This is hilarious! Babies are thrown off a tower in India for good luck, but is it good luck for the baby?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thai Airways Safety Video--one of the best
For many passengers, an airline's safety video is their first exposure to the airline's corporate culture. A safety video must convey more than just safety instructions, but it should also convey an airline's dedication to professionalism and service. If there's such a thing as a "best airline safety video," then I think Thai Airways wins that spot. Thai's safety video is soothing, succinct, professional, and incredibly cultural--a great mood setter for an excellent flight to come!
Suggested East Asian Destinations
East Asia
China
(1) Beijing is China's political and cultural power house. I hope you love pollution and have iron lungs. Wear a ultra grade air filter mask (3M makes some good ones I used during SARS) and check out the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, underground arts scene. To see counterfeiting in progress, visit Hong Qiao, the fake goods market (if it still exists). Don't even bother bringing back pirated DVDs since fines start at $10K per DVD if you're caught (stick w/ Netflix)! Just FYI, there are three qualities of fake goods: A, B and C "huo," (huo = stock). "A-hou" offers the best quality and may actually be the real thing. "C-hou" will obviously look fake with misspellings like "Kalvin Cline" or "Dorlex." In general, practice aggressive bargain shopping. Exercise the "walk away" where you state your bottom line price and walk away; the vendor will panic, grumble, complement your bargaining skills, and then accept your price. Note: This walk away technique does not work in Vietnam. I tried it but the vendor just let me walk away! Recommended stay: 4-5 days.
(2) Shanghai is mainland China's economic power house. Check out the Bund, China Communist Party's first office, Korea's interim government, Sun Yat Sen's house, and visit other cultural and art museums. Experience the Maglev bullet train if you're flying into Pudong Int'l Airport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation_train). Recommended stay: 3-5 days.
Hong Kong
(1) Perhaps the most beautiful skyline in the world! Take a boat ride, check out the mountain top visitor's center, and experience The Peninsula hotel! Recommended stay: 2 days.
Japan
(1) Tokyo is a must for any first time visitor! Visit Shinjuko, Shibuya (electronic city), Roppongi Hills (http://www.roppongihills.com/en/), temples, markets, and Yokohama!
(2) Hakone stop by for an amazing hot springs bath!
(3) Kyoto and her temples are inspiring. The Golden Temple is a must see. Get there: experience Japan's bullet train, the Shinkansen (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html)!
Taiwan
(1) Taipei is cheap, fun and cheerful! Check out the museums, Taipei 101, and night markets. I think they have the best night markets in all of Asia!! Try chou tofu--stinky tofu--it's like eating Dorian . . . mmmm! Recommended stay: 3-5 days.
China
(1) Beijing is China's political and cultural power house. I hope you love pollution and have iron lungs. Wear a ultra grade air filter mask (3M makes some good ones I used during SARS) and check out the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, underground arts scene. To see counterfeiting in progress, visit Hong Qiao, the fake goods market (if it still exists). Don't even bother bringing back pirated DVDs since fines start at $10K per DVD if you're caught (stick w/ Netflix)! Just FYI, there are three qualities of fake goods: A, B and C "huo," (huo = stock). "A-hou" offers the best quality and may actually be the real thing. "C-hou" will obviously look fake with misspellings like "Kalvin Cline" or "Dorlex." In general, practice aggressive bargain shopping. Exercise the "walk away" where you state your bottom line price and walk away; the vendor will panic, grumble, complement your bargaining skills, and then accept your price. Note: This walk away technique does not work in Vietnam. I tried it but the vendor just let me walk away! Recommended stay: 4-5 days.
(2) Shanghai is mainland China's economic power house. Check out the Bund, China Communist Party's first office, Korea's interim government, Sun Yat Sen's house, and visit other cultural and art museums. Experience the Maglev bullet train if you're flying into Pudong Int'l Airport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation_train). Recommended stay: 3-5 days.
Hong Kong
(1) Perhaps the most beautiful skyline in the world! Take a boat ride, check out the mountain top visitor's center, and experience The Peninsula hotel! Recommended stay: 2 days.
Japan
(1) Tokyo is a must for any first time visitor! Visit Shinjuko, Shibuya (electronic city), Roppongi Hills (http://www.roppongihills.com/en/), temples, markets, and Yokohama!
(2) Hakone stop by for an amazing hot springs bath!
(3) Kyoto and her temples are inspiring. The Golden Temple is a must see. Get there: experience Japan's bullet train, the Shinkansen (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html)!
Taiwan
(1) Taipei is cheap, fun and cheerful! Check out the museums, Taipei 101, and night markets. I think they have the best night markets in all of Asia!! Try chou tofu--stinky tofu--it's like eating Dorian . . . mmmm! Recommended stay: 3-5 days.
Suggested South Asian Destinations
South Asia
Nepal:
(1) Kathmandu. Check out the Buddha stupa, Nepal's holiest site and a World Heritage Site. Stay at the Hyatt Kathmandu, known for their crazy specials. I stayed in a a deluxe room for only $80 and the buffet is only $10! Recommended stay: 2-3 days. Get there: fly in from BKK or Lhasa, or over land from Tibet.
India
(1) Delhi. I loved it! Check out their capitol buildings. Don't miss AGRA (take a train) to see the Taj Mahal!
Tibet
(1) Definitely start from Lhasa otherwise you risk dying from the altitude as we did. Acclimate in Lhasa for at least 2-3 days. We entered from Nepal which was a very bad idea since we went from zero to 4000 meters in a few hours! Altitude sickness sucks!
(2) Check out the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Dalai Lama's summer palace), check out one of the largest and highest fresh water lakes in the world west of Lhasa; pilgrims spend days praying while circling it. Try a Yak Burger!Stay at the Mt. Everst base camp if possible. I've never seen so many stars in my life before! We rented a land rover, driver and guide for 6 days for $2500 for (including hotel) which is quite expensive.
(3) Recommended stay: 3-6 full days depending if you want to drive out west. Get there: YOU SHOULD start from Lhasa, fly in or take the new train in from China.
Nepal:
(1) Kathmandu. Check out the Buddha stupa, Nepal's holiest site and a World Heritage Site. Stay at the Hyatt Kathmandu, known for their crazy specials. I stayed in a a deluxe room for only $80 and the buffet is only $10! Recommended stay: 2-3 days. Get there: fly in from BKK or Lhasa, or over land from Tibet.
India
(1) Delhi. I loved it! Check out their capitol buildings. Don't miss AGRA (take a train) to see the Taj Mahal!
Tibet
(1) Definitely start from Lhasa otherwise you risk dying from the altitude as we did. Acclimate in Lhasa for at least 2-3 days. We entered from Nepal which was a very bad idea since we went from zero to 4000 meters in a few hours! Altitude sickness sucks!
(2) Check out the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Dalai Lama's summer palace), check out one of the largest and highest fresh water lakes in the world west of Lhasa; pilgrims spend days praying while circling it. Try a Yak Burger!Stay at the Mt. Everst base camp if possible. I've never seen so many stars in my life before! We rented a land rover, driver and guide for 6 days for $2500 for (including hotel) which is quite expensive.
(3) Recommended stay: 3-6 full days depending if you want to drive out west. Get there: YOU SHOULD start from Lhasa, fly in or take the new train in from China.
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