Myanmar: Is now a good time to go?

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 14:41 — Anonymous by Gemma PriceTwo years of political
reforms, the lifting of sanctions and the floating of the Myanmar currency at
818 kyat (pronounced 'chat') to the U.S. dollar -- the opening up of this
hitherto hermetic state suggests big changes in its economy. But what are the
implications for travelers? With investors encouraged to move in, companies
in Myanmar will find it easier to do business and any moral reservations that
international visitors might have harbored about visiting Myanmar will likely
soon begin to dissipate. In the last six months, Myanmar has rocketed to the
top of must-go-now lists as travelers -- just like the world's powers --
scramble to get in before the country is overrun by fellow travelers. Last
year, 391,176 visitors traveled to the country according to the Ministry of
Hotels and Tourism. In 2012, the ministry predicts an increase of nearly 30
percent to 500,000 -- possibly straining the Southeast Asian
nation's infrastructure.read more

Kids playing with guns: Open day at PLA Hong Kong garrison

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 12:47 — Anonymous by Zoe Li, Hong Kong EditorWhen the
People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong opens up its barracks to the
public each year, military buffs of all ages and sizes go nuts. Held around
the May 1 Labor Day holiday, the PLA open house event is particularly popular
with parents who hope to inspire their children to be more martial in their
self-discipline. There's just nothing more character-building than an
afternoon with mom, dad and a range of semi-automatic firearms supervised by
men in uniform. Also on CNNGo: All aboard! China to open luxury hotel on
Soviet aircraft carrier This year's open house event was held April 28-29 and
celebrated the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese
sovereignty. The 28,000 free-of-charge tickets to the event were all handed
out within two hours on April 22. read more

13 most overplayed Filipino cover band songs

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 05:06 — Anonymous by Candice Lopez-QuimpoFrom Manila and
Singapore to Dubai, Phuket, Hong Kong and Hanoi, bands from the Philippines
command the stages in Asia's cheesiest hotel lobbies, sweatiest bars and
hottest nightclubs. Taking requests from all comers, they provide
the-roof-is-on-fire entertainment with note-for-perfect-note renditions of
old favorites for rowdy crowds and romance-bound couples. But, like
Kardashians and tequila shots, even old favorites can induce nausea when
taken in large doses.  That's why we asked some of the top Filipino cover
bands to fire back on the songs that we could all stand to hear a little less
of. More on CNNGo: How to be a Manila local: 10 tips for faking itread more

Cheer up: Chinese airport uses cheerleaders to soothe stranded passengers

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 02:57 — Anonymous by CNNGo staffWhile some Chinese
travelers storm the tarmac when flights get delayed, others might wish their
flights never take off -- assuming they're flying from the northeast China
city of Dalian.  To entertain waiting passengers, Dalian International
Airport recently recruited a squad of cheerleaders to perform kicks, jumps
and splits in the airport's main hall. During massive fog-related delays in
Dalian last week, the cheerleaders' pom-pom routines "soothed emotion and
alleviated fatigue" for more than 5,000 stranded flyers, according to the
Dalian Evening News. More on CNNGo: Traditional Thai cheerleading explained
The cheerleading show is part of the airport's effort to "bring more
convenience to passengers in the summer-autumn air season," said Zhen Qun
(郑群), an airport official.read more

Best of Manila

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 05:28 — Anonymous by Cheryl Tiu For many travelers, the
Philippine capital of Manila is viewed as a stopover or transit city to the
white sand beaches of Boracay and Palawan, or the vacation island of Cebu. 
Despite not bringing in big tourist numbers, however, Manila is one of the
most vibrant cities in the region. The people, soul, camaraderie and fiesta
attitude are all part of the best of Manila charm. Where else in the world
can you sing karaoke in an air-conditioned jeepney, cocktail in hand, while
weaving in and out of city streets? To help you find the best of Manila,
here's a quick guide to the city's highlights.   More on CNNGo: How to be a
Manila local: 10 tips for faking itread more

iReport: My favorite Japan destinations

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 01:55 — Anonymous by Patrick BudmarIn a recent CNNGo
iReport assignment, we asked readers to share their photos of their favorite
Japanese destinations. Patrick Budmar, a 30-year-old Aussie from Sydney, told
us what led him off the usual, well-worn tourist trail. "I just wanted to
show that there are places that can be easily and cheaply visited from
Tokyo," he said. "Not all sightseeing has to be limited to Harajuku and
the Imperial Palace, though they are great places to visit as well." Nearby
nature While central Tokyo has much to offer in terms of sightseeing, things
only start to get more interesting once you venture outside of the
well-trodden paths of the city center. Anyone keen to experience the natural
beauty that Japan has to offer will realize that inner Tokyo has very little
in this regard, but you don't need to travel far to come into contact with
a different side of the country.read more

How to be a Manila local: 10 tips on faking it

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 00:33 — Anonymous by Lou E. AlbanoManila can be an
intimidating city for a newcomer. It doesn't have to be. Follow these 10 tips
on how to look like a local and pretty soon people will be calling you "Chip"
or "Te." More on CNNGo: Best of Manila 1. How to talk to strangers If you run
into Manny Pacquiao, show off your Tagalog skills by calling him "Pogi." In
Manila, it's all about balancing familiarity and respect.read more

Insider Guide: What to do in Beijing

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 00:00 — Anonymous by Zoe Li, Raemin Zhang, Tom
O'MalleyImportant things happen in Beijing. You can feel this everywhere in
the city of nearly 20 million people. There are the majestic imperial
buildings, perfectly preserved in their gold and blood-red, sharing the same
sidewalk with Soviet masterpieces designed to intimidate. In the last few
years, before and after the Beijing 2008 Olympics, modern wonders of glass
and chrome plucked from some architect's whimsical imagination have appeared.
It all makes Beijing's cityscape a study in superlatives; the grand scale of
the city planning a campaign for headlines. And yet, there is a Beijing that
is growing organically on a human scale, particularly within the narrow
hutongs (tiny alleys that separate traditional courtyard homes).read more

The Philippines' best beaches and islands

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 00:37 — Anonymous by Candice Lopez-QuimpoPicking a
favorite beach in the Philippines is like trying to pick a favorite child.
 Challenging, but not impossible.  With more than 7,000 islands edged by
white sand buffering turquoise waters filled with some of the world's most
diverse marine life, not everyone will agree on which one is best.  Disagree
with our picks? Share your favorite Filipino island or beach in the comments
box below.  More on CNNGo: Special Report: What's the future of Philippines
tourism? 1. El Nido, Palawan Hollywood loves El Nido. Scenes for the
upcoming final installment of the "Bourne" series were shot here. The island
was also the setting of a pit stop on "The Amazing Race."read more

36 hours on a Philippine bus

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 02:13 — Anonymous by Gelo GonzalesJeepney. Moto-trike.
Banca boat. Kuliglig. (Click through the gallery above if you don't know
what that last one is.) There are lots of creative ways to get around the
Philippines. To experience the best of the country's gorgeous countryside
and meet its outgoing locals, however, one of the most fun ways is to hop on
a bus for a trip through the provinces. That's why we dispatched Manila
native Gelo Gonzalez to spend 24 hours on a Philippine bus trip and document
his trip. Also on CNNGo: How to be a Manila local: 10 tips for faking itread
more

10 reasons to love the Middle East

Sat, 04/28/2012 - 00:00 — Anonymous by Sara HamdanThere are a lot of things
you can't do in the Middle East. Just ask that couple who got caught kissing
on the beach in Dubai a few years ago. Twice.  But there are a lot of things
you can do, that you can't do anywhere else. Here are some of the best. 1.
Bash dunes, Dubai There's nothing like blasting music while riding a
four-wheel drive haphazardly up and down sand hills to feel the rush that
comes from dune bashing. So much for slow-paced safaris and quiet dinners in
tents -- this is one way to experience the desert that you can only do in the
Gulf. In Saudi Arabia, dune bashing is most popular in border cities such as
Al-Khararah.read more

Tokyo International Bar Show brimming with world champs

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:36 — Anonymous Here's an idea for Golden Week --
spend it recovering from the vast array of superb imbibing on offer at the
Tokyo International Bar Show. The capital's most-celebrated drink
extravaganza takes place May 5 and 6 at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi and
promises seminars in sake, gin, whiskey and rum, drinks made by top
bartenders from London, New York, Paris and Tokyo, and best of all,
free-flowing alcohol. The TIBS story began 12 years ago with the birth of
"Whisky Magazine Japan." The local publisher, David Croll, threw a
launch party and invited distillers to hand out samples. He called it
"Whisky Magazine Live." The formula (lots of people + lots of alcohol)
proved popular and the event has been repeated every year since.read more

Take the edge off at Hong Kong's first craft beer festival, 'Beertopia!'

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 05:30 — Anonymous by Christopher DeWolfThe first Hong
Kong craft beer festival, Beertopia!, will bring together 90 remarkable brews
from around the world to be tasted within century-old Western Market in
Sheung Wan.  The emphasis at Beertopia! is on artisanal quality and
diversity, so we can finally discern our Doppelbock from our Lambic.   Also
on CNNGo: Best Hong Kong beer purveyors "It's about more than getting
huge mugs of beer to get drunk," says organizer Jonathan So. "There are
so many different types of beer, so many flavors, and this is a way to try a
bunch of them." Like many Hong Kong beer nerds, So got his first taste of
quality brews abroad, when he was living in New York.read more

Welcome back, Shanghai Tang! Hong Kong flagship biggest in the world

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 14:50 — Anonymous by CNNGoDuddell Street no longer needs
street lamps now that Shanghai Tang Mansion is open. Hong Kong's Shanghai
Tang was kicked out of its Pedder Building home of 17 years last November
when Abercrombie & Fitch won the bid for the lease at HK$7 million. But they
got the last laugh in the face of Hong Kong's property bubble. Shanghai Tang
are now back with a fierce three-story monument to Chinese chicdom on Duddell
Street, just a stone's throw from their old digs.    Dubbed the Shanghai
Tang Mansion, the nearly 1,400-square-meter flagship store is the largest
branch of Shanghai Tang in the world. More on CNNGo: Shanghai Tang moves
into Mongolian yurts in Hong Kongread more

Exhibitionists only: Visitors strip at Sydney expo

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 03:38 — Anonymous With a forecast high of 22 C this
weekend, most Sydney visitors will be looking forward to some
pretty-much-perfect weather, but there's a select bunch who may find that a
touch chilly. That's because they'll be touring the city's Museum of
Contemporary Art (MCA) completely naked in an event led by Melbourne Artist
Stuart Ringholt. He'll be checking his clothes in at the door too, by the
way. Ringholt's tour is actually billed on the MCA website as a
performance, so that should give some clue as to his motivation here. He says
he aims to address "themes of fear and embarrassment." The event itself
comes with the equally attention-seeking -- not to mention long -- title,
"Preceded by a tour of the show by artist Stuart Ringholt 6-8pm (the artist
will be naked. Those who wish to join the tour must also be naked. Adults
only)."read more

Deal of the week: Super-cheap Shinkansen pass

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 08:51 — Anonymous by Gail NakadaWe all know that train
travel in Japan is super-fast, super-efficient and super-expensive. Equally,
the historically strong yen makes it even more costly for visitors looking to
stretch their travel horizons beyond Tokyo's concrete sprawl. Until now.
Following the March 11 earthquake last year, tourism and travel chiefs are
anxious to lure travelers back to Japan and the latest carrot at the end of
the stick is looking pretty tasty -- it's called the JR East Pass. For only
¥10,000 yen (US$123), Japan Rail (JR) East is offering a three-day unlimited
train pass on any of its lines and routes, including the Shinkansen bullet
train, from Tokyo all the way up to Aomori Prefecture in the far north. The
three days can be within a 10-day window, meaning there's no need to
rush. As a point of reference, a single fare from Tokyo to Aomori typically
costs around ¥16,000. Tourism officials are hoping incoming tourists will
head toward the quake-hit Tohoku region and there's a "Destination
Iwate" campaign on the JR website to encourage just that.read more

How to make a mint at Japan's antique markets

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:55 — Anonymous by Lisa JardineIf you've been to an
antiques market in Tokyo or one of the area's many shrine sales in the past
few years, it's likely you've come across Jacqueline Wein -- or Tokyo
Jinja as she's known to her dedicated band of online followers. She often
draws small crowds waiting to see what gem she will pick up and examine.
Selections made, it's not unusual to find her making several trips between
the market and her car, loading up purchases she's made on behalf of her
customers around the globe. Jacqueline Wein runs the numbers at another
sale.Wein's fascination with treasure hunting started at a young age in
flea markets and garage sales in the United States. This fascination led to
Princeton where she studied history and art. From there she went on to deal
in 19th-century silver -- a period directly influenced by the "opening"
of Japan -- and spent several years in the 1990s in Hong Kong studying
Chinese and Japanese antiques. Helping clients integrate the quintessential
piece into their home, regardless of their particular style, is her
specialty. Wein prides herself in finding the one valuable object in a crowd
of junk.read more

Beyond the duck: 20 best Beijing restaurants

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 23:57 — Anonymous by Tom O'MalleyBeijing hums with the
steam and sizzle of 70,000 restaurants showcasing the country's best regional
cooking. Diners can eat their way through China without leaving the capital
city. Every type of classic Chinese food is represented in Beijing, from
Chongqing-style spicy hot pot joints to holes-in the-wall selling mutton
skewers made by Xinjiang natives. The city's fine dining scene is also
experiencing a boom, attracting celebrity restaurateurs such as Daniel
Boulud, and giving rise to a generation of maverick contemporary chefs.
Here's our list of 20 of Beijing's best eateries to match every budget.
Expensive More than RMB 250 per person, excluding drinks.read more

10 reasons travelers can't keep away from Jeju Island

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 08:00 — Anonymous by Jennifer BarclayJust off the coast
of South Korea, Jeju Island pulls in vacationers and honeymooners by the
thousands.  April to June is prime time for school trips. "You get a lot of
students on field trips from April to June," says Kim Mi-ryang, of the Korea
Tourist Organization's Jeju branch.  But there is plenty of space for all.
With half a million people spread over an area that's three times as big as
Seoul, there's a lazy feel to the place.  Even if you haven't just gotten
married, a vacation here sure can feel like it. Regular direct flights to and
from international cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing and Shanghai (as well
as South Korea's domestic airports) and liberal visa requirements also make
getting here a snap.read more

iPad-controlled superyacht almost does away with deckhands

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 09:28 — Anonymous by CNNGo staffSailors around the world
have been admiring the US$15-million superyacht, Adastra, which launched in
Zhuhai two weeks ago. Hailed as the first made-in-China superyacht, the
futuristic, three-hulled vessel -- whose name translates as "to the stars" --
belongs to 62-year-old Hong Kong shipping tycoon Antony Marden and is the
brainchild of U.K.-based boat designer John Shuttleworth, who spent more than
five years crafting the design. The 42.5-meter yacht contains one en suite
master cabin, two guest cabins, a lounge area, a dining area, a galley, and a
bar on the aft deck. Adastra can accommodate as many as nine guests and six
crew. Despite the unusual structure and luxury interiors, Adastra's
iPad-control system is what everybody is really talking about. More luxe
yachts to be iPad-controlled Although remote access is by no means news to
the yacht industry, Adastra pushes the tech to a new level.read more

Turbulence after Victoria Beckham Twitter pic

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 10:18 — Anonymous "Cabin crew prepare for landing!
Welcome to Beijing!!" tweeted Victoria Beckham. Ever been on a flight waiting
for the restroom and decided to park your butt on one of those horribly
uncomfortable looking jump seats the airline attendants sit in when taking
off and landing? If so, you were likely told to move given those seats are
reserved for cabin crew only.  Unless your name is Victoria Beckham. The
former Posh Spice/current fashion designer and wife of the planet's second
prettiest soccer player -- after Christiano Ronaldo, of course -- caused a
stir this past week after she posted a Twitter photo of herself sitting with
a Cathay Pacific crew member, apparently pretending to make an announcement
on her Hong Kong to Beijing flight.  Some internet users criticized her for
putting the flight at risk, others said people need to lighten up. read more

10 of the best medieval walled cities

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 23:01 — Anonymous by Bruce HolmesFor history buffs,
photographers and anyone who's ever said "Wow!" there's nothing quite
like the sight of a medieval walled city approached from a distance. Then
there are the explorations within, tours of castles, walks along the walls
and shops and restaurants in medieval squares. Many cities still have their
medieval walls predominantly intact in various parts of the world. Did I
mention my obsession? I've visited quite a few. Also on CNNGo: Asia's 10
greatest street food cities 1. Pingyao, China Situated in Shanxi province,
the 14th century Han Chinese city of Pingyao was once China's foremost
financial center with half the country's banks located there.read more

Best Hong Kong beer purveyors

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 12:58 — Anonymous by Christopher DeWolfEvery man in Hong
Kong has a drinking problem: two hands and only one mouth.Good news for craft
beer lovers in Hong Kong: there is more quality quaffage than ever before.
Depending on the hops, yeast and malts used in the brewing process, beer can
range from thick, sweet and rich, like the high-alcohol German Doppelbock, to
crisp, citrusy and bitter like an India Pale Ale (IPA). Along the way there
are beers as diverse as Lambic (a dry fruit ale made in Belgium) hefeweizen
(a perfect refreshing summer treat) and stout (like Guinness, but with many
even tastier options). Craft beers are made in small batches with special
attention paid to the quality of ingredients and the nuances of style.
"Craft beer is amazing because it has this awesome array of flavors that
still can surprise and amaze you 20 years after you have had your first,"
says Jeff Boda, a journalist and beer critic whose new company, Hop Leaf,
imports American and Japanese craft brews like Rogue and Baird.read more

Jessica Alba's whirlwind tour of Seoul

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 14:30 — Anonymous by CNNGo staff Hundreds of fans mobbed
Incheon Airport today when Jessica Alba flew out of Seoul after a whirlwind
five-day visit to Korea with husband Cash Warren and daughters Honor and
Haven. The star of "Sin City" and "Fantastic Four" was in town for a --
relatively -- low-key family trip which was booked through Cosmojin Tour,
which specializes in VIP tours of Korea. Other patrons have included Woody
Allen, Cindy Crawford and YouTube co-founder Steve Chen. Korean media and
blogs started humming once they realized Alba was in country when she began
tweeting photos at Seoul landmarks. In addition to enjoying a couples'
massage at the Hilton Hotel's Swiss Perfection Spa, Alba was photographed
at the hottest Seoul club of the moment -- Octagon at the Hilltop Hotel --
last Saturday night. We hope the babysitter got a fat tip. After clubbing,
she then headed to a pojangmacha to celebrate her forthcoming 31st birthday
with soju and and fruit.read more

Budget carrier Scoot adds Bangkok flights

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 12:29 — Anonymous Singapore Airlines' new low-cost
carrier Scoot just announced it will be operating daily return flights to
Bangkok from July 5.  As a promotion, Scoot is selling return tickets for
S$88 (US$70.42). The addition of the Bangkok route means Scoot will be
challenging Singapore Airlines' other budget carrier, Tiger Airways, as well
as Jetstar and AirAsia.  Scoot executives previously announced the airline
would be flying between Singapore and Sydney, the Gold Coast in Australia and
Tianjin in northern China.  Scoot's inaugural flight out of Singapore will
take off on June 4, to Sydney. To book, visit Flyscoot.com.  read more

What do airline CEOs pack when they travel?

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 09:49 — Anonymous by Rachel Sang-hee HanEnough
repurchasing USB adaptors and phone chargers because you keep forgetting to
pack them. The key to packing smart is knowing what you really need.  We
asked some of the most frequent fliers in the world -- airline CEOs -- about
their favorite picks to pack. iPad: Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines The
ultimate travel, entertainment, business companion. It really depends on the
style of the traveler -- reader, film buff, game addict -- but it can all
come down to the trusty iPad.  "Most trips I take are quite long, generally
five hours or more and the two things I make sure I have with me are a book
and my iPad," says Temel Kotil, 53, of Turkish Airlines.  "While I enjoy the
in-flight entertainment provided and often watch a number of movies, the
uninterrupted time while in the air provides a quiet period for reading and
listening to music that is found in few other places.read more

Survey reveals the best airplane seat

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:05 — Anonymous by James DurstonIf I were to guess what
airplane seat you preferred on flights, and be correct, that would be
impressive, wouldn't it?  Well here I go. 6A. OK that may not have worked.
But had I said a seat in rows one to six, I would have been right for nearly
half the people reading this article. Had I predicted an even number, I would
have been right for nearly two-thirds of you.read more

Tune budget hotels set for Sydney, Melbourne

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 03:55 — Anonymous Complaints about the high price of
holidaying in Oz are set to lose a little legitimacy with the news that Tune
Hotels is about to set up shop with new budget hotels in both Melbourne and
Sydney. The no-frills hotel chain -- owned by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes
-- opened its first property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2007 with rooms
selling for as little as US$3 a night. Melbourne will be first Australian
destination to get a Tune hotel, when a Swanson Street branch opens in August
next year. After that, Melbourne appears to be next on a hit list that's
bound to have the established hotels looking over their shoulders. More on
CNNGo: AirAsia boss announces new airline for the super richread more

Legoland Hotel Malaysia set for 2014 launch

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 09:47 — Anonymous by Hiufu WongSo far, only the model of
Legoland Hotel Malaysia has been finished.Tired of the usual cookie-cutter
hotel rooms and safe, neutral colors? Check out Legoland Malaysia as a
potential next holiday. The park has announced plans to open Asia's first
Legoland Hotel in 2014, adjacent to the theme park in Johor. The 249-room
hotel is not built with Lego bricks but visitors can still expect to find the
little plastic cuboids everywhere. Even the fries in the restaurant are
shaped like them.  Unusually for a hotel, children were front of mind during
the design phase. Too bad the receptionist isn't dressed up as a Lego
man.read more

Stone the crows: It's the Sydney Comedy Festival!

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 04:55 — Anonymous Get ready for three weeks of big yuks
with acts like Charlie Murphy at the Sydney Comedy Festival.Whatever you
think about the Aussies, there's no denying they have a sense of humor --
they pinched most of it from the Brits, after all. Keeping that reputation
alive is the much-loved Sydney Comedy Festival, which hits its eighth edition
later this month. Running from April 24 to May 12, this year's bash
features homegrown and international acts tickling ribs at venues across the
city. Organizers expect the usual inrush of tourists as well as locals keen
on yuks by the bucket load. International appeal "Its fantastic to see the
festival grow year after year," says Festival Director, Jorge Menidis.
"Our audience members fly in from all round Australia to attend, with some
performances bringing in visitors from New Zealand and even Southeast
Asia." The festival opens with its traditional Cracker Night -- American
readers might need an Oz dictionary, lest they get the wrong idea -- on April
24.read more