Saturday, January 28, 2012

Vietnam is a Top tourist destination blessed with mountains and coastline


 Sahit Muja: Vietnam

Sahit Muja: Vietnam is a Top  tourist destination blessed with mountains and coastline
Nature has blessed Vietnam with a bountiful harvest of soaring mountains, a killer coastline and radiant rice fields, Vietnam is a Top  tourist destination
Welcome to a world where the colours are more vivid, where the landscapes are bolder, the coastline more dramatic, where the history is more compelling, where the tastes are more divine, where life is lived in the fast lane. This world is Vietnam, the latest Asian dragon to awake from its slumber.
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Nature has blessed Vietnam with a bountiful harvest of soaring mountains, a killer coastline and radiant rice fields, Vietnam is a cracker. Inland, peasant women in conical hats still tend to their fields, children ride buffalos along country paths and minority people scratch out a living from impossible gradients.
Vietnam is a nation of determined optimists who have weathered war after war, survived colonialism and communism, and are now getting to grips with the wheeler-dealer world of capitalism. Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty, the Vietnamese are graciously welcoming of foreigners who come as guests not conquerors.
Don’t believe the hype. Or the propagandist party billboards that are as common as statues of ‘Uncle Ho’. Believe your senses, as you discover one of the most enriching, enlivening and exotic countries on earth.
To escape the buzz of millions of motorbikes, head west to the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages in the Mekong Delta. There’s adventure galore to be had on Phu Quoc Island and stunning white-sand beaches to relax on. Back on the east coast at Mui Ne Beach, you’ll be faced with a similar dilemma: action or inertia?
Hoi An might weigh you down - but in a good way - you’re bound to add kilos of made-to-order clothing to your luggage. With an estimated 300 to 500 tailors working in this beautiful city, this is fashionista heaven.
To feel the intellectual, cultural and spiritual heartbeat of Vietnam, make a stop in the old imperial capital, Hué. Home to palaces and pagodas, tombs and temples, and host of the biennial arts festival, the Festival of Hué (http://www.huefestival.com/), it’s the place to go for historical, cultural and culinary stimulation.
In Hanoi, the country’s captivating capital, rise early to watch the city exercise by Hoan Kiem Lake, then pay your respects in person to Uncle Ho at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (a truly surreal experience). See if you can locate ‘pickled fish street’ in the Old Quarter (it’s somewhere near ‘wooden bowls street’), and cool off with draught beer at ‘bia hoi junction’ (a truly rewarding experience).
Eventually you’ll be enticed out of the city by the stunning offerings of the country’s northern provinces. Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of Halong Bay and its 2000 limestone karsts, nor the experience of trekking around mountainous Sapa.
Vietnam has it all. Go expecting the unexpected, be ready for an adventure as much as a holiday, and Vietnam will deliver.
Learn a little history, and how to cross the street (!) with our 226 Days in Nam video. Or see the capital in a different light with our Hanoi Hustle video.
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
  • Travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 11 days
  • Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok in 9 days
  • Trek the beautiful Sapa Valley in Vietnam's remote northwest
  • Top Picks For Vietnam

    • 6 Cycle Ho Chi Minh City

      Grab a bike and take the ride of your life through the streets of this riverside metropolis

    • 7 Mai Chau

      Go native with an overnight stay in a traditional Thai stilt house, amid the lush valleys

    • 8 Quy Nhon

      Access beautiful beaches and amazing Cham architecture from one of the coast’s less touristy cities

    • 9 Sapa

      Swoon at the valley views from this rugged mountain retreat, a home to a wealth of minority peoples and a base for exploring the Tonkinese Alps.

    • 10 Dalat

      A completely different view of Vietnam, this mountain town combines the French Alps with plenty of Bohemian cool

    • 11 Cat Tien National Park

      Lush refuge for city dwellers with ample hiking and bird-watching opportunities, plus elephants, crocodiles and the endangered Javan rhino

    • 12 Mui Ne

      Action or inertia, take your pick, this place is made for surfing (wind, board or kite) or blobbing on the beach

    • 13 Mekong Delta

      Watery world of bustling river towns and sleepy villages, floating markets and tasty fish served by uber-friendly locals

    • 14 Phu Quoc

      White-sand beaches and little development make for a magical tropical getaway on this forested island gem

    • 15 Hué

      Intellectual, cultural and spiritual heartbeat of Vietnam, the old imperial capital offers historical, spiritual and culinary stimulation

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Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia

Sahit Muja: Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia

 Sahit Muja: Philippines


Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia.
The second-largest archipelago in the world, with over 7000 tropical islands, the Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia. Often overlooked by travellers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it. And because it’s off the beaten path, the Philippines is a great place to escape the hordes who descend on other parts of Southeast Asia. First and foremost, the Philippines is a place of natural wonders – a string of coral-fringed islands strewn across a vast expanse of the western Pacific. Below sea level, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, including wreck diving around Coron and swimming with the whale sharks off Donsol. Above sea level, it has a fantastic landscape with wonders enough to stagger even the most jaded traveller: the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Banaue & the Rice Terraces and fascinating reminders of the islands’ history in places such as Samar & Leyte and Vigan. And if you’re after palm-fringed, white-sand beaches, try laidback Sipalay or flat-out party town Boracay.
Of course, any traveller who has been here will tell you that it’s the people and their culture that makes the Philippines unique. Long poised at the centre of Southeast Asian trade, colonised by a succession of world powers, the Philippines is a vivid tapestry that reflects its varied cultural inheritance. And despite the poverty that afflicts much of the nation, the Filipinos themselves are among the most and easygoing people anywhere in the world. The Philippines truly qualifies as one of the last great frontiers in Southeast Asian travel. Cross whichever ocean you need to and see for yourself.




The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century;
 they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War.
In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth.
 Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the
country for independence after a 10-year transition.
In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and
US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control.
On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
 A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" 
("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president.
 Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return
to full political stability and economic development.
Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by
 increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the
US closed its last military bases on the islands.
 Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998.
 He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO,
in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges
broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation.
 MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004.
 Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the
Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008
global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration.
Benigno AQUINO III was elected
 to a six-year term as president in May 2010.
The Philippine Government faces threats from several
groups on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies
 in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the
Moro National Liberation
 Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates
through much of the country.
The Philippines faces increased tension with
China over disputed terriorial claims in the South China Sea.
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Sunday, January 22, 2012

India is a tourist wonderland embroidered with beautiful nature and history

 Sahit Muja: India
 Sahit Muja: India is a tourist wonderland embroidered with beautiful nature and history
 India is ethnic and cultural cocktail I never get enough of this place
 India  it’s a place you’ll never forget.
Home to more than 1.2 billion people India  is a world's top tourist destination.

For those seeking spiritual sustenance, shopping in the spice bazaars, to fortresses, outdoors,  waters of many  beaches, jungle cats, wildlife safari, or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk.
And then there’s the Indian food!
Indian food is different from rest of the world not only in taste but also in cooking methods.

Indian  food reflects a perfect blend of various cultures and ages.
Just like Indian culture, food in India has also been influenced by various civilizations, which have contributed their share in its overall development and the present form

From  South Indian north Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savouring a seductive smorgasbord of specialities.  
India has top of the line entertainment venue is another jewel in India's to attract tourists
India has exceptional hotels and restaurants on outstanding location's.

Explore the fortresses of Rajasthan and browse the colourful markets of Jaipur on a magical mystic trip to India. Other highlights on this tour of Northern India's 'Golden Triangle' include a visit to see the magnificent tigers of Ranthambore National Park and an excursion to the City Palace in the Pink City of Jaipur as well as a tour of the 400-year old deserted Mogul city of Fatehpur Sikri.

With one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India has certainly made giant strides over the past decade in building the infrastructure, hotels and tourist places. 
 Indian people has a passion for hospitality,  I have enjoyed every second in India.

India is A Must See For Any World Traveler like myself.
Sahit Muja
President and CEO
Albanian Minerals
New York
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China its the world’s top travel destinations

 Sahit Muja: China
Sahit Muja: China its the world’s top travel destinations
Everyone is talking about China' economy, so why not talking about tourism.

China has it all, From the wide open and empty panoramas of Tibet to the push and shove of Shànghǎi from the volcanic dishes of Sìchuān to beer by the bag in seaside Qīngdǎo, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous, perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth.
The sheer diversity of China’s terrain takes you from noisy cities fizzing with energy to isolated mountain-top Ming-Dynasty villages where you can hear a pin drop. Pǔdōng’s ambitious skyline is a triumphant statement, but it couldn’t be further from the worldly renunciation acted out in Tibet’s distant monasteries.

Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. But it’s not just a museum of imperial relics: the frisson of development that has left China’s coastline glittering with some of the world’s most up-to-the-minute cities propels the land on with a forward-thinking dynamism.

And it’s the people – unavoidable in their immense numbers – who provide the ceaseless drama and entertainment.

Loud, garrulous and quick thinking, you’ll see the Chinese squeezing onto dangerous-looking buses, walking in pyjamas around Shànghǎi or inviting each other to sit down to some of the most varied cuisine in the world. Animated by a palpable sense of pride, the Chinese are revelling in their country’s ascendency. 

 The awesome architecture of The Great Wall, not to mention the wonder of the fascinating Terracotta Army are among the many highlights on a guided tour of China.

There's a chance to enjoy a Peking Duck dinner in the capital city, Beijing, together with a not-to-be-missed visit to the incredible Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. The 21st-century city of Shanghai is also on the itinerary and there's time to relax after the buzz of sightseeing on a leisurely cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo.

Sahit Muja
President and CEO
Albanian Minerals
New York
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Pakistan is one of the world’s best-kept travel secrets

 Sahit Muja: Pakistan
Sahit Muja: Pakistan  is one of the world’s best-kept travel secrets.
Pakistan has been on the brink of being tourism's ‘next big thing’. There is a huge potential in Tourism in Pakistan.

Pakistan  has so much to offer to visitors; drive the Karakoram Highway through the endless peaks of the Karakoram Mountains, or wander through the architectural glories of the former Mughal capital Lahore, the ancient bazaars of Quetta or the cosmopolitan streets of Karachi. 

Pakistan has fascinating diversity, its well-kept Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist shrines, the dizzingly high mountains or the impressive sheer glaciers.

Pakistan is a country of contrasts the brilliant colours of the painted buses, cars, trucks, the aromatic scent of rose, apple and apricot and the pungent to mosques and colourful bazaars.

Pakistan offers many fresh fruits that are most plentiful in the summer and autumn months.
Mangoes, papayas, bananas, watermelon, apricots, and apples are some examples. Chiku have the taste of a date and the texture of a kiwi fruit.

Many Pakistanis eat their fruit (especially watermelon) with a light dusting of salt to offset the sweetness or tartness.

While these dietary staples may seem bland, Pakistani cuisine is rich with sauces and condiments to spice up their dishes. A variety of spices (an Indian influence), such as chili powder, curry, ginger, garlic, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon, are at the heart of Pakistani cuisine.

A wide range of chutneys (a relish usually made of fruits, spices, and herbs), pickles, and preserves that accompany meats and vegetables give Pakistani cuisine its distinct flavor
Pakistan's top five places.
Taxila

Just a short drive from Islamabad, this is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.
There are 18 locations in the area which are world heritage sites, but only 5% have been excavated.

This is the region from where Buddhism travelled to the far east - and Persians, Greeks and Hindus all subsequently left their mark. You can watch the sun set from the remains of a Buddhist monastery or wander through the streets of an excavated Persian city in the knowledge that there are two older ones buried below.

Lahore
Every Pakistani you meet will remind you of the old adage that if you haven't been to Lahore you haven't lived. The old city looks like a medieval costume drama, with horses, donkeys and ox-drawn carts transporting everything from stacks of hay to blocks of ice. In the narrow streets of the spice market, huge hessian sacks contain all manner of extravagant herbal cures, including died hair from corn on the cob for kidney pain, gum crystals for back pain and tree bark for flu. There are also mounds of chalky green henna and blue clothes dye "to turn white shirts into school uniform."
The incredible Mughal buildings of Lahore Fort and Badshahi mosque - one of the world's largest - are must-sees; eat dinner on the terrace of the converted Haveli Cocco's Den for a floodlit bird's-eye view. Meanwhile, New Lahore, with its Liberty market and numerous coffee shops (albeit serving Nescafe), presents the vibrant, modern face of Pakistan.

The Karakorum Highway
Opened in 1986, the KKH, as it is fondly referred to, is the highest road in the world, winding through the Karakorum mountain range and connecting to China through the Khunjerab Pass at an altitude of nearly 5000 metres. It is the only way to the tourist attractions of the Northern Areas, but negotiating its twists and bends around unprotected sheer drops is an adventure in its own right.
The road connects many villages whose only sign of modernisation is the sponsored paintwork of Pepsi and Nestle that decorate the shops. Along the way you also pass several hundred spectacularly painted Bedford trucks. These are one of the defining features of Pakistan, costing up to three years' wages to adorn and featuring intricate designs of birds and trees. Several hundred metres below, the Indus thunders past grey silt beaches.

Karimabad
In the lush Hunza valley, the sleepy village of Karimabad is a tourist oasis. The street that winds up to the old Baltit fort is crammed with shops selling local handicrafts such as shawls and carpets, along with local dried fruit, antiques and gemstones.
The people here are Ismaili, which means they welcome music and dancing, and are partial to Hunza water - a spirit made from mulberries - or their homemade Hunza wine. There is also a cafe-cum-bookshop called Café de Hunza that serves real espresso: a treat for caffeine-starved visitors.
Come in spring for the blossom, or autumn to see the rooftops lined with huge rush trays of apricots, tomatoes, apples and spinach drying in the sunshine. A four-hour trek along the irrigation channel that winds up through the village and hugs the rockface up the mountains will take you up to Ultar meadow, where a small makeshift campsite offers views of Ultar peak and glacier.

Lake Saiful Mulk
An exhilarating jeep drive from the resort town of Narran (bear in mind that "resort" in Pakistan means a village with a few hotels), lie the still waters and snow-capped mountains of Lake Saiful Mulk.
It is no surprise that there is a story of fairies and princes associated with the area that can be recounted by a shawl-wearing guide for a few hundred rupees. And do give in to one of the horse-trek touts: it only costs a couple of pounds for an hour and you will feel as if you have been transported into another world.

Sahit Muja
President and CEO
Albanian Minerals
New York
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Mexico is major tourist destination and one of the world's wealthiest countries in natural resources.

 Sahit Muja: Mexico
Sahit Muja: Mexico is major tourist destination and one of the world's wealthiest countries in natural resources.

Mexico has it all to have one of the best economies in the worldMinerals: The mining sector was dominated by hydrocarbons, with some of the world's largest deposits of petroleum 17th and natural gas 18th.

Mexico is also ranked in the top 5 producers of silver 14% of world production, bismuth 20% of the world's total, celestite 7% of world output and fluorspar 18% of world output,  sixth in molybdenum; among the top 10 in barite, bentonite, arsenic, diatomite, graphite, cadmium, gypsum, mine lead, manganese ore, salt, sulfur, and mine zinc; and in the top 15 in mine copper, cement, gold, and crude steel (second largest producer in Latin America.

Fishing: The coast along the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, fishery is very extensive in Mexico with a total catch of 1.02 million tonnes for 2007, accounting for 1.4% of the world's production and ranking at the 17th position.
Agriculture: This economic activity is another important area. Main crops include corn production wich  ranked 4th worldwide, sorghum 4th, and beans 5th.

Mexico is also a major producer and exporter of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products, being among the top 10 producers of avocado, cacao, coffee, lemon, mango, orange, tomato, sugarcane, honey and banana. Mexico also has the climatic conditions which allow the production and export of cattle, pigs, goats and sheep.

Forestry: 39% of the Mexican territory is composed of forests and woodland. This includes scrub, oak and pine forests, low jungles and tall deciduous forests, combined with mangroves, marshes, and savannas.

These forests are commonly used for providing timber and wood production.
Mexico has one of the world's best sandy beach into the warm, turquoise waters.Mexico is home to some lovely, warm, crystal blue water and great, hotels, restaurants and amazing food.

Mexico offers over 6,000 miles of coastline, with over 1,500 miles on the mainland Pacific. 
For the pacific mainland, the weather is warm year round,  the water is about 80 degrees year-round.
Ancient Sites In Mexico

Palenque
Chiapas
Widely considered the most atmospheric and magical of the Mayan sites, Palenque was at its peak from 600 to 700 AD. It is famed for its unique and impressive architecture and royal history.
Chichén Itzá
Yucatan
Chichén Itzá is the largest of the ancient Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. A center of Mayan pilgrimage for over 1,000 years, it is now one of Mexico's most-visited tourist destinations.

Uxmal
Uxmal, Yucatan
The late-Classic Maya site of Uxmal was built before the 10th century AD and is one of the most complex and harmonious expressions of Puuc architecture.

Sahit Muja
President and CEO
Albanian Minerals
New York
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Argentina is a agricultural wonder and travel paradise

 Sahit Muja: Argentina
Sahit Muja: Argentina is a agricultural wonder and travel paradise
Argentina has abundant natural and agricultural resources.
Argentina has been an investment hot spot.

  Argentina has some of the world’s most fertile land and an abundance of natural resources Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest country in the world.

Argentina has a diverse landscape; it possesses expansive deserts, some of the world’s tallest mountains (Argentine Andes), fertile agricultural plains and rolling plateaus.

 Argentina’s climate ranges from subtropical in the northeast, temperate in the central regions to arid and cold in the south and along the mountain ranges.

About 70 percent of  Argentina lands are rich of mineral resources such as copper, silver, gold, manganese  antimony and natural gas. Forests cover an area of 3,60 million hectares. 

Argentina economy  benefits from rich natural resources,  an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base.

Agriculture products, sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock 
Industries, food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Argentina has a gorgeous landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and lively culture, Argentina is a traveler’s paradise. 

Argentinian Borders stretches almost 3500km from Bolivia to the tip of South America, encompasses a wide array of geography and climates.

The nature lovers can traverse the Patagonian steppe, climb South America’s highest peak, walk among thousands of penguins and witness the world’s most amazing waterfalls.

Hikers can sample the stunning scenery of the lush Lake District  with its glorious lakes and white-tipped mountains.

I  adore fabulous Buenos Aires, full of opportunities to eating the world’s best steaks,  watch fútbol (soccer), dance the sexy tango and interact with dynamic and beautiful people.

Sahit Muja
President and CEO
Albanian Minerals
New York  
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