Indonesia Travel 04: September 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Tuesday, 1 October 2013. News from last night Asia time and today.

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
http://www.asiatraveltips.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1/10/2013 Archipelago Opens 7th favehotel in Jakarta.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-favehotel.shtml

1/10/2013 AirAsia X Launches Buy 1, Free 1 Promotion.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-AirAsiaX.shtml

1/10/2013 Sichuan Airlines Takes Delivery of First A321 Equipped with Sharklets.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-SichuanAirlines.shtml

1/10/2013 Air Canada and Air China Expand Codeshare Agreement.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-AirChina.shtml

1/10/2013 AirBridgeCargo Takes Delivery of Fourth Boeing 747-8F.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-AirBridgeCargo.shtml

1/10/2013 Alaska Airlines Orders 5 Boeing 737-900ERs.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-AlaskaAirlines.shtml

1/10/2013 Singapore Airlines to Launch Flights to Athens.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-SingaporeAirlines.shtml

1/10/2013 FRHI Hotels & Resorts Appoints SVP Global Sales Organization.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-FRHI.shtml

1/10/2013 Six Senses Appoints New VP Marketing and Communications.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-SixSenses.shtml

1/10/2013 Festival in Yokohama to Celebrate ASEAN Cuisine.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-AseanFestival.shtml

1/10/2013 Boeing Delivers First Next-Generation 737-900ER to Delta Air Lines.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-DeltaAirLines.shtml

1/10/2013 Luxperience Appoints Lindy Andrews as New CEO.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-Luxperience.shtml

1/10/2013 Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi Paschim Vihar Appoints DOSM.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/110-RadissonBlu.shtml

30/9/2013 Cathay Pacific to Add Premium Economy Class to 22 Regional Routes.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-CathayPacific.shtml

30/9/2013 Asia Pacific Airlines Traffic Results for August 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-AsiaAirlines.shtml

- Prefer the convenience of an RSS Feed? The ASIA Travel Tips daily travel news RSS Feed is at:
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travelnews.xml
____________________________________
Advertise here contact: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

END

Established in 1997, ASIA Travel Tips was the first online daily travel news service in Asia. If
you know of any colleagues or friends who may be interested in receiving our daily travel news
email, please do ask them to subscribe. Thank you.

To unsubscribe, simply reply to this email and place "unsubscribe" (in English) as the subject.

To change your email simply reply to this email and place "change email" (in English as the
subject, be sure to let us know both the old email address, as well as the one you wish to
change it to).

If you receive an error trying to connect to any of the above pages, please go to
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/LatestTravelNews.htm and use the links there. If that fails please
feel free to contact us: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

All editorial comments should be sent to the Editor - Steven Howard - editor@asiatraveltips.com

Special Travel Trade and Media Rates -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeRates.shtml

Calendar of Travel Trade Shows and Exhibitions -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeShows.shtml

Latest Travel News - FAQ -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsFAQ.shtml

Travel News Archives (since 2000) -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsArchivesMenu1.shtml

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities please send an email to:
webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

http://www.asiatraveltips.com

CNNGo.com

First 'Instagram hotel' gives free stays for popularity

Posted: 29 Sep 2013 09:41 AM PDT

With designated "selfie space" and in-room media hubs, Sydney's 1888 lets guests with 10,000 Instagram followers stay for free

If you're going to bill your hotel as the world's first "Instagram hotel," it helps if you can provide guests with some photogenic surroundings to get snap-happy in.

Sydney's new 1888 Hotel -- the first in the world inspired by the popular photo-sharing app -- certainly isn't lacking in that department.

The 90-room boutique hotel in the city's waterside Pyrmont suburb occupies a heritage-listed building originally used as a wool store built in, as the name says, 1888.

1888's king deluxe room. Billed as the world's first "Instagram hotel," the property has 90 rooms. Over the last two years, it's undergone a meticulous AU$30 million ($28 million) restoration, creating a unique space that successfully blends original features, including reclaimed ironbark beams, period windows and exposed brick walls, with colorful furniture and vibrant artwork.

"The style of the building and its heritage was very important," says Paul Fischmann, CEO of 8 Hotels, which owns 1888.

"We walked in here and you could see all the elements that would make it a cool hotel."

More on CNN: Sydney hotels: 7 stays for 7 types of travelers

Selfie spaces and Insta-walks

From a light-filled, five-story atrium -- complete with an indoor tree -- to freestanding bathtubs and recycled timber desks in rooms, nearly every angle of the 1888 provides a photo opp for Instagrammers.

Taking inspiration from the year 1888 -- when Kodak patented its first box and roll cameras -- the hotel has embraced the popularity of the photo-sharing app, with two screens in reception displaying a constantly updated feed of images guests have uploaded to Instagram using the #1888hotel hashtag.

The hotel features a dedicated "selfie space," where guests can pose for photos behind a gilt-edged frame.

Insta-walk maps are available from reception, taking guests to Instagrammable sights such as the Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour and Chinese Gardens.

Instagram users with more than 10,000 followers are rewarded with a free night's stay, while each month the guest who has snapped the best Instagram picture during their visit also gets a free night's accommodation.

Hotel 1888 is located in a restored building built in, you guessed it, 1888. "So many people are on Instagram and so many people love taking photos and sharing them," says Fischmann.

"People are taking images wherever they go and sharing them with their friends, so we thought we'd play on that a little bit with things like the 'selfie space' and the monthly competitions.

"What's been fun is following the people who have started following us. There are actually a lot of people with a lot more than 10,000 followers – we had a guy here who had 650,000 followers, and he took a photo in the selfie space and had 35,000 likes. It's amazing to think about the reach of it and it's fun to watch."

'People have really embraced it'

After a full day of Instagramming, guests can connect smartphones to in-room media hubs to review images on a 40-inch LED TV, before uploading their snaps via the hotel's Wi-Fi.

More on CNN: Best beaches in Sydney

Each of the 90 rooms features an iPad, which guests can use to order room service, control air conditioning or view staff recommendations for nearby bars and restaurants.

Share plates and charcuterie boards are available at the 1888 Eatery & Bar.

1888 hotel's penthouse has a private terrace. The 1888's rooms range from compact, 15-square-meter "Shoeboxes," which feature queen beds and rain showers, to a 35-square-meter Junior Suite, which has a king bed, lounge area and city views.

The rooftop penthouse has a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the city.

"People have really embraced it," says Fischmann.

"Photography-based social media is something we can build on. We had all sorts of ideas, such as having photo booths in the lobby and things like that, so there are definitely ways we can continue it on."

A free stay should be motivation for those seeking to gain a few thousand more Instagram followers.

1888 Hotel, 139 Murray St., Pyrmont; +61 (0)2 8586 1888; rooms from AU$159 ($147) per night

More on CNN: How to see the best of Sydney in a week

Tags:

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Monday, 30 September 2013. News from over the weekend and today Asia time.

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
http://www.asiatraveltips.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

30/9/2013 Cathay Pacific to Add Premium Economy Class to 22 Regional Routes.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-CathayPacific.shtml

30/9/2013 Asia Pacific Airlines Traffic Results for August 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-AsiaAirlines.shtml

30/9/2013 Garuda Indonesia Takes Delivery of New Airbus A330-300.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-Garuda.shtml

30/9/2013 Singapore Airlines Launches New Cabin Products.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-SingaporeAirlines.shtml

30/9/2013 Oakwood Appoints New VP Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-Oakwood.shtml

30/9/2013 Etihad Airways Opens European HQ in Berlin.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-EtihadAirways.shtml

30/9/2013 Locatel Launches New Set-Top Box for Hotels.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-Locatel.shtml

30/9/2013 WGF at Four Seasons Bangkok Raises Over THB 1.7m for Charity.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-WorldGourmet.shtml

30/9/2013 WestJet Orders 65 Boeing 737s.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-WestJet.shtml

30/9/2013 Qatar Airways to Increase Flights to Jeddah for Hajj Season.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-QatarAirways.shtml

30/9/2013 Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Opens Fantasy Kingdom.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-MadameTussauds.shtml

30/9/2013 Renaissance Harbour View HK Opens New Club Lounge and Rooms.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-Renaissance.shtml

30/9/2013 Lion Group Buys Two More Spare PW127 Engines.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-LionEngines.shtml

30/9/2013 Air Namibia Takes Delivery of First Airbus A330.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/309-AirNamibia.shtml

27/9/2013 Fairmont to Manage New Hotel in Hangzhou.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-FairmontHotel.shtml

27/9/2013 SITA to Upgrade Airport Systems in India.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-IndiaAirports.shtml

- Prefer the convenience of an RSS Feed? The ASIA Travel Tips daily travel news RSS Feed is at:
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travelnews.xml
____________________________________
Advertise here contact: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

END

Established in 1997, ASIA Travel Tips was the first online daily travel news service in Asia. If
you know of any colleagues or friends who may be interested in receiving our daily travel news
email, please do ask them to subscribe. Thank you.

To unsubscribe, simply reply to this email and place "unsubscribe" (in English) as the subject.

To change your email simply reply to this email and place "change email" (in English as the
subject, be sure to let us know both the old email address, as well as the one you wish to
change it to).

If you receive an error trying to connect to any of the above pages, please go to
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/LatestTravelNews.htm and use the links there. If that fails please
feel free to contact us: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

All editorial comments should be sent to the Editor - Steven Howard - editor@asiatraveltips.com

Special Travel Trade and Media Rates -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeRates.shtml

Calendar of Travel Trade Shows and Exhibitions -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeShows.shtml

Latest Travel News - FAQ -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsFAQ.shtml

Travel News Archives (since 2000) -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsArchivesMenu1.shtml

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities please send an email to:
webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

http://www.asiatraveltips.com

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Friday, 27 September 2013. News from last night Asia time and today.

Have a splendid weekend!

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
http://www.asiatraveltips.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

27/9/2013 Fairmont to Manage New Hotel in Hangzhou.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-FairmontHotel.shtml

27/9/2013 SITA to Upgrade Airport Systems in India.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-IndiaAirports.shtml

27/9/2013 Kempinski Opens Hotel in Yixing, China.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-KempinskiYixing.shtml

27/9/2013 Tourism Australia Appoints New RGM for Greater China.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-TourismAustralia.shtml

27/9/2013 Pansy Ho Becomes Official PATA Foundation Ambassador.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-PansyHo.shtml

27/9/2013 Outrigger Mauritius Appoints Frederic Chretien as GM.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-OutriggerHotel.shtml

27/9/2013 Cebu Pacific Promotes Davao in Philippines.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/276-DavaoTourism.shtml

27/9/2013 Wanda Vista Hotel Opens in Tianjin.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-WandaHotel.shtml

27/9/2013 Incheon Int. Airport Breaks Ground on Terminal 2.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-IncheonAirport.shtml

27/9/2013 IHG Signs New Hotel in London.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-CrownePlaza.shtml

27/9/2013 Angsana Spa Opens Hot Spring Village in Tengchong.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/279-AngsanaSpa.shtml

26/9/2013 Global Leisure Hotel Rates Up 4.2% in August.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-HotelRates.shtml

26/9/2013 Vietnam's VietJetAir Signs MOU For Up To 100 Airbus Aircraft.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-VietJetAir.shtml

- Prefer the convenience of an RSS Feed? The ASIA Travel Tips daily travel news RSS Feed is at:
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travelnews.xml
____________________________________
Advertise here contact: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

END

Established in 1997, ASIA Travel Tips was the first online daily travel news service in Asia. If
you know of any colleagues or friends who may be interested in receiving our daily travel news
email, please do ask them to subscribe. Thank you.

To unsubscribe, simply reply to this email and place "unsubscribe" (in English) as the subject.

To change your email simply reply to this email and place "change email" (in English as the
subject, be sure to let us know both the old email address, as well as the one you wish to
change it to).

If you receive an error trying to connect to any of the above pages, please go to
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/LatestTravelNews.htm and use the links there. If that fails please
feel free to contact us: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

All editorial comments should be sent to the Editor - Steven Howard - editor@asiatraveltips.com

Special Travel Trade and Media Rates -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeRates.shtml

Calendar of Travel Trade Shows and Exhibitions -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeShows.shtml

Latest Travel News - FAQ -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsFAQ.shtml

Travel News Archives (since 2000) -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsArchivesMenu1.shtml

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities please send an email to:
webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

http://www.asiatraveltips.com

CNNGo.com

8 dishes to try in Nanjing

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 04:11 PM PDT

As the ancient capital of a nation obsessed with its food, Nanjing maintains a royal culinary standard

The emperors may have left town, but their chefs appear to have stuck around.

That's the best explanation for the delicate and delectable options found on tables across Nanjing.

Jiangsu Province -- Nanjing is the capital -- is home to one of the most influential cuisines in China.

More on CNN: Nanjing mini-guide

Typified by exquisite shape and cut, Nanjing's own homegrown dishes provide some of the tastiest examples of Jiangsu cuisine.

Here are 8 essential orders in Nanjing.

1. Sweet and sour Mandarin fish

Squirrel-like mandarin fish Mandarin fish is the perfect example of Jinling cuisine.
Sweet and sour Mandarin fish is perhaps the quintessential example of Jinling cuisine (a subset of Jiangsu cuisine, typical of Nanjing) -- preparation requires delicate skill, and there's an emphasis on appearance as well as savory taste.

The fish is de-boned and sliced in grids before going into the wok.

Boiling sweet and sour sauce is combined with ingredients such as shrimp, nuts and mushrooms and poured onto the fish, creating a squeaking sound.

The result is a plate of fish shaped like a squirrel, hence it's common name, "squirrel fish."

Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

2. Salted duck

The best salted duck has pale skin and pink meat, like this.
Nanjing is a city with duck fever -- from marinated to roasted, from the meat to the blood.

As the local saying goes, "Without duck, it's not a proper meal."

Salted duck is a cold dish usually served as an appetizer or snack with alcohol.

More on CNN: Around China in 31 dishes

Plum Garden's salted duck is marinated in a special brine that keeps the meat tender and imbues it with a slightly salty flavor.

Best at: Plum Garden, 2/F, Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing; +86 25 8471 1888 (ext. 4204); open daily 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6-10 p.m.

3. Pan-fried beef dumplings

For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup.
With its crispy wrapper, flavorful beef and onion filling and steaming soup, it's no wonder niu rou guo tie (pan-fried beef dumplings) are the pride of Nanjing.

Pan-fried beef dumplings are considered one of Nanjing's eight traditional Qinhuai treasures, as designated by government-sanctioned experts in 1987.

The original dumpling mentioned as a Qinhuai treasure comes from Jiang You Ji restaurant, which is still located in an alley in Nanjing's Confucius Temple area.

Liji Halal Restaurant is another popular local choice for the dumplings.

For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup, or niu rou tang.

Best at: Jiang You Ji, 313 Qin Hong Lu, Qin Huai District; +86 25 5262 2265

Liji Halal Restaurant, 1 Dading Xiang, Pingshi Jie, Baixia District; +86 25 5225 7736

4. Tangbao (soup dumpling)

tangbao Bursting with flavor ... literally.
Who needs fries or chips when you can snack on these marvelous soup dumplings for a dollar or two?

The sight of chicken broth and pork wobbling inside a paper-thin wrapper -- assuming a chopstick hasn't accidentally pierced the tender wrapper -- is sheer heaven for many locals.

The most famous places for the dish is Yinshi Jishi Tangbao restaurant, though the flavor can be too sweet for some.

If you prefer your dumplings less sweet, Liu Changxing restaurant is recommended.

Best at: Liu Changxing, 506 Zhongshan Dong Lu, Baixia District; +86 25 8441 1031

5. Duck blood vermicelli soup

duck blood soup Duck blood and offal -- waste turned into treasure.
Yes, the soup is made of duck blood curd and offal -- but that doesn't deter local connoisseurs.

It's said that duck blood vermicelli soup was brought to Nanjing by a traveler from Auhui, a neighboring province.

But the dish has become a Nanjinger favorite cheap eat.

You can find duck blood vermicelli soup as easily in Nanjing as you can find kebab stands in Berlin.

Best at: Yadebao, 11-12 Chaozhi Xiang, Baixia District; +86 25 8452 4820

6. Jinling roast duck

roasted duck Less fame, same famous flavor.
It's a never-ending debate as to where roast duck was invented -- it's called Peking duck in Beijing and Jinling duck in Nanjing.

According to one legend, Ming Dynasty emperor Zhu Di brought his favorite roasted duck chefs with him from his Nanjing palace when he moved the capital to Beijing.

Though less celebrated internationally, Jinling duck is hardly inferior to its northern counterpart. Crisp and greasy duck skin with juicy and tender flesh is the standard formula of the satisfying dish.

Best at: Chen Lin, 5-1 Diao Yu Tai (Near Zhonghua Gate)

7. Hairy crab

Crab Cholesterol? Hahahaha!
Since 2001, the biggest event in Gaochun County in southern Nanjing has been the annual hairy crab festival.

This makes sense -- about a third of the county's area is occupied by Gucheng Lake, one of the country's top breeding grounds for hairy crabs.

The crabs are meaty and sweet, with a paste inside that has a rich, buttery texture.

The best season for hairy crab is autumn.

Chinese believe that the ninth month of the lunar calendar (usually mid-September) is the best time for female hairy crabs and the tenth month (mid-October) is best for male hairy crabs.

Best in: Gaochun county in mid- to late September

8. Egg shaomai

egg shaomai Shaomai version of the seafood omelette.
It's the most expensive shaomai in Nanjing, but it's the best.

Ma Xiang Xing Halal restaurant reinvented the shaomai dumpling for a Chinese general who loved shaomai and loved shrimp.

Typical shaomai uses pork, fish or cheaper bits of shrimp -- at Ma Xiang Xing Halal, fresh shrimps are made into a paste and wrapped in a thin dumpling made from egg.

These aren't to be mistaken for the egg yolk shaomai sold on the ground floor in Ma Xiang Xing.

Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.

Tags:

Cool video shows amazing South American scenery

Posted: 22 Sep 2013 09:11 PM PDT

Five minutes and 30 seconds of travel envy coming up

In South America: Untamed Winds

Three filmmakers have made the coolest video we've seen in a while of the South American landscape.

Stefan Templer, Clemens Krüger and Vincent Urban -- all German filmmakers in their early 30s -- armed themselves with a few cameras and a Land Rover and spent three months driving through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay and southern Brazil.

The result -- the second part of a series that even if it weren't sponsored by a tour agency, would be hard to beat as a pitch for traveling this picturesque continent.

CNN: Looks like you had some serious wind to contend with …

Vincent Urban: A day can certainly start better than with your cereal being blown out into the desert after a night in an enormously loud tent due to the nonstop-flapping sidewalls.

There were many memorable moments but the most memorable thing about Patagonia in general is the wind.

We had strong, constant winds for weeks, without any break. You realize how hard life can be without any walls to protect you from Mother Nature's constant whistling.

As a kid from the city, I never felt nature that intense.

south america travel video Their "moody, irrational" car was the biggest problem the filmmakers encountered. You guys don't say much.

Urban: Haha. Because we're from Germany and no one wants to listen to German chatter!

No, seriously, we don't make documentaries. We don't tell a story.

We just want to spark the emotions with music and atmospheric sound to make it a very personal experience for the viewer.

No words, just moments that everyone can easily understand and empathize with. We don't have that much useful to say anyways, we're just travelers, like everybody else.

How many times did bad things happen? You get robbed or bitten by snakes?

Urban: We've always been very lucky. There are so many people warning you about all the bad things that can happen, all the bad people that want to rob you and all the bad animals that want to bite you.

I'm not saying that's bogus, the world can surely be a dangerous place sometimes but we happened to be pretty good at avoiding these situations.

The only real troublemaker was our car. He's a very moody individual with all his little irrational problems that come out of nowhere.

We spent many days in local workshops trying to explain our mechanical problems with our hands and feet as we don't speak Spanish at all.

Did the trip turn you into an Earth hugger?

Urban: I'm not really one of those guys that comes back from a trip demonizing our Western society, being all cocky to my friends about how bad they're behaving by shopping at H&M.

But, of course, you learn a lot on trips like these. You get to experience so many different ways of life and you quickly realize that our Western one is not the necessary one.

You question all the things that seem so important in your life, like fame and possessions. And, of course, you start to care about the environment a lot more than you did before.

It'll sure help if more European and U.S. citizens would travel to other parts of the world to raise their own awareness to global problems so we can actually use our wealth and education to fix stuff -- and not keep making things worse.

south america travel video The filmmakers say Mongolia may be their next adventure. Tell us about your team.

Urban: Stefan Templer, 31 years, event-technician -- my best friend since birth and we grew up together. I basically spent all my holidays with him for the first 20 years of my life.

He's the real adventurer; he drives the car and knows what to do when it breaks down. Generally, he's the one fixing everything everywhere and those trips would never be possible without him.

Clemens Krüger, 30 years old, is a cameraman and we worked together making snowboarding films for some years when we were younger.

Now we still work together on different commercial projects. Stefan and Clemens shared an apartment for many years.

My name is Vincent Urban, I'm 30 years old as well and I'm a filmmaker and video editor for commercial productions.

We're all from Munich.

Leave us with a profound thought?

Urban: Great stuff happens if you just let go of your expectations and plans and see what's coming to you.

Tags:

road trips

South America

travel videos

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Thursday, 26 September 2013. News from last night Asia time and today.

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
http://www.asiatraveltips.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

26/9/2013 Global Leisure Hotel Rates Up 4.2% in August.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-HotelRates.shtml

26/9/2013 Vietnam's VietJetAir Signs MOU For Up To 100 Airbus Aircraft.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-VietJetAir.shtml

26/9/2013 STR Reports Performance of Hotels in Asia Pacific for August.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-HotelsinAsia.shtml

26/9/2013 Hakkasan Enters Hotel Industry with Luxury Resort in Dubai.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-Hakkasan.shtml

26/9/2013 Zhejiang Loong Airlines Signs MOU for 20 Airbus Aircraft.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-ZhejiangLoong.shtml

26/9/2013 Qatar Airways Revamps FFP - Privilege Club.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-QatarAirways.shtml

26/9/2013 Air Astana to Increase London Heathrow Flights.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-AirAstana.shtml

26/9/2013 GKN Aerospace Opens New Bangalore Engineering Centre.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-GKNAerospace.shtml

26/9/2013 Smiths Detection Launches New Dual-View X-Ray System.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-Security.shtml

26/9/2013 Royal Cliff Launches QR Code Check-In System.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-RoyalCliff.shtml

26/9/2013 Singapore's BOC Aviation Orders 25 Airbus.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-BOCAviation.shtml

26/9/2013 Russian Helicopters Appoints New CEO.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-RussianHelicopters.shtml

26/9/2013 Qingdao Airlines Orders 23 Airbus Aircraft.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-QingdaoAirlines.shtml

26/9/2013 Dusit Appoints RDOSM - MEA.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/269-Dusit.shtml

25/9/2013 AirAsia X to Launch Flights to Colombo and Male.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/259-AirAsiaX.shtml

25/9/2013 Over 29,000 New Aircraft Required in Next 20 Years.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/259-AirbusForecast.shtml

- Prefer the convenience of an RSS Feed? The ASIA Travel Tips daily travel news RSS Feed is at:
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travelnews.xml
____________________________________
Advertise here contact: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

END

Established in 1997, ASIA Travel Tips was the first online daily travel news service in Asia. If
you know of any colleagues or friends who may be interested in receiving our daily travel news
email, please do ask them to subscribe. Thank you.

To unsubscribe, simply reply to this email and place "unsubscribe" (in English) as the subject.

To change your email simply reply to this email and place "change email" (in English as the
subject, be sure to let us know both the old email address, as well as the one you wish to
change it to).

If you receive an error trying to connect to any of the above pages, please go to
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/LatestTravelNews.htm and use the links there. If that fails please
feel free to contact us: webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

All editorial comments should be sent to the Editor - Steven Howard - editor@asiatraveltips.com

Special Travel Trade and Media Rates -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeRates.shtml

Calendar of Travel Trade Shows and Exhibitions -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelTradeShows.shtml

Latest Travel News - FAQ -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsFAQ.shtml

Travel News Archives (since 2000) -
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/TravelNewsArchivesMenu1.shtml

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities please send an email to:
webmaster@asiatraveltips.com

http://www.asiatraveltips.com

CNNGo.com

Kombi’s last rites: Farewell to a travel icon
Would you cruise after Concordia?
Quality Japanese wine? It's no oxymoron

Kombi’s last rites: Farewell to a travel icon

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:45 PM PDT

It's the end of the road for the classic Kombi, with production to cease on December 31. iReporters recall the camper van that changed the travel world

It's been in continuous production since the 1950s but now Volkswagen Brazil -- the last country where the vehicles are still being made -- has announced that production of the classic Kombi van will cease on the last day of this year.

Rolling off the production lines in Hanover, Germany, until 1979 but continuing in Brazil, the VW Transporter, aka the camper van, is the longest-produced model in automotive history, according to Vokswagen.

Around 3.5 million of the affordable, utilitarian vehicles, with their classic cloth window curtains, have been made.

Attaching themselves to the mini homes on wheels were equally numerous roof racks, surfboards and travel memories.

On a backpacking trip to Europe back in 1973, a 20-year-old Californian named Gary Garfield shelled out US$700 to set himself up for the months of travel ahead.

He spent a chunk of that money on a 1967 Volkswagen minibus, figuring to combine transportation and accommodation in one slightly rickety but reliable vehicle.

He ripped out the seats, put in a platform bed and installed shelves and cupboards.

kombi in a jungle Gary Garfield, in his home of 10 months. Kombis became popular as traveling vans in the 1960s.

Garfield spent the next 10 months in this mobile home with his wife battling desert sands in Algeria, food poisoning in Tunisia and enduring six-week stints with no contact with friends or family.

Along with all the experiences of that epic adventure there was one constant -- that camper van, also known as a Kombi.

A similar story is told by countless other travelers.

kombi on the shore No matter where it is, a Kombi never seems to look out place.

VW is calling it quits because the Kombi won't meet new safety standards set to come into force in 2014 in Brazil, the only country where the model is still manufactured.

Upgrading it with dual front airbags and anti-lock brakes was ruled too costly.

Come next year, old Kombis sluggishly powering their way along highways and up mountain passes, being overtaken by virtually all other traffic, will be all that remain -- ageing steel bodies from a time when people were less concerned about getting somewhere fast.

It's worth pausing to reflect on what made the Kombi a travel icon.

vw kombi on the road After 63 years of production, the last Kombi will roll out of its Brazilian factory at the end of 2013.

Hippies and surfers

The Kombi became synonymous in the 1960s and 1970s with hippies and surfers, its utilitarian features -- capable of carrying surf boards, musical equipment and various loads inside or on its roof -- combining well with its cheap price (secondhand Kombis could be picked up for a couple hundred bucks) and easy maintenance.

Garfield's van required the repair of one flat tire and a new battery in 10 months of travel.

Many people named their Kombis, like iReporter Jason Kauffman, 40, who affectionately called his Kombi "Double D."

row of vw kombis The end of production this year won't mean the end of Kombi journeys.

"I have no desire to own anything except an old VW," Kauffman insists.

Other iReporters named their vans "Bus Gus," "Homer," "Claire" and "Charlotte."

Vince Moellering, 32, explains, "Cars like the VW van are more than just cars, they're cultural icons."

Those who traveled in one in their youth keep the memories with them. Others own their van (or vans) for decades before passing them to offspring.

Even people without "VW lineage," as iReporter Bryan Scott calls it, can find themselves bitten by the urge to up and travel in a Kombi.

kombi breaks down Not immune to breaking down, but not hard to fix, either.

Second life online

Online communities provide space to share stories and trade "ideas that help keep our vans going," says Moellering.

Australia's Kombi Club is an online forum, co-founded and sponsored by The Bus Stop, a parts distributor.

"Roy" from The Bus Stop says the business supplies Kombi enthusiasts in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Canada and other countries.

"Once you've driven a Kombi, you're hooked for life," he says.

But why?

kombi camping Supreme functionality has endeared the Kombi to generations of outdoor lovers and camping fans.

After all, these VW vans, at least in their original form, are underpowered, slow, have dodgy suspension and don't offer much comfort in either heat or cold.

"The Kombi exemplifies the free spirit of peace activists, lovers, world travelers, campers and families moving about together across this planet," says Garfield.

"I can't think of any other vehicle that transcends both age, economic and social strata."

"Few vehicles scream: 'Let's go exploring!' the way a VW van does," says Moellering.

kombi at a beach Kombis became the vehicle/hangout of choice for surfers and hippies in the 1960s.

Modern modification

Simplicity has helped the Kombi remain relevant in a new century. It's undergone plenty of modifications, but its outward appearance remains instantly recognizable.

The model being produced in Brazil is based on the second phase of the Type 2 (VW's Type 1 was the Beetle), which was produced in Germany from 1967–1979.

It differs from the first phase with a larger engine, more overall weight and a bay window, rather than the previous model's split-windscreen.

kombi windscreen Split windscreen, a feature of earlier models.

Numerous iterations have brought speed and body width increases, automatic transmission and an engine switch from air-cooled to water-cooled.

It's not a complicated machine -- handy when something goes wrong.

Kombi owner Bryan Scott says part of the VW appeal for him was, "we'd always heard that a bus could be fixed anywhere and by anyone."

Jason Kauffman says its iconic status comes down to versatility: "You can travel in it, sleep in it, it gets decent fuel mileage and it's very compact compared to large motor homes."

Vince Moellering refers to the Kombi's jack of all trades nature, saying he's used his "as a camper, a mountain bike hauler, a moving van and a construction supply truck."

driving a kombi van iReporter Vince Moellering uses his Kombi for various tasks -- camping, hauling and supplying parts.

German effectiveness

The versatility of a Kombi goes right back to its name, which comes from the German "Kombinationskraftwagen," a combination of passenger and cargo vehicle.

Its ability to carry both passengers and piles of stuff makes the Kombi more than a mode of transport.

"The bus is both our home and a member of our family," says Bryan Scott. "We talk to it as we decide a path for each day, coax it slowly over the next hill and thank it as we arrive at each new destination."

kombi vans Few vehicles are as easy to identify on the road.

The vehicle also provides an undisputed conversation starter. "VWs in general are a universal language through the world," says Jason Kauffman.

"Locals in each country we visit love the bus, and just like those back home they stop to tell us their stories and ask to hear ours," adds Scott.

The common bond is drawn tightest among current owners," says Vince Moellering. "This is a breed of people unlike any other, a huge extended family, willing and able to do whatever is necessary to support each other.

"The most common questions encountered when meeting new van friends out on the road are: 'Where have you been?' and 'What have you broken?'"

vw vans It's the last stop on the Kombi's journey, but there's more road ahead.

Not necessarily the end of the road

Devotion to the Kombi helps loyalists remain upbeat about the end of production.

"As long as enthusiastic owners keep the remaining cars and their spirit alive, a cease in active production has little effect on the overall existence of the vehicle," says Moellering.

When Gary Garfield completed his 1973 tour in the bus that had served him so reliably, he sold it for a profit of US$100.

Then he "watched it drive away to offer its new owners fond memories."

When the factory gates clang shut in December, well-preserved Kombis will rumble on along the road, and in the recollections of 63 years of travelers.

Originally published March 2013; updated September 25, 2013.

Tags:

road trips

Would you cruise after Concordia?

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:00 PM PDT

The Costa tragedy, an aptly named "poop cruise," engine fires ... nothing seems to put hardened cruisers off

It was the event the cruise industry had been awaiting and dreading with equal measure.

Last Tuesday, the mangled wreck of Costa Concordia was finally raised after a 19-hour, $800 million salvage operation that put the stricken ship back in the news.

It's been 18 months since the multimillion-dollar vessel hit rocks off the island of Giglio in Italy and was then steered by Captain Schettino toward land, where it keeled over, killing 32 people.

The accident occurred a few months before the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, reminding the world that, while cruising is one of the safest forms of travel, disasters at sea still happen.

Wake-up call?

The tragedy might have been a wakeup call for the cruise industry, which, in some cases, had let safety drills become fun diversions that passengers took delight in missing. But has it heeded it?

Health scares, fires and collisions have kept cruising in the headlines ever since Concordia -- a total of 97 mishaps in 2012 alone, according to CruiseJunkie.com.

A few weeks after Concordia, engine room fires caused emergencies on Costa Allegro and Azamara Club Cruises' Azamara Quest.

The "parbuckled" Concordia.In February this year, passengers on the newly christened "poop-cruise," Carnival Triumph, were stranded at sea for five days without electricity and toilets after an engine room blaze.

A month later, a cruise on Carnival Dream was cut short when an emergency generator malfunctioned.

A fire on Grandeur of the Seas knocked the ship out of action for several weeks.

Celebrity Millennium's Alaska season was cancelled due to mechanical problems.

Industry under scrutiny

As Christine Duffy, president and chief executive officer of industry body the Cruise Lines International Association, admits, the Concordia disaster put cruising under "a harsher microscope" -- and there has been little reason for the scrutiny to let up.

Despite all the troubles, however, cruising continues to grow.

Some 20,335,000 passengers worldwide took a cruise holiday in 2012, up 958,000 on the previous year

The bad news, for the cruise lines at least, is that many of these passengers weren't the cruise rookies they need to fill their new big ships, but regular cruisers taking advantage of historically low fares.

More on CNN: What's inside wrecked Concordia?

Concordia and subsequent disasters, in other words, may have lost a generation of cruise virgins to the industry, while the old hands cash in.

After the malfunctions aboard the ironically named Triumph, Carnival Cruise Lines was cutting fares in the United States to less than $50 a day to snare bookings.

In the UK, which has the second-largest number of cruisers after the United States, fares of £50 a day aren't unheard of.

Those rates are for all accommodation, food (except meals in the speciality restaurants) and entertainment.

Cruise fares fall

A survey in the UK by online travel agency Bon Voyage found cruise fares were 22% lower now than five years ago.

That's painful for the cruise lines.

During an earnings call at the end of June, Howard Frank, vice-chairman of Carnival Corp, which owns 10 cruise brands including Costa, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Cunard, said the Carnival Cruises brand was likely to lose about 50 cents per share as a result of lower revenue yields, lost sailings and repairs, investment programs and higher marketing spend.

For this story, CNN spoke with a random selection of passengers on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth on the day of the Costa Concordia parbuckling (the nautical term for raising the ship).

All were past cruisers and said they never worried about cruising after the crash -- although one seasoned cruiser, Jo Clough, had just returned from a trip with Princess Cruises, said it had made her think more about which company she travelled with.

Not everyone is so confident.

A May poll of 2,000 Americans conducted by New York-based Harris Interactive found almost two-thirds believe air travel is safer than cruising, after the spate of fires and power failures on cruise ships this year.

Half of those questioned agreed they were less likely to take a cruise now than a year ago, with those who had never cruised more wary than those who had (56% vs. 43%).

Cruise rookies

Giving thanks after the stricken Carnival Triumph "poop cruise" finally arrived in port. It could be months before Costa Concordia is scrapped, and it will certainly be much longer before it's forgotten.

But now the vessel is no longer on its side and there are signs the economy is picking up globally. Cruise lines are hoping cruise rookies will again be tempted to try a holiday at sea, especially as passengers have never had it so good when it comes to prices.

Cruise lines have always prided themselves on offering good value -- "too good" at the moment, says Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman.

More on CNN: How cruise ship tragedy transformed sleepy Italian island

The buyers' market is set to continue for the foreseeable future as yet more ships launch, hungry for passengers.

This year, MSC Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Compagnie du Ponant brought new ships into service that between them had about 13,000 more berths.

Next year there will be new vessels from Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean International and Costa Cruises -- making more than 16,000 extra beds.

That's roughly 500,000 more customers needed just to fill those four ships over a 12-month period.

Will the cruise lines get them?

Most likely.

Cruise lines are resilient. They've weathered fires, sinkings and one of the worst economic downturns on record, and still people are booking, lured by low fares, good value and incentives.

"We're only just beginning," says CLIA's Christine Duffy. "Almost 21 million people worldwide will take a cruise holiday this year.

"There are incredible opportunities for growth."

CLIA forecasts 30 million cruise passengers within the next 12 years.

Booked and hooked?

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice-president and general manager UK & Ireland for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, is equally positive.

"We have the highest satisfaction rates of any kind of holiday," she says.

"Once people have booked, they're hooked."

It remains to be seen whether bargain fares will temp the vital next generation of cruisers, though -- let alone allow the industry to ride through another Concordia-scale disaster.

Quality Japanese wine? It's no oxymoron

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:11 PM PDT

Put down that sake. Nearly 100 vineyards at the base of Mount Fuji are beginning to produce tasty bottles of vino

Looking for a drink in Japan?

A bottle of sake or a few pints of a domestic beer are the most obvious choices, but wine drinkers should give the local grape, the Koshu, a chance.

Koshu wine is produced by about 80 vineyards in the Yamanashi prefecture at the base of Mount Fuji.

Ayana Misawa, winemaker at Grace Vineyard, describes the variety as charming, with a crisp acidity and low alcohol level.

"Koshu has a very elegant smell," she says. "Aromas like citrus, white flowers."

Misawa, the fifth generation winemaker in her family, is part of a movement to bring international techniques to Yamanashi to improve the quality of the product.

She studied methods in France, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Now she strives to make more international, "food-friendly" Koshu.

Japanese wine -- getting better

Wine experts say thanks to efforts like Misawa's, the quality of Japan's wines has improved significantly in the last five years.

At the Japan Wine Competition, an annual event held in Yamanashi, judges say the focus now needs to turn to making Koshu a name people recognize.

"I think we have to do various things and encourage people to taste it, because once they've tasted it they really like to buy another bottle," says master of wine Lynn Sherriff, a judge at the Japan wine competition in Yamanashi.

Koshu wine is produced by about 80 vineyards in the Yamanashi prefecture at the base of Mount Fuji. More on CNN: Pairing wine with Asian food? Yes it can be done

One factor that could hold Koshu back is price. Due to limited land and high labor costs, a bottle made from Japan's local grape will set you back more than many other varieties.

The wine pares well with Japanese food though, and can make a nice companion for travelers already splurging on Japan's infamously pricey food.

Koshu isn't the only grape used in the Yamanashi vineyards.

Wines are also made from the Muscat Bailey A, a grape variety that's been developed for the Japanese climate. It can deliver wines in a variety of styles.

Wine writer Denis Gastin believes koshu is just the beginning of an international journey for Japan's wines.

"There's a good story there, and the world will enjoy that story," he says. "It's starting to be told with Koshu, but there are many other stories as well."

Grace Winery offers tours by reservation. Tours are in Japanese only; +81 (0)553 4-1230.

If you're in Tokyo and want to give Koshu a try, Grace Winery recommends the following places:

Wine bar & shop JIP, 2-7-1 Shinjku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; +81 (0)3 6380 1178

Y-Wine (Italian), Nihonbashi Plaza Building 2F, 2-3-4 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; +71 (0)3 3527 9185

More on CNN: Japan's scary 'Skyfall' island: World's creepiest tour?

Tags: