After nearly a decade when I was traveling with the German students through Elephants Pass, watching the same Lagoon where I crossed at midnights struck how things were changing the world over in an unbelievably short time.

While the German students were videoing the Lagoon my mind recalling the once flourishing Nallur city offs the coast of the Jaffna Lagoon, which was once the capital of the Naga kingdom. The Northern part of Sri Lanka throve during the Naga Kingdom from 6th century BC to the middle of the 3rd century AD. Nagas were of the Tibeto ? Burman origin, a Mongoloid race and migrated to India 4000 BC, driven by some political disturbances from Central Asia through the North Eastern frontier of the Himalayan mountain range.

Nagas were a prominent non- Aryan race in India and their names are still preserved in various parts of India. The Indo ? Aryan invasion in the Indian subcontinent had driven them South and they invaded further South towards Sri Lanka.

This may coincide with the theory of the Aryan invasion in the North- western sector of India and their expansion to other areas driving away the indigenous people of the Indus valley civilization, the Dravidians further south.

The Nagas were dependent on the sea for their living and established trade with India, and developed art and culture. They also worshipped serpents, which is in the icon of Lord Siva. Kudiramali, a place near Silapaththurai, a western coastal sleepy village off the Gulf of Mannar too was a seaport and a capital of the Naga race.

There are legendry stories about an ?Alli? queen who ruled that area and had a great liking for pearls. Her warriors were women and she hated men. During her time pearls were exported to Arab countries and in return Arab horses were imported through this port. That is how that port derived its name Kudiramalai (Horse Mountain).

Due to natural causes the sea engulfed the Kudiramalai area probably by tidal waves caused either by a strong cyclone or earthquake.

Memories impinged on me of moments when I had visited a decade ago Queen Alli?s ruined palace. The roaring waves of the Gulf of Mannar were battering the walls of the ruined palace, which to a great extent was submerged by the sea.

Amazingly the ruined palace was still withstanding those mighty sea waves for some thousands years, though it has lost a major portions to the sea. When I stepped into the cave-like inside of it I marveled at the architecture of the upper portion of the wall?s entrance. Other than the walls, I hardly found anything inside but the vibrations of the battering waves outside of the wall, which was echoing inside in a mysterious way.

While I was watching the Lagoon I pondered how the capital had shifted from Kudiramalai to Nallur. Ruins of the palace of the then Naga capital in Nallur have been revealed in recent excavations embodying many stories of the lost Naga kingdom.

The vicinity of the lagoon was suddenly lost by the mangroves aside of the highway by the speedily hurrying vehicle and brought my attention to the northern highway towards Jaffna town.

While our vehicle was passing the Jaffna Lagoon and the then Elephant Pass camp vicinity we reached the Iyakkachchi area, an early settlement of Yakkas, a tribal group who were living in the era of Nagas together in the Island.

The ?Yakkas?, possibly early immigrants from Persia, were numerous and very powerful, and held themselves aloof and confined themselves mostly to the mountain fastnesses of the North- Central region of the Island, whereas the ‘Nagas’ confined themselves to the seaboard.

Ptolemy, the famous Greek-speaking geographer and astronomer who lived in the Roman Egypt called the Mahaweli River as Phasis fluvius, which means the Persian river, indicating that the Yakkas, who dwelt there, were connected to the Persians.

The Yakkas also could have been the indigenous people of Persia and might have escaped to Sri Lanka when the invaders were advancing towards their territory by sea or land from Persia.

Kuveni was the queen of Yakkhas and became the consort of Prince Vijaya(B.C. 543-504) who eventually bacame the first Indo-Aryan king of Sri Lanka with the Kalinga ancestory. Later he married a princess from the Dravidian Kingdom of ?Pandy? in South India.

Some of the German intern students were tired and in a sleepy mood. They might have not had enough sleep because of the strange environment. For students it is an option to travel out of Germany to complete their internship. Several students are coming to Asia, especially to AGSEP in Sri Lanka. The students who were with me in the Northern relief mission are also one batch of students of those who were in their overseas study tour.

When we were passing by the last end of the then Elephant Pass Military camp, sea birds were flying around the shallow water and busily fishing for their night meal.

The German tsunami relief convoy reached the Paranthan junction, which is the last northern point in the mainland of Indian Ocean’s war-torn island, where people lived in the midst of the civil war in 1996.

I had been there for a brief period of time when I was working with CARE International. The Elephant Pass strategic military camp of Sri Lanka Army was stationed there. The camp was a major coveted target for LTTE since their failed attempt in 1991 along with heavy losses of cadres.

When I was staying in that vicinity in 1995, the vulnerability of that area was an every day presence. The artillery shells were pouring at times like thunderstorm. Some of the shells had fallen near my house and in one incident I narrowly escaped. But a known girl nearby died, of shock caused by the heavy explosion of an artillery shell. I was able to recall how her two sisters were crying when her body was being taken for cremation along the same high way on which I was traveling with the German intern students in the relief mission.

After that incident and continuous artillery shelling, the Area Director of CARE International in Kilinochchi asked me to get away from that area a number of times. But I was reluctant to leave as I was used to the artillery shelling and aerial bombings since my childhood in the war-torn northern Jaffna Peninsula. But for the Area Director, her upbringing in the New York City in a calm and quiet atmosphere made it hard for her to accept my explanation.

Finally I left that area for a while. But memories still came alive when I was looking at the demolished buildings and the surroundings on the way. Our five-vehicle convoy was now speedily hurrying through a one-time No-Man Zone.

The highway and the surroundings were once heavily mined areas. When we were passing the once strategic military camp and the destroyed tanks were telling signs of the war. The horrors of the war and the heat of the battle could be seen around the Elephant Pass Camp which was finally lost to the hands of LTTE in 1999.

Elephant Pass has come a long way from being a stretch of shallow waters that separated the Northern Jaffna Peninsula from the rest of the island in pre-colonial days and has now evolved into a military epicenter of the civil war.

The shallow waters through which elephants once carried goods into the Jaffna peninsula, giving it the name Elephant Pass, have been a silent witness to the ebbs and flow of the northern conflict. Elephant Pass, the terrestrial gateway to the Jaffna peninsula, is now under the control of the Tigers. The fall of Elephant Pass has changed the military course of the whole conflict. The Dutch colonialists first built a small fortress in 1776, which was converted in modern times into a rest house for tourists. After Independence a permanent garrison was set up there to check illicit immigration, smuggling and unlawful transport of timber.

As the intensity of the ethnic conflict escalated, the strategic importance of Elephant Pass also increased. The small camp gradually expanded into a sprawling complex. At one time, the Elephant Pass base and the satellite camps covered an area of about 23 km long and 8-10 km wide. While we were proceeding along in close proximity to Elephant Pass the Jaffna Lagoon on both sides of the high way triggered my thoughts back to many of the personal experiences in the Jaffna Lagoon. I had traveled a number of times crossing the lagoon from the mainland to the peninsula and vice versa as travel through Elephant Pass was prohibited in 1995.

The presence of the Sri Lankan military at the Elephant Pass made passage unsafe what with heavy land mines laid everywhere around the camp area.

Even traveling on the lagoon was unsafe as the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Navy were warring with each other with heavy casualties on both sides. The small boats used to start just before midnight, as the journey through the lagoon would be invisible. The three hours journey crossing the lagoon was enjoyable to me with lot of thrill and suspense until we reached the other end. LTTE monitored the lagoon passage as they controlled both coasts, the Kilali in the peninsula and the Nallur in the mainland.

Crossing the Elephant Pass was more than a crossing and going back into the past to me!

Well, what do World War II veterans have in common with Singapore? Very long lasting, unforgettable memories that you can share with fellow family members and friends. Especially those who had survived or had served in Singapore back in the year between 1942 to 1945.

So, if you travel to Singapore again with your family or friends or loved ones, would you like to walk down the memory lane? (Some memories are painful but some still brought back a smile. Do you agree?) Well veterans, if you happen to travel back to Singapore in your next holiday, make your travel a memorable one. These are some things worth visiting to bring back those dark years.

The Battle Box

The Battle Box is the largest underground command center of the British Malaya Command Headquarters in Singapore during World War II and tucked into the hillside of Fort Canning. This bombproof complex comprises of 22 rooms linked together by a corridor and capable of recycling its own air supply. Today, the Battle Box has undergone extensive restoration. Visitors will be able to relive the morning of February 15, 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese.

Reflections Of Bukit Chandu

Back in 1942, 1400 soldiers of the Malay Regiment fought with courage against 13000 Japanese soldiers. They chose death over dishonour. Pepper?s Ghost will bring you through the Battle of Pasir Panjang and you will be able to walk through the Galleries displaying maps, photographs and information regarding the Malay Regiment and the Defence of Malaya.

Fort Siloso

The British built Fort Siloso in the 1880s to protect Singapore harbour?s western entrance. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), it became concentration camp for POWs. Fort Siloso serves as an important window to Singapore?s colonial past and as reminder of the war years.

Changi Chapel & Museum

This place, called a beacon of hope for the hopeless. Built by Changi Prison inmates, the Changi Chapel stands as a monument to those who maintained their faith and dignity during the Japanese Occupation. More than 50 000 civilians and soldiers were imprisoned during those days. Some exhibits that you can find and relate to their agony are letters, photographs, drawings and their personal effects. However, their main attraction is a replica of The Changi Murals, a series of wall painting recreated from the originals painted by Stanley Warren.

Old Ford Factory

On February 15, 1942, Lt Gen A.E.Percival then Commander of the British Forces in Singapore surrendered to the Japanese Army. The ?ceremony? took place here, the Old Ford Factory. On February 16, 2006, Singapore Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean officially opened Memories at Old Ford Factory. Here, you can find the exhibition ?Syonan Years: Singapore Under Japanese Rule, 1942-1945?.

Kranji War Memorial

Kranji War Memorial honours the men from Britain, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who gave their lives for freedom in World War II. Here you can find 4000 servicemen?s graves stand in neat rows. For about 24 000 soldiers and air force men, whose bodies were never recovered, their names were inscribed on 12 columns. Besides that, it is also a burial ground for Singapore?s first two presidents.

Civilian War Memorial

Located in the Padang, the Civilian War Memorial is dedicated to all those who perished during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore between February 15, 1942 to September 12, 1945. Every year on 15 February, a memorial service is held here to remember the victims of the war. Here you can find four identical vertical pillars rise to a pinnacle of 92.5 metres, symbolising the shared experiences of the four major races of Singapore – Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races. The remains of the unidentified war victims are buried beneath the monument.

It is the end of an era in Thailand. Political changes occur rapidly in SE Asia. Nowhere is that more evident than inside the Land of Smiles. In the wake of the John Karr / JonBenet Ramsey fiasco, Thailand has tightened restrictions on Tourism Visas and stymied the lives of tens of thousands of travelers. Officials claim the two are not connected.

For many years now, backpackers have flocked to Thailand. It?s tropical climate, gentle citizens, inviting beaches and ease of travel beckon youthful exuberance. Over time, many of us have matured to suitcases and still less-stylish travelers followed suit.

During these Golden Years of Thai travel visitors form 39 countries could enter the Kingdom of Thailand for thirty days without obtaining a visa before their arrival. Those staying on longer would simply make a border run, cross out of the country and return, often within minutes. Whish! Stamp! Boom! They had another thirty days.

Currently details of the new regulations are as clear as mud in an unlit cave. It appears starting October 1, 2006, travelers such as myself will be able to make a maximum of two border runs. We receive thirty days on arrival. Then, we receive thirty days each for the two reentries. After that we may not enter Thailand again for ninety days. In other words, after ninety days in, we must leave for ninety days. Whish! Stamp! Stamp! Out!

The tourism industry will suffer! From taxi drivers and guest houses, to massage schools and laundry services, the impact will be felt. I imagine a Tuk Tuk driver will look up this January and think, ?Hey, where?d everybody go?? I like to believe the cumulative economic loss will be more than the Kingdom fathoms and policies will loosen again over time. I also still hang a Christmas stocking up for myself.

Alongside Thais, how are long-term travelers being affected by the changes? If you think the inconvenience to individuals is negligible, consider the following. Here are some examples.

Donald Wood ? UK
?My sister and her family were to spend February in Thailand with me. They have canceled their trip. Why? Because, I?ll be out for ninety days by then.?

Kelly Laidlaw ? USA
?I paid for a one month TEFL Course and two months ?volunteer? teacher training on Samui next year. That?s three months total. I lose days from each 30 day allotment, because I have to do my visa border runs on weekend (to not miss class). This is what I?m left with. I leap into Thailand the day before class starts and sprint for Samui. Then, I fly out the day after I finish teaching/graduate. Perhaps a prospective school can interview me in the Tuk Tuk on the way to the airport.?

Claude DeVosjoli ? France
?I had many plans for my six months? sure to travel, but more. I?m always doing something. Mahout training, an expansive meditation experience, maybe I learn to cook Thai. And, there?s trekking, Muay Thai courses? There?s so much to do here. Now I can do only half. Half lose my francs. It?s so hard to choose.?

Barry Anderson ? Australia
?Funny thing is Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar) lost business because of the Thai regs. I wanted to hop over there bouts for a week mid-November. Can?t now. That would use up one of my precious two visa runs early. Don?t wanna torch thirteen days I figure.?

Kathy Taylor ? Canada
?I sold my home to come to SE Asia for a couple years. The thinking was I would maintain a small apartment in Chiang Mai, take some classes, travel around a bit and have a place to nest and write in between. Now when I travel to other countries it will go lock, stock and barrel, along with my tourism dollars for many months.?

Alan McLawrie ? UK
?I?m currently taking classes to learn to speak Thai. I?ll miss the third level now. Of course, I?ll be off in Vietnam not able to practice what I just learned anyway. Also, I volunteer at a dog rescue and will miss the pups. I?m financially independent, yet too young to meet the 50 year old requirement for a Retirement Visa here. Officials actually said this new law will stop bad people and not hurt good people. Well, if financially successful, charitable volunteers who study their culture are bad guys, send me to the front of the line.?

Anita Kroll ? USA
?This change is a bit of a pickle for me. I have a three month course this spring. So, in December when my 90 is up, I have to leave Thailand for almost four months, not three. I?ll need the whole next lot of ninety days to cover my class time. The course starts in late April and I?m out in December. I wish there had been more notice before the government changed things, though in retrospect I did not have to pay in advance.?

As you see there are dozens of ways Thailand?s new policies will cause little inconveniences. But, how little are they? You see, I am Anita. I am Alan. I am Kathy, Barry, Kelly, Donald and even Claude DeVosjoli. All these issues occurred for just one peaceful gal who simply loves Thailand. What else do these issues have in common? That?s easy. They take money away (Whish!) from the Kingdom of Thailand and its citizens.

Singapore is a major medical tourism destination and one of the five hottest spots for medical treatments in Asia.

Visitors can select from a wide range of services to enhance their health and well being. These include health screening, medical wellness, aesthetic and anti-ageing programmes.

This island city boast a growing list of number 1 spots under its belt. No. 1 port, airport, mathematical geniuses… and the list goes on. Medical treatments’ standard is top notch, and service is uniformly excellent.

It is therefore no surprise that Singapore is a popular destination for medical tourism as well as medical evacuations in the region. Prices are also generally lower than the West, although may be more expensive compared to its neighbors in the region. Three key agencies, the Economic Development Board, the Singapore Tourism Board and the International Enterprise Singapore have come together under the Singapore Medicine Banner to develop the Republic in one of Asia?s leading health care destinations.

Statistics in 2003 showed that 230,000 foreigners sought medical treatments here. Singapore Medicine is aiming to serve one million foreign patients a year by 2012 and generate $3 billion in revenues and create at least 13,000 jobs in the medical tourism industry.

Singapore provides the complete spectrum of healthcare services from primary care such as health screening, to quaternary care services such as organ transplants. Tourists coming for medical treatments also come to Singapore for a broad range of specialist care including Cardiology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Oncology, Otorhinolaryngology, Urology, Neurosurgery and Opthalmology, besides General Surgery and General Medicine.

The country specializes in services for cardiology, ophthalmology, and oncology. Singapore is also a thriving dental hub.

Singapore’s Dental Care

Some of the most advanced dental care in Asia can be found in Singapore. The island has one of the highest dentist-population ratio of 1:5,000, and almost half of the population here adhere to the twice a year visit to the dentist.

Here, the dental infrastructure is of the highest quality, with most of the equipment and dental products manufactured abroad. The equipment are also well maintained according to stringent criteria, ensuring that dental care is prompt and professional, and of course, safe.

With the high standard of dental care, Singapore is Southeast Asia?s dentistry center and you would come here for the best dental treatment available. Patients seeking treatment come from western countries, but dentists here also see to many patients from neighboring countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

So if you are looking to brighten that smile of yours, straighten the wry tooth gone crooked or perhaps even to change your whole set of smilies altogether, Singapore may just be the country to make you smile once more.

In 1996, Singapore coined a “Smile Singapore” campaign. The island was then worried about its tourism industry, and decreed that Singaporeans should put on a happy face when meeting a visitor to the country. Fast forward 10 years, the island has done away with the slogan for a new one that is “Uniquely Singapore”, and has even more to grin about. It has found a new niche in medical tourism to earn those fickle tourist dollars.

A funny thing happened on the way to my closet. This unforgettable journey from my shower confirmed an age old theory: a lot can happen in fifteen feet.

One night earlier I?d switched on the news to see civil unrest in Budapest, Hungary. My sister August was just there, I thought. Grand old buildings towered behind burning cars. As many do, I wondered: what is wrong with the world? Some of these countries?

At the time, there was no physical sensation caused by my foot being put in my mouth. I was oblivious to its presence. Fast forward 24 hours and enter my studio apartment in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I pulled the towel from my wet hair as the newscaster spoke: ?Another country is in turmoil tonight.? Ho hum, here we go again. Now, where are my pajamas? As I stepped past the television, her words rang out: ?Tanks have entered Bangkok in a reported coup attempt.?

You know those moments in life when the space-time continuum warps around you? Everything freezes, yet your mind processes over three million random thoughts. That’s where I stood. Only then did I begin to notice my foot lodged deep in my mouth. In the .25 seconds it took to take one step backwards and wrench my head to the right, I had all the following thoughts.

Perched on the end of the bed, I watch three channels simultaneously for well over an hour. I resolved to take the coup in stride. But! Maybe I?d pack one bag. It would be a ?just in case? bag. The essentials a person would need if a quick exit should be close at hand. Of course, I?d sleep fully dressed in running shoes. Okay, I made that last part up. (My running shoes are in my gym locker.)

Then came slow motion. My eyes panned the room. Books, dishes, bedding, electronics, enough inventory for a small camera shop and clothes, lots of clothes?despite my vow, I had nested. How had this happened?

It was not the first time I had contemplated moving my small household. I had always planned on relocating to Southern Thailand in the spring. It wasn?t even the first time this week I realized extra stuff had to go. Just days before Thailand had suddenly tightened its tourism visa laws. Tens of thousands of other long-term travelers, such as myself, must be out of the country in ninety days. We can not reenter for three months. Now this.

The coup gave me a whole new perspective. I had been worried I needed to buy another suitcase to move my precious inane possessions. In my panic, I grabbed just important things. Money, my laptop, camera body & one lens, debit cards, IDs, a couple changes of clothes and three packs of dry noodles. My backpack was only ? full. I panned the room again.

Sleep prevailed. Perspective had returned. In the morning I had school and simply dumped my bag on the floor in a quest for missing underwear. After all, I?m in Chiang Mai, not Bangkok. But, my unpacked state was not to be.

At school, my teacher was visibly shaken. She?d seen soldiers on her way through town. They stood at the closed public schools, hospitals and local businesses. Tanks lined the Super Highway. They are in Chiang Mai.

Half the students had not shown up, others had no sleep. In my mind, I packed again. In my class, I absorbed nothing. None of us are any wiser for having been there. Strategies changed. I had time to organize. My ?just in case? bag was augmented.

On the way, home I stopped at the mall and purchased the most brilliantly blue suitcase ever seen from space. No doubt, right now, that female space tourist is looking toward Asia and reaching for sunglasses. Alas, it was half price.

Normally bustling, the mall ambiance was semi-dormant. Department store sales reps stood idle. And, I, their only customer, was buying a suitcase to leave. This was a likely sign of things to come for Thailands economy.

I walked away feeling as though I was carrying a scarlet letter? a big blue scarlet letter. It said, ?T? for traitor. It screamed ?C? for chicken. I?d have traded all my limited Thai vocabulary to know the phrase for ?just in case?. The glow from my suitcase could not be hidden. Shame set in. Stepping out into the rain, I resolved not to pack a single thing.

And, the beat goes on. Arriving home, I turned on the tele and listened. The Northern Borders with Laos and Myanmar have been sealed. Borders! Sealed? Laos! That was my imagined escape route. The rollercoaster continues. As I write this, it’s been less than twenty-four hours since the first reports of tanks in Bangkok. I write and I ponder. Will the coup affect the airline’s baggage limits? How much can I pack?

World Travel Watch is a weekly report designed to help you make informed judgments about travel. Conditions can change overnight, so always make your own inquiries before you leave home. The U.S. State Department and embassies or consulates are good places to start.

India: Jewish Centers at Risk of Terrorist Attack
Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau advised Israelis to avoid synagogues and Chabad centers in India because terrorists may be plotting attacks similar to those staged in Mumbai on Nov. 26, 2008. FBI agents investigating two Chicago men allegedly involved in planning the Mumbai attacks recently flew to India to share intelligence with Indian security officials. One of the Chicago suspects was arrested on charges that he was working with a Pakistani terrorist group to plot new attacks on Jewish gathering places. Indian and Israeli officials believe the threat is real, and logic suggests that all travelers, not just Israelis, should consider avoiding synagogues and Chabad centers at this time.

Mali: Risk of Kidnapping for Westerners Is Critical in Timbuktu, Elsewhere
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako issued a warning urging Americans “in the very strongest terms” to avoid travel to the regions of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu, and if present, to “leave immediately” because of the critical risk of kidnapping. The abduction of a long-term resident French citizen in November and the taking of three Spanish aid workers in neighboring Mauritania a few days later confirm the credibility of the threat.

Mexico: Drug Violence Increases in Chihuahua State, Ciudad Juarez
The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, issued an alert Dec. 8 saying that drug violence has now spread to family members of rival cartel members and violent crime is increasing throughout the state of Chihuahua. Because of such violence, the consulate advises Americans to defer non-essential travel to the Guadalupe Bravo area southeast of the city—known locally as “Valle de Juarez”—and to the entire northwest quarter of the state, a region that “begins in Puerto Palomas and runs south to the municipalities of Namiquipa and Madera, and west to the Chihuahua state boundary with Sonora; it includes the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes and surrounding communities.” In other news, the Consulate General Hermosillo issued an alert Dec. 4 stating that a seasonal spike in robberies on toll roads in Sonora and Sinaloa states usually occurs at this time of year as criminals target visitors bringing presents to family members. Such robberies usually occur at night or before dawn when thieves pull over their victims using flashing lights that resemble police lights.

Northern Ireland: Police Urge Stores to Check Security in Wake of Car Bomb, Fears of “Real IRA” Campaign
Police urged retailers across the province to review their security arrangements because of concerns that a dissident IRA faction might mount a Christmas bombing campaign. The Real IRA splinter group left a car bomb that partially detonated at the Policing Board headquarters in Belfast Nov. 22, and authorities worry that they have access to a store of explosives and may try to stage a spectacular incident in the coming weeks. The warning followed security alerts Dec. 7 that paralyzed sections of Belfast when suspect devices caused two hours of gridlocked traffic and bus diversions on one of the city’s busiest streets.

Tanzania: Police Shoot Robbers Targeting Safari Lodge
Police shot dead five men they said were planning to rob a luxury tourist lodge near the Gurmeti Reserve west of Serengeti National park on the Kenyan border Dec. 1. Police acted on a tip and laid an ambush for the armed men. A police official called the incident “very rare,” but another armed robbery occurred in October in the neighboring Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya when bandits invaded a tented camp. Whether the incidents are rare or signal a trend, tourism officials know that their industry depends on keeping tourists safe, and they have increased security in response.