Travel Briefs

May 2016 issue | Appears on page 69

Malaysia jungle canopy walk

The world’s longest jungle canopy walkway is in Taman Nagara National Park in central peninsular Malaysia. Originally built for research purposes, the 1,700-foot-long bridge, connected to the trunk of a tree at either end, is raised 131 feet over the jungle floor. About a mile from the park entrance, it can be reached via jungle trails or boat and is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily (closed when raining).

The park is open year-round, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. At the park entrance, an entry permit...

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May 2016 issue | Appears on page 69

Tempurung Cave, Malaysia

The largest cave system in peninsular Malaysia, Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave), is 4.5 kilometers long, with 1.9 km (1.18 miles) open to visitors. It features five massive domed ceilings, an underground river and stalactite and stalagmite formations. 

There are four tours of escalating difficulty. Every half hour, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the easiest tour, “Golden Flowstone,” takes about 40 minutes on a concrete path (MYR20 [near $5] adult/MYR10 senior). Every half hour, 9-11 a...

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April 2016 issue | Appears on page 4

Cinque Terre hiker limits

Starting in summer of 2016, the Italian government will limit the numbers of visitors allowed on the pathways between the Cinque Terre villages, located on the Riviera in northwestern Italy. The total number of visitors allowed in 2016 will be 1.5 million. (Roughly 2.5 million people visited the Cinque Terre region in 2015.) Anyone wanting to walk the Cinque Terre pathways must purchase a Cinque Terre Card for €6 (near $7) for one day or €9.70 for two days. A Cinque Terre Treno card gives...

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April 2016 issue | Appears on page 4

Visa-free Shanghai extended

The city of Shanghai, on the central coast in eastern China, increased the period of its visa-free stays from 72 hours to 144 hours on Jan. 30, 2016. This extension applies to travelers entering at an airport or cruise port and includes the outlying cities of Hangzhou and Nanjing. In Shanghai, specifically, though a traveler’s visit begins upon his arrival, the 144-hour time limit doesn’t start counting down until 12 midnight following his arrival. To qualify for a visa-free stay, a traveler...

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April 2016 issue | Appears on page 4

US-Cuba commercial flights to begin

US and Cuban authorities signed an agreement on Feb. 16 to allow US-based commercial airlines to apply to institute flights to Cuba, with service to begin in fall 2017. Current US laws still do not allow for tourism to Cuba by Americans, and those who wish to take the flights must fall under one of 12 categories of people for whom travel to Cuba is legal, including Cuban nationals, people visiting relatives, those on educational visits, those on chaperoned “People to People” itineraries, etc...

April 2016 issue | Appears on page 4

Roald Dahl events, Wales

To celebrate what would have been author Roald Dahl’s 100th year, these are among events planned in his native Wales in 2016 (visit www.visitwales.com): • Exhibition of art by Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl’s illustrator, at National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, July 16-Nov. 20. • Interactive exhibit “The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl.” Opens in July at Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff. • “City of the Unexpected” festival, with theatrical performances of Dahl books, in Cardiff, Sept. 17-18....

April 2016 issue | Appears on page 5

Normandy Impressionist Festival

Held every three years, the third Normandy Impressionist Festival will take place April 16-Sept. 26, 2016. Works of Impressionist artists will be exhibited in cities and towns throughout the province of Normandy, France, including Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre and Rouen. Impressionist-inspired art, photography, music and performances also will be showcased. For details of events, visit www.normandie-impressionniste.eu and click on “Download the Normandy Impressionist 2016 press release.”

April 2016 issue | Appears on page 5

Ghan goes Platinum

The Australian train The Ghan (Great Southern Rail; phone +61 8 8213 4401, www.greatsouthernrail.com.au), which travels between Adelaide and Darwin in 2½ days one way, with a stop in Alice Springs, was scheduled to add Platinum Club cars with full-size suites (each about twice the size of a Gold Twin cabin) on April 1, 2016. The Platinum Club’s exclusive services include transfers to and from the station within a 50-kilometer radius; en suite breakfast; daily 2-course lunch and 3-course...

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