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TRAVEL Waitomo, New Zealand, Central Market, Malaysia FOOD Food for Thought DESTINATION Margaret River, WA SPECIAL FEATURE Rice Terraces of Yunnan, China

PLUS Road to London

STAIRWAYSKYTO THE


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BOARDING CALL

News, Announcements, Mail

06 Captains Address

08 InboxWhat our guests are sayingabout Travel 3Sixty

10 Red AlertExciting News from AirAsia

18 BulletinStuff youd love to know

FLIGHT PLANTravel 3Sixtys Super-cool Guide

26 Calendar July events to keepa lookout for

30 CuisineFood for Thought

34 BooksExciting Reads to Pick Up

36 Biz BodySolution Savvy

38 Health MattersDoctors Orders

40 Guts & GloryRoad to London

42 Hot RodsMoving Technology

44 Tech-TalkThis Just In!

46 Sleep InnsLivin it Up in Langkawi

82 Pilots PerspectiveDuly Delayed

NAVIGATOR

Feature Stories

52 Hit ListHave Heart, Will Travel

58 Stairway to the Sky

64 Go to the GlowUnderground rafting in New Zealand

70 A Hive for HeritageCentral Market, Kuala Lumpur

76 The Best Expeditionin the WorldWorking on the Great Barrier Reef

80 Ever AfterBridal Photography inExotic Locations

86 Travel LogHong Kong in a Jiffy

contents july

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contents july100 SnapshotFab photos taken by AirAsia guests

102 Comfort5 tips for a more enjoyable ight

PORT OF CALL104 Destination Margaret River, Western Australia

106 Route Map

110 AirAsia Sales Ofces& Stations

MY AIRASIA112 The Trouble-Shooter

80

JET SETFashion, News, Celebs 88 Style SizzlersFashion from Around the World

90 Summer LoveCreating the Perfect Look

92 JetsetterJang Hyuk

IN FLIGHT96 Junior Jet ClubA Seoul-ful Trip

98 Plane Fun Puzzles & Games

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Rice Terraces of Yunnan, China Cover image: Photolibrary

PublisherKathleen Tan

Managing EditorR. Rajendra

Art DirectorKan Seak Hong

WritersBeverly Rodrigues

Nicolette Ng

Editorial AssistantFazlina Bee Binti Abdul Rashid

PhotojournalistAdam Lee

ContributorsCaptain Lim Khoy Hing, Carol West, E Hamzah,

Daniel Fernandez, Joleen Lunjew, Shantini Suntharajah

Advertising Enquiries

Indran Balavishnu (Malaysia)[email protected]

Mairianne Reardon (Singapore)[email protected]

Nick Lockwood (UK and International Markets)[email protected]

Charuphan Pojchanart (Thailand)[email protected]

Hendra Lapusa (Indonesia)[email protected]

Tel: +6 03 8660 4034 / 4032 (Malaysia)

E-mail: [email protected]

Travel 3Sixty Wishes to thankLovatts Crosswords & Puzzles, MPH, Pansing Marketing

Editorial [email protected]

All rights reserved. The opinions and statements of contributors in Travel 3Sixty do notnecessarily reect those of the publisher or AirAsia Berhad. Travel 3Sixty and AirAsia Berhad arenot responsible or liable in anyway for the contents of the advertisements, articles, photographs

or illustrations contained in this publication. We reasonably assume that all articles are factualand not plagiarised or intentionally libellous. The editorial team reserves the right to edit and / or re-write all materials according to the needs of the publication upon usage. Reproduction ofmaterial from Travel 3Sixty in any form is strictly prohibited without the written permission of

the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by sufcient returnpostage. All information correct at the time of printing.

PP15075/07/2012(029856)

PUBLISHED BY

Travel 3Sixty c/o AirAsia BerhadLCC Terminal, Jalan KLIA S3, Southern SupportZone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport,64000 Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaTel: 603-8660 4333

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

PRE-PRESS SERVICESDigiscan Services Sdn. Bhd.No. 26, Jalan 4/62A, Bandar Manjalara,52200 Kuala LumpurTel: 603-6273 6386

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

airasia.com/ask

Have a question regarding travelling withAirAsia? Get your answers here at airasia.com/ask ! Well help you out via chat ,twitter.com/askairasia or E-mail if youneed further assistance

AirAsia on Twitter for information &assistance on simple requests:www.twitter.com/AskAirAsia For exciting news, bytes and tweetsfrom AirAsia: www.twitter.com/airasia

AirAsia on Facebook:www.facebook.com/AirAsiaFor AirAsia promotional updates, travelstories & news:www.facebook.com/airasia

AirAsia blog to share travelexperiences and stories:http://blog.airasia.com

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TRAVEL Waitomo,NewZealand,CentralMarket,Malaysia FOODFoodforThoughtDESTINATIONMargaretRiver,WA SPECIALFEATURERiceTerracesofYunnan,China

PLUSRoadtoLondon

STAIRWAY

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captains address

We launched the To Japan withLove campaign as a tribute to thepeople of Japan. As a neighbour ofJapan, it is only right that we, theASEAN community, help.

We share the pain and grief ofthose who lost their loved ones inthe recent earthquake and tsunamidisaster and, we offer prayers andstrength to the survivors, hoping thattheyll remain resilient and steadfastin the face of adversity. The display ofunwavering human spirit during sucha crisis is truly inspiring.

Courage, resilience anddetermination; these are also thesame traits that AirAsia was built on.This is not the rst time that AirAsiahas come to the aid of the peopleand nations at times of tragedy. Wewere there during crises in Acheh (tsunami), Myanmar (cyclone Nargis),Sichuan, China (earthquake),Padang, Indonesia (earthquake),Bali (bombing), Bangkok (civilunrest) and Christchurch, NewZealand (earthquake).

When the Malaysian government-driven aid campaign to Japan waslaunched in the aftermath of the doubledisaster in Japan, AirAsia immediatelylent support by ying 200 tonnesof humanitarian aid for Japan onAirAsia X. Led by Dato KamarudinMeranun, Deputy Group CEO ofAirAsia, the much needed supplieswere delivered in March.

Since the launch of the To Japanwith Love campaign, we have placeddonation boxes in all 4,000 plus ightsthat we operate each week. We havealso ordered 5,000 special-themed,limited edition wristbands that areavailable for sale onboard for RM10apiece. The wristbands, we hope, willserve as a reminder of this campaignand, function as another avenueto raise funds for the victims ofthe earthquake.

In our efforts to get localcommunities involved, AirAsia hasalso provided free air passage toyouth volunteers who joined theASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill

in reaching out and bringing cheerto the communities most affected bythe disasters.

Response to our campaign has beenfantastic and we have you, our guests,to thank. We hope to raise US$1 millionto help the people of Japan.

But we want to do more and wellcontinue accepting donations for ayear, or for as long as Japan needs theaid. The funds raised in our campaignwill be channelled through JapanPlatform, a consortium of 32 JapaneseNGOs that are at the forefront ofrecovery efforts in northeastern Japan.

Please continue supporting this

initiative and donate your spare changeor, purchase the special wristband thenext time you y with us.

Recovery is easier when we pulltogether, and AirAsia is assisting in thebest way we can. We hope you too willstand with us in helping bring a little

joy to the people of Japan.

Scenes of devastation in northeastern Japan.

Limited editionwristbands for saleonboard for RM10.

From all of us at AirAsia



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redalert

To celebrate the third anniversary ofthe AirAsia-Citibanks partnership,AirAsia rewarded 10 loyal AirAsia-Citibank credit card members witha pair of return ight tickets toSeoul, South Korea, complete with

We hope that this partnership wouldfurther promote South Korea to theworld and I am thankful to AirAsia X forhelping me live my dreams and makingthis collaboration possible. ~ Chef Shingun

AirAsia X has teamed up withKorean celebrity Chef Shingunto develop the airlines menufor the Seoul Kuala Lumpurroute. This special menu willfeature three Korean dishes:Korean Traditional Chicken &Dry Pollack Stew, ChickenBreast Sweet PumpkinCheese Croquette &Mushroom Tofu Steakwith old Kimchi .AirAsia X alsoplans to expandthis Koreanmenu, and is currentlyexperimenting with ChefShinguns secret recipe forthe Korean barbequedelight bulgogi .

SEOUL FOOD

u

hehi

med up withChef Shingunrlines menuuala Lumpurl menu willean dishes:l Chicken &

, Chickenpkin

e &teak

rentlyith Chefrecipe forque.

Pre-book your meals at www.airasia.com to enjoy savings of up to 25%, while ensuringyour favourite dishes are available. By pre-booking, you also help to reduce wastage!

Pop by a kimchi school to learnabout South Koreas favouritedelicacy, and then, shop till youdrop at the popular InsadongAntique Street, DongdaemunMarket and Myeongdong.

Visit hotspots like the KyeongbokPalace and the National FolkloreMuseum, then catch the comicalNanta Show , in which kitchenitems are turned into percussion

instruments, or Jump Show, amusical about an eccentric martialarts family.

Make a pilgrimage to beautifulNamiseom Island, the lminglocation of Koreas romanticdrama series, Winter Sonata .

Book your tours atwww.AirAsiaGo.com

GO SEOUL!Relax in g Rew ard

Premium Flat Bed seating, and 300,000AirAsia-Citibank Rewards Points. JohanAris, Regional Head of Financial Servicesand Loyalty at AirAsia said We want ourcustomers to have the money cant buyexperience whenever they travel with

AirAsia.One lucky winner,

Ng Chee Chuan,certainly appreciatedthe token. With thepremium at bed

seats, we will havea super smooth andcomfortable ight.

1st from left is Johan Aris, Regional Head of Financial Services andLoyalty, AirAsia Berhad. 3rd from right is Anand Cavale, BusinessDirector for Cards & Consumer Lending, Citibank Berhad.

HOTTIP!

Visit www.airasia.com regularly tokeep in the loopon more excitingAirAsia-Citibankcampaigns.



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AirAsia Thailand offered a warm welcome to ChiangMai University freshmen who were travellingfrom Bangkok to Chiang Mai in May. To make theirtransition as fun as possible, AirAsia organisedgames, orientation activities and competitions atSuvarnabhumi airport, on board the ight and, uponarrival at Chiang Mai International Airport.

I loved our yoga instructors mantra: Say thanks to yourparents, your friends, your body and each part of it, andsend love to your enemies. I may be struggling withweight issues, but I rmly believe that we should love ourbodies, take care of our health and even be grateful toenemies for pushing us to our limit, to be all we can be. ~

Khairul Nizam Mahyiden, Head of Industrial Relation & Compliance

ALLSTARSRECHARGE

WARM WELCOME

Recently, AirAsiasCorporate Culturedepartment organiseda special weekend ofhealthy living for agroup of Allstars at TheSpa Resort ChiangMai , Thailand . The

retreat included yoga sessions, organic meals and naturalspa treatments. Not only was this an opportunity forAllstars to unwind and learn yoga, it was also great wayto bond with colleagues from other countries and stationstoo. Heres what the rejuvenated Allstars had to say:

THAI TRAVEL PORTAL One-stop online travel portal AirAsiaGo has teamed upwith Expedia, the worlds largest online travel agentto launch the Expedia Thailand website in Thai. Visitwww.expedia.co.th for great discounts on hotel stays,incredibly low ight fares, value-for-money travelpackages and travel insurance.

Beyond thewonderfulrelaxation, I madeexcellent friends.

This makesfor good team

work. Go Allstars! ~ Bonyaluck Winyaratana MS, Guest Experience Team Leader

I know everypart of my bodyand how to helpmy body. I lovethe healthy foodand fresh air!

~ Kruetip Suradech, Finance and Accounting Executive

I have a betterunderstandingof yoga andhealthy eating

habits. This willgive me moreenergy and greater focusat work. ~ Ragu Nadarajan,Quality Assurance Engineer

No pain, nogain. I learnt tothink positively,love everyoneand appreciatemy body.

~ Fazlina Bee, Travel 3Sixty Editorial Assistant

AirAsia was named Asia Pacic ValueAirline of the Year at the 2011 Frost& Sullivan Asia Pacic Aerospace& Defense Awards in June. Frost &

Sullivan recognises outstandingperformance in the aviation

industry, and KathleenTan, Regional Head of

Commercial for AirAsiawas honoured toreceive the awardthat recognisesinnovative best

practices. As weare drawing close to

our 10th anniversarythis year, we are proud

to have served theunderserved, realised dreams,

changed lives and we arelooking forward to doing moreof that as we move along.

A i r l i n e o f t h e Ye a r

Kathleen Tan


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For AirAsia Running Club members, running is more than a hobby; its a passion.The avid runners here continuously push their bodies to the limit to beat theirpersonal best and set new records. After training hard for the SIC & AirAsia FunRun held at Malaysias Sepang International Circuit in May, the club took onan even bigger challenge. With AirAsia X CEO and marathon enthusiast AzranOsman-Rani leading the pack, the AirAsia Running Club stormed the Gold CoastAirport Marathon in July competing in the 21-km and 42-km marathons.

Distance Going The

AirAsia Allstars in action at the SIC run.Allstar winners of the SIC AirAsia Fun Run: LimHong Han, Lim Hong Khai and Daryl Ong.

Creative GeniusAirAsia Group CEO, Dato Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes is the onlySoutheast Asian to make New York-based business magazine Fast Company s list of 2011s 100 Most Creative People in Business.

Fernandes has not only democratised air travel, but diversiedhis great value, low cost philosophy with such successes as TuneHotels, Tune Talk, Tune Money and Tune Tone.

Speaking about the recognition, Fernandes, said It speaks volumesof the kind or organisations were in where creativity, imagination,innovation and resourcefulness reign supreme. I am a dreamer andwhen you encourage other people to realise their dreams too, you willnd the creative spirit permeating and bursting in everyone.

Transform dreary schooldays intoexciting learning adventures withlimited edition Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon merchandise. Supercool goodies include backpacks,stationery sets, colour pencils,lunch boxes, water bottles andwallets featuring your favouriteAutobots and Decepticons. Startyour collection by purchasing onlineat airasiamegastore.com or on boardAirAsia ights.

TRANSFORMERS ROLL OUT!

AirAsia X CEO,Azran Osman-Rani

Transformers pencil box Transformers wallet Transformers backpack



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AirAsia nabbed three major awards for investorrelations during the inaugural awarding ceremony ofMalaysian Investor Relations Association (MIRA) in May.AirAsias Group CEO, Dato Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, wonBest CEO for Investor Relations Mid Cap , whileAirAsias Investor Relations manager, Benyamin Ismailtook home the award for Best Investor RelationsProfessional Mid Cap . AirAsia itself was awardedthe Best Investor Relations Website award.

Commenting on this win, Dato Sri Dr. Tony Fernandessaid Adhering to strict investor relations standardsand putting great emphasis on transparency andgood corporate governance are hallmarks of AirAsiassuccess. For Benyamin Ismail, these awards provethat AirAsia is on track in investor relations. Theorganisation has been working hard for the past year

to create value for the stock and their investment bymaking sure the right message and information areconveyed to our shareholders and investors.

In June, AirAsia X ew 20 members of the ASEANYouth Caravan of Goodwill to Haneda, Japan.On a mission to spread joy and lend support tosurvivors of the recent earthquake and tsunamiin Northeast Japan, the youth staged culturalperformances and shared their own survivalstories at evacuation centres.

Humanitarian Mission

TRIPLE WIN


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bulletin

For the rst time in the 18-year history of the Singapore Food Festival (SFF), the SFF Village will host Singaporesbiggest food and beverage event with more than 60 food stalls offering a variety of mouth watering, lip smacking localand international dishes. From July 15 to 24, 2011, the festival offers food tasting sessions, food river cruises, culinaryheritage trails and many other exciting food related activities. www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg

Besides a UNESCO world heritage listing and spectacularstreet food, Penang is also home to some of the mostexquisitely aromatic durians in Southeast Asia. AirAsiasPenang Durian Tour takes you to durian orchards in BalikPulau. Here, apart from learning about the fruit, you getto sample fresh and delicious durian fruits that have justfallen off the trees. The Penang Durian Tour also coversother exotic tropical fruit orchards growing nutmeg,ambula ( kedondong ) and more. www.airasiago.com.

FEAST ON THE

KING

FOOD!FOOD

FOOD



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When travelling, having a guide is a great way to visit and learn about the best spots in a foreignland. If you are planning to visit England, simply download the Enjoy England iPhone app. The appcomes with over a thousand fresh ideas and exciting places to visit in England from ancient castlesin Northumberland to walks along the Cornish coast. Listings on types of activities, popularity, as wellas pricing are included. www.enjoyengland.com .

REA D Y T O

R O C K!MTV World Stage is back in Malaysiathis year with a brand new line-up!Scheduled for July 24 at i-City in ShahAlam, the outdoor concert will feature liveperformances from popular international,

regional and local recording artistesincluding the award-winning rock bandThirty Seconds To Mars and local bandPop Shuvit . Passes to the MTV WorldStage Live In Malaysia 2011 are up forgrabs at http://worldstage.mtvasia.com.Contest ends at midnight of July 6, 2011.

ENGLAND at yourFingertips



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2011 Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. All rights reserved. SeeTheShow

acebook.com/hardrock twitter.com/hardrock

theres always something happening at hard rock hardrock.com

bali

United StatesAtlantaAtlantic CityBaltimoreBiloxiBostonChicagoClevelandDallasDenverDestinDetroitFoxwoodsGatlinburgHollywood, CA

on Hollywood Blvd.Hollywood, CA

at Universal CityWalkHollywood, FLHonoluluHoustonIndianapolisKey WestLake TahoeLas VegasLas Vegas

at Hard Rock HotelLouisvilleMauiMemphisMiamiMinneapolisMyrtle BeachNashvilleNew OrleansNew YorkNiagara FallsOrlandoPhiladelphiaPhoenixPittsburghSan AntonioSan DiegoSan FranciscoSeattleSt. LouisTampaWashington, DCYankee Stadium

CanadaNiagara FallsOttawaToronto

Caribbean/Central AmericaArubaCayman IslandsNassauPanamaPunta Cana

Santo DomingoSt. Maarten

South AmericaBelo HorizonteBogotBuenos AiresCaracasCartagenaMargarita IslandMedellinRio de JaneiroSantiago, 2011

Pacifc Rim FijiGuamSaipanSurfers ParadiseSydney

EuropeAmsterdamAthensBarcelonaBerlinBucharestBudapest, 2011CologneCopenhagenDublinFlorenceGlyfadaGothenburgHamburgKrakow Limassol, 2012LisbonMadridMallorcaMaltaMarbellaMoscowMunichNicosia, 2011OsloParisPragueRomeStockholmVeniceWarsaw

UKEdinburghLondonManchester

Middle EastA ricaBahrainBeirutDubaiHurghadaKuwait CityNabq, 2011Sharm El Sheikh

AsiaBaliBangkokBeijingBengaluruChennai, 2011Colombo, 2011FukuokaHanoi, 2011Ho Chi Minh CityHong KongHyderabadJakartaKuala LumpurMacau, 2011MakatiMumbaiNaritaNew DelhiOsakaOsaka, UniversalPattayaPenangPhuketPuneSentosaSingaporeSingapore Changi

AirportTokyoTokyo, Uyeno-EkiYokohama

live

Biloxi Hollywood, FLLas Vegas: The Joint Orlando

cafes

hotels

Abu Dhabi, 2013 Bali BiloxiChicago Dubai, 2013 Hollywood, FL

Hungary, 2012 Las Vegas Macau OrlandoPanama Megapolis, 2011 Pattaya Penang

Punta Cana San Diego Singapore Tampa

casinosBiloxi Hollywood, FL Hungary, 2012

Las Vegas Macau Punta Cana Tampa

yokohama


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Malaysia is famous for its beaches and Perhentian Island, offthe coast of Terengganu, is no exception. With lush greenery,white sandy beaches and warm blue waters, PerhentianIsland is also a divers paradise. AirAsiaGo.com is offering anexciting 4D/3N Fun Diving package that includes three nightsstay in Perhentian Island Resort with breakfast, as well asfour dives with equipment rental. The package also includesboat transfers from the Kuala Besut jetty. www.airasiago.com .

Come visit the giant pandas at the Seac PaiVan Park in Macau. Located at the north-western foot of the Coloane Hills, the parkcovers an area of 198, 000 square metreswith various public facilities including the

Giant Panda Pavilion, zoo, walk-in aviaryand Giant panda information centre. At thePavilion, guests get to observe the charmingpandas in indoor and outdoor enclosures thatare modelled after the natural terrain of thecreatures habitat. www.macaupanda.org.mo .

CUDDLY GIANTS

DIVING DEAL


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Ever since it was used as the backdrop for the award-winning Indonesian lm Laskar Pelangi (RainbowWarriors) by Andrea Hirata, Belitung Island has becomea hotspots of sorts in Indonesia. The lm tells thestory of a teacher with 10 students who has to dealwith poverty and obstacles in keeping the schoolopen. Some of the locations used in the lm havebeen declared by the local government as areas ofimportance to culture and tourism to help raise fundsfor the Muhammadiyah Elementary School, which wasfeatured in the novel. Laskar Pelangi tour packagesthat include these places are available at www.belitungisland.com. The island is about an hour s ightaway from Jakarta and is also accessible by boat.

offers business and recreational facilities aimed atmaking guests feel at home. When there, do checkout the residents programme that aims to helpfamiliarise guests with Bangkok through city tours.The property even provides tuk tuk rides to nearbyhotspots including the BTS Skytrain station.www.somerset.com.

RAINBOW WARRIORS

HOME & AWAY

Located in Soi Thonglor, Somerset Thonglor


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calendar

INDONESIAManado Beach Festival July 7 15The anniversary of Manado is celebrated with traditional artsand music, fashion shows, sports competitions and a Nyong and None (Mr. and Miss) Manado pageant. www.indonesia.travel

AUSTRALIA Walking with Spirits July 30

Djilpin Arts and the Australian Shakespeare Company interpret anancient Aboriginal ceremony or corroboree with music, re andimagery during the Northern Territorys most extravagant Aboriginalcultural festival at sacred Malkgulumbu. www.djilpinarts.org.au

UK AwesomeFestJuly 29 31

Fearless BMX riders, skaters,MotoX bikers, drift drivers andother daredevils pump up theadrenaline during this extremesports festival at Mallory Park.www.awesomefest.co.uk

SINGAPOREGrimm Tales July 21 23Some of the best loved fairy tales of theBrothers Grimm are given a contemporarytwist through narration, physical theatre,puppetry and mime. www.sistic.com.sg

JULY THAILANDPhi Ta Khon July 1 3Locals wearing spirit masksmade from rice husks andcoconut bark, play pranksduring this mischief-lledGhost Festival in Loeiprovince. www.tourismthailand.org



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NEW ZEALANDThe Man in Black The JohnnyCash Story July 4Johnny Cashs rise to stardom, ghtfor survival and nal redemptionis captured in this award-winningtribute with hits like Ring of Fire, I Walk the Line and Folsom PrisonBlues . The show plays at variousvenues across New Zealand.www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Hot Dates! MALAYSIA KK Food Fest July9 22 www.lifeandstyle.com.my/kkff SINGAPORE Korean Music Wave2011 July 15 www.sistic.com.sg AUSTRALIA Melbourne Int. FilmFestival July 21 August 7 www.

melbournelmfestival.com.au GoldCoast Airport Marathon July 2 & 3www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au HONG KONG Chinese OperaFestival 2011 July 1 24 www.hkticketing.com FRANCE Bastille DayJuly 14 en.parisinfo.com

PARISParis PlagesJuly 21 August 21

Articial sandy beaches pop upalong the Seine, turning Paris into asummer playground complete withoating swimming pools and beachrugby elds. en.parisinfo.com

MALAYSIAMusic Fest at theTip of Borneo July 16 - 17

Enjoy classical and contemporarymusic, and a spectacular sunset atSimpang Mengayau, one of Sabahsmost stunning locations, literally, onthe tip of Borneo. www.sabahtourism.com

JAPANGion Matsuri July 1 29Some 1,100 years ago, impressiveprocessions were held to appeasethe deity of plague and illness. Today,Kyoto still carries on this traditionwith artistic oats often calledmobile art museums. www.jnto.go.jp

HONG KONGInternational ArtsCarnival July 7 August 14Catch multimedia puppetry, maskedtheatre, dance, music and physicalcomedy in this arts festival forchildren. Highlights include theMoscow Circus on Ice and Parken &Nikolais Celebration by the modernballet group Introdans Ensemble for Youth . www.hkiac.gov.hk

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SIZZLIN IN JULYIts the height of summer and whatbetter way to enjoy the warmth ofthe season than with some fantasticconcerts, musicals and stage events.

Be our fan on FaceBook.com/AirAsiaRedTix, follow us on Twitter.com/RedTix and purchase your tickets for the abovementioned events at AirAsiaRedTix.com

MAGICAL MUSICALS July 1 17Its musical mania this July when Magical Musicals comes to Sunway LagoonsAmphitheatre. Set in New York, this musicaltells the story of six up-and-comingperformers making their way in life after anaudition in Broadway.

Taking you through 25 years of West Endand Broadway magic, youll be treated to yourfavourite songs from over 30 musicals includingMoulin Rouge!, Grease, Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, Hairspray, Footloose, We Will Rock

You and the TV musical sensation, Glee !With an extravagant stage set, spectacularpyrotechnics, large LED screens, re eaters,Bhangra drummers and West End stars, thisincredible production is a musical extravaganzanot to be missed!

IF NOT NOW, WHEN? July 23Multi-platinum rockers Incubus storm Kuala Lumpurs StadiumNegara to promote their sixth studio album: If Not Now, When? Credited for an eclectic style spanning hard rock, metal, funk, electro,

jazz, hip hop and pop, the ever-evolving Incubus kicks it up a notchwith a complex offering that lead vocalist Brandon Boyd describes astheir unabashed, romantic, lush, sonic love letter to the world.

DREAMGIRLS July 14 24

Malaysias BroadwayAcademy stages this much-loved musical about a 60s girl

group from Chicago calledThe Dreams. The journeyof this superstar trio, the

joys and pitfalls of fame andfortune, are captured withclassics like And I Am Telling You Im Not Going, One Night Only and Listen .

URBANSCAPES July 16Immerse yourself in Kuala Lumpurscreative arts scene during this funoutdoor all-day festival that bringstogether talents from the elds of music,fashion, art, design and photography atPadang Astaka in Petaling Jaya.



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cuisine

W O R D S : S H A N T I N I S U N T H A R A J A H FOOD FOR

THOUGHTWhats cooking in the food industry thesedays? A lot actually! Join us as we delve intothe hottest food trends of the moment.

I M A G E : C O R B I S

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Food is, literally, a part of ourphysical selves. The sight and smellof food have the power to evokethe past. Cooking and eating bringspeople together, weaves family ties,creates traditions and inspires hopeand aspirations for the future.

Food and the act of gathering toeat are cherished as essential parts ofhuman interaction. Around the world,food is a reection of a nationsculture, tradition and identity. At itshighest form, it is an expression ofthe soul. The food industry of the 21stcentury, and we as consumers, haveevolved and adapted to reect thesedeeper nuances.

Never before have food trendsemerged so rapidly, inuencingour thinking on what we put on ourplates and into our bodies. Perhaps

for the rst time in human history,food isnt being consumed just fornourishment or for pleasure its also closely linked to fashionand trends. Heres a look at whatprofessionals and industry expertshave to say about the food trendsthat are sweeping across our tablesand possibly transforming oureating habits.

Happily HomegrownGrowing your own produce at homeis now a hugely popular conceptfor many. In the US, householdsgrowing their own food have leaptup a whopping 24 percent since2007. Even big city folks, who haveprecious little garden space if at

all are jumping on the bandwagon.With a little creativity, windowledges are being turned in herbboxes, ower pots are heavingwith tomatoes and empty rooftopsare housing chicken coops. http:// growfoodathome.wordpress.com

The MachineMakeover

Vending machines are getting amuch-needed makeover. In Japan,these automatic food kiosks are

now dishing out farm fresh eggsand sushi. All over US and Europe,machines that dispense food likelobster and quiche are popping up.Once this trend takes off, well neverlook at vending machines the sameway again.

Download that Dish

Cookery books are so last century!The food world changed foreverthe moment iPhone and othersmartphone apps appeared. Thesemobile applications offer a mind-boggling array of tools to assisteveryone from die-hard foodiesto harried mums. You can nowconvert measurements and performingredient calculations ( http:// kitchencalculator.net ), sharefood photos ( www.foodspotting.com ), track calories (Lose It!), ndrecipes ( http://www.epicurious.com ), and more with just the clickof a button.

I M A G E :

P H

O T O L I B R A R Y



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Warning: Manin the KitchenMore men than women have beenhit with job loss all across theworld and this has led to themhelping their families by donning anapron instead of bringing home apaycheck. Its not just the economythats lured men to the stove,though. Guys are also attracted tocooking, thanks to the rise of machoTV chefs and intriguing cookingshows. Studies show that 21stcentury males spend three timesmore time in the kitchen compared

to their 70s counterparts.

Devouring likea DaredevilSnake, insects, chicken embryothese delicacies arent just forAndrew Zimmern on Bizzare Foods .More and more people are willing(even eager!) to try food that waspreviously seen as disgusting or

frightening. In NewYork, various foodieorganisations arepushing the limits onwhats considered ediblein the West. For some,

food like chickens feetand pigs ears havealways been a sourceof pleasure but theseunusual items arenow becoming morecommonplace in otherparts of the world,thanks to a growingwillingness to samplenew chow.

VegetarianProliferationVegetarianism is nowenjoying a never-before-seen surge ofpopularity. This is greatnews for our collectivehealth. Its commonknowledge that fresh

fruits and vegetables combat allsorts of illnesses like heart diseaseand Alzheimers. Eating a vegetable-

based diet also allows better weightcontrol. Mother Earth stands to gainhuge benets too. A United Nationsreport revealed that the worldscattle herds do more damage to theenvironment than all the cars andplanes combined. More vegetarians,

fewer cattle, better world! www.happycow.net

Going LocalLocal could mean anywhere in

the world depending on where youlive. Consumers realise that buying,cooking and eating locally-grownproduce not only supports localfarmer and growers, it also pays offin terms of health benets becausefood that travels the shortest distancestays fresh. Less transportation timealso translates to big benets for theenvironment because it creates lesspollution and eases the burden onyour wallet because its cheaper.

Deliverance fromPreservatives

Less is more when it comes topreservatives. Consumers are moreaware and interested to know exactlywhat goes into a tin of tomatoes ora bag of chips and, are not afraid tovoice out their opinions if theyre nothappy with the ingredients list. Bigfood producers have taken notice,leading to more food products

that are free of preservatives,articial colours, avourings andsugar substitutes. Word is out thatCampbells, Kraft and Starbucksare reinventing their recipes andpackages to reect this new trend.www.foodadditivesworld.com

I M A G E : P H

O T O L I B R A R Y

I M A G E :

C O R B I S



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Fabulous

Food FactsBoost Brain Power

Make oranges andblackcurrants your favouritesnacks and youll go right tothe top of the class. Colourfulfruits and other foods r ich invitamin C have the power toincrease mental agility.

Longevity Tip

Want to live longer? Stick toeating chicken, seafood andvegetables. Research revealsthat having just 100g of redmeat everyday can raise yourmortality rate by 30% or more.

Outwit Cancer

Colourful fruits andvegetables contain highlevels of phytochemicals

a potent cancer-ghting,immune-boosting nutrient.Eat a variety of coloursfor the best protection asdifferent hues indicate thepresence of different typesof phytochemicals.

Get Frisky

Garlic is packed with allicin,which increases blood ow to(ahem, ahem!) every part ofthe body. So dont be afraid togo into garlic overdrive whenyoure in the mood for love.

Stay Happy

Studies show that eating aMediterranean-style diet,

which includes plenty of olives,fresh seafood and hummus(a chickpea dip) lowers therisk of depression by about30%. These foods feature lotsof good fats and happiness-inducing B vitamins.



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books

THOSE IN PERILWilbur Smith

Somali pirates kidnap the teenagedaughter of oil heiress Hazel Bannock,and demand a ransom of 20 billion

dollars. While authorities are unable tointervene due to political and diplomaticreasons, Bannock teams up with MajorHector Cross to rescue her daughter.

W O R D S : B E V E R L Y R O D R I G U E S

I M A G E S : A

D A M

L E E

ONLY TIME WILL TELL(CLIFTON CHRONICLES)Jeffrey Archer

The rst installation of the CliftonChronicles is lled with greatcharacters and juicy secrets. Born intopoverty but with the voice of an angel,choral scholar Harry Clifton workshis way up in life. But, just when hisfuture is burning bright, he learns asecret that changes his life forever.

Heartbroken after a string ofunsuccesful pregnancies that result ina divorce, Zoe Baxter is surprised tond herself in love again, and planning

a family with a woman. But, acustody battle over her fertilisedembryos turns into a ght forgay rights. Picoults novelcomes with a CD of folksongs to set the mood.

READ OF THE MONTH

Dipika Rais debutnovel Someone Elses Garden showsreaders what its liketo be low-caste andfemale in rural India.

THE TITLE

Feeding a girl childis like watering

someone elses garden. Such is the beliefin communities where girls are treated asliabilities, a drain on the familys resourcesas they require a dowry to get marriedand become productive gardens forother families.

WOMENS RIGHTS IN INDIASome progress has been made and thegender-inequality issue is being addressedon various levels with a lot more girls goingto school and joining the workforce. Now, itremains for gender-equality to be sanctionedby tradition. This will happen when womenbecome independent earners and productivemembers of a family.

GROWING UP

My family was taught to repudiate caste

several generations before I was born.I come from a family of very strong,educated, independent women who believein education. Id like to raise my children tobe socially-conscious, bequeathing them thelegacy of social and intellectual freedom.

TO MY READERS

I would like myreaders to come awayknowing and believingthat there is a kernelof redemption in every

situation, a possibilityof a miracle in everydestiny, which canmake us more thanwe ever thought wecould be.

WOMENS RIGHTS

MY VENEZUELAN CUISINEChef Carmen Rawston

Try your hand at whipping upexotic Venezuelan delicacies likethe elaborate pabelln criollo (arice and bean dish), or mixing Latinthirstquenchers like the popularrum fruit cocktail guarapita .Chef Rawstons easy cookbookis a delicious introduction toVenezuelan food culture.

DONTMISSTHIS!

SING YOU HOMEJodi Picoult

CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS! Dont miss the Hong Kong Book Fair 2011 from July 20 till 26 atthe Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai. www.hkbookfair.com/en



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Mark These Business Words!

bizbody

Solution Savvyactive Facebook users(about 40%) access thesocial network through

their mobile devices.

MILLION200

BILLIONUSD1

Whenever you come across a stumbling block,always look to those who have solved theirssuccessfully and take a big page out of their books.

W O R D S : E F I H A F I Z A H H A M Z A H

On May 25, 2011, Oprah airedher last episode after 25 yearsin the business. Its the end ofan era, leaving a void in thelives of many people whovelearnt, developed and createda better life by watching The Oprah Winfrey Show . Televisionstations are also bracing for aslump in afternoon ratings withOprah bidding farewell. While

Oprah moves on to her next bigventure OWN (Oprah WinfreyNetwork), sceptics question ifthis new venture will bear thesame success.

Oprah has proven herdetractors wrong in the past.Whatever the future holds, shecontinues to teach us all a greatlesson even at her departure that we should all strive to dowhat we want to do, how wewant to do it, and just go for it!

Statistics claim that half of all business start-ups fail in the rst year. Heres how you canavoid failure according to business consultantsDenise Beeson and Scott Gerber, whose book,Never Get a Real Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business and Not Go Broke , is allabout what he learned from his failures.

HAVE A RESERVE FUND

Emergencies happen! Set aside money forunexpected expenses. Its also useful whenopportunities arise to hire and buy inventory.

Protect YourStart-up

I n f o f r o m

w w w . m

o b i t h i n k i n g . c

o m

of the worldpopulation subscribe

to mobile phones.

PERCENT30

worth of productshave been orderedfrom Amazon usingmobile devices from

mid 2009 to mid 2010.The numbers are

projected to rise by30% come 2015.The Oprah

Example

This 24/7 layer of connectedness weve added hasreally ramped up the feeling that life is going out ofcontrol. The rst warning sign is usually a heightenedsense of having too much going on, toggling of ourattention. You dont really know how addicted you are.Youre skating on the surface of your day. Were notbuilt to handle that onslaught of information. ~ WilliamPowers, author of Hamlets Blackberry

FORGET ORIGINALITY

Not all businesses require work when you try to be unique. Gerber says,Those that set out to revolutionise the wheel will be run over by it. Stick tothe basics and learn to be unoriginal in some ways to maximise protability.

DONT RELY ON FUNDING

Investing in an unproven, moneyless start-up is a mere dream. Focus onbuilding a solid business model that generates revenue and prot instead ofseeking outside funding.

DONT WAIT FOR CLIENTS

Set aside a portion of the day to sell! A business will not be successful unlessprospecting for new clients occurs daily, Beeson says. Sales activity has to bedone daily because the market is so dynamic that clients come and go.



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health matters

W O R D S : E F I H A F I Z A H H A M Z A H

I M A G E S : W

W W

. S X C

. H U

SUPER SEVEN SERVICINGOur bodies need regular maintenance and servicing. Thatmeans not only taking care of what we eat, but eating thingsthat protect and regulate our organs. Besides the brain, thereare seven important organs that aid our state of well-being.The super seven includes kidneys, skin, blood, liver, lungs,

lymph and colon. Hence, regular de-toxing is important.

Cleanse kidneys by drinking parsley juice; its a naturaldiuretic.

Protect skin with moisturisers and a good sun block. Donate blood as it eliminates toxins and encouragesbody to produce fresh blood cells.

Remove impurities from liver with milk thistle extract.

The mucous and toxins in the lungs can be eliminatedwith ginger.

To clear the lymphatic system, exercise regularly and takemassages.

Flush out the bad stuff in the colon by eating a healthyand nutritious diet.

Check with your doctor on the safest ways to cleansebefore you begin any regime.

We pay homage to doctors incelebration of World DoctorsDay on July 1 with a list of facts,gures and medical advice.

ORDERS

DOCTORS

EGG YOLKResearch in 2009suggests that it may becancer-protective becauseits rich in choline (linkedto lower rates of breastcancer). One yolk delivers25% of your daily needs.

CABBAGEOne 22-calorie cup ofcabbage is loaded withsulforaphane whichincreases productionof enzymes that disarmcell-damaging, cancer-causing free radicals.

LOW FATCHEESEA large-scale study of120,000 women foundthat premenopausalwomen who consumeda lot of dairy products,especially low-fat and fat-free ones, ran a lower riskof breast cancer.

CANCER-SLASHINGIngredients

Research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health inBoston, Kathryn Wilson, recently announced that coffee couldpossibly thwart prostate malignancy. Wilsons team collecteddata on 48,000 men for the Health Professionals Follow-UpStudy which ran from 1986 until 2008. Every four years, themen reported on how much coffee they drank. The Harvardteam found that drinking six or more cups of coffee a daywas associated with an almost 20% lower risk of developingprostate cancer, compared to those who did not drink coffee.

PROSTATEPROTECTION

S o u r c e : W o r

l d H e a

l t h O r g a n

i z a t

i o n (

I n t e r n a t

i o n a

l R e s e a r c

h )

PERCENT60of recommended

daily allowance forfolacin necessary

for blood cellformation and

prevention of liverdiseases can be

found in just a150g servingof asparagus.

PERCENT

40of adults aged 25

and over, globally,suffered high

blood pressurein 2008.

PERCENT

39of the world

population above25 years old

has highcholesterol level.

MILLION

2.5people worldwidedie from harmful

use of alcoholyearly.

MILLION

5people globally

die from tobaccouse annually at an

alarming rate ofone death every

6 seconds.



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guts & glory

Head to London for the upcoming F1 Grand Prix fromJuly 8 to 10 and kick-start the countdown to the

London Olympics 2012 with some fun sports facts.

ROAD TOLONDON C O M P I L E D B Y : N I C O L E T T E N G

I M A G E :

P H O T O L I B R A R Y



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START THECOUNTDOWN!

The 2012 London Olympicswill be held from July 27 toAugust 12 with events takingplace at various venues in theOlympic Park, and across theUK, including the famous OldTrafford in Manchester andSt James Park in Newcastle.Get ready for your chanceof a lifetime to join mascots

Wenlock and Mandevilleto cheer on your favouriteathletes in a total of 38 sportsdisciplines. Tickets have goneon sale! www.olympicticket.info.

THE BIGGEST F1 FAN

Think you know everything about the Formula 1? Heres your chance to walk away with overUS$10,000 worth of prizes including a pair of Green Room hospitality suite tickets valued atwhopping US$6,167! All you need to do is answer 23 questions in six minutes or less, and the23 highest scorers will proceed to a nal elimination round on August 23, 2011 to vie for thetitle of the Worlds Biggest F1 Fan. www.biggestf1fan.com.

ACTION IN LONDON

AirAsia took over the Westeld London Shopping Centre, bringing Asian experiences like sushimaking, traditional Thai massage, henna tattooing and Malaysian cultural dances to an appreciativeLondon audience recently. Adding to the excitement was the presence of AirAsias Team Lotus andClio Cup. Dont miss the chance to catch more action with Team Lotus as they battle it out at the 2011Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix from July 8 to 10, 2011. www.silverstone.co.uk

Golf ballscan reachspeeds ofup to 273

kilometresper hour.

DID YOUKNOW?

A bowlingpin only

needs to tilt7.5 degrees

to fall down.

A soccerball has

32 panels.

I M A G E S : O

L Y M P I C D E L I V E R Y A U T H O R I T Y



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To prevent and reduce pedestrian accidents, carslike the Volvo XC60 and S60 sedan are equipped withcameras and sensors located in the front and side of thecars that work with a software to detect pedestrians andeven pets to reduce or prevent injuries or fatalities. Thesystem scans for small moving objects and calculates

their movements to prevent possible accidents.Fuel efciency and emissions too have become

important issues lately and car manufacturers arestepping up their efforts in creating clean burning in lowcapacity engines in order to get the best fuel efciencypossible. Clean air emissions have made it possible fornew cars to be leaner in fuel consumption and better inpower. Cars like the VW Polo TSI uses a small capacityengine of just 1.2-litres but produces the power of abigger 1.6-litre car whilst still producing very littleCO2 emissions!

For the future, new-age communication the Internet will be the key feature in luxury cars. Though not reallyfor the drivers and more for the passengers, the Internetwill keep passengers connected to the latest in real time.This has been an expensive feature till now but in recentmonths, mainstream car manufacturers have begunintroducing Wi-Fi connectivity to allow families to travelwith Internet-ready devices to entertain passengersand, run GPS and other entertainment systems. Theavailability of cheaper hardware has made this possibleand very soon, even basic modes of transportation likecompact city cars and scooters will be equipped withthese moving technology.

Volkswagen PoloTSI engine.


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tech-talk

SLEEKER & FASTER33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter, the iPad 2 has two powerful cores, which mean better surng,better watching, better gaming... better everything! And it gets better with these applications. www.apple.com

C for CompactThe Fujitsu ESPRIMO EH300 is an ergonomically designed,all-in-one compact size, highperformance PC that deliversoptimum functionalities,features and speed, givingusers wireless control of theirmultimedia content anywhere.www.fujitsu.com

Size Doesnt MatterAt only 26.7cm long and 3.8cm

wide, Edier Sound To Go is ahigh-performance portable micro

speaker that connects to any laptopor desktop computer via USB.

www.edier-international.com

Travel NavigatorDesigned as a personal GPSnavigator and a full-featuredSmartphone, the Garmin-Asus A50 offers both car andpedestrian navigation modes.www.garminasus.com

This Just In!Feast on the much-awaited Apple iPad2 and these other tech companions.

Originally intended for iPhone

4, Apple has updated iMovie to a universal application foriPhone 4, iPod Touch 4 andiPad 2, allowing you to dragyour ngers across the clips topreview them, as well as trimedges before addingthe clips to a project.

With front and rear

cameras on the iPad 2,you can communicate betterwith iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPodTouch or Mac over Wi-Fi viaFaceTime . The camerasallow you toswitch between two viewsduring a conversation.

With the GarageBand app,

you dont need expensivegear as it has a completecollection of audio tools forrecording audio pieces.

I M A G E S : A

P P L E

W O R D S : N I C O L E T T E N G



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The Westin lifestyle is all aboutwellness and rejuvenation, and at theaward-winning Westin LangkawiResort & Spa , youll be transportedto a paradise designed to revive eventhe most agging of spirits.

Step into the white tea-perfumedMinangkabau style resort and beginyour sensory journey with stunningseaviews from Breeze Lounge.Then, indulge in an energy-boostingHeavenly Massage at the beachsideHeavenly Spa, the only one inMalaysia. Feel your tension ebb awayas your masseuse applies a warmherbal pouch to your back followed bya powerful aromatherapy remedy.

Afterwards, enjoy the Spa by Night,a romantic three-course dinner bythe beach. Imagine a table for two on

sleep inns

Holistic Haven

With brilliantl blue skies, a soothing island vibe and luxurious hotels thatcater for your every need, youll never want to leave Langkawi, Malaysia.

the candlelit spa deck with just themoonlight, lapping waves and seabreeze for company, and of coursediscreet waiters to keep your wineglass lled. The three-course dinnerincludes creative appetisers like lemondill cured seabass, harissa marinatedcalamari and cucumber onion salad,a main course of the freshest seafood

grilled to perfection, and a decadentdessert for a sweet nish.

Westins famous SuperFoods makea grand appearance at the breakfastbuffet with a section dedicated tothese health-enhancing goodies richin antioxidants and phytonutrients.Get your x with a syringe of mangoor kiwi puree pumped over yoghurt, W

O R D S : B E V E R L Y R O D R I G U E S

P H O T O G R A P H Y : A D A M

L E E

Livin it Upin Langkawi



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Family Fun & Frolic

A Jalan Pantai Dato Syed Omar,07000 Langkawi, Kedah

T +604 960 8888

Visit www.airasiago.com for attractiveroom deals on this hotel.

A Jalan Teluk Nibong,07000 Langkawi, Kedah

T +604 952 8000


With just the right blend of carefreefun and luxury, Sheraton LangkawiBeach Resort is a great place forsome quality, family time. Steppinginto your room, youll nd a lovelywelcome gift. This could be a tropicalfruit basket, bottle of wine, cutedusky leaf monkey soft toy or evena colourful platter of macaroons andchocolate chip biscuits to begin yourvacation feeling like a VIP.

Whether your ideal holiday involveslounging by an innity pool, enjoyinga drink at a sunken pool bar, joiningcooking classes or trying out variouswatersports, this resort has somethingfor you. Children have a specialhangout of their own. The cheerfulLutong Kids Club offers a variety of

board games, childrens books, videosand arts and crafts like batik.

For a much-needed break, treatyourself to Sheratons signatureHealing Massage at The Spa. Usinga combination of soothing strokesand acupuncture and specially-blended oils, this gentle one-houraromatic massage leaves you feelingthoroughly rejuvenated.

At night, dine on a decadent arrayof fresh seafood at the atmosphericCaptains Grill, complete with whitesails and knotted ropes.

or a nutricious blueberry smoothie.SuperFoods like avocados, walnuts,dark chocolate, wild salmon andraspberries are subtly incorporatedinto other dishes too creating foodsynergy for an even more deliciousspread. To celebrate life, indulge infree-owing sparkling wine. Yes,bubbly at breakfast!

After a full day of kayaking,snorkelling, swimming in the innitypool, playing tennis and other funactivities, retire to your room andenjoy a soothing nights sleep on aHeavenly Bed, designed to cocoon youin layer after layer of pure, uffy bliss.



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Nestled in the midst of an ancientrainforest, The Andaman nurturesa special bond with nature. Here,youll see dusky leaf monkeys, yinglemurs and other wildlife in thegreenery and resort grounds. Beingso close to nature, this luxury abodeis fully aware of its responsibilityto the environment, and hasinitiated various green practicesfor energy and water conservation,waste management and pollutionreduction. A stay here is truly an eye-opening experience.

Ode to Nature

A Jalan Teluk Datai, 07000 Langkawi, KedahT +604 959 1088


Topping the list of things to do is thenature walk that introduces guests tothe wonderful diversity of both oraand fauna on the island. The Andamanhas also inititated a Coral ConservationProject to rehabilitate the fringingreef that was damaged by the 2004tsunami , and often, invites gueststo participate in coral clearing andeducational reef walks.

Its no surprise that even the spahere V Bontanical Spa showcasesthe beauty of nature with its open airpavilions overlooking the sparklingDatai Bay. The view is worthy of all thepositive superlatives you can think up.

To ease your jetlag, enjoy a deeptissue Time Travelers Massage, whichdraws on the healing powers of

essential oils and ancient acupuncture.For a truly decadent treat, try theHolistic Gemstone Facial. Imaginehaving your face massaged with

jade, jasper, obsidian, aventurine andunakite! Despite how it sounds, thisfacial is not purely hedonistic; eachgem has special healing properties todrain toxins, improve microcirculation,calm and regenerate skin.

The Andaman is all aboutexperiences and capitalises on its great

location by the sea to offer guestsan unusual pre-dining experience. Inthe evenings, local shemen comeashore, and guests get to pick whichcrustacean or sh theyd like grilled fordinner. It doesnt get fresher than that!



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Heres a new way you can travel while still doingsomething good for the community and the environment.

hit list

C O M P I L E D B Y : N I C O L E T T E N G

Have Heart, Will Travel

Class In SessionIf patience is your forte, then you might want to giveteaching a go in Sri Lanka. In fact, you can do morethan just teach English throughout this project. As youbecome more involved in the local communitys life,youll slowly take up different roles that may include asports coach, an entertainer and even a family friend.These eight to 12-week long teaching projects are basedin Colombo. Children in the project range from sevento 18-years-old and theyre eager to earn a foreignlanguage. The teaching process is also much easier andmore fun as it is done through conversation classes,games and songs. www.responsibletravel.com



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Build a HomeThe monsoon season in Vietnam not only brings aboutmuch needed rain for agriculture, it also sadly damagesthe houses of the local communities, which are often builton stilts and soft ground. Heres where you come in tolend a hand. Through the i-to-i partner project in the southof Ho Chi Minh City, volunteers help with the re-buildingof houses within a two to six week-stay there. Supervisedby professionals, volunteers will spend most of their timenear the Mekong Delta with fellow builders and locals.This volunteer work also offers travellers a closer lookat the Mekong Delta, while learning the local culture andlanguage. www.responsibletravel.com

Save a BearAfter watching a TV show that presented horrifyingfootage of Asiatic Black bears held in cofn-sizedcages in 1993, animal activist, Mary Hutton,decided to start a petition-signing activity, whichled to the founding of Free The Bears Fund. Today,World Expeditions in association with Free TheBears Fund, have developed unique eco-tours thatenable guests to visit bear sanctuaries in Laos,Cambodia and India to help out. Volunteers areoffered the opportunity to get close to the bears andhelp out with the enrichment programme and foodpreparation. Throughout the duration of the trip, you

will be supervised by an experienced local guide anda representative from Free The Bears Fund to ensureyou enjoy the learning experience with the bears.www.freethebears.org.au

Care for an ElephantAnimal lovers whove always wanted to work with elephantsand learn more about animal husbandry should grabthis opportunity. Aiming to improve the living conditionsof captive elephants, The Surin Project in Northeastern

Thailands Surin province provides support to the elephantowners through responsible volunteer tourism andcommunity involvement. By doing this, the project hopes toslowly stop them from going back to Bangkok to beg on thestreets with their elephants. Volunteers at the project will helpbuild shelters, dig irrigation canals and plant elephant food.Helping owners earn a living ensures that elephants are notforced back to the streets. Volunteers can also help out at theoriginal conservation project, the Elephant Nature Park, nearChiang Mai. www.surinproject.org



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Nilai University College and Oxford Brookes University, UK has had a long workingrelationship dating back to 1998. You can now benet from this relationship by joining a programme in the elds of business, hospitality, nursing or computing.Successful graduates will enter the working world with a Nilai UC degree and anaward of similar standing from Oxford Brookes. Oxford Brookes has beenconsistently named thebest new university by

the UK Times.

CALL NOW: Scholarships And Financial Assistance Available

, Malaysia


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Sometimes, the satisfaction of travelling can beobtained from something as simple as volunteering.Responsible Travel has come up with hundreds ofvolunteer packages that you can choose from. Find

out more at www.responsibletravel.com.

Community Work with Orphans in the Philippinesallows you to work with underprivileged children onthe island of Leyte. The program includes teachingEnglish, arts, crafts, games etc.

DO MORE!

Care for Children in Cambodia helps underprivilegedyoungsters through education, mentoring andcoaching in the countrys many orphanages.

Get involved with traditional Yolngu Aboriginalknowledge and understanding of the land, sea andanimals through the Arnhem Land CommunityProjects in Australia.

AirAsia ies to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. For ight schedule and bookings, visit www.airasia.com


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With carved rice terraces that climb heavenwards, thenatural splendour of the Yunnan plateau in southern Chinais matched only by the unique cultural heritage of over55 ethnic tribes who have made this rugged andoften unforgiving landscape their home.WORDS: CAROL WEST PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBERT MUIR

STAIRWAY

SKYTO THE

I M A G E :

P H O T O L I B R A R Y

cover story


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Walking through Yuanyangmarketplace, the imagery is as vividas stepping into the pages of a well-thumbed book of folk tales. Black-clad Hani women stride purposelyby wearing imposing headdresses.Stooped, elderly women shufe pastwith brush mats on their backs asprotection from heavy baskets thatare their lifes burden. GossipingYi housewives waddle in front, two

triangular embroidered cushionsdangling from their waists. Inthis mountain village perched onChinas Yunnan Plateau, you arewhat you wear and for the lavishlycostumed Yao, Miao, Hani, Yi and Dai

Chinese minority groups paradingresplendently around me, this ismerely part of daily life.

An eerie mountain haze fuses witha pastiche of cooking and eating, aswomen, squatting over small grillslined with tofu squares, fan theembers. Vapour rises from aluminumsteamers lled with meat buns andpeople hunch over piping hot bowls ofnoodles. Adding to the early morningcacophony, ubiquitous bicycles andhonking motorbikes skate aroundtrucks overowing with cassavaas they squeeze through narrowlaneways. To the locals, its businessas usual but to the visitor, its a head-swivelling breakfast-and-show!

CARVINGTHE EARTHAs mists quiver like a brides veil,mysterious Yuanyang appears todrift in a white sky, yet the townand surrounding villages are hometo 20,000 who farm the plateausancient terraced rice elds. For morethan a millennium, the Hani peoplehave walked close to nature, livingin harmony with forest and farming.Tumbling down 12,666 hectares ofmountainous terrain from 2,000metres above sea level, the ricepaddies remind me of glisteningtiers of wet-lip pools. Stretchinglike a stairway to the sky, they havebecome a major attraction for visitorsto Chinas rural Yunnan province.

Light rain begins to fall as we pulloff the road and watch a khaki-cladfarmer urge his buffalo to haul hisplough through the soggy terrace.Hes standing thigh high in waterand the muddy walls of the terracelook perilously close to collapsebut for 1,200 years, this has beenthe agrarian way of life for the

Above: A lifetime of toil in theterrace farms is etched on thefaces of these men.Top: Traditional homes inQingkou village.Preceeding page: The riceterraces of Yuanyang in Yunnanrise up like a stairway to the sky,shrouded in morning mist.



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Hani farmers of southern Yunnan.Harnessing nature over millenniato serve their needs, the terracesstand as a potent distillation of theindustriousness, dedication andwisdom of the Hani. Starting fromthe bottom of the mountain, trencheswere dug close to water resources;ridges were formed by mixing claywith small stones and then, beatenwith sticks to prevent leakages orcollapse. As a small nod to progressand to offset landslides that are

inevitable when annual rainfall canreach 2,000 millimetres, the mainterraces are now reinforced with awoven wall of bamboo.

HOME IN THE SKYA lifetime of farming thesemagnicent oating elds is etchedon the faces of the men and womenat Qingkou Village (Tiger s MouthVillage), located 35 kilometres southof Yuanyang. With homes built of

dry stone walls, their unique,

mushroom-shaped roofs clad in ricestraw, are as warmly welcomingas the 800 villagers whose livesremain untrammeled by exposure tothe outside world. Qingkou Villageprovides a snapshot of a tidy placewhere fresh spring water gushesfrom faucets at the communallaundry, sheaves of soybeans hangoutside homes to dry and kindling isneatly stacked for the cooking re.Surrounded by tens of thousands

of terraced elds that tumblevertiginously into the valley below,the Hani are applying to UNESCO forWorld Heritage listing for their HongHe Hani terraced elds.

Culturally-rich Yunnan province ishome to many of Chinas 55 ethnicgroups who are happy to celebratetheir diversity with visitors. Frequentmigrations have scattered morethan two million Hani throughoutSoutheast Asia including Laos,Vietnam, Burma and Thailand. InChina, the 1.25 million Hani areone of the countrys oldest ethnicgroups and prior to the founding ofthe Peoples Republic of China, hadtheir own unique political system.Evolving over 1,500 years during theTang, Ming and Qing dynasties, thesenomadic hunter-gatherers forgedstrong emotional links to their uniqueterraced eld culture.

ELABORATELYETHNICI sit with a trio of ancient men whoare relaxing in a rotunda overlookingthe village square with barely a setof teeth between them. Betweenpuffs of cigarette smoke they tellof a secret; a men only ceremonyheld each year in the forest abovethe village where they worship theDragon Tree. Looking out across the

Left: A local woman cookingin the early hours of themorning in one of Yuanyangsmarket laneways.



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AirAsia ies to Guilin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen from Kuala Lumpur and, Shenzhen and Guangzhoufrom Bangkok. For the full ight details, go to www.airasia.com

terraces where farmers hidden byshoulder-high rice dissolve into thelandscape, life does appear to be aharmonious blend of forest, water,irrigation and folklore.

Suddenly theres a frisson of activityin the Qingkou Hani Cultural Villagesquare and a troupe of young womengather for a performance. Clad intted tunics and black pants, their longblack hair in ying ponytails, they kickup their red velvet-shod heels deftly,while using Chinese rice bowls likecastanets and palm fronds as gracefulfans. The air is tinged with smokedrifting in on a late afternoon breezeand a crowd of curious onlookersgather on the steps to watch theimpromptu performance, whilestealing glances at the strange visitorsfrom beyond their eld of dreams.

RETURNING TOTERRA FIRMAAs dusk gathers, women with basketsof wood drive their buffalo home. Ipause at a scattering of village stallsto buy some of the hand-made bags,tops, jewellery, scarves and souvenirsthat will serve as mementos of a

special time and place.On leaving the village, my bus

stops at a little wooden slab hutthat serves as a water station. Its asteep descent down the valley andthe driver sprays water on the tyresto prevent slippage. The setting sunglimmers through the mist, polishing

the terraced elds until they gleamlike mercury. As majestic gorgesplunge below, the bus graduallydescends into a sub-tropical zonewhere exuberant sprays of ferns,bamboo and banana palms underpina verdant landscape. Windingleisurely around the hillside, theroad dissects canyons that run to thevalley oor where the Red River runsits course.

Glancing upwards, rolling mistsdraw a veil across the sky and I knowthat Yuanyang is once again castadrift to oat amongst its ancient,aquatic pools.

well preserved in their outts and traditions,as seen in the image of this mother and baby.Below: Young women of the Quingkou Hanicultural village substitute fans with palmfronds for a graceful dance performance.


Left: The rich heritage of the Hani people is


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Spending hours onall fours in a cold,wet and dark cave

doesnt particularlysound like a greatholiday outing butthe glow worms of

Waitomo Caves inNew Zealand sure

know how to put ona show to keep the

damp at bay.

W O R D S : J

O L E E N L U N J E W I M A G E S : T

H E L E G

E N D A R Y B L A C K W A T E R R A F T I N G C O M P A N Y



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Its perfectly safe,said Jed my guide. I had a 65 year-old lady jump on my last trip, headded. I was not about to let an oldlady outshine me. I clutched the tyretube rmly to my butt and backedcautiously to the waterfalls edge,all the while being fully aware ofthe strong currents threatening tosweep me away. My heels were nowdangling in the open space.

Oh come on, we dont have allday, teased my partner. I gave himan evil glare before I pushed off the

ledge, hurling my body swiftly intothe dark below. The fall was less thana second but it felt like an eternitybefore I made contact with the icycold water.

The deafening din of the waterfallmasked the cheers from above.Feeling slightly embarrassed, I notedthat the waterfall didnt seem thathigh after all. Nevertheless, I wasrelieved to have survived the jump.

Hurling yourself backwards offunderground waterfalls is one ofthe many exciting aspects of blackwater rafting. Although it is calledblack water rafting, rafts are notused and the water is not black. Thissport involves navigating a networkof caves, rivers and undergroundwaterfalls on an inner tyre tube.

Reality hit me as I stood on the edge of an underground waterfall, peeringgingerly at the swirling mass of foamy water roughly two metres below. AmI really going to leap backwards into the icy darkness? What if I accidentallysomersault and land on my head? What if I sink under and cant surface forair? What ifs. Why do people always conjure up the worst possible scenarios?

Realising my line of thought wasnt helping one bit, I took a deep breath to

calm my furiously beating heart. I will make the jump, I told myself but maybe Ishouldnt have volunteered to go rst.

Below : Visitors beginthe underground river

journey by oatingthrough the glowworm cave.Opposite page :Abseiling down intothe unknown.

T A KI N G T H E P LU N G E



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Guests hook legs toform the eel as theyoat down the river.

Abseiling down into thecaves can be both exciting

If you decide to go with the foundingcompany, there are two trips youcan choose from: Black Labyrinthand Black Abyss. The three-hour longBlack Labyrinth experience is idealfor rst timers who want a taste ofwhats in store without having to

exert themselves too much. The latteris a pumped-up version of the rstand includes additional activitiessuch as abseiling, ying fox andclimbing up underground waterfalls.

Pressed for time, I opted for theBlack Labyrinth. The only gear youneed is your bathing suit and a towelfor drying off after. The rest wet suit,boots, helmet and headlamp are allprovided by the company. Camerasare unfortunately not allowed butphotos are available for sale at theend of the trip.

It was a 10-minute drive to the caveswhere a pile of inner tyre tube greetedus at our destination. After choosingour oating devices, our guides Jedand Lucy proceeded with a safetybrieng and a practice run. We weretold to hook our legs under the nextpersons armpits to form an eel. Thiswould be our formation when we driftthrough the glow worm cave.

The heart of this sport is located inWaitomo, an area that is littered withlimestone caves formed by 30 millionyears of volcanic and geologicalactivities. Visitors have been ockingto the Waitomo caves since the late19th century. So whats so specialabout these caves that even theQueen of England has come to see?The main attraction here is, in fact,smaller than your pinkie nger.Found together in large numbers,tiny creatures called glow wormsemit a soft light, creating the illusion

T H E WA I T O M O G L O W

B LA C K B O WE L S

Our guides then brought us toa river where a platform was builtroughly two metres above water.This would be our practice jump andeveryone passed with ying colours.Somehow, jumping in broad daylightwas much less daunting.

Satised with our performance,our guides nally led us to the caveentrance where we had to crawl andslide down a narrow passagewaybefore emerging in a large grotto.Majestic stalactites hung from theceiling above, some connectingwith the stalagmites below to formimposing columns.

of twinkling stars against the blackunderground canvas.

Not satised with showcasingtheir natural treasures throughdry guided tours in the caves, theadventure-loving Kiwis invented asport where visitors can have a wild,adrenaline-packed time while enjoyingthis amazing spectacle of nature.Black water rafting was founded byThe Legendary Black Water RaftingCompany (www.waitomo.com)but there are many other operatorsconducting tours now.


and nerve wracking.


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This way please, said Lucy as sheled us deeper into the cave. The dropin temperature was pretty evident,as we bowed our heads to avoidscraping the low ceiling of the caves.We continued navigating the narrowcave passageways for the next hour,sometimes on our hands and knees,sometimes on our bellies, exploringcrooks and crevices.

It was not long before we got tothe waterfall where we took a leapof faith into oblivion. Ironically, the

anticipation was much scarier thanthe actual jump itself.

The highlight of the trip was justafter the waterfall. Forming the eel, wefell into a hushed silence as Lucy pulled

us along. The scene above us wasnothing short of spectacular. A blanketof soft tiny lights formed a surrealgalaxy of stars. I reclined on my tubeto take in the night sky above, whileimagining that I could identify the BigDipper, the Southern Cross and eventhe Milky Way. It seemed incrediblethat tiny creatures could create such anastounding work of art. A sense of calmowed over me as I listened to thegentle lap of the waters.

My dreamlike surroundings

slowly gave way to reality. Daylightwas approaching. I turned to lookback one nal time before the glowtotally vanished. If only we had just amoment longer.

AirAsia ies fourtimes a week toChristchurch fromKuala Lumpur.Waitomo islocated about 200kilometres fromAuckland, whileTaupo, Rotorua andMount Ruapehuare about a2-hour drive fromWaitomo. You caneither self-drive toWaitomo or catcha domestic ightto the North Island.For ight scheduleand bookings, visitwww.airasia.com

Despite its name, glow wormsare not actually worms. Theyare in fact, the larvae of a two-winged insect resembling a largemosquito. The larvae can grow tothe size of a matchstick and looks abit like a maggot.

To attract food, the glow wormemits light from its tail, a result of achemical reaction between its wasteby-product and the oxygen in theair. Insects attracted by the light arecaught by sticky threads that theglow worm weaves, much like aspider web.

Glow worms can live for upto nine months before making acocoon and nally emerging as

adult insects. The adults have only afew days to live as they dont have amouth. Their sole purpose is to mateand reproduce.

Damp, dark places shieldedfrom the wind with at ceilings areideal for glow worms. This is so thattheir thread does not get tangledand the wind does not dry themout. The caves at Waitomo providethe perfect environment with anabundance of insects brought intothe cave via the river.

GLOWWORMS

I N T O T H E A B Y S S

Right : Climbing upan undergroundwaterfall; one of themany activities at theWaitomo Caves.



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HERITAGEA vibrant arts and heritage bazaarbursting with quirky curios,traditional collectibles and fun artpieces, historical Central Marketcaptures the whirlwind experienceof bargain hunting in Malaysia.

WORDS: BEVERLY RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM LEE

A FOR HIVE

Filled with antiques, traditional handicraftand religious art, Central Market is atreasure trove of Southeast Asian heritage.



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Its pretty amazing how the urbanlandscape evolves, alteringexperiences from generation togeneration. I daresay many KLitesborn in the 80s know nothing of

Central Markets humble beginningsas an open wet market back in 1888.But for those who grew up in the60s and 70s, Central Market is anostalgic landmark that holdsmany memories.

Like any wet market worth its salt,Central Market was once a dank,noisy and chaotic place where localshaggled over the price of cluckingchickens and writhing sh. Justoutside, hawkers selling free-rangekampung (free-range) eggs spilledonto the busy main road clogged withlorries unloading spices.

The art deco facade, which waserected in the 30s, gave this oldmarket a stylish and functionalimage, but it was the decision topreserve this heritage buildingand transform it into a centre for

Malaysian culture, arts andhandicrafts that really set the

course for this establishment. In thelate 70s, Central Market, dubbedCM by trendy KLites, became theplace to catch cultural performancesand while away lazy afternooons at

pubs like Bulls Head and Riverbank.Today, the turqoise and salmon

art deco building is a great exampleof adaptive reuse. While retaining itsoriginal structure, Central Marketslabyrinths are lled with quirky artsand crafts that reect the colourfuldiversity of Malaysia, which is alsoartistically reected in the specialalleys on the ground oor. Nameslike Malay Alley, Chinese Alley,Little India and Straits ChineseAlley not only indicate the typeof ethnic goods sold there, theyalso offer visitors cultural insightswith architectural detailing such ascolourful tiles and design elements.

Given a new lease of life, thismarket is a thriving hub of art andheritage that continues to evolveand remain relevant in the 21stcentury. Read on for a compilationof cool outlets not to be missed.

The original Central Market building before the art deco facade was erected.

Central Market during its days as a wet market.

MUSEUM

Check out ethnographicarts of Sumatraand Borneo at theArt House GalleryMuseum of EthnicArt (www.ahgmuseum.com.my; T +6012 3886868) in Central MarketAnnexe, located nextto the main building.Artifacts here includewooden statues,basketry work, masks,textiles, beadwork,funerary objects andsilver, brass, bronzeand boneware.



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COCONUT CRAZE

If youre looking for a quirky giftor something fun to jazz up yourwardrobe, check out The CononutShop (www.thecoconutshop.com;T +603-2260 7781), which specialisesin products fashioned from theshell, husk and trunk of the coconut

tree. Using coconut shells, productscome in myriad shades of coconuttybrown. Offerings here are reallyquite inventive, from coin boxesshaped as water buffaloes to cocktailhandbags with layers of coconutshell stitched together.

TRENDY TRADITION

One of Central Markets oldesttenants, Loh Tim Kee ( T +603-22747206) has been a hotspot for weddinggowns for over 25 years. Thisfamily business has survived threegenerations, and continues to dressthe citys Chinese community, as wellas tourists looking for cultural attire.While preserving Chinese traditionwith its time-honoured, cheongsam made from brocade, satin and silkfrom China, Loh Tim Kee keeps

things fresh with a gorgeous rangeof fusion frocks, blending culturalelements and contemporary designs.Here, youll nd trendy Hong Kong-style mens dinner suits, silk brocadecheongsam with lacework, cherryblossom motifs and high slits withhandmade buttons and, hot pinksamfoo with the happiness symbols.

NATURALMEDICINE

Discover natural health and beautyremedies that Asians have beenusing for centuries at Asian SecretsTea Shop ( T +603-2201 8899). InAsia, the rainforest is a naturalpharmacy lled with treatments forvarious ailments, and Asian Secretsis a great place to explore naturalhealing powers. Youll nd here,skyfruit to control blood sugar levels,ant nests to regulate blood pressureand cholesterol levels, yellow tongkat ali and kacip fatimah to enhancelibido, as well as herbs for generalheath and vitality. You can even pickup raw ingredients for the traditionalIndonesian medicine called jamu .Knowledgeable consultants willguide you through the process. Cheongsam at Loh Tim Kee.

Colourful traditional masks make for great wall art.

Baskets, bags, oor mats and other stuff woven from pandanus leaves and other natural materials.

Cute coinbox fromThe Coconut Shop.



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TRADITIONALKITES

If youre looking for culturalkeepsakes, drop by For Uhandicrafts Wau ( T +603-22741906). This shop specialises inwau , a traditional Malay kite thatspopular in east Malaysia. In wau competitions, wau makers are

judged not only on the intricacy oftheir artwork, harmonious coloursand overall construction, but thewau s takeoff and ying height,as well as the pitch produced bythe humming bow. Here, you can

purchase a wau with lightweightbut durable bamboo frames andelaborate designs of coloured tissueand paper as ornaments or to y.

CENTRALMARKET OR PASAR SENI A 10, Jalan Hang Kasturi,

50050 Kuala LumpurT 1300 22 8688www.centralmarket.com.myOpen: 10.00am 10.00pm

Central market today.

COLOURS OFNATURE

If youre looking for products thatsupport your environmentally-friendly lifestyle, check out EcoWarna ( T +603-2272 3663). Here,youll nd natural dye apparels withcolours derived from pineapples,mangosteens, onions, rambutans,buttery pea owers and pandanusleaves. All products are chemical-free, and the muted tones of thedyes offer understated elegance.Create a unique look with hand-dyedcotton pareos, silk shirts, scarves,shawls and ties, or even pouches andhandbags, and know youre doingyour bit for the environment.

MIND GAMES

For almost 14 years, GameCorner ( T +603-2260 6613) hasbeen exercising minds with a widerange of IQ puzzles, brainteasersand toys from around the world.Stocking over 1,000 games from

ancient Chinese puzzles like thesnake cube, tangram and mousemaze, to tricky Thai conundrumslike khub phean , and contemporarygames, Game Corner offers hoursof challenging fun. Containingno nails or articial colouring, allgames are safe for children. And,since theyre portable, they makegreat travel companions.

Shop for a diverse range of art or just have a chat with local artists at Central Market Annexe.

HAPPY FEET

Put a little verve in your step withcreative clogs from Rhino Art

( T +6012-695 8034). This traditionalwooden footwear has been givena fun twist with bright handpainteddesigns ranging from prettyleaves and owers to bold swirls.Besides spicing up your look, theseimaginatively-decorated clogswill denitely make for a greatconversation piece.

Artistic clogsadd colourto yourwardrobe.



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created worldwide buzz when itlaunched the Best Job in the World

campaign to promote the naturalwonders of the Great Barrier Reef.Applicants were invited to vie forCaretaker of the Islands of the GreatBarrier Reef a job that involvedspending six months exploring 2,300kilometres of Queenslands coastand many of the islands of the GreatBarrier Reef.

Beating 34,000 entries, BritonBen Southall clinched the job of alifetime when he wowed the judgeswith his video application expressinghis love for adventure and featuringphotographs of himself riding anostrich, running a marathon, scubadiving and kissing a giraffe.

It was truly a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience and Ben spentsix months as the Island Caretaker,exploring, experiencing and reportingon his adventures on the Great BarrierReef. Upon completing his tenure as

If Life is a Beach, then Ben Southall is having awhale of a time where every day is a holiday!

The Best

Expeditionin the Worldappointed Ben as ambassador andsince then, Ben has travelled theworld, speaking to media, the travel

industry and potential visitors abouthis experience

ak_travel3sixty

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