Singapore Airlines - the first airline in the world to fly the new Airbus A380 - is preparing for the first commercial flight of the new double-decker jumbo jet, from Singapore to Sydney and return. It will take place in the month of October 2007.

And in an unprecedented move, all proceeds from the sale of tickets on the first flight will be donated to charities.

In response to requests from people all over the world to be passengers on the first flight, Singapore Airlines will auction the seats on global online marketplace, eBay.

Bids will be invited for seats on this history-making flight, and winning bidders will know that every dollar they pay will go to worthwhile charities. All customers will receive a personalised ceremonial certificate confirming they were part of the first-ever commercial A380 flight.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Chew Choon Seng, said the Airline wants to acknowledge the widespread interest in the entry into commercial service of this all-new airplane, and to use the opportunity to benefit worthwhile charities.

“The first commercial A380 flight will be a moment in aviation history. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, on an aircraft that will mark a new chapter in air travel.

“And while we will celebrate the event, we also wish to remember the people who are less fortunate and can be assisted by the charities to which all the proceeds will go,” Mr Chew said.

Singapore Airlines has secured support from three important partners for this charity event.

One of the Airline’s strategic fuel suppliers, and a key partner, ExxonMobil Aviation, will donate the fuel for the flights.

“We are pleased to support this event as a strategic partner of Singapore Airlines. This charity event is in line with our long-standing effort to make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate,” said Mr Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman
and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

eBay - the world’s leading online marketplace will subsidise the fees and charges from this auction, and PayPal, a global leader in online payment solutions, will rebate a portion of its fees and charges to help support the charities.

“eBay is uniquely positioned as a global online marketplace to provide boundless opportunity for fund-raising and social responsibility programs and we are delighted to support Singapore Airlines in this very unique charity auction,” said Sam McDonagh, Director for eBay Southeast Asia.

The actual date of the flight will be fixed soon, after final notification from Airbus about the delivery date this coming October.

The proceeds of the auction will be split evenly between the following exceptionally worthwhile organisations:

• One-third to Singapore’s Community Chest
• One-third split between the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, both in Sydney
• One-third to Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Singapore Airlines and eBay plan for the auction to be conducted some weeks prior to the flight. Those interested in pre-registering for notification on auction details - which will include the date of the flight and the charities to benefit from proceeds - may do so by visiting singaporeair.com/a380.

Be sure to bring enough prescription medicine to last your trip. Although foreign pharmacies sell medicines, it may be hard to find drugs you are comfortable with, so it’s best to pack any over-the-counter medicines you may need. You can buy most hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste on the road, but if you wear contact lenses, you’ll need an ample supply of contact lens solution, which is not available in all countries, to fend off eye-infection. A first-aid kit is always advisable and is a must when traveling to the wilderness or the developing world. In areas where hospitals are unsanitary, you’ll need to bring your own syringes and bandages.

If you have a medical condition, write down or learn how to express your needs in the language of the country you are visiting. If you have an allergy, you’ll need to bring your EpiPen, a note from your doctor, and a scrap of paper stating “I’m allergic to X.” If you have a food allergy, you’ll need to explain, “I will die if I eat X” every time you dine. Acclimating oneself to local bacteria prevents food poisoning. Tricks include eating locally produced yogurt and brushing teeth with local tap water. Beware of food sold on the street, as it can be a breeding ground for food poisoning. Check up on the quality of local water: if it is not drinkable, buy bottled water or bring a water purifier.

Many travelers experience food poisoning, infection, or injury because they are unaccustomed to local bacteria and engage in physical activities like hiking or extreme sports which they do much less frequently at home. While dining on local cuisine and ascending a breathtaking mountain can be the most rewarding parts of a trip, it is essential to keep in mind that health comes first.

Some users may find the lack of manual controls frustrating, but considering that the Olympus 770 SW is designed to be used under challenging conditions, such as underwater or at the beach, the on-board editing features to adjust brightness and saturation will come in handy for minor adjustments. Not surprisingly, there’s also a post-processing redeye fix. Those who want to be a little more creative can quickly convert color to black and white or sepia, choose from a small assortment of decorative frames and add a text message (Congratulations, Happy Birthday, etc.), all without a computer. With these onboard features, direct Olympus 770 SW’s PictBridge printing is more appealing, since you can tweak images in-camera prior to outputting the photo.

Design.
The 770SW’s body is attractively designed. Our test model featured a duotone stainless steel body with black accents; but the camera is also available in bronze or royal blue for photographers who want to add a little more style to their picture-taking. The Olympus 770 SW is a little heavier than others of its size but its stainless steel body is incredibly sturdy and is sealed against the elements with special gaskets and O-rings. Yet, the Olympus 770SW is small enough to be extremely portable.

Scuba divers and snorkelers will appreciate the Olympus Stylus 770 SW’s negative buoyancy, which means that it won’t float up and hit your mask while you’re underwater. On the other hand, the camera will sink if you let go of it, important to know if you’re using the camera on a boat and it falls overboard. If you plan to use the camera underwater, you may want to purchase an adjustable wrist strap to help prevent it slipping off your wrist when you’re swimming. Alternatively, you can use a lanyard or attach it to your BCD (buoyancy control device or vest) when diving.

The Olympus 770 SW’s 2.5-inch LCD is large enough to easily see the menus, but the controls are very small and can be difficult to use. With gloves — which you’ll surely need to test out its ability to withstand temperatures as cold as 14 degrees — the buttons are even harder to use. Divers who wear gloves will also find it difficult to operate the camera. The power button is tiny and lies mostly recessed into to the top edge of the camera. The elongated shutter button is easy to identify by feel, resting as it does in a wide, sculpted notch. A half-dozen small square buttons reside on the rear of the camera and may present a challenge to photographers with large hands. I had a few problems locating and pressing the Zoom, Mode, Playback, Menu, and Print/share controls because each button is identified only by a small, white painted word or icon. Until I memorized the function of each button, I had to tilt the camera to read the subtle white-on-silver markings.

A surprisingly large speaker sits above the Olympus 770SW’s Four-way controller and to the right of the Mode and Playback buttons and provides a thumb rest for the otherwise gripless camera. Unfortunately, the lens is positioned high and to the left, making it easy to inadvertently place a finger (or two) in front of it. Generally I noticed the misplaced digit in time to avoid ruining the picture.

Of all the controls, the most annoying — besides the power button — was the Four-way controller. Although not as tiny as some I’ve used on small cameras, it’s not very responsive to the touch, and with the large extension of metal that holds the wrist strap, it’s sometimes awkward to press the right side of the controller to change the flash mode. It’s also too easy to mistakenly press the Olympus 770 SW’s Function button that sits in the center of the controller. However, the Function button’s size and slight rise above the controller’s inner ring makes this the easiest control to access.

The camera’s virtual menu is attractive, but because it’s different from the more standard tabbed menu systems, it may take a little while to get used to. And since you have to exit one menu system to access another, it’s far less convenient than the more traditional tabbed navigation.

Display/Viewfinder.
The Stylus 770 SW, like most cameras in its class, does not have an optical viewfinder. Its 2.5-inch LCD is sufficiently bright to use comfortably under almost all conditions, but it was often too reflective to use effectively in direct sunlight. Although the monitor brightens under low light conditions, the monitor sometimes lagged when gaining up so it appeared to blink from dark to light and back again.

In unusually dark conditions, I used the bright white LED Illuminator on the Olympus 770 SW to light up the scene, which made it easier to compose the shot, helped autofocus lock in and seemed to eliminate the “blinking.” This lamp can also be used as a lamp for macro shooting, or just as a flashlight.

The refresh rate on the Olympus 770 SW’s display was a little slow and the visual blurred for a split second when I moved the camera to re-compose. But the monitor exhibited very little grain under low light.

Unfortunately, the LCD’s information display did not show the shutter speed or aperture, so there were times I was concerned about whether or not I could handhold the camera in low light. In Playback, full image data — including shutter speed and aperture — was available on-screen so I used that to gather shutter speed information and assume that a similar shutter speed would be used under the same conditions. But not seeing the shutter speed prior to depressing the shutter fully is one of my pet peeves and I was disappointed that this information was missing from the LCD in Record mode.

Performance.
The Olympus 770 SW certainly won’t break any speed records when it comes to performance. Powering on the camera was a little slower than average and operation slowed every time the camera accessed the xD card to read or write image data. Shot-to-shot time was sluggish, and was noticeably slower when the flash was engaged. While shutter lag increased under low light conditions thanks to a somewhat pokey autofocus, both AF and shutter lag performance were improved under bright light. Scrolling through images in Playback mode was sufficiently speedy.

As mentioned earlier, operating the controls can be frustrating because of their diminutive size and the unresponsiveness of the Four-way controller. Having to cycle through the mode button to switch from standard Record to Digital image stabilization mode, and then having to push the button again to reach the Scene mode menu is something most people can get used to, but the multiple button pushes, as well as the separate menus, added a little extra frustration to camera navigation. There’s no dedicated button for the Olympus 770 SW’s Movie mode; rather, you have to first get into the Scene mode menu, then scroll down to Movie mode to shoot video clips.

Though the Olympus 770 SW is powered by a small rechargeable lithium-ion battery, battery life is below average for a camera of its class, particularly if you spend a lot of time editing or reviewing images in Playback. For extended outings, such as camping trips or long vacation days, you might want to buy an extra battery.

But the Olympus 770 SW’s small built-in flash has a decent reach of 12.5 feet at wide angle, which is slightly above average for cameras in its class. With and without flash, the camera’s auto white balance did a good job of producing accurate colors under a variety of lighting conditions. Still, image quality was definitely a mixed bag. Colors were generally accurate, although less than vibrant, and the 770SW did a good job making well-balanced exposures. On the other hand, images were slightly soft and we noticed purple and green aberrations along high-contrast edges. Image noise was also a problem at higher ISOs, further exacerbating the images’ soft quality. When shooting in the available light scene mode, the camera reached ISOs of 2000-2500, resulting in high image noise and color artifacts. However, I was surprised that the results weren’t worse. Bottom line, though, is that image quality is not this camera’s strong suit; the Olympus 770 SW’s rugged build is where it shines. Nevertheless, images shot at lower ISOs will be fine for smaller sized prints where the lack of sharpness and fine detail won’t be as visible as they might be with larger output. Given the right shooting conditions (bright light, with good contrast) and perhaps a little sharpening in Adobe Photoshop or Elements, 8 x 10 inch prints hung on the wall should be okay, too.

Shooting.
Although there were some constraints, I tried to test the Olympus 770 SW under a variety of conditions to see whether it lived up to its rough-and-tumble claims. I dropped it several times on a variety of surfaces. I took it out in sub-freezing temperatures (although they were just-barely below freezing). Weighing far less than the camera’s crushproof threshold of 220 pounds, I even stood on the camera with one foot for a few minutes. This might not be the ideal test, but the camera was no worse for the wear after I completed my circus-like balancing act. Perhaps more telling was the 45 minutes the camera spent sitting outside in a late spring snowfall with the video mode engaged. Again, the Olympus 770 SW was fine afterward, there was no fogging of the lens when I brought the camera into the house, and aside from some low grade hissing, the video looked pretty good.

Because of its small size, I was able to carry the Olympus 770 SW around easily, whether on a long walk or just around the neighborhood. It was a little too big to slip into a small shirt pocket but it tucked away nicely into a daypack and was fairly comfortable around the neck hanging from a lanyard. High noon isn’t the best time to take pictures, but an early afternoon walk meant that I had to deal with the bright light, which made it difficult to see the LCD unless I was careful about how I positioned myself and the camera when shooting. To review images, I tried to step into the shade to avoid the reflection of the sun on the monitor.

Most of my test shots were landscapes, and I was pleasantly surprised that the 770 SW’s auto white balance managed to provide even, natural lighting when shooting a lake, its shores covered in snow. The exposure was accurate as well. Late afternoon/early evening shots were a little more difficult, however. I had no way of knowing the shutter speed, since there’s no manual shutter speed (or aperture) control, nor does the shutter speed appear on the LCD when the shutter button is depressed halfway. At wide angle, minimum aperture is a relatively slow f/3.5, and I didn’t want to risk high image noise using digital image stabilization, so a few blurry landscape shots told me it was time to head home and put the camera away. I did feel comfortable knowing that I didn’t have to treat the Olympus 770 SW with kid gloves when I was outdoors.

Summary.
This point-and-shoot camera’s rugged body, which is sealed against the elements and capable of withstanding rough handling, is otherwise fairly standard for its class. But the fact that the Olympus 770 SW is water/freeze/crush/shock-proof makes it stand out from the rest. Outdoor enthusiasts may well be able to overlook some of its performance and image quality shortcomings, as well as its basic feature set, knowing that the Olympus Stylus 770 SW can handle whatever physical challenges are thrown its way. Caution when using Digital Image Stabilization, the Available Light Scene mode, and high ISOs should help prevent most image noise, giving snapshooters a way to capture decent — albeit not great — images of their outdoor adventures.

Basic Features

• 7.1-megapixel CCD
• 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera)
• 5x digital zoom.
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor
• Automatic exposure
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction
• xD Picture Card up to 2GB
• 18MB internal memory
• USB full speed connection
• Rechargeable Lithium battery and charger included
• Software for Mac and PC; Windows Vista compatible

Special Features

• Shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, and crushproof (to a limit)
• ISO from 80-1600
• Digital image stabilization
• Twenty-four scene modes, including movie mode, with text descriptions
• Black and White, Sepia effects in playback
• Post-capture on-board editing for redeye, brightness, saturation
• Decorative frames and text greetings
• Organizational tools (favorites, calendar)
• Image resize
• Built-in alarm clock
• Panorama stitch assist
• Shutter speed from 1/2 sec. - 1/1000 sec; up to 4 sec. in Night Scene Mode
• Multi-metering and Spot metering modes
• White balance (color) adjustment: automatic and six presets
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), PictBridge printing compatibility
• Movie recording with sound

In the Box

The retail package contains the following items:

• Olympus 770 SW camera
• Wrist strap
• Rechargeable Lithium battery and charger
• USB cable
• AV cable
• Printed manual; “Maintaining Water Resistance” instruction guide; software installation guide
• Software CD Olympus Master 2; User Registration; muvee theaterPack (trial version; Windows only)

Recommended Accessories

• Large capacity xD card (These days, 512MB is a good tradeoff between cost and capacity but you’ll need a larger card, preferably high speed, for shooting long video clips.)
• Extra battery pack for extended outings
• Adjustable wrist strap for underwater shooting so you can snug it down around your wrist

Conclusion

Pro:

• Compact, sleek design
• Rugged build, sealed against elements
• Shockproof
• Waterproof
• Freezeproof
• Crushproof
• Submersible to 33 feet with no time limits
• Special underwater scene modes
• On-demand LED Illuminator Lamp
• On-board editing functions
• Large LCD
• ISO up to 1600
• Minimal shutter lag when prefocused
• High ISO images are relatively usable even at ISO 800 and 1600 when printed at 4×6
• Excellent close-up shooting, especially in Super Macro mode

Cons:

• Full autofocus shutter response is sluggish by current standards
• No manual aperture and shutter-speed controls
• Control sequences can be confusing to operate
• Digital image stabilization (automatic increase of ISO)
• Even low ISO images exhibit mushy color
• Indoor images shot with Auto White Balance are warm to the point of appearing sepia
• Chromatic aberration is high at wide angle
• Subdued color gives images a washed out, or faded look
• Contrast is a little high, tends to lose highlight and shadow detail under harsh lighting (does better than most in its class though)
• Flash is weak
• Close spacing between flash tube and lens may lead to red-eye problems
• No optical viewfinder
• Mode button is easily activated accidentally

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Backpacking IS:

1. A budget travel strategy that stresses blending in, and living like the people to develop a better understanding of the culture.
2. A mobile and flexible way to travel, where the traveler is free to change plans as much as they like.
3. An activity that requires you to pack light and live on the essentials. A few changes of clothes, and whatever gadgets or daily essentials you have is enough. Like point 2 says, you have to be mobile, don’t weigh yourself down with a bunch of crap.
4. By definition an economic way to travel. The idea is that you travel on a budget so that you can extend your travels as far as your budget can take you.
5. Moving slow, and getting off the beaten track. You are one (or maybe two) people with no deadlines, responsibilities, etc. Take advantage of that.
6. Sometimes a stationary activity. If you find a place you really enjoy, stay there for a couple of weeks, months, years! Learn more about it, and have fun. Why not?
7. A learning experience. You can learn so much about yourself, others, the world, what’s really important, and a lot more. It’s very important to remain open and allow yourself this growth.
8. Whatever you want to make it.

Backpacking IS NOT:

1. An activity exclusively undertaken by hippies, hobos, or other people that don’t understand the importance of personal hygiene. You are free to bathe as much as you like.
2. An activity for large groups of friends. I would say it is best to either travel independently or with one friend. This allows you greater mobility, and a much better opportunity to blend in.
3. An activity that even requires a backpack. I know the word “backpacking” kind of implies that you have something strapped to your back, but personally I think those 100 gallon backpacks that you see people toting around the world kind of defeat the purpose. In my opinion, you don’t need all that stuff, it doesn’t all need to be carried on your back, it makes moving around extremely cumbersome, and it makes you stick out like a sore thumb.
4. All fun. It’s an adventure. It’s not uncommon to get robbed, lost, stuck out in the rain, pissed off, homesick, etc.
5. Just hitting all the major sites, then going home. DO NOT simply hop from site to site, it is an unnecessarily expensive and exhausting way to travel, that prevents you from being able to experience and enjoy each individual area.
6. Spending all day in the internet cafe.
7. A waste of time or a hole in your resume. I personally feel that traveling has helped me to learn about myself as a person, understand my strengths and weaknesses, develop a better understanding of the world and how it works, and even develop many applicable skills like fluency in foreign languages, ability to operate under adverse conditions, creative thinking, etc. In my experience most employers feel the same way.

Professional Backpacking

For some people, backpacking is a necessary and integral part of their job.
In the military a framed backpack is referred to as a “rucksack” or simply a “ruck”. Soldiers who serve in the militaries of most nation-states usually receive at least some rudimentary backpacking training while infantrymen are often trained to a more advanced backpacking skill level.

They share many common attributes with amateur backpackers: being self-contained, use of land-navigation skills and actively minimizing their environmental foot-print. Although there are also a few differences such as the need to carry an assault rifle, other weapons, ammunition and communication equipment as well as at times maintaining “noise and light discipline”, which means remaining silent and in darkness to avoid detection.

Other professional backpackers may be scientific and academic researchers, professional guides, photographers, park-rangers and “search & rescue” personnel.

Winter Backpacking

Although backpacking in the winter is rewarding, it can be dangerous and generally requires more gear. Backpackers may need skis or snowshoes to traverse deep snow, or crampons to cross ice. Cotton clothing, which absorbs moisture and chills the body, is particularly dangerous in cold weather, so backpackers stick to synthetic materials or materials that won’t hold moisture.

Special low-temperature sleeping bags and tents can be expensive, but will be more comfortable than many layers of warm clothing. However when hiking in cold weather it is always better to hike with varying layers of clothing so that as the body heats up layers can be taken off without causing the wearer to sweat or become very chilled.

Whenever you are planning a trip, whether for vacation or business, you should always be well prepared. Obtaining Travel Insurance before departure will help you avoid any troubles and stress you may encounter. You can put your mind at ease knowing that your belongings and safety are insured.

When you are reserving your flight ticket, I suggest that you always include the cancellation insurance. Most of online airline ticket reservation services provide this service and it is very cheap. So it would be foolish to take the risk. Cancellation fees do not necessary allow you to cancel your flight in all cases, but at least for any medical problems or any major reasons you should be able to get a refund or at least part of it. Of course, some tickets allow you to cancel your flight in any circumstances, but usually it is an option available for more expensive flight tickets.

After that, you will have to get good Travel Health Insurance. The choice depends on your current health condition, the country you are visiting, as well as your country of residence. If your current Health Insurance has full and unlimited coverage valid in any country then you will not need to buy a new one. However, most of the time insurance includes terms which don’t allow you to exceed a certain cost. In some cases, you will have a maximum limit clearly defined. This fee is generally based on the public medical care fee of your resident country. So if you are not sure, you should check this particular point before making your decision. And of course, you will need to get an idea of the fee normally applied in the country you want to visit.

For example, if you are planning to travel around Asia and you come from Europe, you won’t necessarily encounter problems in most places. But be aware that countries like Singapore or Australia can be more expensive than certain European countries. I know some people get a big surprise when they go back to their country and asked the insurance company to refund the bills.

In case, you have a fixed amount clearly specified inside your insurance policy. I suggest you to use another Health Travel Insurance. Just to be on the safe side. You never know what’s going to happen. It is already hard enough to be involved in any kind of accident during holidays. You should not have to worry about your ability to cover the charges during your illness. In many countries they won’t accept you in the hospital unless you show them solid insurance proof or a full charged credit card.

Another point to check before your departure is to make sure, whatever insurance you decide to use, that it includes repatriation. There are some places in Asia, you would prefer to wait on the plane rather than be healed in their hospital. Especially when you are staying far away from big city. You would like also to check if your travel insurance covers the loss of luggage, or the cost of a missing flight, etc. Some Insurance will even cover your lost money. Check the maximum coverage for each item; check the terms and conditions, etc. It seems to be a lot of work, but it really can help you make your vacations more relaxing.

After all of this is done. Don’t forget to make photocopies of all your documents and keep it in a separate place. And finally, enjoy and have a nice trip.

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Phuket Beaches

Most of the tourists enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling at Phuket beaches. The palm tree lined beaches of Phuket Island, famous in calm, clear waters and crystal white sand of the Andaman Sea. For those with a penchant for sailing, there are dinner cruises to enjoy, sailing lessons in which to enrol and fishing trips on which to embark. The nicest and most popular beaches found on Phuket Island are the beaches at Patong, Kamala, Karon, Kata and Nai Harn.

Shopping in Phuket Island

Shopping is always become the first thing to do when traveling to Thailand. Tourists should not miss out Phuket City and night markets. Shoppers in Phuket will find the whole gamut of traditional Thai crafts and textiles, as well as antiques, clothing and souvenirs. Silk, cotton and custom-made clothing can all be found at attractive prices, as can leather, jewellery and antiques. Patong is heaven to Shopaholics and bargain hunters as they enjoy bargaining for a price that both parties can agree on.

Chatuchak Market Phuket, a weekend market modelled after the famous bazaar in Bangkok, has sprung up along Phang Nga Rd, near the long-haul bus terminal. All kinds of clothing, shoes, knick-knacks, jewellery, live fish, plants and more, plus offerings of fresh and tasty local food, are found in the many stalls lining the market.

Phuket Nightlife

Phuket nightlife is also called Patong nightlife because most Phuket island nightlife venues can be found in Patong beach along the well known Soi Bangla. Large number of beer bars (girlie bars), Go-Go bars, nightclubs, pubs are located along Bangla road in Patong including the very popular Tiger disco and the new Seduction Disco.

Eating out in Phuket

Again, Patong has the highest concentration of restaurants to be found on the island. While Thai food is renowned world-wide for its wonderful flavours and fresh ingredients, Phuket is especially famous for its seafood, and, you don’t have to empty your bank account to enjoy the most sumptuous of dishes.

Restaurants in Phuket cater for every palette with international and world-class Thai cuisine available all over the hottest tourist districts. Fresh seafood is in seemingly endless supply, and most dishes are tailor-made to satisfy tourists—not too spicy without a specific request. Authentic Thai food is easier to find the farther inland you go, where the crowds of tourists give way to legitimate Thai villages and communities.

Phuket Attractions

Phuket’s waterfalls are great places to take a swim or enjoy a picnic. Kathu Waterfall is the farthest inland and offers inviting, cooling pools for a quick dip. Ton Sai is often photographed due to its pools and tall palm trees. The island’s Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre is home of the island’s third waterfall, Bang Pae, and those who venture here are also afforded the opportunity to glimpse one of these rare animals.

Thai Boxing (muay Thai) is one of the Thai traditional sports as famous as football in Europe. Phuket Town, Chalong and Rawai are all home to open training gyms where students learn the ancient martial art form of Thai kick boxing, or Muay Thai, which has increasingly gained world recognition for its highly effective combat style. Its popularity is evident in the droves of spectators that gather every Friday to watch the fights hosted in Phuket Town.

Promthep Cape is one of Phuket’s most photogenic spots, a fact to which the crowds of tourists testify. On-site is a popular merit-making shrine covered in miniature elephants. There’s also a statue erected in honour of a 19th century prince well-known for founding a Thai school of navigation. The cape is a great place to take spectacular photos, especially at sunset when the evening light bathes this southernmost point of the island.

Many tourists seem to keep coming back each year for praying in Thailand. Temple (Wat) in Thailand is one of the most attractive places for tourists. Wat Chalong is the most visited Buddhist temple on Phuket, due largely in part to its unique design and décor, spacious grounds and modern chedi (pagoda). Other well-known temples include Pra Tong, Put Jaw, Jui Tui, Pra Nahng Sahng and Sanjao Sam San. When visiting any temple, locals will appreciate it if you practice proper etiquette—namely covering your legs and shoulders, taking off your shoes and maintaining an air of reverence when inside the sacred buildings.

Jim Thompson, an American who was born Greenville, Delaware, in 1906 practiced architect prior to World War 11, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army, campaigned in Europe, and came to Asia as part of the force that planned to liberate Thailand. However, the war ended before the operation. He arrived in Bangkok a short time later as a military intelligence officer attached to the O.S.S. After leaving the service, he decided to return and live in Thailand permanently.

The hand weaving of silk, a long neglected cottage industry, captured Jim Thompson’s attention, and he devoted himself to reviving the craft. Highly gifted as a designer and textile colorist, he contributed substantially to the industry’s growth and to the worldwide recognition accorded to Thai silk. He gained further known through the construction of this house combining six teak buildings which represented the best of traditional Thai architecture. Most of the houses were at least two centuries old and were easily dismantled and brought to the present site, some from as far away as the old capital of Ayudhya.

In his quest for authenticity, Jim Thompson adhered to the customs of the early builders in most respects. The houses were elevated a full story above the ground, a practical Thai precaution to avoid flooding during the rainy season, and the roof tiles were fired in Ayudhya employing a design common centuries ago but rarely used today. The red paint on the outside walls is a preservative commonly found on many old Thai buildings. The chandeliers were electrified as a concession to modern convenience, but even they belong to a past era, having come from 18th and 19th century Bangkok palaces.

All the traditional religious procedures were followed during construction of the house, and on a date in the spring of 1959, decreed as being auspicious by astrologers, Jim Thompson moved in. The house and the art collection soon became such a point of interest that he decided to open it to the public with proceeds donated to Thai charities and to projects directed at the preservation of Thailand’s rich cultural heritage.

On March 27th 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Not a single clue has turned up in the ensuing years as to what might have happened to him. His famous Thai house, however, remains as a lasting reminder of his creative ability and his deep love of Thailand. In 1976, the Thai Court appointed administrator for the property of Jim Thompson received permission from government ministries of the Kingdom of Thailand to legally establish the James H W Thompson Foundation.

By virtue of its presence and the dictates of its charter the Foundation is committed to the preservation of Thailand’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. The foundation supports a wide variety of research, publication and seminar projects in furtherance of this aim. All these activities require funds, and the James H W Thompson Foundation welcomes any contributions.

Official website: http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com

 

Chatuchak Weekend Market is paradise for bargain hunters. Every Saturday and Sunday, 9,000 individual booths are open selling an infinite variety of goods. It is just about impossible to go to Chatuchak Weekend Market and not buy anything. There is just about everything that bargain hunters, home makers, pet lovers or just browsers can imagine.

Handicrafts are every where including pottery, hand-made glass models of the Royal Barges, fluffy toys, colourful tropical fish, singing birds puppies of many breeds, furniture and lots of new and second hand clothing, shoes, handbags, belts. There is so much on offer that even international home decor wholesales come here to shop.

Music lovers can find unique traditional Thai musical instruments being sold direct by the artisans who have crafted them to make the pleasing sounds. One rule for all shoppers to observe is bargain, bargain, bargain. This is part of the fun and also gets you the best prices. Chatuchak Weekend Market has interesting products from all over Thailand as well as things from far off lands.

You should allow the best part of a whole day to explore the many stalls. You never know what you will find. But this is work that will make you thirsty and puckish, so take a break here and there to cool off with a fresh fruit juice or feast on delicious Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, barbecue chicken, noodles and sweets.

How to get there:
BTS Skytrain to Mochit Station or Metro to Kamphaeng Phet Station
Bus Routes 3, 26, 27, 34, 59, 77, 96, 112, 134, 136, 138, 145, 502, 503, 510, 512, 513

Open:
Saturday and Sunday

Admission:
Free

 

Singapore’s Chinatown evolved around 1821 when the first Chinese junk arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. The passengers, all men, set up home around the south of the Singapore River which is known today as Telok Ayer. Chinatown’s local name - Niu Che Shui (Bullock Cart Water) arose from the fact each household at that time had to collect fresh water from the wells in Ann Siang Hill and Spring Street, using bullock-drawn carts.

Not all parts of Chinatown are Chinese though. The Al Abrar Mosque along Telok Ayer Street, and the Jamae Mosque and Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road lay witness to the harmonious racial and religious atmosphere in Singapore.

Chinatown can be divided into four main districts - Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Pasoh - each with its own distinctive flavour. The heart of activity is in the Trengganu/Smith Streets area.

Chinatown Food Street
Located at Smith Street, the Chinatown Food Street offers the best local hawker favourites! You would be able to savour the best of Singapore’s hawker food and rediscover the joys of al-fresco roadside dinning among the beautifully restoring shophouses of Chinatown.

The Chinatown Food Street offers over 20 types of local delights. Do try out local dishes like Char Kway Teow ( a noodle dish fried with fresh cockles), Carrot Cake (a steamed savoury radish cake fried with eggs and preserved vegetables) or Rojak (a refreshing local salad tossed with sweet sauced and peanuts), served from outdoor stalls like days of the old. Expect to pay an average of SGD 5 per person for a hearty meal.

Chinatown Night Market
Take a stroll along the Chinatown Night Market for a unique night market shopping experience! Delight yourself with an array of traditional and modern merchandise ranging from street opera masks to handmade ornaments, traditional clothing to unique fashion accessories, you will be spoilt for choice with the eclectic mix of merchandise on offer.

Immerse yourself in the old world charm of these Chinatown shophouses as you browse the selections at every stall. For those looking back to kick back and relax, there are also traditional and modern dance performances to entertain you in the evenings.

Don’t forget to check out the wide variety of local finger food stalls at Trengganu Street too!

Source: Uniquely Singapore