ASK!

Far Eastern Tourist Agency (1911). Information for Travellers Landing at Singapore

Long before Lonely Planet guides, tourist agencies and enterprising local residents already began publishing travel guides and handbooks for visitors to Singapore. Even in the absence of the Merlion, Integrated Resorts or even our beloved Zoo, there was plenty for visitors to see and do! Read more »

The December holidays are here! Dear readers, are you planning a get-away with loved ones and friends or a solo trip to recharge your batteries and enjoy some ‘me’ time with a good book?

Either way, what is your dream vacation? Apart from jet-setting to exotic countries, a popular choice these days is to simply pack light and book a cruise trip to nowhere. Some cruises do have port-to-call at nearby destinations.

We ventured on a little pick-me-up cruise on a hugeee ship recently, which made us wonder – which is the world’s largest cruise ship? After doing a little research, we have the answer!
Read more »

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton, will be in Singapore from September 11 to 13. This is part of their nine-day Asia Pacific tour to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the throne.

“The aim of the tour is to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee” said Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, principal private secretary and equerry to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are known under royal protocol.

“The Duke and Duchess will use the tour to pay tribute, through what they do and say and who they meet, to the Queen’s lifetime and dedication to the mix of peoples and cultures that make up all of Her Majesty’s realms and the Commonwealth.

Read more »

With many airline companies offering customers the option of reserving seats and even online check in services, it is now easier to get better seats for that long haul flight to your next holiday destination!

An article from The Age (www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/03/15/1173722662092.html), recommends websites such as SeatGuru.com, SeatExpert.com and LoveMySeat.com, which offer seating information for dozens of domestic and international airlines. Such information include assessments of individual seats according to their level of recline, leg room, row position, access to in-flight amenities and proximity to lavatories and the galley. Some even offer ranking systems – something most of us can surely appreciate. SeatGuru.com, for instance, ranks seats according to whether they are “good seats”, “standard seats”, seats with “some drawbacks” or just plain “poor seats”.

Armed with such information, it is now much easier to identify the most desirable seat to ensure a more comfortable flight!

Listed below are some web resources that you might be interested in.

1.Web Resource

Source: http://www.seatguru.com/

Title: Airline Seating Charts – Best Airplane Seats – SeatGuru

Link: http://www.seatguru.com/

Description: The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities, and airline information.

Last accessed date: 23 September 2011

2. Web Resource

Source: http://seatexpert.com/

Title: Best Airline Seats – SeatExpert

Link: http://seatexpert.com/

Description: Find the best airplane seat on your next flight. SeatExpert provides detailed airplane seat maps and seating advice.

Last accessed date: 23 September 2011

3. Book

Title: The frequent traveler’s guide / Alexander Anolik & John K. Hawks.

Author: Anolik, Alexander

Publisher: Naperville, Ill. : Sphinx Pub., c2005.

Call No.: English 910.202 ANO -[TRA] year 2005 ed 1st

Description: “What smart travelers and travel agents know”–Cover.

4.Book

Title: The traveller’s handbook.

Publisher: Bath, England : WEXAS Pub., [19--]-, c2006

Call No.: English 910.202 TH -[TRA] year 2006 ed 11th

5. Book

Title: The smart traveler’s passport.

Publisher: Philadelphia, PA : Quirk Books, c2007

Call No.: English 910.202 STP -[TRA] year 2007

Description: Vols. for 2007- by Erik Torkells and the readers of Budget travel magazine. “399 tips from seasoned travelers.”

Visit our online catalogue at http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg to check on the availability of the books.

Original replied by Janice Ow, Librarian
Posted by Norah Ismail, Librarian, YIPL

It’s the peak travelling season from now till the end of the school holidays. We bring you some practical travel tips and some book recommendations for further reading. The public libraries also carry a large range of travel guides to help you plan your holiday. You can look for the travel guides on our designated Travel shelves at these call nos: 914 (Europe), 915 (Asia), 916 (Africa), 917 (North America), 918 (South America). We have another blog post here that shows you some good places to travel to.

Here are some practical tips:
Jetlag Free Travel
If your next trip involves a large time jump, try following these tips:
(i) Drink plenty of water
Flying at high altitude, where the air pressure and humidity in the cabin is lower than that on the ground, can leave you dehydrated at the end of the journey. This would make you feel more fatigue and lower your body’s resistance to illness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

(ii) Meal and sleep adjustments
It may be helpful to take a high protein breakfast and lunch, and high carbohydrate supper to ensure a wakeful day and restful night. Where it is night-time at your destination, wear a sleep mask, earplugs and try to sleep. Correspondingly, when it is daytime, turn on the light above your seat and try to keep awake. Most airlines will show the latest movies on long haul flights to help you while away the travelling hours.

High Altitude Sickness
What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?
Initial symptoms of high altitude sickness are headaches, nausea, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, cough, shortness of breath, muscles ache and generalised lethargy. These symptoms can occur anytime during ascent to high altitude but characteristically occur six to 48 hours later.

How can altitude sickness be prevented?
Physical conditioning at sea level will not prevent high altitude sickness. However, there are several ways to reduce the chances of becoming ill.
First, plan for a gradual ascent. During the initial two days, limit your climb to below the altitude of 8,000 feet. Sleeping at an altitude below 8,000 feet is especially important. On the subsequent days, limit your ascent to no more than 2,000 feet per day. If you are flying to a high altitude city such as La Paz, Bolivia, plan to rest during the next couple of days. Do not engage in physical activities such as long walks, jogging or sporting activities.
Finally, if you have a cardiac or respiratory condition, it is advisable not to travel to high altitude destinations.
(Editor: some other high altitude places include Nepal, Bhutan and Mount Fuji in Japan)

What to eat and drink?
A high carbonate diet may help to reduce the symptoms of high altitude sickness. Avoid alcohol, sedatives and sleeping medications since they all depress respiration, lower oxygen intake and consequently increase the incidence of altitude sickness.

More travel tips:
- Keep vaccinations up-to-date and written on the International Vaccination Certificate
- Disinfect all drinking water when travelling in developing countries. Avoid ice cubes. Avoid fresh vegetables or fruit washed in ‘unsafe’ water
- Don’t walk barefoot or swim in tropical regions endemic for soil and water-borne diseases
- Don’t forget your first aid bag

Source:
Title: Culture Shock! Travel Safe: A survival guide to medical safety.
Publisher: Tarrytown, NY : Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2009-
Call No.: 613.68 CSTS – [HEA]

Here are some other book recommendations that you can refer to:
1) Safe overseas travel: maximizing enjoyment by minimizing risk
Call no.: 910.202 SOT- [TRA]

2) The essential guide to travel health : don’t let bugs, bites and bowels spoil your trip
Call no.: 613.68 WIL- [HEA]

3) Trouble-free travel with children: over 700 helpful hints for parents on the go
Author: Vicki Lansky
Call no.: 910.202 LAN- [TRA]

4) The rough guide to travel with babies and children
Call no.: 910.202 RGT- [TRA]

Please use our online catalogue to search for the availabilities and locations of the above titles.

Originally posted by Yen Yen Toh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

These authors have travelled to places great and small, renowned and obscure. There is no better arm-chair travelling. Read these books and you may be inspired to check out the countries for yourselves! Before you jet-set off to the next exotic location, check out some practical travelling tips here.

1) The old Patagonian Express: by train through the Americas
Author: Paul Theroux
Call No.: 917.045 THE- [TRA]

2) A walk in the woods
Author: Bill Bryson
Call No.: 917.404 BRY- [TRA]

3) The lady and the monk: four seasons in Kyoto
Author: Pico Iyer
Call No.: 952.186 IYE

4) Among the Russians
Author: Colin Thubron
Call No.: 914.708 THU- [TRA]

5) Country driving: a journey through China from farm to factory
Author: Peter Hessler
Call No.: 303.483 HES

6) Around the world in 80 days
Author: Michael Palin
Call No.: 910.41 PAL-[TRA]

*The images of the book covers are the copyright of the respective publishers

Please use our online catalogue to search for the availabilities and locations of the above titles.

Originally posted by Yen Yen Toh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

There is a difference between the two – the Netherlands, short for the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to the country, while Holland – actually, North and South Holland – are two provinces out of the 12 provinces that make up the country.

However, the two names are commonly used interchangeably and this could be due to historical reasons. Holland used to be just one province during the days of the United Provinces (1581-1795), where a few provinces in the region came together to form the precursor to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and most of the nation’s governmental and commercial power was concentrated there. Hence foreigners came to think of the Netherlands and Holland as one and the same.

Though the right term for the country would be the Netherlands, matters are not helped by the country’s national tourism board also using the term Holland to refer to the entire country and in its tourism website address. Some encyclopaedias and books also refer to ‘Holland’ as another name for the Netherlands, further contributing to the common use of both terms to refer to the country.

Sources:

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Arizona Republic
Title: Holland not the same as Netherlands
Author: Clay Thompson
Publisher: The Arizona Republic
Issue Information: 1 March 2007
Description: What is the difference between Holland and the Netherlands?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Daily Express
Title: Your questions answered
Publisher: Express Newspapers
Issue Information: 4 November 2006
Description: Is there any difference between Holland and The Netherlands, or are they different terms for the same country?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: Boston Herald
Title: Good question; It’s time to brush up on geography by going Dutch
Author: Beth Teitell and Roger Michel
Issue Information: 1 November 1998
Description: “Q: There are questions you just can’t ask after the third grade, and I’ve been carrying one around for 30 years – are Holland and the Netherlands different countries? And who exactly are the Dutch? Please help me with my secret shame!”
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

You may also wish to refer to the following sources for more information on the Netherlands and her history.

Web Resources

Source: http://www.holland.com/global/aboutholland/history/
Title: History – History – The Official Website of The Netherlands Board …
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.minbuza.nl/en/You_and_the_Netherlands/
About_the_Netherlands/Highlights_of_Dutch_History
Title: Highlights of Dutch History – MinBuza.nl
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/
travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/
europe/netherlands/
Title: Country Profile: Netherlands
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

 Answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Kids ASK! about Myths & Facts

I must confess that I have always somewhat believed that if a baby is born on a plane, he or she will get free air travel on that carrier for the rest of his/her life. The truth is, airlines do not offer free air travel for babies born on their flights. It is an urban legend that has caught on in the public’s imagination, and one people believe is the reason for airlines’ restrictions on having pregnant women on board.

The real reason why airlines are very particular about having pregnant women in their third trimester on board is more medical than anything else. Pregnancy, if complications occur, can be dangerous for the mother and baby without professional help. Pregnant women also run risks of blood clot and inflammation in the veins of their legs when sitting too long. Air humidity in planes is kept at 8 percent and therefore it is easy to be dehydrated when on a plane. Different airlines have different regulations and many require a doctor’s letter if traveling within 30 days of due date of birth.

You can read here for information of restrictions some airlines have and here on risks of travel when pregnant.

That said, there have been 2 cases where babies have been given a lifetime of free travel from the airline carrier they were born in. In 1995, Dararasami Thongcharoen was born 2 months earlier than scheduled and it happened on Thai Airways. In addition to being able to fly for free on Thai Airways, she also got an educational scholarship and is considered a “daughter of Thai Airways”. The other baby, Mohd Aliff Mohd Fuad, was born in 1996 on Asia Pacific Airlines and he too got a lifetime of free air travel and education sponsored by the airline.

The other question commonly asked is of course what citizenship a child gets if he or she is born on a plane or on a ship in international waters. What do you think?

Reference:
Mikkelson, B. (2007, July 18). The plane truth. Retrieved January 24, 2009, from snopes.com Web site: http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/airbaby.asp

Easmon, C. (2005, April 1). Pregnancy and travel. Retrieved January 24, 2009, from netdoctor.co.uk Web site: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/ &pregnancy_and_travel.htm

If you want to read more about urban legends, here are books you can check out at our libraries.

For Children:

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

Urban legends by Rachel Lynette
Publisher: Detroit : KidHaven Press, c2008
Call Number: J English 398.2 LYN -[FOL]

Image retrieved from shopping.discovery.com

Mythbusters: don’t try this at home! by Mary Packard
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : Jossey-Bass, c2006
Call Number: J English 507.8 PAC

For Adults:

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

Lemmings don’t leap: 180 myths, misconceptions and urban legends exploded by Edwin Moore
Publisher: Edinburgh : Chambers, 2006.
Call Number: English 001.96 MOO

Singapore urban legends: myths & mysteries, edited by Tee Hun
Publisher: Singapore : SPH Magazines, 2005.
Call Number: SING English 398.2095957 SIN

All websites are last accessed on 24 January 2009. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Answered by Felicia Chan,

Librarian, Children’s Services

Editor writes:  This interesting question with its corresponding answer will settle the honour of which is the largest airport in the world currently.   

There are three mega airports recently opened – Singapore’s Changi International Airport Terminal 3, Britain’s Heathrow Airport and China’s Beijing Capital International Airport.  Which is the biggest of them all? 

The answer: Beijing Capital International Airport. 

To understand the scale of this airport, the following information was taken from the article “Beijing opens world’s largest airport terminal”, The Press Trust of India Limited, dated 29 February 2008, extracted from the Factiva database:

China today unveiled the highly futuristic and world’s largest new airport terminal in the capital in preparation for a deluge of passengers for the Olympics and for meeting the country’s booming air traffic demand.

ASK! about Science & Technology

Firstly, there are actually different types of north poles.

True North Pole
The true north pole of the earth is where the earth’s spin axis meets the surface. The spin axis is an imaginary line through the earth.

Magnetic North
The magnetic north is where the compass will point to, since the compass reacts to the earth’s magnetic field. However, the magnetic north of the earth does not coincide with the earth’s true north pole. Thus, the direction in which the compass needle points is slightly different from the direction of the north pole at almost all places on the earth. It veers slightly to the east or west at almost all places on the earth.

Hence, even standing on the very spot of the north pole, the compass needle will still point north.

References:
Mahaney, W. C. (2001). North Pole. In World Book 2001. Chicago : World Book, Inc.
Hobbs, R. (2001). Compass. In World Book 2001. Chicago : World Book, Inc.
About.com, http://www.about.com/, True North, Magnetic North and Compass North: From Jim Shepard, retrieved: 4 Oct 07, URL: powerboat.about.com/od/navigation/a/ truenorth_wayup.htm

Answered by Ms Chiu Suet Fen , Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think?
Post your comments, or send further questions about this or any other topic to ask@nlb.gov.sg