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No more tattoos for tourists

Thailand's Culture Minister wants to ban foreign tourists from getting Thai religious tattoos.

The tattoos, which generally combine Buddhist images and Pali text and sometimes feature Hindu themes, are popular with both backpackers and celebrities.

According to the Thai national news service, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat says he was concerned that the use of religious symbols as body art for non-Buddhists was inappropriate. The minister later clarified his remarks, making it clear that tourists already with tattoos would still be allowed into Thailand.

If the Thai government follows through on the minister's proposal, officials will simply ask tattoo artists to stop using religious iconography.

Singapore overtakes Las Vegas

Asia will be home to the world's two biggest casino markets as early as this year, with Singapore set to take the No 2 spot from Las Vegas, a US gambling industry group said.

Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said Singapore raked in $5.1 billion in gaming revenue last year and could bring in up to $6.4 billion this year. The city-state opened its first two casinos last year.

Las Vegas, which lost its top position to Macao in 2006, earned $5.8 billion in casino revenue last year, but is a mature market with little potential for big growth.

Celebrating Berlin's cultural heritage

Once synonymous with dangerous public schools and failed integration, the revived Neukoelln district is now home to boutiques and hipster hangouts.

For 48 hours this month, it will also be hosting theater, visual art and music events, as part of the 48 Stunden Neukoelln Festival, which will celebrate the arts in Berlin's neighborhood of the moment.

From June 17 to June 19, an old brewery and a former prison will reopen as art galleries. An Art Nouveau swimming pool will be the stage for a modern opera, partly performed underwater. Theater pieces based on local interviews will take to the street, and to more intimate settings like balconies, rooftops and even living rooms. With the ironic label "Luxury Neukoelln," this year's festival examines what gentrification means to both the gentrifiers and original inhabitants.

A rainbow glows in Aarhus

The Danish city of Aarhus is the location for a unique work of art called Your Rainbow Panorama. Famous Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson has created a 150-meter-long circular walkway made of glass in all the colors of the spectrum on top of the ARoS Museum. The spectacular work of art is mounted on slender columns above the roof of the museum and offers 360-degree views of Aarhus.

All about mobility - in Berlin

A new permanent exhibition in Berlin has opened devoted to the cultural history of mobility - ranging from oxen-drawn carts of the past to today's electric-powered cars. The innovative and exceptional objects are on display in 11 thematic islands on the historic loading zone of the former Anhalt rail cargo train station, the Deutsche Technikmuseum reports. Among exhibits are 30 cars including a 1929 Mercedes Nuerburg and a 1964 Colani GT. (www.sdtb.de)

Airline news and deals

Free Internet surfing in Norway's airports: Holidaymakers visiting Norway can enjoy free Internet access for one hour at all of the country's major airports, Visit Norway has announced. The necessary usernames and passwords are available at information counters in the participating airports.

Shanghai to Hawaii: China Eastern Airlines will start regular flights between Shanghai and Hawaii from Aug 9.

New route: Xiamen Airlines will open a short-term route linking Xiamen-Chongqing-Lijiang. MF8413/4, on Boeing 737 planes, will be available from July 1 to Oct 29.

First flight from Beijing to Zurich: Hainan Airlines has started flying Beijing to Zurich from May 31, three flights weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Special round-trip tickets at 2990 yuan are available until June 30.

VladivostokAir to Dalian: VladivostokAir will start weekly flights from Khabarovsk to Dalian from July 1.

China Daily - Agencies

(China Daily 06/12/2011 page7)