Theravada Buddhism

The area around Bagan has been settled since the second century AD, and in 849 King Pyinbya built the walls of the city, the remains of which can still be seen today. The "golden age" of Bagan, when most of the temples were built, began with ascension to the throne of King Anawrahta in 1044.
The temple building began after King Anawrahta conquered the Lower Burma Mon kingdom of Thaton in 1057. The king had converted to Theravada Buddhism and set about spreading it throughout the land. The practice was carried on by most of his successors, and by the time Kublai Khan's armies overran Bagan in 1287, there were some 13,000 temples, pagodas and other religious structures spread across the plain

Vientiane that appeals to many

Laos' laid back capital has been described as looking more like a collection of villages than a big capital city. It is growing, but still has a slower pace than the cities of its neighbor to the south. It is still a small city, with not a lot of major sights. You can see most of what "must" be seen in less than a day. However, there's an atmosphere in Vientiane that appeals to many, and any trip to the city should last for a few days at least, to give you time to unwind and relax.

French rebuilt the town

The French first arrived in Luang Prabang in 1867. Later that same century, the Haw from southern China sacked the town and practically burned it to the ground. This is the event that essentially forced the Lao to accept French protection. The French rebuilt the town, and managed to stay for a hundred years before the Pathet Lao ended both French rule and the monarchy.

Laos for six centuries

The exact founding date of the city is rather fuzzy. The area may have been settled as long as 2,000 years ago. What is known is that the city became the capital of a small Lao principality sometime in the thirteenth century. A hundred years later, in the mid-fourteenth century, it became a kingdom in its own right. 'Lan Xang Hom Khao' - the land of a million elephants and the white parasol - as it was called, was founded by Fa Ngum, whose family went on to rule Laos for six centuries.

Louang Phabang Laos

Sited on a narrow strip of land formed where the Khan River flows into the Mekong, high up in the mountains of northern Laos, is the old royal capital of Luang Prabang - or Louang Phabang, depending on how you choose to translate the Lao. The small town was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, meaning that the historic old district will be maintained as it is, with no new buildings built taller than the existing two story structures

If snorkeling is what you're really looking for in a beach, then consider Tioman Island. The island, which stood in for Bali in the original Bali Hai film, features lush jungles fringing sandy beaches lined with simple bungalows. Granted, it can be a little difficult to get there, but who says the best destinations have to be easy

Hindu temple in Thailand

Picking the best beach on Bali is perhaps the toughest job there is. We definitely need to do a lot more "research" on this topic. But for now our choice is the beach at Seminyak, just north of the main Kuta area. Yes, if you want to surf or watch people surf, then Kuta/Legian is the place to be. While we like a bit of people watching, we also like the feeling of have an entire beach to ourselves. That's exactly the feeling we had at Seminyak. We also like good eats, and after a long day at the beach, its hard to beat dinner and drinks at La Lucciola at the north end of the beach near the Hindu temple.

Several popular beaches

Island is off the east coast of Thailand, about halfway between Bangkok and the Malay border. Its roughly opposite Phuket, which lies off the west coast across the peninsula. This means that when its the rainy season in Phuket, Samui is relatively dry and vice-versa. Samui is much smaller than Phuket, but is the largest of a group of about 80 islands.

Samui has several popular beaches, but Chawaeng is our favorite. The beach is protected by a small reef, which gets exposed at low tide. The protected lagoon behind the reef is excellent for swimming, although shallow at low tide. Its the perfect beach for sipping cool drinks interrupted occasionally by a cool dip to cool off.

Destination above another

If your idea of the perfect holiday is lying about on a beach soaking up some sun, then Asia is the place for you. You're positively spoiled for choice.

To rank one destination above another would be impossible. Each beach has its own special qualities. So, the list below is our own selection of the best beaches in no specific order

International journey

You survive a plane crash in the Amazon? Who cares! What's far more likely to go wrong during an international journey is injuries and illnesses that would be easy to manage close to home but are much trickier on the far side of paradise. Here are seven frequent scenarios and how to handle them

Prime target for scuba

This is another perfect Malaysian island exploited in the nicest way by posh resorts, a dozen at the last count; it possesses the usual assets of powder white coral sand and warm turquoise seas.
What makes Redang a bit special is the superb underwater life in the encircling Radang Island Marine Park, making this a prime target for scuba and snorkel addicts. Water temperatures hover around 28C and the best season is March-October. Redang is 50 mins by boat from the mainland.
The largest and most popular strand is

Kuala Lumpur reflacts

Malaysia is hot and humid all year. Good beaches are costly, particularly the premium stretches which are often owned by exclusive - and expensive - beach hotels. They are, however, superbly run and well maintained, so if you can afford them you won't be disappointed.
Kuala Lumpur, the capital, is not especially interesting, though safe and has great dining options. The beaches near the city are polluted, but superb resort islands are easily reachable by domestic flights such as Air Asia, a Malaysian low-cost airline, or ferries, so perhaps bypass KL and head straight to those paradise destinations for the best beach holiday in Malaysia.
There are direct international flights between foreign destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Jakarta [Indonesia] and some of the best beach resorts

Cheap and discount hotel rates

Phuket is Thailand ’s largest island, one of the top holiday and vacation destinations in Asia. Phuket offers a wide choice of hotels, resorts and other accommodations. Cheap and discount hotel rates for Phuket.Phuket island accommodation and places to stay, Phuket is blessed with magnificent coves and bays, powdery, palm-fringed white beaches, sparkling seas, sincerely hospitable people, superb accommodations and seafood. Beach hotels and accommodation on Phuket island Thailand.

Enjoy low season discounts

The second largest of Phuket's main tourist beaches. Large resort complexes line the road back of the beach, but the strand itself, long and broad, has no development. The sand is very white.   Karon Beach Restaurants, bars, tour companies and other non-hotel businesses are at the north end, near the traffic circle, and at the south,
on the little road connecting the back road with the beach road. Enjoy low season discounts

The Best Western

Karon Beach on Phuket Island is a relaxing beach area on Phuket Island with a long and wide stretch of beach. Hotels and resorts at Karon beach are mainly set back from the beach, across the beach road.  The Karon Beach Resort is absolute beachfront. The Central Karon has access right on the beach. The In on the Beach is absolute beachfront for those seeking a value for money budget but comfortable place to stay right on the beach. The Best Western at Karon beach is also popular. Karon Beach

Enjoy Northern Thailand

Thailand beach hotels and places to stay on the beaches and islands of Thailand. Thailand Beach Hotels and Reviews. Enjoy quiet and romantic beaches and busy beach resorts. Also Northern Thailand and Central Thailand. Enjoy Northern Thailand with scenery and  beauty and also the fun and relaxation on the beaches of Thailand

Vacation package

Air-hotel packages can be another way to save, but get out your calculator to make sure you're getting the best deal."Airlines and hotels are far more willing to discount when their products are sold as a package," explained Jennifer Gaines, contributing editor for Travelocity.com. "Airlines and hotels are very protective of their pricing. When you purchase a vacation package, you can't see individually what you're paying for airline and hotel, so it doesn't discredit their product."
David Swanson is a contributing editor to National Geographic Traveler and writes the Affordable Caribbean column for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine.

Don Deth Island

A day and a night was sufficient to explore the lovely little town so the next day we all made our way to the 4000 island (the 18th of February) Our expectations were high having heard only praise and comparisons to paradise. Howeve'r; on arrival at Don Deth (our island of choice) the first sight was a minute beach covered in litter. As there were 4 of us, hunting for 2 seperate bungalows, we found it hard to find anywhere to accomodate us. Eventually, after the girls crashed out for a drink and the boys continued searching, we found somewhere...Mr. Tho's bungalows: balancing over the edge of the Mekong, on high stilts, 2 wooden huts with nothing more than a bed and holey mosquitto net inside, with hamocks on the balcony.

Mekong and a tuk-tuk

Upon arriving in Pakse we headed 'straight' (which in Laos means stopping at every restuarant/shop/bus so everyone can get a cut of your money) to Champasak. Only a few of us were going there so we deserved pride of place inthe aisle on loose, wooden stools (before we used to laugh at the people who did this, now we sympathise with them) Holding on for our lives we got to know Tom and Jenny who were also heading off the beaten track to the quiet town of Champasak.

The four of us shared a boat across the Mekong and a tuk-tuk to a lovely guesthouse on the river front. (with our cheapest room yet at just over 1 quid each) As it was still early morning we made the most of the day by hiring bikes and cycling 10km out of town to Wat Phu (a temple complex older thank Angkor Wat by around 200 years) The temle complex sits in a beautiful mountain overlooking a plateau that extends as far as the eye can see. The bike ride back was hard as it was the hottest part of the day but overall the trip was well worth it. (having seen Angkor Wat since; the Wat Phu complex definitely rivals as a stunning archaeological site)

Carabians Beach

Don't want to think about cooking? In Jamaica, most villas come with a permanent staff — housekeeper, gardener, cook. Five-bedroom Cliffside Cottage, handled through Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith (jamaicavillas.com), has a large pool and staff of four; in summer the home rents for $5,250 per week — or $150 per night, per bedroom ($7,000 in winter). Budget about $50 per person for daily groceries, and 10 to 15 percent of the rental fee for staff gratuity, but you'll still come out ahead compared with a comparable resort.

Economizing

But making do with less doesn't have to mean cutting out a well-deserved Caribbean holiday. Economizing doesn't require staying at backpacker crash pads. And because an empty hotel room or vacant airplane seat generates no revenue, the travel industry has continuing incentive to roll out the deals.

Cambodia or southern Laos

While it lacks the appeal of The Plain of Jars or the temples of Luang Prabang, Si Phan Don is a great place to relax and appreciate nature. It is quite possible to find a basic guesthouse on the banks of the river. These accommodations are legendary for their low prices. Even the backpacker set will find little reason to complain. A few dollars a day would be a sufficient budget. For that reason, some tourists make Si Phan Don a long-term base. (Or at least the site of their rehabilitation after bumping along the roads of Cambodia or southern Laos).

Cambodia or southern Laos

While it lacks the appeal of The Plain of Jars or the temples of Luang Prabang, Si Phan Don is a great place to relax and appreciate nature. It is quite possible to find a basic guesthouse on the banks of the river. These accommodations are legendary for their low prices. Even the backpacker set will find little reason to complain. A few dollars a day would be a sufficient budget. For that reason, some tourists make Si Phan Don a long-term base. (Or at least the site of their rehabilitation after bumping along the roads of Cambodia or southern Laos).

4000 Island and beach

Laos, the landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is usually not mentioned in the same sentence as “islands.” The Mekong River is the only major body of water in the country. However, the area known as Si Phan Don does, in fact, have islands. Several thousand of them. The islands are surrounded by the mighty Mekong as it flows through southern Laos. A spectacular waterfall punctuates the unique geography of this region. Like the rest of Laos, this area is quiet, quaint, and a great place to relax

Lonely Planet

On the journey, we started to get an idea of why this place might be called 4000 islands - there are tiny (and I mean tiny!) little islands everywhere - most only big enough for one tree or a some reeds to grow on! In the dry season, there are literally thousands, but I can imagine that all but the biggest submerge in rainy season at the waters of the Mekong rise

Yummy noodle soup

The man returned with groceries an hour later, and the wife then prepared for us some yummy noodle soup over the fire. Aftewards, we saw a Laotian guy who had sat with us on the truck from Pakse to the islands. He invited us to his house, and together we attempted to get to know one another underneath his abode, which was larger than many of the other village homes. (Lao houses are built on stilts, and Laotians rest during the day on hammocks, bamboo mats-underneath the foundation). Through broken English, we learned that he was a student at the argicultural school in Pakse, and had another sister living in the capital. His family although still very poor by Western standards, seemed to be one of the village's more prosperous ones judging by the fact that some of the children made it off this tiny island.

French woman

Our original group of five togther with the Swiss couple, Sybylle and Juerg, and the French woman had a long nice dinner conversation over candlight. Our conversation at one point turned to stories of huge, nasty, insects and the horrible diseases you can get from them (Flo, got dengue fever from a mosquito bite a couple of years earlier). Needless to say, I had a bit of trouble falling asleep, but I think it was more from the blistering heat more than anything. Unfortunately, night time hardly lowers the high temperature on Don Det.

Dinner took Mamma Mon

Later that night we discovered it was definitely "back to basics" on this island called Don Det. There was no running water (you can take a bath in the Mekong, or use the water jugs in the wooden shed attached to the latrine), and no electricity. Dinner took Mamma Mon (23 yr old, beautiful mother of Tet who was almost 2 yrs) an hour to cook over the pitfire in her little kitchen. But, it was worth the wait. I had myself a huge bowl of lentil curry. yum yum. Our original group of five togther with the Swiss couple, Sybylle and Juerg, and the French woman had a long nice dinner conversation over candlight. Our conversation at one point turned to stories of huge, nasty, insects and the horrible diseases you can get from them (Flo, got dengue fever from a mosquito bite a couple of years earlier). Needless to say, I had a bit of trouble falling asleep, but I think it was more from the blistering heat more than anything. Unfortunately, night time hardly lowers the high temperature on Don Det.