Jetstar Asia will launch direct flights linking Singapore to Labuan Bajo, the Indonesian town considered the “gateway” to Komodo National Park, the company said. The park, a UNESCO Heritage Site inscribed in 1991, is home to several thousand Komodo dragons, the largest species of lizard in the world, according to UNESCO. Komodo National Park is … Read more
One of our most popular travel stories of 2024 looked at how more trekkers are flocking to the Himalayas of Nepal, facilitated by companies out to make a quick buck. Mountaineers and guides, however, have voiced concerns about the safety risks that underprepared trekkers pose, and the growing amounts of waste left on mountain slopes. … Read more
HOW RACE ENTERED THE MIX Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing magnified the issue when he spoke up against DBKL’s actions, labelling them extreme and claiming that tourists have questioned the openness and inclusivity of the country. “There have been some international visitors who have asked me if Malaysia is a racist country or is … Read more
Asia’s cities are sometimes maligned as concrete jungles bedevilled by chaotic or crawling traffic, made worse by tens of thousands of motorcycles. India’s cities have long had a bad reputation for smog and pollution, while Jakarta, Indonesia’s vast capital, is notorious for two- and three-hour journeys that would take no more than 10 or 15 … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur police are offering a 50% discount for payment of traffic summonses from tomorrow (Nov 5) until Saturday (Nov 9). Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the public could head to the Tun HS Lee Police Station counters to check and pay their fines … Read more
The Thai government is pressing on with a broad agenda to manage water, with the ongoing protection of Bangkok – the country’s overwhelming economic powerhouse region – at its heart. It has started to implement its “Chao Phraya 9 Plans”, which includes water management investments with an estimated cost of US$9.4 billion. That includes hydraulic … Read more
Asia is a dining destination on par with Europe, judged by the number of international accolades its restaurants and bars have earned, a new report on food industry trends says. Luxury Group, the collective of high-end hotels within the Marriott International portfolio, recently launched its Future of Food report for the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region. The … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior police officer with the rank of Assistant Superintendent, along with six personnel, has been detained for alleged extortion and molestation of a woman earlier this month. Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the 22-year-old victim lodged a report on Oct 7. “Previously, three local men were detained … Read more
Now a new hotspot is pinging on the radar. Desaru Coast, in the state of Johor, boasts 17km (11 miles) of pristine coastline dotted with a quartet of five-star resorts: the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, and the One&Only Desaru Coast. Time magazine named … Read more
Shopping in Singapore, looking down from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, taking in the massive ancient temples in Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, and Borobudur in Java: tropical Southeast Asia is hardly short of things to do for tourists or places to go. Some of the region’s best attractions are not on land. Diving is another … Read more
