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Daily Travel Photo – Monument Valley, Arizona

Monument Valley, Airzona

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

This Week In Travel – Episode 25

This week’s guest is Jessica Spiegel from BootsNAll.com.

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Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Dealing with reverse culture shock

You're returning home after living overseas. Perhaps you've been gone only a few months... or perhaps you've lived in a foreign culture for a number of years. It's possible that you became fully immersed into that host country and culture. Now, you're facing repatriation back to your home culture.

Sometimes, people experience what is known as Reverse Culture Shock when returning to their original homeland: it's a surprising mixture of bewilderment, loss, isolation and confusion. Your home country may no longer feel like home, and you may not feel like you belong there. Preparing for successful "re-entry" often depends upon applying skills of adaptability, change, and flexibility to ease transition back into one's home culture.

Recognize that you are a different, new person.
You've probably changed significantly by living overseas. Viewing our old home from an international perspective may reveal new -- sometimes scary -- insights into our home culture, other societies, and ourselves. Your new attitudes, cultural sensitivities, global awareness, and broader viewpoints may or may not be in sync with the folks' ideas back home.

Maybe you're not even sure where home is anymore, or maybe you feel more connected to your host country. It's ok to feel confused. Another name for this feeling is "personal growth," and this is just a growing pain.

Remember that your home country has changed, too.
Changes -- big and small -- happened while you were away. If you were back for home leave or a short visit, you may have already observed some changes. But even tiny alterations in fashions, products, advertising, customer service approaches, bank fees, and political attitudes may combine to create an entirely new, strange environment.

Continue reading Dealing with reverse culture shock

Dealing with reverse culture shock originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Daily Pampering – Trump-style proposal in Chicago

Filed under: United States, Hotels and Accommodations

If you want to propose to your honey, you want it to be flashy and fabulous and you don't want any of the hassle (and your assistant looked at you like you had three heads when you asked if he or she'd arrange it for you), Trump Hotel Collection has you covered.

Donald Trump knows what it's like to be too busy to arrange the ultimate proposal. In the words of the Trumpster himself, "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?"

A coordinated proposal in idyllic conditions on the stunning 89th floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago includes a night in a Grand Deluxe Lake View Suite, limousine transport to and from the hotel, a welcome bottle of Champagne, an in-suite private chef dinner for two, two dozen red roses, a full day of spa treatments for two, a romantic turndown at night, an in-room American breakfast for two and complimentary 2 p.m. late check-out (if availability allows). A Trump Attaché will take care of timing, flowers and everything else you need. Best of all, the package includes the diamond ring -- your Attaché will help you make your selection from the Ivanka Trump Collection.

Prices for the romantic Once in a Lifetime package at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago start at $20,100. The cost climbs with upgrades and, of course, bigger rings.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Daily Pampering - Trump-style proposal in Chicago originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Hotels top target for hackers

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Internet Tools

According to online security trade publication DarkReading.com, hackers went after the hotel sector more than any other in 2009. And, they didn't get caught: it took hotels an average of 156 days to discover a security breach. A study by Trustwave's SpiderLabs of 218 security breach investigations in 24 countries found that 38 percent hit the hospitality industry, 19 percent for financial services, 14 percent for retailers and 13 percent for food and beverage.

So, why are hackers poking around in hotel systems? Credit cards!

Hackers are looking for payment information that they can steal and use elsewhere. This information that can be converted to cash quickly, says Trustwave SpiderLabs executive Nicholas Percoco. Other sensitive information wasn't nearly as popular, with the likes of financial, authentication and healthcare information good for only 1 percent of what was stolen.

Hotels top target for hackers originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

SkyMall Monday: Cat Toilet Training System

For some reason, despite the fact that I don't like cats, feline products get a lot of attention from SkyMall Monday. We've featured a litter box and a talking food bowl. But this week, we're tackling a problem that has long flummoxed cat owners. You see, cats already act like they own their homes. They're aloof, ambivalent and seem to genuinely enjoy watching humans scoop up their feces. It's that last issue that sticks out the most. How can they truly be the heads of their households when they can't even clean up after themselves? In order for cats to completely evolve into our furry overlords, they'll need to stop pooping in litter boxes and start using toilets. While it may seem ~~terrifying~~ strange for cats to use toilets, it's the logical progression towards them dominating and overthrowing their owners. However, cats can't teach themselves to use the facilities. They'll need their current "masters' to assist them. And knowing how insane cat owners really are, I'm certain that they will have no problem being party to their own eventual enslavement. And that's why they will all be thrilled to discover that SkyMall is ready to help them take the first step towards building making their cats independent. Because SkyMall now offers the Cat Toilet Training System.

Continue reading SkyMall Monday: Cat Toilet Training System

SkyMall Monday: Cat Toilet Training System originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Disruptive passenger didn’t count on black belt “fight attendant”

Filed under: North America, United States, Airports

Rarely do you hear the words "At that point, I just put him into a choke hold" coming from a flight attendant.

But this is exactly what happened on US Airways flight 1447 last week when passenger Kinman Chan allegedly started freaking out after he doubled up on his dose of medicinal marijuana.

According to reports, halfway into the flight, Mr. Chan started losing his mind - screaming, banging on the bathroom doors and opening compartments in the rear of the plane.

He then went into a bathroom and came out with his pants down. It was at this point that flight attendant Lorin Gorman told him to sit down. When he refused, he also made a threatening motion to her - so she put him in an arm lock, jumped on him, and put him in a choke hold.

The plane was diverted to Pittsburgh where Chan was arrested and charged with disrupting a flight attendant. He now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Poor Mr. Chan obviously had not expected to run into a fourth-degree Tae Kwon Do expert on his flight. She credits her post-9/11 special training for her skills and ability to deal with small spaces.

Continue reading Disruptive passenger didn't count on black belt "fight attendant"

Disruptive passenger didn't count on black belt "fight attendant" originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Last-minute Valentine’s Day deals at Taj Boston

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

Still haven't made your Valentine's Day plans? Typical of a procrastinator like yourself, but thankfully, hotels in the Boston area are still offering some sweet deals for the sugary event. Just be sure to book before she realizes you forgot...

The Taj Boston, located at the corner of Arlington and Newbury is offering last-minute planners a park-view suite, complete with a wood-burning fireplace and the services of a fireplace butler for $259. The "Sweetheart Package" is good for Feb. 13 and comes with added goodies including:

Welcome bottle of French champagne and chocolates
A silk and lace La Perla sleeping mask
$50 La Perla gift certificate
Valentine's Day Sunday Brunch for two
3 pm checkout

If you're not ready to leave, or want to check in a few days earlier, pay only $195. You must reserve this package by Feb. 10.

Last-minute Valentine's Day deals at Taj Boston originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Daily gear deals – $99 Garmin GPS unit, $10 car power inverter and more

Filed under: Gadling's Daily Deal

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Monday February 8th 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today's first deal is for the Garmin 285WT GPS receiver. This unit is pretty much the top of the line when it comes to features - text to speech, Bluetooth hands-free, integrated traffic/weather/news and a photo browser. Currently on sale for just $99.99 with 9 months free MSN Direct traffic (the MSN service will shut down in 2012). Click here for this deal.

Next up is a neat 4-in-1 car power inverter. This $10 device turns the DC power in your car into 115W of AC power, along with a second DC jack and two USB ports. Total price with shipping is just $14.98. Click here for this deal.

Today's third deal is for a Wenger Laptop bag from Best Buy. You'll need to be a Reward Zone member to buy this $14.99 bag, but signing up is free. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today's lineup, the popular Asus EEE pc "1005HA" Seashell netbook is on clearance for just $299. This machine runs Windows 7 starter, and comes with a 250GB harddrive, 1GB of memory and 8.5 hours of battery life. Click here for this deal.

Daily gear deals - $99 Garmin GPS unit, $10 car power inverter and more originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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February 8th, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments Off

Hiking England’s oldest road

Filed under: Hiking, History, Learning, Europe, United Kingdom

England is an old land where you can drink in the same pubs as the Crusaders did and watch a play in a Roman theater, so it's a rare treat to touch or experience anything that can legitimately boast of being the "oldest."

The Ridgeway Trail in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in southern England just might have the claim of being the country's oldest road. The 87-mile route runs along a chalk ridge from the fantastic megalithic complex of Avebury northeast to the River Thames. People were using this as a road all the way back in the Neolithic 6,000 years ago and perhaps even earlier. Various tribes left their mark in the form of megalithic ruins, forts, and enigmatic chalk figures. There were many of these "ridgeway" routes in prehistoric Europe, allowing travelers to bypass the thick woods and primeval swamps that covered much of lowland Europe at that time.

While not as scenic or rugged as other National Trails such as the one that runs along Hadrian's Wall, the Ridgeway still makes for a pleasant ramble. B&Bs and campgrounds dot the route so you'll never have to worry about where to stay, as long as you reserve ahead of time in the peak season. Another big plus is that you can see the trail's two greatest prehistoric sights, Wayland's Smithy and the White Horse of Uffington (pictured here) in a long day hike.

The day hike starts in the pretty little village of Bishopstone, a short taxi ride from the railway stop at Swindon. Signs point you up the steep hill overlooking town and onto a broad field that narrows and ascends to the Ridgeway proper. From there head east, and it's easy sailing from then on. There are no great changes in elevation, just some gentle swells.

Once you're on the Ridgeway, it's only five miles to the White Horse, but two miles along there's a road heading south that takes you to the old stately home of Ashdown House and its grounds. Hidden in the forest is Alfred's Castle, attributed in local folklore to King Alfred the Great, who defeated the Vikings nearby in 871. In fact it's a hill fort dating to the about the 6th century BC. Hill forts were settlements or refuges enclosed by ditches and earth palisades. They tended to be on high spots to make them easier to defend. There's not much to see of the old earthworks here, but the birds tweeting in the branches makes this place a good spot for a picnic. The detour is two miles each way plus another mile or so of wandering through the woods.

Gallery: The Ridgeway Trail