Friday, December 31, 2010
All About the Rose Bowl
With the holidays over, there is just one more winter tradition left: The Rose Bowl.
Iguanas in the Everglades
Green iguanas are originally from Mexico and South America, but came to the United States in a number of ways. They stowed away on ships, escaped from private homes, were intentially released by exotic pet owners, or were brought to the States through natural disasters (like hurricanes). These reptiles are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruit and flowers. Green iguanas might look clumsy, but they are fast and sprightly runners. When threatened, a green iguana will leap onto a branch, jump into water, whip its tail or bite a predator. They can even detach their tail when attacked. For these reasons, there are signs in the Everglades – usually near beaches – that read Do Not Feed the Iguanas. But besides these signs, the green iguanas here are mostly ignored and tolerated. Once upon a time these invasive animals were compared to meandering docile peacocks, but because the population in the Everglades has been left undisturbed, green iguana numbers are on the rise.Invasive animals disrupt delicate ecosystems, and Florida's alien animals and plants are wreaking havoc in the Everglades. Read more about how giant, hungry pythons are taking over this national park.On tonight's Python Hunters: Everglades Under Siege, follow Greg and Shawn as they investigate this park's invasive species and evaluate predator-prey relationships.Watch Python Hunters: Everglades Under Siege TONIGHT at 8P et/pt on Nat Geo Wild!
Winter holiday celebrations in Russia
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Europe, Russian Federation
In most of the western world, Christmas and Hanukkah have come and gone, but in Russia, presents are being wrapped in anticipation of tonight, New Year's Eve. In the days of the Soviet Union, religious celebrations were frowned upon, so Russians shifted their winter celebrating to December 31 and combining the traditions of gift-exchanging and New Year's revelry into one night. In the Russian Orthodox church, Christmas isn't officially for another week, with the Julian calendar corresponding December 25 to January 7, 2011.
I arrived in Moscow last Friday (western Christmas Eve) to find the capital freezing but festive, with New Year's yolki (trees) decorated all over the city and various versions of Ded Moroz walking the streets, and now in St. Petersburg, locals are rushing home with Champagne and Charlie Brown-like trees under their arms. Nearly every public square has a large decorated tree and every store has elaborate holiday displays.
Gallery: Christmas in RussiaContinue reading Winter holiday celebrations in RussiaWinter holiday celebrations in Russia originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
In most of the western world, Christmas and Hanukkah have come and gone, but in Russia, presents are being wrapped in anticipation of tonight, New Year's Eve. In the days of the Soviet Union, religious celebrations were frowned upon, so Russians shifted their winter celebrating to December 31 and combining the traditions of gift-exchanging and New Year's revelry into one night. In the Russian Orthodox church, Christmas isn't officially for another week, with the Julian calendar corresponding December 25 to January 7, 2011.
I arrived in Moscow last Friday (western Christmas Eve) to find the capital freezing but festive, with New Year's yolki (trees) decorated all over the city and various versions of Ded Moroz walking the streets, and now in St. Petersburg, locals are rushing home with Champagne and Charlie Brown-like trees under their arms. Nearly every public square has a large decorated tree and every store has elaborate holiday displays.
Gallery: Christmas in RussiaContinue reading Winter holiday celebrations in RussiaWinter holiday celebrations in Russia originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The End of an Era: last roll of Kodachrome film has been processed
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Photos, North America, United States, NewsDwayne's Photo, located in Parsons, Kansas, hardly seems like a place where history is made. But that is exactly what happened yesterday when the photo shop processed the final rolls of Kodachrome film, effectively bringing the curtain down on one of the most well known brands in the history of photography.
Kodachrome film was originally introduced by Eastman Kodak back in 1935 and is widely recognized as the first successful color film in history. Over the past 75 years, it has been used by many of the world's top photographers and has captured numerous iconic images. Kodachrome was well known for its outstanding color reproduction and the ability to be stored nearly indefinitely, which helped to garner its legendary status amongst professionals and amateurs. But the process used to develop the photos shot on the film is a complex one which gave rise to a number of photo labs that specialized in developing those images.
In June of last year, Kodak announced that they were ending production of Kodachrome, citing the rise of digital photography for its demise. The company had stopped processing the film themselves several years back, and years of declining sales saw most Kodachrome labs closed down. At the time of the announcement, Dwayne's Photo was home to the last processing machine in the world, and earlier this year they announced that that machine would shut down on December 30.
With Kodachrome's expiration date clearly defined, photographers across the globe sprung into action. Many had stockpiled the film over the years and they now scrambled to use their final rolls before the deadline. Yesterday, dozens of them, from across the U.S. and around the world, descended on Dwayne's to have those final rolls processed. In the end, last roll of Kodachrome to ever be developed actually belongs to Dwayne's owner Dwayne Steinle.
When that final roll of Kodachrome slipped through the processing machine yesterday, it truly did mark the end of an era. And while most of us have moved on to easy-to-use digital camera options, which offer instant gratification for a new generation of photographers, it is impossible to understate how important Kodachrome has been to the art of photography over the past 75 years. So the next time you pick up your fancy new digital to capture that perfect shot, take a moment to recognize a bygone era and remember that you'll need to tweak that image in Photoshop just to try to equal the color captured with Kodachrome.
The End of an Era: last roll of Kodachrome film has been processed originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Kodachrome film was originally introduced by Eastman Kodak back in 1935 and is widely recognized as the first successful color film in history. Over the past 75 years, it has been used by many of the world's top photographers and has captured numerous iconic images. Kodachrome was well known for its outstanding color reproduction and the ability to be stored nearly indefinitely, which helped to garner its legendary status amongst professionals and amateurs. But the process used to develop the photos shot on the film is a complex one which gave rise to a number of photo labs that specialized in developing those images.
In June of last year, Kodak announced that they were ending production of Kodachrome, citing the rise of digital photography for its demise. The company had stopped processing the film themselves several years back, and years of declining sales saw most Kodachrome labs closed down. At the time of the announcement, Dwayne's Photo was home to the last processing machine in the world, and earlier this year they announced that that machine would shut down on December 30.
With Kodachrome's expiration date clearly defined, photographers across the globe sprung into action. Many had stockpiled the film over the years and they now scrambled to use their final rolls before the deadline. Yesterday, dozens of them, from across the U.S. and around the world, descended on Dwayne's to have those final rolls processed. In the end, last roll of Kodachrome to ever be developed actually belongs to Dwayne's owner Dwayne Steinle.
When that final roll of Kodachrome slipped through the processing machine yesterday, it truly did mark the end of an era. And while most of us have moved on to easy-to-use digital camera options, which offer instant gratification for a new generation of photographers, it is impossible to understate how important Kodachrome has been to the art of photography over the past 75 years. So the next time you pick up your fancy new digital to capture that perfect shot, take a moment to recognize a bygone era and remember that you'll need to tweak that image in Photoshop just to try to equal the color captured with Kodachrome.
The End of an Era: last roll of Kodachrome film has been processed originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Two Skiers Survive Two Avalanches Near Montana Snowbowl
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RBS sells five-star Mayfair hotel to Indian billionaire
? Grosvenor House hotel sold to Indian conglomerate for �470m ? RBS consortium likely to end up with controlling interest in ailing Jarvis hotel groupTaxpayer-controlled Royal Bank of Scotland has sold Grosvenor House, the luxury Mayfair hotel built on the site of the former London residence of the dukes of Westminster, to an Indian billionaire for �470m.The 494-room property, one of London's largest five-star hotels, has been acquired by Sahara India Pariwar, a media conglomerate controlled by colourful industrialist Subrata Roy, who describes himself as "chief guardian, managing worker and chairman" of the Sahara group "family".The sale process was completed today as it emerged that a banking consortium led by RBS was likely to take a controlling interest in one of Britain's largest provincial hotel groups, Jarvis Hotels. Attempts to find a buyer for the business, which has breached its banking covenants, have failed.Jarvis was founded in 1990 by veteran hotel entrepreneur John Jarvis, a former head of Hilton International, when he bought 41 properties from drinks group Allied-Lyons. After about a year listed on the stock market, Jarvis took the business private, after a sale and leaseback deal. The �230m buyout was backed by private equity house Lioncourt Capital and a group of Irish investors.The company has been in breach of its banking covenants for more than two years. Accounts for Jarvis's parent group, Kayterm Limited, show that in March last year the group had more than �130m of liabilities and was being kept alive by covenant waivers from its banks. "The directors recognise that the company is dependent upon the agreement of its lenders to a restructuring in order for it to continue as a going concern," it states.Other lenders to Jarvis are believed to include HSBC and Bank of Ireland.With hopes of a sale now dashed, possible moves left open to Jarvis include a debt-for-equity swap or some form of administration, potentially a pre-packaged deal that would jettison certain onerous lease commitments.Meanwhile, though Grosvenor House did not fetch the �500m-plus price that RBS was reputedly seeking, the sale does underline the relatively strong market for ultra-premium London properties. Grosvenor House has undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment in recent years and is now managed by Marriott International. It is the last of about a dozen hotel properties acquired by the RBS consortium in a sale and leaseback deal with Le Meridien after the hotel operator was acquired in a �1.9bn buyout by Guy Hands' Terra Firma. Terra Firma ultimately handed the keys over to its bankers, Lehman Brothers, in 2003.Royal Bank of ScotlandTravel & leisureBankingHotelsSimon Bowersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Britain's best views: Cheshire
Right in the heart of Cheshire - county of cheesemakers and footballers' wives - Martin Wainwright finds two reminders of a wilder west that provide fantastic panoramas from their hilltop vantage pointsA fortified peak is the best kind of architecture, where crags and a castle combine to make an eagle's nest, a place for desperate sieges and last stands.After centuries without invasion or civil war, such places may sound unlikely in Britain, with its gently beautiful countryside and political tradition of compromise.But here is one, a miniature Masada or Montsegur right in the heart of Cheshire, county of cheesemakers and footballers' wives. Rising abruptly from the plain and its hobbity world of thatch and narrowboats, Beeston Castle is every warlike child's dream.Even today, you need to check English Heritage's opening hours - unless you have a scaling ladder or ballista in the back of your car. The gate through the lower wall shuts off the entire hill and the inner bailey on the rock summit has another great door, surrounded by precipices and the deep half-moon of a dry moat."I love it for climbing and hiding," said one of a gang of children out with their Mum for a pre-Christmas walk as the snow lurked visibly over the Welsh mountains to the west. A Cub Scout leader showing an American friend round picked up the theme, leading the way to a dog-sized hole in the base of an otherwise windowless, doorless bastion on the summit."We crawled in there when we were kids, and no grown-up could get in after us," he said. "The Cubs do the same nowadays." He counts them all in and counts them all out; and when they get back to English Heritage's gatehouse, with its shelves of desirable toy swords and armour, the staff have another revelation, nicely suited to getting cries of Gross and Yuck from the children."You were right underneath the castle's garderobe," they say, going on to explain how the neat little hiding place would once have been knee-deep in poo. Then there's the well; at 370ft, one of the deepest in any UK castle. A pebble takes almost seven seconds to clunk on the pile far below.Beeston never saw any blood-curdling sieges or heroic stands. It was obviously too difficult to spend time on, although this led to its one, humiliating capture. On an icy December night in 1643, nine Royalist soldiers helped by a traitor crept inside the inner bailey. The Parliamentary garrison commander was so astonished to see them there that he surrendered his much larger force on the spot.Most of Beeston's nine centuries have been spent much more peacefully, and after purchase by the Tollemache family in the 19th century it became a marvellous icon of the Picturesque. The first Earl Tollemache (pronounced Tollymarsh and a fake but grandiose name for a family originally called Halliday) was responsible for the beautiful landscaping of the site, with conifers, miniature copses and a circular woodland walk with takes in the 350ft sandstone cliff faces, woodpeckers, buzzards and some excellent caves.Tollemache was Cheshire's biggest landowner, outdoing even the nearby Duke of Westminster at Eaton Hall, but he made himself a name for liberalism and rural improvement. He adapted the Chartists' demand for "three acres and a cow" to "three acres and a cottage", housing his many workers with such efficiency that the Prime Minister William Gladstone called him "the greatest estate manager of the day".Tollemache was conscious of his own importance, however, and that is why the hamlet of Beeston, remarkably, boasts not just one hilltop castle, but two. At a cost of over �5 million in today's money, he built Peckforton Castle on top of the second local cliff, a fake fortress to go with his adopted name. Touring the enormous pink sandstone complex in 1858, Sir George Gilbert Scott called it aptly "the very height of masquerading".After a spell as what must have been a memorable children's home, Peckforton is now a cheerfully spoof-ancient hotel with marriage ceremonies featuring owls trained to fly down from the Great Hall's rafters with the ring. However fake, the endless bustle ? from piles of laundry to giggling chambermaids trying to manoeuvre a floor polisher down a spiral stone staircase ? is probably truer to genuine medieval castle life than Beeston's beautiful, silent ruins.Peckforton has one advantage over Beeston in view terms, too. From its battlements you get an awesome close-up of the genuine castle, almost toppling from its rocky perch. Even better is the panorama from the high point of the 37-mile Cheshire Sandstone Trail at Stanner Nab above Peckforton. Both castles stand proudly in the foreground.Beeston's own view would justify any siege. Because the hill rises so abruptly from the plain, the foreground looks tiny, a children's book world of miniature trains and tractors, but with the grandest of backgrounds stretching for miles. Wales' mountains are one buttress, the snow-capped Pennines the other. To the north, the Dee estuary's refineries and chemical plants frame the far-distant smudge of Liverpool cathedral.The great goal for Cheshire viewers, though, is Jodrell Bank, the radio telescope whose eye into infinity has the county bursting with pride. "There it is!" shouted one of the clambering children. "No, there!" said the Cub leader. The final attraction of a wonderful place, the faraway disc's visibility depends on its tilt, as the astrophysicists in charge change the angle of their peering into outer space.United KingdomMartin Wainwrightguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Six Injured After Chair Derails at Sugarloaf
The cable of Sugarloaf's Spillway East Lift derailed earlier this morning causing several chairs to fall nearly 30 feet to the ground.Six people were reportedly injured in the incident, however they have all been transported to area medical facilities. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening.High winds may have contributed to the derailment, but ?the cause of the incident is still unknown and is under investigation,? according to a statement released by the resort.Built in 1975, the lift receives daily safety checks and must undergo regular maintenance inspections conducted by both resort personnel and the State of Maine Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety.To make matters worse, the holiday week between Christmas and New Years can be one of the busiest times at Sugarloaf, especially on a powder day. Last night's storm left nearly two feet on the mountain. Approximately 220 people were on the crowded Spillway East when the accident occurred, and it took nearly two hours to evacuate the remaining people off the lift.For more information, read Sugarloaf?s official statement here.
RBS sells five-star Mayfair hotel to Indian billionaire
? Grosvenor House hotel sold to Indian conglomerate for �470m ? RBS consortium likely to end up with controlling interest in ailing Jarvis hotel groupTaxpayer-controlled Royal Bank of Scotland has sold Grosvenor House, the luxury Mayfair hotel built on the site of the former London residence of the dukes of Westminster, to an Indian billionaire for �470m.The 494-room property, one of London's largest five-star hotels, has been acquired by Sahara India Pariwar, a media conglomerate controlled by colourful industrialist Subrata Roy, who describes himself as "chief guardian, managing worker and chairman" of the Sahara group "family".The sale process was completed today as it emerged that a banking consortium led by RBS was likely to take a controlling interest in one of Britain's largest provincial hotel groups, Jarvis Hotels. Attempts to find a buyer for the business, which has breached its banking covenants, have failed.Jarvis was founded in 1990 by veteran hotel entrepreneur John Jarvis, a former head of Hilton International, when he bought 41 properties from drinks group Allied-Lyons. After about a year listed on the stock market, Jarvis took the business private, after a sale and leaseback deal. The �230m buyout was backed by private equity house Lioncourt Capital and a group of Irish investors.The company has been in breach of its banking covenants for more than two years. Accounts for Jarvis's parent group, Kayterm Limited, show that in March last year the group had more than �130m of liabilities and was being kept alive by covenant waivers from its banks. "The directors recognise that the company is dependent upon the agreement of its lenders to a restructuring in order for it to continue as a going concern," it states.Other lenders to Jarvis are believed to include HSBC and Bank of Ireland.With hopes of a sale now dashed, possible moves left open to Jarvis include a debt-for-equity swap or some form of administration, potentially a pre-packaged deal that would jettison certain onerous lease commitments.Meanwhile, though Grosvenor House did not fetch the �500m-plus price that RBS was reputedly seeking, the sale does underline the relatively strong market for ultra-premium London properties. Grosvenor House has undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment in recent years and is now managed by Marriott International. It is the last of about a dozen hotel properties acquired by the RBS consortium in a sale and leaseback deal with Le Meridien after the hotel operator was acquired in a �1.9bn buyout by Guy Hands' Terra Firma. Terra Firma ultimately handed the keys over to its bankers, Lehman Brothers, in 2003.Royal Bank of ScotlandTravel & leisureBankingHotelsSimon Bowersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
The big travel Christmas quiz
Put your world knowledge to the test with the Lonely Planet's bumper travel quiz
Travel Photo Tips: What is ISO, and how does it affect my pictures?
Filed under: Learning, Photos, Through the Gadling Lens
ISO. Three little letters which stand for International Organization for Standardization (not exactly thrilling) and make a monumental difference in the outcome of images, particularly in low-light scenarios. It's one of the most prominently featured specifications of any modern digital camera, and it's one single aspect that can make a night-and-day difference in the outcome of your shots. If you're on the road, on vacation or just galavanting about with your new camera, there are a few key pointers you need to know about how ISO works, and how it can affect the snapshots your take. We'll spare you the behind-the-scenes, science-y explanation on ISO though and get right to the heart of the matter.
While film and photography purists may balk at the assumption, the average photographer really only needs to know a couple of things about ISO -- particularly the novice who simply needs their vacation photos to look at least somewhat like how they remember the scene looking.
FIn general, if a camera has a wide ISO range then it can capture faster moving action in low-light settings. Also, higher ISO ranges enable handheld shots to be taken further into the evening (and without blur). The gallery below highlights every single ISO stop between 200 and 104,200 on a Nikon D3s. Few cameras will offer an ISO range similar to this, but walking through it shot-by-shot gives you a great view of how a boosted ISO alters the outcome of a shot. Pictures are worth a thousand words, as they say. All of the other settings were kept constant for these shots (Shutter Speed: 1/8 of a second; f/5.0; 50mm focal length, no flash fired; auto white balance; tripod-mounted shot). Click the 'Read More' link here for a deeper dive into ISO, along with loads of pointers on how and when to tweak the value when shooting.
Gallery: ISO comparison gallery: 200 through 102,400Continue reading Travel Photo Tips: What is ISO, and how does it affect my pictures?Travel Photo Tips: What is ISO, and how does it affect my pictures? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
ISO. Three little letters which stand for International Organization for Standardization (not exactly thrilling) and make a monumental difference in the outcome of images, particularly in low-light scenarios. It's one of the most prominently featured specifications of any modern digital camera, and it's one single aspect that can make a night-and-day difference in the outcome of your shots. If you're on the road, on vacation or just galavanting about with your new camera, there are a few key pointers you need to know about how ISO works, and how it can affect the snapshots your take. We'll spare you the behind-the-scenes, science-y explanation on ISO though and get right to the heart of the matter.
While film and photography purists may balk at the assumption, the average photographer really only needs to know a couple of things about ISO -- particularly the novice who simply needs their vacation photos to look at least somewhat like how they remember the scene looking.
FIn general, if a camera has a wide ISO range then it can capture faster moving action in low-light settings. Also, higher ISO ranges enable handheld shots to be taken further into the evening (and without blur). The gallery below highlights every single ISO stop between 200 and 104,200 on a Nikon D3s. Few cameras will offer an ISO range similar to this, but walking through it shot-by-shot gives you a great view of how a boosted ISO alters the outcome of a shot. Pictures are worth a thousand words, as they say. All of the other settings were kept constant for these shots (Shutter Speed: 1/8 of a second; f/5.0; 50mm focal length, no flash fired; auto white balance; tripod-mounted shot). Click the 'Read More' link here for a deeper dive into ISO, along with loads of pointers on how and when to tweak the value when shooting.
Gallery: ISO comparison gallery: 200 through 102,400Continue reading Travel Photo Tips: What is ISO, and how does it affect my pictures?Travel Photo Tips: What is ISO, and how does it affect my pictures? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Photo Essay from Mexico City: No More Violence Against Women
As you look at these photos, I hope you won't just think about Mexican women. I hope you'll think, too, about the people whose stories we still don't--and may never--know.
Wind Derails Ski Lift at Mission Ridge
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Weatherwatch: A history of making snowmen
Snow has blanketed the UK for much of December, and, for the more child-like of us, building a snowman became an essential task. But where did the idea of making snowmen come from, and who did it first?Unfortunately, history is not rich in documents about the building of snowmen. However, Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman, has looked for artistic impressions of snowmen, and managed to trace the practice back to medieval times. The earliest evidence he could find was a rather shaky illustration of a snowman in a Book of Hours, dated 1380, from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, in The Hague.Today people use many different styles to build their snowmen. In Europe and North America snowmen are usually formed from three snowballs, while people in east Asia tend to favour two spheres. The world's largest snowman to date was in fact a snow-lady, built in Bethel, Maine, in the US, in 2008. Olympia Snowe, as she was known, stood just over 37 metres tall.Whatever the shape and size of your snowman, the best kind of snow for it is moist snow, when it is close to melting point and fairly compact.Unlike powdery snow, moist snow is sticky and rolls easily into large balls. Waiting for a sunny afternoon, a day or two after the snow has first fallen, gives you a good chance of finding the perfect snow. There is even a world day of snowman, celebrated on 18 January every year.WeatherThe Hagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Another fatal Disney bus accident
Filed under: North America, United States, Theme Parks
There's word this morning that a tourist has been killed at Walt Disney World. The 69-year-old Massachusetts man was in the parking lot at the Port Orleans Resort when he stepped into the path of a Disney bus.
It appears that the bus driver was not at fault and will not be charged. There were passengers on the bus at the time, and none of them were injured. This marks at least the fourth Disney bus accident this year at Walt Disney World, including one in April that killed a 9-year-old boy.
Earlier this year, there were concerns that a computer dispatching system on board the Disney buses, dubbed "Magic in Motion," was a distraction for the drivers, though none of the earlier crashes this year was attributed to the driver being distracted.
Disney acted anyway and altered the system this summer so that the drivers cannot interact with it unless the bus is at a complete stop.
The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating last night's crash, and I'm sure that Disney will conduct its own internal investigation, as well. If there are safety problems found, they need to be corrected.
But it's also time to examine Disney guests' behavior on vacation.
Disney's bus system is extensive. In fact, it's larger than the city bus systems in nearby Orlando and Tampa. The highway system and parking lots there are also extensive - there are 40 square miles to cover and hundreds of thousands of cars travel the roads each day.
Yet, I continually see distracted people in "vacation mode," pushing strollers through parking lots while their face is in a guidebook or map, children running off unattended in parking lots and, yes, people darting out in front of buses and cars and not using crosswalks.
So, don't forget your common sense and safety rules when you go on vacation. While much of Walt Disney World is about the illusion - the "magic" - those are real cars and buses driving around the roads and parking lots.
[Image credit: Flickr user Darren Wittko]Another fatal Disney bus accident originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
There's word this morning that a tourist has been killed at Walt Disney World. The 69-year-old Massachusetts man was in the parking lot at the Port Orleans Resort when he stepped into the path of a Disney bus.
It appears that the bus driver was not at fault and will not be charged. There were passengers on the bus at the time, and none of them were injured. This marks at least the fourth Disney bus accident this year at Walt Disney World, including one in April that killed a 9-year-old boy.
Earlier this year, there were concerns that a computer dispatching system on board the Disney buses, dubbed "Magic in Motion," was a distraction for the drivers, though none of the earlier crashes this year was attributed to the driver being distracted.
Disney acted anyway and altered the system this summer so that the drivers cannot interact with it unless the bus is at a complete stop.
The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating last night's crash, and I'm sure that Disney will conduct its own internal investigation, as well. If there are safety problems found, they need to be corrected.
But it's also time to examine Disney guests' behavior on vacation.
Disney's bus system is extensive. In fact, it's larger than the city bus systems in nearby Orlando and Tampa. The highway system and parking lots there are also extensive - there are 40 square miles to cover and hundreds of thousands of cars travel the roads each day.
Yet, I continually see distracted people in "vacation mode," pushing strollers through parking lots while their face is in a guidebook or map, children running off unattended in parking lots and, yes, people darting out in front of buses and cars and not using crosswalks.
So, don't forget your common sense and safety rules when you go on vacation. While much of Walt Disney World is about the illusion - the "magic" - those are real cars and buses driving around the roads and parking lots.
[Image credit: Flickr user Darren Wittko]Another fatal Disney bus accident originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The big travel Christmas quiz
Put your world knowledge to the test with the Lonely Planet's bumper travel quiz
St. Regis launches 'E-Butler' application for guests
Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Internet Tools, Luxury TravelNeed a last-minute wake-up call or tickets to a sold-out Broadway show? No problem, if you're staying at the St. Regis New York. The luxury hotel recently launched the St. Regis New York "E-Butler," a PDA application that allows guests to interact with the hotel's butlers and concierge via their iPhone or iPad.
This application will offer guests the ability to "chat" directly with The St. Regis E-Butler in real-time via their iPhone or iPad, before and during their stay. The hotel also included the help of New York personalities including André Leon Talley, Jason Wu, Alexis Bittar, Alain Ducasse, Doug Blonsky, President of the Central Park Conservancy, Danny Meyer, David Rockwell, Dale DeGroff, Harold Koda, Michel Musto, Peter Som and Preston Bailey to share their favorite shops, restaurants and city landmarks.
Once guests have made their reservation at The St. Regis New York, they will receive an email confirmation, including a link to download the St. Regis New York E-Butler application directly to their iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Andriod or other smartphone. Guests will also be able to download The St. Regis E-Butler application via iTunes. The St. Regis New York E-Butler will allow guests to speak directly with their butler prior to and during their stay.
The best part? The E-Butler is a complimentary service offered to all guests in residence at The St. Regis New York. The St. Regis does have plans to launch a version of this E-Butler to the general public, which will include a number of features such as the Insider's Guide to New York and the seasonal calendar of events.St. Regis launches 'E-Butler' application for guests originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
This application will offer guests the ability to "chat" directly with The St. Regis E-Butler in real-time via their iPhone or iPad, before and during their stay. The hotel also included the help of New York personalities including André Leon Talley, Jason Wu, Alexis Bittar, Alain Ducasse, Doug Blonsky, President of the Central Park Conservancy, Danny Meyer, David Rockwell, Dale DeGroff, Harold Koda, Michel Musto, Peter Som and Preston Bailey to share their favorite shops, restaurants and city landmarks.
Once guests have made their reservation at The St. Regis New York, they will receive an email confirmation, including a link to download the St. Regis New York E-Butler application directly to their iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Andriod or other smartphone. Guests will also be able to download The St. Regis E-Butler application via iTunes. The St. Regis New York E-Butler will allow guests to speak directly with their butler prior to and during their stay.
The best part? The E-Butler is a complimentary service offered to all guests in residence at The St. Regis New York. The St. Regis does have plans to launch a version of this E-Butler to the general public, which will include a number of features such as the Insider's Guide to New York and the seasonal calendar of events.St. Regis launches 'E-Butler' application for guests originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Cochran's Adds Night Skiing
Richmond, VT - Vermont residents and visitors now have another option for hitting the ski slopes after dark.
Up until now, only Bolton Valley, Stowe and several community run ski slopes offered night skiing in the state. Now Cochran's, a family run ski area along Route 2 east of Burlington, has installed 29 lights to allow area race teams to train during the evenings.
Parents, high school students and private donors put up the $50,000 to install the lighting system. The Vermont-based Kelly Brush Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing ski accidents and spinal cord injuries, also provided $5,000 for safety netting.
At the moment, Cochran's is offering skiing and riding on weekends only. Holiday hours run from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2, and midweek operation is expected to begin sometime in January.Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
Up until now, only Bolton Valley, Stowe and several community run ski slopes offered night skiing in the state. Now Cochran's, a family run ski area along Route 2 east of Burlington, has installed 29 lights to allow area race teams to train during the evenings.
Parents, high school students and private donors put up the $50,000 to install the lighting system. The Vermont-based Kelly Brush Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing ski accidents and spinal cord injuries, also provided $5,000 for safety netting.
At the moment, Cochran's is offering skiing and riding on weekends only. Holiday hours run from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2, and midweek operation is expected to begin sometime in January.Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
Cable Problems Delay Opening of Crystal Mountain's New Mt. Rainier Gondola
Crystal Mountain, WA - Engineers from the ski lift company Doppelmayr on Tuesday discovered that the haul cable of Crystal Mountain's new Mt. Rainier Gondola, set to open for the first time yesterday, had stretched over three feet in the preceding 24 hours, far more than normal tolerances. Ski area officials now indicate that the gondola's debut may be delayed by a week as engineers re-splice the cable.
As a result, Tuesday's load test was canceled and will resume after the cable re-splice has been completed. The grand opening celebration will be rescheduled, with a date to be announced next week.
"While this setback is disappointing, smooth functioning of the gondola is more important than meeting a deadline," said John Kircher, Crystal Mountain's General Manager. "We are committed to doing this right."Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
As a result, Tuesday's load test was canceled and will resume after the cable re-splice has been completed. The grand opening celebration will be rescheduled, with a date to be announced next week.
"While this setback is disappointing, smooth functioning of the gondola is more important than meeting a deadline," said John Kircher, Crystal Mountain's General Manager. "We are committed to doing this right."Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
Freestyle Champs Hit Squaw Valley
..... Squaw Valley, Calif. (Ski Press)-An event half a century in the making, Squaw Valley is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games with the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships as Olympic medalists and the sport's best compete for U.S. titles March 26-28.The action kicks off Friday with men's and women's moguls where Olympic champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), and Olympic bronze medalists Bryon Wilson (Butte, MT) and Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA) and World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) will ski the bumps looking for a win. For Bahrke, who plans to retire at the end of the 2010 season, the event at Squaw Valley represents special significance. "That's where I grew up, that's where I learned how to ski my first moguls course, so you know to finish it there, to start a career and finish it there is something that you know I think every athlete dreams of doing and I get to do it, so that's pretty cool," Bahrke said. "It's going to be so much fun. My whole family, my friends, you know my coaches that have been through everything with me are going to be there, so that's really going to be an awesome experience." Things keep rolling on Saturday when David Wise gets back in the halfpipe looking to mark the fifth consecutive U.S. title of his career. Adding to the action on Saturday will be men's and women's aerials, which feature an incredible lineup of athletes including Olympic silver medalist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID), World Champion Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO), World Cup winner Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) and Olympians Lacy Schnoor (Draper, UT) and Scotty Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA). "I'm looking forward to competing at U.S. Champs, and to get to go out and spin one last time with my teammates before I take a little break," Peterson said. I'm just looking forward to having this one last competition and seeing how everything goes." Wrapping up the weekend will be the dual moguls event where Kearney, who just won back to back World Cups in both moguls and dual moguls, is looking to shine. "Squaw last year was gorgeous. It was kind of like spring vacation. To show up on an Olympic year and share with the freestyle community is always something I look forward to," Kearney said. The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships kick off March 26 and run through March 28. Fans can watch from the comfort of their own home on April 4 when the events air on Versus at 6 p.m. ET.
Expat Life: Contemplating Home and Holidays in Poland
That?s the great thing about traditions: they?re flexible, although they may seem like timeless and unchanging habits, patterns breakable only at the expense of the world falling apart.
Charlotte Uptown Hotels Enjoy A Great Vacation At A Lovely Charlotte Hotel
Author : Heather SimpsonA go to to North Carolina isn't complete without experiencing the finest Charlotte uptown hotels The in depth listing of unique resorts in uptown Charlotte is designed with each class and luxury in mind When selecting a high quality place to stay within the energetic metropolis of Charlotte, it would be finest to inquire on-line and e book in advance to get the most effective room possible It's good to know that Charlotte uptown hotels provide the comfort of online reservations which you'll be able to dutifully perform at the comforts of your home You additionally get access to the wide array of features and companies that is unique to every establishment
Charlotte downtown hotels supply the same convenience as effectively and utilize expertise to correctly present all the options, service and pricing that they offer online You're then given the superb alternative to choose what lodge is right for you and your needs Charlotte is thought for the lively life-style that's inherent to all the inhabitants of the city and was referred to as the Hornets Nest by Lord Cornwallis himself This is proof of Charlotte's popularity as a metropolis that never runs out of activities and are positive to enchantment to each visitor, tourist or enterprise traveler
Take a fast have a look at the checklist of Charlotte uptown hotels and determine which lodge is correct to your wants and budget Most establishments offer particular reductions and freebies for early bookers or vacationers throughout the area Business travelers may avail of particular packages designed to make the enterprise journey a pleasurable and worthwhile expertise as well Charlotte Resorts also can accommodate particular events corresponding to weddings, anniversaries and corporate features at a really cheap price Expertise the best that Charlotte has to offer with unparalleled service and a hotel expertise like no other
Jean K BullaraIf you want added info with respect to?Charlotte airport hotels ,pay a visit to the Author's Site without hesitation!
Charlotte downtown hotels supply the same convenience as effectively and utilize expertise to correctly present all the options, service and pricing that they offer online You're then given the superb alternative to choose what lodge is right for you and your needs Charlotte is thought for the lively life-style that's inherent to all the inhabitants of the city and was referred to as the Hornets Nest by Lord Cornwallis himself This is proof of Charlotte's popularity as a metropolis that never runs out of activities and are positive to enchantment to each visitor, tourist or enterprise traveler
Take a fast have a look at the checklist of Charlotte uptown hotels and determine which lodge is correct to your wants and budget Most establishments offer particular reductions and freebies for early bookers or vacationers throughout the area Business travelers may avail of particular packages designed to make the enterprise journey a pleasurable and worthwhile expertise as well Charlotte Resorts also can accommodate particular events corresponding to weddings, anniversaries and corporate features at a really cheap price Expertise the best that Charlotte has to offer with unparalleled service and a hotel expertise like no other
Jean K BullaraIf you want added info with respect to?Charlotte airport hotels ,pay a visit to the Author's Site without hesitation!
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Authentic Ski Tour: Big Sky, Day 4
..... Big Sky, Montana (Ski Press)-The first time you see Big Sky Resort?s Lone Peak it is like the first time you saw Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It or the young Scarlett Johansson in the Horse Whisperer. ?My god,? you think as you gaze on that marble palace of rock and snow holding the horizon, and start re-ranking your standards of beauty and all the places you have skied before. ?I can?t believe I?ve never been here.? ?There?s another great pullout for pictures up ahead,? Doug Wales said, the second time I asked him to pull over, trying to capture in a single frame this monument to nature, this triumph of geology. ?Amazing,? I muttered, snapping shots by the side of the road. We had driven north from West Yellowstone after a day cross-country skiing among the bison, coyotes and geysers. Along with Jeff Carroll of Red Lodge, I had soaked in the ambiance of Chico Hot Springs and sped down the slopes of Red Lodge before we had taken a detour to count coyotes in the National Park. And now Wales, the marketing director at Bridger Bowl, was getting me back on the lifts. Big Time. With the most vertical drop in North America (4,350 ft), and in conjunction with next-door-neighbor Moonlight Basin the most skiable acreage (5, 512 acres), Big Sky really is one of the giants of North American skiing. Founder Chet Huntley (the late great NBC news anchorman), who opened the area in 1973, built his mountain out of runs as wide as the Montana sky all falling into impossible views. Then in 1995, with the addition of the Lone Peak Tram, the resort went Richter on the advanced scale. Palm-sweating steeps like the Big Couloir, Marx, Lenin and Dakota Bowl were suddenly easily accessible, and Big Sky?s big mountain reputation quickly began to build around the world. That mix of family vacationers and hardcore shredders is present everywhere, obvious in the little clans carving down the boulevard-wide blue runs, and in the fast-moving shred posses, bouncing in line for the tram to whisk them back up Lone Peak for another adrenaline dose. It is in the confluence of our palatial rooms at the Summit Hotel, and the cowboys who open the door and park the car. ?The President stayed right here,? Dax Schieffer said at lunch, pointing back up at the hotel that last August had hosted President Barack Obama and his family. ?It was the biggest event, and you couldn?t say a word.? Big Sky?s director of public relations, Schieffer was part of a planning group called the ?Secret Keepers? that had to privately plan for the president?s arrival ? including blocking out 400 rooms around the village for security and personnel, and reserving the parking lots for the presidential helicopter detail. ?Once all those helicopters started buzzing in,? Schieffer smiled, ?It was hard to keep it secret anymore.? A sunny day, we sat on the deck in that first hint of spring in the mountains with people everywhere. And after lunch we went zooming down the runs. There hadn?t been snow for a little while, but the visibility was fantastic and the hardpack had that dry Rocky Mountain buoyancy of cold Styrofoam. ?Hero conditions.? We waited for the tram and watched a group of young skiers getting a class in steep chute skiing while their parents waited below. Everybody clapped when they were done. And we zipped around on everything from soft corn snow to little sections as hard as coral reef, running like little flashes of color in the sun. At the end of the day we drank Cold Smoke Scotch Ale to ease into the evening, and to help our minds feel as warm as our cheeks. We walked around the little village with the firepit burning and people talking in crowds and couples, moving with some relaxed destination around the mountain town. We had Chianti, minestrone and lasagna at Andiamo, the chic Italian spot with the fuzzy chairs and the high walls. We had espresso or grappa. And Dax said, ?Tomorrow we?ll ski the North Summit Snowfields over to Moonlight Basin. And there?s one section where there can be some significant consequences if you fall.? I said, ?I don?t like the sound of that at all.? So that when I woke up the next morning, it was the first thing on my mind. Links Big Sky Resort ? www.bigskyresort.com Dax and the President - http://meetingsnet.com/medicalmeetings/mag/0101-president-meetings-guest/ Cold Smoke Scotch Ale - www.kettlehouse.com
Choosing Self Catered Accommodations In Villas Austria Rather Than Hotels
Author : Chris VillaMaking your own arrangements as opposed to using a rental agency is not as difficult as one would think Folks who have houses or apartments available to rent advertise in many different publications as well as online sites The ease with which you can make your arrangements is astounding Negotiating with the actual owner give both of you the control you desire in this kind of transaction
If snow-covered mountains and crystal clear lakes are your thing, head for Austria in winter The crisp, cool winter air will fill your lungs as you trek and pedal along the nature trails near your villa or house Skiing, snow boarding or any other winter sport you find fun will be nearby as well
The mountainous Alps of Austria feature lovely homes, usually starting with two bedrooms and going up from there They offer more space than a hotel room too Many will accommodate up to two dozen guests Unlike a hotel room, a villa and house come with complete cooking facilities and it is at your pleasure when and what you will dine upon Arrangements can be made for daily or weekly cleaning, but the schedule is up to you, not the facility
There are also ski holiday packages offered by the many owners of properties in Austria It seems that you are not far from one of many ski resorts where you are free to roam the trails Not being a guest of the resort, you may have to pay some for this treat, but it will be offset, most likely, by the less expensive cost of renting a villa These ski holidays sometimes include ski passes to resorts with which the owner has an agreement
Luxury apartments or houses can be found in areas such as Vienna, where there are castles converted to use by travelers wishing to make their own arrangements for lodging Close by is the Danube valley, featuring quaint villages, wineries and other castles, just waiting for you to visit There are even hot tubs in many of these quarters
If golf is a sport you love to participate in, look for villas that may even have their own course, and what better way to relax on your vacation than by waking up a few steps from the first tee Sailing is another activity that lots of folks enjoy There are villas on or near any number of lakes
No matter what part of Austria interests you, you will be likely to find self catered villas Austria near a popular area with any kind of activity you might love The next time you want to try something new, go for a villa or house that you rent directly from an owner Learn more about how and where to find the best holiday villas Austria now in our complete guide to luxury holiday villas and chalets in Europe.
If snow-covered mountains and crystal clear lakes are your thing, head for Austria in winter The crisp, cool winter air will fill your lungs as you trek and pedal along the nature trails near your villa or house Skiing, snow boarding or any other winter sport you find fun will be nearby as well
The mountainous Alps of Austria feature lovely homes, usually starting with two bedrooms and going up from there They offer more space than a hotel room too Many will accommodate up to two dozen guests Unlike a hotel room, a villa and house come with complete cooking facilities and it is at your pleasure when and what you will dine upon Arrangements can be made for daily or weekly cleaning, but the schedule is up to you, not the facility
There are also ski holiday packages offered by the many owners of properties in Austria It seems that you are not far from one of many ski resorts where you are free to roam the trails Not being a guest of the resort, you may have to pay some for this treat, but it will be offset, most likely, by the less expensive cost of renting a villa These ski holidays sometimes include ski passes to resorts with which the owner has an agreement
Luxury apartments or houses can be found in areas such as Vienna, where there are castles converted to use by travelers wishing to make their own arrangements for lodging Close by is the Danube valley, featuring quaint villages, wineries and other castles, just waiting for you to visit There are even hot tubs in many of these quarters
If golf is a sport you love to participate in, look for villas that may even have their own course, and what better way to relax on your vacation than by waking up a few steps from the first tee Sailing is another activity that lots of folks enjoy There are villas on or near any number of lakes
No matter what part of Austria interests you, you will be likely to find self catered villas Austria near a popular area with any kind of activity you might love The next time you want to try something new, go for a villa or house that you rent directly from an owner Learn more about how and where to find the best holiday villas Austria now in our complete guide to luxury holiday villas and chalets in Europe.
Traveling to Spain without breaking your wallet
Author : Neil MowryDoes the economy have you dreading your family's vacation? But still want to travel to Spain Check out this article to find out how cheap travel deals can make your next Spain vacation more relaxing Travel deals just dont get any more convenient and cheap! You could always get some ery Short, cheap eBook about traveling But those do not have all the facts This article details all the information you need about cheap travel in Spain
Spain has extensive tourist cultural travel in locations such as alambra of granada spain touring Exotic locations, wonderful entertainment, and all-you-can-eat buffets makeit a good travel deal Almost everything you can imagine is included, and the helpful staff will keep your stay worry free If you can imagine a destination, chances are there are travel deals to take you there Resorts Time Share Travel Agents, and Travel Agencies are popular ways to consider You don't have to blow your budget to eat great meals every day!
Search for Spain hotels by area, rating, and quality or popularity There's a wealth of motels around the country to select from, and with a little research you should not have any issues discovering something perfect for each your holiday and your budget There's a unique rating reserved for the most efficient hotels in Spain which rates them above a five famous person place - 'Gran Lujo' or Grand Luxurious is the best rating a resort can have
Looking for the best deal or info on a hotel in Spain? You can find the best price on hotels around Spain with proper research The best time to visit Spain is during May, June and September But Spain is a lovely place to visit all year long whatever your schedule is!
The hostel in Spain is similar to a standard hotel room, but can't be seen as luxurious and are quite a lot more cheap The Spanisish sense of enjoying, the temperament of the Spaniards and last however not least the unique lodge choice of Escapio Spain lodges is every thing you want for the perfect vacation in Spain Spain lodges are as various as the nation itself
Use a user friendly booking engine to display dozens of hotels in Spain at bargain rates While all the cities in Spain arecharming in their own respect, each city has its own forte From Granada to historical Toledo and quiet Seville to modern day Barcelona and multi cultural Madrid,Spain appeals to a diverse range of travelers
Don't lose time, get your Spain hotel booking now Book online or over the phone the hotels in Spain that most fit to your needs You can find great accommodations at discounted rates in Salamanca, Seville, Malaga, Granada, Valencia, Alicante, Balearic Island, and Madrid
Neil Mowry owns several travel agencies, handling travel arrangements for thousands of people daily. You can find him giving travel advice on travel blogs, and travel forums
Spain has extensive tourist cultural travel in locations such as alambra of granada spain touring Exotic locations, wonderful entertainment, and all-you-can-eat buffets makeit a good travel deal Almost everything you can imagine is included, and the helpful staff will keep your stay worry free If you can imagine a destination, chances are there are travel deals to take you there Resorts Time Share Travel Agents, and Travel Agencies are popular ways to consider You don't have to blow your budget to eat great meals every day!
Search for Spain hotels by area, rating, and quality or popularity There's a wealth of motels around the country to select from, and with a little research you should not have any issues discovering something perfect for each your holiday and your budget There's a unique rating reserved for the most efficient hotels in Spain which rates them above a five famous person place - 'Gran Lujo' or Grand Luxurious is the best rating a resort can have
Looking for the best deal or info on a hotel in Spain? You can find the best price on hotels around Spain with proper research The best time to visit Spain is during May, June and September But Spain is a lovely place to visit all year long whatever your schedule is!
The hostel in Spain is similar to a standard hotel room, but can't be seen as luxurious and are quite a lot more cheap The Spanisish sense of enjoying, the temperament of the Spaniards and last however not least the unique lodge choice of Escapio Spain lodges is every thing you want for the perfect vacation in Spain Spain lodges are as various as the nation itself
Use a user friendly booking engine to display dozens of hotels in Spain at bargain rates While all the cities in Spain arecharming in their own respect, each city has its own forte From Granada to historical Toledo and quiet Seville to modern day Barcelona and multi cultural Madrid,Spain appeals to a diverse range of travelers
Don't lose time, get your Spain hotel booking now Book online or over the phone the hotels in Spain that most fit to your needs You can find great accommodations at discounted rates in Salamanca, Seville, Malaga, Granada, Valencia, Alicante, Balearic Island, and Madrid
Neil Mowry owns several travel agencies, handling travel arrangements for thousands of people daily. You can find him giving travel advice on travel blogs, and travel forums
Blogger Dana Murph
Filed under: North America, United States, About The BloggersIntroducing another new blogger at Gadling, Dana Murph...
Where was your photo taken?
Poipu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii! I leave a piece of my heart there when I'm away.
Where do you live now?
North Carolina, born and raised.
Favorite city/country/place?
My favorite city (so far!) is Tokyo. It's a huge culture shock from what I'm accustomed to, but in a great way. The skyline is gorgeous, the people are incredibly kind and the food is awesome. The sunrises are second to none, too, and let's not forget the warm Toto toilet seats.
The USA is definitely my favorite country -- I'm sure being able to call it home has a lot to do with it. But I also love a good ole' road trip, and America is probably the best place in the world for that. The roadway system here is incredible, and there's so many remote locations that can be driven to with relative ease.
My favorite place is the Na Pali coast of Kauai, Hawaii. While there, I viewed it from boat, prop plane, and the Kalalau Trail, and I simply couldn't get enough of it. I'm a self-proclaimed sucker for natural beauty, and it doesn't get much more awe-inspiring than this!
The ideal vacation is...
Visiting remote destinations (or popular ones in the off-season). I've found myself smiling at a slew of typical tourist traps before, but given the option, I'd greatly prefer to stray from the beaten path. The setting of my ideal vacation? Beaches, a rainforest or two, mountains... basically Kauai.Continue reading Blogger Dana MurphBlogger Dana Murph originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Where was your photo taken?
Poipu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii! I leave a piece of my heart there when I'm away.
Where do you live now?
North Carolina, born and raised.
Favorite city/country/place?
My favorite city (so far!) is Tokyo. It's a huge culture shock from what I'm accustomed to, but in a great way. The skyline is gorgeous, the people are incredibly kind and the food is awesome. The sunrises are second to none, too, and let's not forget the warm Toto toilet seats.
The USA is definitely my favorite country -- I'm sure being able to call it home has a lot to do with it. But I also love a good ole' road trip, and America is probably the best place in the world for that. The roadway system here is incredible, and there's so many remote locations that can be driven to with relative ease.
My favorite place is the Na Pali coast of Kauai, Hawaii. While there, I viewed it from boat, prop plane, and the Kalalau Trail, and I simply couldn't get enough of it. I'm a self-proclaimed sucker for natural beauty, and it doesn't get much more awe-inspiring than this!
The ideal vacation is...
Visiting remote destinations (or popular ones in the off-season). I've found myself smiling at a slew of typical tourist traps before, but given the option, I'd greatly prefer to stray from the beaten path. The setting of my ideal vacation? Beaches, a rainforest or two, mountains... basically Kauai.Continue reading Blogger Dana MurphBlogger Dana Murph originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Middle East/Africa hotel results improve in November 2010
The Middle East/Africa region reported increases in all three key performance measurements for November 2010 when reported in U.S. dollars, according to data compiled by STR Global.
The region's occupancy ended the month with a 2.4-percent increase to 69.8 percent, average daily rate rose 3.1 percent to US$182.05, and revenue per available room went up 5.5 percent to US$127.14.
"The Middle East/Africa region hasn't seen as much recovery as the other regions", said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "New room stock entering the markets across the Middle East is the main stumbling block to a higher growth rate. Whilst we saw only limited year-to-date improvements in all key performance indicators, the region achieved a higher average rate by US$0.39 compared to year-to-date 2008. Occupancy, however, is 8.4 percentage points behind year-to-date 2008".
Highlights among the region's key markets for November include (year-over-year comparisons, all currency in U.S. dollars):
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising 33.6 percent to 76.0 percent.
Beirut, Lebanon, dropped 10.3 percent in occupancy to 67.3 percent, reporting the only double-digit decrease in that metric.
Two markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+11.0 percent to US$197.76), and Beirut (+10.6 percent to US$255.74).
Abu Dhabi posted the largest ADR decrease, falling 16.6 percent to US$260.41, followed by Dubai, UAE (-11.7 percent to US$254.63).
Three markets achieved double-digit RevPAR increases: Muscat, Oman (+14.0 percent to US$197.39); Abu Dhabi (+11.3 percent to US$197.97); and Jeddah (+10.2 percent to US$136.67).
Dubai fell 11.6 percent in RevPAR to US$208.75, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.
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Traveling to Spain without breaking your wallet
Author : Neil MowryDoes the economy have you dreading your family's vacation? But still want to travel to Spain Check out this article to find out how cheap travel deals can make your next Spain vacation more relaxing Travel deals just dont get any more convenient and cheap! You could always get some ery Short, cheap eBook about traveling But those do not have all the facts This article details all the information you need about cheap travel in Spain
Spain has extensive tourist cultural travel in locations such as alambra of granada spain touring Exotic locations, wonderful entertainment, and all-you-can-eat buffets makeit a good travel deal Almost everything you can imagine is included, and the helpful staff will keep your stay worry free If you can imagine a destination, chances are there are travel deals to take you there Resorts Time Share Travel Agents, and Travel Agencies are popular ways to consider You don't have to blow your budget to eat great meals every day!
Search for Spain hotels by area, rating, and quality or popularity There's a wealth of motels around the country to select from, and with a little research you should not have any issues discovering something perfect for each your holiday and your budget There's a unique rating reserved for the most efficient hotels in Spain which rates them above a five famous person place - 'Gran Lujo' or Grand Luxurious is the best rating a resort can have
Looking for the best deal or info on a hotel in Spain? You can find the best price on hotels around Spain with proper research The best time to visit Spain is during May, June and September But Spain is a lovely place to visit all year long whatever your schedule is!
The hostel in Spain is similar to a standard hotel room, but can't be seen as luxurious and are quite a lot more cheap The Spanisish sense of enjoying, the temperament of the Spaniards and last however not least the unique lodge choice of Escapio Spain lodges is every thing you want for the perfect vacation in Spain Spain lodges are as various as the nation itself
Use a user friendly booking engine to display dozens of hotels in Spain at bargain rates While all the cities in Spain arecharming in their own respect, each city has its own forte From Granada to historical Toledo and quiet Seville to modern day Barcelona and multi cultural Madrid,Spain appeals to a diverse range of travelers
Don't lose time, get your Spain hotel booking now Book online or over the phone the hotels in Spain that most fit to your needs You can find great accommodations at discounted rates in Salamanca, Seville, Malaga, Granada, Valencia, Alicante, Balearic Island, and Madrid
Neil Mowry owns several travel agencies, handling travel arrangements for thousands of people daily. You can find him giving travel advice on travel blogs, and travel forums
Spain has extensive tourist cultural travel in locations such as alambra of granada spain touring Exotic locations, wonderful entertainment, and all-you-can-eat buffets makeit a good travel deal Almost everything you can imagine is included, and the helpful staff will keep your stay worry free If you can imagine a destination, chances are there are travel deals to take you there Resorts Time Share Travel Agents, and Travel Agencies are popular ways to consider You don't have to blow your budget to eat great meals every day!
Search for Spain hotels by area, rating, and quality or popularity There's a wealth of motels around the country to select from, and with a little research you should not have any issues discovering something perfect for each your holiday and your budget There's a unique rating reserved for the most efficient hotels in Spain which rates them above a five famous person place - 'Gran Lujo' or Grand Luxurious is the best rating a resort can have
Looking for the best deal or info on a hotel in Spain? You can find the best price on hotels around Spain with proper research The best time to visit Spain is during May, June and September But Spain is a lovely place to visit all year long whatever your schedule is!
The hostel in Spain is similar to a standard hotel room, but can't be seen as luxurious and are quite a lot more cheap The Spanisish sense of enjoying, the temperament of the Spaniards and last however not least the unique lodge choice of Escapio Spain lodges is every thing you want for the perfect vacation in Spain Spain lodges are as various as the nation itself
Use a user friendly booking engine to display dozens of hotels in Spain at bargain rates While all the cities in Spain arecharming in their own respect, each city has its own forte From Granada to historical Toledo and quiet Seville to modern day Barcelona and multi cultural Madrid,Spain appeals to a diverse range of travelers
Don't lose time, get your Spain hotel booking now Book online or over the phone the hotels in Spain that most fit to your needs You can find great accommodations at discounted rates in Salamanca, Seville, Malaga, Granada, Valencia, Alicante, Balearic Island, and Madrid
Neil Mowry owns several travel agencies, handling travel arrangements for thousands of people daily. You can find him giving travel advice on travel blogs, and travel forums
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Snowboarder Dies in 40-Foot Plunge
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Tahiti Travel Tips
Hungry? Find a Food TruckIt?s an eight-hour flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti, and you land pretty late in the evening. As tempting as it is to eat a convenient dinner at a hotel or chain restaurant, don?t. Instead, go into the city of Papeete, near the bay, where you can smell the food being served from food trucks, called ?roulettes,? along the streets. Eat fresh fish, rice and vegetables under the stars with local families. Not only are the meals cheaper from the backs of the trucks, but they?re more authentic and simply better.
Start EarlyThe stores usually close early in the evening, and they sell out of fresh goods (like bread) by midmorning the next day. So stocking up is one good reason to get up early. (Don?t forget the mosquito repellent.) Another good reason is the local scene at Papenoo Beach. It isn?t what you might expect. The shoreline is predominantly pebbly and rocky. Instead of tourists you?ll find local Tahitians surfing, kayaking and swimming shortly after sunrise. Get to know them and you?ll wind up with a board or paddle. Probably a cold Hinano and a sandwich too. Later, go to the food stalls at Papeete Market and eat rice and salmon while standing with new friends.
Always Wear Your SwimsuitLife in Tahiti is all about the water, so you?d better drive the loop around the main island while wearing your swimsuit and flip-flops. Soak in the views, and stop to swim at Plage de Toaroto and off the black sand of Point Venus, and then continue to the airport ? it?s officially in Faaa, the only place we?ve seen spelled with back-to-back-to-back a?s. Take an Air Tahiti flight to Raiatea, still wearing the swimsuit under your clothes. From there, hop on a shuttle boat over to Vahine Island near Tahaa, and check into one of the three over-water bungalows at the Private Island Resort. Put your bags down and step off your porch into the ocean water you?ve seen in classic Tahiti paintings.
Rent a BoatRent a little outboard-powered boat (you can even have your lunch packed for the ride), and putter to the lagoon hidden among barrier islets (called motus). This is where you?ll find the beaches and shallow-water snorkeling worthy of your best camera. Eat picnic-style on the beach, and on the way back use the boat to explore more of the little islands. The bigger island of Tahaa is known as Vanilla Island because its ground produces more vanilla than any other in Tahiti. Take a jeep through the hills and back roads to find the farms that produce the world-famous beans. These will be among your most authentic Tahitian souvenirs. Get back to the bungalow in time to take an evening swim and to see the fish ? including sharks ? swimming under the glass-top coffee table that sits over a viewing hole in your floor.
Go Home in Your SwimsuitTake an outrigger canoe, or pirogue, to the coral garden near Vahine early in the morning. Always bring snorkel gear when you?re on the water. Afterward, take the shuttle boat and short flight back to the main island. Grab a tuna burger at a caf� like Lagon Bleu. You might have time for one more swim before your late flight. Take some of that Tahitian water home with you, even if it?s just in your ears.
Start EarlyThe stores usually close early in the evening, and they sell out of fresh goods (like bread) by midmorning the next day. So stocking up is one good reason to get up early. (Don?t forget the mosquito repellent.) Another good reason is the local scene at Papenoo Beach. It isn?t what you might expect. The shoreline is predominantly pebbly and rocky. Instead of tourists you?ll find local Tahitians surfing, kayaking and swimming shortly after sunrise. Get to know them and you?ll wind up with a board or paddle. Probably a cold Hinano and a sandwich too. Later, go to the food stalls at Papeete Market and eat rice and salmon while standing with new friends.
Always Wear Your SwimsuitLife in Tahiti is all about the water, so you?d better drive the loop around the main island while wearing your swimsuit and flip-flops. Soak in the views, and stop to swim at Plage de Toaroto and off the black sand of Point Venus, and then continue to the airport ? it?s officially in Faaa, the only place we?ve seen spelled with back-to-back-to-back a?s. Take an Air Tahiti flight to Raiatea, still wearing the swimsuit under your clothes. From there, hop on a shuttle boat over to Vahine Island near Tahaa, and check into one of the three over-water bungalows at the Private Island Resort. Put your bags down and step off your porch into the ocean water you?ve seen in classic Tahiti paintings.
Rent a BoatRent a little outboard-powered boat (you can even have your lunch packed for the ride), and putter to the lagoon hidden among barrier islets (called motus). This is where you?ll find the beaches and shallow-water snorkeling worthy of your best camera. Eat picnic-style on the beach, and on the way back use the boat to explore more of the little islands. The bigger island of Tahaa is known as Vanilla Island because its ground produces more vanilla than any other in Tahiti. Take a jeep through the hills and back roads to find the farms that produce the world-famous beans. These will be among your most authentic Tahitian souvenirs. Get back to the bungalow in time to take an evening swim and to see the fish ? including sharks ? swimming under the glass-top coffee table that sits over a viewing hole in your floor.
Go Home in Your SwimsuitTake an outrigger canoe, or pirogue, to the coral garden near Vahine early in the morning. Always bring snorkel gear when you?re on the water. Afterward, take the shuttle boat and short flight back to the main island. Grab a tuna burger at a caf� like Lagon Bleu. You might have time for one more swim before your late flight. Take some of that Tahitian water home with you, even if it?s just in your ears.
Five great places to see Native American rock art
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, North America, United States
I often hear people saying the U.S. has a short history. Actually it's as ancient as anywhere else. Before the Europeans took over this land there were hundreds of Native American cultures living here. Some have survived; others have disappeared. One of the most evocative reminders of their civilizations is the rock art of the American Southwest. Here are five good places to see some.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
The stunning landscape of this park is the main draw, but hidden amidst the colorful mesas and canyons are numerous petroglyphs (carving in rock) and pictograms (paintings on rock). The best are in Horseshoe Canyon, where a large panel of ghostly painted figures have been variously interpreted as gods, ancestors or, by the scientifically challenged, aliens. They date to as far back as 2000 BC.
Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
One of the best sites for petroglyphs in all the Southwest is billed as the "world's longest art gallery". With about 10,000 images ranging in date from 950 AD to the 1800s, it is the biggest concentration of rock art ever found in the U.S. The remains of the homes of the Fremont people are clearly visible when hiking the canyon. The images include bison being stuck with spears, strange horned figures that may be shamen, and men on horseback dating to the historic period.
Saguaro National Park West, Arizona
The rock art here isn't as grand as the other places on the list, but it's far more accessible. Just a short drive from Tucson and only two hours from Phoenix, the park takes its name from the forest of giant saguaro cacti that grow here. There are two parks--one to the west and one to the east of town--and the one to the west has a rocky hill covered in carvings made by the Hohokam people. The most unusual is a strange spiral that may have been an early calendar. The Hohokam built large towns and extensive canal systems in southern Arizona until about 1450 AD. In fact, the modern cities of Phoenix and Tucson were founded by the Hohokam!
Gallery: Rock Art of the American Southwest
Petroglyph National Monument
Another easily accessible location, this national monument is right on the western edge of Albuquerque. You can see just how close from the above photo, courtesy Daniel Schwen. There are about 24,000 images here, mostly from prehistoric Pueblo peoples starting about 500 AD but also some made by Spanish settlers who saw all the pictures on the rocks and decided to add their own. Some are even the cattle brands of the early ranchers.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
We've talked about this amazing set of cliff dwellings before. Located in the heart of the Navajo Nation, prehistoric peoples built extensive villages here in the shadows of towering cliffs until their mysterious disappearance in the 14th century. As you wander the trails you'll see petroglyphs of animals and people scattered about the rocks. If you have kids, playing "spot the picture" can be a fun way to keep them entertained. The jaw-dropping scenery will probably do that anyway. Note that the interpretive center is closed for remodeling until May 2011.
While desert scenes aren't exactly the first thing you think of during the Christmas season, winter is a good time to explore these sites. The scorching sun takes a vacation, and in the higher altitude the desert can be downright cold!Five great places to see Native American rock art originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
I often hear people saying the U.S. has a short history. Actually it's as ancient as anywhere else. Before the Europeans took over this land there were hundreds of Native American cultures living here. Some have survived; others have disappeared. One of the most evocative reminders of their civilizations is the rock art of the American Southwest. Here are five good places to see some.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
The stunning landscape of this park is the main draw, but hidden amidst the colorful mesas and canyons are numerous petroglyphs (carving in rock) and pictograms (paintings on rock). The best are in Horseshoe Canyon, where a large panel of ghostly painted figures have been variously interpreted as gods, ancestors or, by the scientifically challenged, aliens. They date to as far back as 2000 BC.
Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
One of the best sites for petroglyphs in all the Southwest is billed as the "world's longest art gallery". With about 10,000 images ranging in date from 950 AD to the 1800s, it is the biggest concentration of rock art ever found in the U.S. The remains of the homes of the Fremont people are clearly visible when hiking the canyon. The images include bison being stuck with spears, strange horned figures that may be shamen, and men on horseback dating to the historic period.
Saguaro National Park West, Arizona
The rock art here isn't as grand as the other places on the list, but it's far more accessible. Just a short drive from Tucson and only two hours from Phoenix, the park takes its name from the forest of giant saguaro cacti that grow here. There are two parks--one to the west and one to the east of town--and the one to the west has a rocky hill covered in carvings made by the Hohokam people. The most unusual is a strange spiral that may have been an early calendar. The Hohokam built large towns and extensive canal systems in southern Arizona until about 1450 AD. In fact, the modern cities of Phoenix and Tucson were founded by the Hohokam!
Gallery: Rock Art of the American Southwest
Petroglyph National Monument
Another easily accessible location, this national monument is right on the western edge of Albuquerque. You can see just how close from the above photo, courtesy Daniel Schwen. There are about 24,000 images here, mostly from prehistoric Pueblo peoples starting about 500 AD but also some made by Spanish settlers who saw all the pictures on the rocks and decided to add their own. Some are even the cattle brands of the early ranchers.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
We've talked about this amazing set of cliff dwellings before. Located in the heart of the Navajo Nation, prehistoric peoples built extensive villages here in the shadows of towering cliffs until their mysterious disappearance in the 14th century. As you wander the trails you'll see petroglyphs of animals and people scattered about the rocks. If you have kids, playing "spot the picture" can be a fun way to keep them entertained. The jaw-dropping scenery will probably do that anyway. Note that the interpretive center is closed for remodeling until May 2011.
While desert scenes aren't exactly the first thing you think of during the Christmas season, winter is a good time to explore these sites. The scorching sun takes a vacation, and in the higher altitude the desert can be downright cold!Five great places to see Native American rock art originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Just like Heathrow, we're at a standstill | Editorial
Out of date and starved of investment, we need a long-term strategy for the 21st centuryThe main purpose of airports is to allow the free movement of goods and people and not, as is too often the case in Britain, to detain them.Last week, Heathrow proved its expertise in the field of obstruction. Snow, well advertised in weather forecasts, brought the UK's biggest airport to a standstill. Thousands of passengers were stranded in departure lounges.Comparisons with refugee camps and reports of "third world scenes" were exaggerated and in poor taste. But the sense of impotent rage sweeping Heathrow expressed a deeper anxiety about Britain's declining position in the world. A well-run, world-class, hub airport serves as an economic asset and a national status symbol.Heathrow is not well run. For that, the blame lies with BAA. It seems clear now that the company's sale to Spanish construction group Ferrovial in 2006 was not in the UK's national interest. But even before that deal, BAA had a short-sighted business model that focused on turning terminals into shopping malls to milk cash from captive passengers. The new proprietors embraced that approach, diverting revenue to service massive debts. Nowhere in this equation did anyone factor in the strategic importance to Britain of having functional airports in general and the economic importance of Heathrow to the south-east in particular.It's easy to say a deal turned out badly for Britain, much harder to say what ought to have been done instead. Governments should not routinely meddle in corporate acquisitions and certainly shouldn't get into the protectionist habit of citing patriotism as the reason.But the sad fate of Heathrow exposes dilemmas for democratic governments, mandated to serve a national interest while also running an open economy in the age of globalisation.For Britain, one of the most open economies in the world, the challenge is existential. It is revealed nowhere more clearly than in our dependency on the financial services industry during the long economic boom. The country nurtured a role for itself as ringmaster for global business, reckoning that the wealth being generated would benefit the host nation regardless of who formally owned what. It worked to the extent that thousands of jobs were created and tax coffers were full.But the model proved unsustainable. All political parties are now committed to "diversification", ending our reliance on the City. But no one can agree how it will be done.The chancellor, George Osborne, has built his budget on assumptions of a near miraculous recovery in domestic manufacturing. Exports are supposed to surge, although it is not clear who will be buying. The strategy relies on faith that businesses, filled with confidence by the firm smack of budget discipline, will invest. Cuts to the public sector are supposed to re-energise the private one.It is a massive gamble on market forces coming to the rescue. Data released last week, revising recent growth down from previous estimates, suggest Mr Osborne's export-led renaissance is some way off.The government is sensitive to the charge that it has no plan B. A "strategy for growth", consisting mostly of investments in infrastructure, was announced by the prime minister shortly after the chancellor's spending review. A fund of �60m will be made available to support the expansion of wind turbines in the North Sea. A further �200m has been earmarked to develop a network of "technology innovation centres". A new, high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham is still planned, as is the Crossrail project bisecting London.Meanwhile, the "green investment bank", once a flagship policy, has been downgraded to be a much more modest fund. Plans hatched by Labour for a mass rollout of high-speed broadband, funded with a levy on fixed-line phone bills, have been replaced with a scheme that will rely more on the private sector and money from the BBC licence fee.Whether those investments can even begin to balance the effect of �81bn in spending cuts is another question. Together, they do not exactly add up to a grand plan to upgrade Britain's infrastructure so it is ready to meet the competitive challenges of the 21st-century global economy.Labour can hardly boast of having a better plan. The party is still struggling to resolve its feelings about Gordon Brown's spending habits and the needs for deficit reduction. Ed Miliband has yet to describe the brave new economy he would build, let alone explain how he would finance the transition.British politics is suffering from an intellectual paralysis caused by the credit crunch. All parties had signed up to the laissez-faire economic orthodoxies of globalisation. That creed is utterly discredited. It became clear in 2008 that government has a more vital role to play ? it saved the day when markets failed. But beyond emergency bailouts, no one can agree where the new boundaries of state intervention might lie.Towards the end of Labour's period in office, Lord Mandelson began to develop a concept of the "strategic state" that would foster competitive business but not offend market principles. It was an intriguing idea, although it was never clear how it would work in practice ? or how it was really distinct from the old Whitehall attempts at "picking winners".Economic thinking in the current government, meanwhile, seems characterised by residual Thatcherite faith in the superiority of markets, coupled with a nagging intuition that markets are not enough.George Osborne likes to repeat that Britain is "open for business". No one is seriously advocating that it should be closed. But there is a little too much in the government's approach that suggests a return to the pre-crisis business model.The danger then is that Britain's economy will succumb to a kind of Heathrow syndrome, looking more and more like its main airport: out of date, starved of investment, lacking a long-term strategy, weighed down with debt, reliant on shopping to stay afloat. In that sense, last week's scenes of a nation bedding down in a tatty departure lounge felt ominous and poignant. The challenge for all parties is to evoke a more inspiring vision of 21st-century Britain.HeathrowLiberal-Conservative coalitionEconomic growth (GDP)Economic policyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Drink Like a Local Islander
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Holiday Gift Guide: First Year Liftie Sister
Did your sister move to the mountain for ?just one season? after graduation? Here are some presents that?ll get her through the winter, and they?ll all last a while, too. Because we?re guessing she?s not moving back to Jersey any time soon.
Tahiti Travel Tips
Hungry? Find a Food TruckIt?s an eight-hour flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti, and you land pretty late in the evening. As tempting as it is to eat a convenient dinner at a hotel or chain restaurant, don?t. Instead, go into the city of Papeete, near the bay, where you can smell the food being served from food trucks, called ?roulettes,? along the streets. Eat fresh fish, rice and vegetables under the stars with local families. Not only are the meals cheaper from the backs of the trucks, but they?re more authentic and simply better.
Start EarlyThe stores usually close early in the evening, and they sell out of fresh goods (like bread) by midmorning the next day. So stocking up is one good reason to get up early. (Don?t forget the mosquito repellent.) Another good reason is the local scene at Papenoo Beach. It isn?t what you might expect. The shoreline is predominantly pebbly and rocky. Instead of tourists you?ll find local Tahitians surfing, kayaking and swimming shortly after sunrise. Get to know them and you?ll wind up with a board or paddle. Probably a cold Hinano and a sandwich too. Later, go to the food stalls at Papeete Market and eat rice and salmon while standing with new friends.
Always Wear Your SwimsuitLife in Tahiti is all about the water, so you?d better drive the loop around the main island while wearing your swimsuit and flip-flops. Soak in the views, and stop to swim at Plage de Toaroto and off the black sand of Point Venus, and then continue to the airport ? it?s officially in Faaa, the only place we?ve seen spelled with back-to-back-to-back a?s. Take an Air Tahiti flight to Raiatea, still wearing the swimsuit under your clothes. From there, hop on a shuttle boat over to Vahine Island near Tahaa, and check into one of the three over-water bungalows at the Private Island Resort. Put your bags down and step off your porch into the ocean water you?ve seen in classic Tahiti paintings.
Rent a BoatRent a little outboard-powered boat (you can even have your lunch packed for the ride), and putter to the lagoon hidden among barrier islets (called motus). This is where you?ll find the beaches and shallow-water snorkeling worthy of your best camera. Eat picnic-style on the beach, and on the way back use the boat to explore more of the little islands. The bigger island of Tahaa is known as Vanilla Island because its ground produces more vanilla than any other in Tahiti. Take a jeep through the hills and back roads to find the farms that produce the world-famous beans. These will be among your most authentic Tahitian souvenirs. Get back to the bungalow in time to take an evening swim and to see the fish ? including sharks ? swimming under the glass-top coffee table that sits over a viewing hole in your floor.
Go Home in Your SwimsuitTake an outrigger canoe, or pirogue, to the coral garden near Vahine early in the morning. Always bring snorkel gear when you?re on the water. Afterward, take the shuttle boat and short flight back to the main island. Grab a tuna burger at a caf� like Lagon Bleu. You might have time for one more swim before your late flight. Take some of that Tahitian water home with you, even if it?s just in your ears.
Start EarlyThe stores usually close early in the evening, and they sell out of fresh goods (like bread) by midmorning the next day. So stocking up is one good reason to get up early. (Don?t forget the mosquito repellent.) Another good reason is the local scene at Papenoo Beach. It isn?t what you might expect. The shoreline is predominantly pebbly and rocky. Instead of tourists you?ll find local Tahitians surfing, kayaking and swimming shortly after sunrise. Get to know them and you?ll wind up with a board or paddle. Probably a cold Hinano and a sandwich too. Later, go to the food stalls at Papeete Market and eat rice and salmon while standing with new friends.
Always Wear Your SwimsuitLife in Tahiti is all about the water, so you?d better drive the loop around the main island while wearing your swimsuit and flip-flops. Soak in the views, and stop to swim at Plage de Toaroto and off the black sand of Point Venus, and then continue to the airport ? it?s officially in Faaa, the only place we?ve seen spelled with back-to-back-to-back a?s. Take an Air Tahiti flight to Raiatea, still wearing the swimsuit under your clothes. From there, hop on a shuttle boat over to Vahine Island near Tahaa, and check into one of the three over-water bungalows at the Private Island Resort. Put your bags down and step off your porch into the ocean water you?ve seen in classic Tahiti paintings.
Rent a BoatRent a little outboard-powered boat (you can even have your lunch packed for the ride), and putter to the lagoon hidden among barrier islets (called motus). This is where you?ll find the beaches and shallow-water snorkeling worthy of your best camera. Eat picnic-style on the beach, and on the way back use the boat to explore more of the little islands. The bigger island of Tahaa is known as Vanilla Island because its ground produces more vanilla than any other in Tahiti. Take a jeep through the hills and back roads to find the farms that produce the world-famous beans. These will be among your most authentic Tahitian souvenirs. Get back to the bungalow in time to take an evening swim and to see the fish ? including sharks ? swimming under the glass-top coffee table that sits over a viewing hole in your floor.
Go Home in Your SwimsuitTake an outrigger canoe, or pirogue, to the coral garden near Vahine early in the morning. Always bring snorkel gear when you?re on the water. Afterward, take the shuttle boat and short flight back to the main island. Grab a tuna burger at a caf� like Lagon Bleu. You might have time for one more swim before your late flight. Take some of that Tahitian water home with you, even if it?s just in your ears.
Snowballs: Vonn Pow, Tracy Exits, Boa Wins Injunction
..... Vail, Colo. (Ski Press)-Even with a fresh gold medal and another World Cup title, few things are as sweet as a fresh powder morning. Three-time World Cup Overall champion and 2010 Olympic gold and bronze medalist Lindsey Vonn enjoyed 11" of fresh snow on Vail Mountain Friday, April 2, 2010. Vail has supported Vonn throughout her ski racing career and Vonn now represents all five of Vail Resorts? mountain resorts, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. (Photo: Tom Green). Tracy Leaving as Women's Alpine Coach Park City, Utah (Ski Press)-After two successful seasons that included four Olympic medals and multiple Audi FIS World Cup titles, veteran U.S. Ski Team coach Jim Tracy will step down as the team's women's alpine head coach. The former women's head speed coach from 1996-2004, Tracy returned to lead the U.S. women's alpine program following the 2008 season. Tracy's career with the U.S. Team spans over two decades, including working with the men's downhill team for 10 years. "Jim was brought back two years ago to lead the team to a great performance at the Olympics in Vancouver. He leaves knowing that he accomplished that mission," U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Vice President, Athletics Luke Bodensteiner said. "He has been an amazing coach for the women's team, leading them through some of the greatest landmarks in U.S. skiing history." "I'm stepping aside having been a part of something very special with the women's team over the last two years," said Tracy, who came back to the Team two years ago when then head coach Patrick Riml left to take a position in Canada. "I have had many great friendships and great times and I wish all the best for the athletes as they move forward." Boa Technology Granted Injunction Against Rong Jou China (Ski Press)-Boa Technology Inc. announced that the Regional Court of Munich, Germany, granted a preliminary injunction against Rong Jou Ent. Co Ltd., a Taiwanese company doing business under the name A TOP. The court prohibited Rong Jou from importing, selling, or offering for sale in Germany certain reel and lacing systems shown at the 2010 ISPO Trade Show that infringe Boa Technology?s patent rights under European Patent No.1213981. ?We are very pleased the court has granted this important injunction,? said Gary Hammerslag, CEO of Boa Technology Inc. ?This ruling confirms the importance and strength of our patents that protect our innovative technology. Boa Technology Inc. has developed unique closure systems for footwear and other products for premium brand customers and we are committed to enforcing our patents to protect many years of investment and the superior image associated with our products.?
A Christmas Birthday in S�by, Denmark
In the living room, the tree is lit with candles. Faded songbooks from another generation are passed out, and we all clasp hands while shuffling in a circle around the evergreen while we sing. I doubt I?ll ever stop being anxious that my hair will catch on fire.
Travel chaos eases as weather relents
Most main roads relatively clear and Eurostar services returning to normal as freezing conditions begin to recedeThe travel chaos that hit Britain during icy conditions earlier this week eased as the weather relented today, giving many travellers a belated opportunity to get away for Christmas.Most main roads were relatively clear, although motorists were told to expect ice even on gritted routes as subzero temperatures continued.Temperatures are likely to fall below -10C (14F) in central and western England tonight, and airlines and rail operators have warned of continuing delays and cancellations.Forecasters said parts of Scotland and possibly north-east England were the only places likely to see snow falling on Christmas Day, although heavy snow may be more widespread on Boxing Day.Andrew Howard, the head of road safety at the AA, warned drivers: "When you get to -10, even if the road has been treated, you really need to treat it as untreated."The AA has advice for drivers on its website, pointing out that stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.This morning, the west coast main line operator Virgin Trains said some services were subject to delays of up to an hour, with trains to and from Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly most affected.National Express East Anglia and Stansted Express services were running to a reduced timetable, as were services operated by the Northern Rail train company.The East Coast train company axed eight London to Leeds services and ran amended services on other routes. First Capital Connect, London Midland, Chiltern, Merseyrail and Scotrail were among other companies cancelling some services.Bob Crow, the leader of the RMT transport union, said: "It's a scandal that the private train operating companies can simply chop 25% of their services, install a 'special' timetable and avoid financial penalty."This racket shows that the private rail franchise system is rigged in favour of the train operators and means that they can provide what services they like, when they like, leaving passengers out in the cold while the train companies are laughing all the way to the bank."After major disruption to Eurostar trains this week, the company said in a statement that it expected to run a "near normal" service today, adding that passengers should arrive at the normal check-in time for their trains.British Airways said it was hoping to operate all its long-haul flights at Heathrow airport, along with most short-haul services.Where possible, the company was flying larger long-haul aircraft to European cities to increase its seat capacity, and was also hiring extra aircraft to help fly as many passengers as possible.A BA statement said: "In an attempt to free up even more seats, we are continuing to encourage customers who hold bookings to or from Heathrow up until the end of New Year's Eve to either re-book for a later date or claim a full refund if their journey is not essential."Other UK airports cancelled some short-haul flights because of continuing bad weather in Europe. At Birmingham airport, flights to and from Brussels and Paris were affected, while Aberdeen and Edinburgh warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.Much warmer temperatures are expected in some parts of the UK by the middle of next week. Steven Davenport, a senior forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "This is certainly the coldest December since 1981, but where it stands in the all-time cold Decembers rather depends on what happens in the next few days."This December has the potential to be the coldest since 1890 when the central England temperature [an average for the month] was as low as -0.8C."But a system is moving in from the Atlantic that will bring less cold air. This could lead to heavy and prolonged snow on the night of Boxing Day and into next Monday, but after that temperatures in south-west England, and possibly London, could be as high as 10C by Wednesday."WeatherTransportJames Meikleguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Giant Snakes
© David Hamlin/NGT&F A "super snake" is a serpent of our nightmares. A massive, writhing cold-blooded tube of 10,000 muscles, capable of delivering 9,000 pounds of pressure, growing to lengths of over 30 feet and weighing over 300 pounds.Giant snakes – such as the green anaconda or reticulated python – have a slow metabolism that burns 7-10 times less energy than humans. Because of this, super snakes can go over a year between meals. But when they attack, these powerful predators constrict their prey, possibly delivering over one ton of pressure to suffocate victims.Patroling the swampy habitats of South America, the anaconda is the largest and heaviest snake out there. Their skin is covered with nerve endings – as sensitive as human fingertips – interpreting vibrations. Anaconda's have four rows of teeth on their upper jaws and can feed on prey weighing 100 pounds or more. They don't pull their victims into their mouths – they open their mouths almost 180 degrees and lift up and over their meal. And during this death swallow, a unique set of 100 razor-sharp inner teeth bite into the prey, propelling their mouths forward.The longest serpent in the world is Asia's reticulated python. It's a highly aggressive species with predator superpowers, like excellent nighttime vision, strong swimming skill and deep heat-sensing pits that help them track prey through forests and swamps.Photos: Scientists Brad Moon and Maria Munoz capture an Anaconda for testing in Southern Venezuela.© David Hamlin/NGT&F© David Hamlin/NGT&F Learn all about these massive serpent species and tune into Super Snake! on Friday, December 17th at 10 PM et/pt on Nat Geo WILD!
Canadian Halfpipe Team in their Best Season Yet
When Justin Dorey and Mike Riddle went one-two and Rosalind Groenewoud took first for the ladies at Copper Mountain?s Grand Prix, skiers everywhere looked up. This was the first time freeskiing was included at the Grand Prix, and this AFP points-earning event was crucial to a successful season. The Canadian dream team of pipe rippers dominated at Copper, and they?re building quite the reputation for themselves as medal contenders at major halfpipe events. But is raw talent taking them to the top? Or does training as a team make them stronger individually? Working as a team seems to be the key to their success. ?It?s pretty cool having this group together,? Paynter says ?We try to make it as fun as we can, and I think having that kind of energy of all those people together training at the same time is just a really good environment for progression.? They spend summers coaching at Momentum Ski Camps and Camp of Champions on the glacier in Whistler, then the team heads to New Zealand to get their shred on. Winters are focused on events like the Dew Tour, X Games, and the FIS World Championships in Park City. ?We don?t really have a home mountain,? says Matt Margetts. ?We?re travelling so much.? Prior to contests, the team works together, too. ?Grand Prix was the first event of the season, but the whole team was in Copper for a few weeks before that,? Dorey says. ?So we got some pretty good pipe shredding in before the contest.? So where did the team come from? Paynter, a former Olympian and mogul skier, was coaching the Alberta Park and Pipe team when they started focusing more on halfpipe. When a number of their skiers, like Mike Riddle and Matt Hayward, started doing well, young prodigy Rosalind Groenewoud joined the team. Shortly thereafter, skiing?s mega-star Sarah Burke came on board, too. ?She liked the idea of a program with coaching, and having a group of people to train with,? Paynter says. With enough skiers who could compete beyond the national level, the group broke off from the Alberta team. ?At that point, we couldn?t stay on the Alberta team if they were focusing on Canadian events. We were off at X Games and World Cups, so there was too much of a split between our skiers and the kids moving up from the clubs. We said ?let?s just keep going,? and formed our own program,? said Paynter. ?We?ve been on our own ever since.? Right now, they?re an unofficial team. But that leaves room for certain freedoms. ?The athletes run the program.? Paynter says. ?For me as a coach, that?s kind of the best way to do it, work directly for the athlete, you don?t have an association dictating your every move. It?s been a struggle to raise money to afford to do it, but no one tells us what to do.? As far as the Olympics are concerned, Dorey says the team is confident. ?We?ve been thinking about the Olympics for a while now, and it?s finally starting to come together. We?re all pretty sure it?s going to get in, so we?re just waiting for that final announcement to set a plan.? And if this season is any indication, the Canadian team will be definite medal threats. --Sally Francklyn
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tasmania's cheekiest devil
Provocative and irreverent, the gambling multimillionaire David Walsh has built a breathtaking art gallery ? billed as "subversive Disneyland" ? on his vineyard outside Hobart in Tasmania"Please see reception if you are planning a pool party or a ritualistic orgy." The advice is typical of David Walsh's irreverence. Walsh is the owner of eight designer glass-and-steel guest pavilions and a vineyard outside Hobart, Tasmania. Instead of the "Do not Disturb" sign, guests can hang a "Don't fuck with me" sign on the doorknob.The luxurious riverfront pavilions, a restaurant and live music events are ways in which Walsh has been attracting visitors to stay on his 3.5-hectare estate, Moorilla, for longer than a swift tasting. He had a museum of antiquities on site for a while, too. Nobody came, he admits. Yet his new idea is to create Australia's largest private art gallery. Sex, death, myth and religion are the central themes and its very air threatens to be thick with ripeness and decay.Walsh, a mathematics whizz, is probably the state's richest man, having developed a gambling system that successfully and repeatedly beats the house. He's now taking his biggest gamble yet ? building a new museum in the bowels of the earth to house his considerable personal art collection. Billed as a "subversive Disneyland", the A$76m (�47m) Museum of Old And New Art (Mona) will open to the public on 21 January just after Mofo, a music festival curated by ex-Violent Femmes bassist and fellow Tassie resident, Brian Ritchie.One of the stand-out exhibits will be a piece by Jannis Kounellis (Untitled) featuring rotting sides of beef which will be fed into the artificial digestion tract of Cloaca, a separate work by Wim Delvoye. Cloaca is a machine that reproduces, with gross exactitude, excrement. Handily, you will be able to fortify yourself for the assault on the senses beforehand at the museum's underground bar.Walsh, 49, is an old rocker in a T-shirt, jeans and shades, who was raised by his mum in a council house on the other side of Mount Wellington, the peak that dominates the colonial port. He dropped out of university, but has since built up a successful winery, brewery and tourism business ? as well as a A$100m art collection.Moorilla is on a private peninsula in the Derwent River, 15 minutes outside Hobart. It was originally established by Italian immigrant Claudio Alcorso in 1958. Walsh used to look at the place from his old house across the water and, in the 1990s, he acquired it along with the riesling, gew�rztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet wines it produces. He's since added Moo Brew beer and fine dining at the Source. But Mona ? his "unmuseum" ? is central to Walsh's vision.The museum has been created by excavating a giant hole in the sandstone bluffs of Moorilla. From above, it is barely there ? its entrance is via a shaft cut into a floor of a remodelled heritage villa on the cliff top. But approaching from the water it looks formidable ? a fortress with impenetrable bunkers of sandstone-coloured waffled concrete and panels of rusted steel. There's nothing bijou about it ? Mona is similar in size to both Queensland's and South Australia's state art galleries.Walsh hopes a good chunk of Tasmania's 910,000 annual visitors will make a pilgrimage to his temple to secularism. The best way to arrive will be up the River Derwent from central Hobart on the new rivercat service, docking at the foot of a flight of stairs cut into the cliff. If it feels like arriving on a Greek island, that's deliberate ? Naxos was the model. You ascend to this antipodean acropolis, negotiating a children's playground, a Sunday market and walk across a tennis court before reaching the museum entrance ? Walsh's aim is to challenge ideas about what great museums should be like right from the outset.Australia can be a very conservative place, but Tasmania's cheap living and craft traditions have made it an attractive home to artists and other nonconformist downsizers from the mainland. The island state is reinventing itself from a place dedicated to shredding old-growth forests for paper into somewhere that cherishes its pure, natural beauty. Once-shameful convict-period prisons have been declared Unesco world heritage sites, and luxury eco-lodges seem to open each year.After you have climbed the steps to the villa entrance, you descend again to a subterranean canyon. From here, Walsh's architect, Nonda Katsalidis, has built three gallery floors extending out of a rock face. The ceiling, a grid of concrete coffers (deep recesses), reads like a brutal take on classicism. Concrete piles driven into the living rock are dripping caryatids. A rusted-steel staircase snakes between floors.Moving through the windowless voids is deliberately bewildering. A personal audio device is both the only guide to the art and a way for Mona to track you ? it can tell how long you stand in front of each work. Walsh thinks he will swap around the 10 most popular and least popular pieces each week.A circular tunnel leads under the foundations of a second historic house to a separate pavilion built to house Sternenfall, Anselm Kiefer's 6.5m-high stack of lead books.The collection combines Walsh's antiquities (he has ancient coins worth more than any of his paintings) with Australian and international contemporary works and he is happiest creating dialogues between the periods ? Egyptian mummies will be on nodding terms with YBAs.One gallery is especially devoted to sex and death, with a bordello-red velvet curtain and peep holes to objects through a gold-leaf wall. If the virtually-all-glass guest pavilions are about exhibitionism, this is about voyeurism. "It's the opportunity to mess with your head," admits Walsh, as is the gallery bar: "I like the idea of people having a couple of beers and looking at the art, having a couple more and changing their mind."Mona's labyrinth is rich with myth and mortality. Even in the roomy cinema, a Christian cross of black seats is set out among the red. There are artworks like Julius Popp's Bit Fall, a delicate waterfall where words appear digitally in the tumbling raindrops. Then there's serenity in Wilfredo Prieto's Untitled (White Library), where a gallery is entirely lined with thousands of white books. Every page is blank. It's one of David Walsh's favourite pieces.Walsh reckons Mona might outdo the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra in terms of visitor numbers but he adds, not entirely convincingly, he's not bothered if visitors don't come at all. That's not the point, he says. "It's fun to make a big, complex, elaborate joke ? it's about subversion, but it's not too serious. It is a counterpoint to the Met and Moma. I'm not trying to bestow wisdom. It is just me doing stuff." He also says he doesn't care if rising sea levels drown his temple to secularism in decades to come.That's not convincing either, of course: Walsh is keen to raise hell and debate and to show how art can reveal what we try to hide about ourselves. He's planning more architecture ? a warehouse gallery in Hobart's docks and more accommodation at Moorilla itself, taking his spend on the estate to A$100m: "Eventually I want to build a hotel and make it a cohesive whole. Everything is a function of Mona: Moo Brew, the pavilions, the function centre. I'd like the hotel entrance to be via a shaft through the rock from the waterfront. But I need a lot of people to come first."Those with sensory overload can retreat from Mona to the guest pavilions with their sybaritic bathrooms and the peaceful prospect of the wide Derwent and the hills beyond. But even here, there's no escaping Walsh's obsessions entirely. Beneath original artworks ancient and modern, and the giant photo-murals of naked couples making out, you can browse books such as Blasphemy: Art that Offends while grazing on dishes whose ingredients include abalone, periwinkle and smoked oyster oil.On the floor of one pavilion is a large black rug on which writing, picked out in red, reads: "Apropos of nothing, it's nice to have you here. Thanks, we need the money."EssentialsMona opens to the public on 21 January. The boat service to Moorilla begins on 23 January, and costs A$15 return from Brooke Street pier on Hobart waterfront. There is limited on-site parking, but people with disabilities can arrange this by calling +61 3 6277 9900.Mona's guest-pavilion rates range from A$490 to A$950 per night, including breakfast in the Source restaurant or in your pavilion. Entry to Mona is free (mona.net.au). Qantas (qantas.com) flies daily from London Heathrow to Hobart via Melbourne from �960 including all taxes and surcharges. Valid for departure 16 April - 20 June 2011TasmaniaAustraliaAustralasiaFood and drinkArchitectureWineguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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