Jetsettersblog

Ubud Hanging Gardens, located in the steep rice terraces of Ubud, is known as a center of arts in Bali.

The resort has 38 luxury private pool villas, each with a heated private infinity plunge pool and views of tropical mountains and the winding Ayung River.

The “Ubud Escape” package includes a Balinese welcome drink, daily breakfast buffet for two, one three-course dinner for two per stay at the hotel’s Beduur restaurant, a full-day guided tour to discover Ubud, one Balinese cooking class, lunch in the village gardens, a two-hour guided morning walk, use of mountain bikes and shuttle to Ubud center, daily afternoon tea, one-way airport transfer including VIP arrival or VIP departure airport handling, daily complimentary bottled water and fresh tropical fruit in-room and complimentary Internet access.

Rates for a three-night stay start from $325 per room, per night. For more information, visit www.ubudhanginggardens.com  or www.orient-express.com

And Launch Of Signature Beachfront Restaurant

Bintan Lagoon Resort will be launching its very own ferry terminal and ferry services, expected to be in operation by June 2010. The project, costing the resort SGD15 million, has commenced works since November 2009. The completion of the project will add an iconic structure to the shoreline, which forms the link bridge from the disembarkation point to the Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Service will be made up of a fleet of two catamarans, one seating up to 150 passengers and the other seating up to 250 passengers, operating from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Guests requiring exclusivity will also have the option of arriving at the resort via its VIP boat, with a seating capacity of 30 passengers. Ferry pricing and booking details will be released at a later date once available.

Upon approaching the shores of Bintan Lagoon Resort, tourists will be greeted by a towering, iconic structure which forms the link bridge to the ferry terminal in the resort, conceptualised by Shafee Sajari of Acid Singapore, a Singapore based firm specializing in lifestyle, hospitality and retail designs. The 65-metre long bridge, designed to be serpentine in character, is a salute to nature with sides of the bridge opening up to allow sea breeze onto the bridge. The tall and airy bridge entrance will taper off at the immigration point, forming a screen for secure entry into the building.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal spans 1251 square metres in floor area and is expected to be fully operational with immigration facilities for incoming and outgoing tourists, baggage handling, seating area and a duty-free shop. Immigration facilities have been designed in a smooth flowing layout to enable seamless entry and exit for the guests, where checkpoints, baggage belts and security checks are strategically positioned. A VIP desk will be available at the terminal to facilitate entry and exit for guests requiring exclusivity.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal and Service is established to add greater convenience for the resort’s guests as they are ferried right to the shores of the resort, be it for overnight stays or golf day trippers. For large leisure or meeting groups, the ability to charter catamarans with the resort’s ferry service will add to the resort’s appeal as a MICE destination.

Other Projects

3 Degrees, Bintan Lagoon Resort’s signature beachfront restaurant – In addition to the ferry terminal and service project, Bintan Lagoon Resort will be unraveling its signature beachfront restaurant, named 3 Degrees, come March 2010. With a seating capacity of 389 persons, the restaurant features large al fresco dining and bar areas with a view of the South China Sea as well as air-conditioned comfort for group dining.

The new restaurant, at 2380 square metres, is located in a standalone building with its inviting beachfront location and slated to be the biggest restaurant on Bintan Island. A feature wall with ethnic carvings creates an impressive welcome at the restaurant’s main entrance which faces the resort. A walk through the courtyard fountain will reveal a beach bar, where upon entering will unravel the stylish, airy interiors of the restaurant.

Designed by the very same designer who conceptualised the resort’s ferry terminal and iconic link bridge, the restaurant follows a casual, laidback concept so as not to distract from its beach appeal. Interiors are done in a light vanilla shade throughout, incorporated with interesting textures from volcanic stones and river pebbles to add tactile character to the restaurant. Natural, preserved chunks of local trees further characterize the restaurant.

3 Degrees is also designed with the guidelines set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in mind as the resort gears up for its Green Building certification (see note on LEED on page 3) in 2010. Much of the restaurant’s space is opened up to take advantage of the natural sea breeze, thus cutting down on air-conditioned areas; and natural, sustainable materials are incorporated in the design of the restaurant.

Also directly accessible from the beach, the sprawling Beach Bar with its sundeck offers the best vantage point to capture the beach panorama. Dotted with sun loungers, parasols and landscaped with tall leafy trees on the sundeck to provide shade, the Beach Bar offers sunseekers a relaxing oasis of cool sea breeze and wide variety of ice cold beverages to quench their thirst amidst the backdrop of the South China Sea. An upper sundeck accessible from the beach bar offers patrons more privacy and shade without sacrificing on the view of the sparkling blue waters. Otherwise, retreat to the library bar with a cuppa in air-conditioned comfort.

In the main restaurant, dining in air conditioned comfort is split into two areas. The seafood bar features an open kitchen where guests have an almost theatric view of the chefs’ work area as they conjure up dishes of delightful cuisine amongst the sparks and flames. Cosy groups in this area can also enjoy convenient access to the restaurant’s sundeck. For a warmer ambience, guests can proceed to spacious dining room, where large groups can be catered to.

Apart from the stylish surroundings, patrons are assured of a vast menu offering a fusion of Western and Asian cuisine, which will be priced for the masses with the option of Chef’s menus for those seeking better things in life.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – Apart from the resort’s constant efforts to upgrade its facilities, corporate social responsibility remains a priority for the organization. As such, the resort is in the process of acquiring its Green certification with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. All construction projects in Bintan Lagoon Resort are carried out in accordance with guidelines set by the council which addresses areas such as sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources etc. The certification, estimated to be approved by end of first quarter of 2010, will establish Bintan Lagoon Resort as the only green resort on the island.

About Bintan Lagoon Resort
Situated just 55 minutes by high-speed ferry from Singapore, Bintan Lagoon Resort has been the venue of choice for holiday makers and meeting organizers alike. Featuring 473 spacious rooms, suites and villas complemented by 12 wining & dining options, 9 function rooms, the resort boasts of a variety of outdoor locations to cater for every event requirement.

The resort houses two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch, a spa and a chic nightclub, Silk alongside a wide range of recreational, water and teambuilding activities.

The children’s organisation Mith Samlanh is hosting a day of family entertainment in Phnom Penh.

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA — People booking accommodation in Siem Reap may decide to take a trip to Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital.

Mith Samlanh, a non-governmental organisation that works to support disadvantaged street children, is hosting a special Fun Fair in the city on Saturday April 24th.

Running from 09:00 to 13:00 local time, the event will aim to provide family entertainment while raising awareness and funds for the charity.

With jugglers, clowns, stilt walkers and magicians all demonstrating their skills, the Fun Fair promises to be a memorable occasion for local people and visitors to the city.

Those attending the event can also look forward to various musical performances, including an appearance from the Mith Samlanh breakdancers and local Khmer hip hop artists.

Founded in August 1994 by three western expatriates, Mith Samlanh started life as a small drop-in centre with a school attached.

Over 200 people are now employed by the organisation, which takes the social reintegration of street children as its primary goal.

Although it is based in Phnom Penh, Mith Samlanh also works with children in the cities of Kampong Cham and Kampong Speu. Its name is taken from the word for “friends” in the Khmer language.

Japan is promoting its hot springs. A natural infinity hot spring pool at the elevation of 6,900 feet is the reward for a four-hour hike to the 1998 Winter Olympic host town of Hakuba. Hakuba Yari Onsen is by a chalet that operates only during the summer, serving semi-alpinists.

The natural rock tubs feature hot water with views of nearby mountain tops, clouds below, and more.

The chalet provides frugal accommodations with shared bathrooms and bunk beds.

Almost a half-day train trip from Tokyo connects to the small town of Aomori, the northernmost part of Honshu Island, where the ocean-side natural spa faces the Sea of Japan and beaches: Instead of lying on the sand, clients can take a dip in natural hot springs right by the ocean, facing the wild northern waves.

The bathtub is curbed in the rock so close to the ocean that the wave comes into the bathtub when the weather becomes stormy.

For more information, visit www.furofushi.com

Hokkaido’s Siberian winter contributes not only to the world class powder snow but also provides a hot springs experience. Lake Shikaribetsu in Daisetsu-zan National Park becomes a small winter village on the solid frozen surface with ice bars, ice theatres, ice wedding chapels and snow mobile paths as well as a make-shift round pool filled with natural hot water on ice. The mineral content of the hot water warms and relaxes even in the subzero air with a view of the deep forest and mountain ranges in the distance.

For more destination information, visit the Japan National Tourism Organization at www.japantravelinfo.com

Napasai, a secluded luxury beach resort on the north coast of Koh Samui, Thailand, offers families the Family Package which includes a private pool residence with separate sleeping quarters in addition to a private seaside pool.

The package also includes a full-day safari tour of the island including a Thai lunch, daily breakfast buffet for four in the stunning Lai Thai restaurant, a Thai fruit-carving class, a private in-residence evening BBQ, one authentic Thai dinner for four, complimentary bottles of water in-room daily, free wireless Internet connection and roundtrip airport transfers. Set on a hillside overlooking Ban Tai beach on the Gulf of Thailand, guests are invited to indulge in Napasai’s private sandy beach, 55 villas, 14 private pool residences, two restaurants and the Napasai Spa. Rates starting from $326 per room, per night.

For more information, visit www.napasai.com  or www.orient-express.com

La Residence d’Angkor, set in Siem Reap within a UNESCO World Heritage site, is offering the Cultural Discovery package as a way to explore Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

With accommodations in a river-side room, guests will be taken on a full-day tour of the ancient city in a private car with an experienced guide, including a picnic, all culminating with a three-course dinner in La Residence d’Angkor’s restaurant.

The package also includes roundtrip airport transportation.

After a long day discovering Angkor Wat, guests can retreat to the new Kong Kea spa. Package rates starting from $243 per room, per night exclusive of taxes.

For more information, visit www.laresidencedangkor.com  or www.orient-express.com

The Waisak Festival takes place every year at Indonesia’s spectacular Buddhist monument Borobudur.

UBUD, INDONESIA – Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist monument, plays host to the annual Waisak Festival.

Celebrated on a full moon in May each year, this event finds Indonesian Buddhists remembering the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha with a special ceremony.

People using accommodation in Ubud may like to make the trip to Borobudur, which is situated near the city of Magelang in Central Java, to experience the festival.

Every year, hundreds of Buddhist monks make a five-mile pilgrimage to the site, carry offerings of candles and flowers.

Once there, they light the candles and begin to pray, chant and meditate – a process that goes on well into the evening.

Dating from the eighth and ninth centuries, Borobudur was restored by the Indonesia government and UNESCO in the 1970s, after which it was listed as a world heritage site.

Famous for its elaborate relief panels and large number of Buddha statues, the monument is now Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and provides an unforgettable experience for many travellers throughout the year.

However, it is recommended that people visit Borobudur during the Waisak Festival to truly appreciate the magic of the area.

Visitors to Pattaya can experience the World Thai Martial Arts Festival in Ayutthaya.

PATTAYA, THAILAND – People using accommodation in Pattaya next month may be interested in the World Thai Martial Arts Festival taking place in Ayutthaya.

Running from March 10th to 17th, the event exists to celebrate the ancient art of Muay Thai, which is the country’s national sport.

With the City of Ayutthaya Stadium providing the venue, the festival promises to be a memorable event for anyone with an interest in martial arts and Thai culture.

Muay Thai is similar to other styles of kickboxing found in south-east Asia, although the Thai version has enjoyed the most exposure in western culture.

The discipline is noted for its use of ritual, with fighters always performing the Wai Khru ceremony, in which they pay homage and give thanks to their teachers, before the bout begins.

Anyone who has stayed in accommodation in Thailand is likely to be aware of Muay Thai, as the sport plays a prominent role in daily life for many Thai people.

Attending the festival will also give travellers an excuse to visit the ruins of Ayutthaya, one of the country’s ancient capitals.

Situated in central Thailand, the city is now a historical park and became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1991.

At most surfing destinations, there is a high and a low season, but not on the Vietnam coast along Binh Thuan province.

In February, one year after its grand opening, Princess d’Annam debuted a surf experience in Ke Ga Bay. “In the movie ‘Apocalypse Now,’ they said Charlie don’t surf,” said Nguyen Thanh Trung, the resort’s wind sports instructor. ”But Charlie’s sons, they do.”

Trung has an International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) license and five years of teaching experience. In contrast to resorts along the Mui Ne strip, Princess d’Annam shares Ke Ga Bay with only a nearby fishing village so beginners need not be concerned about navigating around or cutting off other kite surfers as they get the hang of the sport.

This area of southern Vietnam is characterized by sand dunes, the rising heat from which contributes to wind power and plays a part in making this the most consistently sunny spot in the country.

Surfing options at Princess d’Annam include the traditional surfboard and body boards for the swells which roll in from offshore, especially from May through September, and kite surfing and windsurfing which take advantage of year round winds.

From November to March, northern winds gust up to 35 to 40 knots and average about 20 knots.

From March to November. the southern winds ease back to an average of 5 knots gusting up to 15 knots.

Trung and the resort staff provide well-maintained, professional equipment featuring Nash kite boards and sails and windsurf boards by Starboard with Simmer brand sails. Four “kite” sail types are adapted to the different wind speeds as well as the guest’s weight and skill level. Boards also come in four sizes adapted for wind speed, guest weight and height, and skill level.

Additionally, windsurfing boards offer five options. All of this means optimized time on the water for everyone from beginner to expert, no matter what the winds are up to.

The 57-unit, all-villa resort is located on Ke Ga Bay, 90 miles from Ho Chi Minh City in Bin Tranh Province. The property features three classes of accommodations, from the Mandarin Suites to two-storey Empress Villas with private plunge pools.

For more information, call 011 84 8 3845 5990, email dosm@princessannam.com  or visit www.princessannam.com

JET AIRWAYS TO INTRODUCE ITS FIRST DAILY DIRECT MUMBAI-JOHANNESBURG SERVICE

Jet Airways is to launch its first flight to Africa in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The daily direct service from Mumbai to Johannesburg will come into effect from 14th April.

With a large number of people of Indian origin living in and/or working in South Africa, as well as its emergence as a leading business destination and wealth of tourist attractions, the new route opens up an untapped potential for India’s premier international airline. Johannesburg will be the twenty-second destination in Jet Airways’ international network.

The Airbus 330-200 will fly non-stop to the Rainbow Nation. The spacious full-length wide-bodied twin aisle cabin of the A330-200 is configured in two classes, with 30 seats in Première (Business Class) and 190 seats in Economy. The airline’s Première guests will enjoy a 180 degree flat bed with lumbar support and massage systems, oversized table, laptop power, telephony, SMS, Email and live text news to deliver a flying office, state-of-the-art On-Demand Panasonic In-Flight Entertainment (IFE), as well as the finest in-flight dining and service.

Flight 9W 242 will depart Mumbai at 0205 hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 0735 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 241 will depart Johannesburg at 1100 hrs, arriving in Mumbai at 2330 hrs. Return Economy fares from various Indian cities start from INR 35,595 (approx £490) while return Première (Business) Class fares start from INR 116,020 (approx £1,600).

Jet Airways currently flies to New York (both JFK and Newark), Toronto, Brussels, London (Heathrow), Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Sharjah and Riyadh.

JET AIRWAYS LAUNCHES PROMOTION WITH LONDON’S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Jet Airways has partnered with London’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) and The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts to offer a luxury holiday for two to India. The competition prize is being run in conjunction with ‘The Indian Portrait, 1560-1860’ exhibition taking place at the NPG  to 20 June.

The exhibition, the first of its kind in the UK, tells the story of the Indian portrait over three centuries, exploring the ways in which Indian artists have approached the depiction of the human form and the changing role of portraiture in Indian history.

Highlights include curator-led exhibition tours, a master-class with the Singh Twins, conferences, music, dance and a contemporary South Asian literary programme. Tickets are available to book online at www.npg.org.uk/events  (transaction fee applies) or by calling 020 7306 0055.

Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to enter the competition on line by answering a question on the Indian Portrait or via the feedback form available in the gallery. The competition will run for the duration of the exhibition and the holiday is to be taken between July – September 2010.

JET AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES LATEST SPECIAL ‘BOARDING CARD DELIGHTS’ DISCOUNTS

Jet Airways has announced the current special offers available through its ‘Boarding Cards Delight’ programme until 30th April. The offers are available to all passengers travelling on Jet Airways, Jet Airways Konnect and JetLite.

There are 15 well-known brands as programme partners, across five categories – retail, hotels, dining, lifestyle and car rentals. Discounts include money off at Dominos Pizza, Costa Coffee, Radisson Hotels and Avis car rental as well as extra perks such as a foot massage.

To take advantage of the raft of discounts, Jet Airways’ passengers need to present their boarding cards at the various partner establishments or outlets. Boarding cards generated through the Web, SMS and Kiosk Check-in, will be accepted along with photo identification.