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<title><![CDATA[FlashWing Studio]]></title> 
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?31</link>
<title><![CDATA[KOF-Wing v.1.2 full version published]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:37:27 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?31</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<br />&middot;Released all 7 characters,with 5 hidden type characters<br />&middot;Added new effects<br />&middot;Added new stages<br />&middot;Improved &quot;Sinple Key Mode&quot;,launching skills with one key is possible<br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="640" height="136"><tbody><tr><td class="picBorder" width="320" height="136" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s1.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td><td class="picBorder" width="320" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s2.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="640" height="136"><tbody><tr><td class="picBorder" width="320" height="136" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s3.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td><td class="picBorder" width="320" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s4.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="640" height="136"><tbody><tr><td class="picBorder" width="320" height="136" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s5.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td><td class="picBorder" width="320" align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6"><img src="http://fwgame.flashwing.net/image/kof/s6.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="200" /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff3300">&gt;&gt;</span><a href="read.php/30.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff3300">Click here to play</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff3300">&gt;&gt;</span><a href="swf/kof-wing1.2_en.rar" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff3300">Download game</span><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a> , <a href="tag.php?tag=flashwing" rel="tag">flashwing</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?30</link>
<title><![CDATA[KOF-Wing v.1.2 full version ]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[KOF-Wing]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:32:53 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?30</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<br /><br />&middot;Released all 7 characters,with 5 hidden type characters<br />&middot;Added new effects<br />&middot;Added new stages<br />&middot;Improved &quot;Sinple Key Mode&quot;,launching skills with one key is possible<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium">==play this game==</span><br /><br/>A media file here. Please view this entry in browsers.<br/><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium">==download this game==</span><br /><a href="http://webbertech.com/flashDemo/kof_v1.2en.swf">http://webbertech.com/flashDemo/kof_v1.2en.swf</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a> , <a href="tag.php?tag=flashwing" rel="tag">flashwing</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?29</link>
<title><![CDATA[KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[Games]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:54:46 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?29</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version published <br /><p><br />-Fix most bugs<br />-Add Orochi as boss<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/02.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="274" /> <br /><br /><br />Click following address to play<br /><br />Link1:<a href="read.php/25.htm" target="_blank">http://tinymce.moxiecode.cp/mce_temp_url</a><br /><br />Link2:<a href="http://www.flash8.net/flash/42148.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.flash8.net/flash/42148.shtml</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff0033">Please help me upload this game to other websites.Thanks!<br /></span><br /><br />=========screen shots==============<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/04.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="274" /></p><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a> , <a href="tag.php?tag=game" rel="tag">game</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?28</link>
<title><![CDATA[ KOF-Wing v.1.0 download version]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[KOF-Wing]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:21:57 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?28</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<br />KOF-Wing v.1.0 download version<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/1204227667_0.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="292" /><br /><br />7 characters and 3 hidden types<br /><br />more skills and effects<br /><br /><br /><a href="swf/KOF-Wing1.0.exe" target="_blank">=Click here to download=</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a> , <a href="tag.php?tag=game" rel="tag">game</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?27</link>
<title><![CDATA[Cruising through San Cristobal de las Guasas]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:09:30 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?27</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<h1><span class="indexPageTitle"><span style="font-size: small">Cruising through San Cristobal de las Guasas</span></span></h1><p>I&rsquo;d been warned about the bus journeys between the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t get an over night bus&rsquo; I was told by several people. I didn&rsquo;t listen and found myself waiting at 10pm in Potchuta for the next rickety bus to San Cristobal de las Casas. I had to meet a friend in Cancun and a night bus was the only option. If only I&rsquo;d left the beach earlier.<br /></p><p><br />It was my first night trip and after one hour I wondered if it would be my last. I was lucky enough to get a window seat, but unlucky enough to be squashed up against it by a Mexican guy who has a particular liking to the greasier Mexican food. He had an endless supply of cheesy flavoured crisps and smelt like he hadn&rsquo;t showered since last years special crisps promotion. I tried to sleep, I had been told many good things about San Cristobal, a lovely village situated in the Valley of Jovel in the state of Chiapas, it would be worth the ride I told myself and dozed off.<br /><br />I was dreaming of being back on the beach with the sun beaming on my face, when I was jogged out of it by a policeman shining a torch in my face.</p><p>&lsquo;You, you, come, come&rsquo; My Mexican friend had disappeared. I followed the policeman off the bus, I was still half asleep but nervous, I wasn&rsquo;t in the mood for hassle.</p><p>&lsquo;You bag, you bag&rsquo; the sturdy copper was pointing in the luggage compartment for me to pull out my bag. I was the only person who had been taken of the bus, the only gringo singled out. I took out my bag and proceeded to open it up following the orders of Senor Sturdy, he searched my bag as a dog sniffed me and my possessions over. Luckily I&rsquo;m not a smoker and when I was given the all clear Senor Sturdy turned into Senor Sorry, apologised and let me back on the bus. Meanwhile my window seat had been nicked by my so called Mexican friend. I settled for an aisle seat and thanked my lucky stars that it was some coppers who pulled us over and not the bandits that I&rsquo;d been warned about. I tried to settle my nerves, next time I&rsquo;d take the day bus.</p><p>I only managed a broken three hours sleep but as we came through the valley and I caught my first glimpse of colonial San Cristobal my tiredness was forgotten, it as preciosa. As I left the bus station I was immediately struck by the colours of the traditional clothes. I had seen the people of Oaxaca but these guys were the pros. I walked up to find a hostel I had been told about near the main Zocalo. It was amazing to see the array of different coloured buildings as I got nearer the centre. I had a quick peak at the Zocalo, it was vibrant. I checked into my desired destination and headed out to explore. </p><p>San Cristobal is well known for its markets and traditional clothing. I had been in the same pair of trousers for six weeks and needed some new ones. I stumbled across a doorway leading to a deep forest of traditional clothes. There was an abundance of stalls to choose from. I was smiled and greeted by every seller, no hassle mind. I didn&rsquo;t feel pressurized, not like in Mexico City. I entered one stall and was greeted by a cute smile by one of the Chiapanecans. I picked out a black poncho which she eagerly took down for me to try on.</p><p>&lsquo;What do you think?&rsquo; I asked her.<br />&lsquo;Si Si&rsquo; she seemed pleased with my choice.<br />&lsquo;Is it my colour?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Si Si muy bonito&rsquo; I wasn&rsquo;t sure if she understood but her smile told me what she thought, or at least how happy she would be if I bought it. She helped me pick out some trousers, it was time to bargain.<br />&lsquo;How much?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Very good price, two hundred pesos&rsquo; <br />&lsquo;Oh&rsquo; my smile dropped as I was sure I could get a better price.<br />&lsquo;Very good price, two hundred&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry that&rsquo;s too much&rsquo; I rubbed my fingers together and shrugged my shoulders.<br />&lsquo;How much?&rsquo; she asked me<br />&lsquo;Sorry no it&rsquo;s ok&rsquo; I took off the clothes and she started to panic.<br />&lsquo;Ok Ok, 170, last price&rsquo; I shrugged my shoulders and walked away.<br />&lsquo;No Gracias, sorry&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;How much? How much?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;60?&rsquo; She looked at me in disbelief, ok it was a little low but I was told you had to bargain. I continued to walk away and thanked her again. I was walking about another stall when she came running after me.<br />&lsquo;Ok Ok, 70, 70 last price&rsquo; I agreed, what a bargain, I was sure she made a decent profit, both of us were happy.<br /><br />That was enough shopping for me, time to see the city. Plaza 31 de Marzo was my first stop. It was early afternoon and buzzing. Local kids who should have been at school were playing in the street. There were several women in traditional clothes scurrying about carrying huge bags of clothes or food to set up in their stalls. Over on the north side of the Plaza was the huge orange and yellow Santo Domingo Cathedral, once an ex-convent. The locals have made the most of the attraction buy setting up various stalls alongside it selling handicrafts and embroideries to catch the eyes of tourist bargain hunters. </p><p>&lsquo;You like tese man?&rsquo; It was a Mexican Rastafarian.<br />&lsquo;Yeah they&rsquo;re pretty cool&rsquo; He had an impressive array of necklaces and bracelets, not like the usual stuff I&rsquo;d seen.<br />&lsquo;This one is made of the skin of the shark&rsquo; He picked out a thick dark bracelet and pulled it to show how tough it was. I was a bit dubious.<br />&lsquo;Yeah, I caught the shark and made tese, look here the teeth&rsquo; I hadn&rsquo;t noticed the necklaces he had with teeth hanging from them. I wasn&rsquo;t sure about his story but the stuff was interesting so I bought one.<br /><br />I made my way up a steep pathway leading to a fantastic view point of the city. It took quite a bit of puff to get to the top as we were already 2000 metres above sea level and the air was sparse, not to mention the strain of the over night bus journey. The effort was worth it. I sat on the wall of the Templo de San Cristobal at the top and looked over the city. I could now see the valley San Cristobal was hidden in, it was amazing. The mountains were clearly protecting the vibrant little city which now looked more like a town. I asked a local woman to take a photo of me overlooking the impressive site. She looked shy at first but then her face beamed as she got the best position possible.</p><p>I was pretty knackered and needed some grub so I went back to the hostel. I was greeted by a couple of local lad&rsquo;s playing cards in reception.</p><p>&lsquo;Hey you man, you play cards?&rsquo; <br />&lsquo;Sure. What ya playing?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Poker, we need one more man&rsquo;. Carlos and Juan were in great spirits. They had a night off from working in the hostel and were planning a large night. After the usual introductions they quizzed me on my drinking abilities since I was English.<br />&lsquo;You English guys can drink like the fishes&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;What makes you say that?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;It&rsquo;s always the English or Irish guys that wake us up when we work nights&rsquo; I laughed and apologised. He had a good point. &lsquo;No problem man, tonight it is our turn, you wanna try some tequila?&rsquo; Carlos got the shot glasses out, I hadn&rsquo;t eaten and tried to explain I needed some food but they insisted. They were both funny guys, always laughing and joking with each other, their English was impressive.</p><p>&lsquo;So what do you think of San Cristobal de las Guasas?&rsquo; Juan quizzed me.<br />&lsquo;What? De las what?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Guasas. This is what we call our city. A &lsquo;guasa&rsquo; is a joke, San Cristobal of the jokes in English&rsquo; they both burst out laughing. They were proud of their new name for the city.</p><p>The poker game went to pot after a few shots after a while Carlos and Juan announced we were off to a Salsa bar. We got in free because they were friends with the owner. We were all pretty tipsy and sat watching the dancers, it was a very relaxed atmosphere and it didn&rsquo;t seem to matter how you danced as long as you did, Carlos and Juan were like celebrities and I was introduced to a load of people. We ended up dancing with a group of local girls who were keen to dance with the new member of the &lsquo;Guasas Crew&rsquo;. I was obliged to take some lessons. The night finished at about 4am as the guys walked me back to the hostel still laughing and making jokes with each other, whilst I was feeling the strain of the lack of sleep and tequila they had forced me to drink, honest. </p><p>I woke up as the door shut. My room mates had left again. My head was pounding but I was still laughing inside. As I left the hostel in search of some food I heard two familiar laughs.</p><p>&lsquo;Hey Barry, how is your head today? I thought English were good drinkers?&rsquo; Carlos was grinning.<br />&lsquo;Hey stop tomando a guasa of Barry&rsquo; replied Juan.<br />&lsquo;Tomando a guasa?&rsquo; I questioned puzzlingly.<br />&lsquo;Taking the mick&rsquo; they were still full of beans. We said our goodbyes and I thanked them for showing me around.<br />&lsquo;No problem man, you are welcome anytime in San Cristobal de las Guasas&rsquo; and they walked off laughing to themselves even though they both faced a 12 hour shift at work. Their original name truly lived up to itself. I stocked up on supplies for my next overnight trip. As we pulled out the station I regretted only spending a day there. There was still a lot to see. At least I&rsquo;d had a laugh with some locals. </p><p>My first over night bus of many was horrible, I was stuck next to a snoring Mexican who ate a lot of cheesy crisps and smelt of body odour. I reckon I got about 3 hours sleep. It was strange being in a city again after so much time in Paradise. It wasn&rsquo;t too hectic though; I bought a ticket to Cancun for the next day and found a hostel just up from the main square. The hostel was great, it was clean, big, good showers, I shared a room with three others who I failed to meet. There was a lounge area to watch TV and meet other people. I was in the mood to explore so I chucked my laundry in and took to the streets. I found my self haggling with a woman over a black and white Mexican poncho that took my fancy; I got a bargain in the end along with some white trousers. I had been living in the same pair for 6 weeks and they were looking a bit worn already. Unfortunately the big orange and yellowy Templo de San Domingo in Plaza de la Iglesia was shut, but there was a type of hip hop band playing in the square, quite rare for a Thursday afternoon I thought. There were an abundance of traditionally dressed women in the square either selling things or moving frantically to and fro talking each other. The colours were so bright and cheery. I stumbled on a atrseanian market and bought an amber bracelet for Karen and another braclet for me, I had about 5 on my wrist from the various places I had been. I was starting to feel like a proper traveller. I found an excellent view of the city from the top of a hill, it was pretty easy to see and there was a church at the top called Templo de San Cristobal, definitely worth the walk. I was starting to regret staying on the beach for so long, there were lots of museums to see and trips to do outside of the city but I only had one night, maybe I wouldn&rsquo;t spend so much time on a beach in the future. Back at the hostel I found my self involved in a card game with some local chaps who had a night off.</p><p>&lsquo;You want to drink with us tonight?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Yes but I don&rsquo;t drink&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;But you are English right? All English drink don&rsquo;t they?&rsquo;<br />&lsquo;Of course we do I was joking&rsquo; I didn&rsquo;t have to be on the bus until 2pm the next day so got stuck into a few beers and some local poison water which they assured me would give me strength in my cock.</p><p>We continued to play cards when more people turned up to sit in the lounge, an Irish girl got out her guitar and started playing some beatles and oasis tracks and everyone started to sing along, I was getting pretty hamered and wanted to take to the streets and check out what was what. I was in the mood for a few beers because this would be my last chance on my own for a while to let off some stream. I went out with two local Mexican s lads and we went straight to a club because it was about 11pm, the club was just starting to kick off, we did a few tequila shots and were generally messing around. Then a live band started and everyone started salsa dancing, it was pretty mental. I remember dancing in a groups of girls and they were all laughing at me because I took one of my shoes off and danced round it. The band were awesome, not a word I usually use but it just seems right, a bit cheesey but good. We ended up walking home at 4am, well two of us anyone, one of the boys had got lucky after my magic dancing round the shoe trick. </p><p>I woke up late as expected, had a quick shower, grabbed my laundry and oacked and then shot off, I didn&rsquo;t see the lads again and doubt I ever will. I had a spagehiti dish in the restaurant over the road with a banana milkshake, grabbed some supplies for the bus and it was off to Cancun, a twenty hour bus ride, quality.<br /><br />By Barry O'Leary</p><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=travel" rel="tag">travel</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?25</link>
<title><![CDATA[ KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[KOF-Wing]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:45:48 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?25</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<br />KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/03.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="274" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff0033">Please help me upload this game to other websites.Thanks!<br /><br /><span style="color: #000000">Click the following area to play </span><br /></span><br /><br/>A media file here. Please view this entry in browsers.<br/><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a> , <a href="tag.php?tag=game" rel="tag">game</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?24</link>
<title><![CDATA[KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version published]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:08:06 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?24</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	<br />KOF-Wing v.1.0 online version published <br /><p><br />-Fix most bugs<br />-Add Orochi as boss<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/02.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="274" /> <br /><br /><br />Click&nbsp;following address to play<br /><br />Link1:<a href="read.php/25.htm" target="_blank">http://tinymce.moxiecode.cp/mce_temp_url</a><br /><br />Link2:<a href="http://www.flash8.net/flash/42148.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.flash8.net/flash/42148.shtml</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff0033">Please help me upload this game to other websites.Thanks!<br /></span><br /><br />=========screen shots==============<br /><br /><img src="attachment/200802/04.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="274" /><br /><br /></p><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=kof" rel="tag">kof</a>
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<link>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?23</link>
<title><![CDATA[Laos: Two-Wheeled Adventures]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:17:13 +0000</pubDate> 
<guid>http://en.flashwing.net/read.php?23</guid> 
<description>
<![CDATA[ 
	Laos: Two-Wheeled Adventures<br />By Feann Torr - 20/June/2007<br /><br />Motorcycling through Laos<br /><br />Some of trails we rode took us deep into the jungle<br /><br />Even the boring bits were pretty amazing<br /><br />The Honda XR 250 Baja bikes aren't best<br />in class, but they served us well on our ride<br /><br /><br />Exploring Laos on two-wheels is one of<br />the best ways to get a feel for the place<br /><br />Many of the houses near rivers are built<br />on stilts because of the flooding potential<br /><br />We took a days break to explore the Nam Song river<br /><br />One of the refurbished aircraft hangers<br />is a reminder of the Air America days<br /><br />This local lad gave our bikes the thumbs up<br /><br />Travelling through Laos on two-wheels is<br />simultaneously enlightening and rewarding<br /><br />If you're a motorcyclist in Australia, you may be used to people sometimes telling you how crazy you are. I've been told that I have a death wish because I ride a bike, that drivers dislike it when motorbikes cut through traffic or park on the path. <br /><br />I've even heard someone utter that bikes intentionally lurk in blind spots to confuse drivers. Yep, that's completely logical.<br /><br />Indeed, I've heard quite a few things in my time, but the reaction from my favourite anti-motorcyclist colleagues when I told them I'd be riding trail bikes in Laos was priceless. <br /><br />&quot;Isn't that a communist country?&quot; one said. Yeah, it is.<br /><br />&quot;You'll get shot by bandits, you're mad if you go,&quot; another decried. That's okay, I've got kevlar body armour.<br /><br />&quot;The Golden Triangle! You'll be abducted by drug cartels and sold as sex slaves, or put to work in the drug factories,&quot; exclaimed a different colleague in earnest. Okay, sure, and the plane might crash and I'll burn to death at an altitude of 30,000 feet as well, or perhaps I'd stub my foot and get hit by a bus.<br /><br />But you know what? We went, and we're back. Alive. The only injuries to speak of were superficial cuts and bruises when we came off the bikes at tame speeds. There were no bandits, there were no Golden Triangle drug squads, and we only saw one soldier with AK47 rifle.<br /><br />In fact most of the local Military officials were quite pleasant and even keen to help us find our destinations. As the classic Public Enemy song suggests, don't believe the hype.<br /><br />Put simply, Laos is an incredible country. This was my first time there, and I can tell you it won't be my last. Not only is the land-locked nation's natural beauty arresting, but the people too were some of the friendliest folk I've ever come across.<br /><br />Bandits? Nope, we didn't see any, but we were offered plenty of helpful advice along the way. Without such help we would have been lost numerous times, GPS co-ordinates or not.<br /><br />Anyway, the trip started after an eight hour flight from Melbourne to Singapore. There were three of us all told, one rider from England, one rider from Singapore and yours truly from Australia.<br /><br />The next day we jumped on a budget flight to Udon Thani in northern Thailand, because as it turns out it was far more cost effective to fly to Thailand, then catch the bus across the border (over the Australian-built Friendship Bridge) to Vientiane in Laos, than to fly directly into the country.<br /><br />We got more passport stamps too.<br /><br />Accommodation was very well priced in Laos, and even when we stayed in an upmarket hotel with a pool the most we paid was $US45 per night for three blokes ($15 each), and every night we ate good quality meals for about $2 each.<br /><br />The local currency is Laotian Kip, but American dollars are generally accepted in most places and by most people (but sometime you pay a slight premium). <br /><br />Laos is located in South East Asia and is an bordered by Vietnam to the east, China and Burma to the north, Thailand to the west, and Cambodia to the south.<br /><br />The country has a population of roughly 6.5 million and the landscape is mostly plateaus and rugged mountains, which ensures a large contingent of avid rock climbers in the region. Bhuddism is the major religion in Laos, and as we discovered shortly after picking up our Honda XR 250 Baja dirt bikes, infrastructure in Laos is fairly basic.<br /><br />There is no railroad system, telecommunications are fairly limited (but improving rapidly), and even the road system is relatively primitive. <br /><br />The perfect place for a mid-year getaway!<br /><br />After we picked up our bikes in Vientiane, which we rented for $US18 per day, we headed north out of the provincial city to our destination about 250 kilometres away, a place called Vang Vieng.<br /><br />Leaving the legendary Mekong river behind us, along with the relative hustle bustle of the small city of Vientiane, we decided to do without a guide and find our way.<br /><br />In hindsight it may have been quicker to get a guide - at least as far as Vang Vieng - but at the end of the day it was refreshing to just set out on a journey with some pals.<br /><br />The 2002 model Honda Bajas we rode had an average of about 40,000km on the clocks and though they weren't brimming with power (output is rated at 20kW (28hp) @ 8000rpm), the single-cylinder 4-valve bikes nevertheless served us well. <br /><br />The brakes were up to the task (baggage was one backpack per person), and the suspension on the XR 250s was in pretty good nick. For rental bikes, they weren't too shabby, and even managed to get us through a few decent river crossings.<br /><br />After a few hours in the saddle, it became clear that rice growing is one of the more common agricultural endeavours in the south-east Asian country, with rice paddy after ride paddy flying past us as a blur of green and brown. As it turns out, revenue from rice makes up half of the Laotian GDP, and totals 80% of the nations employment.<br /><br />The backdrop to the endless ride paddies that cover the Laotian lowlands is absolutely stunning, a mixture of rugged jungle-covered mountains, and limestone plateaus that jut vertically from the ground. The highest point in Laos is Phou Bia, at 2,817 metres above sea level.<br /><br />After a few hours riding on the right hand side of road (our directions were simple - we followed the compass north) it became clear that driving etiquette in Laos is very different from Australia.<br /><br />Overtaking can be dicey at the best of times, and on more than one occasion I was overtaken while I was overtaking another vehicle. Three abreast? Not an ideal situation with large trucks headed towards you...<br /><br />Generally speaking though, the drivers in Laos are pretty good and because there's a large majority of scooters and bikes on the road people are used to checking their blind spots for two-wheeled vehicles.<br /><br />While the majority of the trip north was on straight sealed roads, there were a few twisty sections that wound their way through mountain passes, and would have made for brilliant riding were it not for the pot holes that peppered the apex of half the corners.<br /><br />Some six hours after leaving Vientiane we arrived in Vang Vieng, which we wouldn't have found if it wasn't for the helpful directions of the locals. We covered about 250km and the reason it took so long was two-fold: the bikes didn't go much faster than 105km/h, and we stopped regularly for photos/snakes/bovine crossings.<br /><br />The weather took its toll on us as well, particularly wearing heavy kevlar-padded motorbike jackets. We sweated profusely in the intense heat (so much for the monsoon season...) and had to frequently take on water to avoid dehydration. <br /><br />Though it didn't rain once during our journey, the average temperature was about 36&deg; on most days, and the heat was fairly dry.<br /><br />The sun had set by the time we got to Vang Vieng, whose tourist population was almost exclusively young European backpackers. I think we saw one other Aussie guy there, and the reward at the end of a day in the saddle was a relaxing swim in the Nam Song river with the locals.<br /><br />We woke the next day surrounded by karst terrain - essentially limestone or dolostone plateaus that rise vertically from the ground. We decided we'd cross the river and try and wend our way to the top of one of the plateaus.<br /><br />We rode through some of the most amazing countryside, cruising through tiny villages whose dwellings were built mainly from palm trees with the odd tiled roof, and whose herds of cows, flocks of chickens and numerous goats and pigs roamed free. There were makeshift fences here and there, but for the most part the livestock grazed wherever they wanted.<br /><br />As we made our way closer to the base of one of the huge vertical rock pillars, we soon realised that the only way to get to the top would be either by rock climbing, or by helicopter. We had neither the skill nor the equipment to climb, and the helicopter option was intriguing, but ultimately moot. We were in the middle of nowhere.<br /><br />Instead we went for another swim.<br /><br />After another day in the saddle, we headed back to Vang Vieng and came across an unused airfield not far from town. Originally called Lima site 6, the air strip was used by Air America, which is said to have been a CIA-run operation to supply and support regimes friendly to the US in the South East Asian region.<br /><br />Nowadays the runway is home to the odd truck and edged by a couple of local market stalls, yet the huge runway is still an eerily desolate reminder of the conflicts that besieged the region in the 60s and 70s.<br /><br />Laos also holds the tragic honour of being the most bombed country in history. <br /><br />Most of the restaurants in Vang Vieng will feed you for between $1 and $3 and the local beer is surprisingly good for 80c per bottle. A few of the local eateries had large screen TVs to attract westerners, showing movies at dinner time like 300 and Spider-Man 3. As well as pizza, steak and other western cuisine that is offered, the local Laotian food was pretty tasty, and reminded me of a mixture between Malaysian and Vietnamese food, with a slightly more hearty taste.<br /><br />Beyond the major arterials in Laos, sealed roads don't really exist, and apart from the odd pebbled river beds we explored, the next few days were spent on dirt roads. <br /><br />We had a few river crossings in our travels, and later in the trip took a day off from riding the bikes (after a few choice stacks) to canoe down the Nam Song river, which provided an even more stunning view of the mountainous jungle-covered scenery.<br /><br />We used Vang Vieng as our base and explored the surrounding regions with the trusty XR Baja bikes, which is an experience I'll never forget. The local villagers we came across, while incredibly poor and without the modern facilities we take for granted in Australia, were some of the happiest people I've ever seen.<br /><br />Everyone was smiling and despite the intense heat of the sun the locals seemed at ease in accepting a trio of foreign strangers and taking the time to say hello.<br /><br />Our odd faces and skin tones mesmerised the ankle biters in most villages and though our communication was haphazard at best, it wasn't difficult to see why the locals were so happy. It's a quiet place out in the countryside, but the people have everything they need: food, water and shelter. <br /><br />Forgetting about mortgages, insurance, superannuation, tax, bills, the price of petrol, and all the other complexities that blanket our thoughts and bombard us everyday, it was refreshing to have those shackles lifted and feel truly in awe of the world around us.<br /><br />The journey back from Vang Viene to Vientiane where we dropped off the bikes was far more relaxed because we were on sealed roads, and before long we had crossed the Friendship Bridge to northern Thailand and were winging our way back to Singapore. <br /><br />Back to civilisation...<br /><br />If you ever need a short break from the everyday, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out Laos. It's a stunning place to visit and if you're feeling adventurous grab a dirt bike while your at it. The standard scooters cost about $US5 per day to rent, which compares well with the Honda trail bikes we rented at $US18 per day, but having decent suspension and off-road tyres means you can really get off the beaten track.<br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=travel" rel="tag">travel</a>
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<title><![CDATA[Travel Notes on Hawaii]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:14:39 +0000</pubDate> 
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	Travel Notes on Hawaii<br /><br />First of all, I would like to thank my Chinese readers who congratulated me with Chinese New Year. She-she !!!(thank you in Chinese)<br /><br />Second, I know that my readers range from budget travelers to these who are not really concerned about saving few (or few hundred) bucks. I love you all, especially those who send me letters. But I cannot write different version of my TN for different audiences. So those who are not budget travelers please skip the next paragraph. <br /><br /><br />As you may remember, my previous trip to Jamaica cost $9 each way. It was advertised like this by Spirit airline. Actually I paid $118. $100 more was paid for different airports taxes. It was lot of airline bargains advertised recently. <br /><br />United Airlines advertised $117 round trip from Atlanta to Honolulu. This low price was posted on United's website for a short time. My daughter discovered this and quickly bought the ticket for me. So, I went to Honolulu (Hawaii) for short 5.5 days trip from Jan 18 to Jan 24. It would be too hectic to go to the other Hawaiian islands from Oahu, where Honolulu airport is located. So I stayed all the time in Oahu. However 5.5 days is a little bit too long for Oahu. Oahu is the most developed and least interesting of four Hawaiian islands. Also most of the good places for diving and snorkeling on Oahu, located on North shore, are closed in winter due to the rough sea. <br /><br />However I made several interesting findings which I would like to share with you, my readers. A week before the departure I called to Oahu, Hawaii and found that virtually all hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are taken. This is in-spite of high, usually triple digit, price for one night stay. When I came to Honolulu, I found that there are several decent hostels there charging $20 per night. And these hostels usually have some empty space. I guess the people who are going to Hawaii anticipate paying high price and even don't look for cheap accommodations. So I stayed in pretty nice, very clean hostel near the University, as usually, Lonely Planet recommended. My rented car was parked 30 ft. from my bed, which was quite convenient. <br /><br />Famous Waikiki is solely devoted to dining and shopping. But what should I do there if I already have everything I need for life inside my little backpack and my main objective of visiting Hawaii was to lose some weight. <br /><br />However, I found two places on Oahu, which were of interest to me: Hanauma Bay and Kaena Point. <br /><br />Hanauma Bay, which use to be one of the wonders of the world is destroyed. All corals inside the lagoon (behind the barrier reef) are dead. The management, eager to serve tourists, brought wrong sand to the beach, a too fine one. And this sand choked the corals. In-spite all corals being dead, the lagoon is full of fish. You swim like in aquarium of fish soup. You may observe from very short distance (few inches) the private life of fish and it is very interesting. There is much less fish outside the protective barrier reef, which is difficult to explain. Do fish like human company?<br /><br />Kaena point at the NW corner of Oahu Island is the only place on the island periphery which doesn't have a road. You can reach it only by foot or on bike. It is a very picturesque place with huge waves crashing on the rocky shore. I spent two days on Kaena and two days in Hanauma bay. <br /><br />Honolulu also has nice China town with interesting sea food market, where I made picture which may puzzle you. Also there is a very good small aquarium at Waikiki. See pictures in attachments<br /><br/>Tags - <a href="tag.php?tag=travel" rel="tag">travel</a>
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<title><![CDATA[Algonquin Odyssey]]></title> 
<author>flashwing &lt;admin@yourname.com&gt;</author>
<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:13:09 +0000</pubDate> 
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	<div id="zoomtext" class="textbox-content">Algonquin Odyssey<br />By Steven Jarvis So it was about to happen, we were about to do what our mothers had warned us about. We were about to hitchhike. The Idea was never originally planned but eating lobster in Halifax and nights on the town in Montreal can eat away at your wallet. <br /><br /><br />On the edge of town in Huntsville two silly backpackers were about to hitchhike for the first time into Algonquin provincial park for a canoe trip. I heard a car coming so I extended my arm out in a 90 degree angle to confirm to the drivers that I did indeed want a ride. The area my friend and I were in was a real touristy place and we were told we didn?t have a prayer. The travel gods were good to us that day, and we got picked up by a cute girl in about 30 minutes. Good thing I didn?t wear my usual back and white striped jump suit with the complimenting ball and chain to go with it. We talked as much as we could to fill any silence gaps to avoid awkward moments. We didn't talk about anything related to murders at all, because this girl might deduce that we were planning on killing her. We got dropped off in the entrance of this 765,345 hectare park. However we didn't realize it was another 20 kilometers to the next campground and it was already 9:00 pm. We finally arrived to the campground, far too late. There was however an upside though. I will never forget the star filled sky. It was the first time us city boys have been out this far in the bush The next morning we got up only to hike another 6 km to the shack where you rent a canoe. Got the canoe, got some food and took off for a 3 day portage trip. The first day we were full of optimism, and just cruising through the lakes, rivers and creeks. When we got to our campsite we soon realized how unprepared we were, we didn?t realize that we might need more than a pack of pasta and a bag of trail mix and beef jerky. The night was chilly and crisp. We managed to get a fire going with only flint. I burnt my lonely planet travel guide for warmth. The second day was hell (or as I now say ?It was Algonquin park?), 12 hours of straight canoeing on an empty stomach. If that wasn't enough, I saw the last thing I wanted to see. Dark, heavy, distant clouds, now becoming dark, heavy and not so distant clouds providing startling lightning. Something told me that being in the middle of a lake during an approaching thunderstorm wasn?t a wise idea. It didn't just rained, it poured. Our heavy backpacks got twice as heavy. Had I known my backpack was a sponge, I would have reconsidered the purchase. When we got in to our next campsite, we couldn't start a fire in the pool of water which was once considered a fireplace. We slept in our somewhat leak proof tent which we bought for ridiculously cheap. Waking up in the middle night feeling soaked and not being able to see your hand in front of your face Just about did it for me. That's alright I said to myself, ?how much longer could it possible rain?? After the second night I've decided we went too far off the beaten path. I was beginning to like the beaten path. Maybe there's a reason why that particular path is beaten. Maybe the people who beat this path know something we don't. We got into the rental place and thankfully they also had a store and a restaurant. The best burger in the world was not what I previously thought. It's at the portage restaurant in Algonquin Park. And if you want to experience it. You?ll have to eat only trail mix and beef jerk for 48 hours first. Back on the road with the arm extended 90 degrees. I smelled like a foot, looked like garbage and scared the cars away. Finally a man in a UPS truck felt sorry for us enough to drive us back into town and people ask us ?How did your trip go?? we can say ?Just fine. <br /></div>
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