Continental flight 3407
A continental flight 3407 crash in a house while entering for a landing, causing a burning explosion which killed on board each of the 48 people and a person on the ground, a civil servant who help from crash location declared Friday about continental flight status. It was the first fatal accident of an airlines commercial in the United States in 2 years of 1/2. Perhaps somebody can explain more about what happen at flight 3407.
Travel to Washington DC at 2009 Inauguration
Here some tips for you, if you would to travel to Washington DC at 2009 inauguration. I believe you wanna take care your self for that moment.
Confirm Your Hotel: If you have a hotel reservation, call the hotel directly to confirm it. If you’re still looking for a hotel room for yourself or for a group, call 1-800-422-8644 where local tourism experts can refer you directly to hotels with availability. Destination DC has located at least 750 hotel rooms that are still available within the city, plus more than 15,000 hotel rooms within 200 miles of the inauguration action.
Make Your Metro Plans: Be prepared to wait an hour or more before you board the train. You can save a step inside the station by pre-purchasing your fare cards online. Every rider needs his or her own card; up to two children under age 5 can ride free with a paying adult. The Metro parking lot at the Minnesota Avenue station will be restricted for use by Metro employees only. Parking at all other stations is $4 per day, cash only. Some stations downtown including the Smithsonian stop will be closed on 1/20; other stations may be exit/entrance only depending on the time of day. Metro will operate until 2 AM on the 19th and from 4 AM to 2 AM on the 20th. For more information, to purchase fare cards and to check on station closings and changes in operation, visit wmata.com.
Reserve Your Train Ticket: If you are taking the train to DC, plan ahead. Amtrak is adding service along the Northeast Corridor on Jan. 20, but trains will require reservations and tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. Reservations are also required on MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Plan to arrive at the station no earlier than one hour prior to departure time, and be sure to pick up your roundtrip tickets before boarding the train.
Choose Your Celebration: Along with the ten official balls, there are dozens of unofficial celebrations at venues throughout the region, like the Lincoln 2.0 Inaugural Ball at the breathtaking Smithsonian American Art Museum on Sun., Jan. 18, where Lincoln’s own inaugural ball took place, plus links to sites where you can learn more about the official events.
Get Travel Tips & Insider Advice: Need some help organizing your visit? Need recommendations on a good meeting point for your group? Contact Destination DC at 1-800-422-8644 or visit this site to request a copy of the Official Visitors Guide, Official Visitors Map or to get advice from a local travel expert. You’ll also find insider tips, sample itineraries, information about African-American history and a list of 44 free and affordable things to do in DC during inauguration and a rundown of restaurants serving up special inauguration-themed menu items.
Dress the Part: January temperatures average around 40 degrees in DC; early forecasts call for temperatures in the mid- to high 30s. Be sure to wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes fit for walking. If you’re holding tickets to the swearing-in or are planning to stand along the parade route, you’ll also want to review the list of prohibited items on inaugural.senate.gov. You can also pick stock up on souvenir inauguration-themed apparel before you arrive by visiting zazzle.com/Washingtondc (products ship in 24 hours).
Special Checklist Tips for Travelers Arriving by Bus or Motorcoach
Make Sure Your Motorcoach Has a Permit: If you’re planning to bring a group to DC by bus or motorcoach on Inauguration Day, make sure you’ve applied for a permit. All coaches traveling to DC on Inauguration Day must have a permit from the DC Department of Transportation, and applications for permits must be submitted by January 15. More information is available at inauguration.dc.gov/bus.asp.
Make Sure You Have a Motorcoach Parking Plan: Once you’ve secured your permit, you’ll need to register to park at RFK Stadium and other designated locations by visiting 2009inauguration.clickandpark.com. Because of the high level of Metro ridership expected on Inauguration Day, buses will not be allowed to drop passengers at Metrorail stations without registering in advance.
source: http://www.washington.org/visiting/experience-dc/presidential-inauguration/information
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Australia luxury holiday destinations
Australia is endowed with many hidden 5 star resorts and secluded luxury holiday destinations. Whether you are in the public eye and want to get away from the masses or simply like your privacy, you’re sure to love the following resorts, our pick of the most secluded 5 star resorts in Australia:
1. Bedarra Island, North Queensland
Bedarra Island lies off the coast from Cairns and is perhaps the most private luxurious holiday resort in Australia. It has 16 secluded villas, each luxuriously appointed, in its own rainforest hideaway just minutes to the beach.
Relax on the balcony and soak in the beauty and calm of this private hideaway or take in a relaxing therapeutic massage without leaving your villa. Bedarra has plenty of water activities to enjoy or you can explore the tranquil private beaches.
Enjoy exquisite cuisine on the open-air terrace restaurant with freshly prepared local delicacies on the menu each day. A gourmet hamper or a romantic beach picnic can easily be arranged.
2. Lizard Island, North Queensland
Lizard Island, Australia’s most northern resort, is a unique secluded paradise located on the Great Barrier Reef, 240 kilometres north of Cairns. It is a National Park with a lagoon and 24 soft sandy beaches. This five star resort is truly something out of the ordinary.
On Lizard Island you can enjoy the experience of both the inner and outer reef. Relax with a picnic hamper on a private beach or go snorkelling to see the giant clams, some reputed to be 120 years old and over a metre long. If you prefer, go diving at the world-famous Cod Hole or take a boat ride to the outer reef, renowned for its clarity and the variety of marine life and coral species.
3. Terrigal Hinterland B&B, New South Wales
Terrigal Hinterland B&B offers secluded opulent 5 star resort accommodation for couples. It is located at Wamberal on New South Wales Central Coast. Terrigal Hinterland B&B boasts two luxuriously appointed suites named Joy and Serenity.
Relax in the beautifully appointed guest lounge or take advantage of the sun drenched pool terrace. Enjoy the heated pool which has swim jets for a good work out or a relaxing gentle massage. An in-house massage can be arranged by appointment.
Breakfast includes a fresh fruit platter and your choice of hot breakfast from the a la carte menu. For added indulgence, a limousine can be arranged to take you to selected restaurants in the area.
Terrigal Hinterland B&B in its secluded setting has the best of both worlds ? the beach and the bush. It has all the comforts of a lavish retreat and still manages to be a harmonious and tranquil hideaway with a personal touch.
4. Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Southern Ocean Lodge is a luxury lodge located on a secluded cliff overlooking views of the wild Southern Ocean and pristine wilderness areas. The Lodge adjoins both the Flinders Chase and Cape Bouguer/Kelly Hill National Parks. The distinctive design makes the most of the spectacular outlook yet remains eco friendly.
Southern Ocean Lodge is a sanctuary of personal intimacy, comfort and style and provides personalised activities and a modern wellness spa.
The spa menu includes traditional and modern techniques. Complementing the international spa design showcase is a spa cuisine program, a chill out lounge and a steam room.
5. Quay West Bunker Bay, Margaret River, Western Australia
Quay West Bunker Bay may be only three hours drive from Perth but this superb 5 star resort is in a secluded location of the South West. The resort overlooks the Indian Ocean and lies within 35 acres of landscaped gardens, with absolute beachfront to the clear waters of Bunker Bay.
Stroll along the boardwalks and through the immaculate grounds, complemented by natural bush and native plants. Feel the pristine white sand between your toes as you walk along the shores of Bunker Bay.
The award-winning ‘Other Side of the Moon’ restaurant offers alfresco dining with local produce featuring strongly on its menu. The cuisine has a definite Mediterranean feel while remaining modern Australian.
If you are looking for privacy on your luxurious holiday, you will love any of these most secluded 5 star resorts in Australia.
By: Karen Cooke
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Karen Cooke is a professional consultant with Travel Associates, an exclusive Australian travel agency catering to the premium travel market. More helpful travel tips and suggestions are available at www.travel-associates.com.au.
Perfect Australian Wedding Location
Australia has so many locations that are ideal for weddings, making it a popular destination for international weddings as well as for domestic travelers. Whether you want a tropical island setting for a wedding in paradise, a luxury five star resort setting, the lush rainforest complete with cascading waterfalls or an opulent outback wedding with a difference, it’s all here in Australia.
Here are our top five suggestions for your perfect Australian wedding location:
1. Sydney
Within the vibrant city of Sydney there are many excellent wedding venues and locations. One of the most popular areas is certainly the beautiful Sydney Harbour, with the world renowned Opera House providing a unique backdrop for your wedding photos.
Other popular locations you could choose for your Sydney wedding include beaches such as Bondi Beach or Coogee Beach, one of the pristine gardens such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the many historic Sydney churches or a yacht or tall ship wedding right on Sydney Harbour, providing a variety of stunning backdrops. You can even choose to marry on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
2. Gold Coast
Another popular Australian wedding location is the ever-sunny Gold Coast in south east Queensland.
The Gold Coast is not only full of glamorous, idyllic wedding settings, it also offers a wide range of activities and hideaways for the perfect honeymoon. The Gold Coast has many breathtaking beaches with miles of soft white sand and rugged headlands, ideal for a magical wedding. If you prefer a church wedding, the Heritage listed Riverside Chapel at the Gold Coast Arts Centre is the perfect spot.
For something uniquely opulent, a wedding on QDeck - the top of the world’s tallest residential building, the Q1 - is the way to go. From there you can experience spectacular panoramic views of the entire Gold Coast. This could be followed by a luxury honeymoon at the totally decadent Palazzo Versace Hotel.
3. Cairns
Cairns, in north Queensland, is known for providing stunning wedding locations within a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. For a heavenly tropical island wedding setting, one of the many tranquil beaches such as Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach or Palm Cove would be idea. Imagine your wedding photographs - crystal clear waves lapping the white powder-like sand, with palm trees lining the beach.
If you prefer a lush rainforest setting, complete with brightly coloured parrots watching from nearby trees, there are many choices within the Cairns region. There are also many picturesque chapels for those who want a traditional church wedding.
4. Port Douglas
Further north in Queensland is Port Douglas - a destination that is often used as a holiday hideaway for the rich and famous. Port Douglas is perfect for romance and offers an abundance of magical wedding locations, with the infamous Great Barrier Reef on one side and World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest on the other.
Along with mesmerising beaches and spectacular, serene rainforests, Port Douglas is known for its seclusion, with a number of 5 star hotels - just what you may be after for your honeymoon. There are many glorious beaches or secluded rainforest spots that are perfect for your wedding, along with numerous beautifully ornate chapels nestled amongst the stunning scenery.
5. Uluru
If you would like a wedding with a difference, but without having to scrimp on quality, then a wedding at the majestic Uluru - Ayers Rock - may be for you. Just imagine the amazing backdrop Uluru will create for your photographs, especially with the magnificent array of colours of the setting sun behind.
There are also five star resorts near Uluru that are able to cater for an intimate affair or a substantial gathering of all your family and friends.
No matter what type of setting you prefer, you are sure to find your dream wedding location in Australia.
By: Karen Cooke
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Karen Cooke is a professional consultant with Travel Associates, an exclusive Australian travel agency catering to the premium travel market. More helpful travel tips and suggestions are available at www.travel-associates.com.au.
Is Obama Tourism Hawaii’s Latest Lure? -2
There’s Sandy Beach, where he surfed as a teenager and swam as a presidential candidate during his vacation last August; the Chowder House restaurant, where a modest window sign advertises that the former senator was a customer, and other similarly ordinary spots.
That is not deterring Mitch Berger, president of Guides of Oahu. He said customers on his company’s nature tours have increasingly asked where Obama lived. So he plans to start 2 1/2-hour minibus tours of just Obama-related sites soon.
“I’m continually getting questions on things that shaped the man who is to become our 44th president,” he said.
Another effort, to be called Obama Ohana Tour, expects to start up before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, said Dianne Washington-Kay, who along with a friend, Mike Irvine, is developing the business. Ohana is a Hawaiian term that means family.
“If people come here and see why this island produced this kind of individual, that will broaden their view as to why Hawaii is a melting pot,” said Washington-Kay, who noted that her family lives a few blocks from Obama’s Chicago home.
Further, a local writer, Rob Kay, recently launched a Web site devoted to all things Obama and Hawaii. And just before Thanksgiving, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau unveiled a site highlighting Obama-related locations at http://www.gohawaii.com/obama.
But even a large surge of tourists searching for Obama’s childhood hangouts is unlikely to change much about Honolulu, like it did Plains, Hope and Crawford.
In those towns, existing businesses and new shops selling presidential trinkets catered to tourists, gas stations filled up their cars and hotels provided rooms for the night.
“It had a big impact in the beginning,” said Marilyn Judy, a school teacher and president of the Crawford Chamber of Commerce. “The tourists came and spent their dollars….Even when the protesters came, they still bought souvenirs and ate in the restaurants.”
But Honolulu is a much bigger city, with more than 800,000 residents. Tourists who come here expect a broader experience than just viewing buildings where the president-to-be spent his childhood 30 to 40 years ago. And once Obama-mania fades, Honolulu’s enduring tourist attractions will remain.
Not so in Crawford, where Bush-related tourism fell off in recent years. Two gift shops in Crawford have closed and the pace has returned to about where it was before the Bush years, Judy said.
In nearby Waco, tourism business has declined as well, but more the result of gas prices and the recession, said Steve Smith, senior vice president at the Waco Chamber of Commerce.
And so it may be with Obama-related tourism in Honolulu, said Jean Monroe, a Guides of Oahu researcher.
“Whether 20 years from now people are interested in Obama depends entirely on Obama,” she said. “As long as people are interested in him, they will want to visit.”
___
On the Web:
Rob Kay’s Obama Hawaii site: http://www.obamasneighborhood.com
Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Obama site: http://www.gohawaii.com/obama
Content Source:
By Herbert A. Sample, AP
This article was originally published by Associated Press in December, 2008.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in December, 2008, but we suggest you confirm all details and prices as these can change at any time.
Is Obama Tourism Hawaii’s Latest Lure? -1
Tours offer glimpses of landmarks from the president-elect’s youth. It happened to Plains, when Jimmy Carter became president and a tiny hamlet in western Georgia became famous as the hometown of a certain peanut farmer.
It happened to Crawford, Texas, when George Bush took the White House and the town closest to his getaway central Texas ranch blossomed with tourists and the businesses that catered to them.
But Honolulu, which already lures millions of tourists each year, is only beginning to see development of tourism tied to Barack Obama, the Hawaii native son who becomes the 44th president of the United States in January.
One Night in Paris
Paris (France) may be the most visited city in the world, yet it’s also one of the most expensive.
“This city is worth the price,” says veteran tourist Alex Wadkin, 71, a retiree from Dublin, Ireland, sipping a $6 cup of coffee on the Champs-Elysees. “If you avoid expensive neighborhoods — like this one — you’ll do all right. But the key is to plan ahead.”
For travelers on a budget, the choices can be tough: stay in a far-flung suburb and eat a baguette for every meal, or leave happy but broke. Yet for those in the know, there are plenty of cheap — and even free — ways to enjoy the city.You can reserve a Paris Hotel
Don’t worry about how to get bed and breakfast, you still can get at Bed and breakfast Bordeaux
The cheapest and most satisfying way to see the city is on your own. A year ago, Paris debuted an extensive system of rental bikes that you can help yourself to for just $1.50 a day, credit card only, at numerous spots all over town. Velib’, as they are called, are a great way to wander around the city independently. However Paris traffic can get pretty hairy, and the bikes don’t come with helmets, so stay alert. Don’t forget to take a assurance vie
By staying at a Bed and Breakfast in Paris even one night in Paris, you will be able to base yourself with Parisians, practice your French if you’d like to, and get their precious insider tips about what to visit in Paris. You’ll be able to see a little bit into their lives and get a first person look at how they live, and as locals, they can suggest the best places to dine, their favorite wines and shops, that are most likely, happily and far away from the madding crowd.
One night in Paris written by bangzenk at Zenk’s Life
