<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Asia Travel News Commentary, Reviews, and Insights</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.ambrosebittner.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com</link>
	<description>-- by Ambrose Bittner, Founder of Red Lantern Journeys</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:11:55 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Best Time to Travel in Myanmar</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/best-time-to-travel-in-myanmar/429?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/best-time-to-travel-in-myanmar/429?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:09:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Burma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[myanmar tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myanmar Tours]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Is the best time to visit Myanmar between June and September? Perhaps! With the increase in popularity and limited hotel space, we are beginning to recommend visiting Myanmar during the off season. The climate in central Myanmar (Bagan, Mandalay, Hsipaw, Kalaw, Inle Lake) is similar to Northern Thailand. This means refreshing rain every now and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/best-time-to-travel-in-myanmar/429?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beware of Fake Reviews</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/hotel-reviews/beware-of-fake-reviews/423?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/hotel-reviews/beware-of-fake-reviews/423?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:22:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business and Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hotel Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Restaurant Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hotel reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Lantern Journeys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tour reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trip advisor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tripadvisor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yelp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=423</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Travelers relie on web sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and others for reviews on hotels, airlines, and service providers to sort through all of the options available to them when planning their trips. However, those reviews are not always real, and can be filtered by the review web sites themselves based on some algorithm that has nothing to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/hotel-reviews/beware-of-fake-reviews/423?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Global Entry Program makes Entry into the US Easier for Citizens</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/business-and-trade/global-entry-program-makes-entry-into-the-us-easier-for-citizens/414?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/business-and-trade/global-entry-program-makes-entry-into-the-us-easier-for-citizens/414?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:38:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business and Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global entry program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internationl travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trusted traveler]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=414</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you travel internationally more than about once a year, you might want to consider applying for the US Customs and Border Patrol Global Entry program. It costs $100, and the card is good for ten years. I just went through the process and the application and interview process is quite easy. It allows you [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/business-and-trade/global-entry-program-makes-entry-into-the-us-easier-for-citizens/414?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>2011 Red Lantern Journeys&#8217; Climb for Himalaya Children</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/2011-red-lantern-journeys-climb-for-himalaya-children/396?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/2011-red-lantern-journeys-climb-for-himalaya-children/396?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 04:59:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Climb for Himalaya Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraisers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nepal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trekking and Climbing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CCSD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centre for Child Studies and Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charity Climb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraiser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mitrata Nepal Foundation for Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mt. Rainier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Lantern Journeys]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=396</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This year&#8217;s benefit climb of Mt. Rainier in Washington State is scheduled for July 14th to 16th. The Climb for Himalaya Children raises money to support the Mitrata Orphanage and the Centre for Child Studies and Development in Kathmandu, Nepal. The participants will climb the 14,411-foot-high Mt. Rainier, one of the highest and most glaciated [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/2011-red-lantern-journeys-climb-for-himalaya-children/396?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nice Article on Red Lantern Journeys</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/nice-article-on-red-lantern-journeys/387?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/nice-article-on-red-lantern-journeys/387?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 03:39:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business and Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ambrose Bittner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foster School of Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mitrata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Lantern]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Lantern Journeys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Responsible Tourism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=387</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The University of Washington&#8217;s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship feature Red Lantern Journeys (and myself) in an article in their latest newsletter. I&#8217;m an MBA alum from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and it&#8217;s nice to be recognized by my alma mater! Check out the article here: &#160;]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/nice-article-on-red-lantern-journeys/387?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s an Annual Thing &#8212; China Closes Tibet in March</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/tibet/its-an-annual-thing-china-closes-tibet-in-march/372?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/tibet/its-an-annual-thing-china-closes-tibet-in-march/372?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:38:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tibet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[china tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crackdown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tibet Tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tibet Treks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=372</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[News agencies are reporting that China officials have verbally ordered Tibetan tour agencies not to accept foreign tourists beginning in advance of the March 14 anniversary of the 2008 pre-Olympic crackdown during which Chinese government forces killed. Read the article in the UK&#8217;s Gaurdian here: Guardian Article on the Closure of Tibet This closure marks [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/tibet/its-an-annual-thing-china-closes-tibet-in-march/372?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mushroom Hotpot in Vietnam</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/vietnam/mushroom-hotpot-in-vietnam/346?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/vietnam/mushroom-hotpot-in-vietnam/346?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:31:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Restaurant Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ashima]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ashima Restaurant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanoi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ho Chi Minh City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mushroom Hotpot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Restauran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Restaurant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Saigon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=346</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After you&#8217;ve had your fill of pho and springrolls in Vietnam, try the Ashima Mushrrom Hotpot Restaurant for a unique experience. Here, you get to choose from a selection of four different broths, an extensive list of mushrooms (the most I&#8217;ve ever seen in restaurant menu), plus a wide variety of vegetables, meats and noodles. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/vietnam/mushroom-hotpot-in-vietnam/346?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Luxury and Quaint Boutique Hotels in Phnom Penh</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/cambodia/new-luxury-and-quaint-boutique-hotels-in-phnom-penh/339?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/cambodia/new-luxury-and-quaint-boutique-hotels-in-phnom-penh/339?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:15:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cambodia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hotel Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amanjaya Pancam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phnom Penh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pavilions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Villa Langkas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=339</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I attended the ASEAN Tourism Forum last week in Phnom Penh. It gave me an excellent chance to inspect hotels in the city and give me updates on tourism in the country. The aging Raffles now has a formidable competitor since the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethraopened in December 2010. It was under pressure to open [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/cambodia/new-luxury-and-quaint-boutique-hotels-in-phnom-penh/339?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Myanmar Stops Visa on Arrival</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/myanmar-stops-visa-on-arrival/325?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/myanmar-stops-visa-on-arrival/325?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:41:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=325</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Myanmar has quit issuing visas-on-arrival in advance of it&#8217;s November elections. They had implemented the visa on arrival policy on May 1st of 2010, so to have it suspened just a few months later indcates that they are probably concerned about people taking advantage of it to enter the country in order to observe events [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/myanmar-stops-visa-on-arrival/325?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bhutan Delays Rate Increase to 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/trekking-and-climbing/bhutan-delays-rate-increase-to-2012/312?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/trekking-and-climbing/bhutan-delays-rate-increase-to-2012/312?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:32:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bhutan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trekking and Climbing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tweets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bhutan tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bhutan tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bhutan treks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rate increase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rates]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=312</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had posted earlier that Bhutan was planning a rate increase for 2011. However, they&#8217;ve delayed the increase until 2012 because of the relatively slow economy. The new base rate will be $250 per person for groups of 3 or more. That’s a $50 increase over the old base rate of $200. Surcharges for groups [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/trekking-and-climbing/bhutan-delays-rate-increase-to-2012/312?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>$30,000 Raised for Himalaya Children</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/30000-raised-for-himalaya-children/300?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/30000-raised-for-himalaya-children/300?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:44:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Climb for Himalaya Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraisers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nepal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trekking and Climbing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mitrata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mt. Rainier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Lantern Journeys]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=300</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the last year, 18 people took on a dual challenge to help orphaned and needy children in Nepal. They challenged themselves to get in shape to climb Mt. Rainier in Washington State and to raise a minimum of $1000 for the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children. Those 18 participants and 4 climb leaders ended up [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/30000-raised-for-himalaya-children/300?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Three Cups of Tea Tour to Northern Pakistan</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/three-cups-of-tea-tour-to-northern-pakistan/282?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/three-cups-of-tea-tour-to-northern-pakistan/282?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:35:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fundraisers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Socially Responsible Tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ambrose Bittner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beb C. Reynol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Central Asia Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraiser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greg Mortensen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pakistan Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stones into Schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three Cups of Tea]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=282</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Please join me this September for my inaugural Red Lantern Journeys&#8217; President&#8217;s Tour. This year, I&#8217;m going to Northern Pakistan to raise money for the Central Asia Institute. This tour is a unique opportunity to visit the cultures and landscapes made famous in the book Three Cups of Tea and to raise money for the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/socially-responsible-tourism/three-cups-of-tea-tour-to-northern-pakistan/282?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Maoist Strike is Crippling Kathmandu</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/maoists-strike-is-crippling-kathmandu/271?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/maoists-strike-is-crippling-kathmandu/271?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 21:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business and Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nepal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trekking and Climbing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kathmandu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maoist strike]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mitrata]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=271</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m seeing a frustrating trend of political parties and other organizations to use demonstrations and organized civil unrest to unseat goverments and get their way. For the last several days the Maoists in Kathmandu have been striking and demonstrating. They&#8217;ve been forcing all shops and business owners to close and nearly all vehicles off the road. Evidently, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/nepal/maoists-strike-is-crippling-kathmandu/271?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Flight between Hanoi and Yangon</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/new-flight-between-hanoi-and-yangon/267?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/new-flight-between-hanoi-and-yangon/267?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 20:12:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business and Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanoi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanoi to yangon flight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vietnam airlines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yangon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=267</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For tourists, Myanamar has mostly been accessible only by flying through Bangkok. However, Vietnam Airlines has started a new non-stop flight between Hanoi and Yangon. It will operate four days a week using Fokker 70 aircraft on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. An Airbus A320 is expected to replace the Fokker 70 in winter 2010-2011 [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/new-flight-between-hanoi-and-yangon/267?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Visas on Arrival Now Possible in Myanmar</title>
		<link>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/visas-on-arrival-now-possible-in-myanmar/259?</link>
		<comments>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/visas-on-arrival-now-possible-in-myanmar/259?#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 19:49:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ambrose Bittner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Burma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[visa on arrival]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ambrosebittner.com/?p=259</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a very significant move to promote tourism, Myanmar (Burma) is now allowing visas-on-arrival at Yangon International Airport without requiring an advance application. Tourist visas granted on arrival will be valid for 28 days. The fee for the visa on arrival will be US$30, payable in cash.  Your name will be checked against a government list [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ambrosebittner.com/myanmar/visas-on-arrival-now-possible-in-myanmar/259?/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

