And they’re spending wads of money. Silvia Marchetti writes:
Luring tourists from Russia is a lucrative pursuit in Italy. Many
of the most breathtaking and expensive locations have been
virtually colonized by them. They’re the former Soviet
Union’s new nobility—billionaire businessmen, bankers
and investors who travel across the peninsula in limousines, yachts
and helicopters (for 2,000 euros an hour), picking the most
romantic scenery for the purchase of dreamlike castles and sea
manors.
Claire Berlinski offers a provocative take on Turkish culture in
World Affairs: As the First General Law of Travel tells us, every
nation is its stereotype. Americans are indeed fat and overbearing,
Mexicans lazy and pilfering, Germans disciplined and perverted. The
Turks, as everyone knows, are insane and deceitful. I say this
affectionately. I live in Turkey. On good days, I love Turkey. But
I have long since learned that its people are apt to go berserk on
you for no reason whatsoever, and you just can’t trust a word
they say. As one Turkish friend put it (a man who has spent many
years in America, and thus grasps the depth of the cultural chasm),
“It’s not that they’re bad. They don’t even
know they’re lying.” (Via AL Daily)
Ayaz Nanji Michael Yessis and Jim Benning We spent Thursday evening
out in New York City with fellow Travel Channel staffers to say
goodbye to our friend and colleague, Ayaz Nanji. As senior director
of Interactive, Ayaz oversaw the company’s digital
operations, including World Hum. This site wouldn’t exist
without serious support, and Ayaz was as smart, thoughtful and
supportive a boss as we could hope for. He also happens to be a
hardcore traveler—recent trips have included weeks in Tunisia
and Uzbekistan. He’s leaving Travel Channel to embark on a
‘round-the-world trip, and we wish him all the best.
He’ll be sorely missed.
I love PC games. I don’t know why – I just
do. It’s been about two years that I’ve
been into the hidden object and dash style, but I also love the
ones that have you doing stuff, like solving mysteries by gathering
objects and doing something with them. However, I get
stumped (and frustrated) [...]
One of the things that I absolutely love is personalized stationery
and cards. I feel that with the internet, people just do not send
enough tangible cards and letters anymore. So when I found out
about Sweet Paper Lane, I checked out their site and found a wide
selection of the most adorable designs! COMPANY DESCRIPTION Sweet
[...]
Kacie was very young when Tamagochi first came out so we
didn’t really get caught up in the craze. So now that
she’s older and very into electronic games and toys, the new
TamaTown line is perfect for her! PRODUCT DESCRIPTION TamaTown is
the latest sensation, which includes the original nurturing play
pattern and character customization. OUR REVIEW We [...]
I’m always looking for products that make mealtimes easier
and more fun. I think sitting around the table with the whole
family is such a great way to foster communication and bond with
each other on a daily basis. So I was thrilled for the opportunity
to review the feeding line from mOmma. COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Innovation, technology, [...]
About the DVD Take a peek behind the curtain with HENSON’S
PLACE, the original documentary about Jim Henson, the creative
visionary that brought us the enchantment of
“The Muppet Show,†THE DARK CRYSTAL
and more! From honing his skills as a puppeteer in college to
creating some of the world’s most beloved [...]
Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look
forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take
it easy [...]
During my recent BlogHer trip I realized something . . . I needed a
really good case for my iPad. The one I have is just a basic black
case that doesn’t offer much protection from constant
movement and doesn’t really represent my personality.
It’s just something to get my iPad from point A to [...]
Vera lives with her family in the Republic of Illinowa
– what’s left of the
Midwestern US in a future where the politics of water determine
whether you have enough water to thrive…or
not. Vera’s family is just getting by. And then
she meets Kai, a boy who seems to have a limitless supply of water.
When Kai is kidnapped, Vera convinces her brother Will that they
need to rescue him, and the two set off on the adventure of their
lives.This one really works because of the atmosphere and world
building. I really believed in this dried out land and in these
dried out people, with their thick tongues, flaky skin and
willingness to do anything just to get a drink. And I am a fan of
anything that frames the complexities of geo-politics in an
exciting way. Stracher is able to weave a convinc...
Earlier, I reviewed THE WATER WARS, a book I really enjoyed reading
(my review). I am excited to welcome Author Cameron Stracher to
Dystopian August today!Reading THE WATER WARS made me constantly
want to drink water. What’s the thirstiest
you’ve ever been in your life?I run a lot, so
I'm often very thirsty. If I'm in the suburbs, I'll look for people
who are watering their lawns, and stop to drink from their
sprinklers. The last couple weeks, however, it's been incredibly
hot in New York, and there are water restrictions, and most people
don't water their lawn at the time I go running. I ran 8 miles the
other day when it was 103 degrees and humid. I don't know if it was
the thirstiest I've ever been, but it was close. I must have drunk
about two gallons of water when I finally got hom...
Cassia lives in a society that decides everything for its citizens
for the greatest good of them all – even who
you marry. When Cassia is matched with her best friend Xander, she
is thrilled. But when viewing her matching card, another face
flashes on the screen – that of mysterious
classmate Ky. This seeming glitch awakens an awareness of forbidden
desires within Cassia, and for the first time she begins to
question a society where the individual has no right to
choose.MATCHED is without a doubt a well constructed novel, hitting
all the expected beats of a YA dystopian novel. And while there may
be few surprises for avid readers of the genre, there are some
genuine discussion-worthy developments. The society is set up to
look to its citizens like a utopia. Strict regulations nearly gu...
Radiator Springs will celebrate California’s car culture with
a nostalgic trip down Route 66 when the fictional film town built
for and by cars makes its debut at Disney California Adventure in
2012. Cars Land, the 12-acre themed land under construction at DCA,
will feature three new rides set amid a faithful re-creation of the
isolated [...]
Are certain breeds of dogs more prone to die while being shipped by
air? Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation warned dog
owners that “short-faced” dogs —
such as English bulldogs, pugs, French bulldogs and Staffordshire
terriers — made up about half the pet dogs that
die while being transported by plane in cargo holds. [...]
Summer is running out. If you want to get away before the Labor Day
crush to a place that’s not too far from home, you might find
solace in a stunning natural setting — and a
third night free — at a cabin or safari tent at
El Capitan Canyon near Santa Barbara. The deal: The [...]
More than 88 years after his death, explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton
continues to make news. The latest is the opening of 11 bottles of
Scotch whisky found at an ice hut in Antarctica that he used. The
whisky is being analyzed by experts who are overwhelmed to be
sampling (not drinking) a 19th century recipe [...]
The bluegrass hills of Kentucky are no stranger to horse fanciers.
But late next month, enthusiasts from across the globe will be
arriving in droves. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will
feature entrants from roughly 60 countries competing in events such
as dressage, endurance and jumping. The games will be held from
Sept. 25 to Oct. [...]
Club Med is offering all-inclusive fall getaways in Mexico and the
Caribbean for as little as $399 per person for a
three-night stay. Another bonus: no single supplement. The deal:
The WOW Sale for Couples applies to stays in September and October
at Cancún and Ixtapa Pacific in Mexico, Punta Cana in
the Dominican Republic and [...]
The Tucson Culinary Festival in Arizona, a four-day celebration of
food, wine and fun with a signature Southwest kick, has announced
its lineup for this year, beginning with the Fifth Annual World
Margarita Championship on Oct. 28 ($35) and ending with a barbecue
cook-off on Oct. 31 ($25). In between, Bon Appetit editor Barbara
Fairchild will [...]
A Texas airline employee is facing theft charges after he allegedly
stole items from people on planes he helped clean. read more
DALLAS — Federal investigators say metal
fatigue caused a hole to rip open in the roof of a Southwest
Airlines jet as it cruised at 35,000 feet last year. read more
NEW YORK - Start-up Tibet Airlines will purchase three Airbus A319
aircraft, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday.
read more
The Obama administration is considering easing travel restrictions
to Cuba, raising the prospect of what lifting the half-century-old
U.S. read more
HONOLULU, HI — The Hawaii Tourism Authority
(HTA) announced that Hawaii will host the 2012 World Vintage Rugby
Carnival, a seven-day event bringing more than 1,500 veteran
players and supporters to read more
Thai Airways International Plc said on Thursday it was reviewing
plans for a budget airline alliance with Singapore's Tiger Airways
after two big Tiger shareholders and its chief executive sold
discou read more
Berlin is now one of Europe's most popular urban tourist
destinations, but the thousands of young travelers visiting the
German capital are looking for more "authentic" experiences beyond
the usual to read more
It may be all smiles and friendly skies out in Norman Mineta San
Jose International Airport's newly renovated Terminal A lobby, but
in the airline offices behind the ticket counter, it really stinks.
read more
Pan Am used to be one of the most recognized trademarks in the
world. Now devotees want to cement the legacy of the airline that
made Miami its home. read more
AUSTIN, TX - PetRelocation.com CEO and co-founder Kevin O'Brien
issued the following statement in response to a letter written by
Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Joseph
Lieb read more
“Piranha 3D,†out Friday, is set on
“Lake Victoriaâ€
– a fictional popular tourist destination where
spring breakers find themselves attacked by vicious fish. read more
WASHINGTON, DC - The 2010 Economic Report of the Air Transport
Association of America (ATA) entitled, "When America Flies, it
Works," accounts for the two million people; 50,000 tons of cargo;
and mor read more
PARIS – France expelled nearly 100 Gypsies, or
Roma, to their native Romania on Thursday as part of a very public
effort by conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy to dismantle Roma
camps and sweep t read more
Travel on major U.S. airlines fell roughly 1 percent in July with
one key measure of revenue growth slowing, according to an industry
trade group that also said the sector's finances remain fragile.
read more
FORT WORTH, TX - American Eagle Airlines has moved its location at
the Miami International Airport (MIA) to the new North Terminal.
read more
Considering how its release over here was panned as one of China's
worst movies that year, I hope American audiences don't go into
this thinking it'll be the next House of Flying Daggers or Hero.
Say what you will about the quality of those movies, but at least
they were entertaining. [from Danwei]
Our good photographer friend, Ryan Pyle, is on an epic journey
through all of China with his brother, Colin. Called MKRide, the
60-day journey hopes to raise funds for SEVA, a charitable
foundation that finds solutions for health problems in lower income
communities around the world. They've asked Shanghaiist to publish
the tales from their journey, and being fans of both long trips
through China and doing things for charity, we agreed! In this
edition, Ryan dashes our dreams of just randomly hopping on a
motorbike and taking off! It requires training - brutal and lots of
it - if you want to survive on your trip. For more MKRide updates,
click here DATE: August 13, 2010 It was about 10:55am when I let
out my first whimper, it was low enough that no one else in my
group could hea...
By Daniel Mark Carr Adding yet another superlative to its ever
growing "World's leading" list, China has now been declared the
world's leading "space polluter." The environmental impact of
China’s booming economy is well documented, but now, Russian
Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos has reported that 40% of the
‘space junk’ orbiting the Earth is thanks to China.
Second in the list of contributors is the US, closely followed by
Russia; who combined contributed roughly 50%. The majority of
China’s ‘space junk’ is down to the deliberate
destruction of the weather satellite Fengyun-1C, which was shot by
a missile in 2007. On impact, the weather station burst in to 2,841
pieces. (Whoever sat with a telescope and counted the pieces
definitely deserves a m...
By Daniel Mark Carr Jeepers. It’s time to put down that
cigarette, take a (deep) breath of semi-fresh air, and read up on
these latest smoking statistics in China. The World Health
Organisation has found in a survey that over half of China's men
are smokers and 2.4% of China's females, totalling 301 million
adult smokers in China. Hardly surprising when you can pick up a
pack of smokes for around 5RMB. Whilst 301million is a lot, we do
have to take in to account the population of China, and the fact
that 301 million is down on the previously quoted 350 million (and
also compared to 307 million smokers in the US). Harder to swallow
is that less than 25% were aware of the health risks of smoking -
lung cancer, emphysema - and less than one-sixth were planning to
quit! ...
News of the new "Facebook Places" - a competitor of sorts to
location check-in service, Foursquare - is burning up in the
States. It doesn't really matter to us here in China, considering
both Facebook and Foursquare are blocked.... but in case that
depressed you - if you're into letting the internet know exactly
where you are, there is a veritable horn o' plenty of Foursquare
clones ready for your using. Echoing Twitter's history in this
country (it's rise and eventual block), Chinese companies have been
and will be quick to copy the successful idea of "checking in" a
million times over. Think about all the Twitter clones in China now
- that's about how many Foursquare clones you can look forward to
in the future. As for now, it seems that there are five or six
clones that are gettin...
Womp womp, despite the "internationalism" of the Expo, Shanghai
didn't manage to break the top ten of Foreign Policy Magazine's
Global Cities Index, which ranks cities on several criteria - their
influence, culture, innovation and so on. In fact, we were even
beat out by Beijing, who at No. 15, was five spots ahead of our No.
20! Our "economic rival/sister," Hong Kong, was way ahead at No. 5.
Oh the shame! That having been said, judging from the comments on
the site, all of this is contestable - Sure we can admit that New
York, London and Sydney are all more "global" than we, but Boston?
Really?
Photo from New York Social Diary Woah! Who knew that PAUL bakery
was having so many problems? I'll admit I usually passed them up
for much cheaper taiwanese pastries at Croissants de France or 85C,
but I thought it's expat following for overpriced baked goods was
strong enough to weather it through any storm. Apparently not.
Smart Shanghai has the scoop: It boils down to a business dispute
between Harold and Laurence Levillair, whose Levillair Group
franchised the brand, and parent company the Holder Group. In an
interview last month, Harold and Laurence Levillair outlined a list
of grievances with the Holder Group, characterizing the original
franchise agreement as untenable... The Levillairs have been trying
to raise money by selling part of the company back to Holder HQ in
Franc...
Chinese parents not comfortable with their kids learning everything
about sex from the internet are now turning to specific sex
education experts, who they feel offer a better grasp of the
subject they themselves can deliver. Said one sex educationalist to
China Daily: "Young Chinese parents are more open to sex, but their
method of imparting sex education sometimes leads the children
astray... The problem of sex education in China is not about a
dearth of knowledge, but a lack of proper methods to spread the
knowledge." Plus, not having to go through that embarrassing birds
and the bees talk is priceless.
Foxconn, always with the
clever ways to get their employees to stop committing suicide, has
now started holding rallies with the theme "Treasure your life,
love your family, care for each other to build a wonderful future."
And what crazy rallies these were, judging from the pictures.
Employees wore "I Love Foxconn" shirts, some held up "I Love Terry
Gou (the CEO)" posters. Some dressed as Spiderman for no reason in
particular, though I'll make up some right here: Maybe his mad
building climbing skills are meant to signify the rescuing of
jumpers? Or maybe the fact that he shoots webs represents the
netting Foxconn has now put in place - which, ironically, is what
killed the 12th jumper. Says Burson Marsteller, the PR firm
representing Foxconn, t...
Chongqing Normal University
(é‡åº†å¸ˆèŒƒå¤§å¦)
and Southwest Normal University
(西å—大å¦),
both located in Chongqing prefecture, became the first two
institutions to ban their students from "being an escort, a
mistress or having one-night stands" recently, a move that has
caused wide debate about what students do and how to police them.
University students getting side jobs as mistresses to the
moderately rich and horny is not exactly new news. There's been a
long standing tradition of liking a "well-educated" young woman
since before the Communist era, and foreign media has been
reporting on the resurgance of modern day concubines since 2005,
which means that it's probably been happening for at least a decade
more. Since at least 2007, some of these university girls have been
w...
According to MIC Gadget,
these photos were found on a Chinese online store and show off the
frong LCD and bezel of the upcoming iteration of the iPod Touch
(4th generation). An iPhone parts supplier is responsible for the
store, and this supplier claimed that they got these parts through
a “special channel”, maybe this is the iPod touch 4th
generation prototype which is leaked from the factory. This part is
on sale for $650 Chinese yuan ($95 USD). While us regular consumers
don't really have anything to do with just parts, it's pretty sweet
checking out how thin these are. Just one question - how safe is it
to sell parts of a product from a company known for roughing up
people who may have leaked their product? This can not end well...
One participant in a Beijing-advertised Shanxi Province
"international beauty pageant," has recounted her experiences to
the Global Times in gripping expose filled with pretty girls,
mid-level official ogglers and less pay than they originally
thought - though 4000RMB for 11 days of sitting around isn't that
bad, I suppose.
Every Friday, we help you figure out your weekend plans by bringing
you a roundup of some of the best events in town. This week that
includes a rollicking party at Mao Livehouse with the Dutch Culture
Center (free beer!), a ridiculously sensual Korean pop group and a
toga party, amongst other things. Want to indulge in some live
music? Then take a look at our Midweek Music Preview. FRIDAY Hit up
Mao Livehouse tonight for the Dutch Culture Center's showcase of
Rotterdam... and free beer! Local DJs will "play a set that
reflexes their vision on the sound that represents nowadays
generation of youth culture..." Not only will your dancing generate
energy (they have a "sustainable dance floor," but you could be one
of several to chug down some free Heineken (first 500 bottles are
free!). 8...
Lego aficionado Tsang Yiu Keung has built
this microscale replica of the gigantic China Pavilion at the
Shanghai World Expo. Not only is it built to scale, but it even
lights up from the inside! Just like the real one - or at least it
would be if there was a five-hour line of minifigs waiting outside.
Still, Great job, Tsang (or chiukeung, his Lego forum moniker)!
[Thanks Christoff!]
Aw heck, just when we'd declared Suzhou Creek ready for sailing,
some dicks had to dump their waste into it. The problem surfaced
when heavy rainfall over the past few days flushed grease and
garbage down through Suzhou Creek. Now sanitation and water
officials are investigating which restaurants and barges illegally
dumped waste and fuel into the water - though the actual clean up
will take a while.
Photo from OS Universe It sure sounds like it! According to the
Telegraph, six of these Panda Ambassadors will get to spend this
October working at the famous Woolong Giant Panda Protection and
Research Center - and you could be one of them! The "Pambassadors"
are expected to work closely with Woolong Keepers, feeding baby
pandas, learning about panda conservation and - I'm assuming -
hugging them (glee)! Or as the competition says, "You will perform
as photographer, videographer, journalist, scientist, and
researcher in the course of one of the best months of your life!"
Successful candidates must be aged 18 to 40 and must be in good
physical and psychological condition, as well as possess English
writing abilities. Also, you can't be "affected by any
medical/chemical substance," ...
One of the best aspects of China's Got Talent
(ä¸å›½è¾¾äººç§€),
which is now in its third episode (and still being filmed in
Shanghai), is how it's given rise to so many unexpected and
touching moments. Paul Potts? Susan Boyle? China's got those in
spades, and I have to give credit to the producers - they've
thankfully chosen to focus on the weird and wonderful in ways other
talent shows haven't. The latest to wow: a duck neck snacks
saleman. Zhou Yanfeng, a duck neck (yabozi - it's a snack) salesman
from Henan who works in Shanghai's Zhabei district, dressed up as a
giant pig in the latest China's Got Talent episode and came on
stage. His talent: pretending to be slaughtered by himself. As
you'd expect, he received three "no"s from the judges, but that's
when he dropped this bomb. ...
this is if I understand a week in the state if Nevada. It is a week
where there is no buying or selling of anything it is all a thing
of sharing foodstuffs. This and a return to community living. I
think to late for this year but oerhaps next year I am...
Plan to take cross country driving trip to yellowstone NP. What to
see once there? How likely is it to see moose?
I fully expect to get reamed for this one. But, maybe there's a
kind soul out there willing to venture a guess?...
Hi everyone--I'm a travel writer based in London, Ontario. I'm
writing about whether places such as Greece, Iceland etc... are
actually cheaper for travelers as a result of their economic woes?
...
I have heard of people travelling all around the place without
paying, by hitching a ride and just asking people to be good
natured and to help them on their travels. I want to attempt this
in November. Does any one know of blogs or websites of people...
Yes, I know. It's been awhile since we had a thread about the Skaky
Isle strutters and their affinity with all things woolly and
ruminant but after witnessing those wonderful Topp Twins strut
their maniacal stuff the other night this anomaly is begging...
anyone done it? whats the low down is it easy or have you got to
make a planned visit, only visiting as a tourist
Here’s something you won’t read in most in-flight
magazines: The rooms are individually air-conditioned, accessorized
with amenities you will find in 4-star hotels abroad, sheets are
clean, view from the room is nice, and—after the suicide
bombing that took place—security measures have been
implemented. But, apparently, that sort of unblinking coverage is
standard for Safi Airways, the Afghan airline whose in-flight
magazine is profiled in this Wall Street Journal story. Says a Safi
executive: “Anyone who is going to Afghanistan knows about
these issues anyway. What would be the point of not talking about
them openly?” (Via Julia Ross)
World Hum contributor Rolf Potts is about to embark on his latest
project: a six-week ‘round-the-world tour with no bags. Check
out the rules for the expedition and the thinking behind it. The
project is on Twitter, too, and the trip gets started in two days.
LA's food trucks went gourmet, but only one set of wheels is doing
it in heels.
Everything is on wheels here, even food. See LA's recipe for mobile
munchies.
You don't have to be a metalhead to crave burgers from LA's Grill
'Em All.
Sam shares her favorites from Japan, including a sushi breakfast
and geishas.
Endure a whole-new breed of lockdowns in Ghost Adventures' third
season!
Turkey is an informal country, so you’ll be fine if you leave
the fancy clothes at home; the general rule is the smaller the
town, the more casual and, at the same time, the more conservative
the dress.
Paris may be the most obvious romantic destination, but there's
another P-town that could give France's capital some competition:
Prague. Consult the checklist—killer views, a central river,
fantastic wine, incredible art, and grand countryside
retreats—and you'll see why this city can offer the same dose
of l'amour, often at a better price. Here are the top 5 reasons to
skip over Western Europe and head to Prague when love is in the
air.
As you tour the city, don’t be carefree about strolling
around, even during the day, or about lingering in places at night.
It’s simply not safe to do so.
Struggling to reduce traffic and crime, Maastricht is pushing to
make its legalized use of recreational drugs a Dutch-only policy.
I once again averaged well under my $500-a-week (about $70 a day)
maximum.
San Juan Teitipac, a corn-farming hamlet in Mexico, is jammed with
intriguing customs, welcoming residents, unforgettable meals,
beguiling landscapes and rich history. .
JetBlue and Sun Country Airlines are both offering all-you-can-fly
passes: a month of travel for one set price. Here's how they
compare.
Here are a few suggestions on what -- and where -- to imbibe on a
Roman summer evening.
"My husband and I have a tradition of taking each of our
grandchildren on a special trip. The next one up has her heart set
on Paris. What can you suggest that would be fun for a
10-year-old?"
The airfares from Spirit are cheap, but does that make up for the
inconveniences?
What Hawthorne and Melville found out in 1850, tourists know today:
the region is very farm friendly.
Hotel employees are grumpier than ever. It doesn't take much to set
them off. Find out how to stay on your best behavior. Hotel -
Travel and Tourism - Lodging - San Diego - Police
It may seem like common sense, but before you sign that contract in
a foreign language, make sure you know exactly what it means.
Foreign language - Language - ...In Translation - Education -
Translation
This week's savings include a companion deal to Paradise Island,
free hotels in London, and resort packages to Aruba, Marco Island,
and Montego Bay Aruba - Montego Bay - Caribbean - London - Paradise
Island
St. Louis' Gateway Arch is breathtaking in its inception and its
tram is almost as much fun to ride in as a roller coaster in a
theme park. Roller coaster - Amusement park - Gateway Arch -
Attractions - Recreation
Sicily has more sandy beaches and dramatic coastline than almost
any other region of Italy. Here are 6 beaches not to miss. Sicily -
Italy - Regions of Italy - Recreation - Travel
From primitive chapels to gold-leafed basilicas, see the eleven
best religious buildings in Spain. Spain - Travel and Tourism -
Basilica - Chapel - Travel Guides
I’ve written before about my experience visiting the Leaning
Tower of Pisa, and even about how to avoid the lines by buying
tickets to climb the tower in advance. But what I haven’t
done is posted the most useful visitor’s information. So,
without further ado… Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower is
simply the bell tower for the [...]
Mobster undone by love of mamma’s cooking When the police are
on the hunt for suspected mobsters in Italy, there's no better spot
to stake out than Mamma's house. Why? Because sooner or later,
every Italian man comes back to Mamma's for the food. Such is the
case with one suspected member of the Camorra who [...]
For visitors to Bali one of the most varied areas in culture, arts
and antiquities is Central Bali. The area not only encompasses the
vibrant ‘art colony’ of Ubud and its
surrounding areas, it is an area rich in all the traveller would
want to see and experience on their visit to the island. Central
Bali [...]
When you're going to another state or a foreign country for a short
business trip, it's perfectly acceptable to have impersonal hotel
accommodations so that you can be assured of utmost
comfort.Contributor: Max TrentonPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Who would think of staying in a jail voluntarily, unless it is now
a luxurious Boston hotel. The Liberty Hotel, located in Boston's
historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, was formerly a jail.Contributor:
Charles FredeenPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Many inexperienced individuals, when dealing with hotels and their
banquet/ food and beverage department, falsely believe that there
is no urgency to agreeing to terms. In the last three decades, I've
witnessed how costly this can be.Contributor: Richard
BrodyPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Reconnect with your customers through your custom made postcards
designs! Make them feel special and remembered by sending postcards
out for occasions worth celebrating.Contributor: Mina
PalenciaPublished: Aug 18, 2010
This week we're smiling from ear to ear with an amazing flight sale
from Virgin America! Book your trip by August 23, 2010 and travel
through November 17, 2010 for fantastic flight deals from coast to
coast.
When some travelers go on vacation, they like to see all the
angles, and what better way to that than skydiving?
We’ve checked out some dive-worthy sites around
the world that make for spectacular viewing from up in the clouds.
Read on to see Cheapflights’ picks for Top 10
Skydiving Destinations, and be prepared to sing the chorus of
“Free Falling†for the rest of the
day.
Summer’s almost over, but that
doesn’t mean vacation has to end. If
you’re thinking about traveling to Europe this
fall, go beyond the norm. While most US travelers tend to head for
big-name destinations in Western Europe, our research shows that
the most up-and-coming destinations in Europe are actually a little
further east.
If you’ve ever been swept away by the scenes of
Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Morocco is the destination for you.
Bordered by Algeria and Mauritania, Morocco has attracted tourists
for years. When you get the 8 Day Affordable Morocco package
through Gate 1 Travel, you’ll get round-trip
flights from New York, six nights accommodations in Rabat, Fez,
Marrakesh and Casablanca, meals and more.
There are plenty of reasons that millions of tourists flock to
Boston each year. If you love history, walk the Freedom Trail or
visit nearby Salem to learn about the witch trials. Stroll through
the North End to indulge in savory Italian dishes and world famous
cannolis. Take a tour of Fenway Park and see where the World Series
Champions call home. Or, hit up Newbury Street for some of the best
shopping in New England. Book this deal directly through the
Marriott hotel.
London serves up more than just a plate of fish and chips and the
sounds of Sergeant Pepper. Home of some of the
world’s most recognized history, literature,
music and international power, the far-reaching metropolis is
unmistakably global.
It could take a lifetime to see all the wonders of China. Now you
can visit three of the most influential Chinese cities on a
customized, eight-day tour. While in Beijing, you can visit
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the Temple of
Heaven. In Xian, marvel at the centuries-old Terracotta Warriors
and jade galleries. The final stop on the tour is in
Shanghai-arguably the most influential city in the world.
If you live in a locked closet, or just haven’t
heard yet, JetBlue is offering the All You Can Jet Pass
– back my popular demand. Fly anywhere you want
(within JetBlue’s route list) a month, all for
one price.
When traveling abroad, Americans fall into the same pitfalls over
and over. This article provides you with five practical ways to
avoid these pitfalls and have a successful trip abroad.Contributor:
J. GrimblebyPublished: Aug 11, 2010
Dubai, UAE is one of the best traveling spots in the world. But to
fully enjoy the Dubai experience you need to know some key
traveling essentials and necessities.Contributor: Craig
PatelPublished: Aug 13, 2010
A review of the six back to back shows on ancient archeological and
historical enigmas hosted by Michael Arbuthnot.Contributor: ABH
AlexanderPublished: Aug 14, 2010
A short list of must-have medical items when traveling with
children.Contributor: Ebie HarrisPublished: Aug 16, 2010
This article focuses on the ways tourists can stay safe when
traveling to East African countriesContributor: Celin
ChildsPublished: Aug 17, 2010
It may be the perfect time for seniors to explore the roadways of
America. Here are some suggestions to make the adventure
pleasurable and safe.Contributor: Nathaniel HinesPublished: Aug 17,
2010
Since a vacation is meant to be a fun and exciting time, so it's
important to heed a few pre-cautions while you're abroad. Here are
suggestions to make your trip go much easier.Contributor: Kathryn
LivelyPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Officer Scott Hallock gives tips on preparation and safety to help
you prepare for a safe and more enjoyable travel.Contributor: Scott
HallockPublished: Aug 15, 2010
Here is a quick list to go over and make sure your next family
outing saves you as much money as possible.Contributor: Valerie
Goswick HegwoodPublished: Aug 15, 2010
Are you ready to travel in Bulgaria?Contributor:
SilverchriotPublished: Aug 16, 2010
This truck stop, located on I-95, exit 147 in Vero Beach, Florida,
is a good choice for drivers and comes recommended. Read on to
learn more...Contributor: Roddy J DryerPublished: Aug 16, 2010
Venice is one of the world's most popular travel destinations in
Italy, itself one of the most popular vacation spots in the world.
As such, you already know why you want to go to Venice, so this
guide will tell you everything else you need to know.Contributor:
Rich ThomasPublished: Aug 17, 2010
Wheeled backpacks are the best option when it comes to carrying
around all those heavy books. Here are 5 suggestions for backpacks
for kids of all ages.Contributor: Ebner FamilyPublished: Aug 17,
2010
CCRA Travel Solutions is accepting enrollment & re-enrollment
applications for its 2011 Hotel Negotiated Rate Program. In
addition to gaining access to 3 channels for the price of 1, hotels
will also benefit from 2 new, free marketing programs.Contributor:
Carly RedgersPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Aruba's most popular family-friendly resorts that offer luxury and
fun in the sun. With something for kids and parents, these hotels
will have you telling your friends.Contributor: Nicole
LynchPublished: Aug 18, 2010
Psychiatric nursing travel jobs are expected to be in high demand
in the next several decades as the elderly require in-home mental
health services.Contributor: Christine CadenaPublished: Aug 18,
2010
If you are planning to experience Venice, you're sure to find
plenty to do while there, but be sure to do some research ahead of
time so you can know where to stay, how to get where you need to go
and how to keep yourself safe.Contributor: Jill HarnessPublished:
Aug 18, 2010
JetBlue just announced discounted fall flights to domestic and
Caribbean destinations such as Boston, Las Vegas, Nassau, and San
Juan, among others. Several airlines, including AirTran, American,
Delta, Frontier, and United, compete.
If it's Tuesday, it must be time for another Southwest sale. But
this time, there's a twist: Southwest's major rivals (American,
Frontier, United, and others) are beating the airline's discounted
prices with even lower unannounced sale fares of their own!
Virgin America's latest sale features summer and fall flights to
destinations such as Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and New York City.
Depending on your route, AirTran, American, JetBlue, US Airways,
and several other airlines may have lower airfares.
Buckle Up! JetBlue's popular unlimited travel promotion is back for
this week only. Book by August 20, or until supplies last. And
hurry—last year this deal ended earlier than expected!
Among the more than 600 routes in Frontier's latest sale include
flights to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle,
among other West Coast destinations. Alaska, American, Continental,
Delta, US Airways, and a few others compete.
Alitalia's new autumn Europe sale features round-trip fares with
taxes included. Travel to cities in Greece, Italy, Spain, and
others starting at $661. Brussels Airlines, Continental, Iberia,
and Swiss offer stiff competition.
Both Delta and United have new international sales featuring
discounted fares to Europe and Africa. Round-trip fall and winter
flights start at $538. Travel is available through spring 2011.
This October, fly to Europe after the crowds and summer heat have
vanished with Aer Lingus' latest sale. Destinations include popular
cities such as Paris, Barcelona, London, and Rome. Several airlines
offer competitive pricing.
Take a late-summer trip to visit our southern neighbors with
Aeromexico's latest sale. Destinations include Leon, Mexico City,
and Monterrey. These are some of the best nonstop fares, while
American and Continental offer low fares of their own.
Reader David sends in this post from the Atlantic, which contains
an interesting chart (copied below), ranking dozens of airline
frequent flier programs in terms of award availability. I
appreciate what these kinds of rankings are trying to do, but this
is unfortunately not an exact science. Let’s look at the
methodology of the survey [...]
Ford Philippines finally launched the Ford Fiesta in the country
yesterday and one of their PR reps asked me to check out the Voice
Control on the Sport model of the Fiesta. At first I thought this
was the Ford Sync they’ve already introduced in the US and
other countries but turns out it’s a [...] Related posts:Ford
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almost every market imaginable... Why can’t Voice and SMS be
unlimited too? We’ve been doing voice calls and sending SMS
on our... Photo Project: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Just woke up from
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Our last shots of the HTC Wildfire weren’t taken nicely so
we’re doing another round of HD video and photos; and this
time, it’s with the red-hot model. I’ve gone used to
HTC handsets sporting bland, cold colors like brown and black so it
was a huge surprise to see a red-hot HTC Wildfire in [...] Related
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Sony-Ericsson Satio, Aino Launched and Priced Yesterday,
Sony-Ericsson Philippines officially launched their new flagship
phones —... Idou officially na...
Nokia just outed a new iteration of their candy-bar X3 handset and
it now comes with a touch screen on top of the alphanumeric keypad
(a rare combination). The original Nokia X3 was announced back in
September 2009, along with the Nokia X6. This newer Nokia X3
(X3-02) is dubbed the Touch & Type which [...] Related
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Touch... Nokia N900 gets official The Nokia N97 gets a big brother.
Nokia confirms the... HTC Touch Pro tops the Billboard Price Charts
Today, HTC announced the release of the HTC Touch Pro...
Last week, we shared that Samsung’s Galaxy 5 Android phone
were already selling in a number of local stores at Php11,400.
Samsung Philippines today officially made the announcement and puts
the suggested price at Php10,980. This makes the Samsung Galaxy 5
i5500 the cheapest Android smartphone in the local market today.
Samsung Galaxy 5 i5503: [...] Related posts:Neo B4103 takes
cheapest Core i3 crown! During a round-table discussion yesterday
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Android... HTC Tattoo could be cheapest Android phone People have
been wondering why Android phones like the ones... Samsung i5500
Galaxy 5 selling for Php11,400 Looks like Samsung’s cheapest
Android smartphone...
We checked out the Polaroid Pogo and the Polaroid Photo Exhibit at
the MegaMall this afternoon which features photo manipulation of
the print-outs by Foto Baryo. Yes, the Polaroid is not dead. The
Polaroid Pogo is a digital camera with a built-in printer. You can
check your photos with the 3-inch LCD, edit and adjust [...]
Related posts:How the dSLR changed Photography? I earlier wrote a
draft that looked into the photography... Xiao TIP-521 Digicam
comes with a Printer! It’s like the Polaroid all over again.
Japanese toy company... Sony Ericsson c905 sports 8.1MP Camera The
c905 wants to be a digital camera than a... Shutterbox: Earn from
your stock photos. I have over 500 stock photos in my Photo
Gallery... Send them a bill! Anton Sheker emails and points to a
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Here ' s a tip for all you ladies as you are traveling. Make sure
that your bag doesn't have a huge hole in it before you head off
for a full day of European adventures. You might just lose your
keys. Yes the curse of Tara being locked out of her apartment has
struck Germany as well. Let me just go over both the high and low
points of the adventure.I was getting ready to leave a friend ' s h
Got an awesome score teaching today. Ate yummy pasta like chicken
alfredo for lunch today. London nanny job was a scam but I've heard
back from some author looking for an assistant who's interested and
applied to 5 more jobs tonight. I'm so hot I think I'm going to
sleep with frozen water bottles all over me. Killed a roach in the
shower today. Almost broke my spine trying to wash it down the
It feels I have been away for ages No actually I was just busy
sorting out my life. Just little stuff changing job moving out
getting used to the Turkish mentality enjoying some new wines well
just getting along with life really.So yes I have a new job nice
one away from the rat race doing something usefull on this Earth
and helping teachers teaching. And a new flat too new barrio I
Hey tousJe viens de me rendre compte que je dois accepter vos
commentaires pour qu'ils paraissent alors milles excuses tous ceux
qui m'ont crit tant donn que je n'ai pas rpondu Mais je suis
heureuse d'avoir de vos nouvelles et de savoir que quelques
personnes suivent mes aventures ici Malheureusement l'accs
l'internet est trs limit ce qui rend mon blog trs peu actif. Mais
je vais e
Good times Things have been going swimmingly well. I managed to get
my washing done buy tickets for a special excursion tomorrow scale
a mountain scale my uke come down the mountain and brew myself
another excellent cuppaEven the sun has been out. I started out
finding a nice bakery and getting myself a hefty cinnamon roll for
breakfast. I also ordered a sandwich to take for my picnic lunch
Well Aunt Swedish Berry and I arrived in Stockholm today around
10am Canadian time. We had a pretty long 10 hour flight on probably
the smallest most cramped plane known to mankind Learn from this
people dont take 10 hour leisure flights. Very uncomfortable One
saving grace is that we did get to watch English tv shows on the
way like How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory. We arrived
Hey there everyone We are still hanging out in here in Pennsylvania
trying to figure out what there is to see and do. Yesterday we went
to the town of Hershey where the BIG Hershey chocolate factory is.
It is very interesting how they advertise it as free but once you
get there you find out that they charge you for everything that you
want to do except for breathe. We were able to take this
Well I only have a couple of days left now till I head home which
is amazing but then when I think of all I've seen and done it does
feel like I've been away a while.By the way as there are no
Internet cafes in Bergen as far as I can make out the remaining
photos won't go up until I get home Saturday. Thanks for nearing
with me and all this barren text.Today is my excursion day. I got a
specia
On this blog I shall focus pretty much solely on my Argentina leg
of the trip but before I do I should do my usual thing of painting
a picture of where I currently am so you can see me in your mind's
eye like a scruffy travelling less horse like male version of
Carrie Bradshaw beavering away on his latest literary effort. So I
am in a city in Peru called Cusco pretty much killing time until
Monday morning already only 2 more days until we fly home. We
headed off for a day of tourist activity. Went with Joe Naomi and
Jon to Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge. In the heart of the city the
suspension bridge hangs over an amazing river at quite a height.
Under the bridge young people swim in the river being dare devils
and leaping from rock ledges into the pools below. We wallked for
about
Well over the Sea to Sky Highway at any rate so named because it
starts by the sea Pacific Ocean and goes up into the mountains the
Vancouver Coastal Mountain Range. Except that I did it from the
mountains down to the sea so I guess that really makes it over the
Sky to Sea but that doesnrsquot really have the same ring to it...
Stop rambling Greenfield and get on with it would youO
Temp in high 80s today. Did not travel today. After yesterday
decided to take two days here. Jack cooked breakfast of eggs bacon
and Aleta fixed biscuits. Shelby cooked supper of grilled steak.
Pleasant day of rest. Heading out for Oregon tomorrow.
Left Twisp WA headed to La Grande OR. At 1130AM temp is 88 degrees.
Stopped by Dry Falls which is stated to have been the world's
largest waterfall. This place is huge. Also stopped by Moses Lake
WA at WalMart to replenish things. 330PM it is 95 degrees. Came
into Oregon at 500 PM with 98 degrees in Unatilla OR. Had to pull
the Pace Arrow over at the top of a big clime as the engin
The Results are inSeeing as verbally conversing with young males is
akin to walking through plate glass I thought I would try to elicit
their views of some of the favorite things on our tour with a
survey. I locked them in a room until they were done and combined
with Nadine and my surveys the results are below.Even this quick
survey brought some surprises. So without further adieuhellipl
On this day... well... Mirjam the light of my life and the center
of my universe has decided that we aren't meant to be.What does
this mean Well at this time I won't be returning to Europe. Despite
what I've learned and all the preparations I made as far as I can
see it's over.How do I feel about this I'll be honest putting aside
the emotional destruction I feel as though I've been rippe
E noho r257 New Zealand and a big hola from Santiago After a very
long flight we have travelled back in time and continent hopped to
Chile on the last and very exciting leg of our world tour. A good
thing was since we crossed the international date line we woke up
to the same Tuesday to live this day twice in 2 days.What was not
so good was me picking up a bad throat infection in the Auckla
i have decided on a new trip. Aug 31 i head to new york city for 3
days. any help with discount broadway tickets would be great. i
want to see wicked and american idiot. then i fly into istanbul
turkey. i am looking for a room now. from there i will visit turkey
and then head to bulgaria macedonia albania and possibly romania
before i leave from athens greece in the beginning of november. i
Morning started early could not sleep. Up at 6am. After talking
with Workhorse Service Center in Marietta GA head to WalMart to get
air filter. Took wrong exit and wound up on gravel road with no
space to turn entire rig around so we dropped the LilTruk and
turned around. Aleta followed me back to WalMart we get the air
filter and Aleta had a good laugh when my belt buckly kept getting
Beautiful sunny 92 degree day in Wells NV. Decided to have the
motorhome washed. Looking for fuel filter for motorhome hope to
find in Salt Lake City. We crosssed 6967 elevation in Nevada.
Message center displayed message of Reduced Engine Power and
motorhome would not exceed 400 rpms. Pulled off after a few minutes
message went away and engine seemed to run fine. Continued down the
roa
This week is my school's anniversary which means that there's a lot
of activities happening every day. During every recess the school
hosts some kind of competition where grades get points and the
winner earns the ultimate prize which I still don't know what it
is. So far I've seen sports dance and games competitions among
other crazy things. So you can believe me when I say that there is
abs
We started the day thinking that we needed to call Jodie and wish
her happy birthday. She didnrsquot answer so we sang her a
message.Next we stopped at the museum and archives. We had a lot of
questions and werenrsquot sure how to find the answers. The young
ladies there tried to help us but we werenrsquot having much luck
with our ideas. While they were dragging out files and looking on
Woke up on Tuesday for a tour of Quebec city. Skipped breakfast as
we had too much food the night beforeThe citedal is beautiful and
worth a visit. It is a Unesco world heretage site.The local guide
was excellent and she had a voice that could possibly shatter glass
at 50 paces.After the tour we had time to explore. The department
store Simons and the railway hotel and roman catholic church.An e
Mongol Vs Conductor We had taken our seats and were waiting for the
bus to fill when the old Mongolian got on. Every craggy feature on
his wizened old face had a story to tell none more so than the
large cleft in his left ear. Aimless incoherent mutterings fell
from his toothless mouth. Here was a character who had many a
battle behind him. Bent double he slowly lurched down the bus
before li
Since I am temping there are many days that I am not actually
working which is frustrating to say the least. But everyday I keep
trying and trying. Sunday was a really sunny warm looking day out
and Leahanne was off to spend some time with her family so I
decided to head down to St Kilda beach. It's obviously too cold to
go swimming. I headed down the famous Acland Street and went past
Luna Park a
Well I've had some ups and downs since i've moved to Australia.
Leahanne and her roomie Karen were so awesome for letting me stay
with them as long as I did but it was time to move on. I found a
backpacker apartment to move into in the same area as Leahanne.
It's an agency that has a couple of apartments and rents them out
to backpackers and puts small groups and singles together. So I
went to c
We arose early as we were leaving Tennant Creek to begin our long
journey across the Great Artesian Basin to Mt Isa. The day was
clear and cool and sun strike was the early problem. As we left
town we were almost wiped out by a road train turning across our
bow. This was really scary we came up to the lights and we had the
right of way green light. Luckily Graham noticed this huge road
train co
Hallo iedereen met veel goede zin publiceren wij onze blog
genspireerd van onze avonturen uit Australi het is nogal een lap
tekst geworden dus smeer nog even een broodje of zet koffie. Voor
diegene die zich zelf met zijn hoofd op het toetsenbord vindt dat
vinden wij niet erg zolang er maar een berichtje achter gelaten
wordt. Veel plezier en de groeten van Jan Elise Roel AnkaZo'n vier
ma
Today we stayed around Mt Isa in recovery mode after the long trip
yesterday. The weather was clear but windy. It warmed up during the
afternoon. This is very much a mining town the mines produce lead
copper tin silver and gold. We walked up to Observation Hill along
Rodeo Drive had lunch in a coffee shop had the windscreen fixed and
then visited the Underground Hospital. This hospi
Chengdu is endowed with plentiful natural resources and sites of
historic interest. The city of Chengdu is home to China's living
treasures the Giant Panda as well as many other endangered species.
With a history of over 2400 years it is home to many amazing
historical sites and archaeological wonders and Chengdu's local
cuisine is world renowned for its delicious spiciness. The life
pace in Ch
Scrambling to pack and I have two meetings with our agency guide
today so have to get over to the island both times. Allen will stay
here with the boys. Yesterday was great quietish breakfast a first
with no screaming only moderate mess. Coming back from dinner Bao
stuck his hand in the elevator door and Allen had to literally push
the door back to get it out. It made the elevator inoperable
. . . quite smitten with these streamlined and beautifully elegant
wooden laptop cases with leather lining -- a wonderful combination
of natural elements and technology, and a perfect mix of rustic and
modern . . .{images: rainer spehl via laissezfaire}{this is
glamorous} on facebook & follow on twitter copyright
© 2007-2010 {this is glamorous} all rights reserved
. . . hello! a quiet evening after a busy late-summer day, a little
exhausted and beautifully so, after an amazingly productive start
to the week and already it feels as if time is slipping away . . .
and drowning, drowning in e-mails and a little overwhelmed -- if
you have written and have not received a response, please take no
offense, and click here . . .hope you're having a perfectly
wonderful week so far,xo{photography by tommy ton for jak&jil
via apartment 34}{this is glamorous} on facebook & follow on
twitter copyright © 2007-2010 {this is glamorous} all
rights reserved
. . . august has always been a bittersweet month with thoughts of
summer's fading days lingering in the air, a light and breezy linen
dress one afternoon, a cozy camel-coloured cardigan the next, and
with each night that falls, the knowledge that soon the days will
become shorter and the nights . . . they will be brushed in shades
of sable and onyx and scattered with candlelight and bits of gold .
. .{images: 1 - patterson maker; 2 - fashion toast via startdust
memories; 3 & 10 - photography by candida höfer
via lisa golightly; 4 - absolutely beautiful things; 5 - livingetc
via fashionedit; 6 - coralie bickford-smith; 7 - a glamorous little
side project; 8 - anna casa via the diversion project}{this is
glamorous} on facebook & follow on twitter copyright
© 2007-2010 {this is gla...
This should be amusing: Target rented out the entire Standard Hotel
in NYC and are doing a huge light/music show with dancers in the
rooms. Daft Punk’s lighting guys are doing the light show,
Spike Jonze’s brother Sam Spiegel composed a 20 minute
original score and the choreography is supposedly amazing. Tonight
(Wednesday night) at [...]
Sweden—at least, it is if you adjust for national GDP while
measuring any given country’s share of the pop music market.
Foreign Policy has a cool explanatory graphic. Don’t worry,
America: Writer Joshua Keating also notes that “the
world’s most popular artists, no matter where they’re
from, often perform rock, R&B, and hip-hop tunes that are
unmistakably American in origin.” USA! USA! (Via @nobauerm)
Welcome to the Buddha Zen hotel, where the options are few and the
travelers are happy
Larry Habegger rounds up global travel news
Thirty years later, Guardian writer Peter Bradshaw looks back on a
youthful European tour he took as winner of an essay contest.
It’s a good read: There was no listening to iPods or iPhones
- even the Sony Walkman was years away from being commonplace - and
no tearful texting our mums from our mobiles. We didn’t tweet
and we didn’t upload loads of digital pictures to our
Facebook pages. We were going abroad, cut off utterly by the
Channel, taking pictures with Kodak instamatic cameras that would
take a month to develop. There was no nonsense about making sure we
didn’t get dehydrated, or giving us water bottles etc. We
just sweated southward through Europe in those non-aircon coaches,
got out, did some sightseeing and partied after-hours in our
hotel-rooms—al...
The Microsoft Press has just released some amazing, user-friendly
books for MS Excel 2010, MS Office 2010 & MS Outlook 2010.
Microsoft® Office 2010 Plain & Simple by Katherine
Murray This colorful, no-nonsense guide uses easy-to-follow steps
and screenshots, and clear, concise language to show the simplest
ways to get things done with Microsoft [...]
Being an Energizer Smart ChargHer at this year’s BlogHer was
an amazing experience for me. Not only did I have the opportunity
to work with a reputable and generous company but it also allowed
me to talk about a very useful product – the Energizer Smart
Charger. During the BlogHer event, I was able to talk [...]
I have been using Dove products for years, and have even been
trying to get my husband to convert. Of course now it’s easy
because Dove recently released a line of body care products just
for men! My husband was able to try out their new line, thanks to
Dove, and he loves them! He tried [...]
Welcome to this week’s Hot Links of the Week.
If you would like to have your giveaway included in an upcoming
edition, please email me the information
at anislandreview at gmail dot com. Please include your
blog name, what is being given away, the date it ends, who it is
open to (US, Canada, Worldwide) and a [...]
My family has always loved the characters of Sesame Street. Kacie
liked Zoe, Kiana likes Abby Caddaby and Kaila is fascinated by
Elmo. I don’t know if it’s the songs, the bright
colors, or the stories but Sesame Street has been a part of our
family from the very beginning. We recently had the opportunity to
[...]
Only one more week to wait! *squee*I do have to say, though, the
couple of book leaks I have seen make me nervous. Because I
do NOT want spoilers. I don't even want to hear vague
statements like "It ends badly" or "I love the way the
ended!". I may have to go into lockdown mode. No
twitter, no Facebook, no blog reading until I've read
Mockingjay for myself. Unless people keep their spoilers to
themselves. Let's revisit Suzanne Collins' statement shall
we?One of the most important things to me is that everyone in the
world is going to be able to experience the final book of The
Hunger Games all at the same time, and be able to discover what
happens in the book without hearing about it elsewhere first. Word
will certainly travel fast, but I urge you â...
At some point in the (near?) future, MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer
Online Role-Playing Games) run some of the
world’s biggest economies. There are millions
who play for fun, and then there are the millions of
“gold farmers†in poor countries
who play for prestige items for their bosses to sell to the highest
bidder. A diverse group of young people from all over the world get
caught up in a movement that dares to challenge the status quo,
trying to form a workers union across borders while staying at
least one step ahead of the muscle (and police) hired by the big
bosses and the gamerunners.Sounds complicated
doesn’t it? Aside from this being pitched to me
as dystopia (which, honestly, doesn’t actually
describe it very well) and being written by Cory Doctorow whose
last book LITT...
A lot of the dystopian lit coming out these days is in the form of
series books, usually trilogies, but sometimes even longer (6
books? Michael Grant? Really?).And it can be FUN to follow a
series, but it can also be frustrating to have to wait so long
between books.Which ones I am inpatiently waiting for?
Let’s start with the ones I gave 5 zombie
chickens to.I loved Maria V Snyder’s INSIDE OUT
(read my review) so I am ridiculously excited for OUTSIDE IN,
coming March 2011. And it even has a cover already. Looks like more
“fun†in the pipes for Trella and
Riley. I also gave the first book in Jasper
Fforde’s SHADES OF GREY trilogy the ultimate
rating (read my review), so was very saddened to hear that the
second book SHADES OF GREY 2: PAINTING BY NUMBERS,
won’t be out until 2014...
Think the Burning Man festival is just for hippies? Think again.
The cult event that’s been gaining momentum
since it started in 1986 is expected to draw 50,000 people into the
primitive Black Rock Desert in Nevada from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6. Part
art fest, part culture crawl, part way-off-the-grid retreat, the
remote festival about [...]
James Bond wearing flip-flops instead of tuxedos? It’s all
part of the story of GoldenEye Hotel and Resort, the northern
Jamaican enclave where the super-suave spy was born from the mind
of Ian Fleming. The author’s home, which was turned into an
uber-tony beach resort by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell,
is set to reopen Oct. [...]
Try something new and keep your cool with a Labor Day getaway to
one of Chicago’s newest high-rise hotels. The
Hotel Palomar Chicago, run by California-based Kimpton Hotels &
Resorts, received good buzz from Hotel Chatter when it opened
earlier this year in the city’s artsy River North section.
The hotel offers a money-saving [...]
JetBlue Airways has revived its “All You Can Jet” pass,
which gives you unlimited travel for 30 days, starting Sept. 7, for
$499 (except for flights on Fridays and Sundays) or $699 (any day).
This year you have even less time to buy it: You must act by
Friday, and even then, the offer is [...]
Open-water swimmer Bruckner Chase (pictured above) only has to look
down at his abs, decorated with jellyfish tattoos, to recall his
aborted attempt last year to swim about 25 miles from Santa Cruz to
Monterey along California’s Central Coast. He got stung
repeatedly — first by long, wispy, orange
jellies and then later by purple [...]
In the hot days of summer, it’s easy to think
about visiting China when the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square (in
photo above) may have a dusting of snow. Ritz Tours offers a Scenic
Winter Special, starting under $2,000 per person, that includes
airfare from Los Angeles and hits the highlights in Beijing, Xian,
Guilin [...]
NEW YORK - Where would you go if you could All You Can
Jetâ„¢ (#AYCJâ„¢) on JetBlue
Airways? read more
NEW DELHI - Tourists headed to Old Delhi during the Commonwealth
Games will be greeted by the usual chaos in and around Jama Masjid.
read more
A new agreement between Tourism Western Australia (WA) and Jetstar
is set to increase visitor numbers to Perth from the east coast.
read more
The Japanese are feeling the impact of China's emergence as an
economic superpower in many different ways. read more
SANTIAGO - The man picked to steer the airline that will result
from a merger between LAN and TAM, Enrique Cueto, helped save
Chile's flagship carrier from the read more
Being host nation of a major international event is a massive
investment. The 2010 FIFA World Cup staged in South Africa is no
exception. read more
Frontier Airlines will continue flying to Aspen after all, despite
saying last month it planned to end flights to the ritzy mountain
resort town after Sept. 30. read more
From rising traffic to increased fares, the airline industry is
enjoying a surprising upswing in the face of lingering doubt about
the strength of the economic recovery. read more
A Southwest Airlines flight attendant reportedly removed a baby
from her parents' care mid-flight after witnessing the mother slap
her crying child. read more
Salt Lake City will host the U.S. Travel Association's Educational
Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) in August of next year.
read more
Almost 3,000 tourists are stranded on the Colombian Caribbean
island of San Andres because the wreckage of Monday's plane crash
remains on the airport's runway. read more
Three German tourists have been injured after a coach was stoned in
east Belfast. The vehicle was attacked on the King's Road, in the
city at about 2130 BST on Monday. read more
ITALY (eTN) - Forte dei Marmi is a sea town in the province of
Lucca, in northern Tuscany in Italy. read more
NEW YORK – Full flights? Get used to them.
Stressed flight attendants and call centers in India? Get used to
those, too. read more
Chiang Mai - A Tourist Police troupe dancing to the Korean pop song
"Sorry Sorry" by the Super Junior boy band has become a mega-hit on
YouTube. read more
If it is what we can look forward to in 2012, then holy cow! I
think Shanghai might have finally gotten its first absolutely
must-see museum attraction. Designed by Perkins + Will, the
"Shanghai Nature Museum" features a nautilus shell-like design
shape and will contain 35,000 square meters of display space, as
well as research space underground (which members apparently have
access to). According to Shanghai Daily, members of the museum will
actually be able to take part in research activities in their
underground lab. How cool is that? The Shanghai Natural History
Museum 2.0 will open in Jing'an Sculpture Space in 2012... and it
may be free. I have to admit, when I first found out the place we
dubbed as the most "podunk museum" in Shanghai was closing down, I
was a little disappointed....
Photo by HeyItsWilliam More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute
page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag
your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos
to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our
site (and here).
Need a health boost? As if unsafe food, natural disasters and the
possibility of needing to clean up crude oil in nothing but your
skivvies wasn't bad enough, men in China may be facing a more dire
threat to their health - the one child policy and its resulting
lack of women. It's now well known that China's one child policy,
combined with "Confucian values," has resulted in millions more men
than women (though some say the gap isn't as pronounced as official
figures would have you believe). But while the situation has always
been unfortunate for the 20-some million single guys here, recent
studies contend that all men are being affected by the dearth of
girls. The Economist highlights two studies - one comparing life
spans of people born in the U.S. state of Wisconsin in 1957 to
th...
Good news for anyone who lives in Puxi and wants to visit our
economic rival/friendly sister city to the South: China Eastern
Airlines and its newish subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, will now be
launching direct flights to Hong Kong from Hongqiao International
Airport. They'll start up on Sept. 10 and increase the weekly
flights between the two destinations to over 200. Yay for at least
a 50% reduction in last minute taxi fares to the airport!
One of the most frustrating parts of living in Shanghai as a middle
class income holder is knowing that, while you can't afford an
apartment, half the stock in the city is sitting empty thanks to
zealous richer-than-you investors. That probably explains the
grassroots turnout for helping Sina.com's investigation into empty
houses in cities. The investigation came about after a report from
the National Bureau of Statistics found that unsold homes rose 0.2%
in terms of floor space at the end of June. But the report didn't
provide much specifics and refused to talk about the "housing
vacancy rate" - a widely debated issue that many feel goes straight
to the heart of accusations of real estate speculation. "There are
no official and reliable figures to reflect the vacancy rate in the
cur...
Alas, we apparently weren't rich enough to get on the guest list
for China's first "Private and Business Jet Expo" ever, held over
the weekend in Hongqiao airport, since we just found out about it
now. People who could schmooze their ways in were treated to
private jet aircrafts displays, demonstration flights and
exhibition pavilions, as well as some measure of controversy. It
seems that private jets have yet to be added to the list of Chinese
goods under the "luxury tax," turning private aviation pollution
"into a legal vacuum where no related department is involved in" -
an especially sensitive issue considering both the rising wealth
gap and China's growing environmental concerns.
In remembrance of the now past Qixi Festival (China's Valentine's
Day, kinda) here's a very cute video by some young couple who
managed to film themselves kissing at each and every Expo Pavilion.
The concept sounds gross and PDA-y, but the way they decided to go
about it was actually pretty adorable and sweet (and, I guess, the
Taylor Swift soundtrack helps). I especially love the handshake for
the DPRK Pavilion. According to Shanghai Expo Insights, the video
has spread like wildfire through BBSes and websites.
Photo from Shanghaiist Flickr Pool by Je.T. The recent landslides
in Gansu, which have racked up a death toll of killed 1117 people
so far, has gotten the LA Times to ponder the issue of disposable
chopsticks. Why? Because apparently, they contribute greatly to the
ongoing deforestation and desertification of China, which has been
blamed for causing worse floods every year. Some crazy stats about
China's disposable chopsticks usage, from the article and some
extra research, below: China's population goes through roughly 45
billion pairs of disposable chopsticks a year - that's 130 million
pairs a day. To keep up with this demand, 100 acres of trees - 100
American football fields worth - are felled every day. That means
that one acre of trees gets cut down to make chopsticks every 1...
One of the biggest culinary events around the world, Restaurant
Week is here for a second run in Shanghai. This edition will
include even more restaurants at cheaper prices. Who can resist?
Restaurant Week 2 starts September 6th but venues take reservations
starting today. The purpose of Restaurant Week, according to
co-founder Bierman, is to introduce local gourmands onto the
Western dining scene. Although a few major Chinese venues have
found their way onto the list, the restaurants are still mostly
Western. Participating restaurants will serve three-course set
dinners for RMB 238, and three-course set lunches for RMB 118.
Notables on the list this year include Hamilton House, T8 (which
was wildly popular last year), Kathleen's 5, and the entire Laris
empire (Laris, Downstairs, and ...
Photo from Flickr Commons by Pete Kraynak By Daniel Mark Carr We
all know that many things are on the rise in China; the economy,
the middle class population, the number of foreign TV series, and
if the last few days are anything to go by, the temperature! Now
add to the list... wait for it, ‘Hymenorrhaphy’. The
surgical reconstruction of the hymen. Earlier this month we
reported that China ranked second in countries with most plastic
surgery procedures, but it seems youthful looks aren’t all
that women are searching for. More and more women are requesting to
become ‘born again virgins’ via this procedure to
reconstruct the hymen; aptly nicknamed ‘revirginity’.
The aim of the procedure is to cause bleeding during post-nuptial
intercourse. T...
Is this what Mugabe came over to Shanghai for? Rumors are rising
that Zimbabwe may be considering using the Chinese yuan as legal
tender, rather than their now completely useless Zimbabwe dollar
(officially stopped in 2009). Allegedly, tourist department head
Hon. Walter Mzembi told First Finance Daily, "I hope that in the
future, people in Zimbabwe will be able to use Chinese bank cards
and the yuan to make purchases, even take out RMB loans."
Because of the Spring/Summer animal love fest season, you've
probably noticed a lot of sad, mewling, motherless kittens
desperately screaming out for help in your compound. I've
personally had quite a few friends come up to me asking me what to
do when, hearts softened by these pitiful creatures, they've picked
them up and taken them home. So, in order to give my friends - and
all you potential foster parents - the most accurate info possible,
we asked volunteers at Jaiya's Animal Rescue for a step-by-step
process for helping strays. Here it is below: On the internet you
can find several rescue guidelines from different animal rescue
volunteers around the world but, unfortunately, there is no single
standard for these kind of guidelines. Hereafter, this article
explores the issue based...
Yuyintang is insanely busy this week, with an act almost every
night! And what acts too - hip hop, dream pop, math rock and folk
all make appearances. Besides that, you can also get into Fatman
Scoop, Teengirl Fantasy and Shonen Knife - top acts from around the
world that are all making an appearance here this week. WEDNESDAY
Tonight, check out cool Chinese hip-hop acts at Yuyintang from the
Two-egg Gas hip hop label: PuzzleJ, Huggy, Mr. Trouble, Gay, Jui,
Rey, Kobushi and 17 Vega will be spinning decks and dropping
rhymes. 50RMB cover. 8pm, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on
Kaixuan Lu),
延安西路1731å·
THURSDAY If you like your music dark and minimal, check out
Bass-ment at Shelter on Thursday. Germany's DJ Jacob, France's
SnowB and Steven Lorenz, and the U.K.'s Minimal ...
As Maura Elizabeth Cunningham and Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom mention in
Yale Global, Chinese officials have been disappointed by the lack
of foreigner interest in the World Expo. While foreign media
outlets have done their part to talk about and promote the event,
very few foreigners are actually coming. Then again, this may just
be because, "more than any city in the world, Shanghai already
resembles a futuristic fairground even when no circus is in town,"
making this age's World's Fair redundant.
Why did a bunch of pregnant ladies get together to
paint Haibao on their bellies? To win a Pregnant Woman Fashion show
at the 5th Body Painting Exhibition on Hainan Island. This year's
theme was "Lucky 'Pregnant' International Tourist Island respondes
to the Shanghai World Expo," which is why each and everyone of
these pre-borns got the Haibao treatment. Contestants came from all
over China, including Inner Mongolia and - of course - Shanghai.
Apparently, the contest is still accepting applicants, so if you're
in your third trimester and would love to get Haibao painted on
your belly, head down to Haikou right now!
According to People's Daily, Shanghai's minimum monthly salary
standard is set at 1,120RMB, currently the highest in China. Under
national law, provincial governments must adjust local minimum wage
standards every two years - and Shanghai, part of the coastal
economic powerhouses along with JIangsu and Zhejiang, were the
first to raise the standard in February. Now they're joined by 27
other provinces, including, most recently, Qinghai.
It's quite amazing the lengths that some selfless cadres will go to
in their official duties - even if it comes at the cost of their
own life. One sad example is 29-year-old Zhu Jihong, whose
promising career was cut short on July 24 after a well-deserved
toilet break suddenly turned fatal. According to an online forum
post by a work colleague named “Wanggouyou”, Zhu was
enjoying a typical routine of toil that began with an early lunch.
Afterwards, Zhu “surfed the internet as usual and chatted
with his girlfriend online. He promised to meet her later and
logged off… later he went to the bathroom and fell.” In
recognition of Zhu’s tireless devotion to the grind, Sichuan
officials immediately recognized his status as an
“Outstanding Party Member&...
What that buys, according to Gady Epstein at Forbes: "Weekend
classes, summer schools and small group trips over three to four
years before they start school at American colleges. Their teachers
at the program, the two-year-old Leadership Academy Shanghai, are
mostly recent graduates from the best universities in China. The
instruction style is bespoke and not very Confucian: very small
classes, with students challenging their teachers." Oh yes, and not
only bragging rights when your kid actually gets in, but the
security of presuming he might actually be qualified to take over
your family business when you retire - something the older
generation apparently regards as priceless.
Considering how its release over here was panned as one of China's
worst movies that year, I hope American audiences don't go into
this thinking it'll be the next House of Flying Daggers or Hero.
Say what you will about the quality of those movies, but at least
they were entertaining.
i am a 64 year old single american bi male looking seriously into
moving to india to live. am world traveller/expat, having been a
vagabond since my teens, however india always escaped me. have been
retired for years but my SS and investments are, sadly,...
Morning to you all, I am hoping that someone can help me....
Hi I am currently planning my first travelling adventure to begin
January 2012 for 6 months. I am mainly looking at the classic 4
stop Thailand - Australia - New Zealand - LA and i am trying to
work out a relistic budget for my boyfriend and I....
Are we there yet? We nearly are....
While other island destinations may be debatable, you can write off
Ko Samui (and side trip to Ang Thong) and Ko Samet with certainty.
You've been warned Have a nice day
Okay everyone - time to decide when and where we will have our
annual Spring Carnival Piss-up. Along with a hands up of who will
be coming along. ...
