Snowboards and sleds have become the latest additions to Chinese New Year travellers' luggage, alongside local specialties and gifts for family get-togethers.
DEC 7: The controversial laws, which critics have labelled a "disaster" for human rights, also ban unmarried couples from living together and restrict political and religious freedoms. There were protests in Jakarta this week, and the laws are expected to be challenged in court.
The new criminal code is set to take effect in three years and apply to Indonesians and foreigners living in the country, as well as visitors.
It has been widely reported in nearby Australia, where some newspapers have dubbed it the "Bali bonk ban" - although observers say the new criminal code is very unlikely to affect tourists in part because for prosecutions to start a complaint must be filed by the children, parents or spouse of the accused couple.
Indonesia's economy heavily relies on tourism from Australia, which was Indonesia's number one tourist source before the pandemic. Thousands of people fly to the tropical island of Bali every month to bask in its warm weather, indulge in cheap Bintang beers and rave at all-night beach parties.
Bali weddings are quite common, and thousands of Australia's graduate students fly to Bali every year to celebrate finishing high school.
For many young Australians, a trip to Bali is seen as a rite of passage. Others go there a few times a year for quick, cheap getaways.
But as soon as news trickled through that the raft of new laws were becoming reality, after being mere rumours for years, some doubt over future trips began to set in.
On Facebook pages dedicated to tourism in Indonesia, users tried to make sense of the changes and what they mean for foreign visitors.
Some said they would start travelling with their marriage certificates, while others who were not married said they would go elsewhere if the laws meant they would not be allowed to share a hotel room with their partner.
"You will be bribing your way out", said one user on the group Bali Travel Community.
"Good way to ruin the tourism industry of Bali," wrote another, while others agreed it was "scare tactics" that would be impossible to enforce.
'Australians shouldn't be worried'
The new criminal code means that - if a complaint is first brought by the children, parents or spouse of the accused couple - unmarried couples having sex can be jailed for up to a year and those who live together could be jailed for up to six months.
A spokesperson for Indonesia's justice ministry tried to calm concerns by suggesting that the risk was less for tourists because anyone making the police complaint would most likely be an Indonesian national.
"That means Australian [tourists] shouldn't be worried," Albert Aries was quoted as saying on Australian news website WAToday.com.
But critics say holidaymakers could become ensnared.
"Let's say an Australian tourist has a boyfriend or a girlfriend who is a local," Andreas Harsono, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"Then the local parents or the local brother or sister reported the tourist to the police. It will be a problem."
The argument that police will only investigate if a family member makes a complaint is dangerous in itself, Mr Harsono said, as it opens the door to "selective law enforcement".
"It means that it will only be implemented against certain targets," he told ABC radio.
"It might be hotels, it might be foreign tourists… that will allow certain police officers to extort bribes or certain politicians to use, let's say, the blasphemy law, to jail their opponents."
While much of the chatter online reflected the Aussie attitude of "no worries, mate", there is still a strong undercurrent of concern.
Australians are acutely aware of how serious getting in trouble with the Indonesian authorities can be - even for relatively minor offences.
But Bali cannot afford to have another blow to its tourism sector. Its recovery from the pandemic is slow, and many businesses and families are still trying to get back what they lost.
In 2019, a record 1.23 million Australian tourists visited Bali, according the Indonesia Institute, a Perth-based non-government organisation.
Compare that to 2021 - when just 51 foreign tourists visited the island for the entire year because of the pandemic, Statistica's records show.
Indonesia's tourism is strengthening though - in July 2022, the Indonesian National Statistic Bureau recorded over 470,000 foreign tourists arrivals in the country - the highest number since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in October last year.
Phil Robertson, the Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch tweeted that the new laws will "blow up Bali's tourism".
'I really depend on tourism'
A tour guide called Yoman, who has worked in Bali since 2017, told the BBC the impact from the new laws could be "very severe" right across Indonesia, but especially on the holiday island.
"I am very, very worried, because I really depend on tourism," he said.
Bali has a history of events - both man-made and natural disasters - that have affected visitor numbers to the island.
"The Gulf war, Bali bombing, volcano eruptions, Mount Semeru (volcano), Mount Rinjani (volcano) and then Covid. Bali tourism is easily affected," Yoman said.
But the Indonesian government has brought in initiatives to try and lure foreigners back to its idyllic shores.
Just a few weeks ago, it announced a tempting new visa option, allowing people to live on the island for up to 10 years.And of course it is not just tourists from Australia who could be affected.
Canadian travel blogger Melissa Giroux, who moved to Bali for 18 months in 2017, told the BBC she was "shocked" the law actually came through, after years of talk.
"Many tourists will prefer to go elsewhere instead of risking going to jail once the law is enforced," said Ms Giroux, who pens the blog A Broken Backpack.
"And I'm not even thinking about the single people who come to Bali to party or the ones who fall in love during their travels." (with inputs from BBC)
Taplejung is the far eastern district of Nepal bordering China and India. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains. Some world-famous Himalayan peaks, like Kanchanjunga and Khumbhakarna, lie in the region. Rich in natural beauty with rivers, rivulets and green forests, temperature varies in the district due to the difference in altitude it covers.
Locally, the plain areas are generally known as Besi and the hilly areas are Lekh. You will find warm temperatures in Besi but if you start to climb up the hills, you will gradually feel the cold. ‘Besi’ are mostly along the bank of the river. There is also a big river in the region called the Tamor which originates in the Kanchanjungha Himalayan range. The boundary of Taplejung district is generally guided by the river Tamor and we can find several other rivers, fountains and waterfalls all over the district. Phungling is the headquarters of the district.
Taplejung can be reached by different modes of transport nowadays. There is a regular bus service from Birtamod to Phungling via Ilam. Phungling is also connected by air with Kathmandu and Biratnager. Suketar Airport is the only airport in the district, and it is about seven kilometers from Phungling. A few years back, there was no road connectivity with other parts of the country and people used to walk or fly to travel in and out of the district. The popular walking route was Dhankuta to Taplejung via Basantpur. Traditionally, porters used to transport essential goods through this walking route.
During the last decade, there has been a significant development in road networks within the district. Most of these roads are unpaved and not safe for vehicular use throughout the year. However, a big, wheeled tractor and motorbikes are popular modes of transport for goods and services within the district. In this region, road connectivity has contributed to the economic activities in the area as well as the movement of people.
Most of the hotels, shops and restaurants are located in Taplejung Bazaar, which lies at the center of Phungling Municipality. There are some small shops and restaurants everywhere in the villages. Restaurants are ironically called hotels. Furthermore, Tokmedada is a very popular market in Taplejung, where farmers and shopkeepers from surrounding villages go to sell and buy their products every Saturday and Tuesday.
Taplejung Bazaar
Moreover, there are some local markets alongside the Tamor river that are set up occasionally, mostly during December and January, called Pushe Mela and Maghe Mela. These markets are very special; people can buy local products at a cheaper price. Vegetables, ghee, and bamboo products named Doko, Dhunse, Naglo etc. are available there. Cardamom farming is very popular in Taplejung these days, as it is in high demand and economically profitable. Farmers produce rice, wheat, corn, potatoes and tomatoes in local farmland. Oranges, mangoes, jack fruits and plums are also produced there.
Agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism are the major sources of livelihood for the local people. Thousands of domestic tourists visit Taplejung every month (except in June/ July) to worship the popular goddess Pathivara Devi, while other tourists from different parts of the world visit for trekking and hiking. Due to the natural diversity in the country, one can enjoy different cultures and landscapes throughout the district. People from different ethnicities like Limbu, Rai, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa, Newar, Chhetri, Magar and Bramhan have been living in this area for many years.
During the Maoist insurgency, many people migrated to the terai region to save their lives; likewise, people moved to Taplejung Bazaar and surrounding villages. Politicians made false promises during the election to extend road facilities, to distribute pure drinking water and electricity, but they did not keep their promises after the election. Even though this is the case, local residents remain calm and wait for a happy and prosperous life ahead.
It is one of the most beautiful places to go for a holiday, especially for those who love trekking & hiking. They can look forward to spending quality time in the lap of heaven and feel the peace and serenity of their surroundings. Is there any place you would rather go on holiday?
JULY 7: Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he "had a very productive" discussion with Mr Putin.
It comes after Sri Lanka's energy minister warned at the weekend that the country may soon run out of petrol.
On Wednesday, hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital Colombo to protest against the government.
"I requested an offer of credit support to import fuel," Mr Rajapaksa tweeted in reference to his conversation with the Russian leader.
Mr Rajapaksa also said he had "humbly made a request" for flights between Moscow and Colombo to resume, after the Russian flag carrier Aeroflot suspended services last month.
"We unanimously agreed that strengthening bilateral relations in sectors such as tourism, trade and culture was paramount in reinforcing the friendship our two nations share," he added.
han 70 years, including securing financial support from India and China, have so far failed to end weeks of shortages of fuel, power, food and other essential items.
On Sunday, energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the country only had enough petrol left for less than a day under regular demand.
Last week, authorities suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles in an attempt to preserve its dwindling fuel stocks.
On Thursday, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka raised its key interest rates by one percentage point to tackle the soaring cost of living in the country.
The lending rate was raised to 15.5%, while the deposit rate was increased to 14.5%, the highest in 21 years.
It comes as annual inflation hit a record high of 54.6% June as the cost of food rose by more than 80%.
Hundreds of protesters had a day earlier on Wednesday gathered near the parliament building in Colombo as they launched what they called the "final push" to remove Mr Rajapaksa's government.
This week, the UK reinstated advice against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka because of civil unrest in the country.
The Foreign Office warned holidaymakers could encounter "demonstrations, roadblocks and violent unrest at short notice".
Visiting countries against Foreign Office advice would be likely to invalidate one's travel insurance, the Association of British Insurers said.
Willing to take the risk
Sri Lanka desperately needs the help of Russian President Vladimir Putin for both fuel and tourists, which are both vital to rescuing the country's economy.
The island nation has virtually run out of fuel, crippling businesses and public transport.
It is struggling to get oil shipments from its usual suppliers in the Gulf or elsewhere due to a lack of foreign currency as well as banking and logistical difficulties.
Western nations have imposed restrictions on Russian oil in response to its invasion of Ukraine. But President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is clearly willing to take the risk of triggering the displeasure in Western capitals.
To add to Colombo's woes, Aeroflot suspended Moscow-Colombo passenger flight services last month after a Sri Lankan court briefly detained one of its planes following a commercial dispute over payment.
Russians accounted for almost a fifth of total tourist arrivals in the months before the war started in Ukraine.
Even if the flights resume, it may not be easy to attract Russian tourists as they could find it difficult to pay for things while they are on holiday.
Several Russian banks have been disconnected from using the SWIFT international payment system and Visa and Master credit cards have suspended Russian operations in response to Moscow's war on Ukraine.
Sri Lanka has seen its foreign exchange reserves shrink due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the pandemic.
As a result it has struggled to pay for imports of essential goods, including fuel, food and medicine.
In May, it defaulted on its debts for the first time in its history after a 30-day grace period to come up with $78m (£63m) of unpaid debt interest payments expired.
The country is currently in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a £3bn bailout.
Sri Lanka's government has said it needs $5bn this year in support from the international community, including the IMF.
With inputs from BBC
KATHMANDU, Sept 29: For a sizable section of international tourists, Nepal is one of the top travel destinations. They come to enjoy views of the majestic Himalayas, the cultural diversity and adventure tourism that the country has to offer. However, the arrival of foreign tourists has come to a halt following the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEW DELHI, April 26: The US and Britain rushed ventilators and vaccine materials to India Monday as the country battles a catastrophic, record-breaking coronavirus wave that has overwhelmed hospitals and set crematoriums working at full capacity.
A surge in recent days has seen patients' families taking to social media to beg for oxygen supplies and locations of available hospital beds, and has forced the capital New Delhi to extend a week-long lockdown.
The country of 1.3 billion has become the latest hotspot of a pandemic that has killed more than three million people, even as richer countries take steps towards normality with quickening innoculation programmes.
"He was gasping for air, we removed his face mask and he was crying and saying 'save me, please save me'," Mohan Sharma, 17, said of his father, who died outside a Delhi hospital.
"But I could do nothing. I just watched him die," Sharma told AFP. France, Germany and Canada have also pledged support to India, which has driven increases in global case numbers in recent days, recording 352,991 new infections and 2,812 deaths on Monday -- its highest tolls since the start of the pandemic.
Creaking health facilities in poorer countries were exposed Sunday when more than 80 people died as fire ripped through a Baghdad hospital for Covid-19 patients, sparking outrage and the suspension of top Iraqi officials.
- Vaccine surplus -
The first of nine airline container-loads of supplies from the UK, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators, was set to arrive in India early Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, pledging the UK would do "all it can" to help.
The White House said it was making vaccine-production material, therapeutics, tests, ventilators and protective equipment immediately available to India.
But it did not mention whether it would send any of the 30 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses it currently holds in surplus, sparking accusations of hoarding.
India's Hindu-nationalist government is facing growing criticism for allowing mass gatherings across the country in recent weeks, with millions attending religious festivals and thronging political rallies.
The glitzy Indian Premier League is also under pressure, with a leading newspaper suspending coverage over the IPL's decision to keep playing cricket during the latest wave, and star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin withdrawing to support his family during the pandemic.
On Sunday, Twitter confirmed it withheld dozens of tweets -- including from opposition lawmakers -- critical of the government's handling crisis after a legal demand from New Delhi.
- Fiji funeral -
Japan's annual "Golden Week" holiday got underway with new restrictions in Tokyo and Osaka, where shopping malls and department stores were asked to close and residents urged avoid non-essential travel.
Bars and restaurants selling alcohol have also been asked to shut early during the week -- usually Japan's busiest travel period -- which comes just under three months before the pandemic-postponed Olympics are due to get under way.
Fiji's capital Suva entered a 14-day lockdown Monday after detecting the first community transmission cases in 12 months following a funeral.
The tourism-dependent islands have recorded fewer than 100 cases and just two deaths in a population of 930,000, and the moves comes as a huge blow for hopes of opening quarantine-free travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand.
But Americans dreaming of Paris or Florence were given some hope when EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said US tourists vaccinated against Covid-19 would be able to visit the European Union in the coming months.
She gave no timetable, but told the New York Times that the new rules could be in place by this summer.
- 'In the flesh!' -
Motor racing fans also got a boost with the news a limited number of spectators could be allowed to attend the Monaco Grand Prix in May, Formula One chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said Sunday.
And another limited glimpse of pre-pandemic life was on display in the US, at an Oscars ceremony reuniting some of Hollywood's A-listers -- unmasked and vaccinated -- for the first time in more than a year.
"We're here, isn't it crazy?" said best actor nominee and "Sound of Metal" star Riz Ahmed. "Human beings in the flesh!"
