AirAsia is to launch direct flights to Vietnam’s third largest city, Danang, from 16 December 2011. The airline will begin servicing the new route with four weekly flights departing from the LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

To celebrate the launch, AirAsia is offering an all-in fare from RM69. Booking must be made before 12 October 2011 for travel between 16 December 2011 and 27 October 2012.

Danang is the entry point for visiting the ancient, World Heritage City of Hoi An, the white sand beach resorts of China Beach, and is only a couple of hours drive from the former capital of Hue.

Plan a holiday to Vietnam’s central coast – contact Symbiosis Custom Travel

Nine dive spots in Malaysia that were closed in June last year are expected to be re-opened soon. The dive spots were closed after coral reefs in the vicinity were bleached. The exact reason for the bleaching is not known but speculation is that the change in sea temperature and also human impact could be responsible.

The re-opening of the sites welcome news for Malaysia;s tourism industry as they are popular amongst dive tourists. The Marine Parks Department said the sites included the islands of Perhentian, Redang and Tenggol in Terengganu State, and other islands in Pahang and Kedah

Special for the London International Dive Show this weekend:

4D/3N PADI Open Water Course on Tioman Island, Malaysia, based on twin sharing accommodation in 3 Star Resort – GBP 280.00. Includes full course, course materials, equipment rental, certification, accommodation

6D/5N Unlimited Diving with B&J Diving Centre on Tioman Island, based on twin sharing accommodation in 3 Star Resort – GBP 330.00. Includes up to 3 day dives per day, lunch on board, accommodation (dive equipment rental not included)

Open to non-show-goers. Contact Symbiosis for more info.

To mark the 2011 London International Dive Show (LIDS) this weekend, 26 & 27 March, Symbiosis is pleased to offer discounts on one week dive cruises aboard the Celebes Explorer as follows:

Booking period: from now until 30 April 2011 only

Travel period: 27 March 2011 to 26 February 2012.

* 7D7N package: $200 disocunt = $1,615
* 6D7N Package: $185 Discount = $1,508

The following fees still apply:
* Sipadan Dive Permit: $13 per person per day
* Semporna Jetty Fee: $3 per person per trip

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now to book

Borneo has amazing birdlife, and the inaugural Sabah Birdwatching Festival would be a great opportunity to learn something about them.

Contact Symbiosis Expedition Planning about making a trip to attend the show next month and perhaps trekking into the forests to look for some birds yourself!

See poster below:

Malaysia is renowned for its wonderful marine world and nearly half a million divers come here every year to admire some of the world’s most popular diving sites. The attention is fantastic as it helps raise awareness of some of the problems associated with global warming, yet on the other hand, such an amount of divers continuously returning to a few spots has a very negative impact. Due to the rising sea temperature (from 27°C to 29°C), the corals have started to develop a condition known as bleaching. Between 60 – 90% are already affected and without a ‘rest’ they will surely die.

The Department of Marine Parks has been very clear about necessary actions to be taken in order to give the corals a chance to recover; twelve most frequented and most threatened sites around the islands of Tioman, Redang and Perhentian have been ‘closed’ until the end of October 2010. That way, no divers will come anywhere near them and the stress will be at least limited. Even though the increased temperature is the main cause of coral bleaching, divers often accidentally touch or brush over the corals, raise sand from the sea bed and generally damage the corals. One or two would not make a difference, however, half a million divers undoubtedly does.

The Department of Marine Parks as well as environmentalists hope that the corals will have time to regenerate naturally and with a bit of luck will survive. Fortunately, they are prepared to fight uncontrolled tourism and protect their marine world as fiercely as possible in order to preserve its fragile beauty.

The Philippines is proposing the adoption of a single visa policy for 10 South-East Asian nations, saying it would benefit trade and tourism.

Visitors currently need to secure separate visas for each of the 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Philippine Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said he was pushing for a single visa for citizens of countries not belonging to ASEAN that would enable them to Travel freely within the region. He said the proposal would be discussed at a three-day meeting of regional immigration heads that starts on Monday in the Philippine capital, Manila.

Libanan said a common visa, modelled on the European Union system, would bring huge benefits in trade, investment and tourism.

The ASEAN member countries are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

At the moment, most visitors travel to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Visas for Vietnam are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days.

Facts

Vietnam remains the most difficult and expensive of the ASEAN countries for most people from outside the region to visit with visas required prior to arrival, or at least authorisation to get one on arrival. Visa exemptions are in place for a few, as follows:

Citizens of ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand go to Vietnam from 14-30 days without visa. Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Holland can travel to Vietnam for 14 days without visa.

Good luck, Mr Libanan!

Kuala Lumpur’s historical hotel Carcosa Seri Negara will close its doors at the end of the year to begin a renovation and redevelopment program.

Originally built in 1904 as the official residence of the highest British representative to the Malay States, Carcosa Seri Negara is a hallmark of Malaysia’s national heritage. Restored to its former glory, it reopened as a hotel in August 2004 and has since won an enviable list of prestigious awards.

Set amid 16 hectares of lush landscaping, the hotel is located atop a hill overlooking the city’s famous Lake Gardens just 15 minutes from downtown Kuala Lumpur and offers all suite accommodation and a selection of award winning restaurants. The hotel currently features 13 elegant Victorian-styled suites overlooking the landscaped gardens with the larger suites boasting sizeable terraces and private dining rooms.

Throughout the hotel, rich and luxurious interiors are furnishings of teak, marble, gold and silk whilst antique paintings, hand-woven carpets and Malaysian artifacts complement the nostalgic ambience of the property.

Until December 26, 2009, Carcosa Seri Negara is offering visitors to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysa, one last chance to stay in this prestigious boutique hotel before the curtain falls.

Located in the Carcosa Mansion, The Dining Room serves French cuisine in a majestic dining room overlooking the veranda and gardens beyond. Also in the Carcosa Mansion is The Bar featuring cane chairs, ceiling fans and cigar humidors to add to its colonial charm for evening drinks and cocktails.

Special deals are available for stays between now and the time it is due to shut up doors. so if you you are nostalgic for the days of British colonial grandure, contact symbiosis for info.

Normally the Malaysian Borneo states of Sarawak & Sabah are blessed with abundant rainfall, but presently they are undergoing an exceptionally dry spell

Sarawak

Bako National Park is experiencing an extreme shortage of water, which means that, as far as visitors are concerned, there may be insufficient water for showering or for the toilets. As things stand, we do not recommend any overnight stay at the Park.

The water levels on the Lemanak River and the Batang Ai are reported to be very low. We are cutting new trails and offering alternatives, however travellers to these areas can expect delays in getting to some of their destinations in these areas.

Poor visibility has caused some disruption to flights getting in and out of Mulu. Expect an increase of travel time within the Mulu National Park.

Sabah

As in Sarawak, the air remains slightly hazy however, hopefully, conditions will improve with the rains expected to arrive next week.

Pulau Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysia

For people hoping to dive at the world renowned island of Sipadan, off the north coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, I would advise planning – and booking – well ahead!

The issuance of diving permits is very strict these days. The quota per day is limited to 120 divers and there are now 12 diving/resort operators vying for slots within this quota.

Each dive operator – whether located on Mabul, Kapalai or on the mainland in Semporna – has to submit the names of their guests well in advance if they are to ensure that they will get the chance to dive there, and there is no way of knowing what the demand is likely to be on any one day. This means that applying for a permit does not automatically guarantee success.

While the month of Ramadan is the fasting month for the Moslems the world over, it also the time when food stalls start to emerge, selling tantalizing food for breaking fast. But the bazaar is not just for those taking part in the fasting month. Mention the Ramadan Bazaar and food lovers will perk up with excitement. A huge variety of food and drinks are sold at Bazaars and markets all over Malaysia and Borenoe. Look out for food items like chicken rice, soto (noodle soup), kebabs and an array of colourful cakes. Try out extraordinary looking drinks such as cincau (grass jelly drink), chendol (green jelly drink) or air bandung (a pink drink made out of milk and rose syrup).

If you happen to be in Malaysia or Borneo during the month of Ramadan visit some of these amazing Bazaars: Sembulan, Asia City Market, Lintasan Deasoka, Gaya Street, Wawasan Plaza, Sinsuran Night Market, Inanam Traditional Tamu, Indah Permai (near the Giant Hypermarket). They are all open from 1:30 pm to 6:30pm.