2009 05 15 - Boteyju @ Liang Court

2009 05 15 - Asia Geographic - Journal

JOURNAL

A guide to the finest 101 travel destinations in Asia, with maps and essential information.
Adventure Havens
Get ready to explore thrills, spills and more.
Mountain climbing
1 Haba Snow Mountain (Yunnan), China
Mountain Trekking
2 Himachal Pradesh, India
3 Western Bhutan
4 Annapurna region, Nepal
5 Mount Batur (Bali), Indonesia
Rock Climbing
6 Krabi, Thailand
Free Flying
7 Voronezh, Russia
Paragliding
8 Pokhara, Nepal
Bungy Jumping
9 Macau, China
Kiteboarding
10 Boracay, Philippines
Snow Boarding
11 Japan

Skiing
12 Pyeongcheong County, South Korea
Four-Wheeled Drive
13 China–Tibet
14 Mount Pinatubo (Luzon), Philippines
Horse Trekking
15 Son Kol, Kyrgyzstan
16 Bayan-Olgii, Mongolia Camel Trekking
17 Western Rajasthan, India
Combo
18 Outside Sa Pa, Northern Vietnam
19 Gangotri region, India
20 Northern Laos
Mountain Biking
21 Mount Bromo (Java), Indonesia
22 Across Iran
23 Northern Laos

Dirt Biking
24 Cambodia

White Water Rafting
25 Kachin State, Myanmar

Canyoning
26 Nepal

Water Explorations
27 Lake Kenyir (Terengganu), Malaysia
28 River Klias (Sabah), East Malaysia

Surfing
29 Siargao Island, Philippines
30 Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

Windsurfing
32 Hangang River (Seoul), South Korea
31 Penghu Island, Taiwan

Snorkelling/Swimming
33 El Nido (Palawan), Philippines
34 Donsol, Philippines
Cave Diving
35 New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Scuba Diving
36 Republic of Palau
37 Raja Ampat, Indonesia
38 Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
39 Sipadan, East Malaysia
40 North Male Atoll, Maldives
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Festival Havens
Experience the colour and drama of Asia's richest celebrations
and rituals.
January
41 Ardh Kumbh Mela, India
42 Ati-atihan, Philippines
43 Thaipusam, Malaysia

February
44 Losar, Tibet
45 Hongsa Elephant Festival, Laos
46 Chingay, Singapore

March
47 Navrouz, Uzbekistan
48 Nyepi, Bali (Indonesia)

April
49 Moriones Festival,Philippines
50 Thrissur Pooram, India

May
51 Tadau Kaamatan, East Malaysia
52 Rocket Festival, Thailand
53 Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Thailand

June
54 Tuen Ng, Hong Kong (China) July
55 Naadam Festival, Mongolia
56 Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival, East Malaysia
57 Mount Wutai Festival, China

August
58 Esala Perahera, Sri Lanka
59 Sabah Fruits and Flowers Festival,
East Malaysia

September
60 Thimpu Tsechu, Bhutan
61 Mid-Autumn's Festival,
Hong Kong (China)
62 Andong Mask Dance Festival,
South Korea

October
63 Golden Eagle Festival, Mongolia
64 Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Thailand
65 Tbilisoba, Georgia (Central Asia)

November
66 Lu Ping Festival, Myanmar
67 Pushkar Camel Fair, India
68 Boun Om Touk, Cambodia
69 That Luang Buddhist Festival, Laos

December
70 Chichibu Yomatsuri, Japan
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Nature Havens
Asia's most breathtaking natural sights, from the
mountains to seas.
Central Asia
71 Caspian Sea
West Asia
72 The Euphrates River, Iraq
South Asia
73 Sagarmantha National Park, Nepal
74 Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal
75 The Himalayas, Nepal
76 Kaziranga National Park, India
77 Keoladeo National Park, India
78 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India
79 Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers Parks, India
80 Ganges, India
81 Sinharaja Forest Reserve,
Sri Lanka East Asia
82 Ivs Nuur Basin, Mongolia
83 Huanglong, China
84 Jiuzhaigou, China
85 Wulingyuan, China
86 Three Parallel Rivers National
Park, China
87 Shirakami-Sanchi, Japan
88 Yakushima, Japan
89 Shiretoko, Japan

Southeast Asia
90 The Mekong, Cambodia
91 Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
92 Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Thailand
93 Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Sanctuaries, Thailand
94 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
95 Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia
96 Kinabalu Park, Malaysia
97 Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei
98 Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, Philippines
99 Sumatra, Indonesia
100 The Coral Triangle, Indonesia
101 Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

2009 05 15 - Subway Lunch

2009 05 15 - Excess of Melodrammas : Triptych of Visconti's ad Leone's

Revenge! Greed! Fratricide! Forbidden Love!
These are the staples of the operatic narrative.
The films in this series engage in a heightened, melodramatic quasi-realism that is typical of opera. The visual strategies employed, combined with the musical score, produce a spatial and temporal experience which can only be found in the Cinema.

Luchino Visconti and Sergio Leone are the two leading exponent of this approach, self-consciously foregrounding the operatic sensibilities to the greatest degree, both in terms of content and style.

The programme includes a triptych of Visconti’s celebrated masterpieces – Senso, The Damned, and L’innocente; and Leone’s celebrated “Dollars” trilogy – A Fistful of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

Information
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 - Sunday, May 17, 2009
Hours: 7.30pm
Venue: Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore
Organized by: National Museum of Singapore
In collaboration with: Italian Cultural Institute

2009 05 15 - Mazzei

MARCHEZZI MAZZEI

Belgvardo Serrata Maremma Toscana 2006
Tasting:
This indigenous blend of Sangiovese and Alicante grapes is exceptionally reach, aromatic and pleasurable. It represents the most intriguing and innovative expression of the Tuscan Maremma wine area.
Blend: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Alicante Nero

Belgvardo Morellino di Scansano 2006
Tasting:
Wine Spectator: Lots juicy berry and chocolate. Medium-bodied with a well-balanced palate and a clean, fruity finish.
Blend: 100% Sangiovese
Rating: 87 Points by Wine Spectator

Zisola IGT 2006
Tasting:
Zisola is a dark, brooding wine that shows the wilder, animalistic side of Nero d’Avola. This gorgeous red is endowed with plenty of dark fruit, earthiness, sage and mint, not to mention considerable personality. Today it comes across as somewhat chunky and rustic but another few months in bottle should help smooth the edges.
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Rating: 89 Points by Robert Parker

Purchased by the Mazzei family in the 1990s, the estate covers a total of 70 hectares, of which 32ha are specialized vineyards - making it one of the most important establishments in Maremma.