This document is the May 2016 issue of AirAsia's inflight magazine, travel 3Sixty°. The contents include articles on destinations around Asia such as Bali, Melbourne, Danyang in South Korea, Cambodia, and Luang Prabang in Laos. Other articles discuss topics like sacred architecture, mother's day, food in Melbourne, views of Danyang, a pilot's perspective, solo travel tools, and sacred sanctuaries. Additionally, there are sections on fashion, health, kids activities, and photos submitted by AirAsia guests.

1. DOTHENOBLETHING.
LEAVEMEONBOARD
ANDREADMEONLINE.
www.travel3sixty.com
MAY2016
ISSUE106
AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
LIGHT&
LIBERATION
Sacred Architecture
Wishingyoua
PeacefulVesak

3. 88
68THEINNER
JOURNEY
Bali, Indonesia
78BLESSED
&DIVINE
Mother's
Day Special
88EAT,DRINK
MELBOURNE
Melbourne,
Australia
98IMMORTAL
VIEWS
Danyang,
South Korea
106APILOT’S
LIFE
Pilot's
Perspective
108CAMBODIA
SOULTRIP
Travel Log
Navigator
CONTENTS
CHECK-INMAY2016

4. BoardingCall
22 SPOTLIGHT
Fun Travel Updates,
Tips & More
26 HOT DATES
May Events
32 ASEAN COMPASS
Family Fun
in the Sun
36 QUICK BITES
Brain Boosters
38 PAGETURNER
A Million Different
Points of Light
40 MONEY MAKER
Win that Job
110 OFFTHE RACK
Hot Styles
114 VANITY FARE
Step into Spring
118 JETSETTER
Nisa Bakri
120 PICTURE
PERFECT
Photos taken by
AirAsia Guests
122 UP INTHE AIR
Joy of Flying
124 ROUTE MAP
132 DESTINATIONS
142 GET INTOUCH
AirAsia Sales
Offices & Stations
144 PEOPLE OF
THEWORLD
Bukidnon people,
Philippines
FlightPlan
06 CAPTAIN’S
ADDRESS
Palate for
Adventure
08 TALK BACK
Buzz from
our Guests
10 THEVIEW
Hot Air Rises
12 RED FORT
News from AirAsia
20 MY AIRASIA
Serene Refuge
42 PRESCRIPTION
Don't Skimp
on Sleep
44 SCORE BOARD
Heart of Your
Workout
46 KIDS SPACE
Packing a Punch
48 HYPERTECH
Solo Traveller’s BFFs
52 TOUCHDOWN
Luang Prabang, Laos
56 SLEEP INNS
Shanghai Sleeps
62 HIT LIST
Sacred Sanctuaries
StyleFile
InFlight
PortofCall
52
68
62
36
78
110
CONTENTS
CHECK-INMAY2016
2 MAY2016

6. OntheCover
Forqueries,assistance
andfeedback,youcan
reachushere:
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ask
A Buddhist monk stands in
the shadow of Shwedagon
Pagoda's golden stupa in
Yangon, Myanmar.
IMAGE: CORBIS
MAY2016|ISSUE106
PUBLISHER
Datuk Kamarudin Meranun
GROUPHEAD,BRANDS&COMM.
Jenny Wakana
EDITOR
Beverly Rodrigues
ARTDIRECTOR
Kan Seak Hong
SENIORWRITER
Chitra Santhinathan
SUBEDITOR
Shamini Rajah
WRITER
Stuart Danker
PHOTOGRAPHER
Alex Chia
Ariff Shah Sopian
GRAPHICDESIGNER
Fadillah Kamarudin
EDITORIALASSISTANT
Fazlina Bee Binti Abdul Rashid
CONTRIBUTORS
Captain Lim Khoy Hing, Ellyse Ng,
Keeta Brennan, Llew-Ann Phang, Mark
L Chaves, Matt Crawford, Ril Rahman,
Shantini Suntharajah
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publication. We reasonably assume that all articles are factual and not plagiarised or intentionally libellous.
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DIGITALTEAM
CONTENT
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WEBMASTERS
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EDITORIALENQUIRIES
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travel 3Sixty° wishes to thank MPH, Pansing,
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Lachungpa, Genefer Tan, Len Caccam,
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Ngoc Thang, Frank Tang, Dorin Poh, Michael Liu
Yang, Lee Kai Ling, Wang Bing, Kayo Harada,
Deblina Ramachandran, Julia Citra Paramita
YOURGUIDETO
ALLTHINGSFUN!
Download AirAsia’s
Travel Guides to India
(available in English),
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English & Japanese),
Philippines (available
in English, Sim Chinese
& Korean) and Thailand
(available in English,
Japanese & Korean) at
airasia.com/travelguides to
plan your next holiday!

8. NADDA BURANASIRI
CEO of Thai AirAsia X
PALATEFOR
ADVENTUREI must confess that I have a weak-
ness for delicious food.
For me, the highlight of my travels
usually revolves around savouring the
local flavours of a particular place. It
doesn’t always have to be fancy or a
fine dining experience – the impor-
tant thing is that the food should be
delicious, authentic and unique.
There’s nothing better than ac-
cidentally discovering a charming
little tempura shop in Osaka, a Ko-
rean barbecue place that serves the
juiciest steaks in Seoul, or a dump-
ling shop in Shanghai where all
the locals go for their wonton and
shengjianbao fix. In Bangkok, simple
and mouth-watering delicacies can
be found on almost every street cor-
ner, and beyond Bangkok, there is
also much to see, taste and discover.
With all this tasty inspiration
around us, it’s no surprise that this
love and passion for food is trans-
lated into the dishes we offer on
board Thai AirAsia X – from Japanese
Chicken Teriyaki Rice to Pad Thai
(stir-fried rice noodles) with Prawns,
and Kimchi Stir-Fried Chicken with
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Doi
Inthanon, Chiang Mai, the highest
mountain in Thailand; BBQ in
South Korea; Sensoji Temple in
Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan; Japanese
Chicken Teriyaki Rice; Shanghainese
dumplings; Krabi, Thailand.
Rice. We do our very best to offer
you, our guests, the most delicious
cuisines from our many varied
destinations. And since life is too
short to skip dessert, in addition to
our famous Thai coconut pudding,
we’ve also added the rare and highly
sought-after Yamanashi Mochi, an
innovative twist on mochi (glutinous
rice cake) that looks like a pretty
drop of water. This sweet and un-
usual delight comes from Yamanashi
prefecture in Honshu, Japan, and is
savoured with soybean powder and
brown sugar syrup.
Food aside, we always strive to
offer our guests the highest value
and the most convenient long haul
travel experience. Book our award-
winning premium flatbeds for an
upgraded experience, save time by
purchasing tickets to attractions
while on board with our Sky ticket
services, or enjoy a more peaceful
and relaxing experience when you
opt for a seat in our quiet zone.
We hope that these little extra
touches prove a positive addition to
your journey.
For those of you who are flying
into Bangkok, I invite you to take
advantage of our Fly-Thru transit
service to travel even wider and
explore lesser known parts of Thai-
land, like Loei and Nan in the north,
or Nakhon Si Thammarat in the
south. Enjoy fresh seafood at our
world famous beach destinations
like Krabi and Phuket, or savour
northern Thai cuisine amongst the
green and natural scenery of Chiang
Mai and Chiang Rai. These gems
are all within your reach; all you
need to do is take advantage of our
connectivity and be adventurous!
If you’re still intent on staying in
Bangkok, be sure to explore the cap-
ital by foot. Apart from Bangkok’s
cool rooftop bars and restaurants
that boast panoramic views of the
city’s skyline, there’s an endless list
of places to add to your itinerary.
Catch a Teochew opera in Talat Noi,
Bangkok’s Chinatown, or explore
the sois (alleys) of Kudejeen, an
old riverside neighbourhood with
a fascinating history connected to
the founding of Bangkok. And of
course, a trip to Bangkok would not
be complete without a visit to the
Grand Palace and the spectacular
Wat Arun, both of which offer great
opportunities to learn about the his-
tory of the country.
No matter where you go, I invite
you to take a bite out of life and fully
enjoy all the flavours that come your
way. Thank you for flying with us; it
is always a pleasure to be a part of
your journey.
And to all our Buddhist guests, I
take this opportunity to wish you a
Blessed Vesak. May your life be filled
with peace and light!
6 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.comCAPTAIN'SADDRESS

10. Here’stheBuzzon
AirAsia’sSocialMedia
I recently flew AirAsia to
Vietnam three times in four
months, and that experience
reignited my desire to travel
more – as AirAsia promises,
it’s so affordable that anyone
can fly! On my last trip in
March, I read the travel 3Sixty°
inflight magazine from cover
to cover; it’s one of the few
airline magazines with in-
depth stories. The View column
really struck a chord with
stories about peace of mind… I can relate to Chitra Santhinathan about
the Son Tra Peninsula and the incredible view from the mountaintop Lady
Buddha overlooking the Bay of Da Nang. I really enjoyed the article, Biking
Through The Ages, too. The story is a lovely snapshot of a three-day pushbike
journey in Myanmar, experienced by someone venturing out of his comfort
zone to ride 200 kilometres without all the bells and whistles equipment!
Stuart Danker describes the landscapes beautifully, and the accompanying
photos perfectly capture the moments, particularly the panorama of Bagan
and its misty temples, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. I also loved
the Holi festival photographs and the article entitled Sacred Ink. Also, the
Power To The Little! stories brilliantly presented AirAsia’s commitment to
disadvantaged people and empowering marginalised communities. The
magazine really inspires me to travel. Thank you! ~ JENI ALFORD
I love AirAsia! GOPAL GOPAL
Thanks AirAsia!! I got 9 cheap tickets
to Sapporo for 2017 JP FOONG
Yes!! I got the best deal to Tokyo. Thank
you very much AirAsia!!! SHUKRI
SHARMAN
I'm flying @tonyfernandes's @AirAsia in
Southeast Asia this morning and it's more
comfortable than flying business class
Europe. DANNYQUAH
Have been flying KL-Perth frequently. The
flight yesterday (D7233) was by far the
smoothest flight ever. Kudos to the crew
@AirAsia. BIEBSFORLIFE9
Thank you @airasia @airasiaindonesia
for the pleasant flight! It's always great
flying with you. #FlyWithAirAsia
OFFICIALDFOSTER
Booked two local flights for less than
PHP500. Thank you @AirAsiaPH @AirAsia
OHMYGLADS
Thanks to @airasia for the
great fare to Sri Lanka. My
friend and I managed to
grab return tickets from
Kuala Lumpur to Colombo for RM259.
#dtgotravel #dtinSriLanka #srilanka
#igtravel #instatravel #vacaywithairasia
DTDIANATEO
I was on board with AirAsia's
Brand Ambassador, Mr. David
Foster #davidfoster, from
Indonesia to Bangkok on QZ
256 #airasia #donmueang #javajazz
#javajazzfestival #like4like #tagsforlikes
#legend #jazz #fotografia #instagramers
#instalike #instadaily #airasiaindonesia
#likeforlike #tagsforlike #musician
#instagood #pesonaindonesia
#wonderfulindonesia #tourism
#krungthep #thailand #bangkok
#stiepari #stieparisemarang
FAJARBUDIAWAN
Thanks to AirAsia! You flew me to
Malaysia, and I can fly with you to
different cities. FENFEN
I flew with AirAsia 6 times in 2015.
Because of AirAsia, I spend less to travel
more in Malaysia and Indonesia. The
inflight service is good and the cabin
crew is friendly. Hope to fly AirAsia again
soon! ISAAC
AirAsia, you’re great! The first time I
travelled overseas I flew with AirAsia to
Malaysia, it felt really good. LILI
LIKE WHAT YOU READ IN TRAVEL 3SIXTY°? Share your thoughts with us! To show you how much
we appreciate your feedback, we’ll give the best Letter of the Month and two other published letters
attractiveprizes.EmailyourfeedbackinEnglishtotravel3sixty@airasia.com.travel3Sixty°reservestherighttoedit
lettersforclarityandlength,andonlylettersregardingarticlespublishedintravel3Sixty°willstandtowinaprize.
The cash vouchers may only be used at UniversalTraveller outlets.
UniversalTraveller has been
an industry leader in travelling
products since 1990.The
brand’s retail network can be
found throughout Malaysia,
Indonesia and Singapore, with
stand-alone outlets in major
cities and many consignment
counters in both countries.
Initially, UniversalTraveller
may have concentrated on
winter products, but now
has created a presence in
the luggage business by
cooperating with global brands
and, is currently the distributor
for several luggage labels.
UniversalTraveller embarked
on its latest premium luggage
concept store‘Luggage Empire’
in 2009, a premium retail
concept that offers selected
luggage brands in an exclusive
setting.The brands available
include labels such as Royal
McQueen, Jean-Francois and
Airways and, distributor labels
such as Calvin Klein, Heys
andTravelpro®
A DOWN JACKET & A 27"
ROYAL MCQUEEN LUGGAGE
WORTH APPROX. USD462
A 22" ROYAL MCQUEEN
MULTIWAY BACKPACK
WORTH APPROX. USD215
CASHVOUCHERWORTH
APPROX.USD30
RM100CASHVOUCHER
1st
PRIZE
2nd
PRIZE
3rd
PRIZE
On my return flight after an amazing
holiday in Indonesia in March (made
possible only by AirAsia's affordable fares),
I flipped through travel 3Sixty°, and found
an inspiring and eloquent Captain’s Address
by Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of Indonesia
AirAsia. My interest was piqued and I could
not stop reading until the end of the article!
It is heart-warming to learn about AirAsia
helping the people of Indonesia, particularly
in supporting local entrepreneurs. As I read
further, I was impressed that not only was
International Women's Day highlighted,
but there was also a fantastic article on the
AirAsia Foundation. The wonderfully well-
written piece made me feel a deep respect
for the foundation and I was motivated
to do my part. The article was also very helpful in detailing clear and
practical ways how I could contribute. It is inspiring to see an airline
showing such a strong sense of social responsibility, and very uplifting
to come across an inflight magazine that highlights those issues with
such compassion and clarity. I am proud to have flown AirAsia and will
continue doing so. Well done travel 3Sixty°, and thank you AirAsia for the
good fares and great service; and most importantly, thank you for helping
those in need! ~ PRAVEENA K ASOKAN
2nd
PRIZE
1st
PRIZE
Over the past decade, AirAsia has always
been my preferred airline for local and
international travel, and every time I fly, it
gives me great pleasure to read the monthly
inflight magazine, travel 3Sixty°. Even when
I fly AirAsia more than once in a month,
the magazine remains evergreen – very
illustrative and informative. Recently, I was
posted to Sabah and in the February 2016
issue, the rainforest canopy walk write-up in
the Hit List column caught my attention. If
not for that piece, I would be totally unaware
of the Danum Valley rainforest canopy
walkway in Sabah, or that Danum Valley is
home to such diverse wildlife, although I’ve
visited Sabah before and even scaled Mount
Kinabalu! Thank you AirAsia, for enlightening
me on another amazing destination in Malaysia. Before AirAsia came along,
I had won a number of hotel accommodation vouchers in Sabah, but gave
them away to friends as there was no affordable air travel at that time. Now
with AirAsia, I’ve been fully utilising my holiday vouchers to Bangkok, Bali
and Jakarta because now, I too can fly! My sincere gratitude goes to travel
3Sixty° for helping me plan my holidays, and to AirAsia for making my
travel dreams come true with affordable fares. ~ MOVEENDRA KUMAR
3rd
PRIZE
8 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.comTALKBACK

12. THEVIEW
To bike is to balance…
I just created that very
Zen quote myself, as I
think back to the number
of times I’ve fallen
off my BMX – not to
mention the time I was
almost killed when a car
crashed into me while I
was chasing after it, my
bicycle, not the car! I've
never been the fastest
or the steadiest when it
comes to cycling; perhaps,
there’s something wrong
with my internal balance
mechanism. However,
over the years, I must say
that my biking skills have
improved considerably,
and now, I am much
more confident to bike
on the road, though
preferably with no cars
around! So, where would
I go with my wobbly
biking skills? I’d probably
head to Kaoshiung in
the southern part of
bike-friendly Taiwan
where I would enjoy great
views of the coastline.
With the refreshing sea
breeze caressing my face,
I would head south to
Kenting, which is famous
for its beaches, then
up north until I finally
reach Hualian where I
can celebrate my biking
odyssey by eating my way
through its two famous
night markets: Zi Qiang
Night Market and Nan
Bin Night Market. Would I
make side trips to islands
off the coast? Definitely!
Would I stop and stay
at hot spring towns? Of
course! And would I risk
a lung infection by eating
copious amounts of
cheap sashimi at harbour
towns? Absolutely!
~ DANNY LAU,
CONTENT EDITOR
I bike to do my groceries,
not because I’m a
proponent of healthy
living, but because it’s
a better alternative to
searching for a parking
spot in a busy shopping
mall. I also cycle to the
gym and spend another
hour in spin (stationary
cycling) classes, so it’s
safe to say that biking
plays a huge role in my
life. My recent cycling
adventures in Myanmar
took me more than 200
kilometres across the
country, from Mandalay
to Bagan. In that trip,
I learnt how bike-
friendly some cities can
be despite not having
designated cycling lanes.
I also discovered that
I’m much more capable
than I give myself credit
for, which is why my
next biking destination
is none other than
magical Nepal. I’ve
already set my sights
on the 200-kilometre
ride from Kathmandu
to Jomsom. I’m familiar
with distances like
these, but I’ve never
really tested my mettle
on trails that ascend to
an elevation of 4,325
metres! I’m fairly certain
the trip would involve
stretches of self-doubt
and loathing, but like my
previous trip, perhaps
I’ll learn something new
about myself. Of course,
there will be moments
of excitement as well,
like zipping along the
downhill routes or
navigating bumpy off-
road terrain. Besides, the
great sights and cultures
along the Himalayas
would surely make
up for all the possible
hardships I’d have to
face. So for now, I better
not skip spin classes.
~ STUART DANKER,
WRITER
I have always been
happiest on two
wheels! Touring a place
by car is convenient,
but limiting. Walking
gives you great
freedom, but then
you can only go so
far. And that brings
me back to cycling…
absolutely one of my
most favourite ways
of seeing a foreign
land. Exploring the
ancient ruins of Angkor
Wat at Siem Reap
in Cambodia, and
zigzagging through
Kyoto’s charming old
buildings in Japan
are two of my most
enjoyable biking
experiences. Then
there is Lumbini
Development Zone
in Nepal – the place
where Siddhartha
Gautama Buddha was
born. Aside from the
Maya Devi Temple
and Garden, which is
the exact birthplace
of baby Buddha, the
zone also houses other
notable attractions
like the Lumbini
Museum, Peace Pagoda
and monasteries
that reflect the
varied architecture
of the region. The
area is huge and my
sightseeing options
were: rent a bike, hire
a rickshaw or brave
it on foot. I never
regretted paying USD2
to rent that old school
bicycle with rusty
frames and rickety
noises... a memory
that will last me a
lifetime. Perhaps for
my next Nepal trip I'll
mountain bike through
the Himalayas. With
unparalleled views of
the magnificent snow-
capped mountains, I
can only imagine how
totally awesome it
would be!
~ IRVIN HANNI,
PHOTOJOURNALIST
There I was, in a raincoat,
trying to balance myself
on a bicycle, the first time
I'd mounted a bike in
decades. It was a misty,
grey morning, and the
rain showed no signs of
letting up. I knew how
to ride a bike, but, the
bicycles of my childhood
were fairly simple
contraptions without a
million levers like this
one! Trying my hardest
not to embarrass myself
by tipping over, I gingerly
made my way to the
flag-off point. The 2014
Taiwan Cycling Festival
was underway, and in
front of me stretched one
of the most scenic bike
routes in the word – a loop
around Sun Moon Lake,
the island nation’s largest
lake. The route promised
picturesque scenery:
calm turquoise waters
set against majestic
mountains. Steeling
myself for the journey
ahead, I trailed after the
cyclists who had already
set off. I needn’t have
worried. Taiwan is among
one of the most bike-
friendly countries in the
world with infrastructure
built to encourage
pedal power. Watching
silver-haired seniors and
children ride like pros, I
threw caution to the wind,
and was soon speeding
along the trek! Before I
knew it, I had covered
almost 10 kilometres
without incident. Though
it was a moderately easy
circuit, with the gentlest
of inclines, the experience
rekindled my love for
cycling. With a wide
network of bike routes
crisscrossing the island
and stunning scenery,
Taiwan is a cyclist’s
fantasy – a destination I
hope to someday revisit,
bike in tow!
~ CHITRA
SANTHINATHAN,
SENIOR WRITER
Rantings, ravings, ramblings or poignant pontificating, the travel 3Sixty° team mulls
over these and other matters. In May, we explore the best biking trails.
HOTAIRRISES
I love going to places
where cycling is a
readily available option
for sightseeing. Biking
is a fun and pleasant
activity and in small
tourist towns, there
are often bicycle
rental shops aplenty.
But for a real life-
changing experience,
I'd recommend taking
things a few gears
higher, for example,
exploring a hilly tropical
island on a mountain
bike. Batanes province
in northern Philippines
has all the ingredients
for an unforgettable
week-long cycling
tour: dramatic cliffs,
charming stone houses
and lighthouses, and
rolling hills dotted
with cows and goats
standing. All these
spectacles can be found
on Batanes’ three main
islands – Batan, Sabtang
and Itbayat. The biking
treks are as challenging
as they are picturesque,
with blind curves,
and steep climbs and
descends. Roads are
improving, but you may,
every now and then,
need to go off-road.
If you are a serious
cycling enthusiast, you
will regret not bringing
your own bike, though
there are some decent
rentals. If you’re not a
regular mountain biker,
there are also vans and
grass-roofed motorised
tricycles available for
hire. The cost of getting
to Batanes deters many
travellers from visiting,
but it’s worth every
penny, and you don’t
need to be a cyclist
or a photographer to
appreciate the beauty
that lies therein.
~ ABBY YAO,
CONTENT EXECUTIVE
10 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

14. Climate change is a very real threat and requires preventive measures to be
collectively deployed on an international scale. Each and every contribution to the
cause matters, so here are some ways you can help make a difference.
REDFORT
COMPILED BY: STUART DANKER
AirAsia is always at the forefront in the battle against climate change. On March 19, the leading low-
cost carrier mobilised more than 50 Allstar (AirAsia employees) volunteers to plant 400 seedlings for
the Free Tree Society, a non-governmental organisation that champions green living. The event, held
in conjunction with the annual global Earth Hour movement, also involved the team helping to build
a rainwater harvester. This project is the latest of AirAsia’s over 30 green initiatives across Asean this
year, and is part of AirAsia Group’s #Green24 campaign, which promotes awareness on sustainability
and the environment.
LOVINGPLANETEARTH
MIND YOUR LITTER The
easiest and most immediate
action we can take involves
how we dispose of our
trash. By simply recycling
waste responsibly, reducing
consumption and not littering,
you can help tackle one of the
major obstacles to a greener and
cleaner earth.
RESERVE OUR RESOURCES
If water and electricity are easily
accessible and affordable to you,
then this is all the more reason
why these utilities should be
appreciated and not wasted.
Always be sure to switch the
lights off when you leave a
room, and don’t leave the
water running while bathing or
brushing your teeth.
SPREADTHEWORD Help
support AirAsia’s #Green24
campaign by sharing it with your
friends on social media, or even by
word of mouth. Share simple facts
and encourage a call for action to
spur a movement of your own!
GreenTips
Volunteers led by Aireen Omar, CEO of Malaysia AirAsia, at the green initiative event with Free Tree Society in Bangsar, Malaysia.
“INNOVATIONISTHELIFEBLOOD
OFAIRASIAANDTHESENEW
LIGHTWEIGHTSEATSWILLEN-
SURETHATWEREMAINATTHECUTTINGEDGE
OFCABINEXPERIENCEWHILESTILLMAINTAIN-
INGCOSTLEADERSHIPANDDELIVERINGTHE
SAMEGREATFLYINGEXPERIENCEFOROUR
GUESTS."~TANSRIDRTONYFERNANDES,
GROUPCEOOFAIRASIA
The inaugural flight from Penang,
Malaysia, to Yangon, Myanmar, that took
off on March 22 marked yet another
AirAsia-exclusive route.The new route,
which is AirAsia’s seventh international
destination for its Penang hub,
complements the Penang-Ho Chi Minh
City route launched in January.This
connection provides visitors to both
countries with greater access to explore
the landmarks of northern Malaysia and
the former capital of Myanmar.
Ever-GrowingPenang
Aireen Omar at the send-off ceremony of AirAsia's
inaugural flight from Penang toYangon, Myanmar.
IMAGES:123RF
InnovativeSeats
AirAsia s https://www.facebook.
com/?ref=logo igned an agreement
with Mirus Aircraft Seating Ltd on April
7 to be the launch customer for the
manufacturer's new Hawk slimline
economy seat. With a fully composite
frame and fewer moving parts, the
Hawk weighs 40 per cent lighter than
conventional seats. It also optimises
cabin space while ensuring guests stay
comfortable.The seats will be retrofitted
on all AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft,
marking one of the many innovations
the airline employs for a better
travelling experience.
12 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

16. REDFORT
”WELOOKFORWARDTOCONNECT-
INGMOREPEOPLEFROMACROSS
ASIAANDAUSTRALIATOTHIS
BEAUTIFULCITYOFAUCKLANDTHROUGHTHE
VASTROUTENETWORKINTHEAIRASIAGROUP.”
~BENYAMINISMAIL,CEOOFAIRASIAX
DISCOVER
NEWZEALAND
AirAsia X commenced its new route
connecting Kuala Lumpur and Auckland
via Gold Coast on March 22, with the
inaugural flight landing to a water salute
and traditional Powhiri ceremony (a Maori
welcoming tradition involving dance
and song). As there is no requirement
for an Australian visa for the stopover at
Gold Coast, this daily route is a significant
extension to the long haul carrier's
substantial network.
The AirAsia Runway
Ready Designer Search
(AARRDS) is back, and
this second instalment
is even bigger as the
competition goes
regional. Auditions in Indonesia, Philippines
and Malaysia took place in April, with
Singapore and Thailand following suit in
May. The top three contenders from each of
the five countries will have their collection
featured at the prestigious KL Fashion Week
Ready To Wear (KLFW RTW) 2016 event in
August. They will also be vying for the chance
to be AirAsia’s Most Promising Designer 2016.
RUNWAY
WORTHY
Broadening
Johor’sReach
AirAsia’s sixth
international route
connecting Hat Yai,
Thailand, and Johor
Bahru, Malaysia,
solidifies the airline’s
commitment to
widening Senai
International Airport’s
network. The route,
which is operated by
Thai AirAsia, saw its
first flight on April 1.
AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search unveiled its panel of judges consisting of (from left to right): Vivy Yusof, owner of renowned fashion
e-commerce site FashionValet.com; Aireen Omar; Andrew Tan, Founder of KLFW RTW; Suzie Adnan, Editor-in-Chief of GLAM magazine; and
Alia Bastamam, top fashion designer, flanked by cabin crew.
FOURTH FROM LEFT Spencer Lee, AirAsia Head of Commercial; Adny Jaffedon Ahmad, Assistant General Manager Corporate Planning & Special Project of Senai Airport
Terminal Services; Aireen Omar; Derick Basir, CEO of Senai Airport Terminal Services; Noor Safura Suib, COO of Senai Airport Terminal Services; and Magdlane Tuborng
Melai, Director Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Johor Office along with media and traditional Johor dancers.
THIRD FROM LEFT Dato' Fam Lee Ee, Independent Non-Executive Director of AirAsia X; Benyamin Ismail; Adrian Littlewood, CEO of
Auckland International Airport; Hon. Amy Adams, Government Minister of New Zealand; Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X;
HE Dato' Lim Kim Eng, High Commissioner of Malaysia to New Zealand; Norris Carter, General Manager of Aeronautical Commercial at
Auckland Airport; and Zalina Ahmad, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Auckland flanked by cabin crew at the inaugural flight ceremony.
14 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

18. REDFORT
CHINA’S
CHARMS
AirAsia Group launched
its new Bangkok-Shantou
route at a press conference
on March 25 at Shantou,
China. The launch was also
held in tandem with the
Kuala Lumpur-Shantou
maiden flight celebrations.
This new route, which
marks AirAsia’s 19th route
into China, not only opens
up the market to Thailand,
it also significantly helps
connect the Teochew
community in Thailand to
their ancestral home
in Shantou.
In line with AirAsia’s continued commitment
to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship
in the Asean region, the airline recently
shared its secrets to success with budding
entrepreneurs in Indonesia. On February
22, President Director of Indonesia AirAsia,
Sunu Widyatmoko, spoke to members of
the Entrepreneur’s Club, a Jakarta-based
entrepreneur community, highlighting the
importance of caring for employees and
driving innovation in the company – the same
elements that contribute to AirAsia’s success.
Enhancing
EntrepreneurialSpirit
STANDING FROM LEFT Abdul Razak, Consul of Malaysia in Guangzhou; Muzambli Markam, Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou; Santi Sawangcharoen,
Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand in Guangzhou; Aireen Omar; Chen Dong, Mayor of Jieyang City; Wen Wenxing, General Manager of Guangdong Airport
Authority; and Zhang Jiqin, Secretary General of Jieyang City with the lucky draw winners at the event to celebrate the inaugural flight from KL to Shantou.
ROOMIERRIDE
Enhance your travelling
experience with the Extra Seat
Option (ESO) on all AirAsia
short-haul flights. This feature
allows guests to purchase the
seats immediately next to them
(without crossing the aisle) to
enjoy more privacy, stretch out
and unwind. Simply click on
‘Add extra seat’ during your
web check-in to add a Standard
Seat (MYR10) or Hot Seat
(MYR30). Subject to seat
availability.
ngngngg
a Seata SeSeaeatatata S
gg
AsiaAAsiAsiasiaa
aturetururea reat eatu
e thee te ththehee e
thememmt mththehem
le) toe) t) totoolele)
h outh uth oh ououout
))
k ononk nkk oon
youryouoururryo
ndardrddndndadaard
y
eatteeatat
atatata
16 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

22. MYAIRASIAwww.travel3sixty.com
Wang browsing through the indoor
sculpture gallery at Red Town.
20 MAY2016

23. William Wang Yong, AirAsia Group’s Sales
Manager for Eastern China, shows us his
favourite place to unwind in bustling Shanghai.
SERENEREFUGE
WORDS:STUARTDANKER PHOTOGRAPHY:ALEXCHIA
With a massive population of
approximately 24 million people,
Shanghai not only tops the charts
as China’s most populous city, but
is also one of the world’s largest
cities. For some, Shanghai’s
hubbub is part and parcel of
everyday city life; for Wang
however, it’s an excuse to seek
refuge in Red Town.
Located on Huaihai Road, Red
Town was a steel factory in the
1950s, but the building was later
abandoned after the factory
ceased operations. In 2005, the
site was gradually transformed
into a centre for everything
artistic, and this is where William
spends his time when in need of
peace and inspiration.
“My house is right around the
corner, which makes Red Town
easily accessible to me. It’s a
place with diverse works of art,
and sometimes, I find myself
lost in its creative ambience for
hours,” he says.
Indeed, Red Town has myriad
art collections in its public and
private galleries, but the works
that stand out the most are the
sculptures – beauties of all sizes,
found both indoors and outdoors.
From realistic portrayals of the
human anatomy to abstract
geometry, these sculptures aptly
represent the vast and powerful
human imagination.
“Aside from its well known
sculptures, I also like Red Town
because it encourages art in
general. There are paintings,
fashion labels, photography
exhibits and even interior design
works on display, encompassing
a wide spectrum of artistry,”
Wang says.
The site is famous among
locals and tourists alike.
Surprisingly, despite its fame,
Red Town remains a rather quiet
sanctuary. With a good selection
of coffee shops and cafés (most
of which house art works of their
own) in the locale to recharge in,
there’s no reason one should not
visit this artistic hub during a
sojourn to Shanghai.
GETTING THERE AIRASIA X FLIES
TO SHANGHAI DAILY FROM KUALA LUMPUR.
www.airasia.com
21MAY2016

24. WORDS: STUART DANKER
SPOTLIGHT
Derulo’sInTown
Jason Derulo will be raising the
roof at the Mall of Asia Arena in
Manila this May 27! Derulo has
sold more than 50 million singles
worldwide, including Want to
Want Me and Whatcha Say – hits
he will be performing live during
his concert. Concert-goers can
also expect a special appearance
from pop and EDM artiste,
Redfoo. www.smtickets.com
Urban festival,
The Block Party,
premieres at the ASB
Showgrounds in Auckland, New Zealand,
this May 20.The much-anticipated inaugural
event includes performances from artistes
such as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony,Twista,
Mobb Deep,Tha Dogg Pound and DJ Quik.
Joining the star-studded international line-
up are local talents,TIMES x TWO,Tomorrow
People and many more! www.theticketfairy.com
Invite the travel 3Sixty° team over to visit
your hometown or community for a
special feature story and win prizes worth
MYR10,000!
BlockPartyFun
This May 13 to 15, the Asakusa district hosts one of Tokyo’s
biggest celebrations, the Sanja Matsuri. Millions of people
flock to this Japanese district each year to honour Hinokuma
Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo – the trio who founded Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s
oldest temple, in 628 AD. The highlight of the festivities is the parading of the three main,
elaborately built mikoshi (divine palanquin). www.jnto.go.jp
DIVINETRIBUTE
IMAGE:123RF
Among the great gifts we have in store
for you are exclusive timepieces by J.
Bovier, as well as a hamper from BIG Duty
Free with goodies such as Versace Bright
Crystal Absolu EDP Natural Spray, Calvin
Klein ck free sport and JBL Go Portable
Bluetooth Speaker by Harman.
To participate in this contest, email us
at travel3sixty@airasia.com with ‘INVITE travel
3Sixty°’ in the subject line, and tell us
about your hometown or community.
We’d love to hear from you!
COMPETITION
22 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

26. SPOTLIGHT
LAWAKKE
DER2016
MALAYSIA  MAY
58 Treat yourself to
a healthy serving of
laughs at Lawak Ke Der
2016, a live comedy
show with plenty of
Malaysian flavour. The
popular act returns with
big names in comedy
such as Harith Iskander,
Afdlin Shauki, Douglas
Lim and Nabil Ahmad,
making it a must-watch
event. VENUE ISTANA
BUDAYA,KUALALUMPUR
Experience French culture
in Malaysia this May as
Le French Festival 2016
arrives at various venues
across the country.
Stretching from May 7 to June 18, the
event features the latest French movies,
musical performances, dance shows,
art exhibitions and more. Check the
website to find a venue closest to you.
www.lefrenchfestival.com.my
ATIMELESSCLASSIC
In commemoration of
Shakespeare’s 400th death
anniversary, Singapore
RepertoryTheatre (SRT) is
featuring the revered love
story, Romeo and Juliet. SRT
chose to stage the play based
on its profound influence on
music, film and theatre, with
Thomas Pang and CherylTan
as the star-crossed lovers.
Catch it at Fort Canning Park
in Singapore from April 30 to
May 22. www.sistic.com.sg
This May 16 to 22 marks the 19th Sydney Writers’
Festival, with more than 400 Australian and 60
international writers set to be in attendance
across the city’s 65 venues. Big names such as feminist icon Gloria
Steinem, literary superstar Jonathan Franzen, and 2015 Booker Prize
winner Marlon James are on the impressive event list.There are also night
performances, with tipples to be enjoyed at select venues. www.swf.org.au
AFRENCH
AFFAIR
The Affordable Art Fair continues to make contemporary art accessible to everyone with its
fourth Hong Kong edition. This May 13 to 15, a diverse range of artwork is on display across 110
boutique galleries in Hong Kong. The event brings together art connoisseurs and artists looking
for a platform to display their work, and continues to be the perfect initiative for all things art. www.affordableartfair.com
WordsmithWeek
ARTFORALL
Harith Iskander
Douglas Lim
Nabil Ahmad
24 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

28. HOTDATES
COMPILED BY: STUART DANKER
LOCKITDOWN
BLUEMAN
GROUPLIVE
NEW ZEALAND
 MAY 2429
The Blue Man
Group is known
for its zany
performances
that combine
elements of
comedy, theatre
and music.
Having enthralled
audiences for
almost 25 years,
the group looks
to continue this
trend at The Civic
in Auckland
this month.
www.blueman.com
SINGAPORE
 MAY 58
Singapore’s premier gourmet
festival returns to Bayfront Avenue
at Marina Bay, featuring epicurean
eats and tasty tipples. The festival
includes tastings, masterclasses
and a gourmet market stocked
with artisanal products. www.savour.sg
HONG KONG 
APR 27MAY 8
Featuring 24 top-notch ice skaters,
the Imperial Ice Stars’ Swan Lake
on Ice at the Cultural Centre in
Hong Kong promises to be a stellar
performance. AccoΔ68mpanied by
Tchaikovsky’s original score, watch
as the classical ballet comes to life
on ice! www.imperialicestars.com
SAVOUR2016
SwanLakeonIce
M83LIVE
INSEOUL
SOUTH KOREA
 MAY 24 French
electronic music
band, M83, is
set to wow fans
at the Samsung
Card Hall this
month. The band
has produced
six albums, the
most recent
being Hurry Up,
We’re Dreaming.
A new album
is also in the
works, making
this tour a much-
anticipated event.
www.ilovem83.com
26 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

30. ELSEWHERE
› Philippines Pahiyas
Festival May 15 www.
tourism.gov.ph› Japan
Hamamatsu Festival
May 3-5 www.jnto.
go.jp› Laos Rocket
Festival May 13-19
www.tourismlaos.org›
South Korea Boseong
GreenTea Festival
May 4-8 english.visitkorea.
or.kr› Malaysia KL
Tower International
Towerthon Challenge
2016 May 21 www.
menarakl.com.my
HOTDATES
BY, with & FOR
OFMONSTERSANDMENLIVE
PHILIPPINES  MAY 12 This Icelandic indie-folk band is set
to take the stage at the World Trade Centre in Manila. The
five-piece band has topped music charts from all over the
world, including Australia, Iceland, and Ireland. Look forward
to their biggest hits such as Little Talks and Mountain Sound
performed live. www.ofmonstersandmen.com
WorldYouth
JazzFestival
MALAYSIA  MAY 68
Dataran Merdeka in Kuala
Lumpur plays host to the
World Youth Jazz Festival
as part of the International
Jazz Day celebrations.
Besides being an
event celebrating the
involvement of youths in
jazz music, it’s also a great
platform for young talents
to network with musicians
from across the globe.
www.worldyouthjazzfest.com
HeadOnPhotoFestivalAUSTRALIA  APR 29MAY 22 This festival
melds all aspects of photography into one
big event in Sydney this month. Held across
different venues, such as the Gaffa Gallery
and Bondi Pavilion, the Head On Photo
Festival features the works of photographers
of all levels and nationalities. Catch the main
exhibitions at the Festival Hub in Sydney
Lower Town Hall. www.headon.com.au
THAILAND  MAY 1415 The Rocket Festival, also known as Bun Bang Fai in Thailand,
generally marks the beginning of the rainy season. Besides being widely celebrated in Laos,
the event also takes place in the town of Yasothon in northern Thailand. It is believed that
the rockets act as messages, entreating the gods to bestow rain for bountiful crops. www.tourismthailand.org
BUNBANGFAI
CHINA  MAY 21 Take part
in the Great Wall Run for
your marathon fix this May.
With unending stairways and
punishing elevations thrown
into the mix, this race is
definitely not for the faint-
hearted. The spectacular
panorama from this iconic
landmark is ample reward
for runners who can break
through the fatigue.
www.great-wall-marathon.com
GREATWALLRUN
IMAGE:ALBATROSADVENTURE
IMAGE:MOLLYHARRISIMAGE:123RF
28 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

34. WORDS: SHANTINI SUNTHARAJAH
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
ASEANCOMPASS
32 MAY2016
NICKELODEON LOST LAGOON,
MALAYSIA SpongeBob
SquarePants, Dora the Explorer,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…
these are just some of the much-
loved cartoon characters that
you’ll run into at the Nickelodeon
Lost Lagoon theme park. Located
within Sunway Lagoon, this is the
very first Nickelodeon attraction
in Asia. The park features a‘lost
civilisation’surrounded by a
vast rainforest, exciting water
playgrounds, peaceful canopy
walks, gorgeous green pathways
and gigantic water rides that
appeal to kids and the young at
heart. www.sunwaylagoon.com
VINPEARL LAND, VIETNAM
The incredibly popular amusement
park on Vinpearl Land, a resort
island in Nha Trang, sits on a
land mass of approximately
200,000 square metres. It’s almost
impossible to run out of things to
do as the park features everything
from water musicals, mermaid
shows and giant aquariums (with
over 30,000 marine creatures), to
an enormous ice skating rink. The
park is accessible via cable car (a
three-kilometre ride over the sea)
or speedboat from Nha Trang.
www.vinpearlland.com
WATERBOM BALI, INDONESIA
Although Bali is known as a
tranquil, tropical island paradise,
Waterbom Bali is one place
where families can enjoy thrilling
rides and fast-paced adventures.
Voted top water park in Asia by
Frolicking family
holidays at these
theme parks make
good times last forever.
FAMILY
FUNIN
THESUN
IMAGE:123RFTripAdvisor (one of the world’s
most popular travel sites) in 2015,
Waterbom Bali offers various
world-class water rides – the
mellow Lazy River, for instance,
takes visitors on a slow, gentle drift
while adrenaline junkies can go
extreme with the heart-stopping
Double Twist, featuring a high-
speed drop in a water channel
with surprise twists and turns.
www.waterbom-bali.com
MANILA OCEAN PARK,
PHILIPPINES Designed to be fun
and educational, Manila Ocean,
unlike many other parks, allows up
an entertainment hotspot that can
enthral even the most discerning
theme park enthusiast. The park
offers seven different themes,
including Sci-Fi City and Ancient
Egypt, and its exciting roller
coaster and movie-themed rides
bring to life some of the world’s
greatest blockbuster films, like
Transformers and Jurassic Park.
One of the park’s main attractions
is the Hollywood Dreams
Parade, a dance and sing along
extravaganza featuring favourite
characters from movies like Shrek
and Madagascar. www.rwsentosa.com
close and personal encounters with
its underwater creatures.Visitors
can choose half-body, full-body
and aquanaut experiences that
involve getting into the water with
fascinating and beautiful sea life
such as brightly coloured tropical
fish and graceful stingrays. One
of the highlights of the park is the
Oceanarium, which is home to more
than 250 Southeast Asian marine
species. www.manilaoceanpark.com
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS,
SINGAPORE Situated within
the world-famous Resorts World
Sentosa, the Universal Studios is
Waterbom Bali, Indonesia
Universal Studios, Singapore

36. ASEANCOMPASSIMAGES:123RF
Hotel rooms are
usually beautiful and
comfortable, but are they
clean? There are certain
surfaces in hotel rooms
that have proven to be
extremely unhygienic.
The glassware and
cutlery available in most
rooms are common
culprits; sometimes,
glasses, plates, forks and
knives are not replaced
with fresh ones when
guests check out of the
room, or the cutlery is
not properly cleaned
but merely run under
the tap and wiped
with a rag. If you need
to use a glass while
in your room, always
request for a fresh one
from the kitchen or
wash it yourself using
soap. Another highly
unsanitary surface is
the TV remote – some
hotel remotes have even
tested positive for E.coli
bacteria! So stay safe and
wipe down the remote
with a hand sanitiser
when you arrive at your
hotel room… prevention
is better than cure!
SOURCE:www.travelinsurance.
about.com
BEWARE
WHATYOU
TOUCH!
MINDYOUR
MANNERS
What is perfectly acceptable in
one country can be seen as the
ultimate sign of disrespect in
another. Here are some of the
important rules of etiquette to
bear in mind when traveling
across Southeast Asia.
HEAD BAN  INDONESIA
Indonesians believe that the
human head is sacred because
it is the place where the spirit
resides. Touching someone’s head
is seen as a very rude gesture, so
avoid this at all costs.
ELDERS FIRST  CAMBODIA
The elderly command a great
deal of respect in Cambodia.
Never interrupt an older person
Thank
You!
when he/she is talking, and always
make sure you choose a seat that
is lower than that of the eldest
person in the room.
BOTH HANDS, PLEASE 
VIETNAM When in Vietnam, never
use just one hand when passing
an object to someone or when
receiving something from them as
this is considered disrespectful. To
avoid being frowned upon, always
use both hands.
THAT'S TAKEN!  SINGAPORE
In Singapore, there's a quirky little
system used to reserve (or 'chope')
seats while queuing for food at a
hawker centre or coffee shop. If
you spot a packet of tissue paper
or an umbrella on a table,
this usually means that the
table has been reserved,
and it is considered rude
to take up the seats.
CALM DOES IT  THAILAND
Extreme anger or aggravation
is not welcome in most places
but it is particularly offensive to
the Thais, who are some of the
friendliest folks on the planet.
Keeping your voice low and your
temper in check is a good idea
when you’re in Thailand.
SOURCE:www.frommers.com
TacklingTravel
Troubles
Procedural dilemmas are the last
thing you need when travelling;
avoid the undue stress and save
yourself time and money with
these simple know-hows.
MISSED FLIGHT You arrive at the
airport only to find that your plane
has taken off without you! What do
you do? Keep calm and head straight
to your airline counter to check if you
can catch the next flight.You may or
come in handy when you’re applying
for a new or temporary one.
MISSING LUGGAGE If you
discover that your bags are
missing, go straight to the lost
luggage counter, which in most
airports is located near the
baggage claim area. Make sure
you retain your baggage claim
ticket that is given to you along
with your boarding pass when
you check in for your flight. This
will help speed up the process of
recovering your lost bags.
SOURCE:www.independentraveler.com
may not be charged, based on the
airline’s policy.
BEST TIP Avoid the hassle and
arrive at the airport at least three
to four hours before you have to
check-in. It’s always better to be too
early than too late.
LOST PASSPORT Contact the local
police and your country’s embassy
(if there is one) at your destination.
Before you travel, put together an
emergency passport kit containing
a few passport-sized photographs,
proof of citizenship such as your
driver’s license or personal ID, as well
as a copy of your passport.This will
34 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

38. QUICKBITES
WORDS: CHITRA SANTHINATHAN
Learn how the food you
eat helps you stay alert,
and get up to date with
the latest offerings in
the food scene.
BRAIN
BOOSTERS
Eating right is essential to our
physical, mental and emotional
well-being. What we put into our
mouths affects our mood, energy
levels and memory. Those of us
with busy and stressful lifestyles
often neglect fuelling our body
with the essential nutrients re-
quired to keep the brain function-
ing at its optimum level. Forget-
fulness, as well as lack of mental
clarity and focus are signs that
you are not getting enough nutri-
ents. These brainpower-boosting
foods will help keep your grey
cells in tip-top shape.
CELERY is rich in luteolin, a
plant compound credited with
lowering the rate of age-related
memory loss. Luteolin has anti-
inflammatory properties, which
studies suggest can prevent the
onset of brain degeneration.
Though more studies need to be
carried out to prove this link, add-
ing a celery stick or two to your
daily diet can do no harm.
BEE POLLEN is a nutrient-
dense food that perks you up.
Packed with folic acid, amino
acids and B-complex vitamins,
pollen helps keep fatigue at bay
and gives your brain the push it
needs to stay alert longer. Bee pol-
len is much higher in protein than
meat, and also contains selenium,
IMAGES:123RF
a mineral that slows down the
ageing of cells. Charge up your day
with a spoonful of bee pollen in
your morning smoothie.
WHOLEGRAINS release glu-
cose slowly into the bloodstream,
keeping you mentally alert
throughout the day. This steady
supply of energy enhances your
concentration power and helps
you focus better. These days, a
wide variety of wholegrains – un-
refined grains that haven’t had
their bran and germ removed
by milling – are easily available.
Wholegrains are also higher in
fibre, selenium, magnesium and
potassium. Find them in foods
such as brown rice, pasta and
wholewheat bread.
OILY FISH like salmon, sar-
dines and mackerel contain
essential fatty acids (EFAs) that
the body cannot naturally pro-
duce. EFAs are necessary for
healthy brain function, as well as
general well-being. Oily fish are
rich in omega-3 fats such as EPA
(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid), consid-
ered among the most beneficial
of the EFAs. Low DHA levels have
THEBRAINREQUIRES
ADEQUATEWATERTO
FUNCTIONSMOOTHLY.
WHENAPERSON
BECOMESDEHYDRATED,
THEBRAINTISSUE
ACTUALLYSHRINKS,AND
STUDIESHAVESHOWN
THAT DEHYDRATIONCAN
IMPAIRSHORT-TERM
MEMORY,FOCUSAND
DECISION-MAKING.
SO,DRINKUP!
SOURCES:www.bbcgoodfood.
com;www.eatingwell.com;
www.huffingtonpost.com;
www.prevention.com;
www.webmd.com
DIDYOU
KNOW?
been linked to poor cognitive
function (learning ability) and
memory loss.
TOMATOES are packed with
lycopene, an antioxidant said to
protect cells from free radical
damage. Studies suggest that
lycopene may also offer protec-
tion against the development of
dementia, by preventing cell dam-
age. Bright orange and red veg-
etables or fruits like tomatoes are
also high in carotenoids that can
improve cognition and memory.
WALNUTS are a good source
of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) that
promotes blood flow and the ef-
ficient delivery of oxygen to the
brain. This essential nutrient also
helps improve memory, learn-
ing and motor skill coordination,
while the antioxidants in walnuts
help protect against age-related
cognitive decline and neuro-
degenerative conditions.
36 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

39. Normandy born, Kuala Lumpur-based pastry chef, Paul Gardin, unveils Sweet French Life Bakery, an enterprise
that combines his love for French culinary traditions and exquisite eats. The chef’s debut line-up includes energy-
boosting granola bars made with extra virgin coconut oil and organic honey, nuts and fruits; pâte à tartiner, guilt-free
spreads made from all-natural ingredients; and scrumptious snacks such as spiced nuts slow-roasted in copper pots, and séchées (dried)
banana and apple chips. A firm believer in eating well, Gardin employs the freshest of produce and quality ingredients like fleur de sel (hand-
harvested sea salt) and organic honey in his culinary concoctions. Free from artificial flavouring and preservatives, these gourmet products
are great-tasting and good for you! www.sweetfrenchlife.com
VietnameseBanhMiSandwich
Sink your teeth into this crusty French-style
baguette – crisp on the outside, pillowy soft in
its centre, and bursting with a fusion of flavours.
Baked fresh daily, the baguette is split and layered
with succulent slices of grilled chicken, chopped
fresh coriander, mint and basil, tangy pickled
vegetables, and drizzled with a light yet creamy
peanut dressing.ThisVietnamese-inspired street
snack offers a balance of textures, the right amount
of crunch (our chefs worked hard to perfect the
baguette – not too soft and not too hard), and
flavours: sweet, sour, and with a hint of chilli for
spice. AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONBOARD.
BigBreakfast
Get off to a great start with a big and satisfying
breakfast to take you through the day. This
morning meal includes a creamy frittata
(omelette) whipped up with eggs, shredded
cheddar cheese and herbs; a savoury grilled
chicken patty seasoned with a blend of herbs
and spices; roasted cherry tomatoes; and
smoky baked beans spiced with oregano. A
breakfast roll completes this sumptuous meal.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONBOARD
(FLIGHTS BEFORE 10.30AM ONLY).
www.airasia.com
EastMalaysianKoloMee
A breakfast favourite in the East Malaysian
state of Sarawak, Kolo Mee that is a dry noodle
(mee in local lingo) dish, originates from
Sarawak’s Chinese community. This version of
the dish consists of springy noodles, tossed
in a light sauce infused with aromatics spices,
and topped with minced chicken, as well
as finely sliced scallions. The hearty noodle
meal is accompanied with crisp bok choy (a
type of Chinese cabbage) for an extra dose
of goodness. FOR PURCHASE ONLINEVIA
PREBOOK OPTION ONLY.
CHEWONTHISFill up with these new additions to Malaysia AirAsia’s on board menu, inspired by the big, bold flavours of Asean and continental cuisine.
TheSweetLife
37MAY2016

40. PAGETURNER
Motherhood is so encompassing,
transcendental and multi-faceted a
diamond that there just aren’t words
to capture it in a single book. Not even
in a series. It would be like trying to
cram the universe into a jar!
But there are myriad books out
there which do preserve and celebrate
a particular aspect of motherhood
quite wonderfully – whether it’s the
(slightly nervous) prep of a first-time
mother; the wry, humorous account of
a woman who humanises the concept
of motherhood; or the experiences of a
single mother.
For something grounded, there’s the
ever-popular pregnancy guide, What To
Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi
Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, which was
first published in 1984. Now in its fourth
edition, it’s become so well-known that
it has entered the lexicon of popular
culture, and was even turned into a
movie in 2012! A consistent front-
runner on the NewYork Times Best
Seller list, the book breaks information
up into manageable, detailed chunks,
with a chapter devoted to each of
the nine months of gestation and the
postnatal period.
While absorbing all that
information however, one might need
some light relief. For a comic look at
motherhood, and life in general, few
can beat prolific American writer,
actress and comedian, Tina Fey. Her
hilarious autobiography, Bossypants,
topped the New York Times Best Seller
list for five weeks, and has sold over a
million copies in the US alone. While
it isn’t solely focused on her role as a
WORDS: LYRA DEANNA
AMILLIONDIFFERENTPOINTSOFLIGHTThe many facets of motherhood are celebrated this May, in conjunction with Mother’s Day.
mother, the bits that do are priceless
– combining hilarity and poignancy
in the best way possible, packaged in
her signature cynical style. Look out
for the chapter, There’s a Drunk Midget
in My House, in which Fey writes about
her struggles to breastfeed and ends
up both tickling the funnybone and
tugging on the heartstrings.
If you’re looking for more
funnies, but in a book solely focused
on motherhood, then check out
Operating Instructions: A Journal of
My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott.
A writer, political activist and single
mother, Lamott is known for her
self-deprecating, easily relatable style.
Writing about first-time motherhood
and going it alone, Lamott comes
across as feisty, brave and above all,
real and joyous. And most importantly,
she lets all mothers know that it’s
perfectly okay not to be superhuman.
Another one for the shelves
of mothers everywhere is Maya
Angelou's autobiography, Mom
& Me & Mom. All mothers are also
daughters, and understanding the
one relationship often colours the
other. Angelou writes, in her beautiful
and inimitable style, of her complex
relationship with her own mother,
Vivian Baxter. When Angelou was
three, Baxter sent her to live with
her grandmother and brother in
Arkansas. Their fractured relationship
only began healing when they were
reunited 10 years later.
For some thought-provoking,
inspirational reading, turn to What My
Mother Gave Me: Thirty-one Women
on the Gifts That Mattered Most by
Elizabeth Benedict. This book is a
veritable signpost of the significance
a mother has in one’s life, and how
her choices resonate far beyond her.
Intimate essays from writers and
journalists weave a tapestry of light
and darkness, love and rage. And like
the mother-daughter relationship
itself, each piece is complex and
multi-layered – from American poet
and author Rita Dove’s memories
of a box of nail polish that inspired
her personal style to this day, to
journalism professor Judith Hillman
Paterson’s eloquent, poignant and
compassionate remembrance of the
year of sobriety her mother gifted
her with, just before she died of
alcoholism and mental illness.
Finally, Stuck in the Middle With
You: Parenthood in Three Genders by
Jennifer Finney Boylan is possibly the
most niche of all our book picks this
issue, but that’s part of what makes
it so valuable. Author Boylan started
out as Jim, before realising she was
Jennifer. Her transgender journey was
completed when her two sons were
young. This book is therefore a very
unique parenting journal – providing
perspectives from a man, as a woman,
and as a transgender in the midst of
transitioning from one to the other.
Books about mothers, books for
mothers… they are all a snapshot of
experiences that are at once unique
and individual, and global and all-
encompassing. These texts entertain
and enlighten, and make one universal
truth known – no mother is an island.
Say hello to Marmee
in Louisa May Alcott’s
1868 classic, Little
Women. Against
the backdrop of the
American Civil War,
Marmee (or Mrs.
March) is the rather
perfect mother to
four adoring and very
different daughters.
The epitome of
kindness, she’s one of
the most endearing
fictional mothers ever.
TWOMOST
MEMORABLE
MOTHERSSome of the most
beloved fictional
characters in classical
history have been
mothers – although a
few are remembered
for being a little less
than loveable. These
two are the absolute
flip sides of a coin.
Go a little further
back to 1813, and
Jane Austen’s Mrs.
Bennet is the bee in
the bonnet of all her
daughters in Pride and
Prejudice. Brash, loud
and unashamedly
out to snare rich
husbands for her
five daughters, Mrs.
Bennet embarrasses
the girls (and possibly
the long-suffering Mr.
Bennet as well) quite
often. But then, since
she existed in a time
when being single
was decidedly more
difficult and frowned
upon than it is today,
readers could perhaps
be more forgiving of
her motherly instincts!
38 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

41. FLAWED
CECELIA AHERN
Best-selling author,
Cecelia Ahern’s YA
fiction debut is set in
an unjust, dystopian
society where black and
white rules dominate.
Mixed blood 17-year-
old Celestine lives a
perfect life, until an act
of compassion sees her
breaking the rules for a
man from the underdog
Flawed faction. Follow
Celestine’s awakening,
as she takes a stand
against a manipulative
dictatorship.
SMARTER
FASTERBETTER
CHARLES DUHIGG
Duhigg explores the
science of productivity.
He presents eight key
concepts for getting
things done, ranging
from motivation to
decision-making. He
draws on the latest
findings in neuroscience
and behavioural
economics, and the
experiences of myriad
productive people
and organisations – all
written in an engaging
manner, making it a
breeze to digest.
GREENISLAND
SHAWNA
YANG RYAN
With a rapidly
changing Taiwan as the
backdrop, Green Island
follows the course of a
family over six decades.
Love and betrayal
juxtapose against a
segue from Japanese
colonial rule to martial
law to democracy in
the country… and
it all distils down to
one question: how far
would you go for the
ones you love?
ANNAANDTHE
SWALLOWMAN
GAVRIEL SAVIT
It is 1939 in Krakow,
Poland, and seven-
year-old Anna’s father
has been taken by the
Germans. It is then that
she meets the mysterious
Swallow Man, who has
magic up his sleeve and
a gift for languages like
her father. Anna and the
Swallow Man embark on
a long journey, in which
the bleakness of war is
brightened by the gifts of
learning, love and magic.
READ
OFTHE
MONTH
REMEMBRANCE
MEG CABOT
Mediator Suze Simon,
gifted with second sight, is
engaged to her soulmate.
But a vengeful spirit and
an old enemy are out to
wreck her happiness.When
Suze becomes a guidance
counsellor at her former
alma mater, a decades-old
murder comes back to
haunt her, and she’s soon
dealing with both old
ghosts and new.
Pulitzer-winning
journalist, Mei
Fong, talks about
her book, One
Child: The Story of China’s Most
Radical Experiment. In 2001,
she joined the Wall Street
Journal and became a China-
based correspondent. Today,
Malaysian-born Fong lives in
Washington DC.
WRITING ONE CHILD
For me, the one-child policy
has shaped how one-sixth of
humanity is born and how they
die. It is one of the biggest stories
in the world, not just in China.
When I wanted to explain the
origins of the policy, I combed
through a lot of history books
Kunming and kept a diary of all
his patients, documenting how
they faced death.
WINNING A PULITZER In
this crazy social media world we
live in, there's a lot of emphasis
and demographic reports to
find mention of an obscure
economist who had stood alone
in opposing the policy at its
inception, and traced him to his
retirement in Shanghai. One
of my chapters also deals with
the question of what it’s like
to grow old in China, bearing
in mind that the one-child
policy has vastly shrunk the
working-age population, as a
huge number of Chinese – more
people than in all of Europe
– enter their twilight years.
I figured looking at hospices
might be a good start, since this
is a relatively new concept in
China. Friends in the hospital
industry had told me about this
doctor who ran a hospice in
on building your own brand.
There's no question having a
Pulitzer helps me stand out
from the crowd, but at the
same time you still have to do
the work, produce something
good. Given the implosion
of traditional newspapering,
there are a lot of out-of-work
journalists everywhere, even
those with Pulitzers.
HER ROLE I consider myself
a story-teller, though I trade in
non-fiction. I think my role
is to shed light and make the
unfamiliar familiar, to make
people care. While I'm not a
Sidney Sheldon fan, I remember
reading his obit, which said
that his books “made the plane
go faster” – that's a pretty good
thing to aim for. To have the
reader so entranced, the plane
goes faster!
OneChild,OneCountry
39MAY2016

42. WORDS: LLEWANN PHANG
MONEYMAKER
You’ve been eyeing that dream
job for a while and finally, there’s
an opening. Without a moment’s
hesitation, you submit your
job application. Days pass by
but nothing… then, just as you
were beginning to lose hope,
you receive that long-awaited
call – you’ve been selected for an
interview! Now, it’s time to make
that all-important first impression
with your prospective employers,
and these game changers will help
pave the way.
STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK
Do your research and impress
the interviewer(s) right from the
start. Have a clear mental picture
of the upcoming interview, what
you think would be expected of
you, and be ready for the tough
questions. When the time comes,
be concise, clear and professional,
and assert yourself in the coveted
role to demonstrate that you're
the right person for the job; but
be careful not to come across as
overly forceful.
'BE PREPARED' This Girl
Guides' motto works just as well for
a job interview. For instance, it is
in your favour to turn up prepared
with a few well thought out ideas
on how you can contribute to
the company. Even better, delve
into details if you can, like the
value of your business network
and strategic steps you can take.
Remember to stay professional,
but bring something special to the
table so you’ll stand out.
DUE DILIGENCE The
interview gets you through the
door, but the job isn’t yours until
you are officially hired. When
it comes to the recruitment
process, hiring managers need to
adhere to numerous procedural
requirements. Reinforce your
Take a cue from the hiring experts and sail through your job interview.
WINTHATJOB 45ISTHE NUMBER OFYEARSWARREN
BUFFETT HAS SERVED AS CEO AT BERKSHIRE
HATHAWAY, AND AT 85YEARS OLD, BUFFETT
IS ONE OFTHE OLDEST CEOS IN AMERICA
TODAY. www.fortune.com
81.2BILLION USD ISTHE ESTIMATED BRAND
VALUE OF MCDONALD'SWORLDWIDE IN
2015, MAKING ITTHETOP FAST FOOD BRAND
INTHATYEAR. www.statista.com
3.2MILLION ISTHE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
CIVILIAN STAFF AND ENLISTED COMBAT
FORCES ONTHE US DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE’S PAYROLL, MAKING ITTHE
LARGEST EMPLOYER INTHEWORLD IN 2015.
www.businessinsider.my
Running a successful business
is no easy task, so keep your
head above water with these
helpful tips.
BLACK AND WHITE Draft out a
plan incorporating your business
objectives, funding, marketing
and sales strategies, as well as
other significant details. Seeing
your business plan on paper
helps you focus and keep your
priorities on track.The idea is not
to be bound by the plan, but to
let it serve as a useful guide for
your goals and daily operations.
HUMILITY Never be too proud
to ask for advice. Talking to
people with more experience
and knowledge than you is
a great check and balance to
keep your business heading
in the right direction. You will
find that humility can lift you to
great heights!
TRUST IN THEM You hired your
team to do their job, so let them.
Avoid being a control freak! Train
your employees well and keep
office morale up with incentives
and a good work environment.
Then delegate – release the
reins and trust your people to do
their jobs. Delegation has often
proven to be the most effective
way of getting the job done.
SOURCE: www.entrepreneur.com
RECIPEFOR
SUCCESS
potential by providing letters of
recommendation at the interview
stage itself. Also, volunteer your
references to the interviewer with
the assurance that they are aware
of your interview and are happy
to corroborate your professional
performance and achievements.
ASK THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS It is normal
practice, when closing the
interview session, for interviewers
to give candidates an opportunity
to ask questions. Use this to your
advantage – ask relevant questions
about the company and the
job you are vying for, with the
assumption that you're already a
member of the team. This approach
creates a long-lasting final
impression with your interviewer
and leaves him/her on a positive
note at the end of the session.
SOURCE: www.levo.com
IMAGE:123RF
40 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

44. PRESCRIPTION
WORDS: LLEWANN PHANGNOTE:ALWAYSCONSULTADOCTORBEFOREYOUEMBARKONANYALTERNATIVETHERAPYOREXERCISEREGIME.
DON'T
SKIMP
ONSLEEPYour nightly slumber
is just as important
to your well-being as
eating healthy and
exercising properly.
The right amount of sleep preserves
your physical and mental health,
and improves your quality of life.
Sleep deprivation, on the other
hand, causes tremendous damage
– whether in an instantaneous
situation, like your response time
when driving, which can make the
difference between life and death;
or in the long term, for instance
by putting you at risk of heart
disease and other health problems.
While on average, adults require
approximately eight hours of sleep
each night, medical experts say that
the actual amount of sleep needed
for a person’s optimum level of
performance varies from one
individual to another.
BRAINY FACTS A good night's
rest contributes to an alert mind,
IMAGES:123RF
and also preps the brain for its
more complex functions – learning
and information recall, analytical
thinking and creative flair are all
dependent on how rested you are.
Depriving yourself of sleep also
affects your emotional control,
as well as interferes with your
problem-solving and decision-
making skills.
SLEEP YOUR WAY TO
HEALTH Sleep deficiency not
only gives rise to cardiovascular
problems, high blood pressure,
84ISTHE NUMBER OF SLEEP DISORDER
CLASSIFICATIONSTHAT EXISTTO DATE.
www.sleepmedsite.com
26%OFTHE CALORIES IN LENTILS ARE ATTRIBUTED
TO PROTEIN. www.foodandwine.com
2.5-3.3MILLIMETRES ISTHE SIZE OFTHE SMALLEST
BONE INTHE HUMAN BODY THE STIRRUP
OR STAPES,LOCATED BEHINDTHE EARDRUM.
www.webmd.com
diabetes, kidney disease and
stroke, it also puts you at risk
of obesity. Since proper sleep
keeps the balance of the body’s
hormones that control your
appetite in check, insufficient rest
can cause unwarranted hunger
pangs, prompting you to binge.
AVOID MICROSLEEP Lack of
sleep can also lead to microsleep
– brief moments of snoozing that
happen during your waking hours.
Microsleep is the body’s way of
getting some much-needed rest.
Dark chocolate shares a 3,000-
year old bitter-sweet history with
humans. Starting out as a bitter
South American drink, it is now
one of the world's most sought-
after indulgences. Dark chocolate
also has many health benefits – it
improves brain function, is great
for the heart and has an excellent
dose of antioxidants. This shouldn’t
be your reason to binge on it every
day though; quality chocolate with
DARKCHOC
INDULGENCE
What’s alarming is that it’s not
something you can control, and in
fact, you may not even be aware
of it when it occurs. This is real
cause for concern, especially in
situations where your full attention
is absolutely necessary, such as
when you are driving. Statistics
show that in the US alone, there
are up to 1,500 fatalities each year
as a result of drivers falling asleep
at the wheel.
SOURCE: www.nhlbi.nih.gov,www.webmd.com
70 per cent or more cocoa content,
eaten in nibbles, is the best way
to enjoy this healthy treat. A high
cocoa content contains a healthy
amount of fibre and minerals
like iron, magnesium, potassium,
zinc and phosphorus. Cocoa also
contains flavanols that support
healthy circulation, which is vital
to your overall health as it delivers
oxygen and nutrients to the heart,
brain, muscles, eyes and other
organs and tissues. Flavanols also
improve blood flow to the skin
which increases its density and
hydration, thereby protecting it
from sun-induced damage.
SOURCE: authoritynutrition.com
42 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

46. SCOREBOARD
HEARTOFYOURWORKOUT
WHENTHEREISTIMETOTHINK
ABOUTCRICKET,ITHINK;BUT
WHENTHEREISTIMETOBEWITH
FAMILY,ITRYTODOJUSTICE
TOTHATASPECTOFMYLIFEAS
WELL.~SACHINTENDULKAR,
FORMERINDIANCRICKETER
THINKOFALLTHEGIRLSWHO
COULDBECOMETOPATHLETES
BUTQUITSPORTSBECAUSE
THEY'REAFRAIDOFHAVINGTOO
MANYDEFINEDMUSCLESAND
BEINGMADEFUNOFORCALLED
UNATTRACTIVE.~SERENA
WILLIAMS,TENNISPLAYER
MYFIRSTDUNKEVERWASIN
MIDDLESCHOOL.WEWERE
PLAYING,MEANDMYCHURCH
FRIENDS,ANDIDUNKEDIT,AND
ISWEARICOULDNOTSLEEP
THATNIGHT.~JEREMYLIN,
BASKETBALLPLAYER
SOURCE:www.topendsports.com
What is cardiovascular exercise
(cardio) and what sort of activity
qualifies as cardio? The simple
answer: cardio is any exercise
that increases your heart rate and
works your lungs and muscles.
So, a brisk walk around your
neighbourhood is as much a
cardio workout as aerobic exercise
or hitting the treadmill in your gym
– the only difference is the amount
of cardio each activity provides
and whether that is sufficient for
you. The optimal amount and type
of cardio training varies from one
individual to another, as it is largely
physical appearance aren’t
the only things that benefit
from the right cardio; it also
increases the capacity of your
lungs and strengthens your
muscles, allowing you to
exercise more efficiently so
that you get better mileage
out of your fitness regime.
CARDIO STRONGHOLD
Aside from making your
most vital organ – your
heart – strong, a good cardio
workout also helps maintain
blood pressure and reduces
dependent on each person’s diet
and lifestyle. It may be a good idea
to try several cardio activities, and
in fact, experts encourage varying
your routines so you don’t get
bored. While weight loss is one
of cardio’s main plus points, this
workout also has other benefits,
like giving you an overall physical
and mental boost.
GOOD MILEAGE The increased
heart rate from a cardio workout
helps burn fat, which of course
contributes to shedding those
extra pounds. Your heart and
IMAGE:123RF
236.57KILOMETRESPERHOURISTHESPEEDOFTHESERVE
THATAUSTRALIANTENNISPLAYER,SAMGROTH,MADE
TOROGERFEDERERATTHEWIMBLEDON2015TOEARN
THESECONDFASTESTSERVEEVER.www.bbc.com
KILOGRAMSISTHEWEIGHTANDREYMALANICHEVLIFTED
ATTHEWORLDRAWPOWERLIFTINGCHAMPIONSHIPS
2015TOCLINCHTHEWORLDRECORDFORHEAVIEST
UNEQUIPPEDSQUAT.www.mensfitness.com
475 21.5MILLIONUSDISTHISYEAR’SANNUALEARNINGSOF
PEPGUARDIOLA,MANAGEROFGERMANFOOTBALL
CLUBBAYERNMUNICH,MAKINGHIMTHEHIGHESTPAID
FOOTBALLMANAGEROF2016.www.totalsportek.com
WORDS: LLEWANN PHANG
WORDSFROM
LEGENDS
cholesterol levels, and in doing
so, lowers the risk of heart
disease and stroke. To improve
overall cardiovascular health,
the American Heart Association
recommends setting aside at least
30 minutes a day five times a week
for a cardio workout.
GREAT FEEL A prolonged
sedentary lifestyle is without
doubt, a one way ticket to aches
and pains, weak muscles and
lethargy. All workouts, including
cardio, not only strengthen
muscles and improve circulation,
but also feed your body with
positive energy. This is because
exercise releases dopamine – the
body’s feel-good hormone – that
lifts your spirit, gets you motivated
and energised, and just makes you
feel great!
SOURCES: www.exercise.about.com,
www.heart.org
Cardiovascular exercise should be at the very core of your fitness programme.
44 MAY2016
www.travel3sixty.com

48. KIDS'SPACE
WORDS: STUART DANKER
IMAGE:123RF
There are a variety of
martial arts passed down
through the generations,
and they range from close-
contact grappling to fighting
with spears. Among other things,
the art of self-defence motivates
self-discipline and self-confidence, is
a superb fitness regime for the body
and a remarkable tool for building
mental and physical alertness. Let’s
take a look at some of the more
predominant martial arts today.
FISTS OF FURY Most martial arts
fall into the unarmed category,
utilising the human body as the main
weapon. Styles like karate, muay Thai
and boxing fall into this category.
Among these disciplines, krav maga
ranks as one of the most brutal
fighting systems. At less than 100
years old, krav maga is one of the
younger and less-structured martial
arts. It focuses on adapting to the
unpredictable nature of self-defence,
instead of pre-determined moves.
WAY OF THE SWORD The sword
remains a popular choice in
weapons-based martial arts, with
kendo and fencing being widely
practised sword disciplines. These
forms of swordsmanship can be
traced back hundreds of years!
Despite being a hobby sport today,
competitors still take the sport
seriously, with top swordsmen
training up to eight hours a day, six
days a week!
JACK OF ALL TRADES There are
also styles that incorporate both
armed and unarmed combat.
Martial arts such as kali, silat
and kung fu are effective with
or without weapons, making
practitioners of these disciplines a
versatile breed. Each art also carries
its own distinct weapons, such as
the keris (dagger with a wavy blade)
for silat and baston (rattan stick)
for kali.
SOURCE:www.kendo.com;www.kravmaga.com;
www.blackbeltmag.com
LOL
› WHAT DID THE
PIRATE SAY WHEN
HE TURNED 80? Aye
Matey!
› EVER HEARD
THAT JOKE ABOUT
CONSTRUCTION?
They’re still working
on it
› WHAT DO YOU
CALL A BELT MADE OF
WATCHES? A complete
waist of time
› WHAT DID THE
COAT SAY TO THE
HAT AS THEY WERE
LEAVING THE HOUSE?
You go on ahead
› WHAT DO YOU CALL
A BLIND DINOSAUR?
A Doyouthinkhesaurus
› WHY DID THE
GOLFER BRING TWO
PAIRS OF PANTS? In
case he gets a hole in
one!
› WHY DID THE TRAIN
DRIVER GET STRUCK
BY LIGHTNING?
Because he's a good
conductor
› WHAT DID THE
TANGLED ROPE SAY?
Oh no! Knot again!
› WHY ARE GHOSTS
TERRIBLE LIARS?
Because you can see
right through them
SOURCE:www.reddit.com
WRESTLING FOR KIDS This
sport can be traced all the way
back to ancient Egypt; it was
also revered by the Greeks of
that time.Wrestling not only
teaches you how to overthrow
an opponent, it helps develop
your tumbling abilities as well,
which is a useful foundation
for other sports.
MUAY KIDS The science
of eight limbs is one of
the most effective striking
martial arts, employing
elbows and knees along
with the usual use of fists
and feet. There’s no need
to spar or fight to reap the
benefits of muay Thai, which
include better balance and
flexibility, and good hand-
eye coordination.
BRAZILIAN JIUJITSU
FOR KIDS Also known as
the gentle art, Brazilian jiu-
jitsu focuses on controlling
and subduing opponents
through technique and
leverage. This makes it a
perfect tool for children to
learn how to overcome their
shortcomings through calm
and calculated solutions. It’s
also one of the safest martial
arts to learn for all ages.
MUAYFIT
INTERNATIONAL
+60351316230
www.muayfit.com
STARTING
YOUNGMuayFit, a martial
arts gym in Malaysia,
offers a variety of
children's martial
arts programmes
that help young ones
build strength and
confidence.
Martial arts are
great, not only for
the body, but for the
mind too!
PACKING
APUNCH
46 MAY2016
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50. your visual
keepsakes while
you’re on the road.
Of course, the easiest
solution is simply to have
more than one memory card with
you on your trip. With an 8GB SD
(Secure Digital) Card costing less
than USD10 these days, having a
few SD Cards with you is highly
recommended so you can snap
away as much as you want. External
hard drives are another low-cost
option to free up memory space
in your camera – just plug the
hard drive into your tablet or
smartphone, and transfer your
photos into it. Some external hard
drives even come with a built-in
battery and a card reader, so you
can transfer your photos from the
camera memory card directly into
the hard drive without a computer.
SHARE WITH THE WORLD As
your digital memoir takes shape,
it would be fun to share your
adventures with loved ones. Tablets
and small laptops are perfect
travel buddies as they provide a
platform to connect with the world
and a channel through which you
can enjoy media while on the go.
Tablets, such as the iPad Mini 4,
LenovoYoga Tablet 3 Pro and the
Microsoft Surface Pro 4, can literally
do just about anything the bigger
PCs can, thanks to their impressive
screen, small size and
incredible capabilities.
The LenovoYoga
Tablet 3 Pro,
for example,
not only runs
Android but
also comes
with a
built-in
WORDS: RIL RAHMAN
HYPERTECH
SOLOTRAVELLER’SBFFSEternalise your journey of a lifetime with these travel tech mojos.
Exploring the world solo is
something everyone should
do at least once in their lives.
Travelling on your own is a great
way to discover yourself. It gives
you the opportunity to open up
to new experiences which you
might not ordinarily pursue if
you were travelling with family or
friends. For most of us, a solo trip
is a once-in-a-lifetime venture.
ZenFone Zoom, that gives you a
3x optical zoom capability, are so
remarkable that you don’t even
need a separate camera for your
pictures; just snap, edit and share
your photos right on your phone.
STORE YOUR VISUAL
KEEPSAKES Your multitude
of photos is guaranteed to fill up
your camera memory card. But
fear not, there are ways to expand
the memory footprint to store
So as a tribute to yourself, take
time to make a digital memoir of
your travels with these versatile
devices that will help make those
memories last forever.
CAPTURE YOUR MEMORIES
The camera is your visual recording
partner on your journey. But,
what type of camera is best? The
DSLR (digital single-lens reflex)
camera, favoured by the serious
photography enthusiasts, is great
for image quality. However, many
simpler, lighter cameras today, like
the mirrorless camera, are at par
with the best DSLRs for quality
visuals. Mirrorless cameras, such
as the Sony a5100 and Panasonic
GM5, are great tools that come
in small packages; they give
you exceptional flexibility, with
interchangeable lenses in a small
form factor. Another good pick
is action cameras like the GoPro
Hero4 Session and Casio EX-FR100.
Designed for outdoor use, action
projector, allowing you to
project your screen onto a wall
for a mini theatre effect. With its
powerful built-in processor, the
iPad Mini 4 (currently the smallest
iPad on the market) can edit
photos, create journals and do
much more. If you need a Windows
environment, the Microsoft Surface
Pro 4 is the best platform to invest
in – run your productivity programs
and image editing apps side-by-
side, and let your imagination take
flight… the Surface Pro 4 will take
you where you want to go!
SAVE IN THE CLOUD One
of the great advantages of our
technology era is that we are
always connected to the Internet.
So don’t hesitate to upload
your photos onto the cloud for
safekeeping. Cloud computing
is an Internet-based computing
that enables global access to
shared resources such as servers,
data storage and other services.
For your photo collection, it
affords the perfect safety net to
protect against data loss in case
your camera gets lost, stolen or
damaged while you’re on the road.
Services like Microsoft OneDrive
and Dropbox offer users large
cloud-based storage for them to
upload photos from their devices.
Through the app or the website,
photos uploaded to these services
can be easily retrieved for editing
or viewing through any modern
browser. There are paid storage
options, but the free storage
provided to registered users should
be more than sufficient for travel
photos, with perhaps even space
for a video or two!
cameras can withstand significant
rough-and-tumble. For the
ultimate combo package, check
out the Sony QX1 – a compact
camera, similar to the action
camera, with interchangeable
lenses, like its mirrorless
counterpart. Undoubtedly, the
simplest option is the smartphone.
The iPhone 6S, which captures
superb images, and the ASUS
48 MAY2016
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52. HYPERTECH
HONOR 5X This
aircraft-grade, diamond-
polished aluminium
build smartphone
features functions
rarely seen on devices
in its price range: large
5.5 inch screen, 13MP
camera, three separate
card slots for ultimate
compatibility (nano-SIM,
micro-SIM and microSD)
plus a fast, intelligent
second generation
frameless fingerprint
scanner that unlocks
the phone in under
0.5 seconds and reads
fingerprints in only six
taps. www.hihonor.com
NEWKIDSONTHEBLOCKThese brand, new models are some of the most alluring and exciting
devices on the market in recent times.
NOTE
TRAINER
This fun
game app
teaches
you to
recognise music notes
through sight-reading,
which is a very effective
way of helping people learn
to read sheet music. It was
developed in collaboration
with award-winning
scholars and educators
from all over the world.
OS: Android, iOS PRICE: USD0.99
Planetof
theAppsLearning on the go
is a fun reality with
these study apps.
COURSERA
Learn
anything
from
program-
ming to
basic psychology from the
world’s best universities,
on your phone! This app
connects you via online
courses to more than 115
top learning institutions,
including Stanford, Yale
and Princeton. OS: Android,
iOS PRICE: FREE
MEMRISE
This app
makes
learning
a new
language
easy with daily learning
exercises and memorisation
techniques. It offers over 100
existing languages, and some
invented ones like Klingon,
Dothraki and Na’vi (of Avatar
fame)! OS:Android, iOS PRICE:FREE
KHAN
ACADEMY
A familiar
app among
self-study
fans, it
makes learning various
subjects like mathematics,
science, economics and
history easy, with over
10,000 relevant study videos
available at your fingertips.
What’s more, the content is
absolutely free. OS: Android, iOS
PRICE: FREE
Smart travel tech tips for
the backpacking globetrotter.
TIPOFTHE
MONTH
MIND YOUR POWER
While backpacking, it’s
a given that a power
source may not always
be close at hand when
you need to charge
up your electronic
gadgets. The golden
rule: get a battery pack
that can power one
smartphone for two
days, or two for one day.
For multiple gadgets,
total up the specified
battery capacity of all
your devices and arm
yourself with a battery
pack that can sustain
all of them. And for
cameras, it’s always
wise to bring an extra
battery pack.
DISENTANGLE YOUR
CABLES Stay stress-
free by keeping your
cables tangle-free! Get a
binder clip for items like
your earphones – the
clip prevents tangles
by clipping a bunch of
cables together. Also,
Velcro ties are great to
secure larger cables, like
notebook charger cables.
BAG IT UP When
travelling, having all
your cables and tech
paraphernalia in a
single bag means they
are easy to locate in
your backpack, saving
you precious time. Also,
since baggage space
is a constraint, having
all your tech items in
one place allows you to
get them out without
having to disturb
everything else in
your backpack.
HUAWEI MATE 8 An ultimate
expression of beauty and
brains, the Huawei Mate 8 takes
the Mate series to a whole
new level. It features a vivid 6
inch FHD display, an ultra slim
design, 16MP camera and a
re-designed fingerprint sensor
that's faster and more reliable,
all housed in a sleek aluminium
unibody design. www.huawei.com
NEXUS 6P This
device combines an
elegant design with
functionality that is
second to none, topped
with the experience of
pure Android without
add-ons. Built on a
foundation of power, the
Nexus 6P boasts a 5.7
inch AMOLED screen,
12MP camera and USB
type-C, and promises
the latest OS updates
straight from Google,
bypassing carriers and
manufacturers.
www.google.com/nexus
SAMSUNG GALAXY
S7 EDGE Samsung’s
new flagship has arrived!
Though resembling the
previous model, the
Galaxy S7 has better
processing power, is
waterproof and comes
with the revolutionary
curved screen. The
curved edges on the 5.5
inch AMOLED screen
accommodates up to
nine panels, giving
access to everything –
from calling for a cab to
getting sports updates –
right away. www.samsung.com
IMAGE:123RF
50 MAY2016
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54. TOUCHDOWN
The northern town of Luang Prabang
in Laos is located on a peninsula at the
confluence of the Mekong and Nam
Khan rivers. Once a regional centre of
Buddhism (a fact attested to by the
spectacular wats that dot the town) and
the capital of the illustrious Lan Xang
kingdom (1354-1707), Luang Prabang
reaped the benefits of its strategic
location along the Silk Route (ancient
WORDS: CHITRA SANTHINATHAN
IMAGE:GETTY
ABOVE A monk at
a temple door, Wat
Xieng Thong
LUANGPRABANG,LAOSThis UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts gilded wats
(temples), charming colonial buildings and a languid vibe.
network of trade routes connecting the
East and West).
Despite the shifting of the capital to
Vientiane in the mid-16th century, the
town remained an important cultural and
religious centre. Luang Prabang became a
French protectorate three centuries later,
and this Gallic influence is evidenced by
the many colonial buildings that fuse
French style with Lao tradition. This rich
architectural and artistic heritage – gilded
wats filled with magnificent sculptures
to colonial villas accented by traditional
plaited bamboo panels – offers a glimpse
into another era.
While attractions abound in town,
the mountain ranges that encircle the
town host majestic waterfalls and hiking
trails ideal for the intrepid adventurer.
A gentler pace of life and warm local
hospitality combine to make this town a
serene sanctuary.
MUSTSEE/DO
WAT XIENG THONG, or the golden city
monastery, with its distinctive tiered
and sloped-roof sim (main temple) was
built in 1560 by King Setthathirat (1548-
71). The interior and exterior walls of
the sim are embellished with intricate
stencilled motifs that depict scenes
from Buddhist folklore. The Red Chapel,
a shrine within the monastery complex,
houses a two-metre long bronze
reclining Buddha, said to be among the
country’s most treasured sculptures.
KUANG SI WATERFALL, situated
some 30km south of Luang Prabang, is a
breathtaking three-tier waterfall, popular
with day-trippers and trekkers. Boasting
crystal-clear turquoise pools, the falls
offer visitors a refreshing dip after a
hike. Community-based tour operator,
Fair Trek www.fairtrek.org, offers a trail to
Kuang Si that weaves through orchards
and rice fields, and includes a visit to a
local village inhabited by the Khamu
and Hmong indigenous people, before
culminating at the spectacular falls.
ROYAL PALACE MUSEUM documents
the history of Luang Prabang’s
monarchy and the city’s colonial
heritage. Dating back to the early
20th century, the structure – a fusion
of Lao and French architecture – is a
repository of royal paraphernalia and
religious artefacts. The once private
quarters of the royals are also open to
the public.
TAEC, or Traditional Arts and Ethnology
Centre, is an independent resource
centre dedicated to the country’s
ethnic communities. Through the
preservation and promotion of their
traditions, culture and arts, TAEC aims
to safeguard the heritage of these
diverse communities, as well as support
their sustainable livelihood. The centre
houses more than 400 carefully curated
52 MAY2016
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56. TOUCHDOWN
“Visitors to Luang Prabang will
discover a distinctive cuisine
flavoured by both Lao and French
influences. My favourite ice-cream
parlour is located at the 3 NAGAS
RESTAURANT in the heart of town.
The artisanal selections make the
best use of fresh and seasonal
ingredients, including Lao coffee,
rosella (hibiscus) and coconut.
For amazing pastries, head to LE
BANNETON CAFÉ, one of the best
bakeries in town. This family-run
boulangerie-cum-café serves up
melt-in-the-mouth croissants
that taste better than the ones
I’ve eaten in Paris! Also on the
menu are a variety of freshly made
breads, pastries and refreshing
salads. Located in an old wooden
house facing a temple, this bakery
has a quaint ambience. Just outside
the town centre is another one
of my favourite spots for good
food and a spot of shopping. The
SILK ROAD CAFÉ at the OCK POP
TOK (www.ockpoptok.com) weaving
centre overlooks the Mekong and
offers scrumptious salads with
organic ingredients, as well as high
tea. More importantly, OCK POP TOK
is a socially-responsible project
that supports weavers from local
communities. Stroll the grounds
and watch the artisans weave
their magic or sign up for a basic
weaving class. The intricately-
woven textiles are also available
for sale and make great souvenirs.
Luang Prabang has many natural
wonders that eco-explorers will
enjoy. On my time off, I often head
out to the countryside to kayak its
many streams or bike in the hills
that encircle Luang Prabang. If you
wish to explore rural Laos, simply
hop on a ferry across the Mekong.
Among the many riverside
villages is BAN CHAN, famed for
its traditional handmade pottery.
Here, one can watch clay pots
being fired in earthen ovens, and
experience a more rustic way of
life. It’s also a great place to pick up
a keepsake!”
SLEEP
FORMOREHOTEL
OPTIONS,VISIT
www.airasiago.com
SATRIHOUSE
057PHOTHISARATH
ROADBANTHATLUANG,
LUANGPRABANG
KIRIDARAHOTEL
13THNORTHROAD,
BANNAVIENGKHAM,
LUANGPRABANG
3NAGASLUANG
PRABANGMGALLERY
BYSOFITEL
BANVATNONG,
SAKKALINEROAD,
LUANGPRABANG
IMAGES:123RF
IMAGE:GETTY
InsideScoop
Luang Prabang-based
hotel general manager,
Pablo Barruti, lists his
favourite local hangouts
in and around the
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
EAT
LAAP or larb, is a Laotian salad made
with minced meat (pork, chicken or
beef) and handfuls of chopped fresh
herbs such as coriander and mint.
Chopped chillies add a dose of fiery
flavour while a squeeze or two of lime
gives this simple yet flavourful staple a
refreshing zing. Learn to make laap and
other Lao dishes such as mok pa
(banana-leaf steamed fish) at Tamarind
(www.tamarindlaos.com), a restaurant/cooking
school that employs locally-sourced
ingredients in its menu.
GETTING THERE THAI AIRASIA FLIES TO LUANG
PRABANG FROM BANGKOK DAILY. www.airasia.com
objects that range from tools to
textiles representing over 30 ethnic
groups. Rotating exhibitions offer
insight into the rich culture of these
ethnic communities. www.taeclaos.org
PAK OU CAVES, located at the
confluence of the Mekong and
Nam Ou rivers 25km north of Luang
Prabang, are considered among the
holiest sites in the country. Statuettes
of the Buddha left behind by pilgrims
upon completing the hike to the
caves adorn their interiors, and during
the Lao New Year, locals make the
pilgrimage upriver to bathe the
statuettes, a ritual they believe will
bring them merit.
Kuang Si Waterfall
Laap
Pottery in Ban Chan
Royal Palace Museum
Statuettes of the
Buddha, Pak Ou Caves
54 MAY2016
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58. SLEEPINNS
provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy leisurely
breakfasts, afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
I was fortunate to enjoy these facilities and
more. The comforts of my Bund View Deluxe
room included a Sealy bed with 600-thread-
count linen sheets, down-feather pillows, Bose
Wave music system with an iPod dock, a writ-
ing desk and a loveseat positioned next to the
window. In a nod to the city’s nostalgic past,
the room’s décor – geometric patterned walls,
wrought iron screen, frosted pendant lamp –
all provided visual cues to the Art Deco period.
From my perch by the window, I was able
to identify most of the buildings along the
waterfront promenade across the river, thanks
to a clever window-side feature – a sketch of
The Bund that lists its iconic structures. The
room also housed an expansive bathroom
decorated in hues of gold, and warm marble.
An Art Deco-inspired mirrored screen, bathtub,
separate shower and twin vanities completed
the luxurious space.
At the Ritz-Carlton, it is impossible to go
hungry. From sumptuous breakfast spreads to
fine dining favourites, the hotel’s dazzling ar-
ray of dining outlets has the needs of even the
fussiest eaters covered.
a guest’s stay memorable! This dedication to
providing the very best service is something I
encountered throughout my three-day stay at
the property.
Stellar service coupled with luxurious lodg-
ings is a combination that is hard to match. De-
signed by award-winning architect, César Pelli,
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, takes pride
of place in the city’s Lujiazui financial district.
This 285-room property, the luxury brand’s sec-
ond in Shanghai, is a contemporary showcase
inspired by the charm of old Shanghai. While
public areas in the hotel afford sweeping views
of The Bund and Art Deco buildings across the
Huangpu River, hints of this rich architectural
heritage accents the hotel’s interiors as well.
A warm palette of beige and gold colours the
interiors while splashes of red add vibrance.
Rooms and suites range in size from 50 square
metres for a standard, to a palatial 410 square
metres for the Ritz-Carlton and Chairman
suites. Three floors of club accommodation
provide guests withThe Ritz-Carlton Club expe-
rience that includes swift in-room check-in and
access to the hotel’s 24-Club Lounge. Featuring
floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook The
Bund and Huangpu River, this exclusive lounge
With its stunning skyline of ultramodern skyscrapers, Shanghai
serves up urban luxury alongside a good dose of local charm.
SHANGHAISLEEPS
TheRitz-CarltonShanghai,Pudong
P
erched above the city and occupying the
top 18 floors of the Shanghai Interna-
tional Financial Centre’s south tower,
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong,
has enviable views of both the Pudong
skyline and The Bund, the city’s iconic
waterfront promenade.
But though the views are stunning, it is the
stellar service that first impresses. Employees at
this five-star property exemplify the Ritz-Carl-
ton brand’s credo: Ladies and gentlemen serving
ladies and gentlemen. Staff go to great lengths
to make sure guests’ needs are satisfactorily met
and special requests are often accommodated; I
experienced this first-hand when I requested a
taxi to attend a meeting across town.
Unable to secure a regular taxi willing to
make the journey during rush-hour traffic,
the concierge booked a more expensive op-
tion. Because this particular taxi charged a
higher-than-normal rate, I later learned that
the concierge had paid for it. Apparently, the
Ritz-Carlton has a policy that allows employ-
ees to spend up to USD2,000 at a time to make
WORDS: CHITRA SANTHINATHAN
56 MAY2016
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