Global-Trekker.net » Australia & South Pacific http://www.global-trekker.net Global Travel News, Blogs, and Deals Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 The Hindu Feast of Thaipusam Starts Tomorrow, February 7. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:31:03 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7/ thaipusam malaysia

Image © tajai/Creative Commons

For Southeast Asia’s formidable Indian Hindu population, tomorrow’s celebration of the feast of Thaipusam marks one of the most important days in their religious calendar. The day marks the birthday of the Lord Murugan, on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (Thai + Pusam, a star at its apogee = Thaipusam).

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7/feed/ 0 International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge Grips Davao, Philippines. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:31:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines/

Mount Apo has always been a favorite for Filipino adventurers (see our list of Nature & Adventure Travel Activities in Davao City, Philippines for more), but adventure travelers from around the world are only just starting to pay attention to the Philippines’ tallest mountain. The International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge ought to be right up their alley: a 24-hour extreme adventure race starting from the beach lines of the town of Santa Cruz and ending at the summit of Mt. Apo 9,600 feet above sea level.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines/feed/ 0 Yoga Health Retreats to Hold 11 Retreats in Bali in 2012. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:30:32 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/ One of Australia’s most successful yoga teachers will soon be sharing her secrets in a series of retreats across Bali, Indonesia. Sue Hawkins has been operating from Australia’s Byron Bay for over 10 years, giving burnt-out businesspeople a much-needed recharge with her special rejuvenating yoga practices. In 2012, Hawkins will be taking her methods to Southeast Asia, through eleven yoga health retreats to be conducted in Ubud, Bali.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/feed/ 0 TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Who Made the Cut? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:31:04 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/ Tripadvisor’s users have spoken: in their recent Travelers’ Choice Awards (tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice), a number of Southeast Asia destinations and hotels got recognized by Tripadvisor’s 60 million readers as the best of the best. The winners’ lists have expanded to include top-25 lists for 30 countries and regions, as well as an international competition for the best properties to visit.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/feed/ 0 Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay: Worth the Effort. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:30:54 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/ getty images ha long bay vietnam
Image of junk in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam courtesy of Getty Images.

Consider the obstacles of getting to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam: you need to book a package tour among the tour agencies in Hanoi – assuming you’ve chosen from a day tour or one of those luxurious sleepaboard cruises in Ha Long Bay. (Some try to cut out the middleman by trying a do it yourself tour to Ha Long Bay, but I wouldn’t recommend that for first-timers.) It takes another three to four hours to drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and a few tense minutes lining up past the crowds to get into your tourist boat.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/feed/ 0 Balinese Festival of Galungan Begins Today, February 1. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:31:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1/ galungan bali indonesia

To celebrate the festival of Galungan, Balinese Hindus make their way to temples and pray to commemorate the victory of good over evil and worldly distractions. Galungan recurs over a 210-day calendar, so the next Galungan holiday rolls around near the end of the year, from August 29 to September 7.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1/feed/ 0 Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta Joins Car-Free Sunday With “I Love Weekend” Bike Event. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:30:53 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event/

I’ve blogged before about Jakarta, Indonesia’s Car-Free Sunday scheme, which is a great way to catch the local atmosphere in Indonesia’s capital city. The Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta (compare rates|buy direct) not only looms over one of the focal points of the route (the Bundaran HI roundabout), it also joined in the fun last January 29 with their “I Love Weekend” campaign.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event/feed/ 0 Bali Beach Barbecue on Nusa Dua: Courtyard by Marriott Bali Launches Beach Club. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/bali-beach-barbecue-on-nusa-dua-courtyard-by-marriott-bali-launches-beach-club/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/bali-beach-barbecue-on-nusa-dua-courtyard-by-marriott-bali-launches-beach-club/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:31:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/bali-beach-barbecue-on-nusa-dua-courtyard-by-marriott-bali-launches-beach-club/

The Courtyard by Marriott (compare rates|buy direct) is one of the newest resorts lining the Nusa Dua upmarket enclave in Bali, and this early on they’re raising the bar with a newly-opened Beach Club, a relaxed seafront bistro and lounge close to the property.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/bali-beach-barbecue-on-nusa-dua-courtyard-by-marriott-bali-launches-beach-club/feed/ 0 Krakatoa’s Wrath, Indonesia: Climbing Anak Krakatau Safely. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/krakatoas-wrath-indonesia-climbing-anak-krakatau-safely/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/krakatoas-wrath-indonesia-climbing-anak-krakatau-safely/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:30:55 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/krakatoas-wrath-indonesia-climbing-anak-krakatau-safely/ krakatau indonesia erupting volcano
Image © Getty Images.

You can’t say you’ve explored West Java unless you’ve gone climbing Anak Krakatau. The climb is rather challenging, though – the ground is unstable and crumbly, having been recently laid down by Krakatau’s eruptions. The trail going up the mountain is exposed to the elements, meaning that you’ll be at risk of sunburn unless you follow some basic sun protection tips.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/krakatoas-wrath-indonesia-climbing-anak-krakatau-safely/feed/ 0 Island Hopping Off Davao City, Philippines on Islands Banca Cruises’ Cushy New Boats. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-philippines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-philippines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:31:14 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-philippines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/
Image © Islands Banca Cruises, used with permission. Photographer: Arthur Yap.

In the Philippines, fishermen and ferry boatmen ply their trade on the outrigger boats called banca. As boats go, banca tend to be jury-rigged and not very safe for the average traveler, but it’s the most common charter choice for visitors to the Philippine islands, as they’ve practically got the market cornered.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-philippines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/feed/ 0 Valentine’s Day on a Private Island and Other YTL Hotels Treats for Two. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/valentine%c2%92s-day-on-a-private-island-and-other-ytl-hotels-treats-for-two/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/valentine%c2%92s-day-on-a-private-island-and-other-ytl-hotels-treats-for-two/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:30:57 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/valentine%c2%92s-day-on-a-private-island-and-other-ytl-hotels-treats-for-two/
The BOH Tea Plantation at Cameron Highlands – Image courtesy of YTL Hotels, used with permission.

With Valentines’ Day coming up, it’ll get harder in the next few weeks to find a couples’ getaway of your very own. If Southeast Asia’s romantic places seem a bit too crowded for your tastes, then you ought to consider spending a tiny bit more for a private getaway like those offered by YTL Hotels to one of their luxurious properties.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/valentine%c2%92s-day-on-a-private-island-and-other-ytl-hotels-treats-for-two/feed/ 0 Island Hopping Off Davao City, Phililppines on Islands Banca Cruises’ Cushy New Boats. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-phililppines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-phililppines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:57 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-phililppines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/
Image © Islands Banca Cruises, used with permission. Photographer: Arthur Yap.

In the Philippines, fishermen and ferry boatmen ply their trade on the outrigger boats called banca. As boats go, banca tend to be jury-rigged and not very safe for the average traveler, but it’s the most common charter choice for visitors to the Philippine islands, as they’ve practically got the market cornered.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/island-hopping-off-davao-city-phililppines-on-islands-banca-cruises%c2%92-cushy-new-boats/feed/ 0 For Chinese New Year, Stay in Oriental Grandeur at the Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/for-chinese-new-year-stay-in-oriental-grandeur-at-the-ritz-carlton-millenia-singapore/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/for-chinese-new-year-stay-in-oriental-grandeur-at-the-ritz-carlton-millenia-singapore/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:31:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/for-chinese-new-year-stay-in-oriental-grandeur-at-the-ritz-carlton-millenia-singapore/ ritz carlton millenia guest room singapore
Image courtesy of Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore / Zuji.com.sg.

With the Lunar New Year holidays in Singapore coming up, the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore (compare rates|buy direct) offers a special package for guests who want to enjoy the festivities while ensconced in luxurious comfort.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/for-chinese-new-year-stay-in-oriental-grandeur-at-the-ritz-carlton-millenia-singapore/feed/ 0 Chinese New Year is Here! A Calendar of Events in Penang and Singapore. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/chinese-new-year-is-here-a-calendar-of-events-in-penang-and-singapore/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/chinese-new-year-is-here-a-calendar-of-events-in-penang-and-singapore/#comments Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:31:03 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/chinese-new-year-is-here-a-calendar-of-events-in-penang-and-singapore/ hong bao festival singapore
Photo by Eugene Tang / Singaporesights.com

The Chinese New Year celebrations in Penang (Malaysia) and in Singapore are heating up, with the eve of of the Year of the Dragon coming on January 22 (January 23 is the official first day of the Chinese New Year). Plan your trip calendars around the following important days:

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/chinese-new-year-is-here-a-calendar-of-events-in-penang-and-singapore/feed/ 0 Legoland Malaysia to Open Late 2012, Your Guide’s Inner Child Goes Squeeeee. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/legoland-malaysia-to-open-late-2012-your-guide%c2%92s-inner-child-goes-squeeeee/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/legoland-malaysia-to-open-late-2012-your-guide%c2%92s-inner-child-goes-squeeeee/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:31:24 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/legoland-malaysia-to-open-late-2012-your-guide%c2%92s-inner-child-goes-squeeeee/
Mr Siegfried Boerst and Mr Philip Skitch with Ollie the Dragon. Image courtesy of Legoland Malaysia, used with permission.

With the unveiling of a 10,000-brick Lego dragon called “Ollie”, Siegfried Boerst of Legoland Malaysia and Philip Skitch, GM of the Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel (compare rates) brought the new Lego-themed park – already scheduled to open at the end of this year – one step closer to reality.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/legoland-malaysia-to-open-late-2012-your-guide%c2%92s-inner-child-goes-squeeeee/feed/ 0 Humanizing Asian Travel: A Conversation with Travel Wire Asia’s James Craven. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/humanizing-asian-travel-a-conversation-with-travel-wire-asia%c2%92s-james-craven/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/humanizing-asian-travel-a-conversation-with-travel-wire-asia%c2%92s-james-craven/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:31:09 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/humanizing-asian-travel-a-conversation-with-travel-wire-asia%c2%92s-james-craven/ bali temple indonesia travel
Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Southeast Asia travel is personal. That’s what we try to live up to in this outfit; we’re neither aligned with the corporate voices (staid, sales-centric) nor with the amateur travel bloggers (personal, passionate, but somewhat less coherent). Guides like yours truly are somewhere in between: creating a personal perspective with which travelers can make decisions that involve travel providers like hotels, airlines, and travel bureaus.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/humanizing-asian-travel-a-conversation-with-travel-wire-asia%c2%92s-james-craven/feed/ 0 Southeast Asia Travel Readers’ Choice Awards 2012 – Nominations Have Begun! http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-travel-readers-choice-awards-2012-%c2%96-nominations-have-begun/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-travel-readers-choice-awards-2012-%c2%96-nominations-have-begun/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:31:16 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-travel-readers-choice-awards-2012-%c2%96-nominations-have-begun/
Image © About.com.

It’s time once more for the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards, and Southeast Asia is jumping in for the first time. We’re calling for nominations – recognize your favorite hotels and attractions by adding them to our list!

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-travel-readers-choice-awards-2012-%c2%96-nominations-have-begun/feed/ 0 La Barca Singapore’s Chinese New Year Feast with a Tuscan Twist. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/la-barca-singapores-chinese-new-year-feast-with-a-tuscan-twist/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/la-barca-singapores-chinese-new-year-feast-with-a-tuscan-twist/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:31:19 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/la-barca-singapores-chinese-new-year-feast-with-a-tuscan-twist/

La Barca Ristorante and Wine Bar in Singapore (www.labarca-sg.com) embraces Chinese New Year, albeit with a unique continental twist. The restaurant’s Italian Prosperity Salad is La Barca’s take on yu sheng, with raw tuna, marinated sea bass, artichokes, zucchini, and crispy potato strips, and served with a lemon cream and balsamic onion sauce.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/la-barca-singapores-chinese-new-year-feast-with-a-tuscan-twist/feed/ 0 Royal Plaza on Scotts and the Hilton Singapore: 2 Tasty Takes on the YuSheng Chinese New Year Feast. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/royal-plaza-on-scotts-and-the-hilton-singapore-2-tasty-takes-on-the-yusheng-chinese-new-year-feast/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/royal-plaza-on-scotts-and-the-hilton-singapore-2-tasty-takes-on-the-yusheng-chinese-new-year-feast/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:31:32 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/royal-plaza-on-scotts-and-the-hilton-singapore-2-tasty-takes-on-the-yusheng-chinese-new-year-feast/
Images courtesy of the Royal Plaza on Scotts (left) and the Hilton Singapore (right).

Chinese New Year in Singapore just isn’t complete if you don’t celebrate it with a Yu Sheng between family or friends. Two Orchard Road, Singapore hotels – the Royal Plaza on Scotts  (compare prices|buy direct) and the Hilton Singapore (compare prices|buy direct) – are taking Yu Sheng (and Chinese New Year with it) to a whole new level with absolutely scrumptious takes on the traditional holiday dish, and more besides.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/royal-plaza-on-scotts-and-the-hilton-singapore-2-tasty-takes-on-the-yusheng-chinese-new-year-feast/feed/ 0 Southeast Asia Unesco World Heritage Sites – Is Unesco Recognition a Double-Edged Sword? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-unesco-world-heritage-sites-%c2%96-is-unesco-recognition-a-double-edged-sword/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-unesco-world-heritage-sites-%c2%96-is-unesco-recognition-a-double-edged-sword/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:30:24 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-unesco-world-heritage-sites-%c2%96-is-unesco-recognition-a-double-edged-sword/ japanese bridge hoi an vietnam

This week, the New York Times lays out exactly what is right – and what is wrong – about Unesco World Heritage Site recognition. Lay aside the quibbles about the 2003 recognition of “intangible” heritage to be protected, and stick to the recognition of unique cultural sites like the Angkor temples and the Melaka’s shophouses. Unesco World Heritage recognition may go some way in protecting the site for posterity, but may also contribute to destroying it.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/southeast-asia-unesco-world-heritage-sites-%c2%96-is-unesco-recognition-a-double-edged-sword/feed/ 0 “Letters from Vietnam” Author Jacqueline Lundquist Hosts Exclusive Tour to Vietnam. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/%c2%93letters-from-vietnam%c2%94-author-jacqueline-lundquist-hosts-exclusive-tour-to-vietnam/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/%c2%93letters-from-vietnam%c2%94-author-jacqueline-lundquist-hosts-exclusive-tour-to-vietnam/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:31:01 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/%c2%93letters-from-vietnam%c2%94-author-jacqueline-lundquist-hosts-exclusive-tour-to-vietnam/

When Jacqueline Lundquist’s father died mere months after returning from his tour of duty in Vietnam, he left behind a gap in her memory that was only filled much later by his many letters, sent as he served in the trenches in Southeast Asia.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/%c2%93letters-from-vietnam%c2%94-author-jacqueline-lundquist-hosts-exclusive-tour-to-vietnam/feed/ 0 YTL Hotels’ Straits to Luxury Experience: Escape on a Yacht to a Romantic Island Getaway. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/ytl-hotels%c2%92-straits-to-luxury-experience-escape-on-a-yacht-to-a-romantic-island-getaway/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/ytl-hotels%c2%92-straits-to-luxury-experience-escape-on-a-yacht-to-a-romantic-island-getaway/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:30:29 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/ytl-hotels%c2%92-straits-to-luxury-experience-escape-on-a-yacht-to-a-romantic-island-getaway/ ytl straits to luxury
Image courtesy of Princess Yachts International plc.

Next time you want to “get away from it all”, how about really getting away from it all? How about sailing on a private yacht to a private island in the middle of a strait in Southeast Asia, then beyond?

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/ytl-hotels%c2%92-straits-to-luxury-experience-escape-on-a-yacht-to-a-romantic-island-getaway/feed/ 0 A Massive Year-of-the-Dragon Chinese New Year Bash at the Marina Bay Sands. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/a-massive-year-of-the-dragon-chinese-new-year-bash-at-the-marina-bay-sands/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/a-massive-year-of-the-dragon-chinese-new-year-bash-at-the-marina-bay-sands/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:31:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/a-massive-year-of-the-dragon-chinese-new-year-bash-at-the-marina-bay-sands/
Image © TravMedia/Marina Bay Sands.

If you’re building your trip around events at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (compare rates|buy direct), expect your calendar to get pretty busy over the next few weeks. From the opening of an adjacent MRT station (Bayfront) on January 14 to a series of Chinese New Year events in the hotel and its partner establishments, the Marina Bay Sands will be throwing a big Year of the Dragon bash, and everybody’s invited.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/a-massive-year-of-the-dragon-chinese-new-year-bash-at-the-marina-bay-sands/feed/ 0 Friendly Planet Travel Cracks the Myanmar Mystery, Launches Mystical Myanmar Tour. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/friendly-planet-travel-cracks-the-myanmar-mystery-launches-mystical-myanmar-tour/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/friendly-planet-travel-cracks-the-myanmar-mystery-launches-mystical-myanmar-tour/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:31:31 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/friendly-planet-travel-cracks-the-myanmar-mystery-launches-mystical-myanmar-tour/
The main stupa at Shwedagon, Yangon, Myanmar. Image © Getty Images.

Myanmar has not gotten a lot of good press lately, but things are changing. With international sanctions slowly easing and the country getting some much-needed attention from travel professionals, travel operators like Friendly Planet Travel are making inroads into the country, allowing travelers to discover the magic of what was once Southeast Asia’s hermit kingdom.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/friendly-planet-travel-cracks-the-myanmar-mystery-launches-mystical-myanmar-tour/feed/ 0 Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, Indonesia: A Lion, A Dragon, and Nine Delicious Courses. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-indonesia-a-lion-a-dragon-and-nine-delicious-courses/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-indonesia-a-lion-a-dragon-and-nine-delicious-courses/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:31:12 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/01/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-indonesia-a-lion-a-dragon-and-nine-delicious-courses/

The Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta (compare rates) is always on the money when it comes to their festive treats (see their Christmas promotion from a few weeks back), and their Chinese New Year festivities are no different. For the Year of the Dragon, the Mandarin offers special dining packages, performances and affordable stays for guests visiting Jakarta.

To start off, the Mandarin’s newly-renovated Chinese restaurant, Xin Hwa offers a sumptuous nine-course set menu created by their Chinese Head Chef Chan Yiu So and his Dim Sum Chef Wong Phak Khay.

The restaurant’s two set menus – “Great Prosperity” and “Rich Fortune”  - feature a delectable Yu Sheng component, pictured above. The Great Prosperity menu will set you back about IDR 518,000 ++ per person, and the Rich Fortune costs IDR 728,000++ per person. One free Ang Pao and Sticky Rice Cake per guest completes the experience.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve and Day, a traditional Lion and Dragon Dance (known in Indonesia as barongsai) will be performed in the Mandarin, winding through the lobby and restaurant and providing a festive air to the guests enjoying their New Year’s meals.

Finally, a Dragon Year room package will be offered for the duration of the Chinese New Year holiday. The package includes:

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