Special Events to Mark the Presidents’ Day 2012

Posted on February 20, 2012 by hardcherry

Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda to allow the visitors to come and enjoy the historical display at the museum on the Presidents’ Day.

If you are among those first 100 visitors who come to the museum, a complimentary slice of cherry pie will be yours with the other 99 visitors.

The museum is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors can take a look more closely to the life of the U.S. former presidents such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt with the appearance of several actors that will portray the presidents.

Visitors can also learn the history by attending the presentation about the presidents of the nation in the East Room, starts at 1.30 pm.

Meanwhile, in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, the Presidents’ Day will be marked with a number of activities that involve all the members of the family who come to the library.

The library will open from 10 am to 5 pm, but the celebration will take place from 10 am to 3 pm. No charged tickets, but visitors must pay for the food. Man and woman who will portray the president and his wife will also take part in the 20th Presidents’ Day commemoration.

However, those who want to enter the library still have to pay for the tickets just like the regular days. Kids under 10 years old are free to enter the library.

George Washington fans can also come to the library to learn the subject about their favorite president. The Reagan Library is set to host “Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon” exhibition from Feb 22 until May 18.

Even though the title is the Presidents’ Day, originally the day was the time to mark the merit of George Washington to the nation. The day used to be called Washington Day.

CBS

Mauritius: A Heavenly Island for Honeymoon

Posted on March 10, 2011 by hardcherry

Some people might be unfamiliar with the name Mauritius. The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers (560 mi) east of Madagascar.

Mauritius is regarded as one of the best tourism destination around the world. The magnificent island has only 1.3 million of population. It is a tropical island nation that offers free education and free healthcare for its people.

Mauritius has the highest per capita income compared to other countries in African continent. Port Louis, the modern capital of this 38-mile by 29-mile island, is a bustling port with a revitalized waterfront and busy market. But most visitors gravitate toward resort areas such as Mont Choisy. Quiet Trou-aux-Biches and more bustling Flic en Flac are popular with scuba divers. Rivière Noire is ideal for those eager to do deep-sea fishing.

Mauritius uses tourism as a tool to build the economy of the country. Mauritius is one country that has achieved successful economic and human development with a dual-track approach to economic liberalization, whereby poorer sections of society have participated in its economic growth.

Many couple spent their honeymoon in Mauritius, after all the stress of organizing a wedding. Honeymoons in Mauritius do not have to cost a lot. With a great number of wonderful beaches to choose from, the biggest decision about having a honeymoon in Mauritius is where to stay. You’ll have at least a friend or who has visited Mauritius to ask around the best place to stay.

What to see in Mauritius:

Port Louis :Capital and main part of Mauritius, Port Louis was founded by the French governor Mahe de Labourdonnais in 1736. The harbour lies sheltered in a semi-circle of mountains.

Mahebourg :As one on the main fishing centres, it lies in the bay of Grand Port and has a Naval Museum, housed in the French colonial mansion where in 1810 the English and French commanders, both wounded in battle, were brought to be given medical aid.

Pamplemousses Gardens : The gardens are known to naturalists throughout the world for their large collection of indigenous and exotic plants, including the giant Victoria Regia water lilies and many species of palm trees. Of particular interest is the Talipot palm, which is said to flower once every sixty years and dies thereafter.

Top 10 Airlines in the World (2010)

Posted on March 8, 2011 by wildcherry

If you plan your vacation to different countries, then you know how confusing it could be to choose from hundreds of Airline carriers from around the world.

There are many aspects in searching for a good airline. From being on time, quality of meal, in flight entertainment, etc2. The top 10 airlines Skytrax award list below will help you to choose which airlines to take on your next trip. If you see one of the top 10 airlines having a discounted price then don’t wait any longer, go ahead and book your trip.

The top 10 places in the 2010 Airline of the Year are as follow:

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

2010 AIRLINE WINNERS – the Passenger’s Choice awards

Airline of the Year
WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Low-Cost Airline Worldwide
WINNER: Air Asia

Most Improved Airline
WINNER: Garuda Indonesia

Best Regional Airline
WINNER: Dragonair

Best Leisure / Charter Airline
WINNER: Thomson Airways

Best Cabin Staff
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Inflight Entertainment
WINNER: Emirates

Best Airport Services
WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Economy Class
WINNER: Malaysia Airlines

Best Premium Economy Class
WINNER: Qantas

Best Business Class
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline : Transatlantic
WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline : Transpacific
WINNER: Cathay Pacific

Best Airline : Africa
WINNER: South African Airways

Best Airline : Asia
WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Airline : Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Air New Zealand

Best Airline : C America/Caribbean
WINNER: TACA Airlines

Best Airline : China
WINNER: Hainan Airlines

Best Airline : Eastern Europe
WINNER: Malev Hiungarian Airlines

Best Airline : Europe
WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline : India/Central Asia
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline : Middle East
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best Airline : North America
WINNER: Air Canada

Best Airline : Northern Europe
WINNER: Finnair

Best Airline : South America
WINNER: LAN Airlines

Best Airline : South East Asia
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline : Southern Europe
WINNER: Turkish Airlines

Best Airline : Western Europe
WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline Alliance
WINNER: Oneworld Alliance

Best Airline Lounge – Business Class
WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline Lounge – First Class
WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Airline Seat – Business Class
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Seat – Economy Class
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline Seat – First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline Seat – Premium Economy Class
WINNER: Qantas Airways

Best Low-Cost Airline Africa
WINNER: Kulula

Best Low-Cost Airline Asia
WINNER: Air Asia

Best Low-Cost Airline Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Virgin Blue

Best Low-Cost Airline Europe
WINNER: Air Berlin

Best Low-Cost Airline India
WINNER: IndiGo

Best Low-Cost Airline Middle East
WINNER: Air Arabia

Best Low-Cost Airline North America
WINNER: Virgin America

Best Low-Cost Airline South America
WINNER: GOL

Best Onboard Catering – Business Class
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best Onboard Catering – Economy Class
WINNER: Turkish Airlines

Best Onboard Catering – First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award – Africa
WINNER: South African Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award – Asia
WINNER: Malaysia Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award – Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Air New Zealand

Staff Service Excellence Award – C America/Caribbean
WINNER: TACA Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award – China
WINNER: Hainan Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award – Europe
WINNER: Swiss Int’l Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award – India/Central Asia
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award – Middle East
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award – North America
WINNER: WestJet

Staff Service Excellence Award – South America
WINNER: LAN Airlines

2011 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades Route, Map and Info

Posted on March 7, 2011 by wildcherry

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the final day of Carnival. The 2011 Mardi Gras occurs on March 8th. Below are the different kinds of New Orleans Mardi Grass parades route, map and info on March 8th.

Zulu

Date: Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011
Time: 8:15 AM
Location: Uptown

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a benevolent organization that is one of the highlights of Mardi Gras, is composed of men from all walks of life – from laborers and politicians to educators and business owners. Local men and women and visitors from throughout the country also now ride in the annual parade.

Medallion beads and an array of trinkets will be tossed, but of all the throws to rain down during carnival, the Zulu coconut or “Golden Nugget” is the most sought after. From as early as 1910, coconuts were given from the floats in their natural “hairy” state, the forerunner to today’s hand-decorated coconuts.

Rex

Date: Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Uptown

Rex, the Monarch of Merriment, reigns as the King of Carnival, and has done so since 1872. It was Rex who declared the official colors – gold, green and purple – and official song – ‘If Ever I Cease to Love’ – of the Carnival season. The Rex Ball marks the end of Carnival season.

Rex, King of Carnival, Monarch of Merriment, will rule over Fat Tuesday when he and his entourage parade through the streets of New Orleans as they have for the past 138 years.

Elks Krewe

Date: Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011
Time: Approx. 11:00 AM, after Rex
Location: Uptown

The Elks Orleanians are a group of over 50 individually designed truck floats that parade following Rex down St. Charles Ave. Truck parades give smaller groups and families the chance to parade with their procession of individually designed truck floats.

Stillwell Road: The Historic Highway to India

Posted on March 2, 2011 by hardcherry

Stillwell Road is a famous highway that links northeastern India with the Myanmar Road, which runs from Myanmar to China. The highway to India is 1.736 km long. The original name of the highway is Ledo Road. It became Stillwell Road in early 1945 at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek (named after General Vinegar Joe Stilwell of the U.S. Army).

Stillwell Road was built during WW II by U.S. Army engineers, and was used as a strategic military route. Western Allies used the highway as an alternative to supply the Chinese as another highway, Myanmar Road, was cut by the Japanese in 1942.

The road was built by 15,000 American soldiers (60 percent of whom were African-Americans) and 35,000 local workers at a cost of US$150 million. 1,100 Americans died during the construction, as well as many more locals.

American army units initially assigned to the Stillwell Road:

* 45th Engineer General Service Regiment (An African-American Unit)
* 823rd Aviation Engineer Battalion (EAB) (An African-American Unit)

In 1943 they were joined by:

* 848th EAB (An African-American Unit)
* 849th EAB (An African-American Unit)
* 858th EAB (An African-American Unit)
* 1883rd EAB (An African-American Unit)

Work continued through 1944 in late December it was opened for the transport of logistics. In January 1945, four of the black EABs (along with three white battalions) continued working on the now renamed Stilwell Road, improving and widening it. Indeed, one of these African American units was assigned the task of improving the road that extended into China.

After Myanmar was liberated, the highway road gradually fell into disrepair. For many years, travel via Stillwell Road was restricted on account of an active insurgency in the province of Assam in India and along the frontier against the Government of India. Due to continuous clashes between insurgents, who were based in Myanmar, and Indian forces, India imposed harsh restrictions between 1962 and the mid-1990s on travel into Myanmar.

But after the improvement in relations between India and Myanmar, travel has improved and tourism has begun near Pangsayu Pass. In recent years, the Myanmar government has focused on the reconstruction of the Stillwell Road as an alternative to the existing Lashio-Kunming Myanmar Road. The Chinese government completed construction of the Myitkyina-Kambaiti section in 2007 and the Rangoon based Yuzana company is constructing the section between Myitkyina and Tanai.

Source

The Bachelor is Visiting The Springs in Costa Rica

Posted on February 7, 2011 by hardcherry

Costa Rica has been named as one of many favorite destinations that offer an exotic view. The country is standing in the same line with Bali, Thailand, and other exotic lands on the earth. Costa Rica is also popular as a great place to spend honeymoon.

Tourists are visiting Costa Rica for its exotic beauty, good weather, and sometimes, for those who have interest in vacation homes business, its real estate.

Costa Rica is so popular that tonight’s “The Bachelor” at 8 pm on ABC takes the country as the setting. The crews filmed “The Bachelor” in a resort called The Springs Resort and Spa. The Springs is best known for its Arenal Volcano view. The Springs is considered as one of the best five star resorts in Costa Rica.

Brad Womack apparently seemed to be having a crush on some of the ladies at The Springs tonight. Will Brad Womack find his true love in Costa Rica? Let’s just wait until next week, when Brad takes his quest for love to Anguilla.

Credit Card Comparison: Hotel Rewards Card

Posted on February 2, 2011 by wildcherry

If you love to travel, you should consider getting one of these hotel rewards credit card. The hotel rewards credit card will give you free points immediately upon approval which you can redeem for free hotel stays.

Since there are many hotel rewards credit cards, the table below will help you decide which one is suitable for you. Of course if you have been a member of one of these hotel loyalty program, the easiest choice is to pick the same hotel credit card.

The hotel loyalty program credit card spend tables show four scenarios for different levels of annual credit card spend in various categories for earning hotel points ($6,000, $13,000, $24,000, and $48,000).

One or none of these scenarios may apply to your particular spending pattern. Adjusting the spending categories to your specific situation will allow you to make your own individualized chart to determine the best hotel loyalty program credit card for your needs.

Apply here for instant approval on any of the Hotel Rewards credit card!

Thundersnow caught on Amateur Video

Posted on January 26, 2011 by wildcherry

This video below captured the rare “Thundersnow” from an amateur video camera. Accuweather meteorologist predict that the whole northeast area will be experiencing this extreme weather condition.

According to Wikipedia, “Thundersnow”, also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thunder snowstorm, is a rare kind of thunderstorm with snow falling as the primary precipitation instead of rain.

10 Magnificent Rooftop Bars Across the USA

Posted on January 25, 2011 by hardcherry

Scott Gerber, who run 27 bars and restaurants across the world and developed The Whiskey at New York’s Paramount Hotel says rooftops bars offer ever-changing scenery. “When you get up on these rooftops, the views of these cities are incredible,” he says.

As a nightlife trend-setter, he knows the industry, and he shares some favorite rooftop bars with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Sky Blue
Park City, Utah

Located on the fourth floor of the Sky Lodge hotel, this indoor-outdoor lounge has a selection of whiskeys, scotches, cognacs and cigars. The deck is kept toasty by a fire pit, radiant heaters and a hot tub. “It’s your quintessential ski town with a main street, and they’ve created this little boutique hotel with a great outdoor bar,” Gerber says. 435-658-2500 ; theskylodge.com

SkyBar
Los Angeles

Gerber admits he has a weak spot for this bar at the Mondrian Hotel that was designed by his company 15 years ago and later sold. “It has this outdoor kind of hut with heaters,” he says. “When you step down to a pool, there are stairs with cushions and pillows.” Even years later, this open-air living room attracts an A-list crowd drawn by the vibe and views of West Hollywood. 323-650-8999; mondrianhotel.com

Roof
Chicago

Thanks to glass walls and heaters, partiers can still keep warm into early winter on this 27th floor Windy City lounge atop the downtown Wit Hotel. The outdoor portion closes once it gets bitter-cold, although the indoor section is open year-round. Guests like the telescope to check out other buildings, and the Hangover — a private area cantilevered over the side of the building. 312-239-9501; roofonthewit.com

Eden
Washington, D.C.

This bar, just a few blocks from the White House, has helped bring a cool factor to the nation’s capital, Gerber says. It’s a stand-alone lounge, with a bar on the top, fourth floor, kept toasty with special radiant heaters. He likes the cigar sommelier and the DJs — and so far, at least, the Obamas haven’t complained about the noise. 202-785-0270; edendc.com

Continental Mid-town
Philadelphia

Global tapas are on this menu at this stylish lounge a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square. The bar, operated by Stephen Starr, the celebrity chef behind some of the city’s top restaurants, has heaters to keep things warm and stays open year-round. “It’s one of those places that has incredible views,” Gerber says. 215-567-1800; continentalmidtown.com

R View
Seattle

You can watch the sun set over Puget Sound from this 28th-floor indoor lounge at the Renaissance hotel, Gerber says. But he also likes the crowd at the upscale high-rise. “It’s a lifestyle hotel where you bring together locals and people visiting the city, so it’s an interesting mix,” he says. 206-583-0300; rviewseattle.com

Top of the Hub
Boston

You can’t beat the perspective from the top-floor restaurant and lounge at the Prudential Tower. The 52nd floor offers 100-mile views on clear nights, and it’s indoors, lest you be blown away by coastal gusts. This is a place for special occasions, Gerber says. “They’ve got jazz and a lot of live bands.” 617-536-1775; topofthehub.net

39 Degrees
Aspen, Colo.

This ski-in lounge at the Sky Hotel is right off the slopes. It has a deck with a fire pit, hot tub and heated pool, open to anyone who buys a beverage — and not just hotel guests. Gerber says it’s the perfect après-ski environment and a celebrity hangout. “It’s what you picture when you get off the slopes.” 970-925-6760; theskyhotel.com

Prohibition Bar
Minneapolis

This indoor lounge on the 27th floor of an art-deco skyscraper offers a sweeping vista of the Twin Cities. The swanky bar fills the space that was once the office and boardroom of local businessman Wilbur Foshay, who constructed the building that’s now a W hotel. “They’ve kept some of the original feel, and it’s very different from most clubs,” Gerber says. 612-215-3700; starwoodhotels.com

C5
Atlantic City

This club within a club is on the fifth floor of the Chelsea, a non-casino hotel overlooking the boardwalk. It opens to the Cabana Club, an outdoor pool deck during warmer months, and is home to a heated cigar bar year-round. “Being able to experience this kind of lounge in a non-casino environment is pretty appealing,” Gerber says. 800-548-3030; thechelsea-ac.com/fifthfloor.php

Dubai Opens At.Moshpere, “The World’s Highest” Restaurant

Posted on January 23, 2011 by hardcherry

On Sunday, Dubai officially opened its restaurant on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, its developer said.

With a height of 422 meters (1,350 feet), Dubai’s At.Mostphere is “one of the finest luxury dining and lounge experiences in the world,” said Emaar Hospitality Group, an arm of giant property developer Emaar.

Integrating two choices – lounge & grill -, the restaurant can host over 210 guests and features a spacious arrival lobby, a main dining floor, private dining rooms and display cooking stations.

Mr Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties PJSC, the developer of Burj Khalifa, said: “At.mosphere is about offering the best in dining. Every aspect of the restaurant has been carefully designed and executed – be it the elegant decor, warm ambience, food choice and service standards.”

Emaar Properties have spent $1.5 billion on the restaurant, named after United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan who came to the aid of Dubai, hit by the global financial crisis.

“The upscale At.mosphere lounge pushes the boundaries of conventional lounges, and serves as an ideal stopover for a light lunch or even an afternoon tea. At night, the mood shifts with magnificent views of the city adding to the ambience,” says dubaicityguide.com.

This world’s highest restaurant is managed by Executive Chef Dwayne Cheer and Director of Operations Gabriele Babini who have years of international experience.