!7: Geneva Cheap Hotel Discounted: December 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Vietnam is a country in love with the motorcycle. It is said that there is one motorcycle for every five people in the country; they certainly outnumber cars by far, which makes Vietnam an ideal country to explore by motorcycle.

From the highlands of the north, down the Ho Chi Minh trail to the south central areas, along the coastal roads and on to the deep south and the Mekong Delta, there is nowhere cannot be reached. And the only traffic you are likely to encounter in most places will be the odd water buffalo cart.

In the northwest lie mystical mountains, home to the hill tribes who were virtually unknown to the average Vietnamese until the French occupation forcibly opened the area, revealing the lives of the Thai, Muong, Dao, Lu, Khang, H'mong and Giay ethnic minorities for the first time. The mountainous landscape makes access to this area difficult in any other way than by motorcycle, so it is an ideal destination, where the rider can experience quiet roads leading up the mountains to meet the local people and even share a meal and overnight in their homes.

For those with time, the classic motorcycle journey is to follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail all the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). This trip would take up to three weeks and take in most of Vietnam's most important sights.

Start with a tour of the streets of Hanoi with its old streets and colonial architecture. Leaving Hanoi, head towards Mai Chau, home of the White Thai minority, then turn south to join the Ho Chi Minh Trail. During the Vietnam War, this collection of rough paths and jungle footways allowed the Vietcong to penetrate deep into South Vietnam. Today it is a highway, but by motorcycle you can easily make detours to visit places of interest nearby such as Phong Nha National Park on the border with Laos.

Crossing the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), established in April 1954 as a result of the Geneva Conference ending the war between the Viet Minh and the French, effectively cutting Vietnam into two, it is worth heading towards the sea to the east, passing famous battle sites, and visiting Hue, the ancient capital of pre-colonial Vietnam.

From there take a day or two to head towards Da Nang, site of China Beach, where US marines first landed in Indochina. After enjoying the beautiful white sand beaches, head off to the old town of Hoi An. This is a wonderfully preserved middle ages town, showing the best of Vietnamese architecture.

From there, pass through Da Lat, the city of "eternal spring", taking time to visit its famous pagodas and the residence of Bao Dai, Vietnam's last emperor.

A couple of days of leisurely riding will bring you to the bustle and chaos which is Ho Chi Minh City.

If that has whetted you appetite for more, continue on south-west to the tip of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. In Ben Tre, you can visit some of Vietnam's best floating markets, while An Giang has some of the most famous temples in Vietnam. The area whole is full of interest.

These are only some suggestions. Motorcycling in Vietnam is certainly the easiest way to see the most and gives every rider great freedom of movement.

Vietnam Motorbike Tour Package:
http://www.indochinaodysseytours.com/tours-package/tour-IOT-0478-Vietnam.html

Vietnam by Motorcycle

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Bvlgari Fashions

!±8± Bvlgari Fashions

Bvlgari is a name that you can quickly conclude that the spelling is wrong. But once you hear it pronounced as Bulgari and see what the logo looks like, you can guess that it is a fashion brand in the luxury category. It is one of those brands have been around for decades and still competes with other luxury goods retailers today. Knowing a bit more about the fashion label can give you an idea on their strengths as well as their direction as more people continue to buy expensive accessories.

History

The "V" in Bvlgari is actually the Latin letter for "U" so it is really read as Bulgari. This was named after the founder's Italian last name who is Sotirios Voulgaris. His two sons helped him open up a jewelry store in via dei Condotti back in 1905 and were immediately serving the high class and famous people. It was only until the 1970s where the Bvlgari fashion label started to make their way to US soil in New York City as well as other key locations like Paris and Geneva. Control of the business eventually transitioned to Sotirious' grandsons and other relatives where the brand started to branch out to perfumes and properties. The name even became bigger when Marriott International decided to form a joint venture with Bulgari Spa. Then big time luxury name LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton S.A. struck an all-share deal so the Bulgari family gets 3% of the conglomerate.

Product Ranges Covered

Bvlgari is still recognized as its own brand where jewelry is still the main focus. The brand offers a wide variety of engagement and wedding rings along with other elegant rings, necklaces, and pendants. Earrings, cufflinks, bracelets, and chains are also included so it is possible to have a full complete assortment of Bvlgari jewelry.

Because watches are often treated as jewelry as well, Bvlgari offers plenty of Italian designs. It manages to combine these designs with traditional Swiss flairs to separate their watches from other luxury brands.

No fashion brand is complete without its bag, belt, and wallet offerings where they make use of fine leathers to craft some quality goods. They even manage to cover other items that many luxury goods retailers leave out such as money clips, key holders, ties, and writing instruments. Even some luxury sunglasses items are part of today's Bvlgari catalog.

Bvlgari still provides perfumes and fragrances for both men and women. Not only does Bvlgari want to make people smell good and unique but they also want to help people look more beautiful through the skincare products that they offer. Finally, Bvlgari has a separate website for the hotels and resorts that are found in Bali, Milan, and Tokyo.

Interesting Facts

Bvlgari is heavily active in philanthropy since 2009. They continue to raise millions of Euros to support the education programs by Save the Children. They have specially made rings to further back up the cause. A majority of the people that work in Bvlgari offices are also women.