Singapore Tour Guide

A guide to Singapore Tourism and Travel.

FIND ROMANTIC DINNER

There are countless F&B locations which you may want to consider - whether dining by the river, in lush greenery, on the top of the world (literally), your loved one will definitely be surprised! Here are some recommendations. Read More

Borneo Tour

Kalimantan or Borneo Indonesia is the place to explore. This world's third largest island covering the area of 747,000 square kilometer and covered by one of the world's largest stretches of tropical rain forest through which flows tremendous mighty rivers which are the island's highway. Read more....

Cost of living cheaper in Singapore

DURING my recent trip to Singapore, I was surprised to find that food prices are lower there compared to food prices in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

I did a comparison on the basis that you work and stay in Singapore as compared to anyone working and staying in Petaling Jaya/Kuala Lumpur.

These are some of the prices I found in a shopping complex in Orchard Road in the heart of the city. A bottle of Nescafe Gold (200gm) costs S$9 as compared to RM21 (offer price) and RM22-RM23 (normal price).

A bottle of Listerine (mouth wash) 750ml costs S$9.50 as compared to RM16 (offer price) and RM19 (normal price).

A cup of coffee from a dispensing machine cost S$0.70 and the machine even allows you to have more coffee or less coffee, more sugar or less sugar and more cream or less cream. Where can we get a cup of coffee for RM0.70 from any dispensing machine in Petaling Jaya/Kuala Lumpur?

A bar of chocolate (international brand) costs only S$0.80 as compared to RM1.50 in Petaling Jaya/Kuala Lumpur. All this shows that the food prices in Malaysia are very expensive.

The Government’s recent budget hopes that the food prices will come down but I do not think the prices will be reduced. The price of a cup of coffee in a coffeeshop has gone up from RM1 to RM1.20 while a bowl of noodles has gone up from RM3-RM3.20 to RM4.00-RM4.50.

There is no way the hawker will reduce food prices. We sincerely hope that the Government will do something soon because a lot of the lower-income earners are suffering.

source: The Star

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Singapore Education Admissions Fair

Organiser: Singapore Education
Start Date: 6 Sep 2008
End Date: 7 Sep 2008
Address: 223 Sule Pagoda Road, G.P.O Box 888
City: Yangon
Country: Myanmar
Venue: Traders Hotel
Tel No: +66 2 630 4774
Fax No: -
Website: http://
Event Email Address: stbbkk@truemail.co.th
Contact Person: Jinatta Laohavanich
Contact Person
Email Address: stbbkk@truemail.co.th
Synopsis of Event: The Singapore Education Admissions Fair in Yangon, Myanmar is scheduled to take place on 6 - 7 September at Traders Hotel. Timing: 10am-5pm
Admission Fees: Free


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Singapore Airlines And Indonesian Ministry Of Culture And Tourism Sign Memorandum Of Understanding to Boost Tourist Arrivals to Indonesia

Singapore Airlines and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism (IMCT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly boost visitor arrivals to Indonesia.

Each party will contribute up to a total value of US$250,000 over a three-year period starting from 1 August 2008 to carry out joint promotional activities in key markets that contribute to Indonesian tourism namely Europe, North Asia, Middle East, Australia, and the USA.

The joint activities are aimed at developing and promoting tourism to Indonesia in a sustainable way, particularly in conjunction with ‘Visit Indonesia Year 2008’. Joint activities will focus primarily on promoting the image and awareness of and familiarity with Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, and SilkAir.

The joint activities include participation by Indonesia tourism and travel agencies in international travel trade fairs, educational and familiarization trips, media educational trips for journalists from key markets to Indonesia, sales missions, consumer promotions, and other special activities.

The Airline’s contributions include air travel, rebated cargo and waiver of excess baggage charges, while the IMCT will make ground arrangements for the participants (trade and consumer, media, travel agents, travel writers) of the agreed joint activities relating to media or educational trips, whereas IMCT will contribute cash for the joint advertising and promotions in overseas market.

Mr Huang Cheng Eng, Executive Vice President Marketing & The Regions at Singapore Airlines who signed the MoU said: “The tourism promotion MOU that we are signing today is a renewal of our long-term commitment to work closely with the Indonesian Ministry for Tourism and Culture. We have been partners in promoting Indonesian tourism for many years and I have no doubt that this new MoU will cement our already strong ties.”

“Added Dr Sapta Nirwandar, Director General Marketing for the IMCT: “This year is declared Visit Indonesia Year 2008. The number of visitors is targeted to reach a figure of seven million. We have prepared ourselves through a integrated tourism programme across the archipelago, while in the main overseas markets we are continuously undertaking Indonesia travel promotion activities with Singapore Airlines that is constantly ready to support us.“

About Singapore Airlines

When Singapore Airlines was formed in 1972, it operated a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to just 22 cities in 18 countries, most of which were in Asia. With a commitment to fleet modernization, product and service innovation and market leadership, the Airline quickly distinguished itself as a world-class carrier. Today Singapore Airlines is internationally recognized as one the world’s leading airline and operates a modern passenger fleet of 101 aircraft. Its network, including Singapore Airlines Cargo and SilkAir destinations covers 103 cities in 41 countries.

Last year, Singapore Airlines became the first airline ever to operate the world’s biggest commercial jet, the A380in the world. In May 2008, it made aviation history by introducing the world’s longest non-stop all business class service between Singapore and New York using the A340-500 aircraft. Soon after in August, it introduced the non-stop all business service between Singapore and Los Angeles using the same aircraft type.

For more information, please visit www.singaporeair.com

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The Times travel photo competition

Read on to see who won the August competition, and get your entries in now for the chance to win a trip to Budapest.

AUGUST COMPETITION WINNER

Michael Gow, of Nottingham, took the prize with this image, taken at the much-photographed Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. “My girlfriend and I were outside, about to go in to watch the athletics. All of a sudden music started blaring, a 100 square metre area came to life with water fountains - and there were howls of laughter as people got soaked. The little boy in yellow kept running in and dodging the water.”

This month's runner up came from Simon Keeping, and featured as last week's best entry. The image of Club Tropicana was taken on a week-long trip to Cuba.

Michael wins a three-night luxury spa break at Chewton Glen.

SEPTEMBER COMPETITION

The September competition is now open.

Send your best shot to travelpictures@thetimes.co.uk. It should be attached to the e-mail as a large Jpeg. If you have entered before select another picture and have another go.

The prize is a three-night stay for two people at the five-star InterContinental Budapest. The prize is based on two sharing and includes two economy return flights to Budapest, three nights bed and breakfast accommodation in a Club InterContinental Room overlooking the River Danube, two complimentary tickets to the opera, one complimentary dinner in Corso and return airport transfers in Budapest.

Winner and guest must both be aged 18 or over. The trip must be taken before end April 2009 excluding peak periods. All departures and accommodation are subject to availability. All taxes, fees and surcharges are included. Transfers are included. The winner is responsible for all costs and expenses not set out in these terms and conditions and for ensuring they and their guest have all necessary documents including valid passports, visas (where applicable) and travel insurance. Relevant airlines standard conditions of carriage will apply. Click here for prize details in full.

Terms and conditions

1. The competition will run on www.timesonline.co.uk website from August 30, 2008 to noon on September 29, 2008.

2. Closing date for entries is noon on September 29, 2008

3. Unless otherwise stated, the competition is open to all residents of the UK and ROI aged 18 or over, except employees of Times Newspapers Limited (“TNL”), NCL and Metro Imaging and their associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies, and their families, agents, or anyone connected with this competition, including the third party promotional partners.

4. Entry limited to one per person. The winner is responsible for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with these terms and conditions, in the event they are unable to do so then the TNL reserves the right to redraw the prize.

5. Entry is free but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to local call charges depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access.

6. An eligible entrant must be an individual and must submit an entry in the form provided by TNL under this promotion including their name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

7. By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by each and all these terms and conditions. TNL reserves the right, with or without cause, to exclude entrants and withhold prizes for violating any of these terms and conditions. TNL reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any amendments will be published on the Website.

8. Each entrant must submit one photograph in jpeg format with an explanation detailing when, where and why the photograph was taken in no more than 50 words together with their name, email address and location. Photographs should address the theme “travel”. The photograph should be the entrants own work and should have been taken during 2007/2008. Entrants represent and warrant that they are not professional photographers and that their entry does not infringe the privacy rights, copyright or any other rights of any person. Obscene or inappropriate photographs will not be accepted and TNL reserves the right to reject any photographs for any reason. Prior to submitting a photograph of any identifiable individual, entrants should obtain the consent of such person and advise them of the purpose of the submission and that their photograph may be published by TNL (including in The Times).

9. The overall winner will be notified by email within seven (7) days from the closing date. All reasonable endeavours will be made to contact the winner during this time. If a winner cannot be contacted or is not available, TNL reserves the right to re-draw another winner from the correct entries which were received before the closing date.

10. There is one first prize for the entrant whose photograph is selected as the overall winner. There will also be a prize for entrants whose photographs are selected for publication in The Times Travel section as a winner of the week. Winner of the week is subject to editorial discretion and so may not be awarded each week. The winner will be the entrant whose photograph, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest flair, technique and originality.

11. The first prize is a three-night stay for two people at the five-star InterContinental Budapest (www.intercontinental.com) with return flights to Budapest.

12. The prize for the “winner of the week” is a 12x16 inch Fine Art Digital C-type print from www.metroimaging.co.uk. The winner will be notified within seven days of their photograph appearing in the paper and the prize will be sent to the address provided by the winner at time of entry.

13. There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.

14. The winner may be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prize.

15. The judge's decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.

16. TNL will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit or prohibit an eligible entrant's ability to participate in the competition. Other than death or personal injury arising from the acts or omissions of TNL, or their employees, TNL will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the winner or their guest’s enjoyment of the prize

17. By entering, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow the free use of their names, photographs and general locations for publicity and news purposes during this and future promotions by TNL or any associated or subsidiary company of News International Limited.

18. TNL reserves the right to publish all or parts of entries other than the winning entry, and publication does not necessarily mean that the entrant has won a prize. TNL reserves the right to edit entries in its discretion for publication. Entrants will retain copyright in their submitted entries; however, by entering, all entrants give TNL a worldwide royalty free perpetual licence to edit, publish and use all or segments of each entry in any and all media (including print and online) for publicity and news purposes. In particular, all entrants license TNL the right to print their entry on thetimes online and in print.

19. Uses of personal data received by TNL in the course of the promotion are subject to the privacy policy found on the Website. Winners' names may be published on the Website.

20. Completion and submission of a registration slip or e-mail will be deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.

21. TNL reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in their sole discretion, a competition is not capable for being conducted as specified. TNL reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable.

22. The promoter of this prize draw is Times Newspapers Limited (address below)

23. For a list of winners, please send a stamped envelope to Times Newspapers Limited Competitions Department, 1 Virginia Street, London E98 1RL, stating for which competition you would like winners’ details.

24. Terms and Conditions printed in The Times/The Sunday Times newspaper or on Times Online form a part of these terms and conditions.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

July

The Times Travel Editor, Kathleen Wyatt chose the winner sent in by Matt Davis (Pic 1, July finalists): "The high-quality images you've been sending in have made me think twice every time I take a picture. Matt Davis's rum stores dogs is so soaked in atmosphere and character that it claims this month's prize of a 12-night Mediterranean cruise with NCL." Matt, who took the photo in Puerto Princesca, Palawan Island in the Philippines said: "The shot kind of summed up the islands for me - colourful and laid back with an attempt at order which never quite succeeds."

June

Congratulations to Ollie Blackwell, a researcher for a TV production company, who hired a 4WD and “headed off into the sticks” in Namibia (Photo No 3, June finalists). “This shot of my girlfriend playing with a sparkler under the stars was taken on a 30-second exposure, with the camera resting on a boulder and a baked bean can. I love how well the stars came out. Katie had come across some sparklers that she had left in her rucksack from a festival we had been to a few months back - she sparked one up and this is the picture.”

May

Justin Stokes from London Bridge took the winning image in the May competition (May finalists gallery, picture 17): "It was taken in London in January, at the second hand book market on the South Bank. I spoke to the old man and he was actually on holiday, and trying to see areas of the world he'd never been to while he could. I found him interesting: he didn't seem to have a wife or anyone with him but still content to explore things he'd never seen. The sweet spot of focus that gives this that lovely depth of field lens blur is due to the use of a tilt lens. By blowing up the photo, you can see he is reading an obscure book on WW2."

April

The winning picture came from Calum Smail (April 16 gallery, picture 9): “I had wanted to take some pictures of Paris at night, so headed to the Arc de Triomphe before sunset. “After climbing up the hundreds of steps to the top, I was just working my way around when I noticed the cloud sweeping in from the west. It took about five minutes for the cloud and sun to form the dramatic view in the photograph. About a minute later the rain was on top of us and we had to take cover.”


source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk

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Singapore Airlines named as best business class

Asian carrier beats off competition from BA and Air NZ. Virgin Atlantic picks up award for Heathrow Clubhouse.

Singapore Airlines has been named best airline and best business class in the annual Skytrax awards.

In the business class category, the airline beat off competition from Air New Zealand in second place and British Airways in third.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: "The business class seat is marketed by Singapore Airlines as 'The most spacious the world has ever seen', and whilst maybe not suited to every passenger's taste, it remains a clear quality benchmark for long-haul business class."


Virgin Atlantic won the award for best business class lounge for the second year running for its Clubhouse facility at London Heathrow. British Airways jumped back into the top five with opening of its new lounges at terminal 5.

Plaisted said: "British Airways lounges have not been at the leading edge in terms of quality for quite a number of years but they have created something quite special with their new facilities at Terminal 5, and we would expect to see some strong performances from them in years to come."

Easyjet was named as best low-cost carrier in the awards, which are now in their tenth year. More than 15 million people of 95 nationalities expressed their opinions in choosing the awards.

source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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Eunos Singapore residents tour Malaysia

Warm welcome: Mayor Zainul Abidin (in batik) shaking hands with Hor while Yin and other association members look on in Kuantan recently.


Pahang Buddhist Association played host to an entourage from Singapore at its premises in Jalan Bukit Ubi here recently.

Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mayor Zainul Abidin Rasheed arrived in a convoy of 12 chartered buses with 332 residents of Eunos Singapore.

The group a social visit to Malaysia was invited to make a stop here.

Present to receive them were Pahang Chinese Assembly Hall president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah and association chairman Hor Chim Sim

The guests were treated to a lion dance, cultural performances and a lorry load of durians.

Hor said the visit was to foster closer ties and promote peace and unity between the races in the two countries.

Earlier, the entourage visited Putrajaya mosque and Batu Caves.

Zainul Abidin said the group visited Malaysia every two years to promote harmony and understanding.

“We also visit other Asian countries to exchange greetings and get to know each other’s cultures better,” he said.

Later, the group visited a church in Jalan Gambut before being hosted at dinner by Tourism Malaysia Pahang.

State tourism director Amran Abdul Rahman said the group was welcome and hoped they would return with happy memories.

source: http://thestar.com.my

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Asia's cash hungry carriers

The credit crunch, soaring fuel prices and slowing economies are playing havoc with airline financing. Raising fresh equity in these conditions is virtually impossible, with Cebu Pacific, Air India and Vietnam Airlines all deferring their IPO plans this year. The sale of a stake in Jet Airways by founder, Naresh Goyal, has also been consistently delayed.

China Eastern Airlines has confirmed it is still hoping to revive talks for an equity sale to Singapore Airlines following the Olympics after last week denying rumours it was discussing a merger with Shanghai Airlines. With a debt to asset ratio of 95%, China Eastern has one of Asia’s weakest balance sheets and will need to move decisively after the Olympic Flame is extinguished in Beijing next month. Whether Singapore Airlines is prepared to deal again remains to be seen, particularly as Star Alliance partner, Air China, has demonstrated its preparedness to intervene in the process in the past.

Air India and China Southern are seeking a government injection of funds to help tide them over, while Pakistan International Airlines is pushing for a deal with the government whereby it would transfer its hotel and other assets to the government in exchange for debt relief.

Tough market conditions are also grounding the ambitions of several start-up airlines, which, combined with service cutbacks by some airlines, is easing sections of the aircraft leasing market. Older aircraft will be difficult to place with airlines in this environment, which is why the lessors have been such active participants in the new aircraft order market.

source: www.traveldailynews.com

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Singapore Education Challenge 2008

Organiser: EFL Learning Centre
Start Date: 7 Aug 2008
End Date: 7 Aug 2008
Address: 86/2 Kaewnawarat Rd, Muang Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand
City: Chiang Mai
Country: Thailand
Venue: Central Airport Plaza, Chiang Mai Thailand
Tel No: (66) 53 266 295 - 6
Fax No: (66) 53 266 296
Website: http://www.efl-learning-centre.com
Event Email Address: efl_learningcentre@hotmail.com
Contact Person: Ms. Mullika or Ms.Wilaiwan
Contact Person
Email Address: mullika_toon@hotmail.com

Synopsis of Event: EFL,SE Specialist hosting a 1 day SE Challenge 08 on 7 August to promote SE. The event open to teams from students grade 7-12 from 17 provinces in North of Thailand. The event provides a valuable platform for institutions to promote their programmes in Singapore.
Admission Fees: THB 23,000

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Low-cost Asian airlines thriving on silver linings

Tony Davis, the chief executive of Tiger Airways, based in Singapore, readily admits that he is much happier running an Asian-based low-cost airline right now than he would be running one in Europe or the United States.

For one thing, the significant strengthening of Asian currencies against the dollar in recent months has helped mitigate some of the effects of the ever-rising price of oil, traded in dollars, while historically low interest rates have made paying for new aircraft less expensive.

"There are some benefits to being outside of a U.S.-denominated revenue area, and we're certainly taking advantage of those," Davis said in a recent interview.

But maybe most important, there is still very high demand for air travel in the region and no easy alternative in a region that mostly lacks sophisticated railroad systems or road infrastructure. "It would take days for someone to drive from Singapore to Cambodia," Davis noted.

Asian national carriers have not been immune to the sharp rise in the price of oil and the global economic slowdown, and several have had to pare down capacity on some routes. China Airlines, the largest carrier in Taiwan, has canceled about 10 percent of flights, mostly to the United States and Asia, and Thai Airways has canceled its nonstop services to New York and reduced its frequency to Los Angeles. Asiana Airlines, based in Seoul, and Qantas, in Australia, have also cut several routes or reduced capacity.

Still, the gloom that has descended on much of the world's aviation industry is far from affecting everybody, and some Asian low-cost airlines are drawing up expansion plans, looking at opportunities where others see losses.

Jetstar Australia has been picking up routes to Japan from its parent, Qantas, and recently announced that it would use Perth, the capital of Western Australia, as a new base, starting services from there in October to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia. A new Sydney-Darwin-Ho Chi Minh City service is also in the cards for September.

Jetstar Asia, based in Singapore but also partly owned by Qantas, will add new flights to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia later this month.

Tiger Airways, which is 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines, has announced the suspension of its twice-daily service to Newcastle, Australia, and a reduction of flights from Darwin; but it is in talks with the Australian government to add international routes to its network, and it is pushing ahead with plans to start a new unit in Korea, in a joint venture with the Incheon city government, which will be called Incheon Tiger Airways, Davis said.

The Malaysian airline AirAsia, the biggest low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia, measured by fleet size, is also pressing ahead with an ambitious route expansion program. It recently introduced four new destinations - Kuantan in Malaysia, Haikou in China, Makassar in Indonesia and Hong Kong - and its chief executive, Tony Fernandes, says it will fly to southern India by the end of this year.

"We will continue to put on new routes," Fernandes said last month. "As long as we can make a profit from our operations, we will not hold back our growth plans."

AirAsia's net profit in the first quarter of this year leapt 86 percent over the same period last year to 161 million ringgit, or $50 million. Fernandes was recently quoted in the Malaysian press as having said that his airline could still make a sustainable profit if crude oil rose as high as $200 a barrel.

Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, a publisher of aviation market information, says that AirAsia could emerge from a 12-to-18-month downturn looking "relatively much, much stronger than most of its competition."

"AirAsia is very well placed to benefit from the double-edged sword of very high external costs with the rise of oil prices, and the revenue side damage that is caused by the sliding economies," Harbison said.

Among its advantages is its dispersed regional structure with bases in Thailand and Indonesia through joint-venture operations, as well as Malaysia. This allows it both to shift administrative activities to the lowest-cost environment and to connect point-to-point more efficiently. Thai AirAsia has just opened a new office in Chiang Mai.

"Their basic costs are very low, and they also have a large amount of aircraft coming in that were negotiated at very good prices and are very fuel efficient," Harbison said. "That places them well to offer to the market continuing cheap fares that presumably will continue to attract business." The airline has so far received 67 new A320s to replace its fleet of Boeing 737s and has agreed to buy a total of 175 aircraft.

source: www.iht.com

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