Top Hotels of the World

For any connoisseur of luxury, the five star hotel is an essential component of their holiday. No matter where you go in the world, it is possible to stay in hotels that redefine opulence and create the ultimate environment to relax and be pampered. In this article, I will take a look at what are often described as the ultimate collection of Hotels in the world by travellers.

As you will see, it is not necessarily the most expensive, or the most opulent hotel in a particular destination that is considered the best, it is more than this; the hotel must be a reason for travelling to a place as well!

10: Kanuhura, Maldives
If you’ve ever wanted to stay on your own desert island to get away from it all, the chances are that you’ve thought about visiting the Maldives. Made up of coral atolls spread out across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a unique country, and the Kanuhura, is a stunning hotel that offers visitors the chance to enjoy their own luxurious villa that stands on stilts in the ocean itself to create the illusion that you are on your own!

9: The Bellagio, Las Vegas, USA
The Bellagio is the jewel in the crown of Las Vegas as the USA’s premier holiday destination. The rooms are fantastic, the spa is out of this world, and the casino is the place to be seen, but it is the catalogue of stars that perform in the hotel’s vast auditoria that elevate the Bellagio above its rivals on the Las Vegas Strip.

8: Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy
There are few destinations in the world like Florence; this stunning city is the home of fine art, and the birthplace of the renaissance. The Pitti Palace is one of the most impressive hotels in Europe, and offers visitors the chance to enjoy the opulence of a renaissance palace that was once home to the Medici family, and boasts a number of masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo on its walls!

7: Lion Sands Resort, Kruger National Park, South Africa
For anyone wanting to get close to nature at its most impressive, the Kruger National Park in South Africa is a great place to visit, and is home to all of the so-called big-five animals. Lion Sands is one of a number of private lodges in the park, and is undoubtedly the best. Visitors get to enjoy two safaris a day, and the resort is so exclusive that less than 20 people can stay there at any one time!

6: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
While it might not be the most luxurious hotel in Hong Kong any more, the Mandarin Oriental is still the most stunning place to stay in the city. Offering incredible views of the famous harbour, along with great cuisine and stunning rooms, but it is the attention to detail and attentive personalised service offered by the staff that marks the Mandarin Oriental out as truly special.
5: Chiva Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
Chiva Som is probably the top spa destination in the world right now, a resort entirely dedicated to the concept of wellness. Upon arrival, all guests are assessed, and your menus, exercise programmes and beauty treatments are planned for the duration of your stay making for a truly exceptional experience.

4: Park Hyatt, Sydney, Australia
On the surface, the Park Hyatt, Sydney is nothing special. It is undeniably luxurious, offers high quality service, and boasts a number of exquisite restaurants, but so do any number of other hotels around the world. What marks out this particular 5-star above all others in the city is its location over looking the beautiful harbour, and offering the best views of the Opera House and iconic harbour bridge that you will ever see.

3: The The Waldorf Astoria , New York, USA
The Waldorf Astoria is the grand old lady of New York Hospitality. The Waldorf Astoria is the flagship property of the exclusive Hilton Group. It may no longer be the largest, most luxurious, or most exclusive hotel in the city, but it remains the most famous, most enchanting, and down right best with its perfect mix of luxury service, and glamour

2: The Ritz, London, UK 
The original 5 Star hotel, the Ritz is a byword for tradition and luxury in one of the most exciting cities in the world. It offers truly majestic levels of service and accommodation, and has a well-earned reputation as one of the finest places to eat out in the UK, with several world-class restaurants for guests to choose from.

1: Al Maha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The iconic Burj al Arab on Jumeirah Beach may be the last word in overblown opulence in Dubai, but the Al Maha desert resort is without a doubt the best hotel you can stay in. It offers levels of exclusivity that are unrivalled, exceptional accommodation, and above all, unmatched privacy and personalised service that will ensure that no matter how high your standards, this hotel will always exceed them.

You can Compare all there prices at  http://www.hostel.eu/BrowseByCountry.aspx

Who gives the chance to have Top hotels at Hostel prices

 

 

Novel excerpts: Terrorism

Charlie Davies was enjoying his morning.

He had risen early, not wanting to miss a moment of his first day in Hong Kong. Even before the sun had risen he was following the winding road through Happy Valley from his hotel on the edge of Victoria Park. He like to run everywhere when the traveled, because it gave him as sense of location he found out how the city was put together and where everything was before the day began.

Eventually, this morning, he had reached the top of the hill and had taken a rest to look at the view. It had been entrancing, with the early morning sun painting the hills far beyond Kowloon into China. You can see forever, he thought.

By the time he had chased back down to the hotel, showered and had breakfast, he was ready to tackle a day of photography.

He’d been advised to use local transport: the tram car down Hennessey Road to the Marine Terminal, then the Star Ferry to Kowloon, and then on foot around the stores for a start.

Charlie was a photographer so the idea of riding the tram with locals was a natural. He had been pleased that he was the only tourist waiting for the tram; the other passengers were all Chinese. Locals, he surmised.

The tram, a bright yellow advertisement for cosmetics, had been fairly full even at this hour. He stood for a while, head bent beneath the low roof, swaying with the motion, but as people got off he eventually got a seat on the upper deck. Right now he was sitting watching the throngs below with his arm on the ledge of the open window and his camera at the ready.

The street was full of small shops, many of them just opening. It was still early, but the food shops were in full swing and doing good business by the look of things. One proprietor, a small broad-faced man, was taking a break, leaning on the upright of his doorway, glancing along the tram as it passed. He wore blue cotton shorts, a white T-shirt, and a white apron that might have been clean that morning but was now smudged with food stains. He was selling dried fish and racks of smoked chickens impaled in curious un-hen-like flat pancake shapes. His products framed him. Charlie raised his camera quickly, and as he did so, the proprietor turned and went back into the shop. Charlie had been too late. Probably got a good picture of the man’s back, he thought ruefully.

As the tram rattled on, Charlie saw an oncoming tram on the other side of the street. It was painted quite differently: this time in garish red-and

Checklist For Everything You Need To Do Before Your Trip

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” -St. Augustine

There are a lot of considerations which need to be taken care of prior to going away on a trip. If it is a short trip you obviously need to worry less about your day to day affairs but for longer extended trips there is more that needs to be taken care off lest you return home to an eviction notice and unpaid bill reminders.

For some, planning a trip is half the fun while others wish that someone else could take care of it for them. So for those who fall into the latter group I have assembled together a checklist of the things that I’ve had to deal with in planning an overseas trip.

1. Organizing Your Visa’s If Needed
Visas can be a bureaucratic mind field. It can be costly and take days for it to get organized. So it is wise to know before you leave whether or not your intended country you wish to visit requires a visa upon entry.

I know for me I won’t be needing any visas for my visit to Hong Kong, Europe and the USA but this could be different depending on which country of origin you come from. I will also be staying in each place for no longer than 2 months which satisfies their requirements. If you are traveling it is wise to check the countries visa conditions just to be sure. You can find out more information from your travel agent or contact the countries embassy or consulate.

2. Getting Immunized
Getting health shots is something many travelers simply ignore or neglect to do prior to their trip. I know I have traveled overseas without getting immunized before and I came back fine without any problems. But it’s a risk I probably wouldn’t want to take again. The sooner you get your rounds of immunizations started the better, so it is wise that once you have booked your tickets you should make a visit to your local GP and discuss your immunization needs relevant to where you are intending on go.

There are many private health clinics which specialize on providing travel health advice. Personally I think they are overpriced and aren’t worth going to considering they have a vested interest in selling you vaccinations whether or not you really need them. Your family doctor is more than capable of helping you out with your immunizations and they will most likely give you better advice as they have your medical history.

The good thing is that many of the shots you need will last you a very long time and others will just be boosters to supplant what you had taken in your childhood days.

3. Organize Travel Insurance
It goes without saying that getting travel insurance is a wise investment to take out on your health and well being. The trip of a lifetime could turn into a journey to hell without adequate insurance. Cancellations, lost luggage, accidents and illnesses can all ruin your dream holiday. Some countries have very expensive medical care and if you get yourself into trouble and require medical care it can really cost you considerably if you hadn’t taken out insurance.

Policies and fine print vary from one company to another so its something that you don’t want to leave till the last minute. Buying the policy from your travel agent or relying on the policy provided by your credit card company are not usually wise as it may not cover you for the things that you need.

It is worth taking a look and comparing a few policies to determine which one is most suitable for your needs. Remember, it’s bad enough having your holiday spoiled. It’s even worse to be faced with a huge bill afterwards. The wise say, if you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford the trip.

4. Take Care Of Your Responsibilities While Away
Just because you have taken off on a trip doesn’t mean bills and mail cease. For shorter trips this will be less of a concern but for longer travels it’s important to consider how your bills and mail will be taken care off. A good idea is to leave it to someone who is responsible that you can trust to pay your bills while you are away. Usually this will be a family member. With the growing use of online banking you can also setup automatic bill payments while you are away.

If you have pets this is a good time to consider how they will be taken care off. Will you leave them with friends or family. You want your holiday to be stress free and knowing that everything is being taken care off at home will provide a good sense of relief.

5. Consider Ways To Stay Connected To Friends And Family While Abroad
For most people staying connected to love ones back home is an important consideration while abroad unless of course they happen to be traveling with you at the time. Since technology has made our lives so much more connected, it is a great way to also utilize it.

* Get a Free Email Account: While overseas you are most likely going to be relying on Internet cafes to stay connected. The easiest way to do this is by signing up to one of the many free email account providers as this means you can easily stay in touch using any computer with a browser. If you haven’t already got a free account providers like Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail are great options to consider. If you already have a free email account its also worth considering whether or not is would be prudent to setup an email just for your trip considering you will be logging into terminals which may not have the same security protection as you would at home. At least if your email account is hijacked its a throw away account which doesn’t have any sentimental cost to you.

What is also great about these free email accounts is that you can scan all your important documents like passports, itineraries etc and email them to yourself. That way you will have a backup copy of all your important information that can be easily accessed should you need it.

* Open a Skype account: If fiddling with phone cards and using public phones isn’t something you relish then consider getting a Skype account and make calls through an Internet connection. While at the internet cafe you can make calls back home while answering your emails at the same time. Most Internet cafes will provide headphones to use with Skype as it is now very popular amongst the backpacking circuit but if you are concerned you can always purchase an inexpensive headphone that can be used with the Skype software.

* Keep your bookmarks online: If you have a lot of favorite sites you like to visit you can always transfer your bookmarks to one of the online providers. That way no matter which computer you use, you will have access to your favorite sites at the touch of a finger. One of the more popular online book marking site is del.icio.us.

Travel Nepal

Enchantment is everywhere in Nepal; be it in the cool and invigorating shade of the high mountains, or on terraced farmlands carved like stairways out of hill ridges, or still across waterfalls, creeks, rushing mountain rivers amidst gorges, valleys and forests teeming with a cornucopia of flora and fauna. There are lakes amidst breathtaking settings, strong-current rivers for rafting, Wildlife Safaris, the tallest mountains to climb, trekking across vales and dales, and, above all, warm, friendly, welcoming people. In this respect, Nepal becomes a perfect holiday destination for tourists, trekkers, mountaineers, writers, honeymooners, lovers, retired people and people interested in research.

Nepal Geography

As Nepal is sandwiched between two economic and geographical Leviathans, it is rightfully regarded as “ A Yam between Two Boulders” as While Nepal abuts on Indian border in the east, the west and the South, Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China shares the vast Himalayan frontier with Nepal. The length of the county is 885 kilometers from east to west, and its breath varies from 145 kilometers to 241 kilometers from north to south. The total area is 147,181 sq. kilometers.

 Climate 

Nepal isn’t only the home of mysterious Yeti and elusive Snow Leopard, but also a constant cause of wonder for meteorologists for her simply amazing variations in climatic conditions. Divided into three different geographical regions, Nepal houses the snow-capped Himalayas in the north, a vast stretch of plains in the south and two chains of hills, known as Mahabharata and Churiya range, acting as a geological bridge between the northern and southern region.

The most astonishing thing about the geography of Nepal is that the distance between the tropical lowlands and the snow-capped mountainous region is very less. While the distance between the tropical and alpine regions in most of the countries around the globe is more than 1000 km, it is just less than 100 km in some places in Nepal.. The temperature varies between zero in the mountains to over 30 degrees Celsius in the valleys, and to mercury plummeting up to 38 degrees during summer in the lowlands.

Population

‘Unity in diversity’ is really the mot just for a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual country like Nepal. It had a population of 18,462,081 at the time of the 1991 census. The average population density at the time was 125 persons per sq km (329 per sq mi), although nearly half the people were concentrated in the narrow Terai region. In contrast, the 2003 population estimate was 26,469,569. The population has grown rapidly since 1950 when there were only 9 million people. In 2003 the population was increasing at an annual rate of 2.3 percent. Only 12 percent of the population lived in urban areas. The rate of population in the urban areas, however, has grown significantly thanks to a number of social, political and economic reasons.

Get in

You may need a tourist Visa to enter the country. A propspective visitor can apply for the visa from several embassies and consulates in most countries in the world. Nepal has diplomatic missions in

 Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burma, Canada, China, Denmark, Finaland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Phillipines, Spain , Sweeden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tibet, the United Kingdom and the United States of America that issue visas to the propective visitors.

Entrance/Egress

The following entery/exit points have been set by the government of Nepal for the foreign visitors:

1. Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

2. Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (North)

3. Karkarvitta, Jhapa (East)

4. Belahia,Bhairhawa (West)

5. Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal)

6. Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Mid-East)

7. Mohana, Dhangadi (Far-West)

8. Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar (Far-West)

 

Via Air

Since there is only one international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, in Nepal, it is the Hobson’s choice for vistors to start their Himalayan voyage from the capital city itself. The following airlines company operate their services from/to Kathmandu:

 

1. Nepal Airlines (Run by the Nepalese government, it operates its service to/from Bangkok, Banglore, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Osaka, Paris, London, Shanghai, Singapore)

2. Korean Air (Seoul)

3. Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Dhaka)

4. Air China (Lhasa)

5. Condor (Munich)

6. Druk Air (Paro)

7. Gulf Air (Abu Dhabi)

8. Indian Airlines (Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi)

9. Qatar Airways ( Doha)

10.  Thai International (Bangkok)

11. Martin Air (Amsterdam via Sharjah)

 

Via Land

Although Indo/Nepal border is a porous one, you must enter the country by road from India through one of the border crossing points ( as described under the heading Entrance/Egress). If you are coming from Tibet, the route is Kodari, Sindhupalchowk. There is no national passenger rail service in Nepal, but there is a rail service operating from Calcutta, India. A train by the name Mithila Express plies regularly between Howrah Station, Calcutta, to Birgunj, one of the chief entry points to Nepal.

 

Contact

Although the comminication infrastructure of Nepal is not to the world’s standard, still the pincipal cities across the countries entertain almost all forms of sophisticated communication systems. These include:

 

1. Telephone: The international country code for Nepal is 977. There are two to three digit area code and six-digit local phone numbers. The communication system, operated by Nepal Telecom, a quasi-governmental organization, caters its service in almost all the seventy-five district of the country. But some off-the-map villages don’t have telephone facilities. However, the East-West optical fibre project, which is on the verge of its completion, is expected to cover all the villages and hamlets of the country within two to three years time. Besides Nepal Telecom, United Tele Communication Limited (UTL), a privately owned company, is providing its services in Kathmandu Valley.

2. Cell Phones

Mobiles are widely used, but due to the geoprphical constraints , some rural areas have only analog service, or no service at all. Nepal Telecom and UTL operate operate CDMA networks; Mero Mobile, a private mobile company, operates the only GPRS network. Travellers planning to bring their GPRS phones with them might do well to check that their handset supports the appropriate frequencies.

 

3. Internet

There are cyber cafes in almost most of the tourist areas all over the country. A trekker can surf the net in Solokhumbu, the entry point of Mount Everest Region. Nomal rate is Rs 20 to 30 per hours in the main cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara. New Pokhara Lodge Lakeside Pokhara offer free internet to hotel’s customers.

 

4. Mail

The snail mail system is there but, as a rule, it is not always speedy. Also, international parcel postal services can be costly. Furthermore, internationally acclaimed courier service providers like DHL and Fedex also have their branches in most parts of the country.

http://www.visit-nepal.com

Guide to annual Miami festivals

GUIDE TO ANNUAL MIAMI FESTIVALS

From its sandy shores to its city lights, Miami has much to offer. But if the warm climate and beautiful landscape is not enough, there are plenty of festivals to keep you moving year round.

Miami Art Deco Weekend (January 2009)

This event goes on for an entire weekend boasting Big Band music, a classic car parade, auctions, artwork, street theater performances, and more. Activities, happening at various times throughout the day, relive Miami’s atmosphere in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Admission is free.

Coconut Grove Art Festival (February 2009)

Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, art, sculptures, jewelry, concerts, ethnic food, and children’s workshops made the annual event one for the family to attend. The hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per day, or $12 for a three-day pass. Children 12 and under are free.

Miami International Film Festival (February-March 2009)

This program, conducted by the Miami Film Society, gives filmmakers the opportunity to show their creations to a culturally-diverse audience. Prizes are given for the best films in various categories, including dramas, documentaries, and shorts. Ticket prices vary depending on membership status and events to attend. Refer to the MIFF web site for details.

Calle Ocho (March 2009)

This Cuban carnival is one of the largest. The Latin music, dancing, and entertainment draw people to the 23-block party. A special mini-festival spread over four blocks offers rides and other activities just for kids. The hours are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and admission is free.

Miami-Dade County Fair and Exhibition (March-April 2009)

Local agricultural exhibits, crafts, and food vendors bring visitors to the fair each March for entertainment and livestock judging. The hours are 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. during the week, and 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. admission is free. Admission is $9. Children 5 and under are free.

Great Sunrise Balloon Race (April 2009)

This is no ordinary hot air balloon taking flight in an April sky. All balloons are in a race to fly until they find where the 25-foot X marks the spot. Dropping beanbags, they must try to land on the mark. Music, food, and carnival rides add to the entertainment. The hours are 6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

Miami Hong Kong Dragonboat Festival (May 3, 2008)

Keep your day busy with food and various activities, between

Traveling and touring China in style: Luxury China Tours

People planning to travel to China are always worried about the cultural differences they may experience on their china touring holidays.
Before you finalize your travel plans for China, you need to do a lot of research about the country, regarding the food, culture, transportation, vaccination, visa formalities etc, but sometimes you may not need to stress yourself with all these information. This is the reason why tour operators were created; they provide all forms of travel related services from flights, hotels, escorts, cars, food and entertainment for your stay in China from start to finish; all you need to do is relax and enjoy your vacation experiencing the unique Chinese lifestyle.
Luxury Travel in China has not been more exciting and adventurous especially when you choose the right China tour operator. For a country like China with an ancient history and culture, your travel within China can be a deluxe or
first class tour by visiting the major cities in first class air travel, luxury and character hotels, using VIP services and escorts making you feel like a superstar. For example, having a plate of local Chinese dumplings in your 4/5 star hotel while watching a piece of Beijing Opera translated in English could be one of the greatest travel experience you’ve ever had. Perhaps, you may want to climb the Great Wall in style by having a French picnic privately or with other visiting tourists from around the world. There are particular sections around the world where many renowned public figures have visited and you too can be a part of visiting these sections.
If you are not aware of the tropical side of China, then, you may want to bask in the sun this summer on China’s most beautiful beaches in Hainan and Hong Kong after which you are treated to a great spa experience in some of the exclusive resorts around.
Chinese gastronomy is another interesting activity you may want to experience during your travel in China. These include Chinese cooking styles and traditions of the various ethnic tribes in China. If you would like to take on this cultural experience, Chinese gastronomy tours is your perfect answer to discovering the exotic wonders of fine dining and a unique culture on your China tour.
Golfing is becoming a popular sport in China especially amongst the elite Chinese locals. This has led to the discovery of some of the world’s finest golf courses and resorts all filled with oriental touches. Some tour operators have deluxe golf travel packages designed to allow international tourists spend some time golfing in the lush country sides of Kunming and Beijing. The best place to enjoy golfing in China is in Kunming popularly known as
the “Spring City”.
The special administrative region of Hong Kong is also one of the major tourist hubs in China where many international travelers love to visit. Hong Kong is the metropolitan city of China which is very fast paced and still retains much of its oriental culture. Leisure and travel in this part of China is usually considered as luxury and upscale with first class hotels and restaurants. The famous Repulse Bay and Victoria Peak is a major site of interest when visiting Hong Kong.
China may be under developed but with its fast rising growing economy and exposure, you can indeed enjoy traveling in China with style and class.

For more information about China Travel, China Tour Vacations, visit Passport to China.

A visitors guide to Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong

Interesting Place

Many Interesting Place in Hong Kong. It is the Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island.

The Bun Festival is local to the Island of Cheung Chau only. The Bun Festival is

usually in May. About two weeks before the festival,people on Cheung Chau Island

build a tall bun tower in front of the temple there. They build the tower with steel and bamboo now. It is about fourteen meters high. They cover the tower with sweet buns. Bun towers are built with bamboo structures 60 foot high, piled with sweet buns, outside the Pak Tai temple.

Since these buns are blessed, in the old days, people climbed up the bun towers and compete for buns at midnight on the first day of the festival. It was supposed the appease the spirit of the people who died in a 19th Century plague on the island. Unfortunately, accident happened in 1978.

The Bun towers collapsed under the weight of too many climbers and more than 100 people were injured. Since then, there is no more competition. Bun are distributed to the believers after the ceremony. You can also buy these buns from local bakers.

Three days before festival procession,people on Cheung Chau Island do not sell or eat meat. They only eat vegetarian. Most restaurants sell vegetarian dishes and some-simply close. However, when the procession is finished, everything goes back to normal.

On the festival day, there is a procession along the main streets. There are lion dances and colorful floats. There are people playing Chinese music too. The procession is the best part of the festival. Different local communities arrange their own floats. Children are put on to a tiny seat attached to steel rods so that they look as though they are floating or standing high up on top of pole.

People stand in the streets and watch the procession.

Colorful costumes help to cover up the seat. However, it’s still hard work for 5 year-old. under the hot 28 Celsius afternoon Sun in May. The most exciting event is at midnight. It is the Bun-scrambling Competition. People compete to get the highest score. The competitors have three minutes to climb up the bun tower and pick the buns. The buns at the bottom have the fewest points and the buns at the top have the most points.

The procession is carried out on the Buddhist birthday ( public holiday ) so that everybody can enjoy the festival. Before that, Cheung Chau schools simply closed on the procession days because the children were either participating in the procession or escaping from school so that they can watch.

Tips for you……….

You want to take a ferry from central to Cheung Chau.

By ferry takes about fifty minutes to get there.

Unreliable Fdi Data Creates Uncertainty in China

For many emerging market investors, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) serves is a barometer for economic activity, says Irwin Greenstein. By watching the FDI, investors can gauge the interest of foreign money in a growing economy. FDI statistics can also reveal where the money is going – pointing to opportunities that may be overlooked in the markets.

One of the most accredited sources for FDI is the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). For years now, UNCTAD has been monitoring the inflow of foreign money into different countries and issues reports on the results of their findings.

UNCTAD’s most recent report on China, however, reminded me of a TV pharmaceutical commercial where the happy face is merely a façade for a whole lot of cautionary fine print.

The fine print in this case cautions investors about how China is inflating its FDI numbers.

Perhaps the biggest problem here is that if you were read articles about China’s latest FDI results, you’d be pretty darn impressed. But get your hands on the actual report, and your expectations are deflated.

Before we get into the disclaimer, let’s go over the FDI numbers UNCTAD released yesterday.

In 2007, China attracted FDI worth $83.5 billion, the highest among developing countries and sixth in the world. About half of last year’s capital inflow went into the service sector, compared with 28% in 2003.

The report noted that the number of foreign-invested research and development centers in China has risen from about 700 in 2004 to more than 1,200 this year.

Reading between the lines, China is now transforming from a low-cost manufacturer with a bad rap for pirating intellectual property into a center of innovation – following the pattern established by Japan’s move up the economic food chain.

You can also see this as FDI increases in China’s financial sector.

While non-financial FDI in China was $60 billion in 2005, financial services surged to $12 billion, driven by major investments in Chinese banks. Even though China has gradually been liberalizing FDI into its banks, it is only in the past two years that foreign banks have rapidly entered the Chinese market by acquiring ownership stakes in Chinese banks. By the end of 2005, 18 foreign financial institutions had invested in 16 banks. The largest deals involved four of the five top Chinese banks, according to the report. (Of course we have to bear in mind this data pre-dates the current fiasco on Wall Street.)

Real estate was another hot spot for FDI. According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), inflows to China in this industry surged to $5.4 billion in 2005. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said that purchases of real estate by foreign institutions amounted to $3.4 billion in 2005. According to SAFE, FDI now accounts for 15% of China’s real estate market.

With these FDI numbers under our belt, UNCTAD then went on to chide China for a little maneuver called “round-tripping.” Once you understand round-tripping, you begin to see that these FDI numbers from China may be inflated by as much as 25%.

As UNCTAD explains it, round-tripping is driven by differences in the treatment of foreign and domestic investors, which may motivate investors to channel funds out of, and subsequently into, an economy in the form of FDI. Because the funds originate in the host economy itself, “round-tripping” inflates actual FDI inflows.

In China, a significant share of FDI inflows is round-tripped, mainly via Hong Kong (China). Official estimates of this type of FDI by the Chinese Government are not available, but others have suggested that such flows may account for up to 25% of the total inflows.

China’s FDI statistics deviate significantly from international standards. For example, the threshold level applied in the definition of FDI is 25%, rather than 10%, as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

UNCTAD said that with regard to problems related to China’s FDI statistics, a more centralized statistical system that is consistent with international standards would help policymakers. Until then, comparisons of China’s FDI inflows with those of other recipients should be interpreted with care.

Luxury Thai Holiday Villas: the Way to Stay!

Luxury Thai Holiday Villas: the way to stay!

Thailand has, over the past few years, seen a large increase in the number of private villas available for holiday rent. Here we investigate the villa market, and make our recommendations as to how to find and book a villa, and where to stay on your next holiday.

These alternatives to hotel or resort accommodation often offer exceptional quality and high standards, but a number of very second rate properties are also broadly advertised on the internet and in some cases offer no more than a room in a tired condominium in a poor location: it is important for the holidaymaker to know how to find an appropriate villa, and to understand the pricing structures generally in place, in order to be sure of securing an enjoyable, clean and properly serviced villa at the right price.

It is perfectly possible to rent your own villa in Thailand for your holiday and to enjoy not only superior accommodation, but also a plethora of services, at rates that in fact make such a holiday the sensible alternative to booking a room – or indeed for those with friends and family, a number of rooms – in a resort.

Why Thailand?

Thailand is a perfect destination for those who wish to rent their own house or villa, for a number of reasons:

- the Thais are widely recognized as a welcoming, smiling people

- The kingdom’s cuisine is world-renowned; whilst most visitors will know the famous dishes such as Tom Yam Kung, the variety of cuisines and regional specialties is great, and even a serious glutton would have trouble trying to experience the exhaustive Array of Thai food dishes in just one stay.

- Thailand is a shopper’s paradise, offering unique silks, handcrafted furniture and a plethora of exotic items at a fraction of the cost of such goods in the West. Clothes, leather goods and decorative items are often at the top of the visitors’ shopping list.

- Thailand offers exceptional value for money: even five star hotels cost a fraction of what they do not only in the West but even in other Asian capitals such as Hong Kong or Singapore.

- Thailand welcomes millions of visitors to its shores annually, and personal safety is generally excellent. Any reported crimes tend to be minor, involving jewellery scams and the like, but the more experienced traveler is hardly likely to fall for these. Most visitors will feel infinitely safer in Thailand than they ever would in equivalent capitals such as London, Paris, New York etc.

Which Thai region should I visit?

The visitor to Thailand today is spoiled for choice, with villas available throughout the kingdom.

For shorter stays, we would recommend a single destination stay, so that you can avoid the hassles of travelling and fully explore your chosen location. For longer stays, why not combine a stay in two very different locations, allowing you a greater exposure to the country and its diversity, whilst taking advantage of its inexpensive domestic travel networks? (see below)

Thailand is generally divided into four main regions.

Bangkok and the central Plains

Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis which, despite its famous gridlocked traffic and teeming streets, offers a great variety of things to do and to discover, to those with patience and a will to explore. The restaurants in Bangkok are second to none, whether you seek Thai or foreign cuisines, and its weekend and other markets deserve to be explored, as do many of its lesser know temples. A cruise on the Chaophraya river – perhaps by privately chartered long-tail boat – is an excellent way of seeing much of the city without being reduced to tears by the traffic.

The North

The North of the country is home to cities such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. With tropical jungles and hills, the North attracts those looking to go trekking or seek out places of natural beauty. Do try to avoid the larger cities, as tourism is so developed here that you run the risk of simply being “processed” through a number of popular elephant camps and well-trodden hill tribe treks.

The Northeast

The Northeast is the largest region of the kingdom, yet has been largely untouched by tourism. The Northeast (or isan) is the rice-bowl of the country, and is predominantly agricultural, producing rice, sugarcane, tapioca, eucalyptus and, increasingly, rubber. Major centres include Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, and the mighty Mekong river twists along this region’s borders. The people here are perhaps the most open and fun-loving in the country, perhaps because their lives are based on village traditions where overt consumerism has been much slower to advance than in the other booming parts of the nation. Travel to the Northeast is recommended for those looking for a unique experience, to get away from the tourist crowds, and to immerse themselves in something new.

The South

The south of Thailand is renowned for its famous beaches and seaside resorts, such as Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui. Some of the country’s most expensive holiday villas are found here. Travellers should be aware of the security issues in the south of the country and avoid journeys to the southernmost provinces: your local government’s website will post updated advisories with travel recommendations and warnings.

The vacation villa market

Holiday villas in Thailand tend to fall into one of two categories. They are either privately owned, self-contained homes, or villa units forming part of a resort complex. These are quite different propositions!

Resort Villas

The resort-centred villa essentially comprises a resort’s superior room inventory, and will be priced accordingly. In many cases, these villas will have been professionally designed by the hotel designer itself, and then sold to a third party buyer, who in turn joins the letting pool operated by the developer to provide a return on investment on the villa buyer’s acquisition.

The advantage here is that the villa occupants will generally be able to avail themselves of the additional facilities or services provided by the resort, albeit at ‘resort” prices. The disadvantage is that, for those seeking a more genuine experience, they will find themselves simply a guests within a resort complex, and considered as additional – if well-paying – “keys”.

Private stand-alone villas

Private villas are generally second homes owned by individuals, located on an individually-held land plot.

These may be rented “as is”, with the guests picking up the keys at the start of the trip and returning them at the end, either with or without a cleaning or security deposit. Alternatively, the villa may have its own staff, generally living off property but available throughout your stay to take care of cleaning, laundry, cooking or local visits etc.

Whether you choose a resort villa or privately held property, you should expect to pay a partial deposit at the time of booking, either by credit card guarantee or by a wire transfer.

Tried and Tested

We tried a number of villa vacations in Thailand, and below highlight one resort villa and one private villa – each offering an exceptional holiday but altogether different experiences.

Green Gecko, Northeast Thailand

Green Gecko is a privately owned villa located on a large country estate, surrounded by woodlands, plantations and rice paddies in the heart of Thailand’s rural northeast, near a town called Udon Thani. Free airport transfers were arranged from the airport, which is accessible via a 50 minute flight from Bangkok on Thai Airways, or budget airlines Nok Air or Air Asia.

In contrast to more mainstream locations, our stay here allowed us to discover and experience the real Thailand, off the beaten tourist track.

The villa’s architecture was traditionally Thai: an impressive wooden staircase led up to the raised and enclosed wooden deck, where our delightful private swimming pool was located, with bucolic views of the surrounding countryside and the evening sunsets. The steeply pitched roofs made of terracotta tiles gave the house an almost temple like appearance. A raised “sala” here offered protection from the strong midday sun and became our favourite spot, with its views over the pool.

Accessible from the deck in two separate buildings were the two bedrooms (each air-conditioned), as well as the living and dining room and kitchens. The master bedroom had a sturdy teak four-poster, king sized bed, with a cotton duvet and feather pillows, a large adjoining bathroom and WC and an outside garden shower. The second bedroom had a queen sized four poster, again with a spacious adjoining bathroom / WC.

The main air-conditioned building housed a dining room with a dining table and seating for six, a living room with comfortable sofas and views onto the pool deck, and a sunken area decorated with futons for lounging in front of the large screen LCD television (complete with a separate high-end home theatre system and international satellite channels). Leading off from this area (behind sliding wooden panels) was an additional WC, and a fully equipped Western kitchen (with built in microwave, oven etc), that in turn led out to a stainless steel Thai kitchen.

We must confess that this all looked very user-friendly, but that we never used the kitchens – with the exception of helping ourselves to a few iced beers from the refrigerator! As the owner is a former chef, he prepares all his guests’ meals throughout their stay, varying the spiciness or composition of these to his guests’ tastes. We were delighted to be shown around the gardens to collect a number of herbs and spices, which we were then shown how to spirit into deliciously fresh and tangy Northeastern dishes. We tried the classics too: Thai food certainly is mouth-watering, and staying at a villa like this where all meals are prepared for you, by a chef who is willing to share his secrets, was a boon!

We spent a good deal of time just lazing by the pool in complete privacy, but also enjoyed a number of excursions with our hosts to experience some of the sights and sounds of the Northeast. These included a spectacular trip in a small wooden boat, across a lake that was fundamentally a vast expanse of pink lotus flowers, interrupted only by the occasional fisherman or wallowing water buffalo (marriage propositioners, take note!) We also visited a local museum that seemed to denominate Thailand as the home of the bronze age, and a number of rowdy, colourful local festivals and wet markets, as well as silk and cobra farms. But our lasting impression was one of rural simplicity and ever-friendly locals, keen to ensure we enjoyed our stay and sample an unending variety of indigenous foods and drinks!

Green Gecko may be booked for stays of 2 nights or more via their website, where availability and rates may be checked online (from around US$280 including all transfers, service and meals.)

Green Gecko

134 Moo 13

Baan Um Jaan

Tabol Um Jaan

A. Prajak Sinlapakhom

Udon Thani

41110 Thailand

Green Gecko

Green Gecko’s sister property, Gecko Villa offers a cheaper three bedroomed alternative to those on a tighter budget (from around US$160.)

The Villas at Napasai, Southern Thailand

The villas at Napasai are located within the seafront resort complex on the luxury North coast of the island of Koh Samui, in Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani. Koh Samui is accessible via Bangkok Airways from Bangkok, with flights taking approximately one hour (depending or aircraft chosen).

The resort is part of Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises: as such, both the villa and the resort were professionally managed, and we were able to choose between cooking up our own Thai meals after a visit to the local markets, or to simply walk to the resort’s excellent Thai restaurant in the evening.

The villas themselves were located at one end of the property, sandwiched between a steep hillside behind our house and the sea in front. Each of the villas is tiered down the hillside to the seafront. We stayed in a two bedroom villa, but three bedroom properties were also available. Beyond the two well-appointed bedrooms, our property had a spacious living and dining room with its own kitchen, a maid’s room, and, at the ground level, a private swimming pool and “chill-out” area. The main living room was well furnished and had a DVD player, satellite TV, and charming sea view balcony, where we spent most evenings.

The island of Koh Samui is a major international tourism hub and as such plenty of activities are available for the guest, from exploring waterfalls, to elephant rides, paintball, sea sports, diving, fishing, golf etc. The hotel also offers boating activities, Thai cooking classes, tennis courts, a fitness centre and a spa.

We booked online at the hotel’s own internet site, taking advantage of a special offer. Rates for a two bedroom villa are seasonal and start at around US$850++ per night, including complimentary American breakfast.

Napasai

65/10 Baan Tai, Maenam,

Koh Samui,

Surat Thani

84330,

Thailand

Tel: (66-77) 42 92 00

Fax: (66-77) 42 92 01

Napasai

Finding your Thai Villa on the internet

Choosing an appropriate holiday villa on the internet is easy using Google, Yahoo, MSN etc. Remember:

• Play with your search terms: use more specific words to help you drill down to receive a more “targeted” property. “Rural villa with pool Thailand” will give a more specific set of results than will “Thailand Villa”, and will be less likely to return a listings site.

• Where possible, book directly with the property owner rather than via a listings site – in all likelihood such a listings site will be charging a commission on top of the normal rate.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for references.

• Travel in the off season, and book early. Book ahead, as when a standalone villa is booked – it is booked!

• Make sure the property you choose has a telephone and address listed.

• Travel somewhere different! What makes a stay in a private villa memorable is the way it can take you out of the tourist centres to enjoy a more authentic holiday.

Thailand’s Airlines

Thailand’s flag carrier offers numerous domestic flights, but travelers “in the know” will turn to the local discount airlines. These offer frequent flights at a fraction of the price and in relative comfort. Try Nok Air or Air Asia.

Koh Samui is served by the “boutique airline” Bangkok Air.

Sending Jollibee as a Gift

Among the many services and gift items that the Express Regalo provides their customers abroad and on the Philippines, Jollibee food products are among the most popular choice of food gift. Well that doesn’t surprise for one bit, because as we all know, the Jollibee Food Corporation is the most popular choice of, not just the kids, but also the grownups when it comes to fast-food chains.

But what else do we know about the Jollibee Food Corporation apart from its yummy yumbuger and joyous chickenjoy?

Jollibee Food Corporation is a fast-food restaurant chain based in the Philippines and also has locations in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Dubai and Brunei.

And as all the Filipino children and children at heart know, Jollibee is also the name of Jollibee’s mascot, a large bee in a blazer, shirt and chef’s hat. The Jollibee Food Corporation is an American style fast-food restaurant with Filipino-influenced dishes specializing in chicken, burgers, and spaghetti.

Well as a true blooded Filipino, information like that about the Jollibee Food Corporation are like the alphabet to us Filipinos, but some us doesn’t know about this, and about its history. So here is a small summary about the history of the greatest fast-food chain in the Philippines, the Jollibee Food Corporation.

The Jollibee Food Corporation started as an ice cream parlor at Cubao in 1975 with Jolibe as the original name. But after sometime, they decided on getting the services of a management consultant in the person of Manuel C. Lumba. Lumba suggested that to shift their business of ice cream parlor to hamburgers after his studies showed that a much larger market was waiting to get tapped.

And sure enough, their hamburgers became a hit for a lot of Filipinos. After this success, Lumba next reformed the name Jolibe to Jolly Bee and made the two words form a single name Jollibee. Then Lumba next created the product name “Yumburger” as well as the name “Chickenjoy”.

The stores were re-designed, the service transformed into a full self-service, fast food operation with drive thrus. Not long after, Tony Tan and Manny Lumba went on an observation tour in the United States, attended food service and equipment conventions. Tony Tan put Manny Lumba on center stage by putting him in charge of franchise development.

The Jollibee Food Corporation has gotten so big that they have decided on incorporating some expansions and acquisitions on other fast-food restaurants. On 2000, the Jollibee Food Corporation acquired Chowking, allowing Jollibee Food Corporation to be part of the oriental quick service restaurant segment. Similarly, the Jollibee Food Corporation also acquired Red Ribbon Bakeshop on 2005, another popular fast-food restaurant in the Philippines. In 2006, Jollibee Food Corporation acquired the Délifrance which further expanded its penetration in the food service industry particularly in the French cafe-bakery, a growing segment of the Philippine food market.

So that’s all about the Jollibee Food Corporation. But if you ever wanted to send some Jollibee food products to your loved ones back home, then try and visiting the Express Regalo on www.expressregalo.com to know more about it.

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