Image courtesy of Tourism Malaysia.

Every year in June, the Dayak communities in Sarawak come together to give thanks for the ample blessings showered upon them. Rice wine flows, delicacies made from rice flour circulate, and Dayak visit their dearest friends and family. Even the dead are remembered on Gawai Dayak - graves are cleaned and offerings made to the dearly departed.

Gawai Dayak is more than a day of thanksgiving - it's a celebration of what sustains the Dayak, who have remained strong in their traditions despite centuries of colonization and outside influence.

For more on this special celebration, read our article: Gawai Dayak.

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Labels: Community, Dayak, Gawai, Sarawak, Thanksgiving, Traditional

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Image of Singapore Flyer ? Getty Images.

There's not much left to the year, but there's still plenty more stuff to do in Singapore in the months remaining to 2010. That's two months you can spend shopping in Singapore, exploring Singapore's family-friendly adventures, or biding your time till Christmas in Singapore arrives.

Whatever you do with the two months left to the year, make sure you make the most of your stay by taking advantage of these Singapore hotel specials - get up to 25% off your hotel stay by booking early at the fine establishments below!

See the list of participating hotels after the jump.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Albert Court Village Hotel / formerly Albert Court Hotel (3-star)
Book 14 Days in Advance and Save 10% (buy direct)
from SGD 145.95
Offer valid till December 31

The eight-story boutique Albert Court Village Hotel recalls a Singapore long-gone, with 136 guestrooms set in meticulously preserved pre-war shophouses. All rooms are equipped with in-house movies, air-conditioning with individual control, alarm clock, ceiling fan, radio, hairdryer, private shower, IDD telephone with bathroom extension, personal safe, minibar, and coffee/tea-making.

The Albert Court Village Hotel is within walking distance from Little India, Bugis Village, and an MRT station. 180 Albert Street, Singapore 189971.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Furama RiverFront Singapore (4-star)
Book now and save 10% (buy direct)
From SGD 160.57
Offer valid till December 31

The Furama Riverfront Singapore has 605 guestrooms with modern amenities, and a choice of views: the Singapore skyline, the garden, or the swimming pool. The hotel is at a convenient midpoint between Chinatown and Orchard Road.

Guests enjoy plenty of local color via the nearby wet market at the Tiong Bahru Estate, where hawker centers serve delicious Singaporean food, and the Chinatown shop houses that offer plenty of retail action. Services include a convenient (and free) shuttle bus service to Orchard Road and Chinatown. 405 Havelock Road, Singapore 169633.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Swissotel Merchant Court (4-star)
Stay 3 nights and Save 15% (buy direct)
from SGD 199.99
Offer valid till December 16

The Swissotel Merchant Court offers 476 guestrooms with in-room movies, three telephones with IDD access, voicemail, separate fax/dataport, and well-stocked Resident's Bar. For more pampering, guests can visit the Amrita Spa's nine private treatment rooms, or dine at one of the hotel's two restaurants.

The hotel is located on the banks of the Singapore River, adjacent to the Clarke Quay MRT Station. Raffles Place is just a few minutes' walk away, as are Orchard Road, Chinatown, and Clarke Quay Festival Village. 20 Merchant Road, Singapore 058281.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

M Hotel Singapore
Book 14 days in advance, save 15% (buy direct)
from SGD 191.24
Offer valid till December 31

The M Hotel is a business hotel located in Singapore's financial district. The hotel's 413 guestrooms each provide a workstation with broadband internet access. Other room features include flat-screen TVs, voicemail, safes, desks, executive chairs, silk-clad pillows, and marble baths with separate tubs and showers.

The M Hotel is also an excellent venue for executive downtime, thanks to its Waterfloor hydrotherapy spa, rooftop pool, fitness center, and in-house restaurants. The hotel is a block away from an MRT station, two miles from Suntec City, and 12 miles from Singapore International Airport. 81 Anson Road, Business District, Singapore 079908.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

River View Hotel (4-star)
Book early and save 15% (buy direct)
From SGD 152.99
Offer valid till December 31

The River View Hotel's 476 guestrooms all have bay windows with a choice of panoramic views of the river or city. The hotel's poolside area boasts of an outdoor pool, gym, Jacuzzi, steam-room and pool-bar. Guests may take advantage of complimentary shuttle service between Chinatown, Orchard Road and Suntec City.

The River Garden coffee shop has an indoor dining area and an alfresco terrace overlooking the Singapore River. For more discriminating palates, the River Palace Chinese Restaurant offers fine Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine. And the Jade Lounge bar offers a great place to unwind after sundown. The building is located on the bank of the Singapore River itself. 382 Havelock Road, Singapore, Singapore, 169629

Child under 12 years old stay for free when sharing existing bed with parents. Maximum 1 Child per room. Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Traders Hotel Singapore (4-star)
Book Three Nights, Save 20% (buy direct)
From SGD 214.98
Book from now till February 28, 2011
Stay from December 16, 2010 to February 28, 2011

Traders Hotel provides 546 guestrooms, along with access to four restaurants and bars on the premises, as well as an outdoor pool surrounded by manicured gardens. For reasonable rates, business travelers may use the hotel's business center's secretarial services and broadband internet access. The hotel's free shuttle buses connect guests to Orchard Road, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, Suntec City, Shenton Way and selected business districts.

Traders Hotel Singapore is located on one end of the Orchard Road retail district. Guests have a direct connection to Tanglin Mall's shopping opportunities. 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249716.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Swissotel The Stamford (4-star)
Stay 2 nights and save 25% off hotel rates (buy direct)
From SGD 263.99
Offer valid till January 11, 2011

Swissotel The Stamford is built to stand out - it's renowned as one of Southeast Asia's tallest hotels, and is the foremost conference hotel in the region. This distinction is helped no doubt by its strategic location in the middle of Singapore's business district; the excellent accommodations and facilities do the rest.

Guests have the run of 1,261 guestrooms and luxury suites, 16 restaurants and bars, and the Equinox Complex, a sky-high dining and entertainment hub rising to 741 feet in the air. 2 Stamford Road, Singapore, Singapore, 178882.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

St Regis Singapore (5-star)
Weekend promotion: save 15% (buy direct)
From SGD 519.96
Offer valid till December 15

The St. Regis Singapore oozes prestige from every pore - 299 guestrooms and suites filled with designer fabrics, crystal chandeliers, and original art pieces welcome its guests. Point of fact: the St. Regis is home to one of Asia's finest private art collections.

The hotel offers its guests butler service that meets guests' individual needs around the clock. After business hours, guests can have a drink at Decanter, a refreshing meal at Yan Ting, or unwind at the Remede Spa. 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore Sg 247911, Singapore 247911.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Marina Mandarin Singapore (5-star)
Stay 5 nights and save 15% (buy direct)
From SGD 187.00
Offer valid till December 31

The Marina Mandarin Singapore on Raffles Harbor offers views that only a waterfront hotel can provide - a choice of the harbor or the Singapore skyline. Its convenient location within the Marina Bay commercial and leisure area gives guests direct access to shopping malls, entertainment outlets, and the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

575 guestrooms and suites await our guests, as do the hotel's state of the art amenities: 24-hour business center, room service, Internet services, currency exchange, tour desk, handicapped access, and more. For female guests, Venus Rooms are available with special amenities. 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore, Singapore, 039594.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

Image courtesy of Zuji.com.sg

Fairmont Singapore (5-star)
Save 25% (buy direct)
From SGD 287.98
Offer valid till January 11, 2011

Fairmont Singapore's 769 guestrooms and suites are influenced by Singapore's unique confluence of cultures. Rich fabrics and d?cor mark the Fairmont Singapore experience, down to the luxurious beddings and the bathrooms with designer fittings and marble-lined bathtubs.

The Fairmont's concierge staff are famous for going beyond the call of duty to serve your needs - confirming flights, securing tickets to a performance at the Esplanade, and finding dance masters for a party are par for the course. 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore.

Children below the age of 12 years old will not be allowed entry to the Executive Club Lounge. Rates are based on double occupancy. Charges for extra adults may apply and will be due directly to the hotel.

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Labels: Deals, Hotel, Irresistible, Singapore, YearEnd

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And that means start making your travel plans now if you want to visit Thailand in December or January.

Thailand is an extraordinarily easy place to travel for most of the year. You could literally land at the airport with some cash and a vague idea of where you want to go and end up having an amazing vacation. That's because the country has comfortable, inexpensive and generally safe options for traveling inside the country, there is an oversupply of hotels in almost every part of the country, and people are generally just plain nice and helpful.

Things change a little during high season. People are still usually nice and helpful, but traveling inside the country gets a little tougher (especially if you want to take an overnight train) and hotels in some regions book up and/or raise prices, sometimes dramatically. The only way to make sure you get where you want to go and stay where you want to stay is to plan ahead.

How far ahead? two or three months at least. In fact I just checked a few of my favorite hotels in Phuket and they all have rooms available in late December and early January, but in some cases only the most expensive villas or suites.

View the original article here

Labels: Coming, Season, Thailands

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