Ebook Travel Guides | Travel Guides Books http://www.ebooktravelguides.com Travel Guides Books, Maps and Phrasebooks Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:30:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Top camping and caravanning trends for 2012 http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/top-camping-and-caravanning-trends-for-2012/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/top-camping-and-caravanning-trends-for-2012/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:30:48 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/top-camping-and-caravanning-trends-for-2012/ Holidaying at home is more popular than ever, with spend on domestic camping and caravan trips up 11% in 2011. As purse strings tighten, Pitchup.com presents a round up of holiday trends for 2012 that won’t break the bank – Brits spend an average of only £149 during their caravan or camping breaks. A vast array of alternative accommodation options is now available, and glamping remains all the rage for a luxurious, inexpensive get away in 2012. No-frills campsites, offering a more self-sufficient style of holiday, are also enjoying a revival. One in three UK residents reports having been on a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years, according to 2011 research by Mintel – a significant increase from February 2009, when one in five had done so. Shorter, closer, later is set to be the booking trend for this year, as people trade the set-piece fortnight away for a series of more casual short breaks. In 2011, 44% of bookings on Pitchup.com were for within one week of departure, with an average stay of three nights and many within one to two hours of home. There has been a 50% increase in ‘glamping’ sites listed on Pitchup.com in 2011. Camping pods offer affordable glamping from £30 per night – with their sheep’s wool insulation and double glazing, these cosy ‘wooden tents’ were spectacularly successful in 2011. Try The Quiet Site in the Lake District. The site’s facilities are housed in old converted farm buildings, including a fantastic seventeenth century barn, housing the cosy Quiet Bar. Pods sleeping up to four people are priced from £35 per pod per night. In 2011 green campsites were among the most popular, as Pitchup.com saw an increase in searches for eco-friendly campsites all over Britain and Ireland. With travel abroad down 20%[iv] in the last three years, the environment is already benefiting from the rise in domestic tourism: Pitchup.com estimates that, compared to a holiday in the Med, travel to a typical camping or caravan site generates 95% less CO2 and takes 61% less time[v]. British destinations are pushing their green credentials – check out Buzzards Bridge in Cornwall where fuel is provided by willow grown on site, the off-grid electricity supply is powered by solar energy and the toilet is a “tree bog”, high up in the willows. Trundle your luggage to your pitch courtesy of the site’s wheelbarrows and stay from £20 per night per pitch. Bell tents sleeping up to four adults cost from £30 per night. Pitchup.com has seen a sharp rise in the number of adult-only trips. Between 2006 and 2010 the number of domestic camping and caravan trips in England taken without children rose from 44% to 50%[vi], and Pitchup.com now lists over 200 adult-only sites. Longnor Wood Holiday Park in Derbyshire is surrounded by woodland and farmland in the heart of the Peak District. This four-star park is dog friendly and near the charming village of Longnor – once a market centre for the region, and now home to four pubs and a dolls’ hospital – as well as numerous villages, markets and stately homes in the area. Pitches are priced from £8 per night. The allure of traditional camping remains strong and no-frills camping is holding its own against glamping and eco-chic camping options. In a recent poll by Pitchup.com, 49% of respondents preferred traditional tent camping[vii]. Redlands Farm in Dorset makes for the ideal traditional family camping adventure. Offering back-to-basics camping at its best, the site is set only six miles from the Olympic sailing event at Portland, with a well-stocked farm shop and a tea room serving a cracking fry-up. Pitches priced from £12.50 per night for up to four people. Vicky Karantzavelou  Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Holidaying at home is more popular than ever, with spend on domestic camping and caravan trips up 11% in 2011. As purse strings tighten, Pitchup.com presents a round up of holiday trends for 2012 that won’t break the bank – Brits spend an average of only £149 during their caravan or camping breaks. A vast array of alternative accommodation options is now available, and glamping remains all the rage for a luxurious, inexpensive get away in 2012. No-frills campsites, offering a more self-sufficient style of holiday, are also enjoying a revival. One in three UK residents reports having been on a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years, according to 2011 research by Mintel – a significant increase from February 2009, when one in five had done so. Shorter, closer, later is set to be the booking trend for this year, as people trade the set-piece fortnight away for a series of more casual short breaks. In 2011, 44% of bookings on Pitchup.com were for within one week of departure, with an average stay of three nights and many within one to two hours of home. There has been a 50% increase in ‘glamping’ sites listed on Pitchup.com in 2011. Camping pods offer affordable glamping from £30 per night – with their sheep’s wool insulation and double glazing, these cosy ‘wooden tents’ were spectacularly successful in 2011. Try The Quiet Site in the Lake District. The site’s facilities are housed in old converted farm buildings, including a fantastic seventeenth century barn, housing the cosy Quiet Bar. Pods sleeping up to four people are priced from £35 per pod per night. In 2011 green campsites were among the most popular, as Pitchup.com saw an increase in searches for eco-friendly campsites all over Britain and Ireland. With travel abroad down 20%[iv] in the last three years, the environment is already benefiting from the rise in domestic tourism: Pitchup.com estimates that, compared to a holiday in the Med, travel to a typical camping or caravan site generates 95% less CO2 and takes 61% less time[v]. British destinations are pushing their green credentials – check out Buzzards Bridge in Cornwall where fuel is provided by willow grown on site, the off-grid electricity supply is powered by solar energy and the toilet is a “tree bog”, high up in the willows. Trundle your luggage to your pitch courtesy of the site’s wheelbarrows and stay from £20 per night per pitch. Bell tents sleeping up to four adults cost from £30 per night. Pitchup.com has seen a sharp rise in the number of adult-only trips. Between 2006 and 2010 the number of domestic camping and caravan trips in England taken without children rose from 44% to 50%[vi], and Pitchup.com now lists over 200 adult-only sites. Longnor Wood Holiday Park in Derbyshire is surrounded by woodland and farmland in the heart of the Peak District. This four-star park is dog friendly and near the charming village of Longnor – once a market centre for the region, and now home to four pubs and a dolls’ hospital – as well as numerous villages, markets and stately homes in the area. Pitches are priced from £8 per night. The allure of traditional camping remains strong and no-frills camping is holding its own against glamping and eco-chic camping options. In a recent poll by Pitchup.com, 49% of respondents preferred traditional tent camping[vii]. Redlands Farm in Dorset makes for the ideal traditional family camping adventure. Offering back-to-basics camping at its best, the site is set only six miles from the Olympic sailing event at Portland, with a well-stocked farm shop and a tea room serving a cracking fry-up. Pitches priced from £12.50 per night for up to four people. Vicky Karantzavelou  Share on Facebook Tweet

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]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/top-camping-and-caravanning-trends-for-2012/feed/ 0 The top10 ski hotel deals in Europe http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/the-top10-ski-hotel-deals-in-europe/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/the-top10-ski-hotel-deals-in-europe/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:28:22 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/the-top10-ski-hotel-deals-in-europe/ Powdery snow, well-groomed slopes, steamy saunas and warm breaks inside cosy cabins are the ideal conditions for a perfect ski vacation. The hotel price comparison trivago.co.uk has compiled ten hotels in European ski resorts, that snowboarders, carvers, skiers and other snow lovers can enjoy for as little as 30 pounds a night per person. From Romania’s Poiana Brasov to the German and Austrian classics, Oberstdorf Tux and St. Leonard, to the French resort of Chamonix, budget travellers are sure to enjoy their sporty winter holiday and save on accommodation costs. Here are the Top Hotel Deals in European ski resorts offering an excellent value for their cost and highly recommended from traveller reviews: 1. St. Ivan Rilski – Hotel, Spa & Apartments (Bansko, Bulgaria) The St. Ivan Rilski is a four-star hotel in the Bulgarian ski resort Bansko. Natural earth tones and wood are at the forefront of the hotel’s design. Subtly placed chandeliers provide decoration and a soothing atmosphere within the rooms after a busy day on the slopes. The restaurant “Moderato” serves European dishes with a Mediterranean touch in the evening, as well as selected wines. In the Hotel’s spa centre, guests can finish the day in the steam room or sauna. The ski resort of Bansko is not only very popular with Monaco’s Prince Albert, but also attracts many tourists during the winter in Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains in. 25 modern ski lifts and cable systems carry the athletes to the top. A total of 70 kilometres of groomed ski runs of all difficulty levels are available for visitors. 2. Hotel Coroana Brasovului (Brasov, Romania) In Brasov, Romania, the small, family-friendly three-star hotel Coroana can be found. A spacious lobby with marble floors and leather furnishings welcomes visitors. Behind the striking yellow facade hides 42 friendly, bright and classically decorated rooms with large beds and warm, cosy colours, such as beige and cream. From here, travellers can make their way to the “Poiana Brasov” ski resort in the Carpathians. Beginners and advanced skiers alike will enjoy the variety of Slalom slopes and trails that the resort has to offer. Hikers will enjoy the breath-taking mountain scenery on a walk through the snow. In the evening, visitors should not miss a night trip in the Romanian ski resort. 3. Hotel Astenblick (Winterberg, Germany) The hotel Astenblick is a traditional four-star hotel in the Sauerland region of Winterberg, Germany. After a day in the snow, the hotel provides its guests with a sauna, swimming pool, spa facials, back massages and relaxing baths in the spa’s facilities. The day’s highlight is a visit to the in-house restaurant, where travellers can enjoy a romantic dinner cooked with organic ingredients from the region. In winter, 30 mountain slopes show visitors the difficulty blue to red depending on their skills. Seven chairlifts and 14 draglifts bring visitors up into the sky and from there they can then plunge into the snow. Ski highlights include floodlit lamps that light the slopes for skiers and snowboarders at night, offering a truly unique experience. 4. Hotel Willa Kominiarski Wierch (Zakopane, Poland) The Hotel Willa Kominiarski Wierch is a small, romantic hotel in the heart of Zakopane in Poland. The fairy-tale architecture includes strong arches, small windows and a low roof reflecting the regional wooden architecture. Thirteen guestrooms are lovingly decorated with floral blankets, plush carpeting and tastefully coordinated colours. Zakopane, where the resort is located, is the highest town in Poland’s Tatra Mountains. A network of 50 ski lifts, comfortably carry athletes to the slopes. Going for a night ski under the stars is possible on Norsal Mountain, which stays illuminated until the early hours of the morning. 5. Explorer Hotel Fischen (Fischen, Deutschland) The Explorer Hotel in Fischen, Germany welcomes its guests into its trendy, techy atmosphere. The Sport Hotel, which is located next to Oberstdorf, a region of sweeping meadows, resilient mountains and beautiful scenery, is characterized by its stylish design. The hot purples and greens combined with comfortable wood tones dominate from the lobby to the rooms. iPads are given to the guests in the evening to surf through the Internet in the Explorer Lounge while enjoying a snack. Guests also have the option to make themselves comfortable in their room on the soft cushions on the large windowsill. From the hotel, winter sports start right on the slopes. The ski area at Oberstdorf in the Kleinwalsertal Valley offers 180 kilometres of groomed trails and 200 kilometres of downhill alpine skiing. There are also ample opportunities for visitors to take part in sporting activities such as snow biking and snowmobiling. 6. Hotel Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany) The hotel Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof is a small family hotel located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Set against breath-taking mountain scenery, the hotel welcomes visitors with Bavarian hospitality. The cosy hotel rooms are adorned with rustic wood panelling and elaborately carved furniture. In the hotel’s Bavarian country style restaurant, dinner guests enjoy specialties of the house, including venison and pork. Situated in the popular area around the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, ski fans of all ages and abilities will get their money’s worth. Skiers and snowboarders will enjoy winding down the same mountains where the 2011 World Ski Championships took place. For a thrilling ride, try the Mountain’s five-kilometre-long toboggan run. 7. Alpinhotel Berghaus (Tux, Austria) The Alpine Hotel Berghaus is a classic country hotel located in Tux, Austria just at the end of the Ziller Valley. From each of the cosy rooms adorned with wooden furniture, guests can look over the surrounding mountains. An action-packed day on the slopes, topped-off by a visit to the “Old Cottage” restaurant, known for its game and lamb dishes is a perfect way to enjoy Tux. A visit to the hotel’s spa area will help weary travellers relax while enjoying the panoramic view of the powdery mountains. 220 km of slopes with 74 lifts await winter sport enthusiasts, who are anxious to try the mountain’s steep slopes. Guests of the hotel will be happy to find entrance to the trails lies just directly behind the hotel. Visitors looking to enjoy the day off the slopes should consider curling or taking a spin on the skating rink. 8. Hotel Mercure Chamonix Les Bossons (Chamonix, France) The Mercure Chamonix Les Bossons Hotel is located in the French ski resort Chamonix LesBossons at the foot of the Glacier de Taconnaz. Following a day at the slopes, skiers can relax, by taking a dip in the hotel’s Jacuzzi overlooking Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. To really enjoy the snowy French Alps, visitors can enjoy a drink by the fireplace in the bar “Jonction.” The Chamonix ski resort is a paradise for snow lovers. The 108 kilometres of groomed slopes provide winter athletes with playground of powder, while young beginners can learn to ski by way of the school’s newest techniques. Couples can relax with a romantic stroll through the white landscape. 9. All in One Hotel Inn Lodge (Celerina, Switzerland) The All in One Hotel Inn Lodge in Celerina, St. Moritz is a modern hotel situated in the middle of the mountains. Located in the heart of the Engadine, the long valley in the Swiss Alps, the hotel offers a trendy, minimalist style with clean lines and colours, like red and blue. The lounge bar in-house is a popular retreat for visitors after the day on the slopes. A mountain railway transports athletes to the ski area: Corviglia / St. Moritz, a 100 kilometres downhill, World Cup quality snow park which offers many obstacles. 10. Sport & Vital Hotel Seppl (Sankt Leonhard, Austria) In Austria’s idyllic Tyrolean Pitztal Valley, rests the Sport & Vital Hotel. The four-star hotel houses 60 rooms and suites, a pool area with an outdoor spa and several saunas, including as a bio sauna and a log cabin sauna. The in-house wine cellar offers guests a tasting of fine wines to slowly fade away the snow-filled day. Around the Pitztal Glacier, 28 slopes and a fun park with half pipe offer freestyle options to young snow athletes. Beginners are offered a chance to brave the winter while trying to climb through a glacier cave. trivago.co.uk Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Powdery snow, well-groomed slopes, steamy saunas and warm breaks inside cosy cabins are the ideal conditions for a perfect ski vacation. The hotel price comparison trivago.co.uk has compiled ten hotels in European ski resorts, that snowboarders, carvers, skiers and other snow lovers can enjoy for as little as 30 pounds a night per person. From Romania’s Poiana Brasov to the German and Austrian classics, Oberstdorf Tux and St. Leonard, to the French resort of Chamonix, budget travellers are sure to enjoy their sporty winter holiday and save on accommodation costs. Here are the Top Hotel Deals in European ski resorts offering an excellent value for their cost and highly recommended from traveller reviews: 1. St. Ivan Rilski – Hotel, Spa & Apartments (Bansko, Bulgaria) The St. Ivan Rilski is a four-star hotel in the Bulgarian ski resort Bansko. Natural earth tones and wood are at the forefront of the hotel’s design. Subtly placed chandeliers provide decoration and a soothing atmosphere within the rooms after a busy day on the slopes. The restaurant “Moderato” serves European dishes with a Mediterranean touch in the evening, as well as selected wines. In the Hotel’s spa centre, guests can finish the day in the steam room or sauna. The ski resort of Bansko is not only very popular with Monaco’s Prince Albert, but also attracts many tourists during the winter in Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains in. 25 modern ski lifts and cable systems carry the athletes to the top. A total of 70 kilometres of groomed ski runs of all difficulty levels are available for visitors. 2. Hotel Coroana Brasovului (Brasov, Romania) In Brasov, Romania, the small, family-friendly three-star hotel Coroana can be found. A spacious lobby with marble floors and leather furnishings welcomes visitors. Behind the striking yellow facade hides 42 friendly, bright and classically decorated rooms with large beds and warm, cosy colours, such as beige and cream. From here, travellers can make their way to the “Poiana Brasov” ski resort in the Carpathians. Beginners and advanced skiers alike will enjoy the variety of Slalom slopes and trails that the resort has to offer. Hikers will enjoy the breath-taking mountain scenery on a walk through the snow. In the evening, visitors should not miss a night trip in the Romanian ski resort. 3. Hotel Astenblick (Winterberg, Germany) The hotel Astenblick is a traditional four-star hotel in the Sauerland region of Winterberg, Germany. After a day in the snow, the hotel provides its guests with a sauna, swimming pool, spa facials, back massages and relaxing baths in the spa’s facilities. The day’s highlight is a visit to the in-house restaurant, where travellers can enjoy a romantic dinner cooked with organic ingredients from the region. In winter, 30 mountain slopes show visitors the difficulty blue to red depending on their skills. Seven chairlifts and 14 draglifts bring visitors up into the sky and from there they can then plunge into the snow. Ski highlights include floodlit lamps that light the slopes for skiers and snowboarders at night, offering a truly unique experience. 4. Hotel Willa Kominiarski Wierch (Zakopane, Poland) The Hotel Willa Kominiarski Wierch is a small, romantic hotel in the heart of Zakopane in Poland. The fairy-tale architecture includes strong arches, small windows and a low roof reflecting the regional wooden architecture. Thirteen guestrooms are lovingly decorated with floral blankets, plush carpeting and tastefully coordinated colours. Zakopane, where the resort is located, is the highest town in Poland’s Tatra Mountains. A network of 50 ski lifts, comfortably carry athletes to the slopes. Going for a night ski under the stars is possible on Norsal Mountain, which stays illuminated until the early hours of the morning. 5. Explorer Hotel Fischen (Fischen, Deutschland) The Explorer Hotel in Fischen, Germany welcomes its guests into its trendy, techy atmosphere. The Sport Hotel, which is located next to Oberstdorf, a region of sweeping meadows, resilient mountains and beautiful scenery, is characterized by its stylish design. The hot purples and greens combined with comfortable wood tones dominate from the lobby to the rooms. iPads are given to the guests in the evening to surf through the Internet in the Explorer Lounge while enjoying a snack. Guests also have the option to make themselves comfortable in their room on the soft cushions on the large windowsill. From the hotel, winter sports start right on the slopes. The ski area at Oberstdorf in the Kleinwalsertal Valley offers 180 kilometres of groomed trails and 200 kilometres of downhill alpine skiing. There are also ample opportunities for visitors to take part in sporting activities such as snow biking and snowmobiling. 6. Hotel Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany) The hotel Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof is a small family hotel located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Set against breath-taking mountain scenery, the hotel welcomes visitors with Bavarian hospitality. The cosy hotel rooms are adorned with rustic wood panelling and elaborately carved furniture. In the hotel’s Bavarian country style restaurant, dinner guests enjoy specialties of the house, including venison and pork. Situated in the popular area around the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, ski fans of all ages and abilities will get their money’s worth. Skiers and snowboarders will enjoy winding down the same mountains where the 2011 World Ski Championships took place. For a thrilling ride, try the Mountain’s five-kilometre-long toboggan run. 7. Alpinhotel Berghaus (Tux, Austria) The Alpine Hotel Berghaus is a classic country hotel located in Tux, Austria just at the end of the Ziller Valley. From each of the cosy rooms adorned with wooden furniture, guests can look over the surrounding mountains. An action-packed day on the slopes, topped-off by a visit to the “Old Cottage” restaurant, known for its game and lamb dishes is a perfect way to enjoy Tux. A visit to the hotel’s spa area will help weary travellers relax while enjoying the panoramic view of the powdery mountains. 220 km of slopes with 74 lifts await winter sport enthusiasts, who are anxious to try the mountain’s steep slopes. Guests of the hotel will be happy to find entrance to the trails lies just directly behind the hotel. Visitors looking to enjoy the day off the slopes should consider curling or taking a spin on the skating rink. 8. Hotel Mercure Chamonix Les Bossons (Chamonix, France) The Mercure Chamonix Les Bossons Hotel is located in the French ski resort Chamonix LesBossons at the foot of the Glacier de Taconnaz. Following a day at the slopes, skiers can relax, by taking a dip in the hotel’s Jacuzzi overlooking Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. To really enjoy the snowy French Alps, visitors can enjoy a drink by the fireplace in the bar “Jonction.” The Chamonix ski resort is a paradise for snow lovers. The 108 kilometres of groomed slopes provide winter athletes with playground of powder, while young beginners can learn to ski by way of the school’s newest techniques. Couples can relax with a romantic stroll through the white landscape. 9. All in One Hotel Inn Lodge (Celerina, Switzerland) The All in One Hotel Inn Lodge in Celerina, St. Moritz is a modern hotel situated in the middle of the mountains. Located in the heart of the Engadine, the long valley in the Swiss Alps, the hotel offers a trendy, minimalist style with clean lines and colours, like red and blue. The lounge bar in-house is a popular retreat for visitors after the day on the slopes. A mountain railway transports athletes to the ski area: Corviglia / St. Moritz, a 100 kilometres downhill, World Cup quality snow park which offers many obstacles. 10. Sport & Vital Hotel Seppl (Sankt Leonhard, Austria) In Austria’s idyllic Tyrolean Pitztal Valley, rests the Sport & Vital Hotel. The four-star hotel houses 60 rooms and suites, a pool area with an outdoor spa and several saunas, including as a bio sauna and a log cabin sauna. The in-house wine cellar offers guests a tasting of fine wines to slowly fade away the snow-filled day. Around the Pitztal Glacier, 28 slopes and a fun park with half pipe offer freestyle options to young snow athletes. Beginners are offered a chance to brave the winter while trying to climb through a glacier cave. trivago.co.uk Share on Facebook Tweet

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The top10 ski hotel deals in Europe

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/the-top10-ski-hotel-deals-in-europe/feed/ 0 Visa changes by Oman’s tourism sector http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/visa-changes-by-omans-tourism-sector/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/visa-changes-by-omans-tourism-sector/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:26:18 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/visa-changes-by-omans-tourism-sector/ The Sultanate of Oman has made sweeping changes to its visa arrangements to lure more tourists. The new arrangements (of immediate effect) include an OMR 5 fee for a single entry tourism visa (Group 1 countries) for up to 10 days (a decrease of 75%) while cruise arrival visas are free up to 24 hours or OMR 5 for multiple visits The OMR 20 for a single entry for up to a month remains in place. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, the Undersecretary of Tourism says ”this is great news for Oman’s tourism industry and our international travel and tourism trade partners. The government has moved proactively to improve Oman’s competitiveness in stop-over, short-stay and conference tourism. The changes also encourage travel to Salalah and other regional destinations, and conference organisers to consider Oman as an event location”. The Ministry of Tourism sees the new arrangements as an important structural change to boost Oman’s tourism performance. In the short-term, the Ministry expects a lift in leisure and short stay visits. Oman Air’s rapidly growing passenger transit market is also of interest to Oman’s tourism industry. For the year ending September 2011, the transit market was around 787,000 passenger transits and it is growing at around 19% per year. This includes around 80,100 premium travellers. Oman is also seeing a boom in cruise ship activity and the new visa arrangements strengthen the case for cruise lines to consider Muscat for crew and passenger exchanges. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, also comments: ”The changes will be welcomed by the global travel and tourism trade. The changes make Oman very attractive for the growing stopover, business and cruise passenger segments – areas of great potential. The changes also open up possibilities for a wide range of trade and consumer tactical campaigns, including our stopover campaign with Oman Air” she commented. Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> The Sultanate of Oman has made sweeping changes to its visa arrangements to lure more tourists. The new arrangements (of immediate effect) include an OMR 5 fee for a single entry tourism visa (Group 1 countries) for up to 10 days (a decrease of 75%) while cruise arrival visas are free up to 24 hours or OMR 5 for multiple visits The OMR 20 for a single entry for up to a month remains in place. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, the Undersecretary of Tourism says ”this is great news for Oman’s tourism industry and our international travel and tourism trade partners. The government has moved proactively to improve Oman’s competitiveness in stop-over, short-stay and conference tourism. The changes also encourage travel to Salalah and other regional destinations, and conference organisers to consider Oman as an event location”. The Ministry of Tourism sees the new arrangements as an important structural change to boost Oman’s tourism performance. In the short-term, the Ministry expects a lift in leisure and short stay visits. Oman Air’s rapidly growing passenger transit market is also of interest to Oman’s tourism industry. For the year ending September 2011, the transit market was around 787,000 passenger transits and it is growing at around 19% per year. This includes around 80,100 premium travellers. Oman is also seeing a boom in cruise ship activity and the new visa arrangements strengthen the case for cruise lines to consider Muscat for crew and passenger exchanges. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, also comments: ”The changes will be welcomed by the global travel and tourism trade. The changes make Oman very attractive for the growing stopover, business and cruise passenger segments – areas of great potential. The changes also open up possibilities for a wide range of trade and consumer tactical campaigns, including our stopover campaign with Oman Air” she commented. Share on Facebook Tweet

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Visa changes by Oman’s tourism sector

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/visa-changes-by-omans-tourism-sector/feed/ 0 Be Quick & Beat the Heat: Amazing SE Asia http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/be-quick-beat-the-heat-amazing-se-asia/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/be-quick-beat-the-heat-amazing-se-asia/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:34:27 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/be-quick-beat-the-heat-amazing-se-asia/ Travel to Southeast Asia before the end of February and beat the heat. Now is the best time to visit this magical part of the world Southeast Asia is a very popular exotic destination for many travelers, and November through February is often considered the best time of year to visit the region. Southeast Asia is typically considered to include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, East Timor, Burma and Indonesia. Most of these countries experience extremely hot weather for most of year, and November through February is a milder temperature which is great for touring. The crowds can often be higher at this time of the year, but there are also plenty of  tours to Asia  that are great value for travel during the cooler months. Intrepid Travel, Gecko’s Adventures, G Adventures, and  Tucan Travel  are some well known tour companies that offer cheap tours to the region. Some main sights that are great to consider for your  Southeast Asia tour  list are: - Angkor Wat, Cambodia. An amazing temple which took over 400 years to complete, covering an area of more than 400 square kilometers. It is the world’s largest religious building, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is the largest Island in Thailand with amazing natural beauty. Phang Nga Bay is often photographed as one of the most beautiful ocean settings in Southeast Asia, and as a bustling destination there is also plenty of opportunities to experience the Thai culture in Phuket. - Boracay, Philippines. Boracay often makes the list of the best beaches in the world, and is a perfect quaint destination for those that want to kick back, relax, and enjoy the beach life. - Luang Prabang, Laos. Once the heart and soul of the ancient kingdom of Laos, Luang Prabang is now a designated World Heritage-listed site. The city is filled with ornate temples and French colonial architecture. Luang Prabang truly has a magical feel about it. Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Travel to Southeast Asia before the end of February and beat the heat. Now is the best time to visit this magical part of the world Southeast Asia is a very popular exotic destination for many travelers, and November through February is often considered the best time of year to visit the region. Southeast Asia is typically considered to include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, East Timor, Burma and Indonesia. Most of these countries experience extremely hot weather for most of year, and November through February is a milder temperature which is great for touring. The crowds can often be higher at this time of the year, but there are also plenty of  tours to Asia  that are great value for travel during the cooler months. Intrepid Travel, Gecko’s Adventures, G Adventures, and  Tucan Travel  are some well known tour companies that offer cheap tours to the region. Some main sights that are great to consider for your  Southeast Asia tour  list are: – Angkor Wat, Cambodia. An amazing temple which took over 400 years to complete, covering an area of more than 400 square kilometers. It is the world’s largest religious building, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. – Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is the largest Island in Thailand with amazing natural beauty. Phang Nga Bay is often photographed as one of the most beautiful ocean settings in Southeast Asia, and as a bustling destination there is also plenty of opportunities to experience the Thai culture in Phuket. – Boracay, Philippines. Boracay often makes the list of the best beaches in the world, and is a perfect quaint destination for those that want to kick back, relax, and enjoy the beach life. – Luang Prabang, Laos. Once the heart and soul of the ancient kingdom of Laos, Luang Prabang is now a designated World Heritage-listed site. The city is filled with ornate temples and French colonial architecture. Luang Prabang truly has a magical feel about it. Share on Facebook Tweet

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Be Quick & Beat the Heat: Amazing SE Asia

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/be-quick-beat-the-heat-amazing-se-asia/feed/ 0 WANTED: The World’s Greatest Travellers 2012 http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/wanted-the-worlds-greatest-travellers-2012/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/wanted-the-worlds-greatest-travellers-2012/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:58:51 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/wanted-the-worlds-greatest-travellers-2012/ The Global Scavenger Hunt’s 8th Annual event set for 2012 Looking for all would-be Magellans, promising Indiana Jones-types, adventurous Nellie Bly hopefuls, and Phileas Fogg contenders! The 8th annual 2012 around the world travel adventure competition known as  The Global Scavenger Hunt , that will begin April 13th taking participating teams to at least ten countries over 23-days before crowning The World’s Greatest Travelers™ on May 5th, wants real travelers to compete in a real travel adventure event. Global nomads and travel writers always ask: Who are the greatest travelers? Are they independent globetrotters, backpacking travel junkies, business-class road warriors; or do travel writers and bloggers make for great travelers, maybe tour guides or travel agents have an inside edge, or even reality TV contestants? “It just makes such great on-the-road travel conversation: Who are the best travelers?” asks Event Director William D. Chalmers, “But our event adds a new wrinkle to that simmering debate, because for the first time all those Amazing Race wannabes who claim that ‘I could do that!’ finally have the opportunity to prove it in a real life travel adventure competition. The rubber meets the highway—literally—in our event.” Know that authentic travel in the age of reality TV is still possible as this real life travel adventure competition encourages travelers to trust strangers in strange lands while immersing themselves in highly participatory sight-doing experiences. As competing teams receive points for successfully completing these travel IQ-testing global scavenges in their quest to earn The World’s Greatest Travelers™ trophy given to the winning team. (The winning team earns the right to defend their crown for FREE—a $20,000 free trip!) The Global Scavenger Hunt™ travel adventure is designed to test those well-honed travel skills that serious international travelers bring to the event, like: overcoming language barriers, intercultural competence, logistic challenges, team dynamics, the heat of competition, and three week’s worth of real-world creative problem solving, while traveling to at least 10 secret countries. “We call it a full-contact travel adventure knowing that active participation changes everything,” continues Chalmers, the author of the new travel history book entitled “On The Origin of the Species homo touristicus”, “The events biggest wow factor is the thrill of putting our travelers into a continuous flow of peak experiences. From beginning to end, it never ends! Our participants leave the event as thrillionaires.” The travel competition is now accepting applications at the  GlobalScavengerHunt.com  website for a limited number of 25-two person team slots available for the 2012 event that is life-changing. Life-changing because not only are there bragging rights and The World’s Greatest Travelers™ trophy at stake, but because Teams optionally help raise funds towards a $1 million goal for ongoing global charitable efforts including micro-loans supporting entrepreneurial women, and the continued building of co-ed elementary schools in developing nations such as: Kenya, Niger, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, India and Ecuador, among others. The event is limited to 25-two person teams, and the $9,900 per person entry fee includes: all international airfare, first class hotels, 40% of meals, along with special event gear. All travelers will be interviewed for suitability! Single travelers are welcome to apply. Apply online at GlobalScavengerHunt.com or by calling GreatEscape Adventures at 1.310.281.7809. (CST#2071053-40)  Click here  for a 2012 Event e-brochure. Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> The Global Scavenger Hunt’s 8th Annual event set for 2012 Looking for all would-be Magellans, promising Indiana Jones-types, adventurous Nellie Bly hopefuls, and Phileas Fogg contenders! The 8th annual 2012 around the world travel adventure competition known as  The Global Scavenger Hunt , that will begin April 13th taking participating teams to at least ten countries over 23-days before crowning The World’s Greatest Travelers™ on May 5th, wants real travelers to compete in a real travel adventure event. Global nomads and travel writers always ask: Who are the greatest travelers? Are they independent globetrotters, backpacking travel junkies, business-class road warriors; or do travel writers and bloggers make for great travelers, maybe tour guides or travel agents have an inside edge, or even reality TV contestants? “It just makes such great on-the-road travel conversation: Who are the best travelers?” asks Event Director William D. Chalmers, “But our event adds a new wrinkle to that simmering debate, because for the first time all those Amazing Race wannabes who claim that ‘I could do that!’ finally have the opportunity to prove it in a real life travel adventure competition. The rubber meets the highway—literally—in our event.” Know that authentic travel in the age of reality TV is still possible as this real life travel adventure competition encourages travelers to trust strangers in strange lands while immersing themselves in highly participatory sight-doing experiences. As competing teams receive points for successfully completing these travel IQ-testing global scavenges in their quest to earn The World’s Greatest Travelers™ trophy given to the winning team. (The winning team earns the right to defend their crown for FREE—a $20,000 free trip!) The Global Scavenger Hunt™ travel adventure is designed to test those well-honed travel skills that serious international travelers bring to the event, like: overcoming language barriers, intercultural competence, logistic challenges, team dynamics, the heat of competition, and three week’s worth of real-world creative problem solving, while traveling to at least 10 secret countries. “We call it a full-contact travel adventure knowing that active participation changes everything,” continues Chalmers, the author of the new travel history book entitled “On The Origin of the Species homo touristicus”, “The events biggest wow factor is the thrill of putting our travelers into a continuous flow of peak experiences. From beginning to end, it never ends! Our participants leave the event as thrillionaires.” The travel competition is now accepting applications at the  GlobalScavengerHunt.com  website for a limited number of 25-two person team slots available for the 2012 event that is life-changing. Life-changing because not only are there bragging rights and The World’s Greatest Travelers™ trophy at stake, but because Teams optionally help raise funds towards a $1 million goal for ongoing global charitable efforts including micro-loans supporting entrepreneurial women, and the continued building of co-ed elementary schools in developing nations such as: Kenya, Niger, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, India and Ecuador, among others. The event is limited to 25-two person teams, and the $9,900 per person entry fee includes: all international airfare, first class hotels, 40% of meals, along with special event gear. All travelers will be interviewed for suitability! Single travelers are welcome to apply. Apply online at GlobalScavengerHunt.com or by calling GreatEscape Adventures at 1.310.281.7809. (CST#2071053-40)  Click here  for a 2012 Event e-brochure. Share on Facebook Tweet

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WANTED: The World’s Greatest Travellers 2012

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/wanted-the-worlds-greatest-travellers-2012/feed/ 0 Cape Town Jazz Festival unveils 2012 music gems http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/cape-town-jazz-festival-unveils-2012-music-gems/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/cape-town-jazz-festival-unveils-2012-music-gems/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:41:35 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/cape-town-jazz-festival-unveils-2012-music-gems/ Great Jazz Icons across the globe to light up Cape Town Jazz stages Jazz enthusiasts no longer have to hold their breath with the final announcement of artists for the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival announced today at Katzy’s in Rosebank, Johannesburg. This year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival will take on March 30 and 31. In its 13th year, the festival continues to titillate South African audiences with the finest in local and international performers at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The headliners reflect the festival’s philosophy of broadening audience’s perspectives of what is understood as ‘jazz’. “If it’s music, sweet music, lets it play,” is the philosophy of Jamaican-hailing reggae band Third World – one of the headliner acts aimed at bridging these divides. Originally formed in 1973 in Kingston, Third World has over its three-decade spanning career interwoven subtleties of funk, soul, R&B and rock into reggae music, releasing 23 albums in total. They are one of Jamaica’s longest running acts which means that they easily bumped heads with the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers early in their career. Third World will make their South African debut at this year’s festival, firing up their message of peace, love and unity. Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist and producer, Marcus Miller is another major artist who headlines the festival. While Millers’ main instrument is bass, his prolific work started in the late 70s. He has worked as an arranger, songwriter, film score composer, keyboardist, clarinetist and saxophonist. A live set from Miller can include an odd mix of anything from The Talking Heads to John Coltrane and The Stylistics. Miller was born at a time when jazz was peaking in New York. He was part of a musical family which made becoming a multi-instrumentalist in his teenage years natural. Some of his best known work is with Miles Davis during the early 80′s, working on the albums Tutu and Music from Siesta. He has an epic background of musical accolades and as a session musician has worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Harlem born songwriter and vocalist Patti Austin and her trio will tour her Grammy award-winning jazz program which includes hits ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Avant Gershwin. Austin has a legacy of 16 solo albums which cross musical boundaries. Her road to success was paved early as she made her debut at the Apollo Theatre in 1954 at the age of four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was five. Keeping the musical fires burning, The Patti Austin Trio’s festival performance will form part of a massive 2012 European tour with new album Sound Advice. Completing the headliners of international performers is Kansas City-born vocalist Kevin Mahogany. New Yorker Magazine has labeled him “The Standout jazz vocalist of his generation”. Starting off his career as an instrumentalist, Mahogany has focused his career on being a jazz vocalist in the style of Joe Williams. Currently he runs his own label called Mahogany Jazz. The legendary Quincy Jones is responsible for discovering and introducing Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez to the festival organisers. The impromptu performance of Rodriguez in Jones’ lounge for organisers Rashid Lombard and Billy Domingo convinced the pair that Rodriguez was a natural fit for the festival. Jones says “I’m thrilled that Alfredo has been given a platform to perform at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. I think he will find surprising musical similarities between his roots in Cuba and his South African experience.” Other international performers at the festival include Chinese minimalist solo pianist Xia Jia and French bossa nova meets nu-wave act Nouvelle Vague. Joining them is Allen Stone, a storytelling guitarist and singer from Washington who could be described as a funky white boy with soul. Angolan afro-funk singer and composer Gabriel Tchiema completes the line-up of international acts. Audiences will be thrilled to see legendary South African trumpeter and bandleader Hugh Masekela return to the festival and present a special project for the first time on local shores. Masekela will rally up an army of musical giants for ‘MAMA AFRICA’ -a tribute to the great songbird Miriam Makeba. Masekela as musical director joins forces with a powerhouse trio of vocalists in the form of VusiMahlasela, ThandiswaMazwai and ZolaniMahola. The show made its debut at the Rio Loco Festival in Toulouse, France in June 2010 and has since travelled to Barcelona, London and Berlin. Masekela won’t be the only South African legend on stage this year. Dorothy Masuka will also perform at the festival. Masuka rose to fame in the 50′s as a struggle artist as a singer alongside the likes of Masekela and Makeba. If the edgiest music that is coming out of South Africa at the moment is hip-hop, then the festival has been spot on with the talent this year. HHP aka Hip Hop Pantsula and Cape Town’s own swag-boasting Ill Skillz aka Ill Literate Skill join the line-up. HHP is a multi-SAMA award-winning rapper and alongside Ill Skillz represent fresh and youthful South African voices. There is a huge focus on African roots and rhythms on the festival line-up this year. Pietermaritzburg born saxophonist Steve Dyer has been on the South African music scene for some time but he has constantly evolved musically. His latest project Ubuntu Music will be released as an album this year and performed at the festival for the first time. His band features pianist Bokani Dyer, bassist Shaun Johannes, trumpeter LwandaGogwana and drummer Andre Swartz.  In a similar vein, South African bassist HerbieTsoaeli, who has performed with some of S.A’s greatest jazz musicians, will be presenting his long-awaited debut album African Time. Harmonica player Adam Glasser has spent significant time between South Africa and the United Kingdom, collaborating with major artists from both countries such as DuduPukwana and Toots Thielemens. Glasser will present his latest album Mzansi at the festival. Cape Town based saxophonist Victor Kula grew up in Rylands and now resides in Gugulethu. He has kept his musical associations proudly local and is greatly influenced by the late Winston ‘Mankunku’ Ngozi. Hassan’adas led by percussionist John Hassan experiments with Marrabenta and African jive rhythms Old school glitz and glamour diva Sophia Foster, one of S.A’s sisters of song also joins the line-up. Another kind of diva, ex-fashion stylist LindiweSuttle initiated her career as a vocalist with RusNerwich and The Collective Imagination in 2008. Now Suttle has returned from Berlin with a more electronic focus on her debut album Kamikaze Art courtesy of engineer Dave Kutch whose previous work includes Al Green and Alicia Keys. ZakesBantwini has himself confessed that his live performance launches a wilder alter-ego, “ZakheleMadida (his real name) is actually a shy guy and a bit reserved. When I ‘m on stage I am in a trance and the ZakesBantwini character takes over. He just comes out.” Bantwini is one of the few South African artists who has managed to cross the boundary of afro-house and live jazz. Radio personality, Idols judge, singer and songwriter Unathi will also perform at the festival. Fans can expect new material from Unathi since she recently released her third album With Love. As previously announced, the rest of the line-up for 2012 is completed by the following artists: James Ingram (USA), Dave Koz with special guest Patti Austin (USA), Mike Stern with special guest Dave Weckl (USA), Virtual Jazz Reality (SA), Brubecks play Brubeck (USA/SA), Ron Carter, Donald Harrison  and  Lenny White (USA), Andre Petersen Quintet (SA), Atmosphere (USA), Jean Grae (USA), Goodluck (SA), Zamajobe (SA), Zahara (SA), The Jason Reolon Trio (SA), David Sanchez with special guest Lionel Loueke (Puerto Rico/Benin), The Moreira Project (Mozambique) and Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band (SA). A massive affirmation regarding the artistic and cultural importance of the jazz festival was President Jacob Zuma’s mention of the festival in his State of the Nation speech last year. Over 34 000 tourists are attracted to the festival annually. Mr Paul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture comments on the relevance of the festival, “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival does not only expose audiences to a wide array of the best international and local music, the event also contributes to providing a larger skills base in the creative sector which helps in sustaining the creative industries in South Africa.” Aside from contributing a significant amount to South Africa’s economic and tourism industries, young journalists are nurtured in the annual Arts Journalism Program led by jazz critic Gwen Ansell. Developmental programs where students and professionals are paired is key to the festivals outlook. Each year the festival provides a series of workshops which run over eight days aimed at developing methods and transferring skills in terms of music and business. Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape comments, “Musical talent is vital to the success of these kinds of events, and music development programmes for the youth, such as those funded by the Western Cape Government, are the perfect platform to grow and nurture talent.” Celebrating not only musical creativity, but visual creativity too, The Duotone Photographic Exhibition is another annual fixture of the festival. Every year it commemorates prolific jazz photography. One of the most exciting elements to the festival is the annual free Community Concert which brings thousands together in the centre of Cape Town on Green Market Square. This year the concert will take place on March 28th, the Wednesday preceding the festival. The line-up is usually a teaser of some of the local and international acts that will feature at the festival. The festival has over the years garnered huge provincial support from the Western Cape. Minister Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism for the Western Cape comments, “The Western Cape Government is pleased to be associated with an event of this calibre that draws artists from across the globe and we look forward to yet another spectacular show.” Patricia De Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town echoes this sentiment, “This musical celebration epitomises what this administration aims to do in building an inclusive city by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds throughout the city and the rest of the country to enjoy the musical talents of local artists and renowned international superstars. The City will continue to support this festival to promote the heritage of jazz music and ensure that it continues to attract large crowds.” Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Great Jazz Icons across the globe to light up Cape Town Jazz stages Jazz enthusiasts no longer have to hold their breath with the final announcement of artists for the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival announced today at Katzy’s in Rosebank, Johannesburg. This year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival will take on March 30 and 31. In its 13th year, the festival continues to titillate South African audiences with the finest in local and international performers at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The headliners reflect the festival’s philosophy of broadening audience’s perspectives of what is understood as ‘jazz’. “If it’s music, sweet music, lets it play,” is the philosophy of Jamaican-hailing reggae band Third World – one of the headliner acts aimed at bridging these divides. Originally formed in 1973 in Kingston, Third World has over its three-decade spanning career interwoven subtleties of funk, soul, R&B and rock into reggae music, releasing 23 albums in total. They are one of Jamaica’s longest running acts which means that they easily bumped heads with the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers early in their career. Third World will make their South African debut at this year’s festival, firing up their message of peace, love and unity. Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist and producer, Marcus Miller is another major artist who headlines the festival. While Millers’ main instrument is bass, his prolific work started in the late 70s. He has worked as an arranger, songwriter, film score composer, keyboardist, clarinetist and saxophonist. A live set from Miller can include an odd mix of anything from The Talking Heads to John Coltrane and The Stylistics. Miller was born at a time when jazz was peaking in New York. He was part of a musical family which made becoming a multi-instrumentalist in his teenage years natural. Some of his best known work is with Miles Davis during the early 80′s, working on the albums Tutu and Music from Siesta. He has an epic background of musical accolades and as a session musician has worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Harlem born songwriter and vocalist Patti Austin and her trio will tour her Grammy award-winning jazz program which includes hits ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Avant Gershwin. Austin has a legacy of 16 solo albums which cross musical boundaries. Her road to success was paved early as she made her debut at the Apollo Theatre in 1954 at the age of four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was five. Keeping the musical fires burning, The Patti Austin Trio’s festival performance will form part of a massive 2012 European tour with new album Sound Advice. Completing the headliners of international performers is Kansas City-born vocalist Kevin Mahogany. New Yorker Magazine has labeled him “The Standout jazz vocalist of his generation”. Starting off his career as an instrumentalist, Mahogany has focused his career on being a jazz vocalist in the style of Joe Williams. Currently he runs his own label called Mahogany Jazz. The legendary Quincy Jones is responsible for discovering and introducing Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez to the festival organisers. The impromptu performance of Rodriguez in Jones’ lounge for organisers Rashid Lombard and Billy Domingo convinced the pair that Rodriguez was a natural fit for the festival. Jones says “I’m thrilled that Alfredo has been given a platform to perform at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. I think he will find surprising musical similarities between his roots in Cuba and his South African experience.” Other international performers at the festival include Chinese minimalist solo pianist Xia Jia and French bossa nova meets nu-wave act Nouvelle Vague. Joining them is Allen Stone, a storytelling guitarist and singer from Washington who could be described as a funky white boy with soul. Angolan afro-funk singer and composer Gabriel Tchiema completes the line-up of international acts. Audiences will be thrilled to see legendary South African trumpeter and bandleader Hugh Masekela return to the festival and present a special project for the first time on local shores. Masekela will rally up an army of musical giants for ‘MAMA AFRICA’ -a tribute to the great songbird Miriam Makeba. Masekela as musical director joins forces with a powerhouse trio of vocalists in the form of VusiMahlasela, ThandiswaMazwai and ZolaniMahola. The show made its debut at the Rio Loco Festival in Toulouse, France in June 2010 and has since travelled to Barcelona, London and Berlin. Masekela won’t be the only South African legend on stage this year. Dorothy Masuka will also perform at the festival. Masuka rose to fame in the 50′s as a struggle artist as a singer alongside the likes of Masekela and Makeba. If the edgiest music that is coming out of South Africa at the moment is hip-hop, then the festival has been spot on with the talent this year. HHP aka Hip Hop Pantsula and Cape Town’s own swag-boasting Ill Skillz aka Ill Literate Skill join the line-up. HHP is a multi-SAMA award-winning rapper and alongside Ill Skillz represent fresh and youthful South African voices. There is a huge focus on African roots and rhythms on the festival line-up this year. Pietermaritzburg born saxophonist Steve Dyer has been on the South African music scene for some time but he has constantly evolved musically. His latest project Ubuntu Music will be released as an album this year and performed at the festival for the first time. His band features pianist Bokani Dyer, bassist Shaun Johannes, trumpeter LwandaGogwana and drummer Andre Swartz.  In a similar vein, South African bassist HerbieTsoaeli, who has performed with some of S.A’s greatest jazz musicians, will be presenting his long-awaited debut album African Time. Harmonica player Adam Glasser has spent significant time between South Africa and the United Kingdom, collaborating with major artists from both countries such as DuduPukwana and Toots Thielemens. Glasser will present his latest album Mzansi at the festival. Cape Town based saxophonist Victor Kula grew up in Rylands and now resides in Gugulethu. He has kept his musical associations proudly local and is greatly influenced by the late Winston ‘Mankunku’ Ngozi. Hassan’adas led by percussionist John Hassan experiments with Marrabenta and African jive rhythms Old school glitz and glamour diva Sophia Foster, one of S.A’s sisters of song also joins the line-up. Another kind of diva, ex-fashion stylist LindiweSuttle initiated her career as a vocalist with RusNerwich and The Collective Imagination in 2008. Now Suttle has returned from Berlin with a more electronic focus on her debut album Kamikaze Art courtesy of engineer Dave Kutch whose previous work includes Al Green and Alicia Keys. ZakesBantwini has himself confessed that his live performance launches a wilder alter-ego, “ZakheleMadida (his real name) is actually a shy guy and a bit reserved. When I ‘m on stage I am in a trance and the ZakesBantwini character takes over. He just comes out.” Bantwini is one of the few South African artists who has managed to cross the boundary of afro-house and live jazz. Radio personality, Idols judge, singer and songwriter Unathi will also perform at the festival. Fans can expect new material from Unathi since she recently released her third album With Love. As previously announced, the rest of the line-up for 2012 is completed by the following artists: James Ingram (USA), Dave Koz with special guest Patti Austin (USA), Mike Stern with special guest Dave Weckl (USA), Virtual Jazz Reality (SA), Brubecks play Brubeck (USA/SA), Ron Carter, Donald Harrison  and  Lenny White (USA), Andre Petersen Quintet (SA), Atmosphere (USA), Jean Grae (USA), Goodluck (SA), Zamajobe (SA), Zahara (SA), The Jason Reolon Trio (SA), David Sanchez with special guest Lionel Loueke (Puerto Rico/Benin), The Moreira Project (Mozambique) and Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band (SA). A massive affirmation regarding the artistic and cultural importance of the jazz festival was President Jacob Zuma’s mention of the festival in his State of the Nation speech last year. Over 34 000 tourists are attracted to the festival annually. Mr Paul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture comments on the relevance of the festival, “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival does not only expose audiences to a wide array of the best international and local music, the event also contributes to providing a larger skills base in the creative sector which helps in sustaining the creative industries in South Africa.” Aside from contributing a significant amount to South Africa’s economic and tourism industries, young journalists are nurtured in the annual Arts Journalism Program led by jazz critic Gwen Ansell. Developmental programs where students and professionals are paired is key to the festivals outlook. Each year the festival provides a series of workshops which run over eight days aimed at developing methods and transferring skills in terms of music and business. Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape comments, “Musical talent is vital to the success of these kinds of events, and music development programmes for the youth, such as those funded by the Western Cape Government, are the perfect platform to grow and nurture talent.” Celebrating not only musical creativity, but visual creativity too, The Duotone Photographic Exhibition is another annual fixture of the festival. Every year it commemorates prolific jazz photography. One of the most exciting elements to the festival is the annual free Community Concert which brings thousands together in the centre of Cape Town on Green Market Square. This year the concert will take place on March 28th, the Wednesday preceding the festival. The line-up is usually a teaser of some of the local and international acts that will feature at the festival. The festival has over the years garnered huge provincial support from the Western Cape. Minister Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism for the Western Cape comments, “The Western Cape Government is pleased to be associated with an event of this calibre that draws artists from across the globe and we look forward to yet another spectacular show.” Patricia De Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town echoes this sentiment, “This musical celebration epitomises what this administration aims to do in building an inclusive city by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds throughout the city and the rest of the country to enjoy the musical talents of local artists and renowned international superstars. The City will continue to support this festival to promote the heritage of jazz music and ensure that it continues to attract large crowds.” Share on Facebook Tweet

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Cape Town Jazz Festival unveils 2012 music gems

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/cape-town-jazz-festival-unveils-2012-music-gems/feed/ 0 Skyscanner reveals new website design http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/skyscanner-reveals-new-website-design/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/skyscanner-reveals-new-website-design/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:22:00 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/skyscanner-reveals-new-website-design/ Leading travel search site Skyscanner has unveiled a dramatic new redesign, rolling out the new look simultaneously across all platforms and markets in 29 languages. “The launch date was only decided back in November and we have been flat out with the re-design since then,” said marketing director Frank Skivington. He explained the drive behind the new look and feel for the site: “We are very focused on design at Skyscanner, but probably with more emphasis on making the product as good as it can be – giving travellers a comprehensive one stop search site for flights, hotels and car hire and bringing clever new features and brilliant functionality to our users as fast as possible. “The constant evolution and expansion of the site also means we are dealing with a moving target when it comes to design. And of course we also have the challenge of localising the brand for our many international sites, from Russian to Korean, so it has been an interesting project, to say the least!” The new design has been developed with the aim of concentrating on the Skyscanner ethos of delivering a brilliant core offering, while keeping the interface simple, beautiful, fast and functional. One of the objectives for the project was to reflect best practices in design for usability as well as look good, so customer testing and feedback sessions were built in to the redesign process. “We’ve tried to make all these very popular elements easier to find and use, as well as paving the way for some very exciting new features and search options that will be launched later in the year,” concluded Skivington. Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Leading travel search site Skyscanner has unveiled a dramatic new redesign, rolling out the new look simultaneously across all platforms and markets in 29 languages. “The launch date was only decided back in November and we have been flat out with the re-design since then,” said marketing director Frank Skivington. He explained the drive behind the new look and feel for the site: “We are very focused on design at Skyscanner, but probably with more emphasis on making the product as good as it can be – giving travellers a comprehensive one stop search site for flights, hotels and car hire and bringing clever new features and brilliant functionality to our users as fast as possible. “The constant evolution and expansion of the site also means we are dealing with a moving target when it comes to design. And of course we also have the challenge of localising the brand for our many international sites, from Russian to Korean, so it has been an interesting project, to say the least!” The new design has been developed with the aim of concentrating on the Skyscanner ethos of delivering a brilliant core offering, while keeping the interface simple, beautiful, fast and functional. One of the objectives for the project was to reflect best practices in design for usability as well as look good, so customer testing and feedback sessions were built in to the redesign process. “We’ve tried to make all these very popular elements easier to find and use, as well as paving the way for some very exciting new features and search options that will be launched later in the year,” concluded Skivington. Share on Facebook Tweet

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Skyscanner reveals new website design

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/skyscanner-reveals-new-website-design/feed/ 0 Heathrow Express set for strike action http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/heathrow-express-set-for-strike-action/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/heathrow-express-set-for-strike-action/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:16:15 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/heathrow-express-set-for-strike-action/ Passengers travelling to Heathrow are likely to see journeys disrupted as staff prepare to walk out as part of an industrial dispute. Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union are preparing for two 24-hour strikes on February 26th and March 11th. The strikes are in relation to two separate disciplinary disputes. Up to 250 workers involved in the disputes will also refuse to work any additional hours for 48 hours from 03:00 on March 3rd. The action is in support of a sacked driver and in protest against the suspension of a union activist. In a statement RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Instead of using the period between the ballot result and the announcement of industrial action to negotiate a settlement, Heathrow Express have instead opted to ratchet up their attacks in an act of blatant provocation.” Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> Passengers travelling to Heathrow are likely to see journeys disrupted as staff prepare to walk out as part of an industrial dispute. Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union are preparing for two 24-hour strikes on February 26th and March 11th. The strikes are in relation to two separate disciplinary disputes. Up to 250 workers involved in the disputes will also refuse to work any additional hours for 48 hours from 03:00 on March 3rd. The action is in support of a sacked driver and in protest against the suspension of a union activist. In a statement RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Instead of using the period between the ballot result and the announcement of industrial action to negotiate a settlement, Heathrow Express have instead opted to ratchet up their attacks in an act of blatant provocation.” Share on Facebook Tweet

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Heathrow Express set for strike action

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/heathrow-express-set-for-strike-action/feed/ 0 Dhaka: The fastest growing megacity in the world http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/dhaka-the-fastest-growing-megacity-in-the-world/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/dhaka-the-fastest-growing-megacity-in-the-world/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:32:41 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/dhaka-the-fastest-growing-megacity-in-the-world/ DHAKA, Bangladesh — The future is here, and it smells like burning trash. As the evening call to prayer echoes across Dhaka’s teeming slums, a bluish haze rises in the murky air. Cooking happens mostly on open fires in the shantytowns of the Bangladeshi capital, the flames kindled with paper, scavenged lumber and bits of plastic junk. On a recent evening in a broken labyrinth of shacks called the Korail slum, a wiry young mother in a red sari stooped to light the clay hearth outside her family’s one-room home. Mina, 24, touched her match to a castoff vinyl folder, three-hole-punched for documents she’ll never read. “I don’t like to live in Dhaka,” she said, fanning the smoking plastic, then laying splintered bamboo on top. “But we have a dream to buy a piece of land, some land back in our village.” Mina, who uses only one name, followed her husband here in 2009 — joining the nearly half-million migrants who pour into Dhaka each year. It’s not clear how soon, if ever, they’ll leave. Mina’s husband saves only a few dollars each month from his job selling fish. Mina, meanwhile, cares for their two children and, like millions of other women here, fires up the family’s nightly meal. The smoke from these fires signals not a return to a prior age but, rather, the dawn of something new. Depending on how one measures, the planet now boasts 20 or so megacities — urban agglomerations where the United Nations estimates the population has reached 10 million or more. The world’s rapid urbanization is a reality fraught with both peril and hope. The peril is obvious. Overcrowding, pollution, poverty, impossible demands for energy and water all result in an overwhelming sense these megacities will simply collapse. But the hope, while less obvious, needs more attention. The potential efficiencies of urban living, the access to health care and jobs, along with plummeting urban birth rates have all convinced some environmental theorists the migration to cities may in fact save the planet. But only, these experts hasten to add, if this shift is well managed. Among these megacities, The World Bank says Dhaka, with its current population of 15 million people, bears the distinction of being the fastest-growing in the world. Between 1990 and 2005, the city doubled in size — from 6 to 12 million. By 2025, the U.N. predicts Dhaka will be home to more than 20 million people — larger than Mexico City, Beijing or Shanghai. Mass migration, booming populations and globalized trade are swelling cities worldwide, but these forces are perhaps more powerfully concentrated in Dhaka than anywhere on earth — offering a unique window on an urban planet soon to come. “You are seeing the early future of the world, which is not a very pleasant thought,” said Atiq Rahman, a Dhaka climate and migration researcher who heads the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. Explosive growth in cities like Dhaka, he said, has created “a cluster of demographic chaos.” The earth’s countryside is emptying out, more quickly all the time. It took about 10,000 years for the human population to become 3 percent urban — a period extending roughly from the dawn of human settlement until 1800. A century later, Earth was still just 14 percent urban. But in 2007, the United Nations announced we’d crossed a monumental threshold. For the first time, more than 50 percent of the world lived in cities rather than rural villages and farms. By 2030, some projections say more than 80 percent of humanity will be urban, with many inhabiting the slum-choked cities of the developing world. Share on Facebook Tweet ]]> DHAKA, Bangladesh — The future is here, and it smells like burning trash. As the evening call to prayer echoes across Dhaka’s teeming slums, a bluish haze rises in the murky air. Cooking happens mostly on open fires in the shantytowns of the Bangladeshi capital, the flames kindled with paper, scavenged lumber and bits of plastic junk. On a recent evening in a broken labyrinth of shacks called the Korail slum, a wiry young mother in a red sari stooped to light the clay hearth outside her family’s one-room home. Mina, 24, touched her match to a castoff vinyl folder, three-hole-punched for documents she’ll never read. “I don’t like to live in Dhaka,” she said, fanning the smoking plastic, then laying splintered bamboo on top. “But we have a dream to buy a piece of land, some land back in our village.” Mina, who uses only one name, followed her husband here in 2009 — joining the nearly half-million migrants who pour into Dhaka each year. It’s not clear how soon, if ever, they’ll leave. Mina’s husband saves only a few dollars each month from his job selling fish. Mina, meanwhile, cares for their two children and, like millions of other women here, fires up the family’s nightly meal. The smoke from these fires signals not a return to a prior age but, rather, the dawn of something new. Depending on how one measures, the planet now boasts 20 or so megacities — urban agglomerations where the United Nations estimates the population has reached 10 million or more. The world’s rapid urbanization is a reality fraught with both peril and hope. The peril is obvious. Overcrowding, pollution, poverty, impossible demands for energy and water all result in an overwhelming sense these megacities will simply collapse. But the hope, while less obvious, needs more attention. The potential efficiencies of urban living, the access to health care and jobs, along with plummeting urban birth rates have all convinced some environmental theorists the migration to cities may in fact save the planet. But only, these experts hasten to add, if this shift is well managed. Among these megacities, The World Bank says Dhaka, with its current population of 15 million people, bears the distinction of being the fastest-growing in the world. Between 1990 and 2005, the city doubled in size — from 6 to 12 million. By 2025, the U.N. predicts Dhaka will be home to more than 20 million people — larger than Mexico City, Beijing or Shanghai. Mass migration, booming populations and globalized trade are swelling cities worldwide, but these forces are perhaps more powerfully concentrated in Dhaka than anywhere on earth — offering a unique window on an urban planet soon to come. “You are seeing the early future of the world, which is not a very pleasant thought,” said Atiq Rahman, a Dhaka climate and migration researcher who heads the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. Explosive growth in cities like Dhaka, he said, has created “a cluster of demographic chaos.” The earth’s countryside is emptying out, more quickly all the time. It took about 10,000 years for the human population to become 3 percent urban — a period extending roughly from the dawn of human settlement until 1800. A century later, Earth was still just 14 percent urban. But in 2007, the United Nations announced we’d crossed a monumental threshold. For the first time, more than 50 percent of the world lived in cities rather than rural villages and farms. By 2030, some projections say more than 80 percent of humanity will be urban, with many inhabiting the slum-choked cities of the developing world. Share on Facebook Tweet

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Dhaka: The fastest growing megacity in the world

]]> http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/dhaka-the-fastest-growing-megacity-in-the-world/feed/ 0 Ape to Man – History Channel http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/ape-to-man-history-channel/ http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/tripsideways/ape-to-man-history-channel/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:46:24 +0000 admin http://www.ebooktravelguides.com/ebooks/ape-to-man-history-channel/ It has long been considered the most compelling question in our history: Where do human beings come from? Although life has existed for millions of years, only in the past century-and-a-half have we begun to use science to explore the ancestral roots of our own species. The search for the ultimate answer has taken a number of twists and turns, with careers made and broken along the way. APE TO MAN is the story of the quest to find the origins of the human race – a quest that spanned more than 150 years of obsessive searching The search for the origins of humanity is a story of bones and the tales they tell. It was in 1856 that the first bones of an extinct human ancestor were encountered, unearthed by a crew of unskilled laborers digging for limestone in Western Europe. The find, which would be known as Neanderthal Man, was seeing the light of day for the first time in more than 40,000 years. At the time, the concept of a previous human species was virtually unthinkable. Yet just a few years later, Charles Darwin’s work The Origin of Species first broached the subject of evolution, and by the end of the nineteenth century, it had become the hottest topic of the age. Adventurers had embarked on the search for the Missing Link, the single creature that represented the evolutionary leap from apes to humans. APE TO MAN examines the major discoveries that have led us to the understanding we have today, including theories that never gained full acceptance in their time, an elaborate hoax that confused the scientific community for years, and the ultimate understanding of the key elements that separate man from apes. ]]> It has long been considered the most compelling question in our history: Where do human beings come from? Although life has existed for millions of years, only in the past century-and-a-half have we begun to use science to explore the ancestral roots of our own species. The search for the ultimate answer has taken a number of twists and turns, with careers made and broken along the way. APE TO MAN is the story of the quest to find the origins of the human race – a quest that spanned more than 150 years of obsessive searching The search for the origins of humanity is a story of bones and the tales they tell. It was in 1856 that the first bones of an extinct human ancestor were encountered, unearthed by a crew of unskilled laborers digging for limestone in Western Europe. The find, which would be known as Neanderthal Man, was seeing the light of day for the first time in more than 40,000 years. At the time, the concept of a previous human species was virtually unthinkable. Yet just a few years later, Charles Darwin’s work The Origin of Species first broached the subject of evolution, and by the end of the nineteenth century, it had become the hottest topic of the age. Adventurers had embarked on the search for the Missing Link, the single creature that represented the evolutionary leap from apes to humans. APE TO MAN examines the major discoveries that have led us to the understanding we have today, including theories that never gained full acceptance in their time, an elaborate hoax that confused the scientific community for years, and the ultimate understanding of the key elements that separate man from apes.

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