Archive for November, 2007

18 November, 2007 | No comments

Swedes have recognized the ferry Fantaasia dangerous

The Swedish Department of waterways of the message has forbidden tricking to the Estonian ferry Fantaasia, specifying on serious lacks of safety of a vessel.
In June ferry Fantaasia, belonging navigable concern Tallink, has been recognized by the Estonian inspectors suitable for trips.
On November, 15th the Swedish experts have found 18 lacks on the vessel, 12 of them were serious, including idle loudspeakers and not closed water-proof doors.
Water-proof doors are necessary for maintenance of survivability of a vessel as they do not pass water from one compartment into another.
Ferry Fantaasia, constructed in 1979 and renewed in 2004, may transport 1500 passengers and 300 cars.
In October the owner of vessel, concern Tallink, has transferred ferry Fantaasia to half a year in rent to the Norwegian firm Kystlink. In 2005 Fantaasia has been leased to the Algerian navigable company Algerie Ferries, transporting in Mediterranean sea between France, Spain and Algeria. Earlier the vessel worked on lines Tallinn-Helsinki, Tallinn-Stockholm and Riga-Stockholm.
 

17 November, 2007 | No comments

New magnificent hotel has opened in Dubai

In Dubai (United Arab Emirates) the new hotel of de luxe class - The Monarch Dubai, being under control of Refad Hotels&Resort, has been opened. The hotel represents a 33-storeyed building and offers 236 room-numbers, suits and apartments, including - one of the most magnificent in city Palace suite, Sky suite and two Presidential suites. Besides, here there are eight restaurants and bars, a conference-center and shops. Lodgers of hotel can also take advantage of Mandara Spa services.
Two Presidential suites occupy 31st floor, their area makes 220 and 227 square meters, and each one has two bedrooms, separate zones of rest, a dining room, kitchen and wardrobe. Sky Suite (258 square meters) is located on 29-th and 30-th floors between hotel and office tower. Separate floor of hotel is allocated for holding conferences and actions. Here 13 trunk-call rooms and two boardrooms, business center and offices are located. Eight restaurants and bars of hotel offer dishes of the European, Indian and Japanese kitchen. Restaurant The Impire is the pride of The Monarch Dubai.
 

16 November, 2007 | No comments

Journalistic investigation in hotels has shocked America

Dearness of hotel unessential means good service - such conclusions have been made by the journalists of American broadcasting company Fox. The journalists have told that they have found out that no matter how much tourists would not pay for the room-number, they(nevertheless)  should better bring own glass. By means of the hidden cameras the group of the journalists, who pretended usual travelers, have found out, what the parlourmaidens do in room-numbers of magnificent hotels and how good they wash glasses. For experiment some glasses in each of numbers, where journalists stopped, have been dirtied with lemonade and lipstick.
To one of the most “innocent” offences of the parlourmaiden in hotels became that they simply rinse glasses not, actually, washing them. In one of hotels of the parlourmaid processed a bowl a special cleaning liquid on which by large letters it has been written “Do not drink “, and sparks of this hazardous to health chemical got on standing near by glasses. In other hotel parlourmaid washed glasses in the same gloves, in which they cleaned a toilet bowl. Experts, who were shown the record made by the hidden camera, were horrified: glasses look pure, but they were hazardous to health - in fact those bacteria and viruses, which usually live in a toilet bowl, were on them. The logger, who will use such glass, risks catching staphylococcus, salmonellas, herpes or hepatitis.
Then the same shadowing the parlourmaiden has been lead in hotels of an average price category, in order to find out, whether they do the work better, than their colleagues of dear hotels. Te same dirty glasses were left in each room-numbers with hidden cameras. In one of four-star hotels observers could see that the parlourmaid wipes the washed up glasses the dirty towels thrown by lodgers on a floor, preparing room-number for following visitors. Experts-physicians consider such “microbes’ exchange” can be very dangerous to health.
According to journalists, glasses in room-numbers of some hotels have not been properly washed for years and thousand lodgers, whose health has undergone to serious risk of infections, used these glasses. Glasses have been taken on the analysis, and a variety of the microbes, which have been found out on them after “washing”, has shocked the journalists. The plot about this investigation was broadcast on telechannel Fox and has caused a storm of spectator responses. The department of public health services has ordered all hotels, where investigation was spent, to wash glasses “properly”. It is necessary to hope, that the parlourmaids will obey officials.
 

14 November, 2007 | No comments

Traveling with animals

Traveling with cats, dogs and other fine pets, including small fishes, faces significant restrictions in many countries.
On import of such animals the veterinary certificate from a clinic, confirming that the animal is healthy and inoculations are made, is required.
If you have decided to travel with pets you will need the veterinary certificate and an inoculation against furiousness (it is valid since 10 days from date of an inoculation and not later than 9 months). Many countries require that inoculations have been made not less than three months prior to departure.
At flying, before registration, you should visit boundary veterinary control of the airport, where on the basis of collected before documents it is necessary to receive the international veterinary certificate. On a trip the dog of any breed and the size should be in a muzzle.
At booking the ticket you should warn, that the animal will depart with you. The dog or cat’s ticket is bought at the airport. Its cost is being counted as cost of above permitted standard luggage, proceeding from weight of the animal, but under tariffs of the first class even if the dog will depart in a luggage space. In a train the dog can follow in one compartment with the owner if other fellow travelers in a compartment do not object it. Otherwise it is necessary to buy the whole compartment plus the dog ticket.
Cats should follow in special bags (baskets). Before the departure the owner may ask for the soothing injection.
In many countries imported animals are located in quarantine:
• On Taiwan and Cuba - for 14 days,
• In the USA - for 1 month,
• Sweden - for 4 months, on Malta, Cyprus and the Great Britain - for 6 months.
All this is on a paid basis (from 150 up to 500 dollars).
Any information on transportation of animals can be received at any airport. At the sehotel (where it is allowed) the tourist with an animal should book a double room as it is considered, that the own vital space is required.

 
 

13 November, 2007 | No comments

Vietnam: tourists have appeared in an epicenter of flooding

More than 2 thousand foreign tourists have appeared in an epicenter of flooding in the central part of Vietnam, caused by torrential rains.
Water cut off approaches to roads and tracks from those areas, where there are tourists now.
The storm rains proceeding already of some weeks, became the reason of destruction of hundreds people. This flooding is already the fourth in this area for last month. At present the water level in some rivers has already reached the peak and has started to decrease slowly. However, as the meteorological service of the country has informed, rains still will proceed within the nearest two-three days.
As it has become known, coastal cities of Hue and Danang and the provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh are in the center of damaged zone. At present approximately 61 thousand houses, including 45 thousand in province Quang Ngai and 15 thousand houses in Danang have been flooded. In many villages the water level reaches 1,5-2,5 meters.
 

 

 

12 November, 2007 | No comments

Prague water drain

Fans of unusual excursions are looking forward for the end of November, when the well-known Prague collectors - the vaults used for the water drain and a water pipe will be opened for tourists.
The representatives of company Kolektory Praha have prepared three routes, various on extent and degrees of complexity. Excursions’ organizers warn that only physically healthy people, who will be capable to climb upwards on narrow ladders, may use these excursions. Specially prepared guides will lead tourists on underground premises of the Prague sewer station and on other technical sights.
Historical cellars of some buildings in the center of Prague are connected to the underground courses, served for the technical purposes. Underground tourist routes will also pass under some stations of the underground, where old constructions are partially used till now. The old network of underground courses under the Old city town is especially interesting.
To tourists will be also shown a communication system, used in collectors, the dispatching board, and interested people can pass on a vault by a working train. Warm jackets will be given out to all participants of excursion.
The Prague underground constructions are unique and, probably, oldest complex in the Europe.

 
 

11 November, 2007 | No comments

Israel will struggle with guides-swindlers

Before a winter season, when representatives of different religious faiths gather in Jerusalem, of Israeli Tourism Minister has met with representatives of Association of the Israeli guides and has made excursion across Jerusalem with them. He has checked up the state of tourist objects in city, has visited Olive mountain, Muslim and Christian quarters and other monuments.
The minister has paid special attention to the fact that nowadays the Israeli capital is overfilled with the number of the guides, who are not having the rights to excursion activity. According to the minister it is necessary to pay the penalty at a rate of three thousand shekels ($764) for struggle against swindlers special spot-checks during which to the guides who are not having the licenses.
Control road brigades, which consisted of representatives of Ministries of tourism and Associations of the Israeli guides, accompanied by police, have already started to work. Only for one day the brigade has been fined two guides, carrying out excursions without corresponding licenses.
Each citizen of Israel can is more senior 21 years, not broken criminal law can receive the license of the guide. After the interview in a selection committee he can pass a curriculum upon termination of which, in case of successful delivery of written and oral examination, the diploma stands out. it is necessary to update the license each two years.
 

9 November, 2007 | No comments

Forbes has named the best zoos of the world

Forbes Traveler has published the list of the best zoos of the world.
Animal Kingdom (Orlando, the USA)
Animal Kingdom, having the area more than 500 acres, is the largest Disney thematic park in the world. Rhinoceroses, antelopes and other representatives of an empire of animals live here. The park is divided into seven thematic parts - from the Oasis up to the Tree of the Life - an artificial tree in height of about the 14-storeyed house, on which images of 325 animals are cut out.
Basel Zoo (Basel, Switzerland)
Inhabitants of Basel name it Zolli. Attendance of a zoo makes about one million visitors annually. Zolli has been opened in 1874. Today it has about 6 000 animal of more than 600 different kinds. It has also the so called “vivarium”-place, where it is possible to observe the history of evolution.
Beauval Zoo (France)
Beauval Zoo has been opened in 1980 as an open-air cage for birds. Later exotic animals, such as giraffes and monkeys appeared there, and the hen house has turned to a zoo. Today it possesses about 4 000 animal kinds.
Berlin Zoological Garden (Berlin, Germany)
The Berlin zoo can brag of the biggest collection animal - 13 900 individuals of 1400 various kinds. The area of a zoo makes 86 acres. It has been opened in 1844 and represents not only zoological, but also historical interest.
Bronx Zoo (New York, the USA)
Zoo in Bronx is the largest city zoo in the USA and it became the house for more, than 4000 inhabitants, many of which belong to the rare kinds, which are being on the verge of extinction. Monorail road “Wild Asia”, which allows visitors to examine all representatives of the Asian fauna containing in a zoo, is the main sight of a zoo. The closed part of a zoo, the World of Jungle, allows seeing plants and animals from tropics.
Chester Zoo (Great Britain)
In Chester Zoo occupies the area of 110 acres. It has been based in 1934 and today it has welfare fund of the Zoological Society of Northern England. Chester Zoo is considered as the most popular zoo of the Great Britain.
Prague Zoological Garden (Prague, Czech Republic)
Despite of modest sizes in 111 acres, this zoo possesses 4 600 animal of 630 kinds.
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA)
In such rich different living creatures to the country as the republic of South Africa, simply there should be a magnificent zoo and National Zoos in Pretoria of expectations do not deceive. The area of a zoo is about 198 acres. 2568 animals live in it, 99 % from which have been born there.

 

8 November, 2007 | No comments

The Ring - is a new 5-star hotel of the Vein

On November, 8th in the Vein the magnificent five-star hotel of network The Ring will be open. It will possess 68 room-numbers of various categories: Casual, Special and X-Ordinary, Cosmopolitan and The Ring. Casual room-numbers will consist of gracefully decorated bedroom and a bathroom; Special room-number will include sitting room, and X-Ordinary - breakfast room. In Сosmopolitan suites the lodgers will be offered such services as exclusive conditions and modern technics, and in the only one suite The Ring - the small art-gallery, a balcony, a dining room, a conference hall, two bathing rooms and a drawing room will be offered.
Design of hotel will combine features of traditional luxury and modern minimalism and coffee, creamy and pistachio will become primary colors of an interior. Besides in the majority of room-numbers visitors can take pleasure in fine views of the Opera and ancient city centre. The hotel has also the restaurant of kitchen gourmet, a bar, fitness-hall and spa with a set of unique procedures. The prices for accommodation will vary from 275 up to 2500 euros according to the room-numbers’ categories.

 

7 November, 2007 | No comments

Chinese build the largest big wheel in the world

The biggest in the world the big wheel will appear in capital of China. As AFP, referring to the state mass-media, informs, construction of a design in height in 208 meters will be finished in 2009. A wheel under the name “Beijing Sky Boat” will rotate 48 capsules, each of which is calculated upon 40 people. Construction will manage to Chinese in 99 million dollars.
On a site of company The Great Wheel, which is engaged in construction of an attraction, it is spoken what it will be opened in August, 2008, at the beginning of the Olympiad. However, according to sources in the company, construction is rather tightened. After opening the Peking wheel its smaller 165-meter copy will be constructed in Singapore.
The Chinese press marks, that visitors of park Chaojan can admire a fine view of the city by means of “heavenly boat”. However, AFP marks, that visibility in Peking from time to time does not exceed several hundreds meters because of polluted air.
Today the highest big wheel is constructed in Gret Britain- British attraction London Eye -which height makes 135 meters.
 

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