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Thailand’s capital Bangkok City is full of luxury shopping malls offering anything from clothes, entertainment to even cars for sale. But if you’re looking specifically for technology and computer items there’s only one place to go: the IT mall Pantip Plaza. Situated nearby the Platinum Mall BTS opposite the Amari Watergate Hotel on Petchaburi Road.

The 6 floors shopping center offers a wide selection of stores, selling about any electronic or computer related accessories including printers, digital cameras, MP3 players, cellphones and TVs. What Pantip Plaza is (in)famous for, is it’s piracy of DVDs, games and software being offered for 100-150 Thai Baht (about $3.00 to $4.50us) per CD, starting the moment you walk into the mall.

When looking for a specific item such as an wireless mouse, webcam or USB stick it’s advised to take a stroll and compare prices from the many vendors within the mall, allowing yourself to find the best deal. It’s also an handy stop when your having issues with electronic devices while on travel, as most of the shops offer instant repair service on no cure no pay basis. Spread within the mall, next to and in-between the many hardware shops are the restaurants of Pantip Plaza. Just as in every Bangkok mall there’s literally tens of restaurants from fast-food, food-court, ice cream vendors to complete restaurants offering À la carte menus.

Pantip Plaza is an great place for buying electronic devices, although as an traveler you need to be aware that products such as new laptops, phones and cameras will only be a fraction of the costs less than elsewhere in Asia, Europe or North America. Think ahead of time when buying electronic devices on your holiday as you will most likely inquire problems when required after sales assistance back home.

Store, vendor and restaurant owners in Pantip Plaza are free to operate own hours within the Pantip Plaza opening time, therefore most of the stores close down by 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Although you might not be a techno-freak, it’s defiantly worth visiting for it’s high fascinating value.

Opening Hours Mon- Sun 10 am - 9 pm

Pantip Plaza
604/3 Petchaburi Rd. Petchaburi Ratchathewee
Bangkok, Krung Thep Mahanakhon 10400, Thailand
www.pantipplaza.com

Tasiilaq, also known as Ammassalikk is situated on the east coast of Greenland and south of the Arctic Circle. The village is located in a fjord which is used to protect citizens from open sea, it also has a harbor surrounded by high mountains. As of latest measurement the village Tasiilaq has a population of only 2500 people.

When traveling to Tasiilaq you need to understand it’s an actual village, there’s not many social supplies or any nightlife activity. Within the village you will find a hotel, restaurant, hospital, helicopter station, post office and bookshop. Most of the locals are fisherman and hunters, only a fraction works regular jobs in the bigger cities. Tasiilaq was founded by Danish explorers back in 1894 when it was named Ammassalik meaning “the village with lots of ammassats” as in small fish, it’s official name Tasiilaq means “the one that looks like a lake”. The municipality name hasn’t been changed and is still called Ammassalip Kummunia.

The easiest way to travel to Tasiilaq is to fly from Keflavík International Airport (Reykjavik) in Iceland. There’s several airlines that fly directly to Kulusuk Airport nearby Tasiilaq, from there you can take an helicopter or choose to continue by boat. Most hotels and campgrounds offer a pickup service if you have booked in advance. The village is small to be explored on foot, how ever a fit body is required due to the many hills going up and down along with the road. To explore nearby villages and settlement such as Kummiut, Sermimiligaq and Isortoq you will need to book a boat or helicopter.

The best sightseeing on Tasiilaq is the one you create yourself. Simply hike around the island with your cam ready! There’s also several tours being offered such as iceberg watching or the nearby abandoned village of Ikkatteq. Helicopter tours are also popular for visiting nearby glaciers. The travel destination Tasiilaq should only attract those who are into hiking, kayaking, alpine climbing and nature at it’s finest.

To travel to Tasiilaq or any other destination in Greenland, tourists will have to follow the entry requirements of Denmark. Basically, this means that US citizens traveling to Nuuk do not have to have a visa if they only plan on staying for up to three months. Only a passport is necessary.

Schouwen Duiveland is a part of the province Zeeland. The Brouwersdam connects Schouwen Duiveland with Goeree-Overflakkee in South Holland. The dam is a part of the Delta Works. The Isle of Schouwen Duiveland is the sunniest part of the Netherlands. There are a lot of nice places like Brouwershaven, Haamstede, Renesse en Zierikzee. Near the Brouwersdam there is a perfect place for sailing and surfing. Zeil & Surfcentrum Brouwersdam, since 1993, all year open, for beginner or advanced and for young and old.

Whether you are an individual or in a group, the test center offers a wide range of equipment, from adequate beginner’s equipment through to the most recent top boards and rigs in there renting service. You can follow the first steps of the beginners or admire jumps and maneuvers of the Brouwersdam Locals from our sun terrace. From 2009 there is a new attraction: The Water jump. There are three different lanes available. The first one is about 4 meters, slide down en jump, feel the weightlessness. The second is bigger, you can body slide, but can jump with BMX or inline-skates as well. The third is specially made for ski- and snowboard- jumping.

The lighthouse of Haamstede graced on the banknotes of 250 Dutch guilders. It is the model of a classic lighthouse. The red spiral was applied to it at 1937, as warning low flying aircraft. The light is standing 58 meter above sea level and reaches30 sea mile far. It is called Lighthouse Westerlicht and is located in the dunes of Westenschouwen.

Renesse has a lively city center, with its numerous small restaurants and shops. The beaches of the North Sea takes less than a 15 minutes’ walk and when you don’t like the walk the local bus-transport to the beaches is free of cost. There are extensive dune areas with sealed roads for cyclists. Near the transferium there is the Attraction park Ecoscope, an activities centre about nature, landscapes and durable energy. It’s a combination of education and entertainment. Ecoscope throw an look in the future and show us what kind of possibilities the consumer has, to happen on an responsible manner with the environment.

Zierikzee is a small city, it received city rights in 1248 and was an independent municipality until 1997. In 1953, Zierikzee was damaged by a catastrophic flood. The English town of Hatfield sent help and a friendship has developed. The two towns have been twinned. The city is connected to the Oosterschelde by a 2 km long canal, the channel is mainly used by tourist boats. A beautiful old ship makes a trips every day on the Oosterschelde. In Zierikzee there is the Maritiem Museum where you find a exposition about the rich maritime history of Zierikzee. It is located in the sixteenth-century city jail.

Huay Xai (ຫ້ວຍຊາຍ) also known as Ban Houayxay and Houei Sai is the capital city of the Lao province of Bokèo, Laos on the border with Thailand. The city is situated on the Mekong river opposite of Chiang Khong, Thailand. Two ferries connect the two cities, and a bridge to Thailand is scheduled for completion in 2012. As of latest measurement the city of Huay Xai has a population of 145 thousand people.

Huay Xai is a decent sized city where walking around is easily manageable, especially around the main street area. In the same area is a office of The Gibbon Experience which is an forest conservation project raising funds for the Bokeo Nature Reserve by taking guests. If you require a taxi for long distances try the bike taxi’s. They are relatively cheap, fast and efficient, a one way trip from the main street to the Chinese market should cost around 10,000 KIP (about $1,18us). The best time to head over to the market is in the early morning to avoid big crowds, any taxi driver should know the way. Another popular sightseeing, noticed by many travelers is watching the sunset over the Mekong river from a random riverside restaurant, near the border crossing.

The city of Huay Xai is an easy reach from anywhere within Laos, it has a domestic airport with regular flights to and from Vientiane, as well other destinations like Luang Prabang. Although the main transport being used is any type of boats, speed, slow, freighters and luxury cruisers, running down the Mekong to Thailand, Cambodia but also Pakbeng, Luang Prabang and other destinations.

You will need a visa and a valid passport to visit Huay Xai, Laos. You may also need to book your trip through a travel agency and have your arrival pre-approved by an agency in Huay Xai. Not only that, you also need to have a bank account with a minimum of US$400 deposit. Payment for fees, confirmed hotel reservation, and proof of return travel may also be needed for you to be given a visa.

Casablanca (الدارالبيضاء) is the capital of the Greater Casablanca Region, located in the west of Morocco. The city is known to have several names, “White house” where Blanca means white, and Casa means house, locally it’s known as Caza. Casablanca is also considered the economic capital of Morocco, as it holds the heart of Moroccan business. The political capital of Morocco is Rabat. As of latest measurement the city of Casablanca has a population of 3.8 million people.

Many travelers have expectations of Casablanca being an romantic city, perhaps because the classic Humphrey Bogart film by the name of Casa (which was actually shot in Florida). Although once arrived, one will soon enough realize it’s the opposite of romance, it’s an industrial city where time stood still. But regardless to the fact it isn’t an romantic city, doesn’t mean it’s not fun, exciting and especially adventurous. There’s several fun things to do in the city, of which one is shopping. Many small markets hidden in narrow streets, along with gigantic market squares, always as lively, and loud with low prices for goods from bags, t-shirts to watches and shoes.

There’s several sightseeing’s in the city that are interesting to one and another including; The King Hassan II Mosque (It’s the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest in the world), Old Medina (a small and traditional town in the north of Casablanca), The Corniche (resort beach area), The Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman (off limits to non-Muslims but accessible by visitors). Most travelers experience Casablanca to be nothing like nearby cities like Fez or Marrakech, and is this case after circling several days around the city I have to agree.

Travelers to Casablanca are required a valid passport, most nationals are only required passport which is at least 6 months valid, and a return ticket. Travelers are advised to contact the Moroccan embassy before a trip. The city has two seasons with a hot and humid summers and white, snowy winters.

The Eiffel Tower is a place off interest in Paris, France that attracts more than 6 million visitors a year and is known all over the world. The plan to build a tower 984 ft.high was conceived as part of preparations for the World’s Fair of 1889. Gustave Eiffel has designed the ingenious structure. The Parisian population did not like the monument at first they thought it was an ugly metal trash. In 1906 a permanent radio station was installed in the Tower, that was ensuring its continuing survival. At present the Eiffel tower is considered a masterpiece.

To build the Eiffel tower they needed over two years and there was used over 7.500 ton steel. 31.000 m³ ground had to be moved and they had to made 12.000 m³ of stonework. There where needed 15.000 pieces of iron and 40 ton paint. You have to climb 1665 stairs to the top. The four main pillars are connected by four arches with a diameter of 74 meter, they are 39 meter high. At the south pillar there is an elevator to the second floor.

The height including television antenna is 1052 ft. The highest point can maximum sway 12 cm in wind. By expansion and contraction of the material height may vary 15 cm. On the basement there is an information desk, a souvenir shop and a snack bar and there is a possibility to exchange money.

To get to the first floor you can take the elevator or use the 704 step counting stair. There is a movie theater, a restaurant and a souvenir shop. At this floor you can still see a section of original the spiral staircase, the staircase belonged between the second floor and the top level. Gustave Eiffel used these stairs to get to his top floor office. There is also an exhibition of the original hydraulic pump, which supplied water to the machinery of the old elevator, which ran from the second floor to the top. There is also the observatory of tower top movement, an original and unique system that monitors, with a laser beam in real time, the oscillation of the top of the Tower due to the effects of the wind and temperature. A computer linked to sensors calculates these movements.

The second floor is housed on 377 ft. and leaves you with a 360° view over Paris, this is the perfect floor to make a photographic study of the city. And you can even take a dive to the ground with your eyes looking through the glass windows located on the floor.

The top level is housed on 905 ft. There is an representation of Gustave Eiffel’s office. The wax characters seated in his office are Gustave himself and his daughter Claire as well as their famous guest, the American inventor Thomas Edison.

Heraklion or Iraklion (Ηράκλειον) is the largest city and capital of Crete, as well the 5th largest city in Greece after Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus and Patras. For centuries the city was known by the name Candia, a Venetian adaptation of the ancient Greek name Χάνδαξ (Chandax, “moat”). As of latest measurement the city Heraklion has a population of 160 thousand people.

The city of Heraklion is the social and business center of Crete as well a popular travel destination within Greece. Although the government tried to modernize the city, walking through, you clearly notice a lack of commitment resulting in a modernization being overlapped by series of ancient and historical buildings that rapidly need to maintained. However, recently things have become to change, and efforts are being made to maintain and keep Heraklion’s rich culture alive. Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate, which means the summers are hot and dry, clear skies and barely any rain. The hot days are usually relieved by seasonal breezes coming from the beach areas like Amoudara, an 1.8 miles beach strip with boulevard cafe’s, bars and hotels and several sightseeing’s like the Technopolis, a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theater.

Heraklion is an easy from anywhere in Greece, you can travel by boat or airplane to reach it. It’s often used an starting point to continues travel to Crete and nearby islands. From the harbor, airport or anywhere on the island: all roads lead to Heraklion. If you are spending several days in Heraklion, there’s defiantly some sightseeing to be considered “need to see” including; The Minoan Palace of Knossos, Koules, Venetian Walls, Loggia and Morosini Fountain (Lions Square). Further more there’s several cathedrals like; St. Minas Cathedral, St. Titus Church, St. Catherine of the Sinaites Church, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Dominican Church of St. Peter.

Travelers to Heraklion need a valid passport and visa. American citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days. For transportation within the city you can use the trolleybus, the tram or the underground metro system (known as; Attiko Metro). The best time to visit Heraklion is in the summer months which are June till August.