Travel

Laptop Power Guide

2008-06-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

Choose a seat with laptop power for your upcoming flight

Navigate to the airline & airplane type for your upcoming flight using the left-hand menu system. If you aren't sure of your airplane type, read our guide to identifying your aircraft.

If your airplane has laptop power, a power port icon will display in the In-flight Amenity description section. There are three different power port icons; each one is described below. If no icon is displayed then laptop power is not available on this particular aircraft.

It is important to note that even if the airplane you're flying has power ports, they may not be located at every seat. We illustrate the availability of laptop power at an individual seat with a black dot. An example can be seen at left, where the laptop power ports are only located in rows 25 and 27.

Tips from : SeatGuru
More Tips : SeatGuru Tips

Where not to sit on a plane

2008-04-13T04:55:00.001-07:00

Ever been stuck in an airline seat that barley recline?

When you book a flight, note the type of plane you'll be on. Then go to http://seatguru.com/, where there's info on seat pitch and width, and the spots savvy passengers request most. You'll also see the location of power ports and the audio/video gear available. As for the food - you're on your own.

http://seatguru.com/

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Solo??

2008-03-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

If you're single and like to travel. you should know that some tour companies are finally easing the vice grip of double occupancy requirements. As well, an online organisation has emerged to help single travellers connect with one another.

TravelChums.com has more than 20.000 members worldwide. The confidential service is open only to registered members and includes internal e-mail, message boards and live chat.

Members can meet and identity those who share interests and travel plans. Registration in TravelChums is free and requires a list of personal information.

Malaysia Travel

2008-03-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Malaysia is 1st of the fast growing country of South East Asian tourism. A country that looks to the future while sustaining the ways of the past. Its centuries of trade have caused a vibrant melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribal cultures, creating a various land of people, traditions and religions. The wonderful setting is a combination of dense forest, soaring peaks and lush tropical plantations that contains a number of flora and fauna. Its wide selection of tropical island resorts with plenty of white, sandy beaches provide a great paradise, while beneath the warm turquoise waters, world class dive sites await to be explored.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?

Kuala Lumpur
Sarawak
Pahang
Kedah
Perlis
Johor
Perak
Malacca
Sabah
Selangor
Kelantan
Terengganu
Penang
Negeri Sembilan

http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/

Surviving Family Vacations

2008-02-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

How do you survive holidays Together?

Pack plenty of distractions for the kids-crayons,games, an iPod-to avoid the "Are we there yet?" syndrome.

Don't be a slave to a schedule, sucking the spontaneity out of your holiday.

While some parts of the trip will interest the whole family, it's only fair to indulge every one's taste.Building in downtime is important when travelling with smaller kids.

Don't view your day as a marathon but a series of shorter events with resets in between.Vacations are an ideal time for the family to bond. So leave the family squabbles behind.

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Healthy Way to Fly

2008-02-02T02:26:00.000-08:00

Stay-healthy tips (John Balmes, professor of environmental health sciences~University of California, Berkeley) :

Keep Clean

University of California, San Franciso, study reports we're at increased risk of catching cold and flu viruses during flights, due to the close quarters. Wash hands often, and if you're worried, wear a protective mask that's labelled N95. It screens out 95 per cent of airborne particles.

Bring Water

Researchers found bacteria such as E. Coli, know to cause duarhoea and nausea, in the water from galleys and skin in one of every seven planes.

Clear your Earrs

Changes in air pressure can suck the eardrum inward, and that hurts. A decongestant clears nasal passagesso pressure dosen't build up.

Get Up

When you sit for too long, blood pools in the legs and may lead to potentially deadly clots. Wear loose-fitting clothes and walk around the cabin an hour.

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Jet Set Savvy

2008-01-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

First-class comfort on a shoestring.

LOWEST PRICE needn't mean worst quality, and not all economy seats are the same.
Here's how you can make budget travel more comfortable:

Babies on board
You get more leg room in the bulkhead rows because they make room for carry cost. The catch; you're unlikely to get a seat here unless you fly with an infant.

On the map
Most airlines have seat maps that show the bad seats (as in the ones that don't recline because they're in front of an exit row). Use a travel agent who can confirm your seat when you book.

Fly blind
Want a window seat?
Avoid the row forward of a wing.

By numbers
Be wary of following the advice of other travellers on the best seat numbers. Airlines can shift things around.

Plug in
Emirates has large economy screens with a choice of 500 movies and games. Some Airlines have seats with power sockets for laptops in economy, but you'll need to book ahead.

Ben Sandilands in The Australian Financial Review

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Making Long Haul Fun

2007-12-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

Flying with whole family, including young children?
Try This:

Choose your in-flight entertainment

Check website and consult a travel agent for airlines with diversionary activities such as video games. Even better, seek out those with individual in-seat audio and video systems with dedicated children's channels, such as Singapore Airlines. Or take a portable DVD player or CD player with your own movies and music.

Choose flight times carefully

If you're spending most of the time airborne at night, that's a good thing. There's more chance your kids will sleep and less need to entertain them. If bedtime is usually 8 p.m choose a flight that leaves in the late afternoon. Lots of time for a meal and a movie, then slumber.

food and drink

Don't rely on airline food and schedules. Pack sandwiches, water and plenty of snacks.

Give a helping hand

Jet lag affects everyone, including toddlers. Encourage your kids to drink more water than usual. Take a stopover if you can. Your kids will get a chance to slowly adjust to changing time zones.

Into The Jungle

2007-11-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

To contack jungle Environment Survival Training, phone +(63-47)353-9072.More information about the jungle tours in Subic Bay can be found at
www.sbma.com
klik on Natural Subic.

More details about Singapore,s Night Safari can be found at
www.nightsafari.com.sg

For the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia jungle tours, visit
www.frim.gov.my
and go to the Facilities link.

Higher Calling

2007-11-03T01:24:00.000-07:00

A temple stay can be an inexpensive, fun way to discover another culture.
Follow these links to discover temples across Asia:

Jogye Order, Korea:
http://eng.buddhism.or.kr/

Vipassana Meditation Center,various countries:
http://www.dhamma.org/

World Fellowship of Buddhists, Thailand:
http://www.wfb-hq.org/

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Mount Kinabalu

2007-10-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

Location of Mount Kinabalu ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinabalu )

Large lower pitcher of Nepenthes rajah
Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is a prominent mountain in Southeast Asia. It is located in Kinabalu National Park (a World Heritage Site) in the east Malaysian state of Sabah, which is on the island of Borneo in the tropics.

In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low’s Peak) height at 4,095 metres (13,435 ft) above sea level, which is some 6 metres (20 ft) less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 metres (13,455 ft).[1] The mountain is the third tallest in Southeast Asia behind Hkakabo Razi of Myanmar (Burma) and Puncak Jaya of New Guinea - Indonesia,[2] and is therefore also the tallest in Malaysia and on the island of Borneo, which Malaysia shares with Indonesia and Brunei.

The mountain and its surroundings feature a huge variety of flora, and is one of the world’s most important[citation needed] biological sites.
The main peak of the mountain (Low's Peak) can be relatively easily climbed by a person with a good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills.

External Links :

http://www.mount-kinabalu-borneo.com/

http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Kinabalu

http://www.mysabah.com/mount-kinabalu/

http://impressions.com.my/Kinabalu/kinabalu.htm

Trips With Tots

2007-09-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

One Golden Rule; Plan Ahead

If the thought of taking your toddler on holiday fills you with dread, think again. With careful preparation, it can be a rewarding experience..

Avoid environments that are too hot, too cold or too wet. The ideal temperature for a toddler is tepid. If you are not sure where to go, remember that playing on the beach is a favourite activity for most toddlers.
Young children invariably get bored during long journeys. Fill the day before with activity so they're more likely to sleep.
Consider travel by train-toddlers' favourite type of transport.
If flying, choose a departure time that fits in with normal sleeping patterns.
Don't count on an airline to feed toddlers to their tease. Pack food.
Toddlers can be fussy about the place they sleep-take their own bedding or a pillow. And bring a favourite cuddly toy.
Consider going with another family so you can share childcare.

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Toddler-Travel-Sarah-Tucker/dp/0340819960

Maps Off The Beaten Path

2007-09-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

Tried of traipsing around the usual tourist attractions?
A Green Map of a distant city, or even a nearby neighbourhood, can show you the links between cultural sites and the natural environment.

Compiled by local residents using software provided by the Green Map System, the maps highlight everything from bicycle paths to bird watching platforms in cities from Jakarta to New York.

The slick Singapore map reveals just how many green, open spaces the city-state has. Even the less professionally produced maps are a great insight into what resident find important.

Most of the maps can be downloaded at http://greenmap.org
click on "store". Individual maps cost $5, including shipping. Some maps can also be found at tourist information kiosks.

How to pack a Suitcase

2007-08-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Many of us over pack for our holidays- 40 per cent of women admit taking too many shoes, for instance. Some ideas to let you squeeze more in and help them arrive in good shape:

Place Heaviest Items.
Such as shoes and denim, at the bottom.

Leave dresses
in dry cleaning bags and fold them at the waist. If packing more than one, pile them up and fold.

Turn suit jackets
inside out and fold in half along the body. Fold suit trousers along the crease.

Avoid coloured tissue paper.
If the luggage gets damp, colours could run.

Roll knits
rather than folding them. Takes up less room and avoids wrinkles. Ditto for cotton items and ties.

Zip-lock bags
work well for T-shirts and jumpers. Press out the air and seal.

Put beauty products
into small bottles. You can always leave them behind.

Fill handbags
with socks and underwear. It saves space and keeps their shape.

Vanessa Friedman - http://www.rd.com/

CAPTURING THE MAGIC

2007-08-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

Professional Tips For Memorable Holiday Pics:

Plan Ahead

Imagine shots you might want to take. Will you need a wide-angle lens?
Should you set out with a change of clothes or rock-hopping footwear in a spare bag?
Knowledge inspires creativity, so do some research on your locale.

Time The Light

Early Morning gives a warm, golden light. For the bright, contrasting light in the middle of the day, use a wide-angle or telephoto lens. When the sun is vertical, create graphic images by using shadows. Try trees, lattice work on a wall or a human form.

Weather Equals light

Learn how to read a weather map. When travelling for pictures of the mountains, choose an overcast day. The light will then be distributed evenly for your pictures of waterfalls, forests and plants. Have some sense of the seasons if the vegetation is to be part of your photographs. Travel in spring to capture splendid wildflowers and wildlife.

Helen Chryssides - http://www.rd.com/

Tips for the Physically Challenged Traveller

2007-07-10T01:04:00.000-07:00

1. If flying with a wheelchair, ensure that your batteries operate on gel. If you wheelchair has a "wet cell" battery, it will have to be disconnected, taken out of the chair and placed in a special container.

2. Have your chair serviced one or two weeks before you leave.

3. Talk to your travel agent about these needs:

Is the resort or cruise ship wheelchair accessible?
Is your room and washroom large enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
What electric cal current dose your resort or cruise ship use? if 220 volts is required, make sure this will be provided.
Ensure you have transportation from the airport to your destination, and back.

4. Before travelling overseas, phone the consulate or embassy of any countries you will be visiting. They may be able to supply information on appropriate local medical and transportation services.

Jaq Le Blang0-in the Toronto Star http://www.rd.com/

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Fun in The Jungle

2007-07-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

The dense tropical forest of Asia are magical places to spend an afternoon, an evening or even a night.

Deep in the jungle, as the canopy above darkens the path, you realise that you have nothing but your hands, your wits and your guide to help you survive.

Fortunately, at the Jungle Environment Survival Training camp in Subic Bay, Philippines, your guide is about all you need to live through a hike into the area's 10,000 hectares of virgin rain forest.

Filipino tribesmen have lived in the jungles around Subic Bay for generations, and today they offer jungle hikes and tours. But don't expect your usual guided tour. Subic's vast jungle is home to 3000 types of trees, 10,000 varieties of plants and over a thousand animal species, including huge bats and playful monkeys. Lessons cover starting a fire with two pieces of bamboo, fishing with your hands, and even brewing a from of 'jungle coffee."

Around Asia. similar jungle jaunts are available for travellers looking for something a bit more robust than the tour bus. The Singapore Zoological Gardens offers a night safari set 40 hectares of dense secondary, visitors can see more than 1000 nocturnal animals.

Near Kuala Lumpur, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia offers a variety of ways to interact with its adjacent forest. The 1.5-kilometre Salleh's Trail winds along a path lined with interesting trees typical of Malaysia's forests. Another trail is reserved for mountain biking.

For those with no fear of heights, the Canopy Walkway offers a view of jungle life at the treetops. The 200-metre series of walkways is suspended about 30 metres above the ground.

There are impressive viewing points along the canopy, but the trail up to the area is steep and gruelling.

A small fee is charged for all these jungle tours. In Subic, an overnight tour is offered at varying but reasonable rates, depending on the equipment involved.