Image © Apsara Asia Pte Ltd. Used with permission.

If you're in Singapore at the beginning of August, do catch Apsara Asia and Maya Dance Theatre's artistic reimagining of the Ramayana legend, titled The Legend: The Journey Begins.

I've discussed the Ramayana legend before, and how it manifests in Southeast Asian art forms like the kecak performances in Bali. The tale of Rama and Sita is such a rich gold mine for art and culture in the region, that most countries in the region have their own version of the legend.

The Legend: The Journey Begins attempts a synthesis of the region's many versions, casting a diverse cast of performers into a grand narrative of the Ramayana epic, using varied traditional dance forms like the Indian Bharatha Natyam and Balinese Baris and Wayang Wong.

The Legend: The Journey Begins will show on August 1 and 2 at the University Cultural Centre (UCC) Theatre in Singapore. Tickets can be bought from www.sistic.com.sg for SG$25, $23, and $19 (excluding booking fee).

For more information on the performance, email Info@MayaDanceTheatre.org or visit their website: www.MayaDanceTheatre.org.

The Singapore Food Festival begins on the 17th of July, running for ten days till July 26. The theme this week revolves around the native Peranakan cuisine, with ethnic precincts showcasing their respective dishes all throughout the festival.

Of course, you might not know your bee hoon from your char kway teow, but a day or so spent sampling the city-state's many hawker centers will soon have you eating like a pro. Get started on Singapore's wide choice of foods by reading our article on Singapore's hawker centers.

Image © Mike Aquino. Licensed to About.com.

I'm out again, this time in the island of Panglao in the Philippines. Panglao is a hot diving spot, and the resorts lining the beach of Alona Kew all have dive centers or are associated with one.

I'm staying at Bohol Divers Resort (the spot you see above is their restaurant overlooking the beach), and tomorrow I'll be riding a boat booked through Blue Planet Diving to visit Balicasag Island, a popular diving spot. I'll stay topside while the photographer I'm working with on this project (not related to About.com) goes below.

I know, I know, I'm missing out on a lot, but I'd rather see it when I'm ready and PADI-certified.

Cruises keep Singapore tourism alive. AsiaOne Travel reports that cruise vacations are enjoying a growth spurt as other Singapore travel industry sectors spiral down - the passenger count has increased by 21% to 459,000, as opposed to a 14% drop in the number of foreign visitors to Singapore overall in the same period. The signs look promising - so much so that cruise companies like Costa Cruises and RCC are expanding their operations.

New Cambodian State Carrier to take flight at end of July. This just in from Bernama: Travel in Cambodia is about to get much easier, as Cambodia Angkor Airline spreads its wings beginning on July 27. Initially servicing Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk province, the new company hopes to begin offering flights to Korea in the near future.

Deal of the month: Save $200 on a gay vay-kay in the Mekong. Gay-oriented operator Spirit Journeys offers a relaxing jaunt through Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos for only $4095. Gay vacationers will go on a spiritual quest in the East, visiting ancient temples like the Grand Palace in Thailand and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Visit their site for more information.