30
Dec
Thai Perfumeries are comprised of several kinds of fragrant cosmetics. In the old days, ladies would wear perfume everyday while men would do in some special occasions. Thai Perfumeries could described into four categories as follows:
1. Water-based perfumeries: Nam-Ob Thai (eau de toilette ) and Nam- Proong (eau de cologne);
2. Oil-based perfumeries : Fragrant oils, Tani oil (thick body oil), and fragrant lip balm;
3. Powdered perfumeries: Fragrant talc, Sarapee talc (siamensis Kosterm), Poung talc, Kra-jae talc, powdered nutmeg, powdered Kamin (Curcuma domestica Valeton), and Juang;
4. Scent chewing herbs: Mak-Hom, Niam leaves, Ganploo (Syzygium aromaticum), and nutmeg.
These perfumeries may be applied together with each other, such as Kar-Jae talc is mixed with Nam- Ob Thai, or individually used such as scent talc for powdering.
Pang-Ram (Scented talc)
Pang-Ram is made of naturally white talcum powder. It is ground into fine particles and mixed with other fragrant herbs or perfumeries, i.e., kameyan, Magrood (lime)’s peel (Citrus hystrix), Chamod ched (Viverricula malaccensis), saffron, alum and red cane sugar.
Ladies would directly powder their skin with dry Pang-ram, or melt it with Nam-Ob Thai before applying it. The Pang-ram could reduce skin irritation caused by heat or pollens. Thai people use Pang-ram after taking bath.
New year traditions
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with bowls of water, water guns or even a garden hose, and drench each other and passersby. This, however, is not the heart of this festival. Not many people, even the new generation of Thais, realize that Thai ancestors started this festival to teach their descendants some important things. This festival teaches people to come home to visit their parents, pay respect to them, and usually bring them a small gift. Mother and Father have given to their children so much, and this is the time that children show them that they recognize their parents’ favor. People also visit their older neighbors to keep the good relationships and to pay respect to the elders around the neighborhood. For these reasons Songkran days are also considered the family days and the elderly days.
People go to a wat to pray and give food to monks. They also clean Buddha images in temples with water and gentle Thai perfume (น้ำอบไทย), as it is believed that this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha statues from all of the wats in the city are paraded through the streets so that people can wash them as they pass by. People carry handfuls of sand to their temple to in order to recompense the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then piled into large, tiered piles and decorated with colorful flags. Later in the day, people also do community services. Going to wat and doing community service teach people to give, the most basic way to happiness in Buddhism.
Some people make New Year resolutions - to refrain from bad behaviour and to do more good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Many Thais take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.
The throwing water part was originated as a way to pay respect to people, by pouring a small amount of lustral water on other people’s hands as a sign of respect. The youths also do it in a more fun way. They splash others with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has changed to water fights and splashing water to people on vehicles, a hallmark of Songkran as tourists know, as Thais assimilate more western cultures and technologies.
The use of plaster is also very common having originated in the plaster used by monks to mark blessings.
Nowadays, the emphasis is placed on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival’s spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists. In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival as there are many road accidents and injuries attributed to some extreme behavior - water being thrown in the faces of travelling motorcyclists and elephant riding elders.
30
Dec
I love nothing more than sitting down with someone or a family of people and helping them to plan their next vacation. Why? Well, a few reasons I guess. First, I love to go on vacation. I have loved travel for as long as I can remember, so I love infecting other people with the travel bug. I also love helping people plan trips because I know that life is short and I believe that it was meant to be enjoyed. So I love helping people escape from it all and enjoy time somewhere nice. One of my favorite places to suggest for a visit is Aruba.
I often suggest Aruba because it is beautiful place to visit that is still somewhat undiscovered. I like that about a place. I rarely encourage people to visit a place that will be filled with nothing but tourists. You don’t get a real taste of Mexico, for example, if you are on the beach with no one other than vacationers. So I encourage my clients to go for something a bit off the beaten path, like say Aruba.
Aruba is beautiful, there are none that would deny it. And beauty, I believe, is an essential part to any great vacation. Now of course people will have a wide variety of views on what exactly makes a thing beautiful, but I think most would agree that white sand beaches, clear blue skies and sunshine make any place great. So if you are looking for sun and beauty, look no further than to the island of Aruba.
Located in the Caribbean, Aruba has a wonderful mixture of things to do and beaches to relax on. You want the option of doing several different things on any vacation, so choosing something like Aruba that has options for busyness or relaxation is perfect no matter who you are or what kind of trip you want.
Talk to a travel agent about your desire to see Aruba. See what kind of package deals you can come up with and find out if any packages even include airfare. Be sure to share with your travel agent all about the things you hope to get from your trip so that she or he will be able to help you as much as possible. Let them fill you in on some of the lesser known things to experience in Aruba.
Grab your family or your closest friends and head off for some great time in Aruba. Once there, you will have the vacation of a lifetime. So get planning and then you can relax and enjoy all that Aruba has to offer.
29
Dec
To many travelers, Amelia Island is a newfound paradise. But centuries of people have been drawn to its tranquil shores and exquisite natural beauty.
According to local folklore and historical evidence, Timucuan Indians first inhabited Amelia Island as early as 2000 BC. The Timucuan people were known for elaborate body tattoos in yellow, black, blue and red.
The island was originally named “Isle de Mai” (Island of May) by Jean Ribault, a Huguenot leader who landed on Amelia Island in 1562. It is said that when Ribault and his troops arrived, they were welcomed by the Timcuans and given baskets of berries. Even though the Spanish had claimed the area in 1513, these French colonists showed interest in the Island to claim land for France and to seek refuge from the religious and political persecution given to Huguenots. Though Ribault and his company did not settle on Amelia Island, other Huguenots landed in 1564. This second colony constructed Fort Caroline in Northern Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. John’s River. In 1565, Spanish troops came to the area, killed the French settlers and regained the territory, which they had claimed as their own years before.
The arrival of these Spanish troops led to the first Spanish reign from 1565 to 1763. A mission called Santa Maria was built on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town. The mission was created to convert Indians to Christianity. At that time, the original name “Isle de Mai” was changed to “Isle de Santa Maria”.
In the years to follow, the Timucuans of Amelia Island gained contact with the Europeans, and British settlements in the North soon took a keen interest in the naturally deep ports and the strategic trade route locations on the island. Once again the name of the island was changed, this time to “Amelia” in honour of the Princess Amelia, daughter of King George II. James Oglethorpe, Governor of Georgia, put the name change in place in 1735. The British changed the name of the island to “Amelia”, but the land did not fall into British hands until the Spanish Florida was traded for British Cuba in 1763 in an agreement under the Treaty of Paris. During British rule, Amelia Island was known as Egmont.
In 1783, the Second Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and Florida was returned to Spain. In 1811 a surveyor named George J. F. Clarke plotted the town of Fernandina, named in honor of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. The Patriots of Amelia Island, an independent group of American civilians backed by the United States government, seized control of the island, drove out the Spanish, and raised the American flag. The following day, Amelia Island was ceded to the United States.
1870 to 1910 was considered the Golden Age of Amelia Island. During this era, several wealthy Americans made Fernandina their homes. Elegant Victorian style houses were built in what became known as the Silk Stocking District. Ulysses Grant visited the Egmont Hotel, one of the grandest hotels of its time. The turn-of-the-century boom of Amelia Island came about with the advent of the shipping industry, and increasing numbers of New Yorkers who came traveled by steamboat to enjoy the warm climate and elegant hotels in Amelia.
In recent years, Amelia Island has grown and prospered as a popular tourist destination. Many accommodation choices are available to suit every sort of traveler, and the Amelia Island Plantation is considered to be one of the world’s perfect island destinations. Modern tourists are learning what centuries had already known: Amelia Island is a true treasure.
29
Dec
Asia is probably one of the most enigmatic continents in the world. Not only is it rich in very diverse cultures, but it is also rich in history. You will never run out of wonderful places to visit in this wonderful and mysterious continent.
1.) Indonessia’s Breathtaking Bali
Bali is one of the very beautiful places to go to once you are in Indonesia. Do not miss out on Batubulan Village, famous for sculptures made out of fine stone. Get to enjoy Bali’s culture like the Barong Dance and enjoy the beautiful crafts of its goldsmiths and silversmiths.
2.) Exotic India
If India is in your Asia tour itinerary, then you will never regret it if you went on one of those boat rides in the Ganges River. Get to see, too, the devout citizens of India while they pray and bathe on the sacred waters of the Ghats. If you want to see their temples, then the Khajuraho Temples is for you, an architectural wonder
3.) The Wonderful Side of Pakistan
Pakistan, although an intimidating country, has a lot of sceneries that tourists will love. Get to see a majestic view of the Himalayan Mountains and the Monkial Ranges. If you want to know more about Pakistan’s culture and people, then the Swat Museum is a must place for you to visit.
4.) Buddhas of Bangkok
There are a lot of statues of Buddha that you can see in Bangkok, and one of the temples tourist flock to is the Reclining Buddha Temple. You must also visit the Erawan Shrine as well as the Snake Farm of Bangkok that is located near the shrine. For a more modern tour, visit the Safari World and Bangkok’s Pattaya and Coral Island.
5.) What Vietnam has to Offer
Vietnam is now one of the favorite destinations of tourists. Tourists love exploring the city on their own and tasting the different food Vietnam has to offer. There are also cruises that a tourist can enjoy like the cruises along the Mekong River, and they also get to visit the smaller islands to taste the wonderful fruits Vietnam has.
6.) Unforgettable Katmandu
Another unique place to visit is the Katmandu where you will get to know more about its culture and people by strolling in the Katmandu Durbar Square. Do not forget to visit, too, the Buddhanikantha Temple, another one of its famous tourist destinations. You can also go to Pashupatinath Temple.
7.) Big China
You cannot tour all of China in a week, but here are some of the top places to visit in China. The Yangtze River Cruise is one of the favorites of not only the tourists but the local citizens as well, and in this tour, one gets to have a closer communion with nature. The other places that you must not forget visiting is the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as well as the Temple of Heaven.
8.) Delightful Turkey
Turkey is one country you should not fail to visit. There are a lot of museums you can visit like the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. You can also visit famous archeological sites like Pamukkale’s Hierapolis as well as famous mosques like the Blue Mosque.
9.) Enjoying Japan
Get to experience both old and new Japan in your Asian tour. Visit the wonderful and exciting City of Tokyo, a big contrast to Japan’s mountain villages where the old culture is still palpable. Also, get to know more about its people and culture by visiting the temples, shrines and palaces of Japan.
10.) Modern Singapore
Singapore is one of the world’s business regions. Also, this is famous for being one of the major shopping centers in Asia and is rightfully called Shopper’s Paradise. Its stores’ competitive prices as well as air-conditioned malls are one of the favorite places tourists go to.
