There are many great destinations in paradise Philippines that would best epitomize it as truly a paradise in the Asian region. Boracay being the first, is one of the best summer destination in all of Asia. Bohol is a quiet and wonderful place in the south, home to the famous Bohol Tarsiers. And Baguio, the tourist destination of local and foreign tourist all year round.

Boracay

The most visited tourist spot in paradise Philippines, not just during summer but all year round. Boracay island is the favorite summer destination of Filipinos from all walks of life and the favorite getaway place of Europeans, Americans and Asian travellers. With its pristine white sand beaches, hospitable local residents, exciting night life, great tasting food and of course the clear waters of the beaches.

Bohol

Though not as visited as Boracay, the Island of Bohol is a haven in itself. The local folks, Boholanos are one of the most hospitable Filipinos paradise Philippines has to offer. Bohol is famous for its Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River and the Bohol tarsiers.

Baguio

Paradise Philippines’ summer capital is the only summer destination which does not have any beach at all. Situated far up northern part of paradise Philippines, Baguio is one of the best tourist spot in the Philippines because of its high elevation which emits a cool weather all year round. Baguio has several scenic spots which attract both local and foreign tourist all year round. Another reason why Baguio is a favorite tourist destination in paradise Philippines is because of the Banaue Rice Terraces which is located in the nearest town from Baguio.

By: Arnold Zafra

Tibetan People

The people of Tibet are strong, and adaptable due to the harsh environment in which they live, but they are also extremely warm and hospitable. They are always quick to invite a visitor to Tibet into their home and serve them homemade food, and the famous Tibetan butter tea.

Food

Food, just like Tibetan culture and people has a very distinct character. Tibetan food is not only sustenance, but also helps Tibetan people survive the harsh climates. Their food keeps them warm, gives them energy, helps them with the high altitude, and gives them nutrients essential to the harsh climate. Due to the high altitude of Tibet, water boils at 90 degrees making cooking with water impossible, so Tibetan food has become very specialized. The Tibetan diet consists mostly of meat, milks and other high protein foods.

Tsampa: is a staple found at every Tibetan meal. It is a dough made with roasted barley flour and yak butter. There are two basic ways to prepare and eat Tsampa. One is to make dough with Tibetan buttered tea. The other is to make porridge with beef or mutton, and vegetables. The Tsampa dough served with buttered tea is salty, while the porridge is often served with sugar.

Buttered tea: is another staple of Tibetan cuisine. Tibetans drink butter tea because it warms them up. The buttered tea is quite salty. Some people think it tastes more like soup broth than tea.

Beef and Mutton: Tibetans live on beef, mutton and milk products. Beef and mutton contain high heat energy which is helpful in fighting the cold. Many Tibetans often eat raw meats. Tibetan noodles: are usually served in a simple vegetable or meat broth. Momos: are the favorite foods of most visitors to Tibet. They are dumplings made with either meat or vegetables.

Tibetan Dances

Nearly Every Tibetan can sing and dance. Dancing is an integral part of every Tibetan's life. Tibetan people sing and dance for nearly every event: weddings, funerals, gatherings, and just for fun. There are many different styles of dance. Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style.

The Guoxie (village) dance is a group dance popular in rural Tibet. This dance is usually performed on open ground from sunrise to sunset. It consists of men and women dancing together in a circle.

Guozhuang (singing and dancing) dance is popular in eastern Tibet. It consists of two parts, singing, and dancing. It is an agile and vigorous dance. Men and women stand in two separate circles and sing in rotation while swaying and stamping their feet. The tempo in the beginning is slow and as the song progresses the tempo speeds up. They performers conclude their singing by shouting "Ya!"

Xie dance is accompanied by a stringed instrument. At festivals and outings men and women dance the Xie face to face in two lines. They are usually directed by one person at the head of their formation who plays a stringed instrument. The participants sing to each other to express their feelings. This dance is graceful and natural characterized by slow steps.

Qamo (sorcerer's) dance is a religious dance. It came to Tibet along with the introduction of Buddhism. It is used to subdue evil spirits in monasteries. Originally the Qamo dance was a mime dance where participants wore ceremonial masks. A traditional livestock sacrificing ceremony was held. Since the killing of livestock goes against Buddhist doctrine, livestock are no longer killed. Drawings are now substituted. At the end of the dance the performers take an effigy of Duoma (the leading demon), made of butter and tsampa into the wilderness to burn it, which will drive away evil and bring good fortune in the coming year.

Clothing

Tibetan clothing has a strong connection with the people, and climate of "roof of the world". The Tibetan's clothing reflects the history, beliefs, and character of the local people.

Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style of clothing. The clothes are influenced the by the religion, and environment. Tibetan clothing consists of a robe and shirt. The Tibetan robe worn by men is broad and is normally fastened under the right arm, while the women's are slightly narrower with or without sleeves. The robes often fastened with two cloth belts. The shirts are also fastened on the right. Men typically wear white shirts with high collars, while women wear various colors with turndown collars.

In northern Tibet, were the weather is bitterly cold, herdsmen wear a fur lined robe years round. Their robe also doubles as their quilt at night. Since the day and night temperatures vary greatly, during the day they usually do not put their arms in their sleeves, but rather tie the sleeves around their waste wearing their robe as a kind of skirt. Their fur lined robes are very bulky and have no pockets, but being fastened at the waist it gives the wearer plenty of room inside for to carry daily necessities, or even their children inside.

In pastoral areas the clothing worn by herdsmen are distinctive for their decorations. Their clothing is usually hemmed in black cloth at the front and lower edges and cuffs. Women wear aprons decorated with colorful cloth stripes.

In the south of Tibet where the weather is warm and damp, the clothing is made from hand woven woolen cloth. Both men and women button their clothing on the right. Men's clothing are hemmed in colorful cloth, or with silk, while women normally wearing sleeveless robes.

In Lhasa, where the weather is warmer and damper many men wear double layered robes, and women dress in close-fitting robes and long sleeved shirts, with brightly decorated aprons.

The apron is one of Tibetan women's favorite clothing articles. According to custom the aprons are only worn by married women. It is a privilege that young girls look forward too.

By: Mandy Lee
China Odyssey Tours specialize in providing package China tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.

The Penang Butterfly Park is just minutes away from the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park; the park is constructed like a miniature rainforest in the middle of the city of Kuala Lumpur and houses about 120 different species of butterfly and about 15,000 plants of different varieties. Adding to the tropical rainforest atmosphere of the park is the mini pond with a limestone path down the centre.

The pond is surrounded by a gazebo that lets visitors have a clear view of the area surrounding the pond and observe the various species of butterflies who flutter by. The park is ideal for families with young children but lacks the excitement to keep adults entertainment for very long. The park was founded in 1986 to educate the public and to establish a research centre with the aim of developing new breeding methods.

Upon entering the park you would be greeted by a lush and tropical garden that is that is lined with several pathways. Cages and enclosures can be seen in the area and a few fountains and a fish pond add to the serenity of the area. A large number of butterflies can be seen fluttering about amongst the trees and the colorful flowers.

The calm and the serenity of the Butterfly Park is seemingly the perfect getaway to sooth tension, save the Dragonfly enclosure that has thousands of alien looking insects making disturbing whizzing sounds and flying about randomly in their 1,200 square foot enclosure (as you can guess I am not favorably disposed towards dragonflies). The Butterfly Park though named as such also has a number of other creepy crawlies such as scorpions, spiders and snakes.

The visitor's centre has some educative pamphlets which will definitely intrigue nature buffs and there is a traditional art centre. However the souvenir shop is a must see the Butterfly Farm fashions beautiful crystal paperweights using dead insects. There are also t shirts, books and some fascinating antiques and curios of which only a few are for sale. Another interesting fact is that Malaysia's largest oil painting is on display at the Farm it is a depiction of a lush jungle by James Lau and has earned a place on the Guinness Book of records!

By: Naveen Marasinghe
A cheap hotel in Kuala Lumpur that is in close proximity to many of the sights and sounds of Malaysia such as the Butterfly Park is Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing solutions and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.

India is one of the most reputed medical tourism destinations in the world. It is known in general for heart surgery, hip resurfacing and other areas of advanced medical science. The government hospital and private health service groups are committed to the target of making India a world leader in the industry. The industry's main focus is low cost health services. Many estimates says treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of comparable treatment in America or Britain.

As an example, "Howard Staab, a self-employed, uninsured, middle aged carpenter who belong to North Carolina," needed surgery for acute mitral valve prolapse, which would have charged him a fifth of a million dollars in his home state. Staab was treated in New Delhi, the capital of India, for less than seven thousand dollars by an Indian doctor. Consider the rising popularity of "preventive health screening". At one private health care center in London a thorough men's health check-up that includes blood tests, electro-cardiogram tests, chest x-rays, and abdominal ultrasound costs ?345 ($574, ?500). A comparable check-up at a clinic operated by Delhi-based healthcare company Max Healthcare costs $84.

The Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center in Delhi, India performs nearly 15,000 heart operations every year, and the post-surgery mortality rate is only 0.8 percent, which is less than half of most major hospitals in the United States.Amount of the value of medical tourism to India go as high as $2 billion a year by 2012. In the year 2003, Indian finance minister Jaswant Singh called for India to become the global health destination. The highest stumbling block preventing the fast growth of India as a healthcare destination is its poor infrastructure and less of quality hotels. However, the Indian government is taking steps to overcome these issues.

By January this year, 3.3 million travelers had already visited India, spending close to $ 5 billion. The domestic medical tourism is also witnessing fast growth. Around 368 million Indians are venturing out of their homes, based on increasing incomes, least aviation costs, and more leisure time. The World Travel and medical tourism Council has forecast that medical tourism will grow at a fast rate of 8.8% per year for the next twelve years, the highest in the world. The medical tourism industry is projected to attract a capital investment of around $21 billion by the year 2014, up from about $10.2 billion estimated in the year 2004.

Medical Tourism in India is the best alternative available to patients across the globe. Lacks of people come every year to get treated and then entertain their holidays in India. People from different types of life cut across the entire span of the world come to India to have their treatments done with peace of mind. India serves world class medical services with hospitals and specialized multi specialty health care centers giving their expertise in the areas of Cosmetic Surgery, Heart Surgeries, Coronary Bypass, Heart Check up, Valve replacements, Knee Replacements, Eye surgeries, Indian traditional treatments like Ayurvedic Therapies and much more, practically covering every aspect of medicine. Dental care centers has attracted in India, with tourists coupling stays in cities like Udaipur with general treatments and complex procedures.

Our nation India is best known for heart surgery, hip resurfacing and other areas of latest medicine. The government and private health service centers are committed to the target of making India a leader in the medical tourism industry. The industry's main focus is least cost treatment. It is said treatment fees in India start at around one tenth of the price of comparable treatment in the nation like USA and UK.

By: Radha Kishan
Radha Kishan is currently advertising for Medical Tourism Medical Tourism website and another website which tells the experience of medical tourism to India here

Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province is famous for the terracotta warriors, its city walls, and the large wild goose pagoda. That is all most visitors to Xian know about this ancient and fascinating city. A visitor who does not go to visit the terracotta warriors will still have an amazing time in Xian. It is a city filled with interesting and historical sites. Being the capitol of 13 dynasties has left Xian filled with history, and culture. Although the aforementioned sites are amazing, they are also packed with visitors. There are many other sites, although just as spectacular, are not visited as often.

The Little Goose Pagoda Scenic Area features the newly opened Xian Museum (opened May 18th, 2007), is centered around the Little Goose Pagoda which although smaller than the more famous Big Wild Goose Pagoda, its design is charming and from the top visitors can get a bird's eye view of the surrounding area. The pagoda is in the middle of a small temple complex which features many beautiful small temple buildings, and courtyards. The newly built Xian Museum is built on an artificial lake and features an architectural design that follows the traditional Chinese concept that heaven is round, and earth is square.

The Temple of the Eight Immortals is the largest Daoist temple in Xian and is famous for its original Daoist architecture. The temple is dedicated to the eight immortals, and features many beautiful gardens, buildings, and courtyards. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to escape the fast pace of the city.

In the center of the city of Xian stands the Bell, and Drum Towers. Although very popular with visitors during the day, the towers are most beautiful at night when they are nicely lit. They offer spectacular photographic opportunities, and great view of Xian's nightlife. Behind the drum tower, is a large night market which features local arts and crafts and dozens of booths selling dried fruits. Xian is well known for its intricate shadow puppets, and many of the shops sell these beautiful puppets to visitors. Visitors walking through the market will see people cooking traditional Xian snacks in little booths. These cheap, yet delicious treats have been eaten by local people for hundreds of years.

The Shuyuan (Academy of Classical learning) Gate is located just inside the city wall on the south side of the ancient city. The gate is an entrance to a wonderful shopping street. Near the gate is an ancient stone pagoda, all that's left of a long since destroyed temple. This street is lined with shops built in the architectural style of the Qing dynasty is a little known shopper's paradise. The street sells only arts and crafts. Not cheap touristy souvenirs, but beautiful works of art. There are many shops selling traditional Chinese art supplies and visitors can watch many shops creating Chinese paint brushes by hand. There are shops selling fans, jade, traditional musical instruments, to name just a few. It is a great place to buy some real Chinese culture at good prices. It is not often visited by tourists, so it has not become too touristy.

The Tang Paradise opened in 2005 is a very large park. Its theme is the Tang Dynasty. Every aspect of the park is based on the Tang Dynasty originals. The designers have not only copied the Tang Dynasty imperial gardens, but have integrated almost everything representative of the Tang Dynasty, such as the poetry, songs and dances, marketplaces, food, women's lifestyles and sciences into the park. The buildings in the park area representative of almost every style of architecture found in the Tang Dynasty, from palaces and temples, to shops and common people's homes. There are many gates, tea houses, and beautifully designed pavilions located throughout the gardens. There is incense burners located every few meters along the paths in Tang Paradise. The burning incense adds a sense of mystery to the park. There are many shows for visitors throughout the park, many of which feature beautiful women in traditional Tang Dynasty costume dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. One of the highlights of the park is every evening the park features a movie shown on a waterfall. It is a unique experience that makes the actors appear three dimensional, and lifelike. The movie like every other part of the park is Tang Dynasty themed.

Xian has held onto many of its traditional arts, which makes this city a wonderful place to experience the arts that has made China so famous.

The paintings from Huxian County have become famous throughout China for their bright colors and simple designs of peasant life. The artists who create these paintings are local farmers, who paint in their free time. These simple, but beautiful paintings have been attracting visitors from not only China, but abroad.

Drum Music:

Drum music has been performed in Xian for more than a thousand years. It is a form of percussion music. Two forms of drums are used. One form is a drum that can be tuned, which means that the drum skin can be tightened to make a different pitch. The other form is a straightforward drum used to keep the rhythm. The sounds can be surprisingly complex letting the performers play a variety of music.

Xian Lanterns:

Xian has been making lanterns since the Han Dynasty, when they were hung in the streets as a light source. The lanterns of today are made not only for lighting, but for decorative purposes. They are a really beautiful accent for any home. The lanterns can be made of paper, silk, or gauze attached on frames of bamboo, wood, or metal.

Colorful Breads:

The colorful steamed breads created by farmers are used for festive occasions like festivals, weddings, and birthdays. The dough is formed into the shapes of birds, tigers, butterflies, and many other shapes before being steamed. Colors are then added to the breads. They are very beautiful, and would be a shame to eat if they were not so delicious.

Shadow Puppets:

Shadow puppet shows are a traditional art form found in the north of China. It consists of a white piece of cloth with a light source behind it. Musicians and puppeteers work behind this screen. The puppeteers control thin leather puppets and the shadows they produce is projected on the cloth. The musicians perform accompanying music. The puppets themselves are works of art. They are made from thin transparent ox, or donkey hide. They are intricately cut into jointed puppets. Color is added to make them even livelier. They are works of art in their own right. The shadow puppets of Xian are famous throughout the world, and can be found in many markets. They can be framed, and are beautiful additions to any home.

Paper Cuts:

Paper cuts are an art form enjoyed throughout China. Paper cutting is done by making a large stack of paper, with a pattern on top. The artist then uses a very fine pair of scissors to cut the paper into designs. The designs usually feature auspicious symbolism, or fanciful ones. The paper cuts are traditionally pasted onto windows during the Spring Festival. During weddings, paper cuts in the shape of the Chinese Double Happiness are used throughout the newlywed's home to symbolize health, and happiness.

Fengxiang Painted Clay Figurines:

The brightly colored painted clay figures created around Xian are small, colorful, and beautiful works of art. The figurines were originally made by farmers to give to their children as toys. They are made from local clay and are shaped into mythological creatures, and characters from popular myths and fairytales. Their design is simple, but charming. These little figures can be found at many local markets.

By: Mandy Lee
China Odyssey Tours specialize in providing package China tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.

Udaipur is a beautiful city in situated in the Indian state of Rajasthan - the most vibrant and colorful state of India. Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities of India perhaps also of the world. The city of lakes, palaces and rising sun - Udaipur plays a major role in the boom of Rajasthan tourism. Situated on the edge of three picturesque lakes - Pichola Lake, Fatehsagar Lake and Udaisagar Lake - the city is rightly known as the city of lakes and famous for its exceptionally scenic lakes and watercourses. Lakes make a perfect backdrop to the romantic setting of the city and add to the magic of the city.

There are several other beautiful lakes in the city of Udaipur which add more charm to the city. They are Jaisamand Lake, Rajsamand Lake, Jiyan Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, Doodh Talai, etc. These beautiful lakes provide wonderful opportunity to enjoy sunset boat cruise or some water activities. Exploring these breathtakingly beautiful lakes provide a sense of relief. They also provide wonderful view of the beautiful mountain ranges. Truly, exploring beautiful lakes of Udaipur will provide you a pleasant travel experience of Rajasthan travel and tourism that will last forever.

Udaipur Pichola Lake is considered as one of the most beautiful and picturesque lakes of Rajasthan India. Located in the heart of city, Pichola Lake was built by Pichchu Banjara in year of 1362. On the bank of Pichola Lake one can visit two island palaces of royal era - Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir. Jag Mandir is an architecturally beautiful island palace of royal era offering fabulous view of picturesque Lake Pichola. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this beautiful palace. You too should not forget to visit this beautiful palace during your Rajasthan tours.

Jag Niwas is also known as Lake Palace is another island palace of royal era situated in the middle of picturesque Pichola Lake. It has now been turned into a heritage palace hotel. Located into the mid of beautiful Pichola Lake this magnificent palace offers a romantic settings of Udaipur city and deserve the attention of tourists, travelers, backpackers and honeymooners or newly-wedded couples from all around the world. The Lake Palace is an added attraction of being Udaipur a romantic city. Don't miss to grab the opportunity of visiting palatial Lake Palace of Udaipur during your Rajasthan tour and travels.

City Palace of Udaipur is also a worth visiting attraction of Udaipur city. It is the largest palace complex of the city and houses hotels and museums. Other famous attractions of this beautiful city are Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, beautiful gardens, temples, Pratap Memorial, Gulab Bagh, Shilpgram, etc. Don't miss to visit the romantic city of Udaipur and explore its fascinating attractions during your Rajasthan tours. There are several Rajasthan tour packages available which make enable you to explore this beautiful city in more and more convenient ways. You can book your Rajasthan tour package to visit the beautiful city of Udaipur online through various Rajasthan tour and travel related sites. Well, when you are coming to Udaipur, Rajasthan. The charm of the city awaits you.

By: Michael Braganza
Michael Braganza is an amateur writer focusing primarily on Indian Travel related topics. For more information on Rajasthan travel and Rajasthan tourism to visit http://www.swagattours.com/