Welcome back to the INM Asia Guides Travel Newsletter!  Second, we just greeted our 900.000th visitor and are now looking forward to achieving 1.000.000 visitors soon!

Now, let`s go an with our News from Asia with interesting headlines from Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong, Additions to our Site, and new Hotels of the Month!

News from Asia

Bali & Indonesia

Government to be stricter against Separatism 

05.12.2000 Frustrated with the results of a more tolerant approach to the separatist movements in Aceh and Irian Jaya, the government warned on Wednesday it would adopt sterner measures to restore order in both ends of the archipelago. Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said at a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission I for foreign affairs, defense and security herethat he had received calls from many quarters, including religious leaders,suggesting that the government should be tougher on separatist elements. 

"The government will no longer apply the persuasive approach in handling mounting separatist activities in the two provinces because independence movements are in fact a subversion," Mahfud said. He also called on foreign countries not to take advantage of the separatist activities in Indonesia. Mahfud said that in respect of democracy and human rights, the government had been lenient toward the Papua problem because a militaristic or repressive approach was no longer seen as effective in the search for a comprehensive solution. 

Islamic Law for Aceh

04.12.2000 Indonesia has agreed to allow its troubled Aceh province in northern Sumatra to introduce Islamic, or sharia law - a key demand of the staunchly Muslim territory. The announcement came as Indonesian police stepped up security in the province.  Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh told reporters that President Abdurrahman Wahid had agreed to the introduction of sharia law during a meeting in Jakarta. Although strict sharia law can include punishments such as stoning and chopping the hands off thieves, its implementation in Aceh would probably involve bringing in Islamic banking, its own education system and generally more conservative moral policies. 

Reports from the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, said the mood was calm and residents had gathered at mosques to pray for peace. Most regions of Indonesia are mainly islamic, the only exception is the island Bali, where hinduism is the predominant religion.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia attacked

21.11.2000 The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia is reported to have been attacked by pro-Jakarta East Timorese refugees during a ceremony in eastern Indonesia. A spokesman for the Australian Embassy in Jakarta Kirk Coningham said there was a scuffle. The reports say that Mr McCarthy was not hurt. 

The Indonesian Foreign Minster Alwi Shihab has ordered an investigation. Anti-Australian sentiment reached a peak last year following East timor's vote for independence from Indoneasia, after which Australia led a UN peqacekeeping force into the territory. 

Thailand

Backpacker murder suspect released

30.11.2000 Police in Thailand have released without charge the man being held for the murder of Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones. Charges against 32-year-old Briton Andrew Gill have been dropped following his release on Thursday after three months in detention. Mr Gill is still facing deportation for overstaying his visa and will meet Thai immigration officials on Friday. The police inquiry into the murder, which has involved tests on 11 foreign men, now appears to be back to square one.The body of the 23-year-old from Tredomen, near Brecon, was found in her room at the Aree Guest House in the northern city of Chiang Mai in August.  Ms Jones, who was three months into a two-year world tour, had been strangled and raped. 

Andaman travel show planned

01.12.2000 The first Phuket and Andaman Travel Trade Fair will be held from Dec 6-10 at the Phuket Arcadia Resort on Karon Beach. A total of 124 local sellers from Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga and other areas in the South will attend the event to meet with 200 international and 50 local buyers. After the show, participants will be able to sample tours to Raya Island by Jolly Roger Cruise. Alternatively, they can go to Phang-nga Bay in style with June Bahtra Junk, or try rafting with Phuket Sealand or Phuket Union Travel. Those interested in Khao Lak, another up-and-coming destination, can join an inspection trip.

Hong Kong

Deficit `to be $5b more' 

05.12.2000 Despite ``outstanding'' economic growth, the territory faces a budget deficit of up to $11 billion this year, Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has warned.
Mr Tsang rejected legislators' accusations that he was ``crying wolf'' so that he could give the public a pleasant surprise later.
He blamed a $5 billion shortfall in the estimated proceeds of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation shares sell-off for the bulk of the blowout. The March Budget predicted a deficit of about $6 billion.
Accused by James Tien Pei-chun of crying wolf, Mr Tsang said yesterday he hoped the Liberal Party chairman was right so that ``everyone will be happy''.

Bomb blast driver held 

05.12.2000 Aan interior decorator, believed to be involved in a contract dispute, was detained yesterday after a bomb exploded in his car.Liu Kwok-shun, 43, was driving to work when the explosion occurred at the junction of Ma Miu and On Ning roads, Yuen Long, at about 10.20am. Besides destroying the vehicle, debris from the blast tore the side of a nearby truck and shattered windows at a kindergarten.

Chinese shopping mall collapses

02.12.2000 Rescue workers in China have abandoned their search for survivors in the rubble of a shopping centre which collapsed in Dongguan city, just north of Hong Kong. More than a-hundred people are believed to have been inside the mall when it crumbled without warning; at least twelve were killed, but it's not clear how many escaped. Chinese media said the shopping centre in Dongguan was only a few years old. 

The news are courtesy of  BBC News and the Bangkok Post. and the Hong Kong Standard. 

Additions to our Site

Hua Hin is a popular holiday resort at the gulf of Siam, about 200 km (2 hours driving time) south of Bangkok. Hua Hin offers a long white sandy beach, good infrastructure, and a family-friendly resort atmosphere. Hotels range from good middle class to superior luxury properties. Please find & book Hotels in Hua Hin here ...

Hotels of the Month

First of all, thanks to all the visitors who make their hotel bookings from our site! We are really glad to hear that our  complete online descriptions and pictures of carefully selected, hand-picked hotels combined with online booking opportunities that offer the best rates available in the market seem to please so many of you. If you still have a questions after reading the online  brochure please feel free to contact us! We know most of the properties listed on our pages from first-hand experience!

Royal Garden Village in Hua Hin, Southern Thailand

The Royal Garden Village received in 1998 the award as "Best Tourist Hotel in Thailand", and this reward was very much deserved. This charming luxury property is located on the beach at little bit outside of Hua Hin (complimentary shuttle bus service into town). Two story buildings with lovely Thai style furniture (all rooms with terrace or balcony) are set in a lush tropical garden with lots of plants and flowers. A large pool and three excellent restaurants await the visitor ....

View an online brochure and book rooms at the Royal Garden Village in Hua Hin !

Meridien Baan Boran in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand

From an article in Bangkok Post "Most hotels in Thailand would consider it high time for renovations after operating for 10 years, but dramatic changes are hardly necessary at Le Meridien Baan Boran in Chiang Rai due to the high quality of the original construction and workmanship, according to general manager Duncan Jamieson.

"It's quite an incredible hotel. To be honest, it hasn't been involved in any major renovation project in the past 10 years and most of our repeat guests are very surprised when they see the condition of the property."All the same, general property maintenance and housekeeping standards are continually being improved as the hotel sets ever more exacting standards.As the property blends into the countryside surrounded by mountains and forest, it's rather difficult to spot, and that is one of its charms..."

View an online brochure and book rooms at the Meridien Baan Boran !

In addition to our "traditional" hotel partners, TravelNow and Bali1, we recently signed contracts with Planetholiday and Accomline, both reputable and well-established online travel resources. We are now able to offer you for almost all of the hotels in our directories at least two different booking opportunities! No lengthy web searches are necessary - they are all accessible from one page! Compare the rates and choose!

That`s it for today! See you!

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