05/22/11

The Majestic Malacca

Once a private mansion, several facelifts in the mid 1900s converted the property into what was known as The Majestic Hotel. Recent works of restoration has revealed the latest look of today’s very prominent Majestic Malacca.

Cleverly renovated and refurbished, this establishment draws influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, British and ‘Peranakan’ to mirror Malacca’s multi-faceted colonial past. One of YTL Hotel’s latest addition to their boutique property portfolio this is the group’s first classic hotel in the historical state of Malacca.

The Majestic Malacca is located on the banks of Melaka River. Tastefully fitted with teak furnishings, soft leather lounges and traditional Portuguese styled floorings, authentic artwork and antiques compliment the setting and echo the rich history of the region. The property boasts 54 immaculately furnished rooms with four-poster beds decorated with rich silks and cool cottons.

The hotel also houses a Spa Village with six treatment rooms spreading over two floors of the building. Interestingly, the spa has taken its pride of being the world's only spa to base its therapies on the healing heritage of the ‘Baba-Nyonya’ - a unique combination of Chinese, Malay and ‘Peranakan’ Chinese influences.

The culinary experience at The Majestic Malacca is second to none. Dishes from the ‘Peranakan’ culture, combined with that of the Portuguese, Dutch and English never fails to take the discerning guest on an adventurous culinary journey.

Other facilities at the hotel include a library, an outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, as well as four functions rooms – equipped with Wi-Fi facilities - for social and corporate gatherings of up to a comfortable 70 pax.

For more information on The Majestic Malacca or make a reservation, contact the YTL travel Centre at travelcentre@ytlhotels.com.my.

Read More …

10 places that one should visit and see in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country that is situated in the Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China and Laos and Cambodia. Where it was once a country ravaged by war, now, Vietnam has opened its doors to tourists that it is now fast becoming a go-to place in Asia, and here are ten places that one should visit and see in Vietnam.

1.) Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This mausoleum is located in Hanoi, and this is where the great Ho Chi Minh is entombed. It is very strict here, so one should follow the rules of no talking or loud noises and no photo taking once inside the mausoleum. If you want to visit the mausoleum, do not go there in short pants as you will not be allowed to enter.

2.) Ho Chi Minh Museum

If you found the solemnity in the mausoleum too stifling, then the museum can take some of that feeling away. Here, you will get to see photos and old letters during the time of Ho Chi Minh. Just do not mind some of the gruesome pictures of the war though.

3.) Ho Chi Minhs Vestige

After the museum, you can visit Ho Chi Minhs vestige. This is where the great man lived and worked. You will also get to see here the houses where he lived in, which are always kept clean as the day he died.

4.) One-Pillar Pagoda

This is a short walk from the mausoleum and the museum of Ho Chi Minh. It is also one of the must-see destinations in Vietnam. Watch out though as the grounds can be crowded with a lot of tourists at one time.

5.) Hoan Kiem Lake

This is a relaxing place to be if you want a quiet time alone. In this park, you can have a leisurely stroll with your loved one. You can also visit the Ngoc Son Temple in this park, which is a good source for Vietnamese history and culture, among which is the story of the giant turtle that is said to inhabit the lake.

6.) Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

This is a nice way to spend the day with your family. The theatre tells of Vietnamese history and legends through the use of wooden figures representing men and women and the ever-present dragons. The story is told through music and the puppets dancing.

7.) Floating Markets of Can Tho

For a completely unique experience, you should visit the floating markets of Can Tho. You can also take a tour of the area by renting a boat. Some of the floating markets are Cai Rang (sells wholesales mainly), Phong Dien (for retails), Phung Hiep and Tra On.

8.) Ho Xuan Huong

If you want to go boat riding, then you should visit Ho Xuan Huong, which is also called Xuan Huong Lake. This is located in Dalat and is a favorite among tourists who want to get some peace and quite. This is also a favorite spot of honeymooners as they stroll hand in hand along the banks of the lake.

9.) Thung Lung Tinh Yeu

This place is called the Valley of Love and is also popular among honeymooners. This is a wonderful place if you enjoy canyoning. If you have canyoning in mind, then this is the place for you as they have canyoning operators as well who will guide you on your trip.

10.) Ho Chi Minh City

This was popularly known as Saigon. Here, you will get to see a lot of fascinating places such as the Reunification Palace of the Independence Palace. There is also the War Remnants Museum as well as the Museum of Vietnamese History if you want to know more about the history and culture of Vietnam.

Read More …

JetStar the Low Cost Carrier of the Year 2011

Australia’s leading low cost airline has been awarded the title of Low Cost Carrier of the Year 2007 in the Asia Pacific region. The award was presented by the Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) for the second year in the row following the airline receiving the prestigious award in 2006.

The airline was also the winner of the world's Best Low-Cost Airline Award for 2007 by Skytrax. The airline began flying within Australia in May 2004 and within only 6 months had expanded to Asia as well. Jetstar’s fresh approach to low cost travel in the region with its brand-new fleet, great destinations and friendly crew sets a new standard for cheap air travel, allowing customers worldwide to travel more often.

With its base in Melbourne, Jetstar is the Australian leader in cheap flights and their hold over the cheap flight market is immense. Jetstar currently flies to over 50 domestic and international destinations with this list expanding every year. Current destinations include most capital cities in Australia, namely Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Darwin as well as many regional locations including popular holiday spots Cairns, Townsville, the Gold Cost, Hamilton Island and Newcastle. The airline’s extensive list of international destinations includes the United States, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam to name a few. With Jetstar’s everyday low rates, travellers are now realising that you don’t have to spend a fortune to fly to Australia with so many cheap flights widely available today.

Jetstar is the leader amongst cheap flight providers. The company is continuously improving on the services it provides so that customers can find no room for complaint- while it has associations with all leading airline companies to ensure quality services, it also has an isolated management body to ensure flight prices do not soar. Apart from the cost benefits, Jetstar flights let customers fly in comfort. The company has a world class fleet- the aircrafts are well-maintained to ensure that customers are satisfied with every flight. The fleet consists of Airbus 320’s and Boeing 717’s.

The specialty of the carriers owned by the company is that they are extremely comfortable and also stylish at the same time. Each aircraft is single-aisled and carries about 180 passengers. Jetstar customers needn’t have to worry about space. Jetstar prides itself on being able to provide a relaxed, comfortable journey at all times.

Jetstar has recently introduced its new premium cabin StarClass, available on all international Jetstar services operated by the Airbus A330. Designed for those customers who wish to travel in comfort and not spend a fortune, StarClass is the perfect option with spacious leather seating, quality in-flight service, priority check-in and your own personal video-on demand unit. For those looking for cheap air travel in Asia or Australia combined with great in-flight services, Jetstar is a great option to be considered.

For travellers across the globe, Jetstar is their first stop for cheap flights. The airline has recently launched its new product Jetstar Light with a new option providing even lower fares then previously offered. With huge savings to be made, a customer holding a JetSaver Light fare may travel only with carry-on baggage with up to 10 kilograms in a standard size bag. Travellers looking to take a short leisure break or business trip will benefit from the airlines wide range of low cost flight options.

For more information, visit http://www.jetstar.com

Read More …

Volunteering in Korea : Part 2

It's kinda weird to suggest volunteering in your itineraries if your intention of exploring Korea is mostly about having fun and pampering yourself, right? ^^ But, volunteering is almost on top of my list when I want to travel.

I have this weird notion that you don't need a lot of money to enjoy yourself while travelling. The funny thing is my friends have a totally opposite view on why I love volunteering while travelling : "Why do you like to tire yourself?" Hmm..but I don't feel tired at all. Strangely, I feel happy.

The last time when I was in Korea, I did wwoofing - volunteering at an organic farm in exchange of boarding and food. I would definitely do it again if given the opportunity. When my father saw a picture of me wwoofing at Bonghwa, harvesting peppers; he said "why don't you work at my farm instead of others?!" hahaha..I told him 'But the weather was nice and cool compared to Malaysia!" LOL.

Other than wwoofing, we could actually do many more. I have listed some of them here and if you are really considering volunteering in your itinerary; the only thing that I could say is "Thank you!"