA 6504 Air China

CX 6828 Cathay Pacific

19:10 CX 135 Melbourne Cathay Pacific

19:15 9W 075 Mumbai Jet Airways

19:20 CI 920 Taipei China Airlines

19:20 AE 1822 Tai Chung Mandarin Airlines

19:20 RA 410 Kathmandu Nepal Airlines

19:20 VS 200 Sydney Virgin Atlantic Airways

19:25 CA 428 Chengdu Air China

CX 6128 Cathay Pacific

KA 1428 Dragonair

19:25 BR 872 Taipei EVA Air

19:30 5J 119 Manila Cebu Pacific Air

19:30 MU 510 Shanghai China Eastern Airlines

FM 510 Shanghai Airlines

19:35 CZ 3032 Guilin China Southern

19:45 FM 812 Shanghai Shanghai Airlines

MU 8926 China Eastern Airlines

19:45 UO 304 Beijing Hong Kong Express

19:55 CX 468 Taipei Cathay Pacific

20:00 CA 116 Beijing Air China

CX 6116 Cathay Pacific

KA 1116 Dragonair

20:00 CX 715 Singapore Cathay Pacific

AA 6107 AmericanAirlines

20:00 KA 622 Hangzhou Dragonair

CA 6528 Air China

CX 6814 Cathay Pacific

20:00 KA 913 Manila Dragonair

20:00 UA 895 Singapore United Airlines

AC 5202 Air Canada

20:05 CI 642 Taipei China Airlines

20:15 3K 696 Singapore Jetstar Asia Airways

20:20 MF 8002 Xiamen Xiamen Airlines

CZ 8502 China Southern

20:20 AE 986 Kaohsiung Mandarin Airlines

20:25 KA 870 Shanghai Dragonair

CX 6854 Cathay Pacific

20:35 5J 237 Cebu Cebu Pacific Air

20:40 MU 712 Shanghai China Eastern Airlines

FM 712 Shanghai Airlines

20:40 UA 869 Ho Chi Minh United Airlines

AC 5869 Air Canada

NZ 9869 AIR NEW ZEALAND

LH 9286 Lufthansa

20:45 TG 607 Bangkok Thai Airways

AC 9567 Air Canada

PG 4829 Bangkok Airways

SK 8603 SAS

20:50 FD 3694 Bangkok Thai AirAsia

20:55 LY 076 Tel Aviv EL AL Israel Airlines

20:55 KA 488 Taipei Dragonair

21:00 BR 858 Taipei EVA Air

21:05 AK 079 Kuala Lumpur AirAsia

21:05 CX 107 Auckland Cathay Pacific

BA 4551 British Airways

21:10 QF 128 Sydney Qantas Airways

AF 8076 Air France

21:15 UO 234 Shanghai Hong Kong Express

21:25 CI 924 Taipei China Airlines

21:30 UO 713 Manila Hong Kong Express

21:35 ET 609 Bangkok Ethiopian Airlines

Addis Ababa
21:35 RJ 183 Bangkok Royal Jordanian

Amman
21:40 BR 1852 Taipei EVA Air

21:40 PR 311 Manila Philippine Airlines

21:45 HX 518 Hanoi Hong Kong Airlines

UO 4518 Hong Kong Express

21:45 KQ 861 Bangkok Kenya Airways

Nairobi
21:50 KA 450 Kaohsiung Dragonair

21:55 CI 643 Bangkok China Airlines

21:55 5J 143 Manila Cebu Pacific Air

22:00 CX 905 Manila Cathay Pacific

22:15 CX 408 Taipei Cathay Pacific

22:25 EK 385 Bangkok Emirates Airline

Dubai
22:45 SQ 002 San Francisco Singapore Airlines

22:50 CX 263 Paris Cathay Pacific

22:50 KA 110 Dhaka Dragonair

CX 6708 Cathay Pacific

22:55 CX 753 Delhi Cathay Pacific

23:00 HX 703 Phuket Hong Kong Airlines

23:05 AF 185 Paris Air France

AZ 2689 Alitalia

QF 3975 Qantas Airways

23:05 KL 890 Amsterdam KLM Royal Dutch Airline

23:05 TK 071 Istanbul TURKISH AIRLINES

23:15 BA 026 London/LHR British Airways

23:15 LX 139 Zurich S W I S S

23:20 LH 731 Munich Lufthansa

NZ 4631 AIR NEW ZEALAND

TP 7621 TAP Air Portugal

23:25 VS 201 London/LHR Virgin Atlantic Airways

23:35 CX 105 Adelaide Cathay Pacific

Melbourne
23:35 QF 068 Perth Qantas Airways

23:40 BA 032 London/LHR British Airways

23:40 CX 103 Brisbane Cathay Pacific

Cairns
23:40 CX 880 Los Angeles Cathay Pacific

AA 6120 AmericanAirlines

23:45 CX 261 Paris Cathay Pacific

23:45 CX 749 Johannesburg Cathay Pacific

23:50 CX 289 Frankfurt Cathay Pacific

23:50 SA 287 Johannesburg South African Airways

OZ 6593 Asiana Airlines

NH 6665 All Nippon Airways

23:55 CX 101 Sydney Cathay Pacific

23:55 CX 251 London/LHR Cathay Pacific

23:55 CX 745 Dubai Cathay Pacific

Taiwan

http://www.thelalu.com.tw/
sulfur rich hot springs
5 suite retreat
Yangming Mountain
private soaks
http://www.villa32.com/

other lodging: Ambience Hotel, Les Suites Da-An, Lalu
Grand Formosa Taroko $197-$280
Leader Village Taroko (rustic eco-lodge, provides jobs for local aboriginals) $51-138
Lukang: LK Bed & Breakfast 4-777-4446 & Red Chambers Motel 4-784-1201

Dining

Shin Yeh (Taiwanese delicacies, 45 shi-fu road, 85th fl taipei 101)
Shi Yang Shan Fang - Shilin hills 160 Lane 101 Jing-shan rd
Tien Hsiang Lo 41 Min chuan E rd section 2
King Join -BJ vegetarian 18 Shih Wei Rd 2-2701-3225
Yong He Soy Milk King - 132 Fu Xing S Rd sec 2

Muscat

2 hour stopover Dubai
Chedi Muscat
Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa
6 senses

HCM weekend

Snack mojo 88 dong khoi st (cafe)
Shop Dragon smile (contemporary lacquer furniture & homewares) 74/5 hai ba trung st http://www.dragon-smile.com/
Eat temple club 29-31 ton that thiep st 84-8/829-9244
Shop Mai's 132 dong khoi st Mailam.com.vn
Sleep ordinary bed & breakfast 25 dong du st, 12 room, $35 or Majestic http://www.majesticsaigon.com.vn/
Q bar
other places to eat: Bun Bo Xu 28 Cao Ba Quat St, Cafe Terrace @ Grand View Bldg 3 Nguyen Du Canh, Phu My Hung District 7 or at Saigon Centre 65 le loi blvd, Cantina Central 51 Ton That Thiep St, luong Son @ 81 Ly Tu Trong St, Pho 24 (many locations incl 5 Nguyen Thiep St) Quan an ngon (138 nam ky khoi nghia st) quan 94 (84 dinh tien hoang st) Xu restaurant lounge (71-75 hai ba trung st) $70 for 2
more time?stay nam hai in hoi an

Babek: Indian G/F 9 Elgin St 2975 9332
Bodega riojana near kennedy town 28728686tapas, g/f 83 smithfield rd kennedy town, rustic open air space, on top of hilly street near 1 of hk's olest trees, feel removed from city
Chez moi, g/f 10 arbuthnot rd 2801 6768
Chillout bar-korean fried chicken, g/f 31 staunton st
Gitone fine arts 1/f 100 queen's road east, wanchai•
Izote -mexican, 8/6 lkf tower 55 d'aguilar 29051165
Kiyotaki 13, gough 2877 1772
Sushi qube--(take steps next to 41 wyndham st entrance located around back) 2810 0803 meal for 2 $2400
Tapeo- tapas (seats 24 close 11pm) g/f Au's bldg 19 Hollywood Rd 3171 1989
Tung's house 2nd fl pearl oriental house 60 stanley st, central
Roka level LG1 88 Queensway Admiralty 3960 5988 11:30-11pm
Rokkaku- sushi counter g/f 6 kwong ming st wanchai 2866 8166 tiny

Vietnam Phu Quoc

8:50 pm Fri departure
Sat 5:55-6:55, 8:25-9:25, 9:15-10:15
Sun 14:20-15:25, HCM-HK 18:55

Vietnam Nha Trang

6 senses hideway at Ninh Van Bay 20 min by boat from NT

Myanmar

Malikha lodge, putao
• Strand www.ghmhotels.com spore operated
• Pansea yangon french operated
•www.Malikha lodge.com
• $1350 3n all incl

best time is Nov-Feb
Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel $130
Pandaw II (Pagan/Bagan to Mandalay cruise 2n/3d $934)

Mayan sites

Tikal
Palenque
Xunantunich
Chichen Itza
Uxmal
Calakmul
best Nov-May

Kyoto

Kinmata ryokan http://www.kinmata.com/
http://www.yoshi-ima.co.jp/ US$355 incl meals (in Gion)
Kyoto cherry blossom Kinkakuji temple of golden pavilionKiyomizu6-6 grand views Nijo castle- no photosRyoanji temple zenrock 8:30-4:30Sanjusangendo 9-4 e Kyoto visually stunning

see Himeji castle
stay Jijuden guesthouse next to Golden Pavilion temple or Westin Miyako (view of 600 yr old nanzen-ji

Date Flight Departure Arrival Stop Duration Aircraft Remarks Class
17 Jul CX506 HKG 10:05 KIX 14:45 0 3:40 773 eTicket Economy Save (L)
19 Jul CX507 KIX 18:10 HKG 21:00 0 3:50 744 eTicket Economy Save (L)
Inflight entertainment: Hong Kong To Osaka , Osaka To Hong Kong

See---
Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizudera), Nijo Castle (Nijojo), Ryoanji Temple, Sanjusangendo Hall

Tongli

50 min from Suzhou
45 min train from Shanghai
1000 year old humpbacked bridges

Sanya

take bus from Shenzhen
22:00-23:20
23:00 arrive 00:10
return Sun 19:00-20:20
new hotels: Ritz, Banyan, mandarin

Guilin

Homa Libre

Beijing hotels

http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn/
the emperor http://www.theemperor.com.cn/ (55 room gem adjacent to the forbidden city)
hotel G (7 gongti xi lu, chaoyang district) http://www.hotel-g.com/
legation quarter
http://www.shijiahouse.com/
Opposite house
Hotel cote cour sl http://www.hotelcotecoursl.com/ (on the zig zagging Yanyue Hutong) and also opening one in 798
Red capital residence http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn/

~~ Opposite House
~~commune
~~hutong hotels: 3+1 bedrooms 17 zhangwang hutong, Duge Courtyard boutique hotel --Nanluoguxiang guxiang 20, 20 Nanluoguxiang