On Monday, May 12, 2008, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit about 100 kilometers northwest     of Chengdu in central China. It is the worst quake in 3 decades in Sichuan, and casualties are     approaching 10,000 people. Chongoing and Shifang cities are badly damaged.

Normally the wealth of attractions that China has to offer its visitors is unprecedented in any other part of the world; thousands of years of civilization have left their mark on the worlds 4th largest, and most populous, nation.

Some of the most visited attractions include the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Silk Market.

The Great Wall of China, supposedly seen from orbit, stretches for thousands of miles and will leave you awestruck as you contemplate the great feats of those involved in its construction.

Take a tour that will bring you to all the major cities of China giving you a glimpse of the vastness of this country. One example of such a tour would be a Yangtze River Cruise that will take you to such places as Chongqing, Fendu, known as the Ghost City, the gorges of Badong and the Hubei Provincial Museum at Wuhan. Choose from 5 day cruises or take one that lasts two weeks ? you will enjoy luxurious accommodations in all the cities you visit and guided tours of bilingual guides.

Five star accommodations are available in all the major cities, such as the Golden Gulf Hotel in Shantou. This hotel has elaborate guest rooms and a restaurant serving Asian and International cuisine.

When traveling around China, especially as part of a luxury travel tour, it is not advisable to rely on the public transportation, unless you are really adventurous. The best means of getting around is by cab and most cab drivers speak English because the government has mandated it. Don?t be surprised if the driver engages you in conversation just to practice his English. That being said, you should also make an attempt to learn to speak some Mandarin or Chinese, as not only are you more likely to get what you want, but the average person will appreciate of your attempts to speak to them in their own language

Beijing

Every tourist visiting China has to spend a night or two in Beijing and tour the attractions that this city has to offer. There is actually so much that it would be impossible to cover it in one day. Tiananmen Square is very famous as the site of the student protests in 1989, but there is no evidence of the tragedy here now.

Accommodations in Beijing

Stay at the 5 star Beijing New Century Hotel only 25 minutes from the center of the city. With elegant rooms, a restaurant and a fitness center, this luxury hotel provides you with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It is also conveniently located so that you can walk to many nearby attractions.

Tourist Attractions in Beijing

When you visit Beijing, you have to include a visit to the Beijing Zoo, known as a panda?s paradise where you will see these delightful teddy bear animals in their natural habitat. At Tiananmen Square you can visit the building where Mao Tse-Tung?s Body is buried and enter the underground tunnel to take you to the Forbidden City. Walk through the many courtyards are try to imagine the lifestyle the ruling families of China in this magnificent location.

Stop in the Imperial Garden and visit the Hill of Collecting Evidence, from which the Emperor used to make announcements to the people. It would be helpful to purchase an audio detailing all of the sights so that you can understand it in your own language.

Visit the Temple of Heaven and stroll through the spectacular gardens. Gaze in amazement at the carvings depicting the clouds on the marble walls. Take a ferry to the island to visit the Summer Palace, surrounded by a man-made lake. This is a large area which will take you a day or more to see all the sights. Visit the Marble Boat and climb the temple on the top of the hill by taking the staircase with its tiny steps.

Wang Fu Jing is a strip of eateries and stores where you can purchase your souvenirs. The Silk Alley is a delightful place where you can buy designer items ? you should know that these are all fake, which accounts for the discount prices.

Documentation to visit China (PRC; People?s Republic of China)

China, formally known as People?s Republic of China (PRC) has documentation requirements for most visitors. These depend on your destination and the duration of your visit. You do need a travel Visa, which you can get from the Chinese embassy in your home country.

India

Rich in history, the country of India has quite a lot to offer the curious tourist. Monuments, temples and palaces abound in this mythical region of the world. If this is not to your taste then why not check out what India has to offer in the way of natural features? Gorgeous mountains and lush forested areas with flowing streams create a very serene landscape and make India a rather appealing and pleasurable place to visit. The charming mix of old and new also serves to create a very picturesque landscape.

Attractions

 Taj Mahal

The architectural feature India has become most famous for, the Taj Mahal, is perhaps the most popular of all tourist attractions in the country. This palace has an awe-inspiring dome feature and the pond leading up to the entrance is breathtaking. Completed during the 17th century, the Taj Mahal honors Mumtaz Mahal, the second wife of Emperor Shah. Marble designs make the feature quite exquisite and certainly a delight to view.

 Kaziranga National Park  

Massive rainforests, vast grasslands and mesmerizing rivers are merely a glimpse of what there is to see at the Kaziranga National Park. Herds of wild animals are on display in this park and certainly of interest as some species are endangered. The one-horned Indian rhino exists in its largest population in the world inside the park and is one of the major draws at the park.

Travel to India

India is well connected to a number of its neighbors in a variety of ways, thus travel between these countries is quite simple. Elsewhere, the operative mode of transportation would likely be airplane. The country has a number of airports at which commercial flights land and travel times, while they can be in access of eight hours from London, do not seem particularly long. The country also has six ports at which a traveler can arrive via boat. Rail systems are in place as well and many choose to visit the country by railway.

Travel within India

India has a rather extensive transportation system in place and as such traveling internally can be done so easily and through a number of means. Railways are quite popular as are buses and taxis. Renting your own car and traversing the country is quite possible as well. There are domestic flights as well via Indian Airlines and they are relatively inexpensive. One can also travel from port to port by boat quite effortlessly.

Language

The country of India can be said to exhibit a patchwork of languages. While Hindu is accepted as the official language, English is widely spoken and there are some 17 other regional languages used throughout the country.

Visa

Both visas and passports are required by all who enter the country.

Food & Drink

Indian food is rather heavily spiced as the traditional Indian cook is required to possess roughly 25 spices and use them accordingly. In the north of India meat dishes are more common, whereas in the south, vegetable are more popular. Tea, fruit drinks and domestic spirits and wine are among the national drinks.

Safety

Several rural areas of India are a little risky to travel through as they are hampered by terrorist activity. However a vacation in India will generally result in no danger or conflict. 

Shopping

Those in search of specialty made goods and apparel have come to the right place. India boasts quite a variety of clothing and exotic items throughout its many markets. Bargaining is commonplace and is virtually unnecessary as the prices are more than reasonable. Carpets, jewelry, spices and woodwork are just a number of the items one would find in India. 

Entertainment

In the majority of places throughout India, cultural performances and venues will provide the bulk of the entertainment. Though western-style clubs are becoming more popular, especially in the larger cities, they have as of yet been minimal.

If you want an ?out of the ordinary vacation? then Mongolia is the place for you. 

The beautiful scenery of the steppes and rich colors you see in the simplest of things, such as a rainbow have to be seen to be appreciated. There is not much luxury attached to a visit to the land of Genghis Khan, but if you are looking for adventure galore without the modern trimmings you have become accustomed to, then Mongolia is for you.

Is Mongolia a Luxury Travel Destination? 

The modern way of life has not touched most of this country and it is very difficult to travel to this country without a guide. Very few people speak English, but if you speak some Russian, you can manage.  Hotels are not abundant to travel here you are best to make your booking through a travel agency. The accommodations you find will be sparse, but comfortable. You can take a train trip from Beijing or Moscow and there is airline service, but it is not very reliable.

The best time to travel here is during the summer from June to August. The winters are bitterly cold and you won?t want to spend a lot of time outdoors. One basic rule of packing for a trip to Mongolia is that if you think you might need it, then bring it with you. All of the land is publicly owned, so you can feel free to set up a camp site wherever you want.

Mongolian Tours

There are a variety of tours you can take within Mongolia. Take a 12 day horseback or wilderness trek to see the main points of this country. The sights and sounds of this rural country will leave you breathless in fascination.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is in the heart of Mongolia and is the destination of many who really want to experience Mongolia. You can book a tour that takes you to the Gobi Gurvansaikan National park, but even with the expert guides you have to watch where you are going or you can get lost. You drive through the desert during the day and spend the night at ger camps where you can enjoy the traditional food of the country. This is a round igloo-like home that is traditionally found in this country. See the Flaming Red Cliffs where dinosaur bones have been discovered. You are also in the native habitat of rare animals, such as the Bactrian wild camel and the snow leopard when you visit the Gobi Desert.

In Kharkhorin, you can visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is a huge compound with each side measuring and .5 km. Although it is empty, there are several temples still standing. The town itself is quite modern by Mongolian standards and visitors to the monastery also want to see the Phallic Rock. Here you will find a market with vendors selling souvenirs. The stone turtle is another attraction that tourists visit and again here you can purchase souvenirs of your visit.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and has several museums that you will enjoy visiting. The Museum of Natural History has giant skeletons of dinosaurs in its palaeontology section. Other sites of interest include the Zanzabar Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museuem of Mongolian History and the Military Museum. There are several Buddhist Temples with museums and the Gandan Monastery is still in use. The state library has an amazing collection of over 10,000 manuscripts written in the ancient Sanskrit.

The friendliness of the people in Thailand is one of many thrills you will get when you visit this exciting country. The many shrines, historic monuments, prime shopping locations and white sandy beaches provide the setting for an idyllic vacation.

Bangkok

Known as the Venice of Southeast Asia and the City of Angels, Bangkok is the first place you should visit when you choose to visit Thailand. Read our Luxury Travel Guide to Bangkok.

Ko Samui

A playground of the monied Bangkok set, Ko Samui is a luxury resort destination in the Gulf of Thailand. It is reached by many daily flights from Bangkok. See Luxury Travel Guide to Ko Samui.

Travel to Thailand

The best way to travel to Thailand is to go as part of a tour. The flight and the hotel reservations are included and you have knowledgeable guides to take you to all the popular destinations.

Food and Drinks

Experience the delight of tasting traditional Thai foods, such as Phad Thai (stir fried noodles). Thai food is known to be very fresh, very healthy and often spicy. If you are new to it, the best way is to order a few dishes and share them between all. Lime juice; lemon and coriander are regularly used as flavorings.

Rice whiskey is the preferred drink of the people, which has a taste quite similar to rum. There are also several brands of beer produced here, the most popular one being Singha. You will be able to remember its name by the many tourists wearing Singha t-shirts.

Language and Currency

The main language is Thai, which consists of five tones of monosyllables. In the tourist areas, most of the hotel staff and guides speak English. And in contrast to other regions of the world, they invariably smile while doing so.

The currency used in Thailand is the Baht. One US dollar buys about 40 Baht. There are banks and moneychangers where you can exchange money for your country currencies and all major credit cards are accepted. Cash points/ATMs abound.

Safety

When eating and drinking in Thailand, you have to make sure you only drink bottled water. It is best not to buy food from the street vendors, but rather rely on the food served at your hotel. (Although typically anything fried is ?safe? from contamination.)

As a rule Thailand is a very safe country to visit. You do have to lock your hotel room door and keep your valuables in the safe, but you do this wherever you go. When travelling in some parts of Thailand, you do have to be extremely careful, such as near the Cambodian and Myanmar borders. The number of wars in this area in the past means that there could be land mines and it is now the Golden Triangle where drugs are grown. It is best to stay with your group and not travel off the beaten path.

In early 2005, the far south of Thailand had inter-religious troubles but these have quieted since.

Visas

All visitors to Thailand are required to have a passport that is valid for six months longer than the expected departure date from the country. If you have a ticket for an onward journey and you will not be staying longer than 30 days, then you can enter the country without a Visa. If you stay longer than you limit, you will be subject to a fine of B200 per day that you exceed your limit.

Shopping

The avid shopper will surely have an exquisite experience in Thailand. There are large malls as well as small specialty stores. Most of the businesses open at 10 A.M. and stay open until 9 P.M. The markets have different hours, often opening before dawn. All the areas of Thailand have major shopping districts where you can buy just about everything under the sun. More interesting is when the sun goes down and the famed night bazaars sell under moonlight.

Whether day or night you can almost always find Thailands shopping specialty -- ?quality counterfeits?. Ranging from Rolexes that tick (a real one should have a smooth sweep), to custom made Armani suits anything you would find in a luxury boutique at home, is on sale here, for a 1/10th the price and 99% the quality.