10-October_2012

AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE TRAVEL 3SIXTY째

63 OCTOBER 2012

Udon Thani, Thailand

AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

Chengdu, China

RISING ART Laos

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Bangkok

RETURN OF DON MUEANG PP15075/07/2013(032403)

PASSAGE

PHI TA KON

Sebu Lake, Philippines

LAND OF THE DREAMWEAVERS Touchdown

LOMBOK, INDONESIA

THROUGH

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MYANMAR

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120012

CHECK-IN Contents October 2012 74

NAVIGATOR

74

PASSAGE TO MYANMAR Southeast Asia’s Final Frontier

82

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Saving Elephants in Laos

90

LIFE OF PHI Phi Ta Khon Festival, Thailand

98

RISING ART Contemporary Art, Chengdu, China

104

LAND OF THE DREAMWEAVERS Sebu Lake, Mindanao, Philippines

112

PILOT’S PERSPECTIVE Exciting & Unusual

118

TRAVEL LOG A Precious Gift

126

22

STYLE FILE BOARDING CALL 06 CAPTAIN’S ADDRESS AirAsia asean

90

122 OFF THE RACK Fallen Flavours

126 VANITY FARE Autumnal Treats

130 JETSETTER Nadya Hutagalung

08 INBOX The Buzz from our Guests

10 RED FORT News from AirAsia

160 MY AIRASIA

IN FLIGHT 136 PLANE FUN Puzzles & Games

138 PICTURE PERFECT

Climbin’ for a Cause

Photos Taken by AirAsia Guests

FLIGHT PLAN

140 GET COMFY

22 SPOTLIGHT

PORT OF CALL

Stuff you’d Love to Know

28 HOT DATES October Events to Keep a Lookout for

32 COMPASS Smart & Smooth Travels

66

Joy of Flying

142 ROUTE MAP 156 AIRASIA SALES OFFICES & STATIONS 158 TOUCHDOWN Lombok, Indonesia

36 QUICK BITES October Feast

40 PAGE TURNER

82

Bloody Books

44 MONEY MAKER Creating Connections

46 PRESCRIPTION

130

The Age We Live in

48 SCORE BOARD Virtues of Sport

50 HYPER TECH Think Smart, Tech Smart

56 SLEEP INNS The Pleasures of Penang

66 HIT LIST Built to Impress

134 KIDS SPACE Trick or Treat

66 66

PUBLISHER MANAGING EDITOR ART DIRECTOR WRITERS PHOTOJOURNALIST EDITORIAL ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER CONTRIBUTORS ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun

AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

R. Rajendra Kan Seak Hong Beverly Rodrigues Chitra S Udon Thani, Thailand

Adam Lee Fazlina Bee Binti Abdul Rashid

Chengdu, China

RISING ART

Fadillah Kamarudin

Laos

Alice Yong, Captain Lim Khoy Hing, Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap, Efi Hamzah, Ira de Reuver, Mike Larder, Pete King, Shantini Suntharajah

Bangkok

Spencer Lee (AirAsia Berhad) spencerlee@airasia.com Indran Balavishnu (Malaysia) indran.balavishnu@pharpartnerships.com Senthuran Mohan (Malaysia) sen.mohan@pharpartnerships.com Mairianne Reardon (Singapore, UK and International Markets) m.reardon@pharpartnerships.com Paragorn Petchnaree (Thailand) paragorn.p@pharpartnerships.com

PHI TA KON

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

Sebu Lake, Philippines

LAND OF THE DREAMWEAVERS Touchdown

RETURN OF DON MUEANG

PASSAGE

LOMBOK, INDONESIA

THROUGH

MYANMAR

HELP SAVE THE EARTH. READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINE AND STOP STEALING ME!

10

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

ON THE COVER Passage to Myanmar Cover Image: Corbis

Vikhram Radhakishnan (Indonesia) vikhram.r@pharpartnerships.com Frances Barsana (Philippines) frances.barsana@pharpartnerships.com Tel: +6 03-7966 8655 (Phar Partnerships Malaysia) E-mail: sales-T360@airasia.com Travel 3Sixty° wishes to thank Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles, MPH, Pansing Marketing, Advantage Quest Publications EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES PUBLISHED BY

PRINTING

PRE-PRESS SERVICES

travel3sixty@airasia.com Travel 3Sixty° c/o AirAsia Berhad

LCC Terminal, Jalan KLIA S3, Southern Support Zone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Tel: 603-8660 4333

Percetakan Zanders Sdn. Bhd.

No. 16, Jalan BK 1/11, Bandar Kinrara, 47180 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.Tel: 603-5623 9393

Handprint.com

No 1A Jalan SS25/34, Mayang Light Industrial Park, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚ DIGITAL TEAM CONTENT WEBMASTER WEB DEVELOPERS WEB DESIGNER

Matthew Mok, Ellyse Ng, Irvin Hanni, Haze Jalalludin, Vini Balan, Abby Yao, Ari Fajar Iyan Yudhiana Jason Phoon, Mohd Sufian Angie Lew

All rights reserved. The opinions and statements of contributors in Travel 3Sixty° do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or AirAsia Berhad. Travel 3Sixty° and AirAsia Berhad are not responsible or liable in anyway for the contents of the advertisements, articles, photographs or illustrations contained in this publication. We reasonably assume that all articles are factual and not plagiarised or intentionally libellous. The editorial team reserves the right to edit and / or re-write all materials according to the needs of the publication upon usage. Reproduction of material from Travel 3Sixty° in any form is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by sufficient return postage. All information correct at the time of printing.

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Get your answers here at airasia.com/ask! We’ll help you out via chat, twitter.com/askairasia or E-mail if you need further assistance AirAsia on Twitter for information & assistance on simple requests: www.twitter.com/AskAirAsia For exciting news, bytes and tweets from AirAsia: www.twitter.com/airasia AirAsia on Facebook: www. facebook.com/AirAsia. For AirAsia promotional updates, travel stories & news: www.facebook.com/airasia AirAsia blog to share travel experiences and stories: http://blog.airasia.com Find us on Weibo at http://t.sina.com.cn/airasia Folow us on RenRen at http://page.renren.com/airasia

12 102 CAPTAIN’S ADDRESS 2011 201

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AIRASIA asean engage closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and the diplomatic missions to ASEAN which, like us, are headquartered in Indonesia’s capital.

Why are we so excited about AirAsia asean? Because it will help us expand our footprint in the region and beyond! AirAsia is strategically located in a region where economic growth is expected to continue despite uncertainty in other parts of the globe. By focusing on regional growth, we expand our market base to 600 million people and bring ASEAN closer to Northeast and South Asia. Together, the ASEAN region, Northeast Asia and South Asia have a population of 3 billion people, or 43% of the world’s population.

Just imagine how many more people can CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The workforce at the AirAsia asean office in Jakarta; (L to R) Aireen Omar, CEO of Malaysia AirAsia; Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X (partly hidden); Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia; Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia; Kazuyuki Iwakata, CEO of AirAsia Japan; Dato’ Abdel Aziz Abu Bakar, Chairman of AirAsia and Logan Velaitham, CEO of AirAsia Singapore (partly hidden) at the launch of the AirAsia asean office in Jakarta; entrance to the AirAsia asean office; the large turnout of local and international press at the launch of asean office.

AirAsia asean, the new regional base of the world’s best low-cost airline, has been launched in Jakarta!

We had our official office opening in August, on the eve of the 45th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

For those of who you who don’t know, ASEAN is a grouping of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam that aims to promote social and economic growth, and peace and stability throughout the region.

The setting up of AirAsia asean comes as AirAsia moves into its 6

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second decade of operations. Our amazing growth in our first decade has created a momentum of its own.

We are growing by leaps and bounds, and the best way for us to move forward and capitalise on this energy is by expanding our focus from national to regional.

We set up AirAsia asean to serve as the ‘nerve center’ of our regional expansion. It is our incubator of ideas for our regional strategy, which will keep us in the lead as more competitors enter the field. It will also help ensure that our voice is heard much more clearly in the corridors of power within ASEAN and allow us to

realise their dreams with our pledge Now everyone can fly!

With AirAsia asean, we also help ready the group for the implementation of the ASEAN Open Skies and the ASEAN Economic Community initiatives that are scheduled for implementation in all 10 ASEAN-member countries in 2015.

These initiatives, meant to vastly improve connectivity and usher in development in the region, will allow us to connect many more communities in ASEAN and to more fully contribute to the economic prosperity and social wellbeing of the people of this region that we call home.

AirAsia asean team

10 INBOX

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

It was a pleasure reading the article on Chongqing (Sept 2012). I’ve never heard of this city before but then again, I’ve only started flying recently with AirAsia. I’ve never stepped into China and the only place I’ve dreamt of visiting was the Great Wall of China. But I guess there’s more to explore now, especially after reading the story on Chongqing. The pictures were amazing and I also found out that Chongqing is known as the Manhattan of Asia.

Thank you AirAsia for introducing other parts of China to my future travel plans.~ Saras Jayapalan, an, via email

LETTER OF THE MONTH WINS: Winter apparels worth RM947

by Universal Traveller 2ND & 3RD LETTER WIN: RM100 voucher each

by Luggage Empire

Generally I find airline magazines as bland as their food. However Travel 3Sixty°’s article on Maan Hontiveros was a tasty read, just like your nasi lemak. Since AirAsia started years back, I’ve always wondered who would be the clever person to convince Tony Fernandes to set up a JV in the Philippines. Maan was unexpected but a delight nonethless. A maverick just like AirAsia! ~ Rey Gadi, via email

*T&C apply.

LETTER OF THE MONTH!

The bold and striking title Beauty & Brains (Aug, 2012) quickly caught my attention as I was flipping through the pages of the Travel 3Sixty°. Being a postgraduate who is looking forward to embarking on a professional career in Malaysia, I was greatly encouraged by the successes of Aireen Omar, CEO of Malaysia AirAsia. She’s a testament to what many deem elusive; that it is possible to dream big, achieve great heights and still remain rooted. Not only is she an inspiration but also a reflection that AirAsia is, in her own words, “truly a company that links effort with reward”. ~ Charlaine Chin, Malaysia

HERE’S THE BUZZ ON AIRASIA’S FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND WEIBO PAGES Hello from Japan.I had a great flight and a smooth landing on flight D7533 from KIX to KUL. Ssmooth!

Takashi Kawabe

Amazing operations provided by AirAsia X. Passionate about what they do and dedicated too: Cutting edge carrier and the culture is refreshing.

Travelled to Phuket with AirAsia for the first time and my son is already in love with AirAsia! And I also bought an AirAsia A320 model aircraft. Love it!

@samjayne74 igusanong

Airasia is popular today, thanks to its cheap tickets. Otherwise, I won’t ever be able to visit those countries I’ve always wanted to. I will continue flying AirAsia!

Fam Pin

I MUST compliment the pilot on flight AK6129 TWU-BKI on 21 August, 2012. Through my number of years travelling, this is the best and perfect landing ever. I was amazed. Thank you so much. Keep it up.

Nick Chia

Studying about AirAsia’s business strategy in class. I always loved this airlines for so much innovations in each area. @kp1200

Wuhan needs AirAsia! I hope I will be sitting inside the Red AirAsia aircraft when it first lands in Wuhan Tianhe International Airport! AirAsia I love you!

Ms Su

Just did a live chat online with @ airasia to modify my flight booking.

Very impressed with the short waiting time and efficient service. @wander run

To be honest, I really admire AirAsia Red colours. It is original, exciting, powerful, & refreshing!

LoveRabbit

Like what you read in Travel 3Sixty°? Share your thoughts with us in English! To show you how much we appreciate your feedback, we’ll give the best letter of the month winter apparels worth RM947 by Universal Traveller and the other two letters will receive a RM100 gift voucher each from Luggage Empire. Email your feedback to travel3sixty@airasia.com. Travel 3Sixty° reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length, and only letters regarding articles published in Travel 3Sixty° will stand to win a prize.

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10 RED FORT

2012

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MORE OF MYANMAR

(L to R) Ajan Paothong Thongjua, specialist on Thai and Myanmar history; Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia; Ajarn Nawarat Pongpaibool, a SEA Write poet; Wachara Waw-wuthinan, CEO of JSL Global Media and Ple-Chirayadi Thammawit Spencer, host of the Proud around the World TV programme.

On October 4, AirAsia launches direct flights between Bangkok and Mandalay, the former royal capital of Myanmar. This move is in line with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and makes AirAsia the only airline to fly this route four times a week. The introduction of this new route comes alongside an increase in services to Yangon with three daily flights.

One month earlier, AirAsia teamed up with JSL Global Media to fly over 100 fans of the variety TV programme Proud, as well as guests from various industries on an exclusive trip from Bangkok to Mandalay, Myanmar. Guests prayed at the Mahamuni Buddha statue, cruised along the Irrawaddy River and enjoyed a guided tour conducted by Ajan Paothong Thongjua, a specialist in Myanmar’s history. Participants donated funds to the International University of Yangon’s Thai language programme, as well as the Myanmar Red Cross, strengthening the bond between Thailand and Myanmar.

TOP AIRBUS OPERATOR AirAsia X was awarded the Airbus Top Operational Excellence Award 2010-2011, for being the world’s best Airbus A330-300 operator (small fleet category).

This award recognises reliability performance across all operators of the aircraft type. For 2011, AirAsia X achieved a record of 99.53% for its operating, maintenance and safety systems.

ADDING ON THE AIRCRAFT AirAsia X has inked a letter of intent with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for the lease of six Airbus A330-300. The new planes are scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2014, and will be reconfigured to meet AirAsia X’s existing Airbus A330-300 set up of 12 Premium Flatbeds and 365 Economy seats.

“Myanmar is continuously opening itself up to the region and the world, providing a chance for outsiders to witness its many beauties and, setting it up to reap the benefits of the ASEAN Economic Community. AirAsia, as the airline with the most extensive network in the region, has thus devoted importance to providing flights into Myanmar to foster its future.” ~ Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia

COMPILED BY: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

CEO IN SINGAPORE

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In August, AirAsia announced the promotion of longserving AllStar Logan Velaitham as AirAsia Singapore’s CEO. Logan was posted to Singapore as Country Head in May this year, and given the responsibility of expanding AirAsia’s presence in the island republic and Johor. Prior to this appointment, Logan served as AirAsia Regional Head of Customer Experience. With over 20 years in aviation service, he has been instrumental in formulating customer service strategies, promoting selfservice options, and setting up services for AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia Japan and AirAsia X. TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

(L to R) Peter Anderson, the Vice President of the International Lease Finance Corporation Singapore; Henri Courpron, CEO of International Lease Finance Corporation; Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X and Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia.

“We intend to deploy the additional capacity with a vision to solidify our positions in our identified core markets, including Australia, China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. Our commitment to have a standardised, young, and fuel efficient fleet optimises our resources and provides better value for our guests.” ~ Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X

c i t s a t n Fu s y a d i l Ho e easy! d a m

tels o h 0 00,00 1 r e v es & o ble on g a l i a a k v c a sia pa Now .

A r s i p A e & Book e asy st l e i 3 b t in jus , mo

op t k s es. e c i d v e td e l b a t

BIG BENEFITS AirAsia BIG launched the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Free Membership in August, making it easier to become a BIG Shot. Members of this innovative global loyalty programme earn BIG Points when travelling and shopping with partners worldwide, and are able to redeem the accumulated points for exciting rewards like AirAsia flights and hotel packages. BIG Shots are also entitled to exclusive privileges such as Priority Booking, and access to special offers via BIG’s online shopping mall, ShopBIG. It’s never been easier!

Just log onto www.airasia.com or www.tune2big.com, answer a few simple questions and obtain your BIG Shot ID.

MOTO GP SPECIAL

In conjunction with the MotoGP races in Japan and Australia in October, AirAsia X offered awesome fares from as low as RM349 to Japan and RM369 to Australia. The airline also dished out great deals via its long haul flythru service to hotspots like Thailand, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Indochina, Hong Kong and Macau. This service enables guests to purchase two flight sectors with seamless transit via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

COOL TREATS

“BIG will provide so much more value for our guests, now that they can sign up for free and start earning points immediately. Booking an AirAsia flight will now be a much more exciting experience with BIG.” ~ Kathleen Tan, AirAsia’s Group Head of Commercial

Adding a scoop of luxury to Thailand AirAsia’s in-flight menu, the airline began serving decadent HaagenDazs ice cream on board this September. The popular chocolate and vanilla flavours are available at just 90THB for a 75 gramme cup, and may be pre-booked online at www.airasia.com

NEW WINGS

LOVIN’ LOMBOK On August 15, AirAsia boosted connectivity to Indonesia with the launch of ticket sales to Lombok, its 15th Indonesian destination served via Kuala Lumpur. To celebrate this new offering, the airline offered special promotional all-in-fares from as low as RM88 one way. AirAsia flies between Kuala Lumpur and Lombok three times a week. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

“Lombok is a hidden gem. Blessed with spectacular attractions, Lombok satisfies diverse holiday preferences.

Outdoor lovers may embark on adventurous trips to explore Mt. Rinjani or the Tropical Forest & Animal Reserve.

Honeymooners will definitely find the untouched sandy beaches at Senggigi and the surrounding Gili Island as romantic retreats. Lombok is also the perfect spot for snorkeling and diving, with a picture perfect underwater world. This island is a must for those looking for adventure, serenity or a romantic getaway.” ~ Jasmine Lee, AirAsia Berhad Commercial Director 12

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In August, 20 cadet pilots graduated from the Bali International Flight Academy (BIFA) during a ceremony held at the Financial Club, Graha Niaga Building, Jakarta. The event was graced by Dharmadi, AirAsia Indonesia CEO and Robby Djohan, BIFA Chairman. The 20 graduates, who’ve successfully obtained their Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and Instrument Rating certificates, will undergo the Airbus A320 training programme at AirAsia Academy in Sepang, Malaysia before taking to the skies as a new generation of AirAsia Indonesia pilots.

Dharmadi, CEO of Indonesia AirAsia (ninth from left) and Robby Djohan, BIFA Chairman (11th from left) with representatives from Indonesia AirAsia and BIFA, and the graduates.

WUHAN WONDERS On October 19, Thai AirAsia extends its reach across mainland China with new daily flights from Bangkok to Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei that boasts a history spanning some 3,000 years. This move comes hot on the heels of the launch of the highly popular Bangkok – Chongqing route in February this year, which attracts an average of 80% passenger capacity. www.cnto.org

SWEET SURABAYA On August 28, AirAsia opened a new route from the southern hub of Johor Bahru in Malaysia to Surabaya in Indonesia. The airline celebrated this new route with promotional fares from as low as RM129 one way. Surabaya offers a wealth of historical, natural and cultural attractions like the House of Sampoerna with its local art, the Monkansel submarine monument, Surabaya heroes’ monument, Mount Bromo and Surabaya Zoo. Get the latest updates on AirAsia’s promotions via Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

“Located in the south of Peninsula Malaysia, Johor Bahru is one of the largest industrial, commercial and tourism centres in the country, just as Surabaya in Indonesia. We are very delighted to be part of what will further propel the growth of economy and tourism in both cities.” ~ Dharmadi, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia

WHEN IN WUHAN

FIRST TUNE IN JAKARTA In September, the value branded hotel chain Tune Hotels, launched its first property in Central Jakarta with a special opening ceremony attended by Indonesian celebrities Nicholas Saputra and Izabel Jahja.

Located in Pasar Baru, the hotel boasts 168 rooms: 125 doubles and 42 twin-sharing units, as well as one special-needs room. Like all Tune Hotels, this property is space-efficient and offers high quality basics like five-star beds, power showers and energy-saving fans. To help guests conserve money and the world’s resources, Tune Hotels offers a ‘Less Waste, More Earth’ pay-as-you-use system with add-ons like Wi-Fi access, TV, laundered towels and other energy-consuming facilities. www.tunehotels.com

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X The five-storey Yellow Crane Tower offers stunning views of the Yangtze River.

X Guiyuan Temple showcases a beautiful Guan Yin statue flanked by clay statues of her 500 disciples covered in pure gold.

X Wuhan Museum displays artifacts like ancient Chinese bell instruments crafted 2,400 years ago.

X The East Lake is so large it encompasses one fourth of the city and is six times larger than the West Lake!

“We chose Wuhan as our latest destination as it is a gateway to central China and further adds to our network’s connectivity. We are confident that the Bangkok-Wuhan route will be another popular route. It is a city of rich history, as detailed in the tale Romance of the Three Kingdoms and is also home to many travel worthy sites.” ~ Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia

IT’S THE BRAND NEW AIRASIA.COM! It’s more than just a new look; it’s a whole new way to book! The new and improved AirAsia.com is here to secure you low fares even faster and easier than ever before! Take a look at our top innovative features that are here to stay!

ONLY

5 STBOEOPKS! TO

STEP 1 Enter the details of where you wish to fly. fly.

STEP 1A

STEP 2

Select the dates, time and lowest fare option of fa y your choice!

Enter your contact details, and of those travelling with you, (if applicable).

STEP 3 Pick the seat of your choice or, opt for auto-assignment.

You may also choose your add-ons such as meals, baggage and insurance.

STEP 4

STEP 5

Confirm your booking using any of our available payment channels, such as Direct Debit, Credit Card or Debit Card.

You are done! Check your confirmed travel itinerary and you are all set to jet to your awesome AirAsia destination!

INNOVATIVE FEATURES EXCLUSIVE ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ FEATURES! Great managing tools and special ‘Members Navigation’ for AirAsia members to customise your travels to suit individual needs!

GOT A QUESTION, JUST ASK AIRASIA! Forget complicated ‘Search’ fields. Find all the answers just by asking us, as Lil Miss Red is at your service!

BARGAIN HUNTERS’ BEST FRIEND! The new ‘Limited’ indicator prompts bargain-hunters to pick their flights quick before the low fare runs out!

EAT WHAT YOU SEE! Bigger pictures of the meal onboard to whet your appetite! You can now choose up to two prebooked meals per flight!

VIEW LOW FARES BY THE MONTH! Search for the lowest fares with our new monthly low fare chart!

TOP 4 DESTINATIONS OF THE MONTH! Not sure where to fly to next? Fret not! Four spectacular destinations will be selected monthly, giving you exciting new options to travel and discover!

These and other user-friendly features coming your way this October. Keep a lookout for them at www.airasia.com!

AIRASIA MOBILE APP

With the new and improved AirAsia Mobile App, you can book and pick your seat, check-in and, save all your travel details on any Android, Blackberry or iOS mobile device.

All you need is an Internet connection and you are good to go!

BOOK ANYWHERE! Simple layout eases booking process, as you can easily pick the lowest ALL-INFARE, enter your details and confirm your booking with our in-app payment!

CHECK-IN! FASTER

Skip the queues and print your own boarding pass when you check-in with our app! Just get ready your booking number, fill up the check-in details and scan the print barcode (SMS or in-app) to get to the gate faster!

Regardless if you are a corporate jetsetter, flashpacker or family traveller, our new and improved AirAsia Mobile App will change your travelling experience altogether! Your simplified globe-trotting adventure starts here this October!

Scan your Mobile 2D barcode at www.airasia.com according to your mobile OS. **Windows Mobile 8 and Tablet compatible AirAsia Mobile App will be coming to you soon!

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CHOOSE EVERYTHING! You have the freedom to choose any of our wonderful add-ons that will make your journey with us all the more comfortable!

This includes inflight meals, picking your seat, increasing your baggage allowance, inflight entertainment and even travel insurance!

SAVE IT FOR LATER! Be part of the digital revolution and go paperless! The comprehensive travel guides available on the website can be viewed offline at your convenience.

DON MUEANG BACK IN ACTION T month, Thai AirAsia returns to Don Mueang This IInternational Airport, a newly-revamped home base from which to drive the low cost revolution. b

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Check-in counters, exterior of building and food court at the Don Mueang International Airport. At press time, these facilities were being readied to receive guests on October 1, 2012.

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

Built for military purposes in the 1990s, Don Mueang Airport saw its first commercial flight take off in 1924, and by the 1990s, it was considered one of Asia’s most important air hubs with some 25 million travellers passing through annually. Although it was replaced by the ultra modern Suvarnabhumi International Airport in 2006, Don Mueang has been given an impressive facelift, and is now ready for some aviation action. AirAsia operates out of Terminal 1, where the airline has been allocated space to grow its fleet to advance low cost travel in the region and beyond.

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NEARBY HOTSPOTS

REINTRODUCING DON MUEANG LOCATION Located at the northern edge of Bangkok, Don Mueang is closer to inner Bangkok and surrounded by urban development including Future Park Rangsit, which was once the country’s largest mall, as well as Chatuchak Weekend Market, an extensive bazaar selling everything from funky fashions and quirky home décor to pets and local cuisine.

CONNECTIVITY Just outside the airport, travellers can easily hail taxis and hop on buses plying routes into the city, and the outskirts.

It’s less than 30 minutes to reach Mo Chit BTS Station, which offers easy connectivity to areas like Petchburi, Sukhumvit and Bangna. North and southbound trains run directly across from Don Mueang offering a classic travel option.

Additionally, The Airports of Thailand

Company offers free transport between Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

DREAM WORLD A theme park with roller coasters, fun houses, games and water rides!

CONVENIENCE This new terminal dedicated to AirAsia is uncongested, offering faster Immigration processing and a quicker baggage reclaim experience for smooth travels.

CENTRAL LADPRAO

COMFORT Business and leisure travellers will enjoy comfortable and affordable range of 3- to 5-star accommodations nearby including the Amari Don Muang, Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, Miracle Grand and Rama Garden.

SHOPPING Don Mueang offers fabulous duty free shopping with a wide range of good quality products similar to what you’d expect at other major airports worldwide.

Newly refurbished, this department store offers coveted brands, local labels, chic eateries and a multiplex.

KOH KRET This manmade island is home to beautiful temples and sacred sites like the Wat Phailom, Wat Saotong Thong and Kret Buddha Garden, as well as the leaning pagoda, Chedi Mutao.

CHALOEMPHRAKIAT CALADIUM VILLAGE Dedicated to the cultivation of the Caladium flower, this botanical village is abloom with dual pigmented caladiums known as Bon Si.

WAT BOROM RACHA KANCHANAPISEK ANUSORN AirAsia sales counter at Don Mueang Airport.

TO SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

DISTANCE (Kilometre)

HOW LONG (Minute)

47.5

45

TRANSPORT

FARE (Approx)

Taxi

THB 350

Bus No. 554 & 555

THB 23 THB 350

This majestic temple is Thailand’s largest Chinese temple and a centre for the study of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism.

NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM This science park boasts an interactive museum, natural history showcase, ecology and environment centre and an aviation and telecommunications museum.

CENTRAL BANGKOK (Siam Area)

23

30

Taxi Bus No. 29

THB 18

MO CHIT (Connect to BTS & MRT)

14

30

Taxi

THB 150

SILOM (South)

26

30

Taxi

THB 220

MUAY THAI INSTITUTE

SANAM LUANG (Grand Palace)

27

30

Taxi

THB 220

PHRA KHANONG (Sukhumvit)

27

40

Taxi

THB 220

HUA LAMPHONG (Bangkok Railway Station)

30

30

Taxi

THB 210

This institute is the place to go for casual spectators or serious students interested in muay thai (Thai kickboxing). Open to foreigners, it offers both short and long term courses covering the art of traditional Thai boxing, as well as knowledge of its history and culture.

Go to www.airasia.com and www.donmuangairportonline.com for detailed information on AirAsia’s move to Don Mueang International Airport.

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10 SPOTLIGHT

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

THE BEST IN MUSIC, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY AIRASIA REDTIX. Get your tickets at redtix.airasia.com

MALAYSIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX OCT 19 TO 21 Catch the action on the grid at the Sepang International Circuit when the Motorcycle Grand Prix comes to town. Watch your favourites go head-to-head on the track during the Malaysian leg of the race. Among the exciting events lined up for MotoGP week is a free pit walk on October 19 for ticket holders and, an autograph session with MotoGP riders.

MxPx

ROCKAWAY FESTIVAL 2012

COMPILED BY: CHITRA S

OCT 20 Are you ready to rock? Bigger and edgier than before, the Rockaway Festival 2012 takes place at the Helipad at Sepang International Circuit with a line-up that includes Max Cavalera, Soulfly, punk phenomenon MxPx All Stars and metalcore sensation Unearth. On the local front, Hujan, Love Me Butch, Massacre Conspiracy, Bunkface, I, Revival, The Padangs and Go Gerila are some of the performers to look out for. Fans can expect lots of fun activities within the festival grounds, especially with the addition of a second stage that will feature acts from The WKND Sessions.

The WKND Sessions are stripped down music showcases that feature indie music.

The Rock Cinema is back this year too, together with fun games and activities. Do also check out the popular festival Food Village.

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Unearth

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WONDER GIRLS OCT 13 South Korean girl group Wonder Girls are back in Kuala Lumpur fresh from the launch of their latest album. Don’t miss this K-Pop group famous for their worldwide hit Nobody when they perform at Stadium Negara, KL.

THAILAND VS ASIA OCT 9 Elite Boxing presents Thailand VS Asia – The Best of Malaysia, in a showdown that will pit muay thai superstar Mosi the Persian Mos against Team Asia featuring Faizal Ramli, Malaysia’s muay thai team captain Mohd Ali Yaakob and, winner from The Challenger Muaythai, Marsdua.

Catch the action live at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre.

SALLY IS INTIMATELY YOURS MALAYSIA TOUR CONCERT OCT 26 & 27 Pop icon Sally Yeh sets the stage ablaze with an energetic and action-packed routine that includes sizzling Latin dance moves to match her powerhouse vocals. In 2011, Yeh received the Golden Needle Award, a lifetime achievement award for her enormous contribution to the Hong Kong music industry.

Don’t miss her two-night performance at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands.

Mohd Ali Yaakob

WORLD BACHATA 2012 OCT 19 TO 22 Swing your hips to the seductive rhythm of Latin music as the World Bachata Festival makes its way to Kuala Lumpur this month.

World class Bachata performers and instructors will showcase the best of Bachata – a style of dance originating from the Dominican Republic, as well as dance styles like Kizomba, Zouk and Salsa at the Bentley Music Auditorium.

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RICHIE JEN WORLD TOUR 2012 OCT 12 Fans of singer-actor Richie Jen take note! The Taiwanese heartthrob famous for his hit songs Heart Too Soft and Girl Across the Way, Look Over Here will be in Malaysia for his World Tour 2012, performing at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands.

IMAGE: WHITE PEACOCK, MIGUEL PAYANO

SCARE FAIR

NEW ART

The Hinterland Scarecrow Festival and Trail exhibits interesting interpretations of the scarecrow ranging from animated sculptures to unusual farmyard characters that reflect the diverse and eclectic community from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula hinterlands. Armed with a Scarecrow Map, visitors will discover not only scarecrows but also hidden gems along the trail that include regional stores, vineyards and gourmet food producers. Part of the Peninsula’s Springtime Arts Festival, the event is on until October 26. www.scarecrowfestival.com.au.

View the works of Asia’s young, emerging talent and recognised mid-career artists at the Asia Contemporary Art Show at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Art lovers can visit over 60 guestrooms-turned galleries that will showcase stunning and accessibly priced creations of artists including Myanmar’s Khin Zaw Latt, Hong Kong’s Charles Munka and Claire Hui and, Attasit Pokpong from Thailand. Three-day admission tickets are priced at HKD100 per person (at the door) and HKD100 for two people (online preshow). The show is on from October 4 to 7, 2012. www.asiacontemporaryart.com

TUNE IN BANGKOK Following the success of its properties in Hat Yai and Pattaya, global value hotel chain Tune Hotels is opening its first Thai city hotel in central Bangkok this month. Located along bustling Sukhumvit Road, Tune Hotel Asoke provides easy accessibility to the city’s shopping, entertainment and dining hot spots. The hotel’s 130 rooms comprise double, twin-sharing and disable-friendly options at affordable prices. To book your rooms, go to www.tunehotels.com.

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HARD ROCK PENANG GOES PINK Celebrate Pinktober® – an event to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research – with Hard Rock Hotel Penang and do your bit for a worthy cause. The hotel’s Pinktober® Cocktail Party on October 6 promises to be an entertaining evening with music from US all-girl band Nylon Pink and, a lingerie fashion show featuring models from the Amber Chia Academy. Tickets costs MYR50 per head and all proceeds will be channeled to Penang’s Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital. www.penang.hardrockhotels.net

10 HOT DATES

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

OCTOBER 2012

AUSTRALIA

SCULPTURE BY THE SEA OCT 18 – NOV 4 Bondi hosts the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition with over 100 creative works by Aussie and international artists such as Lou Lambert from WA, Icelandic artist Steinunn Thorarinsdottir and Chinese artist Sui Jian Guo. www.sculpturebythesea.com

HONG KONG

THE MOUSETRAP OCT 9 – 14 In its 60th year on stage, this much loved murder mystery drama from the mistress of suspense, Agatha Christie, comes to the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. www.hkticketing.com

COMPILED BY: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

MALAYSIA

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12th MALAYSIA INTERNATIONALL GOURMET FESTIVAL

OCT 1 – 31 Check out Malaysia’s fine dining scene at a delightful gourmet fest that celebrates Malaysia’s world-class chefs. With the theme ‘Classical Chefs’, this month-long event serves up special festival menus featuring ‘pure and honest cuisine. www.migf.com TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

THAILAND

THE ILLUMINATED BOAT PROCESSION OCT 23 – 30 During this festival that pays homage to Lord Buddha, an illuminated boat competition is held with the beautiful vessels lining the Mekong River in the province of Nakhon Phanom. www.tourismthailand.org

JAPAN

NAHA GREAT TUG OF WAR

AUSTRALIA

BUNBURY DOLPHIN CITY FESTIVAL OCT 20 & 21 Bunbury in Western Australia celebrates the start of the dolphin-swim tour season that welcomes the adventurous to take a dip with some of the city’s 100 wild dolphins.

OCT 6 – 8 This Guinness World Record event in Naha, Okinawa sees over 15,000 people putting their backs into a tug of war game with a giant rope measuring some 200 metres and weighing more than 40 metric tonnes! Pieces of the rope are taken home for good luck. www.okinawastory.jp PHILIPPINES

MASSKARA FESTIVAL OCT 19 Bacolod celebrates the resilient spirit of Bacolenons with a dramatic masked festival that was initially conceived by artists as a festival of smiles to bring cheer to residents who’d been through tough times. The festival coincides with the city’s charter inauguration anniversary. www.tourism.gov.ph

SINGAPORE

BURN THE FLOOR OCT 9 - 14

Championship dancers step back in time at the Sands Theater, Marina Bay Sands, for a sizzling journey through the history of dance, visiting The Savoy Ballroom in New York where the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston first emerged, as well as the Latin Quarter with its sensual Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa.

www.dolphindiscovery.com.au

INDONESIA

www.burnthefloor.com

KRAKATAU FESTIVAL MACAU

MACAU INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL OCT 5 – NOV 7 Macau celebrates music in all its harmonious variety with grand opera, musical theatre as well as symphonic, choral and chamber music and contemporary performances presented by musicians from Macau, Hong Kong, China, Europe, UK and the USA. www.icm.gov.mo/fimm

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OCT 6 – 13 Drop by Lampung – the site of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the world – for Lampung cuisine, traditional art and dances, and a tour to the historically and geologically-important Krakatau Volcanic islands. www.indonesia.travel PHILIPPINES

LEYTE GULF LANDING ANNIVERSARY OCT 20 Philippines commemorates the arrival of General MacArthur and the Allied Forces in Leyte to liberate the country from foreign invasion during WWII with a special ceremony held at the MacArthur Landing Memorial Shrine – the site of the biggest naval battle in world history. www.tourism.gov.ph

ELSEWHERE… • MALAYSIA OCT 26 Hari Raya Aidiladha www.tourism.gov. my • OCT 5 – 8 19th Malaysia

International Jewellery Festival www.mij.com.my • SINGAPORE OCT 25 – NOV

17 Ashputtel – The Story of Cinderella www.sistic.com.sg • THAILAND OCT 8 – 12 Sakon

Nakhon Wax Castle Festival www.tourismthailand.org • PHILIPPINES OCT 9 La Naval Fiesta www.tourism.gov.ph • AUSTRALIA OCT 1 – 31

October Art Food Wine www.visitvictoria.com

10 COMPASS 2012

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

SMART AND SMOOTH TRAVELS From visiting splendorous Vietnam to minding your manners in South Korea, and even going for a vacation knowing that your house is safe and protected, Compass this issue is fi lled with travel tips and ideas that will pave the way for fun, fuss-free travels!

3 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT VIETNAM Wondering where to go for your next vacation?

Look no further than Vietnam. This gorgeous country with it is tropical jungles and cool highlands offers a veritable smorgasbord of one-of-a-kind food and cultural experiences!

Here are three reasons that will have you booking that flight right away!

THE BEAUTY It’s impossible to visit

THE PEOPLE One of the best things about Vietnam is that you’ll be greeted by smiles, everywhere you go. The Vietnamese people are friendly almost to a fault and you can be sure there’s always a helpful stranger nearby if you ever get lost or need assistance of any kind.

THE COFFEE You simply cannot leave Vietnam without sampling the worldfamous traditional Vietnamese coffee.

This delicious French-drip coffee is made from finely ground, dark roast Vietnamese coffee beans. Drinking this brew is practically a national pastime and it be found on almost every street in Ho Chi Minh City as well as Hanoi.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang in Vietnam from various destinations. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

IMAGE: ADAM LEE

Vietnam and not be mesmerised by the country’s breathtaking beauty. There’s an endless list of sights to see but two that you shouldn’t miss are Phong Nha-Ke Bàng, which is Vietnam’s amazing national park

and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city of Hoi An, which oozes historical charm.

Take a stroll down Hoi An Ancient Town and you’ll encounter quaint, tile-roofed buildings, pretty narrow lanes and busy local markets.

Hoi An waterfront

WORDS: SHANTINI SUNTHARAJAH

TIPPING 101

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Even the most experienced travellers can get tripped up when it comes to tipping! In most cultures tipping is welcomed but in some countries like Japan, shoving a wad of cash into someone’s hand is considered rude.

The only way to avoid this faux pas is to do a little research on the tipping practices in the destination country before you leave home. A good rule of thumb is to tip 20% of the bill in local currency. Other than waitstaff at restaurants, you should also tip bellhops and porters at hotels, your tour guide, your bartender and anyone you feel deserves a little extra something for their excellent service.

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STAY HEALTHY WHILE VACATIONING Even a mild flu can ruin your vacation! So, it’s best to put into practice a few simple habits that will help boost your immune system against diseases and nasty bugs. For instance, always remember to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep yourself hydrated. You should also get plenty of rest as lack of sleep weakens your immunity and makes you susceptible to disease. A major health trap to avoid is overindulging during meal times! It’s easy to ‘let go’ and allow yourself to eat and drink as much as you want but this can lead to stomach problems and lethargy. Stick to your usual diet and give yourself treats ever so often.

FEEL-GOOD TRAVEL Volunteer travel is a trend that emerged a few years ago and involves combining aid work with weekend sightseeing and cultural immersion. If this sounds like something you’d like to do and you’re an animal lover, one of the best places to spend your volunteer vacation is at one of Thailand’s elephant sanctuaries. Rehabilitation and rescue centres, like Elephant Nature Park, work all year-round to protect and preserve the majestic and gentle elephants of Thailand. Volunteer jobs range from bathing the elephants to basic health care. www.elephantnaturepark.org

PEACE OF MIND You wouldn’t want to come home from a restful holiday only to be thrown into the depths of despair because your house has been broken into! Here are common mistakes to avoid so your house remains burglar-free while you’re on vacation

CLOSED CURTAINS You may feel the urge to close your curtains while you’re away, so nosy neighbours and strangers don’t peek into your house. However, closed curtains signal no one’s home and intruders might target your house for their next hit. tempted to announce your upcoming trip on Facebook and Twitter but this may be your undoing as well. Bear in mind that anything you say on the Internet is accessible to just about anyone and, less-than-savoury characters might discover that you won’t be home for an extended period of time. A simple search can lead to an address and it’s Game Over.

STOP ALL MAIL Nothing says ‘I’m not home’ than a mailbox overflowing with mail or a front door mat piled up with newspapers. To avoid this scenario, make sure you inform your newspaper provider about your trip and have a friend pick up the mail while you’re away.

IMAGE: INMAGINE

SHOWING OFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA You might be

KIDS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN! Taking trips abroad as a family is wonderful but the actual journey can be a bit of a nightmare when you have young children in tow. Here are some smart suggestions that will keep your little ones calm and occupied throughout the flight.

SOMETHING FAMILIAR Children get nervous in a new environment and this tends to make them cranky and irritable. Bring along something familiar that your toddler can hold on to during the flight like a soft toy or blanket. This one item could be the difference between a calm, happy child or a screaming kid.

GIFTS GALORE A great way to keep your toddler occupied during a long flight is to give him a series of little gifts to unwrap. The excitement of a surprise toy or book should keep your child happy for a while. Getting them one of the AirAsia merchandise sold onboard is a great idea and most kids simply adore the AirAsia aircraft models. www.airasiamegastore.com

SEATING IS EVERYTHING Always try to get your child into the middle seat or the window seat, which allows him a good view of the scenery outside. Whatever you do, avoid the aisle seat, which can prove disturbing due to aisle traffic and constant movement from other passengers. Why not pick a Hot Seat on your next flight on AirAsia?

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10 QUICK BITES

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

OCTOBER FEAST Eat, drink and be merry with our irresistible cocktail of news nuggets and fascinating food trivia, compiled to satisfy your cravings for all things culinary.

UNCLE CHIN’S CHICKEN RICEE As a management pilot with 39 years of flying experience, Uncle Chin enjoys flying high on weekdays and cooking up a storm on weekends. s.

That’s why high grade rice, flavourful chicken stock and juicy chicken n thigh portions are carefully fully selected in the preparation of Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice that’s served on board AirAsia flights. Produced to perfection under the supervision of Uncle Chin himself, this typical Hainanese dish is a mouth watering offering that epitomises the best in simple hawker food but served high up in the air! Remember to pre-book Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice on your next AirAsia flight! www.airasia.com

TOMATO’S TERRIFIC Known as the ‘apple of love’ in France and ‘the apple of paradise’ in Germany, tomato is the world’s most popular fruit. The earliest tomato plants were grown in Greece by Friar Francis in 1818, in the gardens of a Capuchin monastery in Athens. Interestingly, the highest concentration of Vitamin C in tomatoes is found in the jellylike substance around the seeds. Lycopene, the natural compound that gives tomato its red colour, is found in raw tomatoes but becomes potent in cooked and processed forms such as tomato sauce, paste, salsa and canned tomatoes, thus making it easier to absorb by the body. ** Eating food high in lycopene is helpful in reducing the incidence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and macular degeneration.

High amounts of lycopene are found in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon and guava.

WORDS: ALICE YONG

SPECIALLY FOR TEA-TOTALERS

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Over 450 types of fine tea’s coupled with a sweet and savoury epicurean menu await tea enthusiasts at the first TWG Tea Salon & Boutique in Kuala Lumpur (Level 2, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Bukit Bintang. T: +603 2142 9922). Savour signature specialities such as Wagyu burger with green tea-infused vinaigrette and assorted macarons complemented by cups of TWG’s iconic tea blends or, select a bespoke hamper and fine patisserie for takeaway. TWG outlets are also located in Singapore, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong and Dubai www.twgtea.com TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

Confused by the plethora of organic labels in the marketplace and what they mean?

Then look for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic seal on products that have been independently, thirdparty verified as having met strict organic regulations.

DRINK AND BEER IT About 6.5 million visitors guzzle a staggering 7.1 million litres of beer and chomp their way through 120,000 pairs of sausages and 505,000 roast chickens at the world’s largest Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany each year. It’s certainly a far cry from early Oktoberfest festivities back in 1810, a simple agricultural show with horse races to celebrate the royal marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Bavaria. Costumed parades were later included, followed by carnival booths selling bratwurst and beer in 1887.

IMAGE: www.worldfestivaldirectory.com

DECIPHERING FOOD LABELS

READ THE FINE PRINT Products displaying the USDA Organic label consist of at least 95 percent organic ingredients, produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, or artificial stuff. Multiingredient, processed products such as bread must contain at least 70 percent certified organic ingredients but can only use the phrase ‘made with organic ingredients’ on the package, listing up to three of these organic ingredients or food groups.

WADE THROUGH THE FOOD JARGON X FREE-RANGE indicates the flock was provided shelter in a building or area with unlimited access to food, fresh water, and continuous access to an outdoor area that may or may not be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material.

X CAGE-FREE indicates the flock was free to roam in a building or enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh water during their production cycle.

X NATURAL As required by USDA, products labelled as ‘natural’ must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients.

However, the label only applies to processing of meat and egg products. There are no standards or regulations for the labelling of natural food products beyond meat or eggs.

X GRASS-FED This means the animals received most of their nutrients from grass.

Organic animals’ pasture diet may be supplemented with organically produced grain without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically engineered materials.

The next time you step into a grocery store, look for the USDA Organic seal – a trusted symbol of quality verifiably organic ood.

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TAIWAN’S BEST EATS “The best thing I’ve eaten in Taiwan is the prix fixe menu at Shi-Yang Culture Restaurant (7 Lane 350, Sec 3, Xi Wan Rd. XiZhi District. T: +886-2-2646 2266). Located in wooden chalets, surrounded by lush forest, crisp cool mountain air and a babbling brook, the restaurant’s selection infuses locally procured ingredients with Japanese nuances in degustation portions. From the starter of sushi/sashimi to the concluding dish of fragrant chicken soup with lotus root, mushroom and a dried lily flower that ‘blooms’ when hot soup is poured in, the food’s extremely fresh and delicious.” ~ Tan Bee Hong, AirAsia guest and veteran food writer.

SENSATIONAL SUMMER EATS Executive chef Phil Davenport fuses local produce and global influences at Ku De Ta (A: Jalan Laksmana 9, Denpasar, Bali T: +62 361 736969).

The updated summery menu highlights Korean-spiced tuna tartare, daikon and tuna floss rice rolls; oxtail bakpao with pickled cucumber, chilli and aioli, and crab-chicken orzo with saffron broth, spinach and basil. End the meal with pastry chef Will Goldfarb’s creamy coconut sorbet, airy light coconut cake and pandan-infused panna cotta with local strawberries and Balinese pomelo sorbet. www.kudeta.net

10 PAGE TURNER

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

BLOODY BOOKS Why is the world thirsty for vampire tales? In conjunction with Halloween at the end of this month, we sink our teeth into vampire literature to unearth the secret to their allure, and bring you goose bump-inducing reads.

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

THE VAMP

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You can’t mention the ‘V’ word without inviting thoughts of brooding bloodsucker Edward Cullen from Stephanie Meyer’s popular Twilight series or, the sensual fanged beings from Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Mysteries, which inspired the TV series True Blood.

Tales of vampires, however, have existed since medieval times, long before the advent of vampiric paranormal romance novels. Once thought of as vile monsters, the vamp legend has evolved through the ages, and is still being reinvented. In fact, this vamp craze seems to be just as immortal as the beings themselves; clearly it’ll take more than a well-aimed stake to stamp out these beings of the night!

So, what draws writers to re-imagine vampires, and keeps readers lusting for more? In an interview with The Star-Ledger, Anne Rice – whose famous gothic novel Interview with the Vampire portrays vampires as sensitive anti-heroes wrestling with a crisis of conscience – called vampires articulate and charming. “The vampire is the poet and the writer of the monster world.”

Such romanticism is echoed by Stephanie Meyers who attributes its appeal to a dual nature.

In an interview with blogger Cynthia Leitich Smith, she said, “Certainly they are frightening and deadly, but they are also alluring. They are often attractive, rich, powerful, and educated. The paradox there TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

makes them hard to resist, at least as subjects for stories.”

One of the earliest writings to depict the vampire as charismatic and ssophisticated was The Vampyre by T John Jo Polidori in 1819, which influenced later wh works like the 1847 wo penny pen dreadful Varney the Vampire and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In an Stok 1897 interview published in Brit British Weekly, Stoker said: ““It is undoubtedly a very ffascinating theme, since it touches both on mystery and fact. In the Ages, the terror of the Middle A vampire d depopulated whole villages.” Nevertheless, Stoker’s erotic tale of the powerful, seductive and charming Count Dracula has fuelled the imagination of millions. As the quintessential vampire novel, Dracula laid the foundation for modern vamp fiction, and spawned the vampire genre. Another important vampire work is Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, a 19th century gothic novella with lesbian undercurrents whose title character became a prototype for lesbian vampires.

In Asia, vampire folklore is just as prolific with numerous tales of Malaysia’s pontianak, Indonesia’s kuntilanak, Philippines’mandurugo, the Chinese jiang shi, Thailand’s phi song nang and countless other vampire-like creatures. The prevalence of vampire narratives across cultures is considered by Jungian scholars a reflection of issues that are universal; there’s something about the vampire that comes from deep within the human psyche. Carl Jung believed that the vampire is an expression of repressed wishes, antisocial impulses, morally questionable motives and other traits perceived to be shameful. In Margaret L. Shanahan’s essay Psychological Perspectives on Vampire Mythology, she says “This Jungian interpretation of the vampire image provided significant insight into the enormous popularity of vampire stories. From this point of view, a vampire lives within each of us.”

CHILLIN’ CLASSICS

X William Peter Blatty’s book The Exorcist chronicles a mother’s desperate attempts to save her daughter from the clutches of demonic possession.

X Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin was inspired by Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan, and revolves around a young mother’s fear that her neighbours intend to sacrifice her child to the devil.

X The Omen by David Seltzer was based on Seltzer’s screenplay for the movie, and draws from Biblical prophesies that foretell the birth of the Anti-Christ.

X Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a horror story about a hideous monster created through an unorthodox scientific experiment.

BETWEEN THE LINES Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer If you’ve ever finished reading a novel and wished the story would never end, you’ll love this imaginative young adult book by Jodi Picoult and her daughter. In Between the Lines, a fairytale prince, who lives a life beyond the pages he’s been written into, asks a 15-year-old reader to help him READ break out of his book so he can OF THE live in the world of readers.

MONTH!

BOOMERANG: TRAVELS IN THE NEW THIRD WORLD Michael Lewis If you liked Lewis’ The Big Short and Moneyball, you’ll love his latest offering, which navigates the world of credit default swamps and sovereign debt with his signature wit and fascinating storytelling.

HAUNTING DEBUT Travel 3Sixty talks to Sandi Tan about her dark debut novel, The Black Isle, which is filled with paranormal encounters.

INSPIRATION A line checked into my head and refused to leave: “I was seven years old when I saw my first ghost.” I knew there had to be a book in there. And then the scenes just started appearing; it became an avalanche! Along the way, I was helped by old archival photos and Alexandre Desplat’s soundtrack for the film Birth.

PARANORMAL AGENDA I think the best ghost stories are the ones that aren’t just about phantoms but the things that really haunt us: Loves lost, scores unsettled, things left unsaid – the past. My heroine, Cassandra, is a deeply haunted woman. She not only sees the dead, she is plagued with memories from her passionate, tumultuous youth.

UNCONVENTIONAL HEROINE

XO Jake Olefsky When the attentions of an obsessive and delusional fan turns dangerous for countrypop star, Kayleigh Towne, California Bureau of Investigation Agent Kathryn Dance must stop the stalker before it’s too late.

MIDNIGHT WALKING Kathryn Chua An ordinary teenager, Lucy Pine has no idea that the crow she rescues is actually a being called Cyrus who drains the souls of young girls. Soon, Lucy finds herself in grave danger.

Purely as chronological reference, I gave her my grandmother’s birth year: 1922, but she’s nothing like her. Cassandra is a creation of wishful imagining! I’ve long been frustrated by the Asian heroines found in novels. They tend to be driven by oppression or grievance, or else they’re obsessed with finding a husband. I wanted to create a heroine that was modern, with her own aspirations, desires and flaws; a vivid heroine that the contemporary audience can relate to.

GREATEST FEARS Oh, that’s a cruel question to ask a writer! Our fears are legion! The worst thing that could happen to a writer, worse than writer’s block, is the loss of patience. I fear losing patience. Writing a book is a lengthy, solitary activity. Without patience and perseverance, you may have the best story in the world but you’ll never be able to sit down and get it out for the world to know it.

FAVOURITE WRITERS

HUMEIRAH IMAGES: ADAM LEE

Sabah Carrim

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Feeling alienated, restless and unhappy, Humeirah struggles to understand her purpose and destiny in life, unveiling a journey of self exploration.

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William Faulkner and V.S. Naipaul. They write about places with an unparalleled vividness, which means they write with both love and hate.

I consider their works 3D novels. They transport you.

10 MONEY MAKER

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

CREATING CONNECTIONS

The business world is one that changes continually. Social Media also plays an important role in influencing consumer decisions and directions. Nowadays, having great connections no longer applies to mere corporate or political associations; it’s all about knowing how to manipulate the use of digital marketing that keeps businesses hot and happening.

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percent is the percentage of companies with branded YouTube channels in 2012 with up to 2,034,931 views on average.

PIN POINT VIA PINTEREST WHAT IS PINTEREST? It’s a virtual pinboard i.e. a platform where you share images of all the beautiful or interesting things you create or find on the web with others.

WHY USE PINTEREST? It connects people globally through shared interests and tastes: A great book, a fun toy, a wonderful recipe, a celebrity etc.

Here’s where it gets even more (p)interesting. You can use Pinterest to create a wider brand/service presence of your business! Here are three ways to do it: PINTEREST POINT 1 : USE ORIGINAL PICTURES TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR BUSINESS Take a look at the Popular Section of Pinterest and you’ll discover that the most

popular ones are original and unique. These pictures get ‘repined’, ‘liked’ and commented on the most.

PINTEREST POINT 2 : PIN OTHER PEOPLE’S CONTENT FOR WIDER FOLLOWING Look for pictures and content that are related to your product or service that have been pinned by others, and pin them onto your boards too.

PINTEREST POINT 3 : CREATE YOUR OWN CATALOGUES The more visually interesting your catalogues, the more visible your business will be. Place pictures of your products/service and you can also add the price by adding the ‘$’ followed by the description for it to be displayed. The advantage of displaying your price will mean that you attract real time buyers who are really interested. www.pinterest.com

GET SMARTPHONE & GET PAID

WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

The smartphone, particularly the iPhone, is like a limb to users these days. But did you know that the smartphone can also generate revenue, or at least help you get free stuff, just by doing things that you are already doing on it!

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• WeReward pays you to check into businesses or complete challenges set by a downloadable app. There are four ways you can get cash or item rewards: Download the app, check-in to your favourite places, take polls or buy products. https://app.wereward.com • Seed is the brainchild of the AOL.com people that allows you to create, be heard and get paid. Whether you’re a writer or a photographer, you can send in breaking news and pictures. Payment is between USD5 to USD60 per article/picture submitted. www.seed.com • 10,400,132 is the average number of times Fortune Global 100 companies were mentioned online in a month in 2012.

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93

percent of Fortune Global 100 companies update their Facebook accounts on a weekly basis.

Source: Burson-Marsteller Social Media Check Up 2012

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percent of Fortune Global 100 companies are on Google Plus while 25% are on Pinterest.

10 PRESCRIPTION

2012

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THE AGE WE LIVE IN

IT’S GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY ON OCT 15, 2012.

KEEP THOSE HANDS CLEAN!

HEALTHY AGEING High sugar foods are bad for skin elasticity. Excess sugar is worse! They attach to proteins in your bloodstream and form Advanced Glycation End (AGE) by-products that are toxic. AGEs accelerate cell oxidation, trigger inflammation and harden collagen that inhibits skin’s naturally occurring elasticity. AGEs can also harden arteries and hastens dementia. It is hard to avoid as cooking does release some of AGEs in foods, but here’s how you can lessen the effects of AGEs in your kitchen.

GET RID OF...

THE MICROWAVE: Dry heat creates more AGEs. If you’re diabetic, this cooking or heating method can increase the AGE levels 50 times that of a normal person consuming the same thing.

WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

PROCESSED MEATS: Store-bought burger patties, hot dogs, cured meats and such have preserving agents that contain very high AGEs that skyrocket when cooked.

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INTRODUCE...

HEALTHY COOKING METHODS: Choose steaming, baking or poaching as preferred cooking methods. If you must fry, use oils like grapeseed or extra virgin olive because they heat up faster, meaning your cooking time is shorter.

COOK IN SHORTER TIME: Shorter cooking time prevents AGE production and it preserves important nutrients in foods like glucosilonates (naturally occurring antioxidants that prompt natural detoxification).

SOUR NOTES: Using lemon juice or organic vinegar in marinades help offset AGE production when cooking meats.

SUPER FOODS: Include skin super foods like spinach in your meals, as it helps rejuvenate epithelial tissue by supporting collagen formation and enhancing sun protection for the skin.

MODERN MEDICINE CABINET MUST-HAVES

people may have skin allergies that will react adversely to alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.

These are suggested items you should have in your medicine cabinet.

PLAIN BANDAGES, PLASTERS INSTEAD OF FANCY ANTIBIOTIC-INFUSED ONES

SOAP BAR INSTEAD OF RUBBING ALCOHOL OR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Good ol’ bandages and plasters are best. Use to cover cuts and wounds after cleaning to avoid infection.

Medicinal-based bandages can cause allergic reactions, especially when it’s an open wound as it will enter the bloodstream almost immediately.

Any soap bar will do, but avoid those with triclosan as research continues on how it affects hormone alteration.

Use to clean cuts and wounds. Some TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

ELASTIC WRAP This is a kind of bandage that has elastic. Use it for sprained joints or ankles to provide support while you make your way to the doctor’s.

Too often we think of a sprain as a minor problem and address it through massages and ointments.

These will come back to haunt you as you age. Also, remember R.I.C.E when a sprain occurs: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation!

days is the maximum survival rate of tuberculosis germs outside the human body, contributing to an estimated 45.5% fatality rate.

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days is the maximum survival rate of the bird flu virus germs outside the human body, contributing to an estimated 60% fatality rate.

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days is the maximum survival rate of the MRSA (Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium with antibiotic resistance) outside the human body, contributing to an estimated 19.8% fatality rate.

Source: CDC, Newscientist.com, Sept 2009

IMAGE: INMAGINE

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NOTE: ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE YOU EMBARK ON ANY ALTERNATIVE THERAPY OR EXERCISE REGIME.

We often worry about what we eat due to weight issues or health concerns.

It’s time to take a relook at deceivingly safe eating habits and cooking practices that may do more damage than good in the long run.

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VIRTUES OF SPORTS

Despite sports being a huge commercial endeavour nowadays, it still is one of the best ways to inculcate determination, dedication and fair play in children. While pinning hopes on your children becoming sports pros and raking it in big time, teach them the virtues of fighting fair and winning (or losing) graciously.

The recent 2012 Olympics in London offers up some of the best game testing ground in the marriage of sports and technology.

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percent of sports spectators watched the Olympics games in 3D.

BUILDING BUDDING ATHLETES If you notice your child producing glowing records in any chosen sport in school, you could easily help him or her hone the skill for a shot at being a pro. Here are three key strategies you can adopt as an effective SPORT PARENT. KEEP THE EYES ON THE GAME The focus should be on the process, not just winning. Understand that the effort put in outweighs the outcome because that is the only thing within your child’s control. Above all, it teaches commitment and dedication on the child’s part.

SET THEIR OWN GOALS You may be surprised (and proud) to witness your child’s own determination.

WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

SPORT THAT SPORT!

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They may set their sights truly high, yet, as a parent, you may worry about their disappointments. But your job is not to tell if those goals are reachable or not, it’s to just support your child.

TEACH THEM GRACE Being a graceful winner or loser is part of the process; not being selected is not a measure of your child’s worth or an indicator of their sporting future.

Some rather violent games that were part of the early Olympics line-up have been totally stopped and for good reason too!

Singlestick is like static fencing where the aim of the game is to bludgeon (rather than stab) an opponent over the head with a stout stick that comes with a huge basket handle-like strap. Understandably, this game was played just once at the 1904 Olympics (hosted by USA), where Cuban Albertson Van Zo Post, took the gold, and was scrapped after that. Source: www.telegraph.co.uk TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

Michael Jordan didn’t even make his 10th grade basketball team, but look where he is now! The value lies in understanding how to win well and lose well. Teach your children that in competitions, the only one they truly need to compete with is themselves.

Source: Dr. Jenn Berman, psychotherapist, sports psychology consultant and co-author of Pushed to the Edge: How to Stop the Child Competition Race… So Everyone Wins. www.doctorjenn.com

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percent say they followed the games on Facebook, 31% on Twitter, 28% on YouTube, 20% on Google+, and 6% on Pinterest (some may use a combination of any of these social network).

SPORTS TRIVIA X The Yo-yo is not just a kids’ game. Originating from Philippines, the yo-yo weighed in about 1.5 kilogrammes with a 6-metre cord, and was used as a weapon in the 16th century.

It was introduced to the United Stated in 1929, and was redesigned for mobility as a fun game.

X Basketball extraordinaire, Shaquille O’Neal, wears size 22 shoes. He puts on a brand new pair at every game.

X Babe Ruth, the baseball maestro, wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep him cool, and he changed it every two innings!

Source: www.funolicious.com

Source: www.techjournal.com

IMAGE: INMAGINE

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percent of Olympic enthusiasts bought a new device just for the 2012 games; 69% of which got a flatscreen TV, 25% a laptop, 15% a desktop, 10% a tablet, and 13% a smartphone.

AIRASIA WORLD OF SPORTS QPR NEW SIGN-UPS

JI-SUNG PARK, a global football star, has inked a two year-deal at Loftus Road, after Rangers agreed on an undisclosed fee with Manchester United for the midfielder’s services. “We are delighted Ji is going to join us because his record speaks for itself. He has been a big player for Manchester United and played a big part in their success in recent years. He is hugely respected there because of what he has achieved, his application to his work and the impact he has on games”, said QPR Manager Mark Hughes.

FAHMI: INTIMATELY We go one-on-one with Team AirAsia-SIC-AJO MotorGP ace Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

FORMULA 1 CIRCUITS JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Oct 5 to 7, 2012)

Q: What is the first thing you want to do when you return to Malaysia?

A: The first thing I will do when I return home is ride my bicycle!

Q: What is the best thing about racing at the home circuit in Sepang, Malaysia?

A: The overwhelming support and encouragement I get from the home crowd.

Q: How are you planning to celebrate your birthday that falls on October 20?

A: It will be a grand celebration when I get top position in the qualifying practice.

JOSE BOSINGWA, born in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Bosingwa moved to Portugal as a child, beginning his professional career with Freamunde before making his name initially with Boavista. Bosingwa has played in 107 games for Porto and 126 games for Chelsea. He is also a two-time European Champion League Winner, one with FC Porto in the 2003/04 season, another with Chelsea FC in the 2011/12 season.

After five years with Chelsea, Jose has decided to join QPR with a three-year contact.

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Q: It’s been three years since your debut as a wildcard rider at the 2009 MotoGP. How has the journey been so far?

A: I’ve learnt so much about riding and racing in the world championship since my debut in 2009. When I was chosen as wildcard entrant, I rode an old bike in the race but still managed to clock good results. 2010 was a difficult journey, as it was my first year racing, and I had a few crashes on the circuit.

Earning points and staying on the game was tough as I was relatively new to professional MotoGP racing. However, 2011 turned out to be a good year, what with AJO Motorsport throwing in their support. I chalked up 30 points in the 2011 season, which placed me at the 18th position. This year, I’ve managed to reach 6th position with 66 points. With every race, I hope to keep getting closer to the podium position.

One of the greatest tracks in the Formula 1 arena, Japan’s Suzuka circuit is a massive test of car and driver ability. Built by Honda as a test facility in 1962, the track was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholz. Suzuka includes some of the F1 calendar’s most challenging corners. Among the drivers’ favourites are the high-speed 130R and the famous Spoon Curve. Additionally, the circuit’s figureof-eight layout makes it unique in Formula One.

KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Oct 12 to 14, 2012) The track is located off the coast in the South Jeolla region, a province in the southwest corner of Korea. The 5.6-km Yeongam track was designed by celebrated circuit architect Hermann Tilke and boasts a stunning waterside location. It is made up of a temporary ‘street circuit’ section, which is included in the Grand Prix, and a 3.045-km permanent track, which will be used all year round.

SPORTS TRIVIA Heikki Kovalainen marked his 100th Grand Prix race on July 22, 2012, at the German Grand Prix.

02 10 HYPER TECH 2012 2012

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THINK SMART, TECH SMART Imagine a handphone’s battery as thin as a spray of paint or, a room lit by the glow of wallpaper or curtains. Read about these and other exciting technological advancements in this month’s Hyper Tech.

FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS Researchers at the McCormick School of Engineering, working with US, Korean and Chinese scientists, have succeeded in stretching electronics over 200 percent their original size using porous polymer and liquid metal. The scientists are now looking at the possibility of putting such rubber band-like electronics as conductive medical devices in the human body. www.mccormick.northwestern.edu

SPRAY-ON BATTERY Students at Rice University in Texas, USA, have engineered a way to build a battery that is sliver thin, simply by spraying five coatings of a special paint onto metal, ceramic, glass or polymer surfaces. This suggests that devices such as handphones will be even slimmer due to such thin batteries. www.nature.com

PAPER THIN LED Gul Amin of Linköping University in Sweden has discovered how to print white LEDs made from zinc oxide and a conducting polymer directly on plastic or even paper. Patent pending, we might soon be seeing wallpapers or curtains being used to light up spaces in the future. http://bit.ly/PJkKIT

WORDS: PETE KING

BRAIN SCANNING

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PLANET OF THE APPS ZIPLIST: PLAN YOUR GROCERY SHOPPING LIST AND MEALS With Ziplist, you can create weekly meals with thousands of recipes from various food sites. It lets you save favourite recipes to your own recipe box and, organise grocery shopping lists using checklists by occasion, or by writing down items or scanning barcodes, automatically categorising items by type. OS: iOS & Android Price: Free

MY STORY: KIDS CREATE THEIR OWN BOOKS Made especially for children learning to write, this app lets kids create their own little books with pictures, colours and even pre-recorded voice.

For pictures, there are three brushes and 20 colours to choose from for the kids to draw their pictures, or photos from the camera or photo library to select from. Children can then read the book they’ve created in the app or in iBooks.

OS: iOS Price: USD 0.99

WIKIPEDIA: MOBILE KNOWLEDGE

Researchers at Holland’s Universiteit Maastricht’s Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience Department of Neurocognition have invented a mindreading system that allows users to type just by using their brain. Users need to only look at the letters on their computer screen, and let their brain analyze the responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI. www.sciencedaily.

Searching with this mobile version of the world’s most popular and free online encyclopaedia returns articles in English, but users can also choose to translate it into any language with just a push of a button.

Articles can be saved for reading later, viewed in a browser, or shared to Facebook.

com/releases/2012/06/120628164426.htm

OS: iOS and Android Price: Free

TIMELY TIPS

IF YOU FIND YOUR COMPUTER A LITTLE SLUGGISH LATELY, HERE ARE SOME QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE IT MOVE FASTER. X If your computer only has 512 MB of RAM, add more, up to 1 or 2 GB if necessary.

X Don’t open too many programmes at one time. Close some and run only one or two at any given time.

X Use the Task Manager to close some processes, particularly those you don’t need, or seldom use.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN Game consoles have evolved tremendously, turning the games and activities on these devices into fun fi lled, exciting and virtually ‘real’ experiences!

WII U Gamers play by themselves or with others by touching the screen, using motion controls, buttons and analogue sticks, while simultaneously videochatting via a camera, microphone and speakers. Wii U also uses WiFi to download games and import content by simply placing a NFC-enabled device on its GamePad. http://e3.nintendo.com/wiiu/

ome programmes that automatically X Remove some u start your computer. run when you alled too many X If you installed programmes you seldom use or ed programmes, have unwanted remove them and keep only e need. those you use X Remove files you don’t need to free up some disk space.

NEWSWHIP For people with no time to read their Facebook and Twitter postings, Newswhip will pick and rank the stories by how ‘social’ they are and, how much and how fast they are shared, using social networking ‘Likes’, shares, tweets and comments. It can also narrow the types of stories down to location and categories. www.newswhip.com

“I have boug bought this wonderful machine - a computer. Now I am rather an authority on gods, so I identified the machine - iit seems to me to be an Old T Testament god with a lot of rules and no mercy.” ~ from The Pow Power of Myth (1988),

by Joseph Ca Campbell, American mythologist, w writer and lecturer in comparative mythology and compara comparative religion

NINTENDO 3DS Nintendo 3DS has a touchscreen LCD and another 3D widescreen that functions without the need for special glasses. With a 3D slider, gamers can increase the 3D effects or, simply slide it back to 2D for normal games. Its two cameras take 3D photos, videos and animations as well. www.nintendo.com

SONY PLAYSTATION VITA Besides gaming, PlayStation Vita can also shoot photos and videos, and offers video chat and, face and head detection. Moreover, it plays music and videos, and displays photos! When not playing games, players can surf the Internet and log into Facebook, Twitter, Skype and FourSquare. http://us.playstation.com/psvita/

XBOX 360 + KINECT Apart from playing videos and music, the Xbox 360 + Kinect also allows users to play, pause and rewind a game using just their voice. There is no need for a control stick with this device, as gamers play using their body to activate actions such as to kick, wave and jump. www.xbox.com

10 SLEEP INNS

2012

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THE PLEASURES OF PENANG The charm of Penang lies in its age-old heritage, a delightful foodie scene that is often touted as the best gastronomical experience this side of Asia and, balmy beaches that offer memorable seaside vacations for the whole family. Here is our pick of hotel accommodations from various categories in Penang.

LOVING NEVERLAND

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

Whether you are nine or 99 and young at heart, you’ll love Shangrila Golden Sands Resort located along Batu Feringghi’s popular sun baked sandy strip. I know I did! With its marvellous accommodation, thoughtful kid-friendly touches and a gorgeous raintree-filled garden where exemplary service may be had at a wave of a flag, it’s perfect for families, and for those who just refuse to grow up.

The best family-oriented offering here is the Adventure Zone designed by a UK-based play equipment specialist at a whopping cost of RM3.5 million. Now, that’s serious entertainment money, and this cool pad for kids – the first of its kind in Penang – reflects every sen spent. Not only does this multi-storey indoor playground feature a game zone with Nintendo Wii system game consoles, foosball, board games, arcade games and children’s play area complete with various fun obstacle courses, it also offers three thrilling slides, which include the 24-feet high, 75-feet long Demon Slide! The Adventure Zone also runs complimentary daily programmes with activities ranging from making sand

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sculptures, kite-flying and traditional games like congkak, art of origami, cooking and golf putting, For parents, it’s a safe and fun way to entertain the young ones while enjoying a much-deserved ‘us’ time.

Accommodation wise, the resort offers 387 guestrooms and suites comprising hill and sea views done up in earthy tones with splashes of apple green. Families can also opt for rooms that come with Murphy beds – those useful retractable wall beds that you pull down when needed. To ensure the whole family is entertained, all rooms come with LCD TV with satellite channels and DVD player, as well as USB, iPod and modem ports and, free broadband Internet access.

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No holiday is complete without indulging the palate. Luckily at Golden Sands Resort, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spoil yourself. In fact, the beachside Sigi’s Bar and Grill was listed as one of the best restaurants on the island in The Miele Guide 2010/2011!

Here, you’ll find wood-fired pizzas, delicious salads like its signature Caesar salad with a soft poached egg, or the swimmer crab and salmon salad tossed with capers, gherkins and pumpernickel shavings and, delightful desserts like the chocolate brownie smothered in chocolate

sauce. The Garden Café serves up delicious local and international buffet spreads while the contemporary Cool Lounge is a cosy nook with books, magazines, and card and board games served with wholesome sandwiches, pastries and cakes. Guests can also gain access to the amazing cuisine at sister property, Rasa Sayang, where The Pinang Bar offers all-day tapas inspired by local and Thai flavours, while the fine dining Feringghi Grill serves up modern grilled dishes and classics that have been on the menu since 1973.

GOLDEN SANDS RESORT

Batu Feringghi Beach, 11100 Penang +604-888 8888 www.shangri-la.com

C

N BLI E OP PU HE T TO

A

dventure Zone is a unique family entertainment venue for children and adults. This 10,300 sq. ft. comprehensive indoor facility caters for family style activities where children, teens and adults can interact together in a safe environment. Housed within this air-conditioned facility are three categories of exciting drop slides, multiple sections of modular play equipment, a game zone, themed birthday party rooms and a café serving light snacks and beverages. Opening Hours: 10:00am to 7:00pm

Dress Code So • Socks must be worn when on the play equipment • Long sleeved shirts must be worn when using any of the slides • No wet clothes or swimming costumes in the play equipment area

BIRTHDAY PARTY PACKAGE* 30% discount on weekdays (exclude Public Holidays) RM42++ per child (Normal price: RM60++) 25% discount on weekends and Public Holidays RM45++ per child (Normal price: RM60++) Complimentary for the birthday child Minimum of 12 children required not inclusive of birthday child.

This package is inclusi inclusive of: • 1 hour and 15 minutes in the Play Area complete with Drop and Astra Slides • 45 minutes in the party room with a host (Choose from Pirate or Circus themes) • Selection of a variety of food and beverage items • Celebration cake, party stickers, assorted party gifts and invitation cards Promotion not applicable on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Prices are subject to the prevailing government tax and service charge.

ENTRANCE FREE*

Adults enter free of charge with paying children.

Please note that a minimum of one responsible adult must accompany every 6 children.

Weekday Promotion

Admission fee to Adventure Zone at RM20+ (Normal price: RM30+) for a two-hour session on Mondays to Fridays (exclude Public Holiday).

• 3+1 Offer: Pay 3 get 1 free Weekend Promotion Admission fee to Adventure Zone at RM30+ for a two-hour session on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

• 3+1 Offer: Pay 3 get 1 free * Offer valid until 31 December 2012 Prices are subject to prevailing government tax.

FUN RIDES WITH SEGWAY

For enquiries or bookings, please call (04) 886 1911 ext.7874

Located at Golden Sands Resort, Batu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia. Website: www.adventurezone.com.my

ROCKIN’ GOOD TIME

WORDS: R. RAJENDRA

I must admit, when I was asked to visit the Hard Rock Hotel (HRH) Penang, my immediate worry was that the resort would be overrun by urban hipsters dancing and frolicking to loud music blaring from every corner of the resort. Worse still, I imagined elderly rockers in leather vests and drainpipe jeans lounging around the pool, reminiscing over the good ol’ days. The words ‘Spring Break’ flashed in front of me in big neon lights!

To my amazement, the resort was anything but raucous as the HRH turned out to be a surprisingly calm oasis that truly enables guests to rest and rejuvenate. Don’t get me wrong though. The music element and rocker chic decor that are the trademarks of the Hard Rock Hotels and Café are ever present but showcased in a subtly stylish way without intruding into the resort vibe. If at all, it enhanced the experience with a display of original outfits worn by the glitterati such as Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi and Vince Neil of Motley Crue. Above the swim-up bar, The Shack, sculptures of the Beatles watch children and adults playing in the pool. And as a tribute to all the greatest artistes to ever have held a microphone in their hands, a sculpture of the Prince of Pop, Michael Jackson, stands guard at the main entrance.

This compact hotel with just 250 rooms is quite a pleasant departure from other humongous hotels that require you to catch a jetliner to travel from one end to another. All the main attractions are mere metres away from each other and the first attraction that I quickly fell in love with was the lobby bar, which also

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doubled up as the check-in counter. They serve you drinks as they check you in. Try beating that!

While most beach resorts do the tired wicker furniture and oversized palm leaf motif, HRH Penang injects rock-inspired charm to its clean and contemporary design. The pièce of résistance was the bathroom mirror that slid both ways to reveal images of the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, in some rooms and the King of Soul, Ray Charles, in others.

My room, which I recommend to anyone staying at the resort, was the Lagoon Deluxe, a bespoke offering that opens directly to the pool. Having the largest free-form pool in Penang literally outside your balcony is truly a wonderful way to soak in the resort atmosphere.

There is no walking around, hunting for a shady spot or a vacant deck chair. You simply step out of the comfort of your room and slip into the cool pool. And though the beach is mere metres away, certain sections of the pool have been filled with sand to recreate the beach within the safe perimetre of the pool. Talk about being thoughtful.

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F&B outlets are a plenty in HRH and in Penang, you know the hotels work extra hard to put out equally good food compared to what’s available outside. There is the renowned Hard Rock Cafe that serves American cuisine to whet your appetite and authentic memorabilia decorating its walls to whet your curiosity. Casual dining can be had at Starz Cafe but my favourite choice was Pizzeria by the beach/pool.

Here, some of the most delicious pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven and served piping hot. Be warned! The pizza sizes are humongous and even the small serving can easily feed two adults.

I had enjoyed the food, the pool, the room and played with the sliding mirror in the bathroom many, many times before deciding a trip to the HRH’s Rock Spa would be a good way to take relaxation to a higher level, and boy did I make the right choice. The signature treatment here uses heated volcanic rocks that are used to gently massage the entire body. The slightly hot stones at initial contact did get some getting used to but once my body grew accustomed to the

temperature, the almost eggshell-like smoothness of the stones gliding up and down the muscles was one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve encountered. The only way to top this experience was if it was conducted in the open air cabanas facing the ocean or, the private enclosures, which can accommodate couples and even a small family.

Those who spa together stay together, no?

It is a no brainer actually. You simply have a rockin’ good time at the Hard Rock Hotel.

HARD ROCK HOTEL Batu Feringghi Beach, Penang, Malaysia

FAMILY FUN

WORDS: R. RAJENDRA

The sunny stretch of beach along Tanjong Bungah is mostly popular with families as the sea here is relatively calm, enabling the young uns’ to frolic in the ocean without worrying too much about strong undercurrents or nasty waves. The area is also fringed by housing estates, lots of eateries, mini markets and public amenities. Families with children of all ages will truly appreciate these and on weekends, you’ll see lots of parents taking their brood for family picnics here.

For accommodation on this stretch, Flamingo Hotel by the Beach is an excellent option. The hotel is easily recognisable by its elliptical, free-form porch that welcomes visitors with its warm glow at night. The lobby is a clean and simple space that also houses Flamingo Theque, where guests can enjoy cool drinks listening to the in-house band or play a game of foosball. On most evenings, I noticed many guests enjoying the soothing views of the waves racing languidly to the shoreline from this elevated level. With families having a whale of a time in the swimming pool below, punctuated by joyful shrieks of kids splashing about in the pool, the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the hotel was perhaps one of the most attractive selling points of Flamingo Hotel by the Beach.

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The angle of this hotel has also been thoughtfully designed where almost all rooms on both sides of the block face the ocean.

Amply sized balconies hug the rooms and can easily seat up to four adults, giving guests unobstructed vistas of the ocean as far as the eyes can see. When the sun gets too hot and lounging by the pool is no longer an option, the sanctuary of your private balcony is a much welcomed respite.

The rooms in Flamingo Hotel by the Beach are generally on the large side too, which again makes it very appealing to families with children. With 280 rooms comprising Deluxe units, 2- and 3-bedroom suites and, done up in simple warm tones, the decor enhances your appreciation of the blue sky, and the ocean seamlessly merges with your accommodation.

The resort also houses a ballroom, gym, children’s club, spa and hair salon, amongst other facilities. But the real attractions TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

are the F&B outlets. It is a world-accepted fact that Penang is a foodie paradise and the best grub is out there in the streets. Flamingo Hotel by the Beach, however, offers a decent selection of meals and themed dinners that can give hawker food a run for its money. Most of the action take place at Flamingo Café where themed dinners draw in the crowds, including local Penangites who are known to be extremely fussy with their food. During my visit, a grill and barbecue dinner was in full swing with the bains marie being constantly refilled with choice cuts of meats and seafood. My pleasant waiter chose a spot away from the families devouring the food, finding me a table outside the restaurant near the pool, while genuinely eager for me to get the juiciest slice of roast lamb grilling on a nearby spit.

With the breeze blowing from the Malacca Straits, a candle flickeringly seductively and the coconut fronds rustling above me, this was a lovely way to spend a deserved break cocooned in charming surroundings and genuinely pleasant hotel staff.

FLAMINGO HOTEL Jalan Tanjong Bungah, Penang

HOT HYDRO Hydro Hotel Penang is a contemporary hotel that offers an intimate retreat for a discerning clientele looking for a beach holiday in Penang. Situated along Batu Ferringhi, the beach is located just across the road from the hotel and is accessible via a covered overhead walkway. The Hotel offers a total of 322 guestrooms furnished with rattan and wooden furniture. Rooms come with balconies and offer stunning views of the ocean and the tropical jungle, where guests can unwind while enjoying the panoramic views of the island. Additionally, rooms at Hydro Hotel Penang feature facilities that include TVs with cable channels, in-room safe, electronic key lock system and high-speed WiFi Internet access at a nominal charge. The hotel’s Sea Lounge on the Lobby Level ensures guests enjoy a good time sipping cocktails and, savouring a selection of teas and light snacks while Palms Restaurant offers international buffet breakfast and contemporary a la carte selections with themed buffet dinners on weekends. A variety of recreational and kids’ activities with a fully equipped gym is also available for guest use.

BUOYED BY THE BAY Bayview Beach Resort Penang Hotel, a member of Bayview International Hotels and Resorts is located on the beachfront on the northwest coast of Penang Island. The resort overlooks the tranquil and scenic Batu Ferringhi. Distance-wise, the hotel is a about 18kms or a 20-minute ride from Georgetown and, about 33kms or 45 minutes from Penang International Airport.

Located on a quieter end of the famed Feringghi Beach stretch, the Bayview Beach Resort Penang Hotel offers 360 spacious rooms and suites, all of which are tastefully decorated and come with private balconies facing either the hills or the sea. For F&B options, there are several outlets at this hotel such as La Veranda Coffee House, Marco Polo and Kelapa Coffee and WiFi Bar. The resort also has an extensive list of facilities with entertainment and recreational amenities, including swimming pool, tennis court, kid’s club, massage, spa, fitness centre and etc.

BAYVIEW BEACH RESORT PENANG HOTEL 62

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Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang

HYDRO HOTEL PENANG

Miami Beach,Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Penang

EXPEDIA’S WEEKEND GETAWAYS

SUPER STAYS Located in the city centre and approximately 30 minutes (by car) from Penang International Airport and, a 20-minute drive from the Penang Bridge via the Jelutong Expressway, Super 8 Hotel is a 50room property that offers business and leisure travellers warm and personalised hospitality that will certainly call for repeated visits. The hotel’s affordable room rates enable visitors to indulge in a great selection of activities that Penang is famous for such as sightseeing heritage sites, shopping and most importantly, sampling the city’s hawker fare. Close to many of Georgetown’s main attractions, the rooms feature LED TVs, selected ASTRO cable channels, complimentary coffee and tea making facilities, and free WiFi, amongst others.

SUPER 8 HOTEL

81, Tye Sin Street, Penang

According to Expedia’s inaugural 2012 Flip Flop Report, beach holidays rank top compared to other types of vacations.

The report found that more than 60 percent of Singaporeans prefer short getaways and intend to take a beach holiday within the year, choosing destinations between one to three hours flight time away. With this, expedia.com.sg has launched its Weekend Getaways page, offering consumers dynamically packaged deals to regional destinations such as Bali, Bangkok and Phuket. In four simple steps, guests are able to book their weekend getaway:

STEP 1 Access the Weekend Getaway tab on the expedia.com. sg homepage

STEP 2 Browse through the interactive map of Southeast Asia showing clickable weekend deals

STEP 3 Consumers get to pick if they want to travel during the coming or following weekend.

GOING GRAND The Grand Inn hotel is an affordable hotel that is kind on the wallet while hosting guests in the centre of many of Penang’s tourist and cultural attractions. Conveniently located in Macalister Road, the hotel is particularly suited to medical and business travellers with medical centres such as Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre and Island Hospital nearby. Popular eating areas are also located close to the hotel’s premises. As for accommodation, Grand Inn offers 48 clean, cosy and fully carpeted rooms that come complete with free, highspeed broadband Internet connection, LCD TVs and other basic room amenities.

STEP 4 With their destination decided, guests simply click ‘Getaway’ and they’re on their way!

Planning a holiday has never been easier, and with Expedia, Singaporeans can now jet away for a well-deserved ‘relax and recharge’ weekend break!

GRAND INN 165-G-2, Macalister Road, Penang

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10 HIT LIST

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

BUILT TO IMPRESS

They may be bold and beautiful or, out of the norm and sometimes downright peculiar but these structures stand testament to the evolution of artistic sensibilities in design and superior use of space in architecture. Change the way you see the world through these super structures that are now global landmarks in their own right.

ROTTERDAM • THE NETHERLANDS

Called Kubuswoningen in Dutch, meaning ‘cube houses’, this building was designed by architect Piet Blom and construction began in 1978. Each of the 38 Cube Houses is made of a concrete square that’s tilted 45° that rests n a hexagonal pylon. Each house

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

CUBE HOUSE

is created with three floors and has customdesigned furniture and appliances to fit into the sharp angles of the walls. Blom’s creative design was harnessed from his interpretation of modern forest living – the houses are akin to a tree, and the homes are built with central courtyards. It was his vision to create a ‘village’ amidst a bustling city. The ground floors of the Cube Houses comprise commercial and retail spaces and even a school. www.kubuswoning.nl

IMAGE: CORBIS

VALENCIA CITY OF ARTS & SCIENCE VALENCIA • SPAIN

This project comprises a complex of cultural buildings, located along two kilometres on the eastern end of the old Turia riverbed that is now a sunken garden, which meanders through the city of Valencia. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and the late Félix Candela, the City of Arts and Sciences is an impressive collection of five modern areas: El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Opera house and Performing Arts Centre); L’Hemisfèric (Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium); L’Umbracle

(Walkway / Garden); El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (Principe Filipe Science museum); and L’Oceanogràfic (Open-air Oceanographic Park).

The buildings are built on bodies of water to mirror the reflection of the architectural beauty. The design elements are brought right through to the carpark area where visitors follow through a glass house that opens up into an airy space of bridges and walkways, linking the different buildings of angular facades of steel frames and glass. An international landmark, this development offers endless means for discovery and learning. With the blue and the white of the Mediterranean blending beautifully with the avantgarde structures, the visionaries of this massive project have deftly added a futuristic flavour to the renowned renaissance city of Valencia. www.cac.esv TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

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IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

LOTUS TEMPLE NEW DELHI • INDIA

This unique temple is a place of worship for Bahá’í followers. The plot of land was purchased in 1953, but construction began in 1980 and was completed in 1986. Designed by architect, Fariburz Sahba, the Lotus

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Temple is made up of walls and domes that are shaped like 27 petals of a lotus flower that appears half-open.

What makes the Lotus Temple truly magnificent is its unique ventilation system where warm air from the central hall moves through an opening in the dome, cooling the air that enters back into the hall after going through water tanks. The temple can accommodate 1,300 people at any one time and is surrounded by nine pools of water. www.bahaihouseofworship.in

HABITAT 67 MONTREAL • CANADA

IMAGE: CORBIS

Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the main purpose of this project was to create an experimental living complex that is affordable, but with extensive amenities like shops and a school for self-sufficient residency. Safdie showcased these modular concrete units at the 1967 World Expo in Montreal, and the project was dubbed a “fantastic experiment” and “architectural wonder”. Unlike regular apartments, this structure has concrete blocks stacked. All units are linked by a maze of pathways – covered and uncovered – and somehow enjoy privacy despite the density and proximity of the units. Habitat 67 was originally developed with 354 identical modular prefabricated concrete combinations as high as 12 storeys, making 148 resident units of various sizes and configurations. It is now a 148-apartment building, as many owners have since renovated and joined units for larger living space. www.habitat67.com

THE NITERÓI CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM RIO DE JANEIRO • BRAZIL

IMAGE: INMAGINE

Looking like a spaceship ready to take off, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum’s futuristic design is the brainchild of Oscar Niemeyer and structural engineer Bruno Contarini. Sitting on the side of a cliff, the structure was completed in 1996, and the premise of this architectural vision was based on Boa Viagem, which means Bon Voyage. The building sits on a reflecting pool that surrounds its cylindrical base while the dome is 50 metres in diameter and stands 16 metres high, with the exposition hall having the capacity to hold 60 people at any one time. There are two viewing galleries that offer views of the Guanabara Bay, the city of Rio de Janeiro and Sugarloaf Mountain. www.macniteroi.com.br

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

FEDERATION SQUARE

MELBOURNE • VICTORIA • AUSTRALIA

The Federation Square is Melbourne’s civic centre and cultural precinct that covers 3.8 hectares of land, offering two open squares – St Paul’s Court and The Square – and a covered area called The Atrium.

Designed by Lab Architecture Studio in partnership with Bates Smart, work began in 1998 and the building was opened in 2002. The four years of development resulted in one of Melbourne’s most prominent architectural enclaves, having received over 60 million visitors to date. It is home to the Ian Potter Centre:

NGV Australia – a major art gallery displaying local art, and an impressive line-up of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops among others. This precinct comprises of several low-lying boxy structures of massive proportions connected by a hidden labyrinth within the buildings’ glass walls with tilted roofs that appear irregular.

However, the first draft of the architectural proposal in 1997 drew controversy as many locals felt the buildings would interfere with the beauty of the location’s heritage site because the tilted roofs would block the vista of the St Paul’s Cathedral from certain angles. Fed Square has also made it to a few ‘ugliest buildings in the world’ lists.

But what makes it a real attraction is that it’s home to over 2,000 events annually, including cultural festivals, exhibitions, performances, films at the open air big screen, concerts and fashion shows. www.fedsquare.com GETTING THERE AirAsia X flies four times a week to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur.

Go www.airasia.com for details.

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NORD/LB BUILDING HANNOVER • GERMANY

IMAGE: INMAGINE

Nord/LB aka North German Bank has its headquarters based at this architectural marvel. Designed by architect firm, Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner, construction began in 2002 and was completed two years later to house 1,500 of the bank’s staff. Besides its breathtaking structure that mimics the careful balancing of Lego blocks made of glass held together by steel frames, its innovative eco-friendly functions reduce carbon dioxide emissions by optimising the use of natural daylight, which both heats and cools the building depending on the outside temperature. The building also has a staff restaurant located in a part of the building where the roof is shaped like the wings of a gigantic butterfly where the material used for building it changes colour depending on the sun’s position. At one point, the building was awfully called a “stack of containers”, but it has become Hannover’s pride and joy, earning the bank and architects the prestigious Niedersächsischen Staatspreis für Architektur award. (Lower Saxony Award of Architecture). www.nordlb.com

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TENERIFE CONCERT HALL

SUPER STRUCTURES Dubai is definitely one of the world’s best playgrounds for architectural designers, but the economic crisis of the city threw a damper on its many unique and ambitious development projects.

Speculation continues that some of these glorious sketches will make their way from the drawing board to the actual grounds of the city.

CANARY ISLAND • SPAIN

The Tenerife Concert Hall, created by architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava, has become an iconic landmark in the urban landscape of Santa Cruz on the island of Tenerife. It is an elegant structure that bridges land and sea, made with sweeping curved domed roofs and majestic wood-panelled walls painted to look crystalline that enhances the acoustics of the performances held there.

The main hall is crowned by a dome that soars 58 metres high and is made of mosaic and broken white ceramics.

With construction having begun in 1997 and completed in 2003, this all-concrete auditorium faces the waterfront of Los Llanos that offers cool breezes as the audience enters.

The architecture of the Tenerife Concert Hall is a superb translation of its function – dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful. www.auditoriodetenerife.com

DUBAI DEATH STAR

ON HOLD

Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the structure is named after the fictional moon-sized space station and super weapon in the Star Wars movies – Death Star. This 1.5 billion square feet, 44-storey building with an 82-storey spiralling tower has the ability to hold 1.5 million people and is slated to be built on an island in the middle of the city’s waterfront.

IMAGE: INMAGINE

DUBAI TOWER

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Designed like four shards of flame burning from the grounds, these towers are 57 to 94 storeys high. Designed by Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, developed by Sama Dubai, construction began in 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2014; it will house apartments, hotels, offices and restaurants.

EP-07 TOWER, DUBAI CITY

ON HOLD

This skyscraper within the One Park Avenue project (East Park 07 Tower) will rise to 125 floors, or 600 metres high. Energy efficient and green building elements like pumps to circulate air from the cooler top floors down to the warmer bottom floors is but one of the many innovative features here. Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

0-14 TOWER, QAMARDEEN DISTRICT CROSSING, DUBAI CITY COMPLETED This gleaming office tower was completed in 2010, and boasts 22 floors with 1,000 circular windows measuring 2.5 metres in width and 6.5 metres in height. It functions as a fully ‘green’ building through its sustainable design. Designed

by RUR Architecture PC and developed

by Shahan Lutft.

WAVE TOWER, MADINAT AL ARAB, DUBAI WATERFRONT ON HOLD This spiralling skyscraper was to be built with 92 floors of offices, retail space and apartments on a small island off the coast of Dubai, with a curved bridge linking it to the mainland. Designed by Joaquin Torres of A-cero.

DYNAMIC TOWER, DUBAI CITY

ON HOLD

Also known as the Rotating Tower, Dynamic Architecture Building, or the Da Vinci Tower, it was designed to have 80 floors that rotate at 6 metres per minute (full rotation in 90 minutes). It is also the first skyscraper to be made of fully prefabricated concrete using wind turbines and solar panels to generate electricity.

Designed by David Fischer.

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10 FEATURE • Myanmar

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

M n ym a ar

From the golden pagodas that dominate the skyline in Yangon, and the vast plains of Bagan dotted with thousands of temples and ruins, to the languid waters of Inle Lake where fishermen row boats using their legs, Myanmar is still a mystery to many and an exotic destination that has only recently opened up to world travellers.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM LEE

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Thousands of temples dot the central plains of Central Myanmar in Bagan. The twelfth century Dhammayangi Pahto temple (far left) is visible from all parts of Bagan. The temple is said to be built by King Narathu to atone for his sins for having killed his father, brother and one of his wives; a bowl of mohinga consists of thin rice noodles, crisp-fried onions, coriander, spring onions and dried chillis served with fish broth. A dish from the delta region, the mohinga is considered the national dish of Myanmar; a local family at the Shwedagon Paya, the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. The man and woman are dressed in longyi, which is a local sarong-like apparel; Buddhist monks at the Kalaywa Tawya Sarthintaik Monastic Education Centre, near Yangon. Orphans from all over Myanmar are brought here to be cared for.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A craftsman from the U Ba Nyein Lacquerware Workshop in Bagan. Making traditional lacquerware includes applying coats of paint on the product, layer by layer (the more the layers, the higher the quality) followed by drying and engraving. The products are often made from bamboo, which is shaped into bowls, dishes, vases, plates and boxes by skillful craftsmen. Horse hair is woven into some of these products. Lacquer-ware workshops are family-run businesses passed on from one generation to another.

PRECEDING PAGE: Young novices looking out from the Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung monastery’s oval windows. Made entirely of teak wood, the monastery is located in the town of Nyaungshwe, near Inle Lake. Visitors to Inle Lake normally make a quick pitstop at this town before heading to the lake.

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Inle Lake in the Shan State is home to the Intha tribe who lives in stilt-houses and, farms on the floating gardens across the vast lake; the Karaweik Palace Restaurant on the Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon, was designed by Burmese architect U Ngwe Hlaing, based on the Pyigyimon royal barge. A double-storey barge, the Karaweik Hall is reinforced by iron bars and topped with a pyatthat roof (a multi-level roof pavilion); women in Myanmar wear thanakha, a yellow sandalwood-like paste, on their face as natural sunblock and moisturiser; an Intha fisherman gets around using a traditional flat-bottom skiff propelled by a single wooden paddle, rowed by leg.

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Shwedagon Paya at dusk. This is the most photographed and visited Buddhist temple in Yangon, The golden dome rises almost to a hundred metres and the solid zedi (upper, gently tapering stupa) is said to be over 2,500 years old. The spire is topped of with a gilded hti (umbrellalike decorative top), unique to Myanmar pagodas.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: On Inle Lake, the In Phaw Khone village is home to skilled weavers who produce ornate and colourful silk fabrics on looms made from bamboo poles held together by rope; the Shwesandaw Paya is distinguishable by its white pyramid-style edifices with steps leading past five terraces to the circular top, which boasts a 360 degree view – a famous spot for sunset watching in Bagan; cloves, aniseed, cardamom, tobacco and areca nuts are placed in a betel leaf along with lime paste before being wrapped into a tiny parcel and popped into the mouth. Betel-chewing is a national pastime in Myanmar.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies daily to Yangon and Mandalay from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

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10 FEATURE • Laos

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Despite being revered in many Asian cultures, elephants are fast becoming another research statistic in animals dwindling in numbers due to exploitation and destruction of natural habitats. The Elephant Conservation Center and ElefantAsia in Laos are two NGOs working hard to save and rehabilitate these gentle and intelligent giants.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE LARDER

RIGHT: Connie Speight on Mrs Flower (Mae Dok), one of the rescued elephants now in the ECC sanctuary.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ECC guide, Maite Cornudet, with a 4-month old male infant.

PRECEDING PAGE: Recovering patient Thong Kuam enjoying a drink at Lake Nam Tien.

The singing mahout is in fine voice this morning. From somewhere within the drifting mist, I’m woken to the gentle clonking of bamboo bells and the pure voice of a young Lao man serenading his elephant. Below my creaking hut a procession of pachyderms, trunk-to-tail, plod along on great stumpy legs behind their chattering life-long partners: The mahout. The emerging sun imperceptibly dissolves the foggy shroud, revealing a mirror calm lake and more elephants like bulbous submarines, wallowing, plunging and squirting in the reedy shallows. It’s bath time, and for these few fortunate elephants, fun time.

Another day dawns over the fabled Lan Xan: The Land of a Million Elephants. Once as common as a shire horse, the Lao elephant population is in unsustainable decline. At present, it is estimated there are only 850 wild and domesticated elephants left. Mercifully, The Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) is a dedicated, impressively credentialed French organisation chartered to altering the critical balance between survival and extinction.

DATING MRS FLOWER Mrs Flower is one such elephant. I’m sharing my fruit with her. Her exquisitely sensitive trunk examines the fruit with interest, savoring its sweet scent. Salivating slightly from her drooping lip Mae Dok (her Lao name) peers at me with tiny limpid eyes set low and out of proportion within her huge skull. I’m hypnotized by those little golden, intelligent eyes.

Rescued from logging in 2007, the matronly 58-year-old Mrs Flower’s super sensitive snout is capable of the most delicate nuance. It can even pick up a needle, and ease the fruit from my palm with exquisite gentleness. The banana vanishes into her cavernous maw accompanied by much lip smacking. She blinks coquettishly through manicured eyelashes and idly plucks a tender tid-bit from a high branch, tearing the bush to shreds with the powerful, muscle-packed and multifunctional tube that is her nose, sensory devise, battering ram, high-pressure hose and, knife, fork and spoon.

For 37 of her 58 summers, she has toiled in the verdant Lao forests, dragging her 84

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weighty burden from otherwise impenetrable forests. Mrs. Flower was destined for a harsh dotage hauling exotic timbers: Teak and the formidably heavy rosewood trunks from the depths of Lao’s lush forests. Inevitably, she would succumb to exhaustion and premature death. Her only calf died; she is now too old to breed. At best, a scant 850 of her kind remain in the land-locked Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Laos. If current trends continue, the Lao sub-species and Laos ancient mahout culture may well vanish within 40 years.

Elephants and humans share a similar life span and, according to the Buddhist Lao, retain 32 souls as do humans.

ELEPHANT ANGUISH Laos, similar in area to Great Britain and sparsely populated by a best estimate of 6.5 million ethnic Lao, languishes as one of the most impoverished countries on the planet.

The exploitation of the rich forests continues, penetrating rugged jungles only accessible to the elephant. Much of the resulting treasure trove of exotic timber harvested both legally or otherwise, disappears over neighbouring country borders. The average Lao sees very little benefit.

As for the mahouts, they are rewarded by the linear metre. The harder their animals

work, the more their families earn from their animal that costs a fortune to own, chalking up to 15 years of investment before an elephant can begin work. The Lao mahout realise that their way of life and culture are under threat. As the elephant numbers decrease, the remaining elephants’ workload increases. Consequently, elephants’ prices have soared, certainly beyond the wildest dreams of avarice for the average Lao. Circuses will pay fortunes for infant elephants often separated too young from their mothers.

A healthy bull can bring, conservatively, around USD300,000. Others are trafficked over borders, sentenced to a life of street

begging or to trudge around touristy elephant camps – over worked, over loaded, underfed and too exhausted to breed.

Without deep impenetrable forests to sustain them, Mrs Flowers’ vanishing relatives are destroying the very environment that succors them and their mahout – their lifelong human partners in work. Shut down for 40 years after the Vietnam conflict, Laos re-emerged in the late 90s to embrace the dubious benefits of Western consumerism.

These elephants, once as ubiquitous as the modern tractor and still sentimentally referred to as the ‘Kings of the Forest’, are becoming very thin on the ground. For every

three births there are 16 deaths. Remaining domesticated working bulls are quite often too tired to copulate. There are only an estimated 60 to 80 fecund females available but widely dispersed all over western Laos, with very little opportunity for elephantine love.

GENTLE GIANTS Human-elephant co-existence can be traced back to between 2,000 to 20,000 years.

Elephants were utilised as war machines and revered as gods and status symbols.

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in terror. The elephant was also purpose built by nature for heavy haulage. However, despite their enormous pulling power, these creatures weren’t built to carry weights on their weak backs.

Mrs Flower, originally purchased by an American NGO, The Elephants Umbrella Fund that’s run by a 87-year-od Connie Speight, now acts as an ambassador for the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) and the constantly cash strapped NGO, ElefantAsia. ElefantAsia provides mobile vet care, emergency treatment, education and alternative sustainable and ethical employment opportunities, including an ‘elephant baby bonus’ scheme for the mahout and their hefty partners in work.

Lighter work means more babies so the mahouts are offered small utilitarian farm tractors to reduce their animals’ workload.

The bulk of the elephants that end up under the care of these NGOs are ‘damaged’

creatures; a snapped chain can easily cripple an elephant that hauls logs for a living thereby rendering the creature useless.

A TRUE SANCTUARY Opened last November, the ECC complex is set on the shores of Lake Nam Tien, a four-hour drive from UNESCO protected Luang Prabang, which was the former royal capital of Laos. A traditional Lao village that was destined for destruction was saved by ElefantAsia and ECC. The village was rebuilt on an idyllic peninsular overlooking the lake, and now is a 106-hectare sanctuary for sick, injured, pregnant and nursing elephants and their precious infants.

The elephants enjoying an afternoon bath with their mahouts.

Where the ECC differs from other exploitative elephant camps is that this is a hands-on reserve where guests live, work or just chill with the mahout, their families and their elephants. The mahout will teach visitors how to approach, mount, ride astride the neck and generally how to get on with an elephant on a personal basis. The policy of the reserve is to integrate guests, elephants and the Lao families. Visitors and volunteers live and eat together in Lao style. Instead of merely observing, volunteers work in the forests with the elephants, clearing tracks, collecting food, and assisting with the care and grooming of sick animals.

As I walk into the centre, a chorus of sabai dee (Hello! How are you?) greets me and my fellow guests. A group of saffron cloaked young monks and a Baci Master chant, entwining us and four waiting elephants that are too big to

enter the room with cotton string necessary to re-gather lost or errant souls. Buddhists believe that elephants, like humans, have 32 souls. The solemn occasion ends with a party and feast. The Lao monks there are pretty laid back; a few plugged into iPods.

PACHYDERM PLAYGROUND The centre cares for 10 elephants. The sanctuary can only provide so much natural food for the animal’s voracious appetite, which amounts to about 250 kilogrammes of foliage daily. The highpoint of my visit to the ECC is an intimate encounter with three infant calves, two of which were born within the complex.

Each afternoon the mahout emerges from the forests bringing the babies for a personal meet-and-greet session. A 20-minute hike or a precarious ride on a ‘skinny boat’ delivers

guests to the nursery tucked away in a small lake-side cove. The calves caper about like frisky puppies, rolling and wallowing in the shallow pool, their little trunks squirting guests with muddy water. One four-month old youngster takes a fancy to my toes dangling from a pontoon. It sucks and snorts at my feet while its mother looms above caressing my neck with her potentially lethal trunk. I’m chuffed, feeling privileged to be toe-tickled by her very precious child.

Back at camp, urgent work presses on, one that’s downright disturbing. While my group chat, ElefantAsia’s senior vet, Jerone Lassausae, receives word that an injured tusker has arrived with a wound to its tail.

The creature rumbles and trumpets in angst.

The animal’s worried mahout perched on top, whispers calming noises to the wounded animal. Thong Kuam’s tail has been slashed

ELEFACTS: X The Lao who are fervent believers in reincarnation, consider elephants to be second only to humans in nature.

X Elephants are very intelligent and can understand at least 40 human commands.

X Elephants communicate over great distances sub-sonically.

X Super sensitive elephants trunks can pick up a needle or a small coin, or tear a tree to shreds.

X Elephant faeces are prized as a traditional healing material.

X Mahouts form a life-long relationship with their elephants. A young mahout will begin interacting with an elephant before he can speak and start working as a mahout at around 15 years old.

X Elephants cannot jump or gallop but make very efficient submarines.

X A white elephant appeared in the pregnant Queens Maya’s dream telling her that her future son would be the Buddha. Upon the Buddha’s death, elephants were the first to mourn at his side.

X The Lao believe a white elephant to be divine.

X Elephants do not trumpet or swing from side to side because they are happy. It means that they are alarmed or distressed/depressed.

X Elephants cannot carry heavy weights. Do not ride elephants with heavy howdahs. They have, relative to their size, weak backs. The correct way to ride an elephant is on its neck.

X Elephants are not scared of mice and cannot fly.

YOU CAN HELP TOO! X Adopt a baby elephant through the Elephant Conservation Baby Bonus scheme.

X Support a Lao mahout family.

X Stop buying elephant products such as ivory, hide, hair etc.

X All donations of volunteer time, experience, veterinary equipment and/or money will support the elephant mobile clinics and the elephant hospital and nursery.

ABOVE: The elephants at the sanctuary assist in daily activities such as helping to construct the elephant house.

off, leaving an agonizingly painful stump.

Even the elephant’s hairy tail brings a large sum of money to an opportunistic thief, as the hair is used for making lucky charms.

The animal is anesthetised and Jerone goes to work assisted by his Lao assistants. The wound is cleaned and sterilized using a wild honey mix and western antibiotics. Further inspection reveals an abscess in the right eye.

Both wounds, says Jerone, will eventually heal but will require a lengthy recuperation at the sanctuary. This service is free to the mahout who will stay at the village until his elephant 88

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is recovered enough to return to work. Our group returns for dinner: Lao-style pork, chicken and fish dishes, bamboo shoot salads and rice dishes. The mahout wanders in for a chat and the singing mahout serenades us with a selection from the latest Lao Top 40.

Filled, we troop down to the jetty where tissue lanterns float aloft into the crimson afterglow.

I retire to my creaking hut, chase some geckos off my bed and contemplate a world without elephants.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies daily to Vientiane, Laos.

Go to www.airasia.com for details.

X Visit www.elephantconservationcentre.com and

www.elefantasia.org to learn more about saving and rehabilitating these gentle giants.

ELEPHANT CONSERVATION CENTER (ECC) The ECC is a 20-minute drive and boat cruise from Sayaboury in Western Laos. Guests can visit this facility by paying USD60 for a 1-day stay, or USD188 for a 2-day stay. The stay includes transfers from Luang Prabang, meals and elephant activities. Longer stays are available too. www.elephantconservationcentre.com

10 FEATURE • Thailand

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

LifePhi of

Spirits come out to play when the people of Dan Sai in Isan’s Loei province in Thailand celebrate a quirky, merit-making festival that’s rich in heritage and mirth.

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM LEE

A long, red penis snakes through the throng of dancers and nearly smacks me in the face. Its movement is purposeful, eliciting whoops of laughter as its owner grins at me with a nightmarish face. Just as quickly as the wooden phallus materialises, it disappears into the crowd, chasing after young girls, as it bobs up and down to the rhythm of Ake Rasadorn’s popular folk song, Phi Ta Khon.

I’m at the Phi Ta Khon festival, undoubtedly one of Thailand’s most peculiar and fascinating cultural offerings. Part of Bun Luang – an important triple-celebration and merit-making festival – Phi Ta Khon is famous for its phi or ghosts. Now, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill Thai ghosts, and they are far from any Western idea of paranormal beings.

Wielding wooden penises and sporting terrifying grins, these phi, which my guide describes as “too horror” (sic), are benign.

PERFECT CHARITY The phi ta khon are colourful spirits, and their story is derived from the Jãtakas – an extensive body of literature that chronicles the past lives of the Buddha. According to the Vessantara Jataka, thousands of years ago, there lived a compassionate prince named Vessandon, who was the last incarnation of the Buddha. Vessandon would give away just about anything he owned. When envoys from the drought-ravaged TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

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kingdom of Kalinga requested his magical white elephant that brings rain, Vessandon surrendered this symbol of the city without hesitation.

Regretting Vessandon’s poor judgment and angered by his decision, Vessandon’s father banished him from the kingdom.

In exile, Vessandon embraced an ascetic existence on Vamka Mountain, in a forest teeming with spirits. Sensing Vessandon’s charitable nature, the spirits knew this enlightened man would be their liberation; his merit-making would set them free. When Vessandon’s father eventually entreated him to return, the spirits of the forest followed.

To enter the city without causing alarm, the phi ta khon disguised themselves with leaves, wood and headdresses of woven bamboo baskets, which are normally used for steaming sticky rice. Joining the people in celebrating Vessandon’s homecoming, the phi ta khon rejoiced with much fanfare.

For over 400 years, the people of Dan Sai have reenacted this event with a special Phi Ta Khon parade featuring these magnificent masks, which have become a celebrated folk craft. The phi ta khon are looked upon as ghoulish guardians.

BEHIND THE MASK

“To enter the city without causing alarm, the phi ta khon disguised themselves with leaves, wood and headdresses of woven bamboo baskets, which are normally used for steaming sticky rice.”

ABOVE: The invocation of Phra Upakut by an attendant of the Chao Pho Kuan or spiritual leader.

TOP: Festival-goers don cowbells to add to the festive air of the celebrations.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Masked participants range from toddlers to elderly folks.

PRECEDING PAGE: Locals dressed in colourful masks at the Phi Ta Khon parade.

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To find out more about the phi ta khon, I visit master mask maker Pattiwat Chuebunmee, who crafted his first mask when he was just seven years old. Each mask is a unique masterpiece. In the old days, colour was derived from ash, sandstone, plants and whatever produced natural dyes. Today, acrylic paint is used. The materials, however, remain pretty much the same: A coconut leaf sheath for the face, soft wood from the nguo tree to sculpt the ornate nose, and a woven bamboo basket for the headdress. However, the artistic evolution can be seen in the designs that have become even more elaborate and imaginative as artists experiment with different styles, motifs and kanok – royal Thai symbols that are the epitome of Thai art.

Enquiring about the significance of the swarm of giant penises with bright red tips, I’m surprised to hear a rather unexpected answer. “The penis is like a sword to kill the phi mae mai, which are bad female ghosts! They’re scared of the penis.” Locals believe the phi mae mai are widows who’ve met a violent death; these ghosts hunt for men to fulfill their lust and then kill. In some places in Isan, men fool them by dressing as women, while carved wooden phalluses are paraded as a sign of male dominance.

When I ask Pattiwat if he fears the phi mae mai, he chuckles “No, I have a big penis!”

INVOKING PROTECTION Isan people place great emphasis on protection from malevolent forces.

In fact, just that morning, I’d woken up before the crack of dawn to

attend an invocation ceremony. It began with a procession from the Phon Chai temple to the Mun River, where an attendant of the Chao Pho Kuan, or spiritual leader, waded into the cold muddy river to retrieve a special stone. The people believe this to be the resting place of the spirit of a monk named Phra Upakut. Having attained the highest state of meditation and been granted eternal life, Phra Upakut chose to live out eternity as a solitary white pebble on the riverbed. The people revere Phra Upakut, and believe him to be the only one who can protect the village.

Before embarking on a merit-making event as important as Bun Luang, it is customary for the people of Dan Sai to invoke Phra Upakut’s protection. After several false finds, the server eventually raised a victorious fist. The pebble was brought to the Pon Chai temple where prayers were conducted at the altars facing the four directions. Circling the temple three times is said to be auspicious, and I gladly joined the procession for a little early morning exercise and the prospect of attracting good luck.

PHANTOMS ON PARADE The grand parade on the second day of festivities is even bigger than the one on the first. There are legions of dancing ghouls and monsters. I spot wolf-like creatures wielding maces and dragging heavy shackles, horned beasts, a gorilla with a chimp in its bloody mouth – all sorts of bizarre creatures. And of course, everywhere there are phi ta khon yai and phi ta khon lek; the former are much bigger and thought to be old ancestral spirits, while the smaller phi ta khon lek are like children spirits.

Massive floats pass by bearing images of HM King Bhumibol, the Chao Pho Kuan, musicians and actors representing Prince Vessandon and his royal family.

The phi ta khon accompany the floats, dancing to Ake Rasadorn’s festival anthem on loop, and pausing only to oblige trigger-happy visitors. The party, fueled with beer and much euphoria, is wild.

While chatting with some participants, something whacks me in the rear. Startled, I turn around to see an older woman with pigtails and a baby bottle strapped to her waist playfully thumping me with a wooden penis. I can safely say that this is high on the list of the strangest things that have ever happened to me. The lady, 56-year-old Rujikorn Boukgam, has been dancing in the festival for as long as she can remember. Her baby bottle, filled with stones, rattles in place of a cowbell. As for the phallic object she wields, Rujikorn laughs. “I carry this for a joke, but it is also tradition. It is good luck, you know?”

ROCKETS FOR RAIN In the afternoon, festivities continue at the Phon Chai temple where ghouls dance with free abandon. Despite the heat, the phi ta khon seem to possess boundless energy. The sight of these fearsome creatures gyrating to the rhythm of Isan folk music is surreal.

“The people revere Phra Upakut, and believe him to be the only one who can protect the village.”

ABOVE: Alms-giving is an important aspect of the merit-making festival.

TOP: Mask maker Pattiwat Chuebunmee painting intricate and symmetrical designs by hand.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A creative and modern costume at the Phi Ta Khon parade.

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Suddenly, a monk rises above the crowd borne by a surge of excited festival-goers. He’s followed by three monks, and then Chao Pho Kuan astride a bundle of rockets. The crowds hoist their spiritual leader high, bouncing him in the air. It’s time for Bun Bhang Fai, the rocket festival that makes up the second part of Bun Luang.

As rockets soar overhead piercing the bright blue sky, I steal a few moments with the Chao Pho Kuan. He tells me that his family has passed down this title from generation to generation for over 400 years; he has been the spiritual leader for 23 years, and his duty is to protect the people.

During Bun Luang, this spiritual leader acts as a medium, calling the good spirits onto himself to guard the city and bless his community.

He tells me that the rockets are launched to remind Phaya Thaen (the sky deity) to send down rain. For a farming community, this holds great significance. Like the wooden phalluses, the phallic rocket represents life and fertility. “It is auspicious. Like Lord Siva’s lingam, it is about birth and creation.”

CLOSER TO LIBERATION In the evening, a lone phi ta khon mask drifts down the river. In the old days, it was common for participants to discard their costumes symbolising the release of bad energy. Today, it’s pretty pricey to commission a new outfit every year! Still it’s nice that some continue to observe the old tradition.

On Bun Sumha, the next day, the river will see thousands of banana leaf boats afloat with food offerings to the good spirits, and the people will gather to listen to 13 Buddhist sermons. This marks the end of Bun Luang, where merit is earned for a better life in this world, or the next.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies to Udon Thani from Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand. Dan Sai is located approximately three hours west of the city. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

EARNING MERIT Merit is a Buddhist concept.

It can be earned through good deeds, acts and thoughts. Merit counts towards a person’s liberation, and can be dedicated to decrease the suffering of loved ones in their next life.

ABOVE: The Chao Pho Kuan being carried by a crowd of excited festival-goers.

TOP: A phi ta khon yai dancing during the parade.

ATTRACTIONS OF UDON THANI BAN CHIANG This 5,600-year-old UNESCO World Heritagelisted archaeological site features artifacts that span the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. It is important in refuting theories that the development of prehistoric societies in Southeast Asia occurred later than in other regions.

THEPARAK SHRINE Locals give thanks by offering animal sculptures to the spirit of this shrine when their wishes are fulfilled. You’ll see hundreds of animal statues here!

NAM NUENG A popular culinary offering, nam neung are pork sausages served with rice paper, salad, star fruit, green banana and a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.

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A R T

10 FEATURE • China

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

Rising

The contemporary art scene in Chengdu, China, is growing from strength to strength with local and international artists finding fertile ground to let their imagination take flight.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: IRA DE REUVER

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Once a tainted word in China, art today is truly thriving in the Middle Kingdom.

In the last decade or so, contemporary Chinese Art has become the buzz-word of the international art world. While Beijing and Shanghai have long set China’s artistic agenda, in recent years, a new player has emerged, as collectors and investors look for the next big thing. Local artists in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan Province, have been passionately creating a unique artistic landscape, forging the city’s reputation in the international art world.

MASTER PAINTERS He Duoling is undoubtedly Chengdu’s most famous artist. Born and bred here, he continues to reside in Chengdu despite pressure to move to Beijing. Having achieved international acclaim, He is widely regarded as one of China’s greatest living painting masters of realism. While his path to fame began with his 1980 painting Spring Wind, in 2001, He’s painting titled The Third Generation fetched over USD4.3 million at an auction. He’s success has firmly planted Chengdu on the international art map and has inspired a new generation of local artisans.

Graduating from the Sichuan Fine Art Institute in 2002, Chongqing native Chen Qiulin came to Chengdu soon after. Initially, she planned to improve her English with the intention to move abroad, but soon started dabbling in experimental art and 100

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ABOVE: Paintings and installation art

by Xiong Yu titled the Flying Delusion being exhibited at 1000 Plateaus Gallery in Chengdu.

BELOW: Zheng Yuexin, manager at K Gallery.

PRECEDING PAGE: Art by Zhong Zhe, at the 4th Biennale art exhibition, August 2009, Chengdu.

quickly found herself ensconced in the local scene. Chen says the unlimited possibilities of modern experimental art suited her perfectly.

Chengdu’s art scene, she says, is becoming increasingly open-minded, attracting a whole new wave of like-minded artists. “The advantage of working as an artist in Chengdu is that you can create art in a tranquil environment,” she explains.

Chen’s works encompass a variety of media types including video, images, installations and sculptures and, incorporates a unique sensitivity to social issues. With her current project titled Empty City (Kong Cheng), Chen says she was interested in looking at urban cities in new ways. The first part is called ‘Heroes’. It started with sculptures she found in a pile of trash. She repaired them and made new ones using waste paper pulp, to make a series of 10 historic army generals and a vague image of herself. “When seeing old things disappear, you lose something you’re familiar with. What is alarming is not those visible changes, but

the change of people’s attitude and beliefs.

My art is designed to express these changes.”

ART FLOURISH On the outskirts of Chengdu a group of artists have established the Blue House Art Centre. Like Songzhuang in Beijing, the Blue Village, as it is often known, gives artists the opportunity to work in quiet surroundings among other creative people. Established eight years ago, the Blue Village’s creators wanted to develop the centre into a thriving art district that ultimately would promote the cultural taste of Chengdu and enrich Chengdu’s art market. Xiao Kegang, whose studio is based at Blue Village, says the centre is not only a happening place for arts in Chengdu, but also a microcosm of the contemporary art scene of China.

After graduating in 1991, Xiao’s career as a painter began soon after. Xiao says China’s monumental social and economic changes and opening to the outside world has

“Chengdu’s growing status as an art centre is also seeing a gradual increase in private and public galleries and art spaces.”

ABOVE: The skull that has been inside a beehive for four months on display at Samsara by artist Luo Jie. BELOW: Visitors admiring art at the 4th Biennale Art Exhibition, Chengdu.

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seen artists being given greater freedom to express ideas and opportunities to learn new techniques. “With deeper introspection of artists’ social and personal life now possible, I feel the art scene here is progressively maturing,” he quips. Applying traditional themes with modern style work, Xiao’s inspiration comes from his life experiences and reflections. “I love the quietness in Chengdu.

It gives artists time and space to contemplate.”

bubble might burst one day. To counter this I think it’s important to keep the quality high.” According to Zeng, Chengdu offers artists a better cultural temperature. “Beijing and Shanghai are fast-paced cities, while artists in Chengdu have the time and space to work on their ideas to create honest and unadorned artwork.”

CULTURAL TEMPERANCE

Situated near Du Fu’s cottage, one of Chengdu’s most popular tourist attractions, Re-C Art Space is a spacious and trendy gallery opened in 2009 and typical of the new wave of modern galleries starting to pop up around the city. Art Director Zhao Huan says galleries and art spaces are developing in different directions providing platforms for all different art styles. Zhao says not only is there an increase in numbers of artists choosing to work in the region, young curators are also injecting fresh exuberance into local galleries and spaces.

Chengdu’s growing status as an art centre is also seeing a gradual increase in private and public galleries and art spaces. Ms Zeng, who curates at the No. 10 Art Gallery, says that China’s burgeoning economy and rising middle class is enabling people the financial means to buy art. “There are also more art auctions and international exchanges, mainly with Hong Kong and Japan,” she notes.

“But I’m also concerned that Chengdu’s art market is developing too fast, and that the

BELOW: Visitors enjoying the art on dislay at No. 10 Gallery of Art in Chengdu.

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THE VALUE OF ART

At the 1000 Plateaus Gallery, established in 2007, Shi Ying is the assistant manager.

“More galleries and art spaces offer wider platforms for Chengdu artists to show their artwork and concepts, thus improving their national status and influence,” she enthuses. Shi adds that the local government has become increasingly aware of the economic, cultural and educational value of art, injecting more support and funding into the industry.

Xiong Yu is one of Chengdu’s local artists represented by the 1000 Plateaus Gallery.

Painting on sculptures, installations, and other media, Xiong says his inspiration comes from the small and ever-changing events of life. “It is not just those moments that touch and affect, but those that can just as easily pass you by.” Regarding himself as an explorer amongst the chaos, Xiong seizes random elements of life and puts these ideas into artwork.

“The atmosphere in Chengdu is perfect for an artist, because it’s less competitive.

“When seeing old things disappear, you lose something you’re familiar with. What is alarming is not those visible changes, but the change of people’s attitude and beliefs.” ~ Chen Qiulin

ABOVE: Chen Qiulin with a sculpture of General He Long, part of her exhibition Empty City at 1000 Plateaus Gallery.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Painting by Xiong Yu, Flying Delusion at 1000 Plateaus Gallery.

It is a close community,” Xiong argues. “The market is growing here, because more and more companies are buying art for their offices, as well as people collecting art for private houses. Museums are expanding their collections; it’s a great time to be an artist in Chengdu.” As China’s art scene keeps expanding, Shi Ying says growing numbers of foreign buyers are also expressing interest in the work of Chengdu artists like Xiong Yu.

LURE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM Increasingly there’s also a growing interest from foreign artists in Mainland China’s art centres like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.

Justin Benn, an Australian sculptor arrived in Chengdu in 2007. As a wood sculptor, Benn found Chengdu an ideal location to work.

“The heavily wooded low-lying mountains surrounding Chengdu offer fantastic opportunities to meet people working with wood,” Benn says. “Half the joy of bringing

a piece of work to fruition lies in mixing with these local timber specialists, listening and watching how they think and work with their own raw materials.”

As a foreigner used to the notion of a studio as a private sanctuary, Benn says he was struck by the casual style of social exchange that occurs in Chengdu. “When artists have friends visit at short notice, they readily drop their paintbrushes and chisels to enjoy a cup of tea and exchange in the garden before the guests leave. This fosters a kind of supportive network for younger artists and their mentors. ”Sichuan by its isolation, he says, is immune from the expectations of China’s bigger cities. Artists here are free to pursue what they want, and less conditioned by what the market wants.”

ART MART The push to establish the Sichuan capital as a major player in the arts world has been aided by the establishment of the Chengdu Biennale

Art Exhibition. First staged in 2001, the exhibition has continued to grow, providing opportunities for established and emerging artists to showcase their work to an expanding audience. Sponsored by Deng Hong, the board chairman of the Chengdu International Exhibition Center, each of the five Chengdu Biennales has featured a unique theme.

The 2009 Biennale examined the current state of art in China with the works of 122 artists from China and abroad, including 48 emerging artists from the country’s top art academies. The 2011 Biennale focused on changing vistas: Creative duration. This most recent exhibition was designed to express how the garden city represents visible change, while duration indicates those invisible layers of culture and art, which play a basic role within urban space.

There’s no doubt the interest in contemporary art is growing fast in Chengdu. Local artists have established a firm place for themselves in the national and international art world. Huge social changes in recent years have seen the art scene become more professional while artistic concepts and ideas continue to open up. The peaceful and friendly atmosphere in Chengdu is contributing greatly to the inspiration and performance of the local artists.

GETTING THERE AirAsia X flies four times a week to Chengdu from Kuala Lumpur while AirAsia flies daily from Bangkok to Chongqing. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

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W 10 FEATURE • Philippines

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

Blessed with natural beauty and cultural traditions that continue to battle the ravages of time, tide and modernisation, Sebu Lake, Mindanao in Southern Philippines is also home to the little known T’boli tribe that is renowned for its weaving.

LAND OF THE

DREAMWEAVERS WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: EDGAR ALAN ZETA-YAP

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The cool night air enveloped a stilted longhouse of bamboo and cogon-thatch (a type of grass) perched on a hill overlooking a placid lake.

The humble abode glowed inside with the warm flicker of an oil lamp fashioned from an old tin can. It was in this tribal homestay in Sitio Lambanig that I was to spend my first night in Lake Sebu, the ancestral heartland of the T’boli people in southern Mindanao.

“Supper is ready,” my host Maria Todi-Arroz, a T’boli cultural worker and mother of four, announced smilingly as she served up a native feast. Dinner was laid down on a straw mat on the floor – stewed tilapia fresh from the lake, eggplant salad and keteng or freshwater clam soup. Warm white rice was brought in wrapped in big leaves called duon lmenge, which doubled up as plates. As I enjoyed the meal with her children and nephews, Maria shared stories about her life and her efforts to preserve and share her people’s heritage and traditions.

TALES OF THE T’BOLI There are 110 ethnic groups in the Philippines, with more than 60 percent of them living in

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Mindanao. The T’boli is one of the several non-Islamic indigenous peoples, or lumad, who have been living on the island for thousands of years. The lumad once occupied a majority of the island, but with the arrival of Christian settlers from Luzon and Visayas in the early 20th century, as well as sporadic ethno-political conflict, they were displaced and relegated to highland areas like the municipality of Lake Sebu.

Modernisation and evangelisation have also altered the way of life for most of these native peoples, with their heritage and traditions quickly fading away, especially among the younger generations. “There are those who are T’boli by blood but do not manifest their ethnicity in their lives anymore,” lamented Maria. Since 1994, Maria has been actively establishing non-profit organisations that work towards preserving and promoting indigenous arts and culture through the Helobung Cultural Dance Troupe, and assisting in the education and welfare of various other ethnic minorities through the Kesetifun Cultural Care Foundation, Inc (KCCFI). It has been a long and hard journey but the ever optimistic lady

chirpily notes that responsible tourism can also lend a hand. “Visitors can help by respecting our culture and by purchasing authentic native products,” she enthused.

WEAVING A LEGACY Tribal identity amongst the T’boli is strongly tied to distinctive art forms, such as colourful beadwork, brass casting and most significantly, abaca weaving. They are incredibly industrious artisans, best known for weaving abaca fibres into an exquisite textile called t’nalak, which is used as clothing and blankets. The textile is also woven to be worn on special occasions like royal weddings.

BELOW: Lake Seloton is one of the three lakes in town, together with Lake Sebu and Lake Lahit.

PRECEDING PAGE: A T’boli weaver creates t’nalak on a backstrap loom.

The next day, Maria accompanied me to the longhouse of Barbara Ofung, a master t’nalak weaver, who runs the School of Living Tradition (SLT) that teaches the art of t’nalak weaving to the younger generations of T’boli. As I entered the sparse but clean longhouse, Barbara was busy hand-tying a swathe of abaca fibres with plastic straws to create a curlicue design called bedkenmu. She explained that the cloth will be coloured with black and maroon dyes extracted from local plants in a process called resist-dyeing that leaves some sections coloured and some sections plain. Next to her, a pensive woman was busy at work deftly transforming the dyed fibbers into tightly woven t’nalak on a backstrap loom. I stared transfixed, amazed as the woman continued nonplussed, transforming simple threads into a beautiful work of art.

FIBRE OF SOCIETY Inspired by the natural world and everyday objects, the abstract patterns of the fabric are inherited by T’boli women from elders, or are bestowed upon them through dreams

by Fu Dalu, the spirit of the abaca. The weaving stage can take two weeks to more than a month, depending on the complexity of the design. “My favourite pattern is the gemayaw logi, which traditionally requires the weaver to abstain from lying with her husband throughout the weaving process,” shared Barbara, who has inherited at least 25 t’nalak designs. Seeing me pick up the woven cloth and gently caress the fibres, Barbara cooed like a proud parent presenting her firstborn: “It is very beautiful.”

The painstaking craftsmanship in creating the sacred cloth, however, doesn’t end with the impeccable weaving. Underneath the longhouse, a T’boli teenager demonstrated how the fabric is finally ironed with a cowry shell attached to a taut length of bamboo fastened to the hut’s ceiling. “To achieve its gloss, the t’nalak has to be thoroughly burnished on both sides,” he explained in between pulling the shell. “The cloth is allowed to rest for about four hours and the whole process is repeated three more times.” I wanted to try polishing the cloth as it looked simple enough but after a few failed

ABOVE: Hikong Bente is the tallest of the seven waterfalls in Lake Sebu.

ABOVE, LEFT: A T’boli woman in intricately beaded traditional attire.

endeavours and the fear of ripping the cloth, I handed the shell back to the bemused boy.

As if to console me for my botched attempts, the boy remarked that the last stage alone can take an entire day! Indeed, the creation of t’nalak is a technical feat as much as it is a spiritual endeavour.

LAND OF LAKES Apart from being a cultural landscape rich with heritage and tradition, cool-weathered Lake Sebu is also a prime eco-tourism destination.

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its numerous islets, floating houses and tilapia pens. The smaller Lake Seloton offers a dramatic backdrop to watch the sun rise shrouded in mist, while paddling a slender canoe amidst slender lotus blooms out to drink the warmth of the sun. Thrill-seekers, on the other hand, can ride a habal-habal or motorbike from the town centre to the Seven Falls Zipline near Lake Lahit, the smallest of the lakes there. A pair of breathtaking ziplines, reputedly one of the highest in Southeast Asia, traverses a forested valley here carved by a series of waterfalls.

On my last visit to Lake Sebu, I rode the zipline with Maria’s brother, Ricky, who also served as my tour guide. Our howls of excitement echoed through the valley, as we zoomed 200 metres above the marauding white-water spilling into a bowl-shaped gorge, the rising spray breaking the retreating sunlight into fleeting rainbows. I later learnt that it was Ricky’s first time to ride. “I felt all my bones melt in fear!” he admitted with a big grin. But, without a doubt, the picturesque view and the sheer fun more than made up for his apprehension.

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LEGENDARY LOVE After the exhilarating flight, we followed a steep 700-step jungle trail, which linked the falls at the base of the ziplines. Two waterfalls, Hikong Alu and Hikong Bente, can easily be admired up close. A wary troop of long-tailed macaques surveyed us from the forest canopy. The tallest of the seven falls, Hikong Bente, thundered 70 metres down into a narrow canyon. As I gazed up the majestic cascade, which means ‘immeasurable’ in the T’boli language, I was immediately reminded of the gushing spring water in the legend of Lake Sebu.

According to local folklore, Lake Sebu was born out of an act of sharing. A long time ago, T’boli ancestors, Bo’i Henwu and Kludan, were forced to collect water from rattan vines in the forest because of a severe drought that struck their land. A voice in a dream instructed Bo’i Henwu to look for a big leaf near a rock. The following day, she found the big leaf with a white frog beneath it. Explaining her need, she set the frog down next to a nearby rock, from which water began to trickle out. She drank,

bathed and washed her hair. Later, she shared the water with her husband, Kludan, and the other villagers. And to answer their needs, more water began to gush out until it covered the entire area and became the beautiful body of water the locals know today as Lake Sebu.

As long as there are passionate advocates like Maria and Barbara dedicated to sharing their irreplaceable heritage with fellow tribes people and travellers alike, the T’boli legacy shall – like the legendary spring – surge in the face of changing times.

BELOW: Thrill-seekers can take an exhilarating ride on the Seven Falls Zipline.

BELOW, LEFT: A cowry shell is used to polish the t’nalak cloth.

Comforting & Fulfilling E

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Delightfully varied, from elegantly appointed to simple and efficient accommodation, each hotel is strategically located. Be it business, leisure or combination of both, the choice is endless.

THE GARDENS HOTEL & RESIDENCES, KL

BOULEVARD HOTEL, KL

CITITEL MID VALLEY, KL

CITITEL PENANG

F o r S u pe r Ho t D ea l s , l o g o n t o

MICASA ALL SUITE HOTEL, KL

MICASA HOTEL APARTMENTS, YANGON

ST. GILES MAKATI, MANILA

PANGKOR ISLAND BEACH RESORT

w w w. c h m - h o t e l s . c o m

KUALA LUMPUR : Cititel Mid Valley, Boulevard Hotel, The Gardens Hotel & Residences, MiCasa All Suite Hotel, Cititel Express PENANG : Cititel Penang PANGKOR : Pangkor Island Beach Resort KOTA KINABALU : Cititel Express YANGON : MiCasa Hotel Apartments MANILA : St Giles Makati ASSOCIATES : LONDON NEW YORK -

CURRENCY Philippine currency is called peso (PHP) and is sub-divided into 100 centavos. 1 USD gets you around PHP 42. It is advised that you bring enough cash for your entire stay, since there are no international ATMs in town.

WHERE TO STAY X Lake Sebu town offers budget lakeside accommodations like Punta Isla Lake Resort (www.freewebs.com/ puntaislaresort), Mountain Lake EcoResort (www.mountainlakeecoresort.com) and Tolento Lodge & Resto (+639157809906).

X To arrange a tribal homestay, contact Maria Todi-Arroz (arroz_m@yahoo.com, or +639066345367).

GETTING THERE X Habal-habal or motorbikes are the most convenient way to explore the town.

X Lake Sebu is six hours away from Davao City by land. From Davao, take a bus to Koronadal – also known as Marbel – in South Cotabato (4 hours), where you will have to take another bus to Surallah (30 minutes). From here, jeepneys ply the final leg to Lake Sebu (45 minutes).

ABOVE: Brass ornaments are still made the traditional way by the T’boli people.

TOP: A T’boli woman plays the hegalong, a two-stringed guitar.

X The best time to visit is early November during the Helobung Festival, an annual celebration of the arts, culture and traditions of the T’boli tribe. The festivities include street-dancing, cultural performances and boat races.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies to Clark (Manila) daily from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. AirAsia Philippines flies daily to Davao in Mindanao. Go to www.airasia.com for details.

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10 PILOT’S PERSPECTIVE

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

EXCITING & UNUSUAL Not all airports are built alike and no two airports are the same. Some are pretty mundane whilst others can be downright challenging.

Capt. Lim Khoy Hing takes us on a quick tour of some of the more challenging airports around the region.

An aircraft flying over residential buildings before Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong was closed down.

A traveller recently posed an interesting question: “What are the most exciting, dangerous and unusual airports in the world?”

In my many years of flying around the world to about 80 destinations, I’d say that the old Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport was one of the most exciting and challenging ones I have come across. Coming in at second spot is Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal and third is Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet.

Perhaps there are other more exciting airports that I am not familiar with.

THE KAI TAK CHALLENGE The Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport was quite a challenge to negotiate, to say the least. Firstly, the approach to land on Runway 13 at the airport was very demanding for any pilot in adverse weather conditions. Passengers bound for this airport were treated to an exciting approach during the landing as they were presented with alarmingly close views of nearby skyscrapers and residential apartments, as the plane banked over to make the final landing.

IMAGE: INMAGINE

THE RUNWAY OF CHOICE

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As a general rule, pilots have the choice of landing from two directions on any single runway, depending on the wind existing at the time of arrival of the plane.

Ideally, a plane should always land in the direction of the wind.

If the wind was blowing from a north-westerly direction, then Runway 31 (so named because the landing direction is around 310 degrees on the compass) in Kai Tak would be used. The

runway for the opposite approach is known as Runway 13.

Due to the high ground on its approach, Runway 13 is far more challenging than Runway 31. Pilots have no alternative but to use this runway if the wind is strong and blowing from a southeasterly direction (around 130 degrees on the compass).

Landing directly in the wind direction is the easy part.

However, it’s very tricky for the pilot who is attempting to manoeuvre and turn the plane to line up with the runway on a strong crosswind. Most pilots found landing on Runway 13 a stressful experience, as an autolanding in foggy weather was not

possible due to the unusual turn prior to lining up.

As such, pilots must ‘hand fly’ the plane at the last minute with the guidance of a ‘checker board’ located on one of the smaller hills – a visual marking to confirm the approach to Runway 13 is on the right.

In 1998, a new airport was built, thus ending the exciting views of the interior of offices and apartments on the landing approach.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS Unfortunately in 1993, before the new airport came into existence,

an Air China Boeing 747 was involved in a mishap. The aircraft was attempting to make a landing in a gusty and strong crosswind.

Because of this, the captain made a judgement error and actually touched down past the two-third length of the runway.

The runway surface was wet from rain and that aggravated the braking efficiency on the remaining one-third portion of the landing distance. This caused the aircraft to over-run the runway, speed headlong onto a collision course with a small building that housed the Approach and Landing System for the opposite runway.

The captain avoided the impending impact by ground The runway of the old Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong on a spit of land extending into the sea.

looping (turning around) the plane. Unfortunately, it then headed towards the sea and landed in the water. Even though it was only partially submerged, it was written off as a total hull loss.

Luckily the accident only resulted in minor injuries to 22 of the passengers on board the plane.

BETTER LATE THAN DEAD Sometimes, pilots are reluctant to abort the landing for fear of being chastised by the management (unlikely today) or, inconveniencing the passengers. This decision is somehow flawed as it can lead to quite serious consequences.

I remember some years back, I aborted a landing on a Boeing 777 due to bad weather on the approach to the Perth International Airport in Australia and, diverted instead to Adelaide, about two hours flight time away.

It was costly to the company and it definitely inconvenienced the passengers but an honest feedback from a particular traveller on that flight was: “It was better to be late than to be ‘DEAD’ on time!”

IMAGE: CORBIS

TRIBHUVAN AIRPORT, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

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Getting to Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu is like trying to land inside a large bowl. This airport sits in the middle of a valley with mountainous terrain all around.

Two airlines, one from Thailand and another from Pakistan have lost a plane each when they hit the surrounding mountains. On July 31, 1992, an Airbus A310 from Bangkok crashed on a steep rock face in a remote mountainous area at an altitude of 11,500 feet caused by the confusion in trying to make an approach to land at the airport.

The authorities found that the probable causes of the accident were the captain’s and controller’s bewilderment over language and technical problems. It was further aggravated by the airline’s failure

The Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet has the longest commercial runway in the world at 5,500 metres in length.

lift off and a longer runway must be constructed in order for the plane to get airborne. It is for this reason why the authorities built the longest commercial runway in the world at 5,500 meters (18,045 feet). Currently, only Air China and China Southern Airlines fly to this destination.

IMAGE: CORBIS

CONCLUSION

to provide simulator training to its pilots for the complex Kathmandu approach.

On September 28, 1992, a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 from Karachi also crashed on an approach to Kathmandu airport. Investigators found that the pilot descended prematurely (‘one step to early’ according to the Safety Board reports) at 1,000 feet below the correct flight path. It failed to clear the ‘tip of the bowl’ and crashed onto the southern slope.

Since then, all pilots who operate into this destination are thoroughly trained in the simulator to ensure that they are very familiar with the surrounding high grounds before they are allowed to fly into Kathmandu airport.

Amongst the difficulties at this airport, for instance, an engine failure during take-off would require both pilots to work very closely. Turns are restricted to within four miles; the speed is to be at its optimum climbing rate and the pilot would then spiral the plane to the top of the ‘bowl’ until a safe height is reached before setting course for home.

For landing, pilots have to ‘skip’ over the edge of the ‘bowl’, then carry out a steep descent 116

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before easing off the dive in order to land the plane safely. An instrument landing system could not be properly installed on this airport due to the nature of the terrain.

As such, landing at this airport requires skilful manoeuvring and very thorough briefings.

DIZZY AT QAMDO BAMDA AIRPORT The Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet with an elevation of 14,219 feet comes with its own unique challenges. It is the highest airport with the longest runway in the world. What is so amazing about this airport is that the elevation is well above the safety level for a plane to descend in the event of loss of pressurisation.

One of the regulatory requirements for manufacturers of planes is that the cabin must be pressurised if a plane is flown above 10,000 feet above sea level in order to protect the crew and passengers from the risk of lack of oxygen. Even at the low altitude of 10,000 feet, prolonged exposure at this height without oxygen can cause sluggish thinking and dimmed vision.

Generally, most passengers can tolerate this altitude, as there is about 25% less oxygen than there is at sea level. So, you can

imagine how some would feel on arrival at the terminal at 14,219 feet where the air is quite thin.

Some can expect dizziness and experience breathing difficulties.

Inbound passengers have been warned to move slowly whilst disembarking from the plane!

Additionally, the thin air also affects the performance of the plane. It requires more power to

The old Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong is but history.

It has been replaced by the shiny new modern Chek Lap Kok Airport, which has been ranked as among the best in the world. Getting into Hong Kong is a breeze for pilots after 1998, although it may be a bit ‘boring’ now.

However, when things are safe, they are rarely exciting. And when you are flying towards a difficult landing strip, the last thing you want is an ‘exciting’ experience!

Safety is absolutely paramount and pilots strive for this at all times and at any conditions. I hope most of your flights are not boring, but rest assured that your pilots are always doing their utmost to make flying as safe as they possibly can.

Captain Lim Khoy Hing is a former AirAsia Airbus A320 and AirAsia X A330/A340 pilot who also used to fly the Boeing 777. He has logged a total of more than 25,500 flying hours and is now a Simulator Flight Instructor with Air Asia X. In his spare time, he shares his opinion on aviation issues with others. For more air travel and aviation stories, check out his website, ‘Just About Flying’ at www.askcaptainlim.com.

10 TRAVEL LOG

2012

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A PRECIOUS GIFT

Hazlina Hassan get’s a lovely birthday gift in the form of a holiday to Sri Lanka onboard AirAsia with her dear friends.

LEFT: The travellers at The Jami Ul Alfar Mosque Colombo, along Second Cross Street, Pettah.

BELOW: Hazlina checking the railway schedule and destination at Mount Lavinia Station.

My two friends surprised me with a flight ticket to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for my birthday this year. They decided on Sri Lanka because they wanted to go somewhere new and this country was the perfect choice as it promised a wonderful trip filled new experiences.

As our AirAsia flight to Colombo was at 6.15am, we decided to stay overnight at Tune Hotel that’s located mere minutes from LCC Terminal. The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo took us about four hours. We touched down at Bandaranayake International Airport in Colombo at 7.15am local time. After clearing Immigration and collecting our bags, we took a taxi from the airport to the hotel, which cost us about LKR4,500 per taxi. Our hotel was simply perfect as it had the blue ocean on one side and lush greenery on the other, located just 10kms south of Colombo, in the area called Mount Lavinia. The hotel was located next to a railway station, which made travelling to the city and other areas real easy for us.

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Having arrived in the morning, we had lots of time on the first day to tour Colombo.

We simply couldn’t wait to visit the city, immediately setting forth to explore it right after checking into our hotel. The train service here links Colombo to most of the major centres of the country via nine rail lines. We quickly hopped onto a train bound for the city centre, in order to avoid the heavy traffic build up on the roads. The city is a blend of the old and the new, Eastern and Western buildings and attractions such as shopping malls, bazaars and interesting tourist attractions such as the National Museum, Galle Face Green, Beira Lake, Cargills & Millers building, Independence Square, Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo Fort, Pettah Bazaar, Beach Waadiya, churches, mosques and temples.

We decided to explore Colombo on foot, first checking out the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque. One

of the most striking buildings in Colombo, the mosque is striped red and white, which makes it look like a layer cake. We were lucky to be allowed into the mosque to admire and snap photographs of this very interesting building.

On the second day, we ventured out to visit Sigiriya where the spectacular Lion Rock fortress is located. We took a taxi to get there and along the way, stopped to buy fresh coconut juice along the road side. I also bought some chillies for my mother, which were indeed cheap. After napping in the car on some parts of the journey, we finally arrived

LEFT: Hazlina’s and friends in Kandy City, Sri Lanka LEFT, BELOW: Hazlina at The Lion Rock platform in Sigiriya.

itself is a pleasant and neatly laid out town made up of colonial buildings, shops and restaurants. There, we visited one of Kandy’s biggest attractions: the Temple of the Tooth.

We also did some shopping in Kandy, where we purchased a few bags of spices and a bunch of tasty wood apples. In the afternoon, we visited the Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha statue that’s situated on top of the hill. The scenery from this vantage point is simply breathtaking and offers panoramic views of Kandy. One of the coolest things about the statue is that you can actually climb a staircase that goes up the Buddha’s back for an even better view of the city!

We finally geared up to leave Sri Lanka on the fourth day. We left the hotel real early in the morning as our flight to Kuala Lumpur was quite early too. In the plane, we couldn’t stop talking about our trip. Travelling to Sri Lanka was an incredible experience. I consider this as a very precious birthday gift from my dear friends. I will never forget our time together in Sri Lanka enjoying the beauty of such a magnificent country, made even more special by our memorable experience onboard AirAsia. Everything was simple awesome! mid noon at the rock fortress. Without wasting too much time, we proceeded to the ticket counter and paid to LKR 5,750 per person to enter the structure.

Sigiriya is a unique city, built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa, atop a 200 metre rocky outcrop. Its surrounding areas are composed of building, pathways, terraces, ponds, fountains. On some areas, beautiful paintings and sculptures could be seen.

We learnt that there are more than 1,000 handwritten poems on the walls there written by visitors to Sigiriya from the 7th to 14th century. I particularly enjoyed the Water Gardens, the Sigiriya Damsels fresco, the Mirror Wall, the Lion Platform and the Summit.

One, the third day, we visited Kandy and stayed there for one night. Kandy used to be the ancient royal capital of Sri Lanka that was renowned for its arts, crafts, music and dance. I loved the cool weather in Kandy, generally less that 21 degrees Celsius, which was way cooler than Colombo. The place 120

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Got an interesting tale to share from your travels with AirAsia? Email it to us at travel3sixty@airasia.com along with your story (around 800 words) and images (high res minimum1MB in size and fully captioned).

Published submissions will receive a RM250 voucher courtesy of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel. Travel 3Sixty˚ reserves the right to edit the article for clarity and length or change the value of the prize to another gift of similar value. Prize voucher cannot be exchanged for cash and the Editorial’s decision is final. Entries must include name, address, e-mail address and telephone number.

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel proudly unveils its latest facility in meeting spaces – the R-Studios, a new LifeStyle venue in the heart of the city. Located on Level 2 @West Wing of the hotel, the R-Studios provide a new way to connect, making it ideal for inspirational business meetings or grand social get-togethers. The facility comprises R-Studio 1 and R-Studio 2, and boasts an Open-Air Terrace.

R-Studio 1 can accommodate 250 persons in a theatre-style seating or 150 persons for a banquet or reception. It can also be set for classroom, U-shape or boardroom style seating. When combined, the two facilities become a Grand Studio accommodating up to 300 persons for a cocktail reception or, 250 for a banquet. The Open-Air Terrace provides a relaxed ambience where guests can chat over cigars while enjoying the evening cityscape. In addition to the R-Studios, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel also features more than 32,000 square feet of total event and exhibition space comprising an extravagant pillar-less Grand Ballroom and more than 20 other additional meeting rooms. http://renaissance-hotels.com

10 OFF THE RACK

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

FALLEN FLAVOURS Deeper colour tones and luxurious fabrics brics mark fashion’s changing seasons. Warm up with these e trendy picks for the coming months and check out our selections for the coolest footwear, luggage and accessories. ories.

Mosquera

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL From the first store in Montreal, Canada in 1978, Aldo now has over 1,500 stores in 65 countries worldwide.

Renowned for its high-quality footwear and leather goods, the brand also stocks a range of eye-catching and fashion forward accessories. Fall highlights for accessories include Aldo’s Mosquera necklace in eye-popping yellow or orange and, Pekara and Nivison bracelets. www.aldoshoes.com

Pekara

WORDS: CHITRA S

SHOE FETISH

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Sexy heels with slinky straps and peek-a-boo details, cheeky two-tone peep toes and cute little ankle boots take centre stage this season at Charles and Keith. The Autumn/ Winter collection of its Signature Label showcases footwear that is elegant but with just the right touch of risqué and detailing that will please shoe-lovers. www.charleskeith.com

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Nivison

STYLE FOR MEN The Fall/Winter men’s collection from Valentino is a tribute to classic styles and sophisticated looks accented with modern nuances. The line features slim fit, anklelength trousers, sweaters, jackets, fitted coats and old-school tuxedos in a colour palette that includes shades of blue, forest green and beige. Valentino Men also carries accessories like leather clutches, totes and footwear. www.valentino.com

NING’S FLING EXCLUSIVE GRAFFITI

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH The Hong Kong flagship store of iconic American apparel brand Abercrombie & Fitch recently opened its doors in the historic Pedder Building. To celebrate the launch and keeping with the brand’s tradition, Hot Guys from Abercrombie & Fitch stores around the world were flown in for the opening. www.abercrombie.com 124

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Pedro Graffiti Exclusive footwear inspired by edgy street art finally makes its way into stores at the end of this month. These are not run-ofthe-mill shoes; a competition was held to pick the graffiti designs that now decorate the shoes. The winning designs were selected by a panel of judges and voted on by Pedro’s Facebook fans. www.pedroshoes.com

Malaysia’s talented and award-winning songstress Ning Baizura teams up with Flow for a collection that features knee-length body hugging dresses designed to embrace a woman’s curves. Includes an eclectic mix of prints and garments embellished with sequins and studs for that added glamour.

Flow also has its own range of accessories to match your outfits. www.yougotcurves.com

JET SET PETS Your beloved pooch can travel in style with Tumi’s Pet Carrier. With top and side ventilated mesh closures, the carrier is cushioned inside with removable anti-bacterial quilted pads to keep your pets comfortable and clean. The carrier also has wide, front pockets to stash pet accessories and treats and comes with a removable leather leash and matching collar. www.tumi.com

10 VANITY FARE

2012

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AUTUMNAL TREATS

As the season mellows down and shades take on deeper, richer hues, looking good has never been simpler. Here are our picks in make-up and skincare.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Revlon’s ColorStay™ 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad makes it easy to experiment with different combinations of eye colour for the perfect shade for your peepers. Each palette comes with four blendable shades for day or night wear that will not crease, fade or smudge.

Available in Goddess, Brazen, Inspired and Serene combos. www.revlon.com

DARK SPOTS BEGONE

ROSE, ROSE I LOVE YOU

WORDS: CHITRA S

The Rose Hair & Scalp Moisturising Masque by Aesop is the perfect antidote for tresses in need of a little TLC. With rose petal, beta-carotene and lavender stem, this deep conditioning masque is ideal for dry, brittle or coloured hair. Apply on hair and scalp once a week for lustrous locks that are soft to the touch. www.aesop.com

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Clinique’s Skin Supplies For Men Dark Spot Corrector contains hyaluronic acid, barley, wheatgerm and cucumber extracts that strengthen skin’s moisture barrier, a cocktail of anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe skin and, salicylic acid to exfoliate skin surface and encourage cell renewal. Specially formulated to erase dark spots and brighten men’s skin, this formula is suitable for all skin types. www.clinique.com

TEEN SKINCARE A range of botanical skincare products for teens and young adults, Yadah is formulated with natural plant extracts and is free from artificial colouring, preservatives, mineral oils and sulphate. All Yadah products contain its star ingredient, Opuntia Ficus extract that’s derived from a cactus grown in Korea known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. www.yadahskincare.com

HOT AND NAUGHTY M.A.C Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash contains an intense new pigment that delivers rich black colour for dramatic eyelashes. The velvety formula coats lashes, keeping it silky soft with conditioning ingredients that prevent dryness and hardening. www.maccosmetics.com

PARISIENNE CHIC Inspired by Paris at night, Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Beyond Black and Metal Mania collections evoke the seduction, beauty and fantasy of the City of Lights by night. Sexy shades of mauve to blue and gold to green capture the raw energy of the city. Colours include Blue Blood, Black Plum, Nouveau Riche and Smashed. www.esteelauder.com

SMOOTH OPERATOR One swipe is all it takes for gorgeous kissable lips with Laura Mercier’s new Crème Smooth Lip Colour.

The creamy yet lightweight texture lipstick provides coverage for up to eight hours. This fragrance-free formula contains jojoba wax, pure olive oil, vitamin E, rose seed extract and hyaluronic filling spheres that plump up your puckers. www.lauramercier.com 128

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DARK & HANDSOME Garnier Men’s TurboLight Oil Control Charcoal Black Foam removes impurities and excess oil leaving skin visibly brighter with every wash. A gentle enough formula for everyday use, this unique product contains natural charcoal that helps clean and purify skin and eliminate dullness. www.garnier.com

10 JETSETTER

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

NADYA HUTAGALUNG

Blessed with cover girl good looks, Asia’s Next Top Model host Nadya Hutagalung has spent more than half her life in front of the camera.

Born in Sydney to an Australian mother and Indonesian father, Nadya left home at the tender age of 12 to pursue a career in modelling. A household name in Singapore, which she now calls home, her many accomplishments include being voted one of Singapore’s Top 20 Most Influential People by CNN (2009), best TV host by ELLE Magazine Singapore (2009) and a nominee for the 2012 International Green Awards. The mother of three, entertainer, model, entrepreneur and eco-activist speaks to us about her career, passion and latest project – as host and one of the judges on Asia’s Next Top Model.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELLING? A close friend of my father’s was one of Australia’s top photographers and his wife was the editor of ELLE Magazine. They used to say that I’d be a model when I grew up. Finally, during one school holiday, I decided to take their advice and gave it a shot, hoping to make some extra pocket money. Within two weeks, I was contracted to a modelling agency in Japan and began my career as a model.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED?

COMPILED BY: CHITRA S IMAGES: ICE-TV GROUP

At the start of my career, I left home and was based in Tokyo at the age of 12. It was a sharp learning curve and I had to quickly figure out how to look after myself, cook, clean and be disciplined, which was undeniably difficult.

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WHAT WAS THE MOST DEFINITIVE POINT OF YOUR CAREER? I’d have to say my recent nomination for the International Green Awards is one of the highest points in my career. Although the ‘green’ work that I do is hardly a career, it gives me the greatest satisfaction.

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ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL AIRS ON NOVEMBER 4, 2012 ON STAR WORLD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO asiasnexttopmodel.tv DO YOU STAY GROUNDED WITH THESE ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION? It comes from being diligent about keeping a good work-life balance and being able to identify my priorities. I am also not so attached to ‘attainments’ and I’d rather focus on the motivation for the things that I do. If I can make a positive impact, no matter how small, that means more to me than any accolade.

WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL? I am looking for a well-rounded girl with a great personality who is not afraid to push her boundaries and work hard. It’s also incredibly important that she is professional.

WHY SHOULD VIEWERS TUNE IN TO ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL WHEN IT AIRS? There will be a good mix of heart-warming moments, as some of the girls forge friendships, and shed tears as hopes are dashed. There’s also a decent amount of tension between certain contestants and loads of surprises!

SKINNY SEEMS TO BE THE ACCEPTABLE IMAGE OF WOMEN IN POPULAR MEDIA. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE BODY IMAGE ISSUES? The most important thing is that girls are healthy, live a well-balanced lifestyle and learn to love the skin they are in.

WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY? DO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE HAVE IT EASY IN LIFE?

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?

I don’t disagree that sometimes having good looks opens more doors but what creates longevity in any career is a professional attitude and good work ethics.

A PERFECT SUNDAY TO YOU WOULD MEAN…

HOW DO YOU JUGGLE YOUR ROLES AND BALANCE WORK WITH FAMILY AND PLAY? I have set up a home office so that I can be as close to my kids as possible. When I am not filming, a great majority of my time is spent at home. I have reached a stage in my life where I can easily and gratefully choose how much time I spend away from my family.

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Family, food and laughter.

Cooking Sunday brunch for extended family and close friends, the kids splashing in the pool and great conversation.

YOU’VE BEEN NAMED SINGAPORE’S MOST GORGEOUS WOMAN (IN A FEMALE MAGAZINE SINGAPORE POLL), VOTED AS ONE OF SINGAPORE’S TOP 20 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (IN A 2009 CNN POLL) AND NOMINATED FOR THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS. HOW

I focus on nutrition both for myself and my family; we are mostly vegetarian at home and I drink veggie juices daily. My husband and I love to go for walks at night once the kids are tucked in bed, usually about 2 to 3kms. In addition to that, I do pilates 1 to 2 times a week.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ASPIRING MODELS? Work hard, eat well and don’t let it get to your head. It’s just a job.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE? Keep track of your motivations for doing the things you do and, be kind and ethical at every juncture.

10 KIDS SPACE

2012

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TRICK OR TREAT

IMAGE: ADAM LEE

Halloween’s here and it’s time to go trick-or-treating! Read on and find out what Halloween is all about and, why kids in the United States and other countries dress up in costumes and go around asking their neighbours for chocolates and sweets.

OCEAN FUN

IMAGE: INMAGINE

Did you know dolphins communicate through sounds and whistles? Learn about these loveable marine mammals at Ocean Adventure in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Combining entertainment with education, attractions at the marine theme park include Walk on the Wild Side – a showand-tell session on wildlife – the Dolphin Friends Show and, the Sea Lion Marine Patrol. www.oceanadventure.com.ph

HALLOWEEN ORIGINS

TRICK-OR-TREATING

Halloween has its roots in a Celtic festival called Samhain that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the new year, which fell on the first day of November.

Believing that ghosts and spirits roamed the earth during this time, the Celts lit bonfires for protection. When the Romans conquered Celtic territories, they chose the same day to honour their deities. Eventually, the Roman Catholic Church adapted the day as All Saints’ or All Hallows’ Day to honour saints who did not have their own feast days. The eve of All Hallows’ Day, All Hallows’ Eve is celebrated today as Halloween every October 31.

This tradition dates back to All Souls’ Day parades in England where villagers would present ‘soul cakes’ in return for prayers for their dearly departed. The cakes were given out to soulers – children and the poor – who went from door to door singing and saying prayers for the dead. All Souls’ Day is observed on November 2 in honour of the dead. Over time, the eve of All Saints’ or All Hallows’ Day (Halloween) has become more of a fun holiday especially in the US where children dress in colourful costumes and go door to door for sweet treats.

LAUGH OUT LOUD Q: What do witches use to style their hair?

WORDS: CHITRA S

A: SCARE spray!

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Q: Where do baby ghosts go during the day?

A: DaySCARE centre!

Q: Why didn’t the skeleton go to the party?

A: Because he had no BODY to go with!

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ACE IN SINGAPORE! Lucky school children in Singapore got the opportunity to participate in fun games and activities with Ace the SkyRider and characters from Nickelodeon during the Nick Takes Over Your School programme recently. In the AirAsia-Passport to Asia game, the children had to repeat flight safety instructions demonstrated by specially flown in flight attendants and, complete a jigsaw puzzle to win. Snippets from the event will air on Nickelodeon (Asia) until October 7.

Be a SkyRider now! More info on signups and perks: https://skyrider.airasia.com/default.aspx

WIN TICKETS TO FRIGHTFEST! Here’s your chance to get tickets to a Halloween party that will scare your socks off! Log on to nick-asia.com/ frightfest and answer this question: What frightens you the most and why? The top 50 answers will receive 4 tickets each to the event organised by y Nickelodeon Asia at the SMX Convention Center, Philippines. The contest is on until October 21, 2012 and open to kids aged between seven and 14.

10 PLANE FUN

2012

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RIDDLES 1. Three for a woman, two for a man, four for a child – can you guess what I am?

2. What am I? I have company, am the colour of grass, snug in a shell until it is split or snapped.

3. Can you work out this saying?

Deliver a blow during the time that the steam press remains searing.

QUICK QUIZ 1

The ingredients vodka, tomato juice and Tabasco sauce are commonly used to make which cocktail?

2

Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin are famous for what fashion items?

3

Which country uses the tourism slogan ‘100% Pure’?

4

What is the carved pumpkin associated with Halloween called?

5

How many books are there in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series?

6

What colour would you get if you mixed Elvis’ suede shoes and The Beatles’ submarine?

7

In Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet, which young lover died first?

8

What is the traditional occupation of a leprechaun?

9

Which Olympic sport features the use of a velodrome?

10 What is the largest living species of fish?

PLAY ON WORDS 2

3

4

4 6 5 3 7 9 8 2 1

8 7 2 4 6 1 5 9 3

1 9 3 2 8 5 7 6 4

5 3 9 6 1 8 4 7 2

7 2 8 5 4 3 6 1 9

6 1 4 7 9 2 3 8 5

3 4 7 9 2 6 1 5 8

9 5 1 8 3 7 2 4 6

2 8 6 1 5 4 9 3 7

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5. Your mother’s brother’s only brother-in-law is knocking at the door? Who are you going to let in?

SUDOKU To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: • Each of the nine vertical columns • Each of the nine horizontal rows • Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

8 9 1 3 9 3 6 7 6 8 4 9 5 8 2 8 5 3 2 7 1

• QUICK QUIZ 1 Bloody Mary 2 Shoes 3 New Zealand 4 Jack-o’-lantern 5 Seven 6 Green 7 Romeo 8 Shoemaker 9 Cycling 10 Whale shark • RIDDLES 1 A consonant 2 A pea in a pod 3 Strike while the iron is hot 4 i.Four legs on a dog (or donkey) ii.Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs iii.Sixty seconds in a minute. 5 Your father • PLAY ON WORDS 1 Follow in someone’s footsteps 2 Burn one’s bridges 3 Have a finger in the pie 4 Birds and the bees

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1

4. If 5 F on your H equals Five fingers on your hand what are these? i. 4 L on a D ii. SW and the 7 D ii. 60 S in a M

2 8 1 6 9 1 2 3 4 1 5 6

PUZZLES ARE COURTESY OF LOVATTS CROSSWORDS & PUZZLES

10 PICTURE PERFECT

2012

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PIX OF THE MONTH

Just snapped a cool picture?

Send it to travel3sixty@ airasia.com with Snapshot in the subject line.

SECOND PRIZE WINS A 3D/2N stay in a two-bedroom suite at One-Stop Serviced Residence & Office, Kuala Lumpur worth RM900 nett (room only)!

WINNER

Mount Rinjani and the view on the lake and volcano.

Aleksander Ciszek

BEST PICTURE WINS A 3D/2N stay for two in a Deluxe Studio Room at Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur inclusive of breakfast worth RM2,576 nett!

Situated in Fraser Business Park, OneStop Serviced Residence & Office offers guests a choice of 175 apartment units that include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, office and kitchen space in each unit. In addition to these apartment units, the property also has 14 one-bedroom SOHO units that are fully furnished with modern amenities.

Catering for working professionals, expatriates and families on holiday, the property is within easy reach of the city centre with daily shuttle services to Bukit Bintang shopping area, Pavilion and KLCC.

Located in the heart of Bukit Bintang, The Federal Kuala Lumpur Hotel is an ideal lodging option for travellers on business or leisure stays. The hotel is a mere 2-minute walk to major shopping malls, entertainment and, food and beverage outlets. The rooms and suites here are thoughtfully furnished and units come complete with in-room safe, tea/coffee making facilities, satellite TV channels, WIFI access, hair dryer and iron.

RUNNER-UP

Fruit Market, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Azna Fadzil, Selangor, Malaysia

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Readers may submit images that are 300dpi and 1MB in size (minimum half A4 paper size) • Each entry must include name, address, phone number and caption • Readers must own the rights to the picture submitted • Judges’ decision is final • Entries are automatically disqualified if they do not meet our criteria. • Winner will be notified via e-mail when the prize is ready to be sent out. • Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.

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10 GET COMFY

2012

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Joy of flying

Whether on a short or long-haul journey, flying can be a pleasant experience if you are well-prepared. Here are some steps to ensure you have a safe, smooth and comfortable flight.

h2o To The rescue

shoulDer lifTs

Knee lifTs

fooT pumps

Gently lift your right shoulder and lower the left one simultaneously. Repeat the movement five times by alternating both shoulders.

Lift knee up toward your chest and hold the position for 10 seconds. Gently lower knee and repeat with the other leg. Repeat the exercise as desired.

Keeping both heels on the floor, point feet upwards as high as you can. Return feet to earlier position.

Then, lift heels while keeping the balls of your feet on the floor.

Repeat the exercise as desired.

Keep yourself hydrated during your flight. Airplane cabins are extremely dry and dehydration can occur easily. Drink lots of water and continue drinking water once you reach your destination. Try to minimise consumption of alcohol or caffeine onboard; both are diuretics, which can further dehydrate.

beaT The lag

compiled by: chiTra s illustrations: Tim lai

To counter the effects of jetlag, get as much sleep as possible when flying west to east. When flying in the reverse direction, try and stay awake as much as you can.

The AirAsia Comfort Kit comes complete with eye shade, neck pillow and blanket to help you sleep. If you need to stay awake, the neck pillow allows you to get comfy while reading a book or listening to music.

140

Deep Vein Thrombosis

To preVenT DVT

DVT can occur when a blood clot forms in the large veins of the legs or arms, partially or completely blocking blood circulation. Sitting still and moving very little during long flights may lead to the occurrence of DVT. If you are flying long-distance, ensure you perform in-flight exercises such as those listed here as a precaution against developing DVT. When possible and permissible, stretch your legs and walk along the aisle. Be aware of early symptoms such as pain or swelling in the legs, which can happen even after you disembark. Seek medical treatment immediately if this occurs.

Anti-DVT socks are on sale on board all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights. Also called compression socks, they help blood circulation. The socks come in Small (USA 3-6/Europe 35-39), Medium (USA 6-9/Europe 39-43) and Large (USA 9-12/Europe 43-47).

travel 3sixty˚

popping ears Changes in air pressure or altitude cause our ears to ‘pop’ and sometimes ache during take-offs and landings.

For a comfortable flying experience, suck on sweets or mimic the act of chewing and swallowing if you do not have any with you. This will relieve the discomfort and help stabilise the pressure in the ear canals. Pacifiers will work just as well for toddlers and, if you have a cold, use a nasal decongestant to clear your nasal passage and alleviate the ache.

10 Route Map • AirAsia Malaysia

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

Tehran Tehran

IRAN IRAN

INDIAINDIA

ChennaiChennai Bangalore Bangalore Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli Kochi Kochi

SRI LANKA SRI LANKA ColomboColombo

airasia malaysia DomesTic rouTes Langkawi

Alor Setar

Penang

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Bharu Kuala Terengganu

Labuan

MALAYSIA

Miri

Kuala Lumpur

Bintulu Sibu Johor Bahru

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Sandakan

Kuching

Tawau

Beijing Beijing Seoul Seoul

SOUTH SOUTH KOREA KOREA JAPAN JAPAN

Tokyo Tokyo Osaka Osaka

Shanghai Shanghai Hangzhou Hangzhou

Chengdu Chengdu

NEPALNEPAL

CHINACHINA

Kathmandu Kathmandu

Guilin Guilin Taipei Taipei Guangzhou Guangzhou TAIWAN TAIWAN Shenzhen Shenzhen KolkataKolkata Macau Macau Hong Kong Hong Kong Hanoi Hanoi MYANMAR MYANMAR Haikou Haikou LAOSLAOS Chiang Chiang Mai Mai Vientiane Vientiane Yangon Yangon THAILAND THAILAND Da NangDa Nang Clark Clark Siem Reap BangkokBangkok Siem Reap

CAMBODIA CAMBODIA VIETNAM VIETNAM

Phnom Phnom Penh Penh Ho Chi Minh Ho ChiCity Minh City

SKYTRAX WORLD’S BEST LOW-COST AIRLINE 2009, 2010, 2011& 2012

PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES

Krabi Krabi Phuket Phuket Hat Yai Hat Yai Langkawi Langkawi Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu Banda Banda PenangPenang Aceh Aceh BRUNEI BRUNEI MALAYSIA MALAYSIA Kuala Kuala Medan Medan Miri Miri LumpurLumpur Johor Bharu Johor Bharu Kuching Kuching Pekanbaru Pekanbaru SINGAPORE SINGAPORE PadangPadang Balikpapan Balikpapan

PACIFIC PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN

Palembang Palembang

INDONESIA INDONESIA Makassar Makassar JakartaJakarta Semarang Semarang Bandung Bandung Surabaya Surabaya Solo Solo Yogyakarta Yogyakarta LombokLombok Bali Bali

INDIAN INDIAN OCEAN OCEAN

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA

AIRASIA HUBS IN MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kota Kinabalu International Airport Penang International Airport Johor Bharu International Airport Kuching International Airport

Gold Coast Gold Coast Perth Perth Sydney Sydney

SOUTHERN SOUTHERN OCEAN OCEAN

Melbourne Melbourne

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

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10 ROUTE MAP • AirAsia Thailand

2012

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CHINA Chongqing

INDIA

Kolkata

MYANMAR

Guangzhou Macau

Mandalay

Shenzhen Hong Kong

Hanoi Chiang Rai Chiang Mai Yangon

Udon Thani Nakhon Phanom

THAILAND Bangkok

Chennai

Ubon Ratchathani

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh City Surat Thani Nakhon Si Thammarat Krabi Phuket Trang Hat Yai Narathiwat Penang

Colombo

Medan

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

INDIAN OCEAN

INDONESIA Jakarta

Surabaya Bali

AIRASIA HUBS IN THAILAND

144

Don Mueang Int. Airport, Bangkok Phuket Int. Airport Chiang Mai Int. Airport International Route Domestic Route

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

10 Route Map • AirAsia Indonesia

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

PACIFIC OCEAN

THAILAND Bangkok

VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh City Phuket Banda Aceh Medan

Kota Kinabalu

Penang Kuala Lumpur

Johor Bharu Pekanbaru

MALAYSIA SINGAPORE

Padang

Balikpapan

Palembang

INDONESIA

Makassar

Jakarta Semarang Bandung Surabaya Solo Yogyakarta Bali

INDIAN OCEAN

AUSTRALIA

airasia hubs in inDonesia Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport, Jakarta Ngurah Rai Int. Airport, Bali Husein Sastranegara Int. Airport, Bandung Juanda Int. Airport, Surabaya Polonia Int. Airport, Medan International Route Domestic Route

146

travel 3sixty˚

Perth

10 ROuTE Map

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

Sapporo

JAPAN Osaka

Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo

Fukuoka

Okinawa

ROuTE Map AirAsia Japan International Route Domestic Route

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA

ROuTE Map AirAsia Philippines Clark International Airport International Route Domestic Route

Clark

Kalibo Puerto Princesa

PHILIPPINES

Kota Kinabalu Kuala Lumpur

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MALAYSIA

Davao

10 DESTINATIONS

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

LCCT, KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur skyline

Malaysia

KUCHING, SARAWAK Indigenous woman

QUICK FACTS

• Capital city of Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia • Kuching means ‘cat’ in the local language • Around 980 kms from Kuala Lumpur by air • Home to the longest river in Malaysia – the Rajang River (563 kms) that originates from the interiors of Borneo • The local ethnic groups are made up of Dayak and many other smaller tribes • Kuching has fantastic museums that showcase its historical and tribal past along the Waterfront area.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

AirAsia flies to various from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Johor Bahru, Penang and Singapore.

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH

Malaysia

Mt. Kinabalu

QUICK FACTS • Capital of Malaysia • Popularly known as KL • Home to the Petronas Twin Towers • Local currency is Ringgit (MYR) • English is widely spoken with Bahasa Malaysia being the official language • Mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese ethnic groups • Food paradise for cheap and delicious meals especially hawker fare • Climate is hot and humid with temperatures around 32° Celcius on average.

AirAsia flies to various destinations from Kuala Lumpur. Refer to route map on page 142 for more info.

PENANG

Malaysia

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang

QUICK FACTS • Capital city of Sabah in East Malaysia on Borneo island • Popularly known as KK • Around 1623 kms from Kuala Lumpur by air • Local indigenous people include the Kadazandusun people apart from local Malay, Chinese and other ethnic groups • Jumping off point to many of Sabah’s attractions such as Mount Kinabalu, Sipadan Island and Danum Valley • Tuanku Abdul Rahman marine park is located just opposite the city in the South China Sea. AirAsia flies from KK to from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Miri, Tawau, Sandakan, Johor Bahru, Penang, Singapore, Jakarta, Clark (Manila), Taipei, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

JOHOR BHARU, JOHOR Legoland in Johor Bahru.

150

Malaysia

QUICK FACTS

QUICK FACTS • Penang island is located up north on the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia • Around 369 kms from KL • Popularly known as ‘Pearl of the Orient’ • Its capital, George Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage City • Great beaches along Feringgi and Tanjung Bungah • Also known as the food paradise of Malaysia for cheap and delicious eats.

• Gateway to the south part of Peninsula Malaysia with easy access to Singapore via the Causeway • around 368 kms from KL • Lots of city shopping with Legoland slated to open in late 2012 • Danga Bay in the city area is filled with lifestyle and leisure attractions • Nearby beaches on the east coast such as Desaru are good for surfing and seaside activities.

AirAsia flies from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor Bahru, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Medan, Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya.

AirAsia flies from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Penang.

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

Thailand

BANGKOK

CLARK (MANILA)

Reclining Buddha statue in Bangkok.

QUICK FACTS • Capital city of Thailand • Locally know as ‘Krung Thep’ • Shopping paradise with hundreds of malls and streets markets • Local currency is baht (THB) • Great dining, clubbing and shopping options at Sukhumvit and Silom streets • Chatuchak Weekend market 18 kms outside the city is a must visit for a great shopping experience • Take a riverboat ride down the Chao Phraya River • Travel in the city is easy with the BTS and MRT • Thai food is cheap and delicious in Bangkok!

AirAsia flies to various destinations from Bangkok. Refer to route map on page 144 for more info.

Thailand

PHUKET Stunning islands in Phuket.

Phillipines

Manila Cathedral

QUICK FACTS • About the size of Singapore, Clark is located in the Philippines’ Luzon island • Clark is one of the fastest growing commercial centres in Philippines and is well connected by air and road to many parts of the country • AirAsia Philippines connects to Davao, Kalibo and Puerto Princesa from Clark’s Diosdado Macapagal International Airport • Visit The Salakot, a structure that resembles a farmer’s hat, symbolising Philippine sovereignty • Go for horse rides at El Kabayo Riding Stables • Nayong Pilipino is a theme park that showcases replicas of Ifugao and Muslim houses, Aeta village and other attractions • Puning Hot Springs has 13 hot springs for your swimming pleasure • There are many army base attractions as Clark used to be an American army air base.

AirAsia flies from Clark (Manila) to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

AirAsia Philippines flies to Kalibo, Davao and Puerto Princesa from Clark.

QUICK FACTS

• Island paradise on the south-western part of Thailand • Sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and sunny tropical climate makes the island the perfect beach destination • Many beaches on Phuket are literally deserted • Patong Beach is the most popular but Karon, Bang Tao, Kamala, Kata and Surin are good alternatives • The Andaman Sea off Phuket can be rough, so pay attention to warnings.

TOKYO

Japan

AirAsia flies from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Hong Kong, Bali and Jakarta.

Thailand

CHIANG MAI

152

QUICK FACTS

• The second largest city up north in Thailand • Popularly known as the ‘Rose of the North’ • Climate is cool and very pleasant • Local culture is called ‘Lanna’ and is unique to the northern region of Thailand • The ‘Walking Market’ on Sundays in the Walled City is a wonderful market to explore and buy local goods • ‘Khantoke’ meals are popular in this city • City is very popular for spas and wellness centres.

QUICK FACTS • Megalopolis of over 13mil people • Local currency is Yen ( ¥ ) • Home to the world’s largest fish market – Tsukiji Fish Market • Temperatures average 27.5° C in summer and 6° C in winter • Has the most extensive urban railway network in the world • Tokyo has around 88,000 restaurants and more Michelin stars than any other city in the world. • Vending machines all over the city offer everything from soups to umbrellas.• Check out the hip crowd at Harajuku’s Takeshita-Dori.

AirAsia flies from Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ubon Ratchathani, Phuket, Hat Yai and Macau.

AirAsia X flies from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia Japan flies to Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo from Tokyo.

Mulberry paper parasols

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

Mt. Fuji on Honshu Island.

Available

!

R E V T S E E B E H T T GE D

s coming in on ALL flight

apore

pt from Sing

to LCCT exce

I A P E R P MOBILE .

N W O T DEAL IN

Super IDD Rates:

Data:

5 sen/1MB

Australia RM0.16 China RM0.15 India RM0.14

Calls:

16 sen/min

SMS:

5 sen/sms Ask that nice looking flight attendant that you have been ‘admiring’ about our SIM cards. Definitely a valid reason (if you don’t already have one) to break the ice. Go ahead. Could be your lucky day. And if it is, you’d already have a mobile prepaid service you could use.

Cheap rates to make those calls too. Best deal? Definitely.

Also available at our kiosk at the International Arrival, LCCT.

/TuneTalk

@TuneTalk

www.tunetalk.com

JAKARTA

Indonesia

Jakarta skyline

MEDAN Traditional custom of Nias island.

Indonesia

QUICK FACTS

• The fourth largest city in Indonesia, Medan is located on the east coast of Sumatra Island • The city is a lively place and the jumping off point to Lake Toba and Bukit Tinggi – 2 of Sumatra’s natural attractions • Nias and Mentawai Islands are accessible from Medan and are great surfing spots • “kek lapis’ or layered cake is a very popular food item from Medan.

AirAsia flies from Medan to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Surabaya and Bandung.

QUICK FACTS • The capital city of Jakarta is a huge metropolis with a population of around 10 million people • Local currency is Ruppiah (IDR) • Stay in the city centre to avoid the notorious Jakarta traffic • Shopping and leisure activities abound at Kuningan and Kemang area • Great shopping is available at Plaza Senayan and Plaza Indonesia • Visit historical sites and museums at Kota Tua • Ancol is a water theme park north of the city • Pulau Seribu is another attraction with literally untouched islands just 45 kms away from Jakarta.

SURABAYA

Indonesia

Bullrace in Surabaya.

AirAsia flies to various destinations from Jakarta. Refer to route map on page 146 for more info.

BALI

Indonesia

Island of the Gods

QUICK FACTS • Dubbed the ‘City of Heroes’ for the role the people of Surabaya played in the struggle for independence • Surabaya means ‘shark and crocodile’, derived from a legend about a battle between a shark and crocodile • It is the second largest city in Indonesia • Mount Bromo is a stunning volcanic mountain and a place for many ritual practices AirAsia flies from Surabaya to Kuala Lumpur, Medan, Bandung and Bali.

BANDUNG numerous temples and shrines on the island • Bali is predominantly Hindu while the rest of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim • Bali is famous for its beautiful beaches and highland retreats • Kuta is famous for its beach culture • Seminyak and Legian are hip leisure activity enclaves with great dining, clubbing and hotel options • Go further inland to Ubud for cooler climate or to less visited areas like Padang Padang for great surfing opportunities • You may spot dolphins at Lovina • Make sure you visit Tanah Lot and Mount Besakih temples to experience the spiritual side of Bali.

QUICK FACTS • Located in West Java, Bandung is the third largest city in Indonesia and about 146 kms from Jakarta • Bandung is known as the Paris of Java • Bandung is famous for its shopping with numerous factory outlets all around the city • Enjoy the distinctively Dutch colonial architecture here • Visit the areas with volcanic activity such as the Tangkuban Perahu area • The mountainous landscape offers a cool and wet climate, enabling some of the best tea and coffee to be grown in Bandung.

AirAsia flies from Bali to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Phuket, Bangkok, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bandung and Perth.

AirAsia flies from Bandung to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Medan, Pekanbaru, Surabaya and Bali.

QUICK FACTS • Known as the ‘Island of Gods’ for the

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Indonesia

TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

Tangkuban Perahu crater

10 salEs OFFiCEs & sTaTiOns

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

camboDia PHNOM PENH Phnom Penh Airport Office, 17 Mezzanine Floor of Arrival Domestic Terminal, Phnom Penh Airport, Phnom Penh

Sarinah Plaza Jl. Mh Thamrin, No. 11 (LG level) Jakarta Pusat MAKASSAR Departure Terminal, Sultan Hasanuddin, International Airport, Makassar, South Sulawesi

179, Street Sisowath, Sangkat Phsar Kandal 1, Khan Daun Penh, 12204 Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.

Mall Panakukang, Carrefour Panakukang, 3rd Floor, Jl. Adyaksa Baru No.1, Makassar, South Sulawesi

china

MANADO

MACAU Office 20, Mezzanine Level Passenger Terminal, Macau International Airport Taipa, Macau GUANG DONG

Sam Ratulangi International Airport Jalan A.A. Maramis, Manado 95374 MEDAN Bandara PoloniaTerminal Keberangkatan Internasional, Medan 20157 Sumatra

Century Holiday International Travel Service (Shenzhen) Co.Ltd., XY-10 Junting Hotel, 3085 Eastern Road, Luo Hu, Shenzhen

Garuda Plaza Hotel, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, No.18 Medan-20213

Century Holiday International Travel Service (Guang Zhou) Co Ltd., First Floor, No 8 Zhong Shan 3 Road, Guang Zhou

Minangkabau International Airport, Padang, West Sumatra

Zhuhai Sun Star International Travel Agency Co Ltd., 1151, South of Yingbin Road, Zhuhai BEIJING Century Holiday International Travel Service (Beijing) Co Ltd.,No 163A Floor Of Yi No 6, Chaowai Street Of Chao Yang District Beijing China, 100022 Beijing CHENGDU Century Holiday International Travel (ChengDu) CO.LTD, No. 172 Binjang East Road, Jinjang District, Chengdu

inDonesia BANDA ACEH Bandara Sultan Iskandar Muda, Blang Bintang, Aceh DENPASAR, BALI Bandara I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Terminal Keberangkatan International Bali 80361 Jl. Legian Kaja no. 455 Kuta, Bali BANDUNG Ruangan Nombor 34 Bandara Husein Sastranegara Jalan Pajajaran No 156 Bandung Jawa Barat Lobby Grand Serela Hotel Jl. L.L. R.E Martadinata (Riau) No 56 Telp. (022) 426 1636 JAKARTA Terminal 3, Departure Hall Airlines Offices, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng Jl. Boulevard Raya, Blok LA 4, No. 10 Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara Komp Rukan Dharmawangsa, Jl. Dharmawangsa VI No.43, Jakarta Selatan

PADANG

PALEMBANG Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport Palembang, South Sumatra PEKANBARU

No 7, Jalan Bestari 1/5, Taman Nusa Bestari, 79100, Bandar Nusajaya, Johor.

FL4, 1st Floor, Tawau Airport Building, Jalan Apas-Balung, 91100 Tawau

No 75, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, 80150, Johor Bharu, Johor

TB228, Lot 5, Ground Floor, Istana Monaco, Jalan Bunga, Fajar Complex 91000 Tawau

GK 01, Ground Floor, Kluang Mall, Jalan Rambutan, Bandar Kluang, 86000 Kluang, Johor.

KEDAH Lot 20, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim, 06200 Kepala Batas, Alor Star Langkawi International Airport 07100 Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi No. 68-B Ground Floor, Jalan Ibrahim, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah Darul Aman KUALA LUMPUR Lot 4, Level 2, Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, 50470 Lot G027B, Ground Floor, Podium Block, Plaza Berjaya,12 Jalan Imbi,55100 Kuala Lumpur No 71 Jalan Metro Perdana Barat 1 Taman Usahawan Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur

Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport, Jalan Perhubungan Udara Simpang Tiga, Pekanbaru, Sumatra

No. 4 Jalan 3/116B, Kuchai Lama Entrepreneur Park, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 582000 Kuala Lumpur.

SEMARANG

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, 16100 Pengkalan Chepa Kota Bharu

Carrefour DP (Duta Pertiwi) MALL, Jl. Pemuda No. 150, 1st Floor, Semarang 50132 Komplek Pertokoan Simpang Lima, Blok C No. 1 SOLO

KELANTAN

3183G, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim (Opp. KB Mall), 15050 Kota Bharu.

PERAK

Adi Soemarmo International Airport, Solo, Central Java

Tune Hotel, No.2, Ground Floor, The Host, Jalan Veerasamy, 30000 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan.

SURABAYA

TERENGGANU

Lobby International Terminal Juanda International Airport Jalan Raya Juanda Surabaya Jawa Timur

Level 1, Terminal Building, Sultan Mahmud Airport, 21300 Kuala Terengganu

Grand Circle Tunjungan Plaza 3 Lantai 1, (Lobby Condominium Regency), Jln. Basuki Rahmat 8-12, Surabaya

Level 1, Labuan Airport Terminal 87008 Wilayah Persekutuan

YOGYAKARTA Adisutjipto International Airport Jln. Solo km.9, Yogyakarta, 55282 Melia Purosani Hotel, Jl Suryotomo No.31, Yogyakarta

LABUAN

MELAKA No 32, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka PENANG Penang International Airport 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang

Lot G24, Ground Floor, Wisma Sabah, Jln. Tun Razak, 88000, Kota Kinabalu TGround Floor, Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu Int. Airport, Old Airport Road,Tanjung Aru 88100, Kota Kinabalu SARAWAK GL02, Ground Floor, Bintulu Airport, 97000 Bintulu Ground Floor, Miri Airport, 98000 Miri Lot 946, Jalan Parry, 98000 Miri Departure Level, Kuching International Airport, 93756 Kuching GFLO1, Departure Area, Ground Floor, Sibu Airport, 96000 Sibu Ground Floor, No. 36 Jalan Keranji, 96000 Sibu Grd Flr, Lot 4034, Jln Tun Ahmad Zaidi, Parkcity Commercial Sq, Phase 5, 97000 Bintulu Ground Floor, 192H Al-Idrus Commercial Centre, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching SL11 Ground Floor, Lot 2541 Lee Ling Heights Phase 2, Mile 6.5 Jalan Penrissen, P.O. Box 2044, 93250 Kuching Lot 6813, Ground Floor Synergy Square, (Matang Jaya Commercial Centre), Jalan Matang Jaya, 93050 Kuching SELANGOR Ground Floor, Terminal 3, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang, Selangor Jalan KLIA S3, Southern Support Zone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor Lot-35 Mydin Mall USJ 1 B-G-3A, IOI Boulevard, Jalan Kenari 5, Bandar Puchong Jaya 47170 Puchong Selangor Lot S141, 2nd Floor, Plaza Metro Kajang, Section 7, Jalan Tun Abdul Aziz, 43000 Kajang No 1, Jln PJS 3/48, Taman Sri Manja, 46000 Petaling Jaya

malaysia

Ground Floor, Kim Mansion 332, Chulia Street, 10200 Penang

JOHOR

No 723 L-G, Jln Sungai Dua 11700 Pulau Pinang

No 10, Jalan Bandar Rawang 11, Bandar Baru Rawang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor.

A-G-07, Jalan Todak 4, Sunway Business Park, 13700 Seberang Perai Penang.

Ground Floor, Curve NX, 18 Jalan PJU 7/5, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

SABAH

No. 1, Jalan PJS 3/48, Taman Sri Manja, 46000 Petaling Jaya.

Tune Hotels.com Danga Bay, Lot PTB 22819, Jalan Skudai, Mukim Bandar, 80200 Johor Bahru GL 13 Senai International Airport 81250 Johor Bahru No. 26 Jalan Meriam, 84000 Muar, Johor

Lot 1 & 2, 1st Floor, Terminal Building, Sandakan Airport, 90719 Sandakan

myanmar YANGON Yangon International Airport Office Unit# 01-L, Parkroyal Yangon, Myanmar

philippines CLARK Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Clark Civil Aviation Complex Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines 2023 MANILA Wintrex Travel Corporation, Unit 108 SM City North Edsa – The Block SM City Complex, North Edsa, Pag-Asa 1, Quezon City, Manila Wintrex Travel Corporation, Unit 126 South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia Complex, J.W Diokno Boulevard, Pasay City DAvAO 4th Level, Gaisano Mall of Davao, J.P Laurel Avenue, Bajada Davao City, Philippines.

singapore Row: 13 & 14, Departure level 2 Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1, Singapore

sri lanKa COLOMBO Setmil Aviation (Pvt) Ltd., Ground Floor, Setmil Maritime Centre, 256, Srimath Ramanathan Mawatha, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka

ThailanD BANGKOK 127 Tanao Road, Phra Nakorn, Bangkok 10200

Suvarnabhumi International Airport Room A1-062 Ground Floor, Concourse A, Bangna-Trad Road, Racha Teva, Bang Pli, Samutprakarn 10540 Tesco Lotus – Bangkapi, 2nd Floor, 3109 Ladpro Road, Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10240 Tesco Lotus – Rama1, 3rd Floor, 831 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok,10330 Tesco Lotus – Rangsit, 2nd Floor, 392/4, Moo2, Phaholyothin Road, Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, 12130 Tesco Lotus - Sukhumvit 50, 1st floor, 1710, Sukhumvit Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok, 10110

NARATHIWAT Narathiwat Airport 330 Moo 5 , Tambol Kok-Kian, Amphur Muang, Narathiwat 96000 PHUKET Phuket International Airport 312, 3rd Floor, Tumbol Maikao, Amphur Thalang, Phuket 83110 Unit 9, Laflora Patong Area, No. 39, 39/1, Thaveewong Rd., Patong, Kratoo, Phuket Tesco Lotus – Phuket, 2nd Floor, 104, Chalermprakiat Road, Rasada Sub District, Muang District, Phuket, 83000 SURAT THANI

Tesco Lotus - Lad Prao, 2nd Floor, 1190, Phahonyothin Road, Jompol, Jatujak, Bangkok, 1090

Surat Thani International Airport 73 Moo 3 Tambol Huatuey, Amphur Punpin, Suratthani

CHIANG MAI

UBON RATCHATHANI

Chiangmai International Airport 60, 1st Floor, Tambol Sutep, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50200

Ubon Ratchathani Airport 297 Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Thepyotee Road, Amphur Nai Muang, Ubon Ratchathani 34000

416 Thaphae Road, Chiang Mai Tesco Lotus - Chiang Mai Kamtieng, 2nd Floor, 19, Kamtieng Road, Patan Sub District, Muang District, Chiang Mai, 50340

UDON THANI Udon Thani International Airport 224 Moo 1, Tambol Makkhang, Amphur Muang, Udon Thani 41000

CHIANG RAI

VieTnam

Chiang Rai International Airport 2305/2 404 Moo 10, Tambol Bandu, Amphur Muang, Chiang Rai 57100

HANOI

HAT YAI Hat Yai International Airport 125 Hadyai International Airport, Moo 3 Klongla, Klonghoikong, Songkhla 90115 Tesco Lotus - Hat Yai, 1st Floor, 1142, Kanchanawit Road, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90115

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10 TOUCHDOWN

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

The best time to trek up the mountain is during the dry season from April to November. www.rinjaninationalpark.com GILI ISLANDS A trio of islands off the northwest coast of Lombok, the Gili Islands consists of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and the secluded Gili Meno. Motorised vehicles are not allowed on the Gili Islands, which adds to its serenity and raw beauty. The largest of the three islands, Gili Trawangan has the most facilities, with laidback bars and accommodation that range from backpacker lodges to hotels. Gili Meno is the smallest of the islands and attracts honeymooners with its secluded beaches. www.gili-paradise.com KUTA A surfers’ paradise, Kuta has spectacular scenery with cliffs and mountains towering over white, sandy beaches and azure waters. Kuta still retains its charm as a sleepy fishing village despite being a magnet for surfers. www.lombok-network.com/kuta/ SENGGIGI The main tourist strip on Lombok, Senggigi’s town centre is dotted with restaurants, bars and hotels. The town itself stretches along a scenic coastal road and is also the jump off point to the Gili Islands.

PURA BATU BOLONG A modest yet beautiful temple, the small pagodas that make up Pura Batu Bolong cling to a rocky outcrop and are famed for their spectacular sunsets.

LOMBOK, INDONESIA

WORDS: CHITRA S

A magnet for surfers and nature lovers, and far enough from the crowds of neighbouring Bali, Lombok is a little piece of paradise just waiting to be explored.

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From the crystal clear waters off its coast to the highest reaches of majestic Mt. Rinjani, this beautiful and yet unspoilt island in the province of West Nusa Tenggara is definitely a welcome breath of fresh air. Home to the Sasak people, Lombok is rich in indigenous culture and traditions and is set against a natural landscape that has changed very little over the centuries.

Lombok is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, and is separated from Bali by the Lombok Strait. It is often referred to as Bali’s sister island, a reference that has its roots in the island’s history. In the18th century, a Hindu Balinese king conquered TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚

the island and ruled until the Dutch arrived.

The majority of Lombok’s 3.16 million people, mainly the dominant Sasak ethnic group practise the Muslim faith, while centuriesold Hindu shrines can still be found on the island. Lombok’s laidback vibe, cultural mix and friendly locals make it an ideal retreat for jaded travellers who are looking for a quiet island holiday.

MUST SEE/DO MT. RINJANI Looming over Lombok, Mt. Rinjani is an active volcano and the second highest mountain in Indonesia at 3,726m.

EAT AYAM TALIWANG A Lombok signature dish, ayam taliwang is a delicious preparation of chicken marinated in spices and grilled over an open flame, often served with rice and kangkung (water spinach).

PLECING KANGKUNG Another local favourite, this dish consists of blanched water spinach accompanied with a tomato and capsicum sambal, shrimp paste, beans and groundnuts.

BEBALUNG In the Sasak lingo, bebalung means ‘energy’. This belly-warming soup made of beef ribs is a speciality of Lombok’s Sasak tribe and is often enjoyed as a revitalising tonic.

SLEEP QUEEN VILLA AND SPA Gili Trawangan Island, Gili Indah, Gili Trawangan 83352 NOVOTEL LOMBOK Pantai Putih Nyale, Kuta SHERATON SENGGIGI BEACH RESORT Jalan Raya Senggigi Km8, Senggigi 83355 For more hotel options, visit www.airasiago.com GETTING THERE AirAsia commences flights to Lombok from Kuala Lumpur, three times a week starting Oct 12, 2012. Go to www.airasia. com for details.

10 MY AIRASIA

2012

www.airasia.com/travel3sixty

CLIMBIN’ FOR A CAUSE

Malaysia AirAsia Technical Services Engineer and avid mountaineer Mohd. Azri Ibrahim shares his experience climbing for a cause with fellow AirAsia AllStars. as the journey continued. We kept on going through sheer determination and help from the energy foods supplied by our sponsor, Power Bar. Despite the rain, we were able to appreciate the beautiful waterfalls, exotic birds, wild flowers and montane trees along our trail. After several gruelling hours, Team AirAsia arrived at Laban Rata. Our first arrival chalked in at 12.45pm with the last of us arriving with the porters just before 8.00pm.

Nothing could top the welcoming cheers and applause that greeted each new arrival.

SCALING THE PEAK

THE CAUSE

THE BIG DAY

True to the AllStar spirit, a team of AirAsia engineers organised a charity climb up Mt. Kinabalu (KK) in Sabah from April 27 till 30 to raise funds in aid of underprivileged youths with disabilities. The initiative raised RM100,000 to purchase prosthetic limbs for 14 needy Malaysians. The climb challenged us more than any of us imagined, but we were more than rewarded with the experience of scaling one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia.

We were excited and nervous at the same time. At 8.45 am, the climb officially began.

The initial few kilometres were relatively easy as we were full of energy after a big breakfast. But our energy levels began to dip

COMPILED BY: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

ARRIVING IN KK

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Our team arrived in KK with representatives from sponsors including Rolls Royce, Airbus, ST Engineering, Zodiac, Goodrich and AGX. We quickly transferred to the foot of the mountain, stopping by the village of Pekan Nabalu where we caught glimpses of Mt. Kinabalu through a thick blanket of fog. We felt some trepidation when it began to drizzle upon our arrival at Mesilau, the starting point of our climb the next morning.

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After just a few hours of sleep, we were up at 1.45am to prepare for the ascent to Low’s Peak, the pinnacle of Mt. Kinabalu. The cold and wet conditions were daunting but as a team, we pulled together to help one another up. Miraculously, the weather cleared up as the sun rose and we were treated to a perfect sunrise.

That night back in KK, we celebrated the only way there is to celebrate in Sabah – with a delicious seafood dinner. In a short time, the shared experience of this remarkable adventure made us all good friends. Certificates in hand, we pledged our commitment to climb for another cause the following year.