Do you know where the Santa’s workshop is? Since we were tiny tots, we were told by our parents and family friends that it’s location is at the frozen North Pole.

Well, guess what? We were misled, misinformed and just plain lied to! But wait, as I discovered not long ago, there is indeed a real Santa’s workshop, but situated much further south in eastern Germany near the Czech Republic. Seiffen, a village of around 3000 people is located in a remote, sparsely settled hilly area in the heart of the melancholy forests of Erzgebirge, literally translated “ore mountains.” It is here where lights glow in the windows of the traditional half-timbered houses where modern day Santa’s elves toil at creating their wooden masterpieces.

A nutcracker soldier, the height of a fairy tale giant stands guard at one of the entrances to the town. Metal lanterns with Christmas designs illuminate the narrow streets and alleys. Everywhere there are larger than life displays of wooden nativity scenes, Christmas pyramids, nutcrackers, smoking men and intricate wooden shaved pinecones and stars, a trademark of Seiffen’s artisans.

Woodworking fits well with the ambience of Erzgebirge’s enchanting dark and moody forests and most of the residents play some part in the manufacture of these wooden ornaments and toys. There are over 100 wood working operations, most of them small family run businesses. Oft times the skills have been handed down from generation to generation and even the youth have embraced this institution and lifestyle.

This wasn’t always so. During the Middle Ages the Knights of Riesenburg moved into the area to exploit the mountains for veins of silver and in 1200 AD they built a castle in the nearby town of Sayda. Silver mining gave way to tin mining. The name Seiffen is derived from “seifen” which describes the process of washing the soil to extract the tin ore. When the tin ore depleted, the miners had to find another way to make a living so they turned to woodworking.

They first made practical objects like plates and utensils. Over time their skills were honed and they developed a talent for making wooden toys and their creations became world-reknowned. When the Nazis came to power some of the workshops switched from making toys to fabricating weapons parts. After World War II East Germany came under Communist rule. Even though it was an atheistic regime, the Communist government promoted the making of Christmas ornaments because they were hungry for U.S. dollars and West German Marks. When the Communist era ended in 1989 many factories and farms in Erzgebirge were brought to ruin.

Since the reunification of Germany in 1990, Seiffen’s citizens have traveled a rocky road to face one of their most daunting challenges ever; changing to a capitalistic system after 40 years of Communism. The good news was that families whose businesses had been expropriated by the Communists, had the opportunity to reacquire them from a federal agency that was in charge of privatizing property.

The transition hasn’t been easy, and many of Seiffen’s toymakers have had to make expensive renovations and upgrades to their workshops as well as finding new ways to market their products, not just locally, but globally. Today more than 40 shops have cropped up and are thriving in this unique industry. Tourists and buyers alike from Holland, Austria, Japan, U.S.A. , France, etc. converge on this tiny town to purchase their wooden specialties like creche figures, barn yard animals, miniature villages, wooden ring ornaments, pyramid carousels, shaved wooden stars and the ubiquitous hand painted nutcrackers.

The Christmas season is perpetual in Seiffen. This tiny village, with an impressive history has successfully survived the roller coaster ride, and with their artisan’s indomitable spirit is a testament to the spirit of Christmas. The people of Seiffen are indeed shining examples to this season of hope. Did I find the real Santa’s workshop? You bet I did!

Gordon H. Ficke is a travel/automotive photojournalist specializing in reporting on unique and educational travel experiences and vintage, classic and historical vehicle articles. My pieces have been published in Old Autos (Canada’s largest newspaper for the enthusiast), Vintage Truck, World WarII Magazine, and Aviation Magazine. I have also written a new vehicle report for Okanagan Life Magazine. My automotive hints and tips pieces have also been published in local newspapers. For further information and examples of my work you can check out my website address
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Another of Bangkok’s temples worth visiting is Wat Pho (also known as Wat Chetuphon). Wat Pho is the oldest temple in Bangkok and is home to Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha at 46 metres long and 15 metres high. You will also find the greatest number of Buddha images in Thailand within its extensive grounds. You should expect to pay approximately 20 Baht (30 pence) to visit Wat Pho.

Shopaholics will be in their element in Bangkok with a great number of shopping malls and street markets of all types. The vast Chatuchak Weekend Market in northern Bangkok has around twenty thousand stalls selling almost anything you could think of while the Suan Lum Night Bazaar is a large open air market offering bargains on clothes, crafts, gifts and plenty more. Sadly there are fears that the Night Bazaar be shut down in the near future to make way for a new development although the managers and vendors are resisting eviction.

Other popular tourist attractions in Bangkok include the house of Jim Thompson (the American famous for revitalizing Thailand’s silk industry and perhaps even more famous for his mysterious disappearance in 1967), Bangkok snake farm, and the national museum, where you can learn more about the history of Thailand and view one of the world’s greatest collections of Southeast Asian art.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Bangkok is diverse with huge clubs, go-go bars, cocktail lounges, expat pubs and bars featuring live music, there is something for everyone. Generally the nightlife is very safe and relaxed, with dressing up not a necessity. Patpong is easily Bangkok’s most notorious nightlife area and has over 100 back-to-back neon lit bars, most of which are catered towards men. For the first time visitor, Khao San Road may be the ideal place to spend the evening as almost every type of entertainment can be found along this busy strip at night time.

A few do’s and don’ts

Do smile – Thailand is known as the land of smiles and the Thai people smile for a variety of reasons; to say hello or thank you, to make requests, to apologise or to show embarrassment.

Don’t touch anyone on the head – The head is considered sacred and the Thai people do not approve of touching anyone on the head.

Do be aware of your feet – It is considered rude in Thailand to point your feet at another person so be aware of what you are doing with your feet, for example when crossing your legs.

Don’t kiss in public – In Thailand it is not the done thing to show a public display of affection, so avoid kissing or holding hands in public.

Don’t drink the tap water – Even the locals infrequently drink water from the tap. Bottled water is extremely cheap (no more than 25 baht – 40 pence – for a litre) and widely available.

Don’t touch any images of Buddha – Images of Buddha are sacred so you should avoid touching them or posing in front of any for pictures.

Compare travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/thailand/bangkok/94/ Bangkok holidays and travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/thailand/18/ holidays in Thailand from a variety of holiday companies and online travel agents.

One of the most beautiful and popular destinations on the Costa del Sol is Malaga, a terrific choice for a memorable and exciting vacation experience. People from Europe and all over the world travel Malaga to enjoy its beautiful Mediterranean climate, fabulous attractions and entertainment, and abundance of culture and history in the area. Malaga offers a combination of history, natural beauty, recreation and fun and all with a convenient distance to your Malaga hotel. There will be no need to travel far.

Finding good deals on hotels should not be difficult. You should have no problem finding hotels in Malaga, Spain that offer great service, the amenities you desire and at a price you can afford. Hotel choices range from the basic hotel to the more luxurious resort style hotel. To ensure you get the perfect hotel suiting your needs, you should reserve a room in advance. This will guarantee you get rate you can afford with the services you want. Fortunately, you can make your hotel arrangements by simply going online where you can find a selection of hotels from which to choose. Simply find the accommodation that meets your needs, is within your budget and in the most convenient location for you, whether within the city or closer to the beach. Compare the rates, amenities and services until you find the right hotel. You should not have to overstretch your budget.

You should also be able to find good deals on flights to Malaga also which, in addition to the money you saved on hotels, provides even more spending money once you reach Malaga. While looking for prices on hotels, you can also search online for great deals on flights. You may even find vacation packages which include the flight, hotel and even car hire services. Ultimately, though, the more you save on your hotel and flights, the more money available for the fun and exciting awaiting you in Malaga and the Costa del Sol region.

As the capital of this region, you will find your trip to Malaga enriching with its culture and history, refreshing with its natural beauty and relaxing with the nearby beach. The Costa del Sol offers something for visitor, whether single, a couple or traveling as a family. Be sure to visit the Gibralfaro castle during your stay in Malaga or the home of the famous artist and sculptor, Picasso. This is just a small taste of what Malaga and its surrounding area has to offer for a memorable vacation experience.

Concentrating on latest news in Hotels in Malaga Spain, the writer writes articles largely for alicante-spain.com alicante-spain.com His contributions on

Bora Bora accommodation provided by different hotels in the island is considered world class. Below is a list of top-rated Bora Bora accommodation that promises a wonderful stay in the island.

• Hotel Bora Bora

If you are searching for the best Bora Bora accommodation, you should consider staying at Hotel Bora Bora. This hotel is surrounded by spectacular lagoons that give you a 270° view of the island waters. Hotel Bora Bora is located in Point Raititi that overlooks the wonderful 25 mile barrier reef with a view of volcanic peaks that also allow you to see both sunrise and sunset.

The hotel was established in 1961 and has become one of the most recognized hotels in the island. The hotel has over 50 bungalows and villas and the over-water bungalows all have terraces. The garden and beach bungalows have sundecks and the hotel also has private pools and Jacuzzis. The place also has a variety of bars and restaurants where you can dine or have dinks while watching the sunset. Some restaurants like the Matira Terrace Restaurant and Bar overlook the lagoon of the island.

• Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort

Another excellent Bora Bora accommodation is the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort. This beach resort is located in the island of Motu Tevairoa that is a ten minute boat ride from the central island of Bora Bora. The hotel started its operation in 1998 and has been known for its exquisite Polynesian style.

Its Bora Bora accommodation is all in the style of conventional bungalows. The hotel has 50 over-water bungalows, 20 garden bungalows and 10 beach bungalow suites. All of them were built to provide a traditional feel of South Pacific homes. The place also has fresh water pools and Jacuzzis.

The resort also has tennis and volleyball courts, outrigger canoes and snorkeling equipment for guests to enjoy. Scuba diving and lagoon excursions can be arranged for an extra charge.

• Beachcomber Intercontinental Resort

The Beachcomber Intercontinental Resort is magnificently located in the middle of two white sand beaches in the main island of Bora Bora. The resort has bungalows that embrace the pearl-white sand beaches in French Polynesia. The resort also has more than 50 over-water bungalows that lie on top of crystal-clear lagoon waters of the island.

The beach resort also has two restaurants and two bars that serve French and International dishes that are added with Polynesian flavors. Because of everything the resort has to offer, there is no doubt that Beachcomber Intercontinental Resort truly exemplifies an elegant Bora Bora accommodation.

The hotels and beach resorts mentioned above are just some of the best Bora Bora accommodation. You can learn more about them or about other places in Bora Bora where you can stay by contacting your travel agency.

Milos Pesic is a professional tourist guide who runs a highly popular and comprehensive borabora.need-to-know.net/ Bora Bora web site. For more articles and resources on Bora Bora vacations packages, Bora Bora hotels and cruises, Bora Bora pictures and much more visit his site at:

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