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Asia: the Next Frontier for Cruises

2007-05-12T23:12:00.001-07:00

Set sail to Asia as The Port of Shanghai unveils a new cruise passenger terminal, timed for a boom in Asia-Pacific travel and the pending 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

By Associated Press

The Port of Shanghai is getting a new cruise passenger terminal.

Officials from China are using the 2008 Olympics to promote a triangle of northern cruise ports. Southeast Asian nations are teaming up on a Web site for cruise travelers, CruiseASEAN.com.

Hello, Asia, cruising's new frontier.

Representatives from the Asia-Pacific region attended the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference last week, beginning an aggressive marketing campaign with the goal of making Asia a competitor in the world cruise market. Many of them toured ports in Miami and Port Everglades to get a sense of U.S. port operations.

"Asia is blooming, maybe because people are too familiar with the south Caribbean or South America, and you know Europe is too expensive," said Michael C.Y. Chang, director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. "Most of the countries in Asia are in a very good shape, and it's reasonable in cost and it has major wonders and culture."

The Asia-Pacific region lags behind the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska as a cruise destination. But Asian officials contend there is long-term growth potential for a region with improving ports and alluring destinations such as the Great Wall of China and the jungles of Indonesia. They predict that cruising will grow 40 percent to 1.5 million passengers in 2010 in the region.

Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, collaborated on the CruiseAsean.com Web site to promote the Southeast Asian cruise industry, which is predicted to grow 5 percent per year until 2020, to about 820,000 passengers. The site takes advantage of the trend of customers using the Internet as a preferred method of finding vacations.

Experts say infrastructure is a major obstacle to expanding the cruise market in Asia in terms of ship and passenger capacity, with many ports falling short of having adequate transportation in and out of port facilities, for example. Security, deployment costs and creating more interest in cruising among Asian travelers are other challenges.

The world's two largest cruise operators, Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., are establishing a presence in Asia. Carnival's Costa Cruises already offers Asia-Pacific vacations on the Costa Allegra, and Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas will become the largest ship in the region when it begins its deployment in December.

The Port of Shanghai is addressing some of the infrastructure concerns by investing in a 300,000-square-foot terminal to handle three 80,000-gross-ton cruise ships. Shanghai's busy port, the gateway to the Yangtze River, already is served by Costa, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, which fall under the umbrella of Carnival.

The Chinese are reaching out to U.S. tour operators and travel agents to promote their country, which saw 1.7 million total U.S. visitors last year and hosts the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The port of Tianjin is billed as the gateway to Beijing. Two other ports in north China, Dalian and Qingdao, can hold large cruise ships, and both are set to have new cruise terminals within the next three years.

INDIA: The Best Temples & Shrines

2007-05-12T23:10:00.001-07:00

The Best Temples & Shrines

Cave Temples at Ajanta & Ellora (Aurangabad, Maharashtra): Fashioned out of rock by little more than simple hand-held tools, the cave temples at Ajanta (created by Buddhist monks between the 2nd and 7th c.) and Ellora (a marriage of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples, created between the 4th and 9th c.) are the finest examples of rock-cut architecture in India, and deserving of their World Heritage status. The zenith is Kailashanath Temple, effectively a mountain whittled down to a free-standing temple.

Lord Gomateswara Monolith (Sravanabelagola, Karnataka): One of the oldest (ca. A.D. 918) and most important Jain pilgrimage sites, this 18m (60-ft.) statue of the naked Lord Gomateswara -- a representation of Bahubali, son of the first Jain tirthankara, said to have sought enlightenment by standing naked and motionless for an entire year -- is the tallest monolithic statue on earth. (Don't miss the 2005 ceremony, when pilgrims will bathe the giant monolith with bucketfuls of milk and honey.)

Hampi (Karnataka): Scattered among the Henri Moore-like boulders in the heart of Karnataka's rural interior, Hampi was once the royal seat of the powerful Vijayanagar kingdom, its size and wealth drawing comparisons with imperial Rome. Today, the city has crumbled away to just a few starkly beautiful leftovers, but the remote setting couldn't be more romantic.

The Temples of Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu): A visit to this once-thriving port city of the Pallavas dynasty, who ruled much of South India between the 4th and 9th centuries A.D., is an essential stop on Tamil's temple tour. The earliest examples of monumental architecture in southern India (the celebrated Arjuna's Penance is the largest relief-carving on earth), these rock-cut shrines are best explored in the morning, leaving you time to unwind on the pleasant beach and dine on succulent seafood at village cafes for a song.

Shri Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple (Madurai, Tamil Nadu): Alive with prayers, processions, garland-makers, and joyous devotees who celebrate the mythological romance between the beautiful three-breasted goddess and her mighty Lord Shiva, this colorful and lively complex of shrines, halls, and market stalls is almost Disneyesque, marked as it is by numerous entrance towers tangled with colorful stucco gods, demons, beasts, and mythological heroes. It truly embodies the spirit of Tamil Nadu's deeply embedded temple culture.

Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh): Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of the Taj. The perfect symmetry, the ethereal luminescence, the wonderful proportions, the sheer scale -- virtually impossible to imagine from staring at its oft-reproduced image -- and the exquisite detailing make this bejeweled monument to love a justifiable wonder of the world.

Fatehpur Sikri (near Agra, Uttar Pradesh): From the intricacy of the glittering white marble screens that surround the dargah (tomb) of Salim Chisti to Pachisi Court, where the emperor played a ludo-like game using the ladies of his harem as live pieces, this magnificent ghost city -- built almost entirely from red sandstone in 1571 and deserted only 14 years later -- is a testament to the secular vision of Akbar, one of the great players in India's most dynamic dynasty.

The Temples of Khajuraho (Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh): Built between the 10th and 12th centuries by the Chandela Rajputs, these World Heritage monuments are most famous for the erotic sculptures that writhe across the interiors and exteriors. But even the temple designs -- their soaring shikharas (spires) serving as metaphoric "stairways to heaven" -- are striking, and are considered the apotheosis of medieval Hindu architecture.

Meherangarh Fort (Jodhpur, Rajasthan): The impenetrable walls of this 15th-century edifice to Rajput valor rise seamlessly from the rocky outcrop on which they were built, literally dwarfing the labyrinthine city at its base; from its crenelated ramparts you enjoy postcard views of the "Blue City" below. In the distance is the grand silhouette of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, heritage hotel and residence of the current maharaja. Within the fort is one of the best palace museums in India.

Jain Temples of Rajasthan & Gujarat (Ranakpur & Mount Abu, near Udaipur, Rajasthan, and Palitana, Gujarat): The Jain put all their devotional passion (and not inconsiderable wealth) into the creation of the most ornate marble temples; with exquisitely detailed relief carvings covering every inch, they are all simply jaw-droppingly beautiful. Make sure you visit at least one while you're in India, preferably either the Ranakpur or Dilwara temples in Rajasthan. Or head for Palitana, in Gujarat, where 850 Jain temples and 1,000 shrines top sacred Mount Satrunjaya, "the hill that conquers enemies."

Golden Temple (Amritsar, Punjab): Arguably the greatest spiritual monument in India. The name derives from the central gold-plated Hari Mandir -- the inner sanctuary featuring gold-plated copper cupolas and white marble walls inlaid with precious stones -- which sits at the center of the "Pool of Nectar." Every day thousands of disciplined devotees pay their respects, touching their heads to the glistening marble floor while singing devotional songs continuously -- a wonderful, welcoming, and humbling experience.

The Sun Temple at Konark (near Bhubaneswar, Orissa): An enormous war chariot carved from a massive chunk of rock during the 13th century, this masterpiece of Indian temple art is covered with detailed sculpted scenes, from the erotic to the mythological. Guarded by stone elephants and lions, the immense structure is seen as the gigantic chariot of the sun god emerging from the ocean, not far from Orissa's 500km (300-mile) beach.

Tabo (Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh): This 1,005-year-old Buddhist complex houses magnificent frescoes and brilliant stucco and relief figures that recount ancient myths and celebrate the deities and demons that make up the Buddhist pantheon. You'll need a torch to adequately explore the dark, smoldering halls and shrines lit only by thin shafts of natural light, and brought to life by the resonant chants and ringing of bells by the monks and nuns who populate this sacred center of Tibetan Buddhism.

Travel Pattaya Beach of Thailand

2007-05-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Introduction

147km (91 miles) E of Bangkok

The current incarnation of Pattaya claims its founders day as June 29, 1959, when a few truckloads of American troops stationed in nearby Isan arrived, rented houses along the beach, and had such a hoot that they told their friends. Word spread and, over time, the town became the R&R capital for war-weary American troops for the next many years. The legacy of those early visitors is today's adult playground: with hundreds of go-go clubs, beer bars, and massage parlors at beachside.

Tourism boomed in the 1980s, and unchecked resort development was not accompanied by infrastructure upgrades such that beaches became veritable toilets of raw sewage. Recent years have seen a few civil projects to clean up the bay with some success, but the beach is not at all pleasant.

Despite this, Pattaya now supports a collection of large, sophisticated international resorts, retreats set in sprawling, manicured seaside gardens. Pattaya would like to be a family destination, and, along with fine accommodations, there are some family activities, but Pattaya's mammoth sex tourism industry kind of puts the kibosh on any wholesome family fun (parents may not be able to field all of the questions the town raises in the little ones).

Neighboring Jomtien is a popular alternative to Pattaya. Less seedy activities and cleaner beaches (though just a long, thin stretch of coarse sand), Jomtien's best accommodations are private condominiums, but it's good for day visits.

Thrilling Thorang and Yak's meat: Nepal

2007-05-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

Thrilling Thorang and Yak's meat

By Chakra Karki

As soon as my friend Pasangkaji Sherpa offered me a trip to the vicinity of snowbound Annarpurna, I instantly agreed. With that maneuver in mind, we set off on a bus to Besisahar of Lamjung. Being proficient in French language, Pasang was leading a group of French tourists along with us. With the advent of Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1), our team of fifteen French visitors and sixteen Nepali travelers embarked on the foot expedition from Besisahar to Knadhi.

On our way, the foreigners learned about our Nepali New Year and were curious to know the manner in which it is celebrated, for they thought that Nepali New Year is also celebrated with much hype and fanfares like theirs. After a series of queries, the bugged guides and Sherpas got away saying, “In the capital, it is rejoiced in a grand manner, however, in a trip like this, we don't have enough resources for revelry.” As planned, we celebrated our new year with local Gurung community in a modest manner.

Making the journey to Annapurna more appealing was Pasang with his fascinating talks about the snow-capped mountain and the noteworthy hospitality of the people in the area.

Though he belonged to Solukhumbu, he seemed to be more attached with Annapurna locale. He was saying over and again, “The amiability of the people there is remarkable, especially hotel personnels.” As we got closer to our destination, the maxim of Pasang appeared to be genuine. Not only were they cordial to foreigners but also to Nepali visitors, including porters and guides. They made a point to give equal importance to everybody, which made me believe in what Pasang has said earlier.

When it came to meat products, Pasang was one hell of a gluttonous being. To be particular, he could comfortably gobble down some 14 plates of meat. Throughout the journey, he was planning to feast on Yak's meat as soon as he gets to Manang. He was proudly recalling, “When I came for a round trip to Annapurna, I devoured 14 plates of fishes instead of rice at Malekhu.” With ravenous looks, he would talk about delectable Yak's meat. I got to taste one when we reached Pisang. At first, it was very difficult to chew up Yak's dry meat. While I was explaining him about my troubled first experience of Yak's meat, he would resolutely clarify how delicious they actually are. There wouldn't be a single day when he wouldn't devour on 2-3 plates of Yak's meat.

One of the chief routes to Annapurna was Thorang. Every visitor intending to go to Annapurna vicinity had to pass Thorang. When we were in Manang, Pasang had informed us that our entire trip would almost finish while reaching Thorang. He would also persuade us to relish the captivating scenery of Thorang. After our two-night stay at Manang, through Chureledar route, we reached Thorang Fedi. Looking at the huge crowd of tourists aiming to cross Thorang pass, we began to doubt about getting a lodge to stay that day. Thorang Fedi is the starting point to cross Thorang pass. From the early morning, travelers mount up enough energy to traverse Thorang. With the similar commitment, we spent our night at a local lodge in Thorang Fedi.

As a team leader, Pasang was more sincere and responsible than other trekkers. He knew exactly what to do and would never hesitate to guide others. After we decided to reach Thorang Pass by early morning, we started off at 3 am from Thorang Fedi. Some 300 tourists were on their way to Thorang pass, all capturing the surrounding breathtaking mountains on their cameras. The splendor of Thorang enthralled even Israeli tourists who overlooked the beauty of Afghanistan for that particular moment.

Walking up the hill, one foreigner from our group got unwell and Pasang devoted all his time and knowledge to help his guest who had crossed sixty years. Most of the French visitors were of similar age group and it was theirs first time to Annapurna. Swiss Clera was the youngest of all foreigners and would never miss a chance to demonstrate her youthfulness. She would constantly inquire about Nepali culture and Himalayas.

After four hours of demanding walk, we reached Thorang Pass situated at 5,416 meters high; Thorang was surrounded by captivating mountains that were glowing under the beaming sun. The gigantic mountains made us forget our previous harsh route and made all our efforts worth it. As Thorang Peak beamed in front of us, it reminded me of the Mount Kailash of Tibet. Passing Thorang, we made our way to Mustang. Every year, nearly 40,000 tourists come to visit Round Annapurna. Please talk about heaven and after my trip, I believe that heaven is in Earth, if one knows how to explore.

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By Associated Press

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