Air New Zealand and Visit London Announce Vacation Giveaway Fit for a King
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Didn’t get an invitation to the Royal Wedding?
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Air New Zealand and Visit London Announce Vacation Giveaway Fit for a King
Quote of the Day: Pleather and Caffeine
Quote of the Day: Pleather and Caffeine — Mon Jan 03 19:30:25 UTC 2011 There’s a dominatrix in a black pleather and lace two-piece upstairs and she’s carrying a tray of stacked espresso cups and saucers, grinning. – Atlantic Food writer Tejal Rao describing her visit to a Chilean “café con piernas,” a coffee shop where th… about: Atlantic Food Beverage Boston Business Chicago Coffee Espresso London Los Angeles Multi-City News New York City Philadelphia Quote of the Day San Francisco Tejal Rao Washington D.C.
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Quote of the Day: Pleather and Caffeine
11/9/2010 – Volcker on the economy…Obama to Indonesia…Hebrew Talmud
He calls it the basic problem which he suspects “will gradually decline.” UNDATED a ‘ President Barack Obama has wrapped up his visit to India and is now en route to Jakarta, Indonesia .
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11/9/2010 – Volcker on the economy…Obama to Indonesia…Hebrew Talmud
Stan Lee, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment Visits the New York Stock Exchange Trading Floor
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Stan Lee, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment (Pink Sheets: POWN) (the Company), an advanced media and entertainment company, visited the New York Stock Exchange Trading Floor yesterday.
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Stan Lee, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment Visits the New York Stock Exchange Trading Floor
C.A.R. Reports May Median Price Increased 23.2 Percent; Home Sales Increased 1.2 Percent
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – 06/22/10) – Multimedia: Visit http://car.org/media/ppt/May_2010_UII.ppt to view Unsold Inventory by price point. Visit http://car.org/media/ppt/May_2010_Trough_vs_Current.ppt to view a data table comparing current prices with trough prices in areas throughout the state.
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C.A.R. Reports May Median Price Increased 23.2 Percent; Home Sales Increased 1.2 Percent
C.A.R. Reports February Median Price Increased 14.1 Percent; Home Sales Decreased 11.7 Percent (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – 03/23/10) – Multimedia: Visit http://car.org/media/ppt/Feb_2010_UII.ppt to view Unsold Inventory by price point. Visit http://car.org/media/ppt/Feb_2010_Trough_Price.ppt#742,1,Trough vs
Van Nuys Roofing: Local Roofing Contractor In Van Nuys, CA Recognized (OfficialWire)
VISIT HERE> > > > > Van Nuys Roofers ORI Roofing & Remodeling has earned a reputation as an affordable Van Nuys roofing contractor. They offer quality workmanship at a competitive price.
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Van Nuys Roofing: Local Roofing Contractor In Van Nuys, CA Recognized (OfficialWire)
Visit Australia & Newzealand
If you are an eager, fairly adventurous traveler then Australia and New Zealand are probably destinations that have been swimming in some subdirectory of your travel ambitions.Down under has lots of appeal. It’s English speaking, exotic, remote, filled with crazy looking plants and animals. Many Australians combine the best character qualities from around the globe: hardiness, humor and cordiality. Aussies are justifiably famous for outgoing character, and New Zealanders follow suit in their slightly more reserved manner. The Australians are masters of a vast, isolated, largely desert continent and their outlook shows independence of spirit and loads of aptitude. When the vast interior of your country is an inhospitable outback, then your ring of vibrant coastal cities are treated like causes for celebration, and for visitors this feeling is infectious.Like America, the Australian national history is short (and rowdy). Perhaps for this reason the Australians, like many Americans, are a people ready to welcome strangers with an open hand and broad smile, no questions asked. They like to play around with their own lively disposition and vernacular (Australian slang dictionary). One afternoon down under amongst friendly, helpful, vigorous Australians is usually enough to charm any visitor.The Kiwis (New Zealanders) typically have a slightly more gentrified, English disposition than the maverick Australians. The New Zealand outlook perhaps reflects that they are the smaller cousin in the Australian-New Zealand sphere of influence, and that they have more to show and more to lose than the desert-baked, walkabout Australians. Unlike the arid vastness of Australia, the Kiwis enjoy two main islands of incredible lushness that combine much of the topographical grandeur of Europe with the stunning, tropical features of the south Pacific islands.The natural abundance of New Zealand can stop you cold: tropical beaches, rain forests, boiling hot springs, towering Alps and blocked, English-like farmland. From half a world away it is easy to generalize the differences between New Zealand and Australia, but they are essentially different transplanted peoples making their home in similar geographic area. Australia is the land of the kangaroo, a hardy, indigenous animal that can survive traveling over deserts using the most energy conservative locomotive method known to any species on earth. By contrast, New Zealand is the land of the sheep, reliant on lots of water and grass, and transplanted wholly from the mother country (in New Zealand sheep outnumber people). Australia seems resolved with itself and its indigenous aboriginal peoples, where New Zealand seems to be looking over its shoulder back at England (and modern New Zealand has a somewhat awkward relationship with its native Maori peoples).What finally made me visit Australia and New Zealand was the record summer heat in Europe during 2003. I had two precious weeks to use in August, but where would I go? Based on the news of heat-related deaths in Europe the southern hemisphere looked like a great solution (it is winter there when it is summer in the northern hemisphere).European ski enthusiasts have long known the trick of turning summer into winter by training in the ski slopes of Queenstown, New Zealand. Reversing the seasons is not a motive calculated into many recreational travel plans, but it should be. What you are looking for, after all, is the chance to get away, change the scenery, to see something new. There can be no more profound change than traveling to the other side of the earth while reversing your seasons. On top of this, you find a new world of plants and animals. School kids know about wallabies and echidnas, but those animals are just the headliners. Imagine a world where green and red parrots fly around in pairs and land in a tree above you. Imagine being awakened in the morning by a bird that sounds like a bell, or another that makes a complicated, resonant call like a concerto played on a whistle flute (birds down under page).In short, it’s completely different, yet comfortably similar to visit Australia and New Zealand.The people are different (but familiar).The food is different (but familiar). Local chefs train in Europe but insist on returning to open their own restaurants in their own home towns.A burgeoning wine industry provides a glorious, sassy collection for you to sample at a fraction of the price of these same labels offered by New York?s biggest liquor importers.
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Australian travel choices:
What to see in Australia? This is a tough call because you might have a secret hankering to visit the outback or the more remote regions, whereas my focus was to skip through for a sense of Australia and then spend serious time in New Zealand.Sydney is pretty much a requirement on any list of Australia destinations. Many guide books will favor a list of Australian destinations including: Newcastle, Byron Bay, Fraser Island, world-class diving round the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Darwin, Alice Springs, Marlborough and Hobart (in Tasmania). But this list is a ridiculous simplification. You have an entire continent to consider, a task only made slightly easier by the fact that most of the good stuff is clustered at the edges. A bonobo with a handful of darts and a map will have as good a chance as you of picking great stops in Australia unless you task yourself to read up. In the absence of a Michelin Green Guide, I find that a good overview resource is to read some of the “been there” reviews posted on epinions. Granted, this is not the most refined resource, because anybody can post just about anything, but most of the readers are conscientious and after reading a few you will see the same names start to pop up and soon you will see a pattern emerge. With the pattern established, take a look at some of the “best of” lists published by the commercial guides (Frommers has “best of” lists in a load of different catagories, hotels, restaurants, museums, beaches – here’s best Australian experiences with links to other lists at the left margin.)
New Zealand travel choices:
Good destinations in New Zealand can be a harder call than Australia because the good stuff isn’t as neatly collected at the coasts or near the cities.True, New Zealand cities have a remarkable spectrum of different personalities.Auckland has the feel of a clean, modern international shipping hub with bridges and waterways and ocean liners always in view.Wellington also has a maritime flavor, but it is terraced and secluded with a protected, regional feel.Christchurch is like a prim, flat, English shire town with a lazy, two-foot-deep river meandering through the center.Dunedin has a dyed-in the-wool Scottish influence while Queenstown is an extreme sport, party town full of action and youth.To approach a trip to New Zealand you first need to assimilate the different offerings of the north and south islands. In my view most guidebooks do a poor job of helping the traveler evaluate the relative travel value of the two islands. It’s as if there is such a surfeit of great things to do that the books are doing their best to pack it all in and lose their power to discriminate between choices.You can visit both islands, but plan on air transport if your trip is any shorter than three weeks, because the distances are considerable. It’s hard to counsel in favor of visiting just one island. The north island has plenty to see, and it has Auckland, the international departure point, but the southern island has the most vibrant scenic beauty (the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed on the southern island of New Zealand). If you want to visit the southern island alone you have to figure out your return flights to Newzealand, which almost certainly will require a change in Auckland, or a return to Australia before you can connect to a US flight.The north island is warmer throughout the year and is influenced more by beaches of all kinds rocky shores, black sand, white sand as well as geothermal hot springs.The south island is considerably cooler in temperature year round (Christchurch is sufficiently southern that it is where the US Antarctica programs stage their supply and transport connections with the rest of the world). The north and east coasts of the southern island of New Zealand also boast beautiful beaches, but the prominent geographic feature is the Alps that run in a spine up the mountains. (Queenstown, the sports capital of the southern island, is pictured at right.) Unlike the northern island, the southern island has glaciers and alpine vistas and numerous ski resorts. At the far, southwestern reaches of the northern island you have Fiordland, with Norwegian-class peaks rising like a wall out of the water to heights as much as a mile.
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South-east Queensland – a Great Place to Visit
A short drive south of Brisbane is the Gold Coast, stretching for about 35 kilometres along the subtropical coast to the New South Wales border. With its many theme parks, entertainment venues, and surf-washed sandy beaches edged with high-rise holiday apartments it is the gateway to instant leisure.
Just north of Brisbane Iies the Sunshine Coast: Caloundra, Maroochydore, and Noosa Heads beckon with kilometres of golden sands and surf.
North of the Sunshine Coast is Hervey Bay, which has long been a popular holiday spot with locals, but in recent times has become the base for a fleet of boats carrying large numbers of visitors to watch whales off nearby Fraser Island.
The largest sand island on Earth and World Heritage Listed, Fraser Island attracts thousands of visitors annually who come to experience the beauty of its sub-tropical rainforests, freshwater lakes, and dunes that rise to heights of around 230 metres; others come for the great beach fishing. At the northern end of the island lies the Great Sandy National Park.
In the hills behind the Sunshine Coast the town of Nambour is surrounded by pineapple farms and is home to `The Big Pineapple’, a tourist attraction set on a pineapple farm. Some of the best scenery in this area is around Maleny, where there are wonderful views over the Glasshouse Mountains — a series of old volcanic plugs that rear over forests and farmlands. Named by Captain Cook in 1770, their strange shapes standing on the horizon were a reminder of the glass furnaces of industrial Yorkshire.
For nature-lovers and bush walkers, it is often a relief to leave the clamour of the coastal resorts and escape to the quiet wilderness of the hinterland’s national parks. Mount Tamborine, close to Brisbane, has some small but delightful parks. One of them, Witches Falls, was Queensland’s first national park in 1908; at that time, forestry officials declared it to be ‘unfit for any other purpose’.
The most popular park in Queensland is Lamington National Park, situated close to the New South Wales border. Edged with escarpments rising to 900 metres, the park protects an outstanding area of undisturbed rainforest on the Lamington Plateau, on the south side of the Scenic Rim — the crescent of mountains lying behind Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The park has the oldest stands of Antarctic Beech trees in the southern Hemisphere.
Another notable park on the border is Springbrook National Park. The Natural Bridge and waterfall, one of the park’s main features, lies close to the Numinbah Valley road; higher up in the park, near the village of Springbrook, the Best Of All Lookout offers aerial-like views over the ranges.
The capital of Queensland, Brisbane is built around the busiest commercial river in Australia, the Brisbane River. One of the best views of the river with a backdrop of the central business district is from a small park at Kangaroo Point. Further upstream there are more good views of the city from the South Bank Parklands, situated on the southern banks of the river. A ‘must’ for visitors to Brisbane, the 16 hectares of parks and tropical gardens feature restaurants and cafes, weekend markets and entertainers and an artificial beach.
Nearby, on the same side of the river, is the Queensland Cultural Centre, which incorporates the performing arts complex, the State Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery.
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You Really Need to Visit Maui
Seen from above, the two shield volcanoes that make up the island of Maui look like the head and torso of the well-loved demigod for whom the island is named.
Maui was a tricky fellow who is said to have stolen fire from its supernatural keepers, gifting to the mortals. He also captured the sun with a rope woven from his wifes tresses and slowed its path so that we could enjoy more hours of daylight on his beautiful island.
Modern visitors to this most magical of islands still reap the fruits of his labors by making the most of sunny tropical weather, where the temperature rarely dips below 65 degrees and the lush vegetation and colorful animal life just add to the feeling that they’ve just arrived in paradise.
This second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands is host to Haleakala, the largest dormant volcano in the world, at 10,023 feet tall. The summit of Haleakala National Park provides awe-inspiring views of five of the eight major islands. Watching the sunrise on the summit of Haleakala is an experience that visitors carry with them the rest of their lives.
Wainapanapa State Park is another wondrous natural adventure. Discover the black sand beaches, sea arch and caves for yourself. Every year from mid-December through mid-May pods of humpback whales make their way back to the waters surrounding Maui. The Kai Kanani will take you out to Molokini Island as you marvel at the grace of these peaceful giants.
The Whale Discovery Center at the Maui Ocean Center helps visitors understand the humpbacks strange and beautiful life cycle as it takes them from the frigid waters of the Artic to the warm and soothing seas around Maui and back again each year.
The natural beauty of Maui will surround and envelope you as you explore its endless beaches. Swim the calmer waters of the west shore, including Maalaea and Kaanapali.
Or head up to North Maui Ho’okipa for some of the best surfing, boogie boarding and windsurfing in the world. If youre looking for a little privacy, try Oneloa Beach, the last undeveloped beach on Maui s leeward side.
During a daily sun shower, duck into the Hana Cultural Center, a traditional Hawaiian village showcasing hundreds of artifacts and books and thousands of historical photographs.
The Maui Arts and Cultural Center is a 12-acre visual arts center and the Tedeschi Vineyards in the Upcountry offers tours of a unique pineapple wine vineyard. Dont forget to try a sample!
Dining is another fabulous adventure in Maui. It won’t take long before you run into the ever-popular plate lunch. Hawaii’s version of fast food, a plate lunch is inexpensive and perfect to take to one of the island’s breathtaking parks. Each shop’s plate lunch is unique, so stop in at a few shops during your explorations.
For something a little more upscale, try the Tropica Restaurant and Bar at the Westin Maui or Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar in Kapalua. Mango Cafe Grill & Bar offers a fabulous buffet on Sundays that includes both traditional Hawaiian fare and mainland comfort foods.
Maui isn’t just a visual and culinary delight, it’s also a shopper’s dream come true. Spend a few hours browsing for interesting island gifts at the Kapalua Shops, enjoy free Hawaiian entertainment while you shop at Queen Kaahumanu Center or do some power shopping in air-conditioned comfort at the Lahaina Cannery Mall.
Maui accommodations are just as diverse as its natural beauty and entertaining activities. Opt for an intimate and cost-conscious stay at one of the island’s lovely bed-and-breakfasts, choose from an array of luxurious condominiums or find relaxation or lots of opportunities to play whatever your pleasure at one of Maui’s golf resort hotels, spa resorts, beachfront hotels, family-friendly hotels or romantic accommodations perfect for honeymooners.
Another great option is to try a privately owned rental. There are a number of private owners who are willing to rent their home or condo. Many rental by owner websites are available to help you locate the perfect place to settle in for your stay in this little slice of heaven.
Like its mythological namesake, Maui Island is powerfully memorable and perfectly magical. Make it a part of your memories forever.
Dave Huffman is a travel writer and property manager for vacation rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. For great lodging on Maui go to Maui Rental by Owner
