asian national park

• http://www.kaengkrachanresort.com/ thailand (nov-feb)
• kinabalu Malaysia (stay- Laban Rata 3273 meter pt, Mesilau Nature Resort) (Apr best, nov/dec wettest) (2hr from KK) can also ascend via longer less severe Mesilau trail & descend on the Timpohon trail
• Philippines Mt Arayat national park (short deive from manila) (dec-may)
• Preah monivong- cambodia (nov-dec) stay in Kampot http://www.rikitkitavi-kampot.com/

India - Assam

1. safari in Kaziranga
2. Singinawa jungle lodge www.singinawa.in
3. Diphlu river lodge www.dihluriverlodge.com

laos

http://www.kingfisherecolodge.com/
http://www.lafolie-laos.com/
http://www.rivertimelaos.com/
$28 45 min from vientiane
go to Nam Ha National Protected Area (northwesternmost province of Laos, 222,400 hectares of untamed forest which occupies 1/3 of the province)

SI PHAN DON
"4000 islands" island life, visit Khmer mountain temple of Wat Phu, Champasak

musandam

India - jodhpur

1. 26 acres 76 rooms (46 suites) 105 foot central cupola, tajhotels.com
2. or stay at Umaid bhawan
3. check out meherangarh

vietnam hanoi

• Halong Jasmine http://www.cruisehalong.com/ $419 pp, twin share wooen junk, 55 meter, 4 decks, 24 rooms
• www.exploreindochina.com 3-9 day motorbike trip thru north of Vietnam up to 5 per guide $150-270 pp daily depending on # of riders includes motorbike rental, fuel, lodging & meals

south africa

• sabi sabi earth lodge
• the Makuleke
• the Makuleke lease their land--nearly 60,000 acres at the Northernmost corner of Kruger National Park--to 2 luxury lodges. Guests at Pafuri Camp stay at one of 20 tented rooms joined by elevated walkways that allow animals free access to the Luvuvhu River http://www.pafuri.com/ $472
• the outpost's 12 hilltop suites have remote-control screens that can be retracted to provide a full view of animals at the river http://www.theoutpost.co.za/ $568
• Makuleke Community Centre & Homestay (8 miles outisde park gates) 6 thatched huts 27-79-151-7127 $33
• madikwe private game reserve: http://www.ccafrica.com/ $868
• Tintswalo at Waterfall, South Africa
• An ideal pre- or post-safari destination on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
• in the 500-acre Waterfall Country & Equestrian Estate, just 20 miles southeast of Rand Airport, means that travel time to the region’s game reserves is less than two hours.
• Founded by South Africans Warwick and Lisa Goosen, who opened their original Tintswalo Safari Lodge on a lush private concession in Manyeleti Reserve, which shares an open border with famed Kruger National Park
• heavy stone walls and bolted timber beams of the main lodge recall classic equestrian estates. In each suite, teak floors, pillow-strewn king-size beds, and soft leather couches are livened up with animal prints
• Jet-lagged travelers can breathe fresh air and recharge on private walking trails, or in the outdoor lap pool. On your way back from the bush, ease tired muscles with a special hydrotherapy bath treatment at the intimate Elemis spa
• www.tintswalo.com

malaysia

1. perhentian islands

guizhou china

Dimen China

• Dong village of Dimen, known for its beautiful polyphonic choral songs (w/no written language, the Dong use song to record history) & ornately decorated bridges

mali

2009 festival on the niger 1/29-2/1
festivalsegou.org

www.fulanitravel.co.uk 9 day tour $1884 pp + airfare

ecolodges

http://www.kooljaman.com.au/ near Broome
1. DESERT ecolodges
2. 1/ Adrere amellal 8hr from Cairo$493Al maha 45min from Dubai$1000
3. 2/ Apani dhabi. India. Organic farm. 8solar powered clay brick cottages. Rajasthan. $25
4. 3/ Wolwedans. 4 camps. [Namib$342]
5. 4/ Desert rhino camp. [Namib.] Largest free ranging population of black rhinos$814
6. 5/ Three camels. Mongolia$160
7. 6/ Tswalu kalahari reserve.[ S Africa.$1486]
8. 7/ UNO Eco lodge. Mexico. Archaeological sites $110
9. 8/ Voyages longitude 131. Ayers rock $1980
10. 9/ Wadi feynan ecolodge. Dana biosphere. Jordan. 26rm. $93.
11. JUNGLE ecolodges
12. 1/ Banjaar tola. India. 18tents. Kanha national pk Rs60,000 (Taj Safaris' 4th jungle lodge) by Banjaar River... tiger trails
13. 2/ Boat landing guesthouse. Laos $35.
14. 3/ [Canopy tower ecolodge. ] 45min from panama city in soberania$126
15. 4/ Daintree ecolodge. Australia. 15 treehouses 40min from great barrier$457
16. 5/ [Chalalan ecolodge.] Bolivia. 5hr boat ride from nearest town. Moonlight canoe trips thru chalalan lagoon.$345 4days (also do this... Bolivia. Amazon jungle, lake titicaca. Altiplano salt flats. " most dangerous road" 40 mile la Paz to coroico 12000 feet descent )
17. 6/ Kapawi ecolodge. Run by Achuars.$695 3n
18. 7/ Lapa rios ecolodge. Costa rica. Set in 1000acre tropical rain forest reserve.$270
19. 8/ [Lodge at chaa creek] Belize. Began in 70s as hippie farm reachable by canoe only 365acre reserve. Medicine trail path. Day trips to maya temples$270
20. 9/ Sukau rainforest lodge. Borneo. 20rm 45flight from kkinabalu. 2 hr by boat$370/2n
21. MOUNTAINS ecolodges
22. Blacksheep inn. Ecuador.$80
23. Crosswaters ecolodge.$220
24. Milia Mtn retreat. Crete. Greece.$102
25. O'reilly's rainforest retreat. Australia. Outside Brisbane.48 villas$327
26. Tiger mtn pokhara. Views of Annapurna. $500
27. Whitepod. Switzerland.
28. Safari Eco
29. 1/ Basecamp Masai mara. 45min flight from [Nairobi. ]$560
30. 2/ Bushman kloof wilderness. [South af ]Home to 130 rock art sites. Canoe around cape floral kingdom. A world heritage site $460
31. 3/ Caiman ecological refuge. [Brazil. ]Canoe n horseback ride thru seasonally flooded grasslands.$448
32. 4/ Campi ya kanzi. [Kenya. ]Owned by maasai $1300
33. 5/ Il ngwesi lodge. [Kenya. ] Indigenous culture100m from nairobi $380
34. 6/ Amboseli porini camp. [Kenya.] In the shadow of kilimanjaro $740
35. 7/ Kleins camp. Ten cottages. 24800 acre reserve$1080[ Tanzania]
36. 8/ Phinda private game reserve.16bush ensconced glass walled$764[ a Africa ]
37. 9/ Vumbura plains. [Botswana. ]On okavanga's northern edge $2050
38. 10/ Zibandianja camp. [Botswana. ]4tents
39. Island ecolodgesChumbe islands coral park. [Tanzania.] 7 bungalows$40
40. Kosrae village. E of [Palau$149] Nihiwatu. Indonesia. $440
41. Ranweli holiday lodge. Sri l. 2 hr from colombo Ayurvedic center$66
42. Rosalie forest Eco lodge. [Dominica.] Treehouses. Volcanoes n jungle.$50
43. Vamizi island. [Mozambique. ]10 villas in quirimbas archipelago. Migrating whales $900

Hanoi

• http://www.maichaulodge.com/default.aspx?Action=reservations 2 hr from Hanoi, 135 km south-west of Hanoi in the Northern province of Hoa Binh which is bordered by Son La in the West, Phu Tho and Ha Tay in the North, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh in the East, and Thanh Hoa in the South.

kerala India

http://www.cntraveller.com/Guides/India/Cochin/print.html

Kerala is India's green state, home to emerald mosaic of spice & tea plantations
stay at

• http://www.cghearth.com/ Spice Village (52 cottages) $260
• ayurveda at http://www.kalarikovilakom.com
  kalari kovilakom
  green magic treehouse resort (bed down 27m up in canopy of fiscus trees built by local paniya tribesmen, 1 of the "rooms" is accessed by a water-powered cane lift, the other by a white-knuckle rope bridge
• www.thepaul.in Kumarakom Lake Resort (10 hectares alongside Lake Vembanad, 49 villas, eat at Ettukettu (dinner $60/2) near by 5 hectare Kumarakom bird sanctuary (storks, herons, egrets & parrots), rent thathced roof houseboat to see area's hindu temples

guangzhou

• crosswaters ecolodge

Vientiane Laos

Nov to Feb best
see golden stupa of That Luang, Buddha Park statuary

stay
~~45 min away Rivertime ecolodge $28
~~ http://www.chantapanyahotel.com/ $35,
~~ http://www.setthapalace.com/ $125 (old world atmosphere),
~~ http://www.banpako.com/ $5 eco-lodge along Nam Ngum River 50 km east of Vientiane, located at archaeological site (hike in surrounding jungles & bamboo forests)
~~ hotel novotel http://www.novotel.com/
~~ beau rivage mekong http://www.hbrm.com/ artistic boutique inn
~~ don chan palace $150 http://www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com/
~~ tai pan, central location 2-12 francois nginn st http://www.taipanhotel-vientiane.com/ $60
~~ day inn (charming bargain priced) dayinn@laopdr.com $30

eat
~~Khop Chai Deu 54 Settathirat Rd 856-21/251-564 US$25 for 2
~~JoMa & ~~Daofa (both facing Kop Chai Deu on Settathirit) B/L
amphone US$30 for 2 856-20/771-1138
~~ **makphet US$20 for 2 Settathirat Rd opposite Wat Impeng/Wat In Paeng

~~Le Silapa (17/1 Th. sihom),
~~Le Banneton (th. norkeokoummarn)

Cambodia Phnom Penh

1. http://www.thequayhotel.com/ (carbon friendly), other hotel choices are http://www.phnompenh.raffles.com/ $290, http://www.pavilion-cambodia.com/ $50***, http://www.amanjaya.com/ $115
2. eat Romdeng 74 st 174 & le wok 33 st 178, other choices are : Malis 136 norodom blvd 855-23/221-022, Topaz (great wine cellar) 182 norodom blvd 855-23/221-622, Pacharan 389 E1 Sisowath Quay, 855-23/224 394, sugar palm no 19 street 240 855-23/220-956, le duo no.17 street 228, 855-12/342-921, FCC 363 sisowath quay 855-2 3/724-014, cafe metro, corner of sisowath quay & st 148 855-23/217-517, rubies : great wine list, corner of st 19 & st 240 855/92319769, Pontoon : riverbank @ street 108 855-12/572880
3. 22 Pacharan 389 el sisowath quay 85
4. 
   Comme a la Maison, at 13 Street 57, for a classic French dinner
   FCC Phnom Penh legendary bar
   
   shop: ambre 37 st 178 & http://www.songresort.com/
5. bliss spa- 29 st 290

komodo dragons

1. Labuanbajo seaside port of Flores to Rinca (2 hr away only) to see komodo dragons
2. fly Trans Nusa www.transnusa.co.id or (not as good) www.merpati.co.id
3. http://www.flores-komodo.com/tour_2_days_rinca_dragon_tours.html

Addis Ababa

trek with a pack mule from Massawa to Addis Ababa via Simien Mountains

Russia

1. lake Baikal

Indian places to visit (miscell)

1. Dharamsala
2. Coorg, India
3. 1/ aman (see red fort. Hama masjid. Lodhi tombs. 15m plunge pool in each room.
4. 2/ February mihar gahr (www.cazloyd.com) outside jodhpur. Owned by family of Rajasthan horsemen. Nine bedroom retreat. Access to equines.
5. 3/ SURYA SERAI outside Jaisalmer. 20 tents.(or hotel fifu in Jaisalmer, or Devi Garh Fort Palace in village of Delwara in the Aravali hills, go during the desert festival around Jan-Feb time........
6. 4/ In Kerala Neeleshwar www.neeleshwarhermitage.com thatched cottages by the sea and daily yoga
7. 5/ aman-I-khas (closes apr30) 187km from jaipur. 12th century ranthambore fort, inside are remains of temples, palace chambers)
8. 6/ devigarh near udaipur, 40 min away
9. 7/ Indian dance festival in Tamil Nadu dec25 til jan25
10. 8/ see Sikkim. Tashiding 19km southeast of yoksum. Go 1st m of Tibetan calendar. Pemayangtse 4km from pelling. 140km west of Gangtok. Enchey monastery in Gangtok.
11. 9/ medieval orcha-known for wall paintings
12. 10/ khajuraho -erotic arts temples

~~go in Feb fo Nagaur Fair in Rajasthan

Indonesia - Sumbawa island

aman gati $38 (not an Aman)

vietnam - con dao island

www.saigoncondao.com/en $100

India - Andaman -

www.barefootindia.com $90
barefoot@havelock $90

urumqi

• www.Sheraton.com

thailand- Pranburi

1. www.brassierebeach.com
2. www.x2resorts.com kui buri

Manila- the farm

2 hr from Manila
managed by alila hotels

next Tibet trip

Mustang- preserving Tibetan buddhism in a time warp & see Mount Kailash (steady stream of pilgrims, try to get there before Chinese pave road around it)
go to Tholing & Tsaparang

next Bhutan trip

want to trek the Jigme Dorji NP-- pristine forest & soaring peaks