My friends and I started driving out to Bentong in the morning. It was a hot day and on the way, we stopped for the famous ice-kacang in town. There are three coffeeshops that serve this: T.A.K. Ice Cream Corner on Jalan Chui Yin near the marketplace, plus Kedai Kopi Kow Po and Kedai Ais Krim both on Jalan Loke Yew.

The way to the farm is on the same road going towards Bentong’s famous Chamang Waterfall, a popular picnic and swimming spot with the locals.

Learn how vegetables and fruits are planted at GY Happy Farm in Bentong, Pahang.

Learn how vegetables and fruits are planted at GY Happy Farm in Bentong, Pahang.

By the time we arrived at the farm, it was afternoon and the heat was sweltering. We were shown to our accommodation for the night – little chalets with basic amenities like a standing fan, bed and small bathroom. Don’t expect towels, soap or shampoo in your room – it’s a farm, not a five-star resort!

There was no Wi-Fi and no TV (oh God, could we city slickers survive?) but I resisted the temptation to turn on the 3G data connection on my handphone. Instead, I went for a walk to check out the vegetable patch nearby.

Some other visitors had arrived earlier for the long weekend and were playing football in a nearby field. Other visitors had made their way to the nearby Chamang waterfall for a dip in the refreshing waters.

Home-cooked food at the GY Happy Farm. – MING TEOH/The Star

READ FULL STORY

http://www.star2.com/travel/malaysia/2016/01/09/live-near-your-food-farm-stay-in-bentong/

The first Children’s Day in Thailand was in 1956, since then government leaders have annually branded the event with a slogan. This year, the slogan created by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is ‘knowledge and virtue together will move us into the future’.

“We acknowledge how important children are to our society, so the annual Children’s Day festivities will be held to promote the roles and rights of children who will grow up to be adults and drive our country forward,” said Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana.

Here is a schedule of some of the events taking place on January 9:

Phuket International Hospital:

8:30am to noon: There will be a variety of games, entertainment and information offered by doctors, nurses and medical staff to spark inspiration for those who want to pursue the field of medicine.

Phuket Town:

Phuket City Municipality will hold Children’s Day festivities at Saphan Hin, with a certificate-giving ceremony to acknowledge the achievements of outstanding children. Additionally, there will be more than 30 educational booths arranged by multiple schools, activities for kids and parents, as well as free food and drinks.

Patong:

8am to 3pm: The event will be held at Loma Park on Patong’s beachfront road, offering a variety of entertainment and food.

Cape Panwa:

9am to 4pm: Kids get free admission to Phuket Aquarium, where they can experience the marvels of the underwater world.

8:30am to 3pm: There will be many unique opportunities for kids joining the fun at the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command base, including the chance to board the ship Saiburi and step inside a helicopter.

Wichit:

8:30am to noon: There will be giveaways and activities at Suan Sri Phuvanart Park, including student performances, live music and a magic show.

Rassada:

8am to 3pm: The Rassada Municipality Office will hold games and contests and offer a variety of mouthwatering food.

Kathu:

8:30am to 3:30pm: Activities and entertainment will be on offer at Prince of Songkhla University Phuket Campus on Wichitsongkram Road.

See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Island-readies-annual-Childrens-Day/62814#ad-image-0

Interestingly, among Asian citizens, Indonesians were reportedly the most-likely to embark on solo travel with 34 percent, followed by Chinese (30 percent) and Thais (29 percent).

“This year’s TripBarometer reveals key trends that will shape the travel landscape in 2016, from travelers’ sources of inspiration when choosing which destinations to visit, to what they won’t leave home without,” said TripAdvisor chief marketing officer Barbara Messing in a press release on Tuesday.

The study, which analyzed over 44,000 survey responses from travelers and hotel sector personnel in 32 markets and seven regions worldwide, also stated that one in three Asian travelers planned to spend more on their trips next year, with Japanese ranking the highest with an average travel budget of US$5,600, followed by Chinese ($3,600), Indians ($3,100), Thais ($2,200), Malaysians ($2,100) and Indonesians ($1,400). Globally, Australians were reportedly set to spend the most with an average travel budget of $10,900, followed by the Swiss ($10,100) and Americans ($8,400).

TV and movie-inspired tourism was another significant driver for Asian travelers, with one in four having visited a destination because they saw it on television and 15 percent because they saw it in a film.

As for travelers’ packing lists, 81 percent of Asian travelers said they wouldn’t leave without their smartphone and over a third cited an extra suitcase as a travel essential. (kes)

– See more at: http://www.jakpost.travel/news/among-asian-citizens-indonesians-most-likely-to-travel-solo-in-2016-survey-UkZDivWYlzxN1bE7.html#sthash.uJ75dUkG.dpuf