Space Goddess

Long, long ago—like in 2007…

In 2007 Kalsey McCall, former Editor of 435South Magazine, interviewed me for a story about consumer space travel. She wrote a kick-ass article (I’m totally impartial, I swear!) and Paul Verslius created an amazing full-page photo of me that ran with the story. During the interview I used a phrase describing Great Getaways’ mission: We provide the “luxury of experience.” Then, later that year, at our 15^th Birthday Bash, we gave each guest a print of a door in Budapest photographed and signed by the artist, Richard V. Stern. Below the photo I penned, “At Great Getaways we open the door to the luxury of experience.”

Now, I realize that “luxury” has become a 4-letter word; however, I don’t think that the luxury of experience will ever go out of style. Do you want to see Paris or experience Paris—you get what I mean, right?

And, why, exactly, am I running on about the luxury of EXPERIENCE? Because yesterday I happened upon a site for a new start-up media company, whose focus is travel and, lo and behold, one of their taglines is the “luxury of experience.”—-GRRRR! I wonder if I could have trademarked that???? Too late now, I guess!

Please consider the environment before printing this email Please consider the environment before printing this email

Posted via email from Travelingking

Remember when?

On Web pro News I watched a video about StumbleUpon.com. I’ve used the SU when I want to find new and fresh sites and sometimes just because I was bored. Now I just learned how SU can increase “hits” to websites! The interviewee proclaimed that StumbleUpon “always been around “—-for a couple of years or so.” In today’s world of rapid change (that sometimes translates into positive results and sometimes not), two years is a very long time.

In truth, 2 years can be a long time in the world of travel, too. How do we stay current on the world? Does the delightful couple we met in Ravello still own that delicious trattoria—and is it still delicious? Is Andrei still conducting walking tours in Florence? Truth be told, I cannot and choose not to even try to stay current on every change, opening or closing that occurs in the world. I have a few areas of interest and each of us at Great Getaways focuses on his/her passion. I firmly believe in Jack of all trades, master of none. AND—even for my areas of expertise (Africa, Antarctica, Galapagos, and Space—with a splash of China and India), I don’t rely on my knowledge alone!

Because of our membership in Virtuoso, a dynamic group of the top travel advisors in the world, I have representatives in over 70 countries. So, looking for the best vegetarian restaurant in Katmandu? No problem, my friend, Pawan, can not only tell me which is the best, he can tell me the chef’s name!

span

I am not Billy Mays!

Billy Mays, well-known hawker of waxes, cleaners, and other “as seen on TV” items, died today, June 28, 2009. And that is important because? With a week that held the notable passing of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson, why am I moved by the passing of Billy Mays? Moved is probably way too strong a descriptor…really, I guess thinking about the way Billy Mays made his extremely loud sales pitch is where my mind is playing tonight.

I started blogging a couple of years ago (www.spacegoddess.net) when I was selected to represent Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic (hence, the name “Space Goddess and other worldly pursuits!). Imagine what I could have done with a 30 minute infomercial about taking a suborbital space flight! It slices, it dices, it cleans in one wipe, and the shine will last through rain, snow, sleet AND hail! No, I think not—what I market, what I share with you, is EXPERIENCE—both my experience AND yours! I don’t have to convince you of your need to purchase something that you’ll forget in days, if not moments. I help you have life experiences — perhaps life-changing, maybe relaxing, maybe comfortably predictable or wildly exotic— each is an experience you can tuck in your heart and, maybe—just maybe it will touch your soul.

So, OxiClean aside, and without any drum roll or “Kaboom”, how can I help you create a wonderful vacation experience?

Please consider the environment before printing this email Please consider the environment before printing this email

Posted via email from Travelingking

“Swell” tips for long distance flights

Do you believe in coincidence? I don’t and that is better left for another post. Just wanted you to see what Dave Herbert, Founder and Managing Director of African Travels, says about feet and flying (You did read my previous post, correct????) His other tips are good ones, too!

By Dave Herbert, CTC,
Founder & Managing Director

WHEN FLYING TO AFRICA:
• DO wear warm socks and comfortable shoes on the airplane. Feet can swell up during the flight and tight shoes may no longer fit when you land!

• DO take (at least) an extra set of underwear on the plane. In case your luggage is lost or delayed.

• DO double-check your seat assignment when you arrive at the airport. Last minute airplane equipment changes can result in unexpected changes to your reserved seat assignments.

• DO take on board a small bag that you can take out of your carry-on and store in the seat pocket or under your seat. Keep flight essentials in this such as reading book, toothbrush, tissues, medication, gum etc. Then you don’t need to access the overhead bin during the flight.

span

Sometimes traveling like a star isn’t a good idea…

Just saw what Jessica Simpson and Mariah Carey wear when boarding an aircraft to jet off to an appointment, a concert, a whatever—just to jet off! Clothing is chic and of the latest, trendiest designers—but the shoes—-help me out, here! Designer platform high, spiked heels? I hope they carry an extra pair—-a few sizes larger!

I have traveled in cattle class, medium, and well-done (oops—still thinking about "cattle class!"). I have found that my feet don't care where I sit on the plane or how much I paid for my seat. In fact, my feet have a certain singleness of purpose—to plump up, inflate, to swell. It's really not a pretty sight and, perhaps, if you just finished a meal, you might want to pause before reading on. My feet resemble lumps of Play-Doh taken straight from the can with ten plump, round Play-Doh balls attached to the ends.

Sure, I bet you've heard the trick of not taking off your shoes while in flight…doesn't work—well, it does, sort of…if having skin overflow your shoes is what floats your boat—aah, float rhymes with bloat! So, ix-nay on the spiky platform heels and es-yay to Travel Sox (what I wear—no ownership or referral fees, I swear!) or any compression-type sock brand. They are very comfortable, look like regular socks, and, most important, when I get off the plane at my final destination, I can then wear the platform, spiky heels! Of course, there's only one small problem—-I don't think I could balance on those wobbly designer must-haves. Do you think they were really designed by an out-of-work orthopedic surgeon?

Posted via email from Travelingking

Whale watching on land!

Courtesy of Wilderness Safaris, one of my personal faves!

“Whale” Tales – June 2009

About an hour and a half away from Cape Town is the seaside town of Hermanus, acknowledged by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) as one of the twelve best land-based whale watching sites in the world. From May onwards Southern Right Whales pay homage to these warm, shallow waters in order to calf their young and to mate.

The best time for whale watching in Hermanus is between August and November; at this time the bay is dotted with whales. These can be spotted from the cliff path walk which stretches for 12km from one end of the town to the other. Whales can be seen as close as 20 metres away frolicking in the sheltered bay or just beyond the breakers.

“Whale” Accommodation

Grootbos is an upmarket eco-lodge situated on the fynbos and forest-clad hills overlooking Walker Bay. Specialises in the world-renowned flora and marine biodiversity of the area, having won worldwide acclaim for its conservation and social responsibility programmes.

The Marine Hotel (Relaix & Chateau) offers commanding views across Walker Bay or over the beautiful internal courtyard, with its heated pool. The Seafood Restaurant has an open kitchen, which provides diners a close-up view of the frenetic activity. No children under 12 years.

The Birkenhead House & Villa properties are adjacent to each other on the magnificent seaside cliffs above Hermanus’ most prominent beaches. Furnishings can be described as unrestraint opulence. The food is a delicate mixture of modern African cuisine, with strong Asian and Italian influences.

Virgin Galactic Update!

The test program for WhiteKnight2, the VMS Eve, is escalating with approximately 2 test flights per week. Here are the key achievements:

Flown to 45,000ft
Flown 6.1 hours in a single flight
Pulling g’s at altitude up to 2.5g’s
Practiced putting the wheels up and down at various altitudes and speeds
Practiced a stall – meaning they shut down the engines and re-start them inflight.
Flown to a peak speed of 340 KTAS with the landing gear both up and down. This is approximately 630kph/390mph
For those interested KTAS stands for Knots True Air Speed and measures the speed of an aircraft relative to undisturbed air. You can find out more about this on Wikipedia.

My daughter knows how to experience life! Watch this!

Long, long ago—like in 2007…

Love This Quote!

Remember when?

STOP PETLAND NOW!

I am not Billy Mays!

“Swell” tips for long distance flights

Sometimes traveling like a star isn’t a good idea…

Whale watching on land!

Virgin Galactic Update!

Categories

Archives

Links