Let's Visit Asia » summer holidays

Melaka Travel Video

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:03:55 +0000

Out of a gazillion travel videos in YouTube, there’s not a lot that’s fun to watch. Here’s one that’s looks professionally edited, featuring the best of Melaka, Malaysia in just about 6 minutes:

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Singapore Sun Festival

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:36:03 +0000

A festival also held in Napa and Tuscany, this premier arts and lifestyle festival will also be held in Singapore for the second time.

From 17 – 26 October 2008, embark on an exciting journey to celebrate the Art of Living Well through over 90 premium lifestyle and arts events encompassing Music, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Wine, Cuisine and Wellness. Join over 250 artists, musicians, chefs, writers and celebrities at various beautiful locations along the Singapore River and Marina Bay throughout the 10 days.

Check out the calendar of events and ticketing details from their official website. If you book until end of July, you can get early bird discounts!

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Singapore for Seniors

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:41:31 +0000

My mom’s visiting us here in Singapore and I’m at a loss with where to bring her. She’s not exactly at the pink of health, having already had a stroke, a triple bypass, a gall bladder op, and other aging-related maladies over the last few years. She can’t do walking tours anymore, be it trhough the city or through a park. She’s not interested in shopping and is scared of heights, so no cable car, no DHL Balloon, and no Singapore Flyer.

I guess we’ll have to make do with the Duck Tours and exploring Sentosa by trams and buses. The idea is to see lots with the least energy exertion!

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Air Asia X Promo on Australia-KL Flights

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:38:08 +0000

Here’s some airfare offers from our traveling folks down there. Air Asia X, the long-haul budget airline, is offering airfares from Perth to KL for just AUD 132, and from Perth for just AUD 172. Here’s a screenshot of the Air Asia website showing all the details:

Air Asia X is just like the lowcost Air Asia flights, except for a few, but tangible differences that will make traveling long distances more comfortable. They offer a limited number of XL seats for those who require more legroom, and set meals are provided (snacks are available for purchase). You don’t get free baggage allowance, but would need to pay baggage fees according to the weight of your stuff (which is rather becoming the norm nowadays anyway).

Compared to the usual airlines plying this route, these offers are really quite competitive, so plan your travels and snap those cheap airfares quickly!

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External Laptop Batteries for Travelers

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:35:25 +0000

On the go for longer than your laptop battery would hold? Have a look at Web Worker Daily’s recommendation: the Powerpad 130.

Using the Electrovaya PowerPad 130, I was able to use my laptop outside for nearly nine hours, with only a fraction of that time spent on standby.

The batteries in the PowerPad series weigh about a pound, come with two USB charge ports, and they’re well worth having if you frequently work from hotspots, or want to work outside for extended periods. They’re compatible with thousands of models of laptops.

Also perfect for use during long drives or long-haul flights particularly if you’re on economy class where there usually aren’t plugs available for recharging.

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Carseat-and-Stroller-in-One for Traveling Tots

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:35:38 +0000

You can’t believe how many equipment a young child absolutely must have nowadays. And when that child travels, believe me, it’s a major logistical nightmare to lug around all those baby or toddler stuff. Apart from the suitcase with ten thousand clothes, there’s the carseat, the stroller, the booster seat, the rocker, the playgym… Man, the list goes on and on! I remember, when we went to my in-laws for holidays, it took us half a day just to pack the car! And flying? Don’t ask.

Here’s probably one of the best gadgets for parents traveling with their little ones: the All-in-One Car Seat, Baby Stroller and Booster Seat from Hammacher.

A boon for parents traveling with young children, this versatile seat converts quickly and easily from a secure car/plane seat (forward- or rear-facing) into a sturdy, maneuverable stroller, complete with adjustable-height handle and a low center of gravity for stability. It can even be used as a booster seat when dining. The wheels and handle fold up and fit inside the body, and it secures to seats directly with a seat belt, for a true all-in-one solution. Instead of lugging excessive amounts of gear with you when you travel or shop, this innovative system allows you to simply wheel your child to the plane or car, fold away the strollers wheels and handle, and buckle it firmly in place.

This is particularly nifty when flying with children. The stroller function will be very useful when you navigate the airport, and the carseat function makes flying much safer for small children (rather than holding them on your lap during take-off and landing). This fine piece of equipment is suitable for newborns (at least 5 pounds) up to children weighing 40 pounds. You can get one here for $249.95.

Hat Tip: The Red Ferret Journal;Photo from Hammacher

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Getting the Best Cruise Deals

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:57:52 +0000

Over the years, it has gotten easier and easier to book airlines and hotel rooms online. I personally don’t know anyone who goes to travel agencies anymore just to book simple straightforward itineraries. Aggregators such as Expedia, Opodo and the likes have made it so easy to find good flight and hotel deals, you don’t need to be a professional to find a package that suits your taste and budget.

But cruises are different, probably because it’s not yet a popular mode of holiday travel? But if that’s what you’re looking for, you just might find the best deals at Cruise Compete. And that’s even without actually searching for it.

Confused? Here’s how it works. Just choose a cruise, create an account, request quotes, and then sit back and let the quotations from various travel agents reach you. In effect, independent travel agencies compete to offer you the best cruise deal.

Have a look at the looong list of Asia/Far East Cruises to choose from, or simply choose one from the Asia/Far East Cruise Specials currently on offer.

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Hong Kong for Kids

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:04:40 +0000

If you’re a parent headed for Hong Kong with your kids, be sure to visit the following attractions for kids recommended by the Venere Travel Blog:

1. Ocean Park
2. Water World
3. Zoological and Botanical Gardens and Hong Kong Park
4. Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car — I also blogged about this here.
5. Disneyland Hong Kong — if you’re planning on visiting often, you might want to get a summer season pass or even an annual pass

Read about all these destinations by clicking the links, or for a glimpse of what to expect, head on over to the Venere Blog.

If you’ve been to all these and still raring for more, check out other fun things to do with kids in Hong Kong.

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Stuck in Boracay During Typhoon Frank

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:33:42 +0000

I know many who would say that being stuck in Boracay for a week or so would be their idea of paradise. But in a typhoon?!?

How does it feel like to be stuck in the middle of a typhoon? Well, if you’re housed in a stable dwelling and you’re stocked with food and drinking water, then there’s nothing to worry. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of the wind and pattering (or battering?) rain against your windows. Now if you’re witnessing that scene from a beach hotel window because you were planning to have a few days of sun, sand and sea… well, that royally sucks. Because aside from the disappointment, there’s the typhoon aftermath to worry about, too.

Reading MJ’s story, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Having been stuck in Cebu years ago, also due to a typhoon and with a grumpy boss waiting in Manila, I know how desperate such a situation can be. Read her travelogue here and see also the photos she took of the damages typhoon Frank left at Boracay!

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Boracay, Back to Normal Operations After Typhoon Frank

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:32:41 +0000

If it’s true that there are hordes of tourists headed for the Philippines this summer, I hope that the country will indeed recover from the aftermath of typhoon Frank real quick. Last weekend, the typhoon ravaged the islands, particularly Central Visayas, just where most of the country’s best beaches are.

Boracay, perhaps the most popular beach destination in the Philippines, belongs to one of the hardest-hit areas, but is said to be slowly getting back to normal operations. In fact, perhaps fearing the loss of revenues, tourism officials claim that Boracay is ready to welcome guests again.

I’m skeptic. Does nature really takes just a couple of days to recover from such a ravaging? Part of me wants to believe that this is the perfect chance for Boracay to take a rest, recover from the damages imposed on her, not by nature, but by decades of mass tourism. On the other hand, I recognize that businesses have to earn and mouths have to be fed. I just hope that Boracay officials take this opportunity to start anew, and perhaps encourage more sustainable, more green travel practices.

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