Ha Nam's 'royal' banana

Chuối ngự, Ha Nam Province’s ‘royal’ banana, being sold in

 a market in neighboring Nam Dinh town

Visitors to the northern province of Ha Nam should not miss the chance to enjoy chuối ngự, a banana variety that grows best in the area.

According to locals, the fruit, whose name means “royal banana,” got its name in the 13th century. Legend has it that when a Tran king was on his way to his homeland in a nearby area - now Nam Dinh Province - people in Ha Nam brought their specialties to offer him. A poor farmer couple in Dai Hoang Village only had a bunch of ripe bananas from their garden to offer him. To their pleasant surprise, the king loved the wonderful flavor and taste of the fruit and asked locals to grow more of it. And since then this banana has been called chuối ngự, and used to be chosen to make offerings to the sovereign.

Chuối ngự is small and has bright yellow skin and a sweet smell when ripe, and, of course, a wonderfully sweet taste.

Though the fruit can be seen all year round, summer and early autumn are the best times. Visitors to Dai Hoang Village during this period will have a chance to enjoy this specialty and the peaceful, green rural scenery.

“We are very proud that our land is home to this precious banana variety,” a local man named Hoang Trong Dung told us when we visited the village.

“Our banana was not only a favorite fruit for the Tran kings but has also found mention in many famous films and novels.”

Taking a tour through the village, we were amazed by the lush banana gardens and fields that run around the vast ponds and lakes.

The alluvial soil nurtured by the Chau Giang River, a branch of the Red River, is believed to infuse the special flavor and taste to chuối ngự.

“We usually grow new crops in spring, and thanks to our rich soil, we do not have to use much fertilizer, just mud from our ponds,” Dung said.

“However, ripening bananas is a complicated task that requires experience. Due to their very thin skin, we have to cut the unripe bunches, and ripen them carefully by burning rice husk or incense.”

That is why the fields and gardens were still green while the banana markets were full of bright yellow fruits. Apart from being sold in local markets, chuối ngự are also very popular in neighboring provinces like Nam Dinh and Thai Binh.

The demand for the fruit has increased especially during Tet and on the first and 15th of every lunar month.

“People are not only buying chuối ngự to put on the altar to offer their ancestors, but also choosing them as a special gift to far-away friends and relatives,” Dung said.

Growing stronger

While talking about his village’s specialty, Dung said that though their banana had always been treasured, there were times its popularity was low.

“I can remember one time during the 1980s when we had to chop off the trees to create land for rice,” Dung remembered. “The trees had nearly disappeared from our fields and gardens.

But now that they are no more threatened by hunger, people grow the banana again, not only to preserve a precious variety but also to earn a stable income.

Since 2001 a project to preserve and develop this banana, funded by the UNDP’s Global Environment Facility, has helped expand the fruit-growing area to neighboring villages, turning them into areas specializing in growing chuối ngự.

The royal fruit has been granted an appellation of origin by the Office of Intellectual Property under the name “chuối ngự Dai Hoang,” and this is expected to take it to places it has never previously been.

Source: http://www.thanhniennews.com

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B&B owners seek better coordination

Members of the Bed & Breakfast Association in Delhi have outlined concerns over the government’s Bed and Breakfast Scheme, which aims to provide centralised coordination for the industry.

Nearly 100 operators, including representatives from Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation that manage the Bed and Breakfast Scheme on behalf of the Government of NCT Delhi, gathered at a meeting last week.

The association shared a number of concerns particularly relating to marketing the scheme, filling up the establishments, on line booking and the problems faced in accepting on line payments, compliances issues related to Form C requirements as regards foreign citizens, applicability of Service Tax to the industry and absence of suitable insurance products that could be applicable to the business.

They also questioned the reluctance of many Government departments, particularly defence, to reimburse bills of their staff on temporary duty that stays in such establishments.

Atul Khanna, President Delhi Bed and Breakfast Owners Association lauded the efforts of the Government and emphasised on the need for joint redressal of some of the issues.

Source: http://www.traveldailymedia.com

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Carnival “highlights APD unfairness”

Photo credit: Clive Chilvers / Shutterstock.com 

Notting Hill Carnival has been used as a platform to show how thousands are priced out of holidays to the Caribbean due to unfair APD rates.

Islands in the Caribbean have seen a 17% drop in visitors and the UK has seen a 32% decrease in visitors from the islands in the last five years due to the tax, it has been said. While the tax is largely criticised in all destinations, the Caribbean has particularly suffered for its banding for a higher level than the USA. A family of four can pay up to £324, or more increases planned for 2013. ABTA has now called for the Caribbean community to get behind A Fair Tax on Flying and email their local MP.

“The Caribbean Tourism Organisation continues to lobby the government against APD and the unfair banding to our region. We deeply regret that after all our efforts so far, we have been unable to achieve more parity with other long haul destinations,” said Carol Hay, director of marketing at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

“It will be great to see so many people enjoying themselves at the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend and getting into the holiday spirit; but many people there will be missing out on seeing their friends and family because they simply cannot afford to travel home this year.”

Source: http://www.traveldailymedia.com

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On the road to My Tho

 Boat trip through water coconut trees in Thoi Son Island, Tien Giang Province

Last weekend I made a trip with a friend to My Tho Town in Tien Giang Province. My Tho is the closest Mekong Delta destination to Ho Chi Minh City, and it takes less than two hours to drive there.

My Tho is a peaceful riverside city surrounded by beautiful gardens, a sublime weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Saigon.

We expected a relaxing couple of days enjoying a typical Mekong delta orchard. We hoped to experience the tranquil village life of the Delta’s endless gardens, where nature’s lushness moves quickly and vegetation will swiftly overtake settlements if villagers are not attentive to their gardens. We hoped for nights lit by full moons over the river and bicycle trips on shady paths winding through villages on tiny river islands.

After crossing Rach Mieu Bridge, we reached Thoi Son and luckily came across a small travel agent.

We were approached immediately by the travel agent. We negotiated a bit, and she offered a package for two for VND900,000.

It was a very hot day, and the boat trip to the hotel turned out to be the perfect introduction to the Delta. It was much cooler on the water. The scenic Mekong River revealed its power; a fast-moving, muddy expanse that seemed to take everything with it. We passed large floating tracts of uprooted vegetation and lush islands that looked like they would be overtaken at any moment by the river.

Our lodging, the Con Phung Hotel, was located right on the riverbank. Yet it wasn’t tranquil when we arrived. It was mid-afternoon, essentially rush hour on Con Phung. Hundreds of tourists loitering in matching tour company ball caps filled the hotel’s garden and made navigating the check-in difficult. There were seas of ball caps in the distance, overwhelming the quaintness of the island with a cacophony of chatter.

We decided to take in the afternoon with a walk around the island. There were several outdoor restaurants among the lush gardens. We passed a crocodile pond, filled with many lazy creatures sunning themselves. Con Phung was a network of quiet paths crossing through villages and skirting the river. Fruit trees were everywhere, and in the distance we could hear the engines of boats working the river, slowly and determinedly. Sometimes openings in the jungle allowed us to see the boats plodding by.

We walked deeper into the island, away from the hotel. There were few villagers out. Most were at home at that hour, preparing dinner. Not many villagers to meet on the path, but we weren’t necessarily complaining. It was a moment of serenity, the afternoon temperatures were cooling, and we became aware of the sounds and scents of the orchards. Having grown up in the countryside, my companion pointed out fruit trees, herbs, and flowers. I took the pulse of each new small discovery, smelling beautiful and tiny flowers and leaves I’d otherwise pass, and learned about Vietnam’s different herbs and the dishes for which they are the base. If there is one thing Vietnamese cuisine is justifiably known for, it is creativity with herbs.

We were deep in the countryside. No brick walls separated houses. Houses and yards showed a certain restraint and liberalness with space, as none of them intruded on the path.

Here, nature is inescapable, but somehow the locals have tamed it and created a world of idyllic landscapes and scents. Coconut, banana, and mango trees are everywhere, reaching out to the path we were on; we picked and ate fruit from the trees. Wild roses and other plants appeared, beautiful, fed by nutrient rich soil and the ever-present powerful Mekong River.

Local musicians sing traditional songs in a garden in Thoi Son Island

The next day, we started a half-day boat trip. Our first stop was neighboring Thoi Son Island’s honey bee farm. We saw bee hives in the garden and learned how the honey is created. Then we went back to our table where we were served royal jelly, pollen, tea, honey, and herbal wine.

Our next activity might have been the best. We boarded a small dugout canoe and navigated a three-meter wide stream through a coconut forest. We disembarked and sat down at a shop in another orchard for a fruit tasting. Meanwhile, we were entertained by several troupes playing don ca tai tu, or traditional Mekong Delta music.

Most of the singers were young ladies in ao dai or ao ba ba, charmingly singing southern traditional songs. Some songs were in Japanese or Chinese, depending on the audience. Sometimes they sang in groups of both men and women, as well as children standing in front. They were quite focused on their singing, and moved little. They were accompanied by several artists playing Mekong Delta instruments and locally-made guitars. The performances were simple, but memorable.

It was a sweet ending to a wonderful weekend. After another boat trip, we met our driver, waiting to take us back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: http://www.thanhniennews.com

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Uncovering the Secrets of Fukuoka

Hajime Kimura for The New York Times

For the city's famous ramen, head for a yatai, or street cart.

THE crowd at Akatan, a narrow, standing bar in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka, thickened as each glass of sake and shochu was poured. By midnight, strangers had swept my husband, Dave, and me — the only Western faces in the smoky bar — into alcohol-fueled conversations that, with the language barrier, often devolved into comical pantomime. Every time we explained that we were visiting Fukuoka as tourists, the same question arose: “But why?”

Hajime Kimura for The New York Times

Tenjin, one of several notable shopping neighborhoods.

Our four days in the low-key city this spring provided plenty of answers. Fukuoka has chic boutiques, laid-back bars, a fantastic high-and-low dining scene and beaches nearby. Nearly equidistant to Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul, it sits on the northern tip of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

Despite its many assets, relatively few tourists have discovered Fukuoka. But with a multitude of new transport links, that may soon change.

Cruise ships began docking in the port three years ago, joining ferries from South Korea and China. In 2011, the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line was completed, linking Fukuoka to Kagoshima, on the southern tip of Kyushu. And this year, two new low-cost airlines, Peach Aviation and AirAsia Japan, have started flying to Fukuoka from Osaka and Tokyo, respectively.

To explore the subtle appeal of this often overlooked city, I turned to two local experts, Nick Szasz, a Canadian and 22-year Fukuoka resident, and his wife, Emiko, a Fukuoka native. They run Fukuoka Now, a bilingual monthly magazine with a comprehensive online city guide.

Over dinner at the upscale restaurant Yakitori-Hachibei, they told me that Fukuoka has long had a reputation among the Japanese as a great place to live. But it is not thought of as a holiday destination, partly because it lacks a standout attraction.

“The biggest crisis for this city is defining an identity,” Mr. Szasz said. “What we have is great, but how can we brand this?”

What Fukuoka does have — a little bit of everything — is pretty enticing. West of the city center is the manicured Ohori Park, whose wide walking, jogging and biking paths encircle a lovely artificial lake. On its periphery is the Fukuoka Art Museum, with a plump Yayoi Kusama pumpkin sculpture plopped out front. Nearby is a hilltop with castle ruins and views across the city to Hakata Bay, which is partly lined by a wide beach, also artificial.

(Getting an overview of the city became easier last year, with the introduction of boat tours on the Naka River. Also, in March bus tours with multilingual commentary were inaugurated.)

An easy 25-minute train trip takes you to Dazaifu, a city with impressive cultural sights. During our early-spring visit, plum blossoms framed the town’s Tenmangu Shrine. A short stroll from there is the Kyushu National Museum, one of Japan’s four national museums, which opened in 2005. Its exterior, a soaring cerulean glass facade that reflects the lush vegetation-covered hills, houses stunning exhibition halls packed with ancient treasures.

But even finer than these sights are Fukuoka’s intangibles: the laid-back atmosphere, the friendly people, the relaxed pace of a city large enough, with about 1.4 million people, to have its own attractions but not so large as to be overwhelming.

So, compared with navigating Tokyo’s busy subway system or hurrying to visit one last shrine in Kyoto before closing time, taking in the sights in Fukuoka actually feels like a vacation. It’s one that may be spent sipping locally roasted coffee at Manu, a welcoming coffee shop with neon-yellow walls, mellow music and piles of design magazines. Or lounging on the low banquettes, cocktail in hand, at Bar Klug, an elegant, cavelike hideaway.

Even shopping has an unhurried quality. Sure, big-name brands are on offer in the trendy Daimyo neighborhood and the bustling Tenjin area, where a Barneys New York opened last year. Across town, the JR Hakata City complex packs two department stores and more than 200 shops and restaurants into 11 floors.

But it’s possible to skip those stores altogether and browse back-street boutiques in the quiet Imaizumi neighborhood, poking around shops like Naif, Dice & Dice, Curve and Florent to unearth delicate handmade bracelets, leather-bound notebooks, bags fashioned out of seat belts, suede T-strap sandals and racks of clothing bearing labels from local designers and Lanvin alike. Fukuoka’s shopping scene led Monocle lifestyle magazine to dub it Retail City.

“Frankly, I don’t think that’s right,” Mr. Szasz said at dinner at Yakitori-Hachibei. “Gourmet City would be closer to the truth.”

The outstanding yakitori we ate that night, including sake-spritzed skewers of plump chicken, ginkgo nuts and edamame croquettes, supported his claim, as did the succulent gyoza, a local specialty, at Yuu Shin a few nights later. There, the diminutive dumplings were seared to a delicate crisp and served sizzling in the cast-iron skillet.

Hajime Kimura for The New York Times

A beach in the Fukuoka area.

Hajime Kimura for The New York Times

A shop selling handmade purses.

The dish the city is most famous for, however, is not high end, or even close. It’s Hakata ramen, made with thin noodles and rich tonkotsu (pork bone) broth. (Hakata, once a separate city, is a ward of Fukuoka.)

I was schooled in slurping by Patrick Mackey, a local blogger, ramen-lover and freelance translator, over piping hot bowls at Shin Shin.

“For ramen, most people say Fukuoka is the best,” he said. Two of Japan’s most famous ramen chains, Ichiran and Ippudo, hail from the city.

But the one can’t-miss dining experience in Fukuoka is yatai.

Yatai are tiny street food carts that are constructed (and deconstructed) nightly. Plastic curtains typically enclose a bare-bones kitchen and minuscule counter around which no more than a dozen or so diners can cram. Many yatai serve basic fare like grilled things-on-sticks or ramen; some supplement counter seating with folding tables and chairs.

“Yatai used to be all over Japan,” Mr. Szasz said. “In Fukuoka, they’ve hung on in great numbers.”

Today, there are about 150 operating yatai in Fukuoka, with most clustered along main roads, parks and the riverfront. Because of a law that bans the opening of new yatai, those numbers are dwindling, said Mr. Szasz, who serves on a committee created to review the law. He expressed optimism, however, that it might soon be reversed, noting that Fukuoka’s new mayor, Soichiro Takashima, views yatai as a tourism draw.

With their curtains drawn, yatai can seem exclusive, for regulars only. The opposite is true.

“It’s a community experience: part the curtains, sit down and you’re with friends,” Mr. Szasz said. “Once you’re in there, it’s like a mini-party.”

And a mini-party it was when Dave and I squeezed onto a bench at the popular yatai Ajifu on Watanabe-dori on a cold weekday night. Inside, 10 other diners, all local people, were tucked around the U-shaped counter. Cigarette smoke commingled with the familiar aroma of ramen broth as we sipped cold Asahi beers and devoured yakitori pulled from the grill outside. And much like at the sake-and-shochu bar Akatan, we were soon among friends.

Source: http://travel.nytimes.com

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In Kentucky, Fried Chicken History

Jonathan Palmer for The New York Times

The Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, Ky.

WHEN making his rounds as a traveling salesman for a Chicago printing company, Duncan Hines would occasionally pull off the Dixie Highway in Corbin, Ky., and eat at Sanders Cafe. In the 1939 edition of “Adventures in Good Eating,” his pioneering restaurant guide, he recommended the cafe and its adjoining motor court as “very good place to stop en route to Cumberland Falls and the Great Smokies,” highlighting its “sizzling steaks, fried chicken, country ham, hot biscuits.”

Jonathan Palmer for The New York Times

A sculpture of Colonel Harland Sanders.

The cafe is still there, only now it incorporates a museum and holds down a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, for one huge, unignorable reason. The owner, chef and resident genius of the place was none other than Colonel Harland Sanders, who, on this hallowed ground, cooked the first batch of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Cumberland Falls does not work the magic it once did, and Corbin itself is not high on anyone’s list of tourist destinations. But the Colonel Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum is a modest must. In addition to capturing a pivotal moment in the mass-marketing of American vernacular food, it evokes a dreamlike time, before the arrival of the Interstate System and its proliferation of fast-food restaurants and chain hotels, when traveling the American highway was a thrilling, high-risk proposition, with marvelous discoveries and ghastly disappointments waiting at every turn.

In its present form, the Sanders Cafe and Museum was born in 1990, the 100th anniversary of Colonel Sanders’s birth. JRN, a Tennessee-based company that operates nearly 200 KFC franchises in the Southeast, was about to open a modern KFC restaurant next to the old cafe. To mark the great birthday, it put out a call for artifacts and memorabilia that would allow it to celebrate the Colonel, his cafe and his fried chicken.

All sorts of stuff came out of the woodwork, which makes the Sanders Museum a cabinet of curiosities rather than a scholarly enterprise. It’s a little of this, a little of that, and a lot of the Colonel, memorialized in a bronze bust, two strange-looking all-white life-size sculptures and a vintage store display that depicts him, larger than life, holding a bucket of chicken and radiating joy. His title, first bestowed in 1935, is an honorific conferred by the state.

The museum managed to get its hands on Bertha, the actual pressure cooker in which Sanders, years away from coloneldom, began experimenting with pressure-frying as a way to reduce the cooking time for his chicken. At the back of the cafe, the old open kitchen has been restored and outfitted with period ovens and dishwashers.

The historic trove includes a 100-pound barrel, dating from 1956, that contains the 11 herbs and spices that gave Kentucky Fried Chicken its distinctive flavor and its air of mystery. There’s a handwritten recipe for a mock-oyster casserole based on chopped eggplant, crushed crackers and cream; a vintage postcard that shows a squirrel drinking out of a giant Kentucky Fried Chicken cup through a straw; and a pair of wooden shoes presented to the Colonel when he visited Amsterdam in 1974. It’s a very mixed bag, in other words.

Many of the 75,000 customers who walk into the place each year simply order their fried chicken and biscuits and sit down in the old cafe’s dining room, with the original maple tables and chairs by Willett, a Louisville company whose furniture was enormously popular from the 1930s through the 1950s.

If curiosity moves them, they drift across the dining room to look at a lovingly restored model room that the Colonel installed to advertise the motor court next door. Theorizing that women had a big say in where the family stayed for the night, he placed it squarely on the path to the ladies’ room. That way, female diners could not avoid admiring its immaculate black-and-white bathroom tiles, maple furniture and pristine white chenille bedspreads.

As the motel room suggests, the Colonel explored many entrepreneurial byways before emerging as the public face of Kentucky Fried Chicken, the grandfatherly figure in the white suit with the white mustache and manicured goatee.

He was a much wilder, more colorful figure than the museum or the official company histories let on. By the time he arrived in Corbin, in the early 1930s, to run a failing gas station, he had already been a farmhand, a railroad worker, a country lawyer, an insurance salesman, a ferryboat operator, a secretary to the chamber of commerce in Columbus, Ind., and a salesman for Michelin tires.

Jonathan Palmer for The New York Times

A display at the Sanders Cafe and Museum.

Josh Ozersky’s zesty “Colonel Sanders and the American Dream” (University of Texas Press, 2012) tells of a lethal shootout that pitted Sanders and two Shell Oil representatives against the owner of the Standard Oil station across the road. The Colonel, gun blazing, emerged victorious.

Often, motorists asked Sanders to recommend a place to eat, and he soon began cooking home-style meals, which he served in a tiny room at the back of the gas station.

The impromptu kitchen evolved into a cafe, which spawned a motor court. The big draw in the early years was not fried chicken but a hearty breakfast of fried country ham, eggs and biscuits. A breakfast nook, with Willett furniture, a tiny table and red and white checkered tablecloths, has been lovingly restored and put behind glass in the cafe.

The whole operation burned down in 1939. The present cafe rose in gabled splendor a year later, along with a new motor court, now gone. In the KFC lobby, interested visitors can see the 1940 Sanders Court and Cafe, the old service station and surrounding businesses reconstructed in HO scale.

Kentucky made the Colonel. It almost unmade him, too. In the mid-1950s, with the cafe and court going gangbusters, the route of the new Interstate was announced. It swung several miles wide of the cafe, leaving the Colonel in the lurch. He sold his empire for just enough to pay his taxes and bills, and, after cashing his first Social Security check, for $105, hit the road with his pressure cooker to turn Kentucky Fried Chicken into a national franchise.

He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. As the historical marker outside the cafe points out, it all began in Corbin as a humble, seat-of-the pants operation. Turn off the highway, and you can still catch the flavor.


Source: http://travel.nytimes.com

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Tra Vinh’s Khmer connection

The Mekong Delta province is a green, tranquil place with old pagodas and a culture that is an amalgam of Vietnamese and Khmer

Cay He (garlic chives) Pagoda in Tieu Can Commune, the southern province of Tra Vinh. The province boasts more than 140 pagodas built in old Khmer architecture styles.

Tra Vinh Province, situated 200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is almost like a giant park – most of its streets are covered with large trees, many of them centuries old.

In fact, trees are so omnipresent – they are in offices, schools, houses – that many streets are named after them.

Right at the entrance to Tra Vinh Town, the provincial capital, is the four-hectare Ao Ba Om (Ba Om Pond) or Ao Vuong (square pond).

The pond is filled with lotuses and water lilies, and, thanks to a ban on fishing, has lots of fish and wild ducks. Old trees line its banks, making the spot cool the whole year through.

No one knows for sure about the pond’s origin. But there are many myths about it, one of them more accepted than the others.

It goes like this: In old times, when men and women still fought over who should take the initiative in proposing marriage, locals organized a contest between male and female teams to identify the winner: they had to dig a pond in one night, with the team completing first being the winner.

A woman named Ba Om tricked the men into drinking while her team kept digging and won the competition. Thus the pond was named after her.

Next to the pond is the Museum of Khmer People’s Culture built in 1997. It is one of only two of its kind in Vietnam; the other is in neighboring Soc Trang Province.

It has nearly 1,000 objects on display under three different sections.

The first shows various models of pagodas. It also has idols of goddesses like Kayno, a bird believed to be the personification of a popular Khmer goddess who finds mention in a number of legends.

The Khmers’s agricultural implements which are carved with birds, dragon heads, and other symbols, are displayed in the second room. The last one showcases traditional musical instruments, clothes, masks, and other things locals use in art performances.

According to the province’s website, the most precious objects in the museum are books written on palm leaves in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language.

Ancient pagodas

Tra Vinh is particularly known for its more than 140 pagodas built in old Khmer architectural styles. Nodol, Hang (cave), and Ang pagodas are the most famous.

Ang (Angkorajaborey) Pagoda is next to the Museum of Khmer People’s Culture, in a complex also consisting of the museum and Ao Ba Om. Legend has it that the pagoda was built at the end of the 10th century, but historical records say it was built before 1715 and restored in 1842.

One of the oldest pagodas in Tra Vinh, Ang’s architecture is a mix of Khmer and Angkor cultures with details like Naga, a deity in the form of a large snake in Hinduism and Buddhism, statutes of humans with bird heads, sacred snakes, birds, and others.

Dozens of large paintings with Buddhist themes can also be found on the walls and roof of the pagoda’s main hall.

The pagoda, which is surrounded by a ditch, has a main Buddha idol that is 2.1 meters high besides 50 smaller statues made of either wood or stone.

Nodol Pagoda, some 40 kilometers to the south of Tra Vinh Town, is believed to have been built in 1677. It consists of many parts including a central chamber that has roofs curved like dragon tails and towers shaped like mountains. Sculptures of deities decorate the pagoda.

Locals often call it Co (stork) Pagoda because many species of the bird flock here.

The other must-visit pagoda is the Hang Pagoda situated some four kilometers to the south of Tra Vinh Town.

Its main gate faces the river bank and has large statues of Yak, a demon converted by Buddha and later assigned to serve as a protector. A smaller gate on the west looks like a cave, so locals often call it Hang (cave) Pagoda though its official name is Mong Ray (Kamponyixprdle).

The place is especially famous for its sculpture made by monks in the giant roots of century-old trees.

It is said that Hang’s monks were inspired after the pagoda was bombed by the US in 1968 during the Vietnam War. The bombing felled hundreds of old trees which the monks used for wood. They planned to collect their roots as well but later decided to sculpt them.

Other pagodas like Samrok Ek, Phuong, and Diep Thach are also good choices for visitors interested in Khmer culture, Buddhism, and Brahmin architecture.

Source: http://www.thanhniennews.com

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To Hotel Guests, Sleep Is a Start

Hotel reviews on sites like Tripadvisor are useful for judging a specific property, to find out whether the elevators are slow or the location is grim. But ranking one brand against another or evaluating the industry as a whole requires a broader view — and new surveys indicate that although guest satisfaction is improving, travelers do have some complaints.

For its July issue, Consumer Reports asked more than 22,000 readers about their stays at 44 chains. It found scores for service, hotel upkeep and the check-in and checkout process had improved since 2006. Yet a quarter of respondents had at least one complaint, with inadequate beds, noise, outdated décor, cramped bathrooms and poor heating or air-conditioning dominating the list.

“The key thing about a hotel is how good a night’s sleep you were able to get,” said Tod Marks, a senior projects editor with Consumer Reports. “An uncomfortable bed is one of the things that always seems to stand out in terms of problems.”

The magazine rates hotel brands in four categories: luxury, upscale, moderate and budget. Ritz-Carlton led the luxury list, while Harrah’s beat its upscale competitors, helped by the free rooms given to many of its gambling guests. Wingate by Wyndham and Drury Inn and Suites effectively tied for top ranking among moderately priced brands.

At the budget end of the spectrum, Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham ranked well ahead of other economy chains, which often received low marks for bad lighting and a smoky smell.

“They are the only budget hotel that stood out,” Mr. Marks said. “All but Microtel were below average in everything but check-in and checkout.”

Rui Barros, senior vice president for Microtel, said an important factor in the brand’s success was that all of its 310 hotels were new buildings instead of conversions from other chains. “The magic formula for us is that there’s both consistency in product and consistency in service,” he said. “When you walk into one, they all look pretty much the same.”

For 10 years, Microtel has also been the highest-rated economy brand in J. D. Power & Associates’ hotel guest satisfaction study; the 2012 survey is due out this week. While there are differences between the two rankings — in part because Consumer Reports uses four price categories and J. D. Power uses seven — some brands score well on both lists.

Last year, Ritz-Carlton topped luxury hotels in the J. D. Power survey, and Drury Inn and Suites led the midscale limited-service group (moderately priced hotels that do not have a restaurant but may offer a breakfast buffet).

Stuart Greif, vice president for global travel at J. D. Power, said that there was a strong tie between guest satisfaction and consistency, which can be tough to achieve for a brand with hundreds of properties. “If sometimes the room is nice and other times it looks like it’s two decades too old, that really cuts into satisfaction,” he said.

According to J. D. Power’s research, noise and a bad Internet connection are two of the most common problems guests experience, but customers are more likely to call the front desk about a spotty Wi-Fi signal than a neighbor banging around next door.

A reliable — but free — Internet connection is especially important to business travelers these days. A recent joint survey by Frequent Business Traveler magazine and the online travel site FlyerTalk found that a high Internet charge, inaccessible or inadequate electrical outlets and a slow Internet connection were business travelers’ top three hotel pet peeves. Noise, difficult-to-adjust climate controls and poor water pressure or temperature followed technology complaints on the list.

Brian Cohen, a FlyerTalk member, said brand loyalty was especially strong among the frequent travelers who trade tips at the site, particularly about airline and hotel reward programs and how to maximize points and miles.

Although much of the buzz in the hotel industry over the last decade has been about independent or boutique hotels that offer something different to guests, travelers still value consistency.

“In my opinion, on a business trip you want that predictability,” Mr. Cohen said, mentioning that he often stays at Hilton Garden Inn and knows the brand’s signature pantry is open 24 hours, stocked with food, beverages and other items.

According to Bjorn Hanson, divisional dean at New York University’s Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, some preferences vary by age. “A baby boomer will pick a tried-and-true brand,” he said. “A millennial staying three nights might try three different hotels.”

Mr. Hanson also noted that higher-priced brands tended to have more consistent ratings, while their lower-priced counterparts had more variability: at a budget chain, a great experience in Georgia might not be repeated in Maine.

As the hotel industry recovers from the recession, average rates are expected to increase 4 percent this summer to $107 a night, close to the peak of $108 in the summer of 2008, according to Smith Travel Research. Travelers’ expectations are likely to rise along with the prices they are paying for rooms.

“Consumers were patient, realizing that the hotel industry suffered in 2009 and 2010, and accepted the fact that there were capital investments that were deferred,” Mr. Hanson said. “The industry is starting to spend again, but patience has been lost faster than capital expenditures are increasing.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com

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American Airlines pilots in strike vote

The American Airlines pilots’ union has a called a strike vote over a threat to impose new contracts.

American Airlines is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US and seeking to restructure.

The Allied Pilots Association said it would ballot for a strike if the carrier uses the bankruptcy process to throw out existing agreements.

At the same time, pilots’ leaders met senior executives of US Airways to discuss support for a merger between the carriers.

American is a key business partner of British Airways, while US Airways has a code-share agreement with Virgin Atlantic.

American Airlines said a strike by pilots would be illegal. Courts have previously blocked attempts by airline workers to strike during Chapter 11 proceedings.

The carrier is seeking to cancel pilots’ contracts. A hearing before a federal judge in New York to decide whether it can do so is due on September 4.

A union spokesman said: “Our pilots are looking to resist any move to reject our contract.” However, he said the union continues to want to negotiate and a strike would only go ahead if legal.

Ground staff and cabin crew at American airlines have already accepted new contracts.

The union confirmed a meeting with US Airways chairman and chief executive Doug Parker and other executives took place this week to discuss “the potential for industry consolidation”.

American Airlines has previously dismissed merger overtures from US Airways, arguing it would emerge from bankruptcy protection on its own. But American’s creditors have now pressured it to explore options for a merger.

Willie Walsh, head of BA parent IAG, has indicated he may seek a stake in American.

Source: http://www.travelweekly.co.uk

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Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur opens ahead of schedule

The Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, the first Grand Hyatt property in Malaysia, has opened today ahead of schedule.

Business Traveller previously reported that the hotel planned to start operation in September, noting that it would be the first international luxury hotel to open in the Malaysian capital since The Westin in 2003.

The new hotel is located next to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and within walking distance of the Petronas Twin Towers. It has 370 rooms and 42 suites, all with workspace, MP3 docks and internet. Rooms are larger than those currently in the market, with the size of the lead-in category, Grand rooms, starting from 47 sqm.

The hotel has over 3,300 sqm of meetings and events space in six different venues, with the Grand Salon and Grand Ballroom catering to gala events. All these venues employ curved design features to create a softer ambiance.

The hotel features Hyatt’s "residential-style" meeting concept, which offers meeting and event spaces that feel like the chic interior of a private home. The Grand Residence is able to cater exclusive small meetings or cocktail receptions with a capacity to host between 20 and 330 guests.

Dining options include Malaysian food at JP teres and top floor Thirty8, a wine bar, lounge and restaurant serving steaks, Chinese seafood and sashimi.

There is also the Essa Spa, together with 24-hour fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna, and whirlpool bath.

Source: http://www.businesstraveller.com

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KLM heads back to Harare

KLM will start operating to Harare in Zimbabwe in October, tagging the city onto its existing Lusaka, Zambia flight.

Emirates returned to Harare earlier this year and tour operators Cox & Kings and ITC Classics have revealed plans to start taking tourists back to the country.

The flight will operate three times a week and is in addition to its existing offering with partner Kenya Airways via Nairobi, with 11 weekly flights via the Kenya capital.

“KLM sees great growth opportunities in Africa. This year we launched service to Luanda in Angola and Lusaka in Zambia, and in 2011 we began serving Kigali in Rwanda. This new addition to our network strengthens our position in Africa,” said Erik Varwijk, KLM managing director and executive vice president of Air France KLM International & The Netherlands.

Zimbabwe’s tourism industry suffered a huge slump following the ongoing political violence and economic turmoil following the 2002 general election.

Source: http://www.ttgdigital.com

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America's wackiest mini-golf courses

Courtesy Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm Mini-Golf

Play 54 barnyard-themed holes at Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm Mini-Golf in Sevierville, Tenn.

By Margie Goldsmith, Travel + Leisure

When you’re about to putt, the last thing you expect is to be rushed by a lifelike animatronic gorilla. But at least at Virginia’s 18-course Perils of the Lost Jungle, you can’t say you weren’t warned.

It’s the kind of goofy, cheap thrill you can expect from the wackiest of America’s 1,600 mini-golf courses. Computer technology developed by Disney (known as animatronics) has helped to make miniature golf more popular—and more challenging. Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf in Sevierville, Tenn., features talking animated barnyard animals that cheer, jeer, and even call out “Nice putt” to certain players.

Many indoor mini-golf courses are glow-in-the-dark or black-lit, such as Glowing Greens in Portland, Ore, a 10,000-square-foot tropical island/pirate adventure with optional 3-D viewing. Some courses are even quirkier, such as Ahlgrim Acres in the basement of an actual funeral parlor in Palatine, Ill., or Lake George, N.Y.’s Around the World in 18 Holes, where each hole represents a country through its famous landmarks (and a few stereotypes).

Miniature golf has its own national day, September 21, and turns up in pop culture: Homer and Marge of "The Simpsons" conceived Bart in the windmill of a mini-golf course; Adam Sandler refined his short game at a miniature-golf course in "Happy Gilmore"; and in "Jackass 2003," they demolished a mini course with golf carts.

It’s a far cry from the early days of mini-golf, which began in St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1868 because women were not allowed to complete a full back swing; with an 18-hole mini-course, women wouldn’t have to drive the ball. In 1927, a Chattanooga, Tenn., hotel owner built a mini-golf course on Overlook Mountain, hoping to draw traffic to his property, and three years later, it hosted the National Tom Thumb Open, America’s first mini-golf competition. (These days, Myrtle Beach, S.C., attracts serious mini-golfers to an annual championship.)

By the ’50s and ’60s, the local putt-putt was a family destination and a fine place to bring a first date. As DVDs and video games have families increasingly glued to their digital screens, miniature-golf course owners have adapted to the new technology by replacing windmills and clown mouths with interactive challenges and animatronic characters.

So go ahead. Get goofy, bring the family and test your swing at one of America’s wackiest mini-golf courses.


Source: http://todaytravel.today.com

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Italians pack Speedos as Dolomites lake hit by soaring temperatures

Glacial lake is usually icy cold even in summer, and efforts to halt Alpine glaciers melting considered to too little and too late.

A Dolomites trail is tackled by trekkers. With 30C temperatures this summer, Italy is getting a taste of climate change, say meteorologists. Photograph: Maremagnum/ Getty Images

Mountain trekkers, packing essentials before heading for the glaciers in the Italian Dolomite mountains, are taking an extra piece of kit – swimming trunks.

As Italy sweats through a hot summer, climbers reaching 2,500 metres have been stripping off and plunging into the glacial lake at Antermoia, which is usually icy cold in August and frozen in the winter.

"The water is normally really cold and people just put their toe in, so it is amazing so many people up there this year are swimming," said Andrea Weiss, a tourism chief in the Val de Fassa area where the lake is situated.

With temperatures of 30C in the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy is getting a taste of climate change, said Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society. "This will probably be the second hottest summer after 2003, which was the hottest in 200 years. And we expect this to be the norm within 50 years."

Visitors to the Dolomites were this year dressing for the beach, said Andrea Selva, a reporter at local newspaper Il Trentino. "Tourists have been donning their bathing costumes to sunbathe by the side of lake Fedaia, when you usually need a windcheater at the end of August."

The melting Alpine permafrost is also triggering rockslides that are changing the face of the Alps. "Visitors witnessed a large rockslide at the Pala Group range in the Dolomites on Saturday which was so loud they thought the noise was an aircraft's sonic boom," said Selva.

Efforts are being made to stop glaciers melting by unrolling 70-metre long by five-metre wide strips of white plastic over the ice to reflect the sun. Local civil protection chief Alberto Trenti was quoted by the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Thursday a saying that 70,000 sq metres (17.3 acres) of the Presena glacier was now covered during the summer.

But Mercalli said covering glaciers was too little, too late: "There are 2,000 sq km of ice cover in the Alps, so gestures like this may slow things, but won't stop them.

"The worst case scenario is that by the end of the century, ten percent will be left, the glaciers will be gone and mountains like Mont Blanc will have little snow caps like Mount Kilimanjaro.

"If we adopt a green economy, 20-30% could be left, but after 200 years of industry there is no turning back."

Further south this summer, soaring temperatures have triggered forest fires. In the latest blaze, guests fled from a hotel on the hills overlooking Florence on Wednesday as flames destroyed centuries old cypresses and olive groves.

But Mercalli warned that Italy was yet to face up to the threat of climate change.

"Germany, Scandinavia and the UK have understood the dangers and the potential of the green economy, but in southern Europe the dangers are still considered minimal," he said.


Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

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Sleek Mercy Hotel Debuts in Lisbon

Portugal is riding a wave of hotel openings, with several that debuted within the last year, including luxury chain properties like InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas in Porto and Imani Country House an intimate 7-room retreat an hour outside of Lisbon) and many more still to come.

Opening on September 1 in Lisbon, the Mercy Hotel will give visitors to Portugal's capital (and largest) city a stylish place to bunk, with opening rates from 164 Euro/night. Most attractions are within a short walk from the hotel, which sits in the chic Bairro Alto district, home to nightlife, restaurants, bars, and great shopping on cobblestoned streets.

Designed by Miguel Saraiva, the look reflects the Pombaline style popular in downtown Lisbon during the 18th Century. Sleek black and neutral tones (like white, cream, gray, and khaki) are the dominant colors in each of the 47 minimally decorated guest rooms (there are six room types) with choices of quality fabrics like suede (covering some of the walls), silk, and velvet cultivating a warm, cozy feeling. Some rooms have views of Lisbon landmarks—Old Lisbon, Saint George's Castle, and the Tagus River. The best views are from private small terraces within the top-floor suites (of which there are two). Some of the rooms pay homage to Portuguese writers, with an English-language version of the book for guests to read during their stay. And free WiFi is available throughout the property.

At the on-site restaurant (Mercy Restaurant) on the ground floor, artfully plated Portuguese dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are infused with flavors from other global regions. Wines are poured from the country's Douro Valley as well as Alentejo. Blue-accent walls and cherry-red chairs contribute to a chic vibe. For late-night nibbles and cocktails there are two bars (one attached to Mercy Restaurant), as well as the Belvedere Terrace where you can take in a stunning view of Saint George's Castle.

Source: http://www.fodors.com

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Load Up on Local Cherries in Montana

As you get into northwestern Montana, perhaps heading to Glacier National Park, you may be tempted to stop at one of the scores of huckleberry vendors in the area who sell jams, jellies, candy, lip balm, and all manner of goods flavored by this favorite of the local grizzly bears. But you read Fodor's, which means you don't go in for tourist traps.

Instead, make your savvy stop on Route 93 at Flathead Lake at one of the myriad unimposing cherry stands for a bag (or maybe several bags) of local, phenomenal, delicious, and otherwise out-of-this-world cherries. Cherry orchards are visible from the road, running along the circumference of the lake, and farmers have scads of ripe, sweet cherries available at ramshackle roadside stands. Hand-painted signs begin to pop up along as you approach the lake, so you won't miss your chance. I recently picked up a large bag for $6, which lasted about three days among three hungry hikers.

If you are camping, as we were, here's a trick to keeping your cherries fresh, straight from one of the orchard owners. Keep the bag of cherries OPEN in your cooler and you should get a week out of them. If you can keep from devouring them for that long.

Source: http://www.fodors.com

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Centara upgrades to a cashless island experience at Maldives

Guests arriving at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives from November 1, 2012 can leave both their shoes and their cash behind, because from that date the resort begins its Ultimate All-Inclusive experience. Although Centara has always featured fully-inclusive accommodation, Ultimate All-Inclusive takes this concept to an entirely new level and represents the ultimate in luxury escapes.

Included are champagne breakfasts served all the way through until mid-morning, a choice of three restaurants for lunch, and sumptuous dinners that offer a daily theme buffet, Thai cuisine, Italian dining at a romantic overwater restaurant, Japanese teppanyaki cooked to order, fresh seafood, and international dishes.

Each evening begins with an invitation to a sundowner cocktail party where guests can mingle and enjoy free-flowing drinks as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, and the night progresses with live entertainment. An open-bar service provides cocktails, beers, wines, and spirits from 10:00 am to midnight at the resort’s two bars, and the room mini-bar is replenished once daily.

Also included are credits of US$100 per person, per day, to spend at Spa Cenvaree village spa, with a range of treatments that include foot massage, Indian head massage, face relaxing massage, and a choice of body scrubs and upper-back massage.

The package also includes Wi-Fi access in the rooms and across the resort, use of fitness facilities with programs designed by a personal trainer, tennis, snorkeling equipment, motorized water sports, and windsurfing lessons.

A number of off-island excursions are also included such as a whale shark tour, sunset fishing, sunset cruises, and the local island discovery tour.

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is set among the perfect islands and blue ocean of South Ari Atoll in the Republic of Maldives, and offers the ultimate in barefoot luxury along with a range of exciting activities that will appeal both to couples and families.

Featuring 112 suites, pool villas, and overwater villas, the resort offers diving enthusiasts outstanding diving opportunities including a house reef complete with a dedicated sunken shipwreck and is within easy reach of the top dive spots in the Maldives.

Source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com

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A swimming tour of Stockholm

From secret coves to its bustling harbour, Stockholm is a city surrounded by water. Anna Stothard takes a duck's eye tour of the capital's many swimming spots.

Leap of faith: cooling off in Stockholm’s Lake Mälaren, near the city centre. 

Photograph: Frank Chmura for the Observer

"Hoppa! Jump!" commands a voice from the rocks behind me. Barefoot on sun-baked cliffs, I launch myself into the icy clear water.

I gasp instinctively, but forget the cold on surfacing. Treading water in this quiet stretch of Lake Mälaren, not far from the centre of Stockholm, ducks paddle past me and a tiny wagtail, the size of a baby's fist, plays tag with waves I've made against the rocks. The lake is so clear you can see the crisscrossing roots of the water lilies. Yet a highway hums nearby.

The smooth, sloping cliffs of Fredhällsbadet are tucked away on the south-western tip of Kungsholmen, one of the 14 islands that make up Stockholm. "The most romantic bath in the city," pronounces Henrik, the bossy sunbather who encouraged my first city dip. Hauling myself from the water, I find him near the top of the cliffs, ashing cigarettes tidily into their packet and working on his suntan. On a scorching weekend this area bustles with young locals sharing beers and dive-bombing, but Henrik likes it best on warm, magical summer weekdays like today.

"Walk the coast and swim when you get hot, it's the best way to see the city," says Henrik, pointing a languid arm eastward towards a popular beach underneath Västerbron, the stylishly arched Western Bridge.

Beginning my walk I jump from the rocks surrounding a wooden jetty and later slide down a steep incline to paddle and swim in a little bay sheltered by trees. Winding stone staircases appear from nowhere, overgrown with vines and wild pink roses and, further east, a boardwalk materialises as the drone of Essingeleden motorway muddles with birdsong. The road juts right out of the rocks above my head, but somehow this only adds to the magic.

Thanks to stringent environmental laws, the waters of Lake Mälaren have been clean enough to fish and swim in since 1971. The islands of Stockholm are scattered where the lake meets the Baltic, but the lake is cleaner than the sea so urban swimmers are best to stick to the western edges of the city.

Just as I've dried off from my last rocky dip and am beginning to feel hot again, a sandy cove called Smedsuddsbadet appears around the corner, as Henrik promised, on the Kungsholmen side of the Western Bridge. This family-friendly beach has been open to the public since 1973 and becomes packed on sunny days. It doesn't have the wild majesty of Fredhäll, but it's cute. It's set in a bay with buoys marking it off from deeper water; children make sandcastles and chase ducks while teenagers lounge on a wooden dock. There are changing rooms and just beyond the sand, on the other side of a stubby finger of land, you can stop in the Kafé Kajak to dry off and buy an ice cream or fika (coffee with something sweet, usually a cinnamon bun). The café patio looks out at the Western Bridge – its swooping steel arches connecting the island of Kungsholmen to Södermalm via the smaller island of Långholmen.

The bridge was built in 1935 and stretches 602 metres, 340 of which pounce over the water like a giant bird skipping from island to island. Through its steel arches you can see the bell tower of City Hall, where the Nobel prize banquet is held, and beyond on to the terracotta facades of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town.

One of Stockholm's beaches. Photograph: Alamy

In the 13th century, these waters were crowded with pirates, trading boats and warships squeezing through the narrow passage where the freshwater of Lake Mälaren merges with the Baltic Sea. The city grew from a fortress built on the island by a Swedish statesman named Birger Jarl. Sweden controlled a key trade route and the surrounding area soon expanded into a city.

Now canoes slide among sailing boats, seagulls and the lolloping heads of swimmers.

Most of the year Stockholm is enclosed by blue ice and moody skies, so when the sun comes out this city exhales, uncurling from hibernation and heading for the water. The edges of the islands look like temples to sunshine during the summer months, scattered with locals, faces tilting towards the sky.

Långholmen island housed the largest prison in Sweden until 1975 and performed the country's last execution in 1910. It's 1.4km long and 400 metres wide at the fattest point and it offers swimming options all around its perimeter. Much of the prison has been demolished, but the remnants have been transformed into a hotel and hostel where guests sleep in "cells" and eat at colourfully chequered tables laid out in the vestiges of the "exercise yards". In a city that's notoriously pricey, Långholmen hostel is inexpensive. The prison museum is worth a look, as is the foxglove and poppy-strewn garden of Stora Henriksvik, a café serving homemade pastries and organic salads.

Eriksdalsbadet, the biggest swimming centre in Stockholm, is a shock to the system. My towel is sodden with lake water and my clothes are sticking to my body (in retrospect, a change of clothes would have been a good idea), but I get a rush of adrenaline at the smell of chlorine rising off the luminous aquamarine water. The vast outdoor pool looks alien with its concrete rims and straight lines, yet also strangely comforting. You don't have to avoid stray rocks or pre-plan your exit from the water. There are rules! And ladders! After a few laps, I collapse exhausted on the lawns covered in sunbathers and picnic tables. It's easy to lose track of time over Stockholm's long summer days, which can stretch to 18 hours of sunlight. It turns out I've been walking and swimming for five hours and my mind is beginning to turn from thoughts of water to thoughts of alcohol. This is a city walk, after all, and all good city walks end with a cocktail.

Anna Stothard in the Selma Spa's rooftop pool

The last stop of my tour is the most luxurious outdoor swimming location in Stockholm. Amble up through the middle of chic Södermalm and the bustling antique shops of Gamla Stan (or cheat and take the metro's green line west from Skanstull T-bana to Stockholm Central Station) towards a blissfully warm rooftop pool on the Clarion Hotel Sign in Norrmalm. The granite-and-glass building was designed by Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh and the inside is a homage to Nordic designers including Arne Jacobsen and Bruno Mathsson.

After a day of walking between rocky diving points, wooden piers, perfect beaches and giant pools, a quick shower and a swim in the hotel's Selma Spa heated pool, looking down on the railway and over the rooftops of Stockholm, is heaven.

A half-hour "aroma massage" and a well-deserved cocktail later, I'm swinging in the transparent egg-shaped chairs and looking out on the city from the Spa Bar. And I'm already making plans for more swimming tomorrow.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

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Angry Birds gets its own UK theme park

The popular mobile phone game has added a new level: a playground in Nottinghamshire.

Three stars? Emine tries out the slide at the Angry Birds park in Nottinghamshire. 
Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

"Angry Birds!" shouts an excited small boy as he careers around the corner and stands in front of the fenced-off area. The sign on the fence says the new play area doesn't open until next week. Parents explain this to their disappointed children. Some of the adults look sad too. "I'm addicted to Angry Birds," says Terry Lalton, a recovery driver from Doncaster, who is here with his children and extended family.

"This looks quite good. They've got the catapult [a reference to the game]." "It looks fantastic," says one of the small boys with him. Will they come back when it opens? "I hope so," he says. I have already been on the slide and to the top of the climbing frame. I feel smug.

Sundown Adventureland, an attraction in the Nottinghamshire countryside, is home to the first Angry Birds theme park in the UK. There is already one in Finland (and an unofficial park in China), and the company licensed to make the equipment says it is looking at other sites.

Angry Birds started as a mobile phone app – if you are not one of the 200 million monthly users, it's a game where you catapult birds at egg-stealing pigs – and in March, Apple revealed it was the most popular paid app ever. Last year, Rovio, the Finnish company that created the game, reported revenues of £60.8m – nearly a third comes from merchandising. "I've got it on my iPad," says Mrs Rhodes, Sundown's 83-year-old owner. "My grandson put it on for me when it first came out and I never bothered with it, but when this came up I had a go."

What is the appeal? "The birds look strong and fearless," says eight-year-old Reece Beardsaw, who is looking through the fence at the new playground. "They're wicked." His mum adds that he doesn't play the game but he likes the characters – he has Angry Birds branded clothing and stuffed toys at home.

Whereas the game also has an adult fanbase – David Cameron is a big fan, as are Salman Rushdie and Jon Hamm– the playground is aimed at the under-10s. An Angry Birds ride is planned, as well as a small rollercoaster, but these are some way off. For now, young fans will have to make do with a selection of exciting, but fairly standard, branded playground equipment.

Sundown Adventureland's newest attracton might be birds, but it all started with a monkey. Rhodes bought one in a Worksop pet shop shortly after she and her husband John moved to a bungalow, named Sundown, in 1954. They already had chickens, goats and a donkey, but it was the monkey – very soon to be joined by more, as well as a bush baby, flying squirrels and raccoons – that made the Rhodeses think they could open their menagerie to visitors to make a bit of extra money. The bungalow came with two acres but they gradually bought more parcels of land from a local farmer until eventually Sundown became the 30-acre site it is today.

The place is charming. Aimed at young children, there are gentle rides, miniature villages to explore, and a number of really quite strange models of people and animals – in the farm area, a farmer mannequin looks suspiciously like Des Lynam and the characters in the Wizard of Oz Zone will haunt me for life.

To cynical adult eyes, parts of it seem tatty, but every child I saw looked delighted. It feels like quite an innocent place, where inspiration comes from classic fairytales and legends, not big branded moneyspinners. Angry Birds has catapulted itself right into the middle of it.


Source:  http://www.guardian.co.uk 

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Spain is still Britain's favourite summer holiday destination

Sunny destinations in Spain are the most popular holiday choice for Brits this year, despite the lure of national events at home, say Holiday Hypermarket.

According to the travel retailer, the combination of short flight times, attractive holiday deals and favourable currency exchange rates makes regions like Catalonia, Madrid and Valencia solid summer favourites.

British holidaymakers were among the top spenders in these regions, which have seen an increase of 11.1% expenditure in the first five months of 2012 . A report from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism stated that tourists are spending up to 114 euros per day, which is an increase of nearly 4% from 2011.

In addition, Spain is one of Britain's most-visited countries, according to the Spanish Institute of Tourism Studies, which reported that there was a significant increase of British travellers to the Mediterranean country between January and May - making makes tourism one of the few industries to experience growth in Spain recently.

Travellers are taking advantage of price reductions on luxury hotels and package deals, despite recent tax increases and spending cuts that are part of austerity measures introduced by the Spanish government.

Calum Macdonald, E-Commerce Manager at Holiday Hypermarket, comments: "Spain is on our list of best destinations because it's within easy reach of UK airports, served by almost all airlines and travel vendors, and it's well equipped to accommodate high numbers of holidaymakers".

"Relaxing on the Costa Blanca in summer sunshine is one of life's simple pleasures, and as a result we're encouraging people to take advantage of our summer deals."

Source: http://www.traveldailynews.com

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Grilled dishes, Japanese style

Enjoy lobster and watch the chefs put on a show at Kissho Restaurant.

Customers can choose from lobsters made in a range of Japanese cooking 

styles like sushi and sashimi. Photo: WMC Group

August is a great time for lobster fans in Ho Chi Minh City. Kissho Restaurant is offering tropical rock lobster at half the regular price. For just VND170,000++ per 100 grams, customers can choose a lobster prepared using Japanese cooking styles including sushi, sashimi, steamed, grilled, and tempura (battered and deep-fried). To make this meal complete, you can choose from grilled lobster head or miso soup with lobster head.

Apart from enjoying succulent lobster, customers can also watch the restaurant’s skilled chefs create unique culinary creations. The teppanyaki cooking style features traditional Japanese cuisine prepared using an iron griddle or plate. Guests are invited to sit at the large tables to see for themselves the freshness of the ingredients during a live cooking show featuring cutting, stir-frying, grilling, and seasoning put on by the chefs.

Beef, chicken, and seafood are a traditional teppanyaki choice. But goose liver is the highlight of the teppanyaki style at Kissho Restaurant and is served with sweet and sour sauce. This favorite dish is priced just VND890,000++ per 150 grams.

For a unique meal try the yakiniku where each meal is cooked by the guests on a grill built into the table. Savor imported ingredients from Japan, the USA, and Australia. Imported seafood is used to create authentic sashimi and sushi dishes with prices ranging from VND29,000++ to VND3,200,000++ per order.

To enhance the flavors of any meal, guests often choose the spicy and powerful Gekkeikan sake. For each purchase of the famous Japanese sake, guests can receive a VND500,000 voucher off the next bottle.

Be sure to receive your 10 percent discount on food and drink when showing your Windsor VIPCard.

Kissho Restaurant is located at picturesque 14 Nguyen Hue Boulevard in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. A convenient destination for quick business lunches or elegant dinners with colleagues and friends.

Kissho Restaurant boasts the largest capacity of any Japanese restaurant in the city with 1,000 square meters and over 200-person seating capacity. Set in a cutting edge contemporary interior with focus on the act of food preparation and cooking.

++ Price is in VND and subject to applicable VAT and service charge.

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‘Mien luon’ is flavor of Hanoi

VIETNAM - Mien luon (vermicelli made of cassava served with fried eels) is a favorite dish of Hanoians which is available in selected city eateries.

To prepare, the fresh eel after being disemboweled and cleaned will be cut out of its bone. You then cut its meat into slices then mix them with spices, pepper and corn flour. After a while, you fry them until they turn golden and crispy.

The bone will be cooked into the accompanied soup with persicaria and fragrant knotweed.

Mien is dipped in hot water then left to drain on a basket.

The important moment comes when the dish is ready for sampling. The Mien is put on a bowl under the fried eels. Of course, the dish still needs to be accompanied by bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, aromatic vegetables of coriander, perrilla, Thai basil, fish mint, fried peanuts, fried onion and some fresh chili.

You can also eat it with fish sauce mixed with garlic, sugar, lemon and chili. You are lured to this dish due to the crisp eels, soft and tough bit of mien, sweet or bean sprout, bitter vegetables as well as the fragrance of the many ingredients. A soup is also recommended.

Some like to mix the dish with the accompanied soup on the bowl and enjoy it together.

Source: http://www.travelweekly.asia

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Brand New Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore - A Grand Venue for MICE

With a grand new name and exciting S$25 million refurbishment, the Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore has emerged as a brand new player in the hospitality and MICE industry.

The newly-emerged Hotel showcases the exciting work of top architects and interior designers, Warner Wong Design/ WOW and WOW D-Lab. The renovation has transformed the Hotel's 298 guestrooms and suites, grand lobby, elegant Palong Bar, Straits Ballroom and the adjoining new retail precinct, Rendezvous Gallery into an exciting and unique Singapore landmark.

All guestrooms now feature custom-designed furniture, with state-of-the-art technology, including 42-inch flat screen LCD televisions and Wi Fi for a seamless connectivity and interactivity experience.

The Rendezvous Gallery is a new dining concept where food and Asian heritage meet. This is a tranquil urban reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the Orchard Road and Bras Basah areas. Diners at the new restaurants and cafe can enjoy the Asian and botanical theme and bask in natural sunlight all day.

Upgraded meeting and conference rooms feature state-of-the-art facilities and a wide choice of options. The 3500 square-foot Straits Ballroom provides a unique ambiance, with custom-designed flooring and crystal chandeliers creating an airy, sophisticated space ideal for meetings, seminars, conferences, wedding and cocktail events.

This investment in the Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore is part of Rendezvous Hospitality Group's multi-million dollar rebranding initiative announced last year, uniting Rendezvous Hotels and Marque Hotels into one Rendezvous brand that is synonymous with superior value accommodation and a unique hospitality experience for the MICE market and discerning travellers for business and leisure. The group will operate with the brands Rendezvous Grand Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and Rendezvous Studio Hotels.

Rendezvous Hospitality Group CEO, Eric Teng said the Group's major financial commitment, extensive refurbishment program and upgraded facilities are a strong proposition for the MICE market.

"This new direction is a major investment from our group. It has already created renewed interest and demand from the business and meeting markets as well as leisure and we are committed to delivering an unparalleled experience."

Opened in 1998, the Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore is perfectly located and has redefined Singapore's city landscape in the heart of the civic, cultural and commercial district along Bras Basah Road.

Source: http://www.travelweekly.asia

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Bai Dinh Pagoda – The biggest in Vietnam

VIETNAM - Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh is famous for its great size and beautiful architecture, and also well-known for its record number of huge Buddha statues.

Located in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, Bai Dinh pagoda was built to commemorate King Ly Thai To who moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long.

As a tourist attraction, Bai Dinh pagoda is endowed with both scenic beauty and historical value. It is considered the largest complex of Buddhist pagodas Vietnam, which are either old or new.

The old Bai Dinh Pagoda sits on a 200m high mountain, which has been recognized as a cultural and historical heritage site of Vietnam. The new Bai Dinh Pagoda covers about 700 hectares, near the site of the old one.

Tourists often visit the pagoda area during their sight-seeing tour. Every year, the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival kicks off on the sixth day of the first lunar month, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

On the way to the old pagoda site, pilgrims have to climb stone steps to small ancient places of worship to pray for good luck and enjoy traditional ceremonial singing performed by local artists.

Through the gate into the new Bai Dinh Pagoda area, visitors will see 500 Arhat statues, each 2.4 m high and weighing about 4 tonnes, standing or sitting on both sides.

The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex boasts having the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Southeast Asia, about 100 tonnes in weight, and three 50-tonne Buddha statues and two huge bronze bells.

From Bai Dinh, tourists can go by boat to the nearby Trang An tourist site in Hoa Lu district. Along with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Tam Coc-Bich Dong caves and Phat Diem stone church are all on the to-see list.

Source: http://www.travelweekly.asia

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