Travel destinations: Cebu, Philippines

If you are looking for a place to go with lots of green around and with hospitable and fun-loving people who could share you an exciting travel, then go to Cebu, Philippines. Cebu is called the “Queen City of the South,” because it is the center for trade and education in the southern part of the Philippines, and it boosts of its rich environment.

Cebu is one of the better international destinations in the world and boosts of its rich natural resources and beautiful spots where tourist could share exciting experiences. Cebu as an international destination has flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, And South Korea almost everyday. From Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Cebu is just an hour away by plane and by boat it takes twenty two hours. Either way, you could always enjoy the trip and it pays if you reach your destination as Cebu proves to be one of the best places to go when you love nature and love to relax and refresh.

Cebu is rich in natural resources and boosts of its miles and miles of forest greens. There is the Central Cebu National Park which is 15,393 hectares wide clustered with all the wilds you would find adorable and soothing. The Sudian National Park is 696 hectares, not so wide but it is lovely with its greens covering it.

Cebu has world-class beach resorts that offers exciting experiences for guests. A look around Cebu proves your travel very meaningful by visiting the Cawasan Falls and the Bolok-Bolok Mineral Springs. Not to mentions all the other majestic views you could see around Cebu which makes a day not enough to see all that you want to see around.

Cebu is a very historical place. This is the place where Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer and his men landed in 1521. Here, Magellan planted a giant cross which was named, Magellan”s Cross. It was planted on the very spot where the first Filipinos were baptized. But although Magellan was able to colonize the Filipinos, more Filipinos resisted Spanish attempts of colonization, one of them was Lapu-Lapu who became the first Filipino hero. He has a bronze statue standing in Cebu today which is one of the beautiful spots that Cebu could be proud of. Aside from these spots, one could also visit the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino which houses the oldest religious relic in the country.

Cebu offers many sports and recreation for guests who wish to have a more meaningful and exciting experience, such as golf, tennis, cock fighting, water sports like scuba diving, wind surfing, sailing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, jet skiing, shopping, good food and entertainment.

There are lots of good restaurants to choose from and enjoy good food, beaches to enjoy the cool and clear waters and hotels which are comfortable yet affordable.

For guests who want to add more spice to their travel, they could go to the island of Mactan, Moalboal and Camotes islands, to enjoy a good dive. The calm and clear waters of Argao, Badian and Malapascua offers an ideal place for kayaking.

Cebu is a place to visit. It is a majestic place with lots of excitement and fun to offer the guests. Be one of them and experience the joy and fun of living.

Premonitions: Fact or fiction?

Having premonitions is one of the scariest things one could ever experience.

Just last November I had one & it was again about a Tsunami meters high coming towards me, a few days later I opened the newspaper (which I very rarely do) & to my shock on the front page was an article of an 8.1 earthquake near Japan and a Tsunami alert was sent out, this scared me & sent shivers down my spine.

My sister Nicky is also very gifted & as I sat down bed reading the article, she told me of a dream she had a day after mine, also of a Tsunami. We have never had premonitions days close to each other & for two people to have seen the same thing is a definite warning of something about to happen.

I received my 1st premonition at the age of 15, two years after losing my ability to Lucid Dream.

That day I woke from a terrible dream of me running away from a tornado. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to make myself my usual milo and toast, I then sat down and switched on the TV… to my horrified eyes I saw the tornado on the news, the same picture that I saw in my dreams not more then 20 minutes earlier. I ran to my mum & told her what I had seen & she calmed me down saying it was just a coincidence (I have found out since that these gifts have run in my family for generation and my mum has them all the time).

I didn’t receive a single premonition for another 7 years & since then they have never stopped.

After a long break I started dreaming of Tsunami’s & it continued on & off for 11 months. I would dream of my family on the beach & as I looked out to the sea I could see a white line on the horizon, each time I looked out the white line would get thicker & thicker. I would start screaming to all to run for higher ground but no one would listen, then as I looked up again I would see the wave taller then a 10 floor building swallow me & my family up.

This particular dream i took as a norm but I have also dreamt other different tsunami dreams throughout those 11 months. Never would I have believed that they would become a reality…

On December 26, I was called by a number of friends saying that there had been an earthquake, one of my friends felt his building sway, & people in the apartment were franticly running out. I was shocked, as Malaysia doesn’t receive earthquakes. Even though it was not far from where I lived, I did not feel anything. I found out that the plates under the ocean near Sumatra had shifted & had caused an 8.2 earthquake

Choosing Your Best Travel Destination

If you are planning to take a vacation, be sure to know what you really like to do, this will make your trip more meaningful. Mostly, travelers go for a trip that their friends recommend, but is it what they really want? It’s never too early to plan and know what your heart desires.

It’s nice to ask yourself these questions before starting to plan your vacation; do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.

Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations could be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It is the satisfaction that is more important than the destination.

Generally, there are some different types of travel according to activities involved. Here are some of them:

1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn’t always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.

2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while smelling and feeling nature.

3. Tribal cultures. In today’s world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who live close to nature in the same way for the past thousands of years.

4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let travelers appreciate what is down the sea but also making the traveler more aware of the conservation effort.

The country one is planning to travel to also leaves a great mark on the traveler’s diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:

1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand’s jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being use in farming.

2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourist; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourist. First class hotels now offer highest class of amenities and dozens are still being built/

3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter’s Square where the Pope resides.

4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.

The success of any vacation will not depend by how much the traveler spent or its destination. It is how the traveler enjoyed it and how he was able to achieve his primary goal of “getting away from it all.”

Scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands – A rare piece of paradise in Malaysia.

The crystal clear waters and brilliant white sandy beaches of the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia have for many years captured the hearts and imaginations of the backpackers and travellers who passed through. Recent years however have seen a different type of traveller coming to the Perhentian Islands, as their reputation as a premier diving destination has slowly increased amongst the scuba diving community.

In fact it would be fair to say that a large amount of the success of the Perhentian Islands as a scuba diving location should be attributed to the neighbouring Thailand, and the dive resorts of Koh Tao, Phuket and Koh Samui. Large numbers of travellers who have learned to scuba dive in the larger Thai resorts often find themselves gravitating to the natural beauty of the Perhentian Islands. Looking for one last dive before the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore!

The Perhentian Islands comprise of Pulau Perhentian Kecil and Pulau Perhentian Besar, and are located approximately 20 kilometres off the coast of Malaysia. Offering what can only be described as a slice of paradise, the palm fringed beaches encircle these tropical islands, whilst the clear blue waters hide a wealth of marine and coral life below.

The scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands is of a high standard, and a wide range of dive sites has meant that the islands have become a popular destination for people looking to take a scuba diving course. There are approximately ten major dive sites which are regularly visited by the dive centres in the Perhentian Islands. Of these, Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea) is widely acknowledged as being the best dive site on the islands. A large rocky outcrop of boulders just off the northwest coast of Perhentian Kecil offers some of the best examples of soft coral formations in the region. This carpet of stunning soft corals provides a home to a wide variety of marine life including kingfish, barracuda, nurse sharks and black tip sharks.

For fans of wreck diving, there are two excellent dive sites in the Perhentian Islands. The Sugar Wreck, a 90 metre cargo ship which sank in 2000, and the Vietnamese Wreck were it is still possible to dive inside the wreck itself.

If you are planning to go scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands, the best time to visit is between April to October, when both the visibility and weather are at their most favourable. November to March sees the monsoon season, when the weather becomes poor and access to and from the islands becomes limited due to the rough seas.

The Perhentian Islands offer superb scuba diving, and the shallow nature of the dive sites here make it a good choice for the novice or more inexperienced scuba diver. However what makes the islands so very special is their stunning natural beauty and undeveloped landscapes. You truly feel as though you are diving in your very own piece of paradise!

Discover Borneo, Discover Paradise

Located within the Malay archipelago, Borneo is made up of three different regions: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Perhaps the most frequently visited of these is Malaysia, dived into two distinct regions by the South China Sea.

Visitors to Malaysia commonly choose East Malaysia, the larger of the two land masses. The two states of Sabah and Sarawak offer a multitude of attractions to suit any holidaymaker, from diving and off-roading to golf and birdwatching.

Sarawak, the largest, is a nature-lover’s heaven. Some of the most breathtaking and rare species in the world are indigenous to this region. Visit Bako National Park, Sarawak’s oldest, and see bearded pigs, monitor lizards and over 150 species of birds, all used to people so they’re less likely to be hiding from you! Sarawak is also home to several primates; perhaps the best known is the Orangutan, second in size only to the gorilla. At the Semenggok Wildlife Rehabilitation centre visitors can see Orangutans and Gibbons that were orphaned or kept as illegal pets and then abandoned, along with many other species that are victims of the same fate.

Perhaps one of the most unusual of Sarawak’s indigenous species is the Proboscis monkey, threatened with extinction because of humans encroaching into the habitat. The monkey, named after its large red nose, can only survive on vegetation found in Borneo, and it is estimated that there may only be around 3000 left in the world. Because of the primate’s unusual appearance they are much sought-after by zoos in other parts of the world, but due to their fragility and exclusive diet they cannot thrive outside their natural environment. A visit to Sarawak is the best way to see these highly intriguing creatures safe and happy in their ideal living conditions.

If looking at other species doesn’t take your fancy, why not venture into the Mulu Caves; one of the longest cave networks in the world. To give a comparable size, the largest chamber within the underground network can accommodate 40 Boeing 747 aircrafts, while the biggest passage is big enough for five buildings the size of St Paul’s Cathedral. Visitors brave enough to be inside the cave at dusk will be witness to millions of bats and swiftlets swarming out for their nightly hunt around the jungle outside the cave entrances.

To truly experience a taste of Malaysia, take a trip around the living museum of the Sarawak Cultural Village. This unique attraction is, as the name suggests, a fully functional village with a population of around 150 people from various ethnic groups prevalent in Malaysia. The residents demonstrate traditional activities and craftwork within their culture, all surrounded by the native structures and dwellings. From Iban longhouses to Chinese farmhouses, the village can give a glimpse into a way of life seldom experienced by anyone in the Western world.

Not to be outdone, the second largest state of Sabah has its own appealing attractions. The Borneo pygmy elephant, the smallest species of elephant, can be found roaming the largest river systems in Borneo. The Kinabatangan River lies in the shadow of the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu (4101m), and holds dense concentrations of wildlife, crocodiles, otters, elephants, are but a few of the seemingly infinite list of animals that can be found here. If you are extra lucky you might even glimpse the Sumatran Rhinos, a species that until recently was considered extinct in Borneo.

The carnivorous Pitcher Plant is found in Sabah, named because of it’s shape; resembling a giant pitcher filled with a sticky, poisonous substance which lures insects and small animals to a slow death. Equally spectacular is the Rafflesia arnoldii bloom – possibly the largest single flower in the world. The reddish-brown flower of this parasitic plant can grow to over 3ft in diameter. The Rafflesia Centre is a research facility dedicated to preserving and studying this unusual flora, which blooms just once a year for 5 days, before wilting and exuding a noxious stench not unlike rotting flesh.

Moving away from stinky plants, Sabah is also a great place if you have your sea-legs. The island of Lankayan is a virtually uninhabited paradise with lush green jungle and pure white sand – and one of the best diving resorts in this part of the world, with 40 different recommended dive sites. The gentle giant whale shark is indigenous to this area, and can usually be indicated by the seabirds lurking above the surface of the Sulu Sea. Fans of marine photography may be lucky enough to get close to this aquatic creature, but be quick pressing the shutter! The Lankayan Wreck is another great dive spot to visit, with a variety of unusual marine life such as the painted frogfish and marbled stingray. Lankayan island accommodation fits in beautifully with the surroundings; compact wooden bungalows which are perfect for those seeking a tranquil getaway in a genuine paradise.

Of course, one of the best things about visiting a foreign country is the diversity of food available to sample, and Malaysian Borneo is no exception. It’s an amalgam of several ethnicities; Chinese, Indian and of course the native Malays. This cultural melting pot lends itself to one of the world’s most varied cuisines, and in addition there are many indigenous ethnic groups which each have their own diet and heritage; the once-fearsome headhunters the Ibans and Muruts, the nomadic sea-faring Bajau and the hospitable Biayuh. Each ethnic group has its own traditions and handicrafts and, as is evident at the Cultural village in Sarawak, are happy to display these to visitors.

If you choose Borneo for your holidays, you’ll be plunged into a lush paradise with some of the most spectacular views and wildlife the world has to offer. Discover Borneo travel company offers a wide range of packages to suit every taste, be it diving, rafting or simply soaking up the sun.

Great scuba diving destinations

Sipadan Island (Palau Sipadan)

Sipadan Island is on everyones list as one of the best SCUBA diving destinations in the world. Sipadan Island has one of the richest marine habitats in the world. Located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the Island of Borneo, the Island plunges 2,000 meters straight down to the sea floor, strong marine currents sweep past the island bringing nutrient rich cold waters to the surface and supporting the entire marine food chain.

The abundance of large marine animals is so common and overwhelming the dive instructors who work there are so bored with seeing dozens of green and hawks bill turtles, schools of white-tip and Grey reef sharks on each and every dive. With the ever present eagles rays, devil rays, manta rays, big-eyed trevally, and barracuda swirls that black out the sun, it almost shocking when the dive masters spend their time looking past these large animals for nudie branches, Ghost fish and searching through the clown fish’s (Nemo) home looking for anemone shrimp and bubble coral shrimp. Hard to believe that with so much large ocean life around them they get the most excited about finding the smallest creatures. But as you spend more and more time here, frog fish, lion fish and scorpion leaf fish will seem common to you too.

I even saw a juvenile Whale Shark on my first dive at Sipadan. The Whale Shark is one of the most hoped for sighting of most SCUBA divers as there isn’t a big “fish” in the ocean, and despite there size they are completely harmless (as long as you don’t get hit by their tail as they swim by) and feed on krill.

Sipadan isn’t just for sharks, turtles, and coral walls that drop 2,000 meters, nearby is Mabul, where you can see some of the weirdest animals in the sea on a “muck-dive”. In Mabul you will see seahorses, dwarf stone fish, harlequin ghost pipe-fish, scorpion fish and frogfish, some of the seas oddest looking treasures. Also nearby Sipadan is Mantabuan, here you can actually see black coral, normally found well below 40 meters, too deep for most recreational divers, here the rare and precious coral can be found in just 22 meters of water. Even if black coral was the only thing you would see in Mantabuan it would be worth the trip, but Mantabuan also has pristine coral in which you will see angelfish, damsel fish, numerous varieties of shrimp and crab, and of course more turtles than you can blow bubbles at. Blue spotted sting ray and flamboyant cuttlefish are also

Palm Oil & Deforestation: Truth or Fiction?

By Frank Tate

Have you ever noticed that a herd of lembu or cows, all tend to move together in the same direction? Have you often wondered why this phenomenon occurs?

Imagine that you are taking a slow and leisurely drive along one of Malaysia’s lovely scenic country roads, away from the speeding juggernauts and cars on the North South highway. As you drive, you take in all the rolling fields of lalang, oil palm plantations stretching as far as the eye can see. Suddenly, something catches your attention. It’s a herd of lembu up ahead, in a nearby open field. Curiosity gets the better of you and you park off the road to investigate further. And there, you stand beside your car, in the middle of nowhere, watching the herd instinct in action.

For unexplained reasons, you scramble towards a low wooden fence and catch up to the lembu as the herd slowly makes its way across the field of lalang. Curious as to why they would all move in the same direction, you look towards the center of the herd and wonder aloud: “Why are all the lembu walking in this particular direction, as if on auto pilot?”

When I ask this question at all my seminars, the response I hear from delegates from all over the world is invariably the same: “They’re all moving in the same direction because everybody else is!”

People and organizations too are like this herd of lembu. They too are strongly influenced by the direction of the surrounding herd. Just take a look at the behavior of some NGO’s in the developed world.

First, we have the so-called Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Helmed by its Executive Director, the infamous Michael Jacobson, and backed by an annual budget in excess of US$16 million, CSPI has launched disinformation campaigns against Malaysian Palm Oil. In fact, so disingenuous has been Jacobson’s claims that he has earned the rare distinction of being called various things in the media – ranging from the benign “Consumer Advocate” to the less flattering “Nutrition Terrorist”, “Terrorist”, “Food Cop”, “Killjoy”, “Food Fascist”, “Food Nazi” etc. In fact, the latter labels appear with such stunning regularity in the media that few men could have been so definitively defined.

Jacobson, to put it mildly, is guilty of utter disregard for the truth and scientific facts, frequently exaggerating figures and claims to advance CSPI’s own agenda

Having failed in a campaign in the eighties to portray palm oil as unhealthy, Jacobson and CSPI have been racking their collective brains as to how to discredit what is, inherently, healthy oil. Health claims or the converse, “un-healthy” claims, of course, have to be backed by rational science. However, these are matters that CSPI, despite their grandiose and associative-scientific sounding name, would have difficulty in delivering. Throwing figures and “facts” that would fail to pass muster for a secondary school science project, CSPI recklessly and with gay abandon, continues to launch fresh attacks, this time targeting the sustainability of oil palm cultivation. They argue, most deviously, that oil palm plantations have led to the destruction of rainforests and consequently, have deprived orang utans of their natural habitat. Interesting. Perhaps, even persuasive. If not, for the facts!

The superior sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil industry is patently obvious, and it is clear that the Malaysian oil palm cultivation is superior to any large scale agriculture in the tropics or the temperate countries in terms of sustainability parameters. The plantation industry is professionally managed, with many of them such as IOI Corporation, Golden Hope, PPB Group and KL Kepong, operating as listed corporations on the Malaysian stock market where corporate governance and corporate responsibility are well practiced more than farm activities in other parts of the world. The Palm Oil Truth Foundation (www.palmoiltruthfoundation.com) has sought to remedy the misconception that palm oil contributes to deforestation and enlighten the world of the fact that the Malaysian Palm Oil industry has always adopted sustainable cultivation best practices, including conservation and replanting. The MPOC, in fact has set up a US$5 Million Conservation Fund to assist in wild-life conservation.

But Jacobson understands the lembu phenomenon and knows that the herd instinct will take over. And sure enough, the NGO’s and other organizations have taken the bait and like the proverbial lembu, have predictably, blindly followed the herd.

First, the BBC sent a film crew to film the so–called deforestation and habitat loss of the Orang Utans. Then the NGO’s added their voices to the irrational chorus of calls for consumers to avoid palm oil products as they had allegedly come from unsustainable sources. The Friends of the Earth, a UK NGO alleges that “the palm oil industry is now considered by scientists as the biggest threat to the Orang Utan”! Scientists? Which scientists? The pseudo-scientists from the verbose sounding “Center for Science in the Public Interest”? It was almost hilarious to watch documentary after documentary warning of the dangers of palm oil because of the damage caused by the humble oil to Orang Utan habitats. Hilarious because nothing could be further from the truth, at least as far as Malaysia is concerned!

Comprehensive policies and laws on environmental protection are in place in Malaysia and are strictly enforced by the Department of Environment. Endangered species, including Orang Utans, needing protection are given priority with strong conservation programs put in place. Sabah, with a growing palm oil industry and one of the largest states in Malaysia had drafted a master list of protected areas based on the guidelines of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). In fact, 21.8% of Sabah is now protected, more than double the 10% recommended by the IUCN. It is also interesting to note that the Malaysian Palm oil industry is the prime mover for the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil to encourage best practices and to minimize any adverse impact on the environment by the industry, long before the latest shenanigans initiated by CSPI started.

Almost all oil palm expansion in Malaysia is pursued through the conversion of existing rubber, cocoa and coconut plantations or from logged over forest areas which have been earmarked for agriculture. Moreover, out of the total land area of 30.2 million hectares, only 6 million hectares have been designated for agriculture under the Third Malaysia Agricultural Plan. Oil palm cultivation falls well within the area zoned for agriculture. Ironically, the area still under forest cover remains at well over 60 %, certainly much higher than that of the developed nations from which all this brouhaha over Orang Utan habitats are originating.

Recently, the European Free Alliance MEP’s together with an MEP grouping known as The Greens in the European Parliament (together, they form the 4th largest grouping in the European Parliament) lent their not inconsiderable voice to the issue. Lobbying the European Parliament’s “Industry, Technology, Research and Energy Committee”, which is tasked with proposing energy policies with an agreed EU target of 25% biomass renewables by 2020, this grouping managed to get the Energy committee to include, inter alia an amendment to “ban the use of palm oil for feeding our cars” due to the “lack of environmental standards and safeguards” leading to “an increase in tropical deforestation”, whilst “failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly”! Couching their proposal in euphemistic language, and this really takes the cake, the grouping went on to justify their proposal on the basis that the emergence of a European biofuels sector would offer opportunities for biofuel technology transfer to developing countries crippled by rising oil prices! It is this last statement that gives a clue as to the grouping’s real agenda and intentions. The proposal is designed to protect their turf, to protect the European biofuel sector! So much for all the WTO rules against protectionism.

It is about time that the world wakes up to such insidious and deceptive campaigns and that can only be achieved when the world develops the discernment to see through the veil and stop being lembus. That may be counter-intuitive but the herd instinct can only be overcome through education and clear branding and communication programs. Programs that will, ultimately, expose the lies and half-truths that appear to be the penchant and almost exclusive purview of CSPI and others of their ilk.

How to Thailand Holiday Packages Tips

 

Thailand, island nation located in the south east of Asia .Thailand is a country rich in culture and natural beauty. It has been hallowed with liberal natural parks, productive plains, isolated jungles, beaches washed by turquoise waters and humid islands bathed in endless sunshine. The country has more visible historical indication of its past cultures than any other country in Southeast Asian. Its history is very composite, involving the incursion of many different peoples, the rule of different kings, the concern of various kingdoms and the interaction of dissimilar cultures. Thailand is known for its prominent hospitality, sacred temple, and breathtaking natural beauty. Thailand offers something for all type of travelers. Thailand’s restrictions stretch to adjacent regions of Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean. You plan to visit Thailand between July and November; the weather can be awkwardly for you. Around July and November, it will be rainy season in Thailand. The weather is at its best from February to March. It is perfect time to go to the beaches. Places of tourist significance in Thailand include Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and Koh Samet while provinces like Krabi, Koh Libong, Koh Hai provides great photographic memoirs of Thailand as a tour destination.

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand with the King of Thailand respected as the supreme emperor and also the supporter of all religions embraced by the people. Thailand truly is an amazing place, with so much to offer tourists. The regular and most popular destinations of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai etc are only a small part of the country, and there are so many more undiscovered charms to be found. Thus, Thailand has spiritual forbearance wicker into its social structure and respects people of all races. This multiculturalism makes Thailand a hot much loved as a tour destination for the global traveler with add-on visits to nearby cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and other major southern Thai towns being part of an avid tourist’s list. You visit Surin islands, again stopping at a couple of top lunge sites.

The sea is mediator and there is less sickness. We again see some truly amazing fish while diving in the clear steamy water. But the most fantastic moment comes when a small husk of dolphins swim alongside our boat. How are barely credible to see this while traveling to and from tropical paradises. There tends to be more boats that have come from Phuket for the diving around the Simolan Islands. The largest groups of non-Thai people are the Chinese who have traditionally played an extremely important role in the economy. Many have assimilated into majority Thai society, and do not live in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road. After the end of the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees settled in Thailand, mainly in the northeastern region. Muay Thai, after they retired from the army, these soldiers often became Buddhist monks and stayed at the temples. Most of the Thai people’s lives are closely tied to Buddhism and temples; they often send their sons to be educated with the monks. ”Muay” is also one of the subjects taught in the temples.

City Park Hotel: Fits your Needs and Budget

Have you ever thought of what hotel in Kuala Lumpur could give you an accommodation that suits your needs and budget? Now is the time to stop wondering because City Park Hotel Kuala Lumpur is here to provide you with a pleasurable stay while allowing you to spend less and save more.

City Park Hotel lets you capitalize on its strategic location as it is nestled in the hub of Malaysia’s most dynamic city, Kuala Lumpur. This budget hotel is within close proximity to the city’s leisure destinations and tourist attractions, hence giving you the utmost convenience you need to fully enjoy your holiday.

Aside from the ease that City Park Hotel’s setting brings you, its accommodation is as equally brilliant. Each of its 128 rooms is well-furnished with wall to wall carpeting, air conditioning units, toilet and bath, communication equipments and kitchen amenities. Services include laundry and pressing, parking, secretarial services and safe deposit box. All these are made handy to let you feel the ease, practicality, and comfort you truly deserve.

Indeed, accommodation at City Park Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a value for money. With its online booking system that offers best rates, you’re sure to have a hassle-free reservation, cheap accommodation, and a fine stay experience all at the same time. At City Park Hotel, you’re guaranteed to have a worthwhile holiday vacation

For booking and best rates online, please log on to http://www.citypark-kualalumpur.com/

Experiences From the Flow (23): the Ex Returns! Part 1

“Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that’s good in life…”

By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo, Copyright April 2008

(Author “My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor,” Copyright August 2007. Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing.)

*Below is the twenty-third installment in a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places. These stories are also incorporated in “My Friend Yu – the Prosperity Mentor: Book II,” Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.

- Happy New Year? -

It was December 28, 2007, just three days before New Year’s Eve. I was in my bedroom with Nueng, my live-in lover and the only Thai woman proven trustworthy during my two year stay in Thailand.

Recently, my life had made a positive 360 degree turn. After a string of unsuccessful and costly relationships, I was now in a loving and mutually beneficial one. My days were filled with love, friendship, smiles, fun, excitement, and intimacy – in short, life “sans paranoia, deceit, and disappointment”.

Feeling content, all I could think of was that the New Year would be nothing like the last one. 2008 was going to be “My Year” – the year that I would advance professionally and grow closer to Nueng. Yes, I was really stoked about the life I envisioned living in the coming year.

(But all things must come to an end.)

I forgot about the spare house key I kept amongst the shoes in a shoe rack outside the front door. The Ex didn’t. She used it to quietly enter my townhouse to “surprise” me with her return.

“Happy Freakin’ New Year,” I thought to myself.

- Prelude -

So much had happened in the last five months. My Lao girlfriend, the woman I had fallen so much in love, with broke my heart.

She went on a visa run and eventually never came back.

After weeks of excuses (“mother sick, weather too bad to travel, thief stole my money, house roof damaged from rain, etc.”), I found out the truth: she was at a beach resort with another man.

How did I find out the truth?

Her cell phone.

You see, immediately prior to making her monthly visa run, her cell phone was malfunctioning (it could receive messages and phone calls, but couldn’t send them).

It was a new and rather expensive model. Since it was still under warranty, I suggested maintenance instead of a costly replacement. Besides, she was fond of it because she had finally mastered the art of accessing and using most of its features.

In order to keep connected during this visa run, I told her to put her SIM card into my phone and take it with her.

I put my SIM card into an old phone that I kept for just these kinds of situations (theft, accident, or damage to our better phones, etc.).

Two days after she left, I picked up her phone from the repair shop. I put my SIM card into her phone, changed the language to English, and tested the repair job with an outgoing SMS. She replied with the usual “I miss you. Be home soon.” Trying to call her failed, but that was normal for calls to Laos from Thailand. Local calls to my friends were fine, so I was satisfied with the repairs.

Feeling good about the girlfriend’s repaired phone, I charged it, and carried it around as though it was mine (temporarily).

Her phone was a different brand than my phone and had different menus and shortcuts to the usual, daily tasks. So, for the next few days I began to learn how to quickly access and use most of her phone’s many features.

Playing with her phone, I soon realized that she had saved almost everything on her phone instead of onto her SIM card.

Then I got curious…

- Jackpot or Worst Fears? -

There I was, able to peek into her private life. It was like having the key to her diary. Maybe now I could finally gain some insight into our confusing relationship.

Since we didn’t speak each other’s language very well, we lived in a chronic state of miscommunication. This was my chance to glean some inside information that could benefit our lives as a couple – kind of like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; or maybe a winning combination on a Vegas slot machine.

On the other hand, I could be opening Pandora’s Box. And unlike the classic story, if my worst fears were confirmed, hope wouldn’t be left in the box.

Results? Verdict? Thumbs down.

Instead of a jackpot, I found a well of ugliness.

I couldn’t read most of the text messages because they were written in Thai. (She must have deleted all incriminating English messages.)

But a lot of the phone numbers were names in English – male names. In fact, the bulk of them were men from Singapore, Malaysia, Britain, America, and Australia.

Uh-oh. Here we go again. The more I investigated, the more I was getting the whole ugly story.

I got some Thai friends to translate some of the incoming and outgoing messages. Yup, the Ex was stringing me and many other men along.

Judging from the messages, some of the guys had it much worse than me. Some promised marriage. One man (a Thai) threatened suicide if she broke up with him.

Many of them were still sending her money.

Imagine that. I was giving this girl a very high standard of living and she was still milking other men for more. Talk about a greedy bitch!

Oddly enough, I was only angry for a couple of minutes. I guess being a veteran of this kind of setup made recovery time shorter and shorter until finally, it’s almost instantaneous.

Sadly, the majority of relationships I’d had in Thailand ended up like this. It was inevitable. I let myself get caught up with women who were much too immature to take any man/woman relationship seriously.

I’d been stubborn, refusing to accept the following axiom:

Contrary to popular belief, Thailand is only a temporary cure. Whether it be insecurity, loneliness, frustration, or mid-to-late-life crisis, “Thailand as a Permanent Panacea” is an illusion.

(Carl “J.C.” Pantejo, November, 2007)

Oh well, what to do, what to do?

I know. I’ll warn the other men. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I’ll either call or text them and tell them what’s really going on.

- Killing the Messenger -

The overwhelming majority of the men I contacted were tourists, only visiting Thailand for a few days to a couple weeks at a time.

After hearing the truth, many went into immediate denial. They couldn’t believe that their sweet, little tee-rak was a liar and a cheat. Man, they were really under her magic spell. A few of them actually yelled obscenities at me, saying that I was the “f*ck!n home-wrecker”!

Home-wrecker? What a crock.

THEY were the ones in the dark about the real deal, blissfully dreaming about the soon-to-be ex’s love from the armchairs of their foreign homes.

I was the one in Thailand currently living with “their” woman.

I was the one who was trying to free them from this conniving witch (albeit, an-oh-so-cute-and-sexy sorceress)!

The more seasoned Thai tourists simply shrugged it off and said that they weren’t surprised and thanked me for the information.

One of them, an American like myself, said, “Appreciate the low down, buddy. I guess it’s drop-kick time. I’ll shop for another one on my next trip. Oh yeah, I owe you a beer.”

These veterans of vacations in Thailand were extremely nonchalant about the whole affair. It was like I’d just told them that their favorite toothpaste was out of stock (no big deal, just a minor inconvenience).

I wondered how long it would be until I was that jaded?

One of them even suggested a nice payback. He was to make a surprise visit at my place when she returned, but I declined. I’d be rid of her long before this British guy could make it over to Thailand.

Since becoming a civilian, I shed my hardcore revenge persona. My personal philosophy now is that Life will compensate her for her actions more than I ever could. I just wanted to prevent her from inflicting more damage on other people.

I simply told the other men the truth. It was up to them to continue their relationship or not. For me, I was bailing out – and fast.

- Tying up Loose Ends -

After contacting the foreigners, I packed up the girlfriend’s belongings and moved them into a spare bedroom. I removed all reminders of her existence from plain view. I announced to the Landlord and neighbors that she was not my girlfriend anymore. Luckily, they all liked me and said they would keep an eye out.

Then I set out to make sure that “she knew that I knew.”

Until now, I was too busy to contact the guy she was having a holiday with at a beach resort half-way between Rangsit and Laos.

He was the Thai guy who threatened suicide (mentioned above).

Apparently, he was in his early twenties and working as a stock boy at an electrical hardware store in the Future Park Mall (translated: poor). He had saved up nearly a year’s worth of pay to take the girlfriend to the beach resort and propose marriage.

I scanned her phone, selected all the messages he’d sent her (and her messages to him) AND SENT THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM TO HER.

Then I sent the same messages, her messages to me, and my replies to her TO HIM.

They immediately panicked. First they turned off their phones for two days. Then they came up with a myriad of stories (lies) to try and cover up or justify their time together. None of the stories were remotely plausible. All were blatantly untrue.

My Thai friend got a hold of the man on his cell and proceeded to give him the riot act. My friend said (in Thai), “Are you proud of yourself now? You are with someone else’s wife. Can you trust her now? Do you really think she’ll change JUST FOR YOU? I have proof of many other men. Do you want their phone numbers?”

By now, the Thai man was beginning to wise up. He profusely apologized to me through my Thai friend. I said, “Mai bpen arai.” And I made it clear that I didn’t want her back.

He could have her (and her lying and cheating). Good riddance.

I wished both of them a nice life and hung up.

That night, she began calling me and saying that she was sorry and didn’t love him. She was just worried that he might really kill himself (yeah, right). She bombarded my phone with SMS, missed calls, and MMS (multi-media files) professing her undying love for me.

How hypocritical can you get? She was sending these love messages to me while remaining at the beach resort with another man!

I’d had enough. I told her to send her friend to pick up her belongings and that I hope she knows what she is throwing away (a solid future).

(Say good-bye to your gravy train, honey.)

She sent me a last image. It was of her with her eyes closed. The beach breeze was blowing through her hair. Swaying Palm trees, sparkling blue water, and soft-looking sand filled the background. The message at the bottom of the photo was “Rak khun kon-deos (I love you, only you).”

I deleted the image.

- Time-released Heartache -

As expected, over the next few days I kept getting flash back memories of intimate and happy moments with the Ex. It was kind of a delayed reaction.

All my life, especially in the military, once I made a decision, I acted swiftly and surgically; not allowing myself to feel things until much later. The motto always was: “Do it now. Complete the mission. Then cry (or laugh) about it later.”

It was insidious. Eventually, I accepted it. I was actually heartbroken.

And I cried for weeks.

- Merry Freakin’ Christmas -

After taking months to recover from the brutal heartbreak, out of nowhere, the Ex returns. She hands me a belated Christmas gift (a small stuffed toy), wraps her arms around me, buries her head into my shoulder and says, “I love you.”

Uncomfortably, I accepted her gift and returned her embrace – ALL THE WHILE THINKING OF THE OTHER WOMAN HIDING IN MY BEDROOM!

(Continued in “Experiences from The Flow [24]: The Ex Returns! Part 2.”)

Your Friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo

Thailand, heartbreak, return, ex-girlfriend, cell phone, SMS, text, messages, girlfriend, surprise, lie, cheat, worst fears.

Note: If you want to read more about Asian and Western cultural differences, relationship advice, discovering unconditional love, exorcising past personal demons, Universal Laws, and the Illusive Secret of Happiness, please read the following articles:

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’: From Heartbreak to Happiness”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (2): Coincidence or Synchronicity: FROM RELAPSE TO MIRACLES…”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (3): LOST AND FOUND – Kindred Spirits and Mistakes made in Haste.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (4): LOST AND FOUND – Meant to Be?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (5): “The Stray”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (6): “New Beginnings, Old Endings”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (7) – Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Myth”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (8) Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Reality, Stupidity, and Hard Knocks.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (9): New Girlfriend, New Life.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (10): Farangs and Asians – Polarized Views.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (11) – Farangs: In (or considering) a long-term Western/Asian Relationship? Read This Now!

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (12) – Farang: Square Peg, Round Hole? Compatibility Issues.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (13) – Farang: Compatibility Issues II”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (14) – Farang: Tipping the Scales. Good or Bad?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (15) – Farang: Interpretation of Your Results.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (16) – Farang: Make Your Scale Sway or Walk Away.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (17) – Farang: Further Interpretation. Lopsided Scales.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (18): A Good Tilt with a Bar Girl?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (19): Another Good Tilt with a Bar Girl?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (20): The Good Tilt – Enhancing your Compatible Relationship.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (21): Farang: It’s Songkran. Hide your wallet! Part 1.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (21): Farang: It’s Songkran. Hide your wallet! Part 2.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path: Guardian Angels and Universal Laws.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (2): Trying too hard?”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (3): First, Be Effective.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (4): Intend. Be Certain.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (5): Why me or why not me? Your choice.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (6): Gratitude – What’s Your Perspective?”

“How Dare She! Out of Desperation I Learned How to Forgive”

“Remember Who You Are!”

“Need to Heal Your Broken Heart? Read on. Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of Happiness.”

“Simple (and Priceless) Life Lessons from the Most Influential Prosperity Mentor in My Life – My Father”

And much more!

(By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo and published internet-wide, keyword: [title of article] or “Carl Pantejo”)

Enjoy them, my friend.

Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com

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