This 429 square kilometer of land is called Koh Chang, or Elephant Island, for a reason. It’s not because of its size, but instead its more to do with the island’s plastic elephant-like shape. Located in the eastern most province of Thailand, bordering Cambodia, Koh Chang was declared Thailand’s 45th national park.

Along with more than 40 surrounding small islands, it became Mu Koh Chang National Park in 1982. As such, you can expect pristine environment and serenity in Koh Chang, a magic bound to enchant its tourists. So this isn’t your regular touristy island crowded by five-star hotels, resorts and bars but a peaceful mountainous island with pearl-white beaches, coral-riddled water and spectacular waterfalls.

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Singapore and Malaysia have very close ties. Aside from the fact that they border one another and share a lot of the same Malayan culture and traditions, the two countries were once one and the same.

It wasn’t so long gone when in 1963, Singapore successfully merged with other countries like Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia.

The merger was thought to benefit all the countries involved in the form of a common free market that would exist among the four members.

No matter how optimistic the countries were when they merged, they were still unable to stop the riots and bloodshed brought about by racial tensions between the people of Singapore who were against the merger and the other states of Malaysia.

It seemed then that the excepting that hope for disentanglement was to separate Singapore from the rest of Malaysia.

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Just north of Shanghai’s oldest neighborhood lies its newest modern quarter, Xintiandi. This nightlife and fashion district, which is nestled inside a series of restored tenement stone houses known as shikumen, is a hotspot of entertainment, shopping and nightlife that really lives up to it’s name, which property “new heaven and earth”.

Photo credits – yngwiemanux

Unlike some of Shanghai’s other urban districts, Xintiandi is compact and navigable. Narrow cobbled laneways meander among shined-up grey stone buildings that nod to the city’s ancient past, while the local businesses, which include international coffee shops, upscale bars and restaurants and ritzy boutiques, remind visitors that this is, indeed, the Shanghai of the future.

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I’ve been home for about 2 months now, sorry on the side of the lack of updates. My intentions for this blog have wandered many times, and my focus has been lost.

Since I have been back the normal family and friends things have happened, but also something important has happened.

A family member has become unwell. This family member has also just had serious surgery and requires care and help from the family.

I am so glad I am home to help. I am close to this family member, and it has become every of influence part of my everyday to see them and help them.

Their decline in help was not foreseen, and was not in any degree of the reasons I returned home.

But being back home has become vital for now.

Travel plans continue to swirl in my head, but they do not even reach the draft stage.

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Mysore Dasara is a popular event in Karnataka State, South India, a world famous festival lasting all through 10 days. The city of Mysore will look at its best during the festival, by all the major roads in the city, portion buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops illuminated. Here the Dasara is an elaborate affair and attract a large audience including both local and foreign tourists.

Photo credits – antkriz

Photo credits – kkalyan

According to the legends, Dasara is distinguished as a victory of Goddess Chamundeswari over the demon Mahishasura. The 10th day of the festival – the most auspicious day of the Dasara – is Vijayadashami, which is symbolically celebrated as the victory of good over evil.

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