Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tibetan Travel Agency
Posting seen in:
ORIENTAL-LIST@hmssurprise.org
There was/is 'Tibetan Connections is an international travel agency based
in Xining, Qinghai in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo."
I talked to them last January and they seemed knowledgable of
Qinghai/Tibet but Google, since 11 Aug 08, only finds a cache of the
website ...which could be for various reasons.
Tibetan Connections
Guo Ji Cun Gong Yu
Building 5
Lete Youth Hostel
18th Floor
Xining, Qinghai China
Email: info@tibetanconnections.com
Tel: 86 971 820 3271
The Lete hostel is handy to the middle of Xining, 15 mins walk from the
main streets. TConnection was on the 16th flr.
When back in Beijing May 2008, I was told I'd need a police permit to bus
from Golmud to Dunhuang but it was issuable within a day.
Dave Nevin, Macau.
ORIENTAL-LIST@hmssurprise.org
There was/is 'Tibetan Connections is an international travel agency based
in Xining, Qinghai in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo."
I talked to them last January and they seemed knowledgable of
Qinghai/Tibet but Google, since 11 Aug 08, only finds a cache of the
website ...which could be for various reasons.
Tibetan Connections
Guo Ji Cun Gong Yu
Building 5
Lete Youth Hostel
18th Floor
Xining, Qinghai China
Email: info@tibetanconnections.com
Tel: 86 971 820 3271
The Lete hostel is handy to the middle of Xining, 15 mins walk from the
main streets. TConnection was on the 16th flr.
When back in Beijing May 2008, I was told I'd need a police permit to bus
from Golmud to Dunhuang but it was issuable within a day.
Dave Nevin, Macau.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Dash Express size
The Dash site FAQ has a Q/A about the Dash Express size.
Q: Why so big?
A: "Dash Express has a large battery to support up to 2 hours of use without a power supply. Dash Express also has three antennas - GPS, GPRS and WiFi which makes the device a larger size."
The simplistic comparison is with iPhone Gen2, though.
Q: Why so big?
A: "Dash Express has a large battery to support up to 2 hours of use without a power supply. Dash Express also has three antennas - GPS, GPRS and WiFi which makes the device a larger size."
The simplistic comparison is with iPhone Gen2, though.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Yahoo oneConnect for iPhone
Can't find Yahoo oneConnect for iPhone by App search on the phone, but iTunes shows it. Pointer from ZDNet.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Yves Klein: Leap Into the Void
It's disillusioning to read that the Yves Klein photo, Into The Void, was contrived
Ho Chi Minh Trail Laos Vietnam Travel Research
This will be the anchor for trip planning on the Ho Chi Minh Trial in Vietname and Laos.
A good start is this post on a 6 day trip by motor bike starting from Vang Vieng to Thakhek.
A good start is this post on a 6 day trip by motor bike starting from Vang Vieng to Thakhek.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Beijing Courtyard Hotels
There's a discussion going on the mailing list Discussion of travel in China on Beijing courtyard hotels.
Here are some extracts from the postings:
Here are some extracts from the postings:
Some years ago we stayed at the Bamboo Garden, which was quite lovely and comfortable; here is an excerpt from their website (www.bbgh.com.cn), and though I can't vouch for the accuracy of the history which is reported, I can certainly vouch for its close-in location, helpful staff (with decent English), and a wish to go back:===================================
"Bamboo Garden Hotel Beijing is located in a tranquil lane on the westside of Gulou, built in a classic Chinese courtyard-style. It was the private residence of Sheng Xuanhuai, the postal department minister in late Qing Dynasty, and it was also said to be the garden of Andehai, the imperial eunuch. Since the late Qing Dynasty, a succession of celebrities such as Wang Yintai, Mahansan, Dong Biwu and Kangsheng have lived here."
Joe Luttrell
2 years ago we stayed at the Haoyuan Courtyard Hotel. Although ours was a basic room, it was nicely decorated and like all the rooms, opened up into a courtyard. The breakfast was good, and the staff were amazing. We had purchased a cell phone chip at the airport and were having trouble getting it to work. One of the staff walked us down to a shop nearby, explained the situation and got it fixed for us. It was a great introduction to our first time and first night in China.====================================
Last year we stayed at the Lusongyuan Courtyard Hotel. It too was nice, the breakfast was good, and the staff helpful. We chose it over the other as it seemed to be closer in walking distance to the places we wanted to go to, more centrally located. However, it was larger and there were more people staying there.
If we get the opportunity and are lucky enough to be able to go back, I think that I would chose the Haoyuan over the Lusongyuan, although either would be a good choice. It just seemed to be more intimate.
Marg
Some of the better new ones--in real courtyard homes--include the following.========================================
Cote Cour
Banqiao No. 4
Autumn Garden
Red Capital Residence.
I'm sorry I don't have the details handy now, but you can Google them. The first and last are on the expensive side, but the middle two are quite reasonable and comfortable.
Paul
=========================================Paul wrote:When I looked round this I thought it had been almost totally rebuilt from the ground up, I must admit, as well as overpriced (Y1295 rack for a standard room) and poorly staffed. There aren't many rooms (9 standard and 14 altogether), and the place was full when I looked at it, partly perhaps from having a quick burst of exposure in the foreign press.Some of the better new ones--in real courtyard homes--include the following.
Cote CourRed Capital Residence.
I haven't seen this, but I'd boycott it on the grounds of its owner's sycophantic relationship to senior Party leaders, and tasteless employment of the effects of those who died in the Cultural Revolution to decorate his restaurant.
The Lusong Yuan seems to be suffering from its own popularity, as it's now used by small tour groups, and its prices have risen considerably.
At the budget end of courtyard accommodation, the Templeside House Hostel is worth a look. It's a pruced-up traditional courtyard house with friendly staff in the hush of the hutong but in walking distance of the White Dagoba Temple and other sights, major Xi Dan shopping, and Fucheng Men subway station. Dorm beds to double rooms all share modern shower facilities, laundromat, and courtyard bar. This is basic, but family-run. www.templeside.com
Peter N-H
The Bamboo Garden is a Great hotel.
Typically the website doesn't mention that the courtyard now the Bamboo Hotel was also the residence of one of the members of the Gang of Four. This explains why there is a Nuclear Shelter (Bunker) in the garden. It is also the reason why it is so exceptionally well-preserved.
The Bamboo Garden is a 3-star hotel, however, service exceeds the 3-star service level, and almost all staff is very friendly and speaks English. Originally the rather simply decorated rooms in the northwest corner of the yard were cheap, while the luxurious rooms in the southeast corner were expensive. Popularity of the hotel has driven up prices of all rooms to the price level of an expensive 4-star hotel. Very central and convenient location.
Edwin Baak
Monday, August 25, 2008
Road to Ta Moan Thom to Be Built
Item in the Phnom Penh Post:
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered military engineers to build a new 9km road from Prey Veng village in Oddar Meanchey province to the Ta Moan Thom temple complex near the Thai-Cambodian border in a cabinet meeting last week [week of 18 Aug 08].The complex of three temples is also known as Ta Muen, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Muen Thom. Even if Cambodia occupies the primary border temple, Ta Muen Thom, it's probably not realistic for them to occupy the two other smaller sites farther down the road.
...
Thai soldiers occupied the Ta Moan Thom temple complex following an escalation in the dispute at Preah Vihear that began in July. They withdrew on August 5 after an agreement was reached between Thai and Cambodian leaders in Oddar Meanchey province, but appear to have reoccupied the ruins over the weekend, military commanders say.
The new road will run from Prey Veng village to a checkpoint gate constructed by Thai forces to prevent civilians and soldiers from accessing the temple. ...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Friday, August 01, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Lightweight "Travel" GPS in Direct Sunlight
I'm looking for a GPS that I can put on the handlebar of a moto (small motorcycle) or bicycle when traveling instead of having my Garmin Vista HCx in the carabiner stretch holster (Garmin part 010-10480-00) I've currently been using. The idea is to be able to view while riding, instead of having to stop/slow down to look at the screen.
Requirements:
--readable in direct sunlight
--waterproof
--relatively lightweight (especially for the bicycle scenarior)
--readable screen
--addon maps.
Other considerations:
--batteries (removable chargable; AA; non-removable)
--screen size
--controls (touch, button, manipulate relatively safely while moving)
Evaluation so far:
--the nuvi 270 isn't readable in direct sunlight as the HCx and 76CSx are, regardless of what I see in online reviews.
Requirements:
--readable in direct sunlight
--waterproof
--relatively lightweight (especially for the bicycle scenarior)
--readable screen
--addon maps.
Other considerations:
--batteries (removable chargable; AA; non-removable)
--screen size
--controls (touch, button, manipulate relatively safely while moving)
Evaluation so far:
--the nuvi 270 isn't readable in direct sunlight as the HCx and 76CSx are, regardless of what I see in online reviews.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thai and Cambodian Troop Buildup at Preah Vihear
BBC reports:
I wonder if more mines have been cleared in the last couple of years since it didn't appear that there's not that much room past the no-man's land to deploy a lot of troops safely. The condition of the approaches favor reinforcements from the Thai side.
Cambodia and Thailand moved more troops into an ancient border temple, as a stand-off triggered by a territorial dispute entered its third day.
Four hundred Thai troops and 800 Cambodian soldiers are now stationed at Preah Vihear temple, a Cambodian military chief said.
I wonder if more mines have been cleared in the last couple of years since it didn't appear that there's not that much room past the no-man's land to deploy a lot of troops safely. The condition of the approaches favor reinforcements from the Thai side.
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