Giovana searched online and found ‘GuanYuan Flower Birds Fish and Insects Market’ which may have information she wanted and hopefully to view a real fight there. I then searched on Chinese search engine Baidu.com.cn, and found ‘Hong Yan Market’ which a blogger says it was the place for cricket fight championship in 2007 and has everything you need for crickets.

So we took a taxi there, but found out, there wasn’t much going on. Cricket fights will not start till about 15th September, which according to the people in the market, are shown every day. Currently, the crickets are too young, most trainers will buy now and train them for a month before registering them for the fights. We had an interesting chat with two elderly cricket fight fans in the market, and I learnt that China has about 300 years of history in engaging in cricket fights, said to be fun, exciting and a great hobby which is good for your health. Usually they only play for about 50Yuan (less than US$10), the government however is cracking down on all types of gambling.

For the cricket championship, it’s estimated to have 3000 registrants, and the prize could be 100k Yuan (approx US$15,000), we have no idea however how accurate the information is.

In order to film how the crickets fight, we paid them 50Yuan to put on a fight between two crickets for us. They said it’s not the right season, the crickets are too young, and they didn’t seem very aggressive and strong. It happens in less than a second, once the two stuck their teeth into each other the one which quits looses. Usually owners simply let the looser go back to nature, because they believe, it will lose the fighting spirit and usually never makes a good fighter.

We also learnt from people in this market that, Shi Li Qiao Market which is in the vicinity has more crickets stuff for sale. When we got to Shi Li Qiao, we knew we had found the right place! The market was much better organised, with more variety of fish, birds and dogs, in fact just about any pet you can think of, and naturally more crickets with an amazing range of products for the cricket fanatics! There’s also this decent cricket shop, supplies all your cricket needs like a home, water/food trays, mating room, balance for measuring the weight before going on a fight, and a picture of an champion in 2002, which won 9 matches and retired afterwards and treated as a hero, and later buried in a proper coffin. They even have a dedicated website.

They said cricket is the most treasured insect among the famous four because of it’s beautiful sound, with the most varieties of tools and accessories.

Crickets are mostly reproduced in Shan Dong Province, a region in which each household breeds crickets.

I stayed a weekend before going to Beijing for Olympics. Zappati was really live on Friday night both the indoor dance floor and outdoor beer garden, we stayed until 1.30am and moved onto LAN - another fancy new restaurant/bar near the Bond (on the corner of Guangdong Rd and Sichuan Rd), features beautiful decor with a traditional and modern style mix, unfortunately, being new, there’s not much of a crowd as yet.

Saturday buffet lunch at the Shangri-la hotel Pudong was the best I ever had! If you think Cafe mix in Shangri-la Sydney was great, this is 5 times better! The variety is unbelievable, different cuisine has its own designated area, and the desert bar alone expands 3 tables! It’s expensive for local Chinese (approximately USD$40.00), but if you can afford it, it’s truly worth it! I heard from my friend, that the Westin Hotel also has excellent buffet, probably even better! I can’t imagine how you could possibly taste more than what is already there!

After the mouth watering lunch, we hit the pool party at the Purple Mountain Hotel. There were approximately two hundred people there, beautiful local and international girls, great music and a really fun party! I wouldn’t mind going back every Saturday:-)

Its always fun to visit Shanghai, an ever changing city, with new places to go and new things to do every time I go, every year, and this is the second time I’m here this year, and I’m pretty sure by Oct when I return for China Grand Prix, I’ll discover something new!

The moment we arrived in Male, the Conrad Resort & Spa, Rangali Island experience took over.

We were transferred to the Hul Hul Hotel and were provided a deluxe room which was a pleasant surprise after a long haul trip. As we arrived in Male around 10pm, we transferred straight to the Hotel.

We didn’t experience any of the facilities as we caught the sea plan at about 7am the following morning. Conrad Maldives Rangali has a transfer lounge at the sea plane terminal and we were looked after from the outset. We were on the island resort by 8am to have breakfast and were in the room by 10am. We were given an island host Fazeel who helped us arrange activities for the week while checking on us each day. He was very personable and helpful.

The over water bungalow was fantastic although we viewed a deluxe beach villa which was very spacious and offered a different experience. The bungalow was cleaned each day while we were at breakfast so our room contact time was not interrupted by any staff which was fantastic.

Food was good but they have many restaurants trying to cater for too many different cuisines (ie. Indian / Italian / Asian / etc.). They should just offer local seafood cuisine and make sure they get it right!

Everything was pricey and in USD so we had a bit of a win on the exchange rate but the local staff were educated in the basic information but if you asked questions outside the norm or ventured from the script, they couldn’t provide the answers. They were also trained in the art of ‘upselling’ and were always pushing the more expensive item and / or offering experiences which you were not necessarily interested in.

• We spent USD $175 for both of us to have a Day Spa package and as soon as we were finished they were trying to get us to return the next day for more. Just felt a little pressured and didn’t think it was necessary.
• We just wanted to use the kayaks for a bit of an exploration paddle with the staff then trying to sell us a half day sailing learn / sail yourself experience. Something we had no interest yet they still persisted on giving us all the information while we were organising the kayaks.
• I felt like a Cinzano Bianco USD $9.50 with Soda Water. They charged me US $2.00 for the Soda Water which simply irked me. Especially since everything attracted a 10% surcharge.

Given the money one pays to go to such an island resort, I just thought they could have been a bit more relaxed about things. We still spent approx. USD $1,750 while on the island resort for our evening meals and excursions.

These little irks aside;

• the place was spectacular
• the weather was 28 - 32 degrees each day with only 1 over cast day
• the service was great
• the water was 26 degrees
• the accommodation was everything like the brochures with coral and fish immediately outside the bungalow
• snorkeling was amazing with us swimming with reef sharks / turtles / etc.

all to be an experience which does not get replicated anywhere else.

My wife and I have been to a number of places and would travel back to the Maldives but will experience other places first. The tropical trip was second only to the Greek Islands which was a different experience as it was more a village atmosphere v’s island resort atmosphere.

We ended up staying at the Pan Pacific in Singapore which was fantastic although shopping in Singapore has become over rated.

All in all, thanks for your assistance in organising our trip. It was memorable and well worth it.

The US carrier revealed its new business and first class seats, featuring a six foot four-inch fully lie-flat bed for business class and two inches longer bed for first class.  It also includes a 15 inch video screen, three times bigger than the previous screens provided; meals on demand are also available which makes United’s service truly impeccable.  These amenities shall be included across its fleet of 90 aircrafts, including the 747’s flying on the Pacific route which would commence at the end of this year.  This is argued to be United’s point of difference amongst its competitors, which would be sure to target frequent business travellers all over the globe.

The airline also boasts its vast array of available connections into Los Angeles and San Francisco with 550-odd daily flights from California to other parts of the world.  This alone would be a difficult challenge for V Australia.

Please find below a bit of information about Taunovo Bay Resort.

• Located down at the Coral Coast (Pacific Harbour - good for golfers) about 2 hours away from Nadi
• Luxury resort on the mainland … accommodation is residential villas
• Currently there are 7x 4 bedroom villas .. soon to change to 10 .. 100% beach front .. it has 2 pools within 1 4 bedroom villa
• If you take a 1 or 2 bedroom the 4 bedroom will be split into 2. If you take a “VILLA” you get the dining room, kitchen, lounge, media room, pool. If you get the “SUITE” you get your room and pool only.
• Great for families. Kids program/nanny from 8am-6pm for kids under 12 yrs.
• If you have 2 adults 1 kid the kid will get a free bed .. increased to 2 adults 2 kids you will have to take a 2 bedroom. At all times there is only allowed 2 adults in 1 room.
• There is a beach bar, 1 restaurant (soon to be changed to 2), spa, private chef also available.
• Seaplane also available from Nadi .. for 4 people cost is USD$1000 one way.

Current status …

• There is soft construction going on but it will not affect your stay
• 50% off opening sale
• Only 1 a la carte restaurant available … there will soon be 2
• Kids club not yet available - but kids programs still available

Extraordinary attention to detail defines the Taunovo Bay experience. Their friendly staff will cater to your desires and anticipate your individual needs. Enjoy the romance and luxury of your surroundings.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort is a haven of subtle luxury and the first and only resort in Fiji with over-water bures. It is a unique and special place designed with integrity to cultural values, traditional designs and architecture, and is embraced by the renowned warmth of the Fijian people.

This is the perfect location to celebrate a wedding, honeymoon, renewal of vows or anniversary or even for anyone who wants to escape from their busy lives.

Just 16 miles away from Nadi Airport, the resort can be reached by fast catamaran, private speedboat, seaplane or helicopter - direct to the Resort’s own helipad.

Total of 45 bures/rooms all featuring: Air conditioning, ceiling fans, telephone, king-size bed, indoor & outdoor showers, spacious deck, music system, mini-bar on request, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, complimentary Fiji Water and fresh baked cookies daily, iron & board, hairdryer, in-room safe, bath robes, beach towels, lounge area, Pure Fiji His & Her amenities, Likuliku Lei, complimentary Likuliku Sulu (sarong), evening turn-down service.

The culinary experience at this resort is amazing. There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from that has a touch of traditional Fijian to Oriental to Western flavours … they’re all splendid no matter what you choose on the menu. Meals are included as part of the rate and will is served in the signature restaurant “Fijiana” with daily-changing, mini-Dégustation menus.

Once you’re there you will not want to leave .. go and experience luxury close to home .. you will have no regrets.

Our flight was up to Hamilton Island and that was all I knew. Once we arrived at the airport, we were then taken to the Hamilton Island Marina and there were 2 launches docked, there was one for Hayman Island and the other had no name on it so it was a bit of a mystery.

They took us over to the Hayman Island launch and I knew this trip was going to be something I’ve never experienced. Once we got on we were welcomed with drinks and the service started from there. The boat ride took about an hour and we finally arrived at our destination - Hayman Island. We were greeted by the management team at the jetty which was a really nice touch for the beginning of our trip.

We got checked-in into our Pool Deluxe Room’s which had magnificent views of the Hayman pool and partial views of the beach. The room was a comfortable size and I think the views made up for any small issues that you would notice.

We had the afternoon free to ourselves so we walked around the resort to do a quick inspection and get ourselves familiar with the facilities available. We then got an itinerary to advise what was organised for our weekend. That night we were invited to join the Chef’s Table for a unique experience that takes one behind the scenes for dinner in the kitchen. The Chef’s Table is held in one of the main kitchens on Hayman with the meal accompanied by Premier Australian and international wines from Hayman’s extensive cellar, which houses around 20,000 bottles of wine. The evening was a very memorable experience … and I suggest everyone try it if they get the chance during their stay.

After our breakfast at Azure Restaurant, our day of full pampering began where we went for a luxury boat ride sailing around the island sipping on French champagne and a massage/facial to complete the day. What a tough day we had  . The Spa Chakra team was unbelievable! They did a fantastic job which made me feel relaxed and rejuvenated. The spa offers Hayman guests an exclusive selection of personally-tailored beauty and well-being programs designed to restore wellness and balance.

It was time for us to leave which was such a shame cause I was just getting settled in and getting used to this luxury life. I would definitely return back to Hayman Island on a personal level so I can relax and unwind.

All meals and drinks are included with your stay, along with a number of other activities, like fishing, horse-back riding, bike riding, and various other fun activities.

It was a compulsory invitation that if people are getting married on the island that the guests staying should also attend the ceremony and the banquet dinner that followed, while this was fun once it may not be something you would want to repeat as 3 days later we attended another wedding. It could have been bad luck that there were 2 weddings during our stay but it would be worth checking on if you were not wanting to be “wedding out” when having a relaxing holiday.

The customer service at Turtle Island is second to none, so friendly and very helpful as the Fijian people generally are.

If you want that Island get away, it is certainly a worthwhile trip.

I’d heard comments that cruise ships were for “oldies” and with a capacity of over 1800 guests – that’s a whole lot of “oldies”. But as I waited in the check-in line, I was surprised to see that there were people of all ages and as I later found out onboard – they were from all places and walks of life. It made for a very interesting experience.

The ms Oosterdam had a lovely modern feel to her and all the public areas were bright and relaxing and what surprised me was that there was always a bar or quiet area to go to that took you away from the many guests if you just wanted some time-out.

Every evening when you turned in to your stateroom for the night, there was tomorrow’s daily activity list that was jam-packed with fun. There were so many things that I wanted to do that I found myself rushing form one event to the other just to do everything that I possibly could. There were movies (with yummy popcorn), culinary classes, walk a mile along the promenade and so many more that should be mentioned. The most popular though, was the bingo and I found myself hooked on the daily event were the money jackpots are in the thousands and even chances to win future cruises. No luck there – so thought I’d try out the casino. A small win on the blackjack table and I was in high spirits. The shops, comprising of jewelery, fragrances and beauty care, alcohol and cigarettes and souvenirs would take care of my new found winnings!

The food was in-describable with so many options that you could go on at least a one week cruise and not have the same food twice. And there is a dining experience for every occasion – feel like dressing up for the formal dining, relaxing with a casual ambience or pulling on the pyjamas and having dinner bought to you in your stateroom – it can all be done and I tried them all. But it’s not just breakfast, lunch and dinner – if I feel like a pizza by the pool in the afternoon, or chocolate at midnight – there is food all day. And just when I thought I was so full from lunch I spotted the ice cream shop – enough said!

After hardly being able to walk after eating so much at dinner – I ventured to the show lounge where there was a new show every evening. The magician was world class and I’m still trying to figure out how he managed his tricks, the opera singer entertained the whole room and the dancers amazed me with their energetic routines. And to top it of, there was a crew show where the crew members performed some of their traditional Indonesian and Filipino rituals – truly fantastic.

I disembarked the ms Oosterdam with a sad feeling and wished I could cruise away every day on the Holland America Line ship., but the happy memories will last a lifetime.

For me, it’s a level of luxury with no pretensions; a relaxed sense of well-being - gracious service and warm smiles; every wish is anticipated and I feel totally pampered.

This extraordinary 6-Star cruise line offers all-inclusive value;

• Spacious, all ocean-view suites and staterooms – most with balconies
• All on-board gratuities included
• Complimentary beverages including select wines and spirits, soft drinks, bottled water and hot beverages served throughout the day
• In-suite bar setup and Butler service in categories B and above
• Refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water

The Regent Seven Seas Voyager & Mariner have a more modern propulsion system, thus better operability for the larger vessel in small ports. The cruise feels smoother.

In comparison to other 6-Star cruise lines, the Regent ships have larger staterooms and the public spaces are spacious which means you do not notice the population on the vessel.

Regent Seven Seas offers interesting itineraries and longer voyage segments. Cruise through less charted passages and leave behind mass-market tourist meccas.

One big ‘wow’ factor for Regent is their Single Occupancy Supplement - It starts from just 25%.

Most other cruise lines are 75% or even 100%.

Simply put, Regent’s uncompromising excellence is in the service and attention to detail by the staff-to-guest ratio; in the diversity of fine cuisine found in their restaurants; in the richness of experiences you’ll discover throughout the themed programs and land excursions. And, of course, in the luxurious accommodations.

You can feel very comfortable cruising with Regent Seven Seas Cruises.