NEW YEARS DAY IN THAILAND

In 1940, Thailand moved its New Year's Day from April 13th to January 1st. The old New Year is still a holiday called Songkran. Years are counted as the Buddhist era (B.E.) which started 543 years earlier than the Christian, era, therefore 2002 AD is the year 2545 BE

In Thailand there are three New Year's days. The Western, on Jan 1st, the Chinese New Year on the first day of the First Lunar month, usually in February and the Thai New Year marked by the Songkhran festival in April. Thais usually exchange gifts on January 1st.

Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.

Songkran celebrations are incomplete unless water is thrown on each other. People roam the streets with buckets of water and children play with water guns to drench people. Water is thrown to get rid off all the bad deeds and give a fresh welcome to the New Year.

NEW YEARS FIREWORKS - SINGAPORE

31 December 2009 - Catch the brilliant fireworks display as you count down to the new year at the signature annual Marina Bay SINGAPORE Countdown 09/10.

More than just a festive celebration, this year-end tradition for Singapore will bring together the collective wishes and aspirations of thousands of people, and unite all in counting down the final seconds of the year to celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

Broadcast LIVE on ChannelNews Asia, the Countdown will also capture the hearts of fellow Singaporeans and friends residing overseas. Fast becoming the city's favourite festival stage, Marina Bay provides a perfect setting against the signature city skyline to stage and enjoy large-scale cultural and community events, water-based sports and celebrations.

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS AT SINGAPORE ZOO

SINGAPORE ZOO


5-27 December 2009 - Have fun every Saturday and Sunday this December with Singapore Zoo star elephants.
Join the elephant parade round the park donned in elegant Maharajah Suits. Catch also the paint performance, bath, feeding, and pedicure sessions. It's so much more when you see them for yourself. Activities are from 5 till 27 December.
Join us for these activities and highlights:• The Elephant Parade (Elephants donned in maharajah suits parade in the park)• The Elephant Paints (Watch the elephants paint and buy the painting for charity. Mechanics to be confirmed) • Cultural Performances to celebrate origin of Asian Elephants (South East Asia Influence) • Get personal with our elephants (Bath, Pedicure, Feeding Sessions)• The Elephant Story (Story Telling Sessions)• The Elephant Vs Man Challenge (Log Challenge, Coconut Breaking, Log Balance)• Guess the Elephant's Weight Contest

During the elephant show, these giant beasts might give the front row spectators a 'welcome shower'. They have the 'stuff' hidden in their trunks. If you don't want to get wet, sit 2 or 3 rows back. Otherwise, this could be a great way to surprise your little ones or your travel companions. Get them to sit in the front row and get your camera ready! But remember to take a change of clothes for them.

KLM’S FIRST BIOFUEL-POWERED FLIGHT A SUCCESS

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines last week operated its first ever passenger flight powered by biokerosene, a non-polluting, sustainable alternative to jet fuel.

The test flight was the result of years of research into the development of biokerosene for aircraft use, which KLM has been pursuing in partnership with private and government stakeholders.

Most recently, the airline founded SkyEnergy, a sustainable aviation fuel research programme in partnership with North Sea Petroleum and Spring Associates, with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) acting in an advisory capacity.

“Clean, silent and sustainable air transport worldwide…is technically feasible. We have demonstrated that it is possible. Government, industry and society at large must now join forces to ensure that we quickly gain access to a continuous supply of biofuel,” said KLM President and Chief Executive Peter Hartman.

TOURIST STREAM BACK INTO ZIMBABWE

The number of tourists to Zimbabwe this year has more than tripled, according to the President of the Zimbabwe Council of Tourism (ZCT).

While in South Africa recently, ZCT head Emmanuel Fundira reported that 362,000 tourists visited the country up to August this year, compared to 100,000 during the same period in 2008.

A decade ago, Zimbabwe earned US$250-million in revenue from tourism, Mr. Fundira said. This dropped to US$40-million in 2005 but has risen to US$100-million this year.

He attributed the tourism spike to the unity government formed in January between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The unity government had brought a measure of political and economic stability, he said, which, together with the lifting of travel bans by several source markets, had driven the tourism industry’s recovery.
However, full recovery is dependent on the success of the new government, which has been turbulent over recent weeks and many fear it is on the brink of collapse.

"The economy has got so much potential but political stability is extremely key," Mr. Fundira said, adding that Zimbabwe hopes to maximise the opportunities arising from South Africa’s hosting of next year’s FIFA World Cup.

GO CAPE TOWN CARD

Cape Town’s Table Mountain Cableway, City Sightseeing Open-Top Tour and Two Oceans Aquarium have joined forces to launch the Go Cape Town Card, an all-inclusive ticket for the three popular tourism attractions.

The card will be available from December 1 onwards at a cost of R360 per card for adults and R180 per card for children under 18 years. The card entitles users to a return trip on the Table Mountain Cableway, a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a ride on an open-top City Sightseeing Bus.

“The beauty of the card is that visitors no longer have to stand in queues at any of the attractions; as well as the three-month validity, allowing for more flexibility in planning your itinerary,” said Jillian Grindley-Ferris, Two Oceans Aquarium Brand and Business Manager.

The Go Cape Town card can be bought at any of the three venues, and at Cape Town Tourism’s offices.

AYANA RESORT AND SPA - BALI - WINS AWARDS

AYANA Bali wins Asia's Leading Luxury Resort 2009

Named after a ‘place of refuge’ in Sanskrit, AYANA Resort and Spa Bali is perched on limestone cliffs above the Indian Ocean on Bali’s south-western peninsula. The 77-hectare property enjoys majestic views across its 1.3 kilometer coastline, yet is just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Bali’s airport. Seventy-eight freestanding private villas and a 290-room hotel harmoniously blend traditional Balinese architecture and décor with the latest modern luxury. The resort features 13 dining venues including the stunning new Rock Bar built on natural rock 14 meters above the ocean at the base of towering cliffs; the only Thermes Marins Spa in south-east Asia; the Spa on the Rocks treatment villas anchored by rocks amidst the ocean; one of the world’s largest Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pools; and cliff-top wedding chapels.



BEST HOTEL IN BALI - DESTINASIAN 2009 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
#3 BEST SPA HOTELS & RESORTS IN ASIA - 2009 SMARTTRAVELASIA AWARDS
ONLY HOTEL IN BALI - AND INDONESIA - VOTED AMONGST ASIA’S TOP 15
2009 TRAVEL + LEISURE READERS’ AWARDS