25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Italian Villas

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After watching movies like Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat, Love Pray,  I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and spend a couple of weeks in a villa in the countryside just focusing on myself.  Maybe write that book I always wanted to write or paint, learn to speak Italian, read a novel, take a cooking class, or do nothing at all.  With the hustle and bustle of our lives with all its stresses, obligations and commitments we have, it’s easy to lose ourselves and who we are.  Sometimes we need to take some times and get to know ourselves again.  And what better way to do than hanging out in the Italian countryside.  So in honor of some of my favorite movies, here are some perfect villas for your get away.

They also make a great romantic getaway, just in case you have a different get away in mind.

Alchimsta BisSleeps 6   3 bedrooms / 2 baths
This stone cottage with private pool and garden is located in the hilltop village of Monterchi, which is known for La Madonna del Parto, a painting by Piero della Francesca.


This unique property combines the luxury of a
villa with private garden and pool with the charm and convenience of being in a small village with shops and restaurants nearby. In the village there is a bank, post office, grocery store, and several restaurants. Famous Tuscan and Umbria cities such as Arezzo, Firenze, Siena, Assisi, and Perugia are easily reachable from this location.  Alchista B can be rented alone or with Villa Alchimista.

www.myitalianvacation.com

Diana BSleeps 2-4  1 bedroom / 1 bathroom

The Chianti Hills are known around the world for delicious red wine, rolling hills, and medieval villages. These beautifully restored stone farmhouses are located in the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany.


The famous Abbey of Badia a Coltibuono in Chianti is about 2 kilometers from this tranquil location. The Medieval towns of Gaiole and Radda are nearby as well (3 km and 7 km respectively). Diana A is a large farmhouse that sleeps 10/12. Diana B, an independent stone farmhouse that sleeps 2/4, is located nearby on the same Tuscan estate.




The farmhouses enjoy views of the surrounding countryside of vineyards and olive groves and share a large pool. Renting both together is an ideal location for a larger group. The entire property sleeps 12/16.


www.myitalianvacation.com


Isola Rossa
Situated on the unpopulated western coast of the Monte Argentario peninsula, this lovely stone farmhouse offers absolute tranquillity within a glorious setting. Rescued from ruin by a well-known Italian architect, it stands now as a simple but charming summer retreat, artistically decorated in a fresh, uncluttered style.

The restoration work provided the house with a good kitchen and three ensuite bathrooms, and reserved the entire top floor for an airy, loft-type master bedroom.

A path leads through the olive, orange and lemon trees that surround the house to a secluded pebble beach. Private pool with views over the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean before you, this is a perfect gem for a get-away-from-it-all holiday.



www.tuscanynow.com/Rentals/Villas/Isola_Rossa_CardID_5173.aspx



Casa Castagno 
Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Renaissance painter and sculptor, was born at Caprese, an ancient cliff-top village in the beautiful hilly area between Arezzo and the Casentino Forest Reserve.

Casa Castagno, ‘Chestnut House’, is a delightful stone cottage nestled into a forested hillside near the village, the perfect retreat for a couple keen on walking and touring the area’s magnificent abbeys and lovely old villages.

The cottage has just been fully restored and equipped with new kitchen appliances and a modern bathroom, although its interior stone walls, high beamed ceilings and original terracotta floors were all preserved.

A private swimming pool, positioned for the best views, offers a relaxing alternative to sightseeing.


http://www.tuscanynow.com/Rentals/Villas/Casa_Castagno_CardID_4688.aspx




La Casella La Casella is 2 km south of Cetona, ideally located in south-east corner of Tuscany for touring central Italy. From here you can easily reach most of Tuscany and Umbria on day-trips. The A1 Autostrada is about 15 minute drive away, and in about 20 minutes in Chiusi is a main-line train station.



This is a scenic region with famous vineyards, historic hill-towns and large farming valleys with panoramic views. Here is the classic Tuscany of cypress lined roads and olive groves.
At La Casella you can enjoy outside dining al fresco and views over the countryside from two covered terraces, and from the chaise lounges on the sunny brick-paved pool side.
Dinners can also be cooked outdoors on the brick barbeque. From the garden you can pick sage, rosemary and thyme for your favorite recipes.
Nearby Tuscan towns include Montepulciano to the north, about 1 hour or less are Siena, Arezzo and Cortona. Florence you can reach in about 1.5 hours. On the Umbrian side are Perugia, Assisi, and Orvieto.
http://www.tuscanhouse.com/lacasella/villa.htm


Villino La VignaComfortably sleeping two people, with additional facilities for an extra two, this pretty country house with pool nestles in a privileged elevated position on a hillside facing out towards the sea.


Located nearby is the picturesque medieval village of Castelnuovo Magra, just on the border between Liguria and Tuscany.


This venue forms an ideal base for exploring the Cinque Terre fishing villages and nature reserve, as well as for accessing the local beaches.


http://www.seaandcountryvillas.com/scv3/villa.php?villa=vigna



RoutaHigh above the charming, picturesque little town of Greve in Chianti, a castle offers refuge in the form of holiday properties. Ruota is a charming, original holiday property with admirable views.

In the valley below, Greve in Chianti has a medieval square, weekly market and good shops selling a variety of Tuscan specialties. It is just 1 km away by foot (or for the intrepid driver on a very rough track!) or 11km by road.
The property retains its sense of privacy by means of a long unasphalted track. Siena, Florence and Arezzo are within reach for day trips.
All on first floor: Living/dining room/corner kitchen. 1 double bedroom. Shower room with toilet.

CH inc. Ceiling fans in bedrooms. Cot on request. Satellite TV. W/machine in shared laundry. Terrace. BBQ. Shared swimming pool (12 x 5m, depth 1.4m) available Apr-Oct.

Distance to Panzano 6km

Distance to Greve 50mNearest facilities 50m
Please Note: There is a 150 Euro security deposit poa.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Pool is shared and measures 12 x 5m; 1.4m deep. Pool is open from the end of March to the end of October. The housekeeper lives on site, there is a taxi service to town, cooking classes & wine tasting in nearby farms, tickets to museums in Florence on sale at reception as well as other tours in the area.

(Private cars & private drive or bus tours) This property is reached by 1.5km of unpaved road.








http://www.italianlife.co.uk/tts133/ruota-florence.aspx?propertyType=1&startDate=01/01/0001&flexibleDate=true&duration=
7&partySize=2&sleeps1=0&sleeps2=0&sleeps3Plus=0&lat=43.4529&long=
11.3159&zoom=8&criteria=&orderBy=SleepsASC&tab=list&page=4&type=
list&rand=576467&region=593&ListRegion=593

New Airline Rules Start Jan. 1

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The new airline rules start Jan. 1, 2012.  No more bait and switch!  Airlines can no longer quote you one price for a ticket and than when you get ready to pay for the ticket, pile a bunch of required taxes and fees on top of that price so you end up with an amount sometimes double the original price you were quoted.

Now airlines and travel agencies are required to quote you a price that includes the cost of the ticket plus all required taxes and fees.

Among the other protections:
• A ban on price increases after a ticket has been purchased
• A 24-hour window for passengers to hold or cancel a reservation without payment or penalty for reservations made a week or more before the departure date
• Required disclosure of baggage fees upon booking and on e-ticket confirmations
• Required prompt notification of delays of more than 30 minutes, cancellations and diversions
• The same baggage allowance and fees to apply throughout a passenger's trip

Disney's Ship Vandalized

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Disney's new ship the Fantasy which is being built in a shipyard in papenburg, Germany, was vandalized.  The vandals caused $1.2 million in water damage to the ship.

Hopefully officals will catch these guys because we're not talking about a few dollars, its $1.2 MILLION.  That's sad. 

Security is being tightened around the shipyard but this is a serious lesson learned about the need for tight security.

Will Travel Agency's Get Sued Over the Costa Disaster

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Travel Agency's are worried they will dragged into law suits being files by passengers and family members of those who lost their lives on board the Concordia cruise ship.  The question on every travel agent and agency's mind who booked a client on that cruise is will our agency get sued and what are the odds that we will be held liable and if we are sued and win would the plaintiffs have to pay our attorney's fees?

The odds of an agency being sued really depends on the plaintiffs attorney.  Some attorneys automatically sue everyone and anyone they can that has any attachment to the case at all regardless if they can actually collect anything from them or not, rather than risk any statue of limitations from running out before the plaintiff realizes they want to sue a company they feel was some how also liable.  Personal injury lawyers would focus on the agency in the states since Costa tickets state that if the cruise did not depart from, return to or visit a U.S. port, the passenger must sue the cruise line only in Genoa, Italy, not the U.S.

Even if Costa was sued in the states the plaintiffs could not get more than $70,000 in damages due to a treaty limitation of liability so it is likely the plaintiff wold try to get more money from the travel agency.  Even if the agency wins the suit they would be out thousands of dollars in legal fees and in most cases the judge does not have the power to order the plaintiffs to reimburse you for legal fees.

Sadly with a creative lawyer a case could be made that Costa had a history of allowing their captains sail too close to islands for "salutes" and that travel agents and agency's should have known about this and warned clients about the possible danger before booking them on cruises.  Which is a little far fetched.  There is no "maybe or mabe not harmful actions but not illegal conduct list" that goes out to travel agency's.

It is being recommended that travel agency's ask clients to sign a "disclaimer of liability" when booking them on a cruise.  Be VERY CAREFUL about signing anything that gives away your rights to file a law suit in the event  something goes terrible wrong.  There are things beyond your agents doing but there are things that aren't.  I NEVER give up my legal rights.  If they ask you to do so, go some place else.  Because if they do something really, really wrong and something really bad happens, you just signed away your right to sue them.  So don't do it.

Ca Country's Outstanding Traveller Guidelines To Get The Best Of Vacation Deals, Lodgings And Sights

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The Most Celebrated Beaches for Your California Vacations

The beaches of California are amazing. The dazzling, temperate and relaxing rays of the sun are perfect for surfboarding and for exploring the pristine water of California. There are a lot of glorious beaches in California appropriate for your summer California vacations. Walking on Santa Barbara's seashores is similar to a trip Hawaii. They have wide seashores and eye-catching sand wonderful for swimming, grilling, surfing, sailing and more. The Santa Monica beach is another tourist hot spot in California and is great for those who just love to lie around on the beach. The ambiance in Santa Monica is very modest and laid back. You can spend your time just sprawling around, sailing or chilling under a beach sunshade. Laguna Beach is also a fantastic exploratory beach. You'll enjoy seeing dolphins and sea lions as they promote fun and create some noise. San Diego beaches are also suggested. There are a lot of beaches here but you'll definitely find one that's ideal for you. Whether you want to stretch out under the sun, walk away, or just enjoy water activities like swimming, sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking. California beaches are forever there to outfit your California vacations and beach wishes.

Best Resorts for California Vacations

California is famous for its great resorts and to have California vacations is the best getaway that you could ever experience. In fact, several wonderful places in California welcome every visitor sincerely, thus, you have lots of brilliant choices to pick from anytime. A trip to such romantic spas and resorts in California is surely going to relax and refresh your spirit. You can always go online to check out great resorts for California vacations and for sure, you will find the perfect place that will suit your need. All California spa vacations are becoming more admired and adored by a lot of people because of the state's great weather conditions. California spa and resort vacation destinations might be luxurious for the fact that they offer the best hotels and spa resorts. Spending your vacation in a resort is a very refreshing experience. Each resort and spa in the state provides delight. In addition, the stunning state of California offers very relaxing mountain, desert, and Oceanside resort spas.

California Vacations: Kids Deserve It

Wonderful California vacations are what most kids love to experience during vacation breaks. The realm of California is a perfect location to spend ones breathtaking vacation break. Thus, if you want to give your kids a gift for this years school vacation, then a trip to California would be the best reward of all. Visitors will find hundreds of lovely places in California such as wonderful parks and museums. The La Brea Tar Pits, the Redwood National and State Parks, the Los Angeles County Art Museum, and the Hollywood, CA are just some of the California vacation spots that kids will enjoy. Another attraction your kids will love is Disneyland California; thus, do not ever miss the excitement. The scenery is remarkable and fantastic. Let your kids be supportive to the endangered species like the Stellers lions, Northern spotted owls, and bald eagle, found in the National Parks and State Parks. California is the place that kids deserve, whether for fun or for educational purposes.

Vacation Guide to California Vacations

If you want to have unforgettable vacation moments, then you should experience California vacations. California is certainly one of the most stunning places that one should visit and appreciate. For travelers who are looking for a fun experience, California vacations offer an opportunity to unwind and to enjoy a wide variety of destination choices. Such beautiful California destinations to pick from are San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Napa, Berkeley, and South Lake Tahoe. No matter which region of California you choose, still all of the destinations offer their very own beauty and glamor. They also render incredible holiday experiences for vacationers of all ages. In addition, California vacations are truly for all kids, adults, couples, honeymooners, groups, families, and individuals who want to experience a unique getaway. The Golden Gate Bridge, Japanese Tea Garden, Palm Springs, Alcatraz Island, Death Valley, Big Sur, and Sea World Adventure Park are just some of the many amazing attractions in California.

24 Haziran 2012 Pazar

The Great Divide

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As someone who writes, the thought of writing about a personal relationship has often scared me. The truth as its seen in my head has the power to hurt and create doubt in the mind of readers, without ever giving my partner the platform to say his piece. This sort of responsibility is not one that I take lightly but truth be told, writing has now become therapeutic and so today I break my long silence.

Being in an on-again off-again 7 year relationship has made me treasure the man I will always call my great love. Together, we begun as lust struck teenagers and grew well into the adult boots we have each individually picked out for ourselves.

These boots though, they don't match at all. Mine is thick soled and waterproof, for constantly being on the move while his is flat and dressy, perfect for that big corporate climb to the top. Somewhere along picking out our designated footwear, we parted ways at a crossroad without even knowing it. He went left and I went right.

I stomped my feet in my shiny new wellies, furious that he had not followed my lead and he stood strong, miles away, not willing to budge.We struggled for awhile, often calling out to each other but the distance between us had long swallowed our relationship whole.

Instead of taking steps backward, we've marched on, each in separate directions with a loose rope still attached to each other. On our journeys we would relive tales of adventures, injustices and joy to one another, each tempting the other to make the long trek back. But once we had each gotten a taste for the vast unknown that lay ahead, we both wanted to make footprints of our own in the sand.

Every now and then I turn around and squint my eyes for a glimpse of his lost silhouette but now it has completely disappeared. The sudden silence and independence is both terrifying and exhilarating.

I still think of his generous heart and kind smile, the kind I know he only reserved for me and it makes me sad that our journeys must be different but it also makes me smile because to know and feel a love like that, is priceless. Apart from showing me how to love, he brought out a love I didn't believe I had the capacity to extend and for that alone, I will be forever grateful.

 I close my eyes and pray that he is well on his way to the end of the rainbow as I am too, clearly just to the opposite end of the exact same rainbow.



Never willing to undo, never willing to forget, never willing to say goodbye.

Ca Country's Outstanding Traveller Guidelines To Get The Best Of Vacation Deals, Lodgings And Sights

To contact us Click HERE
The Most Celebrated Beaches for Your California Vacations

The beaches of California are amazing. The dazzling, temperate and relaxing rays of the sun are perfect for surfboarding and for exploring the pristine water of California. There are a lot of glorious beaches in California appropriate for your summer California vacations. Walking on Santa Barbara's seashores is similar to a trip Hawaii. They have wide seashores and eye-catching sand wonderful for swimming, grilling, surfing, sailing and more. The Santa Monica beach is another tourist hot spot in California and is great for those who just love to lie around on the beach. The ambiance in Santa Monica is very modest and laid back. You can spend your time just sprawling around, sailing or chilling under a beach sunshade. Laguna Beach is also a fantastic exploratory beach. You'll enjoy seeing dolphins and sea lions as they promote fun and create some noise. San Diego beaches are also suggested. There are a lot of beaches here but you'll definitely find one that's ideal for you. Whether you want to stretch out under the sun, walk away, or just enjoy water activities like swimming, sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking. California beaches are forever there to outfit your California vacations and beach wishes.

Best Resorts for California Vacations

California is famous for its great resorts and to have California vacations is the best getaway that you could ever experience. In fact, several wonderful places in California welcome every visitor sincerely, thus, you have lots of brilliant choices to pick from anytime. A trip to such romantic spas and resorts in California is surely going to relax and refresh your spirit. You can always go online to check out great resorts for California vacations and for sure, you will find the perfect place that will suit your need. All California spa vacations are becoming more admired and adored by a lot of people because of the state's great weather conditions. California spa and resort vacation destinations might be luxurious for the fact that they offer the best hotels and spa resorts. Spending your vacation in a resort is a very refreshing experience. Each resort and spa in the state provides delight. In addition, the stunning state of California offers very relaxing mountain, desert, and Oceanside resort spas.

California Vacations: Kids Deserve It

Wonderful California vacations are what most kids love to experience during vacation breaks. The realm of California is a perfect location to spend ones breathtaking vacation break. Thus, if you want to give your kids a gift for this years school vacation, then a trip to California would be the best reward of all. Visitors will find hundreds of lovely places in California such as wonderful parks and museums. The La Brea Tar Pits, the Redwood National and State Parks, the Los Angeles County Art Museum, and the Hollywood, CA are just some of the California vacation spots that kids will enjoy. Another attraction your kids will love is Disneyland California; thus, do not ever miss the excitement. The scenery is remarkable and fantastic. Let your kids be supportive to the endangered species like the Stellers lions, Northern spotted owls, and bald eagle, found in the National Parks and State Parks. California is the place that kids deserve, whether for fun or for educational purposes.

Vacation Guide to California Vacations

If you want to have unforgettable vacation moments, then you should experience California vacations. California is certainly one of the most stunning places that one should visit and appreciate. For travelers who are looking for a fun experience, California vacations offer an opportunity to unwind and to enjoy a wide variety of destination choices. Such beautiful California destinations to pick from are San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Napa, Berkeley, and South Lake Tahoe. No matter which region of California you choose, still all of the destinations offer their very own beauty and glamor. They also render incredible holiday experiences for vacationers of all ages. In addition, California vacations are truly for all kids, adults, couples, honeymooners, groups, families, and individuals who want to experience a unique getaway. The Golden Gate Bridge, Japanese Tea Garden, Palm Springs, Alcatraz Island, Death Valley, Big Sur, and Sea World Adventure Park are just some of the many amazing attractions in California.

Locate And Find The Best Travel Dea

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Nowadays everybody is looking for cost-effective travel deals. There are many websites which offer handsome discounts on travel. Number of people who are booking their travel on the internet is growing every year. With the help of modern services available online you can find travel packages very easily. You can find cheap travel deals to all exotic destinations of the world at the comfort of your home. It is a good idea to go through all the travel websites before buying a travel deal.
 http://www.destination360.com/travel/vacations/images/s/best-vacation-deals.jpgTravel websites not only offer tickets but also provide all other resources which you will need during your travel. With the help of some websites you can compare prices of different airline companies and travel firms. In this way you can find the best travel deal which suits your budget. It is a good idea to select various travel components from different resources. By following some useful tips you can make your dream holiday reality. It is very important to set a budget before you start searching for deals.
A regular travel package includes booking of a hotel, flight, cruises and car hire. You can also look for last minute packages. These types of packages can help you to save some money. Last minute deals are always perfect for weekend gateways. If you will spend some time, you can enjoy the perfect travel deal available in the market.Finding the best travel deal is not a difficult job if simple tips are followed. So what you are waiting for? Do not delay and start finding a travel package according to your requirements and budget.

How To Find The Best Travel Deals

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Even though the idea of a vacation is suppose to be something we all look forward to, the planning stage of it can sometimes give us a big headache and can also be stressful. This is especially true if we are planning our holidays to some place unfamiliar or even out of the country. A lot of times when you are planning you are also wanting to try and save some money in the process. If you happen to know where to look you can actually find some great deals to help lower the overall cost of your vacation.
 http://cheapvacationpackagesallinclusive.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/all_inclusive_vacation_packages.jpgThere are websites that can help with your searches for airfares, for your hotels, your car rental and even cruises. There are even some sites like kayak.com or sidestep.com that will do the Internet search for you by searching more than one website at a time so you don't have to do all the work yourself. Although these sites won't always show the lowest prices, they will give you an idea of what the average price might be on a particular travel site.Another site you might want to use for some research would be Travelzoo. The staff of this site will hand pick deals that are exceptionally good with a rare exception that they are not. They will list travel deals they feel the average person would be interested in and list them. You can go through the list and see if there are any deals that could be of interest and benefit for you and your budget.Other extremely helpful sites are Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and other sites that are similar can help you also get deals you might not be able to find on your own. Remember though on Priceline you are able to bid for a deal but once that bid is given and you don't win it, they downgrade your status to a lower star unless you happen to immediately have another credit card on hand.If you want to do more of this on your own and find deals, remember that you can look for those last minute type of deals. You can find them on airline tickets, hotel rooms and even last minute deals on your car rentals. But you need to be willing to be taking a chance on booking your vacation right down to the wire. The reason you can find these deals is because there have been last minute cancellations and the hotel or car rental company would rather get less money than no money at all.When you are doing your own search on hotels, it's always better if you just call them and see if they have something better to offer than what their website might be offering. As for airlines, go to their websites and see if they have any exclusive offers that you can only get by using their website to book your flight.If it's a cruise you are considering going on it's probably in your best interest to contact a travel agent that has an independent company that handles cruises. A lot of times these independents will give you more perks and discounts because they are in more need of making a sale than larger travel agent companies.

Look For The Best Air Travel Deals?

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As there are many airlines serving air travellers these days, it becomes difficult to know which one is the best. This article will help you find that out and will also give you advice on grabbing the best air deal.Air travel has become commonplace nowadays with increasing number of people preferring it for travelling long distances. This has also led to a surge in the number of airlines in the market and one can have a hard time choosing which one to go for. This is the reason why you must have met people who are confused as to which airline they should pick for their next travel. This article will help you with solving the dilemma and will also guide you on how to grab the best air travel deals.http://i.ytimg.com/vi/caYSrFYdIi0/0.jpg
When it comes to airlines, they employ a lot of strategies to attract customers and also offer discounts and various schemes. This increases their market share and if they continue to deliver great services then they also profit from the word of mouth. Now as a customer you have the right to go for the best deal available and therefore let us discuss some points which will help you with that. First of all, check with your travel planner whether he can help you find the cheapest and the best airlines service.If he can, I suppose he will tell you that right on your face. Otherwise, you are a smart guy then internet is like an open book for you. Start with booking services and look how they fluctuate with seasons in a year. Delta airlines and Qatar airways booking services are the best in this field, so start with them. Check their trends and know when to strike the hot iron. With this, you can always contact the airlines with their phones numbers and increase your information about their travel fares and the facilities they provide.Else, you can always go online and research on your own. Other than websites of the airlines, you can always go through forums where customers post their queries and feedback. Go through the threads deeply and get to know about the best airline services functioning in your area. You can also read travelogues on blogs of different authors and they will also tell you more about how was their experience with different airlines. Some of site and blogs favor some specific airlines so you would have to see through the text to know whether the information posted on a site is genuine or not. So try these steps and grab the best airline deal.

23 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi

Mile Wise

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This is a really great airfare search site.  Its not as extensive as some of the other search engine but it does have a very unique feature that gives it a leg up and makes it worth checking out.

With this website when you search for flights you will see results in both dollars and rewards miles.  You can also add the miles reward programs you belong to and get more personalized results. 


You can adjust results by credit card programs including American Express, Citi, Chase, Starwood, Capital One or by program type such as miles or points or restrict the results to certain airlines.  You can also limit results to any combination of cash, miles and points.   So you have a good number of search options available to you. 

https://secured.milewise.com

Disney's Ship Vandalized

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Disney's new ship the Fantasy which is being built in a shipyard in papenburg, Germany, was vandalized.  The vandals caused $1.2 million in water damage to the ship.

Hopefully officals will catch these guys because we're not talking about a few dollars, its $1.2 MILLION.  That's sad. 

Security is being tightened around the shipyard but this is a serious lesson learned about the need for tight security.

Will Travel Agency's Get Sued Over the Costa Disaster

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Travel Agency's are worried they will dragged into law suits being files by passengers and family members of those who lost their lives on board the Concordia cruise ship.  The question on every travel agent and agency's mind who booked a client on that cruise is will our agency get sued and what are the odds that we will be held liable and if we are sued and win would the plaintiffs have to pay our attorney's fees?

The odds of an agency being sued really depends on the plaintiffs attorney.  Some attorneys automatically sue everyone and anyone they can that has any attachment to the case at all regardless if they can actually collect anything from them or not, rather than risk any statue of limitations from running out before the plaintiff realizes they want to sue a company they feel was some how also liable.  Personal injury lawyers would focus on the agency in the states since Costa tickets state that if the cruise did not depart from, return to or visit a U.S. port, the passenger must sue the cruise line only in Genoa, Italy, not the U.S.

Even if Costa was sued in the states the plaintiffs could not get more than $70,000 in damages due to a treaty limitation of liability so it is likely the plaintiff wold try to get more money from the travel agency.  Even if the agency wins the suit they would be out thousands of dollars in legal fees and in most cases the judge does not have the power to order the plaintiffs to reimburse you for legal fees.

Sadly with a creative lawyer a case could be made that Costa had a history of allowing their captains sail too close to islands for "salutes" and that travel agents and agency's should have known about this and warned clients about the possible danger before booking them on cruises.  Which is a little far fetched.  There is no "maybe or mabe not harmful actions but not illegal conduct list" that goes out to travel agency's.

It is being recommended that travel agency's ask clients to sign a "disclaimer of liability" when booking them on a cruise.  Be VERY CAREFUL about signing anything that gives away your rights to file a law suit in the event  something goes terrible wrong.  There are things beyond your agents doing but there are things that aren't.  I NEVER give up my legal rights.  If they ask you to do so, go some place else.  Because if they do something really, really wrong and something really bad happens, you just signed away your right to sue them.  So don't do it.

Sequoia Trip Review

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This month (June) we took a road trip up to Sequoia NationalPark to see the giant trees.  I havenever been to Sequoia before so I was excited to see these amazing trees.  We rented a privately owned cabin that waslocated just outside the tiny town of Springville(http://threespringsranch.com).  Werented the Waterfall cabin which had one bedroom and a pullout sofa bed.  There were nice big windows looking out intothe trees which made it very relaxing.  There was no TV reception so we played games and watched DVD’s forentertainment in the evenings. The only cell phone reception was AT&T andsince we don’t have AT&T we had no cell phone usage which actually was nota bad thing.  There is a creek that runsbehind the cabin that you can hike down to. It is a little bit of a steep climb but not too bad.  There are large rocks that the water runsover creating a small waterfall, thus the name of the cabin.  The water pools in a c couple of spots andyou can wade in the water.  If you arereally ambitious you can follow the creek down into the wooded area and hikearound there.
The street the cabin is located is actually the beginning ofa loop that will take you up into the mountain where the Sequoia trees areat.  It’s a very pretty drive and theloop will bring you right back to the cabin again.  When we took the drive there were clouds atthe top of the mountain which made for some very interesting scenery and greatpictures.







We spent one full day in Sequoia National Park.   I couldn’t tell you how many times westopped along the road to get out and take pictures. The scenery wasamazing.  The Sequoia trees areamazing.  Standing in front of thosemassive trees are awe inspiring.  Theyare beautiful trees but also just incredible creations.  I couldn’t stop taking pictures. 
They are absolutely worth seeing.

Deals Airline Tickets

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21 Haziran 2012 Perşembe

Thank You Rakyat Malaysia

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I grew up in one of those households that affirmed a specific stereotype for a specific race. The Chinese all stuck together, clannish is the word I think my family called them. The Malays had it easy with all the help it got from the government and that left us, the Indians to fend for ourselves (as it was a well known fact that Indians never really helped one another). I believed that despite being a Malaysian citizen, I was born into an unfortunate situation.

My mother constantly spoke about migration and how we had to go in search of a better life, one Malaysia could not secure for a middle class Indian family like ours.

Like every other Indian family, it began with studying abroad. But as much as I enjoyed the freedom of a foreign land, I always felt the pull of Malaysia and returned after a long stint away.

I never worried myself over our economy, our government, our political leaders. I grew up understanding that the odds were already stacked against me, that some things, despite my citizenship would just never be available to me. But that never stopped me from complaining.

From as old as I could form my own thoughts, I’ve been complaining. Every hurdle I ever came across, I attributed to foul play or inequality of the Malaysian system. I considered myself nothing more but a victim of the system.

But the time finally came for me to stop complaining and pointing fingers and to do something about it. The tremendous momentum of the Bersih rally managed to even garner my-never-read-the-newspaper attention. There was this sudden uproar in commanding justice, and I felt an overwhelming need to support it.

The ludicrous statements churned out by Barisan National members made me foam at the mouth. How could they pull such dirty tricks at a national level and think they could get away with it? That must have been the moment I decided that an arrogant and bullish government was a government that didn’t deserve to rule further and I was going to do everything in my little way to ensure it.

I told my mother that I had to attend the Bersih rally, and to much surprise, she didn’t try to stop me. She even packed me and my sister raincoats to keep the anticipated water canons off our skin.

I remember praying that morning. Apart from asking God not to get me arrested, I prayed that this peaceful assembly resulted in a new Malaysia, one that I could be proud of.

My sister, her friend and I made our way to the Pasar Seni station and were met with fear as we saw FRU trucks and countless men in uniform. The mood was tense and the lack of non Malays made me nervous. I feared standing out like a sore thumb.

By 1pm, we had begun to march down Petaling Street. We immediately felt safe in a sea of what can only be described as a multiracial crowd of Malaysians. People were passing around flowers, snapping photographs and even blowing up balloons to toss around. Photographers on rooftops summoned the crowd to look up and in turn we donned our biggest smiles. This street carnival atmosphere erased some of the tension that most of us had been feeling earlier, when we arrived into what appeared to be a ghost town of Kuala Lumpur. Fear was the furthest things from our mind as we sang “Bersih, bersih” to the tune of Ole-ole.

Due to a blockage at one of the streets leading up to Stadium Merdeka, we made our way instead towards Menara Maybank. This is where I witnessed a whole new Malaysia. Malays, Chinese and Indians were smiling, laughing, waving at people in the LRTs together. No one uttered curse words, no one showed the FRU the finger (I checked when a police helicopter flew by) and no one seemed inclined to any kind of violence, except for the FRU that is. That precise moment of Malaysian harmony at its finest was met by canisters of tear gas and so began what has become a truly historic day.

My sister, her friend and I clutched each other tightly and ran for our lives. There are no words to describe the fear of being attacked by your own police. The protectors of our country, the defenders of the weak were hell bent on hurting little ol’ unarmed me.

Once we had been cornered at Jalan Pudu, I started to worry. This was all getting too dangerous for my liking and as fate would have it, we could see no possible exit strategy. A cloud of tear gas engulfed me, each breath like needles into my nose, throat and worst of all lungs. I clutched on to my sisters backpack as we summoned ourselves to run blindly out of harm’s way. I could barely open my eyes and my heart raced like it was about to explode. I felt nauseous and dizzy all at once, I could barely stand upright let alone sprint anymore when it began to rain heavily, soaking us all while washing remnants of the tear gas off our burning skin.

We ran into what appeared to be an open space next to the Tung Shin Hospital. As I gasped for oxygen, I was met with the sincere concern of other rally participants, all offering water and salt to minimize the effects of the hazardous gas. I remember what I saw then very clearly (despite the tears running down my cheek) as it has changed my mind of Malaysia. Malaysians were sharing water, salt and towels. Malaysians were helpful and considerate. Malaysians were praying together for the violence to cease.

Choked with emotion and lungs still reeling from the tear gas, we were on the run again. In a distance I could see the FRU charging at us, batons waving threateningly in the air. We were now faced with a 12 foot wall. This was no ordinary wall, it was red earth cut at an almost 90 degree angle. There was no way to climb this wall unless you possessed the acrobatic skills of a Chinese circus act. But a group of Malay men had made a hole in the fence of the neighbouring Chinese school and in an orderly fashion were pulling people up over the wall. I waited patiently (despite the horrid yelling of the FRU behind me) for my turn as a kind gentlemen summoned the strength of the gods to single handedly pull me to safety. Before I knew it, my sister and her friend were over the ledge too as more tear gas canisters exploded around us.

Out of sheer instinct, your body only knows to run. So run we did. We followed the crowd to what was another hole in a fence, this time down a slippery slope. A Chinese man and a Malay man held their hands out for me to trek down carefully, yet again, all in an orderly fashion. I held on to anyone that was within reach for balance and offered the same for the ones trapped behind me. The barbed wires of the fence ate into the flesh of a Malay man that held the opening for us to pass and seemed unfazed by the fact the the FRU was so close. It was clear that he was leaving no Malaysian behind.

As I made my way through the broken fence, a young Malay boy whispered “Ingat BN saja boleh buat jalan, kita pun boleh buat jalan,” and winked at me. I laughed. With the FRU hot on our trail, I managed to savour the moment, just stand there and laugh. Then we started to run again.

Now that the burn of the tear gas has left my body, and the ache of the chase is long gone, what remains fresh in my mind is the spirit of unity Malaysians showed me. Our solidarity was undeniable.

To see the lies reported in the news, makes me mad but gives me hope to believe that maybe everything else I’ve read in the news before this were lies too. After all I did not see clannish Chinese, easy going Malays or selfish Indians, I only saw Malaysians, eager for peace and justice.

I would like to thank that very kind Malay gentleman that hauled me up almost 12 feet. I wish I had taken the moment to look you in the eye and thank you for being the Malaysian we should all aspire to be.

July 9 is the day I finally stopped being an Indian in Malaysia. I am now proud to be simply a Malaysian.

Textbook Examples

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At the risk of sounding terribly reminiscent of a secondary 'Moral' text book, I find myself believing that those utterly cliche stories of an Ali, Ah Chong and Anand may have been derived from true stories.

Clearly its not as apparent in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, but from as far back as I can remember, people my age always laughed at these stories of fake friendships and an exaggerated sense of harmony.

We mixed with all races in school and we still do but the stories in those text books spoke of an era I was completely unfamiliar with.

Eager to take a break from the rat race that has unassumingly become my life, I opted to head in the opposite direction of Kuala Lumpur. What I needed was the ocean, my heart's cure to almost everything.

It seemed like the perfect way to spend a Saturday. I sat under a shady tree, close enough for the waves to wash over my feet every now and then. I could smell the salt in the air and despite the fact that it knotted my already curly locks, I was blissfully at peace.


The sun had set, and with sand stuck everywhere imaginable, I was ready for a nice shower and a hot meal. The taxi driver asked if he could make a quick stop before he dropped us off at the hotel and I courteously obliged, there was no meter running after all. The old Malay taxi driver had stopped outside a mechanic's shop to settle his debt before the Ramadhan period started.

Even without prompting an explanation, he began to praise the Chinese mechanic we had just seen. This old Malay taxi driver did not want to inconvenience the mechanic in case he didn't come around this side of the island during Ramadhan to pay off his debt. What a kind gesture. How thoughtful I remembered thinking.

Then, as an Indian waitress brought me my dinner at a Chinese restaurant later that night, we started to hear singing from across the road. I was slightly stunned to see Chinese patrons urging a Malay patron to sing, and then he did, a wonderfully in tune rendition of 'Isabella'. The end of the song was met with cheering all around.

I looked back at my food, still finding it hard to digest why these situations seemed foreign to me. Before I could come to a conclusion, the corner of my eye caught the owner of the restaurant, a middle age Chinese woman carrying a little Indian girl. The Chinese woman looked at her adoringly and planted kisses on her cheek. The toddler was the family member of one of the waitresses.

I felt warmth in my heart.

The stories I so easily condemned of being far fetched and fictional, were actually true testaments of how people outside of KL, or well how people on Pulau Pangkor lived.

This relaxing weekend getaway has stirred some important food for thought, the kind Malaysians need at this critical fork in the road.

Chronophobia

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Fear of time.

It hits you like a tonne of bricks to wake one morning and realize you are mid way through your 30's. I hear too many horror stories of people losing it at work and packing up for Bora Bora.

I know I'd like to end up at Bora Bora but I doubt I want to be pushed to cracking point right beforehand.

Everyone keeps telling me that the 20's are all the fun you're granted in a lifetime. It makes me nervous thinking I'm past mid point and haven't yet had my fill of fun.

What if I miss my chance at fun? What if I waste my youth at a dead end job that leaves you feeling numb on the inside? Are the decisions I make now worth a little more contemplation than I actually give them credit for?

So back to Bora Bora. Who has a map?

Judging a Book by Its Headline

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Journalistic Integrity - Malaysia's mainstream media has NONE.

It's sad and pathetic the kind of angles they chose to highlight these days. A blatant act of desperation and corruption.

From altering visuals to demonize the innocent to withholding evidence necessary to convict the guilty, the mainstream media of Malaysia has failed us all.

I hear stories of newsroom meetings turned into lectures where editors drop hints of how friendships with the ministers take president over the truth.

I hear stories of editors laughing at journalists who wish to write eye witness accounts of injustice.

Has the Malaysian media become so corrupt that it would rather sit on the opposing side to its people than be the voice this country so clearly needs?

I don't know how much rein the government has on the media but I do know that if all the editors and producers joined forces to retaliate against this fundamental right to speech, no harm could befall those who seek truth and justice.

United we stand, divided we fall.

If there is one thing you can do for your country, stop entertaining the mainstream media of Malaysia.

Take a stand and choose to obtain your news from the various independent news portals that feature an array of point of views.

It is only then that you can make a calculated opinion for yourself.



"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." - Kofi Annan

The Magic of a Memory

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In a bid to evoke a sense of joy that seems lacking this week, I have decided to relive a single memory, one capable of forcing the biggest smile from each travel destination I have visited thus far.

Cairo, Egypt
Finding a pair on purple sunnies on horseback in the desert on the way to see the Pyramids of Giza.



Istanbul, Turkey
Sharing life routines with a Turkish vendor at the Grand Bazaar. He ended up giving me a stained glass lamp as a souvenir.

Rome
Laughing at the Vatican soldiers in their funny uniforms.

Mauritius
The sight of an eagle ray swooping closer and closer leaving me paralyzed with fear and in a frenzy of bubbles.



Venice
Chinese tourists overcrowding the gondola and singing at the top of their lungs. Actually this one annoyed the living daylights out of me.

Madrid
Spanish flamenco ballet.

Barcelona
Walking into Jimmy Choo and leaving with a paper bag (my aunt made a purchase, not me!) but that didn't stop my sister and I from posing outside the store in true tourist fashion.

Oman
Diving into the ocean with ALL my clothes on.

Paris
The look on my mother's face when the Moulin Rouge dancers top off their tops.

London
Watching Wicked and taking the tube tipsy.



Bali
My family all being in the same place for the first time that year.

Phuket
Sitting on the side of the road and stuffing my face with street noodles.



Holidays don't just bring out the best in me. They bring out the best in the world.

Now my feet are itching to walk on out of here.

Fingers crossed, a holiday is just around the corner for me!