Ten Foot Square Asia

Shopping in Hong Kong is just one of the many tourist attractions that draws thousands of visitors annually to this country. The country’s Hong Kong Shopping Festival is a tourist attraction in itself; and with all the things one can buy and all the haggling to do, you just can’t buy enough from Hong Kong.

The country offers an amazing variety of things to buy which never fails to astound well-traveled tourists. All items one could possibly imagine ranging from electrical goods to works of art, clothes and jewelry are affordable enough, particularly if one has the gift for haggling.

Jewelries
As the fourth largest exporter of jewelry in the world, Hong Kong is known to have more jewelry shops than any other city. Jewelry is a good buy in Hong Kong, given the country’s free-port status. Jewelry in all forms – gold, diamonds, pearls, etc. – are abundant and considerably affordable in local shops and department stores. If you’re also buying them in bulk as gifts for relatives back home, quantity is also not a problem.

Jade
One of the most popular items among the Chinese is the jade, an ornamental stone believed to have great spiritual powers. Although the more common color of available jade is in green, there are also jade stones available in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, orange and subtle violet. Denoting power and wealth, jade stones are often carved into shapes such as dragons and deer, because of popular Chinese tradition. When buying jade items, it is best to shop with someone who has considerable knowledge and experience in purchasing them, or someone who knows where to get good quality pieces.

Gold
Another well-desired item is the bright-yellow 24 carat gold called chuk kam, which means “pure gold” in Chinese terms. Stores and specialty shops that carry and produce chuk kam are usually packed and buyers usually have to undergo a bidding process in order to purchase the said item.

Pearls

Pearls are also a good buy in Hong Kong as they come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Pearls in Hong Kong are normally sold for a fraction of what they would cost in other countries.

Some shops give their customers the luxury of designing their own jewelry and the type of metals to be used with it. Haggling for jewelries at jewelry shops is not a common practice, but it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try though.

The Philippines is a country rich in culture and history and is also home to a lot of beautiful beaches and resorts. People here are known for their hospitality and the country’s cuisine is truly unique. There are also several theme parks, museums, and a lot of other tourist destinations. If what you have in mind are beaches to visit when traveling to this country, here are 5 of the best beaches to have fun and relax that are worth visiting in the Philippines:

1. Boracay. Hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago, Boracay boasts of its four-kilometer White Sand beach with ultra-fine white sand. There are lots of activities tourists can do in Boracay, ranging from planned activities by the many resorts, indulging in spa treatments, or scuba diving and mountain trekking. Activities both for the adventure-seeking tourist and those looking for a relaxing time-out are available at this beach. Boracay is alive during the night. The beach turns into one big party venue and tourists can enjoy dancing, dining, drinking, or jamming with artists on the sandy shore.

2. Pagudpud. The beach of Pagudpud located in Ilocos Norte features crystal blue waters and white sand, which makes it an easy favorite among tourists. The strong winds and waves of this beach is often compared to those of Hawaii, which means this beach is frequented by surfers. Compared to Boracay, Pagudpud is more secluded and the ambiance is more calm and relaxed, making a great getaway place to unwind.
3. Panglao. Panglao in Bohol is the place to visit for diving enthusiasts. The island is famous for world-class diving locations and numerous tourist resorts. The diving sites that are located along the north of Panglao Island are Doljo Beach, Napaling, and Puntod. These diving sites are deep and the currents are strong.
4. Pearl Farm. The Pearl Farm Beach was once a pearl farm, where white-lipped oysters were cultivated for their pink, white, and gold-colored pearls. Today, the beach offers tennis courts and numerous water activities tourists can engage in, plus the Ylang-Ylang spa named after an aphrodisiac flower native to the Southeast Asian region.
5. El Nido. Located in Palawan, El Nido has been dubbed as the country’s “last frontier.” El Nido offers several great beaches, which is a great escape from the busy urban life. Aside from the great beaches, the island is a great place to see beautiful seascapes, a variety of tropical birds, and towering marble cliffs.

Thailand used to have the infamous reputation for having one of the worst traffic situations in the whole world. Over the past few years, strong efforts from the government to solve the traffic problem actually resulted in significant improvements in the traffic situation.
With the lessened traffic in the cities travelling using the various transportation options in Thailand has become a lot more enjoyable. There are many public transportation choices that one can take to get them to where they want to go. Most of these modes of transportation has routes that would bring you practically all of the popular sites and places where tourists would usually go to. It is a matter of preference and budget on whether which option you will want to take.

The fastest and easily the best way to go around Thailand is by train. The country has managed to build an elaborate but highly effective network of railways that criss cross the country and have dedicated train stations in strategic areas. You can go to practically any location in Thailand by riding the train. The train fare is quite reasonable, which makes it a great choice for budget travelers. Long haul travel is not a problem either as there are carriages that have bunk beds, while the first class carriages have airconditioning. There is also no chance of getting hungry because food in the trains are quite delicious and are even brought to you.

Another good option (if you are willing to take a longer time to get to your destination) is to take the bus. Just like the trains, buses ply their routes that are part of a network of bus routes that would bring a traveler to any part of the country. There are some buses that have airconditioning, which makes the long travel more comfortable. The bus fare is also quite affordable This is probably the reason why more locals use the bus when travelling across the country. When travelling by bus, be aware of the language barrier though. It may be difficult to confirm where you are with your fellow passengers since most of the Thais do not understand English.

For those who have deep pockets then flying is the best available option. With the deregulation of the local aviation industry, a number of independent airlines have started doing business in the country, this has brought the price of plane fares down and it also meant that the destinations being covered by these airlines has diversified. Most of the popular spots or areas in Thailand are serviced by these airlines, which makes travelling to, say, Phuket or Chiang Mai so much easier now.

Of course, a trip to Thailand will not be complete without trying to ride the traditional Tuk-tuks. Whenever you are in Bangkok try to at least take one ride in these two stroke engine powered vehicles. Navigating through the bustling streets of Bangkok will never be as exciting or hair raising than with these amazing little contraptions.

Entertainment options are never in short supply in Thailand. Even though tourists go there for a variety of other activities like sports, relaxation, culinary adventures or shopping, they will not be disappointed if they suddenly get the desire to explore other entertainment offerings in the country, and we’re talking about the more family friendly type of entertainment options here. Anyone who wants to watch movies, or watch shows or the theater will not be disappointed as Thailand has these activities in spades.

Movie buffs will be delighted to know that Thailand offers a number of wonderful options in terms of the kinds of movie theaters that they can go to. Probably the most wonderful and unique movie experience you can probably take advantage of in Thailand are the Gold Class movie theaters that are located in both Ayuthaya and Bangkok. Gold class movie theaters offer a very high level of service and amenities to all of its movie patrons. For starters, the seats are not the usual theater seats, large, comfortable reclining chairs are installed in the theaters. Blankets and socks are also provided in order to bring an additional level of comfort. Practically anything that could be associated with comfort or luxury and giving the moviegoer a pampered experience is provided in these theaters. At this rate you will actually forget about the movie and just focus on how comfortable you get.

More traditional movie theaters are also still in operation in Thailand. There are movie theaters that can be found in all of the major cities and areas within Thailand so there are no worries that a certain place will not have a movie theater. Most of the latest Hollywood movies are shown in Thailand and you an also expect to see not only local Thai movies but also films from other Asian regions – a direct result of the growing and very robust film industry within the Pan-asian region.

Asia is the birthplace of karaoke so it is natural that there will be a lot of karaoke bars and clubs where one can sing to their hearts’ content. Karaoke singing has become almost a subculture within Asia and this also includes Thailand. You can expect to see a lot of Thais going to these places. Karaoke bars in Thailand come in many different iterations. There are the upscale bars that are found in hotels and there are also those hole in the wall places that are frequented by Thailand’s working class – and all manner of other iterations in between the two. Do not worry about being a bad singer, the Thais are extremely polite so rest assured that they will not laugh at you. Instead they will clap enthusiastically and show you that you are the best singer in that place. Those who are shy can decide to use private VIP booths where they can sing and order food in relative peace. These booths are soundproof too in order to give users a level of exclusivity. You can hold private parties with your companions and entertain yourselves with songs. Be reminded though that there are some karaoke places where English songs are not available so do ask before you go.

To say that Thailand is a great place for shopping is a gross understatement. It is practically a shopper’s paradise that would put that other shopping mecca – Hong Kong – a good run for its money. You can find practically anything and everything you want in the many shops, malls and markets in the country, even items that you thought you did not want but would buy anyway because of the price. And speaking prices, Thailand has probably one of the cheapest rates and prices for items anywhere in the world. This reputation as the ultimate shopping experience is helping make Thailand a top tourist destination for travelers who not only want to experience the culture and the sights of Thailand, but also get wonderful bargains for items that they would otherwise pay an arm and a leg for in their country.

Probably the biggest attractions for shopping in Thailand are its legendary markets. It is here that you will find practically anything that you can dream of at the lowest possible prices. The great thing about shopping in these markets is not just the amazing bargains that can be had, it is the fact that these are centers in the everyday lives of the Thais. These markets were not constructed for tourists these are part and parcel of what makes Thailand. Thus, by shopping here you also get a glimpse or a slice of Thai life.

As markets go, the Chatuchak market in Bangkok is THE market to go to. It is just amazingly big and practically everything is being sold there. With the improvements made over the last few years in the area, the Chatuchak shopping experience has really become more shopper friendly. There is now less traffic, there is a dedicated area for pedestrians, the stalls are now in zones so that everything is easier to remember, and there are even maps provided to make navigation easier. The market (which is only open during weekends) is just so big that one needs to plan at least half a day to go through most of the stalls. One whole day is a better option though as it will allow you to really go through a majority of the stalls.

And what should you buy when you do go to the markets in Thailand? Well, there are many choices in terms of items that you should be buying in Thailand. For women, there are two things that should immediately be considered. Pearls are quite affordable and available in large quantities. These even make perfect gifts to bring back home. The other item that should be bought is Thai Silk. Silk from Thailand is famous all over the world and these are easily bought in the markets in Thailand. Another product that is representative of Thailand are the Thai Batik cloths that are sold all over the country particularly in Bangkok and Phuket. There are many other Batik products that you can also buy like sarongs, shirts, bags and even handkerchiefs.