Sunday, January 25, 2009
Happy Republic Day India!
Happy 60th Republic Day India!!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Reality Tour Has a New Destination
With the release of the much talked about the British film Slumdog Millionaire, a new destination has been added in the list of reality India tour. Travelers coming to visit India are now visiting the Dharavi, Asia’a biggets slum in Mumbai. Westerners are now shunning the splendid beaches of Goa and royal forts and palaces of Rajasthan for the slums of Mumbai.
The Dharavi expedition has now become part of reality tours and is gaining immense popularity among the tourists. Advocates say that the Dharavi excursions help to illuminate the slum’s qualities and benefit their inhabitants. But are we really concerned about the betterment of inhabitants of these slums or just cashing on the new craze.
Think about it…….
The Dharavi expedition has now become part of reality tours and is gaining immense popularity among the tourists. Advocates say that the Dharavi excursions help to illuminate the slum’s qualities and benefit their inhabitants. But are we really concerned about the betterment of inhabitants of these slums or just cashing on the new craze.
Think about it…….
Monday, January 19, 2009
India will run super-fast bullet trains
Enthused by an exhilarating ride on a Japanese high-speed train last week during his visit to Japan, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Monday said India would soon have similar bullet trains on selective routes and that his ministry would start scouting for global consultants.
"The day is not far off when the bullet train will run in the country," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.
"The railways ministry will be appointing global consultants for introducing the high-speed trains in India," he said, adding that his ministry has begun examining the feasibility of the train and possible routes.
These routes will include the Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Patna corridors.
Lalu Prasad, who travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto on Japan's famed Shinkansen high-speed train last week, announced his plans in Singapore on Saturday that he would introduce bullet trains to link major metropolitan cities in India.
"Such bullet trains can link city to city. Very soon we shall be inviting global tenders for pre-feasibility studies and I plan to place the proposal before parliament," Lalu Prasad had said at Singapore's prestigious Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
"The day is not far off when the bullet train will run in the country," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.
"The railways ministry will be appointing global consultants for introducing the high-speed trains in India," he said, adding that his ministry has begun examining the feasibility of the train and possible routes.
These routes will include the Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Patna corridors.
Lalu Prasad, who travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto on Japan's famed Shinkansen high-speed train last week, announced his plans in Singapore on Saturday that he would introduce bullet trains to link major metropolitan cities in India.
"Such bullet trains can link city to city. Very soon we shall be inviting global tenders for pre-feasibility studies and I plan to place the proposal before parliament," Lalu Prasad had said at Singapore's prestigious Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Read full story here
Hamas says 48 fighters slain in Israel
Hamas says it lost 48 fighters during Israel's latest offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The claim in the militant group's first statement on its losses is far below the hundreds of militants that Israel says it killed.
It was impossible to verify the figures released by Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida. The Health Ministry says more than 1,200 Palestinians died in the fighting, more than half of them civilians. But the Hamas-run ministry has not released a full list of the dead.
The claim in the militant group's first statement on its losses is far below the hundreds of militants that Israel says it killed.
It was impossible to verify the figures released by Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida. The Health Ministry says more than 1,200 Palestinians died in the fighting, more than half of them civilians. But the Hamas-run ministry has not released a full list of the dead.
Read full story here
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Changing travel, one tweet at a time
Microblogging travelers break news well ahead of mainstream media
"There’s a plane in the Hudson. I’m on the ferry going to pick up the people."
Those words, hastily typed on Janis Krums’ iPhone just after US Airways flight 1549 crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, marked yet another milestone in the microblogging revolution. Krums, a Sarasota, Fla., entrepreneur, posted his observations and a compelling photo of a half-submerged aircraft to Twitter, where it was seen by hundreds of people before any other media organization knew about the accident.
Twitter and related sites such as BrightKite have been breaking news since they’ve been around. They’ve offered first-hand accounts of events such as the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Virginia Tech shootings and California’s wildfires.
Before Krums scooped the New York media on the biggest news story of the year so far, there was Mike Wilson, aka "2drinksbehind", who twittered his observations after his Continental Airlines flight slid off the runway and burst into flames in Denver last month.
Those words, hastily typed on Janis Krums’ iPhone just after US Airways flight 1549 crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, marked yet another milestone in the microblogging revolution. Krums, a Sarasota, Fla., entrepreneur, posted his observations and a compelling photo of a half-submerged aircraft to Twitter, where it was seen by hundreds of people before any other media organization knew about the accident.
Twitter and related sites such as BrightKite have been breaking news since they’ve been around. They’ve offered first-hand accounts of events such as the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Virginia Tech shootings and California’s wildfires.
Before Krums scooped the New York media on the biggest news story of the year so far, there was Mike Wilson, aka "2drinksbehind", who twittered his observations after his Continental Airlines flight slid off the runway and burst into flames in Denver last month.
Read full story here
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
U.S. picks 2 potential World Heritage sites
Nominees range from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to Mount Vernon
Have you heard about the U.S.’s two new nominations to the World Heritage List?
One is set amid the suburbs of Washington, D.C.; the other encompasses nearly 140,000 square miles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. One gets more than 1 million visitors a year; the other rarely sees more than 16 a day. And while most sixth-graders know the story of the former, I can’t even say the name of the latter without phonetic assistance.
One is set amid the suburbs of Washington, D.C.; the other encompasses nearly 140,000 square miles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. One gets more than 1 million visitors a year; the other rarely sees more than 16 a day. And while most sixth-graders know the story of the former, I can’t even say the name of the latter without phonetic assistance.
Read full story here
Kerala Backwater Tour – Simple Majestic
Kerala, God’s own country, offers numerous attractions to the tourists that are worth visiting and enjoying. Kerala backwaters are one such attraction which forms an integral part of Kerala tour packages. These backwaters are reservoirs of natural beauty and unmatched splendor. Other attractions offered by the state are the exotic beaches, spectacular monuments, beautiful natural creations, landscapes, flora and fauna and the temples.
Kerala has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world such as Kovalam beach and Varkala beach. Kerala backwaters are also very famous and popular and the backwater tours are gaining immense popularity because of the beautiful and scenic water bodies like lakes, lagoons, canals, channels, rivers and inlets. The backwaters of Kerala are very peaceful places. While on a backwater tour, you can enjoy rich flora and fauna of the God’s own country. In fact, backwaters are the perfect example of excellent eco-tourism.
To explore and enjoy your backwater tour in God’s own country, one of the most preferred ways can be houseboats. You can enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful backwater destinations to the fullest with a houseboat tour. These houseboats are traditionally known as Kettuvallams. A well organized and well planned Kerala and India tour package provides wonderful opportunity to see the exceptional beauty and charm of nature by close. This is truly a great feast for your eyes. You can also enjoy several eye-catching attractions like views of lush green paddy fields, daily life at traditional villages, beautiful groves of palm coconut trees, water birds, water flowers etc.
Kerala tour packages for backwater tours are arranged to a number of destinations like Alappuzha, Kamarakom, Kuttanad, Malapuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kollam, Kassarkod, Kochi and Trivendram. Among all, Alappuzha is regarded and believed as the best backwater destinations of India. Tourists can be sure of an unforgettable experience taking back memories to be cherished for the whole life, when they undertake a Kerala backwater tour.
To enjoy a Kerala backwater tour, visit site to get more information on Kerala tour packages , flights to Kerala and hotels in Kerala
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Obama's 'Hope' portrait goes to Smithsonian
Even before he takes office, President-elect Barack Obama's image will become part of the permanent collection at the National Portrait Gallery, the museum announced Wednesday.
The gallery acquired the iconic red, white and blue collage by Los Angeles street artist Shepard Fairey, depicting Obama with the word "Hope." The image — later modified with the messages of "Change" and "Vote" for the Obama campaign — became one of the most memorable images from the 2008 election. The curators at the Smithsonian Institution museum plan to hang it by Inauguration day.
The gallery acquired the iconic red, white and blue collage by Los Angeles street artist Shepard Fairey, depicting Obama with the word "Hope." The image — later modified with the messages of "Change" and "Vote" for the Obama campaign — became one of the most memorable images from the 2008 election. The curators at the Smithsonian Institution museum plan to hang it by Inauguration day.
Man allegedly threatens to bomb L.A.-bound jet
A man who claimed to have a bomb aboard a Los Angeles-bound jetliner and was then tackled and bound by other passengers will not face federal charges, the FBI said Wednesday.
No bomb was found aboard the Delta Air Lines Flight 110 from Atlanta, and after questioning by the FBI and airport police, federal investigators had decided not to pursue charges, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
She said they also concluded the man should undergo a psychological evaluation.
No bomb was found aboard the Delta Air Lines Flight 110 from Atlanta, and after questioning by the FBI and airport police, federal investigators had decided not to pursue charges, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
She said they also concluded the man should undergo a psychological evaluation.
Read full story here
Sunday, January 4, 2009
FAA reaches settlement with whistle-blower
The Federal Aviation Administration has reached a settlement with an air traffic controller who said he was retaliated against for warning that a takeoff and landing procedure in Memphis, Tennessee, had led to near midair collisions.
The FAA agreed Dec. 4 to return Peter Nesbitt to air traffic control duties and transfer him to Austin, Texas, at the same salary, and to pay his relocation and legal expenses, said Leslie Williamson, a spokeswoman for the Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that investigates whistle-blower complaints.
Nesbitt, who has more than 20 years experience as a controller, had asked to return to the control tower at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where he worked prior to the Memphis International Airport control tower.
The FAA agreed Dec. 4 to return Peter Nesbitt to air traffic control duties and transfer him to Austin, Texas, at the same salary, and to pay his relocation and legal expenses, said Leslie Williamson, a spokeswoman for the Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that investigates whistle-blower complaints.
Nesbitt, who has more than 20 years experience as a controller, had asked to return to the control tower at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where he worked prior to the Memphis International Airport control tower.
Read full story here
Heavenly Ski Resort: Powder and pines
The wind was howling, the temperature plunging and snow was coming down so fast that a four-minute ride on a high-speed chairlift at Lake Tahoe's resort left me and a friend looking like abominable snowmen.
As we neared the top of the lift, I asked, "Trees?"
"Yeah," he replied.
On a day like that, trees are the best place to go. Giant pines can shield the skier from the wind and snow.
With about two feet of fresh powder, it was hard to go fast, but if we did fall, we'd have a soft landing. Plus, the open trails were whiteout conditions with visibility extending maybe 15 feet.
I wouldn't suggest that a beginner try skiing amid the trees, but if you're an intermediate, Heavenly resort offers great tree runs plus plenty of other challenges — from moguls to steeps and manageable off-piste runs. It's the kind of place where you can have something to brag about at the end of the day, no matter what level your skill.
At its heart, Heavenly is the best resort I've ever seen for the intermediate skier. Many mountains offer a bunch of easy slopes and a few intermediate ones to bridge the gap to the hair-raising advanced and expert runs. But I've found that mountains with a lot of intermediate terrain often drop the ball on providing varied terrain that will challenge you without pushing too far.
Read full story here
Friday, January 2, 2009
Down, not out: encouraging signs for ‘09
Gas at $1.65 per gallon. Cruises for $50 a day (or less). And hotels that are throwing in everything from complimentary breakfast to discount massages. Will 2009 turn out to be the best travel year ever — or will the miserable economy have us all hiding beneath our beds with what little money we managed to get under the mattress before it all went to hell?
Beats me, although after talking to industry analysts and other observers, I’m taking my cues from those economists who see a possible recovery starting by the middle of the year. If that’s the case, a rebound in consumer confidence — and, by extension, people’s willingness to travel — is bound to follow.
In the meantime, those who do travel will find both bargains and bumps along the way. If you’re among them, the following will likely determine whether you experience more of the former or the latter.
Beats me, although after talking to industry analysts and other observers, I’m taking my cues from those economists who see a possible recovery starting by the middle of the year. If that’s the case, a rebound in consumer confidence — and, by extension, people’s willingness to travel — is bound to follow.
In the meantime, those who do travel will find both bargains and bumps along the way. If you’re among them, the following will likely determine whether you experience more of the former or the latter.
Read full story here
29 places to go in 2009
When our editors got into a room to hash out our top 29 travel picks for 2009, we realized just how much the economic, social, and political changes of 2008 have sculpted the travel landscape for the coming year.
The rising cost of air travel, the global economic crisis, and the fluctuating dollar made once-popular destinations in Europe out of reach for many of us. New hotspots, like South America, emerged, as their exchange rates offered visitors more bang for their buck. Heightened interest in “going green” meant more focus on eco-friendly tourism and great-outdoors vacations than ever before. And let’s not forget the historic presidential election of Barack Obama, which has sparked Washington, D.C.’s massive resurgence as a tourism destination.
Underpinning all of this, however, is a renewed emphasis on great-value vacations — something we at ShermansTravel know all about. Our editors brought their dollar-savvy expertise and collective travel mileage to the office globe to cast a wide net of 29 places to go in 2009, nearly all of which offer a good degree of affordability in addition to unique, memorable travel experiences.
While we haven’t left a worldwide stone unturned in our quest for the best of 2009, we’ve also devoted more coverage than usual to close-to-home getaways right here in the United States, so that you can forego airfare altogether in favor of quick road trips or hitting the rails instead. Indeed, one of the best deals going these days is Amtrak’s great-value USA Rail Pass, whose benefits have only recently been made available to U.S. citizens.
So remember: While you may have less travel budget in 2009, there are still plenty of places to discover that won’t break the bank. Get out and explore these 29 places before the crowds do ... in 2010.
United States & Canada
1. Atlanta
A modern, cosmopolitan destination with well-maintained historical roots (M.L.K. was born here), this Southern belle of a city can charm even the most jaded of visitors with its grade-A Southern hospitality, impressive arts and music scene, and plethora of attractions. Catch a sporting event, tour historical landmarks dating from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, visit the world’s largest aquarium, get behind the scenes at the Coca-Cola factory or CNN Studios, or kick up your adrenaline a notch at an area theme park.
Why go in 2009: Atlanta’s art and hotel scenes are getting ready to explode. Plan a visit for two blockbuster exhibitions on King Tut and the Terracotta Army, on display well into spring —it’s the first time these two exhibits have simultaneously showed in one city. Even the French are taking notice of Atlanta: The High Museum of Art’s “The Louvre and the Masterpiece” exhibit is set to showcase on-loan Louvre masterpieces until early September.
On the hotel front, two more W hotels are joining the cityscape, crowning Atlanta as the city with the most W Hotels after New York, while a new Hotel Palomar (www.hotelpalomar-atlanta.com) and St. Regis (www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/index.html) are on the radar for the coming calendar year.
2. Austin
Austin’s superlative live music scene may have made the city famous, but this hip Texas capital city’s quirky charm extends far beyond its melodic beats. Largely enriched by the dynamic energy of the homegrown University of Texas, Austin boasts the Lone Star State’s best cultural offerings, with numerous galleries, museums, and music venues (more than 100 in all!) alongside some more unexpected attractions — like the summer congregation of some million bats by the Congress Avenue Bridge — without sacrificing its appealing small-town feel. Combine that with more than 300 sunshine-filled days a year, and it’s little wonder that Austin’s consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the U.S.
Why go in 2009: Sure, traveling abroad can be a pricey venture in these trying economic times, but who says you need to leave America to escape it? Austin, whose unofficial motto is “Keep Austin Weird,” offers the American traveler a rare U.S. city vacation destination that’s devoid of the cookie-cutter commercial strips found nearly everywhere else — in fact, all chain and big-box stores (think McDonald's and Walmart) are pleasantly absent from the downtown area, giving way to hundreds of sensational local businesses that can only be experienced in Austin. What's more, some exciting new music festivals are slated for autumn 2009: Look for the Texas Wine & Song Festival (www.texaswineandsong.com) in October and the punk and indie rock Fun Fun Fun Fest (www.funfunfunfest.com) in November.
3. Bucks County
Immediately north of Philadelphia and across the Delaware River from New Jersey, rustic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a quaint countryside retreat known for charming B&Bs, country inns, covered bridges, serene vineyards, and beautiful colonial estates.
Read full story here
In times of economic meltdown, tourists pack into Mount Abu
In times of global meltdown, when the tourism industry in the country has been badly hit, here is some good news - the hill station of Mount Abu in Rajasthan is choc-a-bloc, with more than 45,000 tourists camping there to usher in the New Year, officials said Wednesday.
Though the administration admits that there are no rooms available in the hill town, they have been wooing tourists with a three-day festival which began Monday.
"The festival was to attract tourists with events like skating, mehndi and rangoli competitions, with majority of tourists coming from Gujarat," Sumita Saroj, deputy director of Rajasthan Tourism, told IANS on phone.
However, even before the administration launched the festival, hotels in the hill station were already packed, officials sources said.
According to J. Alamgir, chairman of the muncipality, more than 44,000 tourists have already arrived in Mount Abu.
"From Dec 25 there has been heavy influx of tourists that touched nearly 45,000," said Sanjay Singhal, secretary, Hotel Owners Association (HOA), Mount Abu.
The general manager of Hotel Hillock Vijay S. Khanna told IANS Wednesday that since the last 10 days his hotel, like others in Mount Abu, has been packed.
"This mammoth crowd is usual every year. After Jan 1 everything will be normal as most of the New Year party-goers would have left," Khanna said.
"The HOA has 6,000 rooms and all of them are occupied. There is not a single paying guest facility available," Singhal said.
"Tomorrow (Thursday) I expect a drop of 50 percent in tourist traffic," Singhal added.
He said that 1.6 million tourists visited Mount Abu in 2008.
With heavy influx of tourists, this highest point in the Aravali range, at 5,742 feet, has also seen unprecedented security.
Read full story here
Though the administration admits that there are no rooms available in the hill town, they have been wooing tourists with a three-day festival which began Monday.
"The festival was to attract tourists with events like skating, mehndi and rangoli competitions, with majority of tourists coming from Gujarat," Sumita Saroj, deputy director of Rajasthan Tourism, told IANS on phone.
However, even before the administration launched the festival, hotels in the hill station were already packed, officials sources said.
According to J. Alamgir, chairman of the muncipality, more than 44,000 tourists have already arrived in Mount Abu.
"From Dec 25 there has been heavy influx of tourists that touched nearly 45,000," said Sanjay Singhal, secretary, Hotel Owners Association (HOA), Mount Abu.
The general manager of Hotel Hillock Vijay S. Khanna told IANS Wednesday that since the last 10 days his hotel, like others in Mount Abu, has been packed.
"This mammoth crowd is usual every year. After Jan 1 everything will be normal as most of the New Year party-goers would have left," Khanna said.
"The HOA has 6,000 rooms and all of them are occupied. There is not a single paying guest facility available," Singhal said.
"Tomorrow (Thursday) I expect a drop of 50 percent in tourist traffic," Singhal added.
He said that 1.6 million tourists visited Mount Abu in 2008.
With heavy influx of tourists, this highest point in the Aravali range, at 5,742 feet, has also seen unprecedented security.
Read full story here