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Fly in the world’s largest wind tunnel, then get tipsy

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:06:56 +0000

In addition to food and drinks, iFly Singapore's new SkyLoft sports an in-house DJ and live bands. Just don't drink and fly. iFly Singapore, home to world's largest skydiving wind tunnel, has just launched a swanky food and beverage outlet for anyone who wants to follow up their thrills with a few sky-high tipples.

Dubbed SkyLoft, the new Sentosa Island venue was built to give patrons views of the South China Sea and the nightly "Songs of the Sea," Sentosa's pyrotechnics show.

On the menu: strong drinks created by a resident mixologist and a well-stocked bar with top beer, Champagne, whiskey and vodka brands.

Singapore iFly says its wind tunnel is open to anyone, from first-time flyers to professional skydivers. Naturally, we had to ask iFly Singapore that all-important question: is it save to drink and fly?

“No one is allowed to fly under the influence of alcohol and this is a requirement as per iFly Singapore’s waiver form,” said a company spokesperson.

Andy Warhol exhibition in Asia: 15 minutes clearly isn’t enough

CNNGo staff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:45:51 +0000

by CNNGo staff

Five cities in Asia are to be hit by pictures of canned soup, a hamburger and a colorful representation of Chairman Mao, apparently wearing lipstick, over the next two years.

The artworks are traveling as part of the “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal” exhibition, the biggest retrospective on Warhol’s work ever to be shown in Asia.

Warhol, who died in 1987, is famous for declaring: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

The show will start at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum at the Marina Bay Sands hotel on March 17, 2012, and will then travel to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo before it ends some time in 2014.

Specific date and venue details for the other cities have not yet been released.

10 islands for every type of traveler

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

So many islands in the world (around 2 million at the last count), so little desire to leave the comfort of the computer screen.

Until you realize that out there somewhere there is an island that could have been designed just for you.

So who are you? Millionaire? Nudist? Family guy or celebrity stalker? Figure that out first, then get booking.

1. Millionaires: Musha Cay, Bahamas

Musha Cay is a millionaire’s playground. More specifically, David Copperfield’s playground, after he purchased the island resort from Blockbuster Video co-founder John Melk in 2006 for a reported US$56 million.

Other millionaires such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates reportedly vacationed here, and in 2007 Google founder Sergey Brin hosted his wedding on the island.

Singapore tourism: Marina Bay a bull, Singapore Airlines a bear

CNNGo staff — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:32:53 +0000

by CNNGo staff

Two tales -- one of success, the other a failure -- came out of Singapore's tourism industry this week.

The good news came via casino resort Marina Bay Sands, which reportedly took in S$17 billion in the nine months up to September 30, up 22 percent from the same period in 2010.

And most of the gamblers are foreigners. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, foreign visitors to Marina Bay Sands -- run by U.S. gaming group Las Vegas Sands Corp. -- now account for about four out of five visitors to the resort’s casino.

What’s more interesting, the WSJ says Marina Bay Sands reported S$3.72 billion in gross gaming revenue for 2011, equivalent to almost 50 percent of the total gaming win for the Las Vegas Strip over the 12-month period to November 30.

The resort's hotels are also thriving. A report in Singapore's Today quoted Sands' billionaire chief executive Sheldon Adelson as saying he's in talks with the Singapore government to buy land adjacent to Marina Bay Sands resort to add an additional 1,000 to 1,500 rooms, as average occupancy rates are running above 90 per cent.

Dictators and communists at Singapore's M1 Fringe Festival 2012

Elaine Ee — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:01 +0000

by Elaine Ee

A strong platform for small but high-quality art, Singapore's M1 Fringe Festival 2012 returns to cast a critical eye on art and faith, while invariably shedding some light on Asia’s modern social fabric.

Visitors checking out this year's Singapore's M1 Fringe Festival 2012 can expect to see performances and visual art exhibitions that highlight some of these keystones of Asian society, a region deeply rooted in tradition yet continuously transforming.

Here are five top Fringe acts that focus on some of these diversities and complexities.

Triple Gem

Where: Esplanade -- Jendela Visual Arts SpaceHtein Lin tackles the Buddhism's Law of Nature in his latest installation piece.

When: February 15-26

World's top new landmarks revealed

CNNGo staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:49:17 +0000

by CNNGo staff

Arizona's Grand Canyon Skywalk is the best new bridge, New York by Gehry the top new skyscraper and the Statue of Liberty the most visited landmark, according to Travel + Leisure magazine.

The New York-based travel magazine conducted an online survey last year to discover the world's top new landmarks.

Some 60 landmarks were rated in different categories -- skyscrapers; parks and public spaces; museums; bridges; sports and performance venues as well as classic landmarks.

New landmarks are defined as landmarks opened after 1996, while classic landmarks are those opened in or before 1996.

Respondents were also asked if they had actually been to the sites to identify which are the "most seen" landmarks.

Singapore high fashion moves away from shopping malls

Suzy Q — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:00:53 +0000

by Suzy Q

From stand-alone big brands on the street to a bespoke cheongsam maker tucked in the heart of the financial district, the latest and hippest Singapore shops are now tucked in all corners of the island.

Here are 10 top stores that prove you don't have to be a mall rat to experience the best of Singapore's shopping scene.

Abercrombie & Fitch

There's only one way to describe Abercrombie & Fitch's Singapore opening last December. Ab-tasitc. With 300 branches worldwide, this coveted American casualwear retailer is finally in Singapore, bringing with it a swash of black palettes, dark mirrors and perfume-as-room-spray.

Which of course brings us to the matter of that much-publicized sexy Abercombie & Fitch poster. It clearly didn’t offend as many as was expected, staying up right until the store flung open its doors late last year with a bevy of eight-packs.

Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Road. Open daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Traveling through Asia's rock 'n' roll past

Duncan Forgan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

by Duncan Forgan

The Asian rock 'n' roll heroes of yesteryear don't get much playtime nowadays. Shiny and new generally takes precedence over dusty relics in Asia and reverence for past musical glories is conspicuous by its absence.

However, for anyone prepared to do a bit of digging there’s an untapped mine of melodious gold to be discovered around the region.

Here's where to find the people that helped define Asia's rock 'n' roll past.

Cambodia: Sin Sisamouth

Combining Cambodia, the West and a little bit of James Brown. It is impossible to overplay the importance of Sin Sisamouth. The undisputed King of Khmer music, Sisamouth could rightly vie with James Brown for the title of the "hardest working man in showbusiness."

A frighteningly prolific polymath, Sisamouth reportedly wrote more than 1,000 songs and was as adept at recording Latin-style music as he was blues, folk and bossanova.

How to bicycle from Bangkok to Singapore -- even if you’re not fit

Nathaniel James Moody — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:00:26 +0000

by Nathaniel James Moody

I never thought I'd be able to say that I’ve cycled from Bangkok to Singapore.

It all started when the opportunity arose to buy a decent mountain bike from a friend who was leaving Bangkok, combined with a simple desire to lead a more healthy life.

Immediately, it felt like a collar had been lifted from around my neck and I could properly explore the city, sightseeing while exercising, when I wasn't teaching. I was enjoying it so much I decided to plan a cycling holiday that would involve peddling 750 kilometers from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

After spending hours cycling in soaking wet shoes, British expat Moody started wearing this sexy footwear.But two days before my departure, northern Thailand's flood situation forced me to alter course and cycle south instead, from Bangkok to Koh Lanta (850 kilometers).

Then, the government announced schools in Bangkok would be shut for two extra weeks due to the floods.

Boeing adds Bangkok, Singapore to Dreamliner world tour

CNNGo staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:52:19 +0000

by CNNGo staff

Boeing has added two new Asian stops to its ongoing 787 Dream Tour. The famed Dreamliner will now hit Bangkok and Singapore in February.

Here's the schedule:

Feb. 9-11: In Bangkok to visit Thai Airways International.

Feb. 11-18: In Singapore to visit Singapore Airlines. Will also be on display at the Singapore Airshow.

Dates and locations of additional tour stops will be announced approximately one month in advance, according to Boeing.

The great Indian head bobble

Mahesh Nair — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

by Mahesh Nair

Be warned. I am going to share with you something that will forever change your perception of more than a billion people.

If you are an Indian it will bring you inner peace and smug satisfaction, and help you avoid much humiliation. If you are a foreigner, it will lead to spiritual salvation.

If you are in business it will lead to a paradigm shift of your vision and mission statement. And if you are Mark Zuckerberg you may be tempted to replace smileys with "bobbles."

If you are a pet lover you may actually bond better with your iguana or tortoise.

It’s something that the authors of "The Secret" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" have completely missed. And it’s called The Great Indian Head Bobble.

Gallery: Singapore counts down to Lunar New Year

Lester V. LedesmaLester V. Ledesma — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:28:32 +0000

by Lester V. Ledesma

Singapore's predominantly Chinese population goes all-out to greet the year of the dragon -- and there's no better place than Chinatown to witness this week's festivities.

Check out the above gallery for a look at some of the locals preparing and getting into the fun, which kicks off January 23. Celebrations and special displays are going on all over the city until the end of the month.

For more on the events taking place in honor of Lunar New Year, visit YourSingapore.com.

3 high-end Vietnamese restaurants in Singapore

Eve Ang — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:51:37 +0000

by Eve Ang

If Chinese and Korean cuisine can head the upscale route, so can Vietnamese.

While Singapore’s Vietnamese dining landscape is flooded with moderately priced pho (rice noodle) eateries, the scene is swiftly changing to include upscale Vietnamese outlets.

While the trademark fish sauce remains omnipresent, three eateries are making the effort to justify their northward push in prices.

The recently opened Annam by the Les Amis Group, dishes up homey Vietnamese fare justifying the above moderate prices -- a bowl of beef pho for $28 and a chef’s seafood dinner tasting menu priced at $168 -- through its use of fresh ingredients.

Others such as Le Tonkin Restaurant & Lounge (“Le Tonkin”) opt to serve classic Vietnamese food with fine dining finesse and exquisite wines to match.

World's 50 best surf spots

Jade Bremner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

by Jade Bremner

Get wet and try not to wipe out, at these 50 best surf spots.

Whether you like rocky cliff faces, standing in awe at the pros charging some of the best waves in the world or getting lost searching for little-known breaks, we have you covered with everything from epic waves to beautiful, small glassy swells.

So whether you’re a beginner or an expert, here’s where to get on board.

This list was compiled by Jade Bremner, an avid surfer who has surfed many of these locations, and using contributions from other professional surfers. Thanks also to surfing-waves.com for their assistance.

1. You're probably not good enough, yet -- but you can dream.

iReport: Stunning iPhone travel photographs

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:01:53 +0000

First generation camera phones were used for blurry caller ID pics. Now iPhones can take and edit photos worthy of National Geographic magazine. Well, almost.

Whatever your own personal talent, the iPhone has become the new great travel tool as it's reliable in almost all situations. It goes places a giant camera can't, and the variety of apps can mimic camera affects like lomography, cross process and auto-stitch panoramic views.

Scroll through the gallery above for some of our iReporter's best iPhone shots around the world.

If you would like to see your work featured on CNNGo, head to our iReport Assignment Desk, here.

Also see CNNGo's further coverage on travel photography trends and tricks:

Singapore Fringe Festival courts controversy

Elaine Ee — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:56:16 +0000

by Elaine Ee

In 1993, performance artist Josef Ng sparked nationwide uproar when he snipped off his pubic hair in public as part of a protest against entrapment of gay men by Singapore police.

His performance, “Brother Cane,” so outraged the authorities that the Media Development Authority subsequently severely restricted performance art in Singapore.

A decade later, the ban was lifted and now artist Loo Zihan is restaging this attention-grabbing act again, this time as “Cane”, in the long-running platform for small, high-quality art acts and works: the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival (www.singaporefringe.com).

“I was ten years old when Brother Cane was performed,” says Loo in the introduction to his re-enactment. “It was my first exposure to performance art.

“I identify with a lot of issues that Josef Ng was trying to highlight with his piece. And it is the right time to stage 'Cane' with the changes brought about in Singaporeans by the last General Elections and with the maturing of our artistic community.

“I believe strongly that it is time for us to take pride in our local art history. Re-enactment is something only an artistically mature community can accept, and I believe the Singaporean performance art community is ready for this form.

Artist Loo Zihan is not happy just to sit in silence. “While nothing has changed with laws regarding homosexuality, society is not just about the laws that govern it.

“With events like Pink Dot, the gay community has an increased visibility and presence, and personally, I feel that Singaporeans are increasingly tolerance of difference, a necessary change for a country made up of such a diverse group of people.”

Grab free hugs at the Singapore’s World Hug Day

Edwin Tam and Sarah Liu — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:17:42 +0000

by Edwin Tam and Sarah Liu

Hugging strangers is an act that lies somewhere between crazy and criminal.

But call hugging an art performance and suddenly the whole thing takes on a different meaning.

The public art performance -- World Hug Day -- initiated by Chinese artists Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang (aka the Gao Brothers) is all about expressing love for each other.

World Hug Day activity is carried out by a large group of strangers who pick a random person for a 15-minute embrace. The group then huddles together for five minutes, all in the name of removing discomfort.

Initiated in 2000, the act has traveled to Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Now it’s here in Singapore.

7 sci-fi innovations that will change travel

Hoishan Chan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:01:00 +0000

by Hoishan Chan

With the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show taking place in Las Vegas this week, you can expect a flurry of tech showboats to start becoming mainstream news.

But before that, recall the Canadian man who recently claimed he was able to cross the U.S. border using a scan of his passport on his iPad.

It's assumed this kind of digital identification will be part of the future of travel, just as some airlines already allow digital boarding passes on smartphones.

More high-tech innovations that appear beyond reality now could soon become standard.

Here are seven innovations that could just change, even enhance, the travel experience.