Pick your seven natural wonders

TRAEL TITBITS

Pick your seven natural wonders

KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE

Nature lovers be prepared. The New 7Wonders Foundation is asking every Internet user to vote for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The campaign is still in the process of nomination during which you can suggest nominees or vote for your favourite places until the end of this year. At present, there are 290 nominees: 62 from Asia, 59 from South America, 58 from Europe, 48 from Africa, 47 from North America and 16 from Oceana.

On the Asia list, there are three nominees from Thailand - Ko Phi Phi, Phangnga Bay and Khao Yai National Park. The rule is that only the top-77 official nominees will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature panel of experts. One person has one voice, but seven votes.

As far as Thailand is concerned, so far only Ko Phi Phi makes the top-77 list.

So if you like see other Thai sites make the cut, check out the web site http://www.new7wonders.com.

Power from bio-mass

Evason Phuket is using energy generated from bio-mass - plants sourced from 64 acres of tropical parkland in which it sits - to power an air-conditioning unit that feeds all storage areas at the 260-room resort.

Built with Danish money and expertise, the bio-mass plant consumes 140kgs of organic rubbish daily to generate power that drives its 20-ton absorption chiller air-conditioning unit.

In addition, the resort recently moved all over-head electrical cabling underground, and replaced its iconic tramcars with electric vehicles.

More Bkk-Phuket flights

Since August 15 Bangkok Airways has increased daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket from two to three on Friday, Saturday and Sunday using the 162-seater A320 on the route to cope with rise in passenger traffic.

The additional flights leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1:45pm and on the return leg depart Phuket at 3:50pm.

Asian airlines win praise

Singapore Airlines took the top slot in Skytrax's latest survey of 15 million passengers conducted from August 2007 to June this year.

It was followed by Cathay Pacific, Qantas, THAI and Asiana.

The survey also voted Asiana for best economy class and cabin staff, Eva Air for best premium economy class, Singapore Airlines for best business class, Cathay Pacific for best first class, and easyJet as best low-cost airline.

Emirates was voted for best inflight entertainment, Austrian Airlines for best onboard catering in business class, Qantas for best onboard catering in economy class and best first class lounge, Virgin Atlantic for best business class lounge, British Airways as best trans-Atlantic airline, Air New Zealand as best trans-Pacific airline, and Bangkok Airways as best regional airline in Asia.

For more information, visit http://www.worldairlineawards.com.

Book highlights Indochina

The Mekong Tourism Office has published The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to facilitate travel in Indochina.

The book is designed for tourists who want to pick up a copy and go, and for tour operators and travel agents who would like to add responsible travel experiences to their Mekong sub-region itineraries, said Peter Semone, senior advisor to the Mekong Tourism Office based in Bangkok.

The 148-page guide is penned by Guy Marris, Nick Ray and Bernie Rosenbloom and edited by Ken Scott, all of them seasoned travellers in the region.

It has full contact and booking information for all the recommended activities in the three countries, practical information for travellers, and a list of useful resources and organisations involved with heritage, conservation and responsible tourism.

The book costs US$15 (inclusive of postage) and can be ordered through the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

For more information, visit the web site http://mekongtourism.org.

If you have any comments or news to share, mail them to karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th