Month: January 2019

Kuala Lumpur, 31 January 2019 – Time to get adventurous this 2019 – let an exciting holiday trip to Macao be your start to an awesome year! Throughout the years, the continuous efforts of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) in promoting this little gem of a city have seen an increase in visitors year by year! And for 2019, in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Macao will see an even more exciting lineup of vibrant festivals and events – so you know this is a holiday destination you must not miss!

In 2018, Malaysia remains one of the top ten source markets for arrivals to Macao with a total of 227,854 Malaysians visiting Macao. This saw an increase of 4.4% compared to 2017! During their trip, Malaysian visitors stay an average of 2.1 days.

The MGTO has continuously promoted Macao in Malaysia in various creative ways through effective channels such as online, social, and print media, as well as radio platforms, roadshows, and countless travel fairs. That’s not all – to make things even more attractive to the public, the MGTO also often collaborated actively with airline companies and travel agents to offer great deals on air fares, accommodation, and tour packages.

This 2019, the MGTO will be joining the popular MATTA Fair and MITM Fair. Besides that, the MGTO will also be organising many Macao roadshows such as ‘Promosi Hebat Macao’ Roadshow at IOI City Mall Putrajaya just before Ramadan. Make sure you stay tuned as a mysterious celebrity chef might also make an appearance in a special cooking at the roadshow. So, if you’re looking to have some fun as well as snatch up some great deals on tour packages to Macao, you know where to go!

Visitors of Macao can also look forward to an array of exciting events spanning not just across activities on land but also on sea! For the adventurous wonderers, make sure you catch the Macao cruise tours by Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management or Yuet Tung Shipping which bring a new travelling experience by connecting different points of interest in Macao so that visitors can enjoy the enchanting city landscape and scenery of this city through tranquil waterways! Travel lovers – make sure you do not miss this wondrous activity!

From May to October, art lovers can rejoice as “Art Macao” kicks off to transform the whole city of Macao into a spectacular art gallery with various art exhibitions displayed across many different locations in Macao. Through this festival, visitors can expect to be wowed by a series of large-scale international art events that aim to transform Macao into a city of culture.

Other exciting events and festivals that await visitors include the Parade for the Celebration of Chinese New Year on 7 and 10 February, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2019 from 24 to 26 March, the 7th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo from 26 to 28 April, the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest from September to October, the 19th Macau Food Festival from 8 to 24 November, 66th Macau Grand Prix from 14 to 17 November as well as the Macao International Marathon, Macao Light Festival, Macao Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, 4th International Film Festival & Awards. Macao, Macao International Parade on December and many more!

The MGTO will continue its efforts in promoting and sharing the wonders of Macao to all Malaysians. Holiday lovers who are on the lookout for a fantastic Macao trip, don't miss out on the roadshows and travel fairs that the MGTO will be participating in as great deals and exclusive promos await you! So, don’t say we didn’t warn you – make sure you grab this opportunity to experience the endless excitements that Macao offers!

For more details, visit Macao Tourism Malaysia’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MacaoTourismMalaysia/ 

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Media inquiries:
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO)
Representative in Malaysia
Tel: +603 2144 2500
Email: mgto@pacificworld.travel
Facebook Page: Macao Tourism Malaysia
Instagram: @macaotourismmalaysia
YouTube: MYMacao TV

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is ensuring that its 2019 season in Alaska & British Columbia unfolds as an immersive experience and stands out with an impressive offering of optional Ventures by Seabourn guided kayak, Zodiac, catamaran and hiking tours led by a highly accomplished, skilled, and knowledgeable Seabourn expedition team.

The already-assembled expedition team includes experienced wilderness experts, scientists, historians and Zodiac operators. Ventures by Seabourn excursions are available for-charge, in select destinations, and can be booked in advance by guests. In addition, the expedition team will couple with several local tour operators to enhance hiking excursions, bringing additional wealth of local expertise and information on the region to guests. 

“As every year, we are excited to share our experienced and qualified expedition team for the upcoming 2019 season in Alaska & British Columbia. The strength of the group lies in the combination of academic passion, old-school experience, and local knowledge that they bring to the cruise schedule,” said Robin West, vice president of Expedition Operations for Seabourn. “This season’s expedition team will not only join the guests on Ventures outings, but will add to the on board experience of Seabourn Sojourn with complimentary lectures on their fields of expertise including marine biology, geology, ornithology and history. They’ll further be available at every turn to point out wildlife, join guests for dinner, and answer questions around the ship about the wild and pristine wonders that draw them – and our guests – back year after year.” 

Also part of the Seabourn Conversations program, the expedition team members regularly interact with guests throughout each sailing, sharing keen insight and in-depth knowledge about the history, ecology and culture of the region. Their valuable insights are offered both in complimentary formal presentations on a variety of topics and in more casual conversations over meals or at leisure. In addition, the team chronicles their adventures with stories and photos via Seabourn’s Ventures Tracker. 

Travelers considering a trip to Alaska & British Columbia in 2019 have extra incentive to book now with Seabourn offering a complementary “Veranda for Ocean-View” upgrade on all sailings to the destination. The offer, which is valid through February 13, 2019 as part of the Signature Savings Event, provides the value of a guaranteed veranda suite for the price of an ocean-view.

Guests can look forward to participating in up-close explorations of the majestic beauty and fascinating history and culture of America’s Last Frontier. Ventures by Seabourn will be a highlight of an exciting schedule of 11-, 12- and 14-day ultimate Alaska itineraries on board Seabourn Sojourn scheduled from June to October 2019.

Members of the handpicked expedition team for Seabourn’s 2019 season in Alaska & British Columbia include:

• Juan Carlos Restrepo, Expedition Leader – With a passion for the great outdoors and adventure, Juan has explored all the continents and oceans of the world. He began his career in the expedition industry as a Dive Master on luxury yachts and then took his love for expedition to the Polar Regions.
• Chris Srigley, Expedition Leader – Chris spends up to nine months a year on expedition ships, including full seasons in Antarctica and the Arctic. Beyond his duties on the expedition team, Chris serves as a Polar Bear Guard, advancing landing parties and keeping a watchful eye while guests experience the natural wonders around them. 
• Nicki D’Souza, Assistant Expedition Leader – Nicki puts her years of experience and passion for travel to good use assisting guests with shore excursions all over the world. As an expedition leader with many maiden calls behind her, she has led voyages along the West Coast of Africa, South America, Europe and Asia. 
• Natasha Hanson, Assistant Expedition Leader / Lecturer – An avid outdoors woman Natasha has guided kayaking and hiking excursions in remote areas of the world. As a general naturalist with over a decade of experience in the Polar Regions, she has shared her knowledge with guests of various expedition ships.
•   Adam Jenkins, Assistant Expedition Leader / Lecturer – Adam has engaged in myriad adventures at sea, including single-highhandedly sailing a 27-foot sloop down the Pacific Coast and back up the East Coast to Nova Scotia. He long ago found his calling leading expeditions and working with adventure travelers and scientists.  
• Lisa Baldwin, Lecturer – Enthralled by the ocean, Lisa is a competitive ocean swimmer, free diver, naturalist, and traveler who enjoys educating others about the natural environment. Her extensive work as a field biologist and passion for health research gives her a unique ability to be open, friendly and relate to guests on all levels.
• Nicki Bunting, Kayak Guide – Nicki credits her Olympian grandmother and competitive sailor father for her adventurous spirit and love of the ocean. An historian, photographer, naturalist, and thrice Tour Guide of the Year in Skagway, Alaska, she has lectured extensively on local and state history. 
• Ross Ellingwood, Lecturer – Ross’s love of adventure took hold in college and hasn’t loosened its grip. In 2016, he spent six months building a wooden rowing boat in his garage, and then took it on a three-month, 1,100-mile exploration of the Inside Passage. His career has seen him guiding sea-kayaking trips and ice climbing in Alaska. 
• Jennifer Fought, Lecturer – Certified as a Zodiac operator at nine, Jennifer found her sweet spot in the natural world and spent her youth camping, canoeing and riding horses. With a graduate degree in Structural Geology, she has conducted research from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico to the glaciers of Greenland. 
• Eric Holst, Lecturer – Over a decade as a Zodiac driver and bridge officer, Eric worked extensively in Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico and Central America. He is fascinated by geography and earth history, especially where they converge with the study of ancient climates and ecosystems and is most content before the face of a tidewater glacier watching the confluence of time, climate and topography on a barely fathomable scale.
• Greg Horn, Kayak Guide – Following schooling and military service, Horn fueled his interests in business and adventure by starting a SCUBA center along South Africa’s Garden Route and later ran a bush camp and dive resort in Mozambique. He has completed 5,000-plus dives in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea and traveled more than 14,000 km by off-road motorbike through South Africa. 
• Aidan Klimenko, Photo / Videographer – An accomplished photographer, filmmaker and traveler, Aldan explores life around the world through his camera and lens. Raised in Ecuador, he traveled South America in search of adventure and imagery to create a portfolio for entrée into the travel and adventure industries. 
• Sylvia Stevens, Lecturer – Born in Scotland and relocated to San Diego, Sylvia gave up a successful business career to pursue her love of photography, wildlife and travel. She has worked extensively with injured and endangered animals in various locations, including seabirds, eagles and otters in Alaska, and has three decades of experience as a lecturer and Expedition Leader on ships in the Arctic, Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic.
• Peter Torkelson, Lecturer – A native Alaskan, entrepreneur and avid sailor, in 2010 Peter ditched a thriving business and moved with his family aboard a catamaran to cruise 14,000 ocean miles over six years, surviving two hurricanes en route. These days he explores western Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska as often as possible, and recently worked on megayacht charters out of Juneau.
• Kirstie Yeager, Lecturer – Kirstie has spent more than two decades studying and working in natural resource management and wildlife research. Her extensive background includes studying grizzly bears in Montana, Steller sea lions in Alaska, and several species at McMurdo and Palmer Stations in Antarctica. 

The expedition team will rotate throughout the season, and additional team members will join select sailings periodically.

Seabourn Sojourn’s 2019 season in Alaska & British Columbia provides ultra-luxury comforts together with on board programming including Seabourn Conversations, a complimentary enrichment lecture and presentation series, and wildlife watching on deck. The unique voyages combine Alaska’s most popular ports with rarely visited hidden gems of the Inside Passage and British Columbia, including destinations such as Alert Bay and Klemtu.

Source: www.seabourn.com

Emerald Waterways is fast becoming the go to name for the best all-round service, with Europe’s newest fleet of 7 Star-Ship vessels.  Mandarin speaking guides are available in Vienna & Budapest, on the  Danube Delights Highlights  (EWPA) 21.04.2019. This offer is valid until sold out.

We talk imagination and illustration with the man behind the unique handcrafted illustrations of our Christmas campaign.

Words by The Insider

We’re delighted to have teamed up with award-winning artist, Clym Evernden in a special series of hand-drawn illustrations that celebrate the spirit of our outlets with his signature ink-based style.

For Christmas, Clym puts his own unique creative spin on the traditions of the season, bringing our logo to life with a bold bow and illustrative text that harnesses the magic of the season. The Insider team met with Clym to find out more on his inspiration, his artistic process and his signature Instagram folded stories.

Meet Clym Evernden

Clym’s signature ink-based style has earned him an array of accolades and collaborations with some of the world’s most famous brands. See it all on his Instagram @clymdraws. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Clym studied BA Fashion Design Womenswear prior to working solely as an artist. Clym’s work instantly presents a narrative to the viewer, whether it be a specific style, atmosphere, or wit, with effortless clarity - making him an in demand and indispensable collaborator. This year Clym redesigned the bottle and box of the inaugural Colonia by Acqua di Parma, marking the company’s first ever ‘Artist Edition’ fragrance.

It all begins with imagination…

"For me the artistic process has to happen in a natural way. Depending on the project, I generally use part active research, and part imagination. I like to sketch during the journey of creating ideas, often these early spontaneous and imaginative drawings are reproduced in the final work as they retain the initial spark and soul of the project. If I’m working on an animation or folded story, mapping out each scene as a storyboard is an essential part of the process to help visualise the work, both for me and the client." Discover how Clym brings each unique illustration to life, from initial sketch to final masterpiece in our video.

Stories that unfold before your eyes

Using Instagram as his platform, Clym shares hand drawn illustrations that ‘move’ on a single piece of paper as it unfolds, creating an animated story with an element of magic. "I started creating ‘Folded Story’s’ as an experiment on Instagram. I had been making a lot of hand drawn animations and gifs, and I remember wanting to find a way of making a drawing ‘move’ on a single piece of paper without CGI. My first ever Folded Story was an adaptation of the story ’The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’. This worked well because the first scene of the two sides of the folded paper opening leant themselves perfectly to a wardrobe opening, and revealing a hidden world. I always try and introduce this spirit of a surprise reveal and magic in my Folded Story's."

Source : McArthurGlen Corporate Insider