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The oddest road rules you've never heard of

<p>Australian roads are known for having some peculiar road rules and while these can vary from state to state, they pale in comparison to some laws found throughout the world.</p> <p>Anyone who has taken even the shortest trip to Asia will know how different the roads there are from what we’re used to.</p> <p>Even though some parts of Asia are our closest neighbours they surprise many travellers with their weird and wonderful rules.</p> <p>From punishing shirtless drivers to painstakingly micro-managing number plates, the world’s largest continent is full of unexpected regulations. So what are Asia’s strangest road rules?</p> <ul> <li>$123 fine awaits drivers who believe this popular urban myth.</li> <li>Drivers who fail do this on our roads face a $464 fine.</li> <li>$250 fine looms for drivers caught in this lazy act.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Strangest driving rules revealed</strong></p> <p>In some Asian countries, drivers find themselves battling mother nature itself when going out on the roads.</p> <p>Thailand has one such rule where motorists are not allowed to drive their cars whilst shirtless, no matter how hot it may be.</p> <p>Drivers must always ensure they are covered behind the wheel and that includes singlets and bikini tops.</p> <p>It’s a bizarre rule for a country that is situated directly in the tropics and where humidity often sites near 100 per cent.</p> <p>Japanese drivers also find themselves battling their traditions and customers. In a land that is known for their polite nature, drivers can be heavily penalised if they splash any pedestrians walking along the pavement.</p> <p>This is a rule that is slowly being adopted in many developed countries including places like the UK and Canada although a similar law in NSW was repealed in June 2020.</p> <p>Managing road safety</p> <p>Of course, not all road rules are based on cultural customs and most are simply designed to manage safety on the roads.</p> <p>For instance, the Philippines have come up with a novel way to reduce congestion on the roads.</p> <p>They have implemented laws that ban cars from the roads according to the day and the first digit on their number plate.</p> <p>For example, drivers in Manila cannot drive their cars on Monday or Tuesday should their registration plate start with a one or two.</p> <p>It’s a scheme that was originally trialled in Paris a few years ago to the great effect and is something that authorities in Manila hope will have a similar impact on their roads.</p> <p>Pedestrians are also given greater consideration in some major cities too. In Singapore, drivers are required to give pedestrians at least a 50 metre space whenever they are crossing the road.</p> <p>It’s a smart decision considering the non-stop hustle and bustle of city-state’s lifestyle.</p> <p><strong>Drivers must carry first-aid kits</strong></p> <p>Despite these safety rules, nowhere quite beats some of the laws applied in some major cities across India.</p> <p>While India is known for dire conditions on the roads, motorists on the streets of Chennai and Kolkata are required to always carry first-aid kits in their cars.</p> <p>This is because they are expected to carry out immediate first aid treatment to passengers if they are injured in their car.</p> <p>With a potential three-month prison sentence awaiting anyone who fails to do this, it’d be wise to be a Good Samaritan should anything happen on chaotic Indian roads.</p> <p>They are some surprising road rules out there, that’s for sure!</p> <p>It just goes to show that it is always wise to be aware of local regulations before attempting to get behind the wheel while on holiday.</p>

Travel Trouble

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This is why you should consider retirement in Thailand

<p>Picture a more tanned version of yourself, with a slightly wider smile. Perched on a motorbike, riding from beach to beach through an endless summer. Fuelled by pad thai and panang gai, the magical sunsets guide your sunny poolside days into lazy luxurious evenings.</p> <p>As much as we want to escape the sunburnt, expatriate retiree look, it’s inevitable. Here are the reasons you should consider retirement in Thailand.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>THAILAND</strong></p> <p><em>The Country of Smiles<br /><br /></em>Whether you’re after spiritual development, tropical island bliss or just a really good massaman, Thailand has something for you.<br /><br />This Southeast Asian gem has a population of just under 70 million people and is known for its magical island clusters such as the <strong>Phi Phi Islands, </strong>and its culture rich capital <strong>Bangkok</strong>.</p> <p> </p> <p>Infinity pools and crystal clear beaches wrap around Thailand’s coastline. Limestone cliffs and mountainous jungle retreats are abundant. Luxury is an everyday feat in this glorious country. With some of the most beautiful resorts in the world and year round good weather, there’s a reason it tops the list.</p> <p> </p> <p>Not to mention – its ridiculously cheap. Treat yourself to a five star meal or a rose petal massage. Or just do it everyday. In Thailand, living in comfort is easy. What better solution to remove the financial stress of retiring.</p> <p> </p> <p>Most people from Thailand speak English, and they are among the most friendly in the world. It is estimated that there are currently 4-5 million expats living in Thailand, and it’s only a 7 hour flight from Australia. It’s authentic mix of Western comfort and traditional Southeast Asian culture means you’ll never feel to far from home. About 100,000 of Thailand’s expats are on retirement visas, and they’ve got the right idea.</p> <p> </p> <p>It’s also not difficult to travel, with the super affordable and accessible transport around the country. <strong>Bangkok</strong> to <strong>Phuket</strong> or <strong>Chiang Mai;</strong> hopping on a first class train is more convenient than ever. It also makes it that much easier to visit some of Thailand’s spectacular neighbours; Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia.</p> <p> </p> <p>Living in style isn’t difficult with Thailand’s world class shopping, where silks and knock-off designers cost next to nothing.  Or you could adopt the Buddhist attitudes and reject materialism and desire.</p> <p> </p> <p>Even if you aren’t religious, it’s hard not to adapt to the peaceful spiritual climate in Thailand. The promotion of simplicity and health encourages a very serene way of life. Happiness is a priority in this tropical country, and it’s all about living in the moment.</p> <p> </p> <p>For the more adventurous, the diving industry is growing rapidly and hosts some of the most spectacular locations. Mountain and jungle exploration is plentiful, with Thailand hosting some of the most extraordinary wildlife. Spot wild gibbons and wash an elephant, or visit the tigers at the <strong>Huai Kha Khaeng</strong> conservation.</p> <p> </p> <p>Whether it’s the tropical weather, a longing for personal spiritual development, the pink lotus lakes or the cheap pad thai, Thailand probably has what you’ve been searching for. It’s time to embark on the adventures you’ve been waiting your whole life for.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Written by Jemma Newlyn.</em></p>

International Travel

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4 modern man-made marvels in Southeast Asia

<p>Southeast Asia is well-known for its gorgeous natural and historical attractions. Just think of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Halong Bay in Vietnam and Borobudur in Indonesia.</p> <p>Equally gorgeous and impressive, though, are these modern, man-made structures. Check out these four impressive sites that are also attracting large crowds.</p> <div class="view view-article-slider view-id-article_slider view-display-id-article_slider_block view-dom-id-c42fd07198902a614a7d8230cf786566"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>1. Golden Bridge, Vietnam</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>High up on Ba Na hill near Danang City in Vietnam sits a pair of giant hands holding up a pedestrian walkway.</p> <p>The 150-metre long Cau Vang, or Golden Bridge, rises more than 1400 metres above sea level and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.</p> <p>Although brand new – the attraction just opened in June – the hands have been aged to look like they’ve been around for many decades. According to the principal architect, the project was designed to look like the hands of God pulling out a strip of gold from the land.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>2. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Futuristic-looking giant trees and a man-made forest under a glass dome are all part of this 101-hectare multi-award winning horticultural destination that opened in 2012.</p> <p>The giant Supertrees are between nine and 16 storeys tall and you can take a stroll on a suspended walkway between two of these trees to enjoy the view from up above.</p> <p>A short walk away, you’ll come across the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. The former houses a collection of flowers found in deserts around the world, while the latter has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and showcases plants that are usually found some 2000 metres above sea level.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>3. Statue of Lord Murugan, Batu Caves, Malaysia</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Located just 12 kilometres from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is the site of the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in Malaysia and the second tallest in the world.</p> <p>The statue of Lord Murugan, located at the Sri Murugan Perumal Kovil at the foot of Batu Caves, was completed in 2006 and stands a little over 42 metres tall.</p> <p>There are three limestone caves in the area, all of which house Hindu temples and shrines.</p> <p>Visitors have to scale 272 steps in order to reach the entrance of the caves.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>4. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>With floors and walls made from gleaming Italian marble, made-in-England chandeliers, granite from Shanghai and millions of glass mosaic pieces covering the golden main dome, this is definitely no ordinary mosque.</p> <p>Named after the 28th sultan of Brunei, the grand mosque was completed in 1958.</p> <p>The impressive building is surrounded by an artificial lagoon, where a replica of a 16th century royal barge is docked at the end of a marble bridge.</p> <p><em>Written by Siti Rohani. This article first appeared in </em><span><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/4-modern-man-made-marvels-southeast-asia"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

International Travel

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The race to save up to 50 shipwrecks from looters in Southeast Asia

<p><em><strong>Natalia Pearson is a PhD Candidate in Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of Sydney.</strong></em></p> <p>Recent research presented at a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.aima-underwater.org.au/conference2017/" target="_blank">maritime archaeology conference</a></strong></span> has revealed at least 48 shipwrecks - including WWII ships and some post-war vessels - have been illicitly salvaged in Southeast Asia. This figure is an astonishing escalation from <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/ghost-ships-why-are-world-war-ii-naval-wrecks-vanishing-in-indonesia-72799" target="_blank">the handful of wrecks</a></strong></span> already known to have been damaged or destroyed.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/09/images-reveal-three-more-japanese-wwii-shipwrecks-torn-apart-for-scrap" target="_blank">Japan</a></strong></span> has lost the most wrecks. Other nations affected include Australia, America, the Netherlands, Britain, Germany and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/illegal-salvage-seven-skies-wreck" target="_blank">Sweden</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>However, sources close to the issue suggest that the figure may be much higher still, with one Chinese company claiming to have salvaged over 1,000 wrecks in the South China Sea.</p> <p>It is now a race against time to protect these wrecks and preserve the histories they embody. Museums can play a key role. For instance, exhibitions such as the Australian National Maritime Museum’s current <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.anmm.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/on-now/guardians-of-sunda-strait" target="_blank">Guardians of Sunda Strait</a></strong></span> testify to the continuing resonance of these ships’ stories even as the sites themselves are destroyed.</p> <p>This exhibition, which looks at the WWII loss of HMAS Perth and USS Houston, is made more poignant by the fact that <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-it-comes-to-disappearing-ocean-history-hmas-perth-is-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-78347" target="_blank">HMAS Perth</a></strong></span>, in particular, has been heavily salvaged in recent years.</p> <p>The emotional echo of the stories of courage and sacrifice told here – such as that of HMAS Perth veteran <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Aug2013/People/222/Farewell-tribute-to-Arthur-Bancroft-A-legend-and-inspiration.htm#.WeW4EluCyUk" target="_blank">Arthur Bancroft</a></strong></span>, who was shipwrecked not once but twice, and USS Houston’s <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ffg46/Pages/ourShip.aspx#.WeauTVuCyUk" target="_blank">Chaplain Rentz</a></strong></span>, who insisted a young signalman take his lifejacket after the ship sank – is amplified, not diminished, by the accompanying contemporary tragedy.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194722/original/file-20171115-11256-wy9plu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip"/></p> <p><strong>Touchstone objects</strong></p> <p>Some countries, such as the US, have enacted <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/research/underwater-archaeology/policy-and-resource-management/sunken-military-craft-act.html" target="_blank">legislation</a></strong></span> to protect their sunken military craft, regardless of where they rest.</p> <p>At an international level, the 1982 UN <a href="http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Law of the Se</strong></span>a</a> states that, unless explicitly abandoned, a flag state (the country where the vessel is registered) is entitled to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://ssl.law.uq.edu.au/journals/index.php/maritimejournal/article/viewFile/181/222" target="_blank">exclusive jurisdiction</a></strong></span> over shipwrecks. This is also irrespective of whether the vessel sank in foreign waters or not.</p> <p>For ships that have not been completely destroyed, there is a strong case to be made for the recovery of “touchstone objects” such as the ship’s bell on naval vessels – an item with which every officer and sailor, irrespective of rank, would be familiar.</p> <p>In 2002, in response to concerns about the illicit salvaging of British wrecks in Malaysian waters, a team of Royal Navy divers oversaw the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/news/shipsbells.html" target="_blank">recovery of the bell from HMS Prince of Wales</a></strong></span>. This vessel was part of British naval squadron <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/force-z-shipwrecks-of-the-south-china-sea-rod-macdonald/prod9781849950954.html" target="_blank">Force Z</a></strong></span>, established to protect Britain’s colonial interests in Southeast Asia. The force was destroyed in 1941 by Japanese aircraft. Reports indicate that the illicit salvage of HMS Prince of Wales, as well as nearby <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/11556924/Wreck-of-HMS-Repulse-rigged-with-scrap-metal-merchants-explosives.html" target="_blank">HMS Repulse</a></strong></span>, is ongoing.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194742/original/file-20171115-11313-wkey0i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip"/></p> <p align="center"><em>Submerged for three decades, these ceramic plates from HMAS Perth were salvaged in the 1970s and eventually returned to the Royal Australian Navy.</em></p> <p>Such strategic recovery initiatives must be the prerogative of the flag state, and strict conditions would need to apply. In many countries, this would require legislative changes. In instances where sunken war vessels are known to be underwater graves, the recovery of objects would also need to be conducted in consultation with survivors and descendants.</p> <p><strong>Snapping the past</strong></p> <p>Although we now know that many wrecks have been damaged, there are still some that remain untouched and even unlocated. For instance, the whereabouts of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://silentworldfoundation.org.au/portfolio/ae1/" target="_blank">Australia’s first submarine</a></strong></span>, AE1, remains a mystery.</p> <p>Meanwhile, near Savo Island in the Solomon Islands, HMAS Canberra rests upright and intact at the bottom of “Ironbottom Sound”. Scuttled after a damaging encounter with the Japanese in August 1942, the wreck was located in 1992 by Robert Ballard (better known for his discovery of RMS Titanic).</p> <p>There is also a mystery hanging over the ship: with some suggesting the possibility that it was the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/military/The-Shame-of-Savo-Bruce-Loxton-with-Chris-Coulthard-Clark-9781864482867" target="_blank">victim of friendly fire</a></strong></span>. It is not known whether HMAS Canberra is at risk from salvagers, but there is no question that the ship will eventually succumb to natural degradation.</p> <p>Well-preserved wrecks such as HMAS Canberra are prime candidates for one of the most exciting developments in maritime archaeology: digital preservation through photogrammetry. This involves a diver or a remote-operated vehicle taking thousands of photographs of a wreck and its debris field. These images are then digitally “stitched together” to create 3D visualisations, reconstructions and even replicas.</p> <p>There is significant potential for such technology in a museum environment, not least of all because it enables new audiences to virtually access wreck sites while eliminating the challenges of depth, currents and poor visibility. Photogrammetry also surmounts legal barriers to access.</p> <p>Curtin University’s <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.curtin.edu.au/hive" target="_blank">HIVE</a></strong></span> facility is using big data, sophisticated algorithms and the processing power of a supercomputer to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://news.curtin.edu.au/stories/big-data-big-ideas-at-the-helm/" target="_blank">digitally preserve</a></strong></span> the wrecks of HMAS Sydney, lost in 1941 with all on board, and the German ship that sank her, HSK Kormoran. These wrecks are <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/historic-shipwrecks/protected-zones" target="_blank">protected sites</a></strong></span> under <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/historic-shipwrecks/laws" target="_blank">Australian legislation</a></strong></span>, and are not accessible by the general public.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194719/original/file-20171115-30034-irx2zc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip"/></p> <p align="center"><em>Sydney-Kormoran Project team members view 3D reconstructed models of HMAS Sydney II at the Curtin University HIVE. Image credit: Sam Proctor</em></p> <p>Nor is photogrammetry limited to those with access to a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/05/WA-supercomputing-recreates-WWII-tragedy.aspx" target="_blank">supercomputer</a></strong></span>. Maritime archaeologist Matt Carter is currently developing a 3D model of the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/divers-create-3d-model-of-minisub-m24-sunk-after-sydney-harbour-raid-20170531-gwh5mh.html" target="_blank">Japanese mini-submarine M-24</a></strong></span>, located off Sydney’s Bungan Head, using little more than high-resolution cameras, off-the-shelf software, and a lot of patience.</p> <p><strong>Gone, but not forgotten</strong></p> <p>The responsibilities of museums become more acute the more that heritage is threatened – not just by thieves and pirates, but by climate change, rising sea temperatures, the impact of both coastal and deep-sea development, and natural degradation. And, as with many terrestrial sites, underwater heritage is now increasingly threatened by <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11457-015-9133-4" target="_blank">the effects of tourism</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>Heritage objects and sites are not ends in themselves. The real value of these things and places is in how they can be used to make meaning, to reflect on the past, and to translate and interpret it anew for future generations.</p> <p>For me, the destruction of these 48 ships does not preclude their stories from being told. Illicit salvaging of underwater heritage, particularly the unauthorised disturbance of human remains, warrants strong condemnation.</p> <p>But our ability to derive meaning from these wrecks is not diminished by their absence. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://heritagefortransformation.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/why-cultural-heritage-is-not-at-risk-in-syria-or-anywhere/" target="_blank">Some scholars</a></strong></span> even go so far as to propose that the destruction of heritage, as distressing as it is, provides an incentive for more active and conscious forms of remembrance.</p> <p><em>Written by Natali Pearson. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Conversation</span></strong></a>. </em><img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/86050/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/></p>

Cruising

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