Singapore: Avalon

The beats are sick, the scene is hot, and the parties are simply out of control. Up for a phenomenal night out? Then step inside Avalon—one of Hollywood’s hottest spots to arrive on the Singapore party scene.

Housed in the floating South Crystal Pavilion of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Avalon looks out towards a mesmerising view of the city skyline. Beyond the velvet rope, the double-storey 17,000 square feet club boasts a visual spectacle of state-of-the-art full-colour lasers, 3D mapping and high-fashion interiors.  Styled by renowned interior design firm Roman and Williams, Avalon glitters with crystals and psychedelic light displays.

If your party philosophy is to “go big or go home”, you’ll be glad to know that Avalon brings in the best names in the business for world-class nightlife experiences.

As Avalon co-founder and club guru Steven Adelman has said, “Avalon has hosted virtually every celebrity – The Black Eyed Peas, Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Pink, to name a few. Parties at our club in L.A have included the annual Grammy’s after-party hosted by Justin Timberlake. Here in Singapore, we are building the most ambitious and state-of-the-art visual, sound and light system we're aware of anywhere. The combination of Avalon’s star power and Marina Bay Sands’ iconic structure will set the stage for the biggest parties in Asia.”

With the Louis Vuitton Island Maison and various Michelin star restaurants just steps away from the club, Avalon completes the ultimate high life experience at the Marina Bay Sands.

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Singapore: Gardens by the Bay

Spanning 101 hectares, and just a five-minute walk from the downtown Marina Bay area, this superpark is home to over a quarter of a million rare plants. The entire park comprises three gardens; Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. From the waterfront promenade, one can enjoy an amazing view of the Marina Bay financial district skyline.  

You’ve visited gardens and parks before, but have you ever stepped into a superpark spanning over 100 hectares, featuring more than a quarter of a million rare plants in huge domed conservatories – and in the heart of the city?


Less than a five-minute walk away from Marina Bay, the Gardens by the Bay is spread over three waterfront gardens: Bay South and Bay East, with Bay Central connecting the two.

Bay South — the largest waterfront garden — is where you’ll find the futuristic-looking Supertrees, vertical gardens measuring up to 16 storeys that add a surprising and surreal feel to the landscape. Take a walk on the suspended walkway between the supertrees or hitch a ride to the bar on top of the tallest supertree for a bird’s eye view of the entire gardens.  The Supertrees are not just aesthetic features; they also collect rainwater, generate solar power and act as venting ducts for the park’s conservatory.

The Conservatories, featuring the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, are another key feature, offering reprieve from the tropical heat.  The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean and semi-arid subtropical regions like South Africa and parts of Europe like Spain and Italy. The Cloud Forest replicates a cool-moist climate found in Tropical Montane regions between 1,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level, such as Mt Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, and high elevation areas in South America.


Bay East is a unique mix of pretty pavilions, lush lawns, tropical palm trees and natural blossoms of all kinds, perfect for an evening stroll or a picnic with family and friends. It also offers an amazing view of the Marina Bay financial district skyline along its two-kilometre waterfront promenade.

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Singapore: Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium

You may already know that Singapore is oneof the world’s busiest ports, but did you know that the recently opened Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA) is the first and only museum to showcase the maritime history of Asia? Featuring over 400 rare objects, the “Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa^TM“ takes you on a journey of epic voyages.

Be awed by the life-sized replica of Admiral Zheng He’s Treasure Ship (Bao Chuan) and his massive fleet – a sight to behold! The Treasure Ships were believed to sail along with 30 to 40 medium-sized ones such as horse ships, supply ships, combatships, water tankers and patrol ships - which provided all supplies requiredfor their voyages.

Visit the 8 ports of call at the SOUK where visitors will be fascinated by the sight, smell andsounds of the people and cultures and the interesting stories about these ports along the maritime trade routes. Have fun and learn more about the maritime trade, the people and cultures at the various exciting interactives which are located along the SOUK and basement of the museum.

One of the key highlights of MEMA is the “Jewel of Muscat”, a full-sized replica of a 9th-century dhow which is a gift from the Omani Government. Be awed and fascinated by how the people reconstructed the dhow and their voyage on the historic maritime route between Oman to Singapore mainly by wind power and celestial navigation. Try your hand to navigate through the seas using the “kamal”, an ancient Arab navigation tool!

Experience the wrath of the sea in the Typhoon Theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre that takes visitors on a perilous voyage on board a 9th-century Chinese junk. Laden with cargo, the ship runs into a storm. The sea roars, the skies darken and the ship rolls, pitches, turns and finally sinks. At the end, the ship’s passengers find themselves in the depths of the ocean, up close with the shipwreck.

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The Causeway Woodlands - Johor Bahru

The Causeway is a very popular and thus terminally congested entry point connecting Woodlands in the north of Singapore directly into the heart of Johor Bahru. While congestion isn't as bad as it once was, the Causeway is still jam-packed on Friday evenings (towards Malaysia) and Sunday evenings (towards Singapore). The Causeway can be crossed by bus, train, taxi or car, but it is no longer feasible to cross on foot after Malaysia shifted their customs and immigration complex 2 km inland.

A second crossing between Malaysia and Singapore, known as the Second Link, has been built between Tuas in western Singapore and Tanjung Kupang in the western part of Johor state. Much faster and less congested than the Causeway, it is used by some of the luxury bus services to Kuala Lumpur and is strongly recommended if you have your own car. There is only one infrequent bus across the Second Link, and only Malaysian "limousine" taxis are allowed to cross it (and charge RM150 and up for the privilege). Walking across is also not allowed, not that there would be any practical means to continue the journey from either end if you did.

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Singapore Airshow 2014

Singapore Airshow is all about creating opportunities for aerospace industry representatives across the world to connect, do business, find out about the latest innovations and exchange ideas to spearhead developments across the industry. The show has continued to attract influential government and military delegations as well as senior corporate executives. It has won recognition as a global marketplace, networking powerhouse and the platform of choice for the world’s aerospace community to forge partnerships and do business in the thriving Asia Pacific region, making it a must-attend event in the international aviation industry calendar.

Singapore Airshow also continued to demonstrate its thought leadership through its successful high-level conferences – the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit and the Asia Pacific Security Conference.

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Phuket, Thailand

Thailand' s largest island is a wonderland of wildlife and rainforest fringed by white sand beaches with some of the world' s premier resorts.

Wild Interior
Visitors to Phuket Province generally head for the sea, but the interior is worth exploring for its vivid patchwork of plantations and rice paddies, crowned by the island's last rainforest in Khao Phra Thaw Royal Wildlife Reserve. Here, rainy season hikes provide the best views of Ton Sai and Bang Pae waterfalls, with possible sightings of resident wildlife such as flying foxes and slow loris: visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center near Bang Pae falls and see how they reintroduce captive gibbons to the jungle. 

Trading History
Phuket Town was once a trading point for ships from China, India, Arabia, Malaya and Portugal. 19th century Sino-Portuguese shop houses on Phang-Nga, Yaowarat, and Ranong Roads stand testimony to those days, with fine restorations on Deebuk and Thalang Roads. Also on Phang-Nga Road, the mystical Shrine of the Serene Light is a 150-year-old Chinese temple with notable art and a tranquil garden. See the surrounding area from nearby Phuket Hill (Khao Rang). 

Vegetarian Festival
A cultural legacy, the Vegetarian Festival ushers in Taoist Lent in September / October, when religious Chinese avoid eating meat. The festivities involve colorful, noisy street parades, with devotees doing penance through pain. Among other things, they pierce their cheeks and tongues with swords. 

Sea, Sand & Sailing
Of course, Phuket's limestone cliffs and palm-fringed tropical beaches are its biggest attractions. Sunseekers flock to its blue waters, with many enjoying the shopping and nightlife of vibrant Patong. A few quieter beaches to investigate are Karon, Kata, Rawai and Surin. Situated in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is a world-class dive destination with countless pristine sites and just as many operators, mostly around Patong. Experienced yachtsmen looking for all-inclusive charters will find fair-to-excellent craft with great facilities at the Phuket Boat Lagoon (Ao Sapam) and the Yacht Haven Phuket (Laem Phrao). 

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Koh Nang Yuan Island Koh Tao Island, Thailand

The most famous southern province in the Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani has several world famous islands under its territory; namely Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ang Thong archipelagos, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The last two are best known among intrepid travellers as the best dive site in the gulf of Thailand.

Located around 120 kilometres from the Surat Thani coast, Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan, occupy an area of almost 18 square kilometers. With mountains and rocky cliffs accounting for 70% of its land area, the island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its coast. The island's half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the beaches are found.

Dotted in and around Koh Tao's 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Had Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay; others with smaller, rockier beaches.

Acclaimed to be the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand, tourists tend to make diving their first priority as soon as they arrive on Koh Tao. It's not surprising therefore that each year Koh Tao's dive school turns out a number of proficient divers from around the world.

If you are looking for an alternative to diving, you might enjoy exploring the island, and swimming from its many beaches, or kayaking, or climbing hills to check out the vistas from numerous viewpoints. Alternatively, you can take a tour to its nearby islands of Nang Yuan, which is only 15 minute away by local boats.

Getting to Koh Tao
Despite being part of Surat Thani Province, it's more convenient and faster to go to Koh Tao from Chumphon Province. The island is only one hour ride on a high-speed catamaran from Ao Makham Noi Pier in Chumphon - a speed boat from Koh Samui takes you around 3 hours to get to Koh Tao. Nowadays, more travelers choose Chumphon as their starting-off point.

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Thian Og Bay Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Ao Thian Og leaves most of the other beaches on Koh Tao back at the starting post in terms of sheer beauty. The perfect arc of white, fluffy sand and azure waters will leave you breathless. Almost always quiet and serene, this is the perfect place to chill out for an afternoon.

The beach has shade from shrubs rather than trees and is empty much of the time despite its proximity to Chalok Baan Kao. While people stay away, sharks flock here, however: it's a popular bay with divers.

One of the newest and flashest resorts on Koh Tao, Jamahkiri, has a monkey enclosure, ensuring the peculiar calls of primates now ring out regularly across the bay.

Ao Thian Og is separated from Chalok Baan Kao by a peninsula, and on the eastern flank of this peninsula, facing Ao Thian Og, you'll find Ao Taa Chaa which has good snorkelling and a couple of very well-appointed resorts perched on its edge.

If you walk out to the end of the peninsula you'll reach the John Suwan Viewpoint, a spectacular vantage point overlooking Ao Chalok Baan Kao to the left and Ao Thian Og to the right. Unfortunately the trail hasn't been well looked after, so it's quite a bush-bash to get there nowadays.

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Tanote Bay Koh Tao Island. Thailand

To get to Tanote Bay is a thrilling experience. The road there will take you over 'Mount Koh Tao' and offers a breathtaking view of the island's eastern hilly slopes. The bay itself offers nice bathing and snorkelling and variety of bungalows and restaurants. From Tanote Bay you can see Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan on a clear day. There is a growing number of resorts offering accommodation in this beautiful bay.

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Sairee Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

The longest and most popular beach on the island stretches from the statue of Rama IV in the south to the headland at the far north, almost opposite Koh Nang Yuan. It boasts both busy entertainment areas at the southern end and quieter, less-trafficked areas toward the headland. The water is very shallow - in places you can walk for ages and get no deeper than your waist. Snorkellers are better served staying on other beaches.

Sairee beach is home to some of the most upmarket resorts on the island along with backpacker favourites through to mid-range places ideal for families. In the evenings entertainment can be very loud, so light sleepers are better off staying toward the northern end.

A couple of small bays and beaches with a handful of resorts are dotted beyond the north end, with most places having either good views over the beach or offshore to Koh Nang Yuan. It's a sleepy spot but close enough to the main strip for a night out.

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Sai Nuan Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

This series of very attractive turquoise bays and palm-fringed beaches can be reached on foot from either Mae Haad or Chalok Ban Kao.

These bays have both advantages and disadvantages - what you gain in tranquility you lose in ease of access. If you're a bit of a night owl, this part of Koh Tao may not be the best choice as stumbling home down the goat-track of a trail in the early hours will be a recipe for disaster.

On the other hand, if you're after a bit of serenity, a lot of hammock swinging and a fare dose of gazing out to sea, then you're in the right place.

In a few spots the beaches around this part of Koh Tao are beginning to lose their sand - luckily a problem that so far hasn't really spread to elsewhere on the island.

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Sai Daeng Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Really part of Rocky Bay, Haad Sai Daeng is a beautiful little cove on the southern tip of Koh Tao. Haad Sai Daeng is very nice spot to relax in solitude with a book on the beach or going for a swim to Shark Island.

With only two resorts nestled into an idyllic landscape & a sandy beach, it's not only famous for its beauty similar to Ao Leuk.

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Mango Bay Koh Tao Island., Thailand

Mango Bay (Ao Mamuang) is a very isolated bay at the very northern tip of Koh Tao and is the most recently developed area on the island. The landscape consists of high rocky cliffs and lush green hillsides rising up from the water's edge and offering breathtaking views of the gulf. The clear blue-green waters of Mango Bay are great for swimming and snorkelling, and one of the island's most beautiful dive locations sits at the centre of the bay.

The resorts here are decidedly upscale and more expensive than elsewhere on Koh Tao, and given the particular isolation of this spot, they lean towards self-contained affairs. You'll get a good deal of comfort and tranquility for your money.

That said Mango Bay does get a lot of day-tripping diving and snorkelling trips - this is a secluded spot, but unfortunately not a silent secluded spot.

The focus is on water activities: snorkelling, diving and kayaking. If that's all a bit too energetic, tanning, reading and generally lazing around are also prime activities.

The road access is via a poorly maintained road, so most opt for a longtail.

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Mae Haad Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

This beach runs to the north and south of Koh Tao's main town, Mae Haad, where the ferry piers are also located. The town is typical of those on heavily touristed Thai islands, with a cluster of dive shops, exchange kiosks, travel agents, Internet cafes, bakeries, restaurants and bars. It's dusty during the day, chaotic when the ferries come and go, and otherwise sleepy and largely deserted.

Around the piers the beach is grubby and littered but both the northern and southern extremes are quite pleasant. To the south, there is some good snorkelling and comfortable resorts. If you're looking for something secluded however, this is not your best choice.

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Laem Thian Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Laem Thian is known as Swimthrough City among local scuba divers. The reason for that is the many caverns, tunnels and swim throughs you'll find just beneath the waters surface.

It's a great place to snorkel and one of the only places on the island you'll find the strange looking Unicorn Fish.

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Jansom Bay Koh Tao Island, Thailand

Jansom Bay is a tiny beach on the south-west side of Koh Tao. When you come with the boat from Samui or Pha Ngan you will pass it on your destination at Koh Tao pier. I just visited the beach just for one afternoon on a cloudy/windy/rainy day, so there were quite a lot of boats from the diving schools, which looked for shelter. But you find a friendly relaxed athmosphere. The only bar/restaurant is run by settled Chao Leh , a type of people quite different to the original Tao population, which came from China in the mid of the last century. huge rocks, sandy beach, cold beers, food - what else do you need more ?

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Chalok Baan Kao Beach Koh Tao Island, Thailand

The second most popular beach on Koh Tao, Chalok Baan Kao is overrun with the usual plethora of dive shops, guesthouses, restaurants, travel agents and bars, all of which line the main road running just off the back of the beach.

The beach here is pretty and at low tide passable for sunbathing, but really there are far better spots elsewhere on Koh Tao for laying around in the sun - just by hiking over the headland to Ao Thian Og will deliver you to a lovely strip of sand all to yourself.

Due to Chalok Baan Kao being one of the largest dive centres on Koh Tao, a lot of boat traffic heads in and out throughout the day. Be it divers coming and going, snorkelling trips, round-the-island boat trips, fishing trips or just longtails off on taxi runs from here, Chalok is not one of Koh Tao's quieter strips of sand.

The large number of boats also contributes to the water being a bit murky, particularly towards the western end of the bay. Head to the eastern stretch of the beach if you plan to spend any time in the water, but if time allows, you're far better served to wander off to another nearby beach. Chalok Baan Kao is flanked by beaches and bays to both the east and west, so you need not head too far to find something pretty.

On its western lip, at the beginning of the trail around to Mae Haad, you'll find the very pleasant Haad Saal Chao. This spot remains a pleasant area to hang out, despite the sometimes cloudy waters.

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Koh Tao Island, Thailand

The most famous southern province in the Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani has several world famous islands under its territory; namely Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ang Thong archipelagos, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The last two are best known among intrepid travellers as the best dive site in the gulf of Thailand.

Located around 120 kilometres from the Surat Thani coast, Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan, occupy an area of almost 18 square kilometers. With mountains and rocky cliffs accounting for 70% of its land area, the island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its coast. The island's half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the beaches are found.

Dotted in and around Koh Tao's 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Had Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay; others with smaller, rockier beaches.

Acclaimed to be the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand, tourists tend to make diving their first priority as soon as they arrive on Koh Tao. It's not surprising therefore that each year Koh Tao's dive school turns out a number of proficient divers from around the world.

If you are looking for an alternative to diving, you might enjoy exploring the island, and swimming from its many beaches, or kayaking, or climbing hills to check out the vistas from numerous viewpoints. Alternatively, you can take a tour to its nearby islands of Nang Yuan, which is only 15 minute away by local boats.

Getting to Koh Tao
Despite being part of Surat Thani Province, it's more convenient and faster to go to Koh Tao from Chumphon Province. The island is only one hour ride on a high-speed catamaran from Ao Makham Noi Pier in Chumphon - a speed boat from Koh Samui takes you around 3 hours to get to Koh Tao. Nowadays, more travelers choose Chumphon as their starting-off point.

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Thong Tanote Beach Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Thong Tanote Beach, a secluded beach on the south coast of Koh Samui, offering breathtaking scenery of the Gulf of Thailand. You have an amazing view of Koh Tan & Mutsum Islands. We encourage our guests to take advantage of the amazing and immediate snorkeling and diving exploration available on these islands. The south coast is very relaxing and there is no shopping or nightlife nearby though it is only a 20 min. drive to Lamai or 30min to Chaweng.

Although not really a spot for swimming, Thong Krut Bay still has the image of a small fishing village, with a nice view of islands to the south. On the beach, wooden restaurants built on stilts are nice places to have a drink. At the end of the beach, the road goes back to the mainland for a short while on its way to Bang Kao Beach. But before arriving at Bang Kao, take the small road to Laem Sor on your right-hand side and drive a kilometer to discover a surprising, yellow-tiled pagoda built right on the seaside. It's a great place to take some pictures!

Along the road are many typical, old Thai homes and some very small shops selling basic necessities for the local population. These shops are often run by smiling, friendly old people, so why not stop in and say hello! Some places in Thong Tanote seem not have changed in decades and are interesting to have a look at.

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Taling Ngam Beach Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Taling Ngam Beach, located on the west coast of Koh Samui just south of Nathon town, is a beautiful and quiet area of Koh Samui.

Not as developed as many areas of the island, Taling Ngam offers extraordinary views and sunsets to the west with the sun setting behind the Angthong Marine National Park's many islands.

There are several resorts and hotels in Taling Ngam, as well as an assortment of both local the international restaurants.

Nearby Lipa Noi beach stretches several kilometres with unspoilt beaches, very few people and room to move and enjoy oneself.

This lovely, hidden away beach is dominated by the Le Meridien Baan Taling Ngam, which climbs from the beachfront all the way up the hillside. But you don't have to stay there to enjoy the beach - day-trippers are welcome, and Taling Ngam is a world away from much of the rest of the island.

Fine swimming and sunbathing are the two main pastimes here, though a small fishing village is within walking distance nearby and more restaurants are slowly appearing in the area.

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