Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Asia Travel Blog

Asia Travel Blog


Flights to Koh Samui by SilkAir Start September 27

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:41 AM PDT

SilkAir Starts Flights to Koh Samui September 27

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CNNGo.com


Vancouver booted off 'most liveable' top spot

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 09:54 PM PDT

most livable cities

Melbourne is now the world's most liveable city, ending Vancouver's nine-year reign on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) bi-annual Global Liveability Survey.

Vienna was rated the second best place to live, and Vancouver the third. Toronto and Calgary rounded out the top five. In another coup for Australia, Sydney jumped ahead of Helsinki to sixth spot. 

Longtime runner-up Melbourne -- Sydney's arch rival, and some would say attention-seeking little sister -- edged in front for its low crime rates, political stability, and comprehensive health care and infrastructure.

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Star Alliance launches FareFinder iPhone app

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:41 PM PDT

Following its recent launch of the Navigator iPhone app, Star Alliance network has introduced an iPhone app allowing customers to search one-way or return fares between any two airports on its network.

The app also allows customized requests with additional search criteria like number of passengers, arrival and departure times, class of service, number of stops, transfer airports and point of sale.

After making a selection, the ITA Software-powered app will then display available fares across member airlines, with links to the relevant websites and call centers so that the purchase can be made.

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Malaysia's delicious dishes, terrible Bollywood movies, playground nostalgia

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:21 PM PDT

Newsletter Date: 
31 August 2011
Newsletter Contents

Hong Kong Eye proposed

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:02 PM PDT

A proposal to build a "Hong Kong Eye" will be submitted today to the Harbourfront Commission by The Hall Organization and Great City Attractions Global, the people behind the Singapore Flyer.

Great City is hoping that Hong Kong will follow in Singapore's footsteps and set up a 60-meter-high observation wheel on reclaimed land near the Star Ferry pier in Central.

"The wheel will definitely become a focal point of the harbor, offering postcard photo opportunities," the prospective operators claim.

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專訪「少女時代」:我們要成為「九個碧昂絲」

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT

summer sonic 少女時代

日本最大型音樂節 Summer Sonic 向來星光熠熠:Jay-Z、碧昂絲、Coldplay 和 My Chemical Romance 等巨星,樂迷一點也不陌生。 

可是今年有「特別嘉賓」作壓軸。

少女時代是首個為此音樂節壓軸的韓國組合 — 前一晚的晚場嘉賓為 Lady Gaga。

「感覺我們像搖滾巨星一樣!」 少女時代成員 Tiffany 上台前說。 「能參加搖滾音樂節實在太令人興奮了,特別是我們並不是搖滾組合。我們希望可以為今年的音樂節注入不一樣的元素。」

然而,日本歌迷對少女時代的「初」登台倒是不太驚奇。今年六月,少女時代的同名專輯於日本首度發行,便攻佔日本排行榜,為歷代在日發行出道專輯的海外歌手之冠。專輯銷售量更突破 50 萬大關,成為今年於日本吸金取多的海外歌手。

閃閃發光的黑色短裙、名師設計的小西裝背心、及膝長皮靴,這身光鮮亮麗的造型背後藏著成員多年來所下的苦功。

這班女生終於在舞台上發光發亮。只消跟這幾位爽朗的韓流小天后聊聊天,你就會感到她們進軍國際樂壇的大計才剛起步。

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在後台,加州出生的 Tiffany 急不及待要上台向觀眾展示勁歌熱舞,對於有幸參加 Summer Sonic 這盛典顯得特別興奮。

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Sydney's best burgers

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 03:06 PM PDT

The Almighty at Grill'd.

In the last few years, Sydney's burgers have turned from staple fast-food to an artisan's masterpiece.

I vowed to investigate: I would dine at the city's boutique burger bars and gourmet grills, challenging them to put their patty where their mouth is.

Acknowledging Sydney's many outstanding pub burgers, I restricted my search to burger eateries.

The burger battle was on. I would find Sydney's best burger bar. Or perish in the attempt.

Grill'd

Coming to a suburb near you, Grill'd offers a hip combination of tunes, decor and beer.

The "Almighty" sounded promising: an informal salute to Australia's take-away "works" burger with bacon, egg and beetroot.

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20 delicious ways to break fast after Ramadan

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT

With Ramadan coming to a close and Muslims around the world celebrating Eid al-Fitr, there's no better time to revel in the things that have been off limits during daylight hours for the last month.

Across Asia, where millions follow Islam, food is a central theme to nearly all social occasions.

Here are 20 of the most delicious dishes from Malaysia, though they can also be found elsewhere, that can now fill stomachs around the clock, not just after sun down.

 

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4 worst Bollywood movies of August

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 02:58 PM PDT

Bollywood covered a whole spectrum of genres covered this past month -- an historical drama, a campy comedy, a real-life story and a socially relevant film.

You name it, they made it.

However, as varied as the genres were, the four films covered here did have a common thread. They were all pretty disastrous to sit through.

'Gandhi To Hitler'

"Gandhi to Hitler"! It's funny how my favorite film of the year is also the most awful.

I mean, how do you not love a historical movie so factually inaccurate that it is offensive to literally every group represented in it?

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

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CNNGo.com


Cathay Pacific to launch premium economy class

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:40 PM PDT

Cathay Pacific will introduce premium economy seats to its fleet in the second quarter of 2012.

The premium economy seats will be laid out like the Hong Kong-based airline's regional business class seats, but will be cheaper than business class.

"We'll have great recline and plenty of leg space," said Cathay Pacific chief executive John Slosar. "The meal service will be improved and little extras will leave anyone who chooses Cathay Pacific's premium economy feeling they really got value for their money."

The new premium economy section will be fitted on all of the airline's long-haul routes to Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East.

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World’s first Jackie Chan Museum to open in Shanghai

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:40 PM PDT

Jackie Chan Museum

Jackie Chan (成龙) might just be the most famous Chinese in the world. He's certainly one of the most talented.

The 57-year-old multilingual Hong Kong-born celebrity is a kung fu master, stars in and directs movies, croons pop songs and organizes charity events. Now the world's first museum bearing his name is set to open in Shanghai.

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Aviation entrepreneur aims to take on the world

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 08:53 PM PDT

Michael James

Michael James says he's never met Sir Richard Branson, but the 34-year-old Brisbane entrepreneur is Australia's version of the British aviation tycoon.

He bought into Strategic Airlines after his former employer, Ansett Airlines, collapsed in 2002. A decade later, James has become the sole owner of the airline and confirmed that by October 30, it will be rebranded Air Australia.

Previously a contractor for the Australian Defence Force and a luxury charter airline, James said the revamped airline will be "focused on leisure destinations."

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Bangkok's 'thrilling' taxis, pizza in space, vintage Jakarta vinyl

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 07:24 PM PDT

Newsletter Date: 
30 August 2011
Newsletter Contents

Video: A door that opens to anywhere you wish

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 04:58 PM PDT

We asked Hong Kong people where they would go if they had a door that could open up to anywhere at all.

This door would be similar to popular Japanese cartoon character Doraemon's dokodemo door ('anywhere door'), which can take its user across time and space.

We parked our camera at the junction of Sai Yeung Choi Street and Shantung Street in Mongkok and fielded some surprising answers from passersby.

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Tossed in space: Domino's Pizza hits the Moon

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 04:45 PM PDT

Domino's Pizza

That old claim by pizza delivery stores worldwide about helping yourself to a free pie if their delivery monkeys end up even just a little late is about to face its greatest ever challenge if we're to believe a new plan to start tossing dough up there on the Moon.

That's because Domino's Pizza Japan has just revealed an ambitious scheme to set up a base (crispy, possibly with garlic bread on the side) on the surface of our planet's only natural satellite -- and it comes with a suitably futuristic online promo campaign.

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7 reasons to check out Bangkok’s 13th International Festival of Dance and Music

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 02:58 PM PDT

International Festival of Dance & Music

Bangkok's International Festival of Dance & Music started with a dream. One of sticking Thailand's pin into the global cultural map with an arts festival to rival any in the region.

Now in its 13th year (September 9-October 16), it is the largest annual performing arts festival in Thailand, and has introduced audiences to the arabesque and cabriole, the zapateado, the cadenza and coloratura. It also brought opera to the Kingdom for the first time with the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera's "La Bohème". 

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韓国で今一番トレンドなダイエット法は?

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT

ソウル服飾店で一番大きいサイズはアメリカの 0 サイズに相当するようだが、それでもソウルの人々は体重を落とし完璧なボディを手に入れるため、常に最新ダイエット法を見つけるべく目を光らせている。 

数年前は「デンマークダイエット」という炭水化物を控えたんぱく質と野菜を中心にする 2 週間の摂生プログラムが人気を博したが、最近では、サウナのように高温多湿に耐えるホットヨガがブームだ。 

さらに、賛否両論が尽きない 1 種類だけの食べ物に頼るダイエット法も登場。 ビヨンセをはじめとするアメリカのセレブによって一躍有名になったレモンデトックス・ダイエット、マスタークレンズ」である。レモン果汁、カイエンペッパー、メープルシロップを混ぜた如何わしい飲料は、韓国で即効性を求める層に支持されている。

忌々しいモンスーンも去り水着シーズンがようやく到来した今、韓国最新の流行ダイエット法を覗いてみた。 

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