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Post by domeplease on Nov 8, 2018 13:22:41 GMT -5
--11-08-18: www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/here-are-the-11-best-islands-in-the-world-to-relocate-to-in-retirement.html FOR those that like Island Living/Visits. Read More… --11-08-18: edition.cnn.com/travel/article/most-powerful-passport-henley-index-2018/index.html (CNN) — There are few things more liberating than travel -- although some passports offer more freedom than others. A new report published in October 2018 reveals just how many borders some travel documents can cross. According to the Henley Passport Index, compiled by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & PartnersCitizens, Japan now has the most powerful passport on the planet. Having gained visa-free access to Myanmar earlier this month, Japanese citizens can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a whopping 190 destinations around the world -- knocking Singapore, with 189 destinations, into second place. Germany, which began 2018 in the top spot, is now in third place with 188 destinations, tied with France and South Korea. Uzbekistan lifted visa requirements for French nationals on October 5, having already granted visa-free access to Japanese and Singaporean citizens in early February. South Korea gained visa-free access to Myanmar on October 1, while Paraguay removed visa requirements for Singaporean passport holders in 2017. Movers and shakers The United States and the UK, both with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 destinations, are in fifth place. With neither having gained entry to any new jurisdictions this year, it seems unlikely that either will soon reclaim the No.1 spot they held in 2015. Russia has fallen to 47th position, despite having received a boost in September when Taiwan announced a visa-waiver for Russian nationals. The United Arab Emirates is the decade's biggest success story when it comes to travel freedom. It's risen from 62nd place in 2006 to now being No. 21 in the rankings. It's also recently signed a visa-waiver agreement with Russia, due to come into effect in the coming months. China recently obtained access to St. Lucia and Myanmar and is now in 71st place, having climbed 14 places since the start of 2017. Christian H. Kälin, Group Chairman of Henley & Partners, commented in a statement on "the extraordinary results that states can achieve when they work hand in hand with their global peers to build a more interconnected and collaborative world. "China and the UAE exemplify this kind of progress, with both states among the highest overall climbers compared to 2017, purely as a result of the strong relationships they have built with partner countries around the world." |
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Post by domeplease on Nov 13, 2018 13:33:54 GMT -5
I am NOT a fan cruises; however this one caught my interest: 11-13-18: edition.cnn.com/style/article/guntu-boat-japan-rare/index.html
His hotel has only 19 rooms, but the sea view is guaranteed from all of them: Guntû is a luxury cruise ship sailing through the Seto Inland Sea in the Setouchi region of Japan, about 100 miles west of Osaka.
The ship, which is named after a local species of blue crab, was designed by architect Yasushi Horibe as a ryokan, a type of traditional Japanese guest house.
Wood dominates the minimalistic, clutter-free interiors, created to convey a sense of serenity and detachment from urban life.
"I would be extremely glad if the passengers who come on board with us are able to experience the luxury of time - luxury of not doing anything," Yasushi Horibe told CNN.
Sushi is the star of the menu, supervised by Nobuo Sakamoto of Awajishima's Nobu restaurant fame and centered around the guest.
"In regard to the dining style, there is absolutely no time constraints. You can eat whenever you feel like eating.
You can stay for as long as you'd like. You can even choose the ingredients. These are the characteristics of the cuisine available aboard," added Horibe.
During the cruise, guests can visit local islands and choose from a variety of activities that include a morning walk through a quarry, being a fisherman for a day and participating in local festivals throughout the seasons.
"My job here really is to bring out the best of the beauty this place already offers - and what I can do in order to achieve this."
Attention for detail and appreciation of aesthetics, cornerstones of Japanese culture, are summarized by the color chosen for the hull of the ship. "Although it's silver, on a cloudy day, it would look white, blending in with the color of the clouds and the sea.
When the evening sun is reflected on it, it will harmonize perfectly with the red surface of the water. Just like that - everything was carefully designed so as to blend into the surroundings of the Seto Inland Sea," said Horibe.
11-13-18: edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airline-excellence-awards-2019/index.html
(CNN) — One airline has literally gone to great lengths to prove it's the best in the past 12 months, and it appears to have paid off.
Singapore Airlines, which in October triumphantly relaunched the world's longest nonstop scheduled passenger service, flying from Singapore to New York, has now capped a successful year with a new accolade.
The carrier has pipped Air New Zealand to be named Airline of the Year by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings, in the company's annual Airline Excellence Awards.
It's a big upset for Air New Zealand, which has spent five consecutive years in the top spot.
The awards celebrate the carriers soaring highest -- from the swankiest first-class suites to the comfiest economy seats, via the roomiest lounges and tastiest culinary offerings.
"For years Singapore Airlines has been the gold standard and now it is back to its best leading in passenger innovations and new state-of-the-art aircraft models," says AirlineRatings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas.
AirlineRatings' award editors highlighted Singapore Airlines' new non-stop Singapore to New York service.
"The editors said that the competition for top spot was tight with Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways and Qatar Airways just being nudged out," he adds. READ MORE...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 18:21:04 GMT -5
They are running a special one time only deal now- Singapore-LA return for S$1400- about US$1050, non stop. I have a couple of friends who jumped all over that for their Christmas holidays. I believe its delux-economy, so the seats are bigger. Singapore Airlines is easily the best airline I've ever flown. The service is awesome, food is very good, movies are current and the flight attendants are charming and gorgeous. I fly it all the time and upgrade to business class through Kris Flyer miles, my go to card for SIA.
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Post by domeplease on Nov 14, 2018 11:13:34 GMT -5
They are running a special one time only deal now- Singapore-LA return for S$1400- about US$1050, non stop. I have a couple of friends who jumped all over that for their Christmas holidays. I believe its delux-economy, so the seats are bigger. Singapore Airlines is easily the best airline I've ever flown. The service is awesome, food is very good, movies are current and the flight attendants are charming and gorgeous. I fly it all the time and upgrade to business class through Kris Flyer miles, my go to card for SIA. Call me Stupid...but what is Kris Flyer Miles??? I cannot wait to FLY Singapore Air. It might be better than SEX???!!! |
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Post by michcusejoe5 on Nov 14, 2018 13:39:38 GMT -5
They are running a special one time only deal now- Singapore-LA return for S$1400- about US$1050, non stop. I have a couple of friends who jumped all over that for their Christmas holidays. I believe its delux-economy, so the seats are bigger. Singapore Airlines is easily the best airline I've ever flown. The service is awesome, food is very good, movies are current and the flight attendants are charming and gorgeous. I fly it all the time and upgrade to business class through Kris Flyer miles, my go to card for SIA. Call me Stupid...but what is Kris Flyer Miles??? I cannot wait to FLY Singapore Air. It might be better than SEX???!!! Stupid  |
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Post by inger on Nov 14, 2018 18:02:46 GMT -5
Call me Stupid...but what is Kris Flyer Miles??? I cannot wait to FLY Singapore Air. It might be better than SEX???!!! Stupid [img src="//storage.proboards.com/6828121/images/UhLYtfPmGggOgPkFrmgW.gif" alt=" " class="smile"] You don't always get what you want...but sometimes you do get what you ask for around here... (:  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2018 20:03:08 GMT -5
Kris Flyer miles are just like travel points you accrue when using your credit card. I usually pay for everything I can on my card and earn points and then pay off the card every month. It takes me about 5-6 months to earn a flight to the states, or I can cash in my points to get an upgrade to business class. I’m sure a lot of guys on this board do the same. It’s the only way to go if you fly a lot.
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Post by domeplease on Nov 15, 2018 12:23:40 GMT -5
Kris Flyer miles are just like travel points you accrue when using your credit card. I usually pay for everything I can on my card and earn points and then pay off the card every month. It takes me about 5-6 months to earn a flight to the states, or I can cash in my points to get an upgrade to business class. I’m sure a lot of guys on this board do the same. It’s the only way to go if you fly a lot. Thanks...I knew about Frequent Flier Miles, since I had 1.5 Million Plus, of these miles I used many, gave some to my best friends and the rest to charities. I just didn't get the KRIS Part.
Now I have ZERO Miles. But it makes little to no difference...for I can fly ROUND TRIP from Nowhere, Baja to Cabo to Mexico Proper (Guad. to Leon to Mexico City) for as little as $125.00--Sometimes even cheaper.
When in Mexico Proper, I can also go by Bus.
These Buses are amazing. Large First Class Type Seats; Free Wifi; Free Sandwich, Chips, Fruit & Soda; Free TV Shows/Movies on your Seat's Screen. Plus they have Super Clean Toilets and even a Card Table and Large fold down trays in front of you for your Paperwork/Computer, etc.
The Bus Terminals are so clean that a Medical Team could perform Operations in them.
What is even better; is that the Driver is not allowed to exceed 50 MPH & they have Bus Checkpoints along the route to ensure that the Driver's Time matches 50 mph for the miles travel.
And beyond that, they have A SP0TTER/EXTRA DRIVER that stands behind the Driver pointing out hazards and ensuring that 50MPH is not exceeded.
A 400-Mile trip runs me about $10/$18.00; if that. It gets cheaper depending on the hour of the day one travels. Plus, now I can use my Senior Citizen ID for a good discount.
Now the Buses in Baja are a COMPLETE different story...JUST UGLY.
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Post by inger on Nov 15, 2018 13:06:55 GMT -5
When is Tequila going to post migration routes?...
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Post by inger on Nov 15, 2018 14:30:35 GMT -5
We’re going to hit the road to visit Ruthie’s sister and her family in Spokane, WA (actually a small rural area called Newman Lake). We’ll be driving out of Pueblo on Sunday morning, taking I-25 North yo the east of the Bighorn Mountains until it meets up with I-90 in Montana and then winding our way west through the mountains of Montana and the fat end of the Idaho panhandle to the small idyllic mountain area at Newman Lake, WA.
On the way home next weekend we’ll take a secondary route through Butte and then head south toward Jackson Hole, WY and through Rock Springs, WY on I-80 before finding our way back to I-25 south and heading home. All told, about 2400 miles of driving.
I’m monitoring the winter weather that will be hitting Wyoming and Montana this weekend and likely will still have some effect on travel in spots once we reach those areas, as there is to be up to a foot of snow on the mountain passes, but should have mostly subsided by the time we arrive. So far the forecast says we shouldn’t encounter much in the way of winter weather on the way home.
We could have flown out of course, but this country out here is so beautiful and even more so in snow that I couldn’t resist the urge to drive it.
I know this is a minimal trip to many of you, but for us it’s going to be a lot of fun, laced with just enough danger to add a bit of spice to the trip...Of course I’m an experienced mountain driver and will excercise caution when indicated...
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Post by kaybli on Nov 15, 2018 16:28:46 GMT -5
We’re going to hit the road to visit Ruthie’s sister and her family in Spokane, WA (actually a small rural area called Newman Lake). We’ll be driving out of Pueblo on Sunday morning, taking I-25 North yo the east of the Bighorn Mountains until it meets up with I-90 in Montana and then winding our way west through the mountains of Montana and the fat end of the Idaho panhandle to the small idyllic mountain area at Newman Lake, WA. On the way home next weekend we’ll take a secondary route through Butte and then head south toward Jackson Hole, WY and through Rock Springs, WY on I-80 before finding our way back to I-25 south and heading home. All told, about 2400 miles of driving. I’m monitoring the winter weather that will be hitting Wyoming and Montana this weekend and likely will still have some effect on travel in spots once we reach those areas, as there is to be up to a foot of snow on the mountain passes, but should have mostly subsided by the time we arrive. So far the forecast says we shouldn’t encounter much in the way of winter weather on the way home. We could have flown out of course, but this country out here is so beautiful and even more so in snow that I couldn’t resist the urge to drive it. I know this is a minimal trip to many of you, but for us it’s going to be a lot of fun, laced with just enough danger to add a bit of spice to the trip...Of course I’m an experienced mountain driver and will excercise caution when indicated... Have fun inger! Be careful out there! Wow, 2400 miles! That's a lot of driving! |
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Post by inger on Nov 15, 2018 19:06:12 GMT -5
I’ve done longer driving trips multiple times over the years. Still proud of my one-day solo drive record of 1200 miles in 20.5 hours...Only stopped for gas, and ate food while driving (fast food drive-through)...
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Post by kaybli on Nov 15, 2018 19:15:43 GMT -5
I’ve done longer driving trips multiple times over the years. Still proud of my one-day solo drive record of 1200 miles in 20.5 hours...Only stopped for gas, and ate food while driving (fast food drive-through)... Wow I thought my record of Ottawa to Penn State to Cleveland to New York of 1120 miles in 16 hours would never be topped. |
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Post by inger on Nov 15, 2018 19:55:40 GMT -5
I’ve done longer driving trips multiple times over the years. Still proud of my one-day solo drive record of 1200 miles in 20.5 hours...Only stopped for gas, and ate food while driving (fast food drive-through)... Wow I thought my record of Ottawa to Penn State to Cleveland to New York of 1120 miles in 16 hours would never be topped. You were a lot faster though. My trip was from Shamrock, TX to Paris, KY. The worst part was stopping for gas with only about 5-6 mikes to go to get home. Breaking the momentum at that point made me feel like it took another hour to get home... |
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Post by inger on Nov 15, 2018 20:00:42 GMT -5
I never want to do that long behind the wheel again, though...
Around 700 is my limit...sometimes less...In the mountains sometimes 200-300 can be a lot...
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