Welcome to rascott.com.
This is a
personal site that reflects my interests in news,
current affairs, aviation and travel.
email me at robert@rascott.com
Now In Dubai:
Photo Albums
My photographs have been moved off this site and are now stored on Picasa. They
were simply taking up too much space on my web host.
Please use this link to see my list of photo albums.
Some
Useful links:
Information:
Met Office Volcano watch
World Time
Clock
Exchange Rates
Journalism:
ForeignPolicy
Nationsonline.org
Project Syndicate
Amnesty International
Reporters w/o borders
The Guardian - UK
BBC World News
CNN Asia
Bangkok Post
Daylife.com - news
Gulf News
Arabian Business
Good causes:
Sister
Joan - Bangkok
Regional Info:
BKK Magazine
HK Magazine
In
Singapore Magazine
TimeOut Dubai
Travel:
Circle of Asia
Tales of Asia
Smart Travel Asia
Finance:
FinanceAsia
Aviation:
Amadeus (airline
schedules)
Airliners
- aviation forum
Flight Aware
Thailand Info
thailand.com
learningthai.com
sawadee.com
bangkok a-z
Back in the UK:
Newton Ferrers
Government:
The "new" White
House
Photography
Denis Olivier - black and white
And for fun:
Lin Ping live panda tv
EarthCam
History
BBC Archive
National Media
Museum
The British Library
Imperial War Museum
Luang Prabang - Laos
Luang Prabang is some 80 minutes flight from Bangkok but is in a different world and a different time. It is a small country town that occupies a space in both historical and modern Laos that is has a far greater than its simple size would ever suggest.
Established in the 14th century as a royal capital it has been invaded, occupied and pillaged throughout history. Yet over 30 wats (temples) remain intact, many in the peninsular formed by the junction of the Nam Khan river with the Mekong. The historic heart of the city was designated a UNESCO site in 1995 and there are significant restrictions on construction.
The local population of the city and surrounding villages is only about 30,000 people.
This is a town for walking; there are few cars. There are motorised rickshaws, scooters or you can hire a bike. The French left baquettes, croissants, wine, some colonial architecture and petanque (really !). And there are many French visitors. It was good to be in a place where you can speak English, Thai and French in almost the same sentence and hear all three spoken in any cafe. It gives the city a very European and cosmopolitan feel.
The center of the city is the hill, and wat, of Phousi; this should be climbed for sunrise (too early!) or sunset.
Lazy, misty mornings; river cruises, markets, craft stalls, Lao and French food, cool evenings, Beer Lao and gentle friendly people. They are relaxed around visitors, not forceful, direct or pushy. The pace of life is slow. Enjoy it. There is not a Starbucks, Holiday Inn or Big Mac in site. Long may it stay that way.
Villa Santi is a nice place to stay; there are many other converted homes that are now guest houses or small hotels. Stay near the river in the old part of town.
PB Air and Bangkok Airways fly daily. A 15 day visa costs US$30 on arrival. This may be the most expensive purchase that you make!