tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36348732385625469752024-03-13T05:34:33.136-07:00Wonderful Places in Asiajmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-83928529657706743762012-04-24T22:22:00.001-07:002012-04-24T23:13:19.409-07:00Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Vietnam<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Phongnhakebang6.jpg/250px-Phongnhakebang6.jpg%20%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Phongnhakebang6.jpg/250px-Phongnhakebang6.jpg%20%20" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phong Nha - Ke Bang</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Vietnamese:</span><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">V</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ư</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ờ</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n qu</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">c gia
Phong Nha-K</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ẻ</span></i><i><span lang="VI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Bàng</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) is a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">national
park and UNESCO</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">World Heritage Site</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in the
B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Trach and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Minh
Hóa</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">districts of central</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Quang
Binh Province, in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">north-central</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vietnam,
about 500 km south of the nation's capital,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hanoi.
The park borders the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hin
Namno Nature Reserve</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">province</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of
Khammouan,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Laos</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">by the
west, 42 km east of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">South
China Sea</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">from its borderline point. Phong Nha-Ke
Bang National Park is situated in a limestone zone of 2,000 km<sup>2</sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in
Vietnamese territory and borders another limestone zone of 2,000 km<sup>2</sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of Hin
Namno</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Laotian</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">territory.
The core zone of this national park covers 857.54 km<sup>2</sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and a
buffer zone of 1,954 km<sup>2</sup>.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
park was created to protect one of the world's two largest karst</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">regions
with 300 caves and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">grottoes</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and
also protects the ecosystem of limestone forest of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Annamite
Range</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">region in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">north
central coast</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of Vietnam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Phongnhatourism.jpg/220px-Phongnhatourism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Phongnhatourism.jpg/220px-Phongnhatourism.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park is situated around
30 km west of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">South
China Sea</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">National
Road 1A, near</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ho Chi Minh Highway</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and
28 km west of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hanoi-Saigon
Railway</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and is accessed by road or waterway by boat
through the estuary in South China Sea upwards. There is a small airport near
the park accessible by helicopter or small aircraft (Khe Gat Airbase), an
airbase used by North Vietnamese Air Force during</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vietnam
War, notably in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Battle
of Đ</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ồ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phong Nha-Ke Bang area is noted
for its cave and grotto systems as it is composed of 300 caves and grottos with
a total length of about 70 km, of which only 20 have been surveyed by
Vietnamese and British scientists; 17 of these are in located in the Phong Nha
area and three in the Ke Bang area. After April 2009, total length of caves and
grottoes are 126 km.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Before
discovery of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Son Doong Cave, Phong Nha held
several world cave records, as it has the longest underground river, as well as
the largest caverns and passageways. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Phongnhakebang11.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Phongnhakebang11.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang11.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park derives its name from
Phong Nha cave, the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock
formations, and Ke Bang forest. The plateau on which the park is situated is
probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform
in Southeast Asia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This national park was listed
in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 2003 for
its geological values as defined in its criteria viii. In April 2009, the
world's largest cave</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Son
Doong Cave, was discovered by a team of British cave explorers of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">British
Caving Association.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Phongnhakebang15.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Phongnhakebang15.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang15.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Since the recognition by UNESCO
in 2003, the government of Vietnam has continued to compile scientific
documentation to seek recognition of the park as a world natural heritage in
terms of biodiversity in addition to geographical values. According to World
Wildlife Foundation report in 2000, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of
200 biodiversity centres of the world and one of the 60 significant sanctuaries
of Vietnam. It has a unique forest type in the world: green tropical forest. The
park also has 15 other types of forests.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park is situated around
30 km west of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">South
China Sea</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">National
Road 1A, near</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ho Chi Minh Highway</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and
28 km west of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hanoi-Saigon
Railway</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and is accessed by road or waterway by boat
through the estuary in South China Sea upwards. There is a small airport near
the park accessible by helicopter or small aircraft (Khe Gat Airbase), an
airbase used by North Vietnamese Air Force during</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vietnam
War, notably in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Battle
of Đ</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ồ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Phongnhakebang1.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang1.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Phongnhakebang1.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang1.jpg%20" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Like Bac Trung Bo in general
and Quang Binh Province in particular, the climate in this national
park is tropical, hot, and humid. The annual mean temperature is 23 to 25 °C,
with a maximum of 41 °C in the summer and a minimum of 6 °C in the winter. The
hottest months in this region fall from June to August, with an average
temperature of 28 °C, and the coldest months from December to February with an
average temperature of 18 °C. Annual rainfall is 2,000 mm to
2,500 mm, and 88% of the rainfall is from July to December. With more than
160 rainy days per year, no month is without rain. Mean annual relative
humidity is 84%.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rivers and streams<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Phongnhakebang14.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Phongnhakebang14.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang14.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Besides the grotto and cave
systems, Phong Nha has the longest underground river. The Son and Chay<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are
the main rivers in this national park. Most of caves here have been shaped by
Son and Chay Rivers. The Son River flows into the mouth of the Phong Nha cave
and keeps on underground, where it is called as the Nam Aki River. It emerges
20 km to the south near Pu-Pha-Dam Mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are over ten spectacular
streams, springs and waterfalls in Phong Nha-Ke Bang area, namely: Gió
waterfall, Madame Loan waterfall, M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ọ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">c
stream erupting from a limestone mount range, and Tr</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ạ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Ang stream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cave and grottoes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Phongnhacave.jpg/170px-Phongnhacave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Phongnhacave.jpg/170px-Phongnhacave.jpg" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phong Nha-Ke
Bang is home to the largest cave in the world</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and covers 300 different
grottoes and caves. Before</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Son Doong Cave</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">was found, Phong Nha cave was regarded by British Caving
Association as the top cave in the world due to its 4 top records: the longest
underground river, the highest and longest cave, broadest and most beautiful
fine sand beaches inside the caves, the most spectacular stalagmites and
stalactites.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the
survey conducted in April 2009, the British cave explorers discovered 20 new
caves with total length of 56 km, including world's largest cave Son
Doong.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">According to
the assessment of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">UNESCO, the karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National
Park has evolved since the Palaeozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is
the oldest major karst area in Asia</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phong Nha displays an impressive amount of evidence of
earth's history. It is a site of very great importance for increasing our
understanding of the geologic, geomorphic and geo-chronological history of the
region.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tourist activities<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Phongnhakebang8.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Phongnhakebang8.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang8.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park is accessible by road
(National Road 1A or Ho Chi Minh Highway 450 km south
of Hanoi, 50 km north of Đ</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ồ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i, 210 km north of Hue);
by rail at Dong Hoi Railway Station on Hanoi-Saigon Railway; by air
at Dong Hoi Airport 45 km south of the park. Tourists are served
at the Tourism Service Center at S</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Trach commune of B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Tr</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ạ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ch District, the entrance of
this center is located by Ho Chi Minh Highway. Tourists are required to
buy entrance ticket for package services, including entrance fee, boat service.
Ecotourism tour (if needed) requires additional service fee. Tourists then will
be transported by boat along the Son River upstream to the Phong Nha
Cave and Paradise Cave. Local tour guides can speak English, French and
Mandarin Chinese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The number of tourists has
increased dramatically since the park was listed in UNESCO's World Heritage
Sites. Quang Binh Province has invested into upgrading the Phong Nha-Ke
Bang visitor site to turn it into one of Vietnam's major tourist destinations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Phongnhakebang5.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Phongnhakebang5.jpg/220px-Phongnhakebang5.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Multiple eco-tourist projects
have been licensed for development and the area is being heavily developed by
the province to turn it into a major tourist site in Vietnam. Phong Nha Ke Bang
is part of a tourism promotion program called: "Middle World Heritage
Road" which includes the ancient capital of Hue, the Champa relics of
My Son, the city of H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An,
nha nhac and the Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tourist activities in Phong Nha-Ke
Bang National Park are organized by local travel agencies and vary in form:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tour for expedition of caves
and grottos in boats and with professional cave expedition means.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ecotourism, discovering the
flora and fauna in this national park in the Ke Bang Forest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mountain climbing, trekking:
There are extreme sloping mountains here with a height of over 1,000 m, which
is a real challenge for adventurous climbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Phongnhakebang2.jpg/240px-Phongnhakebang2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Phongnhakebang2.jpg/240px-Phongnhakebang2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the adventure tour sites
is boating upward on the Chay River into primitive forests, as the river
becomes sinuous with several waterfalls and whirlpools until tourists arrive at
Tro Mong. This tour sites have been surveyed and included in local travel
agents besides cave exploration tour. In Phong Nha-Ke Bang park, there are is a
50m-high waterfall, Chai Waterfall. There is a bull field called Ran Bo (Bull
Field) because wild bulls usually comes and reproduce in mating season. There
are also some interesting tourist attractions in this park like N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ư</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">c Ngang (lit.: Horizontal
Spring), a spring runs horizontally instead of vertically as usual; Ðá N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ằ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">m (Crouching Stone), a stone
blockading a stream current; Chân Th</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">t
(Chopping Board), a chopping-board-shaped stone. But above all, the most
spectacular scene is this area is N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ư</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ớ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">c Tr</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ồ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i (Surfacing Stream), a stream
surfacing from the ground. Several streams here run for a long distance, then
disappear under the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Phongnha21.jpg/220px-Phongnha21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Phongnha21.jpg/220px-Phongnha21.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thanks to the tourism
development in this national park, about 1000 local residents have jobs in
tourism. The provincial Centre for Phong Nha-Ke Bang's Ecotourism and Culture
currently has 248 boats, creating jobs for 500 locals. Every boat has two
trained boatmen earning VND 70,000 per day. This income is relatively high for
peasants in this province. This centre also launched a programme in 2000 to
train former loggers to work as photographers taking pictures for tourists and
about 300 former loggers are now doing this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In order to facilitate the
increasing flow of tourists to the site, the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Dong Hoi Airport was constructed and
put into operation in May 2008 with air link with Hanoi’s Noi Bai International
Airport<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
air link with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ho
Chi Minh City's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tan
Son Nhat International Airport<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>beginning from 1 July 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Phongnha17.jpg/200px-Phongnha17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Phongnha17.jpg/200px-Phongnha17.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phong Nha-Ke Bang, together
with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ha
Long Bay<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Fansipan<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of
Vietnam, is listed as a candidate for 7 new world natural wonders vote. As of
February 12, 2008 it ranked 10th in the voting list<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In January 2009, the United States-based<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Los
Angeles Times<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>listed
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in its recommended world's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>29
destinations to visit in 2009</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.8pt; mso-line-height-alt: 9.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source, Images:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phong_Nha_Ke_Bang_National_Park </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-65760359650865433252012-03-11T21:24:00.006-07:002012-03-29T00:00:40.168-07:00Hoi An - Vietnam<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/PhoCoHoiAn.jpg/250px-PhoCoHoiAn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/PhoCoHoiAn.jpg/250px-PhoCoHoiAn.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">H</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, or rarely</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Faifo</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, is a city of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vietnam, on the coast of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">South China Sea</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">South Central Coast</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It is recognized as a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">World Heritage Site by UNESCO.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Colonial_style_building_in_Hoi_An.JPG/170px-Colonial_style_building_in_Hoi_An.JPG%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Colonial_style_building_in_Hoi_An.JPG/170px-Colonial_style_building_in_Hoi_An.JPG%20" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lâm </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ấ</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">p Ph</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Champa City). Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">spice trade</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and with this came tremendous wealth. The former harbour town of the Cham at the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">estuary</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thu B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ồ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n River</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Chinese</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled. During this period of the China trade, the town was called</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hai Pho </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. Originally, Hai Pho was a divided town with the Japanese settlement across the "Japanese Bridge" (16th-17th century). The bridge (Chùa c</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ầ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">u) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Buddhist</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">pagoda</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">attached to one side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Chua_Cau_Hoi_An.jpg/250px-Chua_Cau_Hoi_An.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Chua_Cau_Hoi_An.jpg/250px-Chua_Cau_Hoi_An.jpg" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The town was known to the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">French</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Spanish</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">as “Faifo”, and by similar names in Portuguese</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Dutch. A number of theories have been put forth as to the origin of this name. Some scholars</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">have suggested that it comes from the word "h</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ả</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i-ph</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">" meaning "sea town", while others have said that it is more likely simply a shortening of H</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An-ph</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ố</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> , "the town of H</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An", to "Hoi-pho" which became "Faifo"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/5828772hoi-an.jpg/220px-5828772hoi-an.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/5828772hoi-an.jpg/220px-5828772hoi-an.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The early history of H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An is that of the Cham. These<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Malayo-Polynesian<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>peoples probably came from Java around 200 B.C. and by 200 A.D. created the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Champa Empire<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>which stretched from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Hu</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ế</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">to beyond<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Nha Trang.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In the early years,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ỹ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> S</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ơ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was the spiritual capital,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Trà Ki</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ệ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">u<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was the political capital and H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An was the commercial capital of the Champa Empire - later, by the 14th century, the Cham moved further down towards Nha Trang. The river system was the transportation for goods between the highlands, inland countries of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Laos<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Thailand<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and the low lands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/0/09/Ghe_nang_1.jpg/240px-Ghe_nang_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/0/09/Ghe_nang_1.jpg/240px-Ghe_nang_1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1535 Portuguese explorer and sea captain<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>António de Faria, coming from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Đà N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ẵ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng, tried to establish a major trading center at the port village of Faifo.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An was founded as a trading port by the Nguy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ễ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n Lord<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Nguy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ễ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n Hoàng<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>sometime around 1595. The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Nguy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ễ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n Lords<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>were far more interested in commercial activity than the Tr</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ị</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">nh Lords<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>who ruled the north. As a result, H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An flourished as a trading port and became the most important trade port on the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>South China Sea. Captain<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>William Adams, the English sailor and confidant of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tokugawa Ieyasu, is known to have made at least one trading mission to H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An (around 1619).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Friendly_Shop.jpg/220px-Friendly_Shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Friendly_Shop.jpg/220px-Friendly_Shop.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the 18th century, H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An was considered by Chinese and Japanese merchants to be the best destination for trading in all of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Southeast Asia, even Asia. Japanese believed the heart of all of Asia (the dragon) lay beneath the earth of H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The city also rose to prominence as a powerful and exclusive trade conduit between Europe, China, India, and Japan, especially for the ceramic industry. Shipwreck discoveries have shown that Vietnamese and Asian ceramics were transported from H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An to as far as Sinai, Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.vietnampackagetours.co/wp-content/uploads/Vietnam-Tours-193-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.vietnampackagetours.co/wp-content/uploads/Vietnam-Tours-193-150x150.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An's importance waned sharply at the end of the 18th century because of the collapse of Nguy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ễ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n rule (thanks to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tây S</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ơ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">n Rebellion<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>- which was opposed to foreign trade).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Then, with the triumph of Emperor<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Gia Long, he repaid the French for their aid by giving them exclusive trade rights to the nearby port town of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Đà N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ẵ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng. Đà N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ẵ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ng became the new center of trade (and later French influence) in central Vietnam while H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An was a forgotten backwater. Local historians also say that H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An lost its status as a desirable trade port due to silting up of the river mouth. The result was that H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An remained almost untouched by the changes to Vietnam over the next 200 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, the town is a tourist attraction because of its traditional architecture, crafts such as textiles and ceramics preserved and visitors are exploited. Many bars, hotels, and resorts have been constructed both in H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An and the surrounding area. The port mouth and boats are still used for both fishing and tourism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Weather<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Calm mild weather is now limited to the season of May/June - end of August when the seas are calm and wind changes direction and comes from the South. The remainder of the year the weather is intermittent between rain & cold and hot and mild. Popular activities such as visiting offshore Cù lao Chàm islands are only guaranteed to be likely during the short season of end of May - end of August, which is the high season for domestic tourism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Heritage and tourism<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/HoiAn.jpg/220px-HoiAn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/HoiAn.jpg/220px-HoiAn.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1999, the old town was declared a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>World Heritage Site<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>UNESCO<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, with buildings that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences. According to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>UNESCO Impact Report 2008<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An, tourism has bought changes to the area which are not sustainable without mitigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The city has various small museums highlighting the history of the region, especially ceramics, such as the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Museum of Trade Ceramics. The Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was built in 1995, and has over 430 ceramic items from 8th to 18th Century. The items originating from Persia, China, Thailand, India and other countries are proofs of the importance of H</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ộ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">i An as a major trading port in South East Asia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Get Around<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.vietnampackagetours.co/wp-content/uploads/Hoi-An-Beach-1-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.vietnampackagetours.co/wp-content/uploads/Hoi-An-Beach-1-150x150.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The centre of Hoi An is very small and pedestrianised, so you will be walking around most of the time. Motorbikes are only banned from the center of town during certain times of day, so keep an eye out for motorized kamikazes, even in the most narrow alleys. However, the city's government does not allow motorbikes to enter the Old Town on the 14th and 15th of each lunar month. On those evenings, a lot of activities, including traditional games such as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>bai choi</i>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>trong quan</i>, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>dap nieu</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are held in all over the town.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">To go to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>beach<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or reach some of the more remote hotels, it is easy and cheap to hire a bicycle. Taxis can be found in the middle of Le Loi Street, over the river on An Hoi or called by phone. When busy, taxis may refuse your fare back to your hotel from town if it is too close, opting for larger fares. Arranging a shuttle from your hotel may be a better option although prices can be higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/1/18/Cinnamon_sunset_cruise.JPG/240px-Cinnamon_sunset_cruise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/1/18/Cinnamon_sunset_cruise.JPG/240px-Cinnamon_sunset_cruise.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Traffic in Hoi An is minimal, so if you've been avoiding getting on a bike in the big cities, small towns and the surrounding countryside like Hoi An are ideal to get used to the road rules. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Get a car to visit</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My Son</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">early in the morning, about an hour away, or the Marble Mountains, about forty minutes north towards Da Nang.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The old Champa way was to travel by the river system. The rivers of Hoi An cover hundreds of kilometers and offer an interesting & adventurous alternative to travelling by road. Get on a boat and you'll begin to see a whole lot more of Hoi An and the Delta.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Sources, Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoi_An, http://wikitravel.org/en/Hoi_An</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-24720601999406432912012-01-17T02:24:00.000-08:002012-01-17T07:25:34.055-08:00Cappadocia - Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Cappadocia_Aktepe_Panorama.JPG/350px-Cappadocia_Aktepe_Panorama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Cappadocia_Aktepe_Panorama.JPG/350px-Cappadocia_Aktepe_Panorama.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cappadocia</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (also <i>Capadocia</i>; Turkish <i>Kapadokya</i>, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía) is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates and the Armenian Highland, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia5.jpg/250px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia5.jpg/250px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia5.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The name was traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history and is still widely used as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. The term, as used in tourism, roughly corresponds to present-day Nevşehir Province.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Turkey-1929.jpg/220px-Turkey-1929.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Turkey-1929.jpg/220px-Turkey-1929.jpg%20" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cappadocia lies in eastern Anatolia, in the center of what is now Turkey. The relief consists of a high plateau over 1000 m in altitude that is pierced by volcanic peaks, with Mount Erciyes (ancient Argaeus) near Kayseri (ancient Caesarea) being the tallest at <span class="nowrap1">3916 m</span>. The boundaries of historical Cappadocia are vague, particularly towards the west. To the south, the Taurus Mountains form the boundary with Cilicia and separate Cappadocia from the Mediterranean Sea. To the west, Cappadocia is bounded by the historical regions of Lycaonia to the southwest, and Galatia to the northwest. The Black Sea coastal ranges separate Cappadocia from Pontus and the Black Sea, while to the east Cappadocia is bounded by the upper Euphrates, before that river bends to the southeast to flow into Mesopotamia, and the Armenian Highland. This results in an area approximately 400 km (250 mi) east–west and 250 km (160 mi) north–south. Due to its inland location and high altitude, Cappadocia has a markedly continental climate, with hot dry summers and cold snowy winters. Rainfall is sparse and the region is largely semi-arid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Cappadoce_2367.jpg/300px-Cappadoce_2367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Cappadoce_2367.jpg/300px-Cappadoce_2367.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cappadocia was known as Hatti in the late Bronze Age, and was the homeland of the Hittite power centred at Hattusa. After the fall of the Hittite Empire, with the decline of the Syro-Cappadocians (Mushki) after their defeat by the Lydian king Croesus in the 6th century, Cappadocia was ruled by a sort of feudal aristocracy, dwelling in strong castles and keeping the peasants in a servile condition, which later made them apt for foreign slavery. It was included in the third Persian satrapy in the division established by Darius, but continued to be governed by rulers of its own, none apparently supreme over the whole country and all more or less tributaries of the Great King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kingdom of Cappadocia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Kappadokien_im_Winter_54.JPG/250px-Kappadokien_im_Winter_54.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Kappadokien_im_Winter_54.JPG/250px-Kappadokien_im_Winter_54.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After bringing the Persian Empire to an end, Alexander the Great tried to rule the area through one of his military commanders. But Ariarathes, a Persian aristocrat, somehow became king of the Cappadocians. Ariarthes I (332—322 BC) was a successful ruler, and he extended the borders of the Cappadocian Kingdom as far as to the Black Sea. The kingdom of Cappadocia lived in peace until the death of Alexander. The previous empire was then divided into many parts, and Cappadocia fell to Eumenes. His claims were made good in 322 BC by the regent Perdiccas, who crucified Ariarathes; but in the dissensions which brought about Eumenes's death, the son of Ariarathes recovered his inheritance and left it to a line of successors, who mostly bore the name of the founder of the dynasty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Cappadocia_Mount_Aktepe_2_Wikimedia_Commons.JPG/250px-Cappadocia_Mount_Aktepe_2_Wikimedia_Commons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Cappadocia_Mount_Aktepe_2_Wikimedia_Commons.JPG/250px-Cappadocia_Mount_Aktepe_2_Wikimedia_Commons.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Under Ariarathes IV, Cappadocia came into relations with Rome, first as a foe espousing the cause of Antiochus the Great, then as an ally against Perseus of Macedon. The kings henceforward threw in their lot with the Republic as against the Seleucids, to whom they had been from time to time tributary. Ariarathes V marched with the Roman proconsul Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus against Aristonicus, a claimant to the throne of Pergamon, and their forces were annihilated (130 BC). The imbroglio which followed his death ultimately led to interference by the rising power of Pontus and the intrigues and wars which ended in the failure of the dynasty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Roman and Byzantine province<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Cappadocia_Town_-_2.jpg/250px-Cappadocia_Town_-_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Cappadocia_Town_-_2.jpg/250px-Cappadocia_Town_-_2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Cappadocians, supported by Rome against Mithridates VI of Pontus, elected a native lord, Ariobarzanes, to succeed (93 BC); but in the same year Armenian troops under Tigranes the Great entered Cappadocia, dethroned king Ariobarzanes and crowned Gordios as the new client-king of Cappadocia, thus creating a buffer zone against the encroaching Romans. It was not until Rome had deposed the Pontic and Armenian kings that the rule of Ariobarzanes was established (63 BC). In the civil wars Cappadocia was first for Pompey, then for Caesar, then for Antony, and finally, Octavian. The Ariobarzanes dynasty came to an end and a certain Archelaus reigned in its stead, by favour first of Antony and then of Octavian, and maintained tributary independence until AD 17, when the emperor Tiberius, on Archelaus' death in disgrace, reduced Cappadocia at last to a Roman province.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/5/5e/CappadocciaUnderground.jpg/180px-CappadocciaUnderground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/5/5e/CappadocciaUnderground.jpg/180px-CappadocciaUnderground.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cappadocia contains several underground cities (Kaymaklı Underground City), largely used by early Christians as hiding places before they became an accepted religion. The Cappadocian Fathers of the 4th century were integral to much of early Christian philosophy. It also produced, among other people, another Patriarch of Constantinople, John of Cappadocia, who held office 517—520. For most of the Byzantine era it remained relatively undisturbed by the conflicts in the area with the Sassanid Empire, but was a vital frontier zone later against the Muslim conquests. From the 7th century, Cappadocia was divided between the Anatolic and Armeniac themes. In the 9th–11th centuries, the region comprised the themes of Charsianon and Cappadocia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia2.jpg/200px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia2.jpg/200px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cappadocia shared an always-changing relationship with neighbouring Armenia, by that time a region of the Empire. The Arab historian Abu Al Faraj asserts the following about Armenian settlers in Sivas, during the 10th century: "Sivas, in Cappadocia, was dominated by the Armenians and their numbers became so many that they became vital members of the imperial armies. These Armenians were used as watch-posts in strong fortresses, taken from the Arabs. They distinguished themselves as experienced infantry soldiers in the imperial army and were constantly fighting with outstanding courage and success by the side of the Romans in other words Byzantine". As a result of the Byzantine military campaigns and the Seljuk invasion of Armenia, the Armenians spread into Cappadocia and eastward from Cilicia into the mountainous areas of northern Syria and Mesopotamia, and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was eventually formed. This immigration was increased further after the decline of the local imperial power and the establishment of the Crusader States following the Fourth Crusade. To the crusaders, Cappadocia was "terra Hermeniorum," the land of the Armenians, due to the large number of Armenians settled there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Turkish Cappadocia</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/IhlaraTal.jpg/200px-IhlaraTal.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/IhlaraTal.jpg/200px-IhlaraTal.jpg%20" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, various Turkish clans under the leadership of the Seljuks began settling in Anatolia. With the rise of Turkish power in Anatolia, Cappadocia slowly became a tributary to the Turkish states that were established to the east and to the west, and some of the population converted to Islam. By the end of the early 12th century, Anatolian Seljuks had established their sole dominance over the region. With the decline and the fall of the Konya-based Seljuks in the second half of the 13th century, they were gradually replaced by the Karaman-based Beylik of Karaman, who themselves were gradually succeeded by the Ottoman Empire over the course of the 15th century. Cappadocia remained part of the Ottoman Empire for the centuries to come, and remains now part of the modern state of Turkey. A fundamental change occurred in between when a new urban center, Nevşehir, was founded in the early 18th century by a grand vizier who was a native of the locality (Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha), to serve as regional capital, a role the city continues to assume to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the meantime many former Cappadocians had shifted to a Turkish dialect (written in Greek alphabet, <i>Karamanlıca</i>), and where the Greek language was maintained (Sille, villages near Kayseri, Pharasa town and other nearby villages), it became heavily influenced by the surrounding Turkish. This dialect of Greek is known as <i>Cappadocian Greek</i>. Following the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, the language is now only spoken by a handful of the former population's descendants in modern Greece.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Cappadoce_vall%C3%A9e_de_l'amour.JPG/250px-Cappadoce_vall%C3%A9e_de_l'amour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Cappadoce_vall%C3%A9e_de_l'amour.JPG/250px-Cappadoce_vall%C3%A9e_de_l'amour.JPG" /></a></div><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Modern tourism</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The area is a popular tourist destination, as it has many areas with unique geological, historic and cultural features.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The region is located southwest of the major city Kayseri, which has airline and railroad (railway) service to Ankara and Istanbul.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/House_in_Cappadocia_22.jpg/220px-House_in_Cappadocia_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/House_in_Cappadocia_22.jpg/220px-House_in_Cappadocia_22.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams and ignimbrite deposits erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to <span class="nowrap1">3 million</span> years ago, during the late Miocene to Pliocene epochs, underlie the Cappadocia region. The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic deposits are soft rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches, and monasteries. Göreme became a monastic center in 300—1200 AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia9.jpg/250px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia9.jpg/250px-Balloon_flying_over_Cappadocia9.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first period of settlement in Göreme goes back to the Roman period. The Yusuf Koç, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir, and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, houses and churches carved into rocks in the Uzundere, Bağıldere, and Zemi Valleys all illustrate history and can be seen today. The Göreme Open Air Museum is the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and is one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 carved-from-rock churches and chapels; some of them have superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th century to the 11th century.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mesothelioma</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/G%C3%B6reme.jpg/250px-G%C3%B6reme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/G%C3%B6reme.jpg/250px-G%C3%B6reme.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1975 a study of three small villages in central Cappadocia - Tuzköy, Karain and Sarıhıdır - found that peritoneal mesothelioma was causing 50% of all deaths. Initially, this was attributed to erionite, a zeolite mineral with similar properties to asbestos, but detailed epidemiological investigation demonstrated that the substance causes the disease mostly in families with a genetic predisposition to mineral fiber carcinogenesis. The studies are being extended to other parts of the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cappadocia</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-79694569814962694132012-01-17T01:19:00.000-08:002012-01-17T02:06:07.415-08:00Hierapolis - Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Turkey.Hierapolis06.jpg/250px-Turkey.Hierapolis06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Turkey.Hierapolis06.jpg/250px-Turkey.Hierapolis06.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hierapolis</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Greek: </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ἱ</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">εράπολις 'holy city') was the ancient Greco-Roman city which sat on top of hot springs located in south western Turkey near Denizli.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hot springs there have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BCE, and people came to soothe their ailments, with many of them retiring or dying here. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, including the Sarcophagus of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Hierapolis_colonnade.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_colonnade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Hierapolis_colonnade.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_colonnade.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement, and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together. There are deep niches in the inner section of the bath, library, gymnasium and other closed or open locations. The complex, which was constructed in the 2nd century BCE, constitutes a good example of vault type architecture. The complex is now an archaeological museum. Hierapolis is located adjacent to Pamukkale</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History</span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are only a few historical facts known about the origin of the city. No traces of the presence of Hittites or Persians have been found. The Phrygians built a temple dedicated to Hieron, probably in the first half of the 3rd century BCE. This temple would later form the centre of Hierapolis. It was already used by the citizens of the nearby town Laodiceia, a city built by Antiochus II Theos in 261-253 BCE.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Hierapolis_theatre.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Hierapolis_theatre.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_theatre.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the 2nd century BCE and given by the Romans to Eumenes II, king of Pergamon in 190 BCE. The city was named after the existing temple, or possibly to honour Hiera, wife of Telephus — son of Heracles by a Mysian princess Auge - the mythical founder of the Attalid dynasty. The city was expanded with proceeds from the booty from the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BCE, where Antiochus the Great was defeated by Eumenes II, who had sided with the Romans. Thus Hierapolis became part of the Pergamon kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hierapolis became a healing centre where doctors used the hot thermal springs as a treatment for their patients. The city began issuing bronze coins in the 2nd century BCE. These coins give the name Hieropolis (town of the temple Hieron). This name eventually changed into Hierapolis (Holy city).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hierapolis was first excavated by the German archaeologist Carl Humann (1839–1896) during the months June to July 1887. His excavation notes were published in his 1889 book <i>Altertümer von Hierapolis</i>. His excavations were rather general and included a number of drilling holes. He would gain fame for his discovery in Pergamon of the Pergamon Altar which was reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Sarcophagi_and_human_figure.jpg/250px-Sarcophagi_and_human_figure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Sarcophagi_and_human_figure.jpg/250px-Sarcophagi_and_human_figure.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Excavations began in earnest in 1957 when Italian scientists, led by Paolo Verzone, began working on the site. These studies continued into 2008 when a restoration of the site began. For example, large columns along the main street near the gate named after Domitian, that had been toppled by earthquakes, were erected again. A number of houses from the Byzantine period were unearthed, including an 11th century courtyard house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Many statues and friezes were transported to museums in London, Berlin and Rome. In 1970, the Hierapolis Museum was built on the site of the former Roman baths.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Hierapolis_Basen_Kleopatry_RB.jpg/220px-Hierapolis_Basen_Kleopatry_RB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Hierapolis_Basen_Kleopatry_RB.jpg/220px-Hierapolis_Basen_Kleopatry_RB.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After the large white limestone formations of the hot springs became famous again in the 20th century, it was turned into a tourist attraction named <i>Cotton Castle</i> (Pamukkale). The ancient city was rediscovered by travelers, but also partially destroyed by hotels that were built there. The new buildings were removed in recent years; however the hot water pool of one hotel was retained, and, for a fee, it is possible to swim amongst ancient stone remains.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Significant structures</span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Theatre</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first theatre was constructed to the northeast above the northern gate, when the ancient city was destroyed by earthquake in 17 CE.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Hierapolis_teatr1_RB.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_teatr1_RB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Hierapolis_teatr1_RB.jpg/250px-Hierapolis_teatr1_RB.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After the earthquake of 60 CE and during the reign of emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus, a new theatre was hollowed out of the slope of the hill further to the east, using the remains and the seats of the old theatre. There were alterations during the reign of emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus. In 352 CE, it underwent a thorough restoration and was adapted for water shows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The theatre is now under restoration. Many reliefs and statues, depicting mythological figures, have been excavated from the site.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Temple of Apollo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Collective_toilet_main_street.jpg/220px-Collective_toilet_main_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Collective_toilet_main_street.jpg/220px-Collective_toilet_main_street.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A temple was raised to Apollo Lairbenos, the principal god of Hierapolis, during the Hellenistic period (as can be seen on coins from Hierapolis). Apollo was linked to the ancient Anatolian sungod Lairbenos and the god of oracles Kareios. But ancient worship also centered on Cybele, Artemis, Pluto and Poseidon. Now only the foundations of the Hellenistic temple remain. The temple stood within a peribolos (15 by 20 metres (49 by 66 ft)) in Doric style. As the back of the temple was built against the hill, the peribolos was surrounded on three sides by marble Doric order columns. The new temple was reconstructed in the 3rd century in Roman fashion, but also by recycling the stone blocks from the older temple. It has a smaller area, and now only its marble floor remains.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Plutonium</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Plutonium-2.jpg/170px-Plutonium-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Plutonium-2.jpg/170px-Plutonium-2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Next to this temple, within the sacred area, is the oldest local sanctuary, called the Plutonium (in Greek Πλουτωνειον = "the place of Pluto") or Chronion (named after Cronus), or Charonion (named after Charon), a shrine to the god of the underworld. The Plutonium was described by several ancient writers including Strabo, Cassius Dio, and Damascius. It is a small cave, just large enough for one person to enter through a fenced entrance, beyond which stairs go down, and from which emerges suffocating carbon dioxide gas caused by underground geologic activity. Behind the 3 square metres (32 sq ft) roofed chamber is a deep cleft in the rock, through which fast flowing hot water passes releasing a sharp smelling gas. Because people died in the gas, people thought that the gas was sent by Pluto, god of the underworld.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">During the early years of the town, castrated priests of Cybele descended into the Plutonium, crawled over the floor to pockets of oxygen or held their breath. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and so tends to settle in hollows. They then came up to show that they were immune to the gas. People believed a miracle had happened and that therefore the priests were infused with superior powers and had divine protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Hierapolis_10_May_2008_(38).jpg/220px-Hierapolis_10_May_2008_(38).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Hierapolis_10_May_2008_(38).jpg/220px-Hierapolis_10_May_2008_(38).jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">An enclosed area of 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) stood in front of the entrance. It was covered by a thick layer of suffocating gas, killing everyone who dared to enter this area. The priests sold birds and other animals to the visitors, so that they could try out how deadly this enclosed area was. Visitors could (for a fee) ask questions of the oracle of Pluto. This provided a considerable source of income for the temple. The entrance to the Plutonium was closed off during the Christian times.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nymphaeum</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Hierapolis_fontanna_RB.jpg/200px-Hierapolis_fontanna_RB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Hierapolis_fontanna_RB.jpg/200px-Hierapolis_fontanna_RB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Nymphaeum is located inside the sacred area, in front of the Apollo temple. It dates from the 2nd century CE. It was a shrine of the nymphs, a monumental fountain distributing water to the houses of the city via an ingenious network of pipes. The Nymphaeum was repaired in the 5th century CE during the Byzantine era. The retaining wall was built with elements from the peribolos of the Apollonian temple. By doing so, the early Christians cut off the view of the pagan temple. The Byzantine gate was constructed in the 6th century CE.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Now only the back wall and the two side walls remain. The walls and the niches in the walls were decorated with statues. The Italian archaeological team has excavated two statues of priestesses, which now on display at the local museum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Nymphaeum has a U-shaped plan and sits on the continuation of the main colonnaded road. The stone pavement columns and other architectural remains mark a great part of the colonnaded road which ran through in a north-south direction. It has statues and shops around it, underneath which passed canals. The road had a base covered with stone blocks, now under the pool of the Private Administration. There are two huge doors which were constructed at the end of the 1st century CE which were left outside the city walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Necropolis</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Hierapolis_nekropola_sarkofag_RB.jpg/225px-Hierapolis_nekropola_sarkofag_RB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Hierapolis_nekropola_sarkofag_RB.jpg/225px-Hierapolis_nekropola_sarkofag_RB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Following the main colonnaded road, and passing the <i>Thermae extra muros</i>, an extensive necropolis extends for over two kilometers on either side of the old road to Tripolis (Phrygia) and Sardis. The necropolis extends from the northern to the eastern and southern sections of the old city. Most of the tombs have been excavated. This necropolis is one of the best preserved in Turkey. Most of about the 1200 tombs were constructed with local varieties of limestone. The extent of this necropolis attests again to the importance Hierapolis had in the Antiquity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Most tombs date from the late Hellenic period, but there are also a considerable number from the Roman period, and the early Christian period. People who came for medical treatment to Hierapolis in ancient times and the native people of the city buried their dead in tombs of several types according to their traditions and reflecting the social-economic status of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Martyrium</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Hierapolis_martyrium_Filipa2_RB.jpg/220px-Hierapolis_martyrium_Filipa2_RB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Hierapolis_martyrium_Filipa2_RB.jpg/220px-Hierapolis_martyrium_Filipa2_RB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The St. Philip Martyrium was named after the Christian apostle Philip and stands on top of the hill outside the northeastern section of the city walls. It dates from the 5th century CE. It was said that St. Philip was buried in the center of the building, and though his tomb has recently been unearthed, the exact location has not yet been verified. The Martyrium burned down at the end of the 5th or early 6th century CE, as attested to by fire marks on the columns. Philip is said to have been martyred in Hierapolis by being crucified upside-down, or by being hung upside down by his ankles from a tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 2011 it was announced that Philip's gravesite may have been discovered about 40 metres (130 ft) from the Martyrium.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hierapolis</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-44326538455835216992012-01-05T00:14:00.000-08:002012-01-05T00:46:58.302-08:00Lycia - Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Demre_mira.jpg/300px-Demre_mira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Demre_mira.jpg/300px-Demre_mira.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lycia</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Lycian: <i>Trm</i></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">̃</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">mis</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">; Greek: </span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Λυκία</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) was a region in Anatolia in what are now the provinces of Antalya and Muğla on the southern coast of Turkey. It was a federation of ancient cities in the region and later a province of the Roman Empire. The Lycian League founded in 168 BC was an early federation with democratic principles; these later influenced the United States Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Dalyan_-_Caunos2.JPG/300px-Dalyan_-_Caunos2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Dalyan_-_Caunos2.JPG/300px-Dalyan_-_Caunos2.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The borders of Lycia varied over time but at its center was the Teke peninsula in south-western Turkey. It was bounded by Caria to the west and northwest, Pamphylia to the east, and Pisidia to the northeast. The region is mountainous and densely forested region with few large valleys. The mountains are the westernmost part of the Taurus mountains in particular the Akdağ and Beydağı mountains whose peaks can exceed 3000 meters. Inland is the Elmalı basin. The major rivers are the Eşen Çay (ancient Xanthos river), Demre Çay (ancient Myros river), Arykandos, and Alakir Çay. The area is known for steep gorges and underground rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/0133_Kirche_in_Caunos.jpg/250px-0133_Kirche_in_Caunos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/0133_Kirche_in_Caunos.jpg/250px-0133_Kirche_in_Caunos.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In modern Turkey the region is split between Antalya (on the east) and Muğla (on the west) provinces. The major city is Fethiye built on ancient Telmessos. Well known towns include Kalkan, Kaş, and Demre (ancient Myra). Inland Elmalı is fairly important. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Turkey's first waymarked long-distance footpath, the Lycian Way, follows part of the coast of the region.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The principal cities of ancient Lycia were Xanthos, Patara, Myra, Pinara, Tlos and Olympos (each entitled to three votes in the Lycian League) and Phaselis. Cities such as Telmessos and Krya were sometimes listed by Classical authors as Carian and sometimes as Lycian.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ancient names can sometimes be difficult to match with modern features: the Cragus and Anticragus mountains on the west side of the Xanthos river seem to include modern Babadağ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Features and sights of interest</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Lycian_Kings_Tombs-Dalyan.JPG/250px-Lycian_Kings_Tombs-Dalyan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Lycian_Kings_Tombs-Dalyan.JPG/250px-Lycian_Kings_Tombs-Dalyan.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although the 2nd-century AD dialogue, <i>Erōtes</i>, found the cities of Lycia "interesting more for their history than for their monuments, since they have retained none of their former splendor," many relics of the Lycians remain visible today. These relics include the distinctive rock-cut tombs in the sides of cliffs. The British Museum in London has one of the best collections of Lycian artifacts. Letoon, an important center in Hellenic times of worship for the goddess Leto and her twin children, Apollo and Artemis, and nearby Xanthos, ancient capital of Lycia, constitute a UNESCO World Heritage site.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The eponymous inhabitants of Lycia, the Lycians, spoke an Indo-European language, belonging to the Anatolian branch. The closest language to the Lycian language is the Luwian language, which was spoken in Anatolia during the 2nd and the early 1st millennia BC; Lycian may even be one of Luwian's direct descendants.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Stadsmuur_van_Kaunos_met_uitzicht_op_Iztuzu-strand.jpg/300px-Stadsmuur_van_Kaunos_met_uitzicht_op_Iztuzu-strand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Stadsmuur_van_Kaunos_met_uitzicht_op_Iztuzu-strand.jpg/300px-Stadsmuur_van_Kaunos_met_uitzicht_op_Iztuzu-strand.jpg" /></a></div><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">History</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bronze age<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ancient Egyptian records describe the Lycians as allies of the Hittites. Lycia may have been a member state of the Assuwa league of ca. 1250 BC, appearing as 'Lukka or Luqqa. After the collapse of the Hittite Empire, Lycia emerged as an independent "Neo-Hittite" kingdom. According to Herodotus, Lycia was named after Lycus, the son of </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-decoration: none;">Pandion II</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> of Athens. The region was never unified into a single territory in antiquity, but remained a tightly-knit confederation of fiercely independent city-states.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Lycian_rock_tombs,_Myra.jpg/180px-Lycian_rock_tombs,_Myra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Lycian_rock_tombs,_Myra.jpg/180px-Lycian_rock_tombs,_Myra.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lycia was frequently mentioned by Homer as an ally of Troy. In Homer's Iliad, the Lycian contingent was said to have been led by two esteemed warriors: Sarpedon (son of Zeus and Laodamia) and Glaucus (son of Hippolochus). Elsewhere in Greek mythology, the Lycian kingdom was said to have been ruled by another Sarpedon, a Cretan exile and brother of the king Minos; Sarpedon's followers were called Termilae, and they founded a dynasty after their conquest of a people called the Milyans. As with the founding of Miletus, this mythical story implies a Cretan connection to the settlement of Asia Minor. Lycia appears elsewhere in Greek myth, such as in the story of Bellerophon, who eventually succeeded to the throne of the Lycian king Iobates (or Amphianax).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Classical period<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lycia came under the control of the Persian Empire in 546 BC when Harpagus of Media, a general in the service of Cyrus conquered Asia Minor. Harpagus's descendants ruled Lycia until 468 BC when Athens wrested control away. Following the ousting of the Persians, as Athens and Sparta fought the Peloponnesian wars, the majority of Lycian cities defaulted from the Delian League, with the exception of Telmessos and Phaselis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Kaunos_Kral_Mezarlar%C4%B1.jpg/250px-Kaunos_Kral_Mezarlar%C4%B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Kaunos_Kral_Mezarlar%C4%B1.jpg/250px-Kaunos_Kral_Mezarlar%C4%B1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 429 BC, Athens sent an expedition against Lycia to try to force it to rejoin the league. This failed when Lycia's leader Gergis of Xanthos defeated General Melasander. The Lycians once again fell under Persian domination and by 412 BC, Lycia is documented as fighting on the winning side of Persia. The Persian satraps were re-installed, but (as the coinage of the time attests) they allowed local dynasts the freedom to rule. Persia held Lycia until it was conquered by Alexander III (the Great) of Macedon during 334–333 BC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hellenistic period<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Tomb_of_Amyntas.jpg/250px-Tomb_of_Amyntas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Tomb_of_Amyntas.jpg/250px-Tomb_of_Amyntas.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After the death of Alexander the Great in 324 BC, his generals fought amongst themselves over the succession. Lycia fell into the hands of the general Antigonus by 304 BC. In 301 BC Antigonus was killed by an alliance of the other successors of Alexander, and Lycia became a part of the kingdom of Lysimachus, who ruled until he was killed in battle in 281 BC. By 240 BC Lycia was part of the Ptolemaic<u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>Kingdom, centred on Egypt, and remained in their control through 200 BC. It had apparently come under Seleucid control by 190 BC, when the Seleucids' defeat in the Battle of Magnesia resulted in Lycia being awarded to Rhodes in the Peace of Apamea in 188 BC. It was then granted independence by Rome in 168 BC (see Lycian League below) and remained so until becoming a Roman province in 43 AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lycian League<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Myra_theatre_717.jpg/250px-Myra_theatre_717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Myra_theatre_717.jpg/250px-Myra_theatre_717.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Lycian League (<i>Itlehi Trm</i></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">̃</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">mili</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) first came together around 205 BC and was formally established in 168 BC under democratic principles. It comprised some 23 known city-states as members. Lycia, which had been under Rhodian control since the Peace of Apamea in 188 BC, was granted independence by the Roman Republic at the conclusion of the Third Macedonian War. These city states joined together in a federal-style government that shared political resources against larger nations. A “Lyciarch” was elected by a senate that convened every autumn at a different city, where each member sent one, two or three representatives, depending on the city's size, to the senate, or Bouleuterion, as it was called.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Theatre_and_tomb.jpg/250px-Theatre_and_tomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Theatre_and_tomb.jpg/250px-Theatre_and_tomb.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The major cities of the League included Xanthos, Patara, Pinara, Olympos, Myra, and Tlos, with Patara as the capital. Phaselis joined the League at a later time. The league continued to function after Lycia became a Roman province in 46 AD. Lycia ceased being a federation in the 4th century AD, when it was taken over by the Byzantine Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman period<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 43AD, the emperor Claudius annexed it to the Roman Empire as a province and by the time of Vespasian, it was united with Pamphylia as a Roman province. The heir of Augustus, Gaius Caesar, was killed there in 4 AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Byzantine era</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: It subsequently was a part of the Byzantine Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Kekova,_Turkey.jpg/170px-Kekova,_Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Kekova,_Turkey.jpg/170px-Kekova,_Turkey.jpg" /></a><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Turkish era</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: It was incorporated into the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire and eventually became part of Turkey. A substantial Christian community of Greeks lived in Lycia until the 1920s when they were forced to migrate to Greece after the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the Greco-Turkish War in the early 20th century. The abandoned Greek villages in the region are a striking reminder of this exodus. Abandoned Greek houses can still be seen at in the towns of Demre, Kalkan, Kas and Kaya which is a Greek ghost town. A small population of Turkish farmers moved into the region when the Lycian Greeks migrated to Greece. The region is now one of the key centres of domestic and foreign tourism in Turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lycia</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-82537812674316288552012-01-04T01:01:00.000-08:002012-01-04T01:55:04.280-08:00Pamukkale - Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Pamukkale_Travertenler.jpg/300px-Pamukkale_Travertenler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Pamukkale_Travertenler.jpg/300px-Pamukkale_Travertenler.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Pamukkale</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.</span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: 'Cordia New', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Pamukkale3.jpg/300px-Pamukkale3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Pamukkale3.jpg/300px-Pamukkale3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tourism is and has been a major industry. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Heropolis, causing considerable damage. An approach road was built from the valley over the terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes. When the area was declared a World Heritage Site, the hotels were demolished and the road removed and replaced with artificial pools. Wearing shoes in the water is prohibited to protect the deposits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Geology<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Pamukkale_reflection.JPG/250px-Pamukkale_reflection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Pamukkale_reflection.JPG/250px-Pamukkale_reflection.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In this area, there are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 metres (1,050 ft) to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70 metres (200 to 230 ft) long covering an expanse of 240 metres (790 ft) to 300 metres (980 ft). When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degasses from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft jelly, but this eventually hardens into travertine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Pamukkale_4_Commons.jpg/220px-Pamukkale_4_Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Pamukkale_4_Commons.jpg/220px-Pamukkale_4_Commons.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This reaction is affected by the weather conditions, ambient temperature, and the flow duration. Precipitation continues until the carbon dioxide in the thermal water reaches equilibrium with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Measurements made at the source of the springs find atmospheric levels of 725 mg/l carbon dioxide, by the time this water flows across the travertines, this figure falls to 145 mg/l. Likewise calcium carbonate falls from 1200 mg/l to 400 mg/l and calcium 576.8 mg/l to 376.6 mg/l. From these results it is calculated that 499.9 mg of CaCO3 is deposited on the travertine for every liter of water. This means that for a flow rate of 1 ı/s of water 43,191 grams are deposited daily. The average density of a travertine is 1.48 g/cm3 implying a deposit of 29.2 dm3. Given that the average flow of the water is 465.2 l/s this implies that it can whiten 13,584 square metres (146,220 sq ft) a day, but in practice this area coverage is difficult to attain. These theoretical calculations indicate that up to 4.9 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi) it can be covered with a white deposit of 1 millimetre (0.039 in) thickness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Archaeology: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Museum</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Roman_Gateway,_Turkey.jpg/220px-Roman_Gateway,_Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Roman_Gateway,_Turkey.jpg/220px-Roman_Gateway,_Turkey.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The former Roman Bath of the ancient city of Hierapolis has been used as the site of the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum since 1984.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In this museum, alongside historical artifacts from Hierapolis, there are also artifacts from Laodiceia, Colossae, Tripolis, Attuda and other towns of the Lycos (Çürüksu) valley. In addition to these, the museum has a large section devoted to artifacts found at Beycesultan Hüyük that includes some of the most beautiful examples of Bronze Age craft.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Artifacts from the Caria, Pisidia and Lydia regions are also on display in this museum. The museum’s exhibition space consists of three closed areas of the Hierapolis Bath and the open areas in the eastern side which are known to have been used as the library and gymnasium. The artifacts in open exhibition space are mostly marble and stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cd/Pamukkale_002.jpg/300px-Pamukkale_002.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cd/Pamukkale_002.jpg/300px-Pamukkale_002.jpg%20" /></a></div><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tourist attraction</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Pamukkale is a tourist attraction. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site together with Hierapolis. Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The underground volcanic activity which causes the hot springs also forced carbon dioxide into a cave, which was called the Plutonium meaning place of the god, Pluto. This cave was used for religious purposes by priests of Cybele, who found ways to appear immune to the suffocating gas. Tadpoles can be found in the pools.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/77/Pamukkale_001.jpg/250px-Pamukkale_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/77/Pamukkale_001.jpg/250px-Pamukkale_001.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pamukkale</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-79506201773713915732012-01-04T00:26:00.000-08:002012-01-04T00:56:52.199-08:00Selimiye Mosque - Turkey<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Salimiye's_beauty_and_grandeur.jpg/250px-Salimiye's_beauty_and_grandeur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Salimiye's_beauty_and_grandeur.jpg/250px-Salimiye's_beauty_and_grandeur.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The <b>Selimiye Mosque</b> (Turkish: </span><i><span lang="TR" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Selimiye Camii</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) is an Ottoman mosque in the city of Edirne, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by architect Mimar Sinan between 1569 and 1575. It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Description<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Edirne_mosque_interior.jpg/250px-Edirne_mosque_interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Edirne_mosque_interior.jpg/250px-Edirne_mosque_interior.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This grand mosque stands at the center of a <i>külliye</i> (complex of a hospital, school, library and/or baths around a mosque) which comprises a medrese (Islamic academy teaches both Islamic and scientific lessons), a <i>dar-ül hadis</i> (Al-Hadith school), a timekeeper's room and an arasta (row of shops). In this mosque Sinan employed an octagonal supporting system that is created through eight pillars incised in a square shell of walls. The four semi domes at the corners of the square behind the arches that spring from the pillars, are intermediary sections between the huge encompassing dome (31.25m diameter with spherical profile) and the walls.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Salimiye_Masjid.jpg/250px-Salimiye_Masjid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Salimiye_Masjid.jpg/250px-Salimiye_Masjid.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While conventional mosques were limited by a segmented interior, Sinan's effort at Edirne was a structure that made it possible to see the <i>mihrab</i> from any location within the mosque. Surrounded by four tall minarets, the Mosque of Selim II has a grand dome atop it. Around the rest of the mosque were many additions: libraries, schools, hospices, baths, soup kitchens for the poor, markets, hospitals, and a cemetery. These annexes were aligned axially and grouped, if possible. In front of the mosque sits a rectangular court with an area equal to that of the mosque. The innovation however, comes not in the size of the building, but from the organization of its interior. The mihrab is pushed back into an apse-like alcove with a space with enough depth to allow for window illumination from three sides. This has the effect of making the tile panels of its lower walls sparkle with natural light. The amalgamation of the main hall forms a fused octagon with the dome-covered square. Formed by eight massive dome supports, the octagon is pierced by four half dome covered corners of the square. The beauty resulting from the conformity of geometric shapes engulfed in each other was the culmination of Sinan's life-long search for a unified interior space.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Edirne_7333_Nevit.JPG/250px-Edirne_7333_Nevit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Edirne_7333_Nevit.JPG/250px-Edirne_7333_Nevit.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At the Bulgarian siege of Edirne in 1913, the dome of the mosque was hit by Bulgarian artillery. Due to the dome's extremely sturdy construction, the mosque survived the assault with only minor damage. On Atatürk's order, it has not been restored since then, to serve as a warning for future generations. Some damage can be seen on the image of the dome above, at and near the dark red calligraph to the immediate left of the central blue area.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Edirne_5248.jpg/250px-Edirne_5248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Edirne_5248.jpg/250px-Edirne_5248.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The mosque was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 10,000 lira banknotes of 1982-1995. The mosque, together with its <i>külliye</i>, was included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2011.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Selimiye-Mosque-interior.jpg/250px-Selimiye-Mosque-interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Selimiye-Mosque-interior.jpg/250px-Selimiye-Mosque-interior.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selimiye_Mosque</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Selimiye_Mosque</span></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-91523605493560113002011-11-28T06:59:00.000-08:002011-11-29T06:06:05.928-08:00The Maldives<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://avantgardetours.com/image/maldives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://avantgardetours.com/image/maldives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The <b>Maldives</b> (<i>Dhivehi Raa'je</i>), officially <b>Republic of Maldives</b> (<i>Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya</i>), also referred to as the <b>Maldive Islands</b>, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago. It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometers (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometers (250 mi) south-west of India. During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as "Maldivische Eilanden" in their documentation, while "Maldive Islands" is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written "Maldives".<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Maldives_09813.JPG/250px-Maldives_09813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Maldives_09813.JPG/250px-Maldives_09813.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The archipelago is located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep. The atolls of the Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi), making it one of the world's most dispersed countries in geographic terms. Its population of 313,920 (2010) inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands. Maldives capital and largest city Malé has a population of 103,693 (2006). It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties were enthroned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country. It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in); the Maldives' forecast inundation is a great concern for the Maldivian people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Tuna.jpg/220px-Tuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Tuna.jpg/220px-Tuna.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The name <i>Maldives</i> may derive from <i>Mahal'deeb</i>, and the people were called Maldivian 'Dhivehin'. The word <i>Dheeb/Deeb</i> (archaic <i>Dhivehi</i>, related to Sanskrit <i>dvīp</i> (</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">द्वीप))</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">means "island", and Dhives (Dhivehin) means "islanders" (in other words, the Maldivians). During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as <i>Maldivische Eilanden</i> in their documentation, while <i>Maldive Islands</i> is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written as "Maldives".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle, The <i>Mahawamsa</i>, refers to an island called <i>Mahiladiva</i> ("Island of Women", </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">महिलादिभ)</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in Pali, which is probably a mistranslation of the same Sanskrit word meaning "garland". The <i>Mahawamsa</i> is derived from an even older Sinhala work dating back to the 2nd century BC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Brown_booby.jpg/220px-Brown_booby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Brown_booby.jpg/220px-Brown_booby.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some theorize that the name <i>Maldives</i> derives from the Sanskrit <i>mālādvīpa</i> (</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">मालाद्वीप)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, meaning "garland of islands". In Malayalam "Garland of Islands" can be translated into "Maladhweepu" (</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">മാലിദ്വീപ്</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> In Tamil "Garland of Islands" can be translated into "MalaiTheevu" (</span><span lang="TA" style="font-family: Latha; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">மாலைத்தீவு).</span><span lang="TA" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">None of the names are mentioned in any literature, but classical Sanskrit texts dating back to the Vedic times mention the "Hundred Thousand Islands" (Lakshadweepa), a generic name which would include not only the Maldives, but also the Laccadives, Amindivi Islands, Minicoy and the Chagos island groups.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some medieval travelers such as Ibn Batuta called the islands "Mahal Dibiyat" (</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">محل</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">دبيأت</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span dir="LTR"></span>) from the Arabic word <i>Mahal</i> ("palace"), which must be what the Berber traveler interpreted of the local name having been through Muslim North India, where Perso-Arabic words were introduced into the local vocabulary. This is the name currently inscribed in the scroll of the Maldive state emblem. The classical Persian/Arabic name for Maldives is <i>Dibajat</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The name <i>Maldives</i> also might have come from the Sinhalese word</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maala Divaina</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> ("Necklace Islands"), perhaps referring to the shape of the archipelago.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.citypictures.net/data/media/236/Tropical_Island_Maldives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.citypictures.net/data/media/236/Tropical_Island_Maldives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi), making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. It lies between latitudes 1°S and 8°N, and longitudes 72° and 74°E. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldivian government organized these atolls into twenty one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef (collectively called Link Road) and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.photos4travel.com/asia/maldives/photos/Sunset-in-the-Maldives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://www.photos4travel.com/asia/maldives/photos/Sunset-in-the-Maldives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in), with the average being only 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several meters. More than 80 percent of the country's land, composed of coral islands are less than one meter above sea level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Maldives_00220.JPG/250px-Maldives_00220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Maldives_00220.JPG/250px-Maldives_00220.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A 15 centimeters (6 in) thick layer of humus forms the top layer of soil. Below the humus layer are 60 centimeters (2 ft) of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to high levels of salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants, and small hedges. In the interior of the islands, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Rhincodon_typus.jpg/220px-Rhincodon_typus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Rhincodon_typus.jpg/220px-Rhincodon_typus.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The limited vegetation and land wildlife is supplemented by the abundance of marine life. The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare species of biological and commercial value. Tuna fisheries are one of the main commercial resources. The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish to reef sharks, moray eels, and a wide variety of rays: Manta rays, Stingray and Eagle ray. The Maldivian waters also host whale sharks and hawksbill and green turtles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tourism<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Maldives_09957.JPG/170px-Maldives_09957.JPG%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Maldives_09957.JPG/170px-Maldives_09957.JPG%20" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maldives was largely terra incognita for tourists until the early 1970s. Only 185 islands are home to its 300,000 population, while the other islands are used entirely for economic purposes of which tourism and agriculture are the most dominant. Tourism accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The development of tourism fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. The first tourist resorts were opened in 1972 with Bandos island resort and Kurumba Village.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">According to the Ministry of Tourism, the emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy, moving rapidly from dependence on fisheries to tourism. In just three and a half decades, the industry became the main source of income. Tourism was also the country's biggest foreign currency earner and the single largest contributor to the GDP. As of 2008, 89 resorts in the Maldives offered over 17,000 beds and hosted over 600,000 tourists annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hDiJBn-Br7E/TP-5kCxmyKI/AAAAAAAAAxY/DU_b-VWjCj0/s640/Worlds+beautiful+islands-Maldives+scubadivingjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hDiJBn-Br7E/TP-5kCxmyKI/AAAAAAAAAxY/DU_b-VWjCj0/s320/Worlds+beautiful+islands-Maldives+scubadivingjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maldives' Firsts</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Set a record in 2006 for the largest number of scuba divers participating in one dive, with a grand total of 958 divers descending into the water at the same time. This record was broken by Indonesia in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Opened the first virtual embassy, in the online world Second Life, on 22 May 2007.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Held the first cabinet meeting underwater. The meeting was chaired by President Mohamed Nasheed. In the meeting, the President, Vice President, and the cabinet signed a declaration calling for concerted global action on climate change, ahead of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen. The underwater meeting was part of a wider campaign by international environmental NGO 350.org.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a6a6a6; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Source, Images: </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldive</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a6a6a6;">s</span></cite></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-32137532665049704952011-11-28T04:28:00.000-08:002011-12-02T05:25:54.073-08:00Weather in the Maldives<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Malediven_Beach.jpg/250px-Malediven_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Malediven_Beach.jpg/250px-Malediven_Beach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Indian Ocean acts as a heat buffer, absorbing, storing, and slowly releasing the tropical heat. The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24 °C (75 °F) and 33 °C (91 °F) throughout the year. Although the humidity is relatively high, the constant cool sea breezes keep the air moving and the heat mitigated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Sunset_in_the_Maldives.jpg/250px-Sunset_in_the_Maldives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Sunset_in_the_Maldives.jpg/250px-Sunset_in_the_Maldives.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The weather in the Maldives is affected by the large landmass of South Asia to the north. The presence of this landmass causes differential heating of land and water. These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over South Asia, resulting in the southwest monsoon. Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeastern monsoon and the rainy season which brings strong winds and storms. The shift from the moist southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon occurs during April and May. During this period, the northeast winds contribute to the formation of the northeast monsoon, which reaches Maldives in the beginning of June and lasts until the end of August. However, the weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of South Asia. The annual rainfall averages 254 centimeters (100 in) in the north and 381 centimeters (150 in) in the south.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Marine ecosystem</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Maldives_00298.JPG/220px-Maldives_00298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Maldives_00298.JPG/220px-Maldives_00298.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maldives waters are home to several ecosystems, but are most noted for their variety of colorful coral reefs, home to 300 species of fish. Seven marine species have been described as new to science, while several more await description. Over 400 have been identified and catalogued and many are now held in the reference collection, including 5 species of sea turtles, 51 species of echinoderms, 5 species of sea grasses and 285 species of alga & sponges, crustaceans, and tunicates. About 200 coral species have been recorded to date, representing over 60 genera.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Maldives_00287.JPG/220px-Maldives_00287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Maldives_00287.JPG/220px-Maldives_00287.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Among the many marine families represented are Pufferfish, Fusiliers, Jackfish, Lionfish, Oriental Sweetlips, reef sharks, Groupers, Eels and Snappers. Bannerfish, Batfish, Humphead Wrasse, Spotted Eagle Rays, Scorpionfish, Lobsters, Nudibranches, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Squirrelfish, Soldierfish, Glassfish, Surgeonfish, Unicornfish, Triggerfish, Napoleon wrasses and Barracudas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms to whale sharks. Sponges have gained importance as five species have displayed anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1998 El Niño<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Maldives_rudder_fish_kyphosus_cinerascens.jpg/250px-Maldives_rudder_fish_kyphosus_cinerascens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Maldives_rudder_fish_kyphosus_cinerascens.jpg/250px-Maldives_rudder_fish_kyphosus_cinerascens.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1998, warming due to the El Niño phenomenon killed 2/3 of the nation's coral reefs due to bleaching. Coral reef bleaching is a "term suggested in place of "coral bleaching" because this condition is seldom limited to corals and most affected photo symbiotic hosts reside on coral reefs". Bleaching is the loss of photo symbiotic microorganisms (dinoflagellates, red and green algae, or cyanobacteria), or the pigments of these photosymbionts, or some of both, from tissues of host cnidarians, sponges, molluscs or other photosymbiotic host animals. The name comes from the whitening of many hosts which possess few pigments of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Maldives_Oriental_sweetlips,_Plectorhinchus_vittatus.jpg/180px-Maldives_Oriental_sweetlips,_Plectorhinchus_vittatus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Maldives_Oriental_sweetlips,_Plectorhinchus_vittatus.jpg/180px-Maldives_Oriental_sweetlips,_Plectorhinchus_vittatus.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The water temperature had been raised as much as 5 °C (41 °F) degrees. Several scientists placed electrified cones anywhere from 20–60 feet (6.1–18 m) below the surface. The cones created an attraction for coral larva to attach itself. In 2004, scientists witnessed corals regenerating. Corals began to eject pink-orange eggs and sperm. The growth of these electrified corals was five times faster than ordinary corals. Scientist Azeez Hakim stated, "before 1998, we never thought that this reef would die. We had always taken for granted that these animals would be there, that this reef would be there forever. El Niño gave us a wake-up call that these things are not going to be there forever. They help by removing and recycling the carbon-dioxide which in excess amounts can lead to global warming. Not only this, they also act as a natural barrier against the tropical storms, floods and tsunamis”. Seaweeds grow on the skeletons of dead coral. The corals reefs are like the rainforest for marine life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">2004 Tsunami</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Doni_aux_Maldives_cropped.jpg/250px-Doni_aux_Maldives_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Doni_aux_Maldives_cropped.jpg/250px-Doni_aux_Maldives_cropped.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On 26 December 2004, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding, while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were destroyed. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to close because of serious damage. The total damage was estimated at more than US$400 million, or some 62 percent of the GDP. A total of 108 people, including six foreigners, reportedly died in the tsunami. The destructive impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitigated by the fact there was no continental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were reported to be 14 feet (4.3 m) high</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Source, Images: <cite>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives</cite></span><span style="color: #a6a6a6; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-26793042267114618172011-11-24T05:17:00.000-08:002011-11-28T05:26:22.943-08:00Tourism in the Maldives<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maldivestourism.net/wp-content/uploads/maldives2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.maldivestourism.net/wp-content/uploads/maldives2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tourism</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is the largest economic industry in the Maldives, as it plays an important role in earning foreign exchange revenues and generating employment in the tertiary sector of the country. The archipelago of the Maldives is the main source of attraction to many tourists visiting the country worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tourism began in the Maldives in the late 1900's. A United Nations mission on development which visited the Maldives Islands in the 1960s did not recommend tourism, claiming that the islands were not suitable. Ever since the launch of the first resort in Maldives in 1972, however, tourism in Maldives has flourished. The arrival of the first tourist group is estimated to have occurred in February 1972. The group landed at Malé, the capital island of the Maldives, and spent 12 days in the country. Tourism in Maldives started with just two resorts with a capacity of about 280 beds in Kurumba Village and Bandos. At present, there are over 80 resorts located in the different atolls constituting the Republic of Maldives. Over the past few decades, the number of tourists in Maldives has risen continuously. Today, more than 500,000 tourists visit the Maldives each year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://asiatours.net/maldives/images/baros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://asiatours.net/maldives/images/baros.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The number of resorts increased from 2 to 92 between 1972 and 2007. As of 2007, over 8,380,000 tourists had visited Maldives. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Most visitors arrived at Malé International Airport, on Hulhulé Island, adjacent to the capital Malé. The airport is served by flights to India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Singapore and major airports in South-East Asia, as well as of charters from Europe. Gan Airport, on the southern atoll of Addu, also serves an international flight to Milan several times a week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Outside the service industry, Male is the only location where the foreign and domestic populations are likely to interact. The tourist resorts are not on islands where the natives live, and casual contacts between the two groups are discouraged.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Natural beauty</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Maldives_00164.JPG/200px-Maldives_00164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Maldives_00164.JPG/200px-Maldives_00164.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maldives is very famous for its natural beauty which includes the blue ocean and white beaches, accompanied by clean air and pleasant temperatures. The climate of the Maldives is ideal for visitors to get engaged in water sports such as swimming, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water-skiing and windsurfing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Due to its extraordinary underwater scenery and clean water, Maldives is ranked among the best recreational diving destinations of the world. A tourist resort in the Maldives consists of an exclusive hotel on its own island, with its population entirely based on tourists and work force, with no local people or houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">These islands developed for tourism are approximately 800 by 200 meters in size and are composed of sand and coral to a maximum height of about 2 meters above the sea. In addition to its beach encircling the island, each island has its own "house reef" which serves as a coral garden and natural aquarium for scuba divers and snorkelers. The shallow water enclosed by the house reef also serves as a large natural swimming pool and protects swimmers from the ocean waves and strong tidal currents outside the house reef.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Maldives_00170.JPG/250px-Maldives_00170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Maldives_00170.JPG/250px-Maldives_00170.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The buildings on a typical resort includes rooms and suites reserved for use by its guests, restaurants, coffee shops, shops, lounges, bars, discos and diving schools. A portion of the island also contains staff lodgings and support services such as catering, power generators, laundry, and a sewage plant. On-island shops offer a wide range of products, such as souvenirs and artifacts. Most resorts offer a wide variety of activities such as aerobics, volleyball and table tennis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ecotourism in Maldives<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some promotion of ecotourism is practiced in the Maldives, with resorts emphasizing recycling of heat that is wasted in producing electricity and stricter policies of waste disposal. Furthermore, the government aims to conserve the natural beauty of the islands before they are being altered into resorts by enforcing laws such as prohibition of catching turtles and reduction in the damages caused to the coral reefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Maldives_09675.JPG/250px-Maldives_09675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Maldives_09675.JPG/250px-Maldives_09675.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Nevertheless, the Maldives have frequently come under criticism for their lack of protection of the local shark populations, which have sharply decreased after being hunted extensively for decades. In some areas of the island, sharks have entirely disappeared. Sharks are hunted primarily for their fins. Shark fins are exported from the Maldives to other countries in Asia, where they are regarded as a delicacy. The fins are amputated from the live animals, which are then thrown back alive into the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although laws exist that prohibit this practice in the Maldives, these laws are not respected or enforced by the local authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source, Images: <cite>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_Maldives</cite></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-55308415912857122552011-10-21T23:49:00.000-07:002011-10-22T00:50:28.909-07:00Thi Lor Sue Waterfall - Tak<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/47373614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/47373614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><b>Umphang Thi Lor Sue Waterfall</b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>(also The Lor Sue, Thee Lor Sue or Te-law-zue) is claimed to be the largest and highest<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>waterfall<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>in Thailand. It stands 250 meters (820 ft) high and nearly 450 meters (1,480 ft) wide on the<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Mae Klong River, flowing down from<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Huai Klotho<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>into the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>in<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Tak Province<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>in northwestern Thailand. However, the waterfall has apparently never been surveyed, as the figures given are approximate.<sup> </sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In fact, to be pronounced "Thee Lor Sue" and as a noun in the Karen language means "Waterfall". The name "Thi Lo Sue" is an attempt to interpret each word "Thee" or "Thi" means "water", "Lo" or "Lor" means "fall", but "Sue" has no meaning similar, so it is trying to make as meaningful as "Su" means "black", thus leading to called "Thi Lor Su" which means "black waterfall".</span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Cordia New', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su03.JPG/180px-Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su03.JPG/180px-Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su03.JPG" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thi Lor Sue waterfall is one main reason people travel to Umphang. It is the largest<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>waterfall<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>of Thailand, containing many smaller drops combined together for a magnificent view. Its height is about 200 meters and total width is about 400 meters. It is most beautiful during rainy season from June to November because of the larger water flow. However during this period, the road access to the waterfall is closed for safety reason and some<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>hiking<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>is required. The peak season for tourism is in December and January where the water level is still high and the road to waterfall (25 km) is open for public. Only cars with four wheel drive can pass this steep and slippery road. An alternative way to reach the waterfall is by<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>whitewater </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">rafting<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>downstream along the calm section of Klong River and then continue journey either on foot or by car for another about 12 km. Travelling this way, two waterfalls dropping into Klong River will be seen:<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><b>Thi Lo Jo Waterfall</b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกทีลอจ่อ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), and<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><b>Sai Rung Waterfall</b> (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกสายรุ้ง</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">).</span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Cordia New', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The name Thi Lo Sue, in Karen language, means<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><i>giant waterfall</i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><i>black waterfall</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su08.JPG/180px-Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su08.JPG/180px-Namtok_Thi_Lo_Su08.JPG" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thi Lor Jo or Falling Rain waterfall is approximately 3 km from Umphang. The waterfall is divided into 2 tiers. The upper falls are located on a high cliff and the tier is narrow whereas the lower falls are part of the stream of the Klong River, falling like rain fall. It is possible to travel all year-round. It is only recently that<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><b>Thi Lo Le Waterfall</b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>(</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกทีลอเล</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) is promoted as an attraction for those who prefer adventure. It is a waterfall dropping directly into Klong River located deep in<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>with no road access. Only traveling with tour companies is possible. The journey to the waterfall typically involves white water rafting along Klong River of about 40 km through rapids of<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Class<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>4 or 5 while the journey back is usually by riding elephants. The trip takes 2 or 3 days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some other places of interests are</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ta Ko Bi Cave</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ถ้ำตะโค๊ะบิ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), a cave formerly used by</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Communist Party of Thailand;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Doi Hua Mot</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ดอยหัวหมด</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), view point above cloud attitude;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ban Pa La Ta</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">บ้านปะละทะ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), a Karen village dated back to over 250 years ago.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_o9txeCcWzXU/RnN4f2FuqsI/AAAAAAAAAeM/6ZRB-_2ycA4/s320/Thi_Lo_Le_Waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_o9txeCcWzXU/RnN4f2FuqsI/AAAAAAAAAeM/6ZRB-_2ycA4/s1600/Thi_Lo_Le_Waterfall.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The rafting route begins from Ban Palata, follow the smooth flowing stream for approximately an hour. The first point is where the upper stream meets, Huai Klotho that come from Thi Lor Sue waterfall, that pass Ban Klotho. The banks of the river are full of green mountain forest. In some place, there are high mountain ranges stretching from Phawatu Mountain Range.<span class="apple-style-span"> </span>The first rapid to be seen are Kaeng Lekati that are divided into 3 parts and extend for many kilometers. There are large rocks obstructing small river basin. The rapid that are the most difficult is Lekati 2.<span class="apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/thumb/b/b4/PicTeelorsuAerialPhotoTomClaytor.jpg/220px-PicTeelorsuAerialPhotoTomClaytor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/thumb/b/b4/PicTeelorsuAerialPhotoTomClaytor.jpg/220px-PicTeelorsuAerialPhotoTomClaytor.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Below the rapid, there is a narrow sand bank where it is possible to rest. From there, follow the river past a small waterfall on the right hand side surrounded by high cliff. Continuing on, there is an overhang that looks like a person’s face. The top is known as Phakhonmong. On the lower side is a stream that became a large set of rapids that is full of meanders.<span class="apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/TheeLorSue-h.jpg/275px-TheeLorSue-h.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/TheeLorSue-h.jpg/275px-TheeLorSue-h.jpg%20" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are also large rocks known a Kaeng Khonmong that are divided into 3 parts. There will be a wide river basin that has a large sandy bank. Continuing on, there are known large rapids and the river flows continuously onto the month of Huai Kachochita also known as Elephant Running Creek.<span class="apple-style-span"> </span>There is an island in front of this area, which is suitable for camping overnight. After this is Kaeng Kachochile. Passing this, there is a large open space where the water flows toward a cliff resembling a cave on the edge of the river. A large waterfall tumbles down and there are vines and other plants hanging onto the cliff side. Ferns adorn the top of the limestone cliff. This is Thi Lor Lay waterfall, the final destination on the rafting route.<span class="apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">Source, Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umphang_Thee_Lor_Sue_Waterfall</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-33079288586970966872011-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:002011-10-19T01:12:30.907-07:00Doi Inthanon National Park and its Waterfalls - Chiang Mai<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://50bestplaceinthailand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P1030242-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://50bestplaceinthailand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P1030242-300x200.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Doi Inthanon</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ดอยอินทนนท์</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is located in Mae Chaem District. The mountain was also known in the past as <b>Doi Luang</b> (meaning <i>big mountain</i>) or <b>Doi Ang Ka</b>, meaning <i>the crow's pond top</i>. Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered. The name <i>Doi Inthanon</i> was given in honour of the king Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north and tried to preserve them. He ordered that after his death his remains shall be placed at Doi Luang, which was then renamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/InthanonChedi1.jpg/250px-InthanonChedi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/InthanonChedi1.jpg/250px-InthanonChedi1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Doi Inthanon is part of a mountain range separating Burma from Thailand also known as <b>Loi Lar Mountain Range</b> or <b>Daen Lao Range</b>. This range, the westernmost of the Shan Highland system, separates the Salween watershed from the Mekong watershed. Other high peaks of the Loi Lar Mountain Range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (2,175 m), Doi Pui (1,685 m), and Doi Suthep (1,601 m).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1954, the forests around Doi Inthanon were preserved, creating Doi Inthanon National Park, as one of the original 14 National parks of Thailand. It covers 482.40 km². The park spreads from the lowlands at 800 m altitude up to the peak in 2,565 m, thus covering many climatic and ecological different parts, thus with a total of 362 it has the second highest number of bird species of any national park in Thailand. Geologically the mountain is a granite batholith in a north-south oriented mountain range. The second-highest peak of this range is Doi Hua Mod Luang at 2,340 m.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Place_WFVajiradhara.jpg/250px-Place_WFVajiradhara.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Place_WFVajiradhara.jpg/250px-Place_WFVajiradhara.jpg%20" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Doi Inthanon National Park</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (nickname: "the roof of Thailand") is located in Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It includes Doi Inthanon, the country's highest mountain. Established in 1972, is 482 square kilometres (186 sq mi) in size.<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park is situated approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Chiang Mai. It includes Karen and Meo Hmong villages of about 4,500 people. Its elevation range between 800–2,565 metres (2,600–8,415 ft). There are a number of waterfalls such as the Mae Klang Falls, Wachirathan Falls, Siriphum Falls, and Mae Ya Falls. The park has varied climatic and ecological different sections.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Flora and fauna</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Its flora includes evergreen cloud forest, sphagnum bog, and deciduous dipterocarp forest. There are some relict pines. With 383 avifauna species, it ranks second in number of bird species within Thailand's national parks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Rhododendron_arboreumC_.jpg/170px-Rhododendron_arboreumC_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Rhododendron_arboreumC_.jpg/170px-Rhododendron_arboreumC_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Its lowlands below 800 meters in elevation are warm and very dry during the rain-free season, but the summit of Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 meters, has a climate more like Canada than Thailand. The temperature has been known to drop as low as -8 degrees C. and frosts are not unusual during the cool, dry season. January is the coldest month: an average nighttime temperature is 5.5 degrees C. At any season, Doi Inthanon is a comfortable reprieve from the heat of the lowlands. At altitudes above 1000 meters, rainfall exceeds 2500 mm, considerably more than at nearby Chiang Mai. Even in the dry season, November to April, there is rare but occasional rain or the summit may be shrouded in cloud for a part of the day; persistent mist is an important factor in the maintenance of moist forest there. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Aethopyga_nipalensis_male_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Aethopyga_nipalensis_male_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Aethopyga_nipalensis_male_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Aethopyga_nipalensis_male_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The various sub montane forest formations at higher elevations are a unique asset of the park. They have dominant species belonging to temperate climate families rather than tropical. The summit area supports the only red rhododendron in Thailand (R. delavayi); it blooms from December through February. There are also two white-blossomed species abundant on Doi Inthanon which are restricted to only a few other sites. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Staphida_castaniceps_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Staphida_castaniceps_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Staphida_castaniceps_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Staphida_castaniceps_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Where mists are persistent, the slopes carry a moist hill evergreen or 'cloud forest' with many epiphytes, plants which live on tree trunks and branches but do not receive their moisture and nutrients from the host tree as do true parasitic plants. Instead, they are nurtured by the accumulation of dust particles and humus around their 'root' area and the moisture retained there, augmented by frequent bathing in cloud and mist. Epiphytic orchids are also abundant, along with lichens, lianas and fern. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Cethosia_biblis_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Cethosia_biblis_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Cethosia_biblis_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Cethosia_biblis_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At mid-elevations, 800 - 1500 meters, two species of pine are present, Pinus merkusii mixed with dipterocarp in the lower range, and P. kesiya with oak and laurel on drier slopes in the upper range. The pines are thought to be a relic from a prehistoric cooler climatic period when flora from the Sino-Himalayan region migrated southward. At the mid-elevations of the park, much of the forest has been removed by the activities of swidden cultivators and the slopes have converted to fire climax grasslands. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tarsiger_rufilatus_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Tarsiger_rufilatus_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tarsiger_rufilatus_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg/220px-Tarsiger_rufilatus_-_Doi_Inthanon.jpg%20" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-decoration: none;">Bird watching</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Because of its broad altitudinal range and the cool climate of its upper reaches, the park supports the largest number of bird species of any site in Thailand. The Center for Wildlife Research at Mahidol University records a present total of 362 species and expects additions; Many at the summit are migrants from northern Asia. Species restricted to Doi Inthanon are Ashy-throated Warbler and an endemic race of the Green tailed Sunbird; the park is the only site where the Chestnut-bellied Rock thrush and the Yellow-bellied Flower pecker are known to over summer and probably breed. Over 190 bird species are listed as common to abundant. Bird lists are available at the Visitor Center and at Park Headquarters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Places To See</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/40769819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/40769819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mae Klang Waterfall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Because of its easy access, this unusual waterfall has been visited by Thai people for many years and they continue to come in large numbers on any sunny day in the year to swim, picnic and relax in this beautiful setting. The rapids and waterfall spill over a wide exposure of granite and can be approached closely. Visitors are asked to exercise caution around the waterfall area and while swimming either above or below the falls. A well-maintained trail leads up the side of the waterfall, and continues to the Visitor Center and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Wachirathan Waterfall</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Km 20.8)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/VachiratharnWaterfall.jpg/170px-VachiratharnWaterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/VachiratharnWaterfall.jpg/170px-VachiratharnWaterfall.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On the lower slope of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen hill tribe village Ban Sop Had, are the Wachirathan waterfalls (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกวชิรธาร</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), where the Wachirathan (lit. "Diamond Creek") tumbles over a granite escarpment. The falls are reached by a short, easy trail from the parking area. Wachirathan waters tumble down granite escarpment, creating a misty veil of great beauty. Visitors should be very cautious: three people have fallen to their deaths while taking photographs. Just a short distance on the main road beyond Wachirathan is the small Karen hill tribe village, Ban Sop Had. Turn right just past the bridge and you will find the village a few hundred meters up the dirt access road.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/DoiIthanonChedi.jpg/170px-DoiIthanonChedi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/DoiIthanonChedi.jpg/170px-DoiIthanonChedi.jpg" width="149" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Napamaytanidol Chedi</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Km 41)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Continuing north of the main summit road, turn left at km 41.8 over a bridge on a paved road which leads to a magnificent chedi completed in 1989. These temples were built to honor the 60th birthday of the King Bhumipol and Queen in 1987 and 1992 respectively. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Summit of Doi Inthanon</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Km 48)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The drive to the summit offers some fine views, especially during November and December, before the dry season haze has become well established. On your visit to the summit stupa containing the remains of King Inthawidhayanon, be sure to read the English translation on the back of the marble plaque nearby. Photographing any part of the radar station is forbidden, but visitors may take pictures freely of any other subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/thumb/b/b9/Place_NPInthanon01.jpg/220px-Place_NPInthanon01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/thumb/b/b9/Place_NPInthanon01.jpg/220px-Place_NPInthanon01.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On the main road and opposite the summit Ranger Station is a sign in Thai marking a short, self-guided nature trail which descends to a sphagnum bog in a small karst depression. The bog area, which displays the red blossomed Rhododendron delavayi, comes nearest to a true montane forest formation and is a good location for bird-watching. If you continue around the bog and down a short distance, you will reach a memorial shrine marking the site of a helicopter crash which occurred in the mid-seventies and killed the first superintendent of this park.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.golivepaper.com/th/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/20090914145339.jpg%20%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://www.golivepaper.com/th/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/20090914145339.jpg%20%20" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mae Ya Waterfall</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (14 km from Chom Thong)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thought to be the highest in Thailand and is well worth the extra effort to get there. Park officials estimate that the Mae Ya River plunges more than 250 meters at this point. It is a beautiful, fanning<b> </b>cascade, dropping down an ever-widening series of steps – without a doubt, a photographic favourite. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR_baPOOiyg/Tp6Dke7lqnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Ik42uTYDxX8/s1600/Siriphum_waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR_baPOOiyg/Tp6Dke7lqnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Ik42uTYDxX8/s200/Siriphum_waterfall.jpg" width="185" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Siriphum Waterfall</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Siriphum Waterfall (pronounced "see-ree-POOM") was an impressively tall waterfall that we noticed was accompanied by another thinner but just-as-tall companion waterfall. This was the third or uppermost of the major waterfalls on the way up to Doi Inthanon's peak (not counting the Sirithat Waterfall, which we didn't get to see), but we worked our way down from the top so it was our first waterfall stop in the park. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">According the Thailand Tourism, the name of this falls came from a combination of Queen Sirikit and King Bhumipol. Thus, we also noticed some signs indicating this waterfall was referred to as Namtok Siribhum as opposed to Namtok Siriphum.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Sources, Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_Inthanon_National_Park, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/doi_inthanon_park.html</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-25936782481390652912011-09-29T06:41:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:45:32.579-07:00Mae Surin National Park and Waterfall - Mae Hong Son<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwlViHDo4Sg/TYRe0B6szGI/AAAAAAAAACA/Q2gUF1_-gII/s400/tatmok%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwlViHDo4Sg/TYRe0B6szGI/AAAAAAAAACA/Q2gUF1_-gII/s320/tatmok%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mae Surin National Park</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is given national park status in 1981, this natural wonder, which straddles Mueang and Khun Yuam districts, encompasses a wildlife and botanical reserve, a huge waterfall and a spectacular terraced mountain. Namtok Mae Surin, its main attraction, is 37 kilometers from Khun Yuam district. It is a huge waterfall cascading over eighty meters down below</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mae Surin national park is located in Mae Hong Son province, it covers 397 square kilometers of rugged terrain. It was established in 1981 as the 37th national park of Thailand. The park contains some of the main peaks of Thanon Tongchai range with elevation varying between 300 and 1,700 meters above sea level. These highland give birth to numerous streams and small rivers which are important tributaries of the Pai river, the main river of this region.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynyvNUdKLFs/SIpTElkvAmI/AAAAAAAABWM/azHSf5fTMBs/s640/P1000835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynyvNUdKLFs/SIpTElkvAmI/AAAAAAAABWM/azHSf5fTMBs/s320/P1000835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The three seasons of northern Thailand offer varied conditions within Mae Surin National Park throughout the year. With the mountain tops and river valleys often wreathed in mist, the cold season (November to February) offers beautiful scenery, lush vegetation, and comfortable temperatures for hiking and camping. The temperature during the hot season (late February to May) can be somewhat oppressive in the lowlands of Mae Hong Son with a mean high temperature of 39ºC in the month of April. Rainy season is normally from June to October. This brings the forest into vibrant life and fills the rivers and their waterfalls to full capacity. While nature is at this time in its grandest state, hiking along the mountains will be quite difficult. Careful planning must be done for safety. White water rafting on Pai river is a popular activity during the rainy season.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Drastic variations in topography and soil types in this region have created numerous habitat types ranging from sparsely vegetated stands of broadleaf deciduous to lush stands of tropical evergreen forest. Flora of interest are: increasingly rare stands of teak, stands of temperate pine, and a number of orchid and wildflower species. Probable animal species present in the park include Malay sun bear, golden cat, common wild pig, barking deer, and serow.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theworldwonders.com/asia/mae-surin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theworldwonders.com/asia/mae-surin.jpg" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mae Surin waterfall</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกแม่สุรินทร์</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">),</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is a not-to-miss attraction in the park and is set amidst towering limestone mountains. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A single jet of water leaping off a cliff face and plunging gracefully onto the rocks 100 meters below, Mae Surin waterfall is one of the tallest and most beautiful single tier waterfalls in Thailand. The fall can be viewed from the hills across the valley, or you can hike down the hills for a closer look. On the way to the waterfall, there are Karen and Hmong hill tribe villages as well as the famous Toong Bua Tong </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ทุ่งบัวตอง</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">)</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, or fields of wild sunflowers, which bloom for two weeks only in the month of November.</span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/8011_mae_hong_son_wild_sunflower_field_mae_hong_son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/8011_mae_hong_son_wild_sunflower_field_mae_hong_son.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Park itself has two main locations with visitor facilities. The main Headquarters is located just North of Mae Hong Sorn along Route 1095 and beside the Pai River. At Mae Surin Waterfall, there is another information centre and visitor facilities. Both locations have accommodation available. The Headquarters has three bungalows overlooking the Pai river. At Mae Surin Waterfall, there are 2 new Bungalows and 2 basic Adobe huts available (There is no mainline electricity at this location. A generator provides electricity from Dusk until 22:00 hrs.). Both locations have camp grounds and tent rental.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The highlights of the Park include Mae Surin Waterfall, Doi Mae U-Kor, Mae Sakeud Nature Trail, Rafting and the Huay Fai Kor Wildlife Conservation Project.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Source: http://www.theworldwonders.com/asia/mae-surin.html</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-54516871708112409202011-09-27T09:51:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:44:53.407-07:00Erawan National Park and Waterfall - Kanchanaburi<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/27058_erawan_waterfall_kanchanaburi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/27058_erawan_waterfall_kanchanaburi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Erawan National Park</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">is a 550-square-kilometer park in western Thailand, located in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kanchanaburi Province</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Amphoe Si Sawat<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">tambon Tha Kradan. Founded in 1975, it is</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thailand's 12th national park</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The major attraction of the park is Erawan Falls (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกเอราวัณ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), a waterfall named after the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">erawan</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. The seven-tiered falls are said to resemble the erawan. There are also four caves in the park: Mi, Rua, Wang Bahdan, and Pharthat.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_o9txeCcWzXU/Rp3Yon0rgdI/AAAAAAAAAfY/u3bVNi60zv4/s320/Erawan_Waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_o9txeCcWzXU/Rp3Yon0rgdI/AAAAAAAAAfY/u3bVNi60zv4/s320/Erawan_Waterfall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With its spectacular seven-tiered waterfalls, Erawan National Park is one of the most popular natural attractions in the country. Located about 65 km northwest of Kanchanaburi town along Route 3199, the 550-sq-km park is situated in the Tenasserim Hills running along the Thai-Burmese border. Mixed species deciduous forests with occasional stands of bamboo characterize the park. More than 80 species of bird have been sighted, as well as gibbon, slow loris, macaque and rhesus monkey.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Erawan_Waterfall,_Kanchanaburi_Province,_Thailand_-_June_2004.jpg/250px-Erawan_Waterfall,_Kanchanaburi_Province,_Thailand_-_June_2004.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Erawan_Waterfall,_Kanchanaburi_Province,_Thailand_-_June_2004.jpg/250px-Erawan_Waterfall,_Kanchanaburi_Province,_Thailand_-_June_2004.jpg%20" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The highlight of the park is undoubtedly the multi-level waterfall, one of the most powerful and beautiful in the country. The various tiers have deep pools, ideal for swimming, and the area abounds in ferns, orchids and other wild plants. To fully appreciate the beauty of the falls, you should take the winding trail up to the top and most magnificent level. The seventh tier is said to resemble the shape of Erawan, the three-headed elephant of Hindu mythology, and from which the park draws its name. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/27054_waterfall_eravan_kanchanaburi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/27054_waterfall_eravan_kanchanaburi.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A number of limestone caves within the park are worth visiting. The Phrathat Cave, 12 km northwest of the visitors' center, is encrusted with monumental stalactites and stalagmites, and swarms with bats. Wang Badan, with its multiple chambers and a subterranean stream, is located in the west of the park.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Accommodation is available in the National Park bungalows or you can pitch a tent nearby. Buses to Erawan depart Kanchanaburi town from 8.00 am. The trip takes about two hours. The last bus back from Erawan leaves at 4.00 pm. As with other waterfalls, Erawan is best visited during the rainy season when the falls are in full volume.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
<br />
</div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_National_Park,</span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> http://www.thailand.com/travel/natural/natural_kanchanaburi.htm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_National_Park</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-17938523412194240132011-09-27T09:23:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:44:01.585-07:00Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall - Kanchanaburi<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tripsthailand.com/images/huaimaekhamin/huaimaekhamin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.tripsthailand.com/images/huaimaekhamin/huaimaekhamin.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกห้วยแม่ขมิ้น</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), is one of the most popular places in Kanchanaburi Province. Huai Mae Khamin has been a popular destination for many years, particularly during the rainy season. One of the attractions is the tall limestone walls and dense forest that surround the area. The water cascades over an ochre-stained limestone rock face, earning the falls the Thai name “Huai Khamin” or “Turmeric Stream”. The little-visited falls have formed deep pools that are ideal for swimming. The surroundings are very peaceful with dense jungles and occasional sightings of elephants and other wildlife.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Huai Mae Khamin waterfall, in the mountainous Khuan Sri Nakharin National Park, is located in Amphoe Sai Yok and Amphoe Thong Pha Phom in the province of Kanchanaburi. The waterfall itself is located near the National Park office. The best way to get to the falls is by long-tailed boat from Ban Tha Kradan or Si Sawat on the eastern side of the reservoir. Hiring a boat can be expensive unless you go as a larger group (up to 20 people). It’s also possible to get there by motorcycle or off-road vehicle from Erawan but the road is treacherous and this route is not recommended.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/11374_kanchanaburi_huai_khamin_waterfall_in_the_sri_nakharin_national_park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://images.placesonline.com/photos/11374_kanchanaburi_huai_khamin_waterfall_in_the_sri_nakharin_national_park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Huai Mae Khamin waterfall is a moderate-sized limestone waterfall. It has seven levels. Visitors here feel at peace while watching the clear water fall down the steps of each level. Because this is a limestone waterfall, the area surrounding it is not slippery and doesn’t support algae. The most stunning level is the fourth, called “Chat Kaew” </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ฉัตรแก้ว</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">)</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. To make the area safer for visitors, the park officials erected a path that goes all the way to the top. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">In addition to seeing the waterfall, the Sri Nakharin Dam is also a popular tourist spot. The dam was originally built to provide water and power the rice farmers in the area. While here, it is possible to rent a boat and explore the man-made lake.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Srinagarindra_dam.jpg/250px-Srinagarindra_dam.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Srinagarindra_dam.jpg/250px-Srinagarindra_dam.jpg%20" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the National Park there are several beautiful caves for amateur spelunkers to explore. The Neramit Cave (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ถ้ำเนรมิต</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), has many stalagmites and stalactites formed over thousands of years. This limestone cave also has a domed roof, which is perfect for taller travelers. The Phra That Cave (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ถ้ำพระธาตุ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), is the home of an ancient Buddha statue. This cave was used by Thai soldiers hiding from the Burmese Army back in the 18<sup>th</sup> century. In addition, there are two hot springs where you can bathe and soak your sore muscles from your adventure.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Sources: http://www.tripsthailand.com/huaimaekhamin.php,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">http://www.thailand.com/travel/natural/natural_kanchanaburi.htm</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-87177230085592938972011-09-26T00:20:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:37:51.905-07:00Sai Yok Waterfall and National Park - Kanchanaburi<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cd/Sai_Yok_Noi.JPG/250px-Sai_Yok_Noi.JPG%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cd/Sai_Yok_Noi.JPG/250px-Sai_Yok_Noi.JPG%20" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sai Yok Waterfall (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">น้ำตกไทรโยค</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), located 104 km northwest of Kanchanaburi town, is the most popular attraction in the 500-sq-km Sai Yok National Park. Popularized in poetry and a classic Thai song, the Sai Yok and Sai Yok Noi falls cascade directly into the Khwae Noi River, close to the National Park headquarters to the west of Highway No 323. A wire rope suspension bridge has been strung across the river opposite the falls to give visitors a clear view. The sand bar on the opposite bank from the falls also affords a direct view.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Sai_Yok_Yai_Lek_Waterfall_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg/250px-Sai_Yok_Yai_Lek_Waterfall_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Sai_Yok_Yai_Lek_Waterfall_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg/250px-Sai_Yok_Yai_Lek_Waterfall_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sai Yok Noi (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ไทรโยคน้อย</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">) is a waterfall in the Sai Yok district of Kanchanaburi Province, near the small town Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi. It is the most popular attraction of the Sai Yok National Park for domestic and foreign tourists alike, in part because it lies next to the province’s trunk road alongside which there is ample parking space. The immediate vicinity features several sites of interest including the Krasae Cave, a small Buddhist shrine next to a section of rail tracks of the notorious Death Railway and, to the west, Daowadung Cave, a secluded collection of impressive stalactites. Hellfire Pass Memorial, a museum and tribute to those lost during the construction of the Death Railway’s cuttings and trestle bridges, lies about 35 km to the west of Sai Yok Noi falls. A small market geared toward travelers is also nearby. Sai Yok Yai waterfall, some 40 km to the west lies offset from the valley’s main road, adjacent to the Sai Yok National Park Headquarters. It comprises a 10 meter (32 ft) picturesque cascade which drops directly into the Khwae Noi River (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">แม่น้ำแควน้อย</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Hellfire_Pass_terminus.JPG/220px-Hellfire_Pass_terminus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Hellfire_Pass_terminus.JPG/220px-Hellfire_Pass_terminus.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Other attractions in the Sai Yok National Park include fascinating limestone caves, which are home to the Kitti's hog-nosed bat, discovered in 1973 and reckoned to be the world's smallest mammal at just 3 cm (1 inch) in length. Wildlife in the area includes 67 bird species, barking deer, slow loris, gibbons, porcupines, serow and wild elephants. Tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests cover most of the park, while bamboo and mixed deciduous tracts can be found in the lowlands and foothills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sai Yok was the site of a Japanese army barracks during the Second World War and traces of the soldiers' camps and the abandoned Death Railway can still be seen. Most of the rails and sleepers of the railway have been claimed by local villagers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Forest_of_Sai_Yok_National_Park.JPG/250px-Forest_of_Sai_Yok_National_Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Forest_of_Sai_Yok_National_Park.JPG/250px-Forest_of_Sai_Yok_National_Park.JPG" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Rafts can be hired from Sai Yok to explore the limpid Khwae Noi and to get to the Daowadung (to the north) and Lawa (to the south) caves with their exquisite stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the unforgettable Russian roulette scenes in the film 'The Deer Hunter' were shot on the river in this area.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/River_Khwae_View_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg/220px-River_Khwae_View_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/River_Khwae_View_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg/220px-River_Khwae_View_-_Sai_Yok_National_Park.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Accommodation in the form of raft houses and National Park bungalows is available close to the park headquarters. The place is popular at the weekend so expect to pay more than in the week. Sai Yok National Park can be reached by bus or car from Kanchanaburi or by train to Sai Yok and then bus. It's also possible to charter a boat from Kanchanaburi for the 100-km trip upstream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Yok_waterfall,</span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.thailand.com/travel/natural/natural_kanchanaburi.htm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Yok_waterfall</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-58264154176341168132011-08-27T09:28:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:43:23.011-07:00Kinabalu National Park - Malaysia<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Mount_Kinabalu.en.wikipedia.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu.en.wikipedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Mount_Kinabalu.en.wikipedia.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu.en.wikipedia.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kinabalu National Park</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> or <b>Taman Negara Kinabalu</b> in Malay, established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Located on the west coast of Sabah, east Malaysia on the island of Borneo; it covers an area of 754 square kilometers surrounding Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,095.2 metres, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Mount_Kinabalu_at_sunrise.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu_at_sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Mount_Kinabalu_at_sunrise.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu_at_sunrise.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sabah and Malaysia in general. In 2004, more than 415,360 visitors and 43,430 climbers visited the Park. The region was designated as a national park in 1964. British colonial administrator and naturalist Hugh Low led an expedition from Tuaran to the region in 1895. He also became the first recorded man to reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu. The highest peak of the mountain was later named after him—Low's Peak.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Geography</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kinabalu Park is situated on the Crocker Range on the western coast of Sabah. It is located within the district of Ranau, within the West Coast Division. The park is not to be confused with Crocker Range National Park which is a separate park in the south.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The park headquarters is 88 kilometers away from the city of Kota Kinabalu. There are highways and sealed roads leading towards the park headquarters from other parts of Sabah. It is situated on the southern boundary of Kinabalu Park, at an elevation of 1,563 m (5,128 ft).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Plane_Flying_Past_Mount_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Plane_Flying_Past_Mount_Kinabalu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Plane_Flying_Past_Mount_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Plane_Flying_Past_Mount_Kinabalu.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Administration and park features</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This park is administered by an organization called Sabah Parks. Accommodations in the form of chalets can be found in the park, mostly around the headquarters. Reservations for accommodation and mountain climbing guides are processed through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (also known as Sutera Harbour), a private company. Every person who wishes to climb the mountain must be accompanied by a qualified guide. Sutera is now requiring hikers stay one night at their lodge near the entrance, in addition to a required stay at Laban Rata. The cost to stay is considerably higher than at lodging just outside the park, and includes a mandatory purchase of meals, etc.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The mountain summit trail begins at Timpohon. There is also an alternative route called the Mesilau Trail. A notable feature of the park is Low's Gully. It is a 1.6 kilometre deep ravine stretching 10 kilometres on the side of the mountain peak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Gunung_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Gunung_Kinabalu.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Gunung_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Gunung_Kinabalu.jpg%20" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ecology</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This botanical site contains a variety of flora and fauna that ranges over 4 climate zones; from rich lowland dipterocarp forest through the montane oak, rhododendron, to the coniferous forests, to the alpine meadow plants, and to the stunted bushes of summit zone. The mountain is also known for its many carnivorous plant and orchid species, most notably <i>Nepenthes rajah</i>.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It is also home to a multitude of endemic animal species, including the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and Kinabalu Giant Earthworm. The park also plays host to a variety of birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Mount_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Mount_Kinabalu.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mount Kinabalu</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. It was formed within the last 10 to 35 million years. The mountain still grows at a rate of 5 millimetres a year. Mount Kinabalu is in Kinabalu Park in the Malaysian state of Sabah, some 80 km east of Kota Kinabalu.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mount Kinabalu is Borneo's tallest mountain. You can climb to the top of Low's Peak (4,095.2m or 13,435.7ft above sea level). The height of the mountain is often given as 4,101m but recent satellite imaging has proven this to be incorrect. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The mountain is sacred to locals. They believe that spirits of their ancestors inhabit the top of the mountain. Previously, a chicken was sacrificed at the peak every time a climb was made but these days this ceremony only happens once a year when only seven chickens are needed to appease the spirits.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Mount_Kinabalu_sunrise_silhouette.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu_sunrise_silhouette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Mount_Kinabalu_sunrise_silhouette.jpg/250px-Mount_Kinabalu_sunrise_silhouette.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mount Kinabalu is known to be one of the most accessible mountains in the world. No specialized mountain climbing skills are required to ascend it. The trail that most tourists use is described as a 'trek and scramble'. Locals begin climbing the mountain from the age of 3 and the oldest person to reach the peak was 80 years old. However, how much one enjoys the climb depends strongly on how fit you are and how well you acclimatize to the thin air at the higher levels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Nevertheless, the mountain can be a dangerous place, especially during the rain or when there is mist. On average, every year one person gets into severe difficulty out of the estimated 20,000 people who attempt the climb. The higher slopes can be very slippery when it rains and dense fog reduces visibility to a few feet.</span><br />
<br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Morning_mist_kinabalu_park.jpg/250px-Morning_mist_kinabalu_park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Morning_mist_kinabalu_park.jpg/250px-Morning_mist_kinabalu_park.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although it is possible to climb to the top and back in less than four hours, most climbers take two days, with an overnight break at Laban Rata (3,272.7m above sea level). The final attack on the peak takes place in the early hours of the second day (most begin at 2:30AM) in order to catch the sunrise at the top. By mid-morning the mist begins to roll in, obscuring the breath-taking views. </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Climbing weather is best around the month of April while November and December brings rain. The temperature ranges from a comfortable 20-25°C at the main park to something approaching freezing near the top (depending on the weather). Bring clothing appropriate or else you will get cold and be miserable. If possible, climb during the full moon as it helps illuminate the white rope that marks out the climbing path.</span><br />
<br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Mount_kinabalu_panorama.jpg/450px-Mount_kinabalu_panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Mount_kinabalu_panorama.jpg/450px-Mount_kinabalu_panorama.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sources: <cite>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinabalu_Park</cite></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">, </span></span><br />
<cite><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Kinabalu</span></cite><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Images: <cite>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mount_Kinabalu</cite></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-90249798060325187852011-08-27T08:44:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:42:29.626-07:00George Town - Malaysia<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Georgetown.jpg/250px-Georgetown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Georgetown.jpg/250px-Georgetown.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">George Town</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> or <b>Georgetown</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, is the capital of the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after Britain's King George III, George Town is located on the north-east corner of Penang Island. The Georgetown metropolitan has a population of 1,253,748, the second largest metropolitan in Malaysia by population.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Formerly a municipality and then a city in its own right, since 1976 George Town has been part of the municipality of Penang Island, though the area formerly governed by the city council is still commonly referred to as a city, and is also known as <i>Tanjung</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> ("The Cape") in Malay and Qiáozhì Shì in Chinese. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The inner city of George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/KOMTAR.JPG/170px-KOMTAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/KOMTAR.JPG/170px-KOMTAR.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">George Town was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light, a trader for the British East India Company, as base for the company in the Malay States. He obtained the island of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah and built Fort Cornwallis on the north-eastern corner of the island. The fort became the nexus of a growing trading post and the island's population reached 12,000 by 1804.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The town was built on swampy land that had to be cleared of vegetation, leveled and filled. The original commercial town was laid out between Light Street, Beach Street (then running close to the seashore), Malabar Street (subsequently called Chulia Street) and Pitt Street (now called Masjid Kapitan Keling Street).</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The warehouses and go downs extended from Beach Street to the sea. By the 1880s, there were ghauts leading from Beach Street to the wharf and jetties as Beach Street receded inland due to land reclamation. A new waterfront was created at Weld Quay, where commercial buildings sprang up.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The historic commercial centre was segmented into the banking and trading areas related to port activities which included shipping companies, the import and export trade, and the wholesalers who dominate the southern section of Beach Street until now. It has been listed as a World Heritage site since July 2008.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/6/68/Penang_Kapitan_Keling_Mosque_Nov2005.JPG/300px-Penang_Kapitan_Keling_Mosque_Nov2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/6/68/Penang_Kapitan_Keling_Mosque_Nov2005.JPG/300px-Penang_Kapitan_Keling_Mosque_Nov2005.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hub of George Town’s waterfront commercial and financial district</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">At the turn of the 19th century, the northern section of Beach Street and the adjacent <span style="color: black;">Bishop Street</span> were the ‘high street’ where the ‘modern’ European emporium and stores selling imported merchandise were situated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Among the early foreign companies that located their offices on Beach Street were the Netherlands Trading Society, the <span style="color: black;">Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation</span> (<span style="color: black;">HSBC</span>), the Chartered Bank, Boustead & Co., Guthne & Co., Caldbeck & Macgregor, Behn Meyer, <span style="color: black;">Sandilands & Buttery</span>, G.H. Slot and the stores of Pritchard & Co., Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., and others. Among the local businesses that were established here during this period were H.M. Nooradin, Tiang Lee & Co., Guan Lee Hin Steamship, Tye Sin Tat, Pinang Sales Room, Koe Guan and others. Penang’s first petroleum lamps were installed on this section of Beach Street by <span style="color: black;">Huttenbach & Co.</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/1/13/Penang_City_Hall_Nov2005.JPG/300px-Penang_City_Hall_Nov2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/1/13/Penang_City_Hall_Nov2005.JPG/300px-Penang_City_Hall_Nov2005.JPG" /></a></div><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">International recognition</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by Employment Conditions Abroad Limited (ECA International), an agency that develops and provides solutions for the management and assignment of employees around the world, in its annual Location Ratings Survey. Previously it was ranked 10th in 2009 which saw the biggest improvement in scores among the 49 Asians cities surveyed by rising 11 notches in global best cities ranking from 74 to 63. A city is judged based on living standards according to categories, including climate, air quality, health services, housing and utilities, isolation, social network and leisure facilities, infrastructure, personal safety and political tension.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Kek_Lok_Si.JPG/250px-Kek_Lok_Si.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Kek_Lok_Si.JPG/250px-Kek_Lok_Si.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On 7 July 2008, George Town was, together with Malacca, formally inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is officially recognized as having a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Transportation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the past, George Town boasted of having the best public transportation system in Malaysia, with Electric Trams, Trolleybuses and also Double-decker buses. They have since been stopped in the 1970.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, George Town is well connected by roads, buses and etc. The Jelutong Expressway connects the city to Bayan Lepas and the Penang International Airport. With this highway, trips to the airport were cut short to 30 minutes instead of almost an hour in the past. The Penang International Airport serves as the main airport of the northern part of Malaysia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Georgetown_Penang_December_2007_003.jpg/250px-Georgetown_Penang_December_2007_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Georgetown_Penang_December_2007_003.jpg/250px-Georgetown_Penang_December_2007_003.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">To get over to Butterworth in the mainland, the Penang Ferry Service at Weld Quay operates every day since 1920. Passengers, cars and motorcycles can all travel in the ferry. Other than that, commuters can drive to the Penang Bridge, located in Gelugor, to cross over to the mainland. To travel elsewhere around Malaysia, through the Penang Bridge, commuters can take the North-South Expressway to reach their destinations.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Public transportation is George Town is operated mainly by Rapid Penang, the main bus company in Penang now. Almost every bus connects George Town to their respective destinations, with Weld Quay being the main terminal of Rapid Penang in Penang Island and Komtar being the main hub. There is also a free bus service operated by Rapid Penang. This bus service is only located within George Town, and it also operates every day, taking commuters a drive along George Town's famous heritage sites.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/St._George's_Church_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg/250px-St._George's_Church_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/St._George's_Church_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg/250px-St._George's_Church_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Express buses used to stop at Komtar at the past but has sinced been relocated to the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, which is not that far away. There are many express bus companies operating 24 hours there, and main destinations are usually Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. There are also some buses travelling out of Malaysia, mainly to Hat Yai, Thailand and Singapore.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Other than that, George Town is famous for having trishaws plying the city. The Port of Penang has 4 ports, with 3 on the mainland and one terminal here, Swettenham Pier. The port links Penang to over 200 ports all over the world. There is also a cruise ship situated here and it has become an attraction here.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Islamic_Museum_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg/250px-Islamic_Museum_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Islamic_Museum_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg/250px-Islamic_Museum_Penang_Dec_2006_001.jpg%20" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">George Town features a tropical rainforest climate, under the Koppen climate classification. As is the norm for many cities with this climate, George Town experiences relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, with an average high temperature of about 31 degrees Celsius and an average low of 24 degrees Celsius. While George Town does not have a true dry season, its driest months are from December through February. The city sees on average around 2550 mm of precipitation annually.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Source, Images: <cite>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Town,_Penang</cite></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-58862678678315417682011-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:002011-10-21T23:41:19.236-07:00Malacca City - Malaysia<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Melaka_03.jpg/250px-Melaka_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Melaka_03.jpg/250px-Melaka_03.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Malacca City</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Malacca. The <i>Seri Negeri</i>, the State Administrative and Development Centre which houses the Chief Minister's Office, the State Secretary's Office and the Legislative Assembly Hall are located in Malacca City. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with George Town of Penang on 7 July 2008.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Malaccapalace.jpg/230px-Malaccapalace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Malaccapalace.jpg/230px-Malaccapalace.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The city of Malacca is located on both sides of the Malacca River near its mouth into the Strait of Malacca. The historic central area of the city is located near the old coastline, includes St Paul's Hill with the ruins of the Portuguese fortress, <i>A Famosa</i> and the Dutch Square on the right (eastern) bank of the river, and the old Chinatown on the left (western) bank. The modern city has grown in all directions from this historic core, including to the south (because the present coastline of the Strait of Malacca is somewhat farther down to the south than its original location due to land reclamation). The "Chinese Hill" (Bukit Cina), where a large old Chinese cemetery is located, was formerly located to the northeast of the town, but now is surrounded by the city on all sides. Malacca river winding its way through the old town and the city centre.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">History</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/RED_BUILDINGS_0064_01.jpg/200px-RED_BUILDINGS_0064_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/RED_BUILDINGS_0064_01.jpg/200px-RED_BUILDINGS_0064_01.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The site where the city of Malacca stands today was the center of Malaccan history. It was the capital of the Malacca Sultanate and was the centre of the Malay world in the 15th and the 16th century after the Malays moved over from Sumatra and was the most prosperous Entrepôt and city of the Malay Archipelago before it fell to the hand of Portuguese in 1511. Centuries of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British as well as development of Straits Chinese (Peranakan) culture have influenced the architecture of the town, notably the Portuguese A Famosa, Dutch Stadthuys, and the Dutch, Chinese and British influenced traditional town houses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Since the founding of Singapore in 1819, Malacca has been in decline as its port was silting up and Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have grown. Over the years, many Malaccans have moved to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Riverside_buildings_Melaka.jpg/220px-Riverside_buildings_Melaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Riverside_buildings_Melaka.jpg/220px-Riverside_buildings_Melaka.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After World War II, anti-colonial sentiment developed amongst Malay nationalists which led to negotiations with the British and eventually the announcement of Independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, at the Padang Pahlawan (Warrior's Field) at Bandar Hilir, in Melaka on 20 February 1956.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The British in Penang were temporary caretakers of the then Dutch-controlled Malacca during the Napoleonic Wars. However, they were reluctant to hand Malacca back because they feared it might jeopardize the development of their new settlement in Penang. Hence they decided to destroy the regional influence of Malacca by diverting trade away from Malacca to Penang, the British planned to destroy the Malacca Fort and its city and move the 15,000 people to Penang. It was envisaged that Malacca would not rival Penang in terms of trade when the <i>Kew treaty of 1975</i> expires which orders the returning of Malacca back to Dutch hands if the city was demolished and depopulated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Portadesantiago.jpg/250px-Portadesantiago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Portadesantiago.jpg/250px-Portadesantiago.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Governor of Penang ordered Captain William Farquhar to have the respective fort demolished in 1807. However during this time, Stamford Raffles who hails from Penang arrived in Malacca for his sick leave. He managed to rescind the demolition and depopulation process with the consent of Lord Minto, the Governor General of India. Raffles managed to save the archway of the Malacca Fort which can be seen to this day. The destruction of the Malacca Fort cost 70,000 sterling pounds and involved several hundred workers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Melaka-St-Paul-Dutch-graves-and-tourists-2186.jpg/220px-Melaka-St-Paul-Dutch-graves-and-tourists-2186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Melaka-St-Paul-Dutch-graves-and-tourists-2186.jpg/220px-Melaka-St-Paul-Dutch-graves-and-tourists-2186.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Most tourist attractions are concentrated in its small city centre which encompasses Jonker Walk which houses Malacca's traditional Chinatown that exhibits Peranakan architecture. A Famosa Fort, St. Paul Hill are among the tourist attractions located in the Bandar Hilir, old city area. There are also numerous shopping centres located nearby. The Malacca Straits Mosque is located here. There are numerous islands which include Pulau Upeh near Klebang Beach (currently undergoing reclamation works) and Pulau Besar.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sights</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">European settlement</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul type="disc"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Firstchurchmelaka.JPG/250px-Firstchurchmelaka.JPG%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Firstchurchmelaka.JPG/250px-Firstchurchmelaka.JPG%20" width="150" /></a>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A <b>Famosa</b> fortress (Porta de Santiago) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">is a Portuguese fortress located in Malacca</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. It is among the oldest surviving European </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">architectural remains in Asia.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The <i>Porta de Santiago</i>, a small gate house, is the only remaining part of the fortress still standing.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christ Church</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> an 18th century Protestant church in the city of Malacca. It is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia and is within the jurisdiction of the Lower Central Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The<b> Stadthuys </b>(Dutch administrative buildings), </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">also known as the <b>Red Square</b>, is a historical structure situated in the heart of Malacca Town, the administrative capital of the state of Malacca, Malaysia. It was built by the Dutch occupants in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Saint Francis Xavier Church</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Portuguese Settlement</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">is a Kristang community in Ujong Pasir, five km from Malacca City.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Kristang are a Malaysian ethnic group with mixed Portuguese and Malay and for some possibly Indian or Chinese ancestry, which arose during the Portuguese colonial period (16th to 17th century).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">St. John's Fort (Kota Senjuang)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ruins of <b>St. Paul Church</b> - Saint Francis Xavier was temporarily buried here; tombs of many Dutch dignitaries remain there. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">St. Paul's Church is a historic church building in Malacca that was originally built in 1521. It is located at the summit of St. Paul's Hill and is today part of the Malacca Museum Complex comprising of the A Famosa ruins, the Stadthuys and other historical buildings.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">St. Peter Church</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">St. Theresa Church</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Victoria Fountain</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Chinese settlement</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/ChengHoonTeng.jpg/230px-ChengHoonTeng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/ChengHoonTeng.jpg/230px-ChengHoonTeng.jpg" /></a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bukit Cina cemetery</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cheng Hoon Teng</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> temple </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">("Temple of Green Cloud") is a Taoist temple, located at No. 25 Jalan Tokong, Malacca Town.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> It is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">the oldest functioning</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> temple in Malaysia. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Cheng Hoon Teng is situated close to Jalan Tukang Emas, also known as "Harmony Street" because of its proximity to the Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple. The richly decorated Cheng Hoon Teng temple covers an area of 4,600 m<sup>2</sup>.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Geok Hu Keng temple</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Poh San Teng temple</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jonker Street</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Indian settlement</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></b></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sri Poyyatha temple</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Malay settlement</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Masjid-Kampung-Kling-2326.jpg/230px-Masjid-Kampung-Kling-2326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Masjid-Kampung-Kling-2326.jpg/230px-Masjid-Kampung-Kling-2326.jpg" /></a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hang Jebat mausoleum</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hang Kasturi mausoleum</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kampong Morten</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kampung Kling mosque</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (sometimes also spelt <i>Kampung Keling Mosque</i>)<b> </b>is an old mosque in Malacca.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tranquerah mosque</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Malacca Straits Mosque</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Malay: </span><i><span lang="MS" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Masjid Selat Melaka</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), a modern mosque on the shore of Malacca Island, is a mosque located on the man-made Malacca Island near Malacca Town in Malacca state. It looks like a floating structure if the water level is high. Construction cost of the mosque is about MYR10 million. The Opening Ceremony was done in 24 November 2006 by the Supreme Ruler of Malaysia (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is a museum located in Malacca. The building is a modern reconstruction of the palace of the sultans of Malacca. It showcases the history of the region.</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9d/Masjid_Selat_Melaka.jpg/250px-Masjid_Selat_Melaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9d/Masjid_Selat_Melaka.jpg/250px-Masjid_Selat_Melaka.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Malacca’s weather is hot and humid throughout the year with rainfall, the intensity of which depends on the time of the year. Malacca features tropical rainforest climate, under the Koppen climate classification. The relatively stable weather allows Malacca to be visited all-year-round. Temperatures generally range between 30°C - 35°C during the day and 27°C - 29°C at night. It may get cooler after periods of heavy rainfall.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Malacca_Sultanate_Palace.JPG/230px-Malacca_Sultanate_Palace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Malacca_Sultanate_Palace.JPG/230px-Malacca_Sultanate_Palace.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Generally, Malacca annual rainfall is below average of Malaysia annual rainfall. Usually, it rains in the evening after hot and humid afternoon. Malacca enjoys much sunlight during the day so it’s always warm and inviting to walk around the city. Ensure you wear light clothing, as the humidity can high and sunglasses are also quite useful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Source: <cite>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca_City</cite></span></div><div style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Images: <cite>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Melaka</cite></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-38530576507097146382011-08-02T01:33:00.000-07:002011-09-26T01:05:17.068-07:00Koh Samui - Surat Thani<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Biruza_morya.jpg/250px-Biruza_morya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Biruza_morya.jpg/250px-Biruza_morya.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ko Samui</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> island of Surat Thani Province (or <b>Koh Samui</b>, Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">เกาะสมุย</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), or often, simply <b>Samui</b> as it is referred to by locals, is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's second largest island, with an area of 228.7 km<sup>2</sup> and a population of over 50,000 (2008). It is rich with natural resources, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d0/Bo_Phut_Beach.jpg/250px-Bo_Phut_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d0/Bo_Phut_Beach.jpg/250px-Bo_Phut_Beach.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and Southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name <i>Pulo Cornam</i>. The name <i>Samui</i> is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, <i>mui</i>, or from the Malay word <i>Saboey</i>, meaning "safe haven". <i>Ko</i> is the Thai word for "island".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Until the late 20th century, Ko Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland of Thailand. The island was even without roads until the early 1970s, and the 15 km journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through the mountainous central jungles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Koh_Samui_Lipa_Noi2.jpg/250px-Koh_Samui_Lipa_Noi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Koh_Samui_Lipa_Noi2.jpg/250px-Koh_Samui_Lipa_Noi2.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ko Samui has a population of about fifty-five thousand (source: Samui Mayor's Office) and is based primarily on a successful tourist industry, as well as exports of coconut and rubber. It even has its own international airport, Samui Airport, with flights daily to Bangkok and other major airports in Southeast Asia such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Whilst the island presents an unspoiled image to the public perception, economic growth has brought not only prosperity, but changes to the island's environment and culture, a source of conflict between local residents and migrants from other parts of Thailand and other countries. Reflecting Samui's growth as a tourist destination, the Cunard ship MS <i>Queen Victoria</i> (a 2000-plus passenger ship) docked at Samui during its 2008 world cruise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Koh_Samui_Bang_Kao_Beach.JPG/250px-Koh_Samui_Bang_Kao_Beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Koh_Samui_Bang_Kao_Beach.JPG/250px-Koh_Samui_Bang_Kao_Beach.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ko Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km northeast of Surat Thani town (9°N, 100°E). The island measures some 25 km at its widest point. It is surrounded by about sixty other islands, which compose the Ang Thong Marine National Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park) and include other tourist destinations (Ko Phangan, Ko Tao and Ko Nang Yuan).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The central part of the island is an almost uninhabitable jungle mountain, Khao Pom, peaking at 635 m. The various lowland areas are connected together by a single 51 km road, running mostly along the coast to encircle the bulk of the island.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Chaweng-beach_koh_Samui.jpg/250px-Chaweng-beach_koh_Samui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Chaweng-beach_koh_Samui.jpg/250px-Chaweng-beach_koh_Samui.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The old capital is Nathon, on the southwest coast of the island. It remains the major port for fishing and inter-island transportation. Nathon is the seat of the regional government, and the true commercial hub of the Samui locals. It has a charming pace, and is almost small enough to walk everywhere. The old Chinese shop houses along the middle street whisper of an exotic history.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Each of Samui's primary beaches is now also nominally considered as a small town, due to the number of hotels, restaurants and nightlife that have sprung up in recent years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Samui_villabouw.jpg/250px-Samui_villabouw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Samui_villabouw.jpg/250px-Samui_villabouw.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ko Samui, being in Surat Thani Province, has essentially two seasons; warm and tropical most of the year, with a short rainy season. Unlike Phuket and most of the rest of Southern Thailand which has a 6-month rainy season between May and November, Samui's weather is relatively dry for the vast majority of the year, with the rainy season being primarily confined to November. For the rest of the year, since the weather is tropical, when it does rain, it usually doesn’t last long; rain showers of 20–60 minutes are typical.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Morning_in_Samui.jpg/250px-Morning_in_Samui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Morning_in_Samui.jpg/250px-Morning_in_Samui.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Historically the island's economy has been based around subsistence agriculture and fishing, with coconuts as the main cash crop. From the 1980s onwards, tourism has become an economic factor and is now the dominant industry. The construction of a stable, high-speed internet connection in recent years has also made the island a feasible location for IT-based enterprises, which are beginning to provide a certain degree of economic diversity. The island's climate and accessibility make it particularly attractive for international investors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Transportation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Laem-Yai-Beach-Angthong.jpg/250px-Laem-Yai-Beach-Angthong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Laem-Yai-Beach-Angthong.jpg/250px-Laem-Yai-Beach-Angthong.jpg" t$="true" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ko Samui Airport</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (USM) is a private airport originally built by Bangkok Airways, which is still the main operator and was for a long time the only airline with services to Ko Samui from mainland Thailand. The airport is additionally served by Thai Airways International. Several ferries connect the island with the mainland, including the car ferry from Don Sak to a pier in the west of the island, south of the main town Nathon. Public buses to all parts of the mainland operate from a small bus station located in the south of Nathon. Songthaews (tuk-tuk style buses) circle the ring road, and private taxis are available throughout the island although these are often criticized for failure to use meters and flagrant overcharging.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lifestyle</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Langham_place_samui.jpg/250px-Langham_place_samui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Langham_place_samui.jpg/250px-Langham_place_samui.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although Ko Samui is in southern Thailand, where Islam has a strong influence, the original inhabitants of the island, known as 'Chao Samui', are predominantly Buddhist. In the past, most of the locals made their living in the coconut farming business. Nowadays, however, most work in jobs related to tourism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Many locals have become wealthy from selling off land they have owned for decades. As a result of the extensive development of the island, many Thai-Chinese have come to Samui from the capital of Bangkok (Khung-Thep). Most of the manual labor needed to keep up with the island’s growth has been provided by people native to the country’s poorer north-eastern region. As a result, there is a wide cross section of economic classes on the island.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Big_budha.jpg/220px-Big_budha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Big_budha.jpg/220px-Big_budha.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The south of Thailand is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai Chinese, Muslims and traditional sea-faring gypsies. Ko Samui does not seem to suffer from the religious tensions in communities along the southern border of Thailand, and in general the locals live in harmony. Outside of the tourist areas, the Thai language is spoken with a thick Southern dialect which can be difficult even for northern Thais to understand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With this broad mixture of cultures, Ko Samui is always celebrating some tradition or another, including some western ones.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Runner_beach.jpg/250px-Runner_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Runner_beach.jpg/250px-Runner_beach.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Resorts & bungalows</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After the exploding tourism in Ko Samui there has been a growth in building resorts, bungalows and luxury private villas on the island. This economic growth has led many businessmen from all over the world to invest in Ko Samui. With over 260 resorts and bungalows in Samui, counting from the end of year 2009, it has become Thailand's second largest resort business behind Bangkok and surpassing Phuket.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Chaweng_City_Ko_Samui.jpg/250px-Chaweng_City_Ko_Samui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Chaweng_City_Ko_Samui.jpg/250px-Chaweng_City_Ko_Samui.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Events and festivals</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Buffalo Fighting Festival</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is its Buffalo Fighting Festival, which is held on special occasions such as New Years Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bull-fighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are beautifully decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest which lasts just two rounds, monks spray them with holy water. The winning owner typically takes home millions of baht in prize money.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/KoSamuiChoengMonBeach_OwlofDoom.jpg/250px-KoSamuiChoengMonBeach_OwlofDoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/KoSamuiChoengMonBeach_OwlofDoom.jpg/250px-KoSamuiChoengMonBeach_OwlofDoom.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ten Stars Samui Art Party</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists and their new, original artworks. These bi-monthly events, hosted at various high-end resorts and other 5-star venues on the island, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui with presentations by featured artists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bowling Championship</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> This is an annual bowling event held in May every year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Avis Samui Tennis Open</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> The annual amateur tennis tournament held in July.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Sunrise_thailand_ko_samui.jpg/250px-Sunrise_thailand_ko_samui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Sunrise_thailand_ko_samui.jpg/250px-Sunrise_thailand_ko_samui.jpg" t$="true" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Fisherman's Village Festival</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> This five-day festival is celebrated with fun, music and food. The music is usually played by well-known artists and food tents sell inexpensive cuisine provided by local hotels.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Triathlon Event</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event in Ko Samui draws more than five hundred participants from around the world. The event attracts competitors and visitors as well as locals. This event actually has never taken place and was promoted via a website only.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Samui Regatta</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> The Samui Regatta is a sailing tournament, held every year. The tournament is internationally known and competitors come from as far away as Australia, Singapore, Japan and China. This event, for boats of all sizes and shapes, began in 2002.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Local food</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Thai_Village_-_Dinner.jpg/170px-Thai_Village_-_Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Thai_Village_-_Dinner.jpg/170px-Thai_Village_-_Dinner.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favorite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken biryani.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Local food in Ko Samui and its province of Surat Thani are salted eggs and rambutan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Starr_071106-0005_Nephelium_lappaceum.jpg/170px-Starr_071106-0005_Nephelium_lappaceum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Starr_071106-0005_Nephelium_lappaceum.jpg/170px-Starr_071106-0005_Nephelium_lappaceum.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are four international private hospitals on Samui, Samui International Hospital on the Beach Road in north Chaweng, Thai International off the Lake Road in Chaweng, Bandon Hospital on the ring road and Bangkok Samui Hospital in Chaweng Noi. The Government Hospital is in Nathon. There are also numerous clinics and pharmacies, especially at Chaweng Beach.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are many retirees living on Ko Samui, making it a popular destination for retirement in Thailand. This is probably due to the climate, natural surroundings, and ease of living on the island.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B3_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3.jpg/250px-%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B3_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B3_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3.jpg/250px-%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B3_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Samui</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ko_Samui</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-79970978650546360182011-06-22T00:02:00.000-07:002011-06-22T23:03:23.480-07:00Phuket Province - Thailand<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cordia New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: TH; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Patong_Beach.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Patong_Beach.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phuket</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Thai: </span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">ภูเก็ต</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">), formerly known as <b>Talang</b> (<i>Tha-Laang</i>) and, in Western sources, <b>Junk Ceylon</b> (a corruption of the Malay <i>Tanjung Salang</i>, i.e. "Cape Salang"), is one of the southern provinces (<i>changwat</i>) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island with no land boundaries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/6/61/Sunset_at_Bon_Island.jpg/250px-Sunset_at_Bon_Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/thumb/6/61/Sunset_at_Bon_Island.jpg/250px-Sunset_at_Bon_Island.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The name Phuket (of which the <i>ph</i> sound is an aspirated p) is apparently derived from the word <i>bukit</i> in Malay which means "hill", as this is what the island appears like from a distance. The region was formerly referred to as "Thalang" derived from the old Malay "Telong" which means "Cape". The northern district of the province, which was the location of the old capital, still uses this name.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Sino-Portugyese_Architecture_in_Phukhet.jpg/250px-Sino-Portugyese_Architecture_in_Phukhet.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Sino-Portugyese_Architecture_in_Phukhet.jpg/250px-Sino-Portugyese_Architecture_in_Phukhet.jpg%20" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the 17th century, the Dutch, the English, and from the 1680s the French, competed with each other for trade with the island of Phuket (the island was named Junkseilon at that time), which was valued as a very rich source of tin. In September 1680, a ship from the French East India Company visited Phuket and left with a full cargo of tin. In 1681 or 1682, the Siamese king Narai, who was seeking to reduce Dutch and English influence, named Governor of Phuket the French medical missionary Brother René Charbonneau, a member of the Siam mission of the Société des Missions Etrangères. Charbonneau held the position of Governor until 1685.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1685, king Narai confirmed the French tin monopoly in Phuket to a French ambassador, the Chevalier de Chaumont. Chaumont's former maître d'hôtel Sieur de Billy was named governor of the island. The French were expelled from Siam in 1688 however, following the 1688 Siamese revolution. On April 10, 1689, the French general Desfarges led an expedition to re-capture the island of Phuket in an attempt to restore some sort of French control in Siam. The occupation of the island led nowhere, and Desfarges returned to Pondicherry in January 1690.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Phuket_town_house.jpg/170px-Phuket_town_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Phuket_town_house.jpg/170px-Phuket_town_house.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Burmese attacked Phuket in 1785. Captain Francis Light, a British East India Company captain passing by the island, sent word to the local administration that he had observed Burmese forces preparing to attack. Than Phu Ying Chan, the wife of the recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook then assembled what forces they could. After a month-long siege, the Burmese were forced to retreat March 13, 1785. The two women became local heroines, receiving the honorary titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si Sunthon from King Rama I. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), Phuket became the administrative center of the tin-producing southern provinces. In 1933 <i>Monthon Phuket</i> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(<span lang="TH">มณฑลภูเก็ต)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Cordia New", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cordia New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">was dissolved and Phuket became a province by itself. Old names of the island include Ko Thalang.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2004 Tsunami</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/KataNoiRegular.jpg/250px-KataNoiRegular.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/KataNoiRegular.jpg/250px-KataNoiRegular.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On December 26, 2004, Phuket and other nearby areas on Thailand's western coast suffered extensive damage when they were struck by the Boxing Day tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The waves destroyed several highly populated areas in the region, killing as many as 5,300 people nationwide, and tens of thousands more throughout the wider Asian region. As many as 250 people were reported dead in Phuket including foreign tourists and as many as a thousand unreported deaths of illegal Burmese workers building new beach resorts in the Khao Lak area. Almost all the major beaches on the west coast, especially Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata, sustained major damage, with some damage also being caused to resorts and villages on the island's southern beaches.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">By February 2005 many damaged and most undamaged resorts were back in business, and throughout 2005 life slowly returned to normal for the people of Phuket. Following strenuous recovery programs, there is no remaining tsunami damage other than at the most remote beaches.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/KataNoiBeach.jpg/250px-KataNoiBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/KataNoiBeach.jpg/250px-KataNoiBeach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the beginning of December 2006, Thailand launched the first of 22 U.S.-made tsunami-detection buoys to be positioned around the Indian Ocean as part of a regional warning system against giant waves caused by earthquakes under the sea. The satellite-linked deep-sea buoy will float 1,000 km (620 miles) offshore, roughly midway between Thailand and Sri Lanka.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Geography</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand. The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The mountains of Phuket form the southern end of the Phuket mountain range, which ranges for 440 kilometres (270 mi) from the Kra Isthmus. The highest elevation of the island is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 metres (1,736 ft) above sea level.</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Welcome_to_Patong.jpg/250px-Welcome_to_Patong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Welcome_to_Patong.jpg/250px-Welcome_to_Patong.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It is estimated that Phuket has a total area of approximately 570 square kilometres (220 sq mi) (including the province's other islands). Phuket is approximately 536 miles (863 km) south of Bangkok, and covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometres (210 sq mi) excluding small islets. It is estimated that if all its 39 other small islands are included, Phuket Province will cover an area of approximately 590 square kilometres (230 sq mi). The island total length, from north to south, is estimated at 30 miles (48 km) and 13 miles (21 km) wide.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phuket's topology is exceptional with 70 percent of its area covered with mountains which stretch from north to south and the remaining 30 percent being plains located in the central and eastern parts of the island. The island does not have any major rivers except for a total of 9 brooks and creeks.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Patong_Beach_on_Phuket.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach_on_Phuket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Patong_Beach_on_Phuket.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach_on_Phuket.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Forest, rubber and palm oil plantations cover 60% of the island. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often muddy. Near the southernmost point is <i>Laem Promthep</i> (Brahma's Cape), which is a popular sunset viewing point. In the mountainous north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, protecting more than 20 km² of rainforest. The three highest peaks of this reserve are the Khao Prathiu (384 metres (1,260 ft)), Khao Bang Pae 388 metres (1,273 ft) and Khao Phara 422 metres (1,385 ft). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern coast was established in 1981 and protects an area of 90 square kilometres (35 sq mi) (68 kilometres (42 mi) marine area), including the Nai Yang beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Patong_traffic_at_night_02.jpg/250px-Patong_traffic_at_night_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Patong_traffic_at_night_02.jpg/250px-Patong_traffic_at_night_02.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai. Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Rawai. To the north of Patong are Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong. There are many islands to the southeast, including Bon Island, just a short boat trip away. There are several coral islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the northwest, and Phi Phi Islands to the southeast. Islanders engage in a lively tourist trade, catering to snorkelers and scuba divers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Attractions</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><ul type="disc"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Thao_Thep_Kasattri_and_Thao_Sri_Sunthon.jpg/250px-Thao_Thep_Kasattri_and_Thao_Sri_Sunthon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Thao_Thep_Kasattri_and_Thao_Sri_Sunthon.jpg/250px-Thao_Thep_Kasattri_and_Thao_Sri_Sunthon.jpg" /></a></div><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two Heroines Monument</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">อนุสาวรีย์วีรสตรี)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a famous monument in Amphoe Thalang, is the memorial statue of the heroines Thao Thep Kasattri (Kunying Jan) and Thao Sri Sunthon (Mook), who rallied islanders in 1785 to repel Burmese invaders. As the island's governor had just died, organizing Phuket's defense against the Burmese invasion of 1785 was conducted by his widow, Thao Thep Kasattri. With her sister's help, they assembled what forces they had, then cleverly disguised local women as male soldiers, thus appearing to increase Phuket's military manpower. After a month's siege, the Burmese invaders became exhausted and retreated. King Rama I awarded Kunying Jan with the royal title of Thao Thep Kasattri.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wat Chalong</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">วัดฉลองหรือวัดไชยธาราราม)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is where stands the cast statue of Luang Poh Chaem, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie Rebellion, in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang Poh Chuang, and Luang Poh Chaem, abbots of the temple during later times.</span></li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Phuket_Patong_Paradise_beach.JPG/250px-Phuket_Patong_Paradise_beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Phuket_Patong_Paradise_beach.JPG/250px-Phuket_Patong_Paradise_beach.JPG" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hat Patong</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">หาดป่าตอง)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Patong Beach) is Phuket's most developed beach and is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)-long. It is located 15 km from Phuket town. Patong is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions. Daytime activities are primarily centered around the beach with many watersport activities available. Patong is equally well known for its nightlife, centered around Soi Bangla. Patong is also the cheap shopping option in Phuket selling items from clothes, fashion accessories to souvenirs. The northern end of Patong Bay is called Kalim and is a popular place for viewing the sunset and between April and September each year for surfing.</span></li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/7/78/Phuketsunset.jpg/450px-Phuketsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" i$="true" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/7/78/Phuketsunset.jpg/450px-Phuketsunset.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hat Karon</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">หาดกะรน)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is the second largest of Phuket's tourist beaches, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from town. Large resort complexes line the road behind the shoreline, but the long, broad white sand beach itself has no development. Numerous restaurants and tourist stores are located across the street from the beach. The southern point has a fine coral reef stretching toward Kata and Bu Island. There is also its sister beach Karon Noi.</span></li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">View Point</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">จุดชมวิว)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is located midpoint between Nai Han and Kata beaches. The scenic Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu Island can be viewed from this point.</span></li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Phuket_Viewpoint.jpg/250px-Phuket_Viewpoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Phuket_Viewpoint.jpg/250px-Phuket_Viewpoint.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laem Phromthep</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">แหลมพรหมเทพ)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phromthep Cape) is a headland forming the extreme south end of Phuket. "Phrom" is Thai for the Hindu term "Brahma", signifying purity, and "Thep" is Thai for 'God'. Local villagers used to refer to the cape as "Laem Chao", or the God's Cape, and it was an easily recognizable landmark for the early seafarers traveling up the Malay Peninsula from the sub-continent.</span></li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thalang National Museum</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ ถลาง)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is located near the Two Heroines Monument. In 1985, on the 200th anniversary of the Thalang War, the Thalang National Museum was established. The museum contains a permanent exhibition of life in old Phuket, ancient artefacts and remains discovered on the coast, and materials used during war with Burma (Myanmar).</span></li>
</span></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">สถานีพัฒนาและส่งเสริมการอนุรักษ์สัตว์ป่าเขาพระแทว)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is a center for study of the environment. Its duty is to promote and distribute wildlife within Khao Phra Thaeo wildlife park. The park is full of virgin forest and also actively conserves a number of wild animals; they would otherwise be extinct in Phuket. Giant trees supported by huge buttresses are thick with creepers and climbers of every description.</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_Province</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Phuket</span></div></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-14155569420809213522011-06-21T23:37:00.000-07:002011-06-22T01:34:14.269-07:00Patong & Karon Beach - Phuket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Patong_Beach_05.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Patong_Beach_05.jpg/250px-Patong_Beach_05.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Patong Beach</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: <span lang="TH">หาดป่าตอง) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">refers to a beach on Phuket's west coast, and to the town adjoining it. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket. It also contains an important center of Phuket's nightlife and is the center of inexpensive shopping on the island. The beach became popular with Western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late 1980s. Numerous large hotels and chain hotels are located there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Palm_tree_at_dawn,_Patong_beach.jpg/250px-Palm_tree_at_dawn,_Patong_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Palm_tree_at_dawn,_Patong_beach.jpg/250px-Palm_tree_at_dawn,_Patong_beach.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Patong Beach is as equally famous for its nightlife as also the 3.5-kilometer beach that runs the entire length of Patong’s western side. Nightlife is centered on two main areas Bangla Road and 'Paradise Complex', with Bangla Road being predominantly straight and Paradise Complex being predominantly gay. Both roads are lined with many themed bars, discotheques, and go go bars. Prostitution in Thailand is illegal but tolerated as is the case with Patong Beach, especially on Bangla Road where there are many older Western men drinking with much younger Thai women and transvestites. Most discos in Patong charge a 100 baht admission fee but rather than being a cover charge, this is actually a drink minimum since you get a voucher and most clubs charge 100 baht for almost all drinks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/TH_Phuket_-_Patong_Beach.jpg/250px-TH_Phuket_-_Patong_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/TH_Phuket_-_Patong_Beach.jpg/250px-TH_Phuket_-_Patong_Beach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On December 26, 2004, Patong Beach along with many other areas along the western coast of Phuket and Thailand were struck by a tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The wave caused a great deal of destruction to the waterfront of the beach and immediately inland, and many people were killed there. Patong was one of the worst affected areas of Phuket, although the destruction was not nearly as bad as nearby in Khao Lak.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The island of Phuket has a tropical climate with a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. Average temperatures are consistent year-round. Average highs range from 29 °C (84 °F) to 33 °C (91 °F); average lows range from 23 °C (73 °F) to 26 °C (79 °F).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Karonbeach_2004.jpg/250px-Karonbeach_2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Karonbeach_2004.jpg/250px-Karonbeach_2004.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Karon Beach</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: <span lang="TH">หาดกะรน)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">refers to a beach, and the town adjoining it, on the western coast of Phuket, Thailand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The beach is a popular destination for tourists. Generally quieter than neighbouring Patong Beach, it is especially popular among families and couples, and less popular with singles than Patong. It is also especially popular with Scandinavian tourists, with many businesses catering especially to them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Karon Beach was heavily damaged by the tsunamis following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, especially in its southern regions, but has since largely recovered and by 2008 showed little evidence of tsunami damage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Sunset_at_Patong_beach_Phuket_Thailand.jpg/250px-Sunset_at_Patong_beach_Phuket_Thailand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Sunset_at_Patong_beach_Phuket_Thailand.jpg/250px-Sunset_at_Patong_beach_Phuket_Thailand.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patong_Beach, Karon_Beach</span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category: Patong_Beach</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-13868528476957383452011-06-21T23:12:00.000-07:002011-06-21T23:21:05.542-07:00Rawai & Nai Harn Beach - Phuket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Phuket_shore.jpg/250px-Phuket_shore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Phuket_shore.jpg/250px-Phuket_shore.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rawai Beach</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The major attraction in Rawai must be Phromthep Cape which is famous for its romantic and spectacular sunsets. Though Rawai Beach itself is not an ideal place to swim, it has a charming and natural feel to it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It has recently undergone a lot of renovations and now has a new pier and promenade and is worth spending some time there, especially with all its inexpensive seafood restaurants. For swimming, try nearby beaches such as Laem Ka, Ya Nui as well as Nai Harn Beach. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Phuket_Nai_Harn_Beach.jpg/250px-Phuket_Nai_Harn_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Phuket_Nai_Harn_Beach.jpg/250px-Phuket_Nai_Harn_Beach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Nai Harn Beach</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sometimes the charm of Nai Harn Beach is overlooked, with other west coast beaches getting a lot more attention. But ask the many frequent visitors to Nai Harn and they’ll tell you that they love the beach for its peaceful and unspoiled character. It’s also in a handy location, not far for all the action and fun nightlife spots (Patong is just 20 minutes away for example).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Beside the white sandy beach itself, there are a few interesting attractions in the area such as Nai Harn Lake, Nai Harn Monastery and a few nearby viewpoints such as Phromthep Cape and Kata Viewpoint.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Source: http://www</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">.</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">phuket.com/island/</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Phuket</span></span></span></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-59002022259272142962011-06-21T22:56:00.000-07:002011-06-21T23:45:20.660-07:00Phromthep Cape - Phuket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Promthep_Cape_04.jpg/250px-Promthep_Cape_04.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Promthep_Cape_04.jpg/250px-Promthep_Cape_04.jpg%20" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phromthep Cape</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> or </span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laem Phromthep</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<span lang="TH">แหลมพรหมเทพ)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">is probably the island's most photographed and perhaps best-known location. Every evening, large tour buses, scooters and cars sweep through Rawai and up the island's southernmost hill to the viewpoint. On the top of the hill stands a busy car park where vehicles disgorge crowds of people that have come from every corner of the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Phuket_Promthep_Cape.jpg/250px-Phuket_Promthep_Cape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Phuket_Promthep_Cape.jpg/250px-Phuket_Promthep_Cape.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cameras flash, fingers point and lovers cuddle as Phuket's most fabulous free show is re-enacted nightly – the sunset. Promthep also has a lighthouse that commands spectacular views over the east and southeast of the island and its environs.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It is air conditioned inside and if you go up to the outdoors viewing balcony you can see the distinctive shapes of the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi on a clear day and of course a whole raft of nearer islands such as nearby Koh Kiaow with its Buddhist monastery.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/PatongBeach.jpg/250px-PatongBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/PatongBeach.jpg/250px-PatongBeach.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The view from the cape is like a huge eternity pool from which you can mentally project the far-flung shores of Sri Lanka and the Indian Subcontinent and when night falls here you can peek down to the twinkling lights of Nai Harn Beach and Le Royal Phuket Yacht Club. Some people make the rather demanding trek down to the end of the cape but most stay up in the viewing part for sunset. By the car park there is a handicraft shop and a series of stalls that sell shells, batik, snacks, sarongs, shawls, toys and beachwear.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Elephant Shrine at Promthep Cape: Up the steps from the car park is a shrine to Brahma that is surrounded by thousands of wooden elephants of every size. It's all meticulously taken care of and the arrangement is photogenic, colourful and impressive. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Source: http://www</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">phuket.com/island/phuket-viewpoints.htm</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Phuket</span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634873238562546975.post-80243721825810582912011-06-21T22:46:00.000-07:002011-06-21T23:06:15.351-07:00Wat Chalong - Phuket<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Wat_chalong03.jpg/170px-Wat_chalong03.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Wat_chalong03.jpg/170px-Wat_chalong03.jpg%20" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In Phuket, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island. In fact, this small island is also home to many other religions. There are Hindu and Sikh temples, Christian churches, mosques and Chinese shrines. Outside the wats there are also many more Buddhist shrines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is <b>Wat Chalong</b> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(Thai: <span lang="TH">วัดฉลอง</span> or <span lang="TH">วัดไชยธาราราม)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, located in the <i>tambon</i> Chalong, Mueang Phuket district. It is dedicated to two highly venerable monks, <b>Luang Poh Chaem</b> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(<span lang="TH">หลวงพ่อแช่ม)</span></span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Cordia New", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cordia New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">and <b>Luang Poh Chuang</b> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(<span lang="TH">หลวงพ่อช่วง)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, who with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured of a tin miners rebellion in 1876.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Wat Chalong is about 8 km south of Phuket City. Travel along Chao Fah Nok Road (Chao Fa West Rd) from the Central Festival mall, and you will see the temple on the left side of the road. If you are coming from Chalong Circle, take the same road heading towards town, and you will see the temple on your right.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Place_ChediJomthaiBaramiPrakas.jpg/250px-Place_ChediJomthaiBaramiPrakas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Place_ChediJomthaiBaramiPrakas.jpg/250px-Place_ChediJomthaiBaramiPrakas.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Wat Chalong has been extending a warm welcome to visitors for over a century. Locals come to pray and Westerners come to learn something about Buddhism. The temple is open from seven in the morning to five in the afternoon. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Poh Than Jao Wat</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is one of the more important Buddhist statues in Wat Chalong. It is located in the westerly old hall of the temple, with two statues of an elderly gentleman called Ta Khee-lek (grandpa Khee-lek), a famous local who won many lotteries after consulting the Poh Than Jao Wat statue. Another statue in this hall is called Nonsi.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Wat_chalong_pagoda.jpg/250px-Wat_chalong_pagoda.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Wat_chalong_pagoda.jpg/250px-Wat_chalong_pagoda.jpg%20" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the temple's halls features a gilt-covered <b>statue of Luang Poh Chaem</b> and this busy hall also contains statues of <b>Luang Poh Chuang </b>and<b> Luang Poh Gleum</b>, all ex-abbots of the temple. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The <b>Grand Pagoda</b> dominating the temple contains a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone and is officially named Phramahathatchedi-Jomthaibarameepragat. The pagoda is decorated with wall paintings depicting the Buddha's life story and also features various Buddha images. Take your time in the pagoda; it is a breezy, cool location and one which is very popular with visitors to the temple.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There is also an air-conditioned 'exhibition home' of Luang Poh Chaem which features lifelike human-sized wax models of Luang Poh Chaem, Luang Poh Chuang, Luang Poh Gleum, and Luang Pu Thuad along with antique Thai furniture, and Benjarong (</span><span lang="TH" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">เบญจรงค์</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">,</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thai porcelain designed in five colours), while the famous 'magic' walking-stick of Luang Poh Chaem is kept at the current Abbot's dwelling. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do's and Don'ts</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Wat_chalong.jpg/250px-Wat_chalong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Wat_chalong.jpg/250px-Wat_chalong.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Wats in general are sacred places for local people, so it is wise for the visitor to watch and emulate the way Thais behave inside temples. For example, you will see that people are careful not to stand over, or otherwise position themselves higher than any Buddha images except when pasting gold leaf to them - which in any case happens only in some wats, not in most.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Even through Thailand can sometimes be very warm, it is inappropriate to go into a wat - a place of worship - wearing clothes that reveal one's shoulders, chest, belly or legs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">You will be asked to take your shoes off when entering some of the buildings, including the sermon hall and the chedi. It's best not to wear your most expensive shoes when visiting wats in case someone else mistaken walks away with them - literally! If that happens, and they are not your favorite shoes, then you won't be too upset. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">Sources, Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Chalong, </span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">http://www</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">phuket.com/island/wat-chalong.htm</span></span></div>jmsupajeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07920877895308318738noreply@blogger.com0