Tiger Tales

Years to You

As Tiger Airways celebrates its fifth birthday, ROSS WALLACE shares the love by highlighting other big anniversaries happening across the network

PHOTO: PHOTOLIBRARY

20

Here’s a unique approach to ageing: Bangarra Dance Company is touted as “one of the youngest and the oldest of Australia’s dance companies.” Creative accounting? No, it’s just that while this Indigenous troupe was founded a “mere” two decades ago, its traditions date back at least 40,000 years, a fact that is hinted at in the company’s name. “Bangarra” means “to make fire” in the language of the ancient Wiradjeri tribe and to mark the troupe’s 20th anniversary, it is staging a retrospective called Fire featuring the most memorable elements from its vast repertoire. Now, that’s a hot ticket.

25

You’ve got to hand it to Cirque du Soleil. Even after a quarter of a century in showbiz, the world-conquering “Circus of the Sun” continues to outdo itself with each eye-popping, gravity-defying new show. And that’s not even taking into account the fact it never fails to come up with memorable – if head-scratching – names for its productions. Saltimbanco, anyone? How about Dralion, Varekai or Brangelina? Oh wait, that last one can’t be right. Sure is catchy, though.

370

Superlatives fly fast and furious when it comes to Fort St George, whose completion in 1639 paved the way for the growth of modern-day Chennai. Not only was it the first British fortress in India, it is also home to St Mary’s – the nation’s oldest Anglican church – and even boasts the tallest flagpole in the country at 46m. Its colonial grandeur and artifacts from a proud military past are the fort’s main drawing cards but it also functions as an office of the Chennai government. It just goes to show that old soldiers never die, even when they’re centuries past retirement age.

23

The average climber takes about two days to reach the summit of 4,095m Mt Kinabalu and make the trip back down from the peak. Competitors in the annual Mt Kinabalu International Climbathon have to do it in about 180 minutes.

And as if it wasn’t stressful enough to take part in an event known as the “The World’s Toughest Mountain Race,” the results of this year’s 23rd annual climbathon – and 15th since the Sabah Tourism Board became the event’s organiser – on 24-25 October also decide the winner of the Buff Sky Runner World Series, the marquee competition for high-altitude athletes. It’s sure to be an uphill battle.

70

Mick Dundee is a septuagenarian? Hard to believe, but Paul Hogan, the actor known for his sharp wit and sharper taste in weaponry (“That’s a knife”), hits the big 7-0 on 8 Oct. “Crocodile” Dundee may have retired to “Billabongamick”, but despite a five-year absence from the screen, Hogan is back with Charlie & Boots, playing dad to Shane Jacobson (of Kenny fame), with whom he shares a lifelong dream to fish off Oz’s northern tip. Anyone for shrimp on the barbie?

21

The idea of packing as many as 60 paddlers into a swan boat might seem like a Guinness record-worthy stunt except for one crucial fact: we’re not talking about two-person pedal boats here. In fact, Thailand’s trademark long, narrow and flat-bottomed swan boats – similar to dragon boats – are something of a national icon.

For 21 years paddlers from across Asia have gathered each year at the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya, about three hours from Bangkok, to vie for the title at Thailand International Swan Boat Races and Long Boat Championship. This year’s event on 12-13 September is extra special for the host country, as it marks the 25th year since Thailand began competing in international boating events. Evidently, its swan song remains a long way off.

150

Singapore’s Botanic Gardens is quite a few years past puberty as it marks a century and a half as a landmark. Still, it has another growth spurt ahead: next year, an additional 11,000sqm of land will be added to facility that is already half the size of London’s Kew Gardens. Once completed, the expansion will see existing attractions like the world-famous National Orchid Garden joined by five thematic areas, including Fragrant Garden and Foliage Valley. For now, plan to visit the SBG on 20092009 – 20 September – when a mass wedding of 150 couples will be held as part of year-long sesquicentennial celebrations. For the ladies, odds of catching a bouquet don’t get much better.