Vang Vieng tubing draws thousands of travelers a year to central Laos.  Set amid a stunning natural backdrop of green mountains and wild countryside, tiny Vang Vieng has earned a reputation as a place to party, take a break from the road, and enjoy the best outdoor adventure that Laos has to offer.

Situated on the main highway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng is clustered around an old airstrip once used by the CIA to fly covert missions during the Vietnam War.  Little did they know that decades later backpackers would be flocking here to float down the river with a BeerLao in hand!

Although Vang Vieng offers incredible mountain biking, caving, and hiking opportunities, the most popular activity here is to rent a large inner tube and float down the Nam Song River.

Vang Vieng tubing can be as relaxing or as hedonistic and adventurous as one desires. Bars have sprung up all along the river offering cheap beer, rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing. 

Tubing has become one big excuse to party in the river.  Floating lazily from bar to bar with a drink in hand is a great way to escape the scorching afternoon sun.

Vang Vieng tubing only takes about three hours from start to finish, even less time during the monsoon season (May to October) when the river is flowing faster.  Most people choose to make a day out of tubing by stopping frequently to socialize or to give one of the zip lines a try.The sun drops behind the mountains around 3 p.m. and the air cools down considerably.  Be on the river no later than 11 a.m. to enjoy your day of tubing without being in a hurry.Your tube must be returned by 6 p.m.  The tubing companies use tardiness as an opportunity to increase revenue by keeping your deposit!Read more about the weather in Laos.

TIP: Check the clock in the rental office, many times they are set 15 minutes fast in an effort to make more people “late”.

Two companies offer tubing in Vang Vieng about 100 meters from the river, both are easy to find.  The price of a rental includes your transportation about 3 km up the river to the starting point from where you will drift down and then return your tube at the rental office.A tube rental will cost around $7 for the day and you will be expected to leave a $7 deposit which will be returned unless you come back late.  More than a few backpackers loose track of time while partying and come back late to find that their deposit has been lost!Rental companies offer dry bags for about US $2 a day to protect your camera and belongings.The water is shallow near the finish point; local kids will come out to help drag your tube in.  Although they are smiling and good-natured, helping you get home isn't done out of goodwill - a tip is expected.When stopping at the bars, keep an eye on your tube which will get stacked with all the others at the entrance.  Some backpackers have been known to walk to the bars then grab a free tube back to town, robbing you of your deposit and way to get home!The Nam Song River has claimed more than its share of cameras.  Some of the rental dry bags may leak; leave your camera at the guest house or bring your own dry bag for protection.The water may feel nice and cool but the Southeast Asian sun is still strong; wear sunscreen.Food in Vang Vieng is much cheaper and better than that found around the river.Rather than going alone, team up with some other travelers during the monsoon season when the river current is strong.Keep an eye above you when tubing past zip lines, rope swings, and popular diving spots around the bars.Although drugs are illegal – even punishable by death – in Laos, they are found everywhere in Vang Vieng.  Undercover policemen work the town and river daily in search of bribes.Mixing alcohol, drugs, and strong currents on the river claims at least one life a year.  It is wiser to enjoy a day of tubing and do the serious partying back in Vang Vieng.Read more about drugs in Southeast Asia.

Vang Vieng is easily reachable along Route 13 by bus from both Luang Prabang (around eight hours) and Vientiane (around four hours). 

See Laos Travel Requirements.

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What it is: Observation Wheel
Location: 30 Raffles Avenue Singapore 039803
Operating Hours: Opens daily from 8:30am to 10:30pm (Opening in March 2008)
Ride duration: 30 minutes
Ticket Prices: From $29.50 for one adult ride, to about $1,500 to rent a whole capsule
How to get there: Ride the MRT (North South Line), and get off at Marina Bay Station.

If you're a small island with a reputation for thinking big, every project has got to be bigger than anything else in the world. So it is with the Singapore Flyer, a 540-feet high observation wheel that offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Singapore's Marina Bay.

Don't make the mistake of calling the Flyer a "Ferris Wheel". The management absolutely refuses to "use the F-word" - the Flyer is more appropriately called an observation wheel, along the lines of the famous London Eye. (It also beats the London Eye in the size department by more than ninety feet!)

The Flyer is mounted with 28 air-conditioned capsules, each one the size of a bus and able to take on up to 28 riders. The Flyer's builders boast that every passenger will experience a vibration-free 30 minute ride, with an incredible unobstructed view of the surrounding island-state, as well as glimpses of neighboring countries Indonesia and Malaysia.

The wheel itself stands atop a three-storey retail terminal that promises over 82,000 square feet of retail space. The terminal will offer parking space for about thirty buses and almost 300 cars. Apart from restaurants and souvenir shops, the terminal will also house a rainforest-like central atrium and a concert space for live events.

To avoid long lines, the Flyer permits ticket-holders to roam throughout the retail terminal, requiring them only to show up at the gate about 30 minutes before the flight time on the ticket.

The Flyer is only a small part of Singapore's ambitious plans for the Marina Bay area. Also under construction are a casino-resort valued at about US$3.65 billion and a F1 racing circuit.

The casino is being built by Las Vegas Sands, and is scheduled to open in 2009 as part of the Marina Sands resort complex. The first F1 races will be held by September 2008, and will be expected to generate about US$66 million a year in ticket sales.

Several soft-launches were initiated on the run-up to the Flyer's official launch in April, including a Valentine's Day ride for couples. On its February 10 inaugural "flight", groups paid Singapore $8,888 for the honor of riding the wheel ("8" is a lucky number in Chinese folklore).

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Flag of Thailand.

From CIA World Factbook. Public domain.

Before planning your trip, consult our Thailand Profile page for basic information about the country.

You’ll only be allowed into Thailand if your passport is valid for at least six months after arrival, with enough pages for embarkation stamp upon arrival, and must show proof of sufficient funds and onward or return passage.

American, Canadian, and UK citizens do not need to acquire a visa for stays not longer than 30 days. For more details, you can visit the Kingdom of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs page on entry requirements.

For the extension of visa need to apply to one of the Thai Immigration Offices. For details, contact the Immigration Bureau Head Office: Soi Suan-Plu, South Sathorn Rd, Bangkok, Thailand Phone: 66(0)2 287 3101 until 287 3110; Fax: 66(0)2 287 1310, 66(0)2 287 1516

Customs.You may bring these items into Thailand without paying customs duty:

200 cigarettes, or no more than 500 grams of smoking tobacco One liter of spirits / wine / malt liquor. Up to 10,000 Baht worth of cosmetics, perfume, soaps, toothpaste, and other personal effects – assuming these are for personal use only Film: a reasonable amount for personal use

The official Thai Customs Department page can fill you in on what you can and can’t bring in.

Drug trafficking in Thailand carries the death penalty – under no circumstances should you ever get caught carrying any on your way in!

Airport Tax.You will be charged an airport tax of 500 Baht upon departure on any international flight. Passengers of domestic flights will be charged 40 Baht.

You’ll only be asked to show health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever if you’re coming from known infected areas. More information on Thailand-specific health issues are discussed at the CDC page on Thailand and at the MDTravelHealth webpage.

Thailand is largely safe for foreign visitors, although the country is located in a region with an elevated risk of terrorism. The Thai police have been largely effective in safeguarding the safety of their tourists.

Because of the ongoing crisis in Thailand’s southern provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla), travelers are advised not to visit these areas, or travel overland through the Malaysian border with Thailand.

Violence against tourists is thankfully rare, but visitors may be vulnerable to pickpocketing, fraud, and confidence tricks. One common ruse involves fooling tourists into buying fake “smuggled Burmese jewels” at extremely low prices. Once the tourist discovers they’re fake, the vendors have usually skeltered away without a trace.

Sexual assaults on women have been known to occur, so female travelers should remain vigilant. Be careful about accepting drinks from strangers, keep an eye on your passports and credit cards, and don’t carry too much cash or jewelry.

Thai law shares the draconian attitude to drugs common in Southeast Asia. For more information, read: Drug Laws and Penalties in Southeast Asia - by Country.

The Thai unit of currency is called the Baht (THB), and it is divided into 100 satang. Notes come in 10-baht, 20-baht, 50-baht, 100-baht and 1,000-baht denominations. Click here to see the Baht’s exchange rate against the US dollar. Currency can be exchanged at the airport, banks, hotels and accredited moneychangers.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa credit cards are generally accepted, but not universally. Cheaper guesthouses and restaurants do not accept plastic.

ATMs are in most (if not all) cities and tourist areas, including Phuket, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui, Ko Tao, Ko Chang, and Ko Phi Phi. Depending on the bank, the withdrawal limit may range from 20,000B to 100,000B.

Tipping. Tipping isn’t standard practice in Thailand, so you’re not required to tip unless asked. All major hotels and restaurants exact a service charge of 10%. Taxi drivers don’t expect to be tipped, but won’t complain if you round the meter fare out to the next five or 10 baht.

Thailand is a tropical country with a warm and humid climate throughout the year. The country is at its warmest between March and May, with an average temperature of around 93?F (34?C). From November to February, the northeast monsoon quickly lowers temperatures down to 65?F-90?F (18?C-32?C)centigrade in Bangkok, and even lower in the northern areas of the country. The weather in Thailand is at its best from February to March; the weather is at its mildest and the beaches are at their best.

When/Where to Go. Thailand is best experienced between November and February, owing to the northeast monsoon’s cool, dry winds. Chilly nights – and sub-zero temperatures at high altitudes – are not unheard of.

From March to June, Thailand undergoes its hot, dry summers, with temperatures topping out at 104?F (40? C). Avoid Thailand during the summer – even the locals complain about the heat!

What to Wear. Wear light, cool, and casual clothing on most occasions. On formal occasions, jackets and ties on men are recommended, while women should wear dresses.

Don’t wear shorts and beachwear outside the beach, especially if you’re planning to call on a temple or other place of worship.

Women would be wise to dress respectfully, covering shoulders and legs covered.

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The influx of tourism in Ubud mixed with the proximity of so many artists has caused a great deal of unique boutiques and shops to open.  Unlike the tacky, beach-tourist feeling of shopping in Kuta, Ubud provides a much more sophisticated experience.

Local shops are filled with unique and beautiful crafts, art work, carvings, jewelery, and gifts to take back home. The sprawling, indoor Ubud Market caters mostly to tourists in search of cheap souvenirs.  Be sure to haggle prices - negotiation is expected - or you may end up paying triple what something is worth.

Be sure to check out the Ganesha Bookstore, considered the best second-hand bookstore in Bali, if not all of Indonesia. 

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Despite the Communist takeover in the mid-1970s, Laos remains a Buddhist country in everything but name. Patriotic holidays are still celebrated in this landlocked country, but only on Buddhist holidays do the Lao people let their hair down and celebrate.

Laos' holidays are movable feasts based on the Vietnamese and Thai lunar calendars, following local Buddhist tradition. Due to the variance between the Gregorian calendar and the traditional Lao calendar that determines local holidays, the dates indicated for each holiday listed here are best approximations, particularly the dates indicated without years.

This holiday takes place on the fourth lunar month, celebrating the birth of the Buddha reincarnated as the Prince Vessantara. Monks bring the Vessantara Story Cloth through town in a procession known as Phaa Phawet. Believers make merit by listening to a non-stop sermon on the birth of Vessantara, read from 14 sets of palm leaf manuscript.

Bun Pha Wet is set at different dates in different villages, so Lao townsfolk can celebrate the holiday at home and visit other loved ones at other villages for their respective celebrations. Bun Pha Wet is also a favored time for Lao males to enter the monkhood.

The most scenic celebrations of Bun Pha Wet take place at That Luang in Vientiane and Wat Phu in Champassak.

Vientiane's considerable Vietnamese and Chinese population celebrates Chinese New Year together; the best places to see the celebrations are in the cities of Vientiane, Pakse and Savannakhet.

Like Chinese New Year all around the region, the holiday's three days are marked with raucous parties, exploding firecrackers, and visits to temples and family reunions. Vietnamese and Chinese businesses will be closed at this time.

The Wat Phu Festival coincides with the full moon of the third month of the Lao lunar calendar. At this time, the ruins of Wat Phu come alive again, with traditional festivities including buffalo-fighting, elephant racing, and performances of Lao music and dance. Souvenirs are also easy to find here, as a trade fair for traditional products is also held at the same time, with goods coming in from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

On the night of the full moon, Magha Puja commemorates a speech given by the Buddha to 1,250 monks who arrived spontaneously to hear him speak. Worshipers circle their temples bearing candles to make merit, and religious chanting fills the air. It's said the Buddha laid down the first monastic regulations in his speech, and also predicted his death. Magha Puja is best witnessed in Vientiane and at Wat Phu.

The Lao new year commences in mid-April, lasting three days. The whole country shuts down to worship and celebrate - Buddha images are washed, offerings made at the temples, and votive sand stupas are made in yards all over the country. Finally, Laotians spray water gleefully upon one another. As the temperatures are rising at this time of the year, the constant drenching can be a great relief from the heat. For the locals, the water festivities are their way of calling for rain from above.

The most picturesque celebrations of Bun Pi Mai happen in Luang Prabang. Cambodia, Burma, and Thailand celebrate this holiday as well - the Thai celebration is better known as Songkran.

On the sixth full moon of the lunar year, Buddhists worldwide celebrate the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing away. Celebrations are held in local temples - worshipers hold candlelight processions there, and the day is marked with much chanting and religious instruction.

This noisy holiday traces its roots to pre-Buddhist rain ceremonies, and occurs together with Visakha Puja. Anarchy reigns on this day - the humorous performance art known as mor lam is performed in many places, and in some places, men wear blackface and women carry wooden penises.

The whole festival reaches a climax when townsfolk fire bamboo rockets skyward. The rockets are meant to bring rains from the heavens and irrigate the rice fields.

Khao Pansa marks the beginning of the Buddhist equivalent of Lent - a time of fasting and contemplation for monks, and the best time of the year to enter monkhood. Lao men traditionally enter the monkhood for a brief time before they marry - this time of year is marked with ordinations taking place everywhere.

The monks retreat during this period, settling down in monasteries and forgoing the usual practice of traveling from temple to temple. This begins at the full moon on July, and ends on the full moon in October on the day known as Kathin.

The Lao have immense respect for their dead kin, and they demonstrate it on Khao Padap Din. Lao families exhume their dead and cremate them, then present gifts to attending monks who have prayed on behalf of the dead. Devotees also make offerings at local temples. On the lighter side, this day is also marked by boat races on the Nam Khan River, as well as a trade fair in Luang Prabang.

The three-month Buddhist equivalent of Lent, begun on Khao Pansa, ends on Awk Pansa. On this day, monks roam free from their respective temples, and are presented with gifts from worshipful townsfolk. As evening falls on Laos, people release banana-leaf boats with candles and flowers on top, a ceremony known as Lai Hua Fai (similar to Loy Krathong in Thailand).

Riverside cities like Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Luang Prabang celebrate the day with Bun Nam boat races along the Mekong.

The stupa of That Luang in Vientiane plays host to this festival, as monks gather here to accept gifts and alms from worshipful townsfolk. For a whole week, the temple comes alive with fairs, contests, fireworks, and music, topped off with a "wien thien", or candlelight procession, around That Luang.

An international trade fair also takes place during Bun That Luang, promoting tourism around the countries in the Mekong sub-region.

While all Laos celebrates this festival at their local temples, the celebrations are obviously more vibrant in Vientiane.

On December 2, 1975, the proletariat finally prevailed over the monarchy. The government marks this day with parades, speeches by Lao politicians, and displays of the hammer and sickle everywhere. Poorer communities sometimes postpone their Awk Phansa celebrations to coincide with Lao National Day, saving themselves the considerable expense of celebrating two major holidays only a month apart.

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A further five-minute walk down General Luna Street in the same direction; after two blocks, turn right and walk down Calle Real until you reach Puerta de Sta. Lucia.

Facing Malecon Drive, Puerta de Santa Lucia is one of several gates passing through the Intramuros walls. First built in 1603, Puerta de Santa Lucia leads directly to Malecon Drive, a popular promenade ground, through a restored cobblestone bridge.

Passersby get a close-up look at the thick stone walls and moats that skirt Intramuros' borders. Once upon a time, Intramuros was Manila - no one could enter but the Spanish, their servants, and mestizos (half-Spanish Filipinos). Outside Manila lived Filipinos and Chinese merchants. The latter were forced to live in a ghetto that was conveniently located within range of Intramuros' cannons, in case the Chinese revolted against Spanish rule.

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This garish Genting Highlands hotel claims to be the biggest in the world, but bigger doesn’t always mean better. Guests have to put up with tiny rooms, lackluster service, and an interminable check-in process – the guest rooms are really only sleeping areas for Genting Highlands visitors who come for the crisp mountain air and the First World Plaza downstairs.

You know the First World Hotel's a casino hotel the minute you see the building. Loud primary colors cover the hotel's two towers, and a bright neon assembly stands over the lobby entrance.

Check-in is unreasonably long - incoming guests are handed a ticket queuing them for two to five hours' wait to be checked in. Lost reservations and room mix-ups have been known to happen, and the surly attitude of the front desk people doesn't help the situation very much.

The First World Hotel is billed as the "world's largest hotel", and with 6,200 rooms it's definitely in contention. To get that many rooms out of one hotel, though, the designers had to make the rooms really small, with the smallest at 207 square feet in size.

Rooms below "superior deluxe" have no mini-bar, no hair dryer, and no room service. "Superior deluxe" rooms and "World Club" rooms, however, get the usual hotel accoutrements (a bigger TV, free coffee, and a room fridge). The rooms have no air-conditioning, as the Genting air is chilly enough.

All this is really nothing to grumble about, however, if one is there solely to enjoy Genting Highlands' gaming and entertainment diversions.

Guests can come down to the lobby level to enter the First World Plaza - a 500,000-square-foot shopping center and indoor theme park with restaurants, shops, skydiving simulator, bowling center, and a Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum.

The Starworld casino in the Plaza is a smaller version of the Casino de Genting nearby, open to Malaysian Chinese and foreign non-Muslim guests. Ethnic Malays are forbidden by law from gambling, although they're free to enjoy the other facilities in Genting.

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Singapore's weather is uniformly warm and humid, experiencing year-round showers. The country is situated only 1.5 degrees north of the Equator, meaning that Singapore experiences no distinct seasons, only noticeably more rainfall during November to January.

Average daytime temperature is approximately 86?F (30?C), falling to 74?F (23?C) in the evening.

Singapore's lack of wind and high temperature and humidity can come as a shock to visitors used to cooler climates. Unsurprisingly, air conditioners are commonplace throughout the island; Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew himself famously declared the air conditioner as one of mankind's greatest inventions. Do as the locals do, and avoid walking too long in the outdoors if you can - the air conditioners are there for a reason!

Click on a link below for the weather conditions in Singapore.

NOAA: current weather forecast for Singapore made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the auspices of the U.S. government.

WWIS: current weather forecast for Singapore made by the World Meteorological Organization's World Weather Information Service, under the auspices of the United Nations.

Bring lightweight cotton clothing; this is worn any time of year. Bring plenty of rainwear, as rains can occur at any season.

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