Luxury Travel | World Travel

Travel Babel Named One of the Top 50 Travel Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:22:00 +0000

I just received the happy news that Travel Babel was named one of the top 50 travel blogs of 2010 by Awarding the Web, which was begun in 2002 by two University of Washington students who seem to have hopped on the web-wagon relatively early. I wish I knew who they are, but I don't.

According to their own site, award candidates are selected by their team of "research associates scouring the web" or by nominations from their subscribers. I'm sure mine was the former. Their site further explains that five unnamed judges score each nominated blog "across 20 different attributes" to come up with their own subjective scores. These ratings are combined into an aggregate score, and the five judges' aggregates are then averaged to give the blog its final rating. wards go to blogs in the 99% percentile, meaning just the top 1% of nominated blogs receive awards.

When I look at the other travel blogs in the top 50, I’m honored to be in such good company. The list of award recipients is not numbered, but it's not alphabetical either. Travel Babel is No. 34 on the list of 50, and I have to say that I'm thrilled that five judges cumulatively consider this to be the 34th-best travel blog around.

TravelMole: Fingers crossed, Bangkok will be back

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:29:00 +0000

I flew into Bangkok for a brief visit last week, a trip that included a thank-you dinner for hundreds of overseas travel agents and media who were winding down from a mega fam trip.

It was here that I chatted to 92-year-old Kusa Panyarachun, managing director of World Travel Services in Bangkok, and senior president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Khun Kusa is a sprightly, neat figure in an expensive suit who attributes his longevity to the family genes, regular exercise and, he told me, “a few glasses of Australian Penfolds red wine each night”.

Educated in the United States, he served as a paratrooper in the US Army before returning to Thailand to build up the family travel business, pretty much from scratch.

His youngest brother was once prime minister of Thailand.

“I still go to work every day and I work very hard,” he said proudly.

During the recent political turmoil in Bangkok, which tourism people here guardedly refer to as “the incident”, the sudden downturn in business forced Khun Kusa to consider laying off many of his 600 staff.

Instead he cut everyone’s wages by 25 percent but did not sack a single worker.

“Now business is a little better and I am cutting pay only by 10 percent,” he said.

I asked him how long it would take for business to return to pre-incident levels.

Khun Kusa held out both hands in front of his chest and crossed his fingers.

Much of Bangkok appears to have its fingers crossed at the moment, including the bar girls as they try to drum up dwindling business.

Over lunch, the sales and marketing director of a Thai resort told me that the bars were operating as best they could while Bangkok is still under a state of emergency.

He said, “At two in the morning, the police come round to make sure the clubs and bars are closed for the night. The girls go outside, smoke a cigarette and when the police have finished their rounds, they open up the bars again.”

That’s Bangkok. It’s doing it tough but it won’t give in.

Ian Jarrett is editor TravelMole Asia Pacific

Emirates Orders More Boeing 777 Aircraft

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Dubai-based airline expands its large Triple Seven fleet

Emirates Airlines, the Dubai-based, award-winning international carrier, has ordered 30 777-300ER aircraft to add to its 71 already on the books, of which 53 of this model are currently in service. The Triple Seven a long-range, wide-body airliner is the world's largest twinjet. Quite unsurprisingly, even before this latest $9.1 billion order, Emirates is the world’s largest operator of 777s. Plus, just last month, Emirates ordered 32 Airbus A380 planes.

The airline's strategy is to become a world-leading carrier and to establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel. In all, Emirates already 86 777s (three 777-200s, six 777-200ERs, 10 7777-200LRs, 12 777-300s, 53-300ERs and two freighters, numbers that are mainly of interest to airline geeks. It operates the 777-300ER in a three-class configuration with eight first class suites, 42 business class seats and 310 Economy class seats, plus offers an additional cargo payload of 20.1 tons. Oh yes, it also operates 79 Airbus A380s, 70 Airbus A350s and seven Boeing freighters.

I didn't do the math because I don't do math, but Emirates did and says that its fleet totals (or will total, I'm not sure which) 204 widebody aircraft worth more than $67 billion dollars. In a lousy year for world aviation and the global economy in general, Emirates Airline recently reported its 22nd year of profit, up 416 percent to close at $964 million dollars over its 2008-09 profits of $187 million dollars. I add this only because there has been so much whining among US and international legacy carriers that I find all this quite remarkable. US gateways are New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Travel writer colleagues who flew Emirates not long ago to a meeting in Bangkok via Dubai reported favorably on the experience.

Free WiFi in the Air?

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Are airlines contemplating free wireless access in the air?

There's speculation in the blogosphere, fueled by an AP report, that free WiFi might be coming soon. If it does, it will be the first free benefit in several years. As has been discuees here and eslwhere, add-on fees for what was once free have mushroomed in the last three years. Fees are now charged for food, checked bags, a preferred seat, blanket and pillow and on Spirit carry-on bags intended for the overhead to all but elite fliers, adding tens of millions of dollars to airlines' coffers.

Passengers seem to be drawing the line at paying for inflight wireless Internet connections, which are available on some flights for $4-$13. It seems that many are unwilling to pay for what is available for free on land, including at an increasing number of airports. According to the AP report, "Airlines have offered promotions, including some free service, to draw attention to their Wi-Fi. But experts say only about 10 percent of passengers on Web-enabled flights have taken advantage." United Airlines, for instance, offered free WiFi to transcontinenal passengers late last year.

The piece also quoted airline technology consultant Michael Planey as believing that "Wi-Fi will be free as early as mid-2011. But if airlines want to go that route, there's a catch: They still have to compensate the service provider, such as Aircell, whose Gogo Inflight Internet serves every major airline except Southwest."

Again according to the AP report, Planey thinks airlines airlines have a few options to cover the costs:

•Getting big companies like Google or Verizon to sponsor free Internet service. Those providers would make money through advertisements.
•Pay for some part of the service themselves and then use it to cut costs. For example, a flight attendant could use the inflight Wi-Fi to connect with reservations at the terminal and make new arrangements for passengers who missed a connecting flight.
•Airlines could arrange ways to get a commission when travelers buy things online.

Some experts feel that the discount carriers that already promote their policies of giving passengers more for less (e.g., AirTrans, JetBlue and Southwest), will be the first to offer free WiFi.

Mummies and Melodrama

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:43:00 +0000

"Reality" TV strikes again in creating a dreadful television series

I've been captivated by things Egyptian since I visited Egypt last year as part of a Society American Travel Writers Freelance Council meeting that included an audience with Dr. Zahi Hawass, the media-savvy, imperious and very gifted secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Dr. Hawass is an aggressive advocate for the protection of ancient Egyptian treasures. He has developed an ego the size of the Great Pyramid at Giza and has a high profile, personally escorting VIPs around the sites, personally announcing every significant discovery, whether or not he made it and appearing on numerous legitimate documentaries.

Against this background, I was looking forward to the History Channel's "Chasing Mummies" series that debuted last night. I have never written a television review-type post, but this misguided show merits a two thumbs down.

The plot was that a television crew was following Dr. Hawass and his team, including a comely intern, during the excavation of an early pyramid at Saqqara near Cairo. Comely intern Zoe, who unexpectedly showed up in place of intern Clare/Claire, but her papers were in order, so she was permitted to stay, often getting in the way. But Zoe is cute so she was invited to take her first look inside the pyramid. After a disjointed exploration, Zoe was improbably permitted, by one of Dr. Hawass's team, to stay in the labyrinthian corridors by herself "for five minutes" to take pictures, which she did with her little point-and-shoot while the chamber was brilliantly lit by television cameras.

Zoe's foot got jammed. Someone turned off the lights and locked the gates, and Zoe became reality TV's equivalent of the silent-film heroine tied to the railroad tracks. If this program were to be believed, only Dr. Hawass, who had to be called from Cairo where he was doing a book signing, had the ability to unlock the gate and turn on the lights. It was contrived, lame and added nothing to the body of knowledge about ancient Egypt.

And then, in the second part, Dr. Hawass and his team traveled to "an oasis near Cairo" to demolish villagers' homes that were built over ancient graves that contained mummies. Curious children watched homes being knocked down, and suddenly, the earth was pocked with holes that presumably led to underground burial chambers. An articulated loader, which was referred to as a bulldozer, broke through the surface of the ground, got stuck and then got unstuck.

Speaking of stuck, I stuck it out through the first episode, but I won't waste my time on another. New York Times television critic Neil Genzlinger didn't think any more of the program than I did. In his review, he called it "an annoying new show." The History Channel's website calls this a "documentary series." They sure have a wry sense of humor! In fact, this entire program was a joke.

Hot Days Tourists' Sufferings

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Do you like to travel when the temperature is so high? I really don't. The news in TV show every day crowds of tourists in the streets of Rome and other big touristic centers of Italy. They walk, covered with umbrellas, drink water from the bottles and bath themselves in different kinds of pools and fountains. I do not understand these mad persons. I would never go out under the sun when it's rays are so terrible.

Well, it depends from the time when they can take their vacation. And maybe they have not other possibility to visit these places in an other period. But it's suicide.

I remember, we had to accompany my mother-in-law in Rome in August. It was terribly hot but we decided to rest there for one day and to visit Vatican. I had shorts and a vest top on and did not know it's forbidden to enter the S. Peter's basilica if not completely covered. But I do not stand hot and felt really bad that day. I had giddiness and very law blood pressure. But I wanted to visit basilica so much! Who knows, when I'll have this possibility next time, I thought... In fact, I was not there more.

«castel Sant'Angelo» на Яндекс.Фотках

(If you have to visit basilica, you have to cross this bridge and turn left, as I did. The basilica is about 500 meters from here)

So, as said, I went to the basilica alown: my husband remained to wait near the car because we did not know the city and did not know where to park it, the car, for a moment. No, if you think to visit a big city, it's better to take pubblic transport. You save not only money but many troubles too.

I felt too bad near one of the shops not far from basilica and fall down on it's stairs. The girls in the shop have seen me and gave me water with sugar. It happens very often here, they said. Imagine, they had that water just ready in the shop for those mad like me. I thought about those completely covered persons intended to visit the basilica and about Swiss guards weared with lounge suits. My husband laughs till today when we remember how those bad guards did not allow me to enter in basilica but I just told you that story.

From that time I think twice if I have to visit something in hot summer months. It's better to choose an other direction for the vacation, I think.

International Travel Trade Organization Weighs in on 'Unbundling'

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Business travel trade reps press Congressional committee on hidden airline fees

I hardly ever simply post a press release, but this one from the Business Travel Coalition, founded in 1994 "to bring transparency to industry and government policies and practices so that customers can influence issues of strategic importance to their organizations" seems interesting enough to share it as it was released. My own comments, also in red italics, follow the text of the release.

Industry Survey Results Reveal Significant Concern Over Airline Unbundling Practices

U.S. DOT Rules Required To Protect Consumers, Managed Travel Programs

JULY 13, 2010, WASHINGTON, DC - Business Travel Coalition (BTC) today published results of a survey of 188 travel industry professionals from 11 countries, including corporate travel managers and travel agency executives, regarding airline product unbundling and ancillary fees. These survey results are being released ahead of a July 14 U.S. House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation hearing regarding airline fees at which BTC is providing testimony.
The overriding message from survey participants is that ancillary fees are wrecking havoc on corporate managed travel programs and the U.S. Department of Transportation must, through it Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, require airlines to make add-on fee data easily accessible not only on their websites, but also to the travel agency channel through any GDS in which an airline has agreed to participate.

The following top-line results represent a sea change in thinking among travel industry professionals regarding government oversight in commercial air transportation:

• 100% of corporate travel managers indicated that unbundling and these extra fees have caused serious problems for their managed travel programs.

• 86% of travel managers believe that airlines, absent government regulation, will not make fair, adequate and readily accessible disclosure of their extra fees and charges so that travel managers and/or their TMCs can do comparison shopping of the all-in prices for air travel across carriers.

• 95% of travel managers support the proposal that the U.S. DOT require airlines to make ancillary fee data available and easily accessible to the travel agency channel through any GDS in which that airline has agreed to participate.

• 95% of travel managers do not support an airline distribution model wherein access to airfare and ancillary services content is available only on airlines’ websites, or through direct connections to multiple airlines’ inventory systems.

“Importantly, survey participants are business people who, as a general proposition, do not favor government intervention in a marketplace. However, as with BTC, who testified four times since 1999 against passenger rights legislation, these industry experts lived through 10 years of airline stonewalling and broken promises and finally realized that the airlines were never going to take extended tarmac delays seriously until made to do so, said BTC Chairman Kevin Mitchell. “Travel managers and travel agency executives do not want to wait 10 years, or even 1 more year to see if the airlines will properly disclose their ancillary fees in all channels in which they sell their products - and thus already make their published, but now incomplete, fares available, he continued.”

Here are sample comments from survey participants:

• “Determining the actual cost of transportation is now so difficult that we cannot help departments prepare travel budgets for the following year.”

• “The comparison of different providers’ options is difficult as there are all-inclusive, partly-inclusive, status-inclusive, non-inclusive prices. At the moment the extra services and fees are not available for total cost calculation in our preferred channel, the GDS.”

• “I can no longer manage costs as the fees are hidden. There is no way to determine if the traveler paid for baggage or upgraded to business class.”

• “Because airlines are not forthcoming with information, we cannot relay the true cost of an itinerary to the traveler.”

• “Many airlines want to hide these charges from buyers so that they can distort the real ticket cost in the GDS and other distribution channels.”

• “Many consumers still use their local travel agency as a resource for making travel arrangements, therefore, it is essential they have that all the information concerning ancillary fees available to them/and the consumer at the point of sale.”

• “All fee data should be made available to travel agents through their GDSs. All airlines should be required to provide full and fair disclosure by law.”

The bottom line is that represents of a business travel organization, which might be expected to be empathetic to the airline business, is very concerned over hidden fees and surprise add-ons. We individual travelers find ourselves paying all sorts of extras on top of our "bargain" fares, but for corporate travel, these surprises add up to a big debit on a company's balance sheet. (The release should read "wreaking havoc, not "wrecking havoc," but I'm splitting grammatical hairs over a very valid point made by an international trade group -- albeit one that I don't remember ever having heard about before.) Since Congress tends to listen to business much more than to us voters, I hope that this will make an impact that will help all of us who fly. Note: The end of the release also referenced an organization called the Consumer Travel Alliance’s "just-released analysis of hidden fees."

Airlines' Food Costs Are Pretty Low

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Inflight food costs predictors of lousy inflight fare

No domestic airline spends as much as $9, per passenger, for inflight food, according to Cranky Flier's post today called "What Airlines Spend on Food." The post, which I recommended reading, included a government chart (below) tracking key carriers' per-passenger food expenditures over the last decade.

Of course, nine bucks, which is about what Alaska Airlines used to spend, bought more and/or better food a decade ago than six dollars or less does today. What is unclear from this chart is whether it includes both Coach and the First Class. Free food and adult beverages are still offered in the front of the plane, but in steerage, passengers have to buy food other than perhaps a tiny little bag of free pretzels or peanuts. We have been doing so for nearly a decade, since carriers curtailed than eliminated free meals and phased in food fort purchase.

"United Airlines used to spend $100 million a year on coach-cabin food when serving free meals, but now spends $20 million and brings in $20 million in revenue," according to a Wall Street Journal report last September called "Pie in the Sky? Upgrading Food in Coach." I knew that carriers were spending less and earning more on inflight food, but I had no idea how much.

Cancun Tourism in Trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:09:00 +0000

Hard times at popular Mexican travel destination

Mexican tourism has taken well-documented hit after hit in the last couple of years (drug gang violence, weather, swine flu, global economic woes, you name it), and now, Cancun in particular has been slammed by malfeasance on the part of local officials. As Mexico City-based Jimm Budd reported under the headline "Cancun Broke":

"Cancun – officially the Benito Juárez municipality – is technically bankrupt according to the governor on Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is located. It seems the city treasurer, Carlos Trigo, has vanished and taken the treasury with him. His boss, Gregory Sanchez, resigned a few weeks ago in order to run for governor. Since then, Sanchez has been arrested and now is in prison awaiting trial on charges he was working with narcotics smugglers.

"Nor is Cancun doing well as a travel destination. The airport reports that the number of passengers served thus far this year is still nearly ten percent below the 2008 figure. Number for last year were so dismal as not to be considered."

Travel Babel Wins SATW Award

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:39:00 +0000

I'm thrilled that this blog has just been honored with a Bronze Award in the Travel Blog category from the Society of American Travel Writers Western Chapter, which has just wrapped up its meeting in Boise, Idaho.Writing awards have been presented for many years, but blogging honors were just added. I'm pleased that Travel Babel was in the freshman class.

Travel Thumbnail: Old Idaho Penitentiary

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:14:00 +0000

Boise landmark, once a fearful prison, now a tourist attraction and history lesson

This is the eighth of a series of periodic reports on specific places I've visited -- and which you might want see to as well.

The Place: Old Idaho Penitentiary, Boise

The Story: The Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historical Site, located on the outskirts of Boise, functioned as a prison for 101 years. Construction began in 1870 as a single cell house, with the first prisoners incarcerated there in 1872. Inmate laborers expanded it into a complex of several buildings that held, among others, Idaho's most notorious criminals. Until it finally closed in 1973, the Old Pen housed a total of more than 13,000 inmates -- including 222 women prisoners. The maximum population at any one time was 603 inmates. Eleven prisoners were executed there by by hanging. Below, an old image of the Old Pen from the page on the Idaho Historic Society website devoted to the Old Pen.

When visiting the Old Pen, you can watch an 18-minute video and look at small museum's exhibits and then either take a self-guided tour or take a 90-minute guided tour, which I highly recommend. Especially in the summer, the tour guides are historians or historians-in-the-making, largely young people who are studying or have graduated from Boise State College.

Below are some images from my visit:

Cost: The Old Pen is open seven days a week, except state holidays. Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Labor Day to Memorial Day, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Adult,$5; 60 and over, $4; ages 6 to 12, $3; under 6, free.

Location and information: 2445 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, Idaho 83712; 208-334-2844.

US Passport Fees Set to Climb

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:08:00 +0000

If your passport needs to be renewed soon, if it needs extra pages for future travel or if you don't have a passport but might need one (and now you do for neighboring Western Hemisphere nations), do whatever you need to before Tuesday, July 13. Post offices handle passport applications.

Passport Book

New passport, adult, $135 (up from from $100).
Renewal, $110 (up from $75).
Youth under 16, $105 (up from $85).
Extra pages, $82 (new fee).

Passport Card

If you expect to travel only to Canada and/or Mexicom you can get a card instead of a book.

Adult, $55 (up from $45).
Youth, $40 (up from $35)

Reasons

No, the fee increases are not to help balance the budget. The US State Department says that passport fees cover the cost of actually producing the document but also but they also pay for emergency services provided to American citizens overseas by embassies and consular offices.

&BEYOND LAUNCHES PRIVATE JOURNEY HOSTS

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Luxury responsible tourism company, &Beyond, has launched its Private Journey Hosts, experienced guides who lead guests on exhilarating adventures to South Africa, Tanzania and Namibia.

All of the expert guides identified to lead these tailormade journeys are previous &Beyond rangers with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. From explaining the local flora and fauna to discovering little known hideaways, &Beyond's Private Journey Hosts will assist guests throughout their journey to ensure a hosted adventure with a difference.

Not only will the guides be waiting for guests as they step off their plane, but they will also drive them from destination to destination, sharing stories and fun facts along the way. In addition to making sure all travel arrangements run seamlessly, they can even book guests' preferred restaurants and specialist activities - from tee-off times at golf courses to spa treatments and everything in between.

The perfect cross between a much-loved travelling companion, interactive guide book and reliable social secretary, &Beyond's Private Journey Hosts will help their guests plan personalised itineraries, turning their holiday into a journey of discovery from start to finish. Guests can direct the process, telling their guides exactly what they would like to see and do, or leave some of the creativity up to them.

The adventure can be as long or short as preferred, and guests can travel on their own or with the entire family. The guides are also pro's at keeping children happily entertained, giving parents a well-deserved break. It's the ideal way to travel — perfect for families, first-time visitors and repeat guests.

Palestine: Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:28:00 +0000

Headlines provide signs of hope that Israeli-Palestinian tensions will ease and that peace will prevail

As I was recounting my Palestine/West Bank travel experiences and observations, I made notes to myself about how I wanted to wrap it all up. After all, this wasn't just a sightseeing trip featuring antiquities and sacred places. It was an experience that put me and my traveling companions on the cusp of "future history." Through my membership in the Society of American Travel Writers, I became aware of, but I am embarrassed to admit, not active in a not-for-profit group called the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism.

Originally, I intended wrap up my thoughts and observations unfiltered by politicians' spin and advocates for one side or another. I also was going to include links to IIPTT's site and to peace organizations working specifically in the Middle East and more specifically on the Palestinian-Israeli situation, because I believe that tourism can be a valuable tool for peace -- not just economically in troubled lands but also in allowing visitors to see a place and its people first-hand. This trip certainly was enlightening, even though we did not meet any overtly militant Palestinians or any Israeli Jews at all other than Army guards at checkpoints and security screeners at Tel Aviv Airport.

But today's headline in the New York Times, "U.S. and Israel Shift Attention to Peace Process," reports that "President Obama said Tuesday that he expected direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to begin 'well before' a moratorium on settlement construction expired at the end of September, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel pledged to take 'concrete steps' in the coming weeks to get the talks moving."

Since I'm trying to restrain myself, perhaps I should not point out that in the past, Netanyahu's "concrete steps" have taken the form of pouring more concrete for more settlements in the Palestinian territory. 'Nuff said. I'd rather express a hope that it might be better this time, and that perhaps neither side will provoke the other into escalating retaliation measures. This eye-opening trip beyond the headlines and the rhetoric pointed out the social injustice of the current situation. I mentioned to some of my traveling companions that I am shocked that Israel, a nation established because millions of its people were the victims of such ruthless genocide, could treat other people so badly. One who is smarter than I pointed out that individual people who been abused often become abusers. I hope that new talks will change this.

So I close this series with a wish that maybe, just maybe, the peace process will begin again -- and maybe, just maybe, it will be honored by all sides and longer-lasting than in the past.

Palestine: Day 8, Jerusalem

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:06:00 +0000

Winding down at the Temple Mount and old city

Our group started our light Day 8 schedule with a tour of the Temple Mount (Haram ash-Sharif in Arabic), At the bottom is Western Wall (Wailing Wall), the last remnant of the Israelites' Second Temple and a sacred to Jews. Men and women, facing the wall, pray separately, and respectful visitors are welcome. The two key Muslim sites flanking a broad plaza built atop of the former temple, are the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Like so many other Holy Land sites, control of the Temple Mount has over time shifted from religion to religion, jurisdiction to jurisdiction and often at great cost of life and/or treasure. King Solomon built the First Temple there in 967 B.C. The Babylonians destroyed it in 586 B.C. Jews rebuilt it as the Second Temple six decades later, but the Romans under Herod first expanded the site and later destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. Emperor Constantine's mother, Helen, was a 4th-century Christian activist who established the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre. And did I mention earthquakes?

In the 7th century, Muslims conquered Jerusalem and built the al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. Over time, all or parts of the Temple Mount were under Byzantine, Persian, Jewish, Crusader, Muslim, British Mandate, Israeli, Jewish and Muslim control. The timeline spans centuries. A visit to the compound in September 2000 by Ariel Sharon of Israel's rightwing Likud Party accompanied by 1with ,000 armed guards infuriated Palestinians. who started hurling stones at Israeli riot police, who in turn tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd. Sharon's visit set off a five-year Palestinian uprising often called the Second Infitada. The day after Sharon's provocative visit. On September 29, the Israeli government deployed 2,000 riot police to the complex. The prospect of peace hasn't been very encouraging since then.

Since then, it hasn't seemed to take much to set off a confrontation. Whenever archaeologists dig somewhere, they outrage some group. In the last five years alone, Jewish zealots' proposal to build a synagogue on the Temple Mountain infuriated Muslims, and Muslim proposals to add a fifth minaret ticked off Jews. Arabs protested a plan to rebuild an old earthen ramp leading to the Mugrabi gate. When a posse of right-wing Zionist rabbis entered the Temple Mount, provoking Palestinians and also both religious and secular Israelis who decried that particular provocation.,Also. some critics noted that Jews are not supposed to enter the Temple Mount but confine themselves to the Western Wall until the Messiah comes -- or something.

It was against this background that we visited the Temple Mount, again passing airport-style metal detectors, X-rays and bag inspection stations. Day 7 was a Sunday, the Christian sabbath and a "weekday" for Jews and Muslims. The large plaza was largely empty, save for small groups of Muslims reading the Koran or something under shake trees and some sightseers like us. Neither the Dome of the Rock nor the mosque is open to non-Muslims these days, but I can recall which particular incident caused the closure. In the old city beyond the Temple Mount, Christian churches welcomed worshippers from all over the world, while Jewish and Muslim shopkeepers and vendors in the old city welcomed shoppers, also from all over the world.

I reveled in some unscheduled time, sharing some quiet conversation and coffee with a couple of my traveling companions in a shaded cafe. I wandered through the narrow, shop-lined streets for a while. But I bought nothing. In the end, the endless displays of Christianiana made of olive wood, glitzy yarmulkes, rosaries, pottery, T-shirts with slogans like "Guns and Moses," metalwork, religious and secular costume jewelry, keychains, scarves and shawls were oddly dispiriting. I normally love prowling around marketplaces, but I began preparing for re-entry by spending a quiet, somewhat contemplative afternoon in a day room thoughtfully booked for each of us at the Holy Land Hotel.

Security procedures at Tel Aviv Airport were lengthy, as expected, but not excessive or unpleasant. And then, we boarded our Continental plane for the first of our respective flights home.

Palestine Day 7: Ramallah and Ein Areek

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:52:00 +0000

Two more faces of Palestine: the capital and a small town with no major landmarks from antiquity

Much of the West Bank and Ramallah in particular remind me of every developing country I have ever visited: Roads in various states of disrepair. Incomplete buildings that are either under construction or abandoned and crumbling. Graffiti. Weed- and litter-choked empty lots. Wrecked cars. Busy markets with small shops open to the street that exemplify the most basic form of capitalism. No big-box stores here. Call it small-box retail.

Roadside repair businesses. Street vendors. Tailors and cobblers working out of impossibly small shops. Storefront doctors and dentists. In short, providers of goods and services that keep a community functioning, along with schools, houses of worship. There are also sparkling office buildings, banks, government buildings, good hotels, high-rise apartment buildings and prosperous residential neighborhoods, symbols of hope for better times to come.

Ramallah

Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian territories north of Jerusalem, was often in the headlines during the two Infitadas. Originally an agricultural community and primarily a Christian town, its residents were early adopters of resistance, many joining frequent protests, strikes and demonstrations. It is currently the capital of the Palestinian Territories and, if and when Palestine gains independence, it will be the capital of the country.

We started with a lavish poolside buffet breakfast at the Grand Park Resort and Hotel, a pristine property catering largely to business travelers and those with business at consulates in the Palestinian capital. The hotel was built in 1997 as a two-story building and renovated and expanded with three additional floors last year. A large screen was put up in the pool area for World Cup games.

Also, a new Mövenpick Hotel is under construction. The project began in 1999, remained in limbo between 2003 and 2005, was restarted with an anticipated completion date of 2007 and finally seems on track to open fairly soon. The renovation and expansion of one find property and the projected open of another are positive signs that things are getting better in Ramallah, even if progress is sometimes slow.

To Westerners, the name Yasser Arafat is m most often associated with his early years of Palestine Liberation Organization violence. To Palestinians, he not unlike George Washington to Americans or, in fact, David Ben-Gurion to Israelis -- in short, a leader in the battles for their respective independence and the first head of government once it was achieved (or in Palestine's case, partially achieved). Arafat achieved world recognition as a terrorist and was co-laureate with Israel's Itzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize. Peres is still alive and active in government, but Rabin was assassinated by an ultra-Orthodox Jew for his peace-making efforts. A decade later, Israel re-declared Arafat to be terrorist and kept him under house arrest for some two years, releasing him only to die in Paris. His simple mausoleum of Palestine stone and glass remains a pilgrimage place for Palestinians, many of whom are willing to overlook the corruption that the political movement he had started eventually deteriorated into.

The Riwaq Center (Center for Architectural Conservation) is an NGO that seeks to inventory, document, protect, rehabilitate and reuse Palestine's architectural heritage, with the additional benefit of job creation and community involvement. With 50,320 historic buildings in 422 towns and villages, it has already been a Herculean task but one that has already earned it a prestigious UNESCO World Habitat prize in 2006. According to Riwaq's Farahat Mihawee, the immediate priority is to protect 50 of those 422 identified centers and 50 percent of the the historic (i.e., pre-concrete) buildings within them. Sixteen protection plans for cultural heritage protection have been drawn up. Funding is currently available for three out of those 50 priority sites. For visitors interested in antiquities and community, Riwaq's concept of a mapped Cultural Tourism Trail linking traditional villages is in the works with help from a Swedish International Development Agency.

Ein Areek

We drove to the village or Ein Areek (aka, Ain Arik), where we were welcomed by Father Giovanni Santee of the monastic community of St. Benedict. He has been in the Holy Land (here and in Jordan) for 30 years and is one of three brothers and five sisters who maintain this Catholic church as a "place of prayer and peace." Although they are all original from Italy, as part of their seven hours of daily devotion, they read the Old and New Testaments pray, say the Rosary and celebrate Mass in Arabic. He says that they maintain good relations with the increasingly Muslim community and also with the local Imam and Orthodox priest. The clerics communicate on social issues, especially education, that affect the community but stay away from each others' theologies. He says there are "no fundamentalists" in the village and that neighbors have "lived together for centuries."

Back to Jerusalem

Even after short time in the gentle tranquility of Ein Areek, it was a shock to return to Jerusalem passing yet another choked checkpoint, aggressive graffiti on the wall, children who should be in school hawking CDs and occasionally throwing rocks, and a tattered United Nations flag flying over a World Food Program warehouse.

This was the last full day of touring the West Bank.

Palestine: A Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:32:00 +0000

I still have one-and-a-half days of touring to report on. Re-entry from this trip has been tough, and I think that my brain is still half-way across the Atlantic. But on this Fourth of July, as the United States celebrates its independence from England, I keeping thinking about the Palestinians and their struggle for their own independence. Colonial patriots fought against the Redcoats, a superior fighting force but one that represented a government an ocean away. The English would have described General George Washington's ragtag forces as "insurgents," even "terrorists," if those words had been part of the 18th century vocabulary. But they prevailed, and 234 years later, America still celebrates July 4 as a day of freedom and liberation.

The Palestinian people want no less. And count me among those who want it for them and hope that they too will have their own Independence Day to celebrate, and that they and their Israeli neighbors will find a way to co-exist in peace.

NEW business travel survey results

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:17:00 +0000

49% conduct meetings in their hotels whilst away on business
76% consider face-to-face meetings the most effective way of running a successful business
11% find video conferencing superior to face-to-face meetings
The average Australian business traveller embarked on up to five overnight trips in the last year
82% of respondents said they had been away on business in the last six months

Survey Results: face-to-face meetings trump technology for Australian business travellers

76% of Australian businesses travellers think face-to-face meetings are key to successful business

More than three in four Australian business travellers (76 per cent) consider face-to-face meetings the most effective way of running a successful business, according to new research* by Toga Hospitality, owners of Medina Adina Apartment Hotels, Vibe Hotels and Travelodge Hotels, and technology is considered a poor substitute for meeting in person.

Despite advances in technology for conferencing services, only one in ten business travellers (11 per cent) find video conferencing superior to traditional face-to-face meetings and only 8 per cent find conducting meetings by telephone more effective. The results also found that around half of all business travellers (49 per cent) conduct meetings in their hotels whilst away on business.

The fresh survey has revealed that many organisations still believe they get the best value from investing the time and money into sending employees interstate to engage with clients and customers on a personal level. Despite the cutbacks associated with the 2009 GFC, the average Australian business traveller embarked on up to five overnight trips in the last year. Four out of five of the Australian business travellers surveyed by Toga Hospitality (82 per cent) said they had been away on business in the last six months.

"When it comes to business, 'face-time' is invaluable and helps reinforce the all-important relationships that propel businesses forward. While the travel industry has certainly felt the effects of the recent economic downturn, Australian businesses still see the value in sending their team members across the country to see customers," said Rachel Argaman, CEO at Toga Hospitality.

"We recognise that regular travel can take its toll on team members, so we ensure that all Toga Hospitality hotels are well-equipped to support business travellers. Our hotels offer businesses centres and meeting zones, as well as laundry services and dining options to help guests relax and feel more at home. Our hotel teams work hard to ensure that visitors on business trips enjoy a comfortable and soothing environment after a long working day," Argaman concluded.

*Research conducted in partnership with Galaxy Research. The sample size was 405 respondents and the survey was distributed throughout Australia.

Palestine: Day 6: Wadi Qilt and Jerusalem

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:47:00 +0000

Wadi Qilt, a final desert drive and the last checkpoint into Jerusalem

At a Society of American Travel Writers' conference in Israel a quarter of a century ago, Wadi Qlt (or Wadi Qelt) was the first stop out of Jerusalem en route to several days of hiking and camping in the Judean and Negev Deserts. Back then, we drove to spot a spot directly below St. George's Monastery -- it might have been by van or by US Army surplus personnel carriers that made their way through the Israeli Army to an outfitter called Desert Safari that might no longer exist.

I can't rememver how we reached the inner Wadi Qilt canyon to visit the Monastery of St. George of Koziba, a 5th-century Greek Orthodox structure built against the canyon walls -- much like Jericho's Mt. Temptation Monastery, but it was the first I had ever seen other than in a book or travelogue. Wadi Qilt is also the site of an ancient synagogue dating from the first century B.C. and part of a Maccabean winter palace. I don't recall the synagogue (I'm not even sure whether it had been excavated then), but we visited the monastery and took a short hike along a shaded trail. I was still living back East and was unfamiliar with deserts, deep canyons and oases where there is a source of water, so this was all new climatic territory for me.

Flickr photo

Wadi Qilt

Since then, there has been considerable road damage to the route into the canyon, and it is impassable by bus. The Israeli government, which enthusiastically builds fine highways to its settlements, hasn't repaired the road leading to this landmark monastery on land that is still in Palestinian hands -- and neither has the Palestinian Authority. This time, the bus could reach a pullout with a short trail leading to a Wadi Qlt overlook. A few Bedouins were selling jewelry (lots of camel bone), scarves and miscellaneous souvenirs. Business isn't too good these days. I bought camel-bone earrings and a white scarp, which our guide Wasim (below, bottom image) said that, judging by the label, probably came from Iran.

Jerusalem
As we approached Jerusalem, traffic built up and finally crawled on the apporach to the city. We stopped at an overlook on the Mount of Olives for a view over the Old City of Jerusalem, which from a distance looks peaceful and harmonious. We then walked down a steep paved route. Partway down, we passed through a tranquil garden to Dominus Flevit, a small, tear-drop-shaped church that represents Jesus' tears as he looked over the Kidron Valley toward the city and wept for the destroyed Second Temple. In the church, a nun was reading for a small group of worshippers, who than sang a gentle Hallelujah!

The lower slopes of the Mount of Olives is covered with shoulder-to-shoulder graves, because in Christian belief that Jesus will return to Jerusalem, and in Jewish belief when the Messiah comes, it will be to Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley. It seems that everyone wants a prime spot for event. While a sister conducted a service at Dominus Flevis, the only people at the nearby Jewish cemetery where black-clad men, praying at graves. There is also a Moslem cemetery on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives.

We continued down to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed following the Last Supper and where Judas betrayed him. Ancient olive trees and lovely flowers make this a tranquil spot. The Church of All Nations stands beside the garden. One can only wish that the reality of Jerusalem mirrored the implication of that church's name, but it is a city full of religious and political contention.

We entered the old city via the Arab Quarter and walked its narrow lanes, following the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that today encompass the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Writing in hindsight, this section of Arab Quarter is less congested than the Christian Quarter, and there appear to be proportionally more residents and fewer souvenir shops.

The original church that dates back to the fourth century was damaged in the seventh century, destroyed in the 11th century and soon reconstructed. The cavernous basilica was seriously damaged by fire in the early 19th century, though considering the amount of stone, it is difficult to understand how. It is a complicated place -- a church within a church built over other, older churches and small churches and chapels annexed to the main. Every one is presided over by a different denominations, and despite the obvious devotion shown by hordes of pilgrims from the world over, it is a contentious place rather than a place of peace.

In truth, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the focal point for unholy tussles among a number of Christian denominations. The Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic churches each control large parts of the complex, and one order of Eastern Rite monks has been living on the roof for centuries. Competing denominations have even come to blows. In 2002, a Coptic monk assigned to a spot on roof to maintain some kind of ancient claim on Ethiopian place moved his chair from its official position into the shade, which the Ethiopians took as an affront. A monastic brawl broke out, and 11 were monks hospitalized.

As recently as 2008, there were two clashes that sank into violence. On Palm Sunday, a brawl erupted when a Greek monk was kicked out of the building by religious rivals and the police called to control the disturbance were attacked by the brawlers. In November, Armenian and Greek monks fought over something during the Feast of the Holy Cross. If Jesus did return, I believe he'd send them all to bed without supper.

The Jews don't behave any better toward one another. On June 17, two days before our group's depature for this trip, literally thousands of Israeli police were deployed in Jerusalem in an ugly dispute about court-ordered "integration" of the Beit Yaakov girls’ school in a West Bank settlement. Ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi (Jews of European origin) parents defied the ruling forcing them to send their daughters to school with ultra-orthodox Sephardic girls (Middle East origin). The day we were traveling to Israel/Palestine, what was reported as hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews battled riot police, again in Jerusalem, to protest against the city's decision to open a municipal parking lot on the Jewish Sabbath, which they view as desecration of the day.

Discord aside, of course, there was food in Jerusalem. We enjoyed another abundant lunch buffet at the Golden Walls Hotel in East Jerusalem and a talk by Father Attala Hannah aarchbishop of the of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, and after checking in to the Ritz Hotel, walked over to the Jerusalem Hotel Garden Restaurant for dinner to the sounds traditional, though over-amplified, Middle Eastern music. It was our last night in the Holy Land, and thoughout the trip, I felt personally safe, even walking through the dimly lit streets of East Jersusalem to and from dinner. centuries of contention, conflict and violence continue to this day.

Non-Gulf Beaches in America

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:33:00 +0000

The article “America’s 10 Most Beautiful Beaches Not on the Gulf Coast” offers an interesting list of America's not on the Gulf Coast beaches. Here is the quater from the article and their list:

...there are numerous other seashores to visit that offer the same scenic beauty – the only difference is that the non-Gulf waters may be a bit cooler.

Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
The death place of legendary pirate Blackbeard contains more than three centuries of history and culture left behind by traders and sailors from all over the world. The village of Ocracoke – home to the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouses and the century-old David Williams house – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking beach is protected by 20-foot high sand dunes, which cover miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
Widely considered home to Florida’s most beautiful beaches, Bahia Honda State Park possesses soft sand and crystal clear water. It’s a snorkeler’s paradise because of the deep waters near shore, and kayaking and fishing opportunities are aplenty. The island boasts the highest quantity of colorful subtropical flowers in the Keys, including bay cedar, tiger lily and sea lavender. Silver and thatch palms ensure the beaches are authentically tropical.

Hamoa Beach, Hawaii
Towering sea cliffs surround this less populated section of Maui, where the currents are strong and the surf is dangerous. Swimmers are encouraged to test the waters in the summer and early fall when conditions are safest. Those who prefer to stay dry can enjoy a picnic on the shore while observing the lush greenery.

Kailua Beach, Hawaii
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii
Kiawah Beachwalker Park, South Carolina
East Hampton Main Beach, New York
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Florida
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Coronado Beach, California

Palestine: Day 5, Part 2: Jericho and the Dead Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:14:00 +0000

Jericho and the Dead Sea: Palestine's hot pocket

When it comes to records, an area of desert and water where the jurisdictions of the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Jordan meet, can lay claim to two impressive records. The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth, and Jericho claims to be the oldest city on the planet.

Jericho

Before this day, I had never heard of the Umayyad people, let alone of Caliph Hisham bin AbdulMalek, whose empire stretched from the Pyrenees to India some 14 centuries ago. His palace (actually, a hunting lodge) just north of Jericho was destroyed, not by a marching army like Jericho's city walls, but by an earthquake. Today, extensive palace ruins contain pillars, walls, mosaics and the stone frame of one lovely reassembled intricatedly carved hexagonal window that is said to have inspired rose windows in French cathedrals. A small museum holds artifacts unearthed at the site.

Jericho Resort Village, where we had lunch, is a luxury property by any standard -- at least judging from the immaculate lobby with.polished stone and gleaming woodwork. Simon Awad of the Environmental Education Centre gave a presentation about threats to wildlife in Palestine, where he said that 537 bird species, 110 mammals and 2,953 plant species have been recorded -- not really surprising since it lies at the junction of Africa, Asia and Europe. It is a migration corridor for some 500 birds and habitat to indigenous species and winter visitors. Habitat is continually threatened by dwindling water flow in the Jordan River Valley and Israel's practice of burning bushes that provide food and protection for the birds in the name of security.

It is therefore not surprising that environmental awareness is not a Palestinian priority. EEC is seeking to correct that with awareness-raising among Palestinians, youth education, community activities and hopefully a growth in eco-tourism. Symbolic of the political problems that impact the environment is that when Israel sought to designate the Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea) as its national bird, it had to be pointed out that it was already the official bird of Palestine.Both have issued stamps depicting this lovely little bird. It seems that Israel wants everything that would be Palestine's: as much of its land as it can pepper with settlements, control of its water, control of the Palestinian people to move about their land -- and now, their national bird.

Lunch was served in a large swimming-pool-view dining room, where a formal white-draped U-shaped table had been set up as if for a wedding party. The salads, as the regular array of dips, spreads and cold vegetables are called, were followed by two imposing pilafs, one with eggplant and one with cauliflower plus chicken or lamb.

In the afternoon, we toured the excavations of ancient Jericho (aka, Tell es-Sultan, below) located in a spring-fed oasis in the desert. Archeologists have found remains of 23 civilizations and date the original settlement to about 9,000 B.C., and the modern city has decided to celebrate its 10,000th anniversary this October -- specifically on 10/10/10. Plans are vague at best, but such calender symmetry won't come along for another century. Successive civilizations have inhabited this low-lying oasis 1,200 feet below sea level. Common references include the Biblical reference to its habitation by ancient Israelites after wandering around the desert for 40 years, Marc Antony gifting it to Cleopatra and modern Israel's capture of the city from Jordan during the Six-Day War of 1967. To the archeologically unschooled eye, the ruins don't tell much of a story, so the many interpretive signs are useful. I just wish I'd had time to read more of them -- despite the heat.

We went for a dip in the Dead Sea, stopping en route to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the winter of 1946-47 by two Bedouins. I can't tell you the name of the facility that we used for our dip into the saltiest, lowest-elevation lake on earth, but it included a shaded lawn, changing rooms, indoor and outdoor showers, snack bar and wooden pier leading out to the warm salty, mineral-laden water. It's a kick to just float in this remarkable sea, but I was mindful of the terrible degradation it has suffered.

With less Jordan River water to replenish it, the sea has shrunk. The water level has reportedly been dropping three feet per year and also shrinking in surface area, causing sinkholes to appear along its banks. Mining and extractive uses, ssewage and effluent from fish farms further degrade the lake. While Dead Sea water and mud have therapeutic effects, there's nothing healthy about the crud now allowed to flow into it. Since it is located between Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian controlled land, there seem to be no immediate prospects for mitigating the environmental problems.
For dinner, we rode six-passenger gondola cars (here called a cable car) from a bottom station next to the old Jericho archaeological site to a stony shelf high on Mt. Temptation, where Jesus is said to have fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and been tempted by the Devil. We didn't fast but feasted on the terrace of a multi-level restaurant, cafe and row of small shops set into caves in the cliff. And did I mention the outstanding views of the valley below? A monastery also occupies the shelf, but it was not open when we arrived. We watched the sunset and the full or nearly-full moon rise.

We overnighted at the InterContinental Jericho, the best hotel of the entire trip -- including the InterContinental Bethlehem where we stayed at the beginning. Stunning woodwork, attractive public spaces and really nice guest rooms made this a traveler's oasis in a geographic oasis. Oh, to have a half-day of down-time there!

Next stop: Jerusalem.

FREE 15 MIN PARKING AT SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:02:00 +0000

Sydney Airport has announced that a free 0 -15 minutes time band has been introduced at the International Terminal’s car park.

This is a significant change as previously vehicles which used the car park for less than 15 minutes paid the 0 - 30-minute rate of $7.

While the free 0 – 15 minutes time band has been introduced, there is:

* No change to arrangements for dropping passengers off on the Departures Roadway
* No change to the prohibition of pick-ups on the Departures Roadway or the Arrivals Court Road
* No change to the parking fees for other daily time bands at the International Terminal
* No change to the fees or arrangements that apply at the Domestic Multi-Storey Car Park
* No change to other ground transport fees for taxis and shuttle buses

“Along with the recent upgrades to the International Terminal, this is going to improve the experience for travellers at Sydney Airport,” said Rod Gilmour, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Planning and Human Resources at Sydney Airport.

MANTRA GROUP WARNS CONSUMERS AS ANOTHER ONLINE OPERATOR GOES BUST

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:08:00 +0000

One of Australia's leading accommodation providers Mantra Group has warned consumers they risked losing their hard-earned money and holiday experiences by booking accommodation online through unlicensed operators.

Today liquidators were appointed to another online company, Accommodation 1, operated by Flatworld Trading Pty Ltd, who sold holiday accommodation on the Gold Coast. Holidaymakers with holidays booked from May 19onwards have been left high and dry. The company accepted bookings through a website called www.ourholiday.com.au.

This follows the voluntary liquidation of another operator Tailly Pty Ltd being placed in voluntary liquidation two months ago, leaving more than 260 consumers out of pocket to the tune of approximately $300,000.

Mantra Group which operates as an official onsite accommodation manager and letting agent in many of the buildings where Flatworld sold rooms is extending a lifeline to guests who have been left in the lurch by offering a discount of up to 25% on their best available room rate at either the building they booked with Accommodation 1 or at others in their Gold Coast portfolio.

Mantra Group General Manager of Distribution Luke Jamieson says this is an unfortunate reminder to consumers to make sure they are booking through legitimate and official channels.

"Consumers using faceless website operators have no way of knowing the financial circumstances or capabilities of the company and are putting their hard-earned money and holiday experiences at risk by using them," he said.

"If you have any concerns over the legitimacy of the booking, you should contact the property directly to confirm details," Mr Jamieson.

About Mantra Group

Mantra Group is a leading Australian-based manager and marketer of hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand. The Group owns and operates three well-known and trusted brands – Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree.

With 15,000 rooms under management, Mantra Group is the second largest accommodation operator within Australia. The Group is positioned to offer accommodation ranging from self-contained apartments to luxurious resorts and retreats. The Group's properties are located in across major tourism destinations in Victoria, Tasmania, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, regional New South Wales, all Australian capital cities and throughout New Zealand.

Palestine: Day 5, Part 1: Galilee, Jordan River Valley and Jericho

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:36:00 +0000

From the lush Galilee to the parched Negev Desert

After the blinding light and barenness of the desert, Galilee green soothes the eyes and lifts the spirit. Much of the water that drains out of the south end of the lake and used to replendish the Jordan River's flow is now diverted for irrigation, causing the Dead Sea's level to drop.

Sea of Galilee
Galilee is the name of a huge lake and lush agricultural area in northern Israel and Palestine. It and the Jordan River Valley are the two nation's breadbaskets. Olive trees grow in dry, rocky soil, but just about everything else needs water and therefore grows in the Galilee. Christian pilgrims head for the Church of Beatitudes, an octagonal church set amid beautifully landscaped grounds on the north end of the lake. This enchanting locale was were Jesus is said to have given the Sermon on the Mount, Nearby, in the fishing village of Cana, he performed the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.

The Jordan River Valley and Jericho

Continuing south and paralleling the river, we passed into territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The farms looked ever rougher and less sophisticated. Eventually we entered the desert (below) and later drove up and over a sandy hill and here was the oasis where Jericho is located. It lays claim to being the oldest city on earth. It intends to celebrate its 10,000th anniversary on 10/10/2010, a clever date. No plans are in place yet, however, so it might come off --- and maybe not. Jericho is the lowest city in elevation on the planet. We experienced searing desert heat at 1,200 feet below sea level on a sunny day in almost-July.

As always, stay tuned for more.

French tourist strips on Uluru

noreply@blogger.com (Doncrack) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0000

AAP

A French tourist who strip-danced on top of Uluru says she was paying tribute to indigenous culture.

Alizee Sery, 25, who was filmed performing the raunchy act on the World Heritage-listed rock in the Northern Territory, said it had been a life-long dream to visit the site.

"So, if I do it, I have to do it in a way I am going to remember," she told the Sunday Territorian.

"I do not mean in anyway to offend the Aboriginal culture.

"What I did is a tribute to their culture in a way.

"It's entertaining but also ... I did it as a tribute to the way it used to be, how they were living naked back in the days, so I am doing a return to the land."

In the video, which has made its way onto the internet, Ms Sery is seen stripping down nothing more than her underwear, boots and a cowboy hat.

The exotic dancer said "it was the perfect way to be up there".

"In totally harmony with the land and with myself," she said.

"It was a great feeling inside."

Aboriginal elders are outraged and are calling for her deportation, the ABC reported.

Uluru is a major tourist drawcard and while visitors are asked not to climb it, some 100,000 people take up the challenge each year.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board of management last year called for the climb to be closed out of respect for the indigenous owners and for safety reasons, along with concerns about visitors littering and using the rock as a toilet.