http://goseasia.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2012-02-19T19:53:09Z Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:53:09 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/22/adventures-out-there-on-cat-ba-island-ha-long-bay-vietnam.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/S/b/-/-/catba_1.jpg" alt="butterfly valley cat ba island ha long bay vietnam" /><br /> <em><small>Image &#169; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariachily/3380256239/in/photostream/">Maria Ly / Creative Commons</a>. </small></em></p> <p>Cat Ba Island is the largest of the thousands of islands spanning the watery expanse of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnamstopattractions/a/Ha-Long-Bay-Vietnam.htm">Ha Long Bay</a>, but it's far more than just an extra-big chunk of real estate. The 70,000 acres making up the island are made of the same stuff as the rest of Ha Long Bay - limestone - creating a landscape ripe for adventure seekers.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/22/adventures-out-there-on-cat-ba-island-ha-long-bay-vietnam.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/22/adventures-out-there-on-cat-ba-island-ha-long-bay-vietnam.htm Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:59:59 +0000 2012-02-22T07:59:59Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/19/march-hotel-discounts-in-singapores-marina-bay-and-heritage-districts.htm <p>I hate to harp on this, but <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/singapore/a/sgessentials.htm">Singapore</a>'s reputation as an expensive city may be a little overwrought. If you fly to Singapore at just the right times of the year, you can score some pretty sweet hotel deals. The hotels listed after the jump have slashed prices by as much as 25 percent, and offer some really good access to Marina Bay and Singapore's heritage district. Book early to get the lowest deals afoot, and save a little more money to spend on the rest of Singapore's great attractions.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/19/march-hotel-discounts-in-singapores-marina-bay-and-heritage-districts.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/19/march-hotel-discounts-in-singapores-marina-bay-and-heritage-districts.htm Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:53:09 +0000 2012-02-19T19:53:09Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/15/singapore-is-southeast-asias-most-expensive-city-but-budget-options-remain.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/0/E/-/-/heeren.jpg" alt="heeren orchard" /><em><br /> </em><br /> <em><small>Image of the Heeren, Orchard courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.</small></em></p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/singapore/a/sgessentials.htm">Singapore</a> is one of the world's most expensive cities, <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/02/14/singapore-among-worlds-most-expensive-cities/">reports the <em>Wall Street Journal</em></a>, becoming Southeast Asia's most pricey metropolis to live in and ranking 9th in the world.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/15/singapore-is-southeast-asias-most-expensive-city-but-budget-options-remain.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/15/singapore-is-southeast-asias-most-expensive-city-but-budget-options-remain.htm Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:55:08 +0000 2012-02-15T02:55:08Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/09/newly-renovated-rooms-at-singapores-elizabeth-hotel-come-with-freebies-and-upgrades.htm <p><a href="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/K/b/-/-/elizabeth_executive_room.jpg"><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/K/b/-/-/elizabeth_executive_room.jpg" alt="elizabeth hotel executive room" /></a><br /> <em><small>Image courtesy of Far East Hospitality.</small></em></p> <p>After an SGD 3.5 million facelift, the Elizabeth Hotel (<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://kayak.about.com/s/search/hoteldetails?ai=about&#038;p=goseasia&#038;hid=32191">compare rates</a>&#124;<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3989807-10595024?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel%2Etravelocity%2Ecom%2Fel%2Edo%3Fea%5Fsid%3D%25zs%26ea%5Faid%3D%25za%26ea%5Fpid%3D%25zp%26Service%3DCJUS%26dest%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fhotels.travelocity.com%252Fhotel%252FHotelLanding.do%253FpropertyId%253D34038">buy direct</a>) is re-opening its executive rooms with a new contemporary design and plenty of creature comforts: modern furnishings in every executive room, along with a 40-inch LED HD TV and a rain-shower experience in each bathroom.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/09/newly-renovated-rooms-at-singapores-elizabeth-hotel-come-with-freebies-and-upgrades.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/09/newly-renovated-rooms-at-singapores-elizabeth-hotel-come-with-freebies-and-upgrades.htm Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:10:35 +0000 2012-02-09T04:10:35Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/06/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines.htm <p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goseasia/1/0/8/b/-/-/boulderface_1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Mount Apo has always been a favorite for Filipino adventurers (see our list of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/philippinestopattractions/ss/Nature-And-Adventure-Travel-Davao-City-Philippines.htm">Nature &#038; Adventure Travel Activities in Davao City, Philippines</a> for more), but adventure travelers from around the world are only just starting to pay attention to the Philippines' tallest mountain. The International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge ought to be right up their alley: a 24-hour extreme adventure race starting from the beach lines of the town of Santa Cruz and ending at the summit of Mt. Apo 9,600 feet above sea level.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/06/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/06/international-mt-apo-boulder-face-challenge-grips-davao-philippines.htm Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:13 +0000 2012-02-06T01:00:13Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/05/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/R/E/-/-/thaipusam_4.jpg" alt="thaipusam malaysia" /></p> <p><small><em>Image &#169; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayce/104676396/">tajai</a>/Creative Commons</em></small></p> <p>For Southeast Asia's formidable Indian Hindu population, tomorrow's celebration of the feast of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfestiva2/a/thaipusam.htm">Thaipusam</a> marks one of the most important days in their religious calendar. The day marks the birthday of the Lord Murugan, on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (Thai + Pusam, a star at its apogee = Thaipusam).</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/05/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/05/the-hindu-feast-of-thaipusam-starts-tomorrow-february-7.htm Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:11:44 +0000 2012-02-05T22:11:44Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/02/vietnams-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/7/b/-/-/getty_halong_4.jpg" alt="getty images ha long bay vietnam" /><br /> <em><small>Image of junk in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam courtesy of Getty Images.<br /> </small></em></p> <p>Consider the obstacles of getting to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnamstopattractions/a/Ha-Long-Bay-Vietnam.htm"> Ha Long Bay</a> in Vietnam: you need to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnamstopattractions/a/Booking-A-Package-Tour-To-Ha-Long-Bay-Vietnam.htm">book a package tour</a> among the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnamstopattractions/a/Hiring-A-Travel-Agency-In-Hanoi-Vietnam.htm">tour agencies in Hanoi</a> - assuming you've chosen from a day tour or one of those luxurious sleepaboard <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/halong_bay/tp/Luxury-Cruises-Ha-Long-Bay-Vietnam.htm">cruises in Ha Long Bay</a>. (Some try to cut out the middleman by trying a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnamstopattractions/a/Do-It-Yourself-Tour-Of-Ha-Long-Bay.htm">do it yourself tour to Ha Long Bay</a>, but I wouldn't recommend that for first-timers.) It takes another three to four hours to drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and a few tense minutes lining up past the crowds to get into your tourist boat.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/02/vietnams-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/02/vietnams-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort.htm Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:45:14 +0000 2012-02-02T04:45:14Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/01/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goseasia/1/H/Q/N/-/-/galungan.jpg" alt="galungan bali indonesia" /></p> <p>To celebrate the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfestival1/a/galungan.htm">festival of Galungan</a>, Balinese Hindus make their way to temples and pray to commemorate the victory of good over evil and worldly distractions. Galungan recurs over a 210-day calendar, so the next Galungan holiday rolls around near the end of the year, from August 29 to September 7.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/01/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/02/01/balinese-festival-of-galungan-begins-today-february-1.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:06:13 +0000 2012-02-01T00:06:13Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/tripadvisor-travelers-choice-awards.htm <p>Tripadvisor's users have spoken: in their recent Travelers' Choice Awards (<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice">tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice</a>), a number of Southeast Asia destinations and hotels got recognized by Tripadvisor's 60 million readers as the best of the best. The winners' lists have expanded to include top-25 lists for 30 countries and regions, as well as an international competition for the best properties to visit.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/tripadvisor-travelers-choice-awards.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/tripadvisor-travelers-choice-awards.htm Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:35:40 +0000 2012-01-31T23:35:40Z http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event.htm <p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goseasia/1/0/h/a/-/-/mojkt_iluvweekend1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>I've blogged before about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2011/06/06/enjoying-car-free-sundays-from-the-ascott-jakarta-indonesia.htm">Jakarta, Indonesia's Car-Free Sunday scheme</a>, which is a great way to catch the local atmosphere in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/od/indonesiastopattractions/tp/8_jakarta_stops.htm">Indonesia's capital city</a>. The Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta (<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://kayak.about.com/s/search/hoteldetails?ai=about&#038;p=goseasia&#038;hid=38650">compare rates</a>&#124;<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3989807-10595024?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel%2Etravelocity%2Ecom%2Fel%2Edo%3Fea%5Fsid%3D%25zs%26ea%5Faid%3D%25za%26ea%5Fpid%3D%25zp%26Service%3DCJUS%26dest%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fhotels.travelocity.com%252Fhotel%252FHotelDetail.do%253FpropertyId%253D4747%2526tab%253Dfeatures">buy direct</a>) not only looms over one of the focal points of the route (the Bundaran HI roundabout), it also joined in the fun last January 29 with their "I Love Weekend" campaign.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goseasia.about.com/b/2012/01/31/mandarin-oriental-jakarta-joins-car-free-sunday-with-i-love-weekend-bike-event.htm Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:38:14 +0000 2012-01-31T08:38:14Z