The first heavy and significant snowfall of this winter in Shimla, starting on Friday night, threw normal life completely out of gear as traffic, telecommunication links, water supply were disrupted while a large number of tourists were stranded. A panoramic view of Shimla ‘s historic Ridge thronged by tourists on Sunday after snowfall A huge influx of tourists during the day further added to the chaos with traffic jams due to haphazard driving and skidding of vehicles.
Category: Travel
.com | Mugabe blows $36m on foreign, domestic trips – report
Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe has allegedly grabbed two more properties from a Lebanese businessman, despite the court ordering her to vacate the three houses that she initially seized in a botched $1.3 million diamond ring deal. Cape Town Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 92, reportedly spent at least $36m on foreign and domestic trips in the first 10 months of 2016.
Video showing Israeli diplomat plotting takedown of UK ministers causes uproar
A video showing an employee at the Israeli Embassy in London saying he wishes to “take down” various British parliamentarians considered to be against Israel caused outrage in the United Kingdom over the weekend, The Guardian reported. The Israeli Embassy in the UK was quick to issue an apology, with Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev personally apologizing to Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Duncan, who was one of the parliamentarians “targeted” by the employee.
Lisbon: A great place to celebrate the new year
Lisbon is an alluring city any time of year, but why not celebrate the start of 2017 there? It’s similar in so many ways to San Francisco – seven hills, stunning bridges, dynamic neighborhoods, great food and wonderful people. A destination unto itself, it’s also very close to wine country, beaches, and mountains.
Tube workers are due to walk out for 24 hours from 6pm on Sunday
Last ditch talks aimed at averting a strike by London Underground workers will be held today, with little sign of the action being called off. Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are due to walk out for 24 hours from 6pm on Sunday, causing travel chaos for millions of passengers.
S. Korean critical after self-immolating over sex slave deal
A South Korean Buddhist monk is in critical condition after setting himself on fire to protest the country’s settlement with Japan on compensation for wartime sex slaves, officials said Sunday. The 64-year-old monk suffered third-degree burns across his body and serious damage to vital organs.
Jordan warns of – catastrophic repercussions’ should the US move its embassy to occupied Jerusalem
Trump promised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s undivided capital if he emerged triumphant in the US presidential election. Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press on Thursday that such a move would be a “red line” for Jordan and would ” inflame the Islamic and Arab streets .”
Important travel information – Wirral line closure
Liverpool FC would like to remind fans using Wirral Line rail services to travel to Anfield on a matchday that this service will be affected for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. This is due to the Wirral loop line track renewal taking place from Tuesday January 3 to Sunday June 18. Services on the Northern Line will not be impacted.
Tube strike: here’s everything you need to know
Hundreds of thousands of Londoners face major travel disruption as strike action looks set to close London Underground network for 24 hours. Nearly 4,000 station and ticket staff are walking out for 24 hours on Sunday evening in a dispute over job losses and ticket closures.
French grocery store labels Israeli products as ‘settlement produce’
The first French supermarket has labeled Israeli products as “Made in Israeli Settlements.” This comes after the French Government instituted a policy of labeling Israeli produce grown in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights as “settlement products” two months ago The incident is known to the Israeli Embassy in France, who then turned to French Jewish organizations to ask the chain to take down the offending signs.
Sadiq Khan promised to freeze train fares – but they’ve gone up anyway
Sadiq Khan has been accused of “failing Redbridge” after Tube fares increased this week despite his election promise to freeze them. LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan insists he has kept his promise to freeze Tube fares – after many increased by almost two per cent this week.
Frigate assigned to escort Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry
The Royal Passenger Liner ferry leaves Pattaya for Hua Hin on Thursday on its delayed inaugural service, escorted by the frigate HTMS Kraburi. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong The navy has assigned the frigate HTMS Kraburi to protect the Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry, which made its first trip on Thursday after rough seas delayed the unofficial launch from Jan 1. The frigate was already deployed in the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand, the navy statement said.
Destination Lankaran, subtropical region of Azerbaijan [VIDEO]
Lankaran is the land of mountains, forests, citrus fruits and tea plantations. A wonderful climate and breathtaking natural landscapes are the hallmarks of this subtropical region of Azerbaijan.
Heaven in the Himalayas: Nepal’s top 5 responsible boutique hotels
It’s been nearly two years since one of Nepal’s major fault lines sparked the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that claimed at least 8,000 lives and many of the Himalayan nation’s historic monuments. Online hotel reviews in Nepal are plagued by complaints of disruption by rebuilding work.
Non-OPEC Voluntary Cuts Unraveling Before They Even Start
With much fanfare, OPEC held a press conference on December 10th at its headquarters in Vienna to announce that an agreement had been made with various non-OPEC producers: Azerbaijan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Sultanate of Oman, the Russian Federation, Republic of Sudan, and Republic of South Sudan commit to reduce their respective oil production, voluntarily or through managed decline, in accordance with an accelerated schedule. The combined reduction target was agreed at 558,000 barrels a day for the aforementioned producers.”
Mother Nature can’t decide which kind of winter to send us
But according to Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, that was the case in December. After a mild start to December, cold air finally made an extended appearance across the province after about the 7th of the month until the days leading up to Christmas.
Mired in Mud, Brazil’s Unpaved Roads Delay Farming Promise
That’s what trucks traveling from Brazil’s top soybean and corn producing region, Mato Grosso, often face on their trips to newly-expanded export terminals in the north. During the last commodities boom, Brazil’s exports were disrupted by port bottlenecks that saw scores of ships waiting to load.
North Korea first ladiy Ri Sol Ju not as powerful as Kim Jong Un’s sister
North Korea ‘s first lady is known for her lavish lifestyle and her appearances alongside her husband Kim Jong Un . But according to Thae Yong Ho, the senior North Korean diplomat who fled Pyongyang’s embassy in London, Ri Sol Ju’s status as a “commoner” in North Korea’s classification system means she is not quite in a position to hold influence over Kim’s important decisions, South Korean news network MBN reported Tuesday.
Danish man Thor Pedersen is travelling the world by container ship
From a curious polar bear cub to an excitable puppy: Adorable footage of animals seeing snow for the first time is sure to make your heart melt From spectacular waterfalls to sensational samba dances: Discovering the enticing rhythm of Argentina and Brazil on a trip-of-a-lifetime tour These really are pop-up hotels! Tourists can stay in one-off glamping cabins installed in Wales’ secret beauty spots which disappear after they visit Meet the man who’s travelling on CONTAINER SHIPS in an attempt to see every country in the world… without flying Make 2017 a roaring triumph: From dinosaurs and rock gods to a Far Eastern tropical idyll, this year’s top destinations revealed Bring the bambino: Newsreader Emma Crosby proves a tour of Tuscany with a toddler CAN still be child’s play Planet Earth – the live show: Head to Namibia for the best seat in the house at this spectacular African safari … (more)
Adorable footage of Polar Bears seeing snow for the first time will make your heart melt
From a curious polar bear cub to an excitable puppy: Adorable footage of animals seeing snow for the first time is sure to make your heart melt From spectacular waterfalls to sensational samba dances: Discovering the enticing rhythm of Argentina and Brazil on a trip-of-a-lifetime tour These really are pop-up hotels! Tourists can stay in one-off glamping cabins installed in Wales’ secret beauty spots which disappear after they visit Meet the man who’s travelling on CONTAINER SHIPS in an attempt to see every country in the world… without flying Make 2017 a roaring triumph: From dinosaurs and rock gods to a Far Eastern tropical idyll, this year’s top destinations revealed Bring the bambino: Newsreader Emma Crosby proves a tour of Tuscany with a toddler CAN still be child’s play Planet Earth – the live show: Head to Namibia for the best seat in the house at this spectacular African safari … (more)
Why tailor Suitsupply isn’t afraid of Hong Kong’s retail decline
Despite the continuing fall in retail sales – the city’s luxury sector suffered a 10.5 per cent drop in the first half of 2016 – Suitsupply has opened its first Hong Kong store in Central, and a big one at that Retailers in Hong Kong’s Central business district have endured more bad news than good over the past year, but the area still has cachet with international brands looking to enter the Hong Kong market. In early December, Dutch tailor Suitsupply opened its first boutique in the city, taking a large space on Ice House Street.
Passengers reveal ‘ruined lives’ amid Southern rail dispute disruption
A survey of 1,000 passengers showed that delays, cancellations and overcrowding are causing health problems, house moves and job trouble The dramatic impact of months of disruption to Southern Railway services has been revealed by passengers now facing “intolerable” journeys. A survey of 1,000 passengers showed that delays, cancellations and overcrowding is causing health problems, forcing people to move house and even lose their jobs.
14 Best Skywatching Events of 2017
Another year of skywatching is upon us, and there’s a lot to look forward to in 2017! Here are some of the more noteworthy sky events that will take place this year, including multiple meteor showers, occultations of bright stars and the first total eclipse of the sun for the United States in nearly four decades. Space.com’s Night Sky column will provide more extensive coverage of these events as they draw closer.
Enjoyable but hazardous
A few thoughts about my visit: I know that people with disabilities are pleased with the ramps installed on Bangkok sidewalks. Unfortunately, they are now being used as motorcycle taxi ramps and the sidewalk has become a motorway.
Creative ways to ring in the new year
Counting down the hours until the new year can be exciting, as the world anxiously anticipates the adventures in store for the months ahead. Celebrating the new year dates back thousands of years to the ancient Babylonians, who celebrated a new year come the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Boulder residents pitch in to fund family’s ‘dream’ trip back to Mexico
On the other end of the line was Lynn Morgan, a longtime member of the Colorado Athletic Club in Boulder, where Arispe Mendoza, a 44-year-old Mexican immigrant, has worked as a custodian for 18 years – all but a few weeks of his time in the United States. “He makes this place run and hum.
Trump’s praise of Putin could signal a new day for US policy
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a sword while listening an explanations from the head of Russian First Channel Konstantin Ernst, during his meeting with the historical action film Viking’s crew, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016. Viking is a historical action film based on the historical document Primary Chronicle and Icelandic Kings’ sagas.
I lived in Times Square for a year – here’s what it’s like…
Registration will allow you to post comments on ctpost.com and create a ctpost.com Subscriber Portal account for you to manage subscriptions and email preferences. I lived in Times Square for a year – here’s what it’s like to live in the most hectic part of New York City NEW YORK – While most New Yorkers avoid the wandering crowds of tourists, costumed characters, and bombarding big screens of Times Square, I chose to live there.
Budapest museum lifts lid on Houdini’s magic, Hungarian roots
Posters are seen in the “House of Houdini” museum in Budapest, Hungary, December 19, 2016. Picture taken December 19, 2016.
Taiwan president to transit Houston, San Francisco next month
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit through Houston and San Francisco during her January visit to allies in Latin American countries, her office said on Friday, a move certain to anger mainland China which a day earlier urged the United States to block a stopover. Tsai is transiting in the US on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
South Tama Band and Choir working toward New York City trip
Since 2005 South Tama County High School Band students have received what Director Mike Carnahan calls a once in a lifetime opportunity. That opportunity has been band trips.
Letter: U.S. veto an insult to Israel
Letter: U.S. veto an insult to Israel President Obama did not just “rebuke” Israel, but metaphorically spit in the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Check out this story on northjersey.com: http://northjersy.news/2iKOS85 When the United States abstained on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, President Barack Obama did not just “rebuke” Israel, but metaphorically spit in the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israelis and supporters of Israel everywhere.
Money for nothing in Siem Reap
In the tourist game, tuk-tuk drivers play an outsized role in their customers’ food and entertainment choices – and they expect to be paid. The practice of paying tuk-tuk drivers and concierges to push diners to your door is ubiquitous in Cambodia’s tourist capital, say frustrated restaurant owners, and doing no one any favours.
ALERT: Obama Helps Put 3 Christian Holy Sites Under Muslim Command – In Under 3 Days
When Obama became President for the first time 8 years ago, we knew it would be bad; when he became President again in round 2, we knew things were only going to get WORSE. However, now that it’s nearing the very end of his time in the White House and as Commander-in-Chief, he’s REALLY acting out and isn’t even TRYING to hide his wicked intentions now.
Taitung commissioner promotes county’s diverse cultures, coastal scenery in Hunan
Taitung County Commissioner Justin Huang recently led a delegation to Hunan Province, China to promote tourism in the Eastern Taiwan county. Speaking at a travel fair in Hunan on Dec. 23, Huang said Taitung is on Lonely Planet’s 2016 list of the top 10 spots in Asia, alongside Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hokkaido and others.
Genting Hong Kong caters to the Asian market with Star Cruises
The Asian cruise industry is booming and operators, governments and tourist boards are keen to get involved. Cruise operators are introducing more and more itineraries to the region, while authorities are developing top-of-the-range cruise terminals everywhere from Shanghai to Singapore.
Endless fight until official apology from Japan
Endless fight until official apology from Japan. December. 29, 2016 07:10. by Ho-Kyeong Kim kimhk@donga.com.
Pushing back on Israel, Kerry defends Obama’s UN vote
Stepping into a raging diplomatic argument, Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday staunchly defended the Obama administration’s decision to allow the U.N. Security Council to declare Israeli settlements illegal and warned that Israel’s very future as a democracy is at stake. Kerry, pushing back on Israel’s fury at the U.S. abstention of the United Nations vote, questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s true commitment to Palestinian statehood, which has formed the basis for all serious peace talks for years.
Hualien, Taitung named top spots to catch sunrise
The east coast counties of Hualien and Taitung are the two top choices for people seeking to catch the first sunrise of 2016, ezTravel agency said Wednesday. It said that based on its sales of New Year travel packages, other popular destinations are Longpan in Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan, Alishan in Chiayi County, Erliao in Tainan, and Wuling in Nantou County.
How a Trip to Rural China Taught an NYC Fashion Designer to Let Go
“I was interested in doing an authentic, no-frills trip. With Paskho, I work with a factory outside the industrial city of Guangzhou, in southern China.