Shanghai Attractions

Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world and is rapidly growing to become one of the leading travel destinations in the world. This Chinese metropolis is one of the region's main business destinations however more and more tourists visit Shanghai each year.

Anyone planning a trip to this wonderful travel destination should visit the attractions listed and reviewed in this article. Enjoy your visit to this impressive city and be sure to share your experience with your friends and relatives.

Jade Buddha Temple

Shanghai is home to a number of outstanding Buddhist temples and shrine. The Jade Buddha Temple is the most famous and popular Buddhist temple in town. If you plan to visit this impressive attraction then be sure to have a look at the unique images of the heavenly kings.

Shopping

The city also has plenty of great shopping opportunities. Prices for many goods and items are considerably cheaper then what you would expect to pay in Europe or in the States. The premier shopping destination in this large Chinese city is Nanjing Road which is home to over six hundred shops and department stores.

The Bund

No visit to Shanghai can possibly be complete without a visit to the Bund. This famous land mark is located on eastern banks of the Huangpu River. Local residents often visit the Bund during the evening hours and there is plenty of entertainment including dancing and singing. You can also enjoy the wide range of different architectural styles of the building in the area.

Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden is also known as the Happy Garden and was build over four hundred years ago in the Ming Dynasty. Not only can visitors enjoy the beautiful greenery at the Yuyuan Garden but also a wide range of different attractions including historic building, artifacts and the well known Exquisite Jade Rock.

The Shanghai Museum

If you are interested in learning more about Chinese culture and history then you should definitely visit the Shanghai Museum. Visitors can also view exhibitions about Chinese architecture, local art work and historic artifacts. There is also a wonderful library housing over two hundred thousand art books at this museum.

Wild Animal Park

The Wild Animal Park is one of the largest of its kind and is home to over ten thousand animals. The park is divided into two areas. One area is accessible for visitors on foot whilst the other is only accessible for visitors traveling by bus.

James is travel consultant living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for information about Phuket then be sure to visit his Phuket guide which includes an excellent section with Phuket wedding information.

Cheap Phuket Hotels - How Good Are They?

When you are planning a Phuket vacation, the first step is to look for a decent yet reasonably priced hotel. Cheap Phuket hotels are available in plenty for all types of travelers.

The rising popularity of Phuket as a tourist destination has led to the construction of a slew of hotels in all price brackets. Now, for the tourists visiting the island beach resort, choices are many - from luxury resorts with every conceivable facility to minimalist hotels for the budget-conscious traveler.

The definition of 'cheap hotel' is different for different travelers. For many, a cheap hotel means just a room to stay like in a hostel or a guesthouse. However, for those traveling with families, this may not be comfortable. According to the price range desired, it is possible to search for a hotel in Phuket. It can be done either before landing in Phuket or even after arrival.

If 'cheap' means paying around $20 per night, online booking agents offer the best bet. Sometimes, if you are incredibly lucky, it is even possible to corner a steal deal for less than $15 per night. Most of these are 2-star hotels suitable for families.

When 'cheap' means dirt cheap, hotels for less than $10 are available in Phuket town. These are decent places concentrated along the Phang Nga Road and Ranong Road. Even the popular beaches of Patong, Kata and Karon have some cheap lodgings. During low season, some of them even go for as low as $5. These rooms are nothing to rave about, but are good enough to stay for a few days. Many travelers on tight budget opt for these cheap Phuket hotels for their low rates.

Cheap Phuket hotels do not necessarily imply that you will be ending up with below-par facilities and service. At times, good hotels offer amazing discounts to lure guests during off-season.

Paisit Kapilakan owns and operates the website My Phuket Holiday that provides more than just information and reservation for hotels in Thailand. My Phuket Holiday offers a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phuket, Thailand and the best discount for hotel reservations in Thailand including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang mai, Hua Hin and Phuket. For more information on cheap phuket hotels, visit http://www.myphuketholiday.com and avail this fabulous offer.

Top 3 Questions to Ask Your Builder Before Signing Any Contracts

Legendary investor, Warren Buffet, is famous for his two rules for investment:

Rule No.1: Never lose money.
Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1

That's why getting the facts about every aspect of your investment property is vital if you want to be assured of its future success. Unfortunately, too many investors get caught up in the excitement of building a property portfolio and become swayed by the charms and persuasion of a good sales person.

Beware: if you don't ask the right questions at the right time - that is, before you sign anything - you can put your family's financial future at risk.

Having worked as a lawyer for many years, one of the biggest mistakes I saw was that people did not read the contract clearly. So, here are the top 3 questions I recommend you ask any builder, property developer or house and land provider BEFORE signing any contract:

(PS: If they can't answer 'yes' to them, then proceed with great caution. It could cost you dearly in the end.)

1. Is it a fixed price contract? If the wording and pricing structure is so complicated you can't identify the exact and full cost of the project before beginning, be worried. The price should be clear, upfront and fixed. If it's not, you open yourself up for some nasty shocks down the road.

2. Is there a set finished date? It's no secret that builders defer smaller jobs to finish the bigger, more lucrative jobs - but what if you're relying on your house being built by a certain date? Once the job has started, you have very little bargaining power. If your builder can't guarantee a finished date - irrespective of weather, union activity, scheduling - then think twice about proceeding.

3. How much will it cost you before it's built? Be cautious of paying out big bucks for construction whilst your investment property is being built - after all, that's dead money that you can't get a return on. Choose a builder who doesn't make you pay upfront for the construction costs, council rates, interest costs etc and you'll find the investment equation stacks up a whole lot better.

These are the just a few of the questions you need to ask any property investment company - including us - before signing any contracts. If you don't ask these questions before you begin, you could find yourself up for thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars in unforeseen and unbudgeted costs.

Your family's future is at stake and really, is there anything more important than that?

Kelvin Gough is founder and CEO of Legal & General Properties, a property company specialising in investment house and land packages in the south-east growth corridor of Melbourne, Australia. He is a Lawyer (non-practicing), an accredited mortgage broker, a member of the Tax Institute of Australia, has a Diploma in Financial Services and is a member of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds of Australia. If you have any questions you'd like answered, email him at Kelvin@legalandgeneral.com.au. Please visit the website: http://www.legalandgeneral.com.au.

What is Face?

Western visitors to Thailand often find themselves struggling for an explanation to the mysteries of Thai behaviour. Why do they sometimes behave in ways that seem so strange to us? One common explanation often put forward is the Thai concept of 'face'.

Why won't they admit they are wrong? They would lose face. Why won't they admit they don't know? They would lose face. Why did I get bad service? Because you lost your temper and lost face. Again and again, when newcomers ask for an explanation to some strange facet of Thai behaviour, the old timers give this simple explanation.

I often wonder if the influence of face is not overstated. Are the concepts of face really so different from our own?

What is Face?

Face is a concept that is widespread across most of southern and eastern Asia. It is the idea that it is important to maintain your own reputation and not look bad in front of others. It is good to have high social status. It is good to have a good job, a position of responsibility or influence. It is bad to be seen to fail or do something stupid.

It is also bad to cause other people to lose face. So while maintaining your own reputation you should try not to demean others.

When you look at these ideas, there is nothing unusual about them. Doesn't everybody want to have a good reputation? Shouldn't everybody respect others? They seem like universal concepts. However, the belief is that these are far stronger driving forces in Asia than elsewhere.

How Does Face Work in Thailand?

How face affects Thai behaviour is a big subject. If you really analysed it you could write a book on the subject. We will only attempt to scratch the surface. The first thing to say is that the following are generalisations. Many Thais are not that strongly influenced by face. Still, there are a few ways in which face consistently affects Thai life.

Personal Appearance

Personal appearance is important. It is the first impression you make on people. Thais are generally well turned out, especially when working, going out or dealing with officials.

Many westerners in Thailand enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and like to dress casual in dirty old shirts, shorts and flip-flops. This is fine in casual situations but it can make a bad impression in more formal situations such as dealing with officials. Government officials and offices are positions of respect and if you turn up scruffy, they may see it as a disrespectful start.

You will make this bad opening impression worse if you have tattoos, body piercings or an unusual haircut. These are all things that in Thailand are associated with lower class people. Thailand is a hierarchal society and the impression you make does affect the response you will get from officials. Looking smart is not everything but it is a factor in getting good service.

Behaviour

It is important to act with a degree of dignity. Thais are not serious people but they still like to carry themselves with a little decorum. Joking and fooling around is fine within limits but you should not be too loud or make a spectacle of yourself.

Temper

It is bad to lose your temper or argue in public. That is not to say it doesn't happen. Thais are human and prone to the odd outburst like most people. However, generally they try to control their anger and keep their composure. If they find themselves in a dispute then they believe a strong word and a cold smile are better ways to get their point across while maintaining their face.

Respect Others

It is important to help other people maintain their face. Causing someone else to lose face can actually also cause a loss of face for yourself. The strange thing here is that it is very much to people's faces that you must respect them. Gossiping behind peoples backs is as common here as it is in the west.

Over-reaction to Losing Face

One strange thing about face is that Thais can overreact if they feel they have lost face. While we have already stated that losing your temper is a loss of face, when Thais do lose their temper they can lose it in a big way. They know they are looking bad and losing face and this can actually magnify their anger. The result can be extreme over-reactions and sometimes acts of violence.

Conclusion

The above are just a selection of the ways in which face influences Thai behaviour. However, when you look at them, none of them are that alien to western values. We like to look good, make a good impression, we want people to like and respect us. We do tend to believe it is good to control our tempers and respect others.

There is no doubt that face is a factor in understanding Thai behaviour. It does affect the Thai mentality in subtle and deep-reaching ways. However, I do believe it is a mistake to over-state its importance. The explanations of Thai behaviour are often much simpler. Human nature is still the greatest driving force. The things that influence our behaviour such as love, greed and ego are also the forces that influence Thais.

Thais really are not so different from us. The reason we often don't understand Thai behaviour is simple - people are complicated.

The author has lived in Phuket, Thailand for seven years. If you want to read more about the colourful island of Phuket then visit Phuket Articles and Travel Guide where you will find more articles and visitor information.

Some Good Reasons to Opt For a Beach Vacation Home Rental

There are many good reasons why a person should choose to live in a beach vacation home rental. For one, it will give you a chance to enjoy living in secluded homes, and to also enjoy the romantic feel of living in complete privacy with nothing to disturb you other than the excellent ocean views and the brilliant moon above. There are also different types of beach vacation home rentals to choose from including cottages as well as resort condominium properties as too bed and breakfast inns by the ocean.

Special Feeling

Living in beach vacation home rentals will allow you to enjoy the special feeling of watching the sun rise as well as set over vast expanses of beaches. In addition, you can fall asleep at night to the sounds of the surf striking the shore and enjoy the cool and soothing winds as well as listen to palm trees rustle in the wind. What really makes it worthwhile to live in a beach vacation home rental is the complete relaxation that you will get to enjoy.

Living in a beach vacation home rental by the ocean will also provide you with special kind of intimacy with pristine blue colored waters of the ocean and many of the rentals are in fact strategically located by the ocean that will ensure that you are able to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities.

You can also choose from different beach vacation home rentals including cabins with their own unique cozy atmosphere; bungalows as well as scenically located cottages that will make your beach vacation truly unique. In addition, you can choose to live in the more luxury accommodations which are sure to be well maintained thereby ensuring that you lack for nothing while spending time exploring the beaches and nearby areas.

The best part about choosing beach vacation home rentals is that you will get much space to live in and you won't feel claustrophobic as would be the case when confined to hotel rooms. Also, beach vacation home rentals allow for an entire family to enjoy their vacation in each other's company and there are also excellent kitchen facilities that will ensure that you don't need to worry about having to dine out.

When seeking an ideal beach vacation home rental it makes sense to also check out vacation home rental websites, especially if you are interested in finding a rental in a foreign country. The Internet will throw up far more options and you should also be able to get better rates as well.

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Cheap Phuket Hotels Could Be Yours

Now-a-days one can find a lot of cheap Phuket hotels and resorts in Thailand. It's because of the extensive reputation that Phuket has got. Phuket is being recognized as a best tourist spot and thus, cheap phuket hotels have tremendously increased. Few years ago, there were only few guesthouses in Phuket, whereas now one can find ultra luxury hotels, resorts, health spas in Phuket. This island are in Thailand attracts millions of tourists every year.

There are many cheap hotels in Phuket. This doesn't mean that you can only find some guesthouses or hostels. The definition of cheap need not necessarily be the same for every traveler. For few cheap hotels means some hostel to stay and for the other it's more than a hostel and should be comfortable. The travelers who are on their budget limits generally prefer a guesthouse or a hostel. These can be found everywhere in the Phuket.

As said, Cheap Phuket Hotels means more than just a guesthouse to many travelers. They expect some facilities and comfort and yet would love not to pay high. Targeting these customers, there are some online booking agents like Hotel ravel and Agoda. Cheap Phuket Hotels can be searched through the websites of these online booking agents. The information, accommodation details, fare and the best deals and discounts can be browsed to book a best cheap phuket hotel. This saves lot of time in enquiring especially if you are travelling for the first time with your family, friends or your spouse.

Some of the cheap Phuket hotels have special packages for the honeymoon couple. The details can also be known through these booking agents. The Phuket Island has got many cheap hotels all over especially the best ones can be found in Patong, Kata and Karon. Patong is a very popular area for its particular is a lively beach, night life and shopping. Many travelers lodge at cheap phuket hotels in this area and then go for exploring the other areas of the Island.

The higly praised Indigo Pearl resort is located at Nai yang. Nai yang has also got some other best pukhlet hotels. But booking a hotel here would cost little higher than the cheap hotels in Patong.

Sri Panwa, a luxury Phuket hotel is located to the south of Thailand at Cape Panwa. This is an ideal hotel for Celebrities to stay when they visit Phuket. Though these are not considered as cheap phuket hotels, hotels at this place are very convenient.

Online booking agents like Agoda also offer round the clock support to the customers and visitors of their website.

Looking for more information about hotels in Phuket? Get all the news on Phuket hotels and resorts at these links.

Escrow Explained

Escrow is a method of exchanging or transferring property or money using a neutral third party. This is usually connected with real estate transactions.

In most States, escrow agents comprise a distinct profession with its own accreditation and training requirements. In some places, lawyers can perform escrow. In either case, the process is covered by a distinct protection and regulation with the use of bonding and licensing.

When a property or home changes hands, the home seller transfers the title of the property to the escrow agent. In the same way, the buyer transfers funds or perform a bank transfer mortgage proceeds to the escrow agent.

After all conditions of the purchase agreement are met, the escrow agent will then assign the property to the buyer and distributes the funds to the home seller.

Escrow is use in the event that your mortgage closes. Your mortgage lender usually requires you to open an escrow account to cover homeowner's insurance and property taxes. You will have to make an initial deposit, preceded by monthly payments to the account.

The escrow agent releases these funds when your insurance premiums and taxes become due. This serves to protect the mortgage lender by making sure that you pay your insurance and taxes on time. For instance, if you default on your property tax, you municipality can put a lien to your home, which makes it hard for you to sell it. Alternatively, if your house burns down and you have not paid the insurance, the lender would be left with no collateral.

Escrow benefits borrowers through helping them spread tax and insurance expenses over 12 payments evenly. For example, assume your annual property taxes and your yearly property taxes are two $1,000 payments and your $400 insurance is yearly. If you directly paid these, it would mean three big yearly payments. Nevertheless, your escrow costs would be an affordable $200 per month.

Escrow services have gone high-tech due to the internet age. Many online businesses provide geographically remote sellers and buyers to buy goods and services from each other. Online escrow services have been made to give a reliable third party a means to complete a sale.

When planning to use escrow services, it is of vital importance to weigh one's option well and proceed with care since there are many fraudulent operators around who have increased their level of sophisticated and established illegitimate escrow services.

In many states, the money you put on an escrow account does not earn an interest for yourself. For this reason, most borrowers prefer to pay their taxes and insurance directly. Your mortgage lender could agree to this if you make a down payment of more than twenty percent of the price of a home.

However, some lenders will raise the interest rate slightly to compensate. As soon as you agree to put funds into an escrow account, it would be difficult to cancel it, thus you should make sure that you understand thoroughly the arrangement before your mortgage closes.

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Good Things to Remember When You Travel

When you travel simply arriving at your intended destination with luggage in tow is often considered a success. So we thought we'd share with you the benefit of some of what we have learned in several years of dive travel.

Things You'd Rather Not Forget

Passport and / or visa - all other necessary documents, booking receipts (i.e. current immunisations/inoculations).

Tickets - Seems obvious, but with all the running around you're doing before you leave, hey, it has happened. Be sure you have them before you leave for the airport.

Money belt / wallet - Something to keep identification/funds secure.

Cash - There's nothing else like it when you get hungry and the food stall doesn't accept pebbles.

Traveller's cheques - A safe form of money and replaceable if lost or stolen, assuming you keep separate records.

Credit cards - Keep one with you and another hidden in a separate location in case the magnetic strip warps in the tropical heat, is mysteriously denied or the card is lost or stolen.

ATM card - Use these for quick and easy access to local currency, often you get a better exchange rate when you use your ATM card.

Certification cards / logbook - I've forgotten mine before and I'm a dive instructor! Make sure you pack these with your most important pieces of ID to ensure you have proof of dive certification and experience.

Insurance info - Makes a cancellation, a dose of SARS or natural disaster more palatable if you know you aren't all out on time and money. Dive Insurance is also a highly recommended precautionary measure, and might make a world of difference for you (see our separate article in this newsletter).

Photocopies of all documents - Put copies of your most important documents in your baggage for emergency reference and leave copies with someone you can call should you need help.

Toothbrush and toothpaste - Your prospects of a holiday romance will improve considerably. Even the girls of Patong might turn their noses up if you forget this one...then again.

Shampoo and conditioner - Bring more conditioner than you think you'll need for added protection. The seas can be a great leveller when your bleached hair turns green.

Soap and deodorant - Do unto others as they would have done unto you.

Razors - You may have to pack these in your hand luggage.

Medicine and toiletries - Keep medicines and toiletries in your hand luggage. They won't do much good in the hold of the plane, or if your luggage ends up somewhere else by mistake.

Prescription medicines - No need to spend time in jail for something for which you have a prescription and, on the off-chance you need a refill, having prescription information handy can save a lot of time and heartache.

Glasses or contact lens spares - Nice to be able to see on holiday.

Sun cream - to avoid that lobster look, don't forget that the sun will get you when you're in the water on the surface waiting for the boat to pick you up.

First aid kit - You'll probably be happy to have one if it can help someone out and be even happier if that someone is you. Don't forget decongestants, just in case.

Contraceptives and feminine hygiene products - Well you never know what you might meet night diving in Phuket. Try asking the locals who don't know any English except "Taxi? Tuk Tuk?"

Sunglasses - come in handy when you're explaining that no you don't want a taxi.

Phone card - If you don't want to haul your cell phone around, bring a phone card. You can use them to pass the time while you're waiting in and airport, to take care of last minute travel arrangements or to clean your finger nails whilst you're waiting for the delayed final boarding call.

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world's most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.