Nearing 30 years together with hundreds of credits and accolades to their names, TOTO remains one of the top selling tour-acts in the world. Collectively and individually, the band has played on nearly every major hit record of the past quarter century, placing their distinctive stamp of excellence all over CD shelves around the world. With nearly 30 million records sold, TOTO is the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire musical community.

TOTO “Falling In Between” Tour

In Asia: April-May 2006

When And Where?

April 2006 	
26  Wednesday: 	Koseinenkin Kaikan, Kanazawa - Japan
27  Thursday: Shi Kokaido, Nagoya - Japan
28  Friday: Yubinchokin Hall, Hiroshima - Japan

May 2006 	
1  Monday: Shimin Kaikan, Fukuoka - Japan
2  Tuesday: Grand Cube, Osaka - Japan
4  Thursday: Koseinenkin Kaikan, Sapporo - Japan
6  Saturday: Pacifico, Yokohama	- Japan
7  Sunday: International Forum, Tokyo - Japan
8  Monday: International Forum, Tokyo - Japan
10 Wednesday: Royal Paragon Hall, Bangkok - Thailand
12 Friday: Shangri-La Ballroom, Surabaya - Indonesia
14 Sunday: Jakarta 	Plenary Hall-Convention Center, Jakarta - Indonesia
16 Tuesday: Fort Canning Park, Singapore - Singapore

Ticket Information:
Singapore sistic.com.sg
Thailand thaiticketmaster

More info about the tour.

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Map was developed by dividing the tourist number (2003) with the general population of the country.

Several numbers:

• In 2003, 665 million international tourist trips were made.
• Meaning 10.7% from world’s population holidayed abroad (some are repeated trips).
• Western Europe is the most popular destination for international tourists, the region receives 46% of world tourist trips.

Map and data are from Worldmapper Tourist Destination. Find more interesting maps on the site: Worldmapper

From the map, we can see that Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are also a popular tourist destination.

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The Singapore Flyer - a giant observation wheel, is set to be Asia’s most visible Iconic Visitor Attraction. When completed in March 2008, The Singapore Flyer will provide breathtaking panoramic views of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

It will be one of the world’s largest man-made moving land objects at a height of 169 metres – equivalent to a 42-story building. It will comprise a giant observation wheel 150-metres in diameter sitting astride a 20-metre high, three storey terminal building.

Official website of Singapore Flyer

More information:

• Location
• Design – Architectural Design
• Design - Capsule
• Facts and Figures
• Project Team

Very similar construction with another similar giant observation wheel in London, called London Eye

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For the whole day on 30th March, Bali, Indonesia will practically closed due to Nyepi or the Day of Silence a Balinese New Year.

No flighst will be landing or take off into the island. Shops, beaches, nightclubs, bar will all be closed.

Tourists are not allowed to venture out between 6 a.m on March 30 to 6 a.m. on March 31.

Authorities require that all people in Bali stay indoors, make no noise and switch off all lights for the duration of this period. To Balinese Hindus, Nyepi is perhaps the most important day on the religious calendar and the prohibitions are taken very seriously.

The Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of Silence, which falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox, opens a new year of the Saka Hindu era which began in 78 A.D.

Nyepi is a day to make and keep the balance of nature.

From the religious and philosophy point of view, Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, eg humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., that should kept forever.

Related links with Nyepi:

• Indonesia: Bali - Balinese New Year (Nyepi) Smartraveller.gov.au
• Bali’s day of silence Indo.com
• BALI CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2006 BaliGuide.com

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The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa is offering special rates between 11 and 17 April for the Songkran holiday. Songkran holiday is known also as water festival for Thais.
Every year during the month of April, many Thai people return to their place of birth to reunite with parents, families, and friends. They join together to celebrate the arrival of the new year in accordance with the solar calendar. During this time, they celebrate the festival with an exotic blend of peaceful customs, participate in parades with elaborately decorated floats and join fun-filled water-splashing activities that are enjoyed all over the country.

Travellers to Phuket can celebrate the festival at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa in style with the special Songkran Package, priced at just 3,999 Baht (100 USD) per night, for a minimum stay of three nights (normal price is more than 200 USD)

Guests can expect the spacious and comfortable accommodation of a Guest Room Garden View, as well as daily Euro-Asian buffet breakfast at Sails Restaurant.

The Songkran package also features several activities that guests can choose to participate in, namely:

• Offer merit and food to Thai Monks
• Join the Hilton parade of staff dressed in traditional Thai costume as they dance their way to the resort’s main pool
• Join the water splashing activities at the Lost Horizon Pool
• Thai New Year Buffet Dinner at Sails Restaurant on the 13th
• Guests who take up the special Songkran Package will also receive a turn-down gift in celebration of the festive occasion.

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Low-cost carrier AirAsia hopes to launch more flights to China and subsequently to India as part of its ambitious plans to become an Asia-wide airline.

Southeast Asia’s most profitable budget carrier is also looking at forming new joint-ventures in the region to boost revenue, group deputy chief executive Kamarudin Meranum told AFP over the weekend.

“We continue to talk to various parties to explore the possibility of establishing joint-ventures,” Kamarudin said.

Kamarudin said Indochina countries and the Philippines were on AirAsia’s radar to form joint-ventures.

“From our experiences in Thailand and Indonesia, we can set up joint-ventures fairly quickly.

“But it must fit into our strategic plan to make AirAsia become an Asian carrier and to provide easy and affordable access for people to travel in the region,” he said.

The Malaysia-based AirAsia has already managed 49 percent-owned joint venture low-cost carriers in Thailand and Indonesia since 2004.

Kamarudin declined to state with which Indochina country — Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam — the carrier would establish a joint-venture.

“In any joint-ventures, we will try to retain as much stake as allowed by the law of the country without contravening the air services agreement,” he said.

The AirAsia official also declined to comment on a report in January that the carrier had partnered with privately-owned Spring Airlines in hopes of tapping China’s budget travel market.

Kamarudin said with the arrival of new Airbus 320 aircraft, AirAsia hoped to increase both flights and frequency to China and other destinations.

“Our Thai hub will cover China and may look at the possibility of going to the Indian subcontinent of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“It is a natural plan of action to capture the leisure and business market in that region,” he said.

Kamarudin said AirAsia Thailand hoped to mount daily flights from the Thai capital Bangkok to Xiamen in southeast China, up from four flights a week now.

“We want to have a minimum of one flight a day to all our destinations. From there we will increase the frequency,” he said. Besides Xiamen, AirAsia flies to the southern Chinese territory of Macau.

But with the arrival of the A320s, airline officials said AirAsia would consider flying from Kuala Lumpur to China’s southern cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which neighbours Hong Kong.

Kamarudin, however, said AirAsia now faced a shortage of aircraft but when more of the A320 planes arrive, “we will increase the frequency and routes.”

Since last December, AirAsia has taken delivery of five of the 100 A320 aircraft it had ordered. By end of 2006, it will have 15 in service along with the Boeing 737-400s that would be slowly phased out.

AirAsia, which has welcomed the Malaysian government’s domestic rationalisation plan, Friday said that it would hold talks with flag carrier Malaysia Airlines to acquire its 737-400 aircraft and staff.

AirAsia on Thursday secured approval to fly most of Malaysia’s domestic routes.

Under the rationalisation programme, AirAsia would operate all secondary domestic services while also operating on perhaps the five-10 busiest routes with Malaysia Airlines.

The government has ordered both AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines to identify and workout the division of routes by March 27.

Malaysia Airlines has 39 737-400 aircraft which are primarily used for domestic and regional routes.

AirAsia was launched as a budget carrier in December 2001 with just two aircraft. It offers more than 100 domestic and international flights to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Source: Yahoo! News

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Basically you will need Visa to enter Vietnam unless your country have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam.

You can apply for Vietnamese Tourist Visa in Vietnamese embassies or consulates abroad.

Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are travelling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies.

Requirements to apply for Vietnamese Visa:

+ Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another) - There are two categories of this form: for foreigners and for Vietnamese overseas.
+ Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm)
+ Original passport
+ Visa fee

List of countries where its citizens are eligeble for Visa Exempetion:

+ Not more than 30 days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.

+ Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.

+ Three months: for French citizens

+ Not more than 60 days: for Chile citizens

More information as well as Visa form sample can be found here: Visa Procedure - Vietnam Tourism.com

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Nepal is a mecca for trekkers, with the world’s 12 highest peaks and unparalleled combination of natural beauty attracting them. While trekking on these paths, you will come across many people and places and get to see their way of life and live a part of their culture.

If you came overland from India by plane, these flight offer a panoramic view of the Himalaya, in just one hour.

During the flight you will see the mightiest Himalayas including Shisha Pngma (8,013m.), Dorje Lakpa (6,966m.), Phurbi-Ghyachu, Choba- Bhamre (5,933m.), GauriShankar (7,134m.), Melungtse (7,023 m), Chugimago 6,297 m), Numbur (6956 m), Karyolung (6511m), Cho-Oyu (8,201m.), Gyachungkang (7,952 m), Pumori (7,161m), Nuptse (7,855m), Mt.Everest (8,848+2m) - the highest peak in the world (also known as ‘Sagarmatha‘ in the Nepali Language) and many more, including a glimpse of Kanchanjunga.

Trekking Seasons:
Although it is possible to trek at any time of the year in Nepal, the main season begins in Autumn (October and November), when there’s minimal rainfall and crystal-clear, mountain views.

During the Winter (December to Febuary), it’s freezing above 4,000 metres and the high passes may be snowbound. Winter is an ideal season for a lower trek.

March to May marks the beginning of the Spring trekking season, which peaks around mid-April.

Other options for trekking:

Heli Trekking:
While the whole point of trekking is using your feet, not everyone can climb the heights to appreciate wonderful, panoranic views of the Himalayas.

For those who are restricted by time (or other constraints) from going trekking, helicopters fly swiftly into the core of any trekking zone.

Ballooning:
Ballooning is quite a popular sport in Nepal and a good enough reason to view nature at its best, from a height of 1,200 to 1,500 metres.

From this altitude, the entire Himalayan range will be in sight, with 360 degrees of visibility and fantastic downward views of the Kathmandu valley itself.

For more information on visiting Nepal, visit Himalayan Glacier Travel Advice.

Source: Himalayan Adventures in Nepal

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Full Moon Party is a monthly rave-party on Koh-Pha Ngan, Thailand. There are about 10,000-20,000 people every month at this beach party. International and Thai DJ’s are making the crowd go wild. Paint yourself in UV colors and let your body lose control. The DJ’s play all kinds of music; techno, trance, goa, drum n’ bass, dub, reggae, “commercial hits”, house etc on about 15 soundsystems along Haad Rin beach. There are also many small tables on the beach where you can sit down with your friends or meet new ones from all parts of the globe. You can order drinks and food from the restaurants and the bars next to the Had Rin Nok beach.

Approximated dates of Full Moon Party
Some of the dates below might be incorrect. Dates might change if there is a Buddhist holiday at full moon. Please check with Thai travel agent.

How To Get There?
Koh Pha Ngan is a small island, you can reach it from Koh Samui or Koh Tao.
From Bangkok to Koh Samui, you can go by plane, bus or train. See this link for optional choices to travel to Samui.

Where to stay
You can stay in Koh Pha Ngan or in Koh Samui. Many acoomodation types offered there. Please check this link for hotels in Samui dan Pha Ngan.

Info from kohsamui.org

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There are four low-cost that has many flights all over Asia (Pan-Asian carriers) but mostly in South East Asia, there are:

• AirAsia (Country based: Malaysia)
• Jetstar Asia Airways (subsidiary of QANTAS (Country based: Singapore)
• Tiger Airways (subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (Country based: Singapore)
• Valuair (subsidiary of Jetstar Asia Airways (Country based: Singapore)

Besides the above, other low-cost budget cheap airlines in Asia, country-wise are:

» Low cost airlines in Hong Kong

Oasis Airways

» Low cost airlines in Indonesia

• Awair (subsidiary of AirAsia)
• Citilink (subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia)
• Lion Air
• Adam Air

» Low cost airlines in Thailand

• Nok Air (subsidiary of Thai Airways International)
• One-Two-GO (subsidiary of Orient Thai)
• Thai AirAsia (subsidiary of AirAsia)

» Low cost airlines in Japan

• Hokkaido International Airlines (also known as Air Do)
• Skymark Airlines
• Skynet Asia Airways
• StarFlyer (from March 2006)

» Low cost airlines in Macau

Viva Macau

» Low cost airlines in Philippines

• Air Philippines
• Asian Spirit
• Cebu Pacific
• South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR)

Info source is from Wikipedia: List of low-cost airlines

More info:

A good travel guide can help you in deciding about the travel lodge plans for your trip. If you are considering air travel, then you can search on the various cheap airlines. A thorough and effective search lets you make airline reservations that will help you in planning out everything on time. Depending upon the destination you select, you will need to survey the best budget hotels available. Your plans might as well include a travel bag that should be handy with the urgent travel necessities.

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DISNEY ON ICE

“The Magical World of Disney on Ice” will tour theatres and arenas worldwide for the first time ever this summer in bangkok. The new live family entertainment show, Disney on Ice “The Magical World of Disney on Ice” will take audiences on a journey of adventure and surprise with cartoon player in your beloved are live, on stage.

Venue: Impact Arena
Location: Muangthongtani Changwattana Road - Bangkok
Date: 24 March - 2 April 2006 (19 Performances)

Ticket: 800 Baht, 600 Baht, 300 Baht

More information about schedule (Thai and English soundtrack version), seating plan, and online booking visit: Thai Ticket Master.

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Special program in March from airasia depart from/to Bangkok Airport. These prices are exclusive tax and fuel surcharge.

Booking Period: 8 Mar 2006 - 23 Mar 2006

Travel Period: 1 Apr 2006 - 28 Oct 2006

International low fares

- Singapore from THB699 / SGD 28.88

- Penang from THB699 / RM 69.99

- Hanoi from THB999 / US$ 25

Domestic low fares:

- Surat Thani from THB 499 (US$ 13)

- Krabi from THB 499 (US$ 13)

Visit airasia for online booking!

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