Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

2013-06-02

The Smiler: Alton Towers' 14 Loop Rollercoaster

Video: World's first 14 loop rollercoaster opens at Alton Towers - Telegraph

Not for the faint hearted, the rollercoaster features a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and jabbing needles designed to mess with your mind.



The Smiler | Alton Towers Resort

The Smiler's 5 Mind Manipulations: 
  • The Innoculator 
    A jab of happiness as you pass by stage one of the Marmalisation process.
  • The Tickler
    Aims to tickle you until you can't resist smiling
  • The Flasher  
    The giant flashing device, blinding you as you hurtle underneath the leg.
  • The Giggler
    Infectious, intoxicating laughing gas
  • The Hypnotiser  
    Has the power to disorientate, mesmerise and disrupt your self-awareness.

The Smiler – The Ride – Experience The Smiler at Alton Towers Resort


KEY FACTS


Ride time: 165 seconds

Passengers per ride train: 16

Minimum rider height: 1.4m

Location: X Sector

Highest drop: 30m

Maximum speed: approx 85 km/h

Track length: 1,170m

Opening: May 2013



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2012-06-06

SeatBuddy: AirBaltic's Social Airline Seating System

Passengers allowed to choose who they sit to via Air Baltic 'Seat Buddy' scheme | Mail Online


Make it stop: Passengers on Air Baltic who want peace and quiet will be able to select where they sit

The ‘Seat Buddy’ scheme – the brainchild of north European operator airBaltic – allows travellers to select the ‘type of person’ they sit next to.
Four ‘Flight Moods’ are available: ‘Business Talk,’ ‘Easy Chat,’ ‘Work’ and ‘Relax.’
Thus someone keen to concentrate on that important presentation can ask to be placed next to a kindred spirit in the ‘Work’ category – and with it, guarantee a flight free from enquiries about the weather.

World's first airline seating system that depends on your mood | CNNGo.com


Flight control: Surround yourself with the right people.

In another move toward making life more predictable, Latvian airline airBaltic has launched the world's first "SeatBuddy" scheme that pairs up like-minded passengers. 
The free and optional service powered by social seating system Satisfly can place you next to someone who is in the same "flight mood" as you.

[...]

AirBaltic says customer information is collected in a secure database and passenger identity isn't disclosed after matches are made. So there's a surprise factor after all.
The first test flights with the "SeatBuddy" option will take off at the end of June 2012. 
AirBaltic serves 60 destinations with direct flights from its home base in Riga, Latvia.

airBaltic introduces intelligent seating with SeatBuddy, powered by Satisfly – the cabin gets social | Leaders in airline & airport customer engagement :: SimpliFlying

Previously, KLM and Malaysia Airlines have introduced initiatives that allow a passenger to choose who to sit next too. But they’ve been limited because I can only do it when I fly that airline. But if I sign up for airBaltic’s SeatBuddy, it gives me the option to add other airline frequent flier programs I’m part of, so that my preferences can be saved the next time I fly any of my preferred airlines. Of course, the other airline also needs to be using the Satisfly-powered product.




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2012-05-31

A Zero-Star Hotel

The World's First Zero-Star Hotel | Bangstyle :: A Global Image Community for Hair


Located between the mountains in Switzerland, the Null Stern Hotel is the brainchild of Swiss artists ( and twin brothers) Frank and Patrik Riklin and happens to be the world’s only zero-star hotel.

Considered a truly underground experience, the Null Stern has the tagline: “The only star is you,” and they mean it. This hotel is literally placed inside of a Cold War bunker.



Null Stern Hotel "the only star is you"

The world’s first Null Stern Hotel in Teufen, Switzerland, closed its doors on June 4, 2010 – exactly one year after opening – to focus on opening in urban locations. The Null Stern Hotel in Teufen has been converted into a museum.
[...]
Museum
The Null Stern Hotel Biedermeier beds have welcomed guests from 29 countries in one year.  The hotel is now open as a museum and is ready for visitors to experience and discover the birthplace of the world’s first Null Stern Hotel. The founders will personally escort you on a tour to explain the unique features of the Null Stern Hotel such as the wheel of fate, the virtual window or the second check in.





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2012-04-08

Nissan NV200 New York's "Taxi of Tomorrow"

Nissan's Taxi of Tomorrow debuts in NYC | Fox News

New York’s iconic yellow cabs are about to get a dramatic makeover.

With Ford’s venerable Crown Victoria now officially out of production, Nissan is stepping up to fill the big sedan’s equally big shoes with its NV200 van.

That’s right. New York’s current fleet of roughly 13,200 yellow cabs, which ferry upwards of 600,000 people per day, will be phased out over the coming years and replaced with a fleet of NV200s.




Nissan CEO, New York Mayor Unveil Taxi of Tomorrow - 2012 NYIAS - Nissan Online Newsroom

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg unveiled on Tuesday the Taxi of Tomorrow, the next generation transport vehicle for the Big Apple.
In an interview with the Global Media Center, Ghosn said the taxi will be a showcase for the Nissan brand, and that he expects versions of the light commercial vehicle on the streets of other international cities.



Designed from the inside out, using input from New York taxi drivers, medallion holders, fleets and passengers, standard interior features and passenger amenities include:
  • Ample room for four passengers and their luggage, offering substantial improvements over current taxi models
  • Sliding doors with entry step and grab handles, providing easy entry and exit
  • Transparent roof panel, presenting unique views of the city
  • Opening side windows
  • Independently controlled rear air conditioning
  • Active Carbon Lined headliner to help neutralize interior odors
  • Overhead reading lights for passengers and floor lighting to help locate belongings
  • A mobile charging station for passengers, including a 12-volt electrical outlet and two USB ports
  • Breathable, antimicrobial, environment-friendly, durable and easy-to-clean seat fabric, simulating the look and feel of leather
  • Flat "no hump" passenger floor area for more comfortable ride
Other notable vehicle features are:
  • Proven 2.0L 4-cylinder powertrain, engineered to enhance the emission performance and fuel efficiency of the taxi fleet
  • 150,000 mile powertrain warranty
  • A low-annoyance horn with exterior lights that indicate when the vehicle is honking, so the horn is used less frequently. A 6-way adjustable driver's seat featuring both recline and lumbar adjustments, even with a partition installed
  • Unique driver's seat material and stitching to promote improved airflow
  • USB Auxiliary audio input and charge port for driver
  • Standard navigation system with integrated rearview backup monitor
  • Hearing Loop System for the hearing impaired
  • Driver and passenger intercom system
  • Pre-wiring for taxi T-PEP system
In addition, important safety features of the Taxi of Tomorrow include:
  • Only taxi ever to be safety tested and certified with full taxi partition
  • Front and rear-seat occupant curtain airbags, and seat-mounted airbags for the front row
  • Standard traction control and Vehicle Dynamic Control
  • Sliding doors to lessen risk of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists getting struck by doors opening unexpectedly
  • Lights that alert other road users that taxi doors are opening


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2012-01-03

China's Aircraft Carrier Hotel

China to open luxury hotel on Soviet aircraft carrier | CNNGo.com


From battle stations to bedrooms: A Chinese military theme park is set to welcome overnight visitors on a retired Kiev-class carrier


International luxury hotels are popping up on the horizon in China faster than ever, but affluent Chinese travelers have indicated a new desire for accommodation -- somewhere more historic, alternative and … communist.

A former Soviet aircraft carrier under renovation in Tianjin is set to become China's first ex-naval hotel in 2012.

Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser[1] that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built between 1970 and 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Mykolaiv and was the first ship of its class (Project 1143 Krechyet (Gyrfalcon) or Kiev class)

[...]

In 1996 she was sold to a Chinese company, and has been part of Binhai Aircraft Park, a military theme park in Tianjin since 1 May 2004.

In August 2011, the ex-Kiev began welcoming guests as its new role as a luxury hotel after a multimillion dollar refit.[2][3]


World's 1st hotel on aircraft carrier to open|China photos|chinadaily.com.cn



A luxury hotel built on a former aircraft carrier in North China's Tianjin municipality will open at the end of this month, making it the world's first aircraft carrier hotel. It has 148 rooms in total, including two presidential suites, three VIP guest rooms and 137 standard rooms. The aircraft carrier was once the pride of the former Soviet Union's flagship pacific fleet and was sold to Tianjin International Recreation Port in 2000. [Photo/Xinhua]


Waitresses set dinner tables at a western restaurant in the luxury hotel built on a former aircraft carrier in North China's Tianjin municipality, Dec 2011. [Photo/CFP]


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2011-12-28

Mapimí Silent Zone -- The Zone of Silence

Zone of Silence (Zona Del Silencio). A Desert near the area of Ceballos in Northern Mexico, 400 miles south of El Paso, Texas. It is an epicenter for some of the strangest phenomenon ever experienced on earth. A high level of electro magnetic frequency is also present.



Mapimí Silent Zone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Mapimí Silent Zone (Spanish: La Zona del Silencio) is the popular name for a desert patch near the Bolsón de Mapimí in Mexico overlapping the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve that is the subject of an urban myth that claims it is an area where radio signals cannot be received.[1] [2]

WGS84 26° 41′ 29″ N, 103° 44′ 44″ W
26.691389, -103.745556
UTM 13R 624804 2952868
Zoom 8 Scale ± 1:10000
Region MX Type landmark 
Title Mapimí Silent Zone (Edit | Report inaccuracies)
View this location in Google Maps or in OpenStreetMap

Mapimí Silent Zone, Mexico's Zone of Silence, Zona Del Silencio

The zone is known for being home of rare species like an endemic version of the desert tortoise and the purple cactus.

Theorists are quick to point out that the Zone of Silence is geographically located just north of the Tropic of Cancer and shares the same latitude south of the 30th parallel as the Egyptian Pyramids, the sacred cities of Tibet, and the Bermuda Triangle, a fact scientist point out is probably a simple coincidence. In fact, scientists at the Mexican research center have dubbed the region the Sea of Thetys because millions of years ago the area lay at the bottom of an ocean.
Some believe the area is a magnetic grid point or portal where earth energy is concentrated. This energy is linked to UFO activity and ancient astronaut theory, some believing aliens still return to these highly magnetic areas, either by ship or through wormholes. No reliably-documented evidence exists to support any of these claims, though UFO sightings are common in Mexico. Strange lights, floating orbs, burning bushes, flying saucers, and alien encounters have all been reported with a degree of abundance in the area. Ranchers report the night sky is often filled with mysterious lights, and floating aircraft that allegedly landed vertically in the desert, often causing brush to ignite and catch fire.

There have been reports of encounters with strange humanoid creatures. One ranch family claims they are regularly visited by a trio of blonde, long haired humanoids, two males and a female, that speak perfect Spanish. As the story goes, the visitors only ask for water, never for food or other provision. And when asked once by the rancher where they came from, they reportedly answered "from above".


Whether we are dealing with UFOs, dimensional visitors who find the
magnetic aberrations facilitate their journeys, or merely a poorly understood part of our world with unsuspected properties, no easy answers apply to the riddle posed by the Zone of Silence. The builders of the mysterious ruined observatory would have probably agreed.


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2011-11-29

China's Tianmen Mountain


glass walkway at china's tianmen mountain park

a new trail path in china's tianmen mountain national park offers visitors an unusual experience: the floor and rails of the pathway are composed of glass, offering walkers a vertigo-inducing look at the sheer drops and wilderness below. the walkway spans three feet wide, composed of glass 2.5-inches thick.








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2011-10-12

El Camino del Rey -- The Most Dangerous Hike in the World

Photos & Guide to El Camino Del Rey, El Chorro, Spain
http://blog.thecheaproute.com/guide-to-el-camino-del-rey-el-chorro-spain
  • Some say its the most dangerous hike in the world, El Camino Del Rey (also known as El Caminito Del Rey) ...

  • The path was originally constructed in 1905 for workers of a hydro eletric damn set up in the cliffs of El Choro. Since then, the path has deteriorated and is now only for the adventurous. The government of Spain allocated 7 million euros for the restoration of El Camino Del Rey in 2006, however its clear that this has not been spent yet.
 
 The climb starts like this, get the worst part over with

 Crossing another missing section via the 3″ beam


El Caminito Del Rey To Be Restored
http://blog.thecheaproute.com/el-caminito-del-rey-to-be-restored

  • €9 million over 4 years to fund the restoration

    The announced restoration of the landmark El Caminito Del Rey was decided yesterday, with one of its major obstacles being the funding. The full council of Malaga approved a multi-year economic plan to fund the works between 2011 and 2015. The investment amounts to 9,076,880 euros, which will be contributed equally by the provincial body and the Junta de Andalucia at a rate of 907,688.05 per year for each institution.
Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.909463,-4.759204&spn=0.006142,0.012971&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=6&lci=com.panoramio.all


View Larger Map
Caminito del Rey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_del_Rey
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2011-08-29

Bering Strait Tunnel

Mega Engineering: Building a Transcontinental Tunnel : Video : Discovery Channel
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mega-engineering-building-a-transcontinental-tunnel.html
  • An underwater transcontinental tunnel connecting Alaska and Russia offers enormous benefits and but even greater challenges.

Russia plans $65bn tunnel to America - Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1680121.ece
  • Russia has unveiled an ambitious plan to build the world’s longest tunnel under the Bering Strait as part of a transport corridor linking Europe and America via Siberia and Alaska.

     The 64-mile (103km) tunnel would connect the far east of Russia with Alaska, opening up the prospect of the ultimate rail trip across three quarters of the globe from London to New York. The link would be twice as long as the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France.

     The $65 billion (£33 billion) mega-project aims to transform trade links between Russia and its former Cold War enemies across some of the world’s most desolate terrain. It would create a high-speed railway line, energy links and a fibreoptic cable network.
Russia Green Lights $65 Billion Siberia-Alaska Rail and Tunnel to Bridge the Bering Strait! | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World
http://inhabitat.com/russia-green-lights-65-billion-siberia-alaska-rail-and-tunnel-to-bridge-the-bering-strait/2

  • The high speed railway and tunnel will be a private public partnership whose economic impact could be startling. 100 million tons of freight could be moved per year using the most efficient known way of transport. Proposed tidal energy plants could provide 10 gigawatts of energy and a string of wind power fields could churn a constant supply of clean energy, serving as a vital link to a worldwide energy grid. The tunnel alone would take fifteen years to complete — and an energy and railway network would take many more — but the project would significantly change the shipping and energy industry.
    Bering Strait crossing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Strait_crossing
    • There have been several proposals made by various persons, TV-channels, magazines, etc. The names used for such bridges have included The Intercontinental Peace Bridge and Eurasia-America Transport Link.[1] Tunnel names have included TKM-World Link and AmerAsian Peace Tunnel. In April 2007, Russian government officials told the press that the Russian government will back a $65 billion plan by a consortium of companies to build a Bering Strait tunnel.[2] On 22 August 2011, the Daily Mail reported that the Russian government had approved a £60bn tunnel across the Bering Strait.[3][4] The £60bn comes from a rough Russian estimate of $100bn.[5]

    • Satellite image of Bering Strait. Cape Dezhnev, Russia is on the left, the two Diomede Islands are in the middle, and Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska is on the right.

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    2011-08-23

    Living Bridges

    • In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren't built—they're grown.
    • The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they're extraordinarily strong—strong enough that some of them can support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. In fact, because they are alive and still growing, the bridges actually gain strength over time—and some of the ancient root bridges used daily by the people of the villages around Cherrapunji may be well over 500 years old.
    cherrapunjee.com
    http://www.cherrapunjee.com/index.php?mid=66&pid=66
    • The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm and are streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams.  A species of Indian Rubber tree - botanical name: Ficus elastica - thrives and flourishes alongside these streams and rivers. 
    •  Our ancestors, the early war-Khasis, had noticed these qualities of this tree and had adapted it to serve their need for bridges to cross rivers and streams.  In order to direct the roots in the desired direction, betel nut tree trunks, sliced half in the middle for their entire length, are hollowed out and are positioned according to the requirement of the bridge.
    • Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort has brought the focus on these Living Root Bridges, which are exclusive only to Meghalaya and are not found anywhere else in the world.
    The Meghalaya Living Bridges - YouTube
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxe5wRhSpag
    • At the base of India's Meghalaya Plateau, the local tribes have created bridges across the area's rivers using living tree roots and branches. These bridges last for hundreds of years (the lifetime of the tree).
    The Living Bridges Of Meghalaya | The Velvet Rocket
    http://thevelvetrocket.com/2010/11/14/the-living-bridges-of-meghalaya
    • On the surface of the bridge, which you can see below, rocks and bits of wood have been added to the mix to make for an easier crossing. There is an additional reason for the bits of wood though. As the wood decomposes, it provides nutrients for the tree roots growing around it:

    • These wonders of bioengineering are an eloquent testimony to man’s capacity to live in harmony with nature.

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    2011-08-14

    Bloon's Near-Space Ship: Balloon Powered Space Travel

    Near-space flight experience, Inbloon
    http://www.inbloon.com/en/index.php

    Travel to Near-Space in a 400-Foot Diameter Balloon | Autopia | Wired.com
    http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/08/inbloon
    • A Spanish entrepreneur wants to give you a glimpse of the black expanse of space and the curvature of the earth from a most unusual vantage point — a balloon.
    bloon's flight simulation - YouTube
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfzQ1YckUQ&feature=player_embedded

    BBC - Travel - Space travel powered by helium : Adventure
    http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20110811-space-travel-powered-by-helium-balloon
    •   Bloon flights will launch at night, so passengers can watch the sun rise over the curvature of the earth. (Bloon)
    • “Bloon” is a six-person pod designed by Spanish company zero2infinity that will rise to the edge of the atmosphere, powered by a helium balloon. The cabin holds four passengers and two pilots for the three-hour flight, 36km above the earth’s surface. The flights will launch at night, so passengers can watch the sun rise over the curvature of the earth. While admiring the world from near space, in-flight information about the altitude and range of view will be displayed directly on the pod’s windows. To return to earth, the helium is vented slowly, then the balloon or sail separates from the pod, deploying a parafoil. The pod pops its airbags and is guided in for a landing. Bloon uses zero propellants, so there are no emissions or noise pollution.
    bloon Overview
    http://www.inbloon.com/en/near-space-flight/overview.php
      • bloon by figures:  
        •   Travelers: 4
        •   Crew: 2 pilots
        •   Options for arranging the space: open 4 or 2+2 isolated
        •   Maximum altitude: 40km
        •   Nominal altitude: 36 km
        •   Height of the sail at nominal altitude: 96.5 m
        •   Diameter of the sail at nominal altitude: 129 m
        •   Pod diameter: 4.2 m
        •   In-flight information: displayed on each window
        •   Landing attenuation system: 8 vented airbags
        •   Recovery system: guided parafoil with conical backup


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