Friday Photo: Green Carpet

post from India Travel Blog on 05 March 2009 10:00:00 PM. © India Travel Blog

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The Day I Carried my Mini-Fridge 10 Blocks

post from Streets of Lima on 05 March 2009 08:11:00 PM. © Streets of Lima

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Robin Williams' heart surgery to delay Broadway
dates

post from NewYorkology on 05 March 2009 05:48:02 PM. © NewYorkology

Comedian Robin Williams will undergo heart surgery, causing him to postpone the Broadway run of his “Weapons of Self-Destruction” show, Variety is reporting.His one-man show was scheduled for the Neil Simon Theatre from April 28 through May[...]

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Where Travel Industry Experts Like to Go, Stay

post from TravelPost Blog on 05 March 2009 05:43:00 PM. © TravelPost Blog

Here at TravelPost.com, we’re big fans of listening to what everyday travelers have to say about hotels. But that doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to opinions from travel industry experts - after all, other than the most frequent world travelers, they’re the people most likely to live and breathe travel day-in, day-out - not to mention the people on top of the latest lodging options, travel trends and recent developments in major cities.

So we had fun perusing the destination picks from top travel industry players in a recent survey by our friends at NileGuide, a site that allows travelers to find recommendations from local experts in destinations around the world and create custom trip guides. Along with folks like Lonely Planet’s Todd Sotkiewicz and Five Star Alliance Cal Simmons, our own Ross Weber was even one of the experts chosen to weigh in.

Here are the places the experts chose:

Top country to visit: United States
Top city: New York
Top journey: Driving Highway 1, California Coast
Top region: The Big Island, Hawaii
Top icon: Golden Gate Bridge
Top hotel: The Four Seasons Maui (pictured) vs. The Peninsula Hong Kong

You can find the complete the results here and here.

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Daytrip to Luxembourg

post from actorenescritor on 05 March 2009 05:18:00 PM. © actorenescritor

This story appeared at the March 6-7, 2009 edition of BusinessWorld. Check out the original story here.

The Facade of the Palais Grand Ducal

Daytrip to Luxembourg

It is easy to see why Luxembourg is one destination that is often overlooked.

The mere mention of my intent to visit this small country drew similar reactions: there seems to be nothing worth visiting in this fortress city.

"Why go there when you can just check out Brussels or stay longer in Paris?" asked a fellow Filipino I met on the plane going to Frankfurt when I told her of my Germany-Luxembourg-France itinerary.

Some did not even know where this country is located, while others were surprised to find that a country named "Luxembourg" actually exists.

Too bad for them. Luxembourg is both scenic and historic, and shutter-happy travelers will definitely enjoy a day-long photo session while athletic tourists might want to take a jog while basking in the city?s rich history.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is practically a crossroad at the heart of Western Europe, this hilly territory surrounded by Belgium in the west and north, Germany in the east, and France in the south.

With my coverage in Paderborn and DÜsseldorf, Germany practically a stone?s throw away from the border of Germany and Luxembourg, I opted to spend a whole day in this country of less than half a million inhabitants before going to Paris.

I took a three-hour train ride from Cologne and arrived in Luxembourg City, the capital, at night.

The 10-minute bus ride from Luxembourg Gare (the train station) to my hostel at Plateau AltmÜnster served as my sneak peek to this beautiful city. After passing a couple of blocks at the city center, there appeared structures that looked like castles out of a fairy tale.

I got off at what looked like a Roman aqueduct or a bridge supported by several arches and walked down the hill to my hostel.

As it turned out, this city is teeming with similar structures worthy to be UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The following day, I learned that most of the hotspots ? some 74 of them according to the tourist map ? can be reached by foot from the hostel. It would have been fun seeing the city on a rented bike for ?15, but I thought it would be difficult to enter shops, restaurants and churches if I had one.

I started at the Montée de Clausen, a boulevard that provided sweeping views of the structures at the low-lying areas such as the Rham Plateau and the Wenceslas Wall, an ancient fortification.

On the same boulevard lie the remains of the Bock Promontory, which was used as a watchtower during times of war. Underneath is the Bock Casements, once a 23-kilometer network of tunnels where soldiers kept their arms but that now provides breathtaking views of the river valley.

Unfortunately, I was unable to access the casements as they were undergoing restoration works at the time.

Just a few steps away is the Chemin de la Corniche, aptly tagged as "Europe?s most beautiful balcony" for providing beautiful views of the river valley with pastel-colored houses as backdrop.

The street parallel to the Corniche is Rue du St. Esprit, which also provided a different angle of the city. It is also where the Luxembourg City History Museum is located.

Remains of the Bock Promontory

After passing through small, pedestrianized cobbled alleys, I knew that I was already at the city center when I saw the Palais Grand-Ducal or the Palace of the Grand Dukes, the seat of the government.

One won?t see moats and thick walls surrounding the royal residence. Instead, the Palais practically blends in with the surrounding buildings, differentiated only by its Neo-Classical architecture and the guards marching in front of its doors.

Right across is the Place Guillaume II, former site of a Franciscan monastery that now serves as the town square with the equestrian statue of Grand Duke William II as the focal point.

Located nearby is the Place d?Armes, a park fronting the City Palace, the Notre Dame de Luxembourg and the National Library.

Already tired from walking, I went to the Place de la Constitution where other tourists ? just a few of us at the time ? were also taking a break. Right underneath the square is the Pétrusse Casements, but more notable are the views of the Pétrusse Valley and the Adolphe Bridge.

I decided to go back to the city center and found myself in the middle of the shopping district.

Also nearby is the Place du Theatre, a plaza right outside the Capuchin Theatre where plays are staged.

When I thought I had already seen all that the city center has to offer, I retraced my steps to the Bock Promontory where I found the Law Court, the three towers ? the same castle-like structure I found the night before ? and the Spanish turret, which reminded me of the bastions of Intramuros.

It was only 3 p.m. and I still had a lot of time to spare before my train for Paris left at 6 p.m.

A day is more than enough to check out the interesting places in the city if you?re not really intent on seeing them up close.

But for the breathtaking views, historical structures and rustic charm not found in bustling European cities, this country is worth a visit ? even just for a day.

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Asashoryu: a Buddhist deity

post from Japan Probe on 05 March 2009 05:13:32 PM. © Japan Probe

A press conference was held yesterday at a Buddhist temple in Kumamoto Prefecture, where it was announced that sumo grand champion Asashoryu would be the model for a new statue of the Buddhist deity Tamonten:If I recall correctly, this kind of thing is not exactly unheard of. Pro-wrestler Antonio Inoki also served as [...]

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Jetcetera: Bali, Beer Week & Havana Culture

post from Gridskipper on 05 March 2009 05:00:00 PM. © Gridskipper

Bali [Photo by sean mcgrath/Flickr]

·Havana as a blend of ‘Caribbean exotica and colonial Spain’ [CNN]
·Top ten cities for shopaholics [MSNBC]
·Morgans Hotel group launches new, chic website [HC]
·Philadelphia welcomes its second annual Beer Week Friday [USAToday]
·Why Bali is as in-demand a destination as ever [Globorati]
·Hillary Clinton’s hotel-of-choice in Israel [HH]

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Vipassana

A

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Zoo-Adjacent Hotels in Berlin

Here are the beautiful Berlin hotels around Zoo you can name-drop because you have the largest wallet or have budgeted all year. If you are meeting on business and need to "represent," or, if you simply enjoy luxury and $12 bags of peanuts from the minibar, then one of the following hotels is where you want to be. If you're looking to experience Berlin pension-style, then be on the lookout for the next post: Zoo Pension Plan, or, Moving in with Herr Issyvoo. But if you don't know who Herr Issyvoo is, then perhaps you ought to be hanging out with Mr. Bibliotheque.

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5 Things to Do In: Richmond, Virginia

Visit: Hollywood Cemetery. It may sound slightly morbid, but trust us on this one. Not only does a stroll through this landscaped, park-like landmark offer must-see views of the James River beyond, it is rife with nuggets of American history. Its 135 acres are home to the final resting places of two U.S. presidents, six governors, two Supreme Court justices and thousands of soldiers.

See: Maymont (pictured). A classic destination for anyone who visits Virginia’s capital, this 100-acre property houses opulent themed gardens, a children’s farm where kids can feed and touch the resident chickens and goats, outdoor wildlife exhibuts, a roving band of peacocks and an 1893 mansion open for daily tours.

Eat: Millie’s Diner. Laid back, yet serving food that’s constantly racking up accolades from both locals and visiting foodies, this downtown mainstay keeps things fresh with a menu that changes every three weeks.

Drink: Legend Brewing. Visit on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a free tour of the local alemaker’s on-site brewer or go anytime for pints in the pub or on the deck overlooking the James River.

Buy: Virginia peanuts. Smugly enjoy your superior stash on the ride home.

[Photo: jimbrickett via Flickr]

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