Hong Kong

Hong Kong
From the Wikipedia

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is located on the southeastern coast of China.

Hong Kong has one of the world's most liberal economies and is a major international centre of finance and trade. A former British colony now administered by the PRC under the policy of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is constitutionally entitled to a relatively high degree of autonomy; for example, it retains its own legal system, currency, customs, and immigration laws. Hong Kong even maintains its own road rules, with traffic continuing to drive on the left. Only national defence and diplomatic relations are responsibilities of the central government in Beijing.

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Republic Of India

India
From the Wikipedia

The Republic of India is a country in South Asia which comprises most of the Indian subcontinent. India has a coastline which stretches over seven thousand kilometres, and shares its borders with Pakistan to the west, the People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar on the east. On the Indian Ocean, it is adjacent to the island nations of the Maldives on the southwest, Sri Lanka on the south, and Indonesia on the southeast. India also claims a border with Afghanistan to the northwest.

India is the tenth largest economy in the world. It is also the second most populous country in the world, with a population of over one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. It is home to some of the most ancient civilisations, and a centre of important historic trade routes. Four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have originated from India. Formerly a major part of the British Empire as British India before gaining independence in 1947, during the past twenty years the country has grown significantly, especially in its economic and military spheres, regionally as well as globally.

The official name of the country, India, is derived from the Old Persian version of Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the river Indus; see Origin of India's name. The Constitution of India and general usage also recognises Bharat, which is derived from the Sanskrit name of an ancient Hindu king, whose story is to be found in the Mahabharata, as an official name of equal status.

A third name, Hindustan, or land of the Hindus in Persian, has been used since Mughal times, though its contemporary use is unevenly applied due to domestic disputes over its representative as a national signifier.

History
Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in India. The first known permanent settlements appeared 9,000 years ago and developed into the Indus Valley Civilization, which peaked between 2600 BC and 1900 BC. It was followed by the Vedic Civilization.

From around 500 BC onwards, many independent kingdoms came into being. In the north, the Maurya dynasty, which included the Buddhist king Ashoka, contributed greatly to India's cultural landscape. From 180 BC, a series of invasions from Central Asia followed, with the successive establishment in the northern Indian subcontinent of the Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Parthian kingdoms, and finally the Kushan Empire. From the 3rd century onwards the Gupta dynasty oversaw the period referred to as ancient India's "Golden Age".

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Global Positioning System aka GPS

Global Positioning System
From the Wikipedia

The Global Positioning System, usually called GPS (the US military refers to it as NAVSTAR GPS - Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging Global Positioning System), is a satellite navigation system used for determining one's precise location and providing a highly accurate time reference almost anywhere on Earth or in Earth orbit. It uses an intermediate circular orbit (ICO) satellite constellation of at least 24 satellites.

The GPS system was designed by and is controlled by the United States Department of Defense and can be used by anyone, free of charge. The GPS system is divided into three segments: space, control and user. The space segment comprises the GPS satellite constellation. The control segment comprises ground stations around the world that are responsible for monitoring the flight paths of the GPS satellites, synchronizing the satellites' onboard atomic clocks, and uploading data for transmission by the satellites. The user segment consists of GPS receivers used for both military and civilian applications. A GPS receiver decodes time signal transmissions from multiple satellites and calculates its position by trilateration.

The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$400 million per year, including the replacement of aging satellites. The first of 24 satellites that form the current GPS constellation (Block II) was placed into orbit on February 14, 1989. The 52nd GPS satellite since the beginning in 1978 was launched November 6, 2004 aboard a Delta II rocket.

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Kingdom Of Thailand

Thailand
From the Wikipedia

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Thailand is also known as Siam, which was the country's official name until May 11, 1949. The word Thai (ไทย) means "freedom" in the Thai language. It is also the name of the Thai people - leading some inhabitants, particularly the sizeable Chinese minority, to continue to use the name Siam.

History
Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th century. Thai culture was greatly influenced by both China and India. Contact with various European powers began in the 16th century but, despite continued pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power, though Western influence, including the threat of force, led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions to British mercantile interests (as such many historians include Thailand in the "informal British Empire").

A mostly bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Known previously as Siam, the country first changed its name to Thailand in 1939, and definitively in 1949 after reverting to the old name post-World War II. During that conflict Thailand was in a loose alliance with Japan; following its conclusion Thailand became an ally of the United States. Thailand then saw a series of military coups d'état, but progressed towards democracy from the 1980s onward.

The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the western calendar. For example, the year AD 2000 is equal to the year 2543 BE.

On 26 December 2004 the west coast of Thailand was devastated by a 10 metre high tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, claiming more than 5,000 casualties in Thailand, half of them tourists.

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Falls Creek, Victoria

Falls Creek, Victoria
From the Wikipedia

Falls Creek is a carfree ski resort in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located about 350 kilometres by road from Melbourne in the Alpine National Park, with the nearest town Mount Beauty, approximately 30 kilometres away at the foot of the ranges. The resort lies between an alititude of 1,500 and 1,600 metres, with the highest lifted point at 1780 metres. Skiing is possible on the nearby peak of Mt McKay at 1,842 metres, travelling by snowcat from the resort.

The high plains in the area have been is use for summer cattle grazing since grazing licenses were first issued in 1851. Some of the cattlemens huts still survive and are a tourist attraction in summer. After the Second world war a hydro electric power scheme was started in the Kiewa valley by the State Electricity Commision of Victoria.

On land previously used only for summer cattle grazing in the natural alpine grasslands, the first ski lodge was built in 1948 by workers from the scheme. The first lift, a rope tow, was built in 1951 and the first chairlift in Australia was constructed there in 1957.

The resort now features 15 ski lifts and 40 kilometres of groomed cross-country skiing trails, ranging from gentle nursery slopes to expert runs. Falls Creek, with its higher altitude, is regarded as having better runs for proficient skiiers than Mount Buffalo or Mount Buller and ranks with Mount Hotham as Victoria's best. However, Australia's notoriously fickle snow conditions ensure that snowmaking using the water from the nearby Rocky Valley Dam is sometimes, particularly early in the season, the main source of skiable snow. Consequently, like all Australian snowfields, Falls Creek's customer base is almost entirely domestic, however many international cross country skiers travel to Falls Creek for the Kangaroo Hoppet, Australia's Worldloppet event on the last Saturday of August.

The resort features 4,500 accommodation beds, and consequently a large number of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to amuse the guests at night. Some apartments are privately owned, but the resort's management requires that they must be available for hire when not occupied.

The resort also serves as a summer base to explore the massive national park surrounding the resort.

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Mount Hotham, Victoria

Mount Hotham, Victoria
From the Wikipedia

Mount Hotham is a ski resort in Victoria, Australia. Known as the 'powder capital' of Australia as it holds the record for the highest annual snowfall of any Victorian resort over the past decade. Located approximately 357 kilometres north east of Melbourne, 746 kilometres from Sydney, and 997 kilometres from Adelaide. Altitude: Mount Hotham’s summit rises to an altitude of 1,861 metres above sea level, while Mount Hotham village stands tall at a height of 1,750 metres.

Mt Hotham offers 3.2 square kilometres of ski area, including 35 kilometres of tree-lined cross-country trails and a network of 13 lifts. The longest run at Mount Hotham is 2.5 kilometres long. Mount Hotham offers an abundance of runs for skiers and boarders of all standards from beginners (20%) to intermediates (40%) and advanced (40%).

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Gold Coast, Queensland

Gold Coast, Queensland
From the Wikipedia

The Gold Coast is a coastal region approximately 70 km south of Brisbane, Australia that, over the past 50 years, has coalesced from a collection of scattered villages into a city of approximately 500,000 people—making it Australia's seventh largest city—and Australia's largest tourist resort. The South Coast Town Council changed its name to the Gold Coast Town Council in 1958, and Queensland officially proclaimed it the city of Gold Coast on May 16, 1959. The mayor of the Gold Coast is the former Olympic middle distance athlete Ron Clarke.

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Socialist Republic Of Vietnam

Vietnam
From the Wikipedia

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia. Situated in eastern Indochina, it borders China, Laos, Cambodia, and the South China Sea.

The name of the country comes from the Vietnamese Viet Nam, which is in turn a reordering of Nam Viet, the name of an ancient kingdom of the ancestral Vietnamese that covered much of today's northern Vietnam.

History
Vietnam's history dates back to more than 4,000 years. For most of the period from 207 BC to early 10th century, it was under the rule of successive dynasties of China. Vietnam regained independence in 939, and complete autonomy a century later. While for much of its history, Vietnam remained a vassal state in the threatening shadow of its much bigger northern neighbour, China, it has defeated, during the rule of the Tran Dynasty, three Mongolian attempts of invasion by China's Yuan Dynasty. The independent period ended in mid-19th century, when the country was colonized by France. During World War II, Japan occupied Vietnam. After the war, France attempted to re-establish control but ultimately failed. After the Geneva Accords the country was divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam by a demilitarized zone. During the Cold War period, the North was supported by the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics while the South was supported by the United States of America and other western countries. Tensions quickly escalated into the Vietnam War. The war continued until the Paris Peace Accords on January 27, 1973, which formally recognized the sovereignty of both sides.

American troops were withdrawn by March 29, 1973. By April 30, 1975, Vietnam was fully Independent.

In 1976, Vietnam was officially unified under the North Vietnamese government as "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

In late 1978, Cambodian people ,with the support of Vietnamese Army, removed the Khmer Rouge from power. Only one month later, however, partially in retaliation, China launched a short-lived incursion into Vietnam: the Sino-Vietnamese War.

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United States Of America

United States Of America
From the Wikipedia

The United States of America—also referred to as 'the United States', 'the US', 'the USA', 'America' (more loosely), 'the States' (colloquially), and 'Columbia' (poetically)—is a federal republic of 50 states, located primarily in central North America.

The United States has land borders with Canada and Mexico, and territorial water boundaries with Canada, Russia and the Bahamas. It is otherwise bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Forty-eight of the states—often referred to as the continental, contiguous or Lower 48 states—are located in a single region between Canada and Mexico. The other two, Alaska and the archipelago of Hawaii, are not contiguous with the others. There is a federal district, the District of Columbia, comprising the capital, Washington, D.C. The United States also owns a number of overseas territories.

The official founding date of the United States is July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress—representing the 13 British colonies—adopted the Declaration of Independence. However, the structure of the nation was profoundly changed in 1788, when the states replaced the Articles of Confederation with the United States Constitution; the date on which each of the original 13 states adopted the Constitution is typically regarded as the date that state "entered the Union" (became part of the United States). Since the mid-20th century, the United States has become the dominant global influence in economic, political, military, scientific, technological and cultural affairs.

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About New Zealand

New Zealand
From the Wikipedia

New Zealand or Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, is a country of two large islands and many much smaller islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean. Among South Pacific nations, New Zealand has the largest and most industrialised economy and is second only to Papua New Guinea in population. New Zealand is notable for its isolation, being separated from Australia on the northwest by the Tasman Sea, some 2,000 km wide. The closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. The population of New Zealand is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Māori as the largest minority. Pacific and Asian people are also significant minorities, especially in the cities.

Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand and is represented in the country by a non-political Governor-General. Political power is held by the Prime Minister who is leader of the Government in the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand. The monarch's Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are entirely self-governing; Tokelau, which is moving towards self-government, and New Zealand's claim in Antarctica.

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River Rafting In Washington State

River Rafting In Washington State
By Kristy Annely

The great state of Washington offers some of the best white-water rafting in the entire country. There are around 15 rivers in Washington state that are great for river rafting. Some of the most famous are the Klickitat, the Yakima, and the Skagit rivers. Each offers a unique Washington river rafting experience.

There are several river recreation outfitters in Washington that specialize in river rafting tours on a variety of Washington rivers. These tours can vary in length from one afternoon to several days. The outfitters usually arrange for accommodations on tours lasting multiple days. Each river recreation outfitter offers trips for rafters at different skill levels. Some of the rivers are rated Class V, which is the rating for the most hazardous rivers navigable, while others are Class I, which means they are a leisurely float suitable for the whole family. Most outfitters offer river tours from May through August, with tours on particular rivers continuing through the fall.

The Klickitat River provides some of the most exciting rafting that Washington has to offer. In the early spring months, runoff created by melting snow from Mt. Adams and the Goat Rock Wilderness drains into the river. This water provides some great rapids, creating adventurous Class III rapids. The river is between 17 and 21 miles long, depending on the water level, and takes about a day to navigate.

The Yakima River provides a relaxing Class I riding experience through 12 miles of beautiful scenery. This river is perfect for beginners or people who just want to relax and enjoy a nice day with their family or friends. The Yakima River is available for rafting between May and August each year.

The Skagit River offers a diver's rafting experience. The upper parts of the river offer rafters a chance to ride some exciting Class II and III rapids that are perfect for novices and families. The lower Skagit River is calmer, with Class I rapids. Both sections are perfect for sightseeing, as the river runs through some of the most scenic parts of Washington state.

Washington river rafting offers visitors a diverse opportunity for fun and excitement. The variety of rivers and beautiful scenery will provide rafters with a great experience that will more than meet their expectations.

About the Author
River Rafting Info provides detailed information on river rafting trips in Washington, Colorado, California and the Grand Canyon, as well as Salmon River in Idaho and Rogue River in Oregon. River Rafting Info is the sister site of Inflatable Boats Web.
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Gatlinburg Cabin Vacation Tips

Gatlinburg Cabin Vacation Tips
By Kathryn Whittaker

Gatlinburg in Smoky Mountains is becoming more and more popular as a vacation spot, with nearly 10 million visitors arriving in the area each year. With mild winters and summers, Gatlinburg and small towns nearby are a common destination for people who enjoy hiking, fishing, horseback riding, bike riding, canoeing, whitewater rafting, river tubing, skiing and snowboarding. Gatlinburg accommodations range from moderately priced Gatlinburg cabins to exclusive private Gatlinburg chalets with their European charm.

When staying in a cabin in Gatlinburg, you are still close to shopping and theaters and can enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, or skiing. Here are ten essential things you can do while staying in the Gatlinburg cabin or chalet:

1. Take a country car trip. You can take a scenic route and visit the historic sites of Gatlinburg by car. The Newfound Gap Road runs across the Smoky Mountains and links you to park roads and footpaths that will take you to other places of interest in Gatlinburg.

2. Walking. Nothing beats the pleasure of sightseeing from a smooth well-groomed path across a spectacular forest with breathtaking mountain views. Fitness and stress relief of walking can never be underestimated. All the walking trails are carefully mapped and accessible from all main roads. Any Gatlinburg hotel will provide you with a guide that helps you find a trail that fits your walking speed and general fitness.

3. Bike in the mountains. If you decide to take a biking trip, alone or with your family, you can choose from a number of different trails. Biking trails in Gatlinburg range from an easy family-friendly gravel path, to the challenging mountain bike trails that require special equipment and can be quite enduring. You can rent a bicycle or bring one with you if you travel by car.

4. Horse Riding. If horseback riding suits your sense of adventure, you will find this family attraction to be quite popular in Gatlinburg. Hundreds of horses are located in stables across Gatlinburg. It is a great place to learn horseback riding, and no matter your riding skills, you will have a fun of your life. Gatlinburg cowboys even perform weddings in the western style!

5. Hiking. You need to obtain a permit for hiking overnight in the back-country. Make sure you come prepared with the right equipment and it's worth noting that in some areas reservations are required to hike the Smoky Mountains trails.

6. Golf. The Gatlinburg Golf Course is close to all Gatlinburg cabins and Gatlinburg chalets. It is a fabulous year-round modern facility with challenging layouts and emerald fairways, beautifully wooded landscapes and well-manicured greens. A full service pro shop and food services area also work year-round.

7. Visit the wild life. Many people come to Gatlinburg to see black bears. They even choose to stay in Gatlinburg cabins that are close to bears - in the past few years, one hotel even offered a "bear suite" that overlooked a dumpster which bears visited often. Use common sense - these creatures can be quite dangerous.

8. Enjoy the traditional American food. If you want to try real American cuisine, Gatlinburg is the right place to start. From authentic regional treats in rustic settings to kid-friendly theme restaurants, over 100 restaurants work year-round.

9. Shop till you drop. Gatlinburg has more than 400 shops and five malls with handmade arts and crafts, unique traditional apparel and souvenirs. While loading up on souvenirs for everyone back home, you're sure to find a little something for yourself.

10. And 100s of other things - including Gatlinburg Sky Lift that rides in the center of the town for a spectacular view of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains, Mysterious Mansion, Gatlinburg's largest scary house, rafting in the whitewater rapids, and visiting Star Cars Museum with it's world's best star car collection.

About the Author
Kathryn writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information about Gatlinburg Cabins please visit http://www.gatlinburg-cabin-guide.com and for additional Gatlingburg cabins articles please visit the following page http://www.gatlinburg-cabin-guide.com/gatlinburg-articles/
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Where To Stay In Bangkok, Thailand

Where To Stay In Bangkok
By Tuk-Tuk.net

Finding a Thailand hotel is super easy these days. Do a search at google, and you'll have some pretty good idea of where you want to stay. Plus, you can just go ahead and book for a Bangkok Thailand hotel right online.

If you plan to find a Bangkok hotel, you have tons of choices. Stay at Kaosan road if you're a backpacker. If you're not one, then stay close to the skytrain if you love shopping. If you're into good atmosphere and don't care much about getting around the city, then stay close to the Chao Phraya river, which is the main river of Bangkok.

If you want to stay at Kaosan road, you don't even need to book in advance. You can just walk around to see the guesthouse you like, and then just walk in. They always have a vacancy.

If you prefer to stay in the city center in order to get around easily for shopping, (and let me tell you, Bangkok is shoppers' paradise -- Hong Kong isn't cheap... but Bangkok is) then I suggest you check out Patumwan Princess hotel. It's right in the MBK shopping center (fake jeans, watches and bags) and also right at the Siam Square skytrain station. Erawan hotel, Le Meridien and the Four Seasons hotel are more luxurious. They're right at the intersection where you can see Zen and Isetan shopping malls right across the street. The Siam Square (where they sell funky clothing) and the Chidlom (Central shopping mall) skytrain stations are within minutes away.

A lot of tourists like to stay at the Asia hotel, which is right at a Rajdevi skytrain station (one station away from MBK shopping center). It may be cheap, but it's kind of old. Well, very old actually. I don't recommend it. But it's totally up to you.

If you don't care much about shopping in Bangkok, then I'd really suggest you stay at the Sukothai hotel. It's a classy and luxurious Thai-styled hotel --but you'll have to take a taxi if you want to go anywhere. Or even better, stay by the Chao Phraya river if you can. It will give you a different feel of Bangkok, especially at night. It's rather expensive though, especially if you want to stay at the world-renowned Oriental hotel or the Peninsula hotel. If these two are too expensive for you, try Shangri-la hotel. It may be a little bit cheaper. And don't forget to book a Bangkok river cruise dinner at your hotel. The Chao Praya river is glamorous at night -- with a view of well-lit Wat Arun.

To get around town from your Bangkok hotel, you can ask the hotel's doorman to help you get a taxi. It's not expensive at all.

About the Author
http://www.tuk-tuk.net is an online directory for Thailand travel, Thailand hotels, Bangkok hotels and Thailand tours.
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