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List of all Articles in Asia
Here you can browse through a list of all the article titles in this category, or maybe search for an article that you have seen before and want to read again.
If you can't find what you're looking for here then why not try our related categories section.
Amazing Egypt - More than Just the Wonders of Antiquity
Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinations on the world tourist map. This extra ordinary country is today the favourite vacation spot for many, just like it was in the days of the early Greeks and Romans. The thoroughly cultured Greeks, in...
Popular Tourist Spots in Singapore
Although small in size, Singapore offers a wide range of sights and experiences to visitors. Reputated as a clean, green and orderly city, the country stands out as a bustling city in Asia.
Orchard Road - Located at the Southern part...
Protect yourself against the pickpockets
If you're travelling through some of the more dodgy
destinations such as Peru or Mexico, here are some ideas to help
you avoid being the victim of a pickpocket:
* Don't carry anything with you that you don't really need (that
includes...
Serengeti Safari - Memories of Miscommunications
The scene before me could be matched nowhere else on earth. Parched yellow grass spread out before us as far as the eye could see - broken only by the occasional umbrella tree and a few hundred thousand migrating wildebeest forming a dusty, thin...
Silent Macau
A failed or neglected city springs to mind when walking around Macau during the day time. Around the outskirts of the Islands the doors of modern buildings never seem to open. Hotel restaurants tend to sole customers with reluctance: public...
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Traveling in Asia is Affordable
The sight of new and different items on display and the
excitement of open air markets and colorful shops makes
shopping in Asia a unique and fun experience. Not only
will you see goods that are different and hard to come by in the
west, but you'll find prices much different than those you're
accustomed to, and different from prices seen when traveling to
other regions, like Europe.
In China, clothing costs about four or five times less than in
European countries. However, the sizing system is much different
than in the U.S. A woman who wears a size medium in the United
States will find herself browsing the extra large section of the
department store. It is wise to try everything on to make sure
it fits before buying, and carefully consider the size of any
clothing item you plan to purchase as a gift for someone else.
In India
clothing can be had for about half the price that it would
cost in European stores, if you know where to shop. For example,
on Mumbai's Fashion Street, surplus from the city's
clothing factories can scooped up at bargain prices.
It is best to purchase clothing made by famous European
designers in Europe. Taxes and duties on imported goods in Asian countries tend to
drive the prices up. An exception is Hong Kong, where goods are
not taxed and the prices are often comparable to the European
prices.
Naturally, Asian goods of all kinds are considerably
cheaper in Asian countries than in Europe. For example, Chinese
chops, which are name stamps usually used with red ink, can be
found in many shops catering to tourists for about $5. The
purchaser's name is normally carved into the chop at the store.
The same item would cost around $40 outside of China.
Beautiful and unique jewelry can be purchased in Asia for
bargain prices. Because of India's strong diamond industry,
diamond rings and earrings can be bought for less than half of
what they would cost in Europe. For pearls, you would pay about
five times more in Europe than in China for a
strand of similar size and quality.
A massage in China will run about $10, where a similar massage
in Europe will cost roughly $80. The Chinese have practiced
massage techniques for thousands of years, and a genuine Chinese
massage is extremely relaxing. Foot rubs are popular as well,
especially for travelers who have spent long hours on their feet
visiting temples and climbing several stories of stairs in
pagodas.
A tailor made silk shirt in Hong Kong
costs around $100. Beautiful silk fabric is available in Vietnam for
around $3-$9 a yard, depending on the quality. Good quality
silk fabric in China costs about $4.00 a yard. The fabric
tends to be narrower than the standard 45 or 60 inch widths, so
make sure to ask how wide it is before purchasing. The method of
producing silk from the cocoons of silkworms was originally
developed by the Chinese and remained a secret for hundreds of
years. Eventually the technique became known and spread across
Asia and Europe, but to this day China remains the leader in
producing silk.
Remember that the prices listed above are guidelines. Prices
will vary from shop to shop - expect to pay more at the store in
the hotel lobby than the one tucked away on a side street. Also,
in most Asian countries it is customary to bargain over prices
and your skill at bargaining will determine the price you
ultimately pay for your purchases.
About the author:
John Riggin is Executive Editor for http://www.SeeYouInAsia.com
the largest and most comprehensive US to Asia vacation travel
website. Where you'll discover the best deals on flights, tours,
hotels, cruises and more.
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