Singaporeans can expect 7 long weekends next year

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans can expect seven long weekends next year as a result of public holidays falling just before or after a weekend.

Travel agents said they are anticipating an increase in business as many will likely take advantage of the public holidays to go abroad. Agents such as SA Tours and CTC Travel are optimistic that business will pick up next year after the effects of the H1N1 global outbreak and economic crisis wear off. They plan to promote short packages to regional destinations for those who want to travel over the long weekends. One public holiday to take note of is the Chinese New Year. The first day of the Lunar New Year in 2010 falls on Sunday, February 14, which is Valentine’s Day. For Deepavali next year, it is presently deemed to be November 5, but the date needs to be checked against the Indian Almanac when it is available. Should there be a change, the Manpower Ministry will issue a press release to announce it.

SOURCE :
By Zhang Tingjun, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 08 June 2009 2252 hrs

Thailand 2010 Public Holidays & Festivals Calendar

Here is a list of Thailand Public Holidays & Festivals of calendar Year 2010.

There are national holidays, as well as some of the most important festivals and celebrations in Thailand. Many of Thailand important holidays are based on Thai lunar calendar, thus it will have different dates from year to year. The dates for these 2010 Thai holidays are estimates. We do not and cannot guarantee the accuracy.

Celebrate the festivals and events in the Kingdom as follows:

Read more

Amazing trip with you

We’ve spent very long time to plan my CNY trip.

We have planned my trip to Bali, clubmed with my 5th uncle.
But the price is actually quite high till we can’t effort.
Then I advise to go to Hong Kong.
Cuz I want to go to Disney land, shopping and taste the nice food there.
But, you were travelled there before.SO…
This trip has been stopped of u…
Pity me…
After discussing for a week..
Finally, we decide Thailand trip…
Some of them love the island…
But, I’d love to shopping…
Is that possible any hypermarket in any island?
No… No… No…
I don’t think so…
Actually I like to island too…
Cuz I’d really love to do sunbathing, Snorkeling and diving.
But I do like shopping too…
How?

Read more

The rail runs through it

The bamboo rail transporting firewood in Cambodia. -- CAROLINE CHIA/THE STRAITS TIMES

AS THE train pulls away from Tanjong Pagar, factories loom like skyscrapers and squat houses acquire an imposing air. Familiar sights turn foreign even before we cross the border. Our journey across five countries has just begun. Inside the chilly carriages of KTM’s Ekspres Rakyat to Butterworth, Mr Bean stumbles his way through gaffes on the Samsung flatscreen television as a family tucks into a breakfast of bread and apricot jam. Other passengers catch a nap on plush fabric seats before we hit the checkpoint at Woodlands. It will be the first of four borders we pass in our bid to travel 5,000km to the edge of China via the route of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link project.

Read more

Strong turnout at Natas

Travel-smitten Singaporeans, lured by attractive low fares and special promotions, began queuing at the entrance of the Singapore Expo as early as 7 am, three hours before the doors opened. --ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

IF RESPONSE on the first day of the NATAS travel fair is anything to go by,worries over the H1N1 virus have given way – to wanderlust. Travel-smitten Singaporeans, lured by attractive low fares and special promotions, began queuing at the entrance of the Singapore Expo as early as 7 am, three hours before the doors opened. Some visitors even took a day off work to attend the fair. Exhibitors were not surprised by the strong turnout. Chan Brothers marketing communications senior executive Jane Chang said: ‘The turnout is very encouraging, especially since the 10 am opening is earlier than the previous fairs. It was not unexpected because demand was also very high during our own company travel fair two weeks ago. Singaporeans love to travel.’ Dynasty Travel marketing communications senior manager Dorothy Lee was also not surprised. ‘Singaporeans have put off their travel plans when the H1N1 flu first surfaced. Now that they have a better understanding of the virus, Singaporeans are ready to travel again.’

Read more

The Southeast Asian Sailors Bible

If you’re travelling around the region by boat, there’s one publication that you must have.

In the past 20 years Thailand has become the boating capital of Asia, with both locals and foreigners taking to the sea in large numbers. Some prefer to sail yachts and enter the many annual regattas held in Thailand, while others prefer a boat with a motor and go cruising along the coastlines or weave their way through the country’s many small islands. One thing both groups have in common – apart from being surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the world – is the need for a comprehensive guide book. They need to know where it’s too shallow to go, where to drop anchor for the night, where to get fuel, food and water, and most importantly, where there are reefs or rocks that will send their boats down to Davy Jones’ locker if they’re not careful.

Read more

A way with waste

A village in southern Thailand makes natural dyes using fallen leaves and discarded fruit skin.

Fallen leaves and fruit skin have no use for city people, but a group of villagers in Khiriwong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, seem to have found a way with the waste which they use to produce natural dyes. These dyes, created with local ingenuity and used for colouring clothes, blouses and accessories, have earned Tambon Kamlon, of which the village is part, a name and have been accorded OTOP (one tambon, one product) rating. “We aim to make the most use of materials naturally available in our community,” said Aree Khunthon, leader of a housewife group which has been producing natural dyes for 14 years. The orchards of Khiriwong yield mangosteen, durian, rambutan, garcinia (som khaek), longon, mango, parkia (sataw) and other plants depending on time of year, a factor helped by good weather and fresh air that, according to the Pollution Control Department, is among the cleanest measured in the country. The village sits at the foot of Khao Luang, the highest mountain in southern Thailand. But selling fruit alone wasn’t enough to make a living, recalled Aree of the years before her group embarked on a programme to produce natural dyes to supplement their meagre income.

Read more

No kidding, it’s the great outdoors

Children should be encouraged to play outdoors as it not only helps to stimulate their senses, but also gets them close to nature.

Elizabeth believes parents should consciously make time for their children to have outdoor play.

THERE was a time when evenings were synonymous with the sounds of excited children at play and traditional games were the norm. But these days, ask a child about a game and he’s more likely to name a computer game. Forget climbing trees or wading through ponds, just having time to be outdoors is a luxury few children enjoy. But depriving children of outdoor time means stripping them of the most wonderful environment for their development — nature. Nature provides a rich and stimulating environment for play and depriving children of the chance to engage with nature means taking away a valuable component in their early development, said Nallini Swaminathan, president of the Selangor Association of Play and Expressive Therapy (Sapet).

Read more

AirAsia expands to Mid-East

KUALA LUMPUR – MALAYSIAN low-cost carrier AirAsia said on Wednesday it will launch flights to Abu Dhabi in November, marking its first foray into the Middle East.

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia said on Wednesday it will launch flights to Abu Dhabi in November, marking its first foray into the Middle East. --PHOTO: AP

The new Kuala Lumpur-Abu Dhabi route, operated by the carrier’s long-haul affiliate AirAsia X, will begin on Nov 23 with five weekly flights in time for the peak travel season for Muslims, it said in a statement. AirAsia X Chief Executive Azran Osman-Rani said it indicated the group’s expansion plans were on track despite the global economic slump. The airline sees a potentially lucrative market in Abu Dhabi, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates with a population of 2 million – of which more than 80 per cent are frequent traveling expatriates, he said. ‘

Read more

More flights from Changi

New destinations coming up as well in run-up to Natas travel fair.

Jetstar Asia will beef up its fleet and fly twice daily to Phuket, while Tiger Airways says it will announce more good deals soon. -- ST FILE PHOTO

THOSE looking to scratch the itch to travel will be glad to know that Changi Airport will offer more flights out and new destinations in the coming months. Jetstar Asia, for instance, is embarking on its most aggressive expansion programme yet. It has announced plans to add three more aircraft to its current fleet of seven planes in the next 12 months. The airline will welcome its eighth aircraft in December, which will fly twice daily to Phuket in Thailand from Dec 15. Another two jets will come by May. Jetstar, which now flies seven times a week to Manila, will also bump this up to 10 services from Oct 25. To mark the launch of its Singapore-Phuket service, the airline will offer a limited number of one-way tickets at $8 for selected travel dates from January to May. With taxes and other charges included, the return fare will be about $120. Online bookings can be made between 9am and 8pm on Thursday.

Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »