This tiny temple was built in the 10th century AD. Built of red sandstone, it is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Part of the attraction of Angkor Wat is its scale: there’s something sublime walking through the immense ruins, half reclaimed by the jungle. But Banteay Srei is proof that good things can come in small packages, too. Asia for Visitors calls Banteay Srei “perhaps the most intricately carved and beautiful of the temples.” Gods and goddesses adorn the temple’s red sandstone walls, all rendered in exquisitely detailed relief.

Tourism of Cambodia gives this rather fanciful description of the site:

“Banteay Srei is an exquisite miniature; a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest; the very thing that Grimm delighted to imagine, and that every child’s heart has yearned after, but which mature years has sadly proved too lovely to be true. And here it is, in the Cambodian forest at Banteay Srei, carved not out of the stuff that dreams are made of, but of solid sandstone.”

To enter Cambodia and see the temple, you’ll need a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Check the expiration date and apply for a passport renewal if necessary.

You’ll also need a Cambodian visa. You can apply for your visa online, at the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC or get one when you arrive. For more information on what you’ll need, see Cambodian Visa Requirements for Tourists.

If you decide you want to get your visa in advance, RushMyTravelVisa can help. We’ll research your itinerary to make sure you know exactly what you need for your journey. Then, we’ll help you with the paperwork and expedite your visa for the fastest possible processing.

Get your Cambodian visa today!

What is yellow fever, anyway? Found in the tropics, it’s a hemorrhagic fever spread by mosquitoes.  The virus basically causes flu-like symptoms (fever, nausea, vomiting and pain), and if you’re lucky, that’s all you’ll experience. If you’re not lucky, however, instead of shaking it off you’ll enter the “toxic” stage of the disease, which can result in liver failure and, in about 20% of cases, death.

There is no cure for yellow fever: treatment is based on easing symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, that means that “Vaccination is the single most important preventive measure against yellow fever. The vaccine is safe, affordable and highly effective, and appears to provide protection for 30–35 years or more. The vaccine provides effective immunity within one week for 95% of persons vaccinated.”

Because vaccination is the only real way to combat yellow fever, some countries require you to submit proof that you’ve been vaccinated before you can get a travel visa. Once you get your yellow fever vaccination, you’ll get a document called an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. This is good for 10 years, and you may need to submit a copy with your visa paperwork, carry it with you when you enter, or both.

To see if you’ll need to turn yourself into a pincushion before you travel, look up the country you’ll be visiting on this handy list provided by the CDC.

For more travel visa help, contact RushMyTravelVisa.

CIWY is an organization that rescues wild animals from the black market. Often, these animals have been abused or neglected. While many of the smaller animals are allowed to live free in one of the organizations 3 parks, the jaguars, pumas and ocelots cannot be released. Instead, CIWY keeps them caged when they are unsupervised, but allows them to spend most of the day walking through trails in the jungle, accompanied by volunteers. That’s where you come in.

As a volunteer, you’re usually assigned one specific animal to work with for the duration of your stay. If it’s a cat, you’ll spend most of the day holding one end of a long leash, walking it through the jungle, perhaps taking it for a swim in the river. Of course, there’s always a risk of serious injury, whether intentional or unintentional on the part of the cat. At the same time, it’s certainly an experience you’ll never forget. (h/t Trazzler).

To visit Bolivia, you’ll need a current US passport with at least 6 months remaining before the expiration date, and a Bolivian visa. You can get a visa before you leave the US, at the airport when you arrive or at official land border crossings.

Bolivian visas cost $135, and you must pay in cash if you decide to apply for one on arrival.

Here’s what you’ll need to apply for a Bolivian tourist visa:

• One Bolivian visa application form.
• Your passport
• 1 passport-sized photo, 4 by 4 centimeters in size.
• A hotel confirmation or letter of invitation from someone in Bolivia.
• Your round-trip plane ticket. If you aren’t flying, include a written statement saying when you plan to enter and leave Bolivia instead.
• A copy of a bank statement or credit card statement.
• An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.

If you’d prefer to get the visa process out of the way before you leave, RushMyTravelVisa can help. We’ll assist you with the paperwork and expedite your visa for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Bolivian visa today!

According to AsiaTravelTips.com, the resort will overlook the historic and holy Potala Palace, where the Dalai Lama lived before fleeing into exile in India. Amenities will include an Iridium Spa with a gold-leaf immersion pool, ballroom, plasma TVs, a Meditation Garden and three restaurants. A butler will also be on hand to wait on guests, assist them with altitude sickness and act as a concierge.

Qian Jin, Senior Vice President of Operations, China & Taiwan, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, told AsiaTravelTips.com:

“Lhasa is truly one of the world’s most fascinating destinations; the rich culture and spiritual history make it quite captivating to our global St. Regis guests. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort will undoubtedly be heralded as one of the most extraordinary luxury resorts not only in Asia, but in the entire world.”

To visit the new hotel, you’ll need a valid passport and the appropriate Chinese visa. If you’re traveling as a tourist, you’ll need a Chinese tourist visa, also known as an “L” visa. See Chinese Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

If you’re traveling as a business traveler, you’ll need a business visa. See Chinese Visa Requirements for a Business Trip for more information.

You will definitely need to apply for your visa before you leave the US, as Chinese visas cannot be issued on arrival. The US Department of State notes that special permits are required to visit Tibet, and even then you will be restricted from visiting certain areas. As you’re planning your trip, it’s a good idea to contact the Chinese embassy for more details.

RushMyTravelVisa can assist you with your Chinese visa application, as well as any other visas required for your journey. We walk you through the application process to save time and prevent frustration, and expedite your application for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Chinese visa today!

The sea retreated, and eventually the ocean floor turned into the Egyptian desert. However, the skeletons of many of the great beasts were preserved as fossils.  In the Valley of the Whales, this week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can walk on what was once an ancient seabed, and see the fossilized remains of Flipper’s oldest relatives (h/t Bootsnall.) The fossils are the earliest known record of the whale family- some of them even still have the remnants of legs!

The Valley of the Whales was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. According to the UNESCO Web site, it was selected because:

“Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important site in the world to demonstrate one of the iconic changes that make up the record of life on Earth: the evolution of the whales. It portrays vividly their form and mode of life during their transition from land animals to a marine existence.”

To visit Egypt and see the Valley of the Whales, you do need an Egyptian visa. If you are entering by land, you need to have your visa in hand ahead of time. If you are flying in, you should be able to get a visa on arrival-although if you apply for one in advance, you’ll make it out of the airport much more quickly.

To get an Egyptian visa, you need the following:

• A valid US passport.
• A separate passport photo.
• Plane tickets or a copy of your itinerary
• A completed Egyptian visa application.

RushMyPassport can make getting your Egyptian visa ahead of time faster and easier. We’ll help you with the application and personally deliver it to the appropriate Egyptian embassy or consulate for the fastest possible service.

Apply for your Egyptian visa today!

Unlike tourists, who can apply for a Venezuelan tourist card on arrival, business travelers must apply for a visa in advance.  Here’s what you will need:

• Your US passport, which must have at least 6 months of validity remaining before it expires.  This is important-Venezuela has refused entry to Americans with passports due to expire in  less than 6 months. Also, make sure your passport is in good condition-if it is worn or damaged, you should get it replaced to make sure that you aren’t turned away when you try to enter Venezuela.
• 1 completed Venezuela visa application form
• 2 passport-sized photos of yourself
• A photocopy of your  round-trip  itinerary
• A business letter of responsibility  from the company in America that is sending you to Venezuela.

The letter from your company must state your position in the company, the purpose of your visit to Venezuela, the name and address of your Venezuelan contact and how long you plan to remain the country.  In the letter, your company must also promise to take financial responsibility for you while you are in Venezuela.

Also, if you own your own business, you will be required to show proof of ownership to get your business visa.  Venezuelan business visas cost $60 and are good for 1 year for stays of up to 180 days at a time.

No matter where you’re going, RushMyTravelVisa can make applying for the appropriate visas fast and painless. We review your itinerary and research the visa requirements for each country you enter, to make sure you are never caught off guard. Then, we help you fill out the application s and gather the necessary documents and submit your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest processing available.

Let us help you with your travel visa needs today!