While lotuses in the North bloom only in summer, the flower blooms in Dong Thap Province year-round. Lotuses are everywhere, but they are most prominently displayed during floating season (between August and November).

The kind of lotus in Phuoc Kien may be the most special one. Thanks to its big size, it’s called King of Lotus. Local people often refer to it by the name “Lotus Pagoda” because there are many giant lotuses in the ponds.

The pagoda was established in the 18th century. It was the revolutionary base in the two wars of resistance against France and the US, said chief monk Thich Hue Tu.

In addition to offering fruits to Buddha and monks, the local people brought goods and food to soldiers who stayed at the pagoda during the wars.

The pagoda was mostly demolished in 1966 after a US bombing, and then it was rebuilt by the local people.

The King Lotus began growing in ponds that were once wartime bomb craters, wowing locals and monks in the pagoda.

This kind of lotus has big, thick, spiny leaves measuring 1.5m to 2m in diameter. In the rainy season, the leaves can reach 3m wide. Lotus stems are as big as adult wrists.

The front face of the leaves is glossy green, while the other side has many thorns. Mature leaves can “carry” a person weighing up to 80kg.

“Not only are lotus leaves so special, but its flowers are charming with a pervasive scent,” said Tu. “Lotus flowers bloom twice in three days, and their colour continuously changes.”

The lotus bud is white in the morning, and the flower turns pink when it’s in full bloom. Then it closes and opens again the next day. Each time it blooms, its colour gets darker. The flower is dark purple when it fades.

Monk Tu said experts from Can Tho University had visited the pagoda and researched the lotus. They also scattered seeds for growth in other regions, but the lotus can’t develop like the one grown at the pagoda.

“They said this strange kind of lotus originates from the Amazon, with the scientific name Victoria amazonica or Victoria regia,” Tu said. “Originating from South America, it is the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies.”

“After spending time to enjoy sightseeing around the pagoda, they don’t miss the exciting chance to stand on the leaves to take photographs.”

He added, “I suggest that tourists come in September and October of the lunar calendar. It’s a good time to enjoy King Lotus. By then, the leaves are very big and thick, filling the pond surface and allowing people to stand on them. The bridge across the pond will help you stand on leaves easier.”

Officials from the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Heritage Department and Fine Arts Department worked together to collect information and prepare to declare Vat Phabath-Phonsan as a cultural heritage site.

When the temple is listed as such, the department will register ancient and sacred objects and the temple itself to better protect and manage them, and also print brochures describing the history of the temple.

Borikhamxay province also plans to ask the ministry to list Vat Phabath-Phonsan as a national cultural heritage site.

However, the province needs to obtain funding from the government, businesses and international organisations to ensure preparation work is completed on time, Mr Khene said.

Borikhamxay is the first province to declare a cultural attraction as a heritage site, with some provinces also planning to declare natural and culture tourist sites as heritage sites.

According to the tourismlaos website, Vat Phabath-Phonsan overlaps Road No.13 South near Na village. In 1993, locals discovered a 2.4 x 1.2 metre Buddha footprint, and built Vat Phabath around it.

Devotees make merit by placing gold leaf on the phabath (Buddha footprint), and every year in mid-January the temple holds a festival to pay homage to the phabath.

The adjoining Phonsan stupa sits on sprawling green Mekong Riverside grounds, and is believed to be a sacred place where Buddha once took his meals.

The stupa is also known for the annual Naga rocket festival during October’s full moon, when theMekong launches mysterious coloured fireballs.

Currently Borikhamxay has 68 natural, cultural and historical tourist sites.

In 2015, the number of tourist arrivals increased from 200,000 to more than 300,000 people.

Tucked away on the western end of Patong Beach surrounded by tropical forest and perched on the hill that overlooks the resort, Amari Phuket is a cross between beach party paradise and hideaway for shaking off a hangover.

Perched at the top of the hill, the Ocean Wing offers unparalleled vistas of Patong Beach and beyond. The 183 rooms are divided into one and two-bedroom suites with both kitchen and dining areas.

I checked into Room 6231, a one-bed room suite that is ideal for holidaymakers taking an extended break in Phuket. Spacious yet cosy with light-brown walls and a white solid tile floor, the suite feels much more like a luxury apartment than a hotel room.

Cabinets are mounted over a countertop and sink, leaving plenty of space for food preparation. Easy chairs, sofa and flat-screen TV, a decent size refrigerator and a dining table that seats four add to the home-away-from-home ambience.

The bedroom is hidden behind a sliding door. The space is more or less taken up by a king-sized bed but leaving the sliding door open will restore a sense of space. Another television set is mounted on the wall, making sure you won’t miss important moments anywhere in the world.

The bathroom is big and cosy with choices of hand-held and wall-mounted showerheads.

Designed for contemporary and refined travellers, the Clubhouse is home to an infinity pool, sun deck and its own fitness room, all reserved exclusively for Club Ocean Wing guests. The Clubhouse lounge serves breakfast and an a la carte dining menu all day long. Complimentary tea, coffee and light snacks are also available throughout the day and complimentary sunset cocktails with pre-dinner canapes are served from 5.30 to 6.30pm daily.

Out of the comfort zone of the Ocean Wing, guests can enjoy a wide range of services. La Gritta, the chic Italian restaurant, is the pride of Amari Phuket for its authentic flavours and extensive wine list.

“La Gritta often has diners coming from outside of the hotel. Locals love the food here,” says general manager Pierre-Andre Pelletier, as I’m waiting for a bowl of minestrone. “It’s a destination by itself, and we’re proud of it.”

For a day of ultimate relaxation – or to shake off the excesses of the previous night – make your way to Breeze Spa for one of the wide range of body massages and facial treatments in the open-air pavilions on the hillside, all of which boast unrivalled views of the bay.

Amari Phuket is by far one of the best choices for guests wanting to make the most of Phuket – beach, partying and holistic spa break. Patong is within walking distance and the stroll along the beach is particularly pleasant early in the morning when you have Patong to yourself.

AT A GLANCE

High point: The Ocean Wing offers more space and privacy. Amari Phuket itself is on the right on Patong Beach, though the crowds tend to keep their distance.

Low point: The landscape is probably too hilly for the elderly.

Pay for it: Visit the Amari official website for the best deal

Find it: Western end of Patong Beach, Phuket

Call it: +66 (0) 76 340 106-14

Browse it: http://www.Amari.com/phuket.

SOURCE

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/travel/Rooms-with-a-view-30276755.html

According to the Luang Prabang Tourist Office, over 400,000 tourists of all nationalities came to the province last year. They hope to boost the number to 700,000 tourists by 2020.

The total number of foreign tourist arrivals in Laos increased from 2.7 million people in 2011 to 4.1 million last year.

Vanphaeng added that when such a sizeable group comes to Luang Prabang, communication with staff in guesthouses, hotels and restaurants can be somewhat troublesome because the Chinese cannot speak English.

The people of Luang Prabang are keen to preserve their traditions and customs such as the morning almsgiving ceremony when monks parade through the streets. Temples are well used for prayer, merit-making and the chanting of scriptures by monks and novices.

Globally, budget airlines carried more than 950 million passengers last year, which is about 28 per cent of all air travellers, compared with 27 per cent in 2014.

Asia’s share of the pie is expected to continue to grow, analysts said.

A rising middle class in India and China, and budget carriers still in their infancy in Northeast Asia especially, will fuel growth in the sector, they said.

Growth will be slower in Southeast Asia where overcapacity in the past few years hit profits and forced budget carriers to scale back their operations.

Brendan Sobie, a Singapore- based analyst at aviation think- tank Centre for Aviation, said: “There will still be growth in this region, but it won’t be at the level we saw in 2012 and 2013 when year- on-year growth was more than 20 per cent. We are probably looking at high single-digit growth.”

He noted that budget carriers already account for almost 60 per cent of all intra-Southeast Asian travel.

Much of the growth in this region this year will be in the long-haul budget sector, analysts said.

Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary Scoot, for example, has gone from eight Boeing 787 aircraft in October last year to 10 now, with more to come in the next few years.

The airline, which already has a strong presence in the region, including in Australia and China, is also planning its foray into the Middle East and India later this year.

Overall, total global passenger traffic on both budget and full-service airlines grew by 6.4 per cent last year to hit 3.5 billion, ICAO said.

Despite sluggish economic growth in some advanced economies and most emerging markets, demand for air travel continued to rise, the United Nations body said.

This was due in part to a 40 per cent dip in the average jet fuel price, which gave airlines some flexibility to lower airfares, which in turn stimulated demand, ICAO said.

Travellers can expect the lower fuel prices and competition among carriers to keep fares attractive this year, analysts said.

My friends and I started driving out to Bentong in the morning. It was a hot day and on the way, we stopped for the famous ice-kacang in town. There are three coffeeshops that serve this: T.A.K. Ice Cream Corner on Jalan Chui Yin near the marketplace, plus Kedai Kopi Kow Po and Kedai Ais Krim both on Jalan Loke Yew.

The way to the farm is on the same road going towards Bentong’s famous Chamang Waterfall, a popular picnic and swimming spot with the locals.

Learn how vegetables and fruits are planted at GY Happy Farm in Bentong, Pahang.

Learn how vegetables and fruits are planted at GY Happy Farm in Bentong, Pahang.

By the time we arrived at the farm, it was afternoon and the heat was sweltering. We were shown to our accommodation for the night – little chalets with basic amenities like a standing fan, bed and small bathroom. Don’t expect towels, soap or shampoo in your room – it’s a farm, not a five-star resort!

There was no Wi-Fi and no TV (oh God, could we city slickers survive?) but I resisted the temptation to turn on the 3G data connection on my handphone. Instead, I went for a walk to check out the vegetable patch nearby.

Some other visitors had arrived earlier for the long weekend and were playing football in a nearby field. Other visitors had made their way to the nearby Chamang waterfall for a dip in the refreshing waters.

Home-cooked food at the GY Happy Farm. – MING TEOH/The Star

READ FULL STORY

http://www.star2.com/travel/malaysia/2016/01/09/live-near-your-food-farm-stay-in-bentong/

The first Children’s Day in Thailand was in 1956, since then government leaders have annually branded the event with a slogan. This year, the slogan created by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is ‘knowledge and virtue together will move us into the future’.

“We acknowledge how important children are to our society, so the annual Children’s Day festivities will be held to promote the roles and rights of children who will grow up to be adults and drive our country forward,” said Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana.

Here is a schedule of some of the events taking place on January 9:

Phuket International Hospital:

8:30am to noon: There will be a variety of games, entertainment and information offered by doctors, nurses and medical staff to spark inspiration for those who want to pursue the field of medicine.

Phuket Town:

Phuket City Municipality will hold Children’s Day festivities at Saphan Hin, with a certificate-giving ceremony to acknowledge the achievements of outstanding children. Additionally, there will be more than 30 educational booths arranged by multiple schools, activities for kids and parents, as well as free food and drinks.

Patong:

8am to 3pm: The event will be held at Loma Park on Patong’s beachfront road, offering a variety of entertainment and food.

Cape Panwa:

9am to 4pm: Kids get free admission to Phuket Aquarium, where they can experience the marvels of the underwater world.

8:30am to 3pm: There will be many unique opportunities for kids joining the fun at the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command base, including the chance to board the ship Saiburi and step inside a helicopter.

Wichit:

8:30am to noon: There will be giveaways and activities at Suan Sri Phuvanart Park, including student performances, live music and a magic show.

Rassada:

8am to 3pm: The Rassada Municipality Office will hold games and contests and offer a variety of mouthwatering food.

Kathu:

8:30am to 3:30pm: Activities and entertainment will be on offer at Prince of Songkhla University Phuket Campus on Wichitsongkram Road.

See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Island-readies-annual-Childrens-Day/62814#ad-image-0

Interestingly, among Asian citizens, Indonesians were reportedly the most-likely to embark on solo travel with 34 percent, followed by Chinese (30 percent) and Thais (29 percent).

“This year’s TripBarometer reveals key trends that will shape the travel landscape in 2016, from travelers’ sources of inspiration when choosing which destinations to visit, to what they won’t leave home without,” said TripAdvisor chief marketing officer Barbara Messing in a press release on Tuesday.

The study, which analyzed over 44,000 survey responses from travelers and hotel sector personnel in 32 markets and seven regions worldwide, also stated that one in three Asian travelers planned to spend more on their trips next year, with Japanese ranking the highest with an average travel budget of US$5,600, followed by Chinese ($3,600), Indians ($3,100), Thais ($2,200), Malaysians ($2,100) and Indonesians ($1,400). Globally, Australians were reportedly set to spend the most with an average travel budget of $10,900, followed by the Swiss ($10,100) and Americans ($8,400).

TV and movie-inspired tourism was another significant driver for Asian travelers, with one in four having visited a destination because they saw it on television and 15 percent because they saw it in a film.

As for travelers’ packing lists, 81 percent of Asian travelers said they wouldn’t leave without their smartphone and over a third cited an extra suitcase as a travel essential. (kes)

– See more at: http://www.jakpost.travel/news/among-asian-citizens-indonesians-most-likely-to-travel-solo-in-2016-survey-UkZDivWYlzxN1bE7.html#sthash.uJ75dUkG.dpuf