Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts

Monday, February 11, 2013

Vietnamese enjoy TET

Vietnamese enjoy Tet in Laos, France, India, Sri Lanka, Chile

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 09:43 PM PST

A dance at the gathering in Chile

In the first days of the 2013 Year of the Snake, Vietnamese in Laos flocked to Phat Tich and Bang Long pagodas to ask for peace, wealth and luck, as well as to extend New Year greetings to each other.
It is also a chance for younger generations of Vietnamese in Laos to discover their culture.
They also prayed for the further development of the traditional relations between Laos and Vietnam, to make their work or business in Laos more comfortable.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 10), a ceremony was held in Truc Lam Pagoda in Villebon-sur-Yvette , France , to pray for peace for Vietnamese people living in Paris and its neighbouring regions.
More than 300 people including Ambassador Duong Chi Dung participated in the ceremony hosted by Buddhist Monk Thich Phuong Duong.
After the ceremony, the visitors had a chance to enjoy Vietnamese vegetarian food provided by the pagoda.
On the same day, representatives of Vietnamese monks studying in India worked with the Vietnamese Embassy in the country to hold a ceremony to greet the New Year and ask for peace.
Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Tan wished the monks good health and briefed them on Vietnam’s achievements over the past year.
On the evening of February 9 (last day of the 2012 lunar year), the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka organised a ceremony to welcome the 2013 Lunar New Year.
Among the participants were guests from the host country, ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from a number of countries, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese students.
In Chile, a warm gathering was held by the Vietnamese Embassy to bring in the New Year. It attracted not only overseas Vietnamese but also guests from the host country.
Ambassador Ha Thi Ngoc Ha highlighted achievements in the relations between Vietnam and Chile in 2012, including the highest ever rise in two-way trade, which reached US$561 million, an increase of 15.26% from 2011.
(VNA)

Monday, June 18, 2012

8 emerging travel destinations picked by the experts - NY Daily News

8 emerging travel destinations picked by the experts

Vietnam topped a list of emerging nations chosen by US tour operators

Monday, June 18, 2012, 3:10 PM

Chris Howey/shutterstock.com

Panama City.

Need some inspiration for your summer getaway? Relaxnews offers some picks of emerging destinations from the predictions made by travel experts from around the world.
Uganda
This country has endured much in recent years, but the tourists are beginning to return, wrote Lonely Planet earlier this year. The stunning wildlife is beginning to make a return after decades of overhunting, and the 50th anniversary of independence has focused attention on the capital Kampala.
Lebanon
Frommer's clocked the rise of Beirut, already well-known among tastemakers, for the first time this year, noting that Lebanon's capital is 'far from your "regular" Middle Eastern city.' History, culture, music and beaches are listed as among the reasons to visit the city.
Vietnam
Still sufficiently off the beaten track, Vietnam topped a list of emerging nations chosen by US tour operators, the body predicting that it was the top “off-the-beaten-path” destination that will gain popularity in 2012.
Argentina
'People are just waking up to what Buenos Aires is all about,' noted the Financial Times in its 2012 hot list. Tourists can choose between beaches and wildlife during the day and tango until they drop in the evenings, all while staying in one of the city's impressive choice of hotels.
Albania
The Albanian Riviera was described as a 'still-wild stretch of the Mediterranean' by Rough Guides, the tourists are only just beginning to discover this stunning coastline. Transport isn't easy, but stretches of unspoilt sand and sky-blue sea will make it all worthwhile.
Sri Lanka
With the conflict over, Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a tourism boom, wrote Travel+Leisure. The beach-lined coast draws the most tourists, said the magazine, although there are plans to develop new resort destinations in the North.
Panama
'Go for the canal. Stay for everything else,' wrote the New York Times, as the economy of Panama booms and the country welcomes more expatriates and tourists. Look out for spectacular new hotels and the transformation of city quarters from dilapidated districts to arts and culture hubs.
Sudan
Sudan makes up eight percent of Africa but is woefully undervisited, pointed out Wanderlust. Filled with ancient deserted ruins and swatches of unexplored land, the country is home to tribal communities increasingly hard to find in the modern world, making it the magazine's top emerging destination this year.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Hewlett-Packard extends music service to Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE - Hewlett-Packard (HP) is entering Southeast Asia's music download market through an expanded partnership with Universal Music.

The free service, which will be available in 18 countries across South and Southeast Asia from 28 November, gives HP customers access to Universal’s music library. The service allows 1,120 songs to be downloaded during a 12-month period, 120 of which can be downloaded for indefinite ownership. The rest will be available with a validity of one year.

The service will specifically be available in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.

According to the company, this is the first music-service partnership between Universal Music and HP in Southeast Asia. “Consumers are increasingly streaming and storing their favourite music files on their PC,” said Dennis Mark, VP of marketing for HP Personal Systems Group for Asia-Pacific and Japan. “Our partnership with Universal Music will amplify consumers’ entertainment gratification and make their notebook a one-stop shop for all their multimedia needs.”

HP’s expansion into the sector mirrors similar services launched in the region to attract young consumers. This year, Nokia rolled out its Comes With Music platform in the region. Motorola’s MotoMusic, which enjoyed success in China after its 2006 debut but was slower to gain ground elsewhere in the region, also launched in Singapore last year. That service closed down in June.

HP initially launched this service in other Asia-Pacific markets last month.

They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.