THIS WEEK IN TRAVELLER

Chris Johnston and Penny Stephens take their children on their first big family adventure to Luang Prabang in Laos and find exactly what they're looking for. "It's a quiet place and also very safe so the kids could do their thing and we could do ours," Johnston says. "We stayed long enough so that locals started telling us their secrets, too."

Free stuff

MICHAEL Buble today releases his fourth album, Crazy Love. It features the singles Haven't Met You Yet and Baby (You've Got What it Takes), which was recorded with guests Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. The Canadian crooner is a huge seller and EG has 10 copies of the album to give away. For your chance to win, email egfreebies@theage.com.au before noon today, naming your favourite standard song and why.

Allenby stays within shot of the lead despite putting woes

ROBERT ALLENBY missed the 10th green to the left. Cursed. His ball nestled among the pine straw and a rock. A miracle was required to salvage par. He opened his stance, splayed the face of his lob wedge to a ridiculous degree, swung, made contact, phoomp. The ball lobbed onto the green, took three bounces, rolled and stopped pin-high. Not even Allenby's misbehaving putter could miss from there. Miracle.

Nitties books his berth at US Open

NEWCASTLE'S James Nitties will wear his blank cap, one that still awaits decent financial remuneration, into next week's US Open over the Black Course of Bethpage on Long Island, New York after a nerve-racking day of sectional qualifying in the US.

Toes Tap To Soulful Sound Of Memphis

FROM "Soulsville", Memphis, they are energising audiences with their strong voices, spunk and toe-tapping soul tunes. Rising stars from the famous Stax Music Academy, where young musicians - many from underprivileged beginnings - are given their big break, began their 11-day tour of Australia in Melbourne yesterday.

Clap Your Hands If You Want Some More

The Pipettes We Are the Pipettes (Memphis Industries/Universal)

Our Man In Memphis

John Shand gives the lowdown on this year's Jazz: Now festival.

Blue Suede Shoes On Elvis Trip Of A Lifetime

THERE are not many jobs that take you from Medowie to Memphis, but for Norm Bakker it means there will be a "whole lotta shakin' goin' on".

Mike Yet To Earn His Stripes

WHEN is someone going to make the Mike Tyson vs Tiger match-up happen? It's starting to look like never. After being pummeled and eventually knocked senseless by Lennox Lewis back in Memphis in 2002, Tyson - swimming in a sea of debt - declared he would get in a cage with a Tiger if someone paid him enough. But there's been nothing on the feline front since then for Mike, who's now been reduced to a Las Vegas sideshow attraction. Surely there's some eccentric billionaire out there who could come ...

Village Is Goin' Down To Memphis

VILLAGE Roadshow is gearing up to bring a little Hollywood magic to Memphis, according to US reports linking the Australian company's movie production business to a deal that could see it spend $US250 million ($A330 million) producing movies in the city over five years.

Grant Bids Track Culture From Graceland To Greece

THERE are books, re-releases of his music and even a travelling show with live musicians and a virtual Elvis culled from hours of concert footage. Elvis Presley's legacy is as strong as it has been since he was found dead in his Memphis mansion, Graceland.

Q&a Six Pack

PJ O'BRIEN, blues guitarist What was the best thing about the International Blues Challenge in Memphis? I guess getting to go to the US for the first time. And mixing with the other competitors and hearing their take on playing blues in their hometowns was a highlight.

Andrea Marr To Take Up Memphis Challenge

SASSY Melbourne blues belter Andrea Marr is on her way to Memphis to sing in the land where the blues began.

A Serving With The Lot: Salacious Gossip, Manic Mumbai, An Iron Chef And A Feast Of Footy

The Memphis Trousers

Colourful Secrets Emerge From The Past, And One Or Two Mark The Way Of The Virtual Future

The Memphis Trousers Half Hour

It's A Pity, But This Time Round Roy And H.g. Hardly Have Us Panting For More

The Memphis Trousers Half Hour

Keep Your Trousers On For Comedy, History And All You Need To Know About Irish Snakes

Seriously Funny, The Paris Bordello, The Memphis Trousers Half Hour, Sunday, Compass, Lost Worlds

Behind The Scenes With A Self-centred Hobbit

Landing a lead role in a blockbuster is not as much fun as it sounds, writes Garry Maddox. Surely you'd have to be pleased. Even a little upbeat. But if you're Sean Astin, previously best known for The Goonies and Memphis Belle, you are devastated. You tell your wife, "They've ruined it!" You tell your hobbit colleague, Elijah Wood, that you're heartbroken.

Pretty Monster

CD review: Pretty Monster, Fort Lauderdale (Memphis Industries/Inertia) ***

Grizzlies Roll Over As Denver Dominate

DENVER: Voshon Lenard scored 24 points and Andre Miller added 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 106-99 win over Memphis in one of three games in the National Basketball Association on Monday.