Reforms open Myanmar tourist floodgates
The Sun Daily
The hotels are full or eye-wateringly expensive, creased dollar bills are worthless and credit cards are widely refused — welcome to Myanmar, Asia’s next big tourist destination.
The Southeast Asian nation, once shielded from international eyes by a brutal military junta and a travel boycott supported by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, has become a must-see for many travellers.
“Because the country has been so isolated, the deeply Buddhist ‘Land of the Golden Pagoda’ resonates with a strong sense of place, undiluted by mass tourism and warmed by genuine hospitality,” the New York Times said in January, ranking the country third on its list of the top 45 destinations of 2012.
Turkey and Greece: Strong earthquake rocks tourist hubs
GlobalPost
A powerful earthquake has struck the Greek island of Rhodes and southwestern Turkey.
AFP reports that no one was killed in the tremor but that 59 people in the Turkey seaside resort of Oludeniz, near the city of Fethiye, were taken to hospital. Most were suffering from psychological trauma. the news agency quotes the provincial health director Cihan Tekinis as saying that the number includes six to seven people who “jumped in panic from balconies or windows.”
Police in Rhodes said there are no reports of injuries or damage.
Angkor’s temples in danger of being loved too much
eTurboNews
The temples of Angkor have stood for as much as 1,000 years. They have survived wars both ancient and modern, as well as a period of obscurity when they were hidden by the jungle and all but forgotten.
Now, as Cambodia enjoys a sustained period of peace and relative prosperity, Angkor Wat has become the symbol of the country and the pride of its people.
Its image adorns everything from the national flag to beer and cigarettes, as well as souvenir T-shirts taken home by the rapidly-increasing flow of foreign tourists.
But Angkor and its sister temples are in danger of being loved too much.
Two Major Airlines Drop Fees For Families
WWNY TV 7
There’s good news for families planning to travel by air this summer – at least if you’re flying certain airlines.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced Sunday that he has secured commitments from JetBlue and Virgin America to allow families to sit together without having to pay extra fees.
Over the last year, several major airlines have started charging extra for window and aisle seats, which parents would have no choice but to pay be able to sit with their kids.
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