Triumph of Labour

Heritage Poem by : Gan Yung Chyan
                               / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Trained to behave
Trained to believe in salvation
Trained to pull strings for nation
Trained to be the light of progress
Trained to be a deliverer of peace
Trained to contribute to happiness
Trained to bestow gifts and prosperity upon all
The Triumph of labour
Happy Labour Day Weekend! 

The oldest Seventh-Day Adventist Church building of India

Heritage Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Discover Chennai, the largest city of churches in India, which has more churches than Hindu temples, due to the earliest introduction of Christianity by Thomas the Apostle. From the initial congregation of Syrian Christians that kept Sabbath faithfully to the presence of Seventh-Day Adventist Christians in Tamil Nadu, Chennai has the most number of Christians than any other Indian cities.

Be sure to visit Madras Central Church of Seventh-Day Adventists, the oldest Seventh-Day Adventist Church building in Chennai and of India. Known also as Chennai Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church, it was opened for worship services in 1917.

The pictures show the facilities of Madras Central Church of Seventh-Day Adventists. The exterior looks like Tanjong Pagar Railway Station building in Singapore. It is as big as Balestier Road Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Singapore. Worship services are conducted mainly in Tamil with English translation. Its walls of Biblical verses are reminiscent of all church buildings in Chennai and they are sights to behold. 

Also showing are the different designs of church bulletins and offering bags.

The Seventh-Day Adventist faith first made inroads into India through Chennai when William Lenker and A. T. Stroup started selling Adventist literature in Madras in 1893. The Southern Asia Division was organized under President J. E. Fulton in 1919 with 26 churches and 978 members. 

Now there are many Seventh-Day Adventist churches in the Indian States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, Manipur, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh as well as little churches and congregations in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

Address : The Madras Central Church of Seventh Day Adventists, #52, Ritherdon Road, Vepery, Chennai 600007, Tamil Nadu, India. Tel : 9444178725 (in Chennai only).

NokScoot launches scheduled flights to Singapore from 20 May 2015

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

NokScoot, the joint-venture airline between Nok Air and Scoot, confirms that it is launching its first scheduled flight to Singapore in May 2015 from Don Mueang, and not Nanjing as previously announced.

On 20 May 2015, NokScoot's first scheduled flight departs for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 from Don Mueang at 8.25 am and arrives in Singapore at 11.50 am. It leaves Singapore for Don Mueang at 1.25 pm and touches down in Don Mueang at 2.25 pm on the same day.

As of 15 May 2015, NokScoot has reduced the intended daily frequency on the route to five return flights per week, which will be on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, for operational reasons. 

NokScoot is forced to postpone plans to launch scheduled flights to Nanjing as China joins South Korea and Japan in banning Thai private airlines including NokScoot and Jet Asia Airways from launching flights to their countries due to flight safety considerations.

Air Mauritius plans to launch direct Chengdu scheduled flights in July 2015

News by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

African / Indian Ocean airline Air Mauritius plans to launch direct scheduled flights to Chengdu from Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius from 6 July 2015. 

On 6 July, Air Mauritius' flight MK682 leaves for Chengdu at 10.45 pm and arrives in Chengdu at 1.35 am on 7 July. At 10.30 am, flight MK683 departs from Chengdu for Port Louis at 10.30 am and touches down in Port Louis at 5.45 am Mauritian time. Flights to Chengdu are on Mondays while flights to Port Louis from Chengdu are on Tuesdays. These flights are operated by Air Mauritius' Airbus A340-300 long-range aircraft.

Air Mauritius started the Chengdu flight initially on a charter basis in February 2015 after applying for the route in late 2014. It received overwhelming response from southwestern Chinese tourists after charter flights were launched.

Andre Viljoen, CEO of Air Mauritius, said, "flights to Chengdu "confirm the company's strategy to further develop the Chinese market which is considered as the fastest growing in the world an establishing connectivity between China and Africa".

Air Mauritus first began operations to mainland China beginning with flights to Shanghai in July 2011 before introducing twice-weekly flights to Beijing later. It also flies twice weekly to Hong Kong.

Andre Viljoen also revealed that besides the Chengdu scheduled flight launch, the airline will take delivery of its first 2 brand new Airbus A350-900 long-range aircraft in 2017 as part of its fleet renewal plan. Four more of the same type of aircraft are expected to join its fleet in two additional deliveries in 2019 and 2020. 

By 2020, Air Mauritius will be the first African airline to operate A350-900 on long-haul routes to London, Paris, China, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Australia.

VietJetAir introduces new ticket class with possible free trip to Germany

News by : Gan Yung Chyan
               / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

VietJetAir has introduced a new Business Class known as SkyBOSS Class. It allows Priority check-in, Priority seat selection and offers a luxury lounge, a priority private vehicle, and free onboard food and beverages. Passengers can check-in baggage up to 20 kg or 1 golf set. 

Ticketing channels for SkyBOSS Class include its web-site www.vietjetair.com, http://m.vietjetair.com, www.facebook.com/vietjetairvietnam tab "Booking" and authorized ticket outlets listed on its web-site. 

MasterCard / AMEX / JCB and any ATM card registered for internet banking at VietJetAir's ticket agents and collection points are payment modes.

Book a SkyBOSS Class seat anytime until 13 July 2015 to win an exclusive trip to Germany to collect VietJetAir's new Airbus A321 aircraft with the VietJetAir Team to Vietnam.

St Thomas Mount in Chennai a witness of Jesus

Heritage Report : Gan Yung Chyan
                            / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

St Thomas Mount in Chennai is named after Thomas the Apostle who left Judea in 52 AD and spreaded Jesus' news of salvation to humanity in India till his death on St Thomas Mount in 72 AD. 

The flight of steps on the hillock of St Thomas Mount shows Jesus' steps to the Cross according to accounts in the New Testament. It is a transformation experience for everyone who has made a trip to the most important site in Chennai.

Indian historians mention that Thomas the Apostle left Judea in 52 AD for India via Arabia and Socotra, Yemen. He lived in Mylapore, Chennai and was killed on St Thomas Mount just outside the city centre of Chennai, where he was interned. Later in the sixteenth century, the Portuguese built the settlement of St Thomas Mount outside St Thomas Mount, and another church where his mortal remains were transferred.

Therefore come to Chennai and visit St Thomas Mount, an unforgettable hike and refreshing recreational experience for all. On the peak, take in a panoramic view of the city centre of Chennai. Explore the simple lifestyle of the St Thomas Mount neighbourhood where cows are pets.

Advisory : St Thomas Mount is very dusty and slippery. Wear a pair of tracking shoes instead of normal shoes or sports shoes when walking up and down the slippery path of St Thomas Mount to avoid any fall and injury.

HK Express launches low-cost flights to Yinchuan and Lanzhou

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

HK Express is flying higher! From 5 May 2015, the ITE & MICE 2015 airline exhibitor becomes Asia's second budget airline to launch scheduled flights to Yinchuan twice a week from Hong Kong. On 10 June 2015, it inaugurates the world's first low-cost flight from Hong Kong to Lanzhou.

On 5 May 2015, HK Express Airbus A320 flight UO2358 departs from Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 for Yinchuan at 5.15 pm, arriving in Yinchuan at 8.55 pm before leaving Yinchuan at 9.45 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 1.20 am on 6 May 2015 under flight UO2359. Twice weekly flights will be operated every Tuesday and Saturday.

On 10 June 2015 (Wednesday), HK Express begins its debut journey for Lanzhou at 1.45 pm under flight UO2355, touching down in Lanzhou at 4.50 pm. Less than an hour later, the flight leaves Lanzhou at 5.35 pm and  returns to Hong Kong at 8.50 pm under flight UO2356.

Currently, HK Express has a fleet of 10 Airbus A320 aircraft. It plans to own over 30 such aircraft by 2018. It is recruiting 300 new cabin crew by end of this year to cope with the airline's route network expansion.

Scoot launches low-cost flights to Kaohsiung thrice a week from 9 July 2015

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Scoot is launching low-cost scheduled flights to the port city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan three times a week from 9 July 2015. Economy fares start from 38 Singapore Dollars excluding taxes. Direct flights on its B787 Dreamliner aircraft under regulatory approval are operated on Thursdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays.

On 9 July 2015, flight TZ288 departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 7.55 am for Kaohsiung and arrives in Kaohsiung at 12.10 pm. It leaves Kaohsiung at 9.30 pm on the same day and touches down in Singapore at 1.50 am on 10 July 2015 under TZ287.

The convenient flight schedule allows a traveller to shop in Kaohsiung or conclude a business deal in Kaohsiung before returning home on the same day. It will definitely attract business and leisure travellers to visit Kaohsiung more often.

Hotel Review : Royal Chennai Residency

Hotel Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                          / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Royal Chennai Residency the best airport hotel of southern India

Royal Chennai Residency is an established four-star budget hotel in the Chennai airport area of Pallavaram with the most number of toiletries and complimentary kits for its guests in a room. It is the best airport hotel of southern India.

Toiletries include shaver, shaver cream, soap, shampoo, body lotion, towels, face towels, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Complimentary kits to my surprise include a sewing kit,  paper clips, a comb and a bandage kit besides a hair dryer.  The manager Vinodh is very sensitive to guests' needs. As a resident of St Thomas Mount, he is aware of slippery terrain in much of dusty Chennai that his hotel has a rich stock of bandage available for guests. Thanks to the hotel, tourists' lives are saved.

Royal Chennai Residency is the only hotel in Asia that provides such a wide variety of toiletries and kits for guests and surpasses the number of amenities available in four-star hotels of Shijiazhuang and Chongqing, China. 

Beds are cosy and comfortable.

In each room, free bottles of mineral water are served everyday upon request. An electric kettle and a digital alarm are also available on the small study table.

The restaurant of Royal Chennai Residency serves complimentary breakfast known as Royal Standard Breakfast South Indian style meals. It also sells other breakfast and self-cooked meals for lunch. 

Royal Chennai Residency also arranges with Mary Brown Fast Food restaurant and a neighbouring hotel restaurant to serve guests with delivered Indian and Chinese dishes until 10 pm local time.

Nearest to the hotel is a private clinic and miles away are shophouses including a pharmacy and a grocery shop. There is no shopping centre near Chennai airport.

The lift in this hotel is an Indian-style lift. Guests have to open two doors in order to enter the lift.

The hotel arranges city tours and day trips to towns outside Chennai.

It costs around 45 Singapore Dollars per night to stay in a Single Room of this hotel and experience authentic Tamil Nadu hospitality if one books at Agoda.com or TripAdvisor. One-way transfer to the hotel from the airport and vice versa costs 250 Indian Rupees per guest.

I recommend travellers who wish to stay in the airport area of Chennai safely to consider Royal Chennai Residency strongly.

Advisory : Walk in Chennai with a pair of tracking shoes instead of a pair of sports shoes due to the uneven terrain of the city.