World Countries Information

                   

In order to navigate the world when you travel, you need to have information. Each of our drop down menus will take you to individual country where you will find out requirements you need before you travel: entry requrements, road travel hazards, crime rate, medical facilities,usa consulate information, locations and phone information. 

* Country Profile

On the following pages, you will find information about countries and their profiles:

Country Description

Entry Requirements

Crime Information

Road travel hazards

Medical Facilities

Drug Penalties

Country Profile, USA Consulate Locations

Contact Phone Numbers

vehicle drive train system

    The drive train of a motor vehicle is the group of components that deliver power to the driving wheels. This excludes the engine or motor that generates the power. In contrast, the power train is considered to include both the engine or motor and the drive train.  The drive train transfers turning force from the engine crankshaft to the drive wheels. Drive train configurations vary, depending on vehicle design.The most common drive train configurations are front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

The Long-Neck Padaung

      Around 50,000 Padaung people live in the thick forests west of the Salween River and around the Pekon Hills, in Kayah State and southern Shan State of eastern Myanmar.

History

Their traditional homeland is north-west of Loikaw town. Today they are concentrated in seven villages centred around their biggest village, Bangpe. Five hundred Padaung also live in Thailand, inhabiting three villages within Muang District of Mae Hong Son Province, very near the border with Myanmar. The Padaung first arrived in Thailand in 1988 when they fled fighting between Burmese troops and ethnic minorities in Kayah State.

In their own language the Padaung call themselves Kakaung, which means 'people who live on the hilltops'. The Padaung language is closely related to that of the Lahta tribe in Myanmar. It is part of the Karen branch of the Tibeto-Burman family.

Customs

DO-IT-YOURSELF: CHANGE YOUR OIL

Changing your car's oil yourself is not only a money saver; it's also a lot easier than it sounds! When it comes to automotive maintenance, safety always comes first. So whether you're a first timer or an old hand, go through these instructions to ensure you the safest and most efficient way to perform your oil change.

What You'll Need


Go to Pep Boys to get every thing you need to change your own oil.
4 to 6 quarts of motor oil, (check your owner's manual for the proper SAE viscosity, API performance and quantity required for your car’s engine.)
Oil filter.
Drain plug socket wrench or open-end wrench (exact size) and oil filter wrench.
Large drain pan, at least 5 to 7 quarts in capacity
Rags
Hand cleaning solution and/or disposable latex gloves
Funnel
Safety glasses
Ramps or Jack Stands

Shan (Dai) peacock (kinnari and kinnara) dance

     The peacock dance is one of the most wide-spread ancient dances of the Dai (shan) ethnic group in Myanmar and Yunnan Province on the southwest border of China . Tropical weather and nature have nourished the Dai people's tradition and culture. They share their land with creatures of great variety. The beauty and kindness of the peacock inspires the Dai culture to a great extent and the Dai consider the peacock as a Goddess that can bring them peace and happiness. They pray for peace and happiness with graceful peacock dancing.

The peacock dance is the best-loved dance of the Dai. To the Dai the peacock is a symbol of good luck, happiness, beauty and honesty, so to perform this dance is to present a eulogy of and express good wishes for a happy life. It is mostly performed on the New Year (Pi Mai Dai) of the Dai calendar, at the Gate Closing Festival, the Gate Opening Festival and some important religious events.

Dealing with Cultural Differences

       Dealing with Cultural Differences   
           

   How then do you deal with different customs in the business setting? Well, first of all you need to do your very own research on personal and business etiquette in the country you will be travelling to. You can use the Internet or buy a book, whichever you feel is most convenient. Before leaving for your business trip, make sure that you leave your attitude in your home country. Remember that even if you are superior at home, interacting with foreign cultures should always be on a humbled point of view for best results. It is also very important that you try to blend into the culture. Do not resist their food just because you do not like sushi, hold your negative feedback, and try to reach out to them the best that you can. 
Do not be surprised about how people conduct business in other countries. Germans, for example, discuss businesses strictly inside the meeting room, and never during meals. Japanese people exchange business cards, a process which seems almost ceremonial; the more you read the card, the more respectful you are. While you can never drink alcohol during negotiations in Australia, social drinking is encouraged in Russia.

International Culture: Respect is the Key to Successful International Business.

           

  If your kind of job involves dealing with international business negotiations, then the concept of respect for international culture should be the first thing you must keep in mind. Dealing with people from different countries can be a little difficult. Most often, what you have in common is too few when compared to your differences. The culture, standards, code of ethics, and traditions are altogether different. However, despite all these differences, ethics related to doing business and negotiations must persist.

                       What is international business culture all about?

Water festival

   The Water Festival is the New Year's  celebrations that take place in Southeast  Asian countries such as Burma,Cambodia,  Laos,a and Thailand as well as Yunan, China.  It is called the 'Water Festival' by Westerners  because people splash / pour water at one  another as part of the cleansing ritual to  welcome the new year. Traditionally people  gently sprinkled water on one another as a  sign of respect, but as the new year falls  during the hottest month in South East Asia, many people end up dousing strangers and passersby in vehicles in boisterous celebration. The act of pouring water is also a show of blessings and good wishes. It is believed that on this Water Festival, everything old must be thrown away, or it will bring the owner bad luck.

Local name festival

Cambodia 14 April 16 April

Pi Mai Lao Laos 12 April 15 April

Thingyan Myanmar 13 April 16 April

Aluth Avurudda Sri Lanka 14 April 14 April Songkran

Thailand 13 April 15 April