Somewhere near Yangon for Xmas?

I'm going to be in Myanmar over Christmas and New Year. I'm meeting some friends in Yangon on 27th Dec, but a few of us will be arriving on the 24th.

Is there somewhere within a few hours travel of Yangon that would make a nice base to relax for a few days over Christmas? We could just stay in Yangon, but we'll be staying there for a couple of nights once the others arrive, so it might be nice to see somewhere else instead.

We'll be doing the usual tourist stuff after that, so I am not bothered about it being a major tourist site, and we aren't looking for big hikes, just somewhere to hang out for a few days and get a feel for the country while everyone else catches up with us.

Or maybe we'd be better off just sticking with Yangon and checking out some of the smaller sites there instead?

International School in Luang Prabang

I'm a new member on this forum, and would especially like to reach out to travelers and expats with families who are thinking of settling down in Laos.

I am the Headmaster of the new, international school that recently opened in Luang Prabang . (I will avoid public mention of the school name on this open forum - I do not want to be accused of spamming.)

Last year, we set up our school in Luang Prabang, albeit in temporary accommodation.

Building work began on a superb new campus that's located in a beautiful rural location on the outskirts of the town. That new campus is slated to open at the start of the new school year in September 2013.

For expats with families, providing decent schooling for their children in Luang Prabang was a bit of a problem, but I hope my school can provide a solution for all age levels. Our current school intake includes both Lao and expat childr... more »

Seeking Someone to Visit Angkor

I will be in Siem Reap on June 28, and plan to visit the Angkor complex on June 29. I am staying at one of the guest houses.
I am looking for someone to join me in one of the motorcycle taxis to tour the complex. They seat two so we can share cost, and have a nice time rather than seeing it alone.
I am male, so the opposite sex will be enjoyable, but it is not necessary - anyone is welcome. I only speak English.
Please send me a message through this board and we can exchange details.

Vietnam in October - weather for trekking

Hey there,

We're going to be in Vietnam for all of October, travelling from Ho Chi Minh up to Hanoi and flying out of there. We're planning to do some trekking around Sapa and maybe elsewhere too (central highlands perhaps?).

I'm just trying to figure out what sort of temperatures we should expect. I keep reading that the weather can be "cold" or "cool" but it would be helpful to know actual temperature ranges! Also, are average temperatures for Sapa generally the same as surrounding areas or lower/higher?

Cheers.

weather

im currently in cambodia about to leave for phnom penh tomorrow, our plan was to then travel down to sihanoukville in a few days but as the weather isnt so great we were thinking of going straight down to thailands islands ie ko phangan or ko samui. can anyone tell us what the weather is like there at the moment in any of these areas? i have checked online and it says rain for everwhere but it has said that for places we have been to already and its been ok. thanks.

Outward ticket to Cambodia

I am going to go to Cambodia from Australia on a UK passport within the next 10 days. When I spoke with Flight Centre to get prices, they said to enter Cambodia you need to have proof that you have an ticket to leave the country.

Now I know this has been discuessed a lot on here, and the result is that you do not need a ticket to prove your intension to leave Cambodia (correct me if im wrong), but Ive just rang Malaysia Airlines, who I would be flying with, and they seem to think that you DO have to have a return/onward ticket to be granted a tourist visa.

Can somebody please confirm what the actual process is - do I need one or not? Im planning on giving the embassy a call tomorrow to check also.

Thanks for any advice.

nice honda wave for sale in saigon / ho chi minh city

hello,

I'm in saigon selling my honda wave 110cc.
The bike is in very good condition, got me from danang to saigon no problem.

The bike comes with:

• registration
• good helmet
• rain coat
• chain w/ lock
• rubber strap to secure your luggage

martial arts in Asia

I'm look for advice and insights on studying martial arts in Asia. I plan to come to Asia in Sept (preferably somewhere warm by a beach) to study martial arts for 3 months. I have not picked a location or type of art yet. I'm trying to find a form of art that is more spiritual (I admire ancient ways of life similar to the samurai & yoga practices) but still allows me to defend myself (ideally without a strong likelihood of breaking bones). thanks!