Phim Hay 360s

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Hydropolis, the world's first under water hotel. Entirely built in Germany and then assembled in Dubai, it is scheduled to be completed by 2009 after many delays.

The Burj Dubai. Construction began in 2005 and is expected to be complete by 2008. At an estimated height of over 800 meters, it will easily be world's tallest building when finished. It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Yaipei 101.


This is what downtown Dubai will look like around 2008-2009. More than 140 stories of the Burj
Dubai have already been completed. It is already the worlds tallest man made structure and it is still not scheduled to be completed for at least another year.

The Al Burj. This will be the centerpiece of the Dubai Waterfront. Once completed it
will take over the title of the tallest structure in the world from the Burj Dubai

Recently it was announced that the final height of this tower will be 1200 meters.
That would make it more than 30% taller than the Burj Dubai and three times as tall as
the Empire State Building

The Burj al Alam, or The World Tower. Upon completion it will rank as the world's highest
hotel. It is expected to be finished by 2009. At 480 meters it will only be 28 meters shorter
than theTaipei 101

The Trump International Hotel & Tower, which will be the centerpiece of one of the palm islands, The Palm Jumeirah.




Dubailand. Currently, the largest amusement park collection in the world is Walt Disney World

Resort in Orlando, which is also the largest single-site employer in the United states with

58,000 employees. Dubailand will be twice the size.




Dubailand will be built on 3 billion square feet (107 miles^2) at an estimated $20 billion price tag.

The site will include a purported 45 mega projects and 200 hundred other smaller projects.


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Currently, the Walt Disney World Resort is the #1 tourist destination in the world. Once fully

completed, Dubailand will easily take over that title since it is expected to attract 200,000 visitors

daily

The Dubai Marina is an entirely man made development that will contain over 200 highrise

buildings when finished. It will be home to some of the tallest residential structures in the

world. The completed first phase of the project is shown. Most of the other high rise buildings

will be finished by 2009-2010.





Some of the tallest buildings in the world, such as Ocean Heights and The Princess Tower, which

will be the largest residential building in the world at over a 100 stories, will line the Dubai Marina.

The UAE Spaceport would be the first spaceport in the world if construction ever gets under way.

I'm not joking...

Some other crazy .. The Dubai Metro system, once completed, will become the largest fully

automated rail system in the world. The Dubai World Central International Airport will become

the largest airport in size when it is completed. It will also eventually become the busiest airport

in the world, based on passenger volume. There are more construction workers in Dubai than

actual citizens.

10 Hot Tips on What to Prepare for your next Travel!

Are you planning to go somewhere during this summer vacation? I am sure you would want to save on your travel expenses so you could shop for more on souvenir items and extend some more days perhaps. For sure you would want to have a perfect, hassle free and a safe vacation, right?

Summer is fast approaching and it is about time to plan for your next vacation. I am sure every one of us would like to save money from their travel expenses. You would want also to save time so you could see as many places as you can. This is very important if you are traveling on a very limited time and on a limited budget. You would not want also to have a bad experience of no Hotel room available, fully booked flight and you forgot to bring your digital camera with you, is it not? This is due to poor preparation.

Two other important aspects are: a safe travel and a healthy body. Perhaps you will agree with me that if you are feeling well, you can not enjoy your trip. It might even cut short your trip. Traveling in an unsafe condition is the worst thing that could happen to you on a long trip.

Well, here are 10 tips I would like to share with you with the hope that this might help you have a fruitful vacation.

These are my top ten hot lists on what to prepare for your next travel:
1. Plan your itinerary at least one month ahead. In this way, advance booking for your airline tickets and Hotel bookings will be cheaper.

2. Group bookings are another way of reducing your travel expenses. Not only that, it will save your time searching for the place. Looking for the location is time consuming and transportation cost will be more expensive compared to package tours.

3. Google search is very helpful. It can give you many ideas and information on the location where you can go.

4. Save your Discounted Coupons from your Groceries and magazines.

5. Subscribe to membership club where thousands of shop owners and companies are offering excellent club membership discounts.

6. Read from Ezine Articles about cheap and safe travel.

7. Subscribe to blogs. Get new ideas from the experiences of others.

8. Bring only those things that you will need. If you are traveling by car, total car weight load can save gasoline expenses especially for a long drive.

9. Make sure you bring along with you your first aid kits.

10. Do not forget your medications and important contact address and phone numbers in case of emergency.

As a summary, plan your trip in advance. In this way, you can save time and money. This will ensure you of airline bookings and hotel room availability. Searching through the internet about the place you want to go to gives you a better idea on how many days you are going to spend there and how much budget you will set aside for it. If you are driving on your travel observe traffic rules and safety all the time. Bring your ID and do not forget your membership discount cards, medical insurance cards and passports . Take care not to loose your valuables and eat moderately.
That is it. I hope for your full summer trip enjoyment and a safe return!

photo: Hotel "La Résidence Phou Vao", Luang Prabang, Laos

Hotel and guesthouse proprietors in Luang Prabang province have more than doubled the prices charged for accommodation on their premises, due to increasing tourist numbers over the high season.

Provincial tourism officials confirm that prices are, however, still below the ceiling rate placed on prices by the provincial authorities, and that the increases in room rates have had no visible negative impact on the visiting tourists.

The president of the Luang Prabang Hotel and Guesthouse Association, Mr Khoun Chanthaboupha, said last week that accommodation providers in the world heritage town began to increase their service charges early this month. As tourist numbers dramatically increased, the number of available guesthouse and hotel rooms became insufficient to meet customer demands.

According to Mr Khoun, prices for a guesthouse room are currently ranging from 140,475 kip (US$15) to 936,500 kip (US$100) per night; a hotel room can fetch anywhere from 936,500 kip (US$100) to 4.6 million kip (US$500) per night.

The normal price for a guesthouse room ranges from 46,780 kip (US $5) to 467,800 kip (US $50), and a hotel room will not cost above 2.8 million kip (US $300).

Mr Khoun noted that the present prices found in the province are still under the ceiling rates established by the Provincial Tourism Administration. He said that the administration considered the increases in price reasonable, and as they were only seasonal, authorities did not wish to meddle with the business affairs of the sector.

He confirmed that the accommodation increases were not due to increases in the price of fuel and other goods on the market, but were rather a seasonal event, seen every year at this time as both domestic and foreign traveller numbers increase. He added that business people only have the chance to readily earn money du ring this time of the year.

“From early December to late January is the country's peak tourist season, and all accommodation providers seize the opportunity to increase the charges for their rooms,” he told Vientiane Times during a visit to Vientiane last week.

“During this time, guesthouse and hotels owners do not have to compete with each other to please customers and offer special prices to attract them to their establishments.”

Mr Khoun said that the only way to reduce the costs of accommodation at the more popular holiday destinations, and to make domestic travel to places like Luang Prabang during the season possible for all Lao nationals, was to encourage the private sector to build more guesthouses and hotels.

Luang Prabang currently has about 16,000 rooms available in guesthouses and hotels.

He said that Luang Prabang was experiencing difficulty in increasing the availability of room numbers, due to the enforcement of strict world heritage preservation rules, which limit the construction of high-rise buildings, and subsequently fuels the increases in land prices on which to build further guesthouses and hotels.

He said that many of the residents in the town have turned their houses into modest guesthouses. The rooms do not, however, always meet the demands of customers.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy

Vientianetimes

Domestic and international tourists alike are looking for new and exciting places to celebrate the coming New Year, and the popular tourist town of Vangvieng in Vientiane province is ready to hold its own special countdown party on an island!

According to Head of Vangvieng's Tourism Administration Office, Mr Phouvieng Sykaisone, the district has organised a trade fair at the old airstrip, where tourists can enjoy browsing amongst stalls of local handicraft, fruit, household appliances and clothes.

“The trade fair, which opened yesterday and will continue until the end of the year, is a central component of our celebrations for the upcoming new year. But best of all, we will join with a variety of entertainment venues in hosting New Years Eve celebrations on Don Kang Nam Xong (Xong River island), in Savang village in the centre of town,” he said.

He added that the island was a suitably large area, on which organisers had prepared open fire places for visitors to sit or dance around if it took their fancy, as well as lucky draws, games of petanque and volleyball and musical acts to attract revellers on New Years Eve and New Years Day.

“Many people like to visit the island because it is a beautiful area surrounded by the gently flowing river and limestone mountains, and it is located right in the centre of town,” he explained yesterday in a telephone interview.

“Savang village is currently under development,” he added, “there will also be a local trade fair here, at a village meeting area in the old market.” The fair will sell local skirts ( Lao sin ), traditional handicrafts and food to tourists who come to welcome in the New Year.

The district currently has 86 restaurants and more than 1,000 rooms available, including three hotels and 63 guesthouses, he said.

“In Vangvieng you can open your window and drink in the beauty of the stunning natural scenery, in refreshingly cool weather,” said Mr Phouvieng.

Vangvieng has in the past attracted a generally younger crowd, who come to relax and enjoy the Lao countryside by floating down the river on inflated tyres (tubing), kayaking and swimming in the Xong River.

There is also a range of trekking options and many people go out to explore the caves hidden in the limestone outcrops. On the gastronomic front, one can sample organic wine, shakes and pancakes made from mulberries, along with healthy mulberry leaf tea and deep-fried tempura leaves eaten with honey.

The tourist town of Vangvieng is now booming, as it is a convenient stopping point for many travellers journeying by road between the two World Heritage Sites of Luang Prabang in the north and Vat Phou Champassak in the south.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa

The Asian Trails Travel Company, offering varied tours in eight countries in Asia, yesterday officially opened an office in Vientiane to promote local tourism to the world and benefit local communities.

Attending the opening ceremony at the company's office in Khounta Thong village, Sikhotthabong district, were Director Luzi Matzig, Managing Director Inthy Deuansavan, Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration Soukaseum Bodhisane, and various officials.

Asian Trails was first conceived in 1999, and now has its head office in Bangkok , Thailand , with other offices located in Cambodia , China , Indonesia , Malaysia , Myanmar and Vietnam .

The company has established a network which now covers all major Asian tourist destinations, with offices in all strategic inbound tourism centres throughout South East Asia .

Mr Inthy said the tour operation not only focuses on offering varied tours, but also benefits local communities.

We will explain to communities about the importance of the tourist attractions in their neighbourhoods, and the importance of cultural diversity in drawing visitors to Laos ,” he said.

“Once people see they can generate an income from our tours, they will work together to conserve tourist attractions.”

He added that they would also provide as much information as possible to advise visitors how they should behave in these areas, and their responsibilities to the natural environment as tourists.

The company will run tours to all the popular tourist sites in the capital, such as local temples, the National Museum , That Luang Stupa and Patouxay.

Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration Soukaseum Bodhisane said as the number of visitors has rapidly increased over the years, any investments in the tourism sector in Laos would be a good idea.

“Actually, in Laos , there are more than 100 tour operators, but only a dozen of them can operate successfully and internationally. Asian Trails Laos will be one of them,” he said, adding that it would be interesting to find out the secrets behind the company's success.

Asian Trails Laos is also a member of the Lao Association of Travel Agents, which has been established to promote its members on a national level and to contribute to the development of the tourism sector in Laos .

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The Sayaboury province in collaboration with the National Tourism Authority with support from the Asian Elephant Protection Association will organize the second elephant festival from 15-17 February, 2008 in Paklai district.

The festival is aimed to use the elephants as the tool to promote relations between forest and home elephants and people who used the elephants for business. It is also to preserve the Lao elephants. During the festival, the treatment center will be established to care the hurtful elephants from working or accidents. The visitors will be able to enjoy an elephants parade, elephants beauty contest, a baci ceremony, circus performances, a drawing competition, local boat racing and rocket displays.

The event will also feature traditional dances, a trade fair with local elephant souvenirs and Mahout’s costumes, and a cultural booth. The festival will be attended by 70 elephants. Laos has now just over 2,000 elephants nationwide, including those in village and in the wild.
The Sayabury province has now 448 village elephants and about 1,000 wild elephants, covering 75 percent of total elephants in the country.