Southeast Asia Travel

Image of the Heeren, Orchard courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.

Singapore is one of the world's most expensive cities, reports the Wall Street Journal, becoming Southeast Asia's most pricey metropolis to live in and ranking 9th in the world.

That's according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) annual cost-of-living survey - "Asian cities are no longer just a cheaper outpost for expats and multinationals," intones the Journal. "Singapore was listed as the 6th most expensive last year, but remarkably was ranked 97th in 2001."

The EIU compares the cost of living in 93 countries, allowing managers to calculate fair compensation policies for their international employees. This bit of news shouldn't worry tourists too much: after all, Singapore also has plenty of budget options for travelers with not a lot of dough to burn. Check out our list of Singapore budget hotels to see what accommodations can save you money when in the Lion City.

Image courtesy of Far East Hospitality.

After an SGD 3.5 million facelift, the Elizabeth Hotel (compare rates|buy direct) is re-opening its executive rooms with a new contemporary design and plenty of creature comforts: modern furnishings in every executive room, along with a 40-inch LED HD TV and a rain-shower experience in each bathroom.

And from $183 (about SGD 228) per night, guests can kick back in The Elizabeth Hotel's new Executive room, together with a FREE return trip on the Singapore Cable Car plus admission to Sentosa for two. This promotional bundle also comes with a free American-style buffet breakfast, mini-bar amenities, unlimited Internet access, local calls, and laundry service of two items daily.

If you so choose, you can upgrade to the Executive Premier rooms for just $40 (SGD 50). The roomier Executive Premier guestrooms come with a freestanding bathtub, among others.

The promo is valid for bookings from now till March 31, 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

The Elizabeth Hotel is located at Mount Elizabeth, only a few minutes' walk away from Orchard Road's shopping but set amidst an abundance of tropical greenery. Guests can choose among 256 rooms, including 100 Executive Rooms and four Executive Premier Rooms.

Compare rates on the Elizabeth Hotel and other Orchard Road Hotels.

Mount Apo has always been a favorite for Filipino adventurers (see our list of Nature & Adventure Travel Activities in Davao City, Philippines for more), but adventure travelers from around the world are only just starting to pay attention to the Philippines' tallest mountain. The International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge ought to be right up their alley: a 24-hour extreme adventure race starting from the beach lines of the town of Santa Cruz and ending at the summit of Mt. Apo 9,600 feet above sea level.

The race is a team effort: each team should be comprised of two racers and one logistics crew member, all fighting their way through about eighty kilometers of punishing terrain with twenty marshal points in between. The race goes through four different stages, requiring different types of mastery: mountain biking, trekking, water tubing and road running. Read More...

Image © tajai/Creative Commons

For Southeast Asia's formidable Indian Hindu population, tomorrow's celebration of the feast of Thaipusam marks one of the most important days in their religious calendar. The day marks the birthday of the Lord Murugan, on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (Thai + Pusam, a star at its apogee = Thaipusam).

Malaysian newspaper The Star Online reports temple committee member Rivehemanda Batu Malai's prediction of 1.5 million visitors for the big day itself. "The crowd has been coming in non-stop since Saturday evening," says Mr. Rivehemanda. Read More...

Image of junk in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam courtesy of Getty Images.

Consider the obstacles of getting to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam: you need to book a package tour among the tour agencies in Hanoi - assuming you've chosen from a day tour or one of those luxurious sleepaboard cruises in Ha Long Bay. (Some try to cut out the middleman by trying a do it yourself tour to Ha Long Bay, but I wouldn't recommend that for first-timers.) It takes another three to four hours to drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and a few tense minutes lining up past the crowds to get into your tourist boat.

But once you've shoved off, the whole point looms before you - the sinuously-curved karst islets, the contrast of the rocks against the water, and further on, a stroll through the caves - these are among the  images of Ha Long Bay you'll take with you when you leave Vietnam. Having been there, let me assure you that the long hard slog to get to Ha Long Bay is truly worth it.

Read our Guide to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam for more on this spectacular bit of Vietnam real estate.

To celebrate the festival of Galungan, Balinese Hindus make their way to temples and pray to commemorate the victory of good over evil and worldly distractions. Galungan recurs over a 210-day calendar, so the next Galungan holiday rolls around near the end of the year, from August 29 to September 7.

The present Galungan festivity period extends from February 1 to 11.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Tripadvisor's users have spoken: in their recent Travelers' Choice Awards (tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice), a number of Southeast Asia destinations and hotels got recognized by Tripadvisor's 60 million readers as the best of the best. The winners' lists have expanded to include top-25 lists for 30 countries and regions, as well as an international competition for the best properties to visit.

So who scored big? Read More...

I've blogged before about Jakarta, Indonesia's Car-Free Sunday scheme, which is a great way to catch the local atmosphere in Indonesia's capital city. The Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta (compare rates|buy direct) not only looms over one of the focal points of the route (the Bundaran HI roundabout), it also joined in the fun last January 29 with their "I Love Weekend" campaign.

Over 250 red t-shirt-wearing bikers sped off down Sudirman Road and headed to Senayan Roundabout, kicking off a charity fun bike event sponsored by the Mandarin Oriental through their Corporate Social Responsibility Program.

More on the event's beneficiaries - and a fun Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta promo for Car-Free Sunday participants - after the jump. Read More...

The Courtyard by Marriott (compare rates|buy direct) is one of the newest resorts lining the Nusa Dua upmarket enclave in Bali, and this early on they're raising the bar with a newly-opened Beach Club, a relaxed seafront bistro and lounge close to the property.

The Beach Club is located on a private beach along Nusa Dua and is set along a quiet promenade; the open-air bar and bistro, placed over a manicured sand floor, is ready to serve guests enjoying a day (or an evening) on Nusa Dua's beach.

Courtyard guests can come in from the sea and enjoy the Club's enclosed garden showers before toweling off and settling onto one of their spacious daybeds or lounge chairs shaded by capacious beach parasols.  The Beach Club's on-location chef and serving staff serve up an eclectic menu that includes gourmet hotdogs, tacos, satay, grilled prawns, veggie burgers and a variety of beverages including wine, beer or smoothies and fresh juices. Read More...

One of Australia's most successful yoga teachers will soon be sharing her secrets in a series of retreats across Bali, Indonesia. Sue Hawkins has been operating from Australia's Byron Bay for over 10 years, giving burnt-out businesspeople a much-needed recharge with her special rejuvenating yoga practices. In 2012, Hawkins will be taking her methods to Southeast Asia, through eleven yoga health retreats to be conducted in Ubud, Bali. Read More...