Following the success of its maiden voyage last November, The Livescape Group announced today the full line up for IT’S THE SHIP 2015. The 4 days and 3 nights affair will take place aboard the 70,000 tonne Royal Caribbean International Mariner Of The Seas from 20 – 23 November with a pit stop in Langkawi for a show-stopping, epic private beach party to remember.

For the first time ever,Ferry Corsten will be hosting his signature show, Full On, on board a cruise liner here in Southeast Asia that will feature Mark Sherry and a very special guest handpicked by Ferry himself. Previous editions of the show have featured a range of electronic music legends to up and coming talents.

The highly anticipated full lineup slated for IT’S THE SHIP 2015 is as follows:

International acts (in no particular order)

• Kaskade
• Showtek
• Adventure Club
• Carnage
• Far East Movement
• Head Hunterz
• Autograf
• Brandon Beal
• Ferry Corsten
• Doorly
• Easy All Stars
• Jack Novak
• Mark Sherry
• Oliver $
• Peking Duk
• Tigerlily
• TWRK
• Will Sparks
• Alex Adair
• Applebottom
• My Nu Leng
• WOZ
• + a very special guest

Regional acts (in alphabetical order)

• Alam Shah
• Axel Groove
• Bangkok Invaders
• Bass Agents
• BATE
• Blastique
• DJ Azran
• DJ Biggie
• DJ Nikki
• DJ Soda
• Eva T
• Godwin P
• Goldfish & Blink
• H3
• Ion
• Irama
• Jade Rasif
• Joe Flizzow
• Lapsap
• LZZY
• Mr Nasty + GuruGuru
• Naufal & I-Sky
• Oliver Osborne
• RAH
• Twinkies
• Rave Republic
• Sona One
• Twinkies
• Victor G
• Xu
• Ya5th

The floating music festival is expected to attract a sold-out crowd of over 3,800 fans of which 80% will come from international destinations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, the USA and Europe. To date, the ship is currently at 60% capacity with 41 nationalities making up those already on-board.

As part of the holistic IT’S THE SHIP experience, the 15-deck Mariner of The Seas will flaunt a casino, 10 pools and whirlpools, 17 bars, clubs and lounges, a duty-free shopping promenade, a full service day spa, an ice skating rink, a mini golf course, a full sized basketball court and a rock climbing wall overlooking the sea. Entertainment wise, aside from the numerous music stages, this year IT’S THE SHIP has also partnered with Playboy Thailand to host an exclusive after-party on-board the cruise. Organisers are promising various activities where fans will have the opportunity to mingle and engage with the various international acts from the lineup.

Cabins on IT’S THE SHIP 2015 vary in price from USD588 to USD1,288 per person (exclusive of taxes and gratuity fees). All suites available on board are sold out with only limited cabins left for purchase. Cabin prices are inclusive of complimentary 24-hour dining and room service, selected non-alcoholic beverages and free usage of most of the ship’s facilities. A monthly installment payment plan is also available for the cabins starting at just USD134 per month.

Cabin sales end on 10 November 2015. For more information on cabin options and prices, updates and other details, log on to www.itstheship.com. For instant updates, highlights and queries on the festival, follow IT’S THE SHIP on www.facebook.com/ITSTHESHIP, www.twitter.com/ITSTHESHIPASIA and www.instagram.com/ITSTHESHIP.

OPPO Malaysia, syarikat telefon pintar antarabangsa terkemuka, melancarkan kempen tanggungjawab social korporat baru-baru ini bagi menunjukkan usaha berterusan dalam sumbangan kepada masyarakat. Minggu lepas, kakitangan OPPO Malaysia diberi peluang untuk mengambil bahagian dalam lawatan ke Rumah Safiyyah, rumah perlindungan bagi kanak-kanak dan wanita yang kurang bernasib, bagi memenuhi komitmen dalam penyumbangan semula kepada komuniti.

“Sejak penubuhan OPPO di Malaysia, kami telah menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti sebegini secara konsisten bagi menggalakkan kakitangan kami dalam memahami dan menghayati nilai-nilai masyarakat tanpa mengira bangsa, kaum dan agama. Melalui kempen ini, kakitangan dan sukarelawan telah diberi peluang untuk meningkatkan kemahiran komunikasi, justeru menggunakan pengalaman tersebut dan menerapkannya apabila melayani pelanggan. Kami juga menggesa orang ramai dan sukarelawan untuk meneruskan usaha mereka dalam menyokong kami dalam memupuk nilai kasih sayang dalam komuniti yang berbilang bangsa ini,” kata Chen Lu, Pengurus Jenama, OPPO Malaysia.

Chen juga menambah yang OPPO Malaysia akan terus menyumbang kepada yang kurang bernasib baik. “Kami mengambil berat tentang masyarakat dan telah merancang untuk melancarkan lebih banyak kempen sebegini, termasuk kerjasama dengan pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan.”

Selain daripada melawati Rumah Safiyyah, syarikat tersebut juga telah menyumbang sebanyak RM5,000 kepada Food Aid Foundation di mana makanan akan disediakan dan diberikan kepada kanak-kanak kurang bernasib baik.

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari www.oppo.com/my

MTV has revealed its first wave of performers today with Korea’s favorite K-pop idol female group, Apink and hottest Japanese band, SEKAI NO OWARI to perform for the first time at MTV World Stage Malaysia, which is set to take place at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon on Saturday, 12 September 2015. Recorded live for global telecast, the one-night only outdoor event is one of the biggest Southeast Asia music nights of the year, which brings multi-genre talents onto a single stage. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

“This is our first performance on MTV World Stage. Thank you MTV for inviting us. We are excited about meeting our fans out there and seeing other artists too. We will always try to better ourselves and bring you good music!” – Apink [Check out Apink’s greeting]

“We are thrilled to take part in the MTV World Stage. Our sounds are unique and we look forward to meeting our fans in Malaysia and are excited to see the reaction from the rest of the audience. So come join us at MTV World Stage Malaysia… it’s going to be a spectacular show in Kuala Lumpur!” – SEKAI NO OWARI [Check out SEKAI NO OWARI’s greeting]

SEKAI NO OWARI means ‘end of the world’. Armed with an unusual name matching their unique sounds which leave a lasting impression both visually and musically, SEKAI NO OWARI is currently one of the most popular and skilled creative groups in Japan. Comprised of four members: sound producer, lead guitarist and band leader, Nakajin; lead vocal and concept maker, Fukase; stage producer and pianist, Saori; and DJ LOVE, the clown masked DJ in charge of sounds choice and comedic talk, SEKAI NO OWARI is ready to take their originality to music fans in Southeast Asia for the first time.

Apink is currently one of the most idolized K-pop girl groups formed by A Cube Entertainment in 2011. Known for their sweet and innocent image and street style that has captivated fans around the world, the award-winning group consists of Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo Mi, Jeong Eun-ji, Son Na Eun, Kim Nam Joo, Oh Ha Young.

Apink made a comeback with the recent release of their second album in three years, “Pink MEMORY” and title track “Remember” on 16 July. Within a day, they topped all the major Korean music charts, including MelOn, the biggest music streaming site in Korea, positioning them well to be one of the hottest this summer.

MTV World Stage Malaysia 2015 is presented by Sunway and supported by Tourism Malaysia. In Malaysia, it is ignited by Xpax, brought to you by Brickfields Asia College, Watsons Malaysia and supported by local broadcast partner, Astro. The show will premiere on MTV in Asia on Saturday, 26 September at 1.30pm (TH/WIB), 2.30pm (PH/SG) and 3.30pm (MY), Saturday, 10 October at 9pm (JP) and Sunday, 11 October at 12am (KR)

Membaca atau mengedit kerja anda pada skrin kecil sungguh meletihkan, namun jangan biar hal ini menghalang anda daripada memanfaatkan sepenuhnya hari anda. Cubalah skrin Galaxy Tab A dengan nisbah saiz 4:3 yang terbaik dan anda mungkin tidak mahu melepaskan genggaman. Dapatkan gambaran penuh sekali imbas dan lakukan lebih banyak kerja walaupun di luar pejabat tanpa sebarang masalah menyusuri skrin. Apa lagi yang anda tunggu? Siapkan kerja anda dengan selesa atau teruskan amalan membaca untuk menjadi orang paling bijak di kalangan kawan-kawan anda.

Ingin bercuti tetapi bimbang anda rasa bosan? Hilangkan rasa bosan dengan hiburan segera. Terdapat pelbagai isi kandungan Galaxy Gift yang memberikan aplikasi produktiviti terbaik dan juga aplikasi yang menghiburkan anda. Cubalah permainan seperti The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle Earth atau serlahkan daya kreativiti anda dan cetus inspirasi dengan aplikasi seperti ArtRage dan SketchBook for GALAXY.

Imbangi masa bekerja dan bermain dan kuasai setiap detik dalam hari anda dengan Samsung Galaxy Tab A.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A boleh didapati dalam dua saiz skrin 8” dan 9.7”, dan dijual pada harga runcit disyorkan RM1,299 dan RM1,599 (harga termasuk GST) di semua Gedung Samsung Experience dan pengedar sah Samsung. S Pen disediakan untuk kedua-dua saiz dan Samsung Tab A juga boleh didapati dalam tiga warna: Putih Pasir, Hitam Pasir dan Titanium Kelabu.

Untuk kandungan multimedia dan maklumat lanjut tentang Samsung Galaxy Tab A, sila layari www.samsung.com/my atau kunjungi laman Facebook Samsung Mobile Malaysia di https://www.facebook.com/samsungmobilemalaysia.

– Global Sports Brand PUMA reissues the first installment of their acclaimed collaboration with Parisian label Brooklyn We Go Hard (BWGH), with this season’s R698 BLUEFIELD OG. Continuing the fruitful relationship between the two brands, the drop introduces a sneaker driven by an obsession of intense and pure colours, drawing inspiration from the American artist Mark Rothko.

Since 2010, BWGH founders David Obadia and Nelson Hassan have been at the forefront of urban culture, translating their experiences into iconic designs. The Parisian duo, continue to take inspiration from PUMA’s rich sporting heritage, this season the collaborations sees one of PUMA’s hero silhouettes re-imagined through the eye of painter Rothko, famous for his work in the colourfield painting movement. Co-founder of BWGH and founder of Harmony Paris, David Obadia aims to apply the same passion and colour intensity to this drop.

“This collaboration between PUMA and BWGH has yet again shown that the partnership between both brands produce great shoes for our customers. TheR698 BLUEFIELD is sleek and comfortable as an everyday footwear which can be paired easily on anyone,” said Gabriel Yap, Head of Marketing for PUMA South East Asia.

The R698 BLUEFIELD OG uses the classic PUMA Trinomic silhouette as its canvas, emulating the coherence that is apparent in the works of Rothko. The balance of materials used pays tribute the harmony of the two brands, with signature elements carefully interconnecting. Suede, mesh and bouclé knit flow amongst the tints of pure blue using the mottled laces to perfectly highlights these carefully selected shades. Obadia’s meticulous touch and refined aesthetics combined with PUMA’s deep rooted sporting history makes this partnership truly unique and timeless.

The 18^th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival will be celebrated at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai near here on the weekend of August 7 to 9 2015.

The much awaited world-class music celebration will feature entrancing world music, songs and stage performances, presenting world music celebrities which will resonate the foothill of the rainforest of Mount Santubong.

Ethnic and tribal music from across the globe will be featured at the nightly stage shows with musical workshops and jamming sessions being held in the afternoon creating a harmony to bring unison of interest for world music professional and enthusiast.

The festival has attracted music lovers from across the globe for their annual pilgrimage to Sarawak to enjoy the weekend of ethnic and traditional music in the midst of a lush tropical rainforest.

Acknowledging the festival due to its unique appeal, it is again voted among the 2015 top 25 international music festivals for six consecutive year by “Songlines”, a renowned world music magazine based in the United Kingdom.

This international Malaysian home-grown event organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board, is considered to be one of its kind in the region with its uniqueness that brings together on the same stage renowned international musicians indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

The festival found its unique home at the “Sarawak’s living Museum”, below the imposing shadow of mystical Mount Santubong in the midst of a virgin rainforest and stretching its edge to the South China Sea.

The strong kinship and brotherhood among music makers, enthusiast and lovers alike in celebration together with Mother Nature and in the midst the intricate ecosystem that celebrates the diversity of life.

This year, the festival will be kicked off at 2.00 pm in the afternoon with concurrent musical workshops featuring various ethnic and near-extinct musical instruments followed by the two tree stages being set alive by 7.00 pm in the evening where festival-goers interact with the musicians to experience the music and dance presentation till past midnight.

Apart from the music, there will also be a delectable delights at the Food and Village Mart which includes arts and craft outlets set against the setting of the Borneon’s native Orang Ulu and Iban longhouses.

Festival tickets and updates are now available online or from the ticketing agents listed at www.rwmf.net

The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia with Malaysia Airlines and Rip Curl Malaysia as partners.

Line Up :

Tickets :

Online Booking: rwmf.net/tickets/

Online Packages: rwmf.net/packages/

Online Artistes Line Up: rwmf.net/artist_year/2015/

Online Programme: rwmf.net/showtimes/

For More Information:

Phone: +6082 423600
Fax : +6082 416700
URL: rwmf.net / sarawaktourism.com/
TW: twitter.com/SarawakTravel
FB: www.facebook.com/visitsarawak

Astro Vinmeen HD, the first 24-hour HD Tamil general entertainment channel in South East Asia, has been launched on Singtel TV in Singapore on 1^st July 2015.

The successful launch of Astro Vinmeen HD on Singtel TV is the result of a distribution partnership between Astro and Singtel TV. Astro’s Vellithirai was the first Astro’s Tamil channel to be made available on Singtel last year. The partnership reaffirms the potential and demand of the Astro branded Tamil channels to be distributed in Tamil speaking markets internationally.

Dr. Rajamani Chellamuthu, Senior Vice President of Astro Content said, “We are pleased that Tamil speaking viewers in Singapore can now enjoy Astro’s Vinmeen channel in High Definition. As a leading content aggregator, producer and distributor in the region, Astro is committed to provide quality Tamil content and programming for viewers in Malaysia and internationally. I am confident that Astro Vinmeen HD will appeal to the target audience in Singapore.”

Vinmeen HD offers a wide variety of general entertainment content ranging from reality shows, live talk shows, lifestyle programmes, culinary programmes, travel shows, children programmes, documentaries, musical and the latest blockbusters, as well as all-time classics in high definition.

Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced the Logitech® Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 Plus, a living room keyboard that lets you comfortably control your computer screen on your TV. The K400 Plus features a wireless range of up to 33 feet and an integrated touchpad, making it easy to stream movies, TV shows, music and other entertainment on your PC from your couch.

“The living room is a place where we come to relax, entertain ourselves and connect with friends and family,” said KP Sim, Logitech Country Manager of Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei. “The Logitech Wireless Keyboard K400 Plus makes it easy to connect your PC to the TV and search for Internet content.”

Building off the popular Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400, the K400 Plus features a responsive integrated touchpad with adjustable cursor control, making it a compact all-in-one keyboard and mouse solution. Shortcut buttons give you easy access to volume controls and menu navigation, and the intuitive arrow buttons help you get to your digital entertainment quickly.

Designed for the modern living room in a neutral grey, the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 features a slim design that makes it easy to store and has rounded sides for comfort, making it the perfect keyboard for everyone. With the pre-installed batteries that last up to 18 months, it provides endless hours of entertainment without interruption.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 Plus is available mid-July at all authorized resellers for a suggested retail price of RM159 inclusive of GST. For more information, please visit www.logitech.com/K400Plus

Saturday Night Fever was more than an entertaining, cult favourite film; it became the very definition of how music, dance and pop culture can come together and redefine an era even in the passing of time

Who could imagine that a fictional magazine story published in 1976 would inspire such a cultural revolution? British rock journalist Nik Cohn’s Tribal Rites of The New Saturday Night article documented the Saturday-night rituals of a group of working-class Italian-Americans in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who held dead-end jobs but found meaning during their nights of dancing at a local disco. Its premises would eventually form the backbone of Saturday Night Fever, a spectacular film that would be deemed ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’ by the US Library of Congress in 2010 and slated to be preserved for all time in its National Film Registry.

The plot of Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero, a young Italian-American man with a talent to dance. Played superbly by John Travolta, Tony has only one ambition: to become the disco king. When he meets Stephanie Mangano, who also dreams of a life beyond the city, they decide to train together for a dance competition.

The film also showcased aspects of the music, dancing, and subculture surrounding the disco era: symphony-orchestrated melodies, retro clothing styles and costume, graceful, groovy choreography and the courting habits of people of time. Its success widened the disco phenomenon worldwide and revived a genre that critics believed was about to run its course. Today, mention the word ‘disco’ and one will immediately think of Saturday Night Fever; such is the impact the film had left behind. Who can forget that iconic scene of John Travolta executing the point and strut with flair and feeling? The dance “Do the Hustle” became an overnight craze; a dance move that defines an era and up till today the move was never forgotten.

The success of Saturday Night Fever is also amplified by the involvement of Bee Gees in its soundtrack, which was composed and performed primarily by the trio’s members Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. Today, the songs sung and performed in the movie such as Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive, How Deep is Your Love, If I Can’t Have You, Jive Talkin and More Than a Woman. The Bee Gees won a total of five Grammy Awards for its soundtrack, forever immortalising the film and its legacy. The soundtrack might rule the airwaves in the 70s but its legacy continue to find its way into the hearts of many younger generation today; with continuous covers done by artistes such as Michael Buble, Kelly Rowland, and youtube sensation which include Jason Chen and many more.

It would be 21 years before the movie will end up on stage, premiering at London’s West End in 1998 and New York’s Broadway in 1999. Since then, Saturday Night Fever has been seen by over 10 million people with over 2,800 shows in more than 20 countries across the globe including Italy, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Czech Republic and Finland. One of the longest running musical ever to date, the show continues to remain relevant in today’s modern world as it bridges the young and old with a common interest of a fantastic musical performance.

Some Malaysian fans have already experienced the musical when, back in 2004, the Australian production made it to Istana Budaya with a sold out show. This 2015 production will be imbued with a slight contemporary edge while retaining the film’s grittiness and realistic portrayal of the disco era and the entertainment value of its music and dance moves. After all, there is a reason why the movie remains a cult favourite even after 38 years have passed since the film was released—it has that timeless appeal that will withstand the test of time. It is after all the all-time Bee Gees’ Smash Hit Musical! It is a legacy of how one movie, one music and one dance defines one era!

The Broadway International Production of Saturday Night Fever The Musical Asian Tour, brought to Malaysia by Milestone Production, will play at Istana Budaya from Sept 4 to 13. Tickets are priced at RM568 (VVIP), RM398 (VIP), RM338 (CAT A), RM268 (CAT B), RM138 (CAT C) – (Ticket prices are inclusive of 6% GST but not inclusive of RM4 ticketing fee). Current promo up to Buy 4 Free 1. For more information on the ongoing ticket promotions please log on to www.milestone-production.com or call 03-92228811.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V9XA7fV1WU

Peminat K-pop sudah tentu tidak sabar menanti ketibaan BIGBANG di Kuala Lumpur pada 24 dan 25 Julai ini! Dan jika anda mampu menanggung ledakan rasa teruja itu, ikutilah saluran Oh!K (Saluran 394 Astro) yang bakal menayang episod berturutan istimewa Infinite Challenge dengan paparan idola K-pop idaman ramai, pada 17, 19 dan 26 Julai!

Di samping konsert jelajah dunia dan pelancaran album baru, BIGBANG kini sibuk dengan sesi rakaman. Dalam siaran istimewa ini, barisan hos dan pengacara utama persembahan hiburan nombor satu Korea, Infinite Challenge akan berdepan dengan BIGBANG dalam saingan penuh gelak ketawa dan riang ria.

Infinite Challenge dianjurkan oleh sekumpulan pengacara gila-gila yang tidak akan berhenti membuat anda ketawa dan memberi hiburan berterusan. Beberapa hos lebih popular seperti Yoo Jae Suk, HaHa dan Park Myung Soo akan melakukan tugasan tetap tetapi kadangkala spontan di luar jangkaan mereka . Bukan kali pertama pun mereka berpadu sebagai satu pasukan – yang menghasil persembahan gila-gila – serta menarik perhatian dan tontonan ramai.

Oh!K akan turut menyajikan Infinite Challenge’s Music Fest Special yang menyorot episod paduan G-Dragon dan Taeyang ketika menjadi mentor kepada salah seorang ahli Infinite Challenge yang bakal beraksi dalam sebuah festival muzik dua kali setahun. Dalam cabaran itu, pengacara perlu melakukan persembahan bersama bintang-bintang K-pop yang lain. Tontonilah episod yang dibawa secara ekspres dari Korea, setiap Sabtu, jam 8 malam, hanya di saluran Oh!K.

Butiran siaran: Infinite Challenge-BIGBANG specials

Empat episod berturut-turut, termasuk G-Dragon specials

17 Julai (Jumaat) 7.45 mlm

Dua episod berturut-turut

19 Julai (Ahad) 8:20 mlm

26 Julai (Ahad) 4.30 ptg

Music Fest Specials bersama BIGBANG, tayangan minggu sama di Korea, Sabtu, 8 mlm

Barisan Pelakon: Yoo Jae Suk, Park Myung Soo, HaHa, Jung Hyung Don, Jung Jun Ha, Kwang Hee (ZE:A).

Sari kata dalam Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Cina Mudah & Bahasa Melayu.

It’s that time of the year again when Malaysians celebrate the biggest festivity in this vibrant melting pot of cultures and traditions that is our home country. The sacred month of Ramadan is the start of many “buka puasa” gatherings and home visits that are not only enjoyed by Muslims but the entire nation.  After a month of fasting, Malaysian Muslims finally open their doors to welcome family and friends to the joys of bright coloured lights, delicious cookies, and family favourites – “ketupat and kuah kacang,” which are the makings of the perfect Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Amidst all the excitement, it is important to keep your family and your house safe especially when you balik kampung. Home security is a constant challenge we all face; even more so during festive seasons. Here are a few safety tips to make sure that you get to enjoy the festive fun this Raya, while keeping your home and family safe. Before leaving your humble abode, make sure to remember the following:

1. Maintain visibility

Keep the exterior of your house well-lit so intruders are less able to hide. Ideally, leave the lights on, but if you are going away for a longer period, consider investing in motion-sensor lighting to alert your neighbours should intruders cross into your backyard.

2. Keep your valuables out of sight

Make sure your windows are properly locked and covered with curtains or blinds. Secondly, be mindful of what you leave lying in plain sight – such as laptops, bags or other expensive looking items. Leaving valuables in plain sight will only increase the likelihood that thieves will break into your home.

3. Don’t hide your keys in “secret” places

We all have secret hiding places for spare keys – under the mat, beneath the third flower pot on the window sill or inside the crack beside the gate lamp. The problem is that thieves know these hiding spots all too well. Instead, try leaving the house keys with a trusted neighbour and avoid the risk of having your house broken into. You’ll also save yourself the trouble of changing the house locks should the spare key go missing.

4. Tell a neighbour you’re going out of town

Inform a trusted neighbour of your travel plans for the festive season.  If possible, exchange contact information with them, so that you are easily reached should a break-in happen. It is always better to have someone looking out for your home while you’re away.

Now that you’ve taken these steps to ensure your home is safe, you are ready to drive back to your kampung with peace of mind. However, do remember that the highways aren’t always safe either, especially during the festive season due to high volume of traffic on the road. As you get ready for that long drive back, here are a few things to keep in mind for a safer travelling experience:

1. Prepare yourself before driving

Before starting your journey, be sure to get enough sleep and food, and always plan your route. As there will be many travellers on the road, both heavy traffic and longer travel times are expected. A well-rested and well-fuelled body will help you overcome immediate exhaustion and prevent you from the urge to snack on the road. This helps you focus on driving and arriving safely at your destination. When planning your route, check traffic apps on your mobile to help identify routes with less traffic and avoid any high traffic areas in order to reach your destination faster. Remember: never use your mobile or check such apps while driving. If you need to confirm your route or destination, pull off the road and park your car first.

2. Avoid driving at night

It might be a good idea to drive at night to avoid traffic jams, but you’re also more likely to get tired and dozing off behind the wheel is deadly. If you have no choice but to drive at night, make sure to plan a couple of stops at rest areas along the way – you can take the opportunity to grab a snack, drink coffee, stretch your legs or even take a power nap. 

3. Do a quick vehicle check

As you will be on the road for a long time, make sure to do a quick car check to ensure that your vehicle is in tip-top condition before zooming off. Remember to check the tyres and ensure they are properly inflated. Also, don’t forget to check the different fluid levels such as the engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid. Make sure you have your car toolbox and the contact number for an emergency road assistance service with you in case you experience an unexpected breakdown along the way. With journeys like these, it is always better to be well prepared.

4. Wear your seatbelt

This is a fundamental requirement for safe driving, but also one that is often forgotten or taken for granted. Before you start the engine and back out of the garage, make sure everyone in the car is safely seated and buckled up. Not only will this only take a few seconds of everyone’s time, it will also heighten safety on the road.

These simple reminders to keep you and your family safe during Hari Raya season are brought to you by AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad (795492-W). AIG Malaysia wishes everyone Selamat Hari Raya!

Designed for the evolving global traveler, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ leading-edge Aloft® brand today announced the kick-off of the second Asia Pacific edition of Project Aloft Star amplified by MTV, strengthening the collaboration with MTV, the biggest and boldest global youth brand, for a second year-running. The music talent discovery competition aims to identify and support the hottest emerging music artists throughout China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Starting today through July 20, 2015, unsigned bands and artists are invited to showcase their musical talent by uploading an original video showcasing their music to projectaloftstar.mtvasia.com for the chance to win the prestigious title and recognition as Project Aloft Star winner. Covering major Asia Pacific markets, the three contest clusters comprise of China, India, and a third cluster consisting of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Shortlisted entries will have the opportunity to perform at the finals in late September in front of a panel of distinguished judges held in their respective clusters. One winner from each of the three contest clusters will emerge and all three winners will walk away with USD$10,000 and a chance to be featured on MTV.

Public Voting Contest

From July 23 to August 13 2015, the public can head toprojectaloftstar.mtvasia.com to vote for their favourite videos from a panel of curated entries posted online. Fans in each cluster who cast their votes will stand a chance to win cash prize or prizes worth up to US$1,000. Last year’s winning fans walked away with an all-expense paid trip to Seoul, South Korea, including two nights at the newly opened Aloft Seoul Gangnam.

Aloft Hotels Trailblazers As The Platform For Emerging Artists

In last year’s collaboration, Aloft Hotels and MTV successfully debuted the competition in Asia Pacific, receiving over 300 entries from rising music talent alongside more than 170,000 fan votes. Aloft Hotels and MTV continue to be the platform for emerging artists; with the inaugural Project Aloft Star Southeast Asia cluster winner, GTXperiment (previously known as Clinton and Ashley) from Malaysia performing at the grand opening party at Aloft Seoul Gangnam, South Korea. They are currently working on their debut album to be launched in August 2015.

Project Aloft Star’s first India winner, Natania Lalwani has continued her winning streak with a series of nominations including “Best Independent Song” by the Global Indian Music Academy Award earlier this year for her single “The Letter”. Since then, she has also won 3 Radio City Freedom Awards for Best Pop Artist (Jury’s choice), Best Pop Artist (People’s choice) and Best Young Indie Artist. This year, Lalwani is slated to release her EP titled “Gold”.

Project Aloft Star’s first winner from China, PandaBros were invited to compose and sing the theme song for a popular web sitcom and had the chance to record it with Xianzi, a Taiwan Golden Song Award nominee. They are currently working on their 2nd album to be released in Q3 2015. In June, they will be performing at the Strawberry Music Festival in Beijing.

While Project Aloft Star provides a platform for supporting emerging talent in music, Aloft Hotels through a soon-to-be announced partnership with Singapore-based online art platform, Art Loft Asia, will extend its support for emerging talent to local contemporary Asian artists. Project Aloft Star is the latest example of how the Aloft brand is committed to cutting-edge music programming, and leads the way as the platform for emerging talent. To attract the evolving global traveler who craves differentiated experiences, Aloft Hotels has continuously brought together live music acts from local and established talent through its Live at Aloft Hotels music program in its buzzing W XYZ bars.

Project Aloft Star is expected to launch in The Americas and across Europe later this summer. For the most up-to-date information, check out LiveAtAloftHotels.com.