The nightlife scene in Beijing, the capital city of China is thriving and constantly evolving. Even though it is not yet comparable to the nightlife scene in London or New York, the nightlife in Beijing has its own unique attractions and is sufficiently vibrant. The city has a large number of bars and clubs which are mainly concentrated around its main bar strip called Sanlitun Bei Lu which is located near the embassy area in the Chaoyang District of Eastern Beijing.

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Posted in China |

Are you in the mood for a different kind of adventure? Would you like to experience caves with challenging twists and turns, see breathtaking vertical cliffs and limestone formations? Then you should definitely leave for that long overdue vacation and head over to the wonderful Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Gunung Mulu National Park is Sarawak’s World Heritage Site. The Park was included in the prominent list back in November 2000 mainly because of its notable contribution to the understanding of earth’s history, plush flora and fauna, and rich biodiversity.

There are a number of ways to reach the Park. There are flights from Miri, Kota Kinabalu and even Kuching. Unfortunately, it is not possible to travel to Mulu by land. The only way to get to the Park is by boat. From my hotel in Kota Kinabalu, I rode a taxi to the airport so that I can catch a flight to Miri. From Miri, the trip will take up to about ten hours departing from Kuala Baram, on the Baram River, by speed boat to Marudi. From Marudi, you have to get another boat to Long Terawan or Long Kabong and this is where you have to make reservations for a ride in longboats that will bring you directly to the Park’s headquarters. The trip may be long and tiring but it is definitely worth it. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

The FREE 2008 Beijing Olympics Guide Book provides in depth information about the Beijing Olympic events, venues and schedule as well as transport and venue maps. Whether you are looking for hotels, restaurants or attractions in Beijing or one of the other Olympic cities the Beijing Olympic guide has all the information you need.

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Posted in China, Events |

So you want to go to Japan, but do you know the acceptable manners by Japanese standards? These manners are very much different than in other countries. One must know them in order to not offend or embarrass your host and other people around you.

BOWING

Bowing is probably the most well-known Japanese etiquette outside of Japan. Bowing is extremely important in Japan. Even though kids learn to bow at a very young age, companies still provide training for their employees on how to bow.

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Posted in Food, Japan, Things to do |

Among the Asian cities I’ve traveled to so far, it is The Lion City that has most gone out of its way to welcome visitors like me. Through the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, this island-state offers a wide array of means to see the sights. From DUCKTours to bumboat rides, any tourist with even a few hours to spare can check out the cool places and historical sites Singapore has to offer.

For travelers who wish to immerse themselves into the true SG experience, nothing beats a walking tour among its heritage spots. And one essential place for any SG walking tour would have to be Chinatown. Singapore’s Chinatown is unique in that its middle kingdom culture has harmoniously blended in with the other ethnic groups in the small island to create a wonderful blend of Asian influences.

A good spot to start your personal exploration is right off the Chinatown MRT station along the blue line. From Exit A, visitors will immediately see Pagoda Street, so-named because of the Sri Mariamnam Temple located at its end. This festive street is bedecked with colorful red lanterns criss-crossing along its length, and packed with an assortment of Chinese shops on both sides. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

Your ultimate Asian tour will never be complete without stopping by Malaysia. You can sample Malaysian culture and tradition by visiting its wonderful capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL).

As a first time visitor in KL, I can still recall my excitement when I was on-board my flight to KL from Manila when the plane’s captain announced that plane would be landing in a few minutes. I immediately looked out of my window and strained my neck to catch a glimpse of the famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL. I was disappointed when I didn’t get to see the Petronas Towers. I must have been seated on the wrong side of the plane.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do |

Pen and Paper. Peanut butter and jelly. Porcelain and food. If you think about it, the history of the last pair has been intertwined ever since humanity came up with the idea of cuisine. Porcelain is used to create not only the dishes which hold the food we eat, but also the toilets to hold the food we excrete. And now, from a culture that celebrates both porcelain and food, comes a restaurant devoted to the dual role of porcelain in our digestive cycle.

Marton Modern Toilet (Marton is derived from Matong, the chinese term for ‘toilet’) is a chain of a dozen or so theme dining establishments that revolves around toilets and urinals. Based in the Shilin district of Taipei and other major cities of Taiwan, this restaurant group stuns diners with interior decoration that continually remind them that the food we eat will eventually come out.

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Posted in Attractions, Food, Taiwan |