Honeymoon Destinations In Asia

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Australia’s position in South East Asia means an inexpensive luxury tropical honeymoon is just a short flight away. Try Bali, Thailand or the Phillipines for a secluded, romantic break on a pristine beach. Choosing the right location is the key to a successful honeymoon; with so many tropical spots to choose from it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some handy hints.

Picture Perfect

Bali

Location, Location, Location!

There are many areas of the Indonesian island of Bali to choose from – Seminyak, Kuta, Ubud, Canggu, Nusa Dua – as well as many styles of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes.  Semiyak and Kuta are bustling seaside tourist centres, with Western style accommodation, shopping and food. Canggu’s beautiful secluded beaches are close enough to the shopping and eating districts while providing a more authentic environment. The mountainous region of Ubud is an arts precinct, with an old world Indonesian charm and preserved culture, while Nusa Dua’s famous white sand beaches and golf resorts offer another spectrum of luxury.

There are many things to see and do in Bali, once a couple emerges from their private villa or resort room. Top quality spas offer honeymoon packages of dual massages, scented baths and beauty treatments. What’s more romantic than a candlelit dinner for two on the beach? Breeze at The Samaya and Potato Head’s in Seminyak offer first class Western-Indonesian fusion with a sea vista. If you’re in Ubud, Mozaic’s top chef will take you through a seasonal culinary journey worthy of any hatted restaurant in the world. Take in a round of golf in Nusa Dua, or snorkel through the pristine waters right out the front of your accommodation. Be sure to pick up a bargain from Semiyak’s shopping district and top it all off with a cocktail to watch the sun set over the ocean-side infinity pool.

 

Thailand

Venture to an island paradise at Koh Pha Ngan. It’s a plane and a boat ride away from Thailand’s capital Bangkok, but it’s worth the extra miles once you settle into the natural beauty of the island. Surrounded by tropical forest, Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort and Spa is right on the beach, with a massive pool leading onto your own stretch of sand. Honeymooners can experience a private dinner on the beach, or grab a cocktail at the seaside bar. Thailand can be overwhelming for hustle and bustle, but this tropical paradise feels a world away with a population of two.

The Philippines

Boracay Bliss

After flying into the capital of Manila to sample the wares of their massive luxury shopping district, take a trip to the largely undiscovered island of Boracay for an untapped tourist experience for honeymooners. Just a short plane ride from the capital of Manila, Boracay is just 1km across in the smallest expanse. The main tourist area is White Beach, nestled along 4km of pure white sand and still azure sea. Hotels, restaurants, markets and shopping line this hot spot, providing a front row seat for the natural theatre of the breath-taking sunsets and perfect sunny days. At the end of the island, away from the (relatively calm) bustle of the main tourist area, the Shangri La Resort and Spa lies nestled in the private enclave of Puka Shell Beach. It’s a self-contained paradise with a sumptuous fresh seafood restaurant, top quality spa and expansive pools. There is also an adventurous menu of water sports and activities from catamaran sailing, parasailing, jetskiing to a private boat charter.

A tranquil, private honeymoon destination is just a short trip away.

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Freelance writer Megan Reeder Hope+ is a former music publicist and journalist. She really enjoyed going overseas for her honeymoon and hopes you will too.

Temple Spotting in Chiang Mai, Thailand

On: By: Posted in North Thailand
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Wat Spotting in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an amazing place for an extraordinarily large number of reasons. One of which is its temples. The temples or ‘Wat’ as they’re known in Thai, are as aesthetically varied as the many Thai dishes you’ll likely get through while in this province. As Chiang Mai is such a big place, the best way to get around to all the temples is by bicycle. You can rent a bike for a very small amount, but bear in mind that you’ll probably have to leave something with the owners as a deposit – a passport, a small amount of currency etc.

As there are so many, below are our favourite temples in no particular order.

Wat Jedee Luang

The great earthquake of 1545 saw Wat Jedee Luang almost entirely destroyed. What used to be a giant pagoda, now lays in ruin. If you visit the temple in person however, you’ll still feel dwarfed by its sheer scale – one can only imagine how tall it once was.

Wat Oo-Mong

An old ruler, King Mengrai, had this temple built for a monk of the forest who was highly respected in his time. The reason it was built was due to the fact that the monk was unable to practice the teachings of the Buddha in the city, so the King used his power to have this spectacle erected.

Wat Chiang Mun

Wat Chiang Mun is famously, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. To find the temple, you have to venture into the walls of the city and travel to Rajpakinai Road. The old king (King Mengrai), is said to have lived here. Interestingly, inside the temple, there is a small crystal Buddha that is said to have the power to bring rain.

Wat Pra Singh

Built in 1345, Wat Pra Singh is one of the earlier temples in the region. Located at the centre of Chiang Mai, the temple is also one of the busiest – especially for tourists. The walls of the temple are adorned with beautiful murals of Thai daily life and as there are many different buildings in the complex, it’ll take you a nice long while to stroll around all of the grounds. This one is a personal favourite.

Wat Phra Thart Doi Suthep

A massive gold spire perched atop a mountain. Doi Sutep has to be the most spectacular of the temples. Panoramic views of both Chiang Mai and the Mae Ping river valley make it even more incredible. Dating to the Lanna period, the spot for this temple was selected by allowing an elephant to roam freely up the mountain side. The elephant stopped, trumpeted and circled around three times before finally sitting down. This was, of course, interpreted as some sort of divine signal and thus, the temple was built.

Getting to Thailand from the UK is now easier than it has ever been as regular flights leave from Stansted airport daily. If you live in London or the surrounding areas, this is fantastic, as driving to the airport cuts out both the hassle of public transport and having to pay for a taxi.

This post was written by Izzy Gardener on behalf of Heathrow Airport. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of Heathrow Airport.

How Foreigners Can Purchase A Condominium In Thailand

On: By: Posted in Thailand Info
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A lot of people would like to have a home abroad to spend a vacation in, or to live in permanently. However, you must know how foreigners can purchase a condominium in Thailand before you embark on this process. There are a lot of property laws in Thailand and it is very useful to learn a little bit about this. If you want to know how foreigners can purchase a condominium in Thailand, it is all about following the law to the letter. Luckily, much of the legal information can be found online, so you should have no problems getting to grips with all the paperwork and red tape you are likely to experience.

The Inbound Money Must be Certified With a Bank Letter

The first thing you need to look up is the Condominium Act 2008 (amended). This deals with non residents in Thailand and will show you exactly how foreigners can purchase a condominium in Thailand. The main rule within this is that you must pay for your condominium in full and you must pay for it in the currency of your own country and not in Thai baht. You will only get a certificate for this – which you need – if the amount is greater than $20,000. Hence, you should not look at the cheapest of the properties, since you will be unable to legally purchase these. You must make it very clear on your transfer what the money is being sent for as well, leaving no room for errors and confusion.

Transfer of Ownership

Next, you need to think about the transfer of ownership. This is the main legal procedure and one of the most important things you can learn about how foreigners can purchase a condominium in Thailand. It has happened quite regularly that this part of the process has not been arranged properly and people have ended up parting with their money without ever becoming the legal owner of a property. Hence, you must have a trusted partner in Thailand that can look into the legality of things for you and liaise with a lawyer over there.

Finding Your Dream Condo

Once you have all of this in place, you can start looking for properties. Researching online is generally the best idea, because there are many properties listed here. However, a word of warning is that you should never buy anything that you haven’t seen with your own eyes. Hence, make sure you book a trip over to Thailand, which doesn’t have to cost much thankfully, so you can actually see the properties that are of interest to you. This will also enable you to meet with your local contacts and lawyers, as well as with the banks if necessary. Some people find it beneficial to have a bank account in Thailand for these purposes.

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Thailand offers many native fresh flowers that can be delivered directly to your condominium. Bangkok Flowers delivers all kind of exotic flowers every day with tier easy online booking system.

Modern Thai Wedding

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Many American couples are choosing to make their wedding an day exotic and a stunning visual event that is only bound by their imagination. Asian themed weddings are now very popular with non-Asians as well. Professional wedding planners have reported an increasing demand for Thai themed weddings in America, these have a touch of class, encompassing an intense celebration and are sophisticated at the same time.

A Thai wedding has an atmosphere of its own, one visually appealing decoration are Thai paper lanterns. They are perfect to give an Asian feel without being over powering, mini lanterns are my personal favorite, where the guest of the wedding can write messages of luck to the bride and groom and their family. Many people prefer to go with the Thai tradition of showing off which means wealth in Asia, if you wish to go down this materialistic path, the large lanterns also look great.

When people think of Thai paper lanterns, they imagine they are red color. It is true that red is the Chinese color of luck, and the Chinese have had a massive influence on Thailand, economically they practically run the country. It is appropriate to have many colors of paper lanterns at your Thai themed wedding, in recent years, with more western influences, the traditional wedding color of white has infiltrated the Thai culture. While it has become an exotic statement for an American bride to were a beautiful hand crafted Thailand designed wedding dress, it is also popular now for a Thai bride to were a western white wedding gown and carrying traditional Thailand wedding flowers down the aisle.

Decorations of the venue and reception area should also consist of traditional silk and wood carvings from teak or sandalwood. Hand held fans are a great way to incorporate these together in a beautiful display of Asian decor. These fans are also practical in the summer and serve as a great present to be presented to guests from the bride and groom. You can print messages to individuals on these, or have the program of the wedding day displayed on them or even use them as name place tags for the tables.

 

Image: CC GNU Free Doc License-Jina Lee

Silk can also be uses for napkins with class. These can also have personal messages on them for your distinguished guest, maybe you could even print messages for the ghost if you desire to really get the gossip going, Thais love ghosts as it is entrenched in their culture. If you desire a more introverted reserved print on your silk napkins, you can not go wrong with images of orchids and roses or other romantic flowers at your Thai themed wedding.

A wedding only needs a little imagination and follow the suggestions above to have a unique and fabulous Thai wedding experience that is so trendy, that your friends and families will be talking about it for years to come. The decor suggested will also look great in your wedding photos as well, so take the plunge, and try an Asian themed wedding.

I travel Asia attending weddings and conferences, both invited and uninvited to learn the latest trends and report on them.

Malaysia: Truly Asia

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It is a great experience to travel for leisure purposes. Aside from having a breather from the stressful work, chaotic city life or unending household chores, one gets to witness and experience different cultures which makes the traveler aware how distinct their culture is from other countries. And when considering Asia as the continent of destination, there’s one country that is simple but full of rich cultures and exotic places that anyone, even those who already live in an Asian country, should not miss and that is, Malaysia.

The ‘Malaysia: Truly Asia’ slogan indeed, speaks of Malaysia being the model country of Asia. With Asia being known for hospitality, strong family ties, respect for the elderly, and high regard for education and religion, Malaysia certainly has this qualities that can be found among its people.

Malaysia: A Colorful Nation

Malaysia has a lot of beautiful sceneries, exotic and colorful food, and very nice people, which is what makes it ‘truly Asia’. Having people in a mixture of Malays, Chinese, and Indians makes this country adept in different cultures. They celebrate Christmas, Easter, Ramahdan, Hindu festivals, Chinese New Year and much more. The people in Malaysia speak three languages or even more. Like other Asians, Malaysians are adventurous when it comes to food and having spicy cuisines are normal even in a typical household.

Recommended Destinations

While there are a lot of places to go to in Malaysia, among the most recommended destinations are the following:

  • Sibu Island in Johor – Who wouldn’t love the beach? In Malaysia, there’s one place where tourists can have a blissful getaway and this is in Sibu Island which offers a private sanctuary with luxurious sea view and white sands.
  • Rawa Island – Still in Johor, Rawa Island is a coral island located in the east coast. A stunning island with clear blue waters and peaceful atmosphere, it is certainly a place for relaxation and retreat. Water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling are also great to experience here.
  • Butterfly Park – Other than the beaches, there are also other recreational destinations such as Kuala Lumpur’s Butterfly Park which houses more than 6,000 butterflies in 120 species.
  • Lake Gardens, KL – Still in the middle of the busy city of Kuala Lumpur, the Lake Garden is certainly a place to go to if one wants to have a break from the chaos in the city. This place has an astonishing park for kids, beautiful landscapes, and beautiful gardens with orchids, hibiscus and other exotic flowers, fountains, and more. Not to mention the beautiful lake for which it is known for. Because of the beautiful sceneries in this park, a lot of engaged couples prefer this venue for their pre-wedding pictorial.
  • Kuching – For tourists who wanted to explore historical buildings, temples, markets and vintage Chinese shop houses; this is the place where they should discover.
  • Cameron Highlands – This a great place to unwind and rejuvenate oneself where tourists can see lush landscapes and peaceful views amidst the green environment filled with colorful flowers that makes on reminisce on an old English country.

In every place you go, shopping is never left out in the itinerary. Here are great recommendations for shopping in Malaysia:

  • Langkawi Shopping – this is where duty-free shopping takes place. With a variety of shops that can be found, tourists will definitely not afford to miss this place. And with the bars and night clubs that are nearby where shoppers can go to after a long day’s shopping, Langkawi is certainly an all in one stop.
  • Night Market, Kuala Lumpur – Another astonishing place to go to for lots of food, accessories, clothings and much more, the night market is not to miss. Be sure to haggle for good prices so you can have the best deals for your purchases.
  • Petaling Street – For a feel of the Chinese market, the Petaling Street is also a shopping paradise for great bargains surrounded by Chinese entrepreneurs and Hindu Temples.

Travel Tips

Malaysia is a country which is dominated by Islamic cultures. It will be best to be cautious of your actions to avoid offending people who has high regard to their religion, culture, customs, and traditions. Dressing conservatively, avoiding homosexual acts is extremely recommended in this country. Emergency assistance in this country can be availed by dialing 999 or 112 from a mobile phone. In scheduling trips to this country, the months of October to February should be avoided since these are the months when seasonal storms are rampant, which may result to heavy flooding.

Final Thoughts

Visiting other countries as a form of recreation, or break from one’s monotonous life does not mean neglecting your own country where there are also places where you can relax and unwind. There are always campaigns in every country about uplifting its tourism and visiting its own exotic places. But there’s also a learning experience that one can get when travelling outside of one’s country that makes them appreciate their own when they go back home.

Malaysia, being a rich country has more to tell and to find out all of these, it is best to make further research through the internet. And what better way to make an efficient with a fast and reliable broadband connection. At Broadband Expert website, travelers can make an informed decision about the ideal broadband connection that will help them make an efficient research about the ideal country that they are looking forward to.

Author Bio:

Krystine joy Sitjar is a freelance writer. she loves to do travel blogs and is also a jetsetter. She travels in different parts of the world and shares her experiences through her blogs.