The North of China hides some very beautiful surprises. A cluster of provinces known for their vast, flat landscapes: they were the battlefields of many clashes between the Chinese dynasties and the Mongol empires from the North …they have to hide something special. If you are looking to dive into history and you are travelling westwards outside of Beijing, linger no further and head to Datong, Shanxi province, one of the last outposts before the grasslands of Inner Mongolia.

First of all, why Datong? At first sight, it might appear as a quite hard city to love. Industrial areas spring up everywhere, the surrounding plains are swept by cold winds, creating a feel of frontier town. So, what is so nice to see around here? Well, besides being an industrial town, a crossroad between the central part of Northern China and its northernmost upper reaches, Datong hides the stunning Yungang caves, a World Heritage Site.

For Beijing residents, many hiking opportunities abound around the capitol. The Great Wall of China, one of the worldwide famous landmarks of the country, offers many challenging routes which can take the traveller out and about even for several days. But, have you ever thought where the Wall actually starts from? Really, you did? This is a very often overlooked question. Such a massive, long, impressive piece of Chinese history has to have a starting point. The answer is simple: if you like adventure, and especially, if you like to venture into some of the lesser known corners of China, what you are looking for lies in the near Hebei province, and exactly a few hours away by train, close to the city of Qinhuangdao, better know to the Beijing holidaymakers for the inviting beaches of Beidaihe. Laolongtou Great Wall (Old Dragon’s Head) is the Eastern starting point of the Ming Dynasty’s (1368-1644) Great Wall. It extends about 20 meters into the Bohai Sea like a dragon drinking water, hence its definitely inspiring name. It is maybe for this reason that, once or twice a year, this spot has been selected by Beijing’s local and expat partygoers to host an exciting rave party… How To Get There According to your budget, Beijing central railway station has several trains a day travelling the 300 km separating the capitol from the Bohai Sea coast.

China International Travel Mart (CITM) is the largest professional travel mart in Asia. It has drawn the attention of people in the tourism industry worldwide. As an annual event, it is held in Shanghai and Kunming alternately.

CITM 2011, jointly organized by China National Tourism Administration, Yunnan Provincial People’s Government and Civil Aviation Administration of China, will be held in Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center from October 27th to 30th.

Organizers, Date and Venue
Organizers: China National Tourism Administration
People’s Government of Yunnan Province
Civil Aviation Administration of China
Date: October 27 (Thursday) – October 30 (Sunday), 2011
Venue: Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center

CITM – A get-together for the world tourism circles
● CITM is an annual event that is held in Shanghai and Kunming alternately. As the largest professional travel show in Asia, CITM has drawn the attention of people in the tourism industry worldwide.
● Participants in CITM come from all sectors of the travel industry including international and domestic tourist organizations, travel agencies, hotels, airlines and related travel companies.
● The CITM Organizing Committee is sparing no effort to invite, through various channels, buyers with strong competitiveness from China (including Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan Region) and other countries and regions in the world, to participate in the mart. Strict participation conditions and invitation procedures will guarantee the quality of buyers, so that the exhibitors will surely enjoy the great benefit at CITM.
● Professional trade days will be arranged exclusively for registered delegates so as to ensure your participation in CITM valuable. In the days open to the public, exhibitors can promote tourist products and show advantages of tourism resources to the mass directly.
● The CITM Organizing Committee will also invite a large number of correspondents of domestic and overseas media to cover the mart in an extensive and intensive way. Exhibitors may take the chance to increase their exposure and promote the reputation of their products.

CITM – The largest international tourism fair in Asia featuring rich contents
As the largest international tourism fair in Asia featuring the most preferential price, CITM will surely make the participants in the mart have a bumper harvest:
● Exhibitors will have many opportunities to meet the personages from the tourism circles and establish extensive business contacts with them.
● Participants may attend specialized symposiums and lectures to trace the latest development trend of international tourism.
● Press conferences or cultural performances will be held at the mart to fully display the exhibitors’ new tourism products.
● The mart will be open to tourism-related personnel and the public. It is predicted that tens of thousands of people will visit it.
● Participants may hold various promotional activities; Introduce the tourism resources of their own countries so as to tap the most opportunities.
 

Flick through the brochures and the luxury resorts on the Maldives tend to look the same – villas on stilts over the water in a paradise setting. But while the resorts might look similar, each, in fact, offers a very different experience. To guide you with your choice, we visited six of the best luxury resorts. All are good spots for honeymooners and most are also great for divers.

Dhoni Mighili

Best for: Robinson Crusoes in search of an almost uninhabited island that has a private boat for exploring.

You get the best of both worlds here – there are just six simple bungalows on this tiny island measuring 164 meters by 96m, but each comes with its own 20m traditional Maldivian boat or dhoni plus crew. Visit local islands, anchor at another resort for lunch, have cocktails at sunset followed by dinner on deck, sleep in a hidden cove, or just ask the captain to take you to see some manta rays. The dhonis are more comfortable, larger and more luxurious than rooms in many hotels. With traditional thatch on the outside, the boat cabins are all chic minimalism inside, with Philippe Starck bedside lamps and bathroom accessories, Smeg fridges and Frette linen.

On land, hosts Scott and Donna make you feel you’re welcome guests in their home, providing a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with the huge bonus of no fixed meal times. If you want meals of carrot and ginger soup, Sri Lankan fish curry and delicious warm chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream on the beach by moonlight with water lapping at your feet, no problem.

You’re not forever digging into your pockets to pay for something either – most things from snorkelling to the Tattinger champagne are included. But it is worth paying extra for the massages on the beach to the sound of the waves, which rate among the best I’ve ever had. You can even take a masseuse on the dhoni with you should you wish.

Private butlers come with each bungalow, appearing by magic on the beach to remind you of your massage appointment, though they can be as unobtrusive as you want them to be. On Ari Atoll, a long way from Male, Dhoni Mighili is much more secluded than other resorts, making it the perfect peaceful paradise. No children under 12 are allowed. Book early though – because it’s so small, you might not get in; Fergie has tried and failed a couple of times.

High point: You can take the dhoni out for up to three days on the trot without having to return. Cruise around the other islands and watch the admiring glances.

Snags: The noisy boat generator might keep light sleepers awake at night. Not for dive enthusiasts – there isn’t a dive school.

Huvafen Fushi

Best for: Celebs, city slickers and trend setters – anyone whose paradise is a buzzy contemporary setting. Huvafen Fushi is the Maldives’ answer to the Touessrok on Mauritius.

Due to open 1 May, we got a sneak preview that proved Huvafen Fushi is about to make big waves in the Maldives. For starters, it has the first underwater spa treatment rooms, with glass walls for marine viewing and that complete relaxation experience. There are also over-water treatment rooms with glass floors and an outside salt-water flotation pool as well as a huge infinity-edged swimming pool where guests will get complimentary cold towels, spray mist and fruit canapes.

The 44 rooms, kitted out with modern, sexy furniture in cream, brown and beige with lots of light coloured wood, are divided between the island and over-the-water pontoons. Unusually for the Maldives, all come with a private pool. Beach bungalows get their own patch of sand and have bathrooms opening out onto plunge pools in a walled garden with a deck for sunbathing and Thai massage. There are lots of high-tech gizmos, from remote-controlled light switches to large plasma screen televisions.

Those staying in over-the-water villas can cool down in their private plunge pool or simply jump into the warm sea surrounding them. The water is the key theme here – all rooms have a sea view, and there’s an over-the-water restaurant whose roof is made to look like an upturned dhoni hull, as well as an over-the-water gym and yoga pavilion. Expect to see an underwater bar within a year.

High point: Being massaged in the underwater spa, with its jellyfish-style lights and relaxing atmosphere.

Snags: Although they all have private pools, squeezing 44 rooms on an island 350m by 150m might be a few too many.

Taj Exotica

Best for: Lovers of really slick service and luxury in stunning surroundings.

More of a hotel resort than a desert island, Taj offers a range of activities in the long, narrow finger of land that extends some 780m, including water volleyball, football and billiards. There’s also a large dive centre. It is one of the few resorts that has satellite television. The island boasts an enormous lagoon which is great for lazing about in water at 28C but it doesn’t have a nearby reef for snorkelling; that said, though I had to take a boat trip out to a decent snorkel spot, I did notch up my first sight of a turtle.

The 64 suites here are opulent and spacious, with dark wood furniture, a huge double bed, planked floors, and lots of Indian cotton and silk cushions, rugs and coconut wood boxes scattered within the thatched apex. Some beach villas have private pools and beach frontage. Lagoon villas, positioned off a palm leaf-shape set of jetties, open out onto a deck with daybeds for sunbathing, with large bathrooms brimming with Bulgari products almost begging you to take a bath as you look over the ocean through mirrored glass.

The spa is just as sumptuous, its wide range of treatments performed in rooms with Jacuzzis perfectly positioned to look over the ocean.

The service everywhere is incredibly attentive; though there are no dedicated butlers, you don’t notice it with your every whim catered for and clothes in the room folded neatly for you. On check-out, a member of staff politely approached me bearing a wicker box, which he opened to reveal my beautifully folded bikini that I’d left in the room. That said, if you prefer to be left alone, this isn’t the place for you – you’ll get fed up saying hello to every member of staff you walk past and saying five times at dinner how delicious the meal was.

High point: The exquisite food is up there with the best in the Maldives – think langoustine ravioli in the over-the-water restaurant or mint crepes and banana rolls on your villa’s outside platform for breakfast.

Snags: Though it’s sumptuous, there’s not much soul, a point heightened by the fact that the island’s on the flight path for jumbos.

Cocoa Island

Best for: Stressed-out CEOs who want to chill out and recharge their batteries, movie makers and fashionistas.

There are no signs of the fire that occurred on Cocoa Island at the end of last year – on the contrary, everything is peaceful and runs smoothly, from the moment you’re greeted with a welcoming coconut to drink from. Guests stay in one of 23 villas off a planked walkway; most are cleverly created in the style of moored dhonis or houseboats but there are also one- and two-bed villas.

Built from New Zealand pine and topped with thatch, inside is a simple but very effective combination of high-raftered ceilings, glossy teak floor and whitewashed walls to give a beach-hut effect. Indian-inspired furnishings and dark wood furniture lend a colonial feel, with flowing curtains and a separate seating area. Bathrooms are among the most spacious in the Maldives. They are combined with walk-in wardrobe area and come with a deep, double-ended tub.

The Indian and Sri-Lankan-inspired food, concocted by Austalian chef Stana Johnson, promises lots of seafood options, including a wonderful fish, prawn and scallop curry. Once you’ve eaten, walk out by moonlight onto the sand bar, which seemingly stretches out across the ocean.

Opened in October, the Shambala spa takes up half of the 84m by 350m island, with treatment rooms opening onto the ocean, a yoga pavilion so you can see the sun rise over the sea and a large hydrotherapy pool if you’re in the mood for a spot of wallowing. Though there is a swimming pool by the restaurant, it isn’t the most inviting.

High point: Probably the best snorkelling in the Maldives, with the Guraidhoo channel in front of your room so you can climb down the steps, hit the water and see a huge diversity of fish plus dolphins and turtle if you’re lucky.

Snags: The staff quarters are more visible than on other islands – you have to walk right past them to get to your accommodation.

Hilton, Ranfali Island

Best for: Families, those in search of evening entertainment, sports lovers.

Set in the stunningly secluded South Ari Atoll, whose beaches have some of the Maldives’ best sand, the Hilton’s long twin finger islands are separated by a 500m walkway. Although there are 150 rooms between them, you wouldn’t know it – there’s been a lot of attention to landscaping and planting vegetation on the islands. It’s a surprisingly swish resort, particularly the more upmarket island, Rangali, with its 50 spacious water villas on different locations along the 750m island length, each with the floor, walls and ceiling in teak. Light and bright, they are stashed with modern furniture such as a glass table with twisted legs and a person-height straw lamp. There’s a great feeling of space with walk-in dressing rooms and large bathrooms with ocean views. Best of all are the decks, delightful spots to sunbathe or from which to plop into the sea when you’re too hot. At night, leave the doors open and be lulled to sleep by the sound of waves lapping the wooden villa stilts. Beware of noisy neighbours though – the decks are close together and less private than on some other resorts.

From April, the villas on the larger island of Rangali Finolhu (600m by 150m) are being entirely renovated to create some of the most impressive rooms in the Maldives. The deluxe beach villa I saw already completed was enormous, the contemporary bedroom with high roof and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a plunge pool and then to the sea. Even more impressive though was the bathroom, set completely in the open air in a very large enclosed courtyard beautifully landscaped with plants and running water, a large shower, bath and a day bed under a pavilion.

Food is of a very high standard here and there are lots of places to sample it – you can even eat in the underground wine cellar – but unlike some islands, there are buffet meals too.

High point: The stunning over-the-water spa, with a wooden walkway leading to a Jacuzzi in the middle of a thatched relaxation area and treatment rooms with glass floors for fish viewing.

Snags: The renovation of the island of Rangali Finolhu means it will be closed for the rest of the year. Although the jet skiing, kite surfing and the many other watersports normally available will be moved to Rangali island, the closure of half the resort means fewer facilities and some discomfort – for instance, snorkellers will need to be taken to the reef by boat.

Soneva Gili

Best for: Swiss Family Robinson addicts in search of the peak of barefoot luxury and stressed executives looking for something different.

They call it intelligent luxury at Soneva Gili and that just about sums it up. Though you get all the good ies you’d expect from other exclusive resorts, in these breathtaking all-wood villas topped with thatch, you also feel close to nature.

Accommodation doesn’t get much better than this; even the smallest suites come in at 210m square, with a private sundeck leading up to an open-air living area and bedroom, and then up more stairs to an open-air deck for sunbathing and dining. There’s even a day bed that converts into a comfy double for sleeping under the stars.

Instead of the normal marble bathroom that comes with five-star hotels, here you get an open-air one (though with a roof and sides) with the bath looking over the sea, and a shower at the end of a wooden walkway. Every detail has been carefully thought through, including the wooden table chess and backgammon sets, the floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedroom over the sea and the guest directory in recycled paper. With such lovely accommodation, it’s small wonder that the pool is often deserted.

At Soneva Gili, they arrange ‘experiences’ for you, from walking with the chef through the organic garden so you can choose your own ingredients for a salad, to setting up a BBQ on a sand bank. Take a canoe to the desert island just off the main one, go snorkelling and stop off on the way back to rest in the hammock suspended in the water. Then prepare for the evening with a special bath menu – for instance, the chocolate bath soak comes with chocolate to eat and iced chocolate drink. Or relax in the over-the-water spa.

The island has been well landscaped with paths between the vegetation and seems much bigger than its 250m by 210m (you can even get lost!). The 37 water villas are off three different jetties, with another seven ‘Crusoe’ residences reached only by boat and an over-the-water spa.

High point:: The bikes for exploring come with saddle and peddle covers plus a small cloth to wipe away the sweat!

Snags: Just 15 minutes from Male (a bonus if you get a night flight), there’s a lot of traffic from passing boats. The evening meal here was the only unsatisfactory meal I had in the Maldives – the scallops were overcooked and the fish tasteless. 

Tales of courtly love pervade historic Japanese literature and stories such as the tales of Genji or, more recently, the tragic tale of Madame Butterfly as recounted in Puccini’s opera tell of beautiful yet often tragic romances. The country has everything to make any Japanese honeymoon the trip of a lifetime it rightfully should be! A combination of exciting city destinations, long white sandy beaches, hot-spring resorts and interesting cultural sights – a honeymoon in Japan is excitingly different.

A honeymoon in Japan has so much to offer any newly-wed couple and time spent in cities sightseeing, shopping and dining can be combined with precious moments of escape and relaxation either in the beautiful and dramatic countryside of the mountains or on the sweeping beaches of the Pacific or Japan Sea coasts or even the tropical islands of Okinawa. Transport in Japan is wonderfully efficient and comfortable and the ready availability of cheap internal flights make multi-destination trips easy to arrange and eminently affordable. The country is so diverse that there are many options for newlyweds, but the following Japan honeymoon options are all highly recommended ways for a new couple to celebrate their marriage.

Something Old & Something New
Tokyo offers a plethora of options for any couple on their Japanese honeymoon. There are hotels to suit all budgets and tastes and a whole world of unique experiences are never more than a few minutes away. For those with a larger budget available, a stay at one of the city’s many top 5 star hotels is sure to top off your Japan honeymoon package in style.

Tokyo also makes a great place from which to strike out and start investigating the rest of Japan. Just two hours to the north of Tokyo is Nikko where the ornately decorated shrines and temples of Toshogu stand surrounded by towering cedar trees against a dramatic mountainous backdrop. Even closer at hand is the small seaside town of Kamakura with its miniature electric railway and love shrine on the off-shore island on Enoshima, which is curiously populated entirely by cats!

Island Hopping in Okinawa
If you like the sound of island hopping and a tropical get-away is what you seek from your Japanese honeymoon, then the Okinawan islands may be the ideal destination. This balmy chain of tiny islands offers a wide range of snorkelling and sporting opportunities as well as some interesting sights and gentle walks. From Tokyo or Osaka there are daily flight departures and you can be in this tropical paradise in less than 2 hours.

Spas and Hot Spring Resorts
If soaking in hot-springs and a bit of spa-style pampering are the main draw of a honeymoon in Japan, then one of the many hotspring resorts may be of interest. The resort of Shimoda lies just south of Tokyo and has some lovely resort style hotels where you can enjoy a whole range of treatments including shiatsu massage, as well as smaller family run inns which provide a more personal touch. Further south and close to the cultural city of Kyoto is the hot-spring resort of Kurama Onsen where a wide variety of hot-spring baths await; some hidden in the rocks; others nestled in Japanese style gardens. For a real hide-away, head up to the “Lamp-no-yado” Inn located in the small town of Suzu on the west Japan Sea coast. The Inn stands at the bottom of a cliff and is right on the very edge of the sea. At night, as the whole place is lit up by lamps and candles, you can sit back and relax in the open air baths gazing out to sea as the sun slowly drops below the horizon and the day draws to a close – a romantic way to complete your Japanese honeymoon.
 

The 2011 Pingyao International Photography Festival kicked off in Pingyao, north China’s Shanxi province, on Sep. 19, 2011.

The Pingyao International Photography Festival, held in the ancient section of the city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province, is not only an event for photographers of all skill levels, from the neophyte to the seasoned photographer, it is also a rare event for those simply interested in photography, including both curiosity-driven local residents and tourists from far and wide, both within and without China.

During the festival, Pingyao’s old town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1997, becomes one large, indoor and open-air photo gallery, with photo exhibits from professional and amateur photographers from every continent, representing upwards of fifty countries on average, and including the works of many renowned Chinese and international photographers.

The festival is organized around a chosen central theme each year. Under the umbrella, as it were, of the chosen overarching theme, the exhibition is divided into a number of sub-themes, usually 4-5 such sub-themes. To facilitate these subdivisions, the exhibits – some of which may be large montages – are situated in each its physical area, though in some cases (if the subdivision is very large), a single subdivision may be divided into two or more physical areas, so as to create more space for the large crowds that attend this popular annual festival, which is China’s preeminent photography exhibition. Within each subdivision, there are further subdivisions for works from China, works from Europe, North America, etc.

In addition, a number of academic activities – from forums to conferences to training courses to special workshops – are staged in conjunction with the festival. A special feature of Pingyao International Photography Festival, for photographers, is that the arrangers of the festival maintain a staff of twenty some professional photographers to greet newcomers and show them around. Not surprisingly, the festival is a place of great buzz and excitement for the photographer especially.

Pingyao International Photography Festival has been running for less than ten years and just seems to get bigger and better for each year, attracting the works of increasing numbers of serious photographers from around the world, as well as from renowned and lesser renowned photographers from the four corners of China itself.

Another curious thing about the Pingyao International Photography Festival is that it is ‘art observing art’ in the sense that the photographers who attend it are as busy clicking away during the festival as on any professional assignment – indeed, some of the montages have concerned aspects of previous festivals. As indicated, the festival gets larger each year. For example, the number of photos on exhibit during the recently completed (2009) festival was of such a magnitude that it would have taken at least three days to even have had a brief glimpse of each of them, much less study them in detail.

Indonesia:
The Indonesian Government requires nationals from most countries to purchase a tourist visa on arrival at one of the main air or sea ports. A 7-day transit visa on arrival (at pretty much all common entry points) costs around US$10 and a 30-day visa costs US$25 per person (have the cash on you, in exact change US$). A 30day visa is extendable for another 30 days. Be aware that Immigration officials calculate the 30-day period as follows: your arrival day is counted as your first day, and you must leave the country on the 30th or 60th day! If you are not arriving at one of the main points of entry you will need to obtain a visa prior to travel. The cost in advance varies depending on the country of application, but seems to be about $60US depending on where you apply.

Cambodia:
Available on arrival or easily arranged in Bangkok, were the cheapest agencies who will do the leg work for you are quoting around THB1000 plus one ID photo. A one month visa starts from date of issue. A 45 days visa can also be obtained for the same price but in 2 working days. It seems however possible to have the 45 day visa starting later than the date of issue. The cost at the Embassy (254 6630, just north of Lumphini Park on Ratchadamri Rd) is about $20-25 (you are required to return the next day or same day ($9 extra)). This embassy is usually busy and open for applications from 9 to 11am only.

In an effort to boost tourism, you can now also apply for a single entry tourist e-visa on line, by filling out a form and paying by credit card. You’ll need a JPEG or GIF photo and won’t be able to use an e-visa on every crossing point. More details here.

There are now six full international border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand; all are open 07:00-20:00 and Visa on Arrival is available at every single one, official tourist visa price is US$20 (you have to pay in USD notes to get this price) but in practice you’re likely to have to pay more in Baht notably at Poipet and Koh Kong where officials like to inflate the price. At the airports of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, the cost is US$20 plus 2 photos. See Laos for Cambodia to Laos border crossing details

Laos:
Get your visa for 15 or 30 days in Bangkok or on arrival at the Friendship bridge. A Laos visa in Vietnam is much more expensive than in Bangkok where it is easy to obtain. In Bangkok it’s possible to get a one month visa in one working day. The cost, if you go yourself to the embassy at 8am and collect it in the afternoon should be around THB1500 (for most western nationalities, cheaper for Asians & Israelis, more expensive for Canadians, Americans, Japanese or Germans). The embassy is quite remote and tricky to get to (Bus No60, then taxi), so you will be better off to leave the leg-work to an agency for a commission for as little as THB100-150 (check around). A one month visa should cost THB1400.

Vietnam:
You no longer have to specify entry and exit points as older guidebooks state and the process is now much easier than it used to be. Different embassies vary in regulations and complexities, the best place (in terms of price and processing time) to pick up your visa at time of writing is in Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh, Cambodia or the old favourite, Bangkok (where you will find many agencies who will arrange for you at a small cost to make the process zero hassle). In general, you (or an agency) will have to submit your application, passport along with two standard passport photos, and the required fee to apply for a visa.

Another option for those who are rushed for time or do not want to send the passport away is to pre-arrange a visa on arrival. This can be done online via a number of private companies such as http://ww.vietnamvisa.com/ and http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/ who have agreements with the Vietnamese government to collect passport details and arrange for an "approval letter". This letter allows you to board a flight into Vietnam and you will receive the visa stamp upon entry to Vietnam Airport. These agencies charge a small fee for their service and in most case, the total works out to be equal or less than the amount charged by Vietnamese embassies and consulates. It must also be noted that visa-on-arrival works only for visitors arriving in Vietnam by air.

Citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland are exempt from a visa for 15 days. Citizens of most South East Asian nations get 30 days. Visa extensions are often available with less than 1 week on your ongoing visa, and after 3 extensions, you must get a new visa

Malaysia:
Free on arrival. Most Western nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa, and are normally issued 30, 60, or 90 day entry permit stamps.

Philippines:
A three week visa is free on arrival for most nationalities. Extensions allowing you a total stay of two months cost around US$30 in Manila, Boracay, Cebu and many other places. Unless you are getting someone to organize it for you the hassle is less in the likes of Boracay or Baguio. Second extensions are more costly and regulations get stricter the longer you stay.

Singapore:
Free on arrival – varies 14/30/90 days depending on citizenship and/or point of entry

Thailand:
Simply speaking there are two main types of tourist visa for Thailand, but entry requirements do vary for citizens of different countries as you would expect. Generally speaking, if coming from the EU, Israel, North America, Australia or another developed country, two main methods of entry are available for travellers…

1. Many opt for the conditional 30 day visa exemption stamp on arrival. One of the conditions is that you must be able to prove that you’re leaving Thailand by air within 30 days of your arrival. Technically you may need to show the immigration officers flight tickets or e-booking confirmation showing a flight out of the country and 20,000 baht in available funds on arrival before they stamp you in. That said, Thai immigration enforce these rules completely at random. They might check you, they might not. They almost definitely won’t check to see if you have the funds, but they may check for proof of onward flights. Based on our experiences of late, unless you look like a hobo, you won’t have a problem. More likely if flying to Thailand on a one-way ticket, the issue you will have is with the airline taking you asking for proof of exit upon check-in. More and more airlines now refusing to carry you to Thailand in the first place if you can’t produce a valid visa or proof of onward flights when checking in at your departure airport. Simply confirming you have an exit flight, but ‘don’t have the details with you’ normally works, so does a little bit of text forging on an e-ticketing confirmation just to pacify zeal check-in staff. If entering Thailand on an open-jaw, the airline won’t give you a hard time on check-in.

And lastly once in Thailand a short extension to the 30 day visa exemption may only be granted for a fee, but they aren’t a God given right despite what you may read or hear elsewhere.

2. The second option is a tourist visa (in advance) valid for 60 days. You can also buy double and triple entry tourist visas, with each entry also entitling you to 60 days. Tourist visas can be extended for varying lengths, at varying number of times and varying costs.

You’ll be fined if you overstay any visa. To extend free of charge, leave the country, turn around and re-enter Thailand under the 30 day visa exemption rule mentioned above. A plus point of this method is that proof of onward flights are never checked for at land borders, so you can walk back in no questions asked. However, time limits govern how long you’re permitted to stay in Thailand under the visa exemption rule, with the current limit being a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period starting when you first arrive. In the past 18 months, Thai authorities have tightened up visa requirements and even changed the regulations considerably and they’ll probably be changing again soon, with the advent of the new collaboration visas with other SE Asian countries. Whereas Thailand is far from difficult when it comes to visas, it is also wise to check what the situation and read the comprehensive info here on a Thai consulate web page.
 

About Silk Road tour
During the 6-14th century, there were thousands of large and small routes that crossed Asian Continent leading to the West. Caravans followed these routes and each was filled with exotic clothes, eastern goods and spices. Along these routes, towns, cities and caravanserai were created. Hence the various centers for national crafts, art schools, madrasahs, palaces and mausoleums. Traders, missionaries and refuges were travelling together bringing along new religions, customs, products like glass, porcelain, soap and gunpowder and most important a different culture. They were the ones who created herbariums, collected methods of curing diseases and studied the stars. In many ways, for more than thousands of years Great Silk Road linked many countries and its people by means of peaceful activities such as trade, culture and spiritual exchanges that is unique to all mankind. The Great Silk Road routes started from a town called Lanchjou and stretched to cities of Tor and Sodom, both Mediterranean ports which acted as a junction between the East and West. This old East-West trading trail transplanted culture, customs and religious from one center to the next and vice-versa. Again, the Great Silk Road will be re-opened to tourists, magnificent architectural monuments, unique works of calligraphy, silks, rugs and pottery produced by ancient craftsmen in our Historical Tours.

Fascinating History
Story of Silk Road is fascinating and full of military conquest, fearless explorers, religious pilgrims and great thinkers, along with the humble tradesmen who risked life and limb for profit as they led their loaded caravans across dangerous deserts, mountains and steppes.
Historical figures like Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane were all familiar with Silk Road which was established by 100DC. It lasted until 15th century when newly-discovered sea routes to Asia opened up.

Luxury Trade
Silk was, of course, why the great route was established in the first place. According to the Chinese, silk was discovered one day when a queen accidently dropped a silkworm cocoon into her hot cup of tea, and as she plucked it out, unravelled a shiny, silken thread.
Woven into fabric and sent west, silk soon became the most demended and expensive textile in Rome. Some historians claim the Romans’ profligated thier spendings on sink which played its rall in fall of their empire, while their rivals to the east grew rich on the silk trade. Many around the Mediterranean, priests and potentates, including Cleopatra, dressed themselves in silk, especially that kind which had been colored in purple made of mollusc shells.

More Than Silk
There are many other luxury goods besides silk that were transported along Silk Road. Heading west were porcelain, furs, spices, gems and other exotic products of Asia. Chinese inventions like gunpowder and paper first travelled to Europe along Silk Road with many other products. Being shipped east were cosmetics, silver, gold, amber, ivory, carpets, perfume and ceramics from Europe, Central Asia, Arabia and Africa.

A Road of Ideas
As merchants and other travellers traversed Silk Road, they also carried culture, art, philosophies and beliefs with them. Buddhism came to China on The Silk Road and Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Confucianism all had their itinerant proselytiser. Goods and ideas were exchanged in cities with exotic names like Antioch, Babylon, Erzerum, Hamadn, Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Kashgar and Xian, as well as in dozens of others whose names are now lost in time. However, many remain and travellers again have the chance to visit these sites, relive the legends and capture some of the magic.