/6-June_201

2011 ISSUE 47

47 TRAVEL 3SIXTY JUNE THE AIRASIA MAGAZINE

PP15075/7/2011

TRAVEL Mataking Island, Sabah, Singapore Bird Park FOOD Peking Duck LONELY PLANET Mumbai, India DESTINATION Manila SPECIAL FEATURE motoGP PLUS Skateboard Travelling

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E UR AS RS. E PL GE VE NG SEN EMO I .

D S R EA PA OT AFT R R R N HE HE O IRC R T OT E D A FO OF EAS OM R PL F 14/5/11 12:38:39 PM

contentsjune NAVIGATOR

FLIGHT PLAN

Feature Stories

Travel 3Sixty’s Super-cool Guide

58 Lonely Planet

30 Calendar

Maximum Mumbai

June events to keep a lookout for

60 AirAsia British GP 2011

32 Cuisine

Speed Fiends and Super Babes

Duck on a Plate

70 Land of the Rising Sun

36 Books

Photo Essay on Japan

Exciting reads to pick up

74 Paradise Point

38 Biz Body

88

Reef Exploration at Mataking Island

80 Avian Nation Singapore Bird Park

88 Travelling with the Board

BOARDING CALL

Going Green, Staying Green

40 Health Matters Verve is Vital

42 Hot Rods

Skateboard Stories

News, Announcements, Mail

Scoot Over!

100 Travel Log

08 Captain’s Address

44 Tech-Talk

Memories from Myanmar

36

Top of the List

10 Inbox What our guests are saying about Travel 3Sixty 3

46 Sleep Inns Hot, Hip & Happening

12 Red Alert Exciting News from AirAsia

22 Bu Bulletin Stuff yo you’d love to know

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contentsjune JET SET

PORT OF CALL

Fashion, News, Celebs

118 Destination Manila, The Philippines

102 Sartorial Summer Fashion from Around the World

120 Route Map

104 Jewels for June

126 AirAsia Sales Offices & Stations

Creating the Perfect Look

106

106 Jetsetter Celeste Siam

IN FLIGHT

MY AIRASIA 128 Striking Equilibrium

110 Junior Jet Club The KidZania Kingdom

112 Plane Fun Puzzles & Games

114 Snapshot Fab photos taken by AirAsia guests

106 Comfort 5 tips for a more enjoyable flight

102 70

80 4

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TRAVEL Mataking Island, Sabah, Singapore Bird Park FOOD Peking Duck LONELY PLANET Mumbai, India DESTINATION Manila SPECIAL FEATURE motoGP PLUS Skateboard Travelling

RE SU EA S. PL GER VE G O IN SEN EM AD AS R FT. RE R P OT RA HE HE O N IRC R T OT E D A FO OF EAS OM R PL F

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Publisher Kathleen Tan Managing Editor R. Rajendra Art Director Kan Seak Hong Writers Beverly Rodrigues Nicolette Ng Editorial Assistant Fazlina Bee Binti Abdul Rashid Photojournalist Adam Lee Contributors Adzhar Ibrahim, Captain Lim Khoy Hing, Efi Hamzah, Daniel Fernandez, Lyra Deanna, Patrik Wallner

on the cover

14/5/11 12:38:39 PM

Zulfahmi Khairuddin getting ready for the 2010 AirAsia British GP race.

PUBLISHED BY 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

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

PRE-PRESS SERVICES Digiscan Services Sdn. Bhd. No. 26, Jalan 4/62A, Bandar Manjalara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603-6273 6386

Advertising Enquiries Indran Balavishnu (Malaysia) indran.balavishnu@pharpartnerships.com

For queries, assistance and feedback, you can reach us here:

Mairianne Reardon (Singapore) m.reardon@pharpartnerships.com

airasia.com/ask

Nick Lockwood (UK and International Markets) nick.lockwood@pharpartnerships.com

Charuphan Pojchanart (Thailand) charuphanp@airasia.com

Hendra Lapusa (Indonesia) hlapusa@baliplus.com

Tel: +6 03 8660 4034 / 4032 (Malaysia) E-mail: sales-T360@airasia.com Travel 3Sixty Wishes to thank Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles, MPH, Pansing Marketing, Lonely Planet Editorial enquiries travel3sixty@airasia.com 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.

Have a question regarding travelling with AirAsia? 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

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captain’s address

Terminal Velocity For many travellers, airports may not be the best of venues, as the whole experience of getting to one is wrought with anxiety, laced with worry and fraught with frustration.

The final destination may be a heart-warming family reunion, a well-deserved island holiday or a much-anticipated shopping spree but the starting point is seldom sweet. You may have heard of people grumbling that they need a holiday to recover from a holiday, but equally necessary is the holiday you need to calm you down even before you get onto the plane.

The source of this anxiety is something all of us are familiar with: You fret over the bags that need to be packed, you worry if you’ve exchanged enough foreign currency or if you’ve exchanged the correct currency – what is the currency again in Macau? Patacas, Pesos or was that Pesetas? You hop into a cab and halfway through, you frantically rummage through

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your bag, looking for your passport.

You reach the airport, grab your bags and send prayers to every divinity, begging for a short queue at the check-in counter, a pleasant smile from the Immigration officer and a clean bill at the Customs check.

We can all identify with the trials and tribulations of travelling through an airport.

The folks at AirAsia’s Customer Experience Dept. at the LCC Terminal, however, beg to differ and want you to enjoy your travel plans, right from the point you arrive at the terminal. They want you to be relaxed as you whizz pass the check-in counters and head to the departure lounges. They want to see a calm smile on your face as you board an AirAsia flight. They want you to truly enjoy your trip with AirAsia.

Many guests were pleasantly surprised with the totally unexpected activities at LCC Terminal recently.

On one occasion, a 4-piece band appeared, seated on a baggage trolley. Made up of AirAsia staff, the band members kept the crowd entertained with a selection of great music. Then, another group put up a short sketch with funny scenes depicting travellers rushing to check-

in. The fact that this happened on April 1 had many guests wondering if it was one big April fool’s joke.

The airport is hardly a place one would imagine to experience a water fight but when it was Songkran, the Thai New Year, AirAsia staff sportingly got drenched on the tarmac, much to the amusement of guests.

We even had the Asian version of Line-dancing or Poco Poco when seemingly out of nowhere, a flash mob of AirAsia staff got together to stage the dance in the terminal. On another occasion, men with cut-out horses galloped into the building and performed the Kuda Kepang, a Malay dance, followed by other traditional dances.

The guests cheered, grooved to the music and some even joined in. Many watched with big smiles on their faces. This wasn’t what they had expected to see at an airport. It was fun and engaging, and most importantly, it got our guests to relax that bit more before they boarded their aircraft.

R.RAJENDRA Managing Editor, Travel 3Sixty

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inbox

Here’s the buzz on AirAsia’s Twitter and Facebook pages

LOVE THE LEAF On a flight to Taipei, while reading Travel 3Sixty, I discovered interesting facts on banana leaf meals (April 2011). Living in Malaysia for over 20 years, I never knew the custom of folding the leaf towards you signified enjoyment of the meal. Of course, I also learnt many other things from the magazine. The new route to Christchurch and its introductory article got me looking forward to my next holiday destination there. I thank AirAsia for not just taking me to the destination that I planned, but also helping me plan for the destinations I am heading next. ~ Desiree, via E-mail

SEAFOOD ALERT Kudos to Captain Lim Khoy Hing for his article titled Midair Safety (March 2011). I must confess that it never occurred to me that the captain and co-pilot eat different meals to reduce the likelihood of both falling ill when on duty. If only my wife and I had read the article, especially the part about avoiding shellfish, before we boarded our last flight. ~ Rhodric Davies, Melbourne

LETTER OF THE MONTH!

New Zealand had been a dream destination for a very long time, and I wanted to do my first skydiving there. When AirAsia launched the new route to Christchurch, my two friends and I quickly booked our tickets. On the flight there, we were doubly lucky to read all that can be experienced around Christchurch from the article Sailing into the South (April 2011). Once we got there, we drove from Christchurch to the West Coast and headed down to Queenstown. There, we tried the thrilling Skydiving activity. We jumped out of a plane at 15,000ft and experienced the 60 seconds of free fall at 200kph! For the first time ever, I felt an amazing adrenaline rush through my body! It was beyond believable, and felt like flying! I am so glad I tried this experience.

Thanks Travel 3Sixty for showing us what fun can be had in New Zealand! ~ Siti Haryati, Penang

SPOOKY STAY I enjoyed reading your article Dark Adventures (April 2011) while on a recent flight. When I arrived at my destination, I checked into a hotel that I had not visited before. I travel a lot and staying at hotels was nothing new to me. That night, while asleep, I heard the door opening, and I felt a presence in the room. Then, I felt a kind of pressure on my neck. I tried to shout but couldn’t. Eventually, I managed to shout out and demanded that whatever that was in my room to leave me alone! That worked and I was able to sleep without any further disturbance. I am not sure whether it was a real encounter or a dream, resulting from having read the article in the magazine. But I distinctly remember hearing a voice calling me ‘handsome guy, comelah’ in Cantonese.

I stayed in the same room for the following three nights.

Since I wasn’t interested in the spirit’s advance, the ‘thing’ left me alone. ~ Lee GK, via E-mail

Thanks AirAsia for responding to my tweet to clarify an issue faced with your booking system.

Always nice to know you guys communicate :) James Thank you AirAsia for two very smooth flights. Weekend in Singapore was amazing, back to the Bali grind!

DvRystr My trip frm KK-Langkawi was amazing. Hey! Capt Lim’s bk on da May Travel 3Sixty col & sharing another wonderful story. Worth read’n! Tq AirAsia. Jsyarib

Thanks AirAsia for doing a great job in e-mailing, SMSing and also calling me for the flight reschedule (earlier by 20 minutes).This act will ensure that customers are aware of the time changes and not miss the flight. :) Foong Teng Cheng Special thanks to Captain Mazlan of flight D72722 to Melbourne today for a perfect takeoff and landing.

Kelvin Tan Hi AA, What is your upcoming new route? I heard there is Maldives and Sydney. Any plans to expand your route to Jeju Island, South Korea? Hope you can fly there soon. Kelvin Coolboy

LETTER OF THE MONTH WINS A RM999 VOUCHER TO BE REDEEMED AGAINST A ROYAL MCQUEEN LUGGAGE.* *T&C apply. *Luggage shown here for illustration purpose only. Colours may vary.

Love what you read in Travel 3Sixty? Share your thoughts with us! To show you how much we appreciate your feedback, we’ll give the best letter of the month a fabulous prize and the other three letters will receive a RM 50 e-gift voucher each.

Email your feedback to travel3sixty@airasia.com. Travel 3Sixty reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

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redalert Standing

by Japan

In Solidarity with JAPAN On May 10, AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia X, kicked off a year-long inter-regional campaign in support of Japan’s recovery from the recent earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster. The To Japan with Love campaign includes various initiatives such as a fundraising drive across the airline’s network, logistical support for an ASEAN Secretariat-led regional youth outreach programme, and most importantly aggressive efforts to drive tourist traffic back to this beautiful country.

For Dato Seri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and CoFounder of AirAsia X, keeping the Japanese economy moving is vital.

“Don’t pull out of the economy.

Recovery is easier when we pull through together, and AirAsia is assisting the best way we can.”

To start the ball rolling, AirAsia X offered all-in fares between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Tokyo, Japan from as low as RM199 one way for economy seats.

AirAsia X invites you to honour the spirit of Japan as it recovers from the recent earthquake.

Join Khoo Swee Chow on his hike up the 3,776-metre high Mount Fuji. Book your climbing package with AirAsiaGo. Proceeds will be channeled to Japan Platform, which provides emergency assistance to victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Join a contest and win a free trip up Mount Fuji with Khoo Swee Chow. Check blog.airasia. com and www.altitude-x.com/ blog for updates.

YOU CAN HELP! All proceeds go towards the international emergency humanitarian aid organisation, Japan Platform.

• Drop your spare change into donation boxes available onboard all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights.

• Buy special themed limited edition wristbands available onboard all flights.

• Purchase tickets for a special charity West End production at redtix.airasia.com

Conquering the BIG 8

“Altitude X is the perfect project that embodies the adventurous spirit of AirAsia X. We would like to also dedicate Altitude X to the indomitable spirit of Japan”.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X

In the pursuit of adventure, AirAsia rAsia X launched a climbing expedition called Altitude X in partnership with famous explorer Khoo Swee Chow.

Khoo is the fourth person in the world to complete the Explorers Grand Slam; conquering the South Pole, North Pole and the Seven Summits.

Altitude X will see Khoo climbing eight of the highest peaks within the AirAsia X network, beginning with the 8,848-metre high Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Khoo has already conquered Mt. Everest twice. This June, he’ll take on the North Ridge, accessible via Chengdu, becoming the first Southeast Asian to reach the summit of Everest three times. Other summits include Ben Navis in the UK; Mont Blanc in France; Mt. Damavand in Iran; Mt. Fuji in Japan; Hallasan in South Korea; Yushan in Taiwan; and Mt. Cook in New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

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OVER

800,000

user downloads • Enjoy low fares anytime & anywhere • Best on-the-go travel companion Get Yours today! Log on to airasia. com/mobile for more details.

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The Silver State

AWARD In conjunction with the 83rd birthday of the Sultan of Perak, Malaysia, Sultan Azlan Shah, AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes was awarded yet another title: Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP). Humbled by the recognition, Fernandes dedicated the award to the hard work and commitment of his 8,000-strong team.

Prime

Protection AirAsia INSURE Travel Protection Plan is now available to guests booking outbound flights from Philippines and Cambodia. Instead of worrying over the what ifs, buying AirAsia INSURE Travel Protection Plan when travelling on domestic and international routes will eliminate common travel dilemmas like lost baggage, delays and personal accidents. You can purchase an AirAsia INSURE travel Protection Plan when you book your AirAsia flight. Visit www.airasia. com for more details.

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Remembering Nazari

Muhammad Nur Nazari bin Hj Mohd, a 15-year-old from Penang had always admired former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Early this year, he was invited as a special guest of Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at the Al-Bukhary Foundation office in Kuala Lumpur.

Nazari has been suffering from bone tumour since the age of 12 and the disease had left him with an amputated right arm. His wish to meet Tun Dr Mahathir was fulfilled by the Children’s Wish Society of Malaysia, a national charity dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children stricken with life-limiting diseases. Nazari was flown in to Kuala Lumpur from Penang with his mother and grandmother by AirAsia under the Wings for Wishes partnership with CWS Malaysia. The young man was obviously elated having had this opportunity but sadly, about one month later, passed away peacefully on February 2011.

AirAsia is proud to have been able to help Nazari fulfill his wish and will continue working with CWS in helping other children-centric initiatives.

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TRAVEL 3SIXTY GOES

DIGITAL!

Triple Triumph

From June 2011 onwards, d T Travell 3Si 3Sixty, your favourite inflight magazine, is available for your reading pleasure at www. airasia.com/travel360 Filled with interesting articles, funfilled features, destination guides, contests and much more, the E-version can be downloaded for free at the aforementioned website. But this is just the beginning! Keep a lookout for even more exciting features as we transform the online version of the magazine into an exciting travel portal in the future!

Web Makes it Easy!

Get ready to make life real easy checking-in with AirAsia’s Web Check-in facility! All you need is an Internet connection, a printer and your travel itinerary, and you can check-in seven days and up to 45 minutes before your flight departure. Here’s how:

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AirAsia received three awards at the first Asian Excellence Recognition Awards by Corporate Governance Asia in Hong Kong: Best Investor Relations Company for Malaysia, Best CEO for Malaysia and, Best Investor Relations Officer for Malaysia. With a mission to improve corporate governance, The Asian Excellence Recognition Awards acknowledges excellence in investor communications, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, environmental practices and financial performances.

On receiving the award, AirAsia Chairman Dato’ Aziz Abu Bakar said “We flew our 100 millionth guest in a span of only 8½ years and breached the billion-ringgit mark in net profit, which was a phenomenal achievement despite rising fuel costs. Our affiliates in Indonesia and Thailand have shown sterling performances as well. This will be an exciting year for AirAsia as a group, and for investors as well.”

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FUEL surcharge Despite abolishing fuel surcharge in November 2008, AirAsia is forced to reintroduce it in May to offset rising jet fuel prices, which (at press time) has exceeded USD140 per barrel. AirAsia’s strong growth in ancillary income has helped delay the surcharge, but the aggressive surge in fuel prices has made this move inevitable. Commenting on the fuel surcharge, Kathleen Tan, AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial said “We hope this will only be a temporary measure, and AirAsia will continue to ensure our fares remain low despite the fuel surcharge, which is the lowest in the world.

AirAsia remains committed to its low-cost model and will not transfer the full cost of the fuel price hike to its guests, choosing instead to counter the spike by aggressively growing revenue through ancillary products and services.”

Travel

SMART Travelling to and from the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Terminal has never been easier. The award-winning shuttle service – Skybus – offers connectivity to KL Sentral and 1-Utama Shopping Centre at RM9 (or RM6.99 online) and RM13.50 (or RM10.99 online) respectively. Tickets can be purchased on board AirAsia and AirAsia X flights and, over the counter at KL Sentral, 1-Utama and LCC Terminal.

Book your shuttle ride together with your AirAsia flight at www.airasia.com and, enjoy cheaper fares. Coaches serving the LCCT - KL Sentral route depart at 30 minute intervals except during certain non-peak hours when it’s on hourly intervals. Check out www.skybus.com.my for the LCCT - 1-Utama bus schedule.

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Mdm NaďŹ sa Ali was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Mumbai with her bundle of joy.

SPOTTED

@ LCCT AirAsia has made flying so convenient and affordable, guests from all walks of life throughout the world pass through the LCC Terminal in Malaysia. Bustling with surfer dudes on their way to an island paradise, fashionistas in need of retail therapy, families and holidaymakers, the airport is a hive of activity every hour of the day!

A group of Japanese holidaymakers enroute to Phuket.

Surfer dudes Aitor and Borsa, having ridden the waves in Bali, on transit to London.

A Buddhist monk who was returning to Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Matea and Kimberly from Australia chose Malaysia as their holiday destination.

Dr Ryan De Cruz from Melbourne heading to London.

Michael Kollo from London arriving for a two-week vacation in Kuala Lumpur with his adorable baby.

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bulletin

High in Hong Kong The highest indoor observation deck in Hong Kong recently opened on the 100th floor of the city’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre or ICC. Besides a stunning 360 degree view of Victoria Harbour, sky100 also offers an interactive multimedia journey through Hong Kong’s history and culture, itinerary planning services and a photo booth for creative snapshots. www.sky100.com.hk

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES

Growing Green To highlight the relationship between quality of life and the health of forests and their ecosystems, 2011 has been designated International Year of Forests, and World Environment Day on June 5 will be celebrated with the theme Forests: Nature at your Service. India is the host this year, and among the country’s environmental efforts are projects to track the health of its flora, fauna, water and natural resources like the Sunderbans; a treeplanting system and compensation afforestation programme, Clean Energy Fund, and a US$50 billion green energy project. www.unep.org/wed

K-Pop Kraze Korean heartthrob Jang Keun Suk will be in town to set the stage on fire when he performs at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on June 4, 2011. The 24-year-old artiste started as a child actor and thereafter branched out to singing, dancing and modelling, subsequently garnering legions of fan after appearing in TV dramas such as Lovers in Prague, Hwang Jin-I, Hong Gil Dong, Beethoven Virus and You’re Beautiful. Multi-talented Jang Keun Suk’s The Cri Show in Kuala Lumpur is expected to blow the crowd away with fantastic dance choreography and fabulous showmanship.

Ticket price starts from RM151 for Bronze level seating, RM271 for Silver and RM391 for Gold at wwwairasiaredtix.com For up-to-date events, visit irAsiaRedTix.com, be our Fan on FaceBook.com/AirAsiaRedTix and follow us on Twitter.com/RedTix

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Grand Thai Sale

2011 With over 10,000 shops, department stores, spas, hotels and hospitals participating in the biggest sales extravaganza ever, the smell of burning plastic is going to be super sweet as you stock up on the best bargains all over Thailand! So supersize your baggage when you book your tickets at AirAsia and head over to key destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Hat Yai to shop till you drop from June 15 to August 15, 2011. www.tourismthailand.org

Fantasy in Pewter Royal Selangor’s spring line is here, and its pewter keepsakes are dreamier than ever. The Fairytales collection for children celebrates the enduring magic of fairy tales. Other spring goodies include incense boxes with symbols of the five elements of Chinese philosophy by designer Freeman Lau; hip flasks and bottle openers from Erik Magnussen; and a range of portable tea caddies sculpted with images of ancient Chinese art. www.royalselangor.com

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The

Hills are Alive Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will come alive with The Sound of Music when Rodger & Hammerstein’s famous Broadway musical is staged from June 21 till 26. Most people are familiar with the 1965 film version in which Julie Andrews stars as a singing postulantcum-governess who brings the joy of music into the lives of her seven wards. If you liked the film, you’ll love this musical presented

by West End and Broadway veterans, featuring songs like Climb Every Mountain, Do-ReMi, My Favourite Things, and of course the title song, The Sound of Music. Ticket prices start at RM190. www.ticketspeople.com

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SUMMER

FUN IMAGES: BRITAINONVIEW

As things heat up in the UK, slap on some sun screen and enjoy the season’s offerings.

Let your hair down at the Glastonbury Festival, reputedly the Fe world’s largest green field music and performing arts festival. Headliners include U2, Coldplay and Beyoncé. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Go ghyll scrambling in Cumbria, a beautiful county that’s home to co England’s tallest mountain: Scafell Pike. This exhilirating activity involves wading, climbing, scrambling and swimming along freezing mountain streams – great fun for adventurous souls. www.visitcumbria.com

Check out England’s farmers’ markets for fresh seasonal produce and fr locally-made goodies like homebrewed cider, jams, chutneys and cheeses. Savour juicy strawberries, gooseberries and tayberries in June; loganberries, cherries, nectarines and peaches in July; and raspberries and greengages in August. Good markets include Orton Farmers’ Market and Borough Market.

IMAGES: BRITAINONVIEW

www.farmersmarkets.net

Visit Brighton for sunny days at the beach, fun fair rides and delicious fish and chips. www.visitbrighton.com

H on a boat to the Farne Islands to see thousands Hop of nesting puffins, as well as one of Europe’s largest grey seal colonies. www.farne-islands.com

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!

BEAT IT

This June, Malaysia’s Hands Percussion Team brings you an explosive drumming concert titled Ri Yue Chu Yin. Celebrating the unity of armour and skin, the show promises lots of passion and energy. Hands, renowned for its Malaysian Chinese drumming tradition and blending of multi-ethnic sounds, will perform re-arrangements of pieces performed at the World Gamelan Festival and RhapsoDrums in 2010, as well as a brand new composition. Joining them as a special guest is The Eight Mallets Percussion, a renowned percussion group from Beijing. The concert will be held at the KL Performing Arts Centre from June 9 till 12. www.klpac.org

Flavours of Victoria This month, Victoria, Australia serves up a delicious array of food and wine festivals.

• Good Food & Wine Show (June 3 – 5) offers live cooking demos by celebrity chefs like Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. www.goodfoodshow.com.au • Weekend Fit for a King (June 11 – 12) serves up delicious gourmet food, artisan wines and great music www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au • Rutherglen Winery Walkabout (June 11 – 12) allows you to taste rare vintages, and sample the region’s best new wines. www.winemakers.com.au • Glenrowan Wine Region – Trails, Tastings and Tales Food and Wine Festival (June 11 – 13) presents the region’s famous full-bodied shiraz and merlot, crisp trebbiano and fiano, and a range of snacks ‘inspired by the vine’. www.visitglenrowan.com.au

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calendar

JUNE

HONG KONG

The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber June 8 – 19 The evergreen music of Andrew Lloyd Webber comes to Hong Kong’s Lyric Theatre with a spectacular showcase of the maestro’s greatest masterpieces from Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Love Never Dies. www.hkticketing.com

AUSTRALIA SINGAPORE

Cirque Éloize iD June 1 – 12 Urban dance meets contemporary circus at Marina Bay Sands with a huge parade of acrobats, break dancers, contortionists and stunt bikers at Cirque Éloize iD.

Yo Gabba Gabba! June 7 Enjoy kid-friendly indie rock with DJ Lance Rock and his pals in the stage version of the popular American childrens’ TV series, Yo Gabba Gabba! at the Brisbane Convention Centre. www.ticketek.com.au

www.sistic.com.sg

INDONESIA

Fatboy Slim Live in Jakarta June 8 The British musician and DJ, who pioneered the electronic dance genre of the 90s, hits Central Park, Jakarta to promote his latest album, Here Lies Love. www.urbanite.asia

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MALAYSIA Gawai Dayak

FRANCE

June 1 & 2

Crossing the Rubicon (Secret Societies)

The longhouse-dwelling Dayaks of Sarawak celebrate the harvest festival with ancient rituals, traditional dances, blowpipe competitions and specially-brewed tuak or rice wine.

June 1 – 11

www.sarawaktourism.com

JAPAN

UK

Takigi O-Noh June 1 & 2

Trooping the Colour June 11 On the official birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth, regiments of the Commonwealth and the British Army put on a splendid parade in a tradition that dates back to the 17th century.

The rare and much celebrated Japanese dance drama, Noh, where actors perform wearing lacquered wooden masks, will be staged by the light of a bonfire at Kyoto’s Heian Jingu Shrine. www.jnto.go.jp

Fans of contemprary art can savour thought-provoking pieces from renowned artists such as C.K. Wilde, Laurent Impeduglia, Jarrett Mitchell and others at the new JAS Gallery in Paris. www.jas-gallery.com

www.enjoyengland.com

PHILIPPINES

Independence Day June 12 Soak up some history when you catch the reenactment of the historic proclamation of independence at the mansion of General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic. www.tourism.gov.ph

THAILAND

Pantomime in Bangkok 12 June 30 – July 3 It’s mime time at Bangkok’s Centerpoint Playhouse with artists like Japan’s Guri Guri Girls, Germany’s Metroccolis and Thailand’s Babymime taking centre stage. www.thaiticketmajor.com

Hot Dates!

■ MALAYSIA Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival June 15 – August 31 www.tourism.gov.my ■ PENANG Penang International Dragon Boat Festival June 11 & 12 www.penangdragonboat.gov.my ■ SINGAPORE ScreenSingapore June 5 – 12 www.screensingapore.com.sg ■ THAILAND Laguna Phuket International Marathon June 12 www.phuketmarathon.com ■ INDIA Champakulam Boat Race June 16 www.keralatourism.org ■ AUSTRALIA Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

June 4 – 13 www.melbournejazz.com june travel3sixty 31

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cuisine

Duck on a Plate

WORDS: LYRA DEANNA IMAGES: PHOTOLIBRARY

One of the most fabled dishes in the world, the crispy skin and moist, flavourful flesh of the Peking Duck is deservedly among China’s most popular dishes.

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“As it inspired poets with its crispy skin and moist meat, the dish made the transition from menus to scholarly consciousness in the Qianlong Period (1736-1796)” Peking Duck, one of the most famous culinary exports from Beijing, encompasses as much culinary and tableside ritual and kitchen exactitude as it does deliciousness. It has a culinary history dating back to imperial China, and is considered one of the country’s national dishes.

The whole cooked duck is carved at the table, and is generally served in three different ways. First, the most prized part of the dish – the duck’s crispy skin, is traditionally served with a sugar (though some restaurants substitute this with salt) and garlic sauce for dipping.

Then, with a flourish, the meat of the duck comes to the table in a DIY platter with thin pancakes, spring onions and either Hoisin or sweet, fermented soybean sauce (tian mian jiang). It’s perfectly acceptable to use a combination of fingers and chopsticks when assembling this delectable duck treat! Diners place a piece of the meat in the middle of a pancake, brush a little sauce over, add a small piece of spring onion and / or a stick of cucumber, roll it into a

small parcel of contrasting texture and robust flavour, and pop it into their mouths.

Finally, the leftover parts of the duck – bones and bits of meat clinging to them, fat, etc. – can be made into a rich soup. Alternatively, if there’s still meat remaining, it is chopped and sautéed with the sweet sauce.

Outside Beijing, some restaurants, particularly the more casual ones, don’t serve all three Peking Duck incarnations.

Here, the duck is always served the second way: Skin-on and with the pancakes, spring onions and sweet sauce, which is the dish that comes to mind most often for foreigners when they think of Peking Duck.

You’ll find variations of the dish around the world; one such example is ‘crispy aromatic duck’ in the UK. It’s also served with pancakes, spring onions and sweet sauce, but the duck meat is first marinated and steamed, then shredded and deep-fried till crisp. june travel3sixty 33

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In China, the ducks originally used for the dish came from Nanjing, in the Jiangsu province, while Peking ducks are used nowadays. These are free-range until they are 45 days old.

Then, similarly to the technique used to produce foie gras, the ducks are force-fed for the next 15 to 20 days, until the reach a weight of between five and seven kilogrammes. They are slaughtered when they reach the ripe age of 65 days, plucked, innards removed and, carcass thoroughly rinsed.

Then, jets of air are blasted through the neck cavity, separating the skin from the fat – a crucial step to ensure that coveted crispy skin. The duck is next soaked in boiling water, removed and basted with a thick glaze of maltose syrup. The duck is finally hung out to dry for 24 hours before being roasted in a closed or ‘hung oven’ for 30 to 40 minutes.

The traditional oven is a wood-fired one, made of bricks, and can usually roast up to 20 birds at a go. The woods of fruit trees such as peach, pear, and even lychee are popular, and impart a delicate fragrance to the duck.

CANARD CUISINE

DUCK TALES

Roasted duck has been enjoyed in China as far back as the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, but the popular incarnation of the Peking Duck came into its own in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when the dish became a regular on the imperial court menu. As it inspired poets with its crispy skin and moist meat, the dish made the transition from menus to scholarly consciousness in the Qianlong Period (1736-1796), becoming the subject of many poems!

National dish status was firmly cemented by the mid-20th century. It’s even credited with oiling the machinery of diplomatic talks between the then US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger and then-Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, as the talks only bore fruit after Kissinger was served the dish for lunch!

Above: Restaurants take great pride in serving Peking Duck and often do it with a flourish.

Right: The duck is bathed in hot oil to make the skin extra crisp.

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Dishing Up Duck Fancy a taste of the fabled Peking Duck? It’s a delicacy which requires a bit of preparation, so make reservations ahead as far as possible. Try these popular restaurants when you’re in:

BEIJING

Roast Duck Restaurant (73 Tian Tan Donglu, in the Chongwen district) and Anhua Bian Yi Fang Roast Duck Restaurant (6 Beisanhuan Lu in the Xicheng district).

Quanjude Beijing Xiao Wang Fu You’ll find three outlets at Guanghuadong Lu Xiao Wang Fu Roast Duck Restaurant (Hanwei Dasha, Building 2 (south side), Guanghua Dongli in the Chaoyang district), Workers’ stadium (gongti donglu) Xiao Wang Fu Roast Duck Restaurant (4 Saikesaisi Building, Floor 1, Gongti Donglu in the Chaoyang District) and Shichahai Xiao Wang Fu Roast Duck Restaurant (15, Gianhai Beiyan).

Bian Yi Fang This is the oldest Peking Duck restaurant in Beijing, dating back to 1416. It split into two outlets, due to an ownership dispute, both retaining the name and signature dishes. There are several outlets at the following addresses: Hademen Bian Yi Fang Roast Duck Restaurant (2, Chongwenmenwai Dajie Jia), Xingfudajie Bian Yi Fang Roast Duck Restaurant (36 Xingfu Dajie in the Chongwen district), Yutingqiao Bian Yi Fang

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Established in 1864, its founder, Yang Quanren, adopted the use of the ‘hung oven’ from the imperial kitchens. Quanjude is also the restaurant that truly established the popularity of the dish. Today, it’s a restaurant chain with many outlets; Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (32, Qianmen Dajie in the Chongwen District), Hepingmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (14, Qian Men Xi Dajie in the Xuanwu District), Asian Games Village (Yayuncun) Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (309 Tianchuang Shiyuan, Bldg. A, Huizhong Beili in the Chaoyang District).

HONG KONG Imperial Kitchen (Fong Sin) Shop 603, Level 6, Telford Plaza II, Kowloon Bay.

Peking Garden 3rd Floor, Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

Sha Tin 18 18 Chak Cheung St, Hyatt Regency, Sha Tin.

Spring Deer 46, Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

MALAYSIA Chynna Hilton Kuala Lumpur, 3, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.

Oriental Pavilion Jaya 33, P1-04, Jalan Semangat, Petaling Jaya.

SINGAPORE Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck 290, Orchard Road.

Lei Garden 01-24 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street.

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant 201, Keppel Road.

5/13/11 1:37:55 PM

books UNTOLD STORY Monica Ali 14 years after Princess Diana’s tragic passing, Ali plays up the conspiracy theories that abound, imagining a reality where the princess has staged her own death to escape an assassination plot and reinvent herself far from prying paparazzi.

THE RED QUEEN N Philippa Gregory The second novel in The Cousins’ War series chronicles the life of Margaret Beaufort, and the secret plots she devises to place her son on the throne of England. Gregory’s third novel, The Lady of the Rivers, is set to be released this September.

REAL ISSUES, TRUE STORIES Abused by her mother and blamed for her father’s death, 13-year-old Boontah runs away from home, reinventing herself as Lon and becoming a topearner in Thailand’s sex industry. Derek Kent, co-author of Only 13 – The True Story of Lon talks about the sex industry.

INSPIRATION Lon sacrificed her life so that her sisters could have better lives. I thought her life story would find a wide audience, and open the eyes of tourists on far a girl would go to help her family.

PARIS REVEALED THE SECRET LIFE OF A CITY Stephen Clarke To really fall in love with Paris, look beyond the hype and delve into its inner workings, flaws and quirks. Here, juicy trivia, fascinating history and keen observations mingle to reveal the real Paris.

BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SEX WORKERS That they are all dirt poor and were trafficked. In reality, the families are generally poor and dysfunctional, yet no poorer than the average rural Thai family. A dysfunctional family leads to girls going into prostitution; not simply poverty.

SAYING NO TO SEX TOURISM

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES IMAGES: ADAM LEE

READ OF THE MONTH

THE PALE KING David Foster Wallace Published two years after Wallace’s passing, The Pale King is an unfinished work that many believe to be his most ambitious undertaking. Set in an IRS examination centre, it explores loneliness, depression and boredom in a funny and poignant way.

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Sex tourism exists in places where women and children have little value, and enforcement of existing laws is minimal. Thankfully, supply has decreased in Thailand. Demand comes only when there’s supply.

REACTIONS TO LON’S STORY Most people feel sorry for Lon and hate her mother, while others feel she had many opportunities to get away and improve her life, but wouldn’t do it.

Both are correct.

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bizbody

Going Green, Staying Green In celebration of the World Environment Day in June, here’s a list of what’s green and growing in the business world.

A REAL HEAD TURNER

In today’s business world...

Sharing. We are moving away from a world where we aspired to own everything. Now, we can have access to goods and services with the same utility, convenience and enjoyment as owning them, but without the associated expense and hassles. This shift is at least in part powered by the little devices that we are all carrying around – the web-enabled mobile devices that allow us to easily reach out to find each other and locate ‘stuff’. – Lisa Gansky, author of The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing. ~ Quotes from www.businessnewsdaily.com

WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

Ways to Go Green with your Business

Media mogul Ted Turner says: “Failure to address global warming will have us all dead or eating each other by mid-century.”

He explained this fatalistic crusading to New York’s Daily News recently. “I didn’t write that. When people are starving, a lot of them will just eat anything,” adding, “if we’re going to be a bunch of slobs, then we don’t deserve to live”.

Ted is no slob either.

He doesn’t like trash and walks around New York City constantly picking up trash. He figures that people would think: “If Ted Turner can do it, so can I.”

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# # # # # # #

TURN OFF EQUIPMENT: You save up to 25% of energy by turning things off when not in use. Turning off your computers saves an additional 50% in energy.

LIMIT PAPER USE: Encourage E-mailing as a means of communication and, print only when absolutely necessary.

REDUCE FAX MACHINE USE: Send and receive faxes directly from the computer and save on printing hardcopies when it’s not important.

PRINT ON BOTH SIDES: Produce double-sided documents where possible and save paper and money.

CHECK WATER TAPS: Ensure office taps are turned off tightly. A drop a second wastes up to 10,000 litres per year!

USE RECYCLING SUPPLIERS: Choose suppliers who take back packaging/ produces for re-use.

MAKE THE OLD NEW: When redecorating the office, refurbish existing furniture where possible. It’s less expensive and better for the environment.

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PERCENT

30

PERCENT

18.3

savings on energy bills if you make full use of natural lighting in the workplace.

cost increase occurs yearly if the office air conditioning is not maintained properly.

tablet computers were sold in the year 2010, but only 5% were purchased by the business sector.

MILLION

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health matters

VERVE IS VITAL

We are half way through the year and here’s the low-down on how to boost your energy for the rest of 2011, plus the latest in health news.

3

Energy Efficiency

Global energy crisis alert! It has nothing to do with oil and gas, but all about the inexplicable fatigue that’s plaguing people. Cardiologist and director of the NYU Medical Centre and Associate Professor at the NYU School of Medicine, Nieca Goldberg observes: “The single biggest complaint I hear from my patients is fatigue.”

For some, the problem occurs due to excessive multi-tasking and lack of sleep. It’s a real problem if you’re getting a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep and still end up tired. A thorough medical check-up is needed to uncover the cause of extreme fatigue. Here are seven possible causes of fatigue: • anemia • hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) • undiagnosed urinary tract infection (UTI) • caffeine overload • food allergies • sleep apnea • undiagnosed heart disease.

Energy Boosting Lifestyle Change

DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING Breathing deeply and correctly ensures that the oxygen flows all the way to the bottom of your lungs. It increases energy and improves stamina.

PROPER SLEEP Restorative sleep occurs when you go to bed at 10.00pm and wake up at 6.00am (thereabouts) because hormone secretion, body temperature, digestion and other restorative processes follow a 24-hour cycle linked to natural light exposure.

IMAGE: WWW.SXC.HU

‘ME’ TIME Create a daily ritual where you take 20 to 30 minutes for yourself, relaxing and doing nothing (no TV or Internet). Pick up a book, listen to music, meditate, have a cup of tea, or try yoga.

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WORDS: EFI HAFIZAH HAMZAH

percent of premature heart disease, stroke and diabetes can be prevented.

36 340 30 1:3 million

of the 57 million deaths in 2008 occured due to non-communicable diseases: Non-infectious and slow progression, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, cataracts and others.

million

countries

woman

new cases of curable sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) occurred throughout the world in men and women aged 15-49 years. The largest number of new infections occurred in Southeast Asia.

in World Health Organisation’s European Region have reported a marked increase in measles cases, with 6,500 so far in 2011.

in South Africa are living with HIV.

Source: World Health Organization (International Research) & AVERT.org

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hot rods Vespa-LX-150.

Gilera Runner 50PJ.

Toyota Prius

WORDS: DANIEL FERNANDEZ

Cute, compact and oh so charming, the scooter is a true statement of style and personality. And yes, it gets you around in a jiffy too!

There has been a revival of sorts in recent years for scooters in Asia.

With a bigger audience looking for easier mobility in cities that are getting more and more congested, scooter manufacturers have moved their product portfolio into a wider territory using style, sex appeal and technology to entice buyers away from basic public transport. The biggest variations in scooter brands are coming from Italy, Japan, Taiwan and China and, the trend seems to have caught on with the younger set. If in the past, big bikes spelt ‘cool’ with a capital C, scooters have taken over as a stylish alternative that exudes charm and a laidback appeal. And best of all, it caters for both sexes.

But before going further into the appeal aspect, a little history and a profile of the scooter is in order. A scooter is primarily a motorcycle with a larger frame, equipped with a gearbox for seamless changes and, a platform for the rider’s feet. Elements from the scooter’s design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycle prototypes, some as early as 1914.

Scooter development continued in Europe and the US before inching its way to Asia, especially after the US and Europe embraced the automobile in a big way.

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The global popularity of scooters dates from the post-World War II introduction of the Vespa and the Lambretta scooters in Italy. These postwar scooters were intended to provide low-power personal transportation (engines from 50 to 250cc).

The original layout is still widely used in this application.

Maxi-scooters, with engines from 250 to 800cc have been developed for Western markets where customers prefer greater power capacity.

Scooters are popular for personal transport, partly based on their cheaper price and, ease in riding and parking.

Additionally, road transport licensing requirements for scooters are less expensive than those for cars in most parts of the world, and insurance is generally cheaper. The Italians

Suzuki 250.

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Piaggio scooter.

started the ball rolling with the Vespa and Lambretta, followed by the German company Heinkel in 1947. Japan, China and Taiwan soon joined the bandwagon and brought the cost of owning a scooter even lower.

Riding a scooter has become tremendously popular due to the ever-increasing price of fuel and, congestion on the roads. People all over the world are turning to the amazing, miles-per-litre fuel efficiency offered by scooters, which is substantially lower than riding a motorcycle. They work especially well in crowded areas, and you don’t have to worry about shifting gears like on motorcycles. They are also popular with women, as it is easier to get on and off wearing a skirt or a dress. It has also become quite indispensable with lower income groups as a means of transport. However, these compact machines need some training and getting used to for newcomers. Once learned, they are cute, lightweight and easy to ride.

Today, scooters are everywhere. They come with engines as small as 50cc and as big as 550cc. Prices have also escalated for premium like Vespa, Piaggio and Honda.

There are even 3-wheeler scooters like Gilera and Piaggio from France and Italy that offer much better handling.

These premium scooters cost more than motorcycles but offer better handling and a different riding experience.

Nevertheless, it is the humble scooter in the 50-100cc engine range that makes up the bulk of sales.

If you have never ridden one, start with a basic scooter. Do some research with current owners to see which best suits your needs and make sure you get some basic riding training before taking on the open road. But once you’ve gotten the hang of riding a scooter, suffice to say, it is glorious experience that is as unique as your personality.

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Tech-talk

on the

TOP LIST Gadgets and gizmos are born today but go obsolete the very next day! Some, luckily, are here to stay and will easily find a place in your home for their stylish appearance, the fabulous features and most of all – unbeatable value for money; only from AirAsia Megastore.

ViewPad 10 Tablet Technologically speaking, tablets are the future. Show off this stylish piece, and you’ll be the envy of techies everywhere; RM1999.

Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W3 Capture fun times in 3D with this revolutionary digital camera, with images that have a ‘real feel’ quality, RRP RM1988. AAMS RM1528 only!

ifrogz DJ STYLE Ronin Headsets Experience music in a whole new way with these trendy headphones that deliver crystal clear sound; RM159.

Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830

Marware Eco-Envi for iPad Dress up your iPad with this chic sleeve that also happens to be environmentally friendly; RM199.

Be a part of the Android smartphone movement that enables you to access countless apps and infinite entertainment; RM999.

iPod Touch 8GB Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja… need we say more? And let’s not forget music on the go! RRP RM1299.

AAMS RM829 only!

megastore.com Available online at airasiamegastore.com

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sleep inns

&

Hot, Hip Happening EDITOR’S CHOICE!

That’s all you need to know about these hotels that have perfected the art of hospitality. From grand dames to fashionably funky abodes, here are this month’s hottest stays.

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES AND NICOLETTE NG

SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA Located near the picturesque Manila Bay, Sofitel Philippine Plaza is an architectural masterpiece created by the country’s national artist in architecture, Leandro Locsin. The hotel’s grounds, resort pool and gardens were designed by Ildefonso P. Santos, another familiar name in the country’s artist hall of fame.

This property is the only 5-star luxury hotel in Manila with a resort setting, coupled with bright, open spaces and elegant, minimalist interiors accented with subtle touches of traditional Filipino decor. The hotel boasts 609 rooms that include

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premium accommodation at the Opera Suites, Luxury Suites, Prestige Suites, Sofitel Suites and, the magnificent 398 square metre, Imperial Suite.

The Sofitel Philippine Plaza is also big on pampering, cocooning its guests with a variety of in-house services. Noteworthy is the pampering session at Philippe Salon that is headed by French celebrity stylist Philippe Tordjman. Take it further by luxuriating in a spa treatment at The Zen Institute, a renowned medical spa that will offer you the latest and finest in natural, non-invasive beauty and wellness treatments.

For serious foodies and connoisseurs of the finer things in life, head to Spiral, the hotel’s flagship dining outlet and the biggest among hotels here with a seating capacity of 480. The outlet has an interactive restaurant concept, with multi-cuisine, open cooking stations that serves favourites from time-honoured fare to modern and exciting concoctions.

A CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard,

Pasay City, Manila, Philippines T +63 2 551 5555

Go to www.airasiago.com for attractive room deals on this hotel.

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PLAYPEN WITH PIZZAZZ

For a charming stay at one of London’s most stylish addresses, check in at The Zetter Hotel, just walking distance from the city’s best restaurants and bars, and a short taxi

SAVVY IN GREEN ride from the West End. All 59 rooms in this 19th century warehouse are designed in a vintage-modern style, with vibrant splashes of colour, wallpaper art and quintessentially English patterns and textiles, as well as cosy little details that infuse this playpen with personality. All rooms come with free broadband Internet access, hot water bottles in hand-knit cosies, oversized duck-down pillows, Penguin paperbacks and pink mood lighting. The studios offer a few extra indulgences: Private patio, panoramic city views, sun loungers and lazy baths. For a complete Zetter experience, be sure to dine at Bistro Bruno Loubet, where the celebrated French chef whips up modern bistro fare.

A St John’s Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell

Road, London EC1M 5RJ T +44 20 7324 4444 E reservations@thezetter.com

NIFTY NOOK

These days, budget hotels are looking smarter than ever, and the Fave Hotel MEX Building in Surabaya is no exception. Located within a popular entertainment complex, this bright and trendy hotel offers an affordable stay, convenient location and fun atmosphere for budget-oriented business travellers, small groups and even families. Rooms are designed with functionality in mind, and come with LCD TVs, air-conditioning, en suite bathrooms and complimentary high speed Wi-Fi connection.

A Jl.Pregolan 1,3,5 Surabaya 60262, East Java - Indonesia T + 62 31 535 5508 E surabayamexinfo@favehotels.com

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Kuala Lumpur’s GTower Hotel is a top-notch business hotel with a green conscience. But, this doesn’t mean forgoing comfort. Green-certified, GTower seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology with its eco-friendly design, offering highspeed broadband, WiFi hotspots, IP telephony and IT Concierge, as well as business facilities like virtual offices and FlexOffices. You’ll enjoy all these in a hotel that offers green features like energy efficient lighting, as well as showers and a salt water pool heated using waste energy.

When it comes to F&B, Tanzini serves up only the freshest produce for power lunches, while the awardwinning Bridge Bar that features aged cengal wood, discarded wine bottles and driftwood furniture in its green design, offers an atmospheric venue for celebratory drinks.

A 199, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur T +603 21681919 E info@GTowerHotel.com

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11:29 AM

SHOPPING OASIS

EDITOR’S CHOICE!

If you’re hoping to indulge in some serious retail therapy while in Jakarta, book yourself into the four star deluxe hotel, Le Grandeur Mangga Dua Jakarta, which is conveniently linked to four huge shopping complexes via airconditioned bridges. With over 4,000 retail and wholesale outlets to choose from, you’ll have access to everything from the trendiest fashions and accessories, to the coolest entertainment gadgets, electronics and home appliances.

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After a lo long day of bargain hunting, to Le Grandeur hunting return ret Mangga Dua Jakarta to savour authentic Cantonese fare at Maystar Chinese Restaurant or fresh breads, pastries and cakes at The Patisserie, before adjourning to the lounge for cocktails and live jazz performances.

For a healthier end to your fun day, enjoy an invigorating dip in the outdoor swimming pool or a good workout at the fitness centre, before retiring to your room. The accommodation at Le Grandeur Mangga Dua Jakarta is furnished with a neo classical feel that is

elegant, yet modern and inviting.

With sweeping views of Jakarta city and equipped with modern conveniences such as satellite TV and high-speed broadband Internet access, the rooms offer the perfect sanctuary after all that shopping.

And you want to take a break from the manic shopping scene at Mangga Dua, make a trip to the nearby Ancol Dreamland Fantasy World, Waterbom Park or Seaworld – great fun for all ages!

Go to www.airasiago.com for attractive room deals on this hotel.

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hit list

WORDS: NICOLETTE NG IMAGE: PHOTOLIBRARY

Learn, cook, eat!

While many travellers make a beeline for restaurants to savour local food, true gourmands take it a step further by enrolling in cooking schools to learn the cuisine and culture.

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Bali Delicious Specialising in East Balinese dishes, the Alila Manggis School offers guest classes taught by a team of trained cooks who truly live the Balinese way of life. Students here get to experience not only how to prepare Balinese food, they also undertake an intimate journey through the local villages to sample a slice of everyday Bali. The cooking classes are very hands-on with a trip to a local market in Klungkung and a visit to a villager’s kitchen. Back at the school, local chefs teach how to cook Balinese dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice) and how to prepare bumbu Bali (local spice paste).

Fresh from the Farm Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city by spending a day at Thai Farm Cooking School, just 17 kilometers outside Chiang Mai. Here, guests learn about local ingredients and how to prepare Thai dishes such as green curry, tom yam, papaya salad, mango with sticky rice and others. Khun Sawat, the owner, is very knowledgeable about healthy agricultural practices and ensures that the crops in his farm are organically cultivated. Classes also include a visit to the local market and an educational tour to the organic farm where guests can pick fresh ingredients to be used in their cooking. Guided by a local cook, the food is lovingly prepared on a terrace overlooking a fishpond with splendid views of the entire farm.

A

2/2 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Soi 5, Chiang Mai, Thailand

A

Buitan, Manggis, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia

T

66 87 174 9285

T

+62 363 41 011

E

{

info@thaifarmcooking.net

Martha Sherpa’s Cooking School for Chinese cuisine.

A Flat B, 1/F., Lee Kwan Building, 40-46 Argyle Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong T +852 2381 0132 E info@cookery.com.hk

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E

manggis@alilahotels.com

Back to School Cook in a traditional hutong (alley) home kitchen at Hias Gourmet.

A 308, No.6, Ritan Road, Sunjoy Mansion Annex, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China T +86 10 6400 9199 E info@hiasgourmet.com

Great Asian food at Cookery Magic.

A 117 Fidelio Street (off Siglap Road), Singapore 458492 T +65 6348 9667 E info@cookerymagic.com

}

Mouth-watering seafood at Auckland Seafood School.

A Level 1, Auckland Fishmarket T (09) 379-1497 E seafoodschool@afm.co.nz

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there’s always something happening at hard rock

hardrock.com hotels

kuala lumpur

Abu Dhabi, 2013 • Bali • Biloxi • Chicago Dubai, 2013 • Hollywood, FL • Hungary, 2012 Las Vegas • Macau • Orlando • Panama, 2012 Pattaya • Penang • Punta Cana • San Diego Singapore • Tampa

casinos

Biloxi • Hollywood, FL • Hungary, 2012 Las Vegas • Macau • Punta Cana • Tampa

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United States Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Biloxi Boston Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Destin Detroit Foxwoods Gatlinburg Hollywood, CA on Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood, CA at Universal CityWalk Hollywood, FL Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Key West Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Las Vegas at Hard Rock Hotel Louisville Maui Memphis Miami Minneapolis Myrtle Beach Nashville New Orleans New York Niagara Falls Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Tampa Washington, DC Yankee Stadium

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Canada Niagara Falls Ottawa Toronto Caribbean/ Central America Aruba Cayman Islands Nassau Panama Punta Cana Santo Domingo St. Maarten South America Belo Horizonte Bogotá Buenos Aires Caracas Cartagena Margarita Island Medellin Rio de Janeiro Santiago, 2011

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Pacific Rim Fiji Guam Saipan Surfers Paradise Sydney, 2011

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Europe Amsterdam Athens Barcelona Berlin Bucharest Budapest, 2011 Cologne Copenhagen Dublin Florence, 2011 Glyfada Gothenburg Hamburg, 2011 Krakow Limassol, 2012 Lisbon Madrid Mallorca Malta Marbella Moscow Munich Nicosia, 2011 Oslo Paris Prague Rome Stockholm Venice Warsaw UK Edinburgh London Manchester Middle East Africa Bahrain Beirut Dubai Hurghada Kuwait City Nabq, 2011 Sharm El Sheikh Asia Bali Bangkok Beijing Bengaluru Chennai, 2011 Colombo, 2011 Fukuoka Hanoi, 2011 Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Hyderabad Jakarta Kuala Lumpur Macau, 2011 Makati Mumbai Narita New Delhi Osaka Osaka, Universal Pattaya Penang Phuket Pune Sentosa Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Tokyo Tokyo, Uyeno-Eki Yokohama

Biloxi • Hollywood, FL Las Vegas: The Joint • Orlando

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Malaysian Melting Pot Join Rohani Jelani, a renowned Malaysian chef, cookbook writer and home economist, in Bayan Indah, Kuala Lumpur, to whip up great dishes and having fun while doing it.

Whether a novice, an accomplished chef or a casual cook looking forward for some fun cooking with friends, you’ll definitely find something that suits your needs at this specially-designed kitchen. Rohani’s vast experience enables her to teach students to truly appreciate the major cuisines of Malaysia. Be it Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, vegetarian food or cake and dessert-making, Rohani’s classes are fun-filled but also packed with culinary information that equips students to recreate local favourites with ease, all taught in a beautiful school nestled on the edge of a tropical rainforest.

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3343, Kampung Palimbayan Indah, Sungai Penchala, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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+603 7729 0122

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rohani@bayanindah.com

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PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL COYNE / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

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Maximum Mumbai Mumbai, the city formerly known as Bombay, was once a British East India Company outpost leased annually for a paltry £10 back in 1665. Serving as both inspiration and frustration for writers such as VS Naipaul and Pico Iyer, and a quintessential stop on the India route, Mumbai today is a frenetic city of almost 17 million people.

Once a vast network of islands, Mumbai became of such strategic importance to the British that reclamation projects were undertaken to turn it into a single landmass. The early fort was dismantled in 1864 and the city was soon flooded with people seeking their fortunes. At one point, Mumbai was the largest supplier of cotton to the American Civil War. From cotton to Bollywood, the city has never looked back.

The Lonely Planet guide encapsulates Mumbai best in an introductory paragraph: “Mumbai is big. It’s full of dreamers and hard-labourers, actors and gangsters, stray dogs and exotic birds, artists and servants and fisherfolk and crorepatis (millionaires) and lots and lots of other people.

It has the most prolific film industry, one of Asia’s biggest slums and the largest tropical forest in an urban zone. It’s India’s financial powerhouse, fashion capital and a pulse point of religious tension. It’s evolved its own language, Bambaiyya Hindi, which is a mix of... everything. It has some

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Shawn Low, Lonely Planet’s Asia Pacific Travel Editor details one of the world’s most manic cities – Mumbai.

of the world’s most expensive real estate and a knack for creating land from water using only determination and garbage.” Really, how does one not get excited about that?

Visiting Mumbai, one is certainly overwhelmed by the teeming intensity created by movement. It’s not that there are plenty of people, it’s that they all seem to be going somewhere all the time. It’s a city that’s GO GO GO! There’s no real way of carving your own slice of space here. To avoid getting overwhelmed, travellers need to find inner peace from within; mental fortitude and a realisation that any sense of personal space becomes nonexistent here.

Warning dispensed. Now, make the most of your time in Mumbai with the help of this rough itinerary. Most visitors head to Colaba in the southernmost tip and base themselves here. Find the old Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the nexus of Indian travel activity and cover image for the first edition of Suketu Mehta’s excellent book, Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found. Get to the Crawford Market and its surrounding bazaars. Here, you’ll find everything from

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PHOTOGRAPHER: ORIEN HARVEY / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

PHOTOGRAPHER: RICHARD I’ANSON / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

fruit to cloth, jewellery and antiques. Find a place for thalis (set meals) and grab a falooda (rose-flavoured drink made with milk, cream, nuts and vermicelli) from the long-running Badshah Snacks & Drinks.

Cricket is big in India (an understatement if there ever was one!) and you can catch scratch matches at the Oval Maidan. If you’re game for a game, just ask. The colonial influence left in Mumbai can be best examined at the High Court, the University of Mumbai and St Thomas’ Cathedral. The cathedral is the oldest British building and was finished in 1718. Carry on to the Gateway of India, a basalt arch that’s now a popular meeting spot. Thereafter, take a gander to the opulent Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.

No, it’s a hotel… the real thing is in Agra.

Have dinner at street-side Bade Miya, a local institution on Tulloch St. At some point, all travellers find themselves drawn to Leopold Café & Bar that’s been around since 1871. Here, you can grab a beer and compare notes with fellow travellers. Another can’t-miss sight is Mani Bhavan.

This small house was where Ghandi stayed on visits from 1917 to 1934. Today, it’s a museum devoted to the man. Rub shoulders with locals at Chowpatty Beach during sunset.

Don’t forget to sample a bhelpuri (crisp dough rounds stuffed with puffed rice, lentils, lemon juice, onions, herbs and chutney) from one of many street-side vendors. Of course, a visit to Mumbai isn’t complete without a trip to Elephanta Island. This UNESCO world heritage site is set in the middle of Mumbai Harbour and famed for its rock-cut temples, dating back to AD 450.

For something completely different, visit Film City.

Bollywood studios thrive in Mumbai. Each year, 900 films continue to be pumped out. Hang around Leopold’s Café and you may be approached by film scouts. Don’t expect glitz and glamour though. As an extra, you’ll be paid a pittance (Rs500) for a day’s work. Odds are, you’ll spend hours on end under the hot sun waiting for scenes to be set up. But if you’ve got time to spare, it’s an interesting introduction to Bollywood, something truly made in India.

Left: Vegetable market on Carnak Road.

Below: Vendor selling bhelpuri.

Opposite page: Queue of people under Bollywood film posters in Mumbai.

GETTING THERE AirAsia flies to Mumbai from Kuala Lumpur four times a week. GETTING AROUND Getting a taxi into the city is the most convenient method of travel. Fares from the international terminal are prepaid and cost roughly Rs325 to Colaba. MONEY The local currency is the Indian Rupee (Rs). Credit cards are accepted at midrange and top-end restaurants and hotels and larger shops. ATMs are commonly found. When changing money, avoid the Rs1000 note as you might have trouble breaking it for change. Hotels and restaurants charge a service charge, elsewhere, baksheesh (tip) of Rs50 or so should be given to hotel porters etc. BEST TIME TO VISIT Go during the cool season (November to February).

The other months are either searing hot or bucketing with rain.

Find out more about India on www.lonelyplanet.com/india

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cover story

Zulfahmi mentally preparing for the race.

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2011

Get ready for breakneck speed and an action packed weekend when the AirAsia British Grand Prix comes to town from June 10 to 12, 2011.

Slated as one of the UK’s biggest sporting events, the AirAsia British Grand Prix will flag off at the legendary Silverstone Circuit with AirAsia as the title sponsor of the race for the second year running. Fans can expect to witness the thrills and spills of a high octane-fuelled race, with the likes of Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi battling it out for top spot on the podium.

The AirAsia British Grand Prix is the sixth out of 18 races on the calendar for this year’s MotoGP season that includes races in Spain, Germany and Italy. This year’s race is set to be bigger and better with Silverstone promising fans a three-day festival packed with onand off-track entertainment, including stunt riders and entertainment zones. Additionally, the race also marks the debut of the newly built Silverstone Wing that features world-class facilities for teams, riders, officials and spectators alike.

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The Bikes, the Race & the Team The World Championship features three race categories: MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc. Each category represents the engine displacement capacity of the motorbikes with the MotoGP class set at 800cc, Moto2 at 600cc and at 125cc for the third category. The categories vary from time to time and up until the early 1990s, there was even a category for sidecar motorbikes!

Riders compete for the coveted top spot not only for the glory of stepping up onto the podium but also to score points based on their race results. The top 15 riders to cross the finish line will score up to 25 points.

The ‘speed fiend’ with the highest score at the end of the season is crowned as World Champion.

Riding under the AirAsia banner are five young men: Zulfahmi Khairuddin of Team AirAsia-Sepang International Circuit-Ajo Motorsport, the sole Malaysian competitor in the championship, Efren Vazquez and Johann Zarco from the AirAsia Avant Ajo Motorsport team, and Redbull Ajo Motorsport’s Danny Kent and Jonas Folger. All five boys will be contending in the 125cc category.

The British MotoGP at a Glance The British Grand Prix began as the International Isle of Man Tourist Trophy that was part of the FIM Motorcycle World Grand Prix Championship from 1949 to 1976. It officially became the British Grand Prix in 1977 and, the race was subsequently moved to the Silverstone circuit until 1987. The following year saw the race being held at Donington Park up to 2009. In 2010, the race returned to Silverstone with AirAsia as title sponsor.

Above: Riders taking ground level corners at the AirAsia British Grand Prix 2010.

Left: MotoGP technicians making sure the bikes are in top condition.

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The Silverstone Circuit With more than 60 years of history, Silverstone, known to many as the home of British motorsport, was built on a former World War II Royal Air Force bomber station site.

The first time it was used for motorsports was during a spontaneous race between a few friends who lived in Silverstone village in September 1947. The following year, seeing that the abandoned airfield could be used as a race track, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) took a lease on the air field.

The first event at Silverstone was the RAC Grand Prix, which took place on October 2, 1948. In the same year, the track hosted the British Grand Prix.

The track at Silverstone is approximately 5.89 kilometres long and features 18 corners with its longest straight at 800 metres in length. Situated at the north of London, it’s about a 90-minute drive from the city.

Team AirAsia-Sepang International Circuit-Ajo Motorsport After sponsoring the AirAsia Malaysia Wildcard program at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in 2009, which saw Zulfahmi Khairuddin making his MotoGP debut, AirAsia and SIC embarked on a partnership and established Team AirAsia-SIC in 2010. Piloting for the team were Zulfahmi and Sturla Fagerhaug of Norway.

In January 2011, it was announced that MotoGP 125cc reigning world champion team Ajo Motorsport would be joining the team, thus making it Team AirAsia-SIC-Ajo Motorsport with Zulfahmi as the sole rider for the team.

Ajo Motorsport has taken the young man under its wings to train him for the 2011 season.

www.silverstone.co.uk

Governing Bodies The MotoGP is governed by four bodies. They are the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Dorna Sports, International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) which represents the teams and, the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association that represents the manufacturers of the motorbikes. These four organisations make up the Grand Prix Commission, which decides on the rules and regulations of the World Championship based on votes.

Bikers ‘vrooming’ past the packed grandstand at the Silverstone circuit.

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Team Member Profile JOHANN ZARCO, 21 YEARS OLD, FRANCE

MUHAMMAD ZULFAHMI KHAIRUDDIN, 20 YEARS OLD, MALAYSIA The only Malaysian competing in the MotoGP, Fahmi began his racing career as a participant of the Aprilia Junior GP Dream Program in 2007. In 2008, Fahmi joined the Modenas Yuzy Pachi Racing Team and raced in the Wira epg class before moving to the Novice category in the Petronas – AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championships.

Fahmi made his MotoGP debut in October 2009 after being chosen as one of the AirAsia Malaysia Wildcard entrants at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. Due to his impressive performance, Fahmi was selected as a member of the new Team AirAsia Sepang International Circuit to race for a full season in the 2010 MotoGP. At the end of the season, Fahmi managed to collect four points by finishing 15th in the Catalunya, German, Czech and Portuguese Grand Prix. With Ajo Motorsport agreeing to further develop this youngster’s talent, Fahmi is now racing with Team AirAsia-Sepang International Circuit-Ajo Motorsport for a second full season in the MotoGP. In the second race of the 2011 season in Jerez, Fahmi crossed the finish line in 10th position to give him his best result in MotoGP.

Avant AirAsia Ajo Motorsport EFREN VAZQUEZ, 25 YEARS OLD, SPAIN Vazquez made his MotoGP debut in 2007 and in the following season, finished 20th overall. In his third year of the World Championship, the Spaniard showed great improvement as he chalked up 54 points to place him in the 14th spot at the end of the season. In 2010, Vazquez wrapped up the season with two podium finishes and was 5th in the overall standing in the 125cc category.

In 2005, Zarco was the runner up of the Senior Mini European Championship and the following year, he became the runner up in the European Open Championship.

He also emerged as the champion of the Red Bull Rookies Club in 2007.

Zarco made his maiden MotoGP appearance in the 125cc category at the Qatar Grand Prix in 2009 and finished 20th. His second season in the World Championship in 2010 saw him record his fastest lap in his career at the Czech Grand Prix.

The 2011 season has started well for Zarco, especially when he was on podium in third place at the second race of the season in Jerez.

Redbull Ajo Motorsport DANNY KENT, 17 YEARS OLD, THE UK Kent’s foray in racing began when he was 8 years old with his first race in the Welsh Mini Moto Championship, which he won in 2001. In 2010, he was the runner up for the Red Bull Rookies Championship. In the same year, he made his debut in the MotoGP with a few wildcard races towards the end of the season. The 2011 season is the first full season for Kent, who is competing in the 125cc category of the World Championship.

JONAS FOLGER, 17 YEARS OLD, GERMANY This season marks the third full season for Folger in the World Championship. He had a brilliant first season in 2009 when he scored his first podium by coming out second in Le Mans at the France Grand Prix. In 2010, he finished the overall MotoGP season in 14th position after scoring 69 points in the championship.

Folger found himself once again on the podium after taking second place at the Spain Grand Prix in Jerez.

AirAsia MotoGP Memorabilia Immortalise your memories of the AirAsia British GP 2011 with these great merchandise, available for sale onboard all AirAsia flights and at AirAsia Megastore www.airasiamegastore.com

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AirAsia British GP cap

AirAsia British GP bear

AirAsia British GP lanyard

AirAsia British GP men’s Micro-fibre t-shirt (European Size: S/M/L)

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RM15

RM45

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Bikes, Babes & Bliss This was the perfect weekend for motorheads from all walks of life when bikes ruled the circuit, fans ruled the grandstand and smouldering grid girls ignited passions to unimaginable heights at the AirAsia British Grand Prix 2010.

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IMAGES: JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION 55067_Japan 70

land of the rising sun Japan is famed for its arts, culture and centuries-old traditions.

From kabuki to cosplay culture, super-fast shinkansen (bullet trains) to peaceful onsen (hotsprings), the Land of the Rising Sun is the perfect synthesis of the old and new, sacred and profane.

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Clockwise from above: Japan celebrates Children’s Day by flying koinobori, carp-shaped wind socks made from paper or cloth for their sons, in hope that they grow up healthy and strong, women enjoying the Ibusuki Natural Sand Bath in Kagoshima, Kyushu island a full body beauty treatment where women immerse themselves in volcanic sand, the Morotabune-Shinji is an ancient rite performed to recreate the myth regarding the transfer of the land as recorded in Japan’s oldest chronicle Kojiki.

Opposite page: During the Hinamatsuri or Japanese Doll Festival in Tottori City, straw dolls are floated downriver to send troubles or bad spirits away.

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Clockwise from below: Yugama, a beautiful crater lake near the top of the active volcano Mount Shirane in Honshu island, Tsuiki is a traditional artform made by beating heated copper with a wooden mallet, Otani River Carp Streamer Festival in Suzu city in Honshu island.

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Above: In the summer, Japan observes the Oni-Hanabi (Ogre’s Fireworks) in Noboribestu’s Hell Valley, Hokkaido.

Fireworks are launched by professionals dressed up as ‘Oni’ to wish people happiness and rid them of bad luck, Left: During the Mikuni Matsuri, floats carrying giant warrior dolls, and bands playing different music are paraded through the town of Mikuni in the Hokuriku region in Honshu island.

Log on to www.airasiago.com for more travel packages to Japan.

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paradise point

The east cost of Sabah, Malaysia, is blessed with numerous islands that offer excellent diving opportunities.

Mataking Island is one such gem and we sent AirAsia’s Regional Head of People Department, Adzhar Ibrahim, to experience the Reef Dive Resort and the amazing diving activities that can be had around the island.

WORDS: ADZHAR IBRAHIM IMAGES: REEF DIVE RESORT, MATAKING & PETER CHOY

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Mataking Island, one of the most easterly points of Malaysia, deserves all the adjectives that are used to describe it – azure, sapphire, crystal etc. To call it an island paradise barely does it justice as I continued to echo the adjectives used to describe this tiny piece of land in the Celebes Sea. I was there on a diving trip recently, with my friend Peter, an experienced diver and avid underwater photographer. We took a boat ride from Semporna, the mainland town on the east coast of Sabah, which is about 80 kms from the Tawau airport, arriving at the tiny island in less than 45 minutes.

Island Escapade The boat ride was a fun precursor to the adventure that awaited us at the island. Riding the ocean passing islands with evocative names like Bohaydulong, Pandanan and Kalapuan made the short journey even more exciting. Although we were out in the open ocean, I could clearly see corals and reefs beneath the boat that were mere metres deep.

Often times, local fishermen paddling in their tiny dugout canoes bobbed past, paying us little attention as they silently watched over their nets, seemingly unconcerned about the waves and the winds.

When we arrived, Luke, the British manager of Reef Dive Resort showed us around the place. I surmised he was on permanent holiday on the island, though he tried convincing me he was

actually employed to do what he did there. He goes around barefoot all day at the resort. “Lucky sod,” I mumbled. I wanted his job.

The Reef Dive Resort is a series of low slung buildings that do not extend above the canopy of the surrounding trees. The main facilities – restaurant, conference room, music room, shop, reading room and VIP room – are right at the water’s edge.

The chalets, bungalows and villas are nestled close by and their fresh water supply comes from captured rainwater as well as a desalination plant. The resort handles it’s ecology well, I thought.

Talking about ecology, the resort also has a turtle conservation programme. Turtle (Greens, Ridleys, and the occasional Leatherback) eggs are collected and incubated in special hatcheries. The turtle babies are

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Clockwise from below: An almost transparent coral shrimp, a Porcelain crab taking refuge in the corals, a brightly coloured Pygmy seahorse uses camouflage to blend into the environment, the Clown fish can be easily spotted around the soft coral due to its bright markings, Adzhar getting close to a Green turtle at the reef.

then released into the sea at various points on the island, well away from predators, to give them a head start.

To Dive For But what about the diving at Reef Dive Resort, I hear you ask? Well, that has to be one of the best reasons for coming to Mataking Island. The resort has a very well equipped 5-star PADI dive centre, with diving instructors, dive masters and everything else you need to get under water, have a good time and, come up safely. The centre also offers Nitrox, a special type of air for hardcore divers who prefer to float around in the water depths just that bit longer.

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Alas, when Peter and I got to Mataking, it rained buckets. The sun was barely visible, in spite of my pleas. Curses didn’t work either.

Yet, such was the clarity of the water and the variety of reef and coral creatures, that having a sulking sun hardly mattered. In the water, below the waves, you are in a totally different universe where all things related to the ground are immaterial.

I started out with the House Reef, right in front of the Dive Centre. I walked down the sandy slope and before I knew it, I was 25 metres down, and yet barely 25 metres from the shore! The dive took me along well marked trails, amidst glorious reefs and corals where schools of jacks

dart around and, on most occasions, Charlie, a 1.5-metre barracuda swim past, barring his menacing fangs.

There are dive sites everywhere around the island. Most are named – some with commonplace names, such as Divers’ Delight, Coral Garden, Lobster Lair. Others are more descriptive, such as Nudibranch Town and Nudibranch Heaven, so named because tiny nudibranches, colourful and spectacular shell-less mollusks, abound. Note to self – after diving at Nudibranch Town or Nudibranch Heaven, shouldn’t I be allowed to dive at the Nudi Colony?

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Sandy Encounters Near Bohayan Island, a 15-minute boat ride south of Mataking, waves break seemingly in the middle of nowhere and the sea floor abruptly rises into very shallow reefs. When we dived there, the surf stirred up so much sand, we felt like we were in a washing machine. In the manner of adventurers everywhere, I baptised that unnamed dive site ‘Rinse Cycle’.

A word of caution: Be prepared to pick sand out of parts of your body where the sun doesn’t shine.

The Shipwreck Post is another must-do dive site. It has the wreck of an old dive tender, purposely sunk to create an artificial reef. The deep

end is around 26 metres, whilst the shallow end tops 15 metres, and carries a post box where you can post postcards. ‘No’ Johnny. The postman doesn’t collect the postcards. The resort collects and mails them for you instead. It is actually a cool way to send a postcard off that way.

Marine Mania Pandanan Island, east of Mataking, has an army base that provides security for the area. Diving along its eastern shores during strong currents is a surreal experience. You simply maintain buoyancy whilst the current takes you on a tour of the sights.

You’ll come up hundreds of metres away, without moving a muscle. But if you are really lucky, you may come across thresher sharks, which have been sighted off the island. This is of course, on top of the usual quotient of the big uns’ you’ll get to see here – other kinds of sharks, moray and other eels, various types of rays, turtles and a huge grouper or two, not to mention gazillions of smaller creatures from seahorses to anemones and the ubiquitous nudibranches.

But Mataking is not just for divers.

You can opt for the non-diver package and just chill in your cosy room, and maybe do a bit of snorkeling in between meals served in its restaurant.

Or you could trek around the island,

Clockwise from above: The neon colours of the nudibranch often send out a warning signal to potential predators, the Sipadan Mermaid was sunk into the waters near the reef to help create artifical breeding grounds for marine life, a shy coral fish peeking out from its abode, the delicate tentacles of a soft coral.

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Mataking Reef Day Every year, the staff of the Reef Dive Resort at Mataking Island do their part in keeping the beaches and seas clean with their annual Reef day and Beach Clean-Up. With a PADI 5 star status, the resort prides itself on playing a pivotal role in eco-tourism and education of both guests and locals. The resort is fully dedicated in creating awareness on what people can do making life better for the marine life around the island.

The 2010 initiative saw the resort organising a variety of activities that included a survey of the reef network, reef dives, cataloging of marine life, a fun beach clean-up and eco-seminars.

Above: A school of Yellowtail Fusilier fish.

Top: The highly poisonous but beautiful Lion fish.

enjoying the warm breezes, sandy shores and gloriously blue ocean.

The resort is also building a set of exclusive Director’s Villas on Mataking and on Mataking Kecil, the smaller Mataking island. Mataking Kecil is connected by Moses Walk; a strip of sand that appears during low tide. When completed, these villas will be some of the most desirable vacationing places on earth.

Ultimately, the Reef Dive Resort is the labour of love of its owner, a local Sabahan businessman who cares a lot about blending good design and great service into the spectacular location in the Celebes Sea. But even this gorgeous paradise induced stress in me: The pain of having to pack and leave when the trip comes to an end.

AirAsia flies daily to Tawau from Kuala Lumpur. For flight schedule and bookings, visit www.airasia.com

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Diving Packages • 5D/4N The Reef Dive Resort, Mataking Island RM2905 per person • 5D/4N Seaventures Dive Resort, Tawau, Sabah RM2040 per person • 4D/3N Roach Reef Resort, Tawau, Sabah RM1350 per person Log on to www.airasiago.com for details.

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ANation vian

IMAGE: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM LEE

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In search of some of the most unique birds alive, Travel 3Sixty explores the region’s biggest bird park, and encounters some of the world’s strangest beaked-creatures. travel3sixty june

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Hear ‘flamingo’ and you’ll automatically picture a pretty pink bird standing on one leg. But, how about a ‘carmine bee eater’ or a ‘shoebill stork’? Anything comes to mind?

The tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and South America, and savannahs of Africa are home to thousands of largely unknown, yet fascinating bird species. Sadly, many of these birds face a serious threat of extinction due to poaching, loss of habitat and other hazards.

A sanctuary for these winged wonders, Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park offers a world of discovery for bird lovers. The park offers visitors a rare opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the world’s lesserknown inhabitants and broaden their avian horizons.

Left: Crowned cranes are the only cranes that roost in tree, and are reminiscent of prehistoric pre-Pliocene bird fossils found from North America to central Asia.

Below: As African penguins are very calm, humans have been able to come as close as three feet before these birds move away.

Penguins that Go Hee-haw Crowned Dancer With its dramatic golden crown, the South African Crowned Crane is one fashionable bird. Standing tall and graceful, it resembles a lady in a stylish hat! The crane’s deep red chin wattle offers a lovely splash of colour to its mantle of predominantly pearl grey plumage, and black and white wings. What really sets this crane apart from other feathered creatures is its theatrical courtship dance. The display usually begins with head bobbing, and includes bowing, jumping up to eight feet high with wings outspread, throwing objects up in the air between hops and dancing around each other. Cranes are also known to emit calls, described as hollow-sounding honks. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies the South African Crowned Crane as ‘vulnerable’.

Did you know that there are penguins that live in the South-western coast of Africa? The only penguin species found here, African penguins were once known as Jackass penguins due to the braying sound they make on land; just like donkeys!

Like all penguins, the African penguin sports a black back and white belly for crucial camouflage underwater. To predators like sharks and orcas below, the penguin’s white belly blends in with the sunlit surface of the water, while predators above find it hard to distinguish the penguin’s black back from the dark water. The African penguin also bears a distinctive black band around its chest and, spots on its belly; each pattern is unique, like fingerprints.

These penguins feed on pilchard, anchovies and sardines. However, overfishing is fast depleting their food sources, and pollution from oil spills is destroying their habitat. At the end of the 20th century, a mere 150,000 remained of the once thriving 1.5 million strong population estimated in 1910. june travel3sixty 81

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Big Eggs Cassowary eggs are about the same size as emu eggs, smaller only than ostrich eggs, which are the largest in the bird world.

Ostrich egg

Emu egg

Cassowary egg

Chicken egg

Flying Acrobat The Lilac-breasted roller, found in sub-Saharan Africa, is a gorgeous bird with a stunning plumage of shimmering lilac, cinnamon, violet, green, and wings of brilliant turquoise and vivid indigo. While it has little strength in its feet, this colourful bird more than makes up for this weakness with incredible air acrobatics. The roller is a swift and strong flier when defending its territory, the roller executes rolling dives to intimidate and attack intruders, and has been known to perform impressive aerial displays during courtship too. Ascending with its wings open, the roller swoops down with its wings tucked in, picking up speed and rolling from side to side while emitting a raucous call.

Pretty Pigeon Pigeons are usually considered pests, but the Victoria Crowned pigeon found in lowlands and swamp forests in Indonesia and northern New Guinea, is an elegant creature that’s hunted for its beautiful plumes. The delicate lace-like blue feathers that adorn the Victoria Crowned pigeon’s crest give this bird a rather whimsical look. It’s no wonder this bird was named after Queen Victoria of Great Britain, during whose reign it was popular to decorate hats using bird feathers and even whole birds!

The vulnerable Victoria Crowned pigeon is part of the European Endangered Species Programme.

Right: This beautiful bird is threatened by habitat destruction and trapping.

Above: The Victoria Crowned pigeon is likely the world’s largest species of pigeon.

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Red Hot Lovebirds The Red-crested cardinal of South America is a rather possessive bird. These birds form monogamous pairs and never let each other out of sight. They maintain continuous vocal contact, and should they become separated, the male will immediately deliver a guttural, demanding summon. During the breeding season, males become aggressive towards their own kind and other bird species. Mating is a rough love affair, with the male launching swift attacks.

Armed Dangerous

Above: The Red-crested cardinal’s diet consists sists of seeds, plant matter, insects and fruits. hern Right: The IUCN Red List classifies the Southern cassowary as vulnerable.

Tender Loving Care e

Little is known about the elusive Southern cassowary, which dwells in the rainforests of Southern New Guinea and north-eastern Australia, but it is possibly one of the most dangerous birds around. Despite being tall and heavy, the cassowary can achieve speeds of 50 kilometres per hour when running, and jump as high as five feet!

On its powerful feet are sharp claws with dagger-like middle talons, which this bird uses to protect itself. A kick from a cassowary can inflict severe damage. However, wild cassowaries are generally shy and attack only when provoked. For the most part, these birds live solitary lives, communicate via low-frequency booming noises inaudible to humans, and help rainforests thrive by ingesting whole fruits (even toxic ones) and dispersing intact seeds all over the forest.

Jurong Bird Park is the only bird park in Asia Pacific with an Avian Hospital to treat its feathered residents. The Avian Hospital is also Singapore’s official avian rescue centre, and has treated over 4,000 birds to date. Here, new hatchlings are cared for at the nursery in the Breeding and Research Centre.

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Yellow-hooded Casanova Perhaps it’s the hot salsa beat throbbing in its veins, but the yellow-hooded black bird of South America is one busy Casanova, with a Martha Stewart twist. Nests play an integral part in mating rituals. Before any wooing begins, the male builds its love nest using aquatic plants and anchors it to stalks or reeds near water bodies. Then, the male repeatedly parachutes into the grass with its wings held stiffly while singing till it attracts a female to its nest. Two to five days later, the female three le lays up to th hree pale blue eggs with dark markings. Once incubation bation begins, tthe male is off to build another love pad for its next repeating xt mate, repea ating this up to five times in a single season!

Above: The yellow-hooded blackbird’s cacophonous song sounds like “took – tooweeez” followeed by “te-tidle-de-de-do-dee”.

Right: During breeding season, the male marabou stork establishes its territory and inflates its pendulous throat sac to repel intruders.

Bloody Undertaker Found in Africa’s dry savannahs, the marabou stork has to be one of the ugliest birds alive. Its black cloak-like wings, skinny legs and regular appointments with the dead (carrion, to be precise) have earned it an unflattering ng moniker: The Undertaker bird.

This bird is the only stork species to feed on carrion, but it will devour anything dead or alive, including juvenile crocodiles and adult flamingos. That’s right, flamingos! One e of the largest flying birds in the world, the marabou stork has a wingspan of almost three metres, and can grow up to five feet tall. Imagine coming face-to-face with this beast of a bird!

But forget size; it’s the marabou stork’s nightmarish face that truly induces chills. Besides a powerful bill for tearing prey apart, it sports an almost bald head and featherless neck, eck, designed for easy cleaning after a bloody feeding frenzy.

Come breeding season, its head becomes encrusted with dried blood. Scientists are still baffled over this.

While the marabou stork has nasty habits like defecating g on its own legs, and devouring animals fleeing from grassfires, this villain does have its redeeming qualities. By y consuming rotting carcasses, it speeds up decomposition, playing an important role in ecology.

AirAsia flies to Singapore from various cities in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. donesia.

For flight schedule and bookings, visit www.airasia.com

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Fanny Lai

with

GCEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Necessity of Captive Breeding • To understand avian reproductive science and replicate it in the wild; Jurong Bird rd Park has successfully re-introduced more than a hundred Oriental pied hornbills s into Singapore’s forests.

• To breed endangered birds and release them to increase their population in the wild; we have a regional programme geared towards the conservation of the Bali mynah. nah.

• To serve as a contingency population to prevent extinction.

Bird Shows at JBP

IMAGE: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Bird talk

“The main purpose of Bird Parks’ conservation presentation is to engage, educate and nd inspire the public towards birdlife conservation. We surpass welfare and ethics standards dards required by the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums. We demonstrate birds’ wonderful nderful natural behaviour and capabilities. Each show conveys love and respect for bird life with a strong conservation message.”

40 Bird Years “In the lasts four decades, we’ve inspired more than 40 million guests to support bird life conservation while providing a wholesome recreational place for the family. We are privileged to have educated two generations of bird life conservationists.” www.birdpark.com.sg

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Travelling with the

Board

I never thought that a wooden board with four wheels attached to it would show me the world. Skateboarding has completely changed my life, drawing me towards a more artistic and visual lifestyle. My name is Patrik Wallner and I am a skateboard video- and photographer from Hungary.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PATRIK WALLNER

I am an avid skateboarder but I also have this passion for filming and photography. I slowly started by filming and snapping pictures of my friends skateboarding in the city and suburbs. This hobby has now turned into a full time job, and I am able to incorporate skateboarding with my other passion – travelling.

The Origins of Skateboarding

Opposite page: Monks in general tend to act very apathetic and untouched towards skateboarding. But these two were astonished when they saw Dan Zvereff grind up and down a slope at a temple in Yangon, Myanmar.

Skateboarding appeared around 60 years ago on the west coast of the United States, when surfers were looking for an alternative activity while not being able to ride the waves. In its early stages, surfers attached roller skate wheels onto small pieces of wood and cruised down the streets of California.

Gradually, over the last half a century, it has developed into something much more complex, where the size of a board, wheels and trucks are sold in various measurements, down to fractions of inches and millimetres.

The slightest change in size or shape can decide whether a skateboarder is able to land a trick or slam onto the ground.

Skateboarding has come a long way, expanding from its original roots in the United States and Europe to other parts of the world, where it is a real surprise to see kids pushing their boards down dirt roads in places such as Uganda, Siberia or even Afghanistan. Almost everyone starts skateboarding because it looks fun and exciting. It is every skateboarder’s dream to be able to june travel3sixty 89

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Left: When I was hitchhiking around Qinghai Lake on the Tibetan plateau, 10,000 feet above sea level, I passed by a village that was holding a Tibetan ritual dance ceremony. The girl in the middle was one of the participants, who was accompanied by her friends.

skate down a street, learn new tricks and push through traffic, which also defines the ultimate expression of freedom.

From experience, when I spoke to people not familiar with skateboarding, they always saw it as a competitive sport. This is only partly true because skateboarding is so much more than winning prizes or being better than a fellow skateboarder.

Going Back to the Roots Skateboarding in its truest form is about taking it back to its roots; the street. Real skateboarding enthusiasts shy away from skateparks for both skating and filming.

Instead, we traverse cities, urban landscapes and rural areas looking for ramps, stairs, ledges, slopes and handrails in public areas. Not only do these features challenge us to take skateboarding to a newer dimension, it also enables me to document the action in stunning and evocative

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images that capture motion, speed and the dynamism of skateboarding.

The motivation in filming it is quite simple: Finding new obstacles in different countries and continents and documenting the lifestyle and skateboarding maneuvers around it.

Have Board will Travel Travelling and skateboarding have turned into an addiction for me. For the past three years, I have been on the road with friends, actively seeking out new places to film skateboarding. In the past decades, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York were considered the hubs to film street skateboarding in the United States. Slowly, cities in Europe, such as Paris, London, Berlin and Barcelona joined the American spots as great alternatives, as the popularity of skateboarding grew and more and more of the youth of these countries began to discover the joys and personal fulfillment in skateboarding. Now, as skateboarding

gains global momentum as an activity and an expression of oneself, many have begun to venture out to newer territories such as Asia to see what this continent has to offer.

Traversing the Globe In 2009, nine friends and I went on a journey from Moscow to Hong Kong via the Trans-Siberian Express, stopping at dozens of cities on a 10,000-kilometre journey to the east.

We found unique ex-Soviet Lenin monuments, rugged rails in Mongolia and perfect marble ledges in China, which were all great to skate on. We completed the route only by train, totaling up to 200 hours of sitting, and once standing for 13 hours, since sitting class tickets were sold out!

Realising that the East had so much to offer skateboarding-wise, I had to relocate myself from Europe to East Asia to follow my passion on this side of the planet. Living in Hong Kong at first was the perfect gateway to Shenzhen, one of the best cities to skate in the East. From having only dirt roads 30 years ago, Shenzhen has turned into one of the best cities

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STOP DREAMING. START PLANNING!

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Flights

Hotels

Tours

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More than 70,000 hotels, 5,000 tours & activities to choose from!

for skateboarding. Professional skateboarders from the US, Europe and elsewhere all fly to Shenzhen on a daily basis to film skateboarding.

On the Banana Trail Just a few months ago, my friends and I travelled through the so-called Banana Trail; from Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Mandalay in Myanmar.

Travelling through Vietnam, the ancient civilization of Cambodia, the never before colonised Thailand and the very unique Myanmar was a great contrast to some of my previous trips through modern cities. Travelling with heavy video and photo equipment through rough

Above, right: Skateboarding in Phnom Penh, Cambodia can be pretty tricky and difficult because of the rough streets and roads.

Below: Geng Jakkarin from Thailand skating down the empty streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

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terrain, however, proved to be tiresome at times. Running into the wrong people does happen occasionally, like the time we had to save two friends who were chased

by Mongolian taxi drivers with crowbars in the back streets of Ulan Bator. But, on the whole, the positive aspects of travelling usually outshine these moments. Seeing children and the locals, such as young monks in Myanmar, astonished and entertained watching us perform always feels exhilarating.

Piecing it All Together The trips always prove to be an adventure too, but returning home after a month or two of travelling is sometimes the most rewarding part.

Once all the footage is gathered, the editing and postproduction begins.

With most of the trips we accomplish, I try to put together a full length DVD, which is presented at film festivals or sold at skateboard shops in Europe, America and Asia or through my website (visualtraveling.com).

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The journey does not stop here.

I am already planning the next route through South Asia, such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to explore the unknown parts of these countries. Skateboarding opens up doors for my friends to roam in different cities and culture, while I capture and document skateboarding in these cities. This is something which I never thought of doing before I got introduced to the wooden board with four wheels.

To watch video trailers of the Tran-Siberian journey “10,000 Kilometers”, the Southeast Asian trip “The Mandalay Express” go to www.visualtraveling.com.

Clockwise from above: Kuwait proved to be one of the most expensive places I have ever visited.

Regardless, the Kuwaiti were very kind and approachable and didn’t mind me taking portraits like at this Egyptian meat market in Kuwait City; self-portrait of the writer; a Myanmarese boy wearing ‘thanaka’ or face-powder made from ground bark.

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pilot’s perspective

The Perfect Pilot Superior judgment and superior skills make a superior pilot. However, getting there involves extensive training.

Capt. Lim Khoy Hing details how good pilots are made.

Former astronaut, Frank Borman, once said, “A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.”

What this means is that a superior pilot has both good judgment and piloting skills and, the best way to improve his flying skills is by exercising good judgment first.* If good judgment is so important, why then have good piloting skills, you may ask? Well... whilst it is

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important to have good judgment at all times, pilots too are human beings and can sometimes make mistakes.

This is why it is important to have good piloting skills in order to recover quickly from these mistakes.

Therefore, a superior judgment is one when the pilot is able to assess and avoid a risky outcome instead of continuing with his decision.

That said, this month’s article is in response to a query as to how the airline industry keeps pilots in tip-top

condition to ensure the millions of daily air travellers are kept as safe and as sound as possible.

Wrong Assumptions Some air travellers fear flying because they are afraid that the aircraft may not be able to physically withstand severe air turbulence resulting in the wings snapping off or the engines failing.

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This, fortunately, is not true.

Modern planes are designed to be very reliable or practically ‘uncrashable’ because of the latest advancement in aviation technology that reduces mechanical faults to a very negligible level. On the other hand, it is quite difficult to reduce human error where flying is concerned. The only way to do so is through rigorous training, which is the reason for the frequent ‘base checks’ and practical exams pilots have to undergo every six months.

This ensures that pilots do not become complacent; the standard procedures and drills are so well ingrained that they become second nature should any emergencies arise.

Take for example Kathmandu in Nepal, a difficult destination for landing planes due to its location in the mountains (4389 feet or 1338 metres above sea level). Airlines that wish to fly to Kathmandu need to ensure that their pilots receive thorough training. They must be trained to overcome mechanical failures in bad weather, know how to execute an aborted landing and, fly along escape routes between valleys. This will need to be done purely relying on instruments, as they may not be able to see the whole route when the weather is bad.

Poor Judgment There are times when accidents occur due to poor interaction between the captain and co-pilot. For example, when a captain makes a poor judgment and the co-pilot isn’t assertive enough to speak up due to fear of antagonising his superior, or when the captain refuses to pay attention to his co-pilot’s advice. In January 2004, a Boeing 737 crashed into the Red Sea because the captain was disorientated while flying at night and the co-pilot did not intervene quickly enough. This led to the loss of 148 lives.

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In May 2010, the Indian Bharat Chronicle reported that the captain of a Boeing 737 that flew in from Dubai to Mangalore ignored at least twice his co-pilot’s advice not to land.

The warnings were in vain and the aircraft crashed and fell off the cliff from the table-top runway because of poor judgment: It was coming in too fast and too high to land safely! This accident took 158 lives.

The above mishaps have led to even more vigorous training that encourages co-pilots to be more assertive and to intervene if the situation demands.

New Training Concepts Nowadays, instead of emphasising the pilot’s skills in handling such events as ‘engine failure on take off’, which is part of the regulatory requirements, the new training concept is directed at coaching pilots to overcome seemingly common events that have often led to accidents. In this way, the airline

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industry hopes accidents due to human errors will be greatly reduced. This is over and above the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s guidelines for Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training that makes it mandatory for captains to listen to their co-pilots. Whilst the co-pilots may be less experienced, their opinions and judgements are just as valid.

The CRM programme is strongly emphasised in all AirAsia and AirAsia X training programmes to ensure that all our guests are in good hands.

Conclusion There is a saying that good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from mistakes, and mistakes are often a result of bad judgment.

Luckily a pilot undergoes rigorous training on simulators first, where they can see the result of bad judgments and mistakes. This enables them to learn what to do and what not to when flying an actual plane.

If only life had the same training facility as a ‘simulator’!

Sources: *Pilot’s Primer

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 more than 25,700 total flying hours and is now a Simulator Flight Instructor.

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.

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travel log

Memories from Myanmar Having dreamt of visiting Myanmar for such a long time, Sarah Crake finally makes the trip and returns home with loads of beautiful memories.

Shwedagon Paya

As the plane descended, I strained to get my first glimpse of the Shwedagon Paya and sure enough, far below, I could see a glistening drop of gold on the land. This was Myanmar, a country that I had wanted to visit for a long time. To say I was excited was a bit of an understatement, as it had been my dream for over 10 years!

When I found out that AirAsia was running daily flights into Yangon from Bangkok, with excellent flight times, I checked out the online prices and found a fantastic deal (including supersizing my luggage) for a return flight. It was now or never, I thought and as I clicked the mouse to book the ticket, I felt this time the trip was meant to be.

Downtown Yangon is safe and friendly. Any trip to this capital will revolve around a visit to the must-see Shwedagon Paya, a mighty edifice of gold leaf, with a towering golden paya (stupa), which looks like it’s literally stretching up to touch the brilliant blue sky. Young monks in maroon robes strode around purposefully, whilst elders sat quietly praying and young nuns dressed in pink huddle together giggling. I was lucky to catch a procession of novice monks at the temple, riding on their father’s shoulders, sheltered from the fierce sun by golden umbrellas called hti.

Sarah Crake in Bagan

Seemingly covered in more gold than what is in the Bank of England’s vaults, Shwedagon is beautifully illuminated at night, when the whole place glows gold against the backdrop of an inky black sky. It surely was an inspirational place to start my tour of Myanmar.

Hungry for more temples, my next destination was the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bagan. An archaeological area with more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments built from the 10th to the 14th centuries AD, it was once the capital city of the first Myanmar kingdom. I hired a bicycle and set

Got an interesting travel tale to share? Then email it to us at travel3sixty@airasia.com along with your images and personal details. Published submissions will receive a RM250 e-gift voucher from us.

Travel 3Sixty reserves the right to edit the article for length and clarity.

To find out how else AirAsia can enhance your travels, visit www.haveyouflownairasia.com.

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off to see as much as I could of the famous site, passing through the sleepy Village of the Giant Pig along the way.

The vast flat sandy plain was literally strewn with ancient monuments and it was a wonderful experience cycling slowly, overtaking the odd, colourfully festooned ox cart, before veering off down a random track to explore a temple that caught my eye. The sunsets and sunrises here were sublime.

The ancient city of Amarapura, just outside Mandalay, is where you’ll find the fairy-tale U Bein bridge. Over a 1000 yards long, the best time to view the teak bridge is late afternoon when ‘commuters’ use the bridge to travel between the two villages at either ends.

The next morning, I took a short, boat ride upriver to Mingun, where I visited the famous earthquake-cracked temple. I also spent a day visiting Inwa; where sleepy horse carts trundled through verdant rice paddies and, Sagaing; a place so relaxed and with sublime hill views, it has become a famous meditation retreat.

Colourful ox-cart in Bagan.

If that wasn’t enough I still had Inle Lake on my itinerary.

A body of periwinkle blue water surrounded by sloping hills and hazy skies, the floating gardens are possibly the most serene place I’ve ever visited. Inle Lake is also where you’ll find the famous Intha fisherman. Their unique rowing style; with the oar attached to their leg, has become one of the most iconic images of Myanmar.

On my return to Yangon, the hot dry weather had been replaced with the monsoon rains. My parting memory of the city was the stunning sight of rows of monks and nuns wandering in the rain clutching their traditional parasols.

Seeing this beautiful sight, I vowed to return to Myanmar to further explore this country.

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fashion fab

S

ARTORIAL SUMMER Timeless elegance is not all that difficult to achieve provided you know how to differentiate fab from fad. As we reach halfway point in the year, here’s what’s in store in fashion for both men and women.

Haan-Woven

Vintage Verve

Cole Haan’s Spring 2011 handbag line expresses the spirit of work and play in a variety of luxury materials.

The Heritage Weave collection comes in the shape of totes, clutches and hobos. www.colehaan.com

The Vintage Original Carbon from Bell & Ross combines Swiss precision with the authenticity of timepieces from a bygone era. The matt black carbon finish is inspired by the colour of an instrumental panel. www.bellross.com

The Global Explorer Pedro’s men’s shoe collection for S/S 2011 is an exploration of raw sensuality that echoes the exoticism of faraway lands. Earthy notes, greys and caramels accented with classic stitching, and embossed metal pieces lend an air of quiet confidence. www.pedroshoes.com

Ever After Eric Choong Bridal is synonymous with ethereal bridal gowns that are crafted with luxury fabrics, impeccably tailored and accented with sumptuous materials. A full range of bridal wear that includes bridesmaid dresses, shoes and accessories are available for a fairytale wedding. www.ericchoong.com

WORDS: R.RAJENDRA

Juicy Fun

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Young, vibrant and with just the right touch of mischief, Juicy Couture is a whimsical brand that knows how to have fun.

This charm bracelet celebrates the fun and girly side of life. www.juicycouture.com

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Tote oă with Tod’s The new tote bag from Tod’s boasts an elegant design and is crafted in either ultra soft calf leather or in crocodile skin. Available in three sizes, the totes are roomy, practical and stylish. www.tods.com

Season’s Best

Choo on This!

The laidback charm of spring and summer is well documented in Espirit’s Women and Men’s collections. Secret Garden for the girls is a sporty line in cool cottons, silks, linen and light jerseys, while the boys get to go Cool Campus in this modern interpretation of the 50s silhouettes. http://esprit.com

The Choo 24:7 collection from Jimmy Choo is a timeless collection that everywoman should have in her closet. For this summer, wedgies, sling backs and platforms make the perfect statement for your sartorial debut. www.jimmychoo.com

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pure beauty

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EWELS FOR JUNE

Make quality skincare, makeup and fragrance your best friends as you take on the world. Here’s a roundup of some of the best products available this month in the market.

Skin Saver Gentle in texture but tough on aging, Revitalift Duo Powder Foundation SPF30/PA++ from L’Oréal combats aging signs on skin, while giving complexion instant youth. Fine lines are smoothened, giving you a fresh and vibrant complexion. www.lorealparis.com

Leggy Beauties Using an active ingredient found in almonds buds, L’Occitane’s leg spray helps stimulate microcirculation, improve drainage and eliminate the appearance of cellulite. www.loccitane.com

Scented World A fruity, floral scent that is innocent and rebellious, L’Eau Par Kenzo celebrates life’s joy in all its facets. The women’s version is energetic and sparkling, while the men’s is spicy with woody and gingery notes. www. kenzoparfums.com

WORDS: R.RAJENDRA

Naturally White The Moisture White™ Shiso BB Cream SPF 25 PA+++ from The Body Shop is a multi-action makeup base with extracts of shiso leaf, Vitamin C, liquorice and organic aloe vera for fairerlooking skin in an instant. The formula conceals blemishes, while soothing and protecting skin. www.thebodyshop.com

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Coming up Roses With a concentration of 10 plant extracts such as rosehip oil and neroli that are renowned for their hydrating, reconstructive and healing properties, the Damascan Rose Facial Treatment from Aesop hydrates while helping activate cell renewal. www.aesop.net.au

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Maximum Coverage The whipped formula in Max Factor’s Xperience Weightless Foundation provides flawless coverage but with a feather-light feeling. Available in six shades, enabling the wearer to find the closest match to her natural skintone. www.maxfactor.com

Scent of a Woman Creed’s 2000 Fleurs for Women is described as an armful of fresh flowers chosen in a spring garden by a man for the woman he loves. www. creed. Available in Malaysia at Kens Apothecary, Empire Shopping Gallery, Isetan KLCC and Isetan The Gardens.

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Baked Goodies The new Baked Eye Colour from Laura Mercier is an innovative and versatile collection of eye shadow that smoothes on naturally, is transfer- and crease-resistant, and can be worn wet or dry. Comes in six sexy shades. www.lauramercier.com

5/13/11 9:58:30 AM

jetsetter

Celeste Siam Meet the only female DJ from Asia who is rocking the scene with her spinning skills at some of the top clubs in Ibiza, Europe and Asia.

Where did you learn your mixing style?

I learnt my craft by watching DJs mix music and applying good advice from my friends. I constantly strive to reinvent myself. As for inspiration, Michael Jackson is a favourite – for his work and concern for world peace and love. He was a real angel on Earth.

What is the music scene like in Bangkok and how is it different from other cities?

The music scene here is very diverse, simply because Thais get bored easily. The new generation here is very exposed to the international media scene and positive in experimenting and experiencing with new sounds and styles. This naturally creates new trends. As for music style, it is still hard to define, which I think makes it even sexier. You can groove to the latest electronic music in one club, dance hip-hop or chill out to R&B at another, or enjoy the perfect dinner while being entertained by local bands playing a blend of Thai and international flavours.

What types of music do you like spinning and what type do you chill out to?

I love to play House music, from Soulful, Disco, Funky, Latino and bit of Electro, but I chill out to classical music, Rock & Roll, Flamenco and Jazz. I also like ‘Lanna Style’ music, a North Thailand folkloric rhythm, which is very peaceful.

Talk to us about your stint spinning music at clubs in Ibiza.

IMAGES: MARKUS STAASS

How does a female break into the maledominated DJing / spinning music business and how has it been for you thus far?

The nightclub industry is dominated by men. I first became a DJ six years ago and was one of the very few females in this business. Frankly, I never got the support from established male DJs; perhaps they felt threatened by my talent. Luckily, I did meet a few good men who supported me and taught me the tricks of the trade. I will never forget their kindness. As for how it has been thus far, the most important thing for me is to believe in my music, and to know that music is a powerful tool in uniting races and nations.

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You’d find the most up-to-date electronic music scene, loads of great fiestas, stunning performances, sexy marketing blitz and dedicated involvement from the Media etc. in Ibiza. If you love music, this is the best place to be!

Have your parents ever watched you in action at a club?

Unfortunately, No. They are old fashioned and still believe that nightlife is not suitable for women. They rather I work in an office. Recently I showed my mother an interview I had done in a local magazine. She looked at it and remarked that I seemed to have a cool job but then started grumbling about why I had to fly so often! Parents: You can never win with them.

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Why do you think you were chosen as the brand ambassador for Beats Pro by Dr Dre, a high-end professional headphone brand?

It’s a big honour but frankly, I have no idea why they chose me. I like Beats Pro by Dr Dre as it delivers amazing sound quality but I never expected to represent a brand that supports megastars like Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber. Perhaps they chose me because I’ve been playing all over the world and I am the first Asian female DJ to ever play in Ibiza.

Why have you retained the word ‘Siam’ in your name?

I am Thai 100% and it reminds me of who I am, where I come from and what I should never forget. I decided to keep ‘Siam’ because it’s the formal name of my country and reflects our rich, gentle and diverse culture.

Your plans for the future?

I was just in Malaysia recently and will head back to Thailand soon. Next I will be in Jakarta and then I will be off to Barcelona, Ibiza, Alicante, Portugal, St Tropez and other destinations. My short term plans are to get more involved with my studio work and music production. I am also learning to sing and improving my piano skills. I’m preparing a new album, which hopefully will be ready later this year. In the long run, I want to become a music promoter because I don’t wish to be a DJ my whole life.

I want to stay close to my family and do some travelling with them, whenever possible.

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junior jet club

THE KIDZANIA KINGDOM of education and entertainment for children below the age of 14, and is expected to attract 500,000 visitors annually. When the park is fully open, a ‘work & play’ area of about 80,000 square feet will be made available for children to learn, play, and have fun.

The frame of an aircraft has been used in the construction of the park, protruding out of the building. AirAsia check-in counters will be set up at the main entrance of KidZania, which will see our young guests checking-in to receive boarding passes to enter.

Inside, the children can become part of AirAsia’s Allstar air crew; role playing a pilot or a flight attendant.

Kid Captains can also don AirAsia pilot hats and have a chance to experience the flight simulator.

At KidZania, kids rule and they get to try out their hands at many adult jobs and vocations.

You may have heard AirAsia’s motto: ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ but there is one special group that we really wanted to impress, not only by flying them but giving them an opportunity to truly enjoy the experience of being airborne: Kids!

The experience should go further than just hopping onto a flight for these special guests. So, AirAsia created AirAsia Kids Club. Since its soft launch in April 2010, the club has been actively engaging AirAsia’s young guests, while looking at ways to further improve the activities offered to the children.

Exciting Role Play Activities at KidZania

Learn about banking as a bank customer

The KidZania World

Just for JJC

With that in mind, AirAsia jumped on the idea of working with KidZania.

KidZania is an environment where children can learn to lead independent lives and have the opportunity to understand the world of adults better by role-playing adult jobs and professions. There are no rides or arcade games at here. Instead, with over 50 activities, children can have fun playing different roles.

Members of AirAsia’s Junior Jet Club can participate in exclusive contests to win tickets to KidZania and attend many special events held at the educational theme park; as well as enjoying privileges upon presenting their membership cards.

So, jet over to Juniorjetclub. airasia.com now and join over 6,000 members awaiting the grand opening of this very exciting park.

Next Change: KidZania KL AirAsia has been a proud sponsor of KidZania Jakarta since November 2007 and has decided to bring this experience to Kuala Lumpur, with the local chapter of KidZania expected to open to public at the end of 2011.

This interactive edutainment theme park creatively combines elements

Take a driving course to obtain a license

Be a journalist for a day

KidZania KL under construction.

Host and assist the production of a television programme

Experience the fun of going to university.

Go to Juniorjetclub.airasia.com, sign up as a member and get ready to enjoy a world of fun and excitement!

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54684 style scene 99

15/11/10 2:33:29 PM

plane fun

SPOT the

difference

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.

Cross out

Fill all the words listed into the grid.

We have given you a word to get started.

1. Heart on dress larger, 2. Girl missing pigtail, 3. Word LEMONADE missing, 4. Extra Candy Cane girl, 5. Boy has mohawk hairstyle, 6. Extra bite in iceblock, 7. Extra stripe on swimming costume, 8. Baby bottle larger.

Puzzles are courtesy of Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles

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T360_Mar_GMK.pdf Page Page 1 26/01/11, 10:38 AM

snapshot

Pixof the

month

Best picture wins a 3D/2N stay in a Classic Room at

Asta Hotel Shenzen in China for two worth

RMB3864nett!

WINNER OF THE MONTH

Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, China Suparto, Cimahi Utara, Indonesia

“Located in the heart of the Futian CBD and shopping district, Asta Hotel Shenzhen is adjacent to the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Centre & close to Hong Kong border. This contemporary 5-star Corporate MICE hotel offers 334 luxurious guestrooms.

Enjoy unlimited complimentary broadband internet access. Be pampered by our signature beds, rain shower and sumptuous breakfasts. Your Home for Business and Leisure. “

Consolation prize: a 3D/2N stay in a Superior Room inclusive of breakfast for two at Parc Sovereign Hotel in Singapore worth

SGD700nett!

W 170 well-appointed rooms, With tthe Parc Sovereign Hotel in Singapore is a cosy little offering S tthat’s perfect for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel is wellequipped with facilities such as F&B outlets, gym, business centre, conference room, swimming pool and fitness centre, amongst others. Located in the vicinity of colourful Bugis Street and just a stroll away from Little India, guests have easy access to a world of shopping, dining and entertainment.

Getting around too is easy with Rochor and Little India MRT station nearby! Reservations: +65 6336 7888. Log on to www.airasiago.com for attractive rates on this room.

Tamu in Miri Lim Kok Siang, Johor, Malaysia

Just snapped a cool picture? Send it to travel3sixty@airasia.com with Snapshot in the subject line.

Terms & conditions: Readers may submit images that are 300dpi and 1MB in size (minimum half a A4 paper size) • Each entry must be accompanied with 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 when the prize is ready to be sent out. • Prizes cannot be exchange for cash.

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55067 Snapshot 114

5/13/11 10:13:58 AM

comfort Deep Vein Thrombosis

Knee Curls • Sit straight and gently lean forward and raise one knee.

• Grasp the knee with both arms and gently pull the leg towards your chest as you lean back.

• Hold for 15 seconds, then release and gently lower the leg.

• Repeat with other leg.

DVT can occur when a blood clot forms in the large veins in the legs or the arms, leading to an either partially or completely blocked blood circulation. Sitting and moving very little during long flights may lead to the occurrence of DVT. If you are flying long distance, please ensure you perform onboard exercises such as the Knee Curls exercise to get the blood flowing to your leg. Or walk from your seat to the end of the aircraft (where permissible and when safe) and back to your seat to stretch your legs.

Have a Pleasant Flight Flying can be a drag when others are not considerate.

It can also be physically demanding, especially if you are on a long-haul flight. Here are some simple steps to help make your journey more enjoyable.

Be Kind, Be Considerate Rest Assured To counter jetlag, sleep as much as you can onboard when you are flying west to east. The AirAsia Comfort Kit comes complete with eye shade, neck pillow and blanket to get some shut eye.

When flying east to west, stay awake as much as possible. The neck pillow in Comfort Kit allows you to get comfy while reading a book or watching the clouds zoom by.

116

• Do not kick or rock the seat in front of you.

• Try not to talk loudly, especially if there are other passengers asleep.

• Use a handkerchief to cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze.

• Be careful when you open the overhead cabins.

• Do not switch seats without checking with the flight attendant.

Keep Hydrated The air in the aircraft is pretty dry and will leave you feeling sluggish. To counter this, drinks lots of water, avoid alcoholic drinks and reduce consumption of caffeinated & carbonated drinks!

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destination

Manila

IMAGE: ADAM LEE

Explore the historical sites of this metropolitan city and enjoy a city that is booming with arts, culture and fabulous shopping to boot!

Manila is a bustling city that’s rich with a glorious past and draws its inspiration from local and colonial cultures.

The Spanish influence is visible in many aspects of the city, be it lifestyle, religious festivals, architecture and food. Intramuros, a walled city located along the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniards during their occupation.

Take a walk around the city within the walls and enjoy the beautiful architecture, or take a ride on decorated horsedrawn carriages.

A must-visit when in Manila is Rizal Park. Overlooking Manila Bay, the park is a tribute to Philippine’s national hero, Jose Rizal. At the centre of the park, a bronze monument of Jose Rizal marks the exact spot where he was executed. Engraved at the back of the monument is the poem Mi Ultimo Adios, which Rizal wrote when he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago; another must-visit in Manila.

Shopping is a national obsession at the many, many flea markets in Manila. Divisoria, the mother of all flea markets in Manila is a great place to shop for local products, souvenirs, T-shirts, collectibles and such, especially

118

if you are into bulk buying. Other markets worth a visit are the Zapote flea market, Ilalim ng Tulay, an outdoor market in Quiapo and the Baclaran flea market that is most lively on Wednesdays after mass.

STAY HERE Somerset Millennium A: No 104 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City T: +63 2 750 7888 Edsa Shangri-La A: 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City T: +63 2 633 8888 Manila Hotel A: One Rizal Park, Manila T: +63 2 527 0011 **For bookings, visit www.airasiago.com GETTING THERE AirAsia operates flights from Kuala Lumpur to Clark. Transfer busses are available from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport to Manila city. For flight schedule visit www.airasia.com

MANILA MARVELS An hour boat ride away from Manila lies Corregidor Island – once an island fortress but now home to moving stories of a war that claimed so many lives.

Also, check out Marikina city, the shoe capital for a sole-ful experience. Lastly, end your visit by trying out their famous delicacy balut - definitely for the adventurous!

Daphne Iking, Malaysian TV personality

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Mercure

KRABI DEEVANA

Opening in October 2011 A newly built hotel all fit harmoniously in Ao Nang, Krabi, one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches and nature destinations.

Pre-opening office: Moo 3, Ao Nang Soi 8, Ao Nang Beach, Maung, Krabi, 81000, Thailand Te.l : +66(0) 7563 8319 Fax: +66 (0) 7563 8318 E-mail: info@mercurekrabi.com www.mercurekrabideevana.com Your loyalty program

Russia

route map Uzbekistan Afghanistan

azakhstan

Ireland Ireland

United Kingdom

Tehran

Mongolia

London London

Germany

Iran

Iran

Paris N.Korea

Beijing

France

Tianjin Seoul

Italy Spain

S.Korea

China

Afghanistan

Shanghai Hangzhou

Chengdu

New Delhi Pakistan

Bhutan

Nepal

Guilin Bangladesh

Kolkata

Dhaka Myanmar

Mumbai Yangon Bangalore Tiruchirappalli

Macau Hong Kong

Laos

Vientiane Chiang Mai Philippines

Thailand

Clark

Bangkok

Vietnam

Siem Reap

Chennai

Cambodia

Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh

Kochi Sri Lanka

Colombo

Indian Ocean

AirAsia Hubs in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Krabi Phuket Hat Yai Narathiwat Langkawi Alor Setar Kota Bharu Banda Aceh Penang K.Terengganu Malaysia Medan Kuala Lumpur

Pekanbaru Padang Palembang

Johor Bahru Singapore

Kota Kinabalu

Sandakan Labuan Miri Brunei Bintulu Tawau Sibu Kuching

Balikpapan

Penang International Airport

Makassar

Kuching International Airport Indonesia International Route Domestic Route

t360 june2011.indd 120

Taipei

Taiwan

Shenzhen

Hanoi

India

Guangzhou

Jakarta Bandung Solo

Surabaya Bali Yogyakarta

5/16/11 9:51:29 AM

AirAsia Hubs in Malaysia From Kuala Lumpur, you can fly direct to:

World’s Best Low-Cost Airline 2009 & 2010

Japan

oul

Korea

Pacific Ocean

Tokyo

Alor Star, Bali, Balikpapan, Banda Aceh, Bandung, Bangalore, Bangkok, Bintulu, Brunei, Chengdu, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Christchurch, Clark, Colombo, Dhaka, Gold Coast, Guangzhou, Guilin, Had Yai, Hangzhou, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Kochi, Kolkata, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Krabi, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Labuan, Langkawi, London, Macau, Makassar, Medan, Melbourne, Miri, Mumbai, New Delhi, Padang, Palembang, Paris, Pekanbaru, Penang, Perth, Phuket, Phnom Penh, Sandakan, Seoul, Shenzhen, Sibu, Siem Reap, Singapore, Solo, Surabaya, Taipei, Tawau, Tehran, Tianjin, Tiruchirappalli, Vientiane, Yangon,Yogyakarta.

From Penang, you can fly direct to: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Langkawi, Medan, Singapore.

From Kota Kinabalu, you can fly direct to: Clark, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Hong Kong, Miri, Penang, Sandakan, Shenzhen, Singapore, Taipei, Tawau.

ei

From Kuching, you can fly direct to: Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Miri, Penang, Sibu, Singapore

Australia Philippines

Gold Coast

Clark

Perth Melbourne

From these destinations, you can fly direct to: Bintulu aKuching Johor Bahru aKuching, Medan, Miri, Sibu Kuching aBintulu, Johor Bahru, Miri, Sibu, Singapore Langkawi aSingapore Miri aJohor Bahru, Kuching, Singapore Sibu aJohor Bahru, Kuching

akan New Zealand

Christchruch

Makassar

t360 june2011.indd 121

New Zealand

5/16/11 9:51:29 AM

China

Guangzhou

Bangladesh

Shenzhen Hanoi

Macau Hong Kong

Myanmar

Chiang Rai Chiang Mai Yangon

Taiwan

Laos

Udon Thani Thailand

Ubon Ratchathani New Delhi

China

Bangkok

Cambodia

Kolkata India

Indian Ocean

Philippines

Vietnam

Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh

Surat Thani Nakhon Si Thammarat Krabi Phuket Hat Yai Narathiwat Penang Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu

Singapore

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Phuket Int. Airport Chiang Mai Int. Airport

Jakarta

Indonesia

Bali

International Route Domestic Route

AirAsia Hubs in Thailand From Bangkok, you can fly direct to: Bali, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kolkata, Kota Kinabalu, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Medan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, New Delhi, Penang, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Shenzhen, Singapore, Surabaya, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yangon

From Phuket, you can fly direct to: Bali, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ubon Ratchatani, Udon Thani

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travel3sixty june

From Chiang Mai, you can fly direct to: Bangkok, Hat Yai, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Singapore

From these destinations, you can fly direct to:

Chiang MaiaKuala Lumpur Hat YaiaKuala Lumpur KrabiaKuala Lumpur

olkata Myanmar

Laos

Thailand

Bangkok

Philippines

Hong Kong

Vietnam

Cambodia

Ho Chi Minh

ka

Phuket Banda Aceh

Penang

Medan Pekanbaru

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Singapore

Padang

Indian Ocean Jakarta Bandung

Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport, Jakarta Ngurah Rai Int. Airport, Bali Husein Sastranegara Int. Airport, Bandung Juanda Int. Airport, Surabaya Polonia Int. Airport, Medan

Makassar

Indonesia

Surabaya

Solo Yogyakarta

Darwin Bali

Australia

Perth

International Route Domestic Route

AirAsia Hubs in Indonesia From Jakarta, you can fly direct to:

Bali, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Penang, Medan, Singapore, Yogyakarta

From Bali, you can fly direct to:

Bandung, Bangkok, Darwin, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Singapore

From Surabaya, you can fly direct to:

Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Medan, Penang, Singapore

From Bandung, you can fly direct to:

Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Medan, Singapore

From Medan, you can fly direct to:

Bandung, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Surabaya

t360 june2011.indd 124

From these destinations, you can fly direct to: YogyakartaaKuala Lumpur,

Singapore MedanaKuala Lumpur, Penang SoloaKuala Lumpur MakassaraKuala Lumpur PadangaKuala Lumpur PekanbaruaKuala Lumpur Banda Aceha Kuala Lumpur

Australia

5/16/11 9:53:08 AM

SW_5Amb_April_AA.pdf Page 1 1/04/11, 3:16 PM

AIRASIA SALES OFFICES AND STA TATIONS MAKASSAR PHNOM PENH

vPhnom Penh Airport Office, 17 Mezzanine Floor of Arrival Domestic Terminal, Phnom Penh Airport, Phnom Penh

CHINA MACAU

vOffice 20, Mezzanine Level Passenger Terminal, Macau International Airport Taipa, Macau SHENZHEN

vJunting Hotel Shenzhen, XY-10, Shenzhen Eastern Road, Shenzhen

INDONESIA BANDA ACEH

vDeparture Terminal, Sultan Hasanuddin, International Airport, Makassar, South Sulawesi

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

MALAYSIA JOHOR

Building, Jalan Apas-Balung, 91100 Tawau

vTune Hotels.com Dangga Bay,

vTB228, Lot 5, Ground Floor,

Lot PTB 22819, Jalan Skudai, Mukim Bandar, 80200 Johor Bahru

vGL 13 Sultan Ismail Airport 81250 Johor Bahru

MANADO

KEDAH

vSam Ratulangi International Airport Jalan A.A. Maramis, Manado 95374

vLot 20, Lapangan Terbang

MEDAN

vLangkawi International Airport

vBandara PoloniaTerminal

Sultan Abdul Halim, 06200 Kepala Batas, Alor Star 07100 Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi

Keberangkatan Internasional, Medan 20157 Sumatra

KUALA LUMPUR

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

Kuala Lumpur, 50470

vLot 4, Level 2, Stesen Sentral vLot G027B, Ground Floor,

vBandara Sultan Iskandar Muda,

PADANG

Podium Block, Plaza Berjaya,12 Jalan Imbi,55100 Kuala Lumpur

Blang Bintang, Aceh

vHotel Hangtuah, Jl. Pemuda no.

vAirAsia Travel & Service Centre

DENPASAR, BALI

1 Padang, Sumatra Barat, 25117

vBandara I Gusti Ngurah Rai,

PALEMBANG

No. 63, Ground Floor, Medan Bunus Off Jalan Masjid India, 50100 Kuala Lumpur.

Terminal Keberangkatan International Bali 80361

vSultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport Palembang, South Sumatra

vNo 71 Jalan Metro Perdana Barat 1 Taman Usahawan Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur

vJl. Legian Kaja no. 455 Kuta, Bali

PEKANBARU

BANDUNG

vSultan Syarif Kasim II

KELANTAN

vRuangan Nombor 34

International Airport, Jalan Perhubungan Udara Simpang Tiga, Pekanbaru, Sumatra

vLapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail

Bandara Husein Sastranegara Jalan Pajajaran No 156 Bandung Jawa Barat

vLobby Grand Serela Hotel Jl. L.L. R.E Martadinata (Riau) No 56 Telp. (022) 426 1636

SOLO

vAdi Soemarmo International Airport, Solo, Central Java SURABAYA

JAKARTA

vTerminal 3 & Terminal 2D Departure Hall Airlines Offices Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Cengkareng,

vFL4, 1st Floor, Tawau Airport

Petra, 16100 Pengkalan Chepa Kota Bharu TERENGGANU

vLot No. 15 & 17, Terminal Building, Sultan Mahmud Airport 21300 Kuala Terengganu

vLobby International Terminal

LABUAN

Juanda International Airport Jalan Raya Juanda Surabaya Jawa Timur

vLevel 1, Labuan Airport Terminal

Istana Monaco, Jalan Bunga, Fajar Complex 91000 Tawau

vLot G24, Ground Floor, Wisma Sabah, Jln. Tun Razak, 88000, Kota Kinabalu

vT2: Ground Floor, Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu Int. Airport Old Airport Road,

vTanjung Aru 88100, Kota Kinabalu SARAWAK

vLot GL.14, Public Concourse Terminal Building, Bintulu Airport 97000 Bintulu

v1st Floor, Miri Airport, 98000 Miri

vGF Lot 946, Block 9, Miri Concession Land District, 98000 Miri

vGround Floor , Sublot 661B of Lot 354, Unity Centre Block 7 MCLD Jalan Miri Pujut 98000 Miri

vGround Floor, Kuching International Airport, 93756 Kuching

vWisma Ho Ho Lim, Ground Floor No. 291, Sub Lot 4, Jalan Abell 93100 Kuching

v1st Floor, Main Terminal Building, Sibu Airport, 96000 Sibu SELANGOR

vGround Floor, Terminal 3, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang, Selangor

87008 Wilayah Persekutuan

vJalan KLIA S3,

PENANG

Southern Support Zone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor

No. 10 Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara

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

vJln. Panglima Polim,

YOGYAKARTA

Chulia Street, 10200 Penang

vB-G-34, IOI Boulevard

SABAH

vLindeteves Trade Center Building,

vAdisutjipto International Airport Jln. Solo km.9, Yogyakarta, 55282

Jl. Hayam Wuruk No.127, Lantai GF2 Blok RA 49, Jakarta Pusat

Jalan Kenari 5 Bandar Puchong Jaya 47170 Puchong Selangor

vMelia Purosani Hotel, Jl

vJl. Boulevard Raya, Blok LA 4,

No. 105B Blok M, Jakarta Selatan

Suryotomo No.31, Yogyakarta

vPenang International Airport 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang

vGround Floor, Kim Mansion 332,

vLot 1 & 2, 1st Floor, Terminal Building, Sandakan Airport, 90719 Sandakan

vLot-35 Mydin Mall USJ 1

vLot S141, 2nd Floor Plaza Metro Kajang Section 7 Jalan Tun Abdul Aziz 43000 Kajang

vNo 1 (667-C), Wisma Y S Tan Lorong Kepayang 41300 Klang

THAILAND

PHUKET

vPhuket International Airport

BANGKOK

312, 3rd Floor, Tumbol Maikao, Amphur Thalang, Phuket 83110

vSuvarnabhumi International Airport Room A1-062 Ground Floor, Concourse A, BangnaTrad Road, Racha Teva, Bang Pli, Samutprakarn 10540

vUnit 9, Laflora Patong Area, No. 39, 39/1, Thaveewong Rd., Patong, Kratoo, Phuket

MYANMAR

v127 Tanao Road, Phra Nakorn,

SURAT THANI

Bangkok 10200

vSurat Thani International Airport

YANGON

CHIANG MAI SALES OFFICE

vYangon International Airport

73 Moo 3 Tambol Huatuey, Amphur Punpin, Suratthani

vChiangmai International Airport

vOffice Unit# 01-L, Parkroyal

60, 1st Floor, Tambol Sutep, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50200

Yangon, Myanmar

PHILIPPINES

v416 Thaphae Road, Chiang Mai

vDiosdado Macapagal

CHIANG RAI

International Airport Clark Civil Aviation Complex Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines 2023

vChiang Rai International Airport

SINGAPORE vRow No:11, Departure level 2 Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1, Singapore

v111 North Bridge Road #01-36/37, Peninsula Plaza 179098,

SRI LANKA Colombo

vSetmil Aviation (Pvt) Ltd., Ground Floor, Setmil Maritime Centre, 256, Srimath Ramanathan Mawatha, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka

UBON RATCHATHANI

vUbon Ratchathani Airport 297 Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Thepyotee Road, Amphur Nai Muang, Ubon Ratchathani 34000 UDON THANI

2305/2 404 Moo 10, Tambol Bandu, Amphur Muang, Chiang Rai 57100 HAT YAI

vUdon Thani International Airport 224 Moo 1, Tambol Makkhang, Amphur Muang, Udon Thani 41000

VIETNAM

vHat Yai International Airport 125 Hadyai International Airport, Moo 3 Klongla, Klonghoikong, Songkhla 90115

HANOI

vNoibai International Airport Lobby A, 3rd Floor, Hanoi

KRABI

vNo.30 Le Thai To Str.,

v133 Moo 5 Petchkasem Road,

Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi City

Tambol Nuakrong, Amphur Nuakrong, Krabi 81130

vVan Phong Ban Ve Tp Hcmc

NARATHIWAT

254 De Tham, P.Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

vNarathiwat Airport

v223, De Tham

330 Moo 5 , Tambol Kok-Kian, Amphur Muang, Narathiwat 96000

Pham Ngu Lao Ward District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

CALL CENTRE NUMBERS Australia China France India Indonesia Japan Hong Kong Macau Malaysia

1300 760 330 +86 20 2281 7666 +33(0)1 7048 0722 1860 500 8000 +62 21 2927 0999 0120 963 516 +852 3112 3222 0800912 600 85 9999

Myanmar New Zealand Paris Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand Vietnam The UK

+95 1 25 1885/1886 0800 45 25 66 +33170480722 +65 6307 7688 00798 1420 69940 008 0185 3031 +66 2 515 9999 +84 8 3838 9811/ 9812 0845 605 3333

(Premium Customer Service line, chargeable at RM1.95 per minute.)

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my airasia

STRIKING EQUILIBRIUM Despite being one of the busiest guys in AirAsia Indonesia, Finance Executive Handy Thunardi, knows how to balance work and pleasure.

Money, Money, Money

Allstar Family

Two years ago I challenged myself to join Indonesia’s leading airline, and I’ve grown so much in this company. I organise all payments for staff, vendors and agents, and am responsible for controlling cash flow and our bank balance. Working in a low cost carrier, Allstars need to consider expenses and be aware of how money is spent. Being in the finance department means I need to be extra prudent!

We’re one big, colourful family. Allstars come from all over the world, and I’m happy to say that different religions, ethnicities and languages are no barriers to friendship and good working relations. Our differences make our lives richer.

We also get to share values like responsibility and honesty in every little thing we do.

Finding Balance I teach Sunday School in my community.

Through storytelling, I try to encourage the children to do positive things in life. I bet none of my colleagues would believe it, since I’m always busy processing payments. But, our lives have to have balance. For me, sharing is the way.

Rest & Relax

IMAGE: ADAM LEE

Perks & Privileges The great relationship I have with my fellow Allstars for sure! Also, the knowledge I’ve gained here is invaluable; it’s like university, but better. The opportunity to network with major banks in Indonesia, as well as government agents has been interesting. Of course, travelling to places I’ve never dreamt of, and taking my parents along, using my free flight privileges, is just amazing.

I’m from Ujung Pandang, Makassar, the famous gateway to East Indonesia.

When I’m home, I indulge in Coto Makassar, a thick and delicious beef soup, and enjoy the beautiful sunsets at Losari Beach while savouring fresh Es Pallu Butung; a dessert of steamed banana tossed with ice, syrup and pandan-fl an nd pandan flavoured coconut and rice flour. milk an

Coto Makassar

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