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Other destinations
Train Tracks through Thailand by Charmaine Hallmark
If you’ve dreamed of "something different" a journey on the Eastern Oriental Express is special, memorable, unique and wonderful. There are not enough superlatives to describe my recent journey through Thailand on the world’s most famous train. We left Bangkok, amidst noise and confusion, a busy and bustling station, but were welcomed on board by Woody, who looked after our every comfort, and a chilled bottle of champagne – a nice touch from Leesa. And soon we were slowly leaving the city and the suburbs of Bangkok behind. If you need entertainment there was a gathering in the lounge for a tropical fruit demonstration (and a taste), or an audience with a guest speaker, Bill Warren, telling us all about Jim Thomson the founder of the famous Thai Silk Company.
I spent the next hour in the open air observation deck, with a steaming mug of tea! Lots of guests were around too, and we all drank in the fresh morning air, chattering and excited. Again, as if by magic, Woody had transformed our bedroom and served a hot breakfast…..croissants, muffins and coffee! After a hot shower in our en-suite, and a change of clothes, we were all too soon, pulling into Chiang Mai. Woody had helped us pack, and waved a fond farewell to us on the platform. With pangs of sadness I said goodbye…..but the next part of my adventure in Thailand was about to unfold!
Stopovers to make you want to stop longerby Charmaine HallmarkWe all know the benefits of a stopover on a long journey--it's good for your health and your well-being. But now you’ve made the decision to visit Auntie in Australia, or Nephew in New Zealand, where is the best place to spend those precious few hours? Explore? Shop till you drop? Or just relax on a sun-drenched beach? Planning your stopover is just as important as planning your holiday Down Under and the variety of Asian cities will be sure to have one exactly right for you. So hold on to your hats... we’re heading East to some of our favourites! HONG KONG – awe inspiring, dynamic Victoria Harbour is instantly recognisable. The new airport is impressive and your approach to the city via a series of bridges and islands will be enthralling. Hong Kong is Chinese junks, neon lights and crowds! But its top sightseeing spots--Victoria Peak, The Star Ferry and Stanley Market will leave you wanting more. KUALA LUMPUR – another exciting city with its famous Petrona Towers is great fun to explore. But Malaysian Airlines’ new direct service to Langkawi will take you straight to a paradise island – white sandy beaches, beautiful azure seas and deluxe hotels – rest and relaxation. SINGAPORE – safe and squeaky clean! Singapore is a shopaholic’s dream! Malls with top notch designer labels, to the bazaars at Little India – you can buy anything and everything. But tear yourself away and make time to have a coffee at the Marina in the quiet company of the famous Merlions, and enjoy a Singapore Sling in the old fashioned Long Bar at Raffles. And if you can steal an extra day, walk among beautiful Orchid Gardens, an incredible calming and relaxing experience. But THAILAND is the No 1 stopover – there are 30 hotels in Bangkok at less than £10 a night. Palaces and temples abound for culture seekers. Life is laid back and easy, but the city is crowded, dusty and noisy. It seems that everything happens on the street! Working, eating, selling and buying – they do it on the pavement! Pat Pong Night Market is a tourist’s delight – a spectacle of bars, restaurants and stalls – fakes galore on offer from Rolex watches to Burberry bags – but brush up on your bargaining techniques, this is serious negotiating and great fun! Going West has other stopover opportunities--meeting Mickey Mouse or a movie star in LOS ANGELES, surfing at WAIKIKI or simply flopping on a deserted Pacific island beach in FIJI or RARATONGA. I would say a stopover is essential--a punctuation mark between what you know at home and the adventures you’ve planned away. So with careful planning you can relax, revive and do something quite out of your usual style and routine--even discover a new you!
Dubai: Arabia's city of goldby Jo BradleyJust an eight-hour flight to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates and the azure waters of the Persian Gulf and I was in Dubai. The cosmopolitan city has some of the most stunning architecture towering over the waterfront of the Creek. Having never been to the Middle East, I was very impressed. Just a short ride from the city centre are miles of prisine beaches and super-luxury hotels. The Jumeirah Beach forms the shape of a sail of one of the dhow boats which have been trading in the port for centures. The other awesome hotel Burj Al Arab is pure opulence. We were given a guided tour and I would imagine a lotter win or a very special celebration would be fitting for a few nights in this fairy tale from the Arabian Nights! Dubai is now building a residential and tourist resort, due for completion in 2006. It will be the world's largest manmade island. The Palm will have two marina, a water theme park and shopping and leisure facilities. The island willa dd 120km to Dubai's shoreline and will be visible from the moon. Pure escapism! Dubai's nickname 'City of Gold' is apt, for the gold souk markets attract buyers from around the globe. As a duty free destination Dubai offers excellent shopping malls and Arabic open-air markets where bargaining is the order of the day. If you can tear yourself away from the city, a 4WD desert safari is great fun! There's just miles and miles of soft sand dunes, and the experienced drivers take the 45-degree tilts effortlessly, while we held on, white knuckled and screamed with joy! A trip to Dubai is an excellent destination all year round. It's certainly not 'cheap and cheerful' but the standards and service all over give you the feeling that you are being treated like a sultan!
Eilat by Charmaine Hallmark
Today I closed my eyes, lay back and floated in the Dead Sea. And while I floated, a calm and quiet feeling settled over me--for this place, 1,320 feet below sea level, has a unique atmosphere that slows down the system and induces a feeling of relaxation that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. While I gently floated in the eerie silence, I dreamt about Arabian Nights, Camels and Caravans, Mysterious Bedouins and Petra, the Rose Red City of the Desert. My breath caught in my throat at my first sight of Al-Khazneh Faron (The Treasury Building) in Petra, completely carved from the pink rock and almost perfectly preserved from the elements. It's a 40-minute walk through the spectacular Siq gorge, a walk through time to 85 BC, the sights of horses, camels and donkeys making their way with tourists over and over and wondering what all the fuss is about! A fellow floater bumped into me and brought me out of my reverie and so I made my way to the showers. Later that day there was another "first" in store for me: an encounter with wild dolphins in the Red Sea. The brightly coloured striped and spotted tropical fish were overshadowed as we were surrounded, above, below and on both sides, by friendly and inquisitive dolphins coming to say hello! Are you wondering where I am? I could only be in Eilat--40 degrees, blue skies, hummus and pita bread, steeped in history, culture, mystery and myths. Israel fulfils all holiday dreams.
Surprising Vietnam by Charmaine Hallmark
Does the word send shivers down your spine? Do you conjure up frightening images of war, bombs and cruelty? There can be no-one who hasn’t heard of Vietnam and her troubles. Make your first call Saigon, now Ho Chi Min City, and take a look around the war museums and the Coo Chi Tunnels. Spare a moment to contemplate what this country and its people have gone through--its desperate past making its present beauty even more breathtaking. Then shake off your melancholy and enjoy the beautiful countryside and the peace and simplicity that Vietnam has to offer. You will emerge from Saigon a little bit sad, but the hope of a new future, the frenzy of rebuilding the city and commercial investment is a warming thought. Out of the city, life is simple—water buffaloes plough the fields and peasants toil in the hot sun under their conical hats. The women are up at dawn, bartering at the fish market while the children, with bright, beaming smiles, sell postcards to the tourists. I went to Vietnam in slight trepidation--"What was it all about?" But the strangest thing I came across was the food! The weather was hot and sticky, but the hotels were modern, French style opulence with hot showers and cool air conditioning. I felt a sympathy for Vietnam, struggling to get back on her feet, but the unspoilt beaches and crystal clear waters surpass the beaten-track beaches of other countries in the Far East. In Hanoi we paid our respects to Uncle Ho. In a silent procession we filed past his tomb where he lay in state. The myriad of market streets and sophistication of Hanoi was a contrast to the hub-bub of Ho Chi Min—and when we found a café which served English chocolate cake, we were in seventh heaven! As I said, Vietnam was a surprise--an adventure and great fun. If you like something different, you’ll love Vietnam. You will feel the effect long after you leave. |
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Leaving the city far behind, we dressed in our fineries and made our way to an early sitting for dinner….crystal, silver and the best wine….all set for us at our cosy table for two. Talk about romantic!! After a nightcap we returned to our cabin which Woody had turned into a sumptuous bedroom, and we settled down for the night...but I was much too excited to sleep and I sat up in bed at the window as we wound our way through the countryside passing tiny villages and remote stations. I must have dozed off because I woke to see the dawn and we were in the middle of the rainforest – misty and much cooler.