The News Review:

- 36 Hours in Luang Prabang Laos
- No pasta please we’re Indian
- – DAWN – RSS Feeds; May 18 2008

36 Hours in Luang Prabang Laos
New York Times – May 18, 2008
Rooms are large and luxe with private balconies and with local dark woods contrasting with cotton bedding. Rates are $274 (off season) to $574 (for a suite during the season). A good option in town is the intimate Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel (Chao Fa Ngum Road; 856-71-254-609;.

No pasta please we’re Indian
Times of India – May 18, 2008
“Indian tourists lack basic hygiene and don’t respect the culture of the countrythey visit. In spite of giving them clear instructions they do whatever theyfeel like” says Puneet Sehgal Yatra. com’s senior manager on the frustration ofhaving to deal with Indian women turning up in saris for parasailing in Thailandor men gracing formal dinners on cruises in nightsuits andchappals. Perhaps to feel more at home the Indian tourist alsospits litters train coaches with food and sticks gum on the trains and stationsof Europe’s rail networks. “All this gets quite embarrassing sometimes” saysSehgal who believes that an astounding 40 percent of Indian tourists behave inthis way. “In a sense we’re supposed to be brand ambassadors for our country butIndians don’t really set the greatest examples whiletravelling. Sehgal’s colleague Arpit Seth avers that Indians createproblems even while travelling within the country… “People expect five-starservice for 500-rupee rooms” he says. “In Goa I’ve seen groups who wipe theirhands on the sand and then eat without washing. nce a group of men turned upto swim in the dark after the hotel pool was closed?in their underwear. Adds Jitesh K P senior executive Cleartrip. com “We get a lot sarcastic mailsfrom customers complaining about everything from not getting 24×7 water supplyto the location of the hotel. nce we even got a mail from a man who cribbedthat his hotel room was not built according to Vaastu Shastra. Foreign touristsare calmer and more understanding than Indians.

- DAWN – RSS Feeds; May 18 2008
Pakistan Dawn – May 18, 2008
Bush said they spoke about a “common desire to protect ourselves and others from those who would do harm” and he thanked Gilani for his steadfast support. Asked whether the Damadola missile strike had been discussed Gilani said “yes” while Bush did not comment. Gilani standing next to Bush outside his hotel villa said terrorism and extremism were “the biggest threat to the world” and pledged that his government was committed to fighting it. Bush and Gilani said they also discussed high food prices energy issues and economic cooperation. (First Posted @ 11:20 PST; Updated @ 12:30 PST)… The first blast hit a busy night market in Narathiwat province on Saturday evening injuring nine diners local police said. A few hours later a second bomb exploded in a car park near a police station in neighbouring Pattani province killing one policeman instantly and injuring five of his colleagues. (Posted @ 11:30 PST).

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