Tampa Real Estate Market Trend

Tampa is a city that presents variety in the way it offers something for everyone. For sports aficionados, Tampa has professional football, arena football, hockey and baseball teams to go see. For the party lovers, Tampa has Channelside, Seminole Hard Rock and Ybor. With respect to scenery, Tampa offers well kept community parks, beach fronts, and gardens. Entertainment ranges from the sophisticated type found at the Performing Arts Center, to the popular type shown in St. Pete Times Forum, Ford Amphitheater and Tampa Convention Center.

Generally, Tampa Real Estate market has been seeing trends that are consistent with the Real Estate market all over Florida in the last couple of months. There is an inherent shift from a seller to a buyer’s market. The inventory piles up steadily, thereby lowering sale prices. Tampa is clearly presenting a great deal opportunities for real estate investors. As of July 2006, 510 homes have been sold in Tampa at a median price of $245,000, whereas Florida’s overall median price is $257,800. Hence, Tampa Real Estate is still relatively affordable in comparison with other metropolitan areas around Florida. Comparing with 872 homes sold during the same period in the previous year, a marked decrease of 42% is evident in the number of homes closed. By the end of the month a total of 4413 homes were for sale in Tampa Real Estate. This is even less than 15% of the available homes that were sold last month. The Tampa Real Estate area is clearly becoming a buyers market with several opportunities for real estate investors.

Tampa Bay Real Estate has been experiencing this year a significant shift from a “red hot sellers market (1 month inventory)” into a more “normal real estate market (6 month inventory),” effectively posing some great oppportunities for buyers and investors. Tampa Bay Real Estate continues to attract a large number of families and professionals as indicated by the boost in sales price from $225,000 to $243,950. Most of this growth took place during the summer and autumn of 2005. In most areas, the prices stabilized and have even, in some cases, started to decline as compared to the end of 2005.

The number of homes for sale has boosted dramatically over the last few months, The factors the brought about such increase in inventory are investor homes that are flooding the market, home builders offering deep discounts and incentives to keep new home sales moving, and typical summer home sales. Clever buyers look for home sellers who offer buyer incentives. In addition, buyers are making offers that are typically several thousand dollars below the asking price in order to see how willing these sellers are to negotiate. Generally, buyers are being more selective this year than last year because of the relatively greater variety of homes to choose from. The rate at which homes are being listed for sale outpaces the rate of sales approximately 2 to 1.

The next several months are going to be very favorable for buyers because interest rates are still relatively low, and sellers are showing more than usual flexibility in terms of price negotiations on their real estate properties because sales are slowing down. This trend in the Tampa Real Estate market will probably persist for another six months before the market equilibrates again.

By Earl Juanico

Tampa Real Estate

By Earl Juanico - http://tampa-bay-realestate.line.us

Back To School With Newly Empowered Student Laptops

Some new offerings for Intel and Nvidia will put more punch in your new student laptop. See why going back to school with one of these empowered laptops will turn a few heads...

Copyright (c) 2008 Titus Hoskins

Within the last several months we have seen some major developments in laptop technology that will greatly increase the usefulness of laptops for college students. Both Intel and Nvidia have introduced new products which will improve laptop performance immensely.

New Intel Centrino 2 Platforms

First, Intel has introduced its next generation processors which uses 45nm technology with hafnium-infused circuitry. These new Intel Montevina Centrino 2 Platforms offer greater performance and better energy efficiency.

For example, Intel's new X9100, a 3.06GHz 45nm dual-core mobile processor uses 1066MHz FSB and has 6MB L2 cache - more than enough power or performance for the most demanding tasks students can throw at it.

New Nvidia High-End Graphics Cards

Second, Nvidia has released new mobile cards in its series 9 product line which will greatly impove the performance of laptops.

Nvidia which is considered one of the top Graphics Card makers in the world has announced it is introducing five more high-end Cards: GeForce 9700M GT, 9700M GTS, 9800M GTS, 9800M GT and the 9800M GTX.

These cards will have DirectX 10 graphics, Hybrid SLI support and will sport the new PureVideo HD video processing which is compliant with MXM 3.0 Graphics module specs. These are top-notch cards with the 9800M GTX sporting a whopping 128 Processing Cores.

These GPUs will no doubt put some more added punch in the latest gaming laptops but they will also improve the performance level of student laptops especially for those college students who major in computer programming, media or video, graphic design or architecture... we tend to forget, top-level graphics is not always used for gaming. Parents take note!

What To Look For When Buying A Student College Laptop

If you're buying a student laptop for yourself or for a son or daughter there are certain things you should consider before plunging down your hard earn cash. Just some things you should look for in a high quality student laptop.

1. Sturdy

You must have a laptop which is sturdy and tough in order to survive in the sometimes harsh student environment. Make sure your chosen laptop can take all that punishment - you might even consider a ruggedized notebook.

2. Portable

Many students go for a small compact laptop which can be neatly tucked under the arm or in a backpack. Long battery life is also important if you're going to be taking your laptop to all your classes. Also make sure it has all the necessary wireless connections so that the Internet is available wherever you go.

3. Performance

As we have just read above, laptops are becoming more powerful and offer greater performance than ever before. You should have no problem finding a student laptop that will meet all your computer or multi-tasking needs. However, a prudent laptop buyer should always check the type of Processor (CPU), how much RAM, Hard Drive size and the OS (Operating System) of any laptop you choose to buy.

4. Cheap Laptops

Lets face it, for most students, money is often very limited so buying a high quality, yet economical laptop is a must. Fortunately, laptop prices have been steadily dropping so finding a laptop you can afford should not be a problem. You can also consider a used or refurbished laptop.

5. Theft and Security

One of your top concerns should be theft and security when buying a student laptop. You can now get many security measures such as fingerprint entry - some now even have face recognition software as seen in the new Lenovo laptops. You can also invest in a good Laptop cable lock which will keep your laptop a little more secure. Plus, you can also check out Anti-Theft software such as LoJack which can track and locate your stolen laptop thru the IP address once it's used to access the web.

So if you're in the market for a student laptop just keep some of these points in mind when you're shopping around for that special laptop. Also remember to look for all that new mobile technology which will greatly improve the performance level of your next student laptop.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


For more information on Buying Notebooks and Laptops at Bargain Prices Click Here: www.bizwaremagic.com/cheaplaptops.htm
Or here: www.bizwaremagic.com/notebookforstudents.htm2008 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Wholesale Party Favors

Many hosts consider the gifting of party favors as an ideal gesture to convey gratitude to guests attending events or parties. Irrespective of the nature of celebration such as a wedding, anniversary, birthday, holiday affair, baby shower, or a corporate get-together, there is always a party favor that suits the occasion. Many companies manufacture items that are meant for usage as party favors, such as candle holders, cake toppers, bags, pens, watches and cookies. They also offer wholesale rates on party favors to retailers who purchase them in large quantities.

Party favors are available in varying styles and budgets and to match the theme of different occasions. While birthday party favors may include mini candy gumball machines, poodle coin purses, cartoon character watches or friendship bands; anniversary party favors include items such as picture frame or purses. There are many branded as well as local companies that manufacture articles such as the above and offer discount rates on bulk purchases.

Party favors at wholesale prices are available in items that compliment different theme parties such as cartoons, Hawaiian, sports, princess and dress-up, pirate or a candle party. There are certain companies that provide wholesale rates on party favor products to charities and corporations as a social gesture.

Many items that are ideal for gifting are available at wholesale rates on the Internet. Online stores can be contacted through e-mail to inquire about the wholesale prices they offer. Most online stores offer wholesale prices on a certain minimum number of order or as special promotional deals. They generally request a shipment period, depending on the stock on hand. Most customers find it convenient and very economical to order party favors over the Internet. With most stores having online catalogs that list all the articles available with pictures and prices against each, the process of choosing the right party favor has become simplified.

For individuals and companies that host frequent parties, organizing customized party favors could be a major expense as most gift articles are exorbitantly priced. Therefore, it becomes imperative to look for pricing benefits while purchasing party favors. Many gift stores and online stores provide discounted wholesale rates during celebrations such as New Year or Christmas.

Party Favors provides detailed information on Party Favors, Wedding Party Favors, Birthday Party Favors, Baby Shower Party Favors and more. Party Favors is affiliated with Wholesale Candy Distributors.

Back To School Back To College Sports

It?s that time of year again, when students are heading off to college, and new sports seasons are starting for college teams. There are many ways for students, alumni, and hometown fans alike to show their loyalty, and stay warm as they cheer on their teams in dropping temperatures. While football moves indoors in colder climes for the pros, college athletes, and their fans, are likely to be playing and cheering outdoors, come rain, wind, or shine. Make sure that your favorite fan has a well stocked closet for the fall season.

The key to dressing for fall, with unpredictable weather that varies from mimicking summer to winter to everything in between, is layering. And any truly faithful fan will want each layer to reflect her loyalty. After spending the summer in t-shirts trying to stay cool, look now for long sleeve t-shirts to make the transition to cooler weather. As fall goes on, your fan will want to don a sweatshirt or windbreaker, emblazoned with his favorite team?s logo of course. Look for lined jackets for even colder days. On football weekends, your fan may be spending the whole day outdoors, tailgating, then cheering.

Baseball caps and floppy hats are the way to go for keeping summer sun off your face and neck, but they don?t do much to keep ears warm, so look for knit caps in school colors, and don?t forget matching gloves or mittens and scarves!

Dropping your kid off at college to start the year? Add some college fan items to your dorm room decorating list. Banners and posters are great for covering up bare, white walls. Toothbrushes and soap boxes will give your student fond feelings for alma mater as he heads to the showers. If she?s playing intramural sports, replica jerseys like the ones worn by the varsity teams will draw attention on the field or court, and workout gear like t-shirts, athletic shorts, and even socks will round out her gym wardrobe. Heading up for Parents? Weekend? Here?s one time it?s okay to dress like your kids. Many colleges will have special parent-wear available.

If your kid is at a school like UCLA or Notre Dame, you?ll find fan gear readily available at any number of places outside the campus bookstore. For smaller campuses, look for stores that can personalize generic items with your school?s name or embroider the school logo on clothing, backpacks, and other gear.

About the Author:

Jena Luthowski writes about Sports Fans Gear Coupons, Team Gear Coupons and Coupon Promo Codes.

Use Self Belief To Shape Your Own Destiny

Of all the things that go towards shaping our destiny, it is our belief in our own abilities which has the greatest influence. Our level of self belief determines whether we succeed or fail to achieve our dreams and ambitions. As Henry Ford said If you think you can, you're right. If you think you can't, you're right.



I was watching a program on the Biography Channel the other day which illustrated the truth of Henry Ford's words and highlighted the importance of self-belief. The subject of this program dropped out of the educational system without a degree, in fact, he quit school before he even reached college age and left school with woefully inadequate qualifications. The reason for this academic failure was a combination of dyslexia and general lack of interest in school work.



Sadly, the lack of academic achievement was accompanied by a complete lack of prowess on the sports field. To top it all off, as well as being a dunce and a sporting failure, the poor kid was not even good looking. He did not have rich parents to give him financial support . His parents were not business owners, so there was no chance of a career via nepotism. He had no obvious skills or talent, so a career as an artist or musician was not an option.



This sounded like the stereotypical beginning for a person who will at best survive by taking low-paid employment and, at worst, will drift into a life of crime as a way of snatching what he is incapable of earning. His school headmaster is credited with saying on his premature departure from the education system, ?I feel sure you will either end up in prison or become a millionaire'. To entertain the idea that this person had any prospect of becoming a millionaire, you would have to know his character. We can only see the external disadvantages, the headmaster was aware of the strength of character and depth of self belief existing within this person. That self-belief more than made up for any lack of education and academic qualifications.



One thing the prospective jailbird/millionaire had was the ability to spot a niche for a new business. No, this is not a story of luck bringing an instant rags to riches transformation. Unfortunately his first two business ventures failed miserably. Did this set him on a path of serial business failures? Not at all, the failures probably taught him valuable lessons. He started the first business at the age of seven, so the chances of real success were pretty remote! The fact that he had sufficient self-belief to start his first business before he even reached his teenage years gives us a clue as to his character.



The condensed version of the rest of this biography is that the hero of the story built a successful business before he reached his twenties, was a millionaire by the age of 25 and was the owner of a Caribbean island before he was thirty. He did not stop working then, he went on from flamboyant success to even bigger flamboyant success, setting records and achieving the apparently impossible.



The subject of the TV program was Sir Richard Branson who is, at the time of writing, a billionaire several times over. He has attributed his success to hard work, belief in his business ventures and a willingness to take risks. These risks have included the well publicised (and life threatening) hot-air balloon journeys, starting a business on borrowed capital and taking risks in business where the potential losses were huge.



It is self-belief which made it possible to take those risks. Without belief in himself, Richard Branson would not have dared to borrow the money to start his first business as a magazine publisher after leaving school. Without self-belief the balloon challenges would not have been contemplated. Without self-belief the ambition to own an airline would have remained just a dream.



It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself. Those words were said by Muhammad Ali but they sum up the essence of what makes any person able to reach his goals in life. We must learn to sow and cultivate self-belief if we wish to achieve the harvest of our dreams.







For more articles about self morivation in business visit Elaine Currie's Work At Home Directory For more about writing visit the Writing Tips website.

An Adventurous Route for Backpacking South East Asia

Copyright (c) 2004 Parry Loeffler

You have permission to publish this article free of charge
electronically or in print, as long as the About the Author
bylines are included and all links remain active in electronic
versions. You can remove the http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust
links PROVIDING you make the text Rice Crust from the Bottom of
the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia a hyperlink that
points to the same URL.

A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Please
send a note and a link if publishing on the Web to
parryl@yahoo.com

Word Count: 1,453

An Adventurous Route for Backpacking South East Asia
By Parry Loeffler

The South East Asian region of the world - especially Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - has become increasingly popular as
a destination for those travelers seeking a more adventurous
holiday than can be had merely sipping fruity, ice-cold drinks at
your typical beach resort. However, an adventurous trip to these
developing countries raises many questions and one of the first
is what route to take, which I will try to answer in this
article.

Most people with enough time would like to get a taste for all
four that Ive mentioned earlier, so Ill concentrate on a route
that includes all of them. It would take about three months if
you spent a few days at each stop. Keep in mind that there
certainly are options available that would allow you to skip
countries or even shorten the trip to fit into a more constrained
timeline, but this should give you a good starting point for
further research.

As far as getting around, travel by public bus, train, and boat
is readily available and often full of adventure after all,
traveling with a busload of chickens or the occasional box of
frogs just adds to the fun, right? However, those looking for a
little more comfort will usually be able to find more upscale
options.

Many people that intend on doing a circuit though South East Asia
will fly into Bangkok since it is a major hub. Bangkok is also
rich with markets, temples, and plenty of fabulous food. Around
Bangkok, there are several options for some side trips which
allow you to get your feet wet. Kanchanaburi is a few hours away
and is the location of the infamous bridge over the River Kwai
and the Death Railway, the Erewan National Park, and the Three
Pagodas Pass near the Myanmar border. If you are not going to the
southern islands, but wouldnt mind checking out the beach scene,
you could also take a few days and visit Ko Samet or Ko Chang
(less expensive) to get a taste of island life. Both are only a
few hours from Bangkok by bus.

Once youve had your fill of the Bangkok area, work your way
north to Chiang Mai. I like the train and it can be taken
overnight, for those low on time, or during the day for those
that wish to see some of the beautiful countryside. Chiang Mai is
much less hectic than Bangkok, has some opportunities for great
sight seeing, and also has a great cooking school! If you want to
check out some smaller towns in Thailand, you can do that from
Chiang Mai with a little add-on side trip. Its a loop that goes
by public bus to the wonderful village of Pai which is set up in
the misty valleys that are laden with lush rice paddies, and then
continues by bus or boat to Mae Hong Son, then by bus back to
Chiang Mai.

In any case, from Chiang Mai, continue your journey north to
Chiang Rai and onwards to Chiang Khong, which is the jumping
point into your second country, Laos. You cross the Mekong River
with a short boat ride and enter Laos on the opposite bank at
Huay Xai. From there you immediately continue on to Luang Prabang
by slow boat or fast boat (latter not recommended, unless you
enjoy wearing a crash helmet), making an optional overnight stay
in the rustic village of Pacbeng.

After spending a few days in Luang Prabang you could do a side
trip up north, exploring the small northern villages of Laos for
a few days, or just head down to the chilled-out town of Vang
Vieng by bus or air. The road route to Vang Vieng is sometimes
the target of bandits, so be sure to check what recent activity
has been like, and then make your decision - but the safety
record of air travel may not be much more inspiring!

Vang Vieng is full of fun kayaking, biking and caving
opportunities, so youll want to plan for a few days there before
moving on to the capital city of Vientiane. It doesnt seem too
exciting for a capital city, so I wouldnt plan to spend too much
time there, other than to visit the strange, but interesting
Buddha Park.

Take the bus from Vientiane to Hanoi via the mountains and the
Cau Treo border crossing into Vietnam. Hanoi is a very
interesting place with lots to do and also offers a few
interesting side trips: Sapa is a beautiful village set in the
mountains, and Halong Bay, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers
amazing views of thousands of mountainous karsts jutting up from
the ocean waters.

In Hanoi, you can buy an Open Tour bus ticket that gets you all
the way south to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). It has a standard set of
stops, but allows you to purchase add-ons for a few dollars each,
two of which I highly recommend being Ninh Binh and Dalat. From
Hanoi, the first stop will indeed be Ninh Binh. Not a
particularly touristy town, but the launching point to visit the
spectacular Tam Coc park and/or the Cuc Phuong National Park.

From Ninh Binh, move to Hue for a day or two, then on to Hoi An
to check out the amazing tailors and beaches, then to Nha Trang
(a partying beach town that can be skipped if you wish), and then
on to your second add-on which is the mountain town of Dalat.
From Dalat, you can do another addon stop in Mui Ne which is very
quiet and good if you just want to relax and maybe poke around
the local market a little bit.

The last stop in Vietnam will be Ho Chi Minh which offers plenty
to see and do including a massage at the Vietnamese Traditional
Medicine Institute for a couple of dollars. From there, you can
cross into Cambodia in a couple ways. The first is a bus ride
through some beautiful country to Phnom Penh, and the second is a
boat tour through the Mekong Delta which also deposits you in
Phnom Penh. Be warned though: the roads in Cambodia are dirt and
very slow going, but the scenery is incredible if your backside
can take it.

Phnom Penh gets mixed reviews but does have a couple of must
visits before you continue: the Killing Fields and S-21. When you
do move on, you again have the choice of bus or boat up to Siem
Riep. I prefer the bus because of the fantastic views and the
insight into the lives of the country folk - trust me, youll
never forget it.

After spending some time gawking at the awesome ruins of Angkor
Wat at Siem Riep, you can fly or bus it back to Bangkok, once
again back where you started! Again, the bus is harsh, but worth
it to see Poipet (Ill say it again: not to stay, but to see) and
the night-and-day change visible in a matter of a few meters when
you cross from the poverty of Cambodia into developing Thailand.

There you have it. That route can be done in 3 months if you
dont choose every side trip mentioned (to do it all youll want
to add another couple of weeks). If you work it out, youll find
you can spend a few nights in each place, but don't make the
mistake of creating some sort of concrete itinerary. Just be
aware of your time, because you will want to spend lots of time
in some places, while spending little in others and you really
wont know which until you get there. Be flexible within reason,
and remember: its all about having fun!

Once back in Bangkok, you now have the option to work your way
south to the islands, and perhaps, onward to other countries like
Malaysia and Indonesia, or perhaps they will have to wait until
your next trip, and yes, you will want to come back.

One of the next logical questions is: What is it like to travel
around these countries on a route like this? Thats precisely
the experience I detail in my book Rice Crust from the Bottom of
the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia
(http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust). Its full of crazy
adventures, wonderful stories of my interactions with the locals,
and even a few recipes collected directly from their kitchens.

About the Author

Parry Loeffler is the author of Rice Crust from the Bottom of the
Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia
http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust
Read it today and get excited about your trip!

(end)

You have permission to publish this article free of charge
electronically or in print, as long as the About the Author
bylines are included and all links remain active in electronic
versions. You can remove the http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust
links PROVIDING you make the text Rice Crust from the Bottom of
the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia a hyperlink that
points to the same URL.

A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Please
send a note and a link if publishing on the Web to
parryl@yahoo.com

Word Count: 1,453

An Adventurous Route for Backpacking South East Asia
By Parry Loeffler

The South East Asian region of the world - especially Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - has become increasingly popular as
a destination for those travelers seeking a more adventurous
holiday than can be had merely sipping fruity, ice-cold drinks at
your typical beach resort. However, an adventurous trip to these
developing countries raises many questions and one of the first
is what route to take, which I will try to answer in this
article.

Most people with enough time would like to get a taste for all
four that Ive mentioned earlier, so Ill concentrate on a route
that includes all of them. It would take about three months if
you spent a few days at each stop. Keep in mind that there
certainly are options available that would allow you to skip
countries or even shorten the trip to fit into a more constrained
timeline, but this should give you a good starting point for
further research.

As far as getting around, travel by public bus, train, and boat
is readily available and often full of adventure after all,
traveling with a busload of chickens or the occasional box of
frogs just adds to the fun, right? However, those looking for a
little more comfort will usually be able to find more upscale
options.

Many people that intend on doing a circuit though South East Asia
will fly into Bangkok since it is a major hub. Bangkok is also
rich with markets, temples, and plenty of fabulous food. Around
Bangkok, there are several options for some side trips which
allow you to get your feet wet. Kanchanaburi is a few hours away
and is the location of the infamous bridge over the River Kwai
and the Death Railway, the Erewan National Park, and the Three
Pagodas Pass near the Myanmar border. If you are not going to the
southern islands, but wouldnt mind checking out the beach scene,
you could also take a few days and visit Ko Samet or Ko Chang
(less expensive) to get a taste of island life. Both are only a
few hours from Bangkok by bus.

Once youve had your fill of the Bangkok area, work your way
north to Chiang Mai. I like the train and it can be taken
overnight, for those low on time, or during the day for those
that wish to see some of the beautiful countryside. Chiang Mai is
much less hectic than Bangkok, has some opportunities for great
sight seeing, and also has a great cooking school! If you want to
check out some smaller towns in Thailand, you can do that from
Chiang Mai with a little add-on side trip. Its a loop that goes
by public bus to the wonderful village of Pai which is set up in
the misty valleys that are laden with lush rice paddies, and then
continues by bus or boat to Mae Hong Son, then by bus back to
Chiang Mai.

In any case, from Chiang Mai, continue your journey north to
Chiang Rai and onwards to Chiang Khong, which is the jumping
point into your second country, Laos. You cross the Mekong River
with a short boat ride and enter Laos on the opposite bank at
Huay Xai. From there you immediately continue on to Luang Prabang
by slow boat or fast boat (latter not recommended, unless you
enjoy wearing a crash helmet), making an optional overnight stay
in the rustic village of Pacbeng.

After spending a few days in Luang Prabang you could do a side
trip up north, exploring the small northern villages of Laos for
a few days, or just head down to the chilled-out town of Vang
Vieng by bus or air. The road route to Vang Vieng is sometimes
the target of bandits, so be sure to check what recent activity
has been like, and then make your decision - but the safety
record of air travel may not be much more inspiring!

Vang Vieng is full of fun kayaking, biking and caving
opportunities, so youll want to plan for a few days there before
moving on to the capital city of Vientiane. It doesnt seem too
exciting for a capital city, so I wouldnt plan to spend too much
time there, other than to visit the strange, but interesting
Buddha Park.

Take the bus from Vientiane to Hanoi via the mountains and the
Cau Treo border crossing into Vietnam. Hanoi is a very
interesting place with lots to do and also offers a few
interesting side trips: Sapa is a beautiful village set in the
mountains, and Halong Bay, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers
amazing views of thousands of mountainous karsts jutting up from
the ocean waters.

In Hanoi, you can buy an Open Tour bus ticket that gets you all
the way south to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). It has a standard set of
stops, but allows you to purchase add-ons for a few dollars each,
two of which I highly recommend being Ninh Binh and Dalat. From
Hanoi, the first stop will indeed be Ninh Binh. Not a
particularly touristy town, but the launching point to visit the
spectacular Tam Coc park and/or the Cuc Phuong National Park.

From Ninh Binh, move to Hue for a day or two, then on to Hoi An
to check out the amazing tailors and beaches, then to Nha Trang
(a partying beach town that can be skipped if you wish), and then
on to your second add-on which is the mountain town of Dalat.
From Dalat, you can do another addon stop in Mui Ne which is very
quiet and good if you just want to relax and maybe poke around
the local market a little bit.

The last stop in Vietnam will be Ho Chi Minh which offers plenty
to see and do including a massage at the Vietnamese Traditional
Medicine Institute for a couple of dollars. From there, you can
cross into Cambodia in a couple ways. The first is a bus ride
through some beautiful country to Phnom Penh, and the second is a
boat tour through the Mekong Delta which also deposits you in
Phnom Penh. Be warned though: the roads in Cambodia are dirt and
very slow going, but the scenery is incredible if your backside
can take it.

Phnom Penh gets mixed reviews but does have a couple of must
visits before you continue: the Killing Fields and S-21. When you
do move on, you again have the choice of bus or boat up to Siem
Riep. I prefer the bus because of the fantastic views and the
insight into the lives of the country folk - trust me, youll
never forget it.

After spending some time gawking at the awesome ruins of Angkor
Wat at Siem Riep, you can fly or bus it back to Bangkok, once
again back where you started! Again, the bus is harsh, but worth
it to see Poipet (Ill say it again: not to stay, but to see) and
the night-and-day change visible in a matter of a few meters when
you cross from the poverty of Cambodia into developing Thailand.

There you have it. That route can be done in 3 months if you
dont choose every side trip mentioned (to do it all youll want
to add another couple of weeks). If you work it out, youll find
you can spend a few nights in each place, but don't make the
mistake of creating some sort of concrete itinerary. Just be
aware of your time, because you will want to spend lots of time
in some places, while spending little in others and you really
wont know which until you get there. Be flexible within reason,
and remember: its all about having fun!

Once back in Bangkok, you now have the option to work your way
south to the islands, and perhaps, onward to other countries like
Malaysia and Indonesia, or perhaps they will have to wait until
your next trip, and yes, you will want to come back.

One of the next logical questions is: What is it like to travel
around these countries on a route like this? Thats precisely
the experience I detail in my book Rice Crust from the Bottom of
the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia
(http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust). Its full of crazy
adventures, wonderful stories of my interactions with the locals,
and even a few recipes collected directly from their kitchens.

About the Author

Parry Loeffler is the author of Rice Crust from the Bottom of the
Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia
http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust
Read it today and get excited about your trip!

(end)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Parry Loeffler is the author of Rice Crust from the Bottom
of the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia
http://parryloeffler.com/ricecrust
Read it today and get excited about your trip!

The Golden Globe Awards 2007

Winter in LA? At least for one night, it didn't seem so. Despite the unusual 45 degrees in the star studded city, stars chose fashion over warmth at this year's Golden Globe Awards. It was a night of red carpet glamour from white flowing gowns, metallics, glitz, and Greek goddesses to, of course, the classic black. Jewelry was understated and limited to the basics - large diamond rings, accented bracelets, and hoop earrings - so that, in the end, the fabulous gowns stood out even more. We saw lots of white and sexy backs dominating the evening, making it the new it style.

Among the most popular designers throughout the evening was the always-glamorous Marchesa, being the choice of both Sienna Miller and Jennifer Lopez. J. Lo looked bedazzling in a Greek inspired black frock with a gold-embroidered low back, while Sienna Miller looked simply astounding in a white long train metallic-embellished gown. The much debated Scandinavian-like braided hairdo of Sienna Miller matched well with her looks, although her make up could have accentuated her features and her golden tan a little better.

Once again, Chanel Couture simply proved to be timeless. Surprise, anyone?! Penelope Cruz's Chanel Couture black gown was accentuated by lacy frills and emphasized her strong features, and made her seem even more exotic than she actually is. Eva Longoria, in a ravishing navy Ungaro dress, simply proved that you don't have to be the stereotype 5'7 and above to be the center of attention, and that petites are equally, if not even more, attention-worthy!

Among our favorites was Angelina Jolie, who looked simply divine in a strapless St. John charcoal-gray gown. The sleek updo and beautiful make up (which only consists of the basics), matched well with her dress, although her best accessory for the night was, without a doubt, Brad Pitt. Our only objection - tattoos! To all the fashionistas out there, please do not have your arms and shoulders tattooed, when you are planning on going to the Golden Globes in a charcoal strapless dress! It is for your (and our) own good.

It is worth mentioning Jennifer Hudson. She not only stole the night away with her Cinderella success in Dreamgirls, but she also looked lovely in a navy v-neck Vera Wang. Among the other newcomers was Emily Blunt, the notorious first assistant in every fashionista's must-see The Devil Wears Prada. The new starlet took away from her vicious image in the movie, and created a more soft and natural look in an eggshell-colored Herv? L?ger gown. Jessica Biel also showed off her toned physic in a shimmering silver beaded Valentino gown. There was just one ops! - Hilary Swank wore the same dress to a Vanity Fair's Oscar party in 2004!

Once again, our favorite desperate housewives simply proved that 40's the new 20. Felicity Huffman looked extremely elegant in a high-waist emerald green halter Ellie Saab dress. Teri Hatcher also looked a far cry from her casual jeans and T-shirt character in a white draped-back long dress.

And now turning to our little fashionistas, our Little Miss Sunshine Abigail Breslin looked just lovely in a blue chiffon dress complemented with a jewel-shaped clutch, proving her star potential even at such an early age.

This year's Golden Globe Award ceremony saw an unusually small number of faux pas compared to last year. Apparently, it was a lesson well learned for Drew Barrymore, who went from last year's ill-fitting bra-less deep green Gucci dress, to a fabulous look in a beautiful pale pink gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior. However, not all celebrities learned from their previous mistakes. We have definitely seen Cameron Diaz looking better than last night. Her raven looks in a tiered Valentino gown, red lipstick, and black hair, were simply too much of an extravaganza. Sad to say, we are somewhat disappointed from the always fabulously-dressed Beyonc?. Although her Ellie Saab sequined gown complemented and accentuated her famous curves, it was simply over the top even for our golden Dreamgirl. Her beauty and sophistication comes out best in more simple, yet, elegant designs. The same applies to Jennifer Love Hewitt in the golden-brownish Georges Chakra gown, which simply took away from her natural beauty.

In just one night, the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards saw an unmatched glamour and beauty, which would simply be hard to top during our next fashion extravaganza, the Annual Academy Awards at the end of February. But let's be serious - Hollywood celebrities are always able to surprise us and to surpass their latest fashions, thus making us even more curious and full of anticipation to see their upcoming choices at the Oscars!
PhatGuru.com Inc.
Queen of Cool
PhatPeople@phatguru.com

About the Author

PhatGuru.com Inc.
Queen of Cool
PhatPeople@phatguru.com