Smiling Albino

Did You Know?

• It's rude to step over someone's legs in Nepal.
• You should always walk clockwise around a Buddhist stupa or chedi.
• Nepal ranges from 71m-8,848m in elevation.
• You can see rhinoceros during the Nepal Grand Slam.
• Lumbini, Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha.
• The effects of altitude can be felt at 3,000m and above.
• Nepal changed from a kingdom to a republic on May 28, 2008.
• Nepal is bordered by China and India.
• Mountains cover 80% of Nepal.
• 10 of the world's 14 highest mountains are found in Nepal.
• Gurkhas, the famous soldiers, come from a mountainous region in Nepal.
• 84 million people live in Vietnam.
• 15 million tons of bombs were dropped on Vietnam during the war.
• Bill Clinton was the first American president to visit Hanoi.
• Vietnam's 'Bia Hoi' is perhaps the world's cheapest draft beer at about $0.25US/glass.
• Dog and snake-blood wine are delicacies in Vietnam.
• There are about 500 traditional dishes in Vietnamese cuisine.
• Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2006.
• Vietnam is home to 10 'ethnic minority' or hilltribe groups.
• It's a great idea to take lots of business cards to Vietnam - people love receiving them.
• The Vietnamese lunar calendar began on 2,637BC.
• The Mekong River travels 1,865km through Laos.
• Laos' original name, 'Lan Xang Hom Khao', means 'land of a million elephants'.
• Laos has SE Asia's smallest population at about 6.5 million.
• Laos is the most bombed nation on earth.
• Laos has 42 unpaved airports.
• There are only about 30,000 land-line phones in Laos.
• Laos, a landlocked country's lowest point is the Mekong River at 70m.
• Laos' current borders were defined in 1907 with the signing of the Franco - Siamese Treaty.
• Laos gained independence from France on July 19, 1949.
• Laos is slightly larger in physical size than Great Britian.
• Cambodia's Angkor Wat is the world's largest temple complex.
• Cambodia's first democratic elections were held in 1993.
• Cambodia is the most heavily-mined nation on earth.
• Cambodia's highest FIFA football standing was 156th in 1998.
• Palm sugar wine is Cambodians' local brew of choice.
• Spiders are a favorite snack all over Cambodia.
• You can get a cold can of beer for $1US in Cambodia.
• Southeast Asia's first national park was established in Cambodia in 1925.
• Vann Molyvann is Cambodia's most celebrated architect.
• It's polite to use your right-hand when giving something in Cambodia.
• Tibet has an average elevation of 4,572m.
• Yak is a common meat eaten in Tibet.
• Mt. Everest lies in Tibet and Nepal.
• The north side of Mt. Everest (Tibetan side) is harder to climb than the south side (Nepalese side).
• More Tibetans live outside than inside the country.
• Yak butter tea is a favorite drink in Tibet.
• Tibetans stick out their tongue to show respect.
• A Tibetan nomad drinks roughly 40 cups of yak butter tea per day.
• HM the Dalai Lama of Tibet is the 13th reincarnation.
• China occupies Tibet, calling it the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
• The movie and book of 'The King and I' is illegal in Thailand.
• Thailand has had 18 coups d'etat since 1932.
• There are more than 4,000 7-Elevens in Thailand.
• Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice.
• Thailand's calendar is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, starting at birth of the Buddha.
• Thailand changed from an absolute to constitutional monarchy in 1932.
• King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest reigning monarch, ascending the Thai throne in 1946.
• Arabica coffee is grown in the hills of northern Thailand and is quite tasty.
• Many beaches in Thailand are now better since the tsunami.
• The United Nation's Asian headquarters are in Bangkok.

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