Caviar and Turkey to be tasted only on board

Airlines awarded for game play on these dates to its customers with details and special menus.

The Christmas spirit also takes over airlines. Passengers flying in first class and business can enjoy menus and some details specially designed for these dates. Thus, in long haul flights in first class and business from Germany, Lufthansa crew offers traditional Turkey roast, served with red cabbage and roast potatoes. In addition, chef Johanna Maier has created a pre-Navidad menus, which are completed with cookies of Christmas and a liquor.

First, duo of ham and meat cured venison, along with Terrine of venison with pear and cranberry chutney; Glazed Chicken breast filled with honey, Rosemary, mashed potatoes, cabbage, red cabbage and caramelised chestnuts, second and, for dessert, marzipan and Mandarin sorbet. This is the menu of Swiss first class customers. The intercontinental business, offered the company of first trilogy of salmon; Glazed Chicken breast filled with honey, Rosemary, mashed potatoes, cabbage, red cabbage and caramelised chestnuts, second, and cream of Tangerine with a hot dessert wine jelly.

A tub of Alverta Royal Eggxiting of Petrossian caviar is the appetizer of Air France for passengers who fly from Paris at the Premiere class, who also tasted the menus of Jacques Le Divellec with two of his recipes: fillet of turbot with clams and fish with seafood sauce verbena.

Chocolates and Christmas sweets, as well as digs are details that Air Europe has with its clients on these dates. To which must be added the twelve grapes of luck that you can eat those traveling the day 31. All this served in tableware signed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.

Lufthansa:
A those travelling in first and business Class on flights of long-haul from Germany, the company offers traditional Turkey roast, served with red cabbage and roast potatoes. In addition, Lufthansa will distribute chocolate bars, bags of cookies and Christmas pates.





Air France:
December until January, on flights departing from Paris in class La première, customers can enjoy a single tub of Petrossian Caviar Alverta Royal Eggxiting. This month, they can also enjoy the fillet of turbot with clams and verbena of fish with seafood, prepared by Jacques Le Divellec sauce.

Air Europa:
Spanish company offers during the Christmas in business class a Bonbon or offer sweet along with the standard stipulated service in flight. on 24 December, both business class and tourist, a chocolate and champagne, as well as on December 31, when in addition, customers may eat the grapes of luck.
 



Swiss:
Swiss adapts its menu for these dates. Thus, in Swiss First, passengers will enjoy a first compound by duo of ham and meat cured venison, along with Terrine of venison with pear and cranberry chutney; Glazed Chicken breast filled with honey, Rosemary, mashed potatoes, cabbage, red cabbage and caramelised chestnuts, second, and dessert, marzipan and Mandarin sorbet.

Locate Luggage Lost In Flight

What is Luggage Locator?

Visiting the baggage carousel can be the most stressful part of a long flight. Locating a piece ofluggage, or multiple pieces, from among the hundreds of other bags can get confusing. Aluggage locator can help track down luggage with a remote control that activates a flashing alarm. Variations are available for locating several bags, and some even initiate spoken responses to cut through the confusion.

Luggage Locator provides a location and monitoring service of your luggage.

A Luggage Locator is a tracking device that comes in two distinct pieces. One is a small button that fits on a key chain and looks like the locking and unlocking fob that comes with some automobiles. The second piece is larger, about the size of a small paperback book, also made of hard plastic with one or up to a series of lights embedded. Some brands differ in design, but both pieces typically also feature a strap made from nylon or plastic coated steel wire for attaching to bags.

The Luggage Locator device.

This wireless device operates much like a garage door opener because of its reliance on close-range radio signals. The small part of the luggage locator is called the transmitter and, like a garage door remote in a car, emits a signal when its button is pressed. The larger piece of theluggage locator is called the receiver, and it functions like the garage door opener itself, except that instead of opening a door when a button is pressed, its lights turn on and a sound is emitted. Most transmitters and receivers have a range of 60 feet (18.2 m), and their lights and sounds function for approximately four seconds.

Each luggage locator operates on the same radio wavelength, but a remote control will activate only its mate. The locators are each given an individual code. This assures that another bag with a luggage locator will not accidentally flash and beep when the button is pressed.

With the product rising in popularity, some brands have branched out and made additions that can help travelers even more. Many travelers don't fly with only one bag, and members of a family often have several bags each. Some luggage locators offer multiple receivers for a single transmitter so that multiple bags will notify the owner with only one push of a button. Another innovation is personalization that allows users to record their own voice saying whatever they want, so that when the button is pressed, they see lights and hear their own message.

If you want to know more, just LugLoc: https://www.facebook.com/LugLoc

Buenos Aires: South American "Paris" with Bikinis!

Buenos Aires: South American "Paris" with Bikinis!

It is becoming increasingly popular for New Yorker’s to take their year-end bonuses or real-estate winnings and buy a second home in Buenos Aires. Dominic LoTempio, 31-year-old former vice-president of bond sales with Belgian banking conglomerate KBC, is such a person and has relocated completely to a small town 30 minutes north of Buenos Aires. His new life, including a modern 2-bedroom apartment with garden, infinity pool and a man-made lake for canoeing costs just $1,400 a month. Down the road is a field where he takes off and lands his paraglider from Bliss.“I came to live life as a rich guy,” he says, and whilst he has enough to be a small-time millionaire in New York, LoTempio lives life as if a multi-millionaire in the Argentine paradise he has created for himself. In fact, he has done exactly what many suggested but didn’t have the nerve to do. Working in bond sales, every financial crisis the world over would bring stress and comments like “I could move to Thailand, convert my dollars to baht, live like a millionaire, and never have to work again”. Nobody would ever act on this though, trapped by their work or domestic situations.

As he prepared to quit, Argentina crashed and he could see himself there more than in other economically struggling countries, with Argentina being more cosmopolitan. The 6am wake ups were changed for late nights, and 60+ hour weeks exchanged for no work, spending power and Argentine women.

Since Argentina’s economic collapse in 2001, the city and surrounding countryside has become an expat haven. Argentina’s relaxed immigration laws has allowed many to settle on 90 day visas without issue, meaning the exact number of immigrants of this kind is difficult to establish. However, the number of Americans registered with the embassy between 2004 and 2005 leapt by nearly 13%.

Other popular cities of this kind, that offer relatively inexpensive living are places like Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok. However, generally these countries are ruled out due to rising prices (Mexico and Brazil), the culture difference is too much (Thailand), or the inequality of wealth brings risks to rich Americans (Brazil). With this in mind, Buenos Aires offers a cosmopolitan culture with low prices, great weather, even better food and the chance for a new start.

LoTempio is reminded of New York’s neighbourhoods by Buenos Aires’ barrios, the shops and boutiques of the Recoleta barrio are similar to those of Fifth Avenue, the trendy residential area full of fantastic restaurants is called Palermo Soho, and Barrio Norte reminds him of the Upper West Side.

Another fantastic place to settle is Uruguay’s beautiful Punta del Este. Sun, sea and good surf is on offer here, along with the same benefits mentioned above of life in B.A. Life in B.A for LoTempio is good – he may complain about one-ply toilet paper, slow service in restaurants, an abundance of strikes and the lack of luxury goods on offer in the city, but money will buy you about 10 times the space in a trendy neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. This, plus a fantastic meat meal and bottle of wine for $40 in one of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires; what more do you need?

fastjet takes off, achieving a 78% load factor on first day

FastJet.com

African low cost airline fastjet commenced commercial flight operations yesterday, with its first aircraft flying passengers from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, and Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Eight sectors were flown, carrying more than 900 paying passengers and achieving an average booked load factor of 78%. Three of the eight sectors flown exceeded a load factor of 90%.

Future demand for seats on these two initial routes is currently far outstripping supply. Additional flights to these destinations are already being considered, and the Company also intends to expand its route network regionally over the coming weeks as the fleet grows to three Airbus A319s.

Commenting on the success of the first day, fastjet Chief Executive Ed Winter said: “fastjet is delighted to see how the people of Tanzania are embracing the Low Cost Carrier model. Yesterday was a huge success and a great way to start operations. 

“We are pleased to see reservations and bookings continuing to grow. The demand for this type of air travel has far exceeded the Company’s expectations.

“Yesterday’s passengers ranged from business people through to many first time flyers who were using fastjet as an economic alternative to conventional bus transport. Clearly, as predicted, our low cost model is stimulating a whole new market of people to fly,” Winter added.

Travel That Makes a Difference

Volunteer teaches classes to childrens

Traveling to Bali, it’s easy to get blinded by beautiful landscape, wild nightlife and the island’s spiritual side. After all, those aspects are what draw millions of tourists to Bali each year. But, despite its bright and luxurious facade, the island does have humble roots. 

To explore this, many travelers turn to CouchSurfing Indonesia — the national branch of a global hospitality network that connects travelers to local homestays. The network teamed up with local organization Komunitas Anak Alam (Nature’s Children Community) to hold a charity event at a school in Blandingan village in Kintamani as part of the CouchSurfing Indonesia Festival 2012. 

The annual festival is a chance for CouchSurfing members to come together from all over Indonesia. This year’s theme was Nacula — Nature Creates Culture and Adventure — and the festival included a series of events, including hikes, photography workshops and volunteer activities. 

Volunteers started out with a drive from the south of Bali to Songan village in Kintamani, located in the highland area in the northern part of east Bali. Spending more than two hours on the road was tiring, but volunteers were rewarded with views of Bali landscapes: the south’s white sandy beaches and turquoise sea, Ubud’s lush paddies and rocky hills in Kintamani. 

Songan is a small, rural village nestled at the foot of Mount Batur. While volcanic activity has resulted in incredibly fertile soil suitable for growing tomatoes and onions, it also gave birth to the lucrative — and destructive — sand mining industry in the area, evident in the heavy quarry trucks rumbling up the narrow, winding road. 

Songan, along with about 15 other villages in Kintamani’s Mount Batur caldera, was recently accepted as part of the Global Geoparks Network by Unesco for the region’s volcanic activity and distinctive vegetation. 

After parking at the Ulun Danu Temple in Songan, the comfortable leg of the journey ended. From here, volunteers continued on their way in pick-up trucks along a bumpy, meandering path to Blandingan village, which is located 45 minutes up a dusty and dry road. 

Many locals walked vigorously up the hill, clouded in dust, unlike the face-masked volunteers in the truck. Most locals can’t afford the luxury of such transportation — a one-way ride to Blandingan costs Rp 100,000 ($10), money that’s usually reserved for more essential items. 

In late morning, the pick-ups finally reached the final destination: SD Blandingan, the only elementary school in the village. Class is dismissed at noon at SD Blandingan, as many teachers have other part-time jobs to help make ends meet, and the students, even those in first grade, often spend the afternoon helping their parents tend the farm or cattle. 

Without wasting time, each of the eight volunteers from CouchSurfers proceeded to their designated post, related to their individual passions. A traveling doctor from Canada performed free medical check-ups, while the photographers in the group conducted a photography class. I was teaching what I think I know best — writing. We hoped this would be a welcome change from the school curriculum, which emphasizes the sciences but not the arts. Students selected the classes they wanted to participate in, and mine filled with enthusiastic students wanting to learn how to write a story. 

The kids were clearly excited for the lesson, their faces lit up with smiles and eyes sparkling with curiosity. I pulled out a copy of Bobo magazine — a popular kids magazine that many Indonesians grow up with. Or so I thought. In fact, none of the kids had ever seen the magazine before. This came as quite a shock to me, and I was reminded that things we take for granted are sometimes a luxury to others. 

The students, who ranged from grades one through six, crafted stories about their daily adventures — what they normally do after school or on the weekends. I was expecting tales that resembled my own childhood: playing with friends and family or having fun with hobbies. 

I was surprised, but fascinated, with their stories, which were so different from my own. Many of the kids walk home from school on an uphill mountain path, as this is the only elementary school in the area. They trek through hilly forests and dusty rock paths — even encounter the occasional snake. 

When they reach home, their day is not yet over. The kids often help their parents find grass to feed the family’s cows or tend the farm until sunset. The tough chores to be done also come with possible dangers — one of the boys even showed me an open wound on his knee, resulting from a mishap with a sickle. 

I guided the 50 students in writing down their adventures, then turning the writing into illustrated stories. Many students displayed impressive talent, and it seemed like drawing came as naturally as breathing to them. The stories were then bundled together into a book called “The Adventures of Blandingan Kids.” 

Soon, my pity toward these children turned to admiration for their bravery and work ethic, which was more developed than in any of the city kids I’d met. 

As the class ended, students left, waving and smiling, and asking if I would still be there for class tomorrow. Deeply touched by the progress they made, I decided to stay the night and offer a second workshop the next day. 

There is no hotel in Blandingan, so we camped in the teacher’s room at the school. The accommodation was sufficient, but the lack of clean water in the village posed the real challenge. Although Blandingan is located close to Lake Batur, where fresh water is abundant, the lack of facilities makes it difficult to pump the water uphill to the villagers. Health and sanitation problems result from the dirty water, and many of the residents suffer from skin and respiratory infections. 

While the government should certainly step up, travelers can also make a difference by giving back — volunteering, building schools or water pumps, or even developing recycling programs. 

That’s why Komunitas Anak Alam connects responsible travelers to volunteer opportunities in Blandingan and other villages in Kintamani. It also collects donations for books and school uniforms, runs nutrition programs and provides scholarships to keep kids in school. 

Let’s not only travel, but instead, let’s share, inspire and make the world a better place. 

More information on opportunities to volunteer with or support Komunitas Anak Alam can be found at komunitasanakalam.org.

Urban Grasshoppers Sing Louder

Roadside males boost mating calls, study says.

Urban grasshoppers are changing their tune.

According to a new paper in Functional Ecology, males that dwell by busy roads boost the bass of their courtship songs to be heard above traffic.

Previous research has shown that human-made sounds affect the calls of birds, whales, and frogs. This study is the first to show that insects aren't immune.

Ecologist Ulrike Lampe and her colleagues at Bielefeld University in Germany rounded up 188 male bow-winged grasshoppers (Chorthippus biguttulus)—half from quiet places, half from roadside spots—and exposed them to a female grasshopper. When the road warriors "sang" their two-second-long courtship song by rubbing their hindlegs against their front wings, they turned up the volume on the lower frequencies.

Their country cousins did not. Lampe says the bass boost helps males be heard over the din of traffic, which could be disturbing the species' call-and-response mating rites. The fact that these males sang loudly in a quiet lab environment, she adds, suggests that the change is "not a spontaneous behavioral adaptation to noise" but a long-term effect.

(See "Suicide Grasshoppers Brainwashed by Parasite Worms.")

Grasshopper Music

Lampe doesn't know if other insect species are evolving similarly. But she suspects that other types of human-made noise—from places like construction sites, airports, and train stations—would have a similar effect on grasshoppers.

Bow-winged grasshoppers are found throughout northern and central Europe. They vary in size (from 1.5 to 2 centimeters) and color (from green and brown to red and purple). Males "sing" by rubbing their hind legs against their front wings, producing a broadband signal. Most of their song occurs in a range the human ear can't hear. (See bug pictures.)

"We can distinguish between the extremes, though," says Lampe. "If we have one grasshopper that produces songs with very high frequencies and one that produces songs with [roughly] 1 kilohertz lower frequencies, we can hear the difference."

60 Seconds To Stress-Less Holiday Travel

The holidays are already upon us and for many people that means trains, planes and automobiles, as a means of traveling to see friends, family or just getting out of dodge. One of the companions that often travels with us that we'd rather not be there is stress and anxiety. The holidays are stressful enough for many of us, but tack on travel and it amps it up that much more.

One of the things that can help us shift out of our stress and anxiety is to become present, get outside of our heads and widen our perspective. I'm fortunate enough to have worked with a number of people who struggle with stress and anxiety around travelling and in the work some true wisdom comes from them that I now get to share with you.

Here's a one-minute tip that comes from a new release called Mindfulness Meditations for the Anxious Traveler: Quick Exercises to Calm Your Mind. You can use this anywhere and anytime while traveling to begin neutralizing the stress and stepping into what really matters.

Be an Ambassador of Compassion

"When sitting on a plane (or substitute your mode of transportation), see the 'choice point' by considering all the other people on the plane who are also struggling with being an anxious traveler. Remember, up to 40 percent of people struggle with some form of anxiety about traveling. Be an ambassador of compassion, connecting with your heart and saying;

May you feel safe and protected.

May you be at ease.

May you be free from fear.

May you be happy."

The fact is stress around travelling is more prevalent than we usually imagine. Just practice this as an experiment over and again without expectation and see what you notice. Even holding that phrase in your mind can be helpful in getting out of your own head and back into your life.

What would life be like in the days, weeks and months ahead if more people practiced being The Ambassador of Compassion during this high travel season?

We might not only reduce stress, but bring the joy back to traveling.

As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction creates a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Venice flooding: Tourists swim as Italian city drowns

Venice under water while tourists enjoy.

On Nov. 12, reports about Venice came flooding in that the Italian city is now 70 percent underwater. While this may seem like a deterrent to tourism, many enjoy the water action and have taken to swimming in the sauce made by the rain that has gone on for three days.

Yes, despite the inconvenience and distraction in Venice, Reuters was quick to point out that in St. Marks Square, "Tourists in swimming [suits] sat at café tables under the water,"

This particular drowning is one for the history books, being called "the sixth-worst flood in the city since 1872."

Although the news of all the most recent flooding in Italy may be trending worldwide for its destruction and cause of death, it is hardly an unusual phenomenon during the winter months in this island paradise.

In fact, Los Angeles resident Paul Jackson remembers when he visited Venice via a Crystal Cruises cruise ship back in 1998, enjoying the same situation but to a lesser degree than what is happening today.

"The city was amazing," says Jackson. "St. Marks had about a foot of water to trudge through but we had a blast in out knee high rubber boots supplied to us by the ship's personnel. We shopped in boutiques where we were warmly welcomed even though the water was up to our calves. Still, we made the most of it, asking for and getting bargains left and right while shopkeepers put on very happy faces."

And so, with that said by this Angeleno, there is more than one upside to the situation in Venice with its flooding and its tourists swimming in the residue. Travel sure can take a turn for the unexpected but that's what sojourning is all about, right? Right.

Los Angeles residents who want to visit Venice when it floods or when it doesn't should contact their travel agents for details.

Tourism Flanders is announced as premier partner at World Travel Market

Flanders has been confirmed as the Premier Partner at World Travel Market (WTM) in London for 2013 and 2014. This will ensure that Flanders will feature as a "guest region" at WTM for the next two years, at one of the most important tourism exhibitions in Europe.

Flemish Minister for Tourism, Geert Bourgeois said: "I am delighted with the exclusive co-operation agreement which has just been signed by Tourism Flanders and the organisers of WTM, Reed Exhibitions. This provides an ideal position to present "2014-2018 the Great War Centenary" to the attention of the travel industry. With this agreement we will also look forward to promoting a greater awareness of Flanders and Brussels as a tourism destination." 

More than 48,000 international tourism professionals visit WTM annually. WTM 2011 facilitated a massive £1,653 million in business deals for travel and tourism exhibitors over the four days. Furthermore, WTM is the most important trade fair in the world for English speaking markets and Commonwealth countries. 

Each year, WTM focuses on one specific country or region to promote its "Premier Partnership". Last year, Abu Dhabi had this opportunity.

"We are very proud to become the new Premier Partner at WTM for the next two editions. As Britain and the Commonwealth are the most important foreign target groups for the remembrance of The Great War Centenary, it is strategically very beneficial for Tourism Flanders to be able to deploy such a large promotional tool via this partnership, over the next couple of years at WTM," Bourgeonis added. 

Tourism Flanders will use its position as the Premier Partner primarily to bring "2014-2018, The Great War Centenary" to attention in its association with the international travel industry. There will be a particular focus on the English speaking markets and the Commonwealth countries to promote this project.  

The new partnership also provides a unique opportunity for Tourism Flanders to strategically brand itself at Excel during WTM in 2013 and 2014. Opportunities include the decoration and branding of several spaces at the Excel hall in line with its international marketing branding strategy. A clear emphasis on "2014-2018 the Great War Centenary" will be visible throughout. Examples include a "poppy pathway", created using the image of 51 square metres of imaged tiles from the main entrance hall to the main Flanders stand.  

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market, Simon Press said: "I am delighted to welcome Flanders as WTM's Premier Partner for the next two events in 2013 and 2014.  

WTM is the event where the industry conducts its business, making it ideal for Flanders to promote its Great War Centenary. All at WTM look forward to helping Flanders achieve its objectives over the next two years." 

Britain lifts Indian Kashmir travel warning

NEW DEHLI: Britain has lifted its advisory against travelling to some parts of Indian Kashmir in the latest sign of the scenic region’s revival as a tourism destination.

Famed for its houseboats on placid lakes, clean air and mountain scenery, Kashmir was a popular international get-away until an armed insurgency against rule from New Delhi erupted in 1989.

“We no longer advise against travel to Jammu and Srinagar, nor against travel on the Jammu to Srinagar highway,” the British High Commission said in an update on its website posted Tuesday.

Srinagar is Kashmir’s summer capital and home to the famous Dal Lake, while Jammu serves as the winter capital.

Muslim-majority Kashmir, set in the foothills of the Himalayas, is divided between India and Pakistan along the heavily-militarised Line of Control border.

It was plagued by violence for decades as local militants fought for the region to become independent or part of Pakistan, but unrest has fallen sharply in recent years and domestic Indian tourism has boomed.

“The improvements in the security situation has led us to lift the advisory against UK citizens travelling to both cities, Jammu and Kashmir,” British High Commissioner James Bevan said.

Bevan said the decision to lift the warning would boost foreign tourism and benefit the local economy.

Britain, which first issued a Kashmir travel advisory in 1995, still advises against travel to other parts of the region except for Ladakh.

The United States strongly recommends its citizens avoid travel to Kashmir.

Luxury travel firm opens Dubai HQ

The Travel Attaché, a premier luxury travel specialist, has launched its Dubai headquarters, the first in a series of offices to be unveiled across the Middle East and Asia by 2015.

Working with over 200,000 of the globe’s leading suppliers, The Travel Attaché enjoys access to the world’s most desirable properties and offers a diverse portfolio of sumptuous hotels, villas, chalets, yachts, cruises and private jets, a statement said.

In addition, the independent consultant presents a unique experiential offering, a first for the region, with tailor-made experiences ranging from kite skiing in Antarctica to private viewings of the Northern Lights.

Founded by a panel of industry experts with over 50 years combined experience across the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, The Travel Attaché is run by a team of connoisseurs who each enjoy individual acclaim as leaders in their field.

Chairman Mishal Kanoo, deputy chairman of the Kanoo Group, is joined by vice chairman Gaurav Sinha, Founder and managing director of Insignia, the Middle East’s first luxury branding and brand marketing agency; Liam Wholey, chief executive officer, formerly CEO for elite concierge service Quintessentially Group’s Middle East & Africa division; and managing director Jeremy Sutton, founder and former managing director of Quintessentially Travel.

The announcement comes the day the World Travel Market opens in London, a reflection of the company’s international outlook.

“Our decision to create The Travel Attaché is reflective of the region’s growing need and desire for an exceptional travel proposition,” said Wholey.

“The Middle East remains one of the most dynamic parts of the world with a rapidly progressive consumer base and we are excited at the prospect of redefining levels of service and expertise in the leisure and business booking sectors.

“With our unique offering, we are confident that we can deliver unforgettable experiences in a seamless and sophisticated manner and redefine the region’s perception of travel,” he added.

Tourism: Hawaii’s blessing and curse

Hawaii is a beautiful, serene and ideal spot for many USD students to visit, but an imperative question arises: are we welcomed guests? 

For many years prior to the influx of a tourist based economy, indigenous Hawaiians flourished without being dependent on revenues derived from tourism. In order for USD students to see tourism from the islanders’ perspective, we must first analyze the history behind the development of Hawaii as a tourist economy. 

Before its addition to the United States, Hawaii was subjected to imperialism, which is an exploitation of people, resources and land. After the United States illegally overthrew the Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, we claimed ownership of the island in 1894. 

The overthrow of Hawaii completely changed its economy from one which was self-sufficient to one that was a hostage economy. According to “Hawaiian Journey” by Joseph G. Mullins, prior to tourist exploitation, Hawaii’s economy relied on pineapple and sugar production, yet in recent years the profits derived from such production account for only a fraction of the island’s economic sustainability. 

The amount of tourism on the island per year brings forth the vast majority of the island’s revenue, yet Hawaii cannot sustain such a tremendous amount number of tourists, creating a severe dilemma. In order for sustainability of the island to exist into the future, then tourism must be reduced to a quantity that is less than it is today. 

One can see the beautiful pictures of resorts and beaches in Hawaii, but may not comprehend the state of economic distress Hawaiians are in. People are not typically made aware of the amount of homeless people who have jobs, but receive such low wages from their work that they cannot afford a home. People don’t see how so much tourism can be insulting to the indigenous people of the island. 

Yes, hulas and luaus are fun for many visitors to Hawaii, but they are also sacred to the people of the land and reserve a higher meaning and appreciation. Even at USD, the luau could come off as offensive to some Hawaiian students. 

After interviewing Keanu Gututala, a Hawaiian student and native to the island, he said, “I was extremely disappointed because it made people culturally blind to what a luau actually represents in Hawaii. There was no aspect of the luau that actually represented a true luau.” 

I saw this with the food and music. At a recent USD event, the DJ played rap and mainstream music as opposed to the genre of music that is true to the island. The food was sushi and pulled pork which you would not find at a real luau. 

This is an exact example of the misconception some possess of true Hawaiian culture at our school. 

As previously stated, tourism does bring in most of Hawaii’s revenue, so it is not all bad. 

In a sense, Hawaii could not last in the long run without it, yet one might want to consider the idea proposed by Haunani-Kay Trask, author of “Lovely Hula Hands: Corporate Tourism and the Prostitution of Hawaiian Culture”, in which a quota on the amount of tourists allowed in Hawaii per year is established. 

Often, travelers see an inauthentic Hawaiian culture that has been expressed at our school. It is a cultural ruination in the sense that those who get exposed to the culture of the land exist only to lure tourists in to earn money. 

At this point in time there are actually fewer native Hawaiians living on their land than tourists and foreigners. Most of those natives that do live on the land are not receiving all this money for the use of their culture, and are receiving little money for other people’s perception of the Hawaiian culture. On any given day there are at least 148,750 tourists present on the island. USD students often talk about visiting the island, whether it is for vacation or school. 

No matter what purpose, any student at this school who ends up going should take some time to think about the true identity of Hawaii’s people and the reason why Hawaii is a tourist economy today.

Hurricane Sandy could severely impact business travel

Hurricane Sandy threatening the East Coast

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Hurricane Sandy is threatening the East Coast with forecasters calling the twin threat of winter storm fronts and hurricane conditions a "Frankenstorm." Heavy rain, extreme tides, high winds and possible snow are expected to barrel peaking Tuesday and linger through Halloween. Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) research can provide a picture of what the impact a storm of this magnitude could have on business travel.

GBTA recently quantified the impact of major weather events on business travel. The research used GBTA's Business Travel Quarterly (BTQ) methodology to determine how a theoretical Category-3 hurricane on the East Coast would impact the business travel industry, and the results can be applied to any significant weather event that leads to widespread shutdowns and canceled travel plans, such as Hurricane Sandy. 

Disruptions in business travel can have wide-ranging repercussions. In the GBTA model, business travel could lose as much as 514,000 trips and $606 million in spending due to storm related cancellations. 

The report also predicts that:

Interrupted business trips could result in a total GDP loss of about $675 million

Potential lost federal, state and local tax revenues of $176 millionThe eleven East Coast states in the path of the scenario storm could suffer an average business travel spending loss as high as $58 million per day.

Sandy is about 385 miles south-southeast of New York City and the center of the storm is expected to be near the mid-Atlantic coast on Monday night. It was expected to hook inland during the day, colliding with a wintry storm moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic.

From Washington to Boston, big cities and small towns were buttoned up against the onslaught of Sandy, with forecasters warning that the New York area could get the worst of it - an 11-foot wall of water.

Airlines canceled more than 7,200 flights and Amtrak began suspending train service across the Northeast. New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore moved to shut down their subways, buses and trains and said schools would be closed on Monday. Boston also called off school. And all non-essential government offices closed in the nation's capital.

Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas Open

Hurricane Sandy continues its exit from Bahamian waters. In Nassau/Paradise Island the Lynden Pindling International Airport opened Thursday afternoon, as have hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues accommodating many guests including those who began arriving Thursday night. 

The airports across other islands are also expected to re-open throughout the day Saturday pending weather conditions and safety inspections. Currently open are airports on Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador, Exuma, Bimini, Andros, Marsh Harbour Airport on Abaco, and Governor's Harbour and North Eleuthera, on Eleuthera. The airport on Grand Bahama Island is expected to re-open on Sunday, Oct. 28.

The port on Nassau is now open, and Grand Bahama Island is expected to re-open on Sunday, Oct. 28.

Those with plans to travel to The Bahamas Oct. 27-28, 2012 are advised to check in directly with their air carriers, hotels and cruise lines regarding reservations. Air carriers have resumed service into Nassau, but may have made changes to departure times or other details. Contact airlines directly for updates.

Damage assessments are not complete, but initial reports indicate a quick return to business for hotels and cruise ships in primary tourism centers of Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island and Exuma. Weather has not allowed direct inspection of the impact on southern islands like Cat Island, Long Island as well as The Abacos and Eleuthera. There are preliminary reports of impacts along the coastlines, trees down and moderate roof damage to smaller structures, but no major structural damage is reported at this time.

"It appears that major engines of our tourism economy, like Atlantis on Paradise Island, the Sheraton, Hilton, Breezes and Sandals on Exuma and the resorts of the Lucaya area on Grand Bahama Island and other hotels across the islands, seem poised to return to business immediately which is good news. We will get teams out in the field to fully inspect and evaluate the impact of Sandy, but we are encouraged by the early reports we have received. Clearly you will see some dramatic images like boats washed ashore or missing shingles or fallen trees, but these are things we would expect," said the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe. There is an unconfirmed report of one fatality possibly related to Hurricane Sandy involving a resident of Nassau who fell from his roof Thursday evening.

All visitors and potential visitors are advised to follow the progress of Hurricane Sandy closely and avail themselves of the Bahamas Hotel Association hurricane cancellation policy.

Las Vegas Keeps On Rollin'

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For a destination that is as vibrant and unpredictable as Las Vegas, the only constant is change. So, it makes sense that one of the most striking additions to the Vegas skyline in the next year will be a giant observation wheel, turning and perpetually rotating some 550 feet in the air.

That would be the Las Vegas High Roller. Nine feet taller than the Singapore Flyer and 107 feet higher than the London Eye, the High Roller will be the tallest observation wheel in the world when it is completed by summer 2013. Even better, each of the High Roller’s 28 pods can hold up to 40 passengers, with food-and beverage and multimedia options available for groups. 

“They can roll in a bar cart, or do some kind of interesting product launch,” says Amy Allen, director of marketing at Caesars Entertainment, which is building the Roller. “It will be interesting to see how groups use this for different purposes.”

Each revolution of the wheel will take 30 minutes, and groups will be able to book as many pods as they like for multiple rotations, enjoying an unbeatable view of the Strip as they chat with fellow attendees. 

The High Roller is the centerpiece of an all-new outdoor retail, dining, and entertainment concept The Linq. Occupying the private street that separates the Flamingo and the Imperial Palace, this $550-million project will offer 30 to 40 shops and attractions in a 200,000-square-foot open-air marketplace.

“It will really be an outdoor gathering place for people, as opposed to ‘meet me in the casino,’” says Allen, adding that there will be plenty of opportunities for incentive groups to buy out any number of the spaces for events.

The Great Outdoors


But Las Vegas is not known to do things by halves and, while the High Roller will be the biggest, it will not be the only new wheel in town. By late 2013, the 500-foot-tall SkyVue Las Vegas Super Wheel, part of a new 9.6-acre entertainment and retail area being erected on the South Strip, will be up and rolling. Each of its 40 gondolas will carry as many as 25 guests.

“One wheel is not enough for us — we have to double down,” jokes Amy Riley, senior director of convention sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. She adds that the Strip itself has become a growing attraction for groups, leading to more development in attractions and offerings that showcase the city’s views and open air. “There’s a lot more of what we’ll call ‘Strip-front,’ with restaurants moving in that direction and taking some of the older traditional areas and completely redoing them.”

In addition to SkyVue, there are six additional rides planned for the area, as well as a 21,000-square-foot convention center and a 139,500-square-foot space for retail, restaurants, and live entertainment.

The Linq is not the only ambitious project that Caesars Entertainment is tackling this year. The company is also in the process of transforming one of its oldest hotel towers into the 180-room Nobu Hotel, slated to open in the coming months. The property includes a Nobu restaurant and lounge, which will occupy 11,200 square feet at its base with a large bar and a 327-seat lounge. The entire decor, from room furnishings to public spaces, will draw on the modern Japanese aesthetic of the restaurant brand.

Functioning as a hotel-within-a-hotel, similar to Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel, Nobu will have its own dedicated check-in desk, unique amenities, and offerings that are distinctly different from the larger Caesars Palace. 


However, incentive groups working with Caesars Entertainment will still be able to use all the venue, restaurant, and entertainment offerings available at the parent property next door. 

“If an incentive or meetings group needed meeting space, they could utilize the space at the Caesars Palace conference center,” says Allen. “It’s kind of the best of both worlds, with this unique experience that’s very much in tune with the Nobu brand, but you’re still connected to a world-class resort.”

Allen emphasizes that this applies to all of the company’s eight Las Vegas properties. So, a group can arrange for a buyout of Rio’s Voodoo Lounge, a backstage tour of Bally’s Jubilee! show, and a stay at Nobu Hotel, all through the same sales team. 

A Feast of New Dining Options

A number of new restaurants and clubs are slated to open in coming months. 


Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub, serving high-end Chinese food with a modern feel, will be taking over the space previously occupied by Studio 54 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. It is slated to open at the end of 2012.

“It’s going to be a massive, five-level, 75,000-square-foot restaurant, lounge, and nightclub,” says Riley. She adds that the Euro-chic club and restaurant Bagatelle Beach & Nightclub is set for a soft opening in August of this year at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Bagatelle will offer a sprawling single level of pools and cabanas, as well as a sandy beach. “It’s going to be a great use of an outdoor venue.”

In May, the Gordon Ramsay Steak opened in the Paris Las Vegas casino hotel. The first Las Vegas restaurant from the celebrated, and famously ill-tempered, chef aims to transport visitors to the city of London with its high-end takes on British staples like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, as well as traditional steakhouse fare. Its 274 seats, including a large bar area, chef’s table, and private dining room, and can accommodate a wide range of incentive groups.

At the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, MGM Resorts will entertain audiences with the Blue Man Group at its 1,200-seat Monte Carlo Theater. The show will feature new material, as well as signature set pieces. 

Not to be outdone, Wynn Entertainment is in the process of upgrading and expanding its restaurant and hotel offerings. In May, it opened Mizumi, featuring traditional Japanese cuisine from Executive Chef Devin Hashimoto. The design includes bold colors and floor-to-ceiling views of Las Vegas. In September, the Italian-American restaurant Allegro opens, giving old-world recipes a modern twist. Its name comes from the musical term referring to a lively tempo — an upbeat feeling Wynn hopes can be passed along to visiting incentive groups.

The Spa at Wynn is also now being renovated and will reopen to the public in late September with a new aesthetic and fresh offerings for guests. The Wynn and Encore Esplanades will also be opening a number of new stores for those groups looking to get in some shopping. Timepiece enthusiasts will be particularly pleased with the additions, which include the luxury watch stores Chopard and Wynn & Company Watches, as well as Reichmont Group stores with a timepiece focus.

A bit off the Strip, Palms Casino Resort began a $50-million first-phase renovation of its property, expected to be complete by the end of the year. The property will see all 428 of the rooms and suites in its Palms Tower redesigned, giving them an ultra-modern makeover with velvet accents and wood tones. Part of the revamp has included the refurbishment of Cantor Race & Sports Book, as well as its Tonic Bar.

“We’re also revamping the casino layout, so it’s logistically a little easier to get from point A to point B and increase the ambience of the casino overall,” says Scott Thrasher, director of sales for the Palms, pointing out in particular that the property’s Center Bar will be getting a makeover. “When incentive groups want to meet at the Palms, they say, ‘let’s meet at the Center Bar.’ Now that’s going to be renovated with a new look and new vibe.”

It will also be expanding its culinary options with the new Heraea sports-themed restaurant and lounge, where groups can watch a game or hold a reception in a chic, high-energy atmosphere. 

“The one thing we were missing was that casual, upscale environment to watch the game, then after the game it transitions into a nightlife scene,” says Thrasher.

Further renovations are expected over the coming years, though no specific decisions have been made about what’s next. 

Inside the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hotel is the new street-foods-inspired China Poblano restaurant from James Beard Award–winning chef José Andrés. Fusing Mexican and Chinese cuisine, this restaurant offers dishes like the Viva China taco (with Kumamoto oysters and Sichuan peppercorn sauce) or Huitlachoche noodles (combining Mexican corn truffle with knife-shaved noodles). This brightly colored venue is ideal for a casual lunch or cocktail reception, whether margaritas or Lychee Sours are being imbibed. 

Those more inclined to crack open a beer will want to stop in at the newly opened Public House, in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, which boasts more than 200 brews, not to mention some top-notch beer floats. Its small-plates menu showcases elevated pub grub like roasted bone marrow, foie gras parfait, and spiced pork rinds. The venue’s tagline, “United We Stand, Pint in Hand,” just about sums it up.

But one of the most significant new developments at Las Vegas is not on the Strip at all. On June 27, the new Terminal 3 opened at McCarren International Airport. After five years of construction and $2.4 billion invested, the 14-gate terminal will be serviced by 15 international air carriers as well as a handful of domestic ones. 

“It’s being called a game-changer for the meetings industry, especially when it comes to international travel,” says Riley. “It adds ease and convenience to getting in and out of Vegas, and was designed to not feel like an airport terminal — there’s great artwork by nationally known artists, the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ signs. Travelers know where they are when they come here.”

Flavours of Tasmania: take a bite out of Australia’s Apple Isle

Anita Isalska
Lonely Planet Author

There’s much more to the self-styled Apple Isle than, well, apples. Australia’s southernmost state, the island of Tasmania, is a foodie’s paradise and a world apart from mainland Oz. The cooler climate produces elegant dry wines and the unspoiled coastline ensures the freshest seafood around.

The state capital, Hobart, showcases its finest food each December at the Taste Festival (www.tastefestival.com.au) but locals enjoy them every weekend at the iconic Salamanca Market. As Hobart graces our Best in Travel top 10 cities for 2013 list, here are a few of the unmissable flavours to seek out on your tour of Tassie.

Farmhouse cheeses

Tasmania produces classic cheeses with a local twist. Bruny Island Cheese Company (brunyislandcheese.com.au) matures some of its produce on aromatic local Huon pine wood, but you’ll also find shops and markets around the state crammed with Tasmanian camemberts, salty blues and a rainbow of cheddars flavoured with garlic or chilli. Pair these creamy delights with fresh apples to give them added zing.

Cold-climate wines

Or better yet, serve that brie with one of Tasmania’s premium wines. The island’s cool climate lends itself to elegant, fresh-tasting tipples like pinot noir, chardonnay and gewürztraminer. You can even make a day of it by touring one of Tasmania’s Wine Routes, drinking in views of rolling vineyards as you sup straight from the cellars (learn more here).

Honey

Tasmania’s World Heritage wilderness has an astonishing range of flowers, and it almost seems like there’s a different honey for each one. Try buttery leatherwood honey for a creamy, floral flavour or bank on the healing properties of Tasmanian manuka honey. You could even soak up some state pride by getting sticky with honey produced from the blooms of Tasmania’s emblem, the Blue Gum.

Oysters

The pristine waters of the Southern Ocean produce succulent, gleaming oysters with an unbeatable flavour. Relish fresh oysters with a cold rosé at Mures Upper Deck in Hobart, or ignore the purists and order them deep-fried with garlic at nautical eatery The Drunken Admiral. Warning: dining on these famously aphrodisiac gems along Hobart’s picturesque waterfront could have dangerously romantic consequences…

Curried scallop pie

Seafood lovers might balk at nuggets from Tasmania’s coast being hidden away in flaky pastry. But this gourmet reimagining of the classic Australian pie gives spice to juicy scallops. The tangy sauce is the perfect contrast to thick, buttery pie crust and you won’t find a more filling snack for the briny breezes of the coast. And because Tasmanians don’t want anyone to miss out on their pies, you can even order a gluten-free version at Rosie’s café in Kettering.

Apples

A cornerstone of local heritage, the humble apple has a special place in Tasmanians’ hearts. One of the first crops to be cultivated by European settlers, apple trees flourished in Tasmania’s temperate weather and production of these crunchy globes experienced a boom during the 1950s. During this fruity heyday there were Apple Festivals, with the crowning of Apple Queens and bake-offs with gut-bustingly huge pies. You might be arriving a bit late at the apple party, but keep a lookout for roadside apple stalls so you can pounce on the pick of the crop. Or if that sounds a little too healthy, do as the locals do and reach for a bottle-fermented cider. This zesty liquid gold is a great palate cleanser, meaning you can indulge all over again tomorrow.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/tasmania/travel-tips-and-articles/76879#ixzz2ADtiGEKj

Beach Life – Aerial Photography by Gray Malin

Gray Malin is a photographer and native of Dallas, Texas who has photographed many famous people, luxury brands and world famous sights. It was his collection of photographs called “À la Plage, À la Piscine”which caught my eye as uniquely striking in the way it captures summer, light, sun and fun. Taken from a doorless helicopter hovering over beaches in France, America, the Caribbean and Australia Malin’s photos are almost playful in their depiction of us humans’ love affair with beaches. It’s also unusual for us beach lovers to see our playground from this angle so sit back, think of pina coladas and enjoy…

Read more: http://www.travelettes.net/beach-life-aerial-photography-by-gray-malin/

New York City’s Hidden Subway Station

Deep in the belly of New York’s subway system, a beautiful untouched station resides that has been forgotten for years with only a limited few knowing of its existence. Stunning decoration with tall tiled arches, brass fixtures and skylights run across the entire curve of the station, almost a miniature imitation of Grand Central Station… But it sounds like something straight out of Harry Potter, right?

It was opened in 1904, with the hope of making it the crowning glory of the New York subway system in elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system. It was to be the original southern terminus of the first ‘Manhattan Main Line’; however the station was closed and boarded up in 1945. The gem of the underground began gathering dust, forgotten by the general public, as passengers were forced off at the Brooklyn Bridge Stop before the train continued on to the terminus to make its turnaround.

The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required to match the demand of passengers that passed through the system. But as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum. But this was never followed through.

However, now you don’t have to take my word that the secret City Hall Station exists, as the 6 Train will now allow the passengers who have been enlightened with the knowledge of its whereabouts to stay on the train during its turnaround and see the Station. You won’t be able to get off, but you’ll be taken for a slow tour of the platform and see what a beauty it was in its heyday!

And if that isn’t enough, The Underbelly Project has turned it into a kind-of off-limits art gallery. They are a group of street artists who have painted the walls of the unattractive concrete areas with their art in a spooky art exhibition that will be witnessed only by urban explorers who prowl the deep train system at night and Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers.

Over a hundred murals have been accumulated over time by graffiti artists, namely PAC and Workhorse (infamous NYC graffitists), who discovered the bare walls and invited others to add their art.

But if you want to go and view these art works, you will most definitely run the high risk of being arrested as venturing the tunnels is both highly illegal and dangerous! I’ll just stick to seeing the photographs as I’m pretty sure my search for art would turn into a horror story down in the black tunnels… or I’d get hit by a train.