More bang for your buck
Lonely Planet Bluelist

South African travellers are always looking for a good deal and a way to make those hard-earned rands go further. If you're in the market for an overseas holiday, consider these destinations where you'll get serious bang for your buck・

Laos
Laos is unique in its region ・its relative isolation from foreign influence means travellers are in for a remarkably well-preserved slice of traditional Southeast Asian culture, everywhere from the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands. And now, with the opening of the border to central Vietnam, southern Laos ・previously the most remote place in the region ・is easier than ever to get to. Laos is studded with ancient temples and monasteries, and ecotourists are also in for a treat, with tremendous caving and kayaking opportunities in the country's large, unspoiled forests...more

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is unique in turbulent Latin America. It's leading the way in its conservation policies, with around 27 percent of the country protected, ensuring that the lush jungles are teeming with monkeys, lizards, frogs, and all manner of exotic birds and insects. It's also got awesome surfing and terrific beaches, a swag of huge national parks and volcanoes, and fantastic hiking and rafting opportunities. Plus the people are friendly (it's the only Latin American country with no army), the coffee's outstanding, and, off Cocos Islands, there's some of the world's best diving.

Dominican Republic
The DR packs a huge punch. On the one hand, it's your typical tropical island paradise with pure-white beaches, oh-so-blue waters and oodles of palm trees. On the other hand, it boasts a rugged mountain interior with ample opportunities for first-class wildlife discovery, rafting and hiking. And the locals like to hang loose, too, holding surfing championships with all the attendant hoopla, block parties galore, and two annual Carnival extravaganzas. If none of that satisfies, check out the capital, Santo Domingo: with its faded, Spanish-colonial and art deco architecture, it's like Cuba without the rhetoric.

Ethiopia
Beautiful Ethiopia offers the chance to step back in time, as befitting a country known as the 'Cradle of Civilisation' (in Addis Ababa's National Museum are the 3-million-year-old remains of 'Lucy', one of humankind's earliest ancestors). Ethiopia is the home of remarkably well-preserved traditions (the north is filled with Christian monuments dating back to the 4th century AD), a legacy of its status as the only African nation to avoid colonisation. It also boasts diverse ecosystems ・deciduous forest, evergreen forest, desert scrub, wetlands, grasslands ・and there are plenty of hiking opportunities in the country's rugged mountains.

Iceland
Chilly Iceland is a tourist hotspot, largely due to its striking natural features: majestic glaciers, empty black-sand beaches, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes, ominous peaks, massive lava deserts・and, in summer, a sun that never seems to set. This is the land of classic photo opportunities. It's also got a storied history and folklore tradition and a renowned, and eclectic, modern music scene centred on Reykjavik, a vibrant, friendly city that contains some of Northern Europe's best bars. For more physical pursuits, whale-watching, swimming and fishing are popular, and there's also the chance to ・wait for it ・go diving.

Nicaragua
Nicaragua, Central America's largest country, has been curiously ignored by the tourist hordes thus far. But relax ｬｬ・the war's over, even if for outsiders perception hasn't changed. Discerning travellers with a thirst for adventure know that the country's protected parks and nature reserves, massive black volcanoes and tracts of rainforest are perfect for trekking. Others will just appreciate the scenery, including the atmospheric Spanish colonial towns. The beaches are superb, too, with plenty of surfing and diving spots, and all of it is easy on the wallet.

Syria
For history buffs and lovers of atmospheric locations alike, Syria delivers the goods ・the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans and French are just some who've left their imprint on the country. Think of Syria as a vast open-air museum, with stunning ruins and magnificent castles; Bosra, possibly the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheatre; Aleppo, with its covered, stone-vaulted souqs, extending for 10km; and Damascus of course, probably the oldest world's oldest continuously occupied city.

Tokyo, Japan
Hit Tokyo's clubs, bars, karaoke rooms and restaurants for full-tilt sensory overload. Or just wander the streets: there's always something to do in Tokyo, and not all of it involves great wads of cash. The sheer energy of the city's consumer culture can provide days of entertainment, but there are pockets of tradition, from small backstreet noodle shops and onsen to little old ladies in traditional dress. The streets and alleyways are teeming with worlds within worlds, and you'll never be short of eye candy, whether it involves girls dressed as Little Bo Peep or boys dressed as Edward Scissorhands.

Ukraine
After a long, bitter and very bloody period of Russian occupation ・and the appalling disaster that was Chernobyl ・you'd be forgiven for thinking Ukraine needed time to heal. But, although the scars are still fresh, the country is infected with an enthusiasm that's rapidly rubbing off on travellers. What's on offer? Cheap food and drink, the frenetic capital Kyiv, wonderful trekking through the Carpathian Mountains, with its rich and exotic wildlife; Gothic and Byzantine architectural wonders; the Crimean coast by the Black Sea・you can even kit yourself out in protective clothing and take a tour through the Chernobyl power station itself, perfect for lovers of haunted, post-apocalyptic landscapes.

Uruguay
The meat in a geographical sandwich between Latin American behemoths Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay just quietly goes about its business. A respite from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires and Rio, Uruguay charms travellers with its wonderful colonial towns, lovely beaches and peaceful, unspoiled natural beauty. Hiking, horse riding, fishing, biking and whale-watching are just some of the pursuits on offer. If you do need something more, shall we say, 'cosmopolitan', there's always Punta del Este: this renowned beach peninsula is in party mode 24/7, year-round, attracting socialites and celebrities from all over Latin America.

Source: http://travel.iafrica.com/destin/700520.htm

Photo: Ting Phylavanh and Ardsana Jantarsi, member of OVerdance.

The queen of Lao pop star: Ting Phylavanh and Ardsana Jantarsi, the member of Overdance, became the highlight of the 1st Laos Festival in Japan 2007.

This is the first ever Laos Festival 2007 in JAPAN and it is an ideal occasion to further promote Lao culture and tradition in Japan and strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and Lao PDR as a member of ASEAN.

　The Laos Festival2007 is a part of the series of the events to mark the commemoration of the 40th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN in Japan. Tokyo Kokusai Gakuen High School is also the fifteenth anniversary.



As expected, the event will feature Lao food, music, dance, products and a flea market. Proceeds will go to funding being raised by the Tokyo Kokusai Gakuen High School to build a school in a rural area in Laos.

To watch video clips from this event, click at the link below

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=98894&p=3&topicID=13614941