Are you an adventurous type who looks for holidays out of the norm?
Not for you the all-inclusive resorts that are springing up all over the world where you never step foot outside your cosseted cocoon!
You like the wind in your hair, places to see, have the spirit of explorer in your soul – but you still like a little bit of luxury regarding accommodation.
I have the very place and holiday for you!
Three Camels Lodge is in Mongolia, a premier luxury expedition camp. With superb service, sophistication and adventure.
Where is it situated? In the Gobi Desert, in stunning landscape in the Gurvansaikhan National park, sheltered by the 47-million year old volcanic landscape.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Wed 15th October 2008 at 02:24 AM, Filed in Far East, December
On the 4th and 5th December 2008 Penang plays host to some 50 or more artists at the Bayview Beach Resort. This will be the 5th annual festival with several performers on each evening across a number of different stages. In addition to concerts there are gala dinners, workshops, talks and demonstrations. Usually musicians from a few other genres slip in too.
Generally the concerts are not held on the beach but in the hotel grounds and you can either take your own chairs or sit on the grass as most people do.
Many people are aware of The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, but did you know there is now one in Macau, South China? With China’s huge population, their national interest in gambling, belief in luck and the fact that Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal it was a pretty obvious place for Las Vegas Sands to locate the largest casino in the world. It opened in August 2007 (on a Chinese ‘auspicious’ date), and the developers state that the building is the second largest building in the world; others say it’s the third largest. But whatever – you get the idea….its big! A helpful comparison might be that you should be able to fit 90 747 jets inside.
Like its sister hotel in Vegas – no expense has been spared in the $2.4 billion project. Walls and ceilings are adorned with golf leaf, fresco’s and murals, floors are marble, there are countless statues and the ceiling above the shopping mall and canals is painted with a realistic sky effect that even darkens towards the evening. You can catch a Cirque du Soleil show while there or a concert or two.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Thu 25th September 2008 at 03:13 AM, Filed in Far East, November
Most of us know about the River Kwai from the famous (semi-fictional) film that depicted the conditions in which the Japanese prisoners of war were made to work in constructing the bridge. Although the film is a good one, it makes the treatment of the prisoners look a picnic in relation to the reality of what happened. 65 years ago allied prisoners of war built a 415km railway and an estimated 16,000 died in the process. It is understandable why it became known as the Death Railway.
These people are remembered every year in late November through to early December (in 2008 this will be from 24th Nov to 5th Dec). Although the original bridge was bombed several times it was rebuilt after the war (the curved sections are original) and this is the centre piece of the festival.
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This unusual ‘dinner party’ has been held annually for about 20 years now so you would have thought that the guests-of-honor would know how to behave. Well unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for the sake of a spectacle) – no-one has yet taught the wild long-tailed macaques monkeys table manners.
The location (the Khmer ruins) is some 70 miles north of Bangkok, and the host of this particular event is a grateful local hotelier. He is grateful for the business that the monkeys bring, and it is held that villagers believe the monkeys protect the village and even bring them good luck. The 600 or so guests are served a sumptuous feast of fruit, vegetables, rice, noodles, coca cola (apparently a favorite treat). Even menus, table-cloths and napkins are provided – I guess more for the photos. I wonder how they know its time to tuck in....or even which day to turn up?
The event now includes a procession, children dress up in monkey costumes (of course) and live music. Well – the festival works because it now draws in some 10,000 visitors – so I guess that’s the best tip the hotelier (and indeed whole village) can receive! Who said you make your own luck……? If you want to go the fun takes place on the last Sunday in November, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to eat the banquet yourself as the monkeys don’t always take too kindly to it.
