HANOI, Vietnam — Even the director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum here doesn’t know how many of the artworks and artifacts under his care are genuine and how many are extremely skillful copies. But he says he is going to try to find out.
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Justin Mott for The New York Times
Many works at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum could be copies that were made to replace the endangered originals during the Vietnam War. Now it is unclear which are real and which are fake.
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Justin Mott for The New York Times
Bui Thanh Phuong in his home, with works by his father, Bui Xuan Phai. He called the unmonitored art switch “a disaster.”
There are nearly 20,000 of these mystery objects, on the walls and in storage, including paintings, sculpture, lacquerware, pottery, ancient statues and traditional crafts.
“We are making efforts to have a comprehensive review of items on display and in our warehouse,” said the director, Truong Quoc Binh. “After we evaluate the whole exhibit, we will try to label them all to show if they are original or not.”
Mr. Binh has been addressing questions about authenticity a lot lately. Curators and artists have been aware of the issue for years, but it became a matter of public discussion only in April, when it was raised at a conference on copyright in Danang.
In large part, the confusion is a legacy of the war with the United States, which ended in 1975, and to a lesser extent of a brief border war fought with China in 1979.
In the late 1960s, fearing that the United States would bomb Hanoi, then the capital of North Vietnam, museum officials removed hundreds of important artworks for safekeeping in the countryside.
To replace them on the museum walls, it commissioned copies: some by the original artists, some by the artists’ apprentices, some by skilled copyists in the museum’s restoration department. They were brilliant reproductions — or variants, as the Vietnamese called those paintings copied by the original artists.
But now “it’s a disaster,” said Bui Thanh Phuong, the son of Bui Xuan Phai, a prominent painter. “Viewers can’t be sure if what they are looking at is genuine or fake.” Mr. Phuong said he does not know which of the museum’s seven paintings attributed to his father, who died in 1988, are real.
In some cases it was apparently not even clear whether the originals or their copies were sent into hiding, said Nguyen Do Bao, the former chairman of the Hanoi Fine Arts Association, who delivered the paper that gave rise to the controversy at the copyright conference in April.
“There was no oversight,” Mr. Bao said in an interview. “When the artists took them home, they could make more than one copy. They could keep the original. We had no way of knowing.”
At the conference he told the audience, “Owing to poor management, the museum lost many original artworks during this time,” and added that researchers had not been allowed to examine works “while the public doesn’t know that they are reproductions.”
Asked in the interview why he was bringing up the issue now, after so many years of public silence, he said, “Now we have more freedom and democracy and we want to raise our voices to make sure the museum is not displaying copies.”
Nguyen Qui Duc, who owns a small gallery and promotes young artists, said this new openness about the nation’s artistic treasures could be taken in the spirit of a policy called hoi nhap, which means integration or assimilation.
“This is the buzz word now,” he said, as Vietnam seeks to integrate itself further into the world economy and conform to international standards and practices.
“It’s basically an economic slogan, but I see it being applied everywhere,” Mr. Duc said. “If we are going to join the world, we’ve got to start doing these things right.”
The mysteries of the museum are part of a broader problem of authenticity that has threatened the value of Vietnamese art on the international market. Copies have proliferated since the early 1990s, when the closed communist economy opened, and Vietnamese art became popular abroad.
Capitalism was new, and artists discovered that they could make twice or even three or four times the money by reproducing and reselling their own paintings. Collectors soon caught on, and all Vietnamese art came under suspicion, Mr. Bao said.
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Friday, July 31, 2009
Vietnam: Land mines on 16 million acres
HANOI, Vietnam - More than one-third of the land in six central Vietnamese provinces remains contaminated with land mines and unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War, according to a study released Friday.
Nearly 35 years after the war's end, Vietnamese civilians are still routinely killed and maimed by leftover mines and other explosives. Vietnam estimates that more than 42,000 people have been killed in such accidents since 1975.
The study by the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and Vietnam's ministry of defense provides the most detailed information to date about the amount and location of unexploded ordinance littering a region that saw some of the heaviest fighting and bombardment during the war.
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The survey was the result of close collaboration between the United States and Vietnam on one of the most sensitive legacies of the conflict.
In addition to mapping unexploded mines and ordinance, the project, which the U.S. government provided $2 million to finance, involved clearing 3,345 acres of land in 1,361 communities across the six provinces.
More mine-clearing remains
But the study also underlines the scope of the mine-clearing work that remains to be done.
Vietnam's Ministry of Defense estimates 16.3 million acres are still contaminated across the country, said Thao Nguyen, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation's country director.
"The clearing of unexploded ordinance and land mines is far from finished," Nguyen said.
U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak said the survey will help set priorities for future clearance work.
"Eliminating residual explosives from past conflicts is an important issue for the people of Vietnam, as it is for the United States," he said.
The U.S. has provided $46 million to help with mine-clearing efforts in Vietnam since 1989, he said.
Scavengers, farmers get hurt
The study looked in detail at victims in the provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Thirty-four percent were hurt while scavenging for unexploded bombs to sell as scrap metal; 27 percent were farming or herding livestock; and 21 percent were playing or tampering with the bombs.
The study found the most heavily contaminated provinces were Quang Binh and neighboring Quang Tri, the site of the former demilitarized zone during the war.
Since the war ended, nearly 7,000 people have been killed or injured by leftover ordinance in Quang Tri and 6,000 in Quang Binh, the study found.
Nearly 35 years after the war's end, Vietnamese civilians are still routinely killed and maimed by leftover mines and other explosives. Vietnam estimates that more than 42,000 people have been killed in such accidents since 1975.
The study by the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and Vietnam's ministry of defense provides the most detailed information to date about the amount and location of unexploded ordinance littering a region that saw some of the heaviest fighting and bombardment during the war.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
The survey was the result of close collaboration between the United States and Vietnam on one of the most sensitive legacies of the conflict.
In addition to mapping unexploded mines and ordinance, the project, which the U.S. government provided $2 million to finance, involved clearing 3,345 acres of land in 1,361 communities across the six provinces.
More mine-clearing remains
But the study also underlines the scope of the mine-clearing work that remains to be done.
Vietnam's Ministry of Defense estimates 16.3 million acres are still contaminated across the country, said Thao Nguyen, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation's country director.
"The clearing of unexploded ordinance and land mines is far from finished," Nguyen said.
U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak said the survey will help set priorities for future clearance work.
"Eliminating residual explosives from past conflicts is an important issue for the people of Vietnam, as it is for the United States," he said.
The U.S. has provided $46 million to help with mine-clearing efforts in Vietnam since 1989, he said.
Scavengers, farmers get hurt
The study looked in detail at victims in the provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Thirty-four percent were hurt while scavenging for unexploded bombs to sell as scrap metal; 27 percent were farming or herding livestock; and 21 percent were playing or tampering with the bombs.
The study found the most heavily contaminated provinces were Quang Binh and neighboring Quang Tri, the site of the former demilitarized zone during the war.
Since the war ended, nearly 7,000 people have been killed or injured by leftover ordinance in Quang Tri and 6,000 in Quang Binh, the study found.
7 Ways to Avoid Checked Luggage Fees
7 Ways to Avoid Checked Luggage Fees
Recommend (1)
Like just about every other airline passenger this summer, Elizabeth Rodgers wants to avoid any unnecessary fees. So on a recent flight from Los Angeles to Boise, Idaho, she tried to carry all of her luggage on the plane.
She didn't get far.
As Rodgers boarded the cramped regional jet, passengers were being asked to gate-check most of their carry-ons. A flight attendant tagged her extra bag without charging her $15. "I checked it for free," says Rodgers, a technology writer based in Los Angeles.
Sidestepping this year-old airline rule was pretty easy up to this point. Flight attendants and gate agents routinely waved passengers with too much luggage through, hoping to avoid a confrontation. But now that baggage fees are generating serious money -- they accounted for $1.5 billion in 2008, according to the Transportation Department -- airlines are less likely to let the surplus bags slide.
For example:
* US Airways last month began charging $5 on top of its $15 fee for a first checked bag if you don't pay for it in advance.
* Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines started charging $50 for the second checked bag on flights to Europe.
* Aaska Airlines added a checked-bag fee, too: $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second.
Airlines are spinning the changes in a clever way. My favorite explanation comes from US Airways, which rationalized its new fee as a way to offer customers "the convenience of prepaying to check their bags online."
It's clear that airlines are depending on ancillary revenues in general, and luggage fees in particular, more than ever. Meaning air travelers must be more vigilant than ever about avoiding them.
The days of passengers like Rodgers eluding a $15 or $50 fee are numbered. A proposed new law would see to that. It tasks the Transportation Security Administration with limiting the number of carry-ons travelers can bring through security checkpoints. Not hard to see the airline industry's fingerprints all over that bill.
What to do?
1. Bring Less
Obviously, the best way to avoid paying for a checked bag is not to bring one in the first place. "Keep your bags as light as possible," advises Barbara DesChamps, author of It's in the Bag: The Complete Guide to Lightweight Travel. How can you tell if your luggage is overweight? I've been testing a Balanzza digital luggage scale that's very portable and, at a $24.99 list price, doesn't break the bank.
2. Fly a No-Fee Airline
JetBlue Airways http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll?New,Kb=askBlue">doesn't charge for the first checked bag. http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html">Neither does Southwest Airlines. In fact, it doesn't charge for a second bag, either. Both of these companies have acknowledged what the rest of us already know: People travel with at least one bag. Shouldn't we be rewarding these airlines with our business?
3. Look for Loopholes
They still exist. For example, US Airways exempts all of its frequent fliers, passengers traveling to and from Europe or Asia, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, unaccompanied minors, first-class passengers, and active duty military. Is anyone left? http://www.elliott.org/blog/american-airlines-mitchell-we-want-to-give-passengers-what-they-value-most/">Mark Mitchell, American Airlines' managing director of customer experience, recently told me that only 1 in 4 passengers pay luggage fees.
4. Ask Someone Else to Pay
Hotels are mindful that first-bag fees can hurt their business, so they're offering to cover the fees. One of the first was Kimpton Hotels. My friends over at Amelia Island, Fla., have a new program called "Pack Your Bags for Amelia Island" that offers air travelers an $80 room credit for checked baggage fees. If you have to pay for a checked bag, why not pass the bill off to someone else?
5. Get Creative
Passengers like Carolina Moore, a marketing consultant in North Las Vegas, Nev., are finding interesting ways of avoiding the fees. When she flew with her nine-month-old son recently, she discovered that consolidating her purse, diaper bag, car seat and port-a-crib into two large (and barely legal) bags allowed her to avoid paying the $15 fee. "So, I guess I didn't really break any of the rules," she says. "I just stretched them to capacity."
6. Exploit Policy Differences
Airlines don't have uniform luggage rules so when you're flying on two or more airlines use that to your advantage. Consider what happened to Kristi Nelson when she flew from Oahu to Portland recently. A Hawaiian Air agent in Lihue asked if she wanted to check her bags all the way through to the mainland. "You bet I do," she said. "I thought for a minute and wondered how we would pay the baggage fee for our Northwest flight from Honolulu." But when she landed, no one bothered to charge her.
7. Mail It
Federal Express, UPS, the postal service, or a company like Luggage Forward (www.luggageforward.com) can help you avoid the fees, but often, these options cost far more than what the airlines are charging. Then again, they're probably more reliable. An overnight delivery service is far less likely to lose your belongings.
None of this ought to be necessary. If airlines could figure out how to make enough money from their fares, then they wouldn't need to nickel and dime those of us who aren't fortunate enough to be elite-level frequent fliers, unaccompanied minors or active duty military.
On a personal note, I never thought I'd have to write a column like this. Ever.
A decade ago, who could have imagined paying for airline food? Today, we're lucky if there are bland snacks for sale. Checking two or three pieces of luggage was considered the air traveler's inalienable right. Today we're paying through the nose for our checked bags.
How do we fix this? I can think of two solutions. First, air travelers can buy tickets on airlines that don't charge outrageous fees, like JetBlue and Southwest.
And second, our government can say, "enough!" It wouldn't take much. The Transportation Department could rule that the price of an airline ticket must include at least one piece of checked luggage, and that would pretty much end this debate.
Will it? If the government hears from enough air travelers, sure. Here's how to contact them: www.dot.gov/contact.html.
Recommend (1)
Like just about every other airline passenger this summer, Elizabeth Rodgers wants to avoid any unnecessary fees. So on a recent flight from Los Angeles to Boise, Idaho, she tried to carry all of her luggage on the plane.
She didn't get far.
As Rodgers boarded the cramped regional jet, passengers were being asked to gate-check most of their carry-ons. A flight attendant tagged her extra bag without charging her $15. "I checked it for free," says Rodgers, a technology writer based in Los Angeles.
Sidestepping this year-old airline rule was pretty easy up to this point. Flight attendants and gate agents routinely waved passengers with too much luggage through, hoping to avoid a confrontation. But now that baggage fees are generating serious money -- they accounted for $1.5 billion in 2008, according to the Transportation Department -- airlines are less likely to let the surplus bags slide.
For example:
* US Airways last month began charging $5 on top of its $15 fee for a first checked bag if you don't pay for it in advance.
* Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines started charging $50 for the second checked bag on flights to Europe.
* Aaska Airlines added a checked-bag fee, too: $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second.
Airlines are spinning the changes in a clever way. My favorite explanation comes from US Airways, which rationalized its new fee as a way to offer customers "the convenience of prepaying to check their bags online."
It's clear that airlines are depending on ancillary revenues in general, and luggage fees in particular, more than ever. Meaning air travelers must be more vigilant than ever about avoiding them.
The days of passengers like Rodgers eluding a $15 or $50 fee are numbered. A proposed new law would see to that. It tasks the Transportation Security Administration with limiting the number of carry-ons travelers can bring through security checkpoints. Not hard to see the airline industry's fingerprints all over that bill.
What to do?
1. Bring Less
Obviously, the best way to avoid paying for a checked bag is not to bring one in the first place. "Keep your bags as light as possible," advises Barbara DesChamps, author of It's in the Bag: The Complete Guide to Lightweight Travel. How can you tell if your luggage is overweight? I've been testing a Balanzza digital luggage scale that's very portable and, at a $24.99 list price, doesn't break the bank.
2. Fly a No-Fee Airline
JetBlue Airways http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll?New,Kb=askBlue">doesn't charge for the first checked bag. http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html">Neither does Southwest Airlines. In fact, it doesn't charge for a second bag, either. Both of these companies have acknowledged what the rest of us already know: People travel with at least one bag. Shouldn't we be rewarding these airlines with our business?
3. Look for Loopholes
They still exist. For example, US Airways exempts all of its frequent fliers, passengers traveling to and from Europe or Asia, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, unaccompanied minors, first-class passengers, and active duty military. Is anyone left? http://www.elliott.org/blog/american-airlines-mitchell-we-want-to-give-passengers-what-they-value-most/">Mark Mitchell, American Airlines' managing director of customer experience, recently told me that only 1 in 4 passengers pay luggage fees.
4. Ask Someone Else to Pay
Hotels are mindful that first-bag fees can hurt their business, so they're offering to cover the fees. One of the first was Kimpton Hotels. My friends over at Amelia Island, Fla., have a new program called "Pack Your Bags for Amelia Island" that offers air travelers an $80 room credit for checked baggage fees. If you have to pay for a checked bag, why not pass the bill off to someone else?
5. Get Creative
Passengers like Carolina Moore, a marketing consultant in North Las Vegas, Nev., are finding interesting ways of avoiding the fees. When she flew with her nine-month-old son recently, she discovered that consolidating her purse, diaper bag, car seat and port-a-crib into two large (and barely legal) bags allowed her to avoid paying the $15 fee. "So, I guess I didn't really break any of the rules," she says. "I just stretched them to capacity."
6. Exploit Policy Differences
Airlines don't have uniform luggage rules so when you're flying on two or more airlines use that to your advantage. Consider what happened to Kristi Nelson when she flew from Oahu to Portland recently. A Hawaiian Air agent in Lihue asked if she wanted to check her bags all the way through to the mainland. "You bet I do," she said. "I thought for a minute and wondered how we would pay the baggage fee for our Northwest flight from Honolulu." But when she landed, no one bothered to charge her.
7. Mail It
Federal Express, UPS, the postal service, or a company like Luggage Forward (www.luggageforward.com) can help you avoid the fees, but often, these options cost far more than what the airlines are charging. Then again, they're probably more reliable. An overnight delivery service is far less likely to lose your belongings.
None of this ought to be necessary. If airlines could figure out how to make enough money from their fares, then they wouldn't need to nickel and dime those of us who aren't fortunate enough to be elite-level frequent fliers, unaccompanied minors or active duty military.
On a personal note, I never thought I'd have to write a column like this. Ever.
A decade ago, who could have imagined paying for airline food? Today, we're lucky if there are bland snacks for sale. Checking two or three pieces of luggage was considered the air traveler's inalienable right. Today we're paying through the nose for our checked bags.
How do we fix this? I can think of two solutions. First, air travelers can buy tickets on airlines that don't charge outrageous fees, like JetBlue and Southwest.
And second, our government can say, "enough!" It wouldn't take much. The Transportation Department could rule that the price of an airline ticket must include at least one piece of checked luggage, and that would pretty much end this debate.
Will it? If the government hears from enough air travelers, sure. Here's how to contact them: www.dot.gov/contact.html.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Priest Assassinated in Karnataka, India
Priest Assassinated in Karnataka, India
By Nirmala Carvalho
7/31/2009
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)
Fr James Mukalel, was assassinated and left naked by the roadside in the village of Thottathady.
'The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,' the bishop said.
'The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,' the bishop said.
NEW DELHI (AsiaNews) – The Syro-Malabar diocese of Belthangady (Karnataka, southern India) is distraught after one of its clergymen, Fr James Mukalel, was assassinated and left naked by the roadside in the village of Thottathady.
At present the local bishop, Mgr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, has no clues as to who might have murdered the priest or why, but is certain that robbery was not the motive. The chancellor of the diocese, Fr Tomy Mattom, said that the killing was done in a “systematic way.”
According to early results in the investigation, Father James, 39, met his death as he was making his way home after conducting a funeral in the village of Thottathady. His naked body was found on the side of a road, his motorcycle lying not far away. For Father Tomy, the body of the dead man showed no mark of injury but there were visible signs of suffocation.
Father James was originally from the diocese of Tellichery but had moved to Belthangady to carry out his duties.
“Father James was very much loved by the parishioners and people in this area,” Bishop Mukkuzhy told AsiaNews. “He was a good person, and did not have enemies; a zealous missionary, selflessly serving all people; he was inclusive in his mission, serving people of all faiths and creed,” he said.
“We just cannot understand why anyone would kill him,’ the bishop said, but “one thing is sure is that this is not a case of robbery.
The priest probably died around 9 pm last night, and was found around 7 am this morning. After that the body was taken away for a post mortem.
The Global Council of Indian Christians has called on the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch a full investigation into the murder of Fr James Mukalel as well as into other attacks against Christians in the State of Karnataka.
Last year when anti-Christian violence broke out in Orissa, similar attacks took place in Karnataka, causing the destruction of 20 churches and chapels.
On 3 August the diocese of Belthangady will open its missionary congress.
“The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,” the bishop said.
The diocese of Benthangady has 22,100 members, divided in 45 parishes, out of a total population of 3.25 million people.
By Nirmala Carvalho
7/31/2009
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)
Fr James Mukalel, was assassinated and left naked by the roadside in the village of Thottathady.
'The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,' the bishop said.
'The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,' the bishop said.
NEW DELHI (AsiaNews) – The Syro-Malabar diocese of Belthangady (Karnataka, southern India) is distraught after one of its clergymen, Fr James Mukalel, was assassinated and left naked by the roadside in the village of Thottathady.
At present the local bishop, Mgr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, has no clues as to who might have murdered the priest or why, but is certain that robbery was not the motive. The chancellor of the diocese, Fr Tomy Mattom, said that the killing was done in a “systematic way.”
According to early results in the investigation, Father James, 39, met his death as he was making his way home after conducting a funeral in the village of Thottathady. His naked body was found on the side of a road, his motorcycle lying not far away. For Father Tomy, the body of the dead man showed no mark of injury but there were visible signs of suffocation.
Father James was originally from the diocese of Tellichery but had moved to Belthangady to carry out his duties.
“Father James was very much loved by the parishioners and people in this area,” Bishop Mukkuzhy told AsiaNews. “He was a good person, and did not have enemies; a zealous missionary, selflessly serving all people; he was inclusive in his mission, serving people of all faiths and creed,” he said.
“We just cannot understand why anyone would kill him,’ the bishop said, but “one thing is sure is that this is not a case of robbery.
The priest probably died around 9 pm last night, and was found around 7 am this morning. After that the body was taken away for a post mortem.
The Global Council of Indian Christians has called on the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch a full investigation into the murder of Fr James Mukalel as well as into other attacks against Christians in the State of Karnataka.
Last year when anti-Christian violence broke out in Orissa, similar attacks took place in Karnataka, causing the destruction of 20 churches and chapels.
On 3 August the diocese of Belthangady will open its missionary congress.
“The blood of Father James will not have been shed in vain. His blood will serve the Church and the mission in India. We pray God for justice and protection,” the bishop said.
The diocese of Benthangady has 22,100 members, divided in 45 parishes, out of a total population of 3.25 million people.
AirAsia X to launch hub in Middle East-31 July, 2009
AirAsia X to launch hub in Middle East
KUALA LUMPUR -Budget airline AirAsia X has raised the possibility of establishing a new hub in the Middle East, enabling its network to extend to north Africa and Europe.
The Age reports that AirAsia X's CEO Azran Osman-Rani said a location had already been chosen in a Gulf state but that it would not be disclosed for several weeks.
"This will open up completely new markets, and we won't always have to have the planes based in Kuala Lumpur, which limits us to an eight-hour radius," Azran told reporters.
"There will be many in the aviation industry who think this is crazy because the traditional low-cost model is to do only point-to-point flights... to keep it simple," he said.
Azran said AirAsia X would hire existing services for cargo, catering and maintenance.
Initially, the carrier will operate flights from Kuala Lumpur to the Middle East hub, before branching out next year by using it to jump to destinations that could include Morocco, Turkey, Spain or the Czech Republic.
Azran said the plan was also triggered by potential problems accommodating new aircraft, amid doubts that Malaysia's airports authority will complete a new low-cost carrier terminal in Kuala Lumpur by 2011 as scheduled.
"It will relieve the pressure of having all our planes in Kuala Lumpur, especially if the new airport is not finished and we do not have enough parking bays," he said.
KUALA LUMPUR -Budget airline AirAsia X has raised the possibility of establishing a new hub in the Middle East, enabling its network to extend to north Africa and Europe.
The Age reports that AirAsia X's CEO Azran Osman-Rani said a location had already been chosen in a Gulf state but that it would not be disclosed for several weeks.
"This will open up completely new markets, and we won't always have to have the planes based in Kuala Lumpur, which limits us to an eight-hour radius," Azran told reporters.
"There will be many in the aviation industry who think this is crazy because the traditional low-cost model is to do only point-to-point flights... to keep it simple," he said.
Azran said AirAsia X would hire existing services for cargo, catering and maintenance.
Initially, the carrier will operate flights from Kuala Lumpur to the Middle East hub, before branching out next year by using it to jump to destinations that could include Morocco, Turkey, Spain or the Czech Republic.
Azran said the plan was also triggered by potential problems accommodating new aircraft, amid doubts that Malaysia's airports authority will complete a new low-cost carrier terminal in Kuala Lumpur by 2011 as scheduled.
"It will relieve the pressure of having all our planes in Kuala Lumpur, especially if the new airport is not finished and we do not have enough parking bays," he said.
Singapore Airlines report first quartly loss
Airline losses continue to mount with news today of Singapore Airlines' first quarterly loss since the SARS crisis, and latest IATA figures showing that carriers in the Asia Pacific region have suffered above average declines in international passenger loads.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Vietnam discovers elephant tusks from Africa
A state newspaper in Vietnam says customs officials in the northern port city of Haiphong have discovered 440 pounds (200 kilograms) of elephant tusks illegally imported from Kenya.
The Pioneer newspaper says the tusks were discovered Tuesday hidden in timber in a container that arrived at Haiphong port in April. It says authorities are seeking the owner of the container.
Customs officials were not available for comment Wednesday.
In March, Haiphong authorities confiscated nearly 7 tons of elephant tusks smuggled from Tanzania in the country's biggest seizure.
Tusks are used for ivory jewelry and home decorations.
Vietnam bans the hunting of the country's dwindling elephant population, which poachers value highly for their tusks.
Vietnam discovers elephant tusks from Africa - Taiwan News Online
The Pioneer newspaper says the tusks were discovered Tuesday hidden in timber in a container that arrived at Haiphong port in April. It says authorities are seeking the owner of the container.
Customs officials were not available for comment Wednesday.
In March, Haiphong authorities confiscated nearly 7 tons of elephant tusks smuggled from Tanzania in the country's biggest seizure.
Tusks are used for ivory jewelry and home decorations.
Vietnam bans the hunting of the country's dwindling elephant population, which poachers value highly for their tusks.
Vietnam discovers elephant tusks from Africa - Taiwan News Online
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Economy dictating where hotel guests stay
Current economic conditions are influencing consumer interest in lodging types, says Ypartnership/Yankelovich 2009 National Travel MONITOR.
Compared to last year, preference for independently operated hotels and resorts is up, while preference for chain-affiliated properties is declining.
Leisure travelers are also more likely to cite “value for the price” as a key consideration when selecting lodging accommodations.
“Although preference for independent lodging is growing (now cited by 20% of all leisure travelers), it is still important to note that 8 out of 10 leisure travelers prefer chain-affiliated accommodations,” the report says.
This preference has declined significantly from the level recorded last year (84%), however.
“Also, compared to last year, leisure travelers are more likely to prefer a limited-service hotel or motel without a restaurant (40% versus 34%), and less likely to prefer one that offers full service with a restaurant (60% versus 66%)."
This preference seems to be driven by two factors, said Peter C. Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership.
“First, a growing number of consumers appear more interested in the novelty and/or special character many independent operators have scripted into their properties. Second, the quest for better value, now defined in terms of a more attractive price, appears to be motivating many leisure travelers to evaluate independent alternatives.”
Monday, July 27, 2009
Agent Orange Causes Media Blindness
Agent Orange, the herbicide used as a weapon by US military forces in Vietnam for nearly a decade to defoliate vast stretches of inhabited forest and jungle in an effort to deprive the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces of both cover and a supportive populace, has long been known to have caused a large number of serious and debilitating diseases, many of them passed on to children of those exposed. But now it also appears to cause a peculiar blindness among American journalists.
This is demonstrably the case at the New York Times, where a report in Saturday's edition on new Agent Orange links being found to Parkinson's Disease and ischemic heart disease noted that it could lead to many more Vietnam War Era veterans being eligible for disability benefits and treatment, but completely failed to mention the significance of the discovery for the millions of Vietnamese who were also exposed to the chemical--and for their descendants.
The new link was announced in a report by a 14-member committee of the Institute of Medicine, which had been asked to determine what conditions might be traced to exposure to the chemical that had been "used to clear stretches of the jungle" in Vietnam. As the article noted, since 1994, the Institute of Medicine has to date found 17 medical conditions that can be traced to exposure to Agent Orange, "13 of which qualify veterans for service-connected disability benefits."
There's a lot wrong with this article, as written by Times reporter Janie Lorber (though admittedly we can't know what is her responsibility and what is the handiwork of the newspaper's editors).
For starters, the benign-sounding description of how Agent Orange was used--"to clear stretches of the jungle"--makes it sound like the kind of thing President George W. Bush used to do when he was down at his "ranch" in Crawford, TX "clearing brush," or like grounds-keeping work at the local golf course. In fact, what the US military was doing was defoliating vast tracts of inhabited forest in South Vietnam, in an effort both to make it hard for enemy troops to hide, and to drive peasants into strategic hamlets where they could be controlled, and prevented from providing assistance to Vietnamese fighters. There was no effort made to keep the defoliant away from people--civilians or enemy fighters--indeed, people were, at least indirectly, the targets. It would, indeed, have made no sense to defoliate areas where there were no people.
It is certainly true that the Defense Department showed absolutely no concern about sending American troops out into the sprayed areas, where hundreds of thousands or soldiers and marines were exposed to the residue of the spraying, and it is true that the Defense Department and the US government spent millions of dollars after the war battling efforts by desperately ill veterans in a futile effort to deny legal responsibility for their ailments, and to deny any link between those ailments and Agent Orange. (A friend, the late Dorothy Thompson, was one of the lead attorneys in the successful fight to win compensation from the government for veterans who suffered from Agent Orange-related disease.)
But how can any honest journalist or news organization write about this sordid chapter in America's criminal use of chemical weapons without even mentioning its impact on the enemy, or on huge numbers of wholly innocent civilians?
To this day, the US has refused to accept any responsibility for the victims in Vietnam of its chemical warfare in that country, despite the fact that millions have suffered and continue to suffer from the results, including innocent children born long after the war was over, and of course many older people who have long since died of their diseases.
It is no surprise, of course, that the US government would decline to accept responsibility for its actions, or even to discuss the issue. The Vietnam War was the first war in which the US clearly was defeated, and there is no desire to even think about it, much less about the evils which were done by America in the fighting of it. And as a federal agency, it's perhaps understandable, though still inexcusable, that the Institute of Medicine panel examining Agent Orange's impacts would fail to note its impact on the people of Vietnam, and focus instead only on veterans.
But the media, and particularly the New York Times, have no excuse whatsoever -even if the Institute of Medicine report is incomplete--for failing to mention the obvious point that, as bad as Agent Orange was for the troops who dispensed it, and who had to fight in areas where it had been used, it was far, far worse for the people upon whom it was actually dispensed.
Unless, of course, the problem is that the Times and its reporters and editors are also victims of the chemical, and it is also causing journalistic blind spots.
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Saturday, July 25, 2009
Essential Etiquette Advice and Information for Worldwide Travel at Travel Etiquette (UK)
Travel etiquette contains over 60 articles written by experts who continually update . Worth saving and reading
Essential Etiquette Advice and Information for Worldwide Travel at Travel Etiquette (UK)
Essential Etiquette Advice and Information for Worldwide Travel at Travel Etiquette (UK)
Testing Times for Tourism | Travel
| Testing Times for Tourism |  |  |  |
| David Morgan |
| Friday, 24 July 2009 15:13 |
 According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer international tourism declined by 8% between January and April compared to the same period last year. Despite an overall decline, unsurprising given present global economic conditions, several destinations still reported encouraging results for the first four months of the year, including many in the Arab world. The Arab countries reporting positive results include Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa, as well as Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. With the exception of Africa, all regions recorded a decrease in arrivals for the first four months of 2009, the June edition of the UNWTO barometer reports. Tourism trends in the Arab world have been mixed, the report shows. Although the decline in the Middle East is significant (-18%), complete data is not available and arrivals are still expected to be well above the 2007 levels. Meanwhile, positive results in Africa (+3%) reflect the strength of North African destinations around the Mediterranean, the UNWTO says. Destinations worldwide recorded a total of 247 million international tourist arrivals in those four months, down from 269 million in 2008. Given the changes in the outlook UNWTO has revised its forecast for the full year 2009. Taking account of the results for the first four months of the year and the current market conditions, international tourism is now forecast to decrease by between -6% and -4% in 2009, as the pace of decline is expected to ease during the remainder of 2009. In Europe (-10%), the impact was high, as the majority of source markets have struggled with recession since the end of 2008. Moreover, outbound tourism of the second largest market (UK) has endured the depreciation of the pound sterling. Overall, the Americas (-5%) have suffered due to the slowdown of the USA both as a source market and a destination. Still, South America was the only sub-region outside of Africa to buck the general downward trend, registering +0.2%. For Asia and the Pacific (-6%) the decline in demand has been faster than expected and is particularly severe when compared to results from recent years. The negative trend in international tourism that emerged during the second half of 2008 intensified in 2009. In view of the rapidly deteriorating global economic situation, economic growth prospects have repeatedly been adjusted downwards over the past six months. While at the time of the previous UNWTO forecast in January, the International Monetary Fund was still counting on positive growth over 2% for the world economy in 2009, a decline of 1.3% is now expected. Tourism is seriously impacted, given the sharp reduction in business activity, decreasing disposable income and associated increased unemployment, particularly in key tourism source markets. Exchange rate fluctuations have added to the general uncertainty and business and consumer confidence have yet to recover. Furthermore, the level of advanced bookings, coupled with the reduction in airline capacity, make recovery before 2010 difficult. There is additional uncertainty regarding the future of the influenza A (H1N1) virus and its effect on demand in the short to medium term. It should be stressed, however, that at the moment no restrictions on international travel are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Taking account of the results for the first four months of the year and the current conditions, worldwide growth in international tourist arrivals is expected to end up between -6% and -4% for the full year. The pace of decline is expected to soften in the remainder of the year, with the months May-August projected at between -6% and -4%, and September-December between -5% and -3%. International tourism receipts rose by 1.8% in 2008 (in real terms), virtually equalling growth in international tourist arrivals (+1.9% to 922 million). UNWTO estimates that worldwide receipts from international tourism reached US$ 944 billion last year, up from US$ 857 billion in 2007. Last year’s substantial increase in absolute terms is to some degree a reflection of the weakening of the US dollar, which boosted receipts expressed in the currency. In euro terms, receipts increased to 642 billion, from 625 billion in 2007. In 2008, there were only slight changes in the rankings of both international tourist arrivals and receipts. In arrivals, France remains the world’s major tourism destination (79 million tourists) and in receipts third. The USA is first in receipts and now second in arrivals after regaining the position it lost to Spain after the events of 11 September 2001. Spain ranks third in arrivals but has firmly maintained its position as the second worldwide earner and the first in Europe. China, fourth in arrivals, is still fifth in terms of receipts, while the reverse is true for Italy. Travel and tourism can support short-term stimulus actions, namely those aimed at creating and sustaining jobs, as well as the long-term transformation to a green economy, the UNWTO says. Tourism is one of the largest employment sectors in most countries and a fast entry vehicle into the workforce for young people and women in urban and rural communities, directly, or through its strong multiplier effect on related services, manufacturing or agriculture. Action is needed to boost trade promotion, simplify regulation, build infrastructure and rationalise taxes, which in turn encourage companies to invest, innovate and stimulate demand. According to the UNWTO, public-private sector collaboration should be strongly advanced within and between all states as it will help build resilience and recovery across economies. |
Goat Penis Bacteria Scare
Goat penis bacteria adds to food safety scare | |||||||
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On Sunday, district inspectors found NDT Company in Tan Binh District had imported large quantities of the product from Australia. The shipments were labeled as inedible and not for human use. Nguyen Thi Thu Nga, chief inspector of the HCMC Animal Health Agency, said the products were contaminated with bacteria, including Salmonella and E.Coli, and also failed to meet other food safety criteria. However, inspectors said 47 of the 72 boxes imported had been sold as food. The inspectors issued fines against the company for trading animal products contaminated with bacteria. A representative of NDT Company said the product had been imported from Australia on April 13 and that the 72 boxes had been approved as food by the Animal Health Agency Zone VI. The case is not uncommon.
Concerned agencies have reported an increase of tainted animal products imported from other countries for resell as food in HCMC recently. Last week, inspectors in Binh Chanh District found another 855 kilograms of goat’s penis in storage at a QT-VT Company warehouse. They have confiscated 57 boxes of 15 kilograms each. The company said they had sold 23 other boxes. Inspectors said the products had also been labeled as not for human food but had been approved to be sold for the purpose. Bacteria: tastes like chicken Early this month, inspectors from the HCMC Animal Health Agency found more than five tons of bacteria-contaminated chicken wings that had been sold out of a Truc Den Company store on Ta Quang Buu Street in District 8. The company had obtained approval of the Animal Health Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to import 80 tons of chicken wings, 10 tons of chicken entrails and 10 tons of chicken thighs from Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm Pty. Ltd. in Australia. Truc Den then imported 13.5 tons chicken wings, samples of which were tested by the Animal Health Agency Zone VI. The agency, which found the product failing to meet criteria under two examinations on June 12 and June 16, then requested the company to sterilize the products. Inspectors said Truc Den Company could only present proof of sterilization for one ton, conducted on June 17, and 12.5 tons on June 22. Only 8.2 tons of the total were found in store, while the rest had been sold without being rechecked, inspectors said. Chu Xuan Phuong of HCMC Market Management Agency said bacteria contaminated food must be destroyed and should not be sterilized for later use. Last Saturday, inspectors from Cu Chi District found a truck carrying ten tons of chicken products from the US and Thailand without any official documents. Inspectors are following up on the case. Where’s the beef? On Tuesday, animal health inspectors in Dong Nai Province found large quantities of illegal pork at Tam Hoa Market in Bien Hoa Town. Around 1,120 kilograms of pork were seized for being sold without proper certificates from animal health agencies. Inspectors said the meat smelled bad and showed signs of carrying diseases. Last month, the People’s Committee of Phu Nhuan District issued fines to CHM Trading JSC for violations related to the trade of over 800 kilograms of beef imported from the US. The fine of VND40 million ($2,246) was issued for failing to register with quarantine agencies before transporting animal products, importing beef without legal certificates of origin, trading products without legal labels and selling products after their expiry date. The authorities also destroyed 51 kilograms of expired beef without legal papers. At a recent session of the HCMC’s People’s Council, Nguyen Van Chau, director of HCMC Health Department, said they could manage only eateries through registration, while foods sold by hawkers and at markets were nearly impossible to keep tabs on. Reported by Thanh Nien staff | |||||||
Phu Quoc's waterfalls
Phu Quoc’s waterfalls | |||||||
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Kien Giang Province’s Phu Quoc Island is endowed with beautiful beaches and scenic spots. The picturesque Tranh Creek is known widely by tourists as it is easy to reach. It is about five kilometers south of the island district’s Duong Dong Town. From the road, it’s a quick 200-meter walk to get there. Tranh Creek starts high in the mountains and passes through the meadows that give it its name, Tranh, which is a type of plant that grows wild there. The path to one of the water falls is just dirt and rocks with some natural stone steps in some steep sections. Tranh Creek is surrounded with greenery. A stream with pure water winds its way through cavities and huge rocks, creating waterfalls and ponds before merging into a bigger stream that is about 15 kilometers long. There are a lot of smooth flat rocks by the stream making it suitable for group activities. Visitors can have a bracing swim in the pure, cold water, watch the waterfall or pick forest orchids. You can also explore nearby caves, especially the Bat Cave with beautiful stalactites. For visitors who like fishing – you can catch freshwater fish there. Local residents used to catch big ones up to about 10 kilos but they are not easy to catch as they swim quickly into rock cavities to hide. If you go trekking to this area, bring some food for lunch. You will find it fun to take a meal in the forest. A visit to Tranh Creek will make your trip to Phu Quoc more enjoyable and memorable. To get to Phu Quoc, you can take a ship from Rach Gia and Ha Tien towns of Kien Giang Province or a plane from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Reported by Diem Thu | |||||||
Friday, July 24, 2009
Report Sees Agent Orange Link to More Illnesses - NYTimes.com
An expert panel reported on Friday that two more diseases may be linked to exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used by the American military during the Vietnam War.
People exposed to the chemical appear, at least tentatively, to be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease, according to the report. The report was written by a 14-member committee charged by the Institute of Medicine with determining whether certain medical conditions were caused by exposure to herbicides used to clear stretches of jungle.
The results, though not conclusive, are an important first step for veterans groups working to get the government to help pay for treatment of illnesses they believe have roots on the battlefield. Some other conditions linked to Agent Orange already qualify.
Claud Tillman, a 61-year-old veteran from Knoxville, Tenn., who lost his job repairing guns after he received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, said those benefits could help dig him out of tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
Mr. Tillman has not worked since March 2007 and now lives on loans from relatives, including his son. “It sure has messed my life up,” said Mr. Tillman, who said he was sure he became ill after exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. “I don’t know how to explain it. It won’t be long till I’m living under a bridge. I am confident that that’s where it came from, but there’s no way to prove it.”
Since 1994 the Institute of Medicine committee has found 17 conditions associated with exposure to the chemical, 13 of which qualify veterans for service-connected disability benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In its latest report, the committee found “limited or suggestive evidence” linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s and ischemic heart disease. In the past, that has been enough evidence of a link to prompt benefits for some conditions but not for others.
The group Vietnam Veterans of America plans to write a letter to the secretary of veterans affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, asking for extended benefits, said Bernard Edelman, the organization’s deputy director for policy and government affairs.
The report notes that its conclusions about ischemic heart disease, a condition that restricts blood flow to the heart, causing irregular heartbeats and deterioration of the heart muscle, are still tentative because it is difficult to separate confounding risk factors like age, weight and the effects of smoking.
The link between Parkinson’s disease and Agent Orange is also uncertain because, while new studies have strengthened the connection between the condition and certain chemicals, there is still no data on veterans and the condition.Watch Out! 11 Airline Fees You Haven't Heard Of ... Yet
Think the airlines are done with new fees? Not likely.
If past experience is any indicator, several new ones could be tacked on to your fare, maybe not today, but not tomorrow, but someday, soon, and for the rest of your flying life. The question is probably more when, than if. After all, Continental, Delta, and United have just added an extra $5 checked bag fee for anyone not pre-paying online, a move that will reduce labor costs at the airport, but with the added benefit of driving traffic to their websites at the expense of online travel agencies.
Airlines are making lots of money charging fees for checked baggage, ticket changes, frequent flyer programs, and other services (see the
Airfarewatchdog blog for an up-to-date list), a lesson they learned from discount carriers in Europe, such as Ryanair and easyJet. (No matter what you think of Ryanair, at least it puts every single one of its fees in one handy chart.) But these foreign carriers charge for services that would seem unimaginable in the U.S. -- until, that is, you start seeing them on your credit card. No, you probably will never see a charge for using the onboard lavatories, at least not in the U.S. But here are some we won't be surprised to be paying for as U.S. airlines continue to lose millions ... and emulate foreign-based low cost carriers.1. In person airport check-in. European carrier Ryanair will soon be charging you if you need human intervention to get a boarding pass at the airport (in fact, they're getting rid of airport check agents in entirely). Ditching check-in counters would allow U.S. airlines to eliminate staff and save millions. So you'd get a boarding pass online before heading for the airport, pay for your bags online, put them on the conveyor belt yourself, then head for the gate.
2. Online check-in. Ryanair already charges £5 for this, and since you'll soon have to check-in online, there's no way around it.
3. Paying with a credit card. Several European airlines charge a fee for this already, and also charge (albeit a bit less) for debit card purchases. Only way around this is to pay with cash.
4. Priority boarding fee. Pay a little bit extra (maybe $5) and after the parents with small children and elite frequent flyer members get boarded, you're next, with early dibs at the overhead bins.
5. Booking online. One U.S. airline, Allegiant, already charges for online bookings, as well as for phone bookings (only way to avoid a fee is to pay at the airport). They call it a convenience fee. Whose convenience, exactly?
6. Advanced seat selection. Several U.S. and foreign discount carriers already charge for this perk. We wouldn't be surprised to see other airlines follow suit. British Airways stopped offering advance selection on its cheapest fares (essentially charging a fee in the form of a much higher fare).
7. More frequent flyer fees. You already pay to cash in miles on short notice, to redeposit those miles if you don't use them, to change your frequent flyer ticket itinerary, and for other "services." How about a fee to preserve frequent flyer miles when there's no activity in your account (say per mile fee to protect miles from expiring, although you can do this if you make a purchase with their online shopping malls or use an airline credit card among other methods)?
8. Name change fees. As long as you give notice far in enough in advance, might the airlines let you transfer a ticket you can't use to another person for a fee ($100? $150?). Ryanair, surprise, charges for this.
9. Carry-on bag fee. They charge for checked bags, so why not for cabin luggage?
10. Infant fee. No more free rides for those lap riders two years and under. Ryanair currently charges £20 (about $33) per child.
11. Surcharges for musical instruments. Anyone who has seen that video about the broken guitar will understand why Ryanair charges £30 (about $50) for checking a musical instrument. Probably has something to do with the liability of transporting these fragile items. Or maybe, just maybe, it's to boost the bottom line.
Not that we want to see these new fees, nor are we encouraging airlines to add them. But if they do, you heard it here first.
Manila dominates Philippines traffic as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines vie for domestic dominance
Manila dominates Philippines traffic as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines vie for domestic dominance
24th July 2009 | Country Feature | No Comments » |
| At Ninoy Aquino International Airport (the main international gateway to the Philippines) lucky passenger Grace Geloca - (green t-shirt) looks bewildered as she claims the impressive prize from James Go, JG Summit Holdings’ CEO (owners of Cebu Pacific), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, (President) and Lance Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific’s CEO. |
The Philippines consists of over 7,000 separate islands in the western Pacific Ocean and with an estimated population of over 90 million, air travel is playing a critical part in the country’s rapid economic development. According to OAG data there are currently 38 airports offering scheduled services. Of these just six offer international flights and three of them have just two weekly international services. This leaves Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (MNL), Mactan-Cebu (CEB) and Diosdado Macapagal (CRK) as the only real international gateways. Diosdado Macapagal is also known as Clark, a reflection of its former life as Clark Air Force Base before the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.
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| Source: CAAP |
Traffic growth has been impressive in recent years though the 2006 figure for ‘Other’ airports would appear to be an underestimate as Cebu’s traffic data appears to be missing for much of the year. In 2007 Mactan-Cebu handled just over four million annual passengers while Clark processed just over half a million passengers.
Cebu Pacific and PAL dominate domestic markets
Domestic air travel is dominated by two major airlines, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. Between them they account for over 85% of the scheduled domestic capacity.
| Airline | Frequency share | Capacity share | Domestic routes |
| Cebu Pacific | 44.6% | 47.3% | 50 |
| Philippine Airlines | 34.0% | 38.3% | 37 |
| Zest Air | 11.7% | 9.2% | 18 |
| Air Philippines | 4.1% | 3.9% | 7 |
| Seair | 5.5% | 1.1% | 7 |
| Source: OAG Max Online for w/c 6 July 2009 | |||
Cebu Pacific’s position is impressive given that it only started operations after local deregulation in 1996. It now operates a fleet of some 30 aircraft, a mix of A319/A320s and ATR 72-500s. Zest Air (formerly known as Asian Spirit) will soon be launching several new routes from Cebu to further increase its market share.
The busiest domestic airports after Manila and Cebu are Davao (DVO), Iloilo (ILO), Caticlan (MPH) and Cagayan de Oro (CGY). Both Davao (1.7 million) and Iloilo (1.1 million) handled more than one million passengers in 2008.
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| Cebu Pacific moved all its domestic and international services into Manila’s (once unused) Terminal 3 last year. The fleet comprises 21 A319 and A320s and 8 ATR 72-500s - all fly to 32 domestic and 14 international destinations. |
Hong Kong leading international market
A total of 23 countries can be reached non-stop from airports in the Philippines. The leading country market is Hong Kong with 130 weekly departures. Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines all offer at least four daily flights from Manila, while Cebu Pacific also operates daily from Cebu and Clark.
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| Source: CAAP |
Non-stop flights to the US are provided by Philippine Airlines to Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco, while the airline also serves Vancouver. The MEB3 airlines are all present and correct with at least daily departures to Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, while Gulf Air and Saudi Arabian also serve Manila from their home bases.
The only non-stop service to Europe is currently provided by KLM which operates daily flights to Amsterdam.
See also
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Hai Hoa beach, Vietnam
People who like to bask in the tropical sun and frolic in warm water by day and then party all night will not want to miss Hai Hoa beach in the northern province of Thanh Hoa’s Tinh Gia town.
A view of Hai Hoa beach in Thanh Hoa province.
Powdery sand and clear water make sunbathing and swimming a pleasure and the two year old facilities here are rather good. Three-star hotels Cao Nguyen and Xanh Ha ACB offer bars, karaoke, sauna massages and swimming pools. Smaller hotels like Dai Duong and Binh Minh are reasonably priced and restaurants here offer clams, oysters, squid and codfish for under VND100,000. 
Heading to Thanh Hoa province, tourists will notice Nghi Son Industrial Park which is 25 kilometers from the beach. Attractions near the beach are Hon Me Island to see the lighthouse, Tinh Hai Bastion, Lach Bang Fishing Port, Ba Lang Church, Quang Trung Temple and Truong Lam Grottoes.
Famous destinations in the province include Sam Son Resort with its smooth beaches, emerald waters and view of Truong Le Mountain, the Ho Dynasty Citadel, which was built in block granite and depicts the creativity and industriousness of the working people seven centuries ago, Ba Trieu Temple, Ham Rong bridge and the 16-hectare Ben En National Park with its breathtaking hills, mountains, rivers and lake with 21 islets that resembles Ha Long Bay.
Doc Cuoc Temple, Dao Grotto and Do Mountain are other interesting destinations in the area.
Indigenous specialties such as fried codfish and shrimp make good gifts.
$9 fares never got off the ground-23 July, 2009
$9 fares never got off the ground
Jet America promised $9 fares but never flew a single flight and the company is now processing customer refunds.
What happened?
“The main problem for the fledgling airline was its inability to purchase landing slots at Newark Liberty International airport. Liberty was due to be a main hub for JetAmerica's flights to and from markets it thought were ‘underserved’—places like Lansing, Michigan; Vero Beach, Florida; South Bend, Indiana; and Toledo, Ohio,” said the Economist.
If the $9 price was any indication those markets were underserved, the cheap promo fares sold out quickly. But the entire plan was contingent on Newark.
The first sign of trouble was when the airline delayed its first flights from July 14 to August 13.
“There is a reason places like Lansing, Michigan, Vero Beach, Florida; South Bend, Indiana, and Toledo Ohio is underserved. No one wants to go there,” wrote one blogger.
Report by David Wilkening
St. Regis: back to the beleaguered bank -23 July, 2009
St. Regis: back to the beleaguered bank
The infamous St. Regis Monarch Beach is the latest casualty of the upscale lodging industry. The California luxury resort where American International Group (AIG) sponsored a luxury retreat just days after accepting billions in federal bailout money was seized by Citigroup Inc.
Citigroup's takeover is a sign of how deeply troubled the upscale lodging industry is now, consultant Alan Reay of Atlas Hospitality Group told the LA Times. High-end hotels across the country have been hammered by a cutback in business and leisure travel.
"The acquisition will have no impact on the hotel, golf club or beach club," Citigroup said. "Starwood's St. Regis brand will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the properties.”
Resorts such as the upscale St. Regis have seen some of the steepest declines in revenue, the newspaper said.
Estimates were that the hotel was carrying $300 million worth of debt but is probably not worth much more than $100 million now that property values have fallen in the recession.
One of the loans -- $70 million from a real estate unit of Citigroup -- had gone into default, leading in the takeover. Citigroup said it would sell the 8-year-old property at a foreclosure auction. But when no bidders emerged, the bank and the previous owners agreed to let Citigroup take ownership without that formal step.
The hotel's place in an infamous recession scandal has been ruinous, investment banker Donald Wise said.
The St. Regis became something of an emblem of corporate excess and greed last fall as the global financial system was threatening to melt down.
The taint was associated with AIG, the giant New York insurer that, because of massive wrong-way bets on the mortgage markets became the largest recipient of bailout money from the federal government.
Just weeks after receiving its first $85 billion in federal funds, AIG spent more than $440,000 at the St. Regis for rooms, wining and dining, spa treatments and rounds of golf to reward 100 top salespeople.
"The property has already been nearly catastrophically damaged, through no fault of its own or the previous ownership, by the unwanted media exposure going back to when AIG held their conference," Mr Wise said.
At the same time, POLITICO reported that AIG is selling its properties and keeping nearly half of those deals secret.
Skeptics questioned the practice when 80 percent of the company is owned by the taxpayers, who are owed $85 billion in loans.
Report by David Wilkening
Bangkok orders crackdown on airport gangs -23 July, 2009
BANGKOK - A major police crackdown on illegal taxis and unlicensed guides is to start next week at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, the Airports of Thailand has warned. The move came after Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum made an inspection trip to the airport and ordered the AoT to step up measures to prevent extortion gangs preying on international air passengers. The Bangkok Post reports that organised gangs are allegedly operating from duty-free shops, and are “cheating tens of thousands of baht from foreign tourists”. The reports claim that the gangs, apparently operating in collusion with shop employees and rogue policemen, intimidate and browbeat accused foreign shoplifters and thieves into paying large "fines" in order to escape lengthy incarceration and trial and return to their own countries. At least one European country has warned its citizens not to shop in the duty-free area of Suvarnabhumi at all, and the alleged cheating has been featured in reports by the BBC, among others. The duty-free scams are in addition to the longtime Bangkok airport problems of so-called "black-licence taxis" which have no authorisation to carry passengers, and airport touts who try to steer arriving tourists to unwanted hotels and shady businesses. One British couple, accused of shoplifting but released after five days without charges being laid, are currently at the centre of bribery accusations involving airport police. |
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Could Chinese Herb Be a Natural Viagra? - MSN Health & Fitness
Could Chinese Herb Be a Natural Viagra?
Early research suggests 'horny goat weed' might help men with impotence
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter
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FRIDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A Chinese herbal remedy known as "horny goat weed" may indeed live up to its name as a natural version of Viagra.
Italian researchers report that laboratory studies show that the compound has the potential to treat erectile dysfunction, and possibly with fewer side effects than its pharmaceutical cousin.
"No in-vivo studies in an animal model have been performed at this regard, so a lot of work must be done. We would like to test in vivo [with animals] the molecule to understand if it really works in humans," said study lead author Mario Dell'Agli, of the University of Milan's laboratory of pharmacognosy. "At this stage of the research, we cannot say if the molecule we have synthesized possesses less side effects with respect to Viagra. However, this derivative seems to be in vitro [in lab tests] more selective than Viagra, because it targets [an enzyme involved in blood flow to the penis] more precisely."
The study was expected to be published in the Oct. 24 issue of the Journal of Natural Products, a publication of the American Chemical Society.
Viagra (sildenafil) is one of several prescription medications available and widely prescribed for erectile dysfunction, a condition that affects an estimated 18 million men in the United States. Viagra and other drugs like it can cause side effects such as headache, stomach problems and visual disturbances.
Horny goat weed, hailing primarily from southern China, has a long history as an aphrodisiac.
As part of a new screening program to find natural alternatives to Viagra, the study authors analyzed a number of herbal extracts long used for male impotence, including Ferula hermonis or Lebanese Viagra; Cinnamomum cassia or Chinese cinnamon; as well as Epimedium brevicornum aka horny goat weed. All three extracts are reputed to improve sexual performance.
The main active component of each extract was tested against an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-5A1 (PDE5A1), which regulates blood supply to the penis. Inhibition of this enzyme results in more blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection.
Icariin, the active ingredient of horny goat weed, inhibited PDE5A1 to a greater degree than the other compounds tested.
"The novelty of this work is the new molecule we have synthesized by icariin," Dell'Agli said. "It is derived by chemical modifications of the structure of icariin, which is the active ingredient purified from E. brevicornum (horny goat weed). The mechanism by which the molecule we have found might work in humans is the inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) in the corpus cavernosum [erectile tissue in the penis], which is the mechanism by which Viagra works. This is an in vitro study. It can be considered a pre-clinical study."
More information
The National Institutes of Health has more on erectile dysfunction.
SOURCES: Mario Dell'Agli, Ph.D., laboratory of pharmacognosy, University of Milan, Italy; Oct. 24, 2008, Journal of Natural Products
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
China eagerly prepares for a rare total solar eclipse
China eagerly prepares for a rare total solar eclipse
Ajit Solanki / Associated Press
Visitors at Science City in Ahmadabad, India, try out solar goggles after a demonstration on how to safely watch a solar eclipse today.
More photos >>>
More photos >>>
Authorities are on red alert against traffic, stampedes and H1N1, but still the atmosphere is festive. Some fliers will chase the moon's shadow; 20 couples will wed; others quietly plan to skip work.
Reporting from Beijing -- In a popular Chinese legend, a giant named Kua Fu chased the fiery sun across the sky, hoping to bring about the end of a catastrophic drought. Though the hero dies in impassioned pursuit, the gods take notice of his inspired effort and punish the sun, forcing it farther from the Earth and drawing the calamitous weather to a close.
Now, Chinese media are ablaze with the mythical giant's name -- this time, to refer to amateur astronomers who have flocked to southern China for the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century. International and domestic tourists have descended on government-designated viewing spots such as Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuhan to witness the natural phenomenon.
Now, Chinese media are ablaze with the mythical giant's name -- this time, to refer to amateur astronomers who have flocked to southern China for the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century. International and domestic tourists have descended on government-designated viewing spots such as Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuhan to witness the natural phenomenon.
The rare total eclipse will be visible through a swath of India and southern China on Wednesday morning (Chinese time).
When the eclipse hits Chengdu, Sichuan province, passengers on five specially chartered Sichuan Airlines flights will chase the moon's shadow on its trajectory across the southern part of the country, enveloped in darkness for more than half an hour before landing in Shanghai. The price is $200, and few spaces remain.
For thriftier sun chasers, flimsy "solar eclipse observation glasses" are being sold on the streets in southern China, as well as online. On Taobao.com, a marketplace website comparable to EBay, the glasses, which sell for roughly $1, were almost sold out.
Chinese authorities have adopted nighttime traffic regulations, and construction sites -- and even some amusement park rides -- will close in eclipse-affected cities. China Daily reported that local authorities would be on red alert, ready to prevent traffic jams and stampedes and vigilant against the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.When the eclipse hits Chengdu, Sichuan province, passengers on five specially chartered Sichuan Airlines flights will chase the moon's shadow on its trajectory across the southern part of the country, enveloped in darkness for more than half an hour before landing in Shanghai. The price is $200, and few spaces remain.
For thriftier sun chasers, flimsy "solar eclipse observation glasses" are being sold on the streets in southern China, as well as online. On Taobao.com, a marketplace website comparable to EBay, the glasses, which sell for roughly $1, were almost sold out.
Still, neither security measures nor fears it may rain in many prime viewing cities have done much to hamper the festive atmosphere. In Shanghai, 20 couples are due to tie the knot as the moon meets the sun. The organizer of the weddings, a man surnamed Yu, told the Ximin News Agency that the celestial phenomenon would be "the perfect witness to the couples' happiness."
The 100-member Astronomy Club of Shanghai's Tongji University will be taking textbooks and telescopes to the streets around their campus, practicing what their president, 20-year-old Wen Zhesi, calls "sidewalk astronomy."
An Internet campaign was launched against the city's plan to turn on streetlights during the eclipse, claiming the lights would distract from viewing. Ultimately, they succeeded, persuading the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau to keep the streets dark.
In neighboring Jiangsu province, companies have scheduled days off. Even in areas not directly affected by the eclipse, such as northwestern China's Gansu province, authorities have declared the day a holiday in some counties.
Members of many popular online forums, such as Sohu and Tianya, as well as dedicated astronomy sites, have been mischievously discussing skipping work to take in the eclipse. "When you see an eclipse," says Wen "you'll never forget it."
"It's an inspiring event. . . . You'll want to see it again."
Monday, July 20, 2009
- French woman falls in love with Vietnamese aromas
Dame Clemence perfume has appeared at some small cosmetic stores in Hanoi and also at sauna centres of five-star hotels in Hanoi. The fragrances of citronella, ginger, perrila and pomelo have surprised foreign visitors.
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Coming from the world’s capital of perfume, a French woman, Clemence Barbier, is charmed by Vietnam’s simple fragrance of pomelo and citronella.
On her first trip to Vietnam Barbier realised that her life would change.
A small house on the bank of Hanoi’s West Lake is Barbier’s perfume “enterprise”. From this small house, hundreds of perfume bottles bearing beautiful names like “Dong Xuan Market’s Secret”, which uses cinnamon and ginger as major materials, Sauna a Sapa, using citronella, or Da Lat’s Leaves, using lemon fragrance, are produced.
Five years in Vietnam is enough for Barbier to have absorb Vietnam’s aromas. In this house, she has created the juice of Can Tho’s fruits, cool Sapa and peaceful Hanoi.
“I’m hypnotised by this land. Here nature favors me too much and I only need to keep them and send them everywhere so international friends can understand more about Vietnam,” she said.
The French woman is familiar with the scorching sun in Vietnam, the burning sensation on the face because of hot and dry westerly winds from Laos and wet days of early spring. Early discomfort with the hot and wet weather in Vietnam has disappeared and she is attracted by the animated life and friendly Vietnamese people.
Weather complications have created an abundant and diverse system of plants in Vietnam. In this tropical country, Barbier waits for pamello flowers in spring, jasmine in the summer, milk flower in the autumn and cinnamon in the winter.
The French women’s passion for fragrances is satisfied in Vietnam. Each trip is a new discovery for her.
Barbier doesn’t remember how many trips that she has taken in Vietnam. But her small house is now a world of Vietnamese aromas.
Sensitive to scents
When she was a little girl, Barbier was very sensitive to fragrances. She and her younger sister liked to play the game of guessing fragrances whenever their parents organised parties at home, with around 20 guests.
In the cold weather, guests wore big coats. When they came, they took off their coats and left them on the rack in the family’s dining room. Barbier was always the winner in these games when she could name the owner of any coat after smelling the perfume fragrance from the coat.
At the age of 13, 14, she wandered for hours around perfume stores. Once she tried 20 kinds of perfume and she could distinguish them easily.
With the passion for fragrances, Barbier became a chemistry engineer. She only studied fundamental knowledge at the university and she learnt to distill perfume herself.
However, the perfume industry in France is a closed industry, with family companies. After two years, Babier couldn’t find a job in the fragrance industry. She decided to go to India to work as a French teacher.
Returning from India, she studied further in chemistry and went to Laos. She met a Frenchman who produces perfume in Hanoi by chance, and she went to Vietnam.
She has been working diligently to produce perfume from Vietnamese plants. She hopes that through her products, many people will learn about Vietnam’s wonderful natural treasures.
Come to Vietnam to feel!
The French woman was surprised that Vietnam has many materials for making perfume but it imports a lot of perfume products. Vietnam is a hot and dry country but Vietnamese people are fond of using French perfume, which is suitable for cold and dry weather.
In the northern province of Hoa Binh, Barbier met with some people who grow and distill perfume from pamelo flowers. However, Vietnamese plant pamelo for fruits, not for flowers to process perfume.
Clemen travelled around Vietnam to feel the difference of weather in each region. She has produced different kinds of perfumes which are suitable for the weather of various areas.
She plans to market her products, branded Dame Clemence, in HCM City, not only in Hanoi. She said users can buy a famous perfume brand in Los Angeles or Shanghai, but Dame Clemence products from Vietnam will only be found in Vietnam. People will have to go to Vietnam to enjoy “Dong Xuan Market’s Secret”, “Sauna a Sapa” or “Gourmandise Can Tho,” she said.
VietNamNet/TP
Vietnam's Miss Universe 2009 Vo Hoang Yen
VietNamNet Bridge – With gentle make-up, long hair down and bright smile, Vietnam’s Miss Universe 2009 entrant Vo Hoang Yen hides the cold face of a supermodel to become a young girl brimming with vitality in a new photo series.
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VietNamNet/VNE/Hoan Vu
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