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Malaysia Travel Guide

SOUND OF AINU FOR THE FIRST TIME

KUCHING: This year edition of RWMF is proud to host Oki Kano representing the Ainu (Japan) for the first time ever.

Growing up in Japan, Oki graduated from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. He moved to New York in 1987 where he worked as a special effects artist on film productions and returned to Japan in 1992.

The multi-talented musician Oki never knew he was part of a “vanishing” race as many in the tribe chose to keep their heritage a secret. He was already an adult by the time he came to know of his origins. The discovery prompted him to learn Ainu and teach himself how to play the traditional “tonkori” and today performs and produces unique Ainu music influenced with a modern twist.

The Ainu lived for centuries on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido as well as the nearby areas including Russia’s Sakhalin and Kuril Islands. Like many indigenous people around the world, the Ainu have lost touch with their traditional lifestyle after decades of forced assimilation leaving the younger generation in the dark about their heritage.

The “tonkori” has played a vital role in the lives of the Ainu and was used by shamans to communicate with the spirit forces that control the wind, rain, hail and fire, or to disorientate enemies during battle. When Oki first discovered the “tonkori”, he said it was he was being led by his ancestors’ spirit and his feelings that one day Ainu culture would be part of his expression has now come to pass.

He has been on a mission to encourage other Ainu artists to promote their music to the world and is careful to strike a balance between introducing changes and keeping the tradition.

He likens playing the “tonkori” as a weapon “fighting for survival” and that Ainu music must be passed on to the next generation even though it has been filtered through him.

At RWMF, audiences will hear traditional “tonkori” music as well as Oki’s individual compositions highly blending ancient and modern influences.

OKI

The Rainforest World Music Festival takes place from July 12-14 at the Sarawak Cultural Village and is organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth Sports Sarawak.

For further information on tickets, festival activities and logistics, please log on to https://rwmf.net/

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Travel to Melaka

MELAKA INTERNATIONAL CRUISE TERMINAL READY BY 2017

MALACCA: The construction of the Malacca International Cruise Terminal, part of the Melaka Gateway project, will kick off in three months and is expected for completion in 2017.

Malacca Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade committee chairman, Datuk Lim Ban Hong, said the terminal would be able to accommodate four large cruise ships simultaneously.

“We are targeting 250 cruise ships to dock at the terminal per year by 2020 and bring in a strong economic impact to the state,” he told reporters in Malacca on Thursday.

He said this after a visit to the terminal construction site with KAJ Development Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Datuk Michelle Ong and Luis Ajamil from project consultant, The Royal Carribean.

The RM40bil Melaka Gateway, near Pulau Melaka, is developed by KAJ Development and is the largest man-made island project in South-East Asia.

Among the planned facilities are a marina for yachts, luxury condominiums, bungalows with private marina, tourist eco-parks, theme parks and ports for cruise ships.

“Most tourists travel by land, but with the Melaka Gateway, we will be able to attract more tourists via the sea. This is part of the state’s Transport Development Master Plan,” Lim said.

Meanwhile, Ajamil said Melaka Gateway was the third entity that the Royal Caribbean had collaborated with for jetty construction and development project after Miami and New York in the United States.

“Normally, research on waves, ocean depth, soil conditions and waves flows takes four years but Malacca Gateway only took about two years from 2014,” he said. – Bernama

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Tourism Malaysia

Riverside rustic Italian

Truth or myth: Don’t flip the Simply Roasted 7-star Seabass over when one side has been eaten; just remove the bone.Truth or myth: Don’t flip the Simply Roasted 7-star Seabass over when one side has been eaten; just remove the bone.

Satisfying, New York-style dining – in Shanghai.

NO wonder the expats here look so self-satisfied.� The Lord Restrain leaned back in his low chair in the “farm chic� loft at Mercato, located on Shanghai’s Bund.

“I would be, too, if I could come here to eat every day,� he declared, while scanning the large, open dining space. Here, reclaimed wood and warm leather tones complement exposed steel, iron and glass, and wonderful cuisine.

On a chilly Saturday evening in January, it was certainly an inviting venue and was filling up fast by 7pm.

Hardly surprising, then, that without reservations we couldn’t get a Mercato table at celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s recently opened restaurant. The famed three-Michelin-star chef already had a presence in the building with his fine dining namesake restaurant, Jean-Georges. So we took the window table offered near the bar, and with a not-too-restricted view of the world-famous waterway.

“The most excellent starters in decades,â€? proclaimed the Lord, not leaving a single crumb on his plate. I had to agree. The Housemade Ricotta with Cranberry Compote, Olive Oil and Grilled Bread (78 renminbi/RM38.20) was not what we expected; it looked simple and, well … rustic. But the light and creamy ring of delicately flavoured ricotta topped with the delectable cranberry cooked slowly with sugar brought a luscious combination of tastes and textures with each consecutive mouthful.

The Wood-oven Roasted Asparagus Fontina and Prosciutto (88 renminbi/RM43) that followed the cranberry carnival was no less impressive. The lightly grilled greens wrapped in soft slices of prosciutto were crunchy, yet moist. Slathered in olive oil, all it needed for a sharp tang was the juice of a lemon, and a wedge was already waiting.

The Lord is a big fan of Italian food and so, with a wood-fire oven adding warmth to an already agreeable dining room, we could not help but pick the Spicy Pork Sausage, Kale and Pecorino Pizza (118 renminbi/RM57.70). And our rustic pizza did not disappoint.

This house speciality was generously topped with sausage slices and kale, while the thin-crust pizza was surprisingly chewy and charmingly charred in spots. The blend of parmesan, mozzarella and pecorina cheeses artfully married their flavours, resulting in a comfortingly creative taste.

Aided by glasses of Italian white, generous and chilled just right, the evening was just beginning. The moneyed mélange of Shanghai, both local and expatriate, were in evidence as they came for an evening of bonhomie with partners, friends and families. Noted the Lord Restrain, “Elitist, ostentatious fine-dining restaurants should be replaced by places like this.â€? “Like what?â€? I asked. He pondered and proclaimed: “Casual … chic … really good food.â€?

By this time, the Simply Roasted 7-star Seabass (38 renminbi/RM18.60 per 100g) had arrived. Before I could even set my wine glass down, the top half of the roasted fish was gone.

“Should I turn over the fish?� I asked, with more than a hint of sarcasm.

“No!â€? He confided in me: “I was told by many Chinese friends over dinner that I should take the bone out, and not turn the fish over, especially if we are near a port. So that the fishermen’s boats will not turn over.â€? He paused and looked at me: “A myth, maybe?â€? Err …

The Spicy Pork Sausage, Kale and Pecorino Pizza is the house speciality atMercato.The Spicy Pork Sausage, Kale and Pecorino Pizza is the house speciality at
Mercato.

Roasted with sage, rosemary, tomato and lemon, the bass stewing in its hot sauce was uncomplicated and light. The clear sauce, with tangy hints of lemon, offered a bracing piquancy to complement the fresh fish.

Chef Vongerichten’s signature flair for balancing flavours and textures was at work here. The flesh, very lightly battered in a crispy shell, slipped easily off the bone and soon the fish had slipped easily off the plate, too. “The tomatoes are a little burnt …â€? the Lord announced as he popped another wedge into his mouth,â€?… but very juicy.â€?

Since the menu consists of Coastal Italian Cuisine, we decided to end our meal with a trusty Tiramisu (58 renminbi/RM28.40). This proved a wise choice, as the serving was more than enough for two, even two with such a pronounced sweet tooth. After such a great introduction to taste and texture, unfortunately, the tiramisu didn’t live up to our expectations. Not only was it stark and understated, the base was slightly dry and it was difficult to finish.

Nevertheless, the disappointing dessert did not detract us from our thoroughly enjoyable evening. Great restaurant ambience, stunning views of night-time soaring skyscrapers overlooking and reflected in the shimmering river. Moreover, I was rather pleased as I had only taken one bite of the dessert and left the rest to the Lord, who was eating it with much restraint.

“This is very relaxing,� said the Lord, slumping back in his chair, his mustard sweater contrasting pleasantly with the chair’s lime green upholstery. “You won’t feel that way when the bill arrives,� I replied. With two glasses of wine, fish weighed by the gram and two excellent coffees, the evening set us back almost RM500.

But Lord Restrain now looked pretty self-satisfied to me. As if to confirm, he leaned back in his low chair in Mercato’s loft, and muttered: “Ve-e-ery satisfying.�

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Tourism Malaysia

Hotels for health-minded travellers

Feeling healthy? There are hotels now that offer healthy holiday packages with perks like a loaned pairof sneakers or even a running buddy called a ‘running concierge’.Feeling healthy? There are hotels now that offer healthy holiday packages with perks like a loaned pair
of sneakers or even a running buddy called a ‘running concierge’.

Wellness is one of the hottest hotel trends this year.

HEALTH-minded travellers have never been so spoiled for choice – there are now hotels offering fitness concierges and appointed running buddies.

Here are a few good places to stay while on a vacation.

InterContinental has launched a new hotel brand called Even, the first mainstream hotel brand to focus exclusively on wellness.

Exercise options include in-room touches, such as a coat-rack that doubles as a pull-up bar, well-equipped gyms, personalised fitness advice for all guests and a Wellness Wall with exercise ideas, walking distances and equipment rental information on display.

The first Even hotel is slated to open in New York by the end of 2014, while the company envisions opening another 100 US locations over the next five years, InterContinental announced late last year.

Four Seasons in Canada uses wellness concierges, who plan your daily wellness itinerary, including spa appointments, healthy meals and workouts.

In addition, Four Seasons Resort Whistler offers a Path To Wellness package, a three-night stay offering meditation, aromatherapy and a yoga mat, as well as a fitness plan and outdoor guide to direct guests on mountain adventures.

At the New York boutique hotel, guests can borrow the new “Forgot It? We’ve Got It – Runner’s Edition� kit which includes a music-filled iPod shuffle, a sports watch with a built-in pedometer, a running belt, water bottles and a map of the Hudson River
running path.

Return from your run and you’ll find
a Gatorade and a Power Bar waiting in
your room.

Perks being offered at Sheraton Hotels and Resorts include a “workout in a bag�, which includes instructional cards, foam rollers and a mat.

Westin Hotels and Resorts will loan guests a pair of New Balance sneakers and workout clothes just in case they’ve left theirs at home. If you need a running buddy, a “running concierge� can lead the way.

Launched as a health club business in 2000, Europe’s Aspria recently added four urban wellness hotels – Berlin, Brussels, Hanover, Hamburg – that offer a sports club, spa, and healthy meals at its “vital lounges�.

Las Vegas’s MGM Grand recently converted numerous rooms into “Stay Well� rooms, chock full of 16 health amenities. Expect personalised spa menus, wake-up light therapy, air purification and aromatherapy, vitamin C-infused showers and wellness videos from Deepak Chopra.

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts now offer a new “Fairmont Fit� programme, rolling out in 80 of their hotels around the world this year.

The package includes fitness gear, mp3 players and cruiser bikes to borrow, with some hotels offering group fitness and “run clubs�.

London’s Eccleston Square Hotel offers Hastens’ “Mind Spa� relaxation programming, which broadcasts sleep-inducing natural images and sounds in your room to promote better sleep.

Hotel Rio Sagrado near Cuzco, Peru, also offers a package called “A Good Night’s Sleep�, where yoga instructors meet guests in their room for sleep-inducing yoga sessions and herbal massage sessions. – AFP

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Tourism Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur truly a shopping haven

Kuala Lumpur truly a shopping haven

KUALA LUMPUR: The city of Kuala Lumpur has been ranked fourth best for shopping in global news network CNN’s survey.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who announced this last night, said the Government’s continued effort to boost KL as a shopping haven was bearing fruit.

She commended shopping malls and stores on the cooperation extended to the ministry to help make its campaigns a success.

“This is wonderful news. Malaysia Boleh!” she said at the launch of the sixth “A Journey Through Time” watch and jewellery exhibition at Starhill Gallery last night.

She said she had been informed that New York, London and Tokyo were placed before KL.

Read more at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/23/nation/12360825sec=nation.