Travel

Escolta – a blast from the past! (part 2)

QUEZON City, Philippines (March 7) – “Commemorate and revive the beauty of old Manila”-  that was the very purpose of the recently conducted Escolta Block Party. Spearheaded by the folks of the First United Building, this collaboration is actually the second Escolta Block Party after the success of the first one last November of 2016. February 18 of this year marked the second and equally successful block party on the oft-forgotten street of Escolta. Local business […]

Escolta – a blast from the past! (part 1)

QUEZON City, Philippines (March 6) – Growing up with a family where both of your parents are post-World War II babies, there are these days when they will just burst out with stories on how great Manila is during their generation, how the city exudes pure elegance even after the Battle of Manila in 1945, and how the structures built in downtown Manila became a representation of how rich our culture and history is. In one […]

Going to Dubai? Come ‘dine in the sky’

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Sweet treats, sandwiches and drinks – all while dangling mid-air 50 meters off the ground. That’s what a group of diners in Dubai enjoyed recently as part of a “Dinner in the Sky” event that has been held in several countries. The event features diners lifted high in the air on an open platform suspended from a construction crane. Turnout for the brunch, lunch, dinner and tea services that […]

Tiny Benin looks to tourism to boost economy

by Sophie BOUILLON, Josue MEHOUENOU Agence France-Presse OUIDAH, Benin (AFP) — With its palm tree-lined beaches, unique heritage and wildlife parks, Benin can hold its own against the best African holiday destinations. But tourism revenue accounts for just 0.7 percent of gross domestic product and there were only 240,000 visitors in 2014, according to World Bank figures. That compares to an average of one million visitors a year in Senegal, which is one of the most […]

The New York Times Travel Show: Interview with Pauline Frommer

Over 30,000 attendees visited the NY Times Travel Show, the largest consumer travel and trade show in North America. It was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City from January 26-28, 2017 offering 3 days of seminars, cultural stages, expert talks, family pavilions and tastings.  Attendees visited 500 exhibitor booths representing 170 countries from around the world to get the insider scoop on the best deals and places to visit. We […]

An explosion of color at New York City’s Orchid Show

NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — Bright pinks, golden yellows, vivid purples – a burst of colorful flowers brightens New York City’s concrete jungle. The New York Botanical Garden previewed its 15th Annual Orchid Show Thursday (February 16). This year’s theme is “Thailand” and thousands of colorful orchids are on display. The exhibition allows visitors to walk through a lush, wondrous, orchid-draped Thai garden anchored with examples of traditional Thai architecture. “Throughout the exhibition there […]

Steam train back in Britain after 50 years

ENGLAND, United Kingdom (Reuters) — Hundreds of enthusiasts lined the historic Settle to Carlisle route in northern England on Tuesday (February 14) to witness the maiden journey of the first regular passenger steam train in 50 years. “A lot of people stand there and watch in awe, other people, they look up from their iPads, and their phones and the newspapers and they’re like: ‘Wow, what’s that?’ and it’s just like a time machine,” said […]

Russia releases drone footage of fresh Palmyra destruction

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s military on Monday released drone footage showing more destruction of treasured monuments by the Islamic State in Syria’s Palmyra since jihadists recaptured the UNESCO World Heritage Site late last year. The black-and-white video dated February 5 shows part of the Roman amphitheater reduced to rubble and the tetrapylon, a 16-columned structure that marked one end of the ancient city’s colonnade, wiped out. “The pictures clearly show that the terrorists blew […]

Eiffel Tower to be shielded by 2.5-meter glass security walls

by Fabienne FAUR Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, will soon be protected by bulletproof glass walls 2.5 metres (eight feet) high, part of a plan to prevent attacks at the monument, the city said Thursday. The walls costing some 20 million euros ($21.4 million) will be erected this autumn at the northern and southern ends of the monument area, city hall said in a statement. On […]

DIGITAL NEST Travel: The Best of the 2017 New York Times Travel Show

DIGITAL NEST | “Best of the New York Times Travel Show” As an avid traveler and geography enthusiast, the New York Times Travel Show held at the Jacob Javits Center last January 27-29 in Midtown Manhattan inspired me to work diligently so I would be able to see visit every country while I can. Here are six of my favorite booths from the exhibition in which I long to travel to in the future: SOUTH […]

More than 200 flyers compete in Spain indoor skydiving competition

EMPURIABRAVA, Spain (Reuters) — Over 200 flyers from around the world competed in the fourth edition of the indoor skydiving Wind Games held in Empurivabrava, northeastern Spain on Friday and Saturday (February 3 and 4). Hosted by the Windoor vertical wind tunnel, participants competed in traditional categories but, in addition, the 2017 Wind Games also included new disciplines such as solo speed, 4 Speed and 2 way freestyle to music, organizers said on their website, […]