Taipei Neighborhood Guide
2007-08-27 06:51:35
Taipei
, the political and financial center of Taiwan, is the island’s most populous city. Taipei originated as a small trading port over two hundred years ago before becoming the administrative capital under the Qing Dynasty. During the last few decades there has been tremendous growth in the city. Now a sprawling metropolis, Taipei is an ideal place to visit for those who love the hustle and bustle of the big city. Bei Tou (Peitou) Located in the northwest, Bei Tou is famous for its sulfur springs, spas and hotels. One of the more popular sulfur pits is Hell Valley. Bei Tou is in the middle of a small mountain range connected to Wellington Heights and Yang Ming Shan by public transport. Yang Ming Shan National Park is a great place to go hiking.
Shi Lin (Shihlin) The Shi Lin district covers both banks of the Keelung River and spills into the surrounding mountains. Shi Lin is best known for Shihlin Night Market, Taipei’s largest night market. North of the market is the pea
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, Guide
Hong Kong Overview
2007-08-26 08:33:13
Hong Kong
works as a useful gateway into Southeast Asia and into China. It is also an interesting place in its own right – an extraordinary, complex territory of seven million people that’s a repository of traditional Chinese culture, a recently relinquished British outpost, and one of the key economies of the Pacific Rim. The view of sky-scrapered Hong Kong Island, across the harbour from Kowloon, is one of the most stunning urban panoramas on earth, but Hong Kong also holds some surprises for the traveller – alongside the myriad shopping possibilities (not all of them such a bargain as they used to be), are a surprising number of inviting beaches, rewarding hiking trails and some surviving bastions of Chinese village life, most of them in the New Territories. An excellent infrastructure, an efficient underground system and all the other facilities of an international city make this an extremely soft entry into the Chinese world.
Some visitors dislike the speed, the obsess
Read more: Overview
Introduction to Delhi, India
2007-08-26 08:11:20
On first impressions, DELHI, with its jam-packed streets, tower blocks and temples, forts, mosques and colonial mansions, can be both disorienting and fascinating. It certainly takes a while to find your feet, as you attempt to weave a path through buses, trucks, nippy modern cars, mopeds, rickshaws, cows, bullock carts, hand-pulled trolleys and even the occasional elephant being ridden along with the flow of traffic. You’ll find unlikely juxtapositions are everywhere you look: suit-and-tie businessmen rub shoulders with traditionally dressed orthodox Hindus and Muslims; groups of young Levis-clad Delhi-ites pile into burger joints, bars and discos; turbaned snake charmers tease hypnotizing moans out of curved pipes; pundits pontificate while sadhus smoke their chillums; and ragged beggars clutching dusty children plead for a little help towards a meal.
Delhi’s daunting scale becomes more manageable as you start to appreciate that, geographicall as well as historically, i
Read more: Introduction
, India
Manila, Philippines - Overview
2007-08-26 05:55:49
The capital of the Philippines
, a grouping of twelve cities and five municipalities, is technically known as Metro Manila
but usually referred to simply as MANILA, home to 9.5 million people. Manila will never be a serious tourist destination until the authorities deal with the twin evils of traffic and pollution; most tourists are in the capital because they have a day or two to kill either at the beginning or the end of a trip to the rest of the country. In its favour, Manila has friendly people, some excellent nightlife, a few historical sights that are worth the effort, plus some of the most cavernous shopping malls in Asia. At first sight, the city may seem clamorous, unkempt and rough around the edges, but what it lacks in architectural sophistication it makes up for with an accessible chaotic charm. The way to enjoy it is to step into the fray and go with the flow, which is exactly what Manileños have learned to do.
Manila started life as a tiny settlement around the banks of
Read more: Overview
Great Wall of China
2007-08-25 09:28:49
Nearly everyone has heard of the huge stone wall known as the Great
Wall of China
. The Great Wall
of China was built mainly to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders. Successive Chinese dynasties all had a hand in repairing, re-building, lengthening, modifying and preserving the Great Wall. There are huge discrepancies regarding the length of the wall.
One account puts the length of the wall at over 3,720 miles. Richard Nixon said it was 2,484 miles long, while Time magazine favored 1,684 miles. What is a fact is that the Great Wall of China extends from Kansu in the west to the Yellow Sea in the east. Ancient records reported that at least one million slaves and prisoners of war were used to build this wall. Many laborers died from exhaustion and starvation while working on this colossal task. Their bodies were added to the rubble and masonry as the quickest means of disposal. For centuries, the Wall was known as “the longest cemetery in the world.”
Shi
Introduction to Tokyo, Japan
2007-08-28 09:34:37
On the edge of the Orient, TOKYO – the last great conurbation before the yawning chasm of the Pacific Ocean – is one of the world’s most perplexing cities. On the one hand, gaudily hung about with eyeball-searing neon and messy overhead cables, plagued by seemingly incessant noise, often clogged with bumper-to-bumper traffic and packed with twelve million people squashed into minute apartments, it can seem like the stereotypical urban nightmare. Yet behind the barely ordered chaos lie remnants of a very different way of life. Step back from the frenetic main roads and chances are you’ll find yourself in a world of tranquil backstreets, where wooden houses are fronted by neatly clipped bonsai trees; wander beyond the high-tech department stores, and you’ll find ancient temples and shrines. In this city of 24-hour shops and vending machines, a festival is held virtually every day of the year, people regularly visit their local shrine or temple and scrupulously obse
Read more: Introduction
, Tokyo
, Japan
Seoul Eat & Drink Guide
2007-08-28 02:12:02
Seoul
is a great place to experience a wide variety of spicy yet mouth-watering foods, especially the local cuisine with its distinctive tastes based on garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper powder and fermented soybean paste. Korean dishes, such as bibimpab (vegetables mixed with rice and hot pepper paste, topped with a cooked egg), kalbi (succulent beef ribs marinated in a special sauce, then char-broiled) and kimchi (Chinese cabbage or radish, salted and impregnated with various spices, including red hot pepper powder and pickled fish sauces), are becoming increasingly popular around the world.
Kimchi, in fact, is the country’s staple, accompanying almost every meal. Most of the city’s restaurants, whether high-priced or inexpensive, large or small, serve this popular condiment as a side dish. As many Koreans put it, “A meal without kimchi would be like trying to walk without legs.” The existence of some 200 kinds of Kimchi shows how important it
Read more: Drink
, Guide
Bangkok Information Guide
2007-08-28 01:50:01
The headlong pace and flawed modernity of BANGKOK (called “Krung Thep” in Thai) match few people’s visions of the capital of exotic Siam. Spiked with scores of highrise buildings of concrete and glass, it’s a vast flatness which holds a population of at least nine million, and feels even bigger. But under the shadow of the skyscrapers you’ll find a heady mix of frenetic markets and hushed golden temples, of glossy cutting-edge clubs and early-morning almsgiving ceremonies. Most budget travellers head for the Banglamphu district, which is just a short walk from the dazzling Grand Palace and Wat Po and the very worthwhile National Museum. For livelier scenes, explore the dark alleys of Chinatown’s bazaars or head for the water: the great Chao Phraya River is the backbone of a network of canals and a useful way of crossing the city.
Bangkok
is a relatively young capital, established in 1782 after the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya, the former capital. A tem
Read more: Guide
Introduction to Jakarta, Indonesia
2007-08-31 04:17:22
Bounded to the north by the Java Sea and the south by the low Bogor Hills, Indonesia
’s overwhelming capital, JAKARTA, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. From a mere 900,000 inhabitants in 1945, the current population is well over ten million and continues to grow at a rate of 200,000 every year. The capital currently sprawls over 656 square kilometres of northern Java. Unfortunately, few foreign visitors find the city as alluring as the local population, and down the years Jakarta
has been much derided. Its dangers have been much exaggerated, and except for the period around Suharto’s downfall in May 1998, the safety of foreigners has not really been in question. Yet the suburb of Kota in the north, the former heart of the old Dutch city, still retains a number of beautiful historic buildings, as does the neighbouring port of Sunda Kelapa. The capital also has some of the country’s finest museums, including the Maritime Museum, the Wayang Museum and t
Read more: Introduction
Singapore Neighborhood Guide
2007-08-31 03:56:39
A city as small as Singapore
can be toured in just three days, many would say, but to see all the highlights and get beneath the skin of this charming place definitely warrants a longer stay. A tour planned around the major districts allows one to appreciate its history, people and rich cultural diversity in an optimal period of time. Here is the best of Singapore not to be missed.
Colonial Core–Singapore’s architectural goldmine. Let yourself be whisked back in time to 1819, when Sir Stamford Raffles first stepped ashore and the Union Jack was raised. Still exuding a strong air of colonialism are well restored government buildings, cathedrals and churches, and the Singapore Cricket Club, once a sports centre for the British colonists. Esplanade Park makes for a pleasant stroll, while learning about the martyrs and heroes, for whom the various memorials in the park have been built. The city’s finest museums also lie nestled in and around the district including the Si
Read more: Neighborhood
, Guide
Penang Neighborhood Guide
2007-08-31 03:47:31
From a tourist map, the island of Penang
looks somewhat like a mink’s pelt. Georgetown, its capital, sits roughly on the right arm of the skin, while the site of the Muka Head Lighthouse on the left signaled its strategic appeal when the British East India Company came calling two centuries ago. Somewhere near the head lies a cluster of good beaches that lends Penang the euphemism of a resort island. Penang Hill sits at the centre, near where the animal’s heart might have been, while the figurative legs are hosts to an international airport and the Batu Maung Fishing Village. Across the straits, Seberang Perai (formerly Province Wellesley), the other territorial half of the Penang State, is linked by ferry and the Penang Bridge.
Georgetown–Authentic Replica of the Past Georgetown remains as ruggedly antique as its kingly name suggests. Indeed, it is rare we find a city that so authentically retraces the colonialists’ footsteps, and the trading diasporas that ch
Read more: Neighborhood
, Guide
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2007-08-29 00:00:00
Introduction to Tokyo, Japan
On the edge of the Orient, TOKYO – the last great conurbation before the yawning chasm of the Pacific Ocean – is one of the world’s most perplexing cities. On the one hand, gaudily hung about with eyeball-searing neon and messy overhead cables, plag
Links for 2007-08-25 [del.icio.us]
2007-08-26 00:00:00
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0 - Full Test
If a new model looks like fun—and this sparky little Volvo bobtail surely does—then its maker is figured to be shining up to the Hip, Hop, ’n’ Kickin’ generation, those active lifestylers still 20 years short of their first wrinkle.
Links for 2007-08-24 [del.icio.us]
2007-08-25 00:00:00
2007 Lotus Elise - Full Road Tests
Sixty mph in 4.8 seconds. A quarter-mile time of 13.6 seconds at 102 mph. Braking from 70 mph to a stop in 162 feet. On paper, it looks like this test subject is a mildly interesting performance car with an above-average ability to go and a somewhat ordin
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2007-08-21 00:00:00
2008 Aston Martin DBS - The Vanquish Replacement
To most James Bond movie hounds, Daniel Craig was the star of the most recent James Bond film, Casino Royale.
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2007-08-18 00:00:00
2008 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Edition
Named after a boulevard in California, the latest PT is unveiled on an avenue in Michigan.
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2007-08-17 00:00:00
2007 BMW 335i Coupe Automatic - Turbo Engine With an Automatic
The quickest BMW you can get that doesn’t start with an M (until the 135i arrives, that is).
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2007-08-16 00:00:00
Tested: 2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Hard to believe it’s a Porsche, Hard to believe it’s a sport-ute.
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2007-09-24 00:00:00
BMW Made Concept X6 and X6 ActiveHybrid For 2009-2010
Behold the new BMW ‘coupe’ SUV crossover that will go on sale in the U.S. next year.
2008 Aston Martin DBS
To most James Bond movie hounds, Daniel Craig was the star of the most recent James Bond film, Casino Royale.
2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed
How many times in your career as a Bentley salesperson have you found yourself in the embarrassing position of having nearly closed the sale on a Continental GT
Mu Koh Lanta National Park - Krabi, Thailand
2007-09-23 12:13:17
As a sailing destination, Mu Koh Lanta National
Park makes a fine day’s jaunt. You can snorkel, coastal cruise, trek and bird-watch, with wildlife encounters virtually guaranteed. The National Park
is made up of 10 idyllic islands, of which Kho Lanta is the largest. Isolated and quiet, it is perfect for those tired urban attractions. It offers a small selection of quality accommodations. The island of Kho Rok Nai features a red, wind-eroded cliff, dropping down to broad beaches, while Koh Rok Nok offers an inspiring view of Ao Man Sai.
Koh, Krabi, Lanta, Mu, National, Park, Thailand
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2007-09-23 00:00:00
Hyundai i-Blue Concept
Hyundai is doing its part at this year’s Frankfurt auto show to stay green and competitive with the i-Blue fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Volvo C30 Recharge Concept
Like nearly every other company at this year’s Frankfurt auto show—which is themed around future tech—Volvo is using the venue to display a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle.
Citroen C5 Airscape Concept
This convertible concept is a handsome precursor to the C5 due next spring.
Peugeot 308RC Z and 308 Hybrid HDi Concepts
If Renault can be criticized for underdesigning the new Laguna, the Peugeot 308RC Z concept car takes the gold medal at the 2007 Frankfurt show for detail overload.
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota’s latest land basher is sophisticated on and off the trail.
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2007-09-22 00:00:00
Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept
Mercedes reinvents the wheel. Well, the engine, at least, with a DiesOtto in this concept.
Hyundai i-Blue Concept
Hyundai is doing its part at this year’s Frankfurt auto show to stay green and competitive with the i-Blue fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Volvo C30 Recharge Concept
Like nearly every other company at this year’s Frankfurt auto show—which is themed around future tech—Volvo is using the venue to display a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle.
Links for 2007-09-19 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-20 00:00:00
2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster - Road Tests
Nabbing a Lamborghini for testing involves trying to chisel into a press-car calendar thick with celebrity-studded red-carpet parties hosted by the likes of Donatella Versace. It isn’t easy getting on the schedule. Lamborghini’s silk-suited brand mana
2007 Jaguar XKR Convertible - A Thoroughbred GT
There is no shortage of write-ups about Jaguar’s new XK, in all its variations, on CARandDRIVER.com. That’s probably because Jag’s latest—and in terms of performance, its greatest—GT is pretty sensational, whether or not it has a roof, a superch
Welcome to Bali
2007-09-19 08:29:11
Welcome
to Bali
Small journey in bali.
bali, Indonesia, Travel, Travel Videos
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2007-09-19 00:00:00
Suzuki SX4 WRC Car
Suzuki hopes to steal the rally crowd’s attention at the Frankfurt auto show with its newest entrant in the World Rally Championship, the SX4 WRC.
Links for 2007-09-17 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-18 00:00:00
Introduction to Travel in Osaka, Japan
The urban equivalent of the Elephant Man, OSAKA, Japan’s third largest city after Tokyo and Yokohama, yearns to be loved despite its ugliness. It may well lack the pockets of beauty and refinement found in nearby Kyoto , but beyond the unrelenting concr
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
Usually, automakers debut important or exciting new cars at a major auto show, all the better to drum up consumer interest, my dear. We expected the same to be true of Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming SLR McLaren roadster.
Introduction to Travel in Osaka, Japan
2007-09-17 01:43:49
The urban equivalent of the Elephant Man, OSAKA, Japan
’s third largest city after Tokyo and Yokohama, yearns to be loved despite its ugliness. It may well lack the pockets of beauty and refinement found in nearby Kyoto , but beyond the unrelenting concrete cityscape, Osaka
is a vibrant metropolis, inhabited by famously easy-going citizens with a taste for the good things in life.
The handsomely renovated castle, Osaka-jo, dominates Osaka’s heart just as it did centuries ago, while the venerable Shitenno-ji and Sumiyoshi Taisha hark back to the city’s past importance as a religious centre. In contrast, bizarre modern buildings, such as the spaceship-like Osaka Dome sports stadium and the fantastic aquarium at the Tempozan Harbour Village, thrust forth from the urban sprawl like shiny gems; they have recently been joined by a large-scale theme park, Universal Studios Japan.
But what is really special about Osaka is its people, who speak one of Japan’s more earth
Read more: Introduction
, Travel
Links for 2007-09-16 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-17 00:00:00
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe and Convertible - Road Tests
Just 20 years ago, when Porsche and Ferrari unveiled the astonishing 444-hp 959 and the 478-hp F40 supercars, 400 horsepower was a very big number. Nowadays, the horsepower wars have gotten so crazy that there are a number of sedans—thank you, BMW and M
Introduction to Jakarta, Indonesia
2007-08-31 04:17:22
Bounded to the north by the Java Sea and the south by the low Bogor Hills, Indonesia
’s overwhelming capital, JAKARTA, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. From a mere 900,000 inhabitants in 1945, the current population is well over ten million and continues to grow at a rate of 200,000 every year. The capital currently sprawls over 656 square kilometres of northern Java. Unfortunately, few foreign visitors find the city as alluring as the local population, and down the years Jakarta
has been much derided. Its dangers have been much exaggerated, and except for the period around Suharto’s downfall in May 1998, the safety of foreigners has not really been in question. Yet the suburb of Kota in the north, the former heart of the old Dutch city, still retains a number of beautiful historic buildings, as does the neighbouring port of Sunda Kelapa. The capital also has some of the country’s finest museums, including the Maritime Museum, the Wayang Museum and t
Read more: Introduction
Singapore Neighborhood Guide
2007-08-31 03:56:39
A city as small as Singapore
can be toured in just three days, many would say, but to see all the highlights and get beneath the skin of this charming place definitely warrants a longer stay. A tour planned around the major districts allows one to appreciate its history, people and rich cultural diversity in an optimal period of time. Here is the best of Singapore not to be missed.
Colonial Core–Singapore’s architectural goldmine. Let yourself be whisked back in time to 1819, when Sir Stamford Raffles first stepped ashore and the Union Jack was raised. Still exuding a strong air of colonialism are well restored government buildings, cathedrals and churches, and the Singapore Cricket Club, once a sports centre for the British colonists. Esplanade Park makes for a pleasant stroll, while learning about the martyrs and heroes, for whom the various memorials in the park have been built. The city’s finest museums also lie nestled in and around the district including the Si
Read more: Neighborhood
, Guide
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