Hotel Claska, Tokyo

Travelers to Japan, be warned. The hotel Claska (chic and cheap and one of a kind) is closing from 15 Jan for refurbishment. See below... We are very afraid that we will start the refurbishment work from January 15, 2008. Due to the work, we are not able to accept room reservations over January 15 at the moment. We are very sorry about the inconvenience this may cause. And, we greatly appreciate your understanding in advance. After the renovation work is completed, CLASKA will reopen on March 29, 2008. The date we resume accepting reservations has not been determined yet. As for the date, we will inform you on our website soon! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you and your guests to the new and updated CLASKA. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. Kind regards, CLASKA 1-3-18 Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan 152-0001 tel: +81-(0)3-3719-8121 fax: +81-(0)3-3719-8122 www.claska.com

Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat

Has anyone been to Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat? I'm hoping to go this year and wonder whether it's viable in May (or whether it's just too damn hot!). Also, can you travel easily between the two places? How long does it take? Thanks.

Angkor Wat--antique resort and history exploration

Visit the lost empire Angkor Wat Temple had been expanded to the large area by successive kings. The architectural style of Angkor is largely based on Indian (Hindu) cosmology to symbolize the center of the universe and mixed with Chinese and local architecture. At the fall of the Empire, the jungle reclaimed the decaying ruins until being rediscovered in 1861. Angkor Wat Perhaps the most famous temple of Angkor complex is Angkor Wat. The temple complex built under the reigns of Suryavarman II (1113 - 1150) presents several architectural masterpieces of ancient Khmers. The compound of Angkor Wat covers almost a square mile and is surrounded by a huge moat 180 meter wide. On this tour, our guide will elaborate on the design and history of the vast pyramid temples and their surrounding structures. The Baphuon Temple Built in the reign of King Udayadityavarman II (1050-66), Baphuon Temple features some of the finest sculptures ever found in Angkor . The beautifully carved lintels, doorframes and columns are main attraction of the Baphuon. However, the most striking beauty of Baphuon is its beauty of Baphuon is its bas-relief that stretches for hundreds of yards. The long carved stone depicts scenes from Hindu mythologies (Mahabharata and Ramayana) and a scene of Suryavarman holding court. Bayon The eeriness and mystery that looms over Angkor Thom is enhanced even more by the hazy appearance of Bayon with its carved heads of Jayavaraman VII (accredited for constructing the city) jutting from the top of the building. Each of the 54 towers surrounding the edifice depict smiling faces of the king portrayed as Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara (Buddha), which may appear somewhat ominous to modern eyes. Ta Phrom; temple of memory The temple complex of Ta Prohm and Preah Khan are filled with memory. Built during the 12th century, the temples were dedicated to King Jayavarman VII's parents. At Ta Prohm, the temple ruins are invaded by trees and deliberately left in the same conditions as it was found in 1860. To explore Ta Phrom is to climb over piles of fallen sandstone blocks or sift through narrow passages-some parts of the temple are in accessible. Despite these difficulties, this sanctuary is considered by many as the most romantic site in Angkor . Another temple complex near Ta Phrom is Preah Khan in which its buildings were used as religious university, residence and hospitals. Tonle Sap Lake ; the artery of the country This Southeast Asia 's largest lake has been of significant to the Khmers lifeline for centuries. The great lake joins the Mekong river at Phanom Penh and flow into the South China Sea . Apart from being the vital source of foods, it serves as the biggest channel of transportation for modern Khmers. Many floating fisherman villages sprawl the great lake which portray the traditional life style of the natives.

Fascinating China---places you can not miss

It has been said that China is not a country. It’s really a different world, one possessing origins of the oriental civilizations. China is considered to be the third largest country in the world with reference to area and population. Since China is comparable to a continent, first-time travelers had better spot their itinerary to the outstandingly attractive tourist sites so as to see landmarks identifying the symbols of the country. For tourists visiting for the very first time, these sites in China are a must see, like seeing the Eiffel Tower or La Champs-Elysees when in France. Beijing The Forbidden City Covering an area of 720,000 square metres with more than 9,000 rooms, this is the Palace Museum. It is also known as the Purple Forbidden City. It is the largest and most well preserved imperial residence in China today. Under Ming Emperor Yongle, construction began in 1406. It took 14 years to build the Forbidden City. The first ruler who actually lived here was Ming Emperor Zhudi. For five centuries thereafter, it continued to be the residence of 23 successive emperors until 1911 when Qing Emperor Puyi was forced to abdicate the throne. In 1987, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized the Forbidden City as a world cultural legacy. The Great Wall The Great Wall, symbolizing China's ancient civilization, is one of the world's most renowned projects. It is a distance of 75 kilometres northwest of Beijing. Its highest point at Badaling is some 800 metres above sea level. Construction of the Wall first began during the period of the Warring States (476 - 221 BC). Formerly, walls were built at strategic points by different kingdoms to protect their northern territories. In 221 BC after the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty unified China, he decided to have the walls linked up and extended. The Wall traverses mountains and gullies. It was extremely difficult to build along steep slopes under harsh conditions. Some of the slabs of rock were as long as two metres and weighed as much as one ton. All the rocks, bricks and lime had to be carried up the mountains at the cost of backbreaking labour. The earth and bricks were passed up from hand to hand or carried in baskets by donkeys and goats. The large slabs were moved up slopes by means of rolling rods and hoisting bars. According to rough calculation, the amount of bricks and rock used to build the Wall would have been enough to build a wall five metres high and one metre thick around the world. Xi'an The terracotta warriors of Emperor Qinshihuang In March 1974, villagers of the Xiyang Village, while welling, stumbled on the tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang's Tombs. The big tombs are made up of thousands of terracotta figures of soldiers, horses and weapons. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. This is a sight not to be missed and apparently the highlight of the trip to Xian. When Qin Shi Huang, who was the first Emperor of China, ascended the throne at the age of 13 in 246 BC, the young emperor had work begun on his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. Many treasures and artifacts were found with thousands of life size terracotta figures and horses. The museum features more than thousands pieces of terracotta figures of warriors, horses chariots and weapons.The discovery of the tombs has put Xian on the tourist map and become one of the 10 most famous places in China. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as the world cultural heritages. Great Wild Goose Pagoda Located in Daci’en Temple in the southern suburb of Xian, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda is regarded as the masterpiece excelling the Nature. The pagoda was built in 652 AD when a famous Chinese monk Xuanzang presented a memorial to the emperor to build the grand Dayan Tower to store the Buddhist scripture he fetched from India. It was also a sanctum where he worked on the translation of the Buddhist scripture. Mounting the grand Dayan Tower, looking into the distance while leaning on the handrail, you can see the whole ancient city of too many beautiful things, which makes you relaxed, happy and reluctant to leave. Shanghai Pudong: Special Economic Zone Pudong is bounded by the Huangpu river in the west and the East China Sea in the east. Located on the other side of the Bund, Pudong is the special Economic Zone. With a population of 1.5 million, Pudong has 13 residential districts and 28 townships under its jurisdiction. Its futuristic Oriental Pearl Tower, with a giddy height of 468 meters, stands as the world's third tallest TV tower. The tower’s observation floor is 263 meters high and 45 meters in diameter. It is the best place to get a bird's-eye view of Shanghai. It goes without saying that the skyscrapers and towers in Pudong have already come to symbolize Shanghai. Shoppers’ paradise Shanghai is a "paradise for shoppers". The famous 5-km-long Nanjing Road, known as China's No. 1 Street, is lined with more than 350 shops and department stores selling clothing, food and specialty goods. In the evening, the road is lit up with colourful neon signs. The newly-expanded Huaihai Road, Jingling Road East and Sichuan Road North are also busy commercial sections with hundreds of stores and shops selling all kinds of merchandise. For exotic shoppers, Yuyuan Bazaar offers all sorts of local products. Guilin Lijiang River Lijiang River is the soul of Guilin scenery. It is the river of poems and paintings. The transparent River twists in and out among the grotesque pinnacles and hillocks like a jade ribbon. From Guilin to Yangshuo, the 83-km-long waterway forms a gallery of landscape painting. The scenery often changes with the changing days and seasons. Take a boat and enjoy yourself with the wonderful scenery of peeks, rivers, sunshine and reflections on the water. Guilin is a fairyland in the world with "Fascinating Views of Three Hills", "Nine Horses in Picture Hill", "Places of Interest in Xingping" and "Green-Lotus World" etc. Yangshuo Town Located 65 kilometres south of Guilin along Lijiang River is Yangshuo County. This small laid back town becomes a haven to adventurers who want to explore Guilin’s countryside. Founded in Jin Dynasty some 1500 years ago, it is famous not only for the attractive hills and waters there, but also for its fertile farmlands, particularly for such fruits as sweet orange, tangerine and pomelo. The town boosts numerous caf้, souvenir shops and guesthouses. It is easy to get around the town with bicycles which are available for rent in many shops in the market.