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Sensational Southeast Asia
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Dreaming of detailed ancient temples, bustling cities, and exotic bays lined with mysterious caves and floating villages? We are, too. Let us show you the splendor of Southeast Asia on this 13-day itinerary. With hotel accommodations, private guided sightseeing, and daily breakfast coordinated for you, Monograms makes your dream Southeast Asia adventure simple! Plus, we provide you with a Local Host® who can provide suggestions about what to see and do during your stay.Your vacation begins when you arrive in Hanoi. If you wish, we can transfer you seamlessly from the airport to your hotel. Your Local Host will greet you and provide you with details to help you navigate the city. The next morning, after included breakfast, you will take a private guided tour, stopping at all of Hanoi's must-see sites. You will explore the Old Quarter by electric car, visit the One Pillar Pagoda, and tour the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature. The next day, take a private transfer through the countryside to Ha Long Bay, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site that is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands. Upon your arrival, you will board an overnight cruise that will take you to explore the beaches, caves, and floating villages scattered throughout the bay. You may also choose to enjoy a traditional Vietnamese cooking demonstration while on board. You will disembark the following day to catch your flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.Once in Ho Chi Minh, you will take a private guided walking tour, strolling along Dong Khoi Street to see the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. You will also visit the moving War Remnants Museum and experience the Ben Thanh Market, the largest and oldest market in the city. This afternoon, explore on your own! On your second day in Ho Chi Minh, discover more than 120 miles of underground tunnels. These Cu Chi Tunnels were used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war. Then, you will fly from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap in neighboring Cambodia for private guided sightseeing that introduces you to some of the world's most incredible ancient ruins: the fantastically preserved Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom's Bayon Temple with its carved face images, the red sandstone Banteay Srei, and untouched Ta Prohm, where trunks and roots of massive trees can be seen growing over, around, and through the ruins.Your trip concludes with two days in Bangkok. Take a private guided tour including the Temple of the Dawn, whose 260-foot-tall spire has become identified with Bangkok; the Grand Palace; the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, painstakingly carved from a single block of jade; and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. Wait until you see the 49-foot-high and 151-foot-long massive Reclining Buddha! We've also included a boat ride through the klongs, Bangkok's canals, where you will see family homes, temples, and the local way of life.Monograms has assembled the best of Southeast Asia for you, so that all you have to do is remember your camera!
Monograms is all about connecting you to your destination with unmatched insider guidance and support to make travel a pleasure. With a team of local experts in each destination, your Monograms vacation includes local assistance and tips that only a local would know.
In addition to an expertly-planned vacation with great hotels and included sightseeing, Monograms means you'll get the VIP treatment from a team of local insiders who help you put your signature on your vacation.
Monograms greets you like a VIP when you arrive at your destination (Yes, that's your name on the welcome board!). You'll feel at ease in an instant.
Forget the stress of finding your way to your hotel. As our guest, we'll whisk you off with a friendly Monograms-operated transfer, which is included when you purchase your flights from Monograms.
Once you arrive at your hotel, your own Monograms Local Host® is there to greet you, help you get checked in, and share lots of destination insights with you to get your vacation started.
Get an insider's look at the must-see sights with the insight and knowledge of an expert Monograms Local Guide. Delight in the stares of regular tourists as they slide you past the line and right into the doorway with VIP access.
Your Monograms Local Host® can provide tips and suggestions and even help you book activities & excursions to make the most of your time at your destination, helping you drink in the local culture in just your style.
What better restaurant recommendations can you find than from a local who knows? From haute cuisine to hidden cafes, from street food to Michelin Stars, your Local Host® can give you the inside scoop on finding your favorite fare.
When your vacation includes traveling from one city to another, we'll get you to your train or plane, stress free with door-to-gate service. Your local Monograms team awaits your arrival at your next destination.
Monograms offers a range of amazing experiences you can add to your trip, vetted by our team and perfectly coordinated with your Monograms package. Add them before you leave or on trip with the help of your Local Host®.
Parting is such sweet sorrow. When you've explored all that you can explore and it's time to head home, your Local Host® will ensure a smooth departure, on time and on point, stress-free.
No trip to Southeast Asia is complete without coming face to face with the inimitable Angkor temple complex, so we include private guided sightseeing of the granddaddy of them all—Angkor Wat—as well as Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple!
Welcome to Vietnam! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
This morning, enjoy a PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR of the city. First, explore the ancient streets of the fascinating OLD QUARTER by electric car. Here, peddlers trade as they have for centuries. Then, visit the MAUSOLEUM and the humble cottage from which "Uncle Ho" ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: ONE PILLAR PAGODA and the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. Also, visit the ancient TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, more than 900 years old and Hanoi's first university.
Your private transfer takes you from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water. Upon arrival, board an OVERNIGHT CRUISE that takes you to explore the tunnels, caves, pristine beaches, and floating villages that are sprinkled across the bay. While on board, enjoy a TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE COOKING DEMONSTRATION with the ship's chef. You may also choose to relax with a spa treatment.
Early birds can participate in a TAI CHI DEMONSTRATION on the Sun Deck at the break of dawn. Disembark later this morning for a private transfer to Hanoi to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many.
Start your PRIVATE GUIDED SIGHTSEEING with a WALKING TOUR of the city's famous and historic landmarks as you stroll through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Next, visit the moving WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM, followed by bustling BEN THANH MARKET, the largest and oldest in the city. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore this lively city.
Today, enjoy a half-day PRIVATE GUIDED EXCURSION to the CU CHI TUNNELS, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for time at leisure this afternoon.
A short flight brings you to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples are unmatched among the world's ancient ruins.
Your PRIVATE GUIDED SIGHTSEEING starts at the best preserved of all the temples—ANGKOR WAT, which honors the Hindu god Vishnu. Next stop is ANGKOR THOM to see BAYON TEMPLE. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
This morning, explore more of the Angkor temple complex on a PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR. Visit BANTEAY SREI, a unique, small temple built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Then, on to TA PROHM, which has been left relatively untouched, unlike many other temples. Here, the jungle surrounds you, and tree roots grow over and through the ruins. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Today, fly to Bangkok, Thailand's capital city.
Today's PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR starts with a BOAT RIDE through the klongs, Bangkok's canals, to see family homes, temples, and the way of life that gives this city the nickname "Venice of the East." Stop at Wat Arun, the TEMPLE OF THE DAWN, whose 260-foot-tall spire has become identified with Bangkok. Continue on to the GRAND PALACE, comprised of the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA. Also visit the TEMPLE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It houses more than 1,000 Buddha images, including the 49-foot-high and 151-foot-long massive Reclining Buddha.
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore on your own.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
When your vacation includes traveling from one city to another, your local Monograms team makes it an absolute breeze! We'll get to your train or plane, stress free and on time with door-to-gate service. And your local Monograms team awaits your arrival as soon as you pull into your next destination.
Private airport transfers to/from all intra-vacation flights; private vehicle transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and back; intra-vacation flights not included
Monograms offers an impressive choice of hotels pre-selected for their location, amenities and service. When booking your package check to see what other hotels are available for your dates. Some hotels may not be available for this package.
*You may need to zoom the map out to see all available hotels.
Check-in Time: 14:00
Check-out Time: 12:00
Address: 195-199 Hang Bong Street Hanoi, Vietnam
Find yourself in the refined elegance of the Silk Path Hotel located in the historic Silk district of Hanoi. This chic and sophisticated boutique hotel has an essence of classic luxury mixed with rich oriental heritage. The professional staff is ready to provide exceptional service to make all guests feel welcome. Guestrooms at the Silk Path are tastefully decorated and include modern amenities for your convenience. With two bars and two restaurants, the Silk Path Hotel is equipped to serve your every need.
On the edge of Hanoi's fascinating Old Quarter close to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of Literature.
Gracefully designed rooms on higher-floors include modern furnishings and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Check-in Time: 12:00
Check-out Time: 11:00
Address: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Built in oriental style with contemporary luxury, Bhaya Cruises has established a new standard of cruising in Vietnam. The four Bhaya Classic vessels have a total 75 cabins and proudly present a premium cruise experience in Ha Long Bay.
The comfortable cabins feature ensuite bathroom with shower and hairdryer and complimentary bottled water.
Address: 22 - 24, Thi Sách, Ben Nghé Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The Paragon Saigon Hotel features a sleek, modern design. Enjoy sweepings views of the Saigon city from the rooftop pool, or indulge in a treatment at the spa. The hotel's central location makes it a perfect base to explore this bustling city.
Located in District 1, this spa hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Ben Thanh Market and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Deluxe rooms are stylishly decorated in warm earthy colors and feature a city view, air conditioning, flatscreen satellite TV, and free WI-FI.
Address: Krom 6, Phoum Sala Kanseng Sangkat Svay Dangkum Siem Reap, Cambodia
The newly opened Saem Siemreap Hotel features elegant Khmer architecture. After a day of sightseeing, relax in the outdoor salt water pool, enjoy a massage at the spa, or sip afternoon tea in the lobby bar.
Located in the city center, the hotel is just 5 minutes from the busy downtown and pub street, and a 15 minute drive from Angkor Wat UNESECO Heritage Site.
Comfortable rooms are equipped with air condition, flat-screen TV, and free WI-FI.
Check-in Time: 12:00
Check-out Time: 14:00
Address: 51 Soi Prat Bangkok, Thailand
Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Sathorn is a comfortable and modern hotel just steps from many dining and entertainment choices on Silom Road. The hotel is situated nearby a SkyTrain stop, offering access to the city's center and major attractions such as The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha,and Erawan Shrine.
Located in the middle of Bangkok's Sathorn business district and Silom entertainment hub with easy access to the city center.
Rooms are modernly decorated with unique artwork painting various scenes of life in Bangkok and offer free WI-FI and cable TV.
Check-in Time: 14:00
Check-out Time: 11:00
Address: 15 Ngo Quyen Street Hanoi, Vietnam
This award winning French colonial style hotel is located in the heart of downtown Hanoi. The Opera Wing guestrooms feature a neo classic elegance, Sofitel's MyBed, and complimentary WiFi Internet access. After a long day take a dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool or visit the luxurious Le Spa du Metropole for an holistic spa treatment. The hotel features three on site restaurants offering fine French, Italian, and local cuisine along with three bars offering great choices for a night cap to a day of exploring.
In the heart of the city within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Hanoi Opera House.
Rooms in the new Opera wing include plush Sofitel MyBeds and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Address: 1 Thanh Nien Road; Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam
Contemporarily elegant and tastefully decorated, the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi offers a genuine experience of sophistication and luxury. Within the elegant interiors, enjoy a contemporary aesthetic blended with beautiful Vietnamese touches and stately furnishings. Whether you choose to try the authentic dim sum dishes from Ming Restaurant or the international buffet at Brasserie Westlake, you will dine in comfort. Soothe tired muscles and step into an oasis of relaxation with a pampering massage or swim in the pool with retractable roof. The well-equipped fitness center offers guests modern facilities and various scheduled sessions of yoga, pilates, and aerobics.
Ideally located within walking distance to the city center and Hanoi's Old Quarter, the hotel showcases panoramic views of the city.
Each of the 273 rooms blends modern Parisian aesthetic with Vietnamese charm. Surround yourself in luxury accommodation with stately furnishings, comfortable signature Sofitel MyBed, complimentary Wi-Fi, high definition LCD TV, and nightly turndown service. Gaze out upon incredible vistas from the frameless panoramic windows of your room.
Check-in Time: -
Check-out Time: -
Paradise Luxury I, II, III & IV were built according to the traditional Vietnamese design and present a lavish design blending in subtle harmony with the natural environment. The four Paradise Luxury vessels offer 68 luxurious cabins as well as an exciting array of activities to be enjoyed while experiencing the spectacular scenery of the "Bay of Descending Dragons".
Each cabin features a private balcony, ensuite bathroom with shower, and complimentary bottled water.
Address: Corner Ha Ba Trung St and Le Duan Blvd Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
InterContinental Asiana Saigon is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel features spacious rooms with separate bath and shower, a full service spa, outdoor pool, and a fitness center. Other amenities include three restaurants, a lounge, and a bar.
In the city center within walking distance to Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Basilica, and Diamond Plaza. Many shops and restaurants are also nearby.
Rooms are equipped with LCD televisions with premium cable channels, DVD players, and beds with pillow top mattresses. Bathrooms offer separate bath and rain shower. Additional amenities include slippers and complimentary bottled water.
Address: 59-61 Pasteur Street District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel is contemporarily designed with modern rooms and offers guests the utmost in quality, comfort and convenience. Unwind after a day of sightseeing at the café, restaurant or bar and check out the pool deck for incredible views of the metropolis below. Hit the gym, complete with sauna and steam room, or pamper yourself in luxury at their spa.
Located in the city center, the Hotel is within walking distance of Le Loi Boulevard and many of Ho Chi Minh City's key points of interest and nightlife venues.
Guestrooms are built for comfort and relaxation and feature abundant natural light and plush bedding to ensure a restful stay. The captivating panoramic views also offer great views over the city.
Address: Sivutha Blvd Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Park Hyatt, Siem Reap is the city's most prestigious address and perfect base to explore the Temples of Angkor. Located in the heart of the city, this award winning hotel blends an elegant and contemporary design to create an enlivening resort and residential feel. From the second you arrive you will be welcomed by true Cambodian hospitality and superb service. The stylish guestrooms offer a refined home away from home with all the amenities one would expect from a deluxe hotel. The luxurious collection of accommodation is matched by stylish dining venues that offer fresh, flavorful, well-presented dishes of French and Indochine inspirations. Lighter fare is also offered at The Glass House, the onsite deli-patisserie. Discerning travelers will appreciate the other amenities on offer. Relax by one of the two pools or in the inviting Living Room lounge and bar, get in a work out in the fitness center, or visit The Spa for holistic therapies and treatments using only locally harvested floral and aromatic ingredients.
Located in the heart of Siem Reap the hotel offers easy access to the Angkor temple complex and is just a 10-minute walk to the night market and popular pub street.
Guestrooms feature Khmer-inspired contemporary art, custom furniture and decor that creates an exotic, resort-like ambience. Each spacious room also features a sitting area, complimentary Wi-Fi access, welcome fruits that are replenished daily, and bathrooms with Italian marble, dual vanities, and separate bathtub and rain shower.
Address: National Road 6, 0369, Bantay Siem Reap, Cambodia
Aptly named after 'a territory of Angkor' in Cambodian, Borei Angkor Resort & Spa is a truly Cambodian hotel set in the heart of Siem Reap with easy access to the Angkor Temple complex and only 5 minutes from Pub Street with shops and restaurants. The hotel features many amenities for a comfortable stay including an outdoor pool, spa, fitness center, restaurant, and bar.
Located just 5 minutes from the center of Siem Reap with easy access to the Angkor temple complex, Pub Street, and the night market.
Rooms are inspired by Angkorian architecture and decorated with Cambodian silk products, assorted handicraft, and wooden floor. A private balcony overlooks the refreshing pool.
Address: 180/1 Surawong Road, Sipraya, Bangrak Bangkok, Thailand
Set in the historic district of Bangkrak, known for its diverse local street food and exciting nightlife, this property affords easy access to enjoy the capital city. Savor the urban views from the rooftop pool or keep fit at the well-equipped gym.
This hotel is part of the historic Bangkrak district, and a 15 minute drive from the airport and Chinatown.
All rooms are decorated with original Thai art prints and feature WI-FI, flat-screen TV, and rainfall showerheads.
Address: 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Rd Bangkok, Thailand
Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this luxury hotel boasts gorgeous views of the natural side of Bangkok. A BTS station is adjacent, allowing easy access to the city's main sites like the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.
This property is located along the river and adjacent to public transportation.
Each room offers a river or city view and is designed with Thai-inspired décor with contemporary accents. Amenities include premium Shangri-La toiletries, rainshower, free WI-FI, and flatscreen TV.
No matter what you're into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else,
we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination,
so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities.
Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value.
Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences.
We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you're booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following activities & excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Activities and Excursions are available for purchase on our MyMonograms site as soon as initial deposit or payment is received.
Hop aboard a traditional Cambodian watercraft and set out with an expert Local Guide to explore life on Tonle Sap-the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia!
Price Range: $$$
Step back in time as we introduce you to the wonders of Khmer music, dance, and cuisine. We'll transport you to the beautiful Angkor Village Resort for a tantalizing dinner of authentic Cambodian dishes. Then, ancient Khmer culture comes to life during a brilliant Apsara dance performance, an artform based on the bas-reliefs found at Angkor Wat. Marvel at the graceful, sinuous hand gestures that tell the stories from classical mythology.
Price Range: $$$$
'Enjoy the performance of the Circus of Battambang now in Siem Reap! Phare Ponleu Selpak, meaning "the brightness of art", originated in 1986 in Site 2 Refugee Camp on the Thai border.
We combine history, culture, cuisine, and beautiful river scenery on this romantic cruise down the Chao Phraya River aboard a converted rice barge.
Price Range: $$
We'll show you a unique, from-the-river perspective of Bangkok's captivating beauty on this unforgettable dinner cruise. Embark your water craft and relax as you float peacefully along the Chao Phraya River past the city's most popular attractions.
Immerse yourself in the wonder of Siam Niramit (the Enchanted Kingdom), one of the largest stage productions on the planet.
Imagine a grocery-shopping trip where you have to flag down the merchants as they float by on boats. No, it's not a Wonderland-style flight of fancy, but a traditional way of buying and selling colorful fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers, and sweets since the 19th century. Later, visit Nakhon Pathom to see Phra Pathom Chedi, one of the tallest Buddhist stupas in the world. Stop for lunch at the picturesque Sampran Riverside Resort, and visit Patom Organic Village.
If you love art, antiques, and fantastic architecture - as well as a good mystery - then our excursion to the Jim Thompson House & Museum is a must.
On this poignant tour, we'll introduce you to fascinating but seldom-taught parts of World War II history. A highlight of this excursion is a train ride along the historic railway, a somber reminder of the thousands of POWs and forced Asian laborers who lost their lives during the railroad's construction.
Monograms provides travellers access to a Local Host®, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Hanoi. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host about Hanoi and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host will share local Hanoi, Vietnam insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
I was born in 1976 and attended at Hanoi University of Foreign Studies and completing a BA in English & Bachelor of Economics (Tourism Department). Since 2003 I have been a licensed guide in the city of Hanoi. I enjoy being a Local Host and look forward to showing you all that Hanoi has to offer.
Hanoi's lively Old Quarter is famous for its small artisans and merchants including many silk shops. At the beginning of the 20th century, each of the 36 streets that today make up the Old Quarter, had merchants and households that specialized in a particular trade such as silk, cotton, leather, silver etc. These days the street names reflect these specializations although few of them remain exclusively in their original commerce. Local cuisine specialties as well as several clubs and bars can be found here as well as a night market open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening with a variety of clothing, souvenirs and food.
Meaning Lake of the Returned Sword or Lake of the Restored Sword, Hoan Kiem Lake in the historical center of the city, is a lovely place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere or to take a leisurely stroll. It is one of Hanoi's major scenic spots and a focal point of public life. There are some good photo opportunities around the shores of the lake.
Monograms provides travellers access to a Local Host®, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Ho Chi Minh City. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host® about Ho Chi Minh and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host® will share local Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
After gaining an English degree in 1997, I graduated from the College of Tourism in 1998. I started working as a guide in Ho Chi Minh City in 2002. We have a saying in Vietnam that says "the more you travel, the more you learn." I love to travel not only through all of my beloved country, but also to other Asian countries. I also love my profession and am happy to serve and assist you in any possible way to make your trip in Vietnam enjoyable and memorable.
Home to the infamous "Five O'clock follies" and a favorite hangout for American officers during the Vietnam War, this rooftop bar still evokes memories of a time long past. The furnishings are a bit kitschy, but that is part of the charm. Stop for a drink or dinner and enjoy the great city views.
Cholon is the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City and gets its name from Cho Lon, which means "big market" in Chinese. This intriguing area is teaming with restaurants, temples, shops, and buzzing markets. The two primary markets are Binh Tay and Ben Thanh. These massive markets offer similar products and are a great place to experience the local culture, browse the many stalls, and sample great authentic local cuisine.
This city comes alive at night, and a "cyclo" ride is the perfect way to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Sitting in the front of this 3-wheeled bicycle gives you a great view as you slowly meander through the streets. Although a rare occurrence, some "cyclo" riders may try to charge you too much or take you to places you don't want to go, so make sure to negotiate the price and clearly state your destination before the ride begins.
Running from the Notre Dame Cathedral to the waterfront, this shopping area is well known for the quality of its goods. Here you can buy custom made silk garments that rival those of Hong Kong for a reasonable price. The workmanship is extraordinary. Among other items for sale are jewelry, handbags, tablecloths, ceramics, and scarves. If shopping isn't your thing, this is still a great place to take a stroll to explore the city.
This popular rooftop bar, in the iconic Caravelle Hotel, offers sweeping views of Ho Chi Minh City. Stop by for a drink at dusk and enjoy the spectacular view as the sun sets and the city lights up. Live music is featured nightly. You don't have to dress up, but no shorts please.
Ton That Thien Street is a great place to shop for Vietnamese and propaganda posters. You can also find funky lacquer ware and costume jewelry shops.
Monograms provides travellers access to a Local Host®, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Siem Reap. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host® about Siem Reap and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host ®will share local Siem Reap insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
Hi, I'm Bunrith. I was born in Siem Reap and spent all my time there until I graduated high school in 1993. My first job was with a hotel and later, in 1998, I became a guide. I have been a full-time guide since and enjoy showing guests my home city and the surrounds.
Located in the French Quarter of Siem Reap, Psar Chaa or "Old Market" is where locals come to shop for their everyday needs. As with many local markets, Psar Chaa is a great place to wander around and mix with the locals. It is also the best place to sample authentic Khmer food, which has much in common with Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Rice is the main staple and is often served with pork or fish. Noodles are also popular, as is curry. But for the more adventurous, try the spiced frog, a very satisfying meal. You will also find plenty of shops catering to tourists with items like t-shirts, maps, books, and Buddha heads—all for much less than you would pay in a store. Be prepared to haggle!
Distinctly different from Psar Chaa or "Old Market," the colorful Night Market was created for tourists. Here you will find stalls selling every type of souvenir you can imagine. There is also a bar and a movie mall at one end. It is located close to the main street that is lined with restaurants and bars, so it makes for a good walk after dinner.
Inspired by old Shanghai this bar is one of Siem Reap's newest additions. The cherry-red lantern that dangles from the doorway beckons passers-by. Inside, slip into one of the intimate leather booths for an Indochine Martini, a mixture of vodka, ginger cognac and fresh pineapple juice.
Visit the newly opened Angkor National Museum. In eight chronologically ordered galleries many Angkor-era artifacts are on display. Several multi-media presentations give an understanding about Angkor history and culture.
Monograms provides travellers access to a Local Host®, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Bangkok. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host about Bangkok and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host will share local Bangkok insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
I'm Kong. Since 1988, I have worked as a guide and in 2006 I was voted Best Tour Guide (English speaking) at the Thailand Tourism Awards. I love to teach others about Thai culture and how to speak some key words and phrases in Thai. I am approachable and energetic and interactions with my guests are one of the favorite parts of what I do. I look forward to sharing my knowledge of Bangkok with you.
You may decide you can't get enough of the delicious local flavors, and if that's the case, spend half a day at The Blue Elephant to learn how to prepare authentic Thai at home. This cooking school takes you through the entire process—from shopping at a market to enjoying your dishes. While it's somewhat more expensive than a half day of museums and lunch, the long-term benefits are immense.
Lumpini Park is an inner-city haven of peace, fresh air and greenery – inviting visitors to connect with nature or enjoy outdoor leisure activities. Named after the birthplace of the Lord Buddha in Nepal, the park is a shady oasis home to various flora and fauna including the eccentric water monitor lizard.
Grease the elbows and stretch the knees; it's time for a hectic shopping experience. There's something for everyone here—from the bargain-hunter to the clinically fashionable. Clothing, jewelry, crafts, and much more are on full display in this busy area. Make sure you venture behind the street-front vendors to Pratunam Market for international goods. Keep in mind, bargaining here is more about being friendly and respectful.
With an old school feel, the Apoteka Lux Bar is based on an outdated word for pharmacist and emulates a 19th century apothecary. Come for the live music or grab a spot at the patio for a nice place to curl up for a romantic night or meet some friends.
Bangkok is blessed with several "Sky High" options where you can have dinner and/or drinks with a stunning view over the city. Check out the Octave Rooftop Bar and Lounge on the 45th floor of the Marriot Hotel Sukhumvit for a great sunset or romantic meal with the only 360 degree view of Bangkok. Be prepared to pay a little more but it's worth it!
There are countless places offering traditional Thai massage in Bangkok. One of the best choices is the Thai Massage School at Wat Pho. Many of the local masseuse and masseurs were taught here, and you can get a 1-hour massage for $15 to $20 USD. You can also learn the techniques for yourself!
These small 3-wheeled vehicles are an interesting way to get around and should be tried by anyone traveling to Bangkok. Make sure to negotiate the fare before sitting down.
To help you plan for your trip, below are weather averages for your destination. While we cannot predict the weather you will encounter while you are there, we want to help you plan for your vacation as best we can!
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- mct
new proposals[edit]
- v: this proposal is very modest, we need more coatracks.
- scott: has a lot of power tools, wants to donate, but doesn't want them to disappear. wants to build lockers.
- mik: tiered access, people should be vouched for before they can use the space for more than two hours
- monad: identify what is hackable, what isn't
- james: internet cafe terminal kinda thing. e.g. 2x3 grid of terminals. idea posted online.
- JC: can we try and focus on physical access stuff this week?
- jarrod: Clean Machine. cleaning sprint? or gradual reduction of mess impact coupled w/ spot cleaning efforts (e.g. CAD/CAM, sewing, etc).
- jarrod: related to cleaning -- The Hack Shelves... define a process for excoriating cruft
- leif: you don't need consensus to DO stuff. you need consensus to (say) define span of time in which only ppl working on these things can be here.
- james: Dub Rack. falls into the "something nice in the space" category (implying questions of how to protect/maintain).
- monad: "Limit" to what ppl bring in. Everything ppl bring in to leave here needs to have a DATE on it.
- JC: have an "intake" process (so that we can more easily process, get rid of cruft, etc).
- mik: the rabble thinks NB is a place to come hang out. Ppl get buzzed in w/o being greeted, enculturated, etc.
- JC: if you buzz someone in, you should greet them at the door.
- leif: NB is not going to be amenable to NOT being open to the public.
- v: people need to be introduced to the
- martin: we sure do talk about this a lot.
- naomi: post a list of procedures next to the buzzer! (ACTION ITEM)
- JC: how do we make MORE USE of the space?
- justin: how about a kiosk that is ONLY for greeting people at the door?
- james: that's similar to my Proposal.
- naomi: this is a hackerspace... single purpose computers tend not to stay that way.
- cynthia: use of pesticides in the kitchen is a problem. diatomaceous earth?
CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS v: PPL who hack the things that we need. mik: The Occupiers, The Homeless People, ppl who treat this place as a shelter.
- JC: the Red Shirt project seems to help a lot.
james: keep accessibility for ppl from all walks of life. mischief: (response to v): public terminals leif: I'm concerned about ppl being here to make others feel uncomfortable. Reminds us that everyone's empowered to ask ppl to leave. The check on that awesome power is allowing those ppl to come to meetings to discuss.
general candid discussion of comfort level (or lack thereof) in Noisebridge.
- scott: Woodshop! Control access to "toys".
- leif: How would you distribute access? (If it's too restrictive, you're just keeping your stuff at NB.)
- scott: open to suggestions.
- mik: despair "6 and a half days after printer was set up with Do Not Hack, the table was gone!"
- monad: we need to try SOMETHING!
- naomi: let's keep the perspective of increasing friction to things getting hacked, not "preventing" thefts/hacking/etc
- JC: safety concerns go hand in hand with access controls. Scott strongly concurs.
- leif: TechShop has an awesome waiver. If you want to work in a place like that, go there.
- mik: ppl use "do ocracy" as an excuse not an obligation.
- JC: maybe ppl who use NB *can* have nice things!
- naomi: ppl who are members and have time and energy to invest should realize they have an advantage over ppl who hack opportunistically. you can plan protection/access control into your project.
Let's DO things!
- JC: welcome desk.
- naomi: SIGNAGE. And, take down crufty materials that compete for people's attention.
- dana: improving the buzzer! an LED board you can program from IRC (for example).
- Monad has a TRAILER that will allow movement of trash, which we are already inundated with (and will have more of as we Rebase).
- james: Get rid of old furniture.
- JC: move the *lounge* up to the front.
- dana: make a list of equipment we can fix (on the wiki on TuneUp)
- JC: wants to go through electronics bench. COLORED STICKERS for triage:
green = Working yellow = Can Be Fixed red = Junk
bonus round[edit]
- mct: rip out the kitchen!?
- james: what if the kitchen was cleaned out on a regular basis (bleached, etc)... hire someone?

subset: commoncrawl


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Steve Dowling is Apple's vice president of Communications, reporting to CEO Tim Cook.
Dowling is responsible for Apple's worldwide media relations and communications strategy, leading the public relations team as well as employee communications and corporate events. He previously led Apple's corporate public relations team for ten years.
Before joining Apple in 2003, Dowling worked as a broadcast journalist at CNBC, first as a writer and producer in the network's Washington, D.C. bureau.
He later established CNBC's Silicon Valley bureau and served as bureau chief.
A native of Massachusetts, Dowling holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.


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- Holds 20 Oz.
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Chicago Fire
From renowned Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer Dick Wolf ("Law & Order" brand) and creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the writing team behind "3:10 to Yuma," comes Season 5 of the high-octane drama "Chicago Fire," an edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America's noblest professions. The firefighters, Rescue Squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51 risk their lives week in and week out to save and protect the citizens of their incredible city.
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"From the first time we met, he was fearful that he would be killed. He believed that Jerry Sandusky could have him killed."
That powerful quote describes the constant fear "Victim 1" reportedly lived in after he came forward with claims that Penn State's former assistant football coach sexually abused him.
In a heartbreaking interview, USA Today spoke with Michael Gillum, the psychologist who counseled the now-18-year-old called "Victim 1" and helped him to come forward.
While Gillum acknowledged Sandusky made no such threats against his patient, he said "Victim 1" lived in "extreme fear" of the anonymous threats he received once his name was linked to the investigation.
He and his mother were harassed by locals who were furious the boy's claims led to Sandusky being severed from the school, Gillum told USA Today.
"We started putting a (witness) relocation plan together almost from the first week," Gillum told USA Today. "There was huge fear."
Sandusky was convicted last month of 45 counts of child sex abuse. Since then, other top Penn State officials including legendary football coach Joe Paterno have been blamed in an independent report for allegedly sweeping the initial allegations of abuse under the rug to protect Sandusky and the Penn State football program.
Gillum first met the unnamed teenager on Nov. 20, 2008 when he and his mother approached the Clinton County Children and Youth Social Services office after counselors at the boy's school cautioned him against immediately reporting the abuse to authorities.
"He was so anxious, he was shaking," Gillum told USA Today, adding that the boy spent two hours detailing the "incidents of fondling, kissing and other inappropriate contact," the boy experienced with Sandusky.
The county report filed after this interview spurred Sandusky's forced separation from Penn State, which in turn led to widespread anger directed at "Victim 1," according to Gillum.
Unfortunately "Victim 1," as well as Sandusky's other accusers, aren't alone.
The Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America have recently been plagued by claims leaders sexually abused children and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in four women and one in six men are sexually abused before age 18, USA Today reported.
Read the full story over at USA Today >
Watch the full interview, courtesy of USA Today:


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I'm currently working with a gorgeous bride-to-be who wants a traditional Southern style wedding that whispers elegance. Southern weddings are all about details, mason jars, and a rustic/vintage feel and look. Today I'm showing you ways you can display flowers using mason jars, cake stands, apothecary jars, and even getting creative by placing floral displays on oval trays covered in lace, on rustic bookshelves, and so on. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do!
Although every care has been taken to credit the source images, some images did not have a source. Please let me know if you are the owner of a picture and I'll give you credit. Martha Stewart, One Wed, Whimsical Gatherings, Enchanted Florist
Tags: inspiration, wedding trends


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Ask a Cicerone: What People Get Wrong About Beer
Beer tips from the experts.
This week, we asked our crew of beer experts to sound off about people's misconceptions about beer. What myths and assumptions drive them crazy? Here's what they had to say...
"Even though the craft beer movement has made remarkable strides over the last decade or more, mainstream alcohol drinkers still have a core misperception about beer. And that is that beer is basically a one-dimensional beverage. Or maybe two dimensions, at best—it's either the bland, yellow fizzy stuff or it's 'too bitter.' This makes sense, in that so many people either experience beer as the macro-brewed light lager of Bud Light or when someone (a craft beer lover maybe?) drops a 120 IBU triple India Pale Ale on them and their inexperienced tongue shrivels in horror. Of course, we beer lovers know better. We know beer to be a staggeringly diverse world of flavors and aromas and characters and backstories. The trick is inviting our wine friends or Bud Light friends into this dazzling world of choice carefully and logically. Don't start with the 120 IBU triple IPA brewed with jalapeno peppers. Find styles that give a drinkable, fun introduction to hops and to malt.—Charles Coy (The Corner, Santa Monica, CA)
"An unfortunate misperception about beer is that it only goes with pizza, wings, and pretzels. Much to the contrary, there are too many fantastic beer and food pairing combinations to count, and beer is arguably a better beverage for cheese pairing than wine, with the carbonation cleansing the palate between each bite and setting up the taste buds for the next cheese."—Rob Hill (Total Wine & More)
"Wine is not more 'classy' than beer. Minutes, hours, months and sometimes years of dedication and fine tuning are poured into the creation of both of these wonderful liquids, and craft beer should be treated the same way as wine—correct glassware, serving temperature, tasting technique, pairings."—Becki Kregoski (Bites 'n Brews)
"As a brewer, I get a lot of people who want to know the ABV or the IBU. These stats are less important to enjoying the experience, but we want measureables, it's part of our nature maybe. I try to steer people away from this and get them talking about what they enjoy about the flavor or aroma or the tactile sensation they are experiencing. This discourse is much more interesting and gets people thinking differently about what they're drinking. I think when people get over the notion they could be 'wrong' about what they're tasting, we can stop discussing the lab numbers. If you're tasting it, it's not wrong."—John Wyzkiewicz (Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant)
"I would probably say they judge a beer by its color way to often. It's always fun to try to get the customer to try a beer with their eyes closed and then watch them say, 'Wow, I normally don't drink dark beer.'"—Bryan Rounds (Central Coast Distributing)
"What brewers get wrong: Thinking that more is better. There's a difference between complex and obnoxious. We need more well-made session beers, because let's face it, even pale ale still intimidates 90% of American beer drinkers."—Aaron Libera (Sanford Homebrew Shop)
"The one I hear most often: 'Cold beer that warms up will get skunky.' People ask 'Where do you keep the warm beer? I don't want cold beer to warm up on the way home.' Skunkiness is caused by one thing and that is light exposure. Temperature fluctuations that are not extreme won't have much of an effect on beer. And for freshness sake you are always better off buying cold beer even if you are going to allow it to return to room temperature. Cold beer ages slower and stays fresher longer."—Chris Kline (Schnuck Markets)
"Here's one I come across a lot in this time of IPA domination: equating hoppiness with bitterness. We're seeing liberally dry-hopped beers boom in popularity, which can be absolutely packed with hop flavor and have very little perceptible bitterness. Many of the folks I speak to who 'hate hoppy beers' are sensitive to beers with a bitter finish. Don't hate the hops, hate the early hop additions!"—Mike Reis (Lime Ventures)
"Pretty much everything that a beer commercial tells people: beer should be ice cold, beer is for partying, beer should have no aftertaste, you should be loyal to one brand of beer. Things are changing, but for the most part people don't really know what beer is."—Jesse Vallins (The Saint Tavern)
"It never ceases to amaze me how often I hear beer geeks speak disparagingly about lighter beers or well balanced session beers just because they're not extreme in some way. To me, it's really nice have several pints of a well crafted session beer. There's a time and place for every good beer and no reason to trash talk entire styles. In fact, the best way to learn to appreciate craft beer and the many flavor profiles and classic styles that are available is to purposely challenge yourself—try new beers, analyze them as objectively as possible, and appreciate them for what they are."—Chris Cohen (San Francisco Homebrewers Guild)
99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer. Take one down and tell us what you think of it on Twitter or Facebook.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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In conjunction with the firm's global trademark, patent, employment/labour and litigation and dispute resolution practice groups, our European attorneys advise clients on strategies to protect and exploit their intellectual property, protect themselves from intellectual property claims and resolve disputes.
Drawing from their practical experience and the firm's strong litigation resources, our lawyers provide advice on the structuring of intellectual property licensing programmes, development of copy control technologies, digital rights management issues, deployment of encryption technologies, equipment safety regulations, technology export issues, clean room procedures for technology development, the risks of peer-to-peer networking, the implications of using "open source" software code, domain name and trademark registration, copyright and confidential information-related issues.
Unsolicited e-mails and information sent to Morrison & Foerster will not be considered confidential, may be disclosed to others pursuant to our Privacy Policy, may not receive a response, and do not create an attorney-client relationship with Morrison & Foerster. If you are not already a client of Morrison & Foerster, do not include any confidential information in this message. Also, please note that our attorneys do not seek to practice law in any jurisdiction in which they are not properly authorized to do so.
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Crawfish Boil
1505 W Highway 290 Dripping Springs, TX 78620 At Hill Country Care, we focus on providing the highest standards of clinical and compassionate care. We are committed to creating a caring environment that feels like home and treasures you like family. This means that all residents receive personalized care along with their medical and rehabilitation treatments. We also strive to provide meaningful activities that stimulate your mind and strengthen your body. We have delicious food, offering customized meals if needed. Come see how our compassionate staff will provide continuous encouragement for regaining or maintaining your desired level of health.


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Initiating Devices
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Water Flow Switch and PIV Switches - Initiating Devices
An initiating device can be just about anything that initiates an alarm, supervisory, or trouble signal in terms of a fire system. Fire alarm initiating devices include smoke and heat detectors, manual pull stations, water flow switches, and valve tamper switches. Your local building and fire code will dictate to you how many initiating devices should be installed within you commercial building or office. In addition, the National Fire Alarm Code publishes requirements that will tell you how and under what conditions the fire initiating devices must be installed.
Under this category HomeSecurityStore.com has a selection of water flow switches and valve supervisory switches made by Potter. First, a water flow switch is a device that is mounted on the main fire sprinkler pipe for the building (and in some case secondary as well). Here is how such a water flow switch works – The device has a plastic paddle that sticks into the pipe through a small hole. When a fire sprinkler activates, water flows through the pipe and out the sprinkler. In turn, the water flow switch paddle is deflected by the running water. This movement triggers the switch to close and then send an alarm signal to the building fire alarm control panel. In most jurisdictions, the water flow switch also sounds a special bell or horn outside the building that should notify emergency responders both that the alarm is coming from that location and that there is a water flow signal, which means the event is less likely to be a false alarm.
Minimal Price: $22.01


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Grace Evangelical Church, 206 N. 14 th St., presents the Songfellows in concert at 6 p.m. June 30 in the church sanctuary. Refreshments will be served after the program. A love offering will be taken during the concert. Call 704-629-3219.
New Life Baptist, 614 S. 11 th St., holds its weekly prayer meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday featuring the Rev. Charles Fite. The church operates a 24-hour prayer line, 704-874-1490.
Saint James Missionary Baptist holds the 20 th Pastoral Anniversary Banquet for Pastor Wayne Love and First Lady Minister Audrey Love at 6 p.m. June 22 at St. John Missionary Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1282 Bradford Heights Road, Gastonia. Tickets are $25 for ages 10 and older. The speaker will be the Rev. Roger Fuller of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist, Cherryville. Call Pastor Aid Secretary, Sister Denise Ijames, 704-747-6300 or Pastor Aid President, Minister Nellie Floyd, 704-729-6270. Cards, well wishes and donations may be mailed to Pastor Wayne A. Love, P.O. Box 1438, Bessemer City, NC 28016.
Cramerton Temple of God Holiness Church, 5021 Wilkinson Blvd., holds a special observance of Father�s Day at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Life Church, 501 Cramer Mountain Road, hosts the Cure for Camden Corn hole Tournament from 10 to 11 a.m. June 22 in the gym. Registration takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. and then bags fly at noon. Cost is $10 per person to play and the tournament is a blind draw. Trophies will be awarded. Hot dog plates will be sold for $5 each. Camden, 4, was diagnosed in 2012. Since then he and his family have had to make regular trips to Washington, DC for treatment and he will need a kidney and liver transplant in the future.
Puett United Methodist Church, 3009 Dallas-Cherryville Highway, serves up an all-you-can eat breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 2-12. For more information, call 704-922-7301.
Center Baptist, 3301 S New Hope Road, holds the �Fruit of the Spirit� program at 3 p.m. June 23, hosted by t he Pastor�s Aide Ministry.
Epworth United Methodist, 1325 Linwood Road, holds a yard sale from 7 a.m. to noon June 29. Proceeds will support the youth mission trip.
Firestone Wesleyan, 1700 Union Road, holds a Women At Risk International Jewelry Party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Income generated through jewelry parties supports safehouses or funds other projects directly impacting at-risk women and children around the world. The following classes are being offered on Sundays at Firestone: Financial Peace University (cost of kit is $89) from 5 to 7 p.m.; Divorce Care (cost of workbook is $15) from 6 to 7 p.m.; Single & Parenting (cost of workbook is $15) from 6 to 7 p.m. A yard sale/car wash will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 to raise money for Youth Camp. Tables are available to rent for yard sale items. For more information about any of these events, contact the church office at 704-865-4572.
First Baptist, 2650 Union Road, presents �Experiencing God� Bible study beginning July 14. This study will run for 13 weeks and will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sundays. Study books will be available for $12 each. Call 704-865-8576.
Friendship Christian Church, 221 W. Bradley St., celebrates the 24 th pastoral anniversary of Bishop John and First Lady Dekota McCullough. First Lady�s Night, honoring First Lady McCullough, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday with guest speaker the Rev. Tawanna Henderson of New Beginnings Community Church, Matthews. The 24th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration, honoring Bishop McCullough, will be held at 4 p.m. June 23. The guest speaker will be Bishop Herbert Crump of Freedom Temple Ministries, Rock Hill, S.C.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 805 S. York St., holds a blood drive from 3:30 to 8 p.m. June 24 .. To make an appointment, call 704-867-5715. Walk-ins are welcome.
Linwood Church of God, 830 S Linwood Road, presents the Tim Greene singers in concert at 10:30 a.m. June 30. A love offering will be taken. Call 704-865-0911 or 704-868-7095.
Mount Hebron Baptist, 711 Mount Hebron Church Road, is sponsoring a cruise to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk in June 2014. A deposit of $25 to reserve a room is due by Saturday. The trip is being organized by the Senior Sunday Class. Call Delores, 704-868-3525.
Myrtle United Methodist, Bessemer City Road, host Songfest starting at 4 p.m. June 30 to raise money for kidney transplant for Crystal Parker. The Journeymen from Waxhaw, David Degroff, and Rodney Gant will be some of the singers. There will also be other individual singers and musicians volunteering their talent. Call Crystal Parker, 704-675-2190 or Kim Higgins, 704-578-7174.
Ragan Wesleyan, 535 Oates Road, (located right off Gastonia-Bessemer City Highway) celebrates Sunday School Friendship Day on July 21. Sunday School Assembly starts at 9:45 am, where donuts and coffee will be served as members fellowship and worship together. Call 704-629-2915.
St. Stephen�s AME Zion Church, 201 W. Franklin Blvd., hosts the �Academy of the Gifted� music summer camp from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Aug. 16. The camp, also presented by Studio 7�vn, is for ages 5 to 17 and includes piano, drums, guitar, modeling, filmmaking, writing, education and drama. Registration is $50 and camp session is $50 weekly. To register, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 704-750-1397.
Tabernacle Baptist, 519 W. 19 th Ave., holds a Spiritual Warfare Summit at 9 a.m. Saturday, hosted by the Intercessory Prayer Ministry. The guest speaker will be Apostle Dorothy Matthews of Word of Power Ministries, Gastonia. All ages invited. A continental breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. Call 704-864-4051.
Union Presbyterian Church, 5615 Union Road, presents the Faith on Wheels Motorcycle Ministry which meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Visitors and new members are welcome. June�s meeting will be held on June 20. Call J.W. Helms, 704-813-8121.
Adams Chapel AME Zion, 212 Lake Montonia Road, announces that Hasker �Bobby� Parker Jr. will be preaching his initial sermon at 3 p.m. June 23.
Ebenezer Baptist 1621 Country Line Road, holds live auditions from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for A Night at Gospel Apollo Adult Youth Competition. Vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers and mimes are invited to audition. There is a $20 non-refundable fee per contestant. The show will be held at 7 p.m. June 29 at Zion Baptist, 220 N. Watterson St. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Call Francina WIlliams, 704-300-8413.
Gloryland Missionary Baptist, 101 Benefield Road, holds a barbecue sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Plates cost $8. Higher Ground, We R Forgiven, Blessed and Heaven�s Way will perform from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Peoples Baptist, 1010 Groves St., hosts �Discovered, Declared and Delivered� at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday with Pastors Bobby, Billy and John Houze and special guest, Dr. Sam Saphet of Lagos Nigeria.
Daniels Lutheran, 3170 Reepsville Road, hosts its next Bread of Life Food Giveaway from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Recipients must be residents of Lincoln County and complete a short form for a 50 pound food box. If a family currently qualifies for Food Stamps or Lincoln County Christian Ministry assistance, the family automatically qualifies for a food box. Recipients may begin lining up in the church's parking lot at 7 a.m. Call Pastor Ted Bost at 704-735-8034/2388 for more information.
Christ�s Lutheran Church, 203 S. Main St., hosts a �Huge Yard Sale� from 7 a.m. to noon June 22 in the family life center. Proceeds benefit the Stanley Community Choir Singing Christmas Tree 2013.
First United Methodist holds a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. June 29 in the Family Life Center, 5491 Hickory Grove Road, Stanley. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under age 10. Curbside service available for takeouts. Call 704-263-2691.
An Adult Prom will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Myers Memorial United Methodist Church, 301 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia, presented by the First Institute Family Worship Center. The theme is �A Time To Remember.� The prom is for anyone age 25 or order and formal attire is requested. The evening will feature dinner and music and those attending can pay to have their photographs taken. Cost to attend is $25 per couple and $15 for singles. For more information or tickets call 704-500-5281 or 704-689-9702.
�In God We Trust: A Patriotic Celebration� will take place at 7 p.m. June 29 at Common Ground, 5481 Hickory Gove Road, Stanley. The event will honor the families of active military personnel and veterans of foreign wars. It will feature music by the Stanley Community Choir and the Community Children�s Choir. The speaker will be Sgt. Major Rusty Stalvey. The presentation of colors will be by Scout Troup 49. Bring yard chairs.
Send faith announcements to email@example.com or fax them to 704-867-5751. The deadline for submissions is noon Wednesday.


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Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain [Movie Trailer]
"Filmed at a sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden, comedian Kevin Hart delivers material from his 2012 "Let Me Explain" concert tour."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Jake More necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 61 diseños de 23 diseñadores freelance.
Every Body Cleansing Studio
At Every Body Cleansing Studio, we believe that the body's natural state is one of health - perfect health.
If we get the toxins that are overloading our bodies through unnatural living (diet / pollution / stress ) out of the way, then our bodies can actually achieve that state. (as opposed to just surviving).
Every Body Cleansing Studio is a studio that offers:
colon hydrotherapy
detox foot baths
infra red sauna
liver and gall bladder flushing
food allergy and sensitivity testing
cleansing and support products
and the raw food philosophy.
cleansing and raw foods education : events / teleconferences / e-books
Please visit our current website to learn more about what we do and why we do it. http://www.shealynnbaird.com
Every Body Cleansing Studio caters to people who are looking to achieve optimal health. Our clients work with us for a variety of reason.
In some cases, our clients are over weight and want a healthy solution for losing weight
Some clients have chronic illnesses and want an alternative to western medicine (which has not helped them)
Some clients have food allergies
Some clients want more energy
We work with men and women
Typically, we do NOT work with children
We are looking to have a logo created that communicates whole body health
• Something clean and simple
• Warm colors (this is merely a suggestion - please be creative with your use of color)
• We do not necessarily want an image of people or a person unless its a very unique stylized image suggesting the human form (again, your creativity is key - If you see a creative use of the human form, please do not be shy to try something out)
• Logo must be in vector format (scaleable)
• Gradients and style effects must be kept to a minimum to allow for various reproductions on different mediums
• Color palette should be kept to a minimum
Logo footprint should be "closer" to a square in proportion
What I mean to say is that the logo should not be a very long rectangle
I am very open to your creativity on this logo
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
count2infinity wrote:it's actually not too bad froggy. It's one of my favorite really cheap beers.
Factorial wrote:Speaking of cheap beer, anyone try the new Olde Frothingslosh:
http://www.pittsburghbrewing.com/brands ... thingslosh
MWB wrote:Having Big Bear Black Stout. Hoppy for a stout, bu still balanced. Quite good.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests


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O'Malley recently wrapped up his 16th season as the head coach of the Sacred Heart women's ice hockey program in 2018-19.
Before taking over at Sacred Heart, O'Malley was the head coach at Wayne State for four seasons and a coach at Boston College for fifteen seasons. In taking over at Wayne State in 1999, he was saddled with the task of building a varsity program from the ground up for the second time in his career. He was an integral part of building the Boston College women's program in the 80's and was the coach when BC made the jump to Division I for the 1994-95 season.
O'Malley, a Boston native, graduated from Boston College with a bachelor's degree in economics from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1989. He played college hockey at BC under coaches Len Ceglarski and Steve Cedorchuk.
Coaching Accomplishments
- On November 14, 2014, he won his 100th career game in charge of the Pioneers as SHU opened up play in its new arena, The Sports Center of Connecticut, with a 4-0 victory over SUNY Canton.
- In 2005-06, O'Malley guided the Pioneers to the ECAC Open Tournament Championship, defeating Saint Anselm for the crown.
- Led SHU to the finals of the ECAC championship for three consecutive seasons, between 2004 and 2006.


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Samsung Glyde Manual / User Guide
This is the official Samsung Glyde User Guide in English provided from the manufacturer. If you are looking for detailed technical specifications, please see our Specs page.
Samsung Glyde U940 is the CDMA variant of the F700. On the front side it has large touch sensitive display which is used for navigation of the device and only one key. It is side-slider, with full QWERTY keyboard for faster text input. Similar to the Voyager, the Glyde has HTML browser, 2-megapixel camera, microSD slot and runs on similar interface.


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Our suggestions for exploring the region
- With your family...Are you dreaming of a real family trip? We've come up with plenty of activities for young and old alike, and to suit all pockets! Treasure hunt, boat ride, picnic, tales and puppet shows, fairy cave, play areas, adventure park, etc. – all this and more is waiting for you right here in Lorraine Gaumaise.
- For a romantic break...Love is in the air on the gentle hillsides of Lorraine Gaumaise. Sipping a glass of Tendera with your beloved with a view over the ruins of the Château de Montquintin, making a wish at the Mathilde fountain, eating in a fireside alcove, walking along the Othain and feeling your hearts beating as one as you stroll together down the paths of Lorraine Gaumaise…
- With friends...We love partying and having fun in Lorraine Gaumaise! A torch-lit visit to the citadel, going bowling whilst enjoying a nice glass of Orval beer, kayaking on the Semois, a barbecue on the banks of the Thonne or the Loison, a walk looking at the wild orchids on our chalk grasslands… Lorraine Gaumaise with friends is an absolute must!
- On your own...Do you need some time alone to take your mind off things in a charmingly magical, bewitching setting? Meeting "Tendre Violette" straight out of a comic book by Jean-Claude Servais on the edge of a forest, walking along the fortifications of the citadel of Montmédy, sunbathing in Torgny, walking and exploring the contemporary facilities in Montauban, etc. These are just a few suggestions which will give you exactly what you are looking for.
- Senior citizens...Fancy organising a trip which is accessible to everyone and packed with a thousand things to discover? If so then Lorraine Gaumaise is the place for you! A visit to the famous Musée Gaumais, a little trip to the charming village of Marville with its Renaissance façades, a chocolate tasting in Florenville, a little tea dance to get your spirits swinging – it's all just for you!
- Tourism & disabilitiesThere are no barriers here in Lorraine Gaumaise! We've chosen sites for you all suitable for people with reduced mobility. Explore the fascinating world of beer at the Musée de la Bière (beer museum) in Stenay, visit the Etienne Lenoir museum, the Musée Gaumais and the Abbaye d'Orval, etc. these are all places which will give you the kind of welcome you've a right to expect.
- In a group...Are you yearning after beautiful landscapes, remarkable architecture, lovely food and a warm welcome? Come and explore the majestic Château de Louppy-sur-Loison, the sumptuous basilica of the Champs d'Avioth, the vineyard of Torgny, the Gallo-Roman site of Chameleux, the little markets with their local produce - all to be found in Lorraine Gaumaise.
- On business...It's time to relax and take a break. Lorraine Gaumaise is a fun-packed, attractive destination - it'll make your every wish come true. There's so much to do, including paintballing in Saint-Léger, an orienteering course at the citadel of Montmédy, visits to breweries, rappelling and canopy tours on the X-Cape adventure site in Florenville, a game of golf in Virton, a visit to the Château d'Herbeumont, etc.
You are here : Gaume Country With your family... Teenagers Centre équestre de Marville


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ENV 199: ENV Internship Education
In this course, students gain skills through an approved environmental science work experience. Students will have obtained a work experience position in order to register for this course. Together with the instructor and the employer, students establish learning objectives to connect classroom learning with career-related work experience. This class does not meet in person regularly. Most communication is via e-mail with some in-person meetings with the instructor required.
Level I Prereq: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6; Academic Math Level 2; ENV 101 and ENV 105, minimum grade "C" ; consent required
- Credits
- 1 - 3
- Lecture Hours
- 0
- Clinical Hours
- 0
- Lab Hours
- 0
- Other Hours
- 0
- Total Hours
- 0
Some classes are not offered every term. To see if this class is currently available, check the schedule.
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Ian Liddell-Grainger
Daily Forecast for October 18th 2019
Ian Liddell-Grainger is a male celebrity.
He was born on Monday February 23rd 1959, in Unknown.
October 18th 2019 finds Ian Liddell-Grainger to be sensitive and self-conscious.
Being a little out of tune, Ian's capacity to face challenges has diminished today, so he should avoid deadlines and other stressful constraints. His best bet is to take some time off and/or busy himself with romance - a highly favorable activity for the day.
While studying the color and flavor of the day, it is a good practice to keep in mind the greater meaning of October and the master plan of 2019 in Ian's life.
You and Ian
About Ian's Numerological Forecast & Personal Day Cycle
Just as Ian Liddell-Grainger evolves through a nine-year cycle and experiences the nine-month cycle, he is also subjected to nine-day cycles, even though their impact is subtle compared to the Personal Year and even Personal Month cycles. The Personal Day cycles proceed according to the same pattern - 1 through 9 - that the Personal Year and Personal Month cycles do. The numbers within the daily cycles have a similar impact on Ian to the yearly and monthly cycles - though less pronounced.
Read more about our numerological daily forecast for


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Using any terminal program that can send a reasonably large file (I used gtkterm), send something to the Due at 115200. When connected to the programming port, it echos back fine. On the native port, only short sections at the beginning and end get echoed.
java.lang.IllegalStateException: Menu has no enabled items
Any news on 1.5.2 IDE? I'm looking out for the option to upload sketches by command line.


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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
My Date with a Bears Fan
Within a week of posting my profile, I had already gotten almost 100 views (chicks still dig the hair!), several questions and even an invitation to play some sort of real-life Dungeons & Dragons in Oshkosh (do I look like I play D&D…wtf!). Despite some lame inquiries and casual interest, I still hadn't gotten that mutual agreement to meet. That is, until Connie contacted me.
Connie is a 36-year old Taurus with a passion for cooking and a penchant for movies starring Jason Statham. And oh yeah – she's a diehard fan of the Chicago Bears. Normally I would've discarded the email like an empty beer can but Connie was actually pretty smokin' and the readers unanimously voted that I should give it a shot anyway (amazing response people, thanks). So I bit my lip, traded my Carhartt's for Dockers and met her and a couple of her friends for dinner to be followed by Death Race on Blu-ray.
During the days leading up to the date, I constantly wavered between how I would react to the first mention of Chicago or some snide comment toward Brett Favre. My Packer pride runs deeper than most oceans so there would definitely be the possibility of a reaction somewhere between agitated and outraged. I decided to challenge myself by not bringing up football lest football be brought up. If it was mentioned, I would sternly yet calmly announce my unwavering allegiance to the greatest organization man has ever known, the Green Bay Packers. This would clearly establish my zealous nature and hopefully deter any negative Packer/positive Bear comments and thus the conversation/date from getting ugly.
Thankfully, it never got to that point. In between the salad, the meatloaf, the high school stories, the impressions of Balki from Perfect Strangers (don't ask) and Mad Max-like car races, neither the Packers nor the Bears ever came up. Connie was really outgoing and friendly, and she seemed genuinely interested in my theory of comparing high school to the real world and how it's between the Rock and Vin Diesel as to who's today's Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In the end, we hugged and agreed to go out again. "A sportsbar" was decided. This could get interesting…
11 comments:
Lightning bolt, lightning blot, lightning bolt. I think you should still check out the LARPing. It's pretty fun when you get into hand to hand combat with the Gorglemites.ReplyDelete
Jason Statham is also today's Chuck Norris.ReplyDelete
Jason Statham is far more a Charles Bronsen than he will ever be a Chuck Norris. Dream on Statham.ReplyDelete
Have you seen him fight Jet Li in "The One"? Have you seen him transport things in the "Transporter" series?ReplyDelete
Definitely Chuck Norris.
I have to side with Franklin here. Can't think of today's Charles Bronson - that's a tough one (no pun intended).ReplyDelete
Balki was awesome.ReplyDelete
Concur with IronMan.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM
You are the biggest idiot in the world for writing that blog! I garuntee you are some punk in his earl thirty's working for some insurance company who thought it would be the funniest thing in the world to write a fake article about the a date with a bear's fan. I bet that picture could be found on google images. You suck!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I agree with anonymous. You do suck! However, I do enjoy the link to Dungeons and Dragon's video! I have watched that video 780 times. The rock is totally today's arnold sschwarzenegger! However, I did enjoy the Pacifier.ReplyDelete
Ouch, Annoymous 1. I can GUARANTEE you didn't check THE A spelling or typos before you posted that.ReplyDelete
You posted it a little too EARLY. A couple seconds more and you could have sounded slightly less ignorant. In the THIRTIES, you would have been sent to the remedial English class.
Anonymous - sounds like you could use a date. And yes, Google is one of the Ranter's best friends. P.S. I've actually grown kind of fond of the D&D stuff after watching other Youtube clips. Maybe there's hope for me after all...ReplyDelete


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Naval Station Newport
A World-Class Center of Learning Excellence
The command headquarters is co-located with Personnel Service Detachment, Housing and the Joint Personal Property office to make your arrival to Naval Station Newport at 690 Peary Street, Newport, R.I.
Welcome to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport—home to 50 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and US Army Reserve commands and activities. Newport is the Navy's premier site for training officers, officer candidates, senior enlisted personnel and midshipman candidates, as well as testing and evaluating advanced undersea warfare and development systems.
Naval personnel assigned to Newport come from all parts of the United States and many free nations of the world. The naval installation mirrors a miniature America, flavored with an international touch. Both its military and civilian personnel get deeply involved in local community affairs and play active roles in local churches, service clubs, Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts and other popular youth activities.
The Navy's economic impact in Rhode Island is legendary. For many years, it was the state's largest single employer—both in terms of personnel and payroll—and is still the largest single employer in Newport County, and third overall in the state.
Approximately 5,800 employees work at the 50 various commands located on Naval Station with an additional 17,000 students annually passing through one of the many schools on base. Naval Station Newport has undergone a period of significant growth as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations. NAVSTA is now home to the Navy Supply Corps School, the Center for Service Support and the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Logistics School, all formerly located in Athens, Ga.
Newport is also the home of the Navy's most prestigious educational institution, the Naval War College. As the oldest such institution in continuous existence anywhere in the world, the college is organized to pursue and integrate both academic and research endeavors. Each year approximately 600 outstanding mid-career level officers of the Navy, all other U.S. services, civilian federal agencies and international naval officers come here to pursue a rigorous 10-month course of postgraduate studies following in the footsteps of such notable War College graduates as Fleet Admirals Chester W. Nimitz, Ernest J. King and William "Bull" Halsey; Admiral Raymond Spruance; Ambassador Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs; General Michael Hagee, former Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; Rear Admiral Alan B. Shepard, first American in space; General John M. Shalikashvili, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Admiral Robert J. Fallon, Commander, U.S. Central Command; and Admiral James G. Stavridis, Commander, U.S. Southern Command.
Over half the graduates of the college's senior international course, the Naval Command College, have gone on to become flag or general officers with many being chosen to head their respective services. The college's Center for Naval Warfare Studies leads the Navy in its maritime strategic thought. The Center's War Gaming facility conducts some 60 major war games annually in support of the college's research efforts, as well as fleet and Department of Defense requirements.
Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN) is the largest officer accessions point in the Navy with a mission to prepare Sailors and Marines through enduring professional and personal development to lead as officers in the fleet. OTCN currently delivers five separate Officer Accession/Indoctrination programs and provides oversight to three of the Navy's technical training facilities.
Another important educational institution is the Surface Warfare Officers School Command (SWOSCOLCOM). This command trains surface warfare officers from the time they are commissioned until they have command at sea.
Newport also has the Naval Justice School, which trains personnel of the Defense Department in military law and related matters.
Another large and prestigious command is the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT), the Navy's principal research, development, test and evaluation center for submarine weapons systems. With headquarters in Newport, R.I., its research facilities stretch from Connecticut to the Bahamas.
The Naval Health Clinic New England—Newport provides general clinical outpatient services for authorized beneficiaries and cooperates with military and civilian authorities in matters of health, sanitation, disaster and other emergencies.
Other commands and activities in Newport include the Command Leadership School; Defense Institute of International Legal Studies; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWELVE Detachment, Newport; Naval Academy Preparatory School; Naval Facilities Engineering Command Norfolk—Newport Detachment; Navy Band Northeast; Senior Enlisted Academy; Seventh Naval Construction Regiment; and Space and Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, Newport Technical Services Branch.
Welcome Aboard!


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The Unlikely Spy
by Carl G. Karsch
Intelligence-gathering, also called spying, is vital to the high stakes game of diplomacy. In cards, the more knowledge one has of the opponent's hand, the better the chances of winning. Of course, this is also cheating. Diplomacy knows no such scruples. Facts — whether from satellites, aircraft or agents on the ground — are vital to a diplomat's success.
A former U.S. Secretary of State once remarked that nations have no friends, only interests. This describes precisely the position of France in 1775. As war clouds darkened over the British colonies in North America, King Louis XVI and his cabinet felt they had an ideal opportunity. With a little luck, they could bloody the nose of their traditional rival and perhaps regain some territory lost in 1763 after their defeat in the Seven Years' War. On the other hand, why should France support rebels who advocated democracy? The disease might be catching.
To help decide matters, the cabinet, especially the minister of foreign affairs, the Comte de Vergennes, needed solid information. How strong are the rebels? What about their supplies? The key question: can they win?
During the reign of Louis XV, France routinely infiltrated agents into the colonies. But no longer. Now the only listening post was the French embassy in London; information at best was contradictory. The Comte de Guines, ambassador to the Court of St. James, received his post through the influence of the queen, Marie Antoinette, who said he made her laugh. Unfortunately, his reports reflected the opinion of the last informant. Sometimes he was upbeat on the colonies' chances, alternately he predicted defeat.
The most consistent and brilliantly written reports came from the embassy's secret agent with the imposing name of Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. Better known as a successful Parisian dramatist, his works reflected egalitarian influences of the Enlightenment. Two plays were adapted as operas: "The Barber of Seville" (Rossini) and "The Marriage of Figaro" (Mozart). In both works aristocratic traditions receive their comeuppance. For this reason the Austrian monarchy banned performance of his plays in Vienna. Beaumarchais'politics were equally biased. His chief informant was John Wilkes, a close friend of Franklin and pro-American Whig leader jailed by George III. Vergennes and Louis XVI accepted his reports enthusiastically, without even a few grains of salt.
Vergennes, despite an acute dislike of Guines, agreed with him that first-hand information on colonial America was essential. Ambassador Guines came up with just the man, or so he thought. Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir, wrote Guines, is a gentleman, a retired officer from the Army's elite Regiment du Cap, and recently returned from America where he had excellent contacts in Philadelphia, New York, Providence "and Rhod-Island." Further, Bonvouloir's two brothers are distinguished army officers. Unfortunately, he is lame, the result of a childhood accident, but is up to the assignment. As compensation for the risky venture Guines recommended a commission in the infantry, a gracious message from the King expressing gratitude for undertaking the mission, and payment of 200 livres, a paltry sum considering the risk.
In fact, Bonvouloir was not quite as portrayed to Vergennes. Then 26 years old, he was the black sheep of a family of the minor nobility and had only been a volunteer in the Regiment du Cap. His great ambition was to be a commissioned army officer. Poorly educated and physically handicapped, he wasted his portion of the family fortune and consequently was scorned by his father and brothers. He was eager to make the most of this opportunity of a lifetime for recognition. And he did.
Less than two weeks after Guines handed his dispatch to a royal courier, the reply arrived in London. Both the King and Vergennes approved the venture, the army commission and payment. But there were strict limitations on Bonvouloir's freedom to negotiate. The French were not about to stumble accidentally into a war with England. Above all, Vergennes declared in his instructions, the spy has to understand he could compromise no one but himself. Should he be exposed, there will be no help from France. He may not carry written instructions, which can fall into enemy hands, nor may he present himself as an official emissary. In conversations with Americans he is to follow the following verbal orders: 1. he must obtain the maximum information on the state of affairs; 2. he is to assure them of the profound sympathy of France for their cause and make clear that the French have no desire to regain Canada; 3. he is to offer the Use of French ports for their ships once they have declared independence. Finally, a full report must be dispatched quickly and with utmost security.
Jubilantly, this most unlikely spy boarded a ship bound for Philadelphia and a voyage into an adventure still honored in American, if not French, history books.
While Bonvouloir is suffering through an apparently horrendous Atlantic crossing, let's turn to conditions in this country.
By the fall of 1775, the Second Continental Congress realized defeat was inevitable without arms and supplies from abroad. Many members recalled how in previous wars France encouraged Indian atrocities against Americans, even as Britain was now doing. Despite this ambivalence, France — ever the rival of England — seemed the logical source. Congress appointed a handful of members to two clandestine groups: the Secret Committee and the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Financier Robert Morris and his associates had as their assignment purchasing gunpowder from independent arms merchants in the Caribbean. Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and their colleagues were to begin quiet negotiations "for the sole purpose of corresponding with our friends in Great Britain, Ireland and other parts of the world." Quite an assignment for a far-away group of colonies with few friends and less money. In 1777 the Committee of Secret Correspondence received a new name, the Committee for Foreign Affairs, and as such is credited with being the forerunner of today's Department of State.
Bonvouloir's meetings with the Committee of Secret Correspondence came about through coincidences which from an American perspective border on the miraculous. Finally stepping ashore in Philadelphia, Bonvouloir went to the home of Francis Daymon, a fellow Frenchman he met on the earlier trip. Daymon had been hired by Franklin both as librarian for his Library Company and to teach him French. The Library Company, first established in the State House (Independence Hall), moved into its new quarters on the second floor of Carpenters' Hall when the building was completed late in 1773. Books were housed in cabinets in the east room of the second floor, directly above where the First Continental Congress met a year earlier. Apparatus for electrical and astronomical investigations belonging to Franklin and his scientifically minded colleagues filled the west room, where The Carpenters' Company library is now located.
Franklin quickly accepted Daymon's offer to act as translator for this mysterious stranger, who although claiming no official capacity, appeared to have the ear of the French government. But was he actually a double-agent hoping to expose a conspiracy? Franklin and John Jay, the chief Committee members who conferred with Bonvouloir, felt they had to take the gamble. For the negotiators, that Christmas season must not have been particularly joyful. A prolonged war, assuming supplies would flow from abroad, seemed inevitable. An added burden for Franklin was the death the previous February of his wife, Deborah, while he was still in England. Nevertheless, with Daymon acting as translator, members of the Committee of Secret Correspondence held three lengthy nighttime meetings between December 18 and 27 in the second floor library at Carpenters' Hall. "At our meetings," wrote Bonvouloir in his report, "each one of them took a different route through the darkness to the indicated rendezvous." For obvious reasons, no one took minutes of the meetings; the only record is Bonvouloir's report to Vergennes. Jay, a delegate from New York to the Continental Congress, described Bonvouloir as "an elderly, lame gentleman, having the appearance of an old, wounded French officer." A curious assessment, since at the time Jay was thirty, just four years older than the visitor.
Lest the Committee's actions appear needlessly melodramatic, remember that what they attempted, and ultimately accomplished, was treason. The colonies were in revolt but not yet at war with England. Tory sentiment abounded. Independence would not be declared until the following July.
Bonvouloir lost no time in filing his report, dated December 28, 1775, and dispatching it on a fast boat to Calais. He returned to his friend's home to await word from Guines. It never arrived.
Here are some excerpts from Bonvouloir's report:
As I expected I found this country in an incredible turmoil. The Confederates [rebels] are preparing themselves extensively for the coming spring and despite the severity of the season, they continue the fight. They besieged Montreal, which surrendered, and are presently close to Quebec, which I think will do the same soon... They are well entrenched near Boston... They have an unbelievable eagerness and goodwill: it is true they are led by capable people.
Unfortunately, the agent was wrong on several counts. The British officer at Montreal did withdraw his small force to reinforce Quebec, but anything of military value was destroyed. On New Year's eve, 1775 — four days after the last meeting at Carpenters' Hall — an American force weakened by severe weather and sickness stormed Quebec with disastrous results. Outside Boston, militia units whose enlistments expired at year's end left Washington's army so depleted the British could have lifted the siege had they wanted to leave their warm quarters.
Bonvouloir continued his overly enthusiastic assessment:
Everyone here is a soldier, the troops are well clothed, well paid and well armed. They have more than 50,000 regular soldiers and an even larger number of volunteers who do not wish to be paid. Judge how men of this caliber will fight. They are more powerful than we could have thought, beyond imagination powerful; you will be astonished by it. Nothing shocks or frightens them, you can count on that. Independency is a certainty for 1776; there will be no drawing back...
As a matter of record, however, Washington's army reached its first peak strength with 18,000 in the summer of 1776. It fell to 5,000 by the end of the year, rose to a little more than 20,000 in mid-1778, and then declined.
In his report, Bonvouloir lists three requests from the Committee:
Monsieur de Bonvouloir is begged to examine the following proposition, under the understanding that we are speaking as private individuals to each other:
- Can he tell us what the views of the Court of France are in regard to the North American colonies? Are they favorable, and if so, how can we obtain official confirmation of this?
- Could we find in France two competent engineer officers, well recommended and reliable? What steps should we take to obtain them?
- May we obtain from France arms and other necessary munitions of war in exchange for the products of our country? And may we have free entry into the French ports?
Bonvouloir's answers did not stray from his instructions with one exception: he did think it would be possible to send over French engineer officers, possibly many more than two. Washington was desperate for engineers to design fortifications. When pressed by Franklin on the possibility of an alliance between the two countries, Bonvouloir diplomatically demurred. "They asked me," the agent wrote in his report, "if I thought it was safe to send a Plenipotentiary Representative to France. I answered that I thought it was premature, even dangerous, because everything of what was going on in France was known by London, and vice versa."
Although Bonvouloir never knew it, his report had repercussions on both sides of the Atlantic. The Committee of Secret Correspondence, concluding that France now supported America's struggle, prepared to send Connecticut Congressman Silas Deane to Paris with letters of introduction. But to cross-check Bonvouloir's professions of friendship by France, they also sent a message to Arthur Lee, Pennsylvania's agent in London, instructing him to discover the attitude of European powers to the colonies.
Lee, an eager entrepreneur, had already taken the initiative of exploring the possibility of Beaumarchais acting as a potential arms supplier. The dramatist and secret agent, confident of America's eventual victory, was happy to serve. Lee, Beaumarchais and Franklin were acquainted through meetings earlier in 1775 at the London home of John Wilkes. Oh, the tangled web of diplomacy.
The ship bearing Bonvouloir's report docked at Calais just as a cross-channel vessel arrived with Guines, the spy's employer. Unfortunately, ambassador Guines was now an ex-ambassador, having been recalled by the King in disgrace for a scandalous affair even by 18th century standards. Thus, Guines was in no mood to give the report more than a cursory perusal before forwarding it to Vergennes; he did append, however, a warmly phrased paragraph praising the spy's accomplishments. The hurriedly drafted account from America landed on Vergennes'desk within three days of a masterfully crafted appeal from Beaumarchais to support the colonists' cause.
Taken together the documents proved persuasive to the French cabinet. Louis XVI gave Vergennes approval for Beaumarchais to set up a commercial firm, Rodrique Hortalez et Cie., to provide munitions for the Americans or with money to buy them.
Vergennes wrote his versatile agent in London:
The operation must have essentially in the eyes of the British Government, and even in the eyes of the Americans, the aspect of an individual speculation, to which we are strangers... We will give you secretly a million [livres]. We will endeavor to persuade the Court of Spain to unite in giving you another. With these two millions, you shall found a great commercial establishment, and at your own risk and peril you shall furnish to America arms and everything else necessary to sustain war. Our arsenals will deliver to you arms and munitions, but you shall pay for them. You will not demand money of the Americans for they have none; but you can ask return in their staple products.
Some historical postscripts
- Bonvouloir wrote Guines seventeen despairing letters asking whether his report had been received and acted upon. There was no reply. He traveled to India where he died of fever in 1783, the year the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the War for Independence.
- One consequence of the French decision to secretly aid America was a massive ship-building program adding more than 200 warships. Many were in the fleet, commanded by Admiral de Grasse, which blockaded the Chesapeake and made possible the victory at Yorktown. Later, before the peace treaty was signed, the British thoroughly defeated de Grasse in the Caribbean and took him captive.
- Benjamin Franklin counted among his myriad achievements the Alliance with France in 1778, which granted open support to the colonies. The tipping point occurred the previous September with Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. Unfortunately, the British occupied Philadelphia that same fall after the American defeat at Brandywine.
- It is estimated that 90 percent of the gunpowder fired by American troops came from France.
- John Jay together with Franklin and John Adams signed the Treaty of Paris in September, 1783, granting independence. Later, Jay became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Adams was the new nation's second President.
- Financial support for America further undermined the French treasury, already heavily in debt. Bankrupt, the nation exploded in the Revolution of 1789. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded three years later.