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Hotel room of the future?
Hotel room of the future?
Thailand's tourism industry set to lose billions
Beginner's guide to Hong Kong food
B787 Dreamliner to kick off ‘Dream Tour’ in China
Eating up Malaysia's neglected east coast
Wheeling and dealing at Bangkok's pawn shops
Edward Falzon: Is smoking hurting tourism in China?

Hotel room of the future?

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 01:45 AM PST

Newsletter Date:

28 November 2011

Newsletter Contents

By City:

Cycling in Bangkok: Not just for the insane

Bangkok's street artisans do it for freedom, not cash

Asia: Where the ghosts of the West's forgotten bands live on

CNNGo - Clockenflap Contest

5 outrageous buys at Top Marques Macau

Detour 2011 is no longer just a side event

4 worst Bollywood movies of November

High hopes for Mumbai's first car-free day

Live music in Mumbai: Imogen Heap, Nikhil D'Souza, Shaan

B787 Dreamliner to kick off 'Dream Tour' in China

Edward Falzon: Is smoking hurting tourism in China?

Yao Ming launches namesake wine brand

Eating up Malaysia's neglected east coast

The showdown: Singapore vs. Kuala Lumpur

Singapore lifts travel warning to Bangkok

R2 Supperclub: Tokyo's secret speakeasy?

Tokyo day trip: Earn your sake spurs at a working brewery

Playing by ear: Blind tennis, the smash from Japan

7 beach getaways in southeast Queensland

How to protect your home while on holiday

Shark attack hot spots identified on West Australian coast

Korean Air wraps a plane in time for the holidays

Mies Container restaurant: A tasty, trendy Hooters for women

South Korean students to receive visa waivers to Beijing

Hotel room of the future?

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 01:00 AM PST

What would you like to see in the hotel room of the future? Speedy check-in procedures? Even speedier check-out procedures? A minibar that autofills?

The brains at Novotel think it's more about computer games, interactive mirrors and tabletops that direct you to a good restaurant.

Oh, and perfectly white, blank, decor-less walls.

According to Accor Hotels, parent company of Novotel, the "hotel room of the future" is here, it's open for business and you don't have to own a flying DeLorean to pay a visit.

Thailand's tourism industry set to lose billions

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 09:28 PM PST

Thailand's tourism industry looks set to lose approximately 16-19 billion baht (US$510-607 million) due to the flood crisis if the situation ends in December, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

In a report by state-run news organization MCOT, Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry Spokesman Watchara Kannikar said the ongoing floods have cost the country 400,000-750,000 foreign visitors.

Beginner's guide to Hong Kong food

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 08:25 PM PST

Eating in Hong Kong can be overwhelming. Food trends are ever-morphing and the choice of things to eat is staggering, such that at any time, a "Hong Kong meal" can mean many different things.

But just like the most complex building structures in the world, Hong Kong cuisine can also be broken down to its bricks and mortar.

The following pillars of local food culture should be part of any Hong Kong itinerary.

Dim sum

Within each steaming bamboo dim sum basket, Canton's long history of culinary excellence is distilled into a mouthful of dainty dumpling, or a light-as-cloud bun.

B787 Dreamliner to kick off ‘Dream Tour’ in China

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 07:36 PM PST

The B787 Dreamliner is ready to take on one of the world's fastest-growing aviation and travel markets -- China.

Boeing has announced that the aircraft will embark on a six-month worldwide "Dream Tour" from next month, kicking off with a visit to China from December 4-11.

First fly to mainland China

The aircraft, which is designed to seat up to 290 passengers, will arrive at Beijing Capital Airport on December 4; then fly to Guangzhou (广州) and Haikou (海口) the following week.

Eating up Malaysia's neglected east coast

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 02:00 PM PST

I am a frequent visitor to Malaysia's west coast and Malaysian Borneo.

But a six-day drive up the east coast was a new cultural experience not only for me but also for a friend from Kuala Lumpur who learned more about his own country on our short trip than he did in school.

The much-traveled west coast of Peninsula Malaysia is a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian culture.

But to experience pure-breed Malaysian life a trip out to the peninsula's three east coast states of Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan is a must. They host a few popular resort islands, but in general the three states are a given a wide berth by the tourist trade.

Wheeling and dealing at Bangkok's pawn shops

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 01:58 PM PST

Unfortunately, Bangkok's pawn shops don't peddle kitsch. But there are still bargains to be had

Richard S. Ehrlich

In Bangkok, people are often embarrassed about taking cherished jewelry and other personal treasures to a pawn shop. They also worry whether they can pay back the loan or finance the interest payments so they don't lose their valuable possessions forever.

If their luck runs out, Bangkok's pawn shops put the ill-fated items up for sale.

But anyone seeking to buy something in the shops' somber, cramped chambers must compete with professional dealers and gold shop owners who try to snatch the best pieces first.

Edward Falzon: Is smoking hurting tourism in China?

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 01:57 PM PST

I got into a Shanghai taxi the other day -- that is to say that I tried to get into a taxi, but when I opened the door, I was greeted with an unholy waft of poisonous gas emitting from the driver's nose, mouth and possibly other orifices.

He was smoking -- with the windows up, no less -- as he pulled over. Never mind the three or four non-smoking signs inside the cabin. Never mind the laws passed to ensure the health and comfort of his customers, if not himself. No, he needs his drug fix.

I just slammed the door and kept walking.

A couple of minutes later I waved another cab down and, oh, look, the driver's puffing on a cigarette.