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.