Jennifer Lawrence's Nude Photos Leak Online

It is confirmed. Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence nude photos leaked are original. The photos, leaked online by a 4chan user are confirmed by her representative.  Although the spokesman for Jennifer Lawrance has warned people not to share the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrance, they are widely available on the internet.

Jennifer Lawrance leaked photos are said to be stolen from Cloud and many of them shows the actress posing nude in front of a camera. Most photos are taken by someone else. It also seems like the hackers have an abundance of Jennifer lawrance photo and videos. Hacker has indeed claimed to have 60 Jennifer Lawrence photos and 32 photographs of Hope Solo.

The photos first appeared on the /b/thread for Internet message board 4chan according to Buzzfeed. Buzzfeed also said that the pictures were retrieved due to an iCloud leak that allowed celebrities’ phones to be hacked, and were posted on 4chan in an attempt to earn bitcoins. Some hackers requests donations to paypal for more explicit photos and videos of the actresses.

The 4chan user also released two screenshots of his desktop which are full of videos of Jennifer Lawrence. These photos and videos are not released yet.

The 4chan user also claimed to have released nude photos of several female celebrities in a major hacking. The hacker said that he or she leaked photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, and a host of other stars.

Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Ariana Grande and Kirsten Dunst are some of the stars whose nude photos are leaked according to the media. "To those of you looking at photos I took with my husband years ago in the privacy of our home, hope you feel great about yourselves." wrote Mary Elizabeth Winstead, another actress exposed in the leak, in Twitter. She also wrote "Knowing those photos were deleted long ago, I can only imagine the creepy effort that went into this. Feeling for everyone who got hacked."

Victoria Justice on the other hand was in denial. "These so called nude photos of me are FAKE people" she wrote on twitter.

Jennifer Lawrance nude photos are said to be stolen from her cloud account

The hacker has released a long list of names of actresses who are claimed to be the victim of the latest leak.

It has been a quite common thing to see nude celebrity photo leaks recently. In 2012, a man was sentenced to 10 years for posting Scarlett Johansson nude photos to the web. Christina Hendricks, Blake Lively and Olivia Munn are some of the recent victims of this kind of photo leaks.

Where to stay in Bora Bora?

This post is moved to Where to stay in Bora Bora?

Buying natural manuka honey in Singapore made easy - HoneySpree

Benefits of honey are many : honey is an anti-bacterial, an anti-fungal, an anti-fungal while it is also full of antioxidants. Eating well and choosing the right food from the right retailer is important for me (especially for my family) and having a healthy honey in the breakfast table (I am Mediterranean and always had honey on the table since childhood) is a must. I do not know you but eating honey in the breakfast also energizes me a lot.

But not all honey are made equal. You won't get the most health benefits of honey by simply choosing a random honey container from a supermarket. You should choose a quality one like manuka honey. Produced in New Zealand and Australia from the nectar of the mānuka tree, monuka honey is known for its antibacterial and health-enhancing properties. This type of honey has an antibacterial property named UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) which is not found in all types of Manuka honey. The UMF Unique Manuka Factor is important because it is a measure that ascertains the level of potency of anti-bacterial properties in the particular supply of Manuka Honey.

I was looking for a way to buy manuka honey online and came across HoneySpree. Looking for Honey Singapore took me to this nice online retailer of natural honey and health foods. The company has a flagship product named Pure New Zealand Manuka Honey. And the UMF factor? UMF 15+. So higher anti-bacterial property.

HoneySpree is a pro-family retailer of honey in Singapore and also sells gourmet tea, health food and super foods. Their flagship Pure New Zealand Manuka Honey is UMF 15+ with highest antibacterial benefits of honey.

The brand has a very interesting story. The owner, Beth Candice Wu, has discovered the benefits of manuka honey when her mother saw some improvement in her low immunity issues. But looking for a more effective product, she has done some footwork in New Zealand and discovered that only Unique Manuka Factor (UMF®) honey would have the anti-bacterial, healing and health-enhancing properties. When her mother tried New Zealend UMF® honey and saw significant improvements in her health. This led to an online Singapore honey shop which also offers other healthy products. Today Honey Spree is one of the few places to buy manuka honey online and probably the only local one.

HoneySpree offers door-to-door delivery via courier service and if you are ordering from overseas (outside Singapore) they can also deliver through FedEx.

You can access the online shop here at honeyspree.com.

Singapore Property Review - Your one stop online Singapore property information source

If you are looking forward to buy a Singapore property, you need to ask many questions to yourself like which projects has the best value, which properties have potential to perform well even in an uncertain market, what is a good buy, etc. There are many hot property projects around whether it is residential, commercial or industrial. You need as reliable info as you can and if you are looking for such Singapore property information source, you can take a look at Singapore Property Review.

Singapore Property Review web site lists hot projects in residential, commercial and industrial properties in Singapore as well as the latest property news. You can also check the list of upcoming projects for purchasing brand new property. Residential property section is nicely segmented into different categories to help you navigate easily: Executive condos, Core Central Region (CCR) , Landed, Rest of Central Region (RCR) and Unit Type by Price. The site comes in 4 languages to help buyers of English, Chinese, Indonesian and Malay speakers. This is quite cool because most Singapore property related info in the internet is in English and this site makes such valuable info available to major Asian language speakers.

In the commercial property section, you can see the latest offers in retail shops, restaurants, offices, F&B, land and medical suites. Industrial property section list Singapore production and warehouses units.
The site provides detailed information about property projects. For each project, you can have detailed description of the property, floor plans, brochure, pictures, location maps and top reasons to buy property in that project. You can also register for show flat preview. If you subscribe to the site, new information will flow to your email.

Singapore Property Review offers detailed online Singapore property information as well as
previews of various popular properties.

In short, Singapore Property Review is a site to look at if you are looking for information about various Singapore properties. You can access Singapore Property Review site at www.propertyreview.sg.

Online shopping for Maternity Clothing Singapore - Ubermums

Busy mothers have less time and energy for going out to shop. Luckily, internet helps a lot because you can easily buy required things like maternity clothing, maternity wear, nursing tops, breastfeeding clothes, etc. If you are looking for an online shop in Singapore for maternity shopping, take a look at Singapore based Ubermums (Uber means "ultimate" in German).

Ubermums is an online nursing and maternity shop which has been around for almost 4 years. They are quite unique because they design all of their maternity and nursing (breastfeeding) apparel. All their clothes are dual functioned i.e. maternity with breastfeeding openings. The passion for providing stylish and comfortable maternity clothes and nursing wear in contemporary styles is the key to success of the company.

The online shop is named übermums (ultimate mums) as a reference to what women aspire to be: the ultimate multi-tasking, multi-talented wife and mom; whether at home or in the market place. And modern moms will love the ease of shopping and the range of maternity wear and nursing clothes offered by the shop. Some of the most popular items are DUO range products where maternity apparels also have nursing features which makes them quite functional. Ubermums-shop is an easy to use online shop and your purchases will normally be delivered in 3 working days. The shop also provides international delivery.

Ubermums online maternity and nursing shop offers stylish and comfortable maternity clothes and
accessories.

The shop is run by mumpreneur Edwina Ng, mother of two, who has left her corporate job for her start-up dreams and successfully turned her dreams into reality. She was featured in Mother & Baby where she shared her experience with being an entrepreneur and mum.

The web address for Ubermums online maternity shop is here at http://www.ubermums-shop.com. You can also follow their latest products and offers here at their Ubermums Shop Facebook page.

British tourist paid 216 Dolars for two sea bass dishes

This week, a letter from a British tourist (George Vickers) made its way to headlines in Singapore. George Vickers and his wife apparently went to Boat Quay for seafood and felt "ripped-off" after paying $216 for 2 sea bass. “We went to Boat Quay for a meal one evening and both of us chose sea bass without asking the price, so we were surprised when we got the bill and found that each fish had cost us $108” he said. “In most countries, the equivalent of $216 for two fish would be considered a rip-off.”

The issue here may seem like the restaurant : they did not warn the customers about the price. But due to the culture in Singapore, the real issue here is that the tourists did not ask for the price. Based on my experience in Singapore, I can say that it is not `appropriate` for a waiter to hint about the prices of expensive dishes. This is thought be considered as an insult, like saying `you may not be able to afford` it. This goes to news one or two times every year : a tourist orders a dish and faces with a super high bill and then argues with the restaurant because he was not informed.

So in Singapore in expensive establishments like the restaurants in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, try to understand the prices of the expensive looking dishes before ordering them cheerfully. For example some dishes like Alaska crabs can cost more than 500 SGD per crab depending on its weight. No one will warn you because of the reason I have explained. For example a Filipino family on a trip in Singapore faced a bill of $1,186.20 where just the crab alone cost them $707. Their meal on April 26 at Forum Seafood Village Restaurant at Boat Quay also included prawns, a fish and a plate of vegetables.

By the way, the local media went to Boat Quay and tried to understand why a single sea bass costs 100+ SGD there. The reason is simple, rents! A restaurant in Boat Quay pays around 30,000 SGD per month(!) and it is a must to overcharge with these rents.

But do not forget, the real reason behind an exaggerated bill may really be overcharging. For example in a famous case in 2009, a food stall in (overrated) Newton Food Centre charged  a group of American diners a hefty S$239 for eight tiger prawns. The stall's license was suspended after the news went straight into local newspapers and TV.

  

Cheaper hotels in Singapore due to hotel room glut

Singapore hotels are not cheap and are quite expensive in Asian standards. According to a report by Hotels.com, Singapore hotels were most expensive in Asia and were quite expensive compared to the first decade of 2000s. Well that was back in 2012 and thanks to a surge in the number of hotel rooms and reduced demand from China for Singapore holidays (South East Asia holidays specifically) are making Singapore hotel rooms cheaper.

According to Vikram Malhi, managing director of online travel agent Expedia Asia, tour operators are able to get up to 30% discount on hotel stays in Singapore recently. After MH370 tragedy and the political unrest in Thailand, passenger traffic from China to both countries were badly effected. Since Singapore is usually a stop-over for Malaysia tours, Thailand tours or Malaysia/Thailand tours, Singapore saw declining tourist numbers from China. According to the numbers released by Singapore Tourism Board, visitor arrivals in Singapore from China in the first five months of 2014 fell by 27.4 percent year on year.

And the political unrest in Thailand is also taking its toll on global demand for this popular tourist destination. According to indiatimes.com, Thailand was ranked the most preferred overseas destination for Indian tourists until this year and was taken over by Dubai after the political unrest.

You can see some clues about the shape of the hotels in Singapore in the numbers announced by Far East Hospitality Trust, a Singapore-focused hotel and serviced residence property trust. "The average occupancy at the hotels under the Far East Hospitality Trust, including Rendezvous Hotel and Village Hotel Albert Court, dropped to 80.1 percent in the quarter ended June 30, compared with 87.7 percent in the same period a year ago. The average daily rate also dipped to 188 Singapore dollars ( 150.4 U.S. dollars) from 191 Singapore dollars (152.8 U.S. dollars) a year ago."

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore

Far East Hospitality Trust also adds two factors to the reason in the declining demand for Singapore hotel rooms : companies are not spending for hotels due to global macro economic uncertainties and the imposition of a new restriction by the Chinese government on shopping tours.

Still, glut does not seem to stop growth in Singapore hotel industry (so can expect more glut?). Singapore's Today Newspaper was not surprisingly drawing a more cheerful picture for the near future as it said the hotel industry in Singapore should continue to enjoy healthy demand despite rising room rates and strong competition, as the Republic’s existing and coming attractions are set to draw more regional tourists.

Cheap Flights to Singapore from Taiwan by Tigerair Taiwan

If you are looking for cheap flights from Taiwan to Singapore or Singapore to Taiwan, new budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航), will add one more alternative to the existing flights in late September. The low-cost carrier, which is a joint venture between Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL, 中華航空) and Singapore’s Tigerair, will offer daily round-trip flights between Taiwan and Singapore. In a Facebook post, Tigerair said it will take delivery of its first aircraft around early September in preparation for the launch of its daily round-trip flight to Singapore later in the month.

Currently, Tiger Airways, Jetstar and Scoot are offering cheap flights on the route between Singapore and Taiwan. Full cost carriers like Singapore Airlines, CAL and EVA Airways (長榮航空) also offers flights between these two island nations.

Taiwan is a popular holiday destination for Singaporeans and Singapore is one of the most developed aviation hub in Asia. With flights to Singapore, passangers from Taiwan will have access to the large budget network of Tigerair as well as global network of big carriers like Singapore Airlines.

Tigerair Taiwan will be Taiwan's first low-cost airline. The joint venture will release more information next week about its flights and had said earlier that it was also considering destinations such as Macau, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea in its initial flight network.

Singapore

Taiwan's TransAsia Airways's V Air is set to be the second budget operator in Taiwan as it is set to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Boatbay Launches First Boat Rental Marketplace in Asia Pacific and Middle East

Boatbay announced the official launch today of the first boat rental marketplace in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Boatbay is a community driven website connecting boat and yacht owners, with people looking to rent, charter or crew watercraft of any kind. Boatbay's focus is on people who wish to rent a boat located within Asia Pacific or the Middle East, which are massive growth markets for travel, leisure and lifestyle.

The average boat owner uses their boat 15 days a year, while spending a fortune in storage and maintenance fees with no way to offset these costs. Boatbay lets an owner earn money out of his or her boat, while making quality lifestyle boating affordable to everyone.

Tim Gundry, co-founder of Boatbay is all too familiar with the costs of boating, "the expenses really add up. The advantage of using Boatbay is that you can offset these expenditures while still enjoying boat ownership".

Boatbay allows boat owners and boat charter companies to list their boat at no cost. All the boat owner has to do is to add some photos, a description, contact information and pricing. The owner can rent or charter their boat with themself as the captain; or select a captain of their choice or rent to someone with a boat license.

Boat renters can browse listings across their chosen destination, find a boat they like, select dates and book. Boatbay takes a small commission on consumed bookings and the owner gets the rest. Boat rental rates vary according to the size of the boat ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

"A wide variety of watercraft can be found on Boatbay" added Tim Gundry. "Boat renters can search and rent a luxury motor yacht in Sydney, a sports fishing boat in Dubai, a 1906 Danish built sailing yacht in Phuket or even a submarine in Bali".

"We are seeing an increasing amount of people taking to the water for a growing variety of reasons, such as hosting a corporate event or birthday party, fishing, water skiing, recreation and family holidays. Recreational boating is a $50 billion dollar industry and Boatbay enriches people's lifestyles by enabling fresh social experiences. A 24 foot boat that costs $35,000 to buy is available on Boatbay for rent as little as $150 a day".

Tim continues, "Boatbay not only improves industry efficiency, but enables transparency and reduces risk. We are building a peer-to-peer driven community which empowers people to write and post user reviews of boat owners, yacht charter companies, and those who rent or charter boats". 

He concludes "Boatbay is the airbnb for boating, yachting and people who want to experience a social activity on the water". 

For more information about Boatbay - visit www.boatbay.com or www.facebook.com/boatbay

How to go to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

Taxi is the first option that comes to mind when you are getting to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Especially if you are coming from a long intercontinental flight, no other option will look good to your tired body. But Bangkok is famous with its horrific traffic especially during rush hour. If you land the airport during this time, a taxi ride will be a quite long journey to your hotel. Besides, when heading to the airport from your hotel, the traffic may result in a missed flight. Back in July 2013, I and a friend went to airport by using new Airport Rail Link and two if his friends took a taxi. They have missed their flights due to the evening traffic! So it is wise to know your alternatives.

Airport Rail Link is the best transportation option between the Bangkok city and the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (I am writing the name openly because there are two airports in Bangkok). This rail system reaches to both BTS Skytrain and Bangkok MRT system. There are two type of trains here: Express trains will directly go to Makassan (for MRT) and Phaya Thai (for BTS Skytrain). It comes every 30 minutes and have enough space for your luggages. Express Airport Rail Link costs 90 bahts one way.

City Link trains (second option) stops in every station from airport to Phaya Thai. It is cheaper (45 bahts) but slower and does not have enough space for big luggage.

Let me give an example of how you can use it: In my last visit to Bangkok I stayed in ALoft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Hotel. I was light on luggage. I took City Link train from airport to Phaya Thai.

Bangkok Mass Transit Map. BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line), Bangkok MRTA Subway line and Airport Rail Link can be seen here.

At Phaya Thai, I took off the City Line and walked to Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station on Sukhumvit Line. This part may be difficult if you are heavy on lugagge since it needs going down from a platform up to another in a different station. Also note that during peak hour, the skytain cars are quite packed so you may not be able to get in with large and heavy luggages.

Anyway, I took skytrain from there to Nana station. At Nana, I have exited from Exit 3 (some stations have no escalator so you need to carry your luggages down from the platform) and took Soi 11 to the hotel. All this journey took less than an hour and 75 bahts.

Private Airport Express buses

Once upon a time there were these private airport express buses. One of these was even going to backpacker heaven Khao San Road. They do not exist anymore.

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you will take taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport be careful! Follow the “public taxi” signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises, queue up and state your destination at the desk (English is understood). You’ll get a two-part slip with your destination written in Thai on it. There will be many people trying to take you out of this simple route and direct you to their taxis which are usually scams. Smile to them and completely ignore them. If you do not you may end up paying 2500 Baht to go to Bangkok city center!!!

Read more here: Bangkok Guide : Get In

Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suites Shah Alam

If you are looking for a basic and clean budget hotel in Shah Alam, I can suggest Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suites. I have stayed twice in this 3-star hotel in Shah Alam City Center. One was for 2 nights and one was for a single night. This was the nearest budget hotel near the facility I have came to work in Shah Alam.

The taxi trip from KLIA Main Terminal to Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suites takes about 45 minutes and costs 60+ RM one-way (I usually come to KL by either a full service carrier or budget airline Jetstar Asia Airways because they come to KLIA Main terminal unlike AirAsia and Tigerair which goes to LCCT).

Do not expect a typical taxi driver in KLIA to know where the hotel is. Write down its address and also keep hotel’s receptions number (+60 3 8073 8080) with you in case the driver needs directions. There is no sign pointing to Seksyen 13. You can keep in mind that the hotel is right next to Tesco Shah Alam Hypermarket.

The hotel is quite pleasant. On the plus side the rooms are very large (I have stayed in Deluxe King Bed), clean and equipped with a large queen size bed which is quite clean and comfortable. The staff is very nice and helpful.  In my second visit, reception has remembered almost everything about me including the facility I am going to and the electric plug I need.

Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suites Deluxe King Bed Room

The breakfast is just OK to fill your stomach. The dinner at the restaurant is also quite OK and in fact Malay dishes are quite tasty. There is a small Seven Eleven in the building which is good for some snacks and Tesco is near to shop for more. The hotel does not offer alcohol and 7-11 does not sell it so you need to head to Tesco for some alcohol.

The hotel is very near to many major industrial locations in Shah Alam. The factory I have visited was just 10 minutes away and cost 12 RM per trip. But there is almost nothing to do in the city. It seems like it is composed of houses and industrial estates and some hotels and shopping facilities here and there.

Carlton Holiday Hotel & Suites has a hotel and hostel section.

Shah Alam is about 20 km west of Kuala Lumpur. So to have some fun, you can take a taxi to KL but if you take it in the rush hour of the evening you will be stuck in traffic.  There is also a bus service named RapidKL between Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam Center but stick to taxi for convenience.

Shah Alam has many other hotels ranging from luxury to budget. For a complete list of Shah Alam hotels with their price and quality comparison you can refer here : Shah Alam Hotels.

Top 5 Hotels in Maldives

The South Indian islands of Maldives are considered the ultimate in beauty and relaxation. The atolls and countless islands are full of many luxurious and 5-star resorts, most of which are on their own islands. If you are not sure which Maldives resort to choose, you can take a look at this Top Hotels in Maldives list by HotelsCombined, the world leader in hotel price comparison.

If you want detailed information on accommodation in Maldives and major Maldives atolls to stay, you can also take a look at our where to stay in Maldives post.

Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Galolhu, Male Maldives

Surrounded by lush vegetation and azure waters, Maldive’s Shangri La Resort makes you wish for a button to pause time. With sumptuous banquet and on site SPA, you will find every reason to spend as much time in your hotel and as you can.

Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Hadahaa Maldives

Sitting on its own private island, the Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives is an intimate and eco-conscious hotel. With only 50 villas onsite, each with a floor to ceiling window overlooking the ocean, you’ll get as much, or as little, staff attention as you desire.

Coco Island by COMO  Maldives

The overwater suites of Como Hotel sit alone on Coco Islands, offering an undisturbed stay in paradise. You can stay by the hotel, snorkeling, in the clear waters, or book sunset cruises and trips out to neighbouring  islands.

Gili Lankanfushi, Lankanfushi Maldives

Gili Lankanfushi is built on jetties set above a private coral island. Each walkway takes you over a crystal-clear lagoon to your private villa, each with a window in the floor so you can keep a constant eye on the colorful wildlife down below.

Four Seasons Kuda Hura, Vabboahura Maldives

Four Seasons Kuda Hura Maldives offers a getaway like no other. Welcomed with cool towels and a fresh fruit platter, you will immediately fall into arms of your gracious hosts who will encourage you to take a dolphin cruise, dive in the clear waters or visit the nearby UNESCO biosphere reserve. At the luxurious hotel you can relax with morning and evening yoga, a large infinity pool or at the island SPA.

Top 10 Hotels to Visit in the World in 2014

HotelsCombined, a leading hotel price comparison search engine, has searched the globe to bring you the most inspiring, serene and amazing hotels from around the world.  Below are the top 10 hotels to visit in 2014 according to HotelsCombined.com.

Conrad Maldives – Rangali, Maldives

Set in the Indian Ocean and spanning across two islands, Conrad Maldives is home to whale sharks, mantra rays, dolphins, turtles and a vibrant coral reef. Accessible by only seaplane, this luxurious resort is also the location of the world’s very first undersea restaurant.

Burj Al Arab – Dubai, UAE

Often referred to as a 7-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai has become an icon to the city. Perched on it’s own man-made island, the structure of the hotel is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. For guests looking to arrive in style, there’s a helicopter pad 212 metres from the ground, attached to the upper floors.

Sri Panwa – Phuket Thailand

Located on the South-Eastern tip of Phuket, Sri Panwa sits metres above the sea level and offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the Andaman Sea. Amongst its 40 acres of lush, tropical surroundings, the resort has been designed to offer both a chilled out and party ambiance.

Saffire Freycinet – Tasmania, Australia

Over in Australia on Tasmania’s East Coast, Saffire Freycinet overlooks the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay. Relaxation and rejuvenation were the concepts behind the 20 luxurious suites here, which offer the highest standard of luxury and privacy.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – Ninh Hoa, Vietnam

Sitting on a dramatic bay along Vietnam’s south coast, the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is surrounded by impressive rock formations, a white sand beach and towering mountains. The resort boasts options of beachfront villas, over water villas or villas nested into the island’s rock formations.



Desroches Island Lodge – Desroches Island, Seychelles

Soutwest of Seychelles’ main island, Desroches Island Resort sits on what is considered to be one of the most pristine and untouched island still around today. Blessed with healthy climates and miles of unblemished beaches, this island paradise is a refuge for romance, adventure and relaxation.

Capella Pedregal – Los Cabos, Mexico

Accessed via a private mountain tunnel linked to downtown Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Capella Pedregal feels like a world apart. The luxury resort comprises of 96 rooms and suites all with private plunge pools and dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Areias do Seixo – Torres Vedras, Portugal

Described as a magical place in a magical setting, the Areias do Seixo in Portugal combines originality, sublime comfort and a unique sense of style that seamlessly blends with its natural surrounds of land, sea and shore.

Oberoi Udaivilas – Udaipur, India

Adorning the banks of Lake Pichola, the Oberoi Udaivilas was designed as a traditional Indian palace, capturing the splendor of a royal era. Rambling courtyards, flowing fountains, lush gardens and terraces that open out to semi-private swimming pools are all part of the backdrop here.

Le Sirenuse Hotel – Positano, Italy

In Positano, the most photographed village in Italy, Le Sirenuse Hotel was once family owned summer home. In 1951, it was converted and now has 58 rooms with all the comforts of a luxury hotel whilst still maintaining the atmosphere of a private home.

Data visualization training in Singapore - Tableau 8.2 Introduction

If you are interested in Business Intelligence and Data Visualization tools and want to have a hands on experience with these software, then do not miss this Tableau learning session in Singapore by Knowledge Management Solutions (KMS). KMS, a Singapore based business intelligence and data visualization solution provider, runs a half a day free Tableau software training session named Build Your First Data Visualization Dashboard in half-day.

Tableau software is one of the most popular and best (according to Gartner Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms 2014 report) data visualization tools in the market today. Tableau allows anyone to connect to data in a few clicks, then visualize and create interactive, sharable dashboards with a few more. It's easy enough that any Excel user can learn it, but powerful enough to satisfy even the most complex analytical problems. Securely sharing your findings with others only takes seconds. The result is BI software that you can trust to actually deliver answers to the people that need them.

Click here for details : Tableau Session on 4th September 2014.

Tableau 8.2 is recenly released with a lot of new features.

Who should attend?
Business people, General Managers, Analysts, Operations Managers, IT Managers, HR Managers, Finance Managers, Marketing Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, etc.

What you will learn during the hands-on training:
You will build an advanced Tableau Business Intelligence Dashboard.

This training will be provided by key KMS consultants who on average have more than 8 years of experience in Business Intelligence and Analytics. Seats are limited hence if you are interested, follow the link and register : KMS Data Visualization training in Singapore using Tableau. The data visualization session will be on 4th September 2014.

Bangkok Night Life

Bangkok night life still may mean the naughty sex trade in red light districts of Bangkok but in the last decade, the tourism capital of South East Asia has developed a quality night life to enjoy from trendy bars and clubs to romantic river cruises. Here we cover some of your alternatives for a good and entertaining night in Bangkok.

 

Rooftop Skybars of Bangkok

A nice rooftop bar looking over Bangkok with a fantastic bird-eye view is the place to go in a Bangkok night and no Bangkok trip is complete without visiting one of the many great rooftop bars in Bangkok with fantastic bird-eye view.

Here are some of them you can visit:

• Vertigo and Moon Bar (Banyan Tree Hotel)
• Park Society (Sofitel So on Sathorn)
• Sirocco Sky Bar (Lebua at State Tower) – Yes you know this place from The Hangover Part II wherePaul Giamatti was having his brunch at the end of the movie.
• Three Sixty (Millennium Hilton Bangkok)
• Octave Rooftop Bar

Night Life and Party Venues

Bangkok offers many pubs, restaurants and night clubs for those who would like to have fun in the tropic nights of the “City of Angels”. We have listed some of the most popular ones here.

Route 66 Club (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) is the place for a crazy loud music with lazer shows and energetic dance. 3 types of music is offered here: The Level, The Novel and The Classic. Very popular among youngsters and the prices for drinks are quite reasonable.

Funky Villa (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) needs some deeper pocket. The terrace offers a nice dinner and the bar is calm and relaxing.

Safe House (Thonglor Si 10, or Ekamai Soi 5/1, Bangkok) is open until the first lights of the next day (most bars and clubs in Bangkok officially closes at 02:00 AM) and offers hip-hop and electronic dance.

Sirocco SkyBar Bangkok

Muay Thai (Thai Box)

Watching Muay Thai competitions in the night is a uniquely Thailand experience which is missed by many. You can find Thai Box Stadiums in almost all cities in Thailand but Bangkok is the best place to view this.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium at Silom and Ratchadamnoen Stadium at Rattanakosin are the two venues to head to if you want to watch them. Although the “show” will go on all the night, best matches are the last ones so schedule a long night there. Entrance is quite expensive 1000 – 2000 Baht but it worth the money.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is probably Tayland’s best known Muay Thai place. You can watch Thai box here on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There are also Muay Thai matches at MBK on every Wednesday between 18:00 – 21:00. These are free to watch.

Bangkok Dinner Cruise Tour

In the early night, you can take a dinner cruise along Chao Phraya River. You will typically sail on a traditional Thai boat (i.e. converted teakwood rice barge) and spend the night watching great night views of The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace while you are having your delicious Thai dinner served under the candlelight and classical Thai ‘kim’ music and dance performances.

Dinner CruiseTour on Bangkok River

Bangkok Night Markets

Although most Bangkok malls are closed by 21:00, there are some malls open until midnight. You can visit several Bangkok Night Markets which offers a great night shopping experience like:

• Asiatique – A night bazaar and a mall combined which is near BTS to Saphan Taksin.
• Khaosan Road – This backpacker heaven is best visited at night. You can shop everything here but I do not suggest to buy private bus tickets or travel packages here if you do not know what you are doing.
• Khlong Lod Night Market
• Khlong Thom Market

Bangkok Red Light Districts

It is not a secret that “bang” part of Bangkok night life is very famous. Bangkok has 3 main Red Light Districts catering to foreigner and expats: Patpong, Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza. These are main centers for sex tourists but many people visit these places just to see this infamous part of Bangkok Night Life. The way it works is same as anywhere in Thailand: These places are full of go-go bars where man goes and drinks. There is a platform in the bar where girls dance in bikini (and occasionally topless or totally naked). Almost all the dancers and most of the waiters are sex workers. If a man wants a girl he request her by the number she carries, pays a bar-fine (money paid to take the girl out) and money for the girl (usually to a mama). Then they go to the man’s hotel or a nearby hourly “room” for the trade.

It is totally acceptable to go to these bars and just drink and “watch”. In fact many tourists visit these bars and just drink and watch.

Soi Cowboy is a 400 meter street offering 20+ bars and is much calmer than Patpong and Nana Plaza. For sightseeing this is the place to go. Soi Most popular of all go-go bars in Soi Cowboy is Baccara at the end of the street.

Soi Cowboy is located near Sukhumvit Roadand is within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain’s Asok Station and the Bangkok Metro’s Sukhumvit Station.

Patpong is where this side of Bangkok Night Life has started. Best known of these 3 Red Light Districts, Patpong is famous with its go-go bars and ping pong show. You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. Most tourists visit this place.

You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Nana Entertainment Plaza is a 3-storey building and is the most commercial sex oriented of all these 3 places. Not a place to go for sight-seeing. There are beer bars at the ground floor but the real action starts from Level 1. It is on Sukhumvit Soi 4 and can be accessed from Nana BTS Skytrain Station on foot.

What is SingTel WIFI?

Since it is introduced, many phone users in Singapore have switched to 4G network which offers a faster internet. But video hungry users have easily congested this wide wide surfing road. Today in an MRT train or a crowded area, 4G may become extremely slow to the point that you cannot even load a web page.

SingTel now offers SingTel WIFI, a new plan which can switch to SingTel WIFI network whenever a hotspot is in range. Basically, SingTel is creating WIFI hotspots in Singapore and subscribers will easily switch to SingTel WIFI when a hotspot is near. The only thing you need to do is to keep Wi-Fi switched on then everything will be automated.

Currently there are 100 SingTel Wi-Fi hotspots in Singapore at 15 locations but according to SingTel there will be 1000 hotspots by March 2015. Do not expect coverage to all houses in Singapore but it will

SingTel 4G/WIFI combo plans cost $3 more and replace the existing SingTel 4G Flexi plans.

One problem with public WI-Fi is the speed or lack of it. According to SingTel, the SingTel Wi-Fi network will be 5 times faster than a typical WIFI network.

Below you can see SingTel's 4G/WIFI combo plans.

SingTel's 4G/WIFI combo plans

False alarm of Ebola in Singapore

An ebola scare in Singapore proved to be a false alarm (thankfully) as a suspected case of a Nigerian woman in her 50s was transferred to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)'s Communicable Diseases Centre today from Gleneagles Hospital. The woman in her 50s arrived to Singapore from Nigeria, where there are at least 10 proved cases of ebola, a few days ago and developed high fever.

The alarming news came as a Straits Times tweet at around 3:45 PM saying "Singapore may have its first suspected case of #Ebola". Approximately 1 hour later, the Straits Times sent another tweet saying that the woman does not have Ebola.

There is limited passenger traffic between West Africa and Singapore. Besides, most tropic viruses have signs and symptoms similar to ebola's initial phase (i.e. malaria). Still, ebola's deadly reputation and high kill rate makes every fever or vomiting event a scare in many countries. Recently, a Nigerian man was sent to test after he has developed fever and vomitting in Hong Kong, which proved to be a false alarm.

Ministry of Health also released a statement saying that "The Ministry of Health (MOH) wishes to clarify that there are no suspect cases of Ebola in Singapore at present. MOH will continue to closely monitor the situation, and continually assess and calibrate its measures.".

No Ebola in Singapore (Ebola virus seen here in electron microscope)

The news coincided with a mock case of suspected Ebola drill by The Ministry of Health, Communicable Diseases Centre and Changi Airport Group held as a emergency preparedness exercise.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons or animals, or by contact with contaminated objects. Although difficult to transfer, once it enters the body, it creates severe signs and symptoms resulting in death in 59% to 90% percent of the patients. Currently, there is no cure for Ebola and the patients are usually put into intensive hospital care with the hope that the body will fight of the disease.

Current West Africa Ebola Outbreak is the worst outbreak in terms of number of deaths, the area effected and the duration.

Where to stay in Maldives?

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5 Benefits You Get with Online Event Software

Everything changes quickly today and business is no exception. Just a decade or two ago the entire concept of business meetings and networking events was different. The advancement of technology allowed for a lot of things to be made easier, quicker and more accurate. So, when you want to host a business networking event, you need to keep a record of some important things. First of all, you want to know who is going to attend the event and you want to directly and openly communicate with RSVPs.

Like I said, a lot of work was needed to do all this in the past, but software is here to help you out with all the details that need to be handled. You will find a lot of software solutions online so the only thing you need to do is to choose the one that will cater to your requirements. Now, since we are talking about business networking event here, it is clear what kind of requirements we have.

The first thing you need to do is to get all the information you can about the attendees so you can contact them further down the line. You may follow up to all of them at once, or directly select several attendees only. Since you will need to brand your company, this has to be done through the correspondence as well. So, let’s take a look at those 5 benefits you get with online event software:

Print the Names of Attendees

Anyone who wants to come to the event will sign up online and the software you use should be able to select all attendees who will come to the event and print all their names, together with some basic information.

Email the Attendees

The software you use should have your branding put up everywhere - on the sign up page and on the emails you sent. And it is important that you can send a mass email to all the RSVPs in case you want to let them know about any new information regarding the event.

Accept Different Forms of Payment

In case your event requires admission, you need your software to accept multiple forms of payment like credit cards and PayPal.

Name Tags Printing

Most business networking events have attendees wearing name tags. Sure, you could buy sticky name tags and write all the names yourself, but it's a lot easier to have online event software to print these out instead of you. You can even set the software to print out other important information, besides the person's name, like the company name or logo.

Creation of Custom Emails

When you are sending out an email to the attendees, you want to display all the information about the event and about your company. It would be great if you could create custom emails so that you can brand yourself properly and create an attractive and vibrant email. If your online event software does not have this option, you would have to hire a graphic designer, which takes time and money.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore Review

It first sounds weird to know that someone living in Singapore stays in a Singapore hotel for holiday. But staycation in Singapore is quite popular especially in the recent few years. For this staycation episode I and my wife have decided to stay in Marina Bay Sands Hotel one of the newest luxury hotels in Singapore. The main reason for the hotel choice was the infamous Sands SkyPark and its infinity pool view of Singapore skyline.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel, or MBS in abbreviation loving Singapore, is the largest hotel in Singapore which occupies a prime land in the Singapore city center area. It is a casino hotel and part of Marina Bay Sands casino complex so called integrated resort,  an euphemism used because of opposition to casinos.

Our 2D1N staycation in Marina Bay Sands Hotel started at the reception which will make you feel how crowded the hotel is. The waiting time in the reception is quite long althogh the registration is quite short. The hotel has 2,500+ rooms (the second largest hotel in Singapore Swiss Hotel Stamford has half the number of rooms!) and it seems like it is 100% full all the time. Other than gamblers, business travelers and non-gambling leisure travelers also prefer the hotel. But despite being in the city center, the hotel is not a place to walk to main Singapore attractions on foot like the ones in Orchard Road.

We have stayed in a Deluxe Room on the 37th floor facing the sea rather than the city. It was our decision to stay this side. The rooms facing the Singapore skyline are popular but I found it tiring to see CBD from my room because I will not feel any “getaway” feeling if I watch my workplace from my hotel room :)

Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore

Many luxury hotels in Singapore are old and their age is reflected in the room. The room in MBS looks brand new, very modern and very large even for a 5-Star hotel in Singapore. Other than this large Queen Size bed, there is a nice sofa, large flat screen LCD, very functional business desk and probably a fast WI-FI (I did not bring my laptop with me so never tried internet).

The bathroom is also very large. It is as large as many budget to mid-range hotel rooms in Singapore :) The rain shower, the tube and double sinks are all in 5-star hotel standards.

The mini-bar in the refrigerator was full of everything but be careful with it. It has an automated system which charges you the bottle if you remove it from its place. So that 300++ SGD bottle of wine may be interesting to take out and look at but then you may be charged for it.

For those who need budget drinks and eatery after spending a large sum to MBS (MBS is quite expensive even in expensive Singapore hotel standards). There is a Cold Storage Speciality and 7-Eleven shop in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and you can buy your drinks and snacks from these places for much cheaper prices. Also, there is a food court to eat on budget in The Shoppes. But the food in this foodcourt is expensive and it is not good. You can walk to La Pau Sat or Marina Square Shopping Mall for better and cheaper food.

You know the main attraction of all Marina Bay Sands casino complex is naturally its casino.  And the hotel is basically a gambler’s inn. But I won’t review this attraction because I have never been to its casino and had no intention to visit it this time also.

The main attraction of the hotel for me was the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and the infinity pool on the sky park. SkyPark is built 200 meters above the ground, on the top of three 55-storey towers of the hotel.  It is quite large, it has 12,400 meter square space, almost 3 football fields.

SkyPark itself is very beautiful. It has one of the best rooftop views of Singapore (but definitely not the best as it is marketed by the hotel) and is a great leisure chill out place! The infinity pool is one of the best hotel rooftop pools in the world and is definitely one of the most unique. In theory, the pool is open only to hotel guests and their guests. But I have been to this pool before and until recent the entrance check was lousy and I am sure there were many people who were sneaking into the pool although they were not guests. But since November 2012, the pool entrance is very strict and is done through pool access card. As a result, the pool was much less crowded than I have seen before.

The infinity pool is 1.2 meters deep and I could find nothing to do there except watching Singapore from above the sky while immersed into pool water. The pool is quite an experience and although I found it tiring to watch a busy city during a holiday, it is a must do in the hotel. It worth to visit the pool in the early morning when it is empty, in the evening when sun is setting and in the night. Rest of the time it is super crowded with hotel guests who are eager to fill their Weibo, Facebook and Instagram accounts with their photos on the skypark.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Infinity Pool

There are 2 fine dining restaurants on the SkyPark: KU DÉ TA Restaurant and Sky on 57. I cannot review this because as a guest who has spended all his budget for the room, I have headed to the food court. Marina Bay Sands hotel restaurants are expensive but if you want to save money there is a food court in the shopping mall (near ice skating). It is also expensive in Singapore standards and as for all tourist places the food is not that good. But a lot cheaper compared to the restaurants and the food is not that bad.

To sum up …

Marina Bay Sands Hotel is definitely a nice 5-star luxury hotel which is quite popular. But this popularity makes it very crowded. It seems like the hotel is 90% booked by wealthy tourists from China and the 10% by others. For this reason, SkyPark, its pool and all facilities are quite crowded. But rooms are quite large and they are liberal about who goes in and out as long as they are going in/out with you. I have been here to visit friends before and you can invite your friends to enjoy the room with you.

Weekend getaways from Singapore

Singapore may be a tropical island but it is very developed and its beaches have been completely consumed by land reclamation. Although well known paradise holiday islands like Phuket, Koh Samui and Bali are quite near by plane, there are also several nice weekend getaways from Singapore within a ferry or bus (or a combination of both) ride away from Singapore.

In this post we have listed some places for short getaway from Singapore. All of these can be accessed with a relatively short bus + ferry rise and requires no flight. A good way to find a good weekend getaway deal from Singapore would be checking group buying sites where there are tonnes of heavily discounted travel deals from Singapore to the destinations below.

Batam

Until recently Batam Island was a sex tourism and casino destination for Singapore residents (at least this was the first thing coming to mind). In the past few years, Batam has started to establish itself a short getaway destination from Singapore’s busy life. It offers cheap shopping, nice and cheap hotels, good food and some really nice resorts to have a tropical beach resort holiday right next to Singapore. Like Bintan, the island is accessible from Singapore by frequent ferriers.

For some of the best hotels and resorts in Batam, refer to this blog post : Best Hotels and Resorts in Batam Island.

Bintan

Bintan is an Indonesian Island just 45 kilometers Southeast of Singapore. There are hotels and resorts in the island catering to tourists and the most famous resort area here is Bintan Resorts or Bintan Lagoi. This is an area on the northern most side of Bintan separated from the rest of the island with a forest. There are mostly luxury resorts here. It takes only 55 minutes to reach Bintan Resorts from Singapore. The ferry leaves Singapore from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and arrives to Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal.

The Bintan Island map and its location relative to Singapore.

Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru or simply JB has always been a popular weekend getaway from Singapore where you can eat cheap food and have your shopping. Just across the causeway from Singapore has not been very interesting for the casual tourist but recently JB has added a few interesting resorts and amusement parks which makes it a nice weekend getaway destination now. Danga World Theme Park (an amusement park more suitable for children), Danga World Petting Zoo and Legoland Malaysia (again more appealing to kids under 11).

Desaru

Desaru offers the nearest beach weekend getaway from Singapore. The beach, which is on the South China Sea, is located just 88 kilometers east of Johor Bahru/Malaysia. Thanks to newly opened Senai–Desaru Expressway (Highway E22) and cable-span bridge across Sungai Johor, it is only 1:30 hours drive away from Johor Bahru and around 2:15 hours away from Singapore! You can also take a public bus to Desaru and a boat service is available from Changi Point, Singapore to Tanjong Belungkor, Malaysia.

Desaru’s main attraction is its clean, sandy beaches spanning almost 22 km and shallow and clear water. For more information about this destination, refer to Desaru beach weekend getaway from Singapore.

Tioman Island
Tioman Island is one of the most beautiful tropical islands of Malaysia and is a very popular getaway destination from Singapore. Excellent for swimming, snorkeling, skuba diving, trekking or simply doing nothing, this underdeveloped island is an excellent place to cut-off from modern life. There is no road system on the island so the resorts are accessible only by boat. It takes an 8 hour bus + ferry ride or a 45 minutes flight to get to Tioman from Singapore.

For more information on Tioman, check our Tioman Island articles.

Tioman Island (Panuba Inn Resort seen here)

Sibu Island

Just 3 hours away from Singapore with a bus + half an hour boat travel, Malaysia's Sibu Island is the closest island to Singapore for skuba diving and it offers excellent skuba diving and snorkeling experience. Sibu is actually an archipielago made up of Pulau Sibu Besar (base island), Pulau Sibu Tengah, Pulau Sibu Hujung, Pulau Kukus and Pulau Tinggi. Less popular and known than Tioman Island, it takes a less tiring journey to arrive Sibu Island.

For more information on Sibu Island, you can check our Sibu Island : A Tropical Heaven Right Next to Singapore article.

Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin is in fact is an island of Singapore but it it is quite different compared to mainland Singapore so we have included it here. Unlike Sentosa Island, this small island just in the north east of  Singapore is largely underdeveloped and accommodates the last kambung (village) in Singapore. It is a great place to get away from crowded Singapore island, cycle and witness how Singapore was in the past.

Many Singaporeans visit Pulau Ubin for a day trip but you can also stay in Pulau Ubin.

Where to stay in Boracay?

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Famous professional mistress Guo Mei Mei arrested

Guo Mei Mei, widely considered China's most brazen "professional mistress",  gained fame in 2011 when she started to show off her Maserati and luxury bags on social media. She claimed to be a manager of an organisation under the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) which sparked outrage and making people questioning charities.

Well obviously, her wealth(!) was not coming from Red Cross funds. Guo Mei Mei was arrested on July 9th and confessed to prostitution and gambling according to Chinese media. She also confessed to police that she had nothing to do with the Red Cross Society of China. According to Red Cross Society of China, she was actually a mistress to a wealthy businessman which has done some charity work with Red Cross.

According to Beijing police, Guo's wealth came from illegal gambling, commercial performances including singing, and the sex trade. In mid-2011, Guo claimed on social media she was a manager of an organisation under the charity and openly flaunted her wealth and extravagance. 

Her posts triggered concern over how donations are used by the country's state-run charitable organisations and dealt a major blow to the RCSC, which has been struggling to regain trust since the scandal. Donations to the society dropped by 23.68 per cent in 2012, according to the China Charity and Donation Information Center.
Source : Controversial Guo Meimei back in spotlight for prostitution, gambling

Guo Mei Mei seen here living the high life.

She has been making money from different illegal activities including having sex with man for money. But she was not an ordinary prostitute, she was charging 100,000 yuan ($17,400) for encounter! She was seen on CCTV wearing no make up and orange detention center uniform.

"[One man] transferred 50,000 yuan to my card. And he gave me another 300,000 Hong Kong dollars to me. We had sexual relations on the day of my arrival,” she said. “The next day I said I would go back to Beijing. He then bought me the air ticket and transferred another 110,000 yuan to my account after I returned.”

Source : Guo Meimei, China's most brazen 'professional mistress', confesses on TV

“Suite Indulgence” at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts reveals a suite offer that promises to deliver the ultimate luxury escape.  Guests can take advantage of personalised service and the finest accommodations with the "Suite Indulgence" package, which includes a 20% discount off the best available rates of suites and triple GC points for Golden Circle Members, plus access to Horizon Club lounges and benefits where available.

For Shangri-La properties with an exclusive Horizon Club Lounge, additional amenities include complimentary breakfast; tea or coffee delivered with a morning call; evening cocktails and canapés; a selection of snacks and beverages throughout the day; Club concierge service; two hour use of a meeting room daily; and complimentary suit pressing.

From Asia and the Middle East to Europe and North America, Shangri-La's suite options will suit understated, elegant and opulent tastes.  Guests may opt for views of Hong Kong's recognisable skyline at Kowloon Shangri-La, marvel at street activity high up from Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai or settle for the tranquil turquoise Oman waters off Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.

Whatever the destination, the group's suite collection addresses a business trip to an indulgent romantic break for two or a luxurious family resort holiday while delivering 'hospitality from the heart' for which the brand is renowned all over the world.

Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong

For more information about "Suite Indulgence", which is valid 1 September through 31 October 2014 at more than 80 Shangri-La properties, and to make a reservation, visit http://www.shangri-la.com/offers/.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000.  Over four decades the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.' The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. 

Singapore cruise deals 2014 / 2015

We love to travel but if you are not going to a nearby Malaysia city, Batam or Bintan, the travel usually starts and ends with a tiring and time consuming flight where you send most of your time in an airport and a plane without sightseeing. Staycation is another option so you skip the travel part and when you add your air ticket budget to your hotel budget, you can really stay in a nice Singapore hotel. But there is an increasingly popular alternative to these two which basically allows you to check-in to your "resort" in Singapore and your "floating resort" travels to the destinations for you. We are talking about cruises from Singapore.

Compared to a decade ago, we now have a huge cruise port, many global cruise ship operators, much larger ships and many destination options from Singapore. Competition also makes it cheaper and available to cruise from Singapore. And more over, many group buying (or deal) sites in Singapore offers great discounts for famous cruise ships amounting up to 50% or more.

Here in this post, we have tried to compile a list of Singapore cruise deals for 2014/2015 season.

Costa Victoria  5D4N Langkawi & Phuket Cruise - Immerse in a relaxing and luxurious cruise on Costa Victoria with your family this year-end holiday. With ample agendas, live performances and facilities onboard for you and your family’s perusal, this cruise will take boredom out of the question. Kids can be taken care of in the Children Squok Club and make friends when parents are in the mood to go for romantic excursions. Get your share of a wonderful getaway with today’s deal.

3 Price Options Available:

• $409 per pax for Option 1: Min 2 Adults & 2 Children below 13 years (Worth $818)
• $449 per pax for Option 2: Min 2 Adults (Worth $890)
• $389 per pax for Option 3: Min 4 Adults (Worth $442)

Italy at Sea - On-Board Costa Victoria Cruise for 4D3N Malacca and Penang -  It’s an adventure through the enchanting ocean. What promises to be a memorable 4-days-and-3-nights for anyone seeking a getaway trip with a difference. Family, friends and lovers. All are invited on board Costa Cruise’s Cabin where endless amount of entertainment and activities await them with international cuisines, live music and parties. The party doesn’t stop as the cooking and dancing classes are available for those keen hands and feet. When in port, get a chance to explore the cities of Malacca and Penang where shopping and fun are found aplenty. Rest and relaxation aside, stay connected with those back at home, through the WI-FI service that can be found on board. All this more and possibly more, all courtesy of Costa Cruise.

3 cruise options available:

1. $253 Per Pax For Option 1: Classic Quad Cabin Stay (Valid for 2 Adult & 2 Child below 13 years old; Min 4 Pax; Worth $506)
2. $338 Per Pax For Option 2: Classic Twin Cabin Stay (Valid for 2 Adults; Min 2 Pax; Worth $678)
3. $259 Per Pax For Option 3: Classic Twin Cabin Stay (Valid for 4 Adults; Min 4 Pax; Worth $678)

Singapore Costa Victoria cruise deals 2014

6D5N Sapphire Princess Cruise Interior State Room Stay - Dive head-first into a world of luxury when you hop onboard the Sapphire Princess Cruise, a spacious vessel that is designed with your comfort in mind. Efficient staff with a passion for the High Seas wait to tend to your every whim and fancy, while a delectable range of international cuisine is aplenty at the cruise’s specialty restaurants. Dine in a manner that suits your schedule instead of cramping your style around a fixed itinerary, for here at the Sapphire Princess Cruise, the possibilities are endless.

For $680 per pax, you get a 6D5N Sapphire Princess Cruise Interior State Room Stay with Full Board Meals and Entertainment (worth $899).

6D5N Sapphire Princess Cruise Interior State Room Stay

Royal Caribbean's Mariner Of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in Asia, will be returning to Singapore in November 2014 for a new season. She will cruise from Singapore to Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur), Penang, Langkawi and Phuket for 3, 4 and 5 night cruises as well as 7 days Malaysia and Thailand cruise and 7 days Thailand and Vietnam cruise. For more information and detailed cruise schedule you can check Royal Caribbean cruise promotion 2014: Mariner Of the Seas page.

Star Cruises, one of the most established cruise ship operator in South East Asia, is also having many promotions for cruises from Singapore like Festive Season Special, School Holiday Special, Nations' Celebration Second Person at $49, 35% off Early Bird Promo and SuperStar Gemini Suite Sweet Deals. For the latest Star Cruises Singapore cruise deals, you can check Star Cruises Singapore cruise promotions page.

Relaxation and SPA Deals in Singapore

In the busy city life of Singapore, retreating to a SPA facility for relaxation and recharge your energy is sometimes a necessity. There are many stunning facilities for SPA in Singapore ranging from dedicated SPA centers and SPA centers in 5-Star hotels to less known but still high quality ones. And if you want to buy SPA with a big discount, it is also quite easy : Relaxation and SPA deals are one of the most discounted group buying deals in Singapore coupon site.

Singapore Spas regularly join in deal sites and the discounts are usually above 50%. These deals are also quite popular and each of them are sold more than 100 times.

Just take a look at DEAL.com.sg SPA & Relaxation deals: At the moment there are many deals like 90-Min Royal Thai Indulgence Ayuthaya Spa at Rendezvous Hotel Singapore (65% OFF and for $78), 60-Min Relaxing Full Body Massage for 2 Pax at Bella Luna, Tanjong Pagar (88% OFF and for $48) or 120-Min Full Spa Treatment Package for only $38.

If you have never bought Singapore SPA deals before the rule of thumb is to choose a deal which is bought by a lot of people. Some of the SPA deals are quite regular, the same facility lists one deal after another and they are also well known so you will find a lot of people buying them.

Established SPAs like the ones in 5-Star hotels are also quite reliable since they cannot tolerate bad comments in the net.

Relaxation and SPA Deals in Singapore

It also helps to read the fine-print and even calling and checking the availability of the SPA deals in certain times. Mr. Google would also help if you look at the comments about the SPA facility.