Category Archives: Beaches
Beachhouse.com Holiday Giveaway – Question #2:
Today’s question is 2 parts:
FIRST: Multiply this USVI Saint’s average daily temperature (according to Beachhouse.com’s site map) by 42.5
THEN: The answer to part 1 = the # of miles between the Surfrider Foundation’s founding chapter city and THIS Surfrider chapter.
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To submit your ANSWER you can leave it as a comment on Facebook, send it to us in a Tweet, or post in a comment here on our Blog!
This is what you can WIN today! The question will be posted HERE at 10 AM PST!
LESS THAN 1 DAY TILL ROUND 2 OF OUR HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!
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Wednesday, December 16th (TOMORROW!) is the 2nd day of our Holiday Giveaway! Are you ready?
Tomorrow’s question will be posted at 10:00 AM PST – to make sure you get the question right when it’s posted:
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
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New Giveaway this Wednesday, 12/16/09!!!
AND THE WINNER IS…
Kristi Johnson! Congratulations!
Kristi submitted the correct answer of Happy Bay, St. Martin after ONLY 12 MINUTES!!! She has won a Beachhouse.com Swag Package and will be all set for summer!
And because Kristi got the correct so quickly, next Wednesday’s question will have to be MUCH more difficult!
There is some tough competition out there guys! Next Wednesday will be interesting!
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone else who submitted the correct answer!
Felicia Jacobson on Facebook
Beachfrontonly on Twitter
Kenneth Jamel on Facebook
Susan Graves on our Blog
And to everyone who played, THANK YOU!
Beachhouse.com Holiday Giveaway – Dec. 9th Question:
According to Beachhouse.com’s Travel Blog, what amorous and erotic beach is most likely to leave you smiling?
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To submit your ANSWER you can leave it as a comment on Facebook, send it to us in a Tweet, or post in a comment here on our Blog!
Dec. 9th Holiday Giveaway Prize: Beachhouse.com Swag Package
Be the 1st to submit the correct answer tomorrow morning and WIN:
LESS THAN 1 DAY till our 1st question is posted for our Holiday Giveaway!
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Wednesday, December 9th (TOMORROW!) is the 1st day of our Holiday Giveaway! Are you ready?
Tomorrow’s question will be posted at 10:00 AM PST – to make sure you get the question right when it’s posted:
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
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Restaurant Review: PJ’s Seagrille, Boca Grande, FL
Restaurant: PJ’s Seagrille!
Location: 321 Park Avenue, Boca Grande, FL
Cuisine: Innovative Island Cuisine
Price Per Plate: Lunch – around $15 – $20; Dinner – around $50
Reviewer: Sarah Rapp; owner of BeachVacation4Me
Verdict: Yummmmmy!
Have you ever had a meal where you are thinking the next day, “if I could only have one more bite?” Last week I had the opportunity to dine at PJ’s Seagrille for lunch while visiting Boca Grande. My two guests and I had a delightful time. We sat in what I would call the Florida room – a glassed encased room with views of the gulf. It was bright and cheery.
We started our meal with one of their starter dishes, the Oasis Plate. Oh my, it was absolutely delicious. The Oasis Plate included humus and baba ganouj served with marinated olives, roasted peppers, cut vegetables and warm flat bread. This portion size was very generous and everything was so fresh. It was absolutely delicious.
For our lunch one of my guests had the Pita Chicken Sandwich. Our extremely helpful and pleasant waiter had shared this was one of their most popular dishes. The pita sandwich included grilled julienne chicken lightly blackened. This was then topped with grilled onions, tomato and pesto mayonnaise served on fresh baked pita bread. The sandwich came with the side of your choice as well. “It was scrumptious” proclaimed my friend.
My daughter, who has gluten intolerance, was delighted with her sweet potato soup. Our waiter was very attentive to making sure the dish did not include gluten. I did have a wondering spoon and tried this. It was just yummy, just like “Thanksgiving in a bowl”.
I decided to try the fresh seafood of the day which was grouper. The grouper was lightly blackened and served with a unique caper tarter sauce. It was so fresh it melted in my mouth.
Everyone at the table gave PJ’s Seagrille the thumbs up. When you’re in Boca Grande, I highly recommend this spectacular restaurant.
Announcing Beachhouse.com’s Holiday Giveaway!
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Thank you for participating in Beachhouse.com’s Holiday Giveaway! We invite you to visit our Website now and throughout the year for all of your beach house vacation rental needs. Do you own a beach house and would like to gain added exposure to MILLIONS of vacationers each year? Or are you planning a vacation and need the perfect beach vacation rental? Whatever your vacation rental needs are, we can help!
Beachhouse.com is the ONLY site where you can browse THOUSANDS of beach houses located throughout the world! Whether you are looking for an on-the-beach condo in Newport Beach, the perfect vacation house for you and your family in Mexico, or a romantic luxury villa in the Caribbean, Beachhouse.com is the place to look!!!
See our Holiday Giveaway details on these Websites:
Beachhouse.com Will Make an Exciting Announcement Later This Week!
Stay tuned for Beachhouse.com’s exciting announcement later this week!
Start preparing by becoming a fan of us on Facebook http://bit.ly/8K5sZM and by following us on Twitter @BeachHouseCom!
Volunteer to Travel!
I love traveling. I’ve written enough on this blog that you know how I sometimes get – that itch that needs scratching, a craving that needs to be fed, an emptiness that needs to be filled. And travel can certainly do that. But sometimes, once I arrive home, I still feel unfulfilled. I guess it’s the same with really good Chinese food – I will leave the restaurant stuffed only to find myself rummaging through the refrigerator for a snack a couple hours later. Usually when I travel my big plans revolve around a beach or a pool, an easy summer read – yep, even in the middle of winter, and a cocktail (or five). So my next trip will definitely be with the intent to somehow give back to wherever I decide to pack up and journey to. Maybe I will coach kids on soccer in Kampala, teach monks English in Lhasa, or help care for baby lions in Johannesburg. I think if I were to travel with more of a purpose – a goal rather than just a destination – I would come back feeling accomplished and rejuvenated rather than simply relaxed…and a wee bit hungover. Here are some great ways to volunteer and travel at the same time:
Tern Island
Tern Island is a part of the French Frigate Shoals, the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. While the entire atoll consists of only a 20 mile long crescent-shaped reef, a dozen sandbars, and La perouse pinnacle, a 120 foot rock formation that stretches out of the ocean – left over from when the entire atoll was an active volcanic site. Today, the atoll is home to a diverse group of wildlife, including a 18 species of seabirds, including a number of varieties of Albatross’, Booby’s and Noddy’s and Petrel’s – some of these species next exclusively on the French Frigate Shoals. The endangered Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles also spend time at the atoll. Interested in going to Tern Island? Because only specially permitted biologists and researchers are allowed on the island, you can volunteer through the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Volunteer opportunities start with a 4 month minimum – it is costly to get out to the remote destination – these people are saving species people, they don’t have the time or the resources to schlep fickle volunteers back and forth. Once there, volunteers have the opportunity to preform a variety of work – everything from surveying the nesting seabirds, to cleaning barracks, lubing tractors, washing solar panels, etc. The population of the island ranges between 4 and 8 people at any one time, so you are sure to make some lasting friends. Still deciding if 4 months on a tiny speck of an island in the middle of the ocean is for you? Check out this blog written by one of the more full time staff members on Tern Island.
Cross Cultural Solutions
Founded in 1995, Cross-Cultural Solutions is an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations, that provides travelers the opportunity to put their skills, knowledge and passions to good use. Each year CCS invites over 4,000 volunteers to one of the 4 continents they have established programs in – 12 countries in all, including Ghana, Morocco, India, Russia and Guatemala. Once there, volunteers are immersed in the culture, staying in one of the Home Base houses that is fully staffed by CCS local employees. Volunteer work includes teaching conversational English, basic math and computer skills, working with women to make crafts that they can sell at their local markets to support their families, caring for babies, the sick and the elderly and providing healthcare when necessary, and preforming community development work. The CCS staff members act as the liaison between the volunteers and the local programs. These staff members are always from the region where you are volunteering, so they are a valuable resource that can assist in learning about the culture, the language and the activities available to you during your free time. Volunteers can sign up for the 1 week Intern Abroad program, the 2 – 12 week Volunteer Abroad program or one of the Insight or Teen Abroad programs. Prices start at about $2,000 for one week placements (which includes, board, meals, materials, calls to and from home, travel medical insurance, among other things) but vary depending on season, location and the length of your stay.
i-to-i
With a huge variety of volunteer opportunities, i-to-i is a has been organizing volunteers and sending them to Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America since 1996. The organization refers to themselves as, “the original volunteer travel company.” With over 20,000 satisfied volunteers under their belt, many of whom are now working at i-to-i, volunteer vacationers are sure to get the experience they have been searching for – a life-altering experience and total immersion into another culture – all while helping to make a difference in peoples lives. Whether you would like to volunteer with wildlife, teach English as a second language, work with children, coach sports or promote conservation abroad, i-to-i has a program for you. So if you’re looking for a way to spend your gap year, or if you just want to escape the daily grind and have a rewarding experience at the same time, check out i-to-i’s extensive possibilities – there is sure to be something perfect for you!
Peace Corps
“Since 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries, more than Nearly 200,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 countries all over the globe. They’ve been teachers and mentors to countless children. They’ve helped farmers grow crops, worked with small businesses to market products, and shown women how to care for their babies. More recently, they’ve helped schools develop computer skills and educated entire communities about the threat of HIV/AIDS. The type of work a Volunteer does is ultimately determined by the needs of a host country and the potential of a Volunteer to contribute to those needs and to the Peace Corps’ mission. There are a wide variety of Volunteer positions to fill throughout the world; however, nearly all Volunteers fall under one of the following general categories: education, youth and community development, health, business and information & communication technology, agriculture, environment, HIV/AIDS, or food security.” If you want to hear what life in the Peace Corps is really like, follow along with the volunteer’s journeys as they journal about their experiences! (image from “the wind beneath my chicken wings” blog – text from official Peach Corps page)
Travel Tools – TripIt Review
How handy this would have been as my friends and I were planning our Senior Trip! There were 10 of us girls who were all trying to coordinate what was, for most, the first out-of-country trip we had ever been on. And since we were going to be only days out of High School at the time of the vacation, and en route to the wilds of the Costa Rican rainforest, needless to say, most of the parents were a little overbearing when it came to the details of our itinerary.
Countless back and forth emails ensued whenever we would add an activity to our itinerary, and panicked moms would break out the trusty phone tree to re-confirm that everyone was on the same page.
Sound familiar?
10 years later…enter TripIt.
This free online-based travel tool allows you send it all of your itinerary emails – flights confirmations, rental car reservations, hotel information, train/bus confirmations and even restaurant reservations – and then TripIt compiles all of it into an easy to read/edit/share online itinerary of your entire trip. To get started, send or forward your confirmation emails and receipts to plans@tripit.com. If you are a new user and your email is not yet registered with TripIt, they will create a username and password for you.
From there the helpful TripIt fairies gather additional information that may be useful (weather information, maps, further flight details, etc.) and compiles everything into a chronological and comprehensive itinerary that you can then go back through and add your own notes to. Once your itinerary is set, you can invite others to view it or it can be forwarded to friends, family, business associates…even panicky moms.
Certain information may not be recognized by TripIt, but it is saved and you can go back and manually add it in the right day and time. You can also update, add or delete information at any time – and those you have invited to see your travel details will see these updates too.
If some unforeseen event occurs, such as a weather delay on your flight or your rental car running late due to traffic, TripIt’s schedule will be thrown off, but you can easily reconcile the dates and times once you are back on track.
An as the company is still new (it was launched in September of 2007) they are still working out the kinks. But the San Francisco based company is open to suggestions from TripIt users (go ahead – send em to feedback@tripit.com) and is constantly updating their service and adding new features.
Blackberry and iPhone apps (both free!) have been released, which only increase the handiness, portability and convenience of TripIt.
Overall, this is a great tool that frequent travelers should take advantage of.
5 of the World’s Most Amazing & Adventurous Accommodations
Giraffe Manor:
For the animal lover it doesn’t get much better than Giraffe Manor in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The luxury boutique hotel is surrounded by 140 acres of land where the ”resident herd” of giraffes call home. These friendly giants feel so welcome at the Manor that they routinely peek their heads through windows and the front door to get fed, pose for pictures and say hi to guests and staff. Giraffe Manor also has well appointed rooms, a friendly staff and a renowned kitchen.
Explorer Overland Hotel:
If you are the kind of traveler that enjoys being on-the-go, the Exploranter Overland Hotel is the perfect hotel for you. This hotel on wheels, a converted 25-ton truck that pulls behind it a trailer that can sleep 24 guests comfortably, while it tours the back country of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, stopping at pre-arranged or customized locations. The hotel has everything you could possibly need to accommodate you and your travel companions…including bringing on chefs from different stops along your journey to prepare local specialties . And if there is something you want that can’t fit on the truck – er hotel – the Overland Hotel staff can help make it happen for you. Everything from spelunking and horseback riding, to winery tours and hot air balloon rides and more can be arranged.
Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo
Kakslauttanen:
The hotel is located near the Urho Kekkonen National Park in Lapland, the most northern part of Scandinavia spreading to the area of the four different countries: Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden. Lapland’s extreme climate is what makes a stay at the Kakslauttanen so unique…that and the opportunity to stay in a snow or glass igloo! The snow igloos have lights inside ice that, when illuminated, create a quiet, serene setting for a cozy night tucked warm into a down sleeping bag. The glass igloos stay as warm as a regular room, yet give guests the unique opportunity to look up at the Aurora Borealis (August – April) or stay warm inside while watching a romantic snowstorm fall around you. After staying in either of the igloos, guests are welcome to enjoy the sauna in the morning, followed by a dip in a hole in the ice covering a nearby river – talk about a jump-start to your day!
Huilo Huilo Magic Mountain Lodge:
Nestled in the Huilo Huilo Nature Reserve in Southern Chile, the Magic Mountain Lodge was designed to exist harmoniously in the Patagonian Andes mountain setting and constructed using indigenous materials and other items made by local artisans. The lodges unique architecture is set around 55 rooms located on 7 floors, each of which has a window that peeks out of the “mountain” lodge and overlooks the forested surroundings. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the valleys and mountain ranges covered by the Temperate Rainforest that are a part of an ecosystem that conservationists are trying to preserve. A variety of outdoor activities and excursions are available, including a hikes to a local volcano, waterfall or through the rainforest where you can observe wildlife.
Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge:
Looking for an overnight experience that falls somewhere between camping and staying in a hostel? The Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, billed as Sweden’s most primitive hotel, has forest huts and advertises such swanky accommodations as, “two hard beds,” “cosy sheep-skin rugs,” “primitive kitchen facilities,” and “cord of wood for self-cutting” that you can then use in the hut’s “wood heater.” If you can get past the fact that you’ll be paying to fetch your own water from a nearby spring, the Kolarbyn does have some cool wildlife safari’s; sign up for the Wolf Howling Tour, Wolf Safari by Horse, Moose Safari, Lynx Adventure, or the Beaver Watching Tour.
Travel Deal: Cabrera, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Islands
Need to get away to the sunshine? Escape to Affordable Luxury! Save 50% right now! (to take advantage of this offer, please leave a comment and we will get in contact with you)
Experience a luxurious getaway in one of the hottest destinations. This is “The best island romantic villa!” An exotic location with welcoming weather and a real seaside stress reliever…escape those winter time blues!
Welcome to the beauty, serenity and peaceful elegance of Casa Bella Villa. This Dominican Republic luxury vacation villa rental offers 3 bedrooms, all en suite and air conditioned, located right on the beachfront in the exclusive gated community of Orchid Bay Estates.
The beautiful white sand beach is literally steps away from the vacation villa where you can swim, snorkel or build those sand castles from your dreams.
Casa Bella Villa comes with a full staff (private chef, maid, host, gardener, guard) to take care of your every need.
Casa Bella sits right on a private beach. Come and experience a travel adventure at an exclusive exotic location!
True oceanfront/beach property
Swim everyday in clear blue carribean sea.
Amenities:
- outdoor pool table
- basketball hoop
- Wii game
- Dsl wireless internet
- No chlorine/ swimming pool
- and much more!
Come and experience villa rental like you never had before.
Everything is provided. No worries of what to eat or having to do household chores. Your stress-free vacation awaits!
***Recession-Busting to Winter Travel Deal for Casa Bella Villa–Save 50% or More***
Leave us a comment for info on special package rates for winter. Package rates can start as low as $400 per night or $2,800 per week. (limit time only, some restrictions apply)
Dubai Star Oil Spill in San Francisco Bay – How YOU Can Help!
Kill the Spill (KTS) crew and Surfrider Foundation San Francisco, need your old Nylons and stockings!
Help! Donate Your Old NYLONS & STOCKINGS This Week (Oct 31 – Nov 8)!
Spread the word! We need *NYLONS & STOCKINGS* donated ASAP for the oil boom to sop up and contain the oil. Per KTS and Surfrider SF, the non-profit, Matter of Trust, and volunteer teams are stuffing numerous hair booms this weekend. Please send them in clean or washed. It’s ok if the stockings have runs in them, as according to Matter of Trust’s Lisa Gautier, they will double them up. Please send to your nylons this week through November 8, 2009 to:
Matter of Trust
99 St. Germain Avenue (at Glenbrook Ave, in Twin Peaks) | map
San Francisco CA 94114. Tel: 415 242-6041
Also, they are desperately seeking temporary, donated warehouse space in San Francisco, CA. If you know of any please email Lisa Gautier at lisa@matteroftrust.org]
If you spot any oiled wildlife, please contact Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1.877.UCD.OWCN (1-877-823-6926). Up-to-date info about their current response to this spill can be found here.
Travel Deal: Flying Toucans in Dominical, Costa Rica
The sights and sounds of wildlife, open-air tropical living and unforgettable views have all been captured in one special place… Flying Toucans .
This luxurious Costa Rican Villa is situated on a picturesque point on the southern Pacific coast. With unobstructed views, and lots of surrounding jungle, you have all the privacy needed to enjoy your home in peace… with the exception of some noisy visitors. Yes, the Howler monkeys and the toucans can sound off at any time without first introducing themselves.
Superbly located in Costa Rica’s Maritime Zone (within 200 meters of the shore), Flying Toucans is one of just a few private luxury home rentals in the area that is on the ocean side of the main coastal road. This unique location combines breathtaking views of jungle-clad mountains, palmtree-studded beaches, and the tranquil Pacific ocean with quick and convenient access all year long. If you like beaches, you are in luck as we have an abundance nearby. From your villa, take a short hike down to the point and discover two secluded beaches (one with its own 35′ waterfall) or jump in your car and within minutes be exploring miles of footstep-free sand.
The living and dining rooms offer the romance of open-air tropical living, blending the comforts of home with the nearness of wildlife. The living room is a great central location to gather and enjoy all that Flying Toucans has to offer. Plenty of seating for everyone. Don’t be surprised if a hummingbird or butterfly cruises through making a cameo appearance. The “formal” dining area, adjoining the living room, accommodates six.
The large fully-equipped kitchen, with its’ beautiful custom cabinetry, and casual eating area for up to six is integrated with the living room and the views beyond. Whip up a smoothie or a six course meal…your choice. There is a half bath downstairs as well as a laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer.
Once in, you’ll never want to get out of the infinity-edge pool. Within steps of the villa, it blends into the dazzling coastline and the popular Uvita “Whale’s Tail”, a unique place to walk and explore. It overlooks Ballena (which means “whale”) National Marine Park so keep your eyes open for Humpback whales and Bottle-nose dolphins.
Two well-furnished master suites are located upstairs. Each of the suites incorporates the use of precious hardwoods for the doors and vaulted ceilings. Relax in the comfort of a/c or open the windows and let the ocean breezes in. Too comfortable to get out of bed? Fine, enjoy the views from your pillow… now if you could just get someone to bring you breakfast!
Spacious bathrooms feature tumbled Columbian limestone showers and stone countertops and an openness that continues to let the outdoors in while providing all the privacy needed. (It is not unusual to have toucans or monkeys just a stone’s throw away while you are in the shower.:)
You will love taking advantage of the large terrace upstairs. It’s perfect for wildlife viewing, whale watching, stargazing, photograghy, sunrises and sunsets, or just dozing off in the comfy hammock. Surrounding the villa are exotic heliconias, a variety of fragrant gingers, exotic palms, birds-of-paradise, cola de lion, etc… not only for your enjoyment but to attract our fine feathered friends.
Hope to see you here soon. Flying Toucans … it’s UNFORGETTABLE!!!
Travel Deal: Oceano Sueno – A Luxury Beachfront Boutique Condominium With Heated Infinity Pool And Complimentary Private Concierge Service
View from guest bedroom balcony
Enjoy unparalled luxurious accomodations at affordable rates! Weekly rates presently from $1,100!!! You will also find a very favorable Peso/USD exchange rate!
Oceano Sueno (Ocean Dream) is a newly built (2008) impeccably decorated 3BR/2BA direct beachfront luxury condominium with unparalleled panoramic views. Located on the 9th floor of Cobalto a 28 unit boutique complex in Nuevo Vallarta this property defines perfection and total relaxation.
Relax in the heated beachfront infinity pool with two separate jacuzzi tubs or work out in the ultra modern gym while taking in the ocean views. Just steps away a picturesque beach awaits. Stroll and feel the soft sugar sand underfoot or walk out on the nearby breakwater and reach out to the sunset or capture the beauty of the Sierra Madre mountains that ring the Bay of Banderas.
While enjoying a cocktail or a meal on the terrace watch the humpback whales and porpoises at play or ocean birds dive for a meal. Or simply just lay back on one of the lounges relax and listen to the lapping of the waves.
From this corner unit choose from one of three separate balconies for spectacular views of the ocean, mountains, marina and breathtaking sunsets.
Master Bedroom
In the early morning and evening watch cruise ships majestically glide in and out of nearby Puerto Vallarta.
Located on a quiet cul-de-sac you are just steps away from the marina with all of its boats and magnificent yachts. Over 5 restaurants are within a casual 5 minute stroll. Also nearby is Vallarta Adventures and swimming with the dolfins.
A unique feature of this boutique complex is that there are only 3 units per floor.
Guest Bedroom
A golfing enthusiast will find the manicured Paradise Village El Tigre golf course just 1 mile away or simply walk to the nearby Mayan Palace course. If you like to jog or bike there are miles of palm-lined vistas that interlace the inland canal waterways of Nuevo Vallarta and the beautiful homes and villas.
A visit to the area would not be complete without experiencing the vibrancy, culture and charm of Puerto Vallarta which is a mere 7 miles (15 minutes) away. Walk the meandering malecon, follow the art walk to various galleries. Go to one of our recommended restaurants or simply “chaulkboard” a lunch or evening special. There are many shops selling a full spectrum of goods. Stop by the Mercado a two block maze of shops and barter for a bargain.
View From Ocean Terrace Balcony
In the evening Puerto Vallarta excites the senses with outside music, performers on the malecon, fireworks as the local people and tourists come out to enjoy another beautiful sunset.
A stay at Oceano Sueno will leave one relaxed and rejuvenated and planning ahead on how soon you can return.
Photos – Kid-ding around…heh.
by Jenny Blake - Lonely Planet author
I thought this was photoshopped – so I decided to do a little research. And apparently so have a lot of people as I had barley typed in “Moroccan” and the text-prediction wizards over at Google suggested “Moroccan tree goats” to complete my querry. Dang they’re good!
And these little goats of Morocco seem to be good too – they don’t even have hands, yet they manage to hoof it into the tippy top branches of these rickety looking trees.
Their motive? The fruit of the argan tree, which is similar to an olive, is one of their favorite snacks!
See every beach in the world – in one day!
You’ve backpacked through Asia, hiked the America’s, hopped the Eurorail across Europe, safaried in Africa and dog sledded your way throughout Antarctica…and you have a foggy recollection of spending some time in Australia, although you can’t be 100% sure – there may have been a lot of lager involved…
If you’re feeling a case of the been-there-done-that’s, you only have to wait a few more years – which is probably the amount of time it will take you to pawn off all of your possessions, shake down your family and closest friends, and climb the ranks in your local mafia so that you can amass enough money to afford a trip to the final frontier… space.
Virgin Galactic (see what they did there? Galactic sounds kinda like Atlantic? clever.) has announced that, estimated to begin in the year 2012, you will have the opportunity to travel into outer space – an opportunity that, so far, only professional astronauts have had. Their Website can’t stress “safety” enough – new technology and a 3-day pre-flight training seminar will supposedly leave you ready to board one of their state-of-the-art spaceships (complete with comfort-first seats and amenities and panoramic windows) and venture out into the wild black and blue yonder.
Virgin Galactic’s affordable pricetag: $200,000 – with plans to reduce the cost as much as possible as quickly as possible in order to maximize the number of people who will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
Another company, Galactic Suite Limited, is also set to voyage into outer space, although both Galactic Suite Limited and Virgin Galactic are adamant that there is no race – both companies are independently financed and will start their engines only once exhaustive test flights and trial runs have been successfully completed.
While Virgin’s trip is a there-and-back, relatively quick journey, Galactic Suite Limited’s experience will allow amateur astronauts an extended stay in orbit aboard The Galactic Suite Space Resort.
The experience will begin on a private tropical island where your “challenging and exhilarating” briefed astronaut space training program will take place. After that, it’s go time and you will be launched into space on their SpaceShip, on track to join up with their SpaceResort. Once there, you will spend 3 nights in a private lux pod room – all for the low, low price of $4,000,000!
…imagine…going from 0 km/hr to 28,000 km/hr in 10 minutes…traveling around the world in 90 minutes…watching 15 sunsets in one day…experiencing total weightlessness…
This Halloween, visit one of America’s top haunted hotels
1891 Castle Inn – 1539 Fourth Street, New Orleans, Lousiana
The Inn is currently for sale and only accommodating long term stays, however, chances are this historic treasure will be sold with its permanent residents in place…at least 2 Big Easy residents who passed away over 100 years ago. This historic guest house is located in the historic Garden District and has views of the Mardi Gras parade route. The “translucent man” was a driver staying in the guest quarters of the hotel when he accidentally set his room on fire and was killed. Known for loving ladies, music, practical jokes and a stiff drink in his day, he continues to reside at the hotel. He is thought to be responsible for the coughing and whistling heard in the hallways, objects moving or being hidden and is seen in mirrors or out of the corner of guest’s eye. He loves to tinker with radios, televisions, ceiling fans, and lights. If you can’t find an object in your room, look in a drawer or in a place where you would not leave it…one guest, upon checking out, could not find the receipts of the past four days of shopping and travel which the husband had collected in his wallet. His wife found them all in the microwave after they searched the room from top to bottom. Other reports tell of a little girl who drowned in the pond behind the house and still wanders the grounds and surrounding neighborhood, presumably in search of her mother. Guests report a feeling of brushing against bare legs (especially women), beds bouncing up and down, and the sound of bare feet running down the hallway.
Queen Mary – 1126 Queen Hwy., Long Beach, California
The Queen Mary ocean liner sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967, and is now permanently moored in Long Beach, CA. Her beautiful salons and staterooms are a testament to the Art Deco era…and to a host of unexplained sightings, sounds and spooks. The Queen Mary has been a constant source for stories, articles and documentaries about supernatural sightings and other unexplained activity aboard the historic ship, the engine room and pool being the most active locations. In 1966, 18-year-old engineer John Pedder was crushed by a watertight door in the engine room during a fire drill – to this day his ghost is said to haunt the ship. Other accounts recall seeing the spirit of a young girl named Jackie who haunting the first class pool on board the ship.
The Menger Hotel – 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas
The oldest hotel west of the Mississippi still in operation, The Menger got its start as a boarding house and has played host to a colorful bunch of famous figures throughout its history, including General George Patton, Robert E. Lee, Oscar Wilde, Ulysses S. Grant, “Teddy” Roosevelt, to name a few. Ghostly sightings range from guests feeling a maid smoothing the bed sheets with them still in them, to voices of a woman repeatedly calling for room service. A few years ago, a guest wanted extra towels, so he opened the door of his room and asked a maid who ignored him. The guest called the front desk to report the rude behavior and described the maid and her uniform, to find it was one that was worn in the late 1800s!
Stanley Hotel – 333 Wonderview, Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Heeeeeeeeere’ s Johnny! The Stanley was the inspiration behind Stephen King’s “The Shining.” For a real fright, request room 217 – this was the room where King stayed while working on the novel. However, the former servants quarters, located on the 4th floor (room 418 in particular) have the most ghostly activity reported. Past guests have reported hearing children playing in the halls – yet when they speak with the front desk, they are told that no children are currently staying at the hotel.
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast – 230 Second St., Fall River, Massachusetts
After it was built in 1845, Andrew Bordwn bought the home for his family, including his youngest daughter Lizzie. During the morning of August 4, 1892, around 10:45 AM, Borden’s father, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden, were murdered in the family home with a hatchet. Lizzie was the prime suspect and, although she was tried and acquitted of the crimes she was ostracized by the community of Fall River. For the first time since the murders, the public is welcome to view the murder scene, and spend a night in the actual house where the murders took place…and get the opportunity to run into any ghosts that may be still bound to the house.
The Heathman Hotel – 1001 SW Broadway at Salmon, Portland, Oregon
Centrally located in downtown Portland, The Heathman has been named “One of the best places to stay,” according to Conde Nast Traveler and “One of the 500 best hotels in the world,” by Travel + Lesiure’s 2009 awards. It has also been the scene for many paranormal experiences by its guests, specifically the rooms in one column that end in 3 (room 703, 803 and 1003 in particular). Guests of the hotel will leave their room clean, and upon return find a towel used, a glass of water out, a desk chair moved…yet the hotel’s records report no one used the electronic key to get in to the room.
The Landmark Inn – 230 North Front St. – Marquette, Michigan
Located on the shore of Lake Superior, this hotel’s history spans a century…plenty of time for spirits to have accumulated and taken up residence at the Inn. In 1930, when the hotel first opened, a librarian in town fell in love with a sailor who was to make one last journey before coming home to marry her. But the ship and crew never returned. The librarian is said to still haunt the Lilac Room, which has a view of Lake Superior, and is believed to be watching for her sailor’s return. Guests of the Lilac Room report screws being left in their sheets (even after room service changes them), men have trouble getting their key to work in the door, and employees
receive calls to the front desk from the room, even when it is unoccupied and vacant. One guest was dining with her husband noticing another woman standing at the bar whose skirt was being pulled out “like someone had pulled out the skirt to examine the fabric, but no one was there.” Thinking that she might have imagined, she had her husband look and once again it happened. Upon relaying this story to a bartender during another stay at the hotel, the bartender told the visitor of the reports of ghosts in the hotel and the woman said, “I always thought so, to this day I still remember the skirt, covered with lilacs.” Startled, the bartender told her about the stories of the Lilac room. The woman got so shook up that she felt ill and had to leave.
Strange things that have washed up on the beach…
1) Giant Lego Man
On October 29, 2008, to the delight of children playing on a Brighton beach, an 8 foot tall man wearing a green top washed ashore…an 8′ tall Lego man that is. Lego denies having any knowledge of the missing giant (although that’s what they would say, were this the result of a genius marketing ploy) and is content to let him remain on the beach where he has become somewhat of a local legend. Other theories surmise that the Lego man started his swim off of the coast of Denmark where there is a Legoland park, while others think he simply fell off of a cargo ship.
2) Rubber Duckies
Destined for bathtubs around the world, a flock of 29,000 rubber duckies ended up getting more of an adventure than they had bargained for. Boxes of the ducks, along with blue turtles and green frogs, were washed overboard in the eastern Pacific Ocean in January, 1992 on their way from China, where they were made for the US firm, The First Years Inc. Since then, the little guys – dubbed the “Friendly Floaties” – have drifted over 17,000 miles. Some circled the northern Pacific, before washing up on the Alaskan shore, while the others traveled through freezing Arctic waters, past the tropical Hawaiian Islands, and even passing over the location where the Titanic sank, before heading down the West coast of Canada and the US. Watertight and formed from durable plastic, the toys have helped researchers to chart ocean currents, and are now quite valuable. So keep an eye out for them – the US firm that made them is offering a reward for finding one.
3) BMW Motorcycles
While en route from Belgium to Portugal, on January 18, 2007, a windstorm brought down the MSC Napoli. Soon after, the ships cargo began washing up at Branscombe, luring hundreds of people to scavenge the loot, which included several BMW R1200RT motorcycles! As crowds became unruly and began removing anything that wasn’t nailed down from surrounding personal residences, the police closed the beach, and announced that they would force people to return goods they had salvaged as per the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 such actions constituted an offence equivalent to theft.
4) Human Feet
On August 26, 2007 a beachgoer was strolling the beach in Jedidiah Island in British Columbia when he stumbled upon a human foot, still in its shoe. Immediately authorities began looking into missing persons reports and conducting DNA tests in order to find the body that the foot belonged to. Police remained tight lipped in regards of any findings and the incident was thought to be unfortunate, but not unusual, as human body parts will sometimes wash ashore, victims of plane crashes, drownings, etc. However, on August 26, 2008, the investigation took an unusual turn as a second food washed up on nearby Gabriola Island. Since then, 5 other human feet – all wearing socks and shoes – have washed ashore, 7 total, all in relatively close proximity to each other. Here is a timeline:
1) Aug. 20 2007 – right foot, male, Jedediah Island (Campus brand)
2) Aug. 26, 2008 – right foot, male, Gabriola Island (Reebok)
3) Feb 2 2008 – right foot, male, Valdes Island (Nike)
4) May 22 2008: right foot, female, Kirkland Island, Richmond (New Balance)
5) Jun 16 2008: left foot, male, Savage Rd, Ladner (only left foot) (Nike) (same man as Valdes foot)
6) Aug. 4 2008 – right foot, male, Pillar Point Beach, Washington (hiking shoe)
7) Nov. 12 2008 – left foot, female, Finn Slough in the south arm of the Fraser, near the end of Garden City Road, Richmond (New Balance)
5) Message in a Bottle
In August 2008 a team of volunteers cleaning up a beach at West Sands in St Andrews happened upon a bottle with a message in it that had been written by an 11 year old boy – 23 years ago. Donald Wylie had originally thrown the bottle into the sea off Orkney in Northern Scottland. His message contained his name, age and the request that, if discovered, its finder pass it onto a boy of similar age. The University of St. Andrews students and staff tracked down the not 33 year old Mr Wylie, who was, remarkably, still living in Orkney. Once it had been confirmd that he was, indeed, the sender, Wylie went to the University to see the bottle and where it had been found. Wylie told the students that he had thrown several bottles out to sea after his mother suggested the idea…and that to this day, his mother encourages her grandchildren to do the same. Other bottles that Donald has thrown into the ocean have been found as well – he has recieved calls from Norway and Denmark – but this was the first bottle to be found so close to where it had started its journey.
6) Hindu Statues
September 2006 – Devotees in Bombay celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Ganesh. Traditionally, a few months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi, clay models of Lord Ganesha is various poses are made and decorated, ranging in size from 1 inch to over 25 feet. On the 11th day, worshipers carry the statues through the streets, dancing, singing, before immersing dozens of these colorful statues into a river or ocean. As was the case when statues were sent off in the Arabian Sea at night. The next morning, the tide brought them back, some chipped, some missing appendages, making for a spectacular, if not cartoonishly macabre scene.
7) Cocaine
Love combing the beach for treasure? How about $1 million in treasure? In August 2009 the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a call – someone had found a suspicious package that had washed up on the shores of Sebastian Inlet in Florida. When authorities arrived, they discovered the package contained 60 pounds of cocaine – 24 bricks – with a street value of about $1 million! And while the owner of the narcotics is not known, the Deputy on duty said that, while the loss would be substantial to the smugglers, they would probably just consider it the cost of doing business.
8 ) Tons of Timber
In January of 2008 thousands of pieces of timber – more than 2,000 tons in all – washed ashore along England’s southern beaches after drifting 100 miles from a cargo ship that sank off of the coast. The Ice Princess, en route to Egypt from Scandinavia, was carrying thousands of tons of untreated saw timber when she hit rough weather and the cargo shifted causing her to drifting east and eventually sink. Twenty crew had to be rescued by helicopter and lifeboat. The local coastguard said that the timber had washed up all the way from Littlehampton in West Sussex to Beachy Head in East Sussex. Time for a beach clean-up? Maybe, but not by just anyone…the Sussex police warned than anyone caught removing the timber – aside from contractors authorized by the Maritime Coastguard Agency – were subject to prosecution and arrest!
5 of the Strangest Festivals in the World
5) Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival
Lopburi, Thailand
The Monkey Buffet fest is an interesting festival that takes place yearly in Thailand where the attendees lay out a buffet of fruits and nuts for the local monkeys. The festival is more of a tourist attraction festival but it is still quite interesting to witness and many people visit every year to do exactly that. The fest is located in a town called Lopburi, which is just north of the very popular Thai city of Bangkok. Food fights also break out during the monkey buffet fest, so if you plan on traveling to witness the spectacle be sure to wear old clothes just to be on the safe side.
4) La Tomatina
Buñol, Spain
La Tomatina is the world’s largest food fight which takes place for one week every year at the end of August in the town of Buñol, which is in the Valencia region of Spain. The festival draws a huge crowd from around the globe and the crowds range from 20,000 – 50,000 participants every year. Every year during this infamous food fight festival there are over 100 metric tons of tomatoes flung at each other in the streets of Buñol, in addition to the food fight there is plenty of music, games, fireworks, and dancing that takes place during the week long fest. La Tomatina has been going on in Spain since the 1940’s, and it has grown to a huge festival since, the food fight is only a small part of the fest and after that ends is when the real partying begins.
3) Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Cheung Chau, Hong Kong
The Cheung Chau bun festival takes place annually in April-May on the small island of Cheung Chau, about 7.5 miles south of the mainland of Hong Kong. The island is the most popular place for the festival and it is also the largest, but there are other places that you can find this celebration because it is traditionally a Taoist sacrificial ceremony. The festival draws thousands of people from all over the world because of the festivities, and there are many fun things to watch that will entertain as well as lots of good vegetarian food to eat. In fact, the festival is a complete vegetarian festival and people that celebrate it only eat vegetarian food for 3 days during the period. You will see all the locals, including children, all dressed up in colorful costumes and large towers of buns which are located in the main area of the celebration, which is always in front of the Pak Tai temple. The festival honors Pak Tai, the Taoist god of the sea. He is honored in this festival for helping save the island from pirates that attacked the island hundreds of years ago. The towers of buns are the towers they use for “bun snatching”, and this is where men climb the towers and snatch as many buns as possible. People attending will have plenty of sweet buns to eat as they are flung and showered over people during the fest and especially during the bun snatching ceremony.
2) Hadaka Matsuri
Japan
This is a very unusual festival that takes place annually throughout Japan; it is called Hadaka Matsuri or the Ohara Hadaka festival. The English translation: the naked man festival. It is a fest where men in loincloths (or naked if they choose), rush into the water in large groups while carrying Shinto shrines. By doing this it is said to bring the men good luck for the next year and the event is watched by large groups of people. Usually it takes place when it is in the middle of the winter and it is considered very masculine to participate. In some ways you could compare it to other folks around the world who participate in “Polar Bear Clubs” and go swimming in mid winter. The other part of the festival is when thousands of half naked men gather into a large group and then participate in trying to catch sacred shingi sticks which are tossed out by Shinto priests in the local temples. That part of the festival is a separate experience all by itself, and it is even more exciting than watching the men parade down to the sea from the temple before running into the cold water.
Men waiting for the tossing of the “Shingi” sticks
1) Baby-Jumping Festival
Castrillo de Murcia, Spain
This is by far one of the strangest festivals in the world, if not the absolute strangest. The festival itself dates back to the 17th century, and it is an annual event to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi. The actual baby jumping is called El Salto del Colacho, or “The Devils Jump”. The men who are the jumpers dress up in various devil costumes and then they actually jump over babies that were born in the last 12 months. They lay the babies on mattresses in the city streets and then the men take turns and jump over them. It is considered a very dangerous festival as you can imagine, and it is rated one of the most dangerous of all festivals in the world. Based on the faith of the people involved they believe that jumping the babies helps to cleanse them from “original sin” and helps them to be free of evil spirits. The festivals origins are unknown and it is not approved by the Catholic Church, in fact the pope asked many priests to not be involved in the ritual. It has gone on for hundreds of years though and is very popular so it will not be stopping anytime soon.
Image Credits:
Photo Journey through SE Asia
Beachhouse.com Guest Bloggers, Stacy & Jeff, traveled across 6 countries in Southeast Asia and were nice enough to check in with us all along the way. This is their journey by the numbers:
This is their journey in photos (each photo links to the corresponding blog entry):
We hope you enjoyed this as much as we did!
Indonesia Hit Hard – Again – Second Earthquake Strikes Hours After First
Only one day after the first earthquake shook the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a SECOND one hit on September 30, only 180 miles from the epicenter of the first one, leaving the area devastated. The second quake measured 6.6 in magnitude.
Early reports estimate that 500 are dead and thousands more are severely injured, still trapped or missing after buildings caught fire, homes collapsed, airports closed, and residents and tourists became trapped. In Padang, one of the hardest hit towns, at least 500 homes caved in.
The Indonesian Red Cross (also known as Palang Merah Indonesia or PMI) has dispatched nearly 300 volunteers, (including 45 doctors to the quake zone to offer first aid services, shelter and other assistance for those in need) and thousands of relief supplies, such as tarps, blankets and sarongs, are also being moved from warehouses in Jakarta to Padang.
While the American Red Cross is initially donating $100,000 to the Indonesian Red Cross, The global Red Cross network is now responding to five near-simultaneous disasters in Asia Pacific (the Ketsana typhoon of 9/26/2009; an 8.3-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that hit on 9/29/2009 that rocked Samoa, Tonga and America Samoa; the first 7.6-magnitude quake that hit off the coast of Padang, West Sumatra on 9/30/2009; and the second earthquake that hit 10/1/2009 in the Jambi region of Indonesia) and needs your help!
Ways to help:
- Donate now – you can make a tax-deductable financial contribution to the American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Fund, International Response Fund, or to your local Red Cross chapter.
- Volunteer your time
- Give Blood
For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Indonesia, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster. People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Indonesia should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.