Travel Tips - August 2006

Thursday August 31, 2006

USA - CAMBODIA - THAILAND

Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel Casino - New York City's Essex House - Angkor Wat - Rain season - INTERNET THEFT - Cambodia's 1st. COMPUTER VIRUS on the loose with no cure - Air Asia & Malaysia Airlines Deals - Panthip Plaza Bangkok for computers

RAIN SEASON BE PREPARED

If you are traveling to Angkor Wat this time of the year be prepared. It is rain season in Southeast Asia and will continue through October/November.

If you plan to spend your time walking outside proper attire to deal with the weather is wise. Dealing with a cold while trying to take in the sites is no fun.

As rain season progresses the length of time a day the rain falls increases. In July it rained late in the day for about one hour (4 to 5pm). Recently the hours have increased to all day rains or mid day to early evening.

Three days is recommended to adequately see the Angkor Wat Temples. Some recommend four days. A one-day entrance fee cost $20 US. A three-day fee is $40 US and a seven-day entrance fee is $60.

BEWARE - COMPUTER VIRUS SPREADING IN CAMBODIA

A Build Bright University college student in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is responsible for Cambodia's first homegrown computer virus said a report in the Cambodia Daily.

It is spreading throughout the country. Most importantly there is no cure.

The virus shut down the university's system and the countries largest TV station CTN had their programs destroyed.

The proud student named the virus after the university thus the name BBU from the initials of the school.

The school rector asked the student to thumbprint an agreement that the student would not to release the virus into the public domain.

The student admitted that he created another virus that is more dangerous that he has yet to release. His plan is to study all he can about computers so he can become a topflight computer hacker. He feels that creating viruses is fantastic.

GO FIGURE BUT BEWARE….

Cambodia news information is available at: www.cambodiadaily.com

COMPUTER THEFT

When using a public computer at an Internet shop BEWARE. We've noticed an increased amount of Spam and odd computer behaviors. When we checked Internet options virtually every computer was set to save passwords and forms. We found one of ours.

Some Internet shops also have hidden files hidden files where downloaded pictures are stored. They also save anything scanned or downloaded Acrobat Reader documents. Many have back rooms.

Spy ware is abundant. After using a computer for a while and strange icons appeared and the service was not functioning properly we saw a message stating someone was on line. All of our icons were changed. In the hidden icons there was INSTANT MESSAGING TURNED ON.

When the shop owners or managers are questioned about why the answer is OHH… MY CUSTOMERS CAN'T REMEMBER or they didn't know about it because customers put information into the machines.

When you bring up the point that information can be written down and if someone wants to save something they can put it on their flash drive or a floppy disk. It's amazing how the shop owner didn't think of that.

When it was pointed out that it is their business and their responsibility to take care of their computers they seem not to understand…. Intentionally or not.

Internet shop staffs spend a lot of time listening to music or looking at or downloading pornography. When you point out to the shop owner that viruses and spy ware can be hidden in those types of files they know but permit it.

When it is pointed out that they pay the employees to do a job and is that job to look at sex site and listen to music? They seem stunned.

The point of taking responsibility and having integrity for the safety of the public's documents such as financials and passwords relating to the business seems to be all news to them.

FULL STORY COMING IN CONSUMER REPORTS

IN SYNC BAND @ SOKHA ANGKOR HOTEL

The Filipino band In Sync is appearing at the Angkor Sokha Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. If you visit the Angkor Temples and enjoy great music they are a must see and listen.

DR. BEAT IN SIEM REAP

Dr Beat Richner the man that built three hospitals to provide free health care for children is also a musician.

Richner performs every Saturday night at 7:15 in the concert hall of the Jayavarman Hospital in Siem Siem Reap.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES DEAL

Malaysia Airlines has a Super Saver deal for $93.

The round trip fares are available from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Go to: www.malaysiaairlines.com

ATM MACHINES NOW AVAILABLE IN CAMBODIA

In the summer of 2005 ANZ Bank began business in Cambodia. They have provided what many travelers need most…. ATM machines.

ATM's are located in several areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at the Star Mart store on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

THAILAND'S ELITE CARD

For $25,000 Thailand offers an Elite Card membership…. if you qualify.

Some membership privileges include: airport transfers to your hotel, free or discounted green fees for those that play golf and the entitlement of being able to purchase 10 rai of land. Full story coming....

Flamingo Hotel Casino Las Vegas

The famous Flamingo Las Vegas hotel has commenced an extensive room renovation that offers elevated accommodations with modern decor and technologically advanced amenities.

The overall guest experience will be enhanced through this hip take on classic Flamingo style, with sleek new designs that feature sophisticated entertainment systems and MP3 player docking stations.

Major refurbishment of 54 rooms/suites is underway, with completion of a total of 636 rooms and suites slated for February 2007.

Reservations for the new accommodations will be available beginning September 2006, online at flamingolasvegas.com.

The Flamingo room renovation announcement follows just two weeks after the debut of international recording star Toni Braxton at the center-Strip resort. FULL STORY

Essex House In New York City

In preparation for the US Open, No. 2-in the ATP rankings in the world, Rafael Nadal and the No. 4-in the ATP rankings and winner of the last edition of the Masters Cup, David Nalbandian displayed some friendly "rivalry" in the hotel's lobby.

Over the past few years, Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company, has been known for many of their "over-the-top" sporting stunts at the Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel.

In 2004, professional golfer Tiger Woods hit golf balls off the Burj's helipad and just last year, professional tennis players Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played an unranked game on the helipad.

"We are honored that Rafael and David visited our hotel for a little pre-game fun and wish them the best of luck in the tournament," said Scott Dawson, General Manager, Jumeirah Essex House. FULL STORY

AIR ASIA DEALS

Air Asia is offers one-way tickets from Phnom Penh to Bangkok at a low price. Most recent deal was $20. They must be booked in advance on line and be paid by credit card. It is wise to check the surcharges and fees they can be excessive. Go to: www.airasia.com

INTERNET THEFT WARRANTS CAUTION

TIP… Internet theft is rampant in the region. The work you are doing at many of the Internet cafes can be accessed from within or outside the shop from another computer.

Also many of the shops have the computers set to remember passwords and save forms and downloads.

In some shops we have found that legal documents that were scanned were saved in files that remain in the system for a week or more.

Use the Fire Fox browser whenever possible.

After receiving too many requests from business to change passwords we decided to look at how the computers are set at Internet shops. In doing so we found that there was too much to think about and self-protection was in order.

When using an Internet shop computer it is wise to go TOOLS on the computers tool bar and click on INTERNET OPTIONS.

From there in general information click on open to BLANK PAGE.

Delete links to other sites as well as the history.

Go to PRIVACY and set remember history to 0 days. Also delete remember history, clear the cache, save NO passwords.

Make sure the computer will not SAVE OR REMEMBER PASSWORDS or COPY FORMS.

Close and then click REFRESH THREE TIMES then open the browser.

Check history. If there is a history something is wrong.

Repeat the process or change computers.

After you finish your work repeat the process to make sure the person that uses the computer after you can't track your information and go to the sites you've visited.

Also some employees have been seen going to a computer after a customer has left the shop and clicked on and went to every website the customer visited.

We have pointed out to some shops the copying of passwords and forms in their computers in Internet Options. Some were very squeamish and others were attentive and tried to correct the problem. In some cases customers input the spy devices.

Some shops have set their computers so that what they have set can't be changed. You then have the option to leave and go to another shop where you can repeat the process and have a clean computer to use. Some shops have a system that whatever they scan will be saved to a file.

This may not solve all of the problems but it's a start. More suggestions are welcomed.

PANTIP PLAZA

Bangkok's Pantip Plaza on Petchaburi Road is well known for their great deals on computers and software. Digital cameras are also available.

It is located in the heart of one of Bangkok's busiest shopping areas that include being in the vicinity of the World Trade, Big C MBK and Siam Square shopping centers.

For upscale shopping there is Graysorn Plaza and Siam Paragon shopping centers.

You can spend an entire day and not have enough time to visit all of these locations.

All of these sites lay between Phlonchit/Sukhumvit Road (south) and Petchaburi (north)

Also between Ratchadamri Road (east) and Phaya Thai Road (west).

The area is easily accessed via the sky train or canal boat.

Street traffic is dreadful making it difficult to access the area.

If traveling in a vehicle is your preference try to arrive before noon but after the morning traffic of residents going to work.

When using the Skytrain exit at the Siam or Phloen Chit stations.

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