Multilingual Veggoagogo app helps vegetarians order when travelling

Source: Veggoagogo page
on the Play Store.

Helsinki-based Agogo Apps has launched Veggoagogo, a 50-language travel translation app for vegetarians that is available on both the iOS and Android platforms. The app is the first of a number of travel translation apps designed to use the same application architecture, Agogo Apps said.

Besides defining what a vegetarian is, Veggoagogo addresses many of the needs that the travelling vegetarian faces on a daily basis, from locating a restaurant that serves vegetarian fare, to choosing suitable items from the menu, down to thanking the chef, waiter, concierge, market-stall holder or friendly local.


The app can be used without Internet connectivity. The user chooses a question from a list, then selects from one of 50 languages available before tapping the translate button and being presented with their translation. The translation screen text has been optimised to be displayed at distance. It can be flicked between night and day modes for ease of reading in all lighting conditions.

Source: Veggoagogo page on the Play Store. Explaining what a vegetarian does not eat, and asking for dishes which have no meat, in Spanish.

Illustrator Cat MacInnnes created a range of animal icons that add to the usability of the app. Users can tap the animal icons atop the translation screen and be presented with full screen versions which can be swiped and used as a visual backup to the translated message. 

Said Paul Dodson, founder of Agogo Apps: "Often when travelling abroad it's hard to get across exactly what a vegetarian will and will not eat. In many countries it's a loosely defined concept where vegetarian dishes may still include fish or seafood. With Veggoagogo we aimed to do two things: one, to define very clearly what a vegetarian won't eat and two, to offer a range of questions that travelling vegetarians face on a daily basis. In version 1 of Veggoagogo, we do this in 50 languages.

"Veggoagogo has been designed with simplicity and usability in mind. The interface is uncluttered and hopefully, aesthetically pleasing. All of our translations have been professionally completed by native language speakers."

Veganagogo, a vegan version of the app is due on the market in June 2015.

Interested?

Download the app on iTunes
Download the app on Google Play

Emperor Cruises offers day cruises in Nha Trang

Source: Emperor Cruises website.

Emperor Cruises is starting day cruises from the coastal city of Nha Trang, with overnight trips to come. According to the company, Nha Trang boasts a growing array of attractions, including the Vinpearl Golf Club as well as up-market hotels like the Intercontinental, Best Western Premier, and Amanoi.

"Emperor Cruises plans to bring tourists to the bay to gaze at the sunset, sip on cocktails, and enjoy romantic dinners while cruising on one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world,” said Allister Esguerra, Branch Director, Emperor Cruises. 

Emperor Cruises has launched the five-star all-inclusive cruise on Nha Trang Bay and plans to begin overnight cruises on the bay by the end of the year, with eight all-inclusive suites, butlers on board, and limousine services to and from the port. Eighteen suites will be available next year.

The coastal city of Nha Trang, in Khanh Hoa Province in Central Vietnam, lies on the trans-Vietnam highway, 1,278km from Hanoi and 448km from Ho Chi Minh City. The city can be reached from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by air at Cam Ranh International Airport, 30km from town, or by train from Danang or Ho Chi Minh City.

It takes 40 minutes along the coastal road from Cam Ranh International Airport to reach downtown Nha Trang and another 15 minutes to reach the port where the Emperor Cruise begins. Destinations on the day cruises include a visit to Hon Mieu, snorkelling and diving at Hon Mun, cruising around Hon Mot and Hon Tam, and dropping in at Dam Bay for lunch, before continuing on to Tru Beach for trekking, beach activities, and kayaking. The cruise ends with views of the Bao Dai villas, which are built on a small headland near the city.

“We spent a lot of time, effort and dedication to bring a tourism product to Nha Trang that’s classy and different,” said CEO of Emperor Cruises Bui Duc Long. "We guarantee departure everyday, no matter what the number of passengers are.”

Interested?

Read about the Nha Trang Discovery Cruises

Check out the Sunset Cocktail and Dinner Cruises

Home treatments for teeth whitening grow in popularity

Technavio, a tech-focused research firm, has observed that self-applied teeth whitening products have revolutionised global oral care, with consumers preferring home instead of professional treatments. Oral care products like dental strips, whitening pens, and trays have replaced professional whitening treatments because of their cost and ease of use, the research firm said.

In a new report on the global teeth whitening products, the company said the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of almost 4% from 2015 to 2019. "Thanks to advances in teeth whitening, vendors are introducing new sustainable products with better offerings into the market. These products are considered highly cost effective and have witnessed impressive growth in countries like the US and India,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of Technavio. 

“Though over the counter teeth whitening products are less effective than professional treatments, these products are popular as they are not time consuming. Vendors are expected to introduce more whitening products as value-added offerings and contribute to the growth of this market during the forecast period.”

Samsung launches Culture Explorer app to drive greater appreciation for Singapore's heritage

Samsung Electronics Singapore has launched the Culture Explorer mobile app to facilitate understanding and appreciation of heritage landmarks via augmented reality. Users of the app can learn interesting details about landmarks, such as the fact that the Singapore national anthem Majulah Singapura was written to commemorate the opening of a refurbished Victoria Theatre in 1958.

Singapore has been selected as the first Southeast Asian  country to roll out the app, which will enable users to learn about the history behind local landmarks. "Singapore is the Regional HQ for Samsung, so a lot of things that happen with Samsung happen in Singapore first," explained Esther Low, Acting Head, of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Singapore. 

Users will initially be able to see how the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall looked like in the past, and learn more about each landmark. Users can also take photos of themselves and superimpose the photos onto pictures of the landmarks. Timelines have also been created to show what a landmark used to look like over the years, and comments can be shared online. By July 2015 users will also be able to see what The Arts House and Raffles Hotel used to look like, with more locations to come.

Source: Samsung. Directions to the nearest heritage site.

Source: Samsung. Photos and facts about the site.

Culture Explorer is the result of Samsung partnerships with the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Parks (NParks), which, with the support of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO, were instrumental in selecting the landmarks and providing curated content. The NHB provided little-known facts such as that the National Museum of Singapore's dome is made up of fish scaled zinc tiles and 50 coloured glass panels, while NParks provided the content for the Singapore Botanic Gardens, including and details such as Swan Lake in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is home to a pair of Mute Swans.

Culture Explorer is compatible with all Android smartphones and tablets and can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store and from Galaxy Apps. It can be used in conjunction with the physical landmarks, or away from them. No registration is required. The app will be rolled out in the rest of Southeast Asia throughout the rest of the year.

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah offers group discounts for iftar buffet

Source: Coral Beach Resort Sharjah website.

The Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, which recently underwent a complete refurbishment of rooms and facilities, will host an iftar buffet at the Al Bahar Restaurant featuring traditional Arabic and international cuisine, including mixed grills, shawarma, hot and cold mezze like kebbeh, sambosek and fatayer, stews and biryani, besides soups, salads, snacks and traditional Ramadan drinks and juices.

Jean Pierre Simon, Regional General Manager, Northern Emirates, Coral Hotels & Resorts, said, "Al Bahar restaurant offers the ideal setting for guests to break the fast together. Complete the dining experience with traditional Ramadhan desserts such as ever popular umm Ali and mouhalabia.”

The iftar buffet costs AED115, with a group of 10 persons or more charged at a discounted rate of AED99 per person. The resort also offers a special rate of AED85 per person for private iftars hosted by corporations in the ballroom, which can accommodate up to 300 people. 

Isan Explorer introduces new food tour

Source: Isan Explorer website.

Isan Explorer, a tour company focused on Northeast Thailand, has created a food tour showcasing the cuisine of the country's seldom-visited Isan region.

The full-day tour begins in a large fresh market to buy most of the food that guests will be eating for lunch and the ingredients they will use to cook dinner. It then moves out of the city to a small village. 

The menu is designed for sampling: in total there are 20 main dishes – including bamboo shoot curry, sour fish, grilled chicken, steamed mushrooms, green bean som tam, and eggplant dipping sauce – plus many sides, snacks, and drinks. Before helping their village host prepare dinner, guests will walk around the village to collect some additional ingredients, such as leaves, flowers, fruits, insects, and crabs, depending on the season.

"Isan food has some similarities with Thai food, but overall it's a very different cuisine," explains Tim Bewer, Isan Explorer's founder. "And some popular foods that people think of as Thai, such as spicy papaya salad (som tam), are actually Isan foods adopted by the rest of the country."

Interested?

View the itinerary

Watch the associated video

Prefer Macs? Acronis Access Connect lets you use them with PCs and mobile devices

Acronis, a data protection specialist, today unveiled Acronis Access Connect – a file and print sharing solution for businesses. Acronis Access Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP) integrates Macs into businesses.

With this new release, Acronis Access Connect adds broad support for mobile workers to securely access files using iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets. This combined support across the range of PC, Mac and mobile platforms lets employees keep using the devices they love, while enabling IT departments to deliver a seamless, scalable, and problem-free file server access and print sharing experience for users.

With Acronis Access Connect, mobile workers and road warriors can now access their work files wherever they need them using the intuitively designed Access Connect mobile clients for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices. Minimal or no end user training is required for mobile users, especially those familiar with Mac and Windows file sharing environments.

For IT managers and professionals, Acronis Access Connect eliminates SMB protocol bugs, performance issues and compatibility problems related to integrating Macs into Windows environments, reducing help desk calls by as much as 70%. Acronis Access Connect installs in a matter of minutes on Windows servers, delivering immediate time-to-value for IT administrators and support personnel. The solution allows employees to be more productive when working with files on their PCs, Macs and mobile devices – as they choose.

As bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies continue to transform the way employees work worldwide, Macs in the workplace are becoming more common. A 2014 survey of 376 IT professionals conducted by Dimensional Research found that user preference is the top reason given by IT administrators for supporting Macs. The survey also found that 66% of businesses are already using Macs today, and more than 70% officially support Macs as a company endpoint.

While many employees clearly prefer Macs, there are challenges from an IT perspective when it comes to file sharing, including compatibility, search performance issues, and a poor user experience. Acronis Access Connect allows Mac users to take advantage of key features they expect when connecting to Windows or networked attach storage (NAS) file servers, including:

· Fast, full content searching using Network Spotlight
· Automatic backups using Time Machine
· Fast browsing of network shares
· Glitch-free operations when using key applications, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite

“Acronis Access Connect cures two of the biggest IT headaches when it comes to file sharing,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO, Acronis. “First, we help IT support the increasing numbers of Mac users by virtually eliminating file sharing support issues, and second, we have opened up filer server access across any device – empowering all of your employees to work and collaborate from anywhere.”

Interested?

View the associated video. 

VFS Global offers new visa services for Dubai

VFS Global, an outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has announced that its 33 Dubai Visa Processing Centres (DVPCs) in 16 countries support more visa services for all types of travellers – including those arriving for business or MICE. 

VFS Global plans to launch UAE visa application services via DVPC mobile applications this summer (Editor's note: roughly June to August). The online website shall be device compatible via www.emirates.com to cater to the online UAE visa application process. Smartphone and tablet users will also be able to download and install apps from Apple’s App store & Google’s Play store respectively.

By facilitating UAE visa applications via www.emirates.com, the DVPC can reach residents of over 180 countries and facilitate their travel to Dubai. With Emirates’ network of operations across the globe and the accessibility of an online UAE visa application process, travel to Dubai has become even more convenient. 

DVPC offers visa categories for passengers travelling Emirates, the airline, in addition to the other categories. The newly introduced multiple entry visas are valid for 30- and 90-day travel and are only offered at DVPC centres and via the DVPC website. DVPC also supports the service with contact centres and email support to assist the applicant throughout the process. Its services include:

• UAE visas of different duration – 96 hours, 14-day, 30-day and 90-day

• E-visas 

• Uniform pricing all year round
• Online tracking of visa status
• Value added services like Express Visa facility – delivery within 48 hours of the time of application, door-to-door services 

• Dubai Airport Meet & Assist

We're all washing our hair more often

A rapid increase in hair-related problems and pollution have prompted people to start shampooing their hair on alternate days or daily, increasing the overall frequency of shampoo usage and boosting the shampoo industry. This observation, from Technavio;'s report on the global hair shampoo market 2015-2019 global hair care market, explains why shampoos accounted for more than 40% share of the global hair care market in 2014, the research firm said. 

Source: Technavio.

The global shampoo market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.69% during the forecast period of 2014 to 2019, driven not only by an increase in the frequency of shampoo usage but also more customised products, higher demand for anti-dandruff shampoo, and more interest from developing countries. 

“Companies have now begun to develop safer and more effective products made from natural ingredients. For instance, Unilever has a natural professional hair shampoo product line under the brand name Suave,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of Technavio.

“Clairol Herbal Essences has also launched the Naked Line range that uses no heavy residues, parabens or dyes.”

Trends to watch for over the forecast period include rising demand for organic shampoos, dry shampoo and professional shampoo as popular categories, and also more men taking an interest in shampoo.

Key vendors mentioned in the report include Henkel, Kao, L'Oréal, P&G and Unilever.

Interested?

Find out more about the Global Hair Shampoo Market 2015-2019.

InterContinental Bali Resort hosts The Spirit of Bali cultural buffet dinner on Saturdays

Source: InterContinental Bali Resort website. The Taman Gita Terrace in the daytime.

Every Saturday evening, the InterContinental Bali Resort offers the opportunity to enjoy traditional Balinese cuisine at The Spirit of Bali cultural dinner, accompanied by Okokan, Tektekan and Calonarang dance performances. These culturally-inspired performances are all part of InterContinental Bali’s ongoing commitment to preserve and showcase the island’s cultural heritage and actively support local communities and their artistic legacies.

The buffet dinner will feature traditional hot and cold Balinese classics every Saturday evening from 7pm at Intercontinental Bali Resort’s Taman Gita Terrace. Balinese food is a blend of fresh ingredients, intricate flavours and aromatic spices. Many of the distinctive tastes and cooking styles were inspired by the early Chinese, Indian, Arabic and Dutch traders and settlers. There are no artificial flavourings or additives, and colourings are obtained only from natural plant sources such as red hibiscus flowers and green pandan leaves. 

The foundation of an authentic Balinese meal is rice. Sauces are created with coconut milk and the fundamental coriander, pepper and garlic. Curries rely on freshly ground spices; common seasonings include ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and tamarind. Balinese bumbu is a basic spice paste that varies from village to village. Created from shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, galangal, pepper, coriander, candlenuts, chillies and lemongrass, together with salted and fermented shrimp, it is used to enliven and add depth to dishes. Hot fresh chilli can be found in fiery accompanying sauces known as sambals, and peanuts are typically present as a garnish, or ground into a paste to form a sweet and spicy peanut sauce.

Some of Bali’s most distinctive and popular dishes include bebek betutu, duck stuffed with spices, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a coconut-husk-fuelled earth-oven; satay, small kebabs of fish, chicken or beef, barbequed in the traditional style on hot coals and served on a bamboo stick with peanut sauce; and pepes ikan, fragrant, spiced local fish, baked in banana leaf packages.

The Spirit of Bali experience is priced at Rp520,000++ upwards per person.

Interested?

Book a table.

UAE SMEs can get corporate mobile plans from du

Du is offering a set of five corporate plans for SMEs which cover data and free calls to colleagues.

The plans range from AED50 a month to AED450 monthly, and cover data, national minutes (calling), national text messages, as well as free minutes for calling people in a designated 'business calling circle'.  Three of the plans include free international minutes and international texts as well. Add-on 'packs' can be purchased for additional minutes, texts, or to add more people to the business calling circle.

According to the small print, an activation fee of AED55 applies, and the plan as well as selected add-on packs have a minimum 12-month contract, with fees that apply for early termination.

Source: du e-newsletter.

The company has also created new individual Smart Plans from AED150 to AED1,000 a month. The plans offer up to 20GB a month of data, a maximum of 2,500 flexible minutes, free calls for up to three numbers and a free smartphone.

Ginvera and Wipro Unza dominate mass-market facial cleanser shelves

There are quite a few facial cleansers available in supermarkets, with 100g tubes priced from S$3.85. I tried out a selection of them to see whether they are much different from my Eversoft avocado cleanser, which I have used for years. The most expensive cleanser in this batch cost S$5.80; there are of course more expensive ones, including those from the Biore brand at S$7.90, and from Neutrogena for as much as $11.90.

In general I found all of them fulfilled their function of leaving the face clean, and none really stood out for effectiveness in oil control, hydrating the skin or any of the other promises on the packaging. However, some of the active ingredients have indeed been found to be effective in one way or another, and there might well be enough of the active ingredient in the cleanser to make a difference over more long term use.

What really makes or breaks a cleanser for me is the way it feels when it lathers up, and I don't like those which seem to leave a residue on the skin the way moisturising soaps sometimes do. All of the following did well in this department, and in the end it came down to ingredients, price and fragrance as to whether I would buy these brands again.

Follow Me kiwi fruit facial cleanser, with Extrapone Kiwi & AHA with Vitamin C, which I happen to be using at the moment. This cleanser is made in Thailand. A 100g tube costs S$4.85.

Promises: Mild and gentle, with a skin whitening effect. The information on the back of the tube says that this cleanser has high foaming properties and removes impurities without damaging the skin's pH balance. 

Highlighted ingredients: Extrapone Kiwi is an extract from kiwi fruit with amino acids to protect and moisturise, while vitamin C has been added for skin whitening purposes. The cleanser contains alpha hydroxy fruit acids (AHAs) to promote skin renewal. This cleanser is suitable for all skin types.

Looks: White with a pearlised effect.
Scent: Very faint, pleasant fragrance. 
Feel: The cleanser comes out of the tube very easily, and is quite liquid. Lathers on in a thick creamy layer. Washes off easily.

What's in it: deionised water, potassium myristate, glycerin, cocomidopropyl betaine, potassium laurate, glycol distearate, actinidia chinensis (kiwi) fruit extract, fragrance, imidazolidinyl urea, tetrasodium EDTA, saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) extract, citric acid, glycolic aid, lactic acid and malic acid.

Syahirah Facial Cleanser, 100g. The Syahirah brand is clearly targeted at the Malaysian market by Ginvera, with the product made in Malaysia, and the packaging in Malay. 

Promises: 'Bio hydration' and 'twice the hydration' with rose extract and sodium hyaluronate. According to the back of the tube, users will get fresh, healthy and radiant skin. The product is deep cleansing and will refine the pores without causing dryness.

Highlighted ingredients: The rose extract gives an astringent effect that refines pores and keeps the skin firm. Other ingredients which promise to keep the skin moist include goat's milk and biotin; thanaka* extract, licorice extract and vitamin C to lighten skin, and  a 'UV light protector', as well as witch hazel and vitamin E to tighten pores. Sodium hyaluronate* delivers sustained and lasting hydration to the skin.

Looks: White, pearlised. Although thanaka is yellowish this is completely white.
Scent: I love the rose fragrance. The rose fragrance lingers so you have to like the smell if you want to use this product.
Feel: Comes out like toothpaste, retaining its shape. Foamy layer which washes off quickly. My skin felt clean and cool afterwards, not surprising when thanaka is used as a sunscreen. 

What's in it: water, glycerin, stearic acid, myristitic acid, palmitic acid, potassium hydroxide, olive oil PEG-7 esters, lauric acid, potassium cocoyl glycinate, cocamidolpropyl betaine, PEG-7 glycaryl cocoate, propylene glycol, ethylhexyl, methoxyclinnamate, limonia acidissima extract, rose damascena flower water, goat's milk powder, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, hamamelis virgiana (witch hazel) extract, fragrance, hydroxyethylcellulose, tocopheryl acetate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium hyaluronate, biotin, EDTA, methylparaben, propylparaben.

EverSoft facial cleaner contains 100% 'organic plant actives', is deep nourishing, and contains organic avocado*. Formulated in Japan, the cleanser is actually made in Malaysia by Wipro Unza. The product normally comes in 100g tubes. S$4.75.

Promises: Similar to the others, it promises deep cleansing and will maintain the skin's natural protective layer, improves skin texture, and leaves the complexion healthy and radiant without tightness. 

Highlighted ingredients: The avocado extract is rich in phytosterol and vitamin E so it will revive and strengthen skin tissue and rehydrate it, according to the packaging.

Looks: White.
Scent: Pleasant smell. 
Feel: Comes out like toothpaste, retaining its shape. Lathers quickly and washes off easily. I have used this product for years so am particularly familiar with the way it feels and smells.

What's in it: water, palmitic acid, myristic acid, glycerin, steraric acid, potassium hydroxide, potassium cocoyl glycinate, methylpropanediol, glyceryl stearate, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, lauric acid, organic avocado, pentasodium triphosphate, polyquaternium-10, BHT, tetrasodium EDTA, fragrance, methylisothiazolinone.

Ginvera's Natural Fresh refining facial scrub contains apricot kernels and tocopherols. I don't normally buy scrubs but the offer was a discount if you get two so I picked this. This product is made in Malaysia. S$6.85 for two 100g tubes, on offer at the time.

Promises: The Moisture-Lock Formula exfoliates dead skin cells and refines pores, and is suitable for all skin types. The scrub says it will remove rough, dull skin and visibly refine pores. 

Highlighted ingredients: According to the back of the tube, apricot kernels are an excellent exfoliator and contain vitamins. Sunflower essence moisturises and conditions, while the Moisture-Lock formula hydrates and retains skin mosture. Tocotrienols contain 60 times more potent vitamin E to neutralise free radicals.

Looks: White. The exfoliator can barely be seen but feels gritty to the touch. 
Scent: Strong apricot fragrance. 
Feel:  Takes a bit of squeezing. Has very little water content. Lathers easily with a little water. Takes longer to wash off because of the exfoliator. The skin felt smoother after one application.

What's in it: deionised water, glycerin, myristic acid, oxidised polyethylene, palmitic acid, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, lauric acid, glycol stearate, olive oil PEG-7 esters, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, trehalose, hydroyethylcellulose, biotin, sunflower (helanthus annuus) seed oil, red grape (vitis vinifera) seed oil, jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) seed wax, olive (olea europaea) husk oil, tocopherol, apricot (prunus armeniaca) seed powder, rice (cryza sativa) bran oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance, EDTA.

Safi Mengecilkan Pori, made in Malaysia with sari mentimun (cucumber juice) and habbatus sauda* - that's the flower towards the middle of the tube. Safi, by Wipro Unza, has also got a separate cleanser which is part of the more premium Rania Gold family. A 100g tube costs S$3.85. 

Promises and highlighted ingredients: The back of the tube says that it is formulated with cucumber extract and habbatus sauda to clean skin effectively. The cucumber refines pores while the habbatus sauda nourishes and has anti-bacterial properties, leaving the skin healthier, softer, and more radiant. This cleanser is suitable for all skin types.

Looks: White.
Scent: A very strong smell of cucumber which I found unpleasant, though that might have been the habbataus sauda as well. 
Feels: Comes out like toothpaste, retaining its shape. Lathers quickly and washes off quickly.

What's in it: Water, myristic acid, palmitic acid, glycerin, potassium hydroxide, stearic acid, propylene glycol, potassium cocoyl glycinate, glyceryl stearate, cocamide methyl MEA, BHT, tetrasodium EDTA, nigella sativa (habbatus sauda) seed oil, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, fragrance, methylparaben, propylparaben. 

Safi Rania Gold is made in Malaysia and costs S$5.80. It has the prettiest packaging, with a subtle glittery pattern on the gold tube. 

Promises: The back of the tube promises that Safi Rania Gold will remove impurities on the skin. 

Highlighted ingredients: The front of the 100g tube says this cleanser contains nano-particles of 24K gold, silk protein and vitamin C. The gold is to stimulate collagen production for more supple skin and less obvious wrinkles; the silk protein will lock in moisture, while the vitamin C is for UV protection.

Looks: Pearly pale orange, which felt unusual, as I'm used to white cleansers. 
Scent: Pleasant.
Feels:  Has very little water content. Lathers easily with a little water. According to the instructions, this cleanser has to be left on for three minutes before rinsing. Washes off easily.

What's in it: Water, palmitic acid, myristic acid, glycerin, potassium cocoyl glycinate, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, methylpropanediol, glyceryl sterate, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, lauric acid, mica, pentasodium triphosphate, polyquarternium-10, BHT, tetrasodium EDTA, carnosine, acetyl heptapeptide-9, colloidal gold, sericin (silk), sodium ascorbyl phosphate, fragrance, methylisothiazolinone, GI 77491 (iron oxides), GI 77891 (titanium dioxide).  

*Active ingredient glossary

Avocado has been studied extensively with rats. In one 2013 experiment, an avocado-soybean extract in plain cream speeded wound healing and ensured much less scarring than using a plain cream or using saline solution alone. Another 2013 study in rats noted that avocado oil speeds wound healing and reduces inflammation. In 2011, avocado extract was studied with human cells which were exposed to UV light. Avocado was found to reduce ageing and damage due to UV light.

Habbatus sauda, also called nigella sativa, 'black cumin', and 'black seed', is a traditional remedy for various ailments. The seeds of the plant, or an oil derived from them, have been found to be effective against a wide range of bacteria and fungi; improve male fertility, enhance spatial memory, promote bone healing, prevent osteoporosis; eliminate depression, reduce gastrointestinal damage and promote the healing of gastric ulcers; and benefit diabetes sufferers.

Rosa damascena has been studied for aromatherapy and found to significantly reduce pain in 2015, and slowed breathing and blood pressure in a 2009 study; generic rose extract can protect against skin damage; An extract of the petals was found to have antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but no antifungal activity. Rosa damascena has also been shown to protect against memory loss, reduce mentrual pain to a degree similar to mefanemic acid (Ponstan), and to reduce stomach pain when taken orally.

Sodium hyaluronate is found naturally in the eye and is similar to the fluid in the knee joint. It can be injected into the skin to treat wrinkles. It is used topically (externally, on the skin) for pain relieving gels and in 1993 was shown to ensure that more medicine will stay on the surface of the eye than if it is absent.

The thanaka or thanakha tree bark yields a yellowish paste that people in Myanmar use as a cosmetic, skincare product and sunscreen. The tree has many names in different countries; scientifically it is known as limonia acidissima or hesperethusa crenulata. Extracts from thanaka bark showed strong anti-inflammatory and significant antioxidation properties.

Online hiring still slow in Singapore

Source: Monster infographic. Click on the image to view a larger version.

Despite a slight increase from March 2015, Singapore’s online recruitment is still in decline overall in April 2015, according to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI) Singapore. The MEI, a gauge of online job posting activity, recorded an 8% decline this April, when compared with the same month in 2014.
However, this is an increase from March 2015, when a record 13% year-on-year decrease was recorded. “For the fourth month since January 2015, the Monster Employment Index Singapore saw annual declines again. However, the rate of decline slowed down between March and April 2015,” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com (India, Middle East Southeast Asia and Hong Kong). 

Source: Monster.

“As well as an ongoing need for skilled education professionals, Singapore is seeing growing concern over issues related to cyber security, keeping the demand high for mid-level IT professionals in the technology sector. In addition to this, the healthcare sector is also seeing an increase in hiring activity, thanks to a demand for professionals engaged in research laboratory and medical related technical sales.” 

Both tables source: Monster.

Among all 14 industry sectors in the Index, the lowest growth was recorded in the consumer goods/fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), food & packaged food, home appliance, garments/textiles/leather, gems & jewellery industry and the government/public sector undertakings (PSU)/defence  industry, at -16% and -11% respectively.

Once again, the education and IT, telecom/ISP and business process outsourcing (BPO)/IT enabled services (ITES) industries performed the best, at 14% and 4% respectively.

Across the 12 occupational groups monitored by MEI, software, hardware, and telecom roles are experiencing the highest growth for April 2015, at 14% year-on-year. This is the only occupation group in positive figures, with the second highest growth role being real estate at -4% year-on-year.

Purchase/logistics/supply roles saw the lowest growth at -11%, followed by engineering/production and marketing & communications, both at -10%.

The Monster Employment Index Singapore is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity, based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career web sites and online job listings across Singapore. The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.

Taking afternoon tea at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Source: Jumeirah Beach Hotel e-newsletter.

The Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers an ideal place for a quiet meeting over afternoon tea in the recently refurbished Palm Court Lobby Lounge. The Traditional Afternoon Tea menu embodies English traditions, with handcrafted bites presented on a bird cage stand and a wide tea selection, from Jing choices to Earl Grey classics.

Afternoon tea is served daily from 1pm to 7pm, at AED200 with a choice of tea or coffee. 

For booking or for more information visit jumeirah.com/Palmcourt.

Lithium identifies socially savvy airlines, hotels

Lithium Technologies has announced its Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition, which identifies the top 25 airlines and 25 hotels around the world based on social engagement and expertise. These travel and hospitality leaders achieved the most influence among their followers for the way they connect and share experiences on social, and also for the expertise they deliver to make everyone's vacations and business trips better.

The Klout 50 rankings are generated by each brand's Klout score, which tracks social engagement, sharing, and influence using proprietary algorithms. It is determined by more than 400 signals from eight different networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well as real-world data from Wikipedia.

For the airlines, Lithium used Skytrax's World Airline Awards 2014 to identify the top 25 social media winners. Key findings include:

British Airways ranks #1 on the Klout list for social influence (and #17 in the World's Top Airline list) and is an expert in Europe, Hong Kong and Scotland
Virgin America ranks #8 on Klout and made a huge jump up from #46 on the World's Top Airline list
Cathay Pacific Airways has expertise in "Food" – which shows that content needs to engage a follower or customer holistically, and not just through the lens of a customer relationship management (CRM) or revenue record

Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition

Airlines in the Top 25 Airlines which fly to Asia Pacific or the Middle East, Klout Score

1. British Airways, 90.27

2. Air Canada, 87.83

3. easyJet, 86.24

4. Virgin Atlantic, 86.18

5. Malaysia Airlines*, 86.02

6. Turkish Airlines, 86.00

7. Cathay Pacific Airways, 85.20

8. Virgin America, 85.15

9. Virgin Australia, 85.03

11. KLM, 81.76

12. Qatar Airways, 80.86

13. Qantas Airways, 80.56

14. Garuda Indonesia, 80.44

15. Delta Air Lines, 80.12

16. Emirates, 78.39

17. Jetstar Asia, 76.93

20. Etihad Airways, 72.38

21. Lufthansa, 71.97

22. AirAsia, 71.57

23. AirAsiaX, 71.57

24. Swiss, 70.45

25. Air Astana, 70.45

For the hotels, Lithium analysed Travel & Leisure's World's Best 2014 Top 100 Hotels and found that six Four Season Hotels made the top 25 list, which indicates the brand is socially savvy.

Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition

Hotels in Thailand, Hong Kong and India within the Top 25 Hotels list, Klout Score

9. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India, 60.33

12. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India, 59.95

17. Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand, 55.16

20. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, 54.51

22. Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong, 53.95

23. The Peninsula, Hong Kong, 52.78

Lithium notes that the lowest Klout score among the top 25 airlines is higher than the highest score among the top 25 hotels. Lithium believes this is because airlines have been forced to deal with "social shaming" via Twitter and other social networks in very public ways—and have built social infrastructures to handle those service complaints. Additionally, the airlines are bigger companies than the individual hotel properties ranked in this Klout list, indicating the benefits of scale and unified social presence on digital networks.

"What these Klout Scores reveal – especially for those who ranked further down by the respective lists we analysed, but higher on Klout - is that what they do on social really matters to their customers," said Katy Keim, Chief Marketing Officer at Lithium. "You can be ranked and judged by a variety of factors within your industry, but your customers are online, they're social and they're paying attention to your presence there. These airlines and hotels should be very proud of their social media accomplishments and we're proud to be able to recognise their reputation among consumers."

The Klout 50 was launched in 2014 as the ultimate ranking of brands that are authentically connecting with their digital audience. These social elite brands are the most active on social media platforms and their audiences consistently share and interact with their digital content.

Interested?

See all the Klout Expertise rankings at www.klout.com and explore each brand's "topic expertise."

*Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today appointed an Administrator to facilitate the transfer of selected assets and liabilities from MAS to a new company, Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), which will effectively take over by 1 September 2015. MAS continues to operate throughout the period up to and including 31 August 2015, after which MAB will operate the business of the airline.
posted from Bloggeroid

Handbags to take centre stage in India, China

Technavio has published a new report on the handbags market in the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China, in which it forecasts a CAGR of over 7.41% by revenues, and 7.02% by volume, over 2014 to 2019. 

According to the research firm, consumers are associating handbags with social status. The introduction of ergonomic designs, trendy colours, finishing and textures are boosting their popularity, Technavio said.

Source: Technavio.

The economy of the BRIC countries has been improving, despite the high rates of inflation. It has recovered from the 2008-2009 recession and the Eurozone crisis, with increasing per capita GDP and GDP based on purchasing power parity. This is a major driver in the market, which is expected to stimulate the market growth.

“An increase in the number of working women is resulting in increased demand for handbags. Most women use their handbags for multiple purposes, such as carrying laptops or tablets, wallets and food,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of Technavio Research.

“Handbags are also seen as status symbols and representative of individual identity, which is expected to fuel the growth of the market in the coming years.”

Key vendors for BRIC, Technavio said, include Chanel, Christian Dior, Coach, D&G, Hermès International, LVMH, Michael Kors, Mulberry, Prada and Tory Burch.

Interested?

More details about the Handbags Market in BRIC 2015-2019.

HTC introduces HTC Desire 826 dual sim for stellar mobile audio experience

Source: HTC. The Blue Lagoon version.

HTC is raising the bar for mobile audio with the HTC Desire 826 dual sim phone, which comes with HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio* surround sound. HTC is the first smartphone company to combine dual front-facing stereo speakers, a finely tuned sound profile, and Dolby’s decoding technology to deliver an end-to-end multi-channel audio solution. 

Listeners can experience sonic depth and breadth not previously heard on a mobile device. The package also includes an audiophile-grade headset that is carefully tuned for HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio, delivering the cinematic surround sound experience wherever you are**.

“A slim and classic dual tone design with an immersive 5.5” HD screen, it also comes with a powerful octa-core processor, a 13 megapixel front and rear cameras, BoomSound with Dolby Audio, the latest HTC Sense UI and much more,” says Clarence Ng, HTC Country Manager, Singapore. “The HTC Desire 826 dual sim is the phone to get – attractive, powerful and desirable.”

The HTC Desire 826 dual sim also offers a vivid, 5.5" Full HD 1080p display that brings cinematic quality to the mobile world. It is paired with 13 megapixel cameras at both front and rear. HTC’s Split Capture function can even combines photos and videos taken on the front and back cameras into one split-screen image or video, while Live Makeup allows portrait beautification even before the image is captured.  

The HTC Desire 826 dual sim’s dual-tone colour and dual finish expresses owners' individualism through colours such as White Birch, Blue Lagoon, Purple Fire and more***. Soft-touch matte sides make the phone comfortable and easy to grip. Subtle speaker grills maintain the phone’s clean lines, too. The award-winning HTC Dot View case is also available for the HTC Desire 826 dual sim.

Underneath the covers, the HTC Desire 826 dual sim features an all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core 64-bit processor that enables instant, seamless multitasking, gaming, and 4G LTE streaming to get the most out of the latest Android Lollipop software with HTC Sense.

The HTC Desire 826 dual sim will be available at a recommended retail price of S$498 in White Birch and Blue Lagoon with M1, Singtel, StarHub and major retailers from today. A range of accessories are also available.

Interested?

Check availability in Southeast Asia.

*Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
**Availability of audiophile-grade headset varies by region.

***Colours include White Birch, Blue Lagoon, Purple Fire and more. Availability varies by region.

Visit Vivid Sydney to experience the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas

Source: Vivid Sydney/Destination NSW.

Vivid Sydney, the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas will light up the Harbour City all the way to 8 June. The festival welcomed 1.43 million people last year.

"For 18 days and nights visitors will experience Sydney like never before as the city bursts with creativity and sheer, brilliant light. It's truly an un-missable event, and one which we are very proud of," said NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres. 

Sydney's iconic landmarks, its Harbour and urban spaces have all been transformed by 3D projections and over 60 light installations, including the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Vivid Light stretches across The Rocks, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay, Martin Place in the Central Business District, The Star & Pyrmont as well as new areas for Vivid in 2015 - Central Park in Chippendale, awarded the world's best tall building, and Chatswood to the city's north.

Lighting artists from around the world were invited to submit their creative ideas, with 140 chosen from 16 countries to create works during Vivid Sydney.

The Vivid Music programme of cutting edge music including Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House showcases unique performances and collaborations, presenting over 90 performances in venues across the city including Grace Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Daniel Johns and Australia's own The Hoodoo Gurus.

Vivid Ideas brings audiences some of the most intelligent and creative minds, who will be together for talks, seminars, conferences, workshops and forums on a grand scale. With 150 sessions and over 400 speakers, the Vivid Ideas programme boasts highlights such as multi-Emmy-winning writer Matthew Weiner -- series creator and exec producer of Mad Men and former executive producer of The Sopranos, who will share insights following his worldwide success in the creative industry.

"Each and every year, Vivid Sydney aims to connect and inspire people in a shared, vibrant, multi-coloured experience. Vivid Sydney puts art into the hands of the public, giving visitors a visually triumphant feast of artistic and technical innovation," said Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Office of Destination NSW, the State Government's tourism and major events agency, which owns and manages Vivid Sydney.

Some Vivid Sydney picks:

Source: Vivid Sydney/
Destination NSW.

The famous Sydney Opera House will once again transform the sails into a colourful living mural with help from UK company Universal Everything. Harbour Lights will see a fleet of boats change colours as they ferry through the waterways, and Paint The Town will let visitors take control of the city's skyline and illuminate it in a rainbow of bright lights.

Visit the Argyle Cut to hear from Sir David Attenborough

Get lost in the magic of Mother Nature and hear a few words from Sir David Attenborough at The Argyle Cut from 7pm each week night, and 6pm on weekends. Life Story is based on four years of footage that was captured for BBC's Life Story TV series and will bring The Argyle Cut to life with flowing natural imagery of birds, marine and animal life.

Hug a three-metre crocheted Dolly

Visit Dolly for a Vivid Sydney hug, and take a photo with the Sydney Opera House in the background (hashtag #ilovesydney).

Martin Place hang-out

Spend some time in Martin Place to see light installations like Robotanic, Spectra and Drum Circle. Take on friends with Intel's "a game of drones" before heading to Transcendence, an incredible construction that boasts Intel Real Sense technology, live art projections and some of Sydney's best food offerings including Porteno, Thievery, Agape Organic, Cantina Mobil and the Cow and the Moon.

Chatswood and Sydney University

Vivid Sydney has expanded in 2015 so be sure to get to Chatswood to learn the underwater aquatic story of Norbert and The Nautilus and visit the Cabana Bar and 4 Pines Rooftop Bar at Night Markets at The Concourse for refreshments.

The University of Sydney's Vivid Path to the Future programme kicks off from Monday 25 May. Think awe-inspiring building projections and a jam-packed music programme at the Seymour Centre.

Selfie lovers delight

Chat with roaming Canon ambassadors along the Circular Quay Light Walk who will give tips on how to take the perfect shot of Vivid Sydney, whether it's on a smartphone or SLR. Then head to the You Are Here installation to master the perfect selfie with the Sydney Opera House as the background.

For gamers and YouTube fans 

The first ever event of its kind in Australia, Game I ON is worth a visit for anyone who is into gaming, social media, YouTube, vlogging and creating or developing. Some of YouTube's biggest stars including fouseyTUBE, Jayesslee and The Royal Stampede will share their digital secrets at the Australian Technology Park till 24 May.

Interested?

Get the full Vivid Sydney programme

Digi expands LTE coverage in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Source: Digi. Chief Executive Officer Albern Murty (left) showcasing the high-quality, consistent Internet experience with Digi’s 4G LTE via video call with Hitz.FM radio DJs Ean and Adam C (on the small screen to the left). Loh Keh Jiat, Digi’s Chief Sales Officer, is on the right.

Digi Telecommunications (Digi) announced today that it now serves more areas in the Klang Valley, more than doubling the company’s LTE footprint in this area. This benefits the telco’s customers in the Klang Valley with consistent LTE services.

Albern Murty, Digi’s Chief Executive Officer said Digi’s effort to bring LTE services to more Malaysians nationwide echoes the government’s ambition to ensure greater access to Internet services for all. Together with Digi’s existing 3G coverage, bringing expanded LTE services in the Klang Valley is aligned to the Economic Transformation Programme’s (ETP's) call for improving broadband access for 80% of the populated areas in Greater Kuala Lumpur, with a target of a minimum speed of 2Mbps.

“Our commitment to expand LTE coverage in the Klang Valley and across Malaysia reflects the company’s long term plans to continue investing heavily in its network to deliver Internet for all Malaysians,” said Murty. 

Digi aims to maintain this LTE rollout momentum in the coming years, focusing on areas with a strong demand for LTE services and devices, and where it serves to make a real difference in bringing Internet to more people nationwide. Digi’s 4G LTE services are currently available in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Kampar, Langkawi and Port Dickson.

The company also has a deep focus on improving network quality. In the next few quarters, Digi will simultaneously increase network coverage, boost capacity and significantly improve both the indoor and outdoor Internet experience in the Klang Valley.

“Our focus is to continue to ensure everyone has access to quality Internet services nationwide, fuelled by significant improvements in our network performance and coverage, the proliferation of a wider range of affordable smartphones bundles including choices under RM200, and innovative digital service offerings to fit different customer usage patterns,” Murty said.

Digi will be hosting a four-day roadshow starting today at One Utama, where customers can sign-up for the new range of LTE postpaid DG Smart Plans, iDiGi Plans and Broadband plans. Customers have a choice of premium devices like the iPhone 6 to more affordable options such as the Lenovo A606, Meizu MX 4 and Honor 6, available for free with selected DG Smart Plans. Existing Digi prepaid and postpaid customers can begin enjoying 4G LTE on their LTE-enabled devices with a free LTE SIM upgrade redeemable at the roadshow itself.

Customers will also enjoy Digi’s special 20th Anniversary RM1 million prizes giveaway for new and existing Digi customers who sign up or purchase items at the roadshow. Additional 20th anniversary promotions for Digi postpaid customers include up to RM240 rebate for 12 months or select range of free smartphones for new DG SmartPlan sign-ups; up to RM60 rebate for DG Smart Family plan for 12 months, and friends who switch to Digi will get up to RM200 extra rebates. Enterprise customers will also enjoy free MobiFis, smartphones and data for selected Biz Plus plans.