From the passenger who discovered that the man seated next to him sharing a scotch was in fact the co-pilot, to an entire Spanish rugby team singing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ between Barcelona and London, a collection of user experiences on planes shared with Wego prove sometimes more amusing than the in-flight movies.

On a flight to Melbourne one passenger found herself amid five full rows of horn-blowing, fully made up clowns on their way to a clown convention, three musical theatre performers walking up and down the aisle singing ‘No business like show business’ and an impromptu limbo challenge with a scarf by passengers waiting in line for the bathroom.

Dressing up was popular too with one person seated next to a large, straight faced man in full Superman gear, including tights, from Brisbane to Los Angeles, and on a flight from Australia to Malaysia a teenage girl in a chicken suit including big feet, or the man who only spoke to the passenger seated next to him through his hand puppet.

Unusual ‘non-human’ passengers included a duck and a chicken who were duly assigned their own seats on a flight from Spain, a goat who popped his head out of a bag 20 minutes into a flight, a crate of live yabbies (small crayfish) who escaped into the cabin on a domestic Australian flight and a flight to France with a passenger mirroring her pink poodle seated beside her with identical hairdos, outfits and glittering accessories.

Creepy encounters included a Danish passenger who clutched her bag full of dolls whispering ‘mine’ the entire flight, and a Japanese man who slept completely upside down, his head in the seat, and stayed that way for six hours.

The importance of a portable cosmetic mirror in a handbag was highlighted by a woman who applied big spots of lipstick to her face believing it to be concealer make-up, while an air-hostess discreetly and progressively smiled at each of her passengers hoping to find the owners of a pair of dentures left in the washroom.

Possibly the most amusing was the pilot who, while flying, pointed out his ex-wife’s house and the car of the man she’d been having an affair with parked in his driveway, sharing his bitterness with all his passengers over the intercom.

Have you sat next to an interesting character on a plane?

The post Better than an In-Flight movie – Tales from an Aircraft appeared first on Wego Travel Editor's Desk.

Chamindah stops the van. He turns around, smiles at me and points to a large tortoise trying to cross the road. I climb out, pick it up and place it gently near a tree in the direction it was travelling. Chamindah clasps his hands together giving thanks to Buddha and we set off towards the rock monastery fortress of Sigiriya.

I decide that I like Chamindah despite his hapless nature and his lackadaisical attitude about punctuality. He’s a faithful Buddhist, has a grin as wide as the rear end of a water buffalo and stops for all animals no matter how small they are. He dodges kittens and puppies with sacred alacrity.

When the van broke down days before, the first of many times, he turned, smiled and said, “One minute.” Hours later the van was repaired. According to Chamindah time, one minute means two hours. Two hours means days. Luckily he never says “In a couple of days.” No doubt I’d still be in Sri Lanka, plodding along like my tortoise friend, safe from death by road kill but never punctual.

Car trouble provides some friendly time with the locals

But I don’t mind. All mishaps provide opportunities for chatting with friendly local mechanics who can apparently fix a broken radiator hose with a rubber band. A disconnected fly-wheel is repaired with a piece of scrap metal and twisted wire. Smiles all around, endless cups of tea, maybe a beer if it’s late in the afternoon, it’s so easy to while away the hours. I’m riding on serendipity time; recalling this island nation’s previous moniker, Serendib and I’m ready for unexpected pleasures no matter the form they take. Sri Lanka has had many names. For me they all mean the same, Halfway to Paradise on the Road to Nirvana.

Exquisite Galle Fort Hotel

Breaking the journey with a stay in Galle at the exquisite Galle Fort Hotel, hanging round the hotel pool interspersed with relaxing walks within the old city’s walled centre or visiting nearby beaches, the impact of tourism is never far away. Southern Sri Lanka is the favoured winter respite for many visiting European tourists. Galle has mostly resisted being turned into a beach destination but beachside towns between Colombo and Galle have thoroughly embraced tourism. Large hotels continue to sprout up like mushrooms in compost while not all developments are built in best taste.

East of Galle, development is less rampant as a few beach towns between Galle and the Yala National Park’s western border haven’t all been swamped by tourism money making schemes.

We find some respite and crowd relief in tiny Talalla while staying in a pseudo-holistic beach resort. I say pseudo because the whole area is holistic. The beach is entirely devoid of large-scale development, a relief to ears and eyes. An evening walk in nearby Gandara provides a gift; a glimpse into Sri Lanka before war and political corruption wrecked a lot of lives. Even the 2004 tsunami’s after effects seem less dire here.

Sri Lanka elephants at Pitinwhalle Sanctuary

Beach combing attractions aside, Sri Lanka’s interior is historically, ecologically and culturally more interesting. We stop for a day at Pinnawalla elephant orphanage, checking out its reputation for admirable elephant care. Though it’s something of a tourist show, particularly when some of the orphanage’s elephants walk to the river for a daily bath, the whole place has an atmosphere of openness. Elephants roam freely among visitors though a couple of mature males in musth are chained to posts and visitors are warned away. Greater emphasis on education about these endangered animals would be beneficial but as an orphanage open to the general public, it’s not a bad place in which to begin an understanding of Asian elephants.

Kandy is a requisite stop. Sri Lanka’s holy city is the entry point to the central highlands and key to understanding the importance of Buddhism to the national identity. The Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sacred Tooth Temple) is the country’s most important religious shrine, essential to any visit to Sri Lanka. Kandy is also the country’s cultural centre. Music and dance performances abound, some aimed at tourists, more at local celebrants. The central Kandy market is one of the country’s best. As the locus for this small city’s permanent population, it’s the best place in which to gauge how Kandy town differs greatly from Colombo city.

Devotees at Sri Dalada Maligawa – Image Ji-Elle

Tea plantations cover much of Sri Lanka’s interior. The town of Nuwara Eliya (meaning ‘City of Light’ or ‘City of the Plain’) is near the ecologically significant Horton Plains National Park and is more or less tea central. Great paddocks of tea plants (camellia sinensis) surround the whole area. The Victoria Park in the centre of town is worth visiting, if only to read signs indicating what not to do, wear, speak or behave. Prissy Victorian English mores took root in the highlands of Sri Lanka while remnant traditions remain. Much of Nuwara Eliya’s architecture is Anglo-Indian, a bit of the Raj in central Sri Lanka.

From Kandy, we drive haphazardly into the interior, our destination the Cultural Triangle. Here Sri Lanka’s kingdoms held sway over the whole of the island centuries ago. From the capital at Anuradhapura a great dynasty ruled. While other south Asian historic ruins: Angkor Wat, Ayutthaya and Borobudur are known to most travellers, Sri Lanka’s are not, which is a pity as they’re packed with architectural treasures. Since the fighting between the Tamil Tigers and the National Army ceased in 2010, the going is easier though occasional road blocks remain in place. The area around the Cultural Triangle was formerly the border zone caught between opposing sides. Now it’s well within control of the Sri Lankan Government. No matter your political views, the local people have suffered due to a lack of travellers from abroad and recovery is slow.

It’s very quiet here, few visitors are about. Police roadblocks check passing vehicles but we’re never bothered. As soon as they see a couple of foreigners in the clapped out van they wave us on with a smile. The Sri Lankan economy depends heavily on tourism. Since the tsunami and the recent war the country has suffered. Two paramount concerns prevail: unemployment and lack of income. We are welcomed everywhere we go with open arms.

Buddha rests in the caves of Dambulla

The cave temples at Dambulla are marvels of painterly consistency. The Buddha’s smiles are so subtly different that the artisans crafting his serene visage must have had a master template from which to work. The enormous statues barely fit into the caves, adapting to the natural contours of the sloping walls. Cool interiors and dimly lit spaces contrast dramatically with the heat and hard light outside. We’ve climbed hundreds of steps to reach the plateau where five caves extend in a line along a natural fold in the mountain. The statues were carved during the reign of King Valagamba (1st century BCE). Over 150 Buddha images may be seen here. I lose count after 80.

From the terraced ledge, I stop to gaze at the monsoon drenched countryside. Though Sri Lanka is an island roughly the size of Tasmania, they have in common a perception of immensity. My eyes wander towards the central highlands, its highest elevations marking 2,000 plus metres. The sharp peaks, densely forested slopes and tea plantations make me wonder if I’m looking at a continent. It seems that big.

Sigiriya Fortress Monastery

The volcanic outcrop of Sigiriya thrusts upwards. From the heights of Dambulla, the geological wonder that is Sigiriya stands alone. On a vast jungle plain criss-crossed by elephant tracks and dotted with small villages tucked away in swards of green, Sigiriya looks like a fantasy fortress. How the monks and their assistants built anything atop the sheer walled promontory is a wonder in itself.

The surrounding water gardens add to the overall impression that the whole complex is something of a miracle in its inception, much less its completion. Moats encompass the gardens, signs warning visitors not to get too close for fear of crocodiles and water monitors keep even the foolhardy from indulging in a cooling dip. Snakes hide in the rushes searching for frogs. Langurs and macaques loop from one tree to the next. The scene is Eden-esque, outwardly tamed but secretly wild. Making our way to the famous boulder gardens, ancient watercourses marking the path, a hornet’s nest is the only danger we encounter. The sign indicating the presence of the little beasties is one of the few modern touches, albeit a silly one. Evidently the best thing to do when encountering a hornet swarm is to wave furiously one’s arms whilst sprinting like an Olympian in pursuit of a gold medal.

Beware the hornets at Sigiriya

Sigiriya’s history reveals much. Once believed to have been the fortress sanctuary of a 4th century CE king, archaeologists now consider that by the 3rd century BCE, Sigiriaya was an important monastery devoted to Mahayana-Theravada Buddhism that also supported a thriving city. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Climbing to the top of Sigiriya is best done slowly. After a couple of hours, we’re at the base of the fortress itself. Two huge carved lion’s paws, all that’s left of a gigantic leonine statue that guarded the entrance to the final ascent, grasp the bottom steps. It’s like passing between stupendous costume party shoes. The Mirror Wall we pass on the way to the summit forms a long corridor that protects dizzy climbers from tumbling down the sheer rock face. A thousand years of graffiti adorns its glazed surface. Linguists have been studying versions of ‘I was here with Chamindah’ since Sigiriya was re-discovered in 1898 by the British archaeologist H.C.P. Bell. Early Sinhalese translated from the Mirror Wall has helped to understand its development into the national language.

Sigiriya lion paws at the foot of the fortress

Finally we reach the summit just in time for a soaking tropical downpour. We run for the nearest tree and wait under it with a couple of monkeys and three German women who, with us, are Sigiriya’s only foreign visitors that day. As suddenly as the rain begins, it disappears. Steam rises off the nearby plains. The sun beats hard again, instantly drying my soaked t-shirt. A rainbow caps off the whole panorama. I understand now why the monks were so inspired by this place. It does seem but a short step to Nirvana from here.

Towards Nirvana atop Sigiriya

At Mihintale, the sacred mountain where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka many centuries ago by the Emporer Ashoka’s son Prince Mahinda, we are met by a guide as soon as we step from the van. “Welcome! Welcome! You are my only guests today. Please let me show you this place.” Trained by the government’s archaeology unit, he is a source of informed wonder. We clamber along precarious ledges that hide the original sanctuaries, dug out by hermitic monks long before the ancient monastery itself was built. “The monks came here to meditate and commune with nature,” says our guide. A snake slips out of a cleft in a cave and I experience an Indiana Jones moment. “A good omen,” continues our fearless leader, “nature is everywhere here, you can sense it, feel how cool it is inside this cave.” I don’t really want to be in a cave where the snake just left but am drawn to it nonetheless. Hairs on my neck are at attention and I prefer to be back at the thousand year old stupa, or dagoba as it’s called in Sri Lanka, looking at the bas-reliefs sculptures of elephants, lions and peacocks. Instead I graze my scalp painfully on the low-slung rock ceiling, cursing my inattention while concentrating instead on imaginary slithering at my feet.

Aukana Standing Buddha

Later that day we stop at a 12 metre high standing Buddha, carved in the ‘ashiva mudra’, or blessing, pose out of a rock cliff in the middle of nowhere. The Buddha at Aukana is surely off the beaten path; we are the only non-Sri Lankans among the pilgrims who come here to pray at Buddha’s feet. Aukana means ‘sun-eating’, morning is the best time to visit it. So masterfully executed in its proportions that I’m assured a single drop of water descending from the Buddha’s forehead will fall precisely halfway between his feet resting on a huge lotus plinth. Of course I wait to see it for myself and am pleased to see the splash between Buddha’s toes.

Anuradhapura became the capital in 380BCE and ruled greater Sri Lanka for nearly a thousand years. It spreads out over a vast area at the boundary of modern Anuradhapura, a frontier town at the edge of the formerly Tamil Tiger controlled north. Here the modern and ancient mingle loosely. High rise dagobas stand out as they did hundreds of years ago. Soldiers stand at gates striking poses probably like they did when this was the centre of a highly militarised society constantly defending itself from southern Indian invaders.

Despite all the army falderal, Anuradhapura’s main claim to eternal fame is Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred bodhi tree. Grown from a cutting, it was taken from the Tree of Enlightenment at Bodhgaya in India by Princess Sangamitta, sister of Prince Mahinda who introduced Buddhism at Mihintale. The Sri Maha Bodhi is the world’s oldest authenticated tree, successively guarded for over 2,000 years even during foreign occupation. This is one of Sri Lanka’s holiest sites, indeed it is for all Buddhists. Unlike the Buddha’s Sacred Tooth Temple in Kandy and Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) where Buddha supposedly left a footprint while he ascended to heaven, here fellow travellers are few and far between. The aura is palpable, it is an enchanted scene though not at all like many of the world’s other holy places. Monkeys tease the temple’s cats, dogs leap about playing with one another, there is much laughter and people idle away the time while they make puja, chat, pray and gossip. It’s all so relaxed, family friendly and peaceful that I almost forget that I’m standing in front of the world’s oldest sacred tree. I think the Buddha would have liked that. And if this isn’t enough to satisfy an ardent Buddha relic collector, the most ancient visible stupa in the world, the nearby Thuparama Dagoba is said to house the Buddha’s right collarbone.

Anuradhapura is packed with temples, holy lakes, dagobas and palaces. Moonstones and accompanying guard stones are scattered liberally around the ruins. Inscribed with intricate carvings signifying steps taken on the path to Nirvana, these temple platforms educate acolytes and visitors alike. I am entranced that so many bare feet have been here before mine but, on the road to Nirvana, we’re all blessed with our own personal point of view.

Tom Neal Tacker is Wego’s favourite guest travel adventure writer and you can read more about his journeys at The Naked Hungry Traveller. 

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So who was the most on-time airline last month? Finnair topped the list at 93.83 per cent delivery of flights within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrivals in May. According to Flightstats’ Airline and Airport On-time Performance Report  major international airlines on average delivered just over 80 per cent of their flight arrival times, give or take 15 minutes.

On-time arrival figures, May 2013, via www.flightstats.com

Topping the list was Finnair (93.83%), followed by South African Airways (93.19%), Gulf Air (92.69%), ANA (91.29%) and the UK’s EasyJet  (90.42 %). Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS, Air Europa and Tyrolean Airways respectively filled the final five slots in the top ten, all with over 89 per cent delivering steady on-time performance.

In Asia, the top ten performing airlines, many of them Japanese, all scored greater than 90 per cent with an average rating among the 41 airlines of 72.39 per cent. J-Air, Thai AirAsia, Japan Transocean, Hokkaido, Japan Air Commuter, ANA Wings, Air Busan, JAL Express, ANA and IndiGo made the top ten.

Airport Departures

Oslo took the number one spot for on-time departure performance in May scoring 89.33 per cent. The top ten was rounded out by Istanbul, Munich, Athens, Geneva, Prague, Toulouse, Berlin, Copenhagen and Hamburg.

Japan leads Asian airports with an overwhelming eight of the top ten, Osaka at number one, with Delhi and Jeju coming in at nine and ten.

On-time departures for Asian Airports, May 2013 via www.flightstats.com

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If you want to spend time in Los Angeles away from the hustle and bustle, I suggest you head about 15 kilometres northeast of downtown to beautiful, historic Pasadena. And to truly capture the grace and elegance of a bygone era, you must stay at The Langham Huntington at the base of the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains. Quite simply, it is stunning!

As I drive north along Highway 110 towards Pasadena, humming The Little Old Lady from Pasadena by the Beach Boys, I’m already starting to feel the pace slow. The streets become wider, the homes bigger, the trees larger and more established.

The Langham Huntington Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles

I drive up the hotel’s perfectly manicured, horseshoe-shaped driveway and am struck by the spectacular beauty of both the property and its setting. I feel as if I’ve entered a bygone era and half expect to see horse-drawn carriages pass by.

The Langham Hotel in Pasadena is unique among LA hotels, which are mostly glitzy and new. Set on 23 lush acres overlooking San Marino, it embraces the legendary traditions of service and luxury of the original Langham grand hotel of 1865. Everything is big – the gardens, the high ceilings, the beds – yet the size is perfectly balanced with a refined elegance.

The earthy warmth and genuine pleasure of good old-fashioned service welcomes you to The Langham. Even in its opulence, I feel completely at home. I’m told this is where a lot of movie stars came for privacy in the 1950s and 60s, and it’s easy to imagine Grace Kelly as one of its guests.

The elegant Tournament of Roses Suite

I love my suite. It has a lovely big bathroom, a huge comfortable bed and gorgeous antique furniture. The floor-to-ceiling windows, lined with beautiful drapes for total privacy, allow full enjoyment of the expansive view.

I am on the club level, so I can use the club lounge any time. There is a constant supply of fresh fruit, juices, smoothies and light snacks. And if nothing takes your fancy, the chef will create something special just for you. After 5pm you can help yourself to a constant flow of Moet Champagne and mouth-watering sushi. I’m really falling in love with this place…

If you feel like taking in some sights, a long, leisurely walk – or a short shuttle ride – away is Old Pasadena. This is the city’s famed dining, shopping and entertainment district, with more than 200 buildings dating back to the 1880s and 1890s. Even if you’re not staying in the area, you really should plan a day trip to Old Pasadena. It is here in the beautiful old buildings and hidden alleys that you will find the best restaurants, boutiques and antique shops.

The Huntington Spa at The Langham

After immersing yourself in the pleasant surroundings of Old Pasadena, there is no more fitting end to the day than a visit to The Huntington Spa at The Langham. It has just undergone a major overhaul and the new 11,000-square-foot Spa features no less than 13 treatment rooms, plus a state-of-the-art fitness centre and wet area to relax in before or after your treatment.

Like many of the Langham properties, they have added the Chuan Body + Soul Spa concept, which incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services to provide a comprehensive wellness experience. All Chuan signature treatments are based on the principles of TCM, which include the five elements, breathing rituals and acupressure. In addition to its signature treatments, Chuan Body + Soul offers TCM therapies, including acupuncture, Ho Guan (cupping), moxibustion, ear seeds and other techniques.

Chaun Body + Soul

I opt to have a facial that incorporates ear seeds, which are little seeds of jade that are attached to pressure points on your outer ear. Known as Auriculotherapy in TCM, this involves stimulation of the auricle of your external ear for treatment of health conditions in other parts of your body. It applies the principles of acupuncture to specific points on your ear and, since no needles are involved, it can be done in a Spa setting, where it is much more relaxing.

After a wonderfully rejuvenating facial, the seeds are applied to pressure points in my ear. I’ve been travelling a lot, so some rebalancing is required. I’m told to leave the seeds in my ear and they will fall off in their own time. They feel a little funny at first, but you soon forget about them and you can barely see them as they are taped in with skin-tone tape. I love a treatment that treats and goes beyond the superficial, although the facial aspect is greatly appreciated and much needed.

I retreat to my room after a lazy wander through the gardens. I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time. I have a deep, sound sleep and wake up feeling like I could run to the top of the mountains that fill my windows. I’m not sure if it’s the bed, the seeds, the lovely surroundings or the fact that I haven’t had to lift a finger or make a decision the entire time I’ve been here. But I’m not going to analyse why, I’m just going to plan when I’ll be back!

Live a little, fly to Los Angeles and spoil yourself at the Langham Huntington.

Kris Abbey is Wego’s regular Spa and Wellness expert and the publishing editor at Spa Life Magazine. You can read more from Kris at www.spalife.com.au.

The post Opulence and glamour on the edge of LA appeared first on Wego Travel Editor's Desk.

What gadgets and creature comforts are a must when you travel? There’s quite a technique to travelling comfortably, especially on long haul flights. Who better to identify the best travel accoutrements than our own Wegonauts!

Wego’s incredibly clever tech team along with our extremely well-travelled executive management shared what items they simply can’t leave home without.

The world of ‘i’

Not surprisingly iPads, Mini or otherwise, and iPhones were high on the list.

“I measure my flight travel time by the number of movies I can watch,” said Jee, Director of SEO. Paulo (Senior Developer), prefers his iPhone for photography in place of a heavy camera. “It takes decent photos and they’re easy to edit and share while you’re travelling.”

Project Manager Duc, can’t get through a flight without reading comics or playing games on his and Chu Yeow (Chief Technology Officer) says that while the MacBook Air is not a new thing, it’s ‘light and perfect for business trips’. The other advantage of the iPad mentioned by the team was it’s inconspicuousness and battery life.

While happy with the iPad so he can watch his ‘preferred and pre-selected movies’, RJ (System Administrator) thinks Nexus or Samsung tablets work just as well.

So hot right now.. Kindle Paperwhite

Latest fave

It appears that the Kindle Paperwhite is universally and overwhelmingly the latest in must-have travel accessories according to the Wegonauts. It requires minimal charging, is extremely light and perfect for reading just about anything. Wego CEO Ross Veitch is a big fan and also recommends along with others, good quality putty style ear plugs or noise cancelling headsets.

All charged up

Managing Director for Indonesia, Graham Hills recommends a USB charger that fits into a car cigarette lighter. “If you’re caught in traffic in a taxi it’s the perfect time to recharge,” and he should know being based in Jakarta which is notorious for traffic jams.  Chief Operating Office Matthew Varley, a self confessed minimalist and clearly an Apple fan, carries an Apple travel adapter kit on all of his trips.

In touch

Our CEO Ross carries a spare phone that can be loaded simply with a local sim card on arrival and uses a fixed daily rate data roaming package for his international connections.

“I always carry a USB power brick and use a pre-configured VPN account to get around local filters,” he adds.

Universal plug adaptors are a must according to the team, you only need one and it doesn’t take up much space in your luggage.

In pictures

Photography and travel usually go hand in hand and the passion for capturing great pics hasn’t escaped our team. Bady (UI & UX Designer) likes a Mirrorless camera; very light and delivers decent quality images, whereas Ferdian (Front-end Developer) is ‘absolutely a Canon DSLR’ fan.

GoPro for the adventure travellers

Wilson (Front-end Developer) leans towards GoPro products. His favourites GoPro Hero3 camera, mounting accessories depending on your destination and a GoPro wall-charger with a dual USB port (can also be used to charge your phone) and has interchangeable AC plugs for all types of wall sockets.

Ricki (VP Media & Advertising Solutions) agrees. “If you’re an adventure traveller you can take images and great video from extreme angles including outside of a car, at the end of a surfboard, from your bike, even underwater,” he said. “I’d recommend the GoPro Black Edition which takes HD quality photos and video, with a variety of dust and waterproof casings and mounts. It can be wireless controlled or via an app.”

Getting around

Chief Flights Officer Dean Wicks racks up thousands of miles a year flying around the world for Wego and uses the Tripit App to keep track of his travel schedule. “It’s actually saved me money when it notified me that I had accidentally booked the same flight twice and I managed to get a refund for the duplicated booking.”

Like a personal travel assistant – Tripit

Graham Hills agrees but recommends upgrading to Tripit Pro which goes further acting as a personal travel assistant providing you with flight delay alerts, cancellations, gate changes direct to your phone. “It also allows you to track your frequent flyer points and share your itineraries through your networks.”

Allister (Manager Affiliate Marketing & Distribution Partnerships) uses a GPS app on his phone loaded with maps so you can always find your way around with ease.

While in agreement with all of the above Chief Marketing Officer Joachim Holte also recommends you carry a small travel towel. “It fits snugly in your hand luggage and you’ll be surprised how many occasions you’ll find a need for it. As they say in the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – a towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.”

Of course before you go anywhere the greatest accessory to any trip will be knowing you found the best airfares and lowest hotel prices at www.wego.com! But you knew that didn’t you?

Feature image courtesy of Jeremy Keith

The post Wego’s favourite travel gadgets appeared first on Wego Travel Editor's Desk.

Remember the opening scene of Jurassic Park where the helicopter flies in over magic oceans and dramatic mountainous jungles? Most of those lush locations (minus the psychotic dinosaurs thankfully) were filmed on the Na Pali Coast on one of Hawaii’s most beautiful islands, Kauai.

Films allow us to be time travellers, they let us peek inside someone else’s head and also showcase some of the best destinations in the world. Inspired by the magic of motion pictures we decided to look into some of these locations, some you may know, some you may have never realised existed.

Site of the Dothraki wedding in Game of Thrones, the dramatic cliffs of Gozo, Malta

Game of Thrones

Adapted from the fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin the popular series certainly gets about maximising atmospheric locations that cross Europe and the UK. Northern Ireland has featured prominently with locations including dramatic spots in the Mourne Mountains (Vaes Dothrak), Castle Ward (Winterfell) and Tollymore Forest. The pilot episode was shot in Morocco and much of the first season featured Malta as a backdrop. King’s Landing was filmed in the city of Mdina and the Dothraki wedding site was shot on the island of Gozo.

During the second season the production selected Croatia as a backdrop, with Dubrovnik perfectly mirroring an ancient medieval city, and scenes ‘north of the Wall’ were shot in Iceland.

It’s estimated that filming in Northern Ireland has contributed around £65 million to the country’s economy with Iceland, Dubrovnik, Croatia and Ouarzazate in Morocco all reporting notable increases in bookings following their locations appearing in Game of Thrones.

The Great Gatsby

Who better to inspire us to travel than he who never sat still, F Scott Fitzgerald. Dashing between New York, France, Switzerland and much of the United States while penning some of the world’s greatest literature. The writer embraced the heady, jazzy and glam days of the mid 1920s and shared his experiences, creating his characters based on those around him, through his books. Along with Baz Luhrman’s recent release of The Great Gatsby renewed interest in the many hotels Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda famously ‘reviewed’ on their travels is emerging as they lived a dazzling life in some of the world’s most distinguished destinations.

The Fitzgerald Suite at The Plaza, New York

New York’s Plaza Hotel is one of the novel’s most famous properties and features heavily in the film. The hotel now has dedicated a piece of themselves to the Fitzgeralds – the Fitzgerald Suite drips in lavish art deco, photos of the famous couple alongside the film’s cast adorn the walls, there’s even gramophone inspired iPhone speakers. You can also don your best flapper dress or Oxford bags and suspenders (for the men)  and head to the Rose Club Lounge for jazz and cocktails during Gatsby Hour.

Morocco

You would be possibly astounded at the enormous list of films made in Morocco. Some of the world’s most revered directors including John Huston (The Man who would be King), Martin Scorsese (The Last Temptation of Christ), Oliver Stone (Alexander) and Ridley Scott (Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Body of Lies) all selected Morocco as locations.

Remains of a prop beside a desert road in Morocco. Image: jules bywater-lees

As a result the country has a substantial number of quality local film crews, experienced technicians, production services and support teams making it a favourite choice among film makers. Morocco’s diverse landscapes including the colourful Sahara, extremities of the Atlas Mountains and exotic beaches that can double for many other places in the world.

Many of the scenes in The Mummy weren’t filmed in Cairo as you may expect but rather in Marrakech’s traditional souks and bustling alleyways. The nearby Sahara desert is immortalised in films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Jewel of the Nile, while Tangier’s streets in the Medina Quarter doubled as Mombasa for the film Inception and Casablanca featured in Syriana.

Ouarzazate plays Afghanistan in the Bond movie The Living Daylights and the exotic town of Ait Benhaddou is used quite often by film makers also used for Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. The Atlas Film Studios were built in 1983 and you can take a guided tour of the studios and see some props and left over sets from some of these popular movies.

Wizards, Aslan and Samurais

It’s no secret that New Zealand has become one of the most popular new filming locations in the world today with such stunning natural locations made famous now by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, even The Last Samurai.

Hobbiton, Middle Earth, New Zealand

Over 150 locations were used in The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and winding your way through this beautiful country to see them is a brilliant method of experiencing the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. The country has established a fantastic network of guides and tours that allow you to envision the scary bits of Mordor by trekking the Tongariro Crossing, the fortress of Isengard in Glenorchy (near Queenstown) and the beautifully created village of Hobbiton near the town of Matamata.

Take a Lord of the Rings horse trek from Glenorchy

As an affordable and enjoyable way to see it all newzealand.com offer downloadable LOTR roadtrip guides or experience it from the air on a breathtaking LOTR scenic flight, very unique!

Narnia also features some of the country’s most majestic backdrops beginning with Narnia’s White Witch home in Woodhill, just north of Auckland, the Great Battle field  at Flock Hill Station in North Canterbury (near Christchurch), and the spectacular limestone formations at Elephant Rocks in North Otago which was the scene for Aslan’s Camp.

Tom Cruise envisioned 1860 Japan perfectly situated in the landscape of Mount Taranaki, which starred as Mt Fujiyama in The Last Samurai and the hillsides of the Uruti Valley was home to early Japanese village life.

Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, featured in Woody Allen’s latest film Midnight in Paris. Image Jim Linwood

Everywhere else..

Of course Los Angeles will always be home to Hollywood and you’ll probably feel familiar with a few places you come across. Woody Allen famously used the streets of New York, Paris, Barcelona and London in many of his productions and a little town in North Carolina called Wilmington has seen the filming of more than 300 TV shows and films including A Walk to Remember, Weekend at Bernie’s, Cape Fear, Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. Boston features scenes from The Thomas Crown Affair, Mystic River, Good Will Hunting and of course the TV show Cheers, Ally McBeal and The Practice.

Fountain of the Four Bishops in front of the Saint Sulpice Church, housing the ‘Rose Line’ in the Da Vinci Code

The DaVinci Code sparked a renewed interest in Paris when the best selling book and film inspired fans to walk Robert Langdon’s footsteps through the city and make their own analysis of famous landmarks, likewise in Rome and London and Da Vinci Code Tours are readily available. Vancouver in Canada’s British Columbia has attracted Twilight fans eager to tour relative filming sites from one of the world’s favourite vampirical love stories, also popular are the sets for the TV shows Smallville and Supernatural.

Hatfield House, England has been seen in Batman, Tomb Raider, Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes and others

In England Lord and Lady Salisbury have shared their stately home at Hatfield House with some of the world’s most famous actors as well as Britain’s royal family. Built in 1611 this atmospheric estate has appeared in some form or another in Batman (Wayne Manor), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), Tarzan (Greystoke), Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey Jr), V for Vendetta, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This beautiful house and surrounding parkland can be toured during certain seasons with informative guides that can help you out with more than just film information; this is classified as one of ten ‘Treasure Houses of England’.

I could go on… it’s fascinating researching film locations around the world and how fun would it be to plan an itinerary to at least include some of them? Adding a little movie magic to your trip, discovering some history along the way and what a great excuse to relive some of these scenes using your own little film crew. Don’t forget your camera!

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Taking the kids to the US for a family holiday is sure to be met with squeals of excitement, but it’s a big country. Where do you begin to plan any kind of itinerary. Well summer in America has arrived and it’s undoubtedly the land of superlative theme parks. After all, this is the home of Walt Disney who famously created the ‘happiest place on earth’. Some of the many museums dedicated to contemporary and historical culture also house some of the best interactive exhibits for kids too, and many offer free entry, so don’t focus only on amusement parks.

We picked some of the best kid-friendly experiences to help you create some wonderful family memories that will give your kids bragging rights for a long time to come.

We realise the eye-rolling you’ll be met with from your children at the mere mention of visiting a museum, but be fearless!  Here’s some of the best and we guarantee they’ll be impressed!

1. The Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC is filled with the largest collection of historic space and aircraft in the world. There’s loads of things that the kids will love such as observatories, a planetarium, Imax shows, guided tours, live science experiments and flight simulators. The museum allows you to customize your tour to suit the bits that your kids are most interested in.

Entry Fee: Some shows and attractions require a ticket while others are free. Info on ticketing here.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

2. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington – A great experience for kids and a fun getaway for  grown ups too. Some of the scenes from the movie ‘Night at the Museum’ were filmed here and the enormous reconstructions of prehistoric dinosaur skeletons will have you looking over your shoulder to make sure one didn’t smile at you. Great collection of natural gems and minerals, ancient artefacts, an insect zoo (yay bugs!) and a living coral reef make for a fascinating day all round.

Entry Fee: Free

For more: www.mnh.si.edu

Metropolitan Museum

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art: The MET represents a vast variety of cultures, themes and subjects that will immediately attract the kid’s attention. Many of the displays incorporate dimensional audio-visual sound effects for a far more engaging experience. The museum provides sing-along inter-activities and simple guide maps for children that allow them to discover the museum on their own.

Entry: Adult $65, Children under 12 years – free

For more: www.metmuseum.org

National Children’s Museum

4. National Children’s Museum, Washington – The layout of the National Children’s Museum takes a child’s psychology and unique perspective on the world around them into consideration. Along with the exhibits, children are encouraged to participate by experimenting, observing and analysing using the hands on activities.

Entry: Adults and kids – $10

For more: www.ccm.org

5. Prospect Park Audubon Centre, New York – In the heart of Brooklyn mother nature takes a stand and city kids are able to interact with exhibits that teach them all about plants and animals. Housed in the historic Boathouse, the park  also has an animal encounter programme, outdoor learning activities and Lefferts Historic House great for families who can participate in old time crafts such as candle making, butter churning and farming activities.

Entry: Free

For more: www.prospectpark.org/education/kids

6. Ontario Science Centre, Ontario – A super cool and thoroughly enjoyable experience, the Science Centre features some fascinating interactive science and technology experiments, showing you how science plays a role in our everyday lives, often without us even realising it. Great exhibitions such as the recent Game On 2.0, 60 years of video games, an IMAX Dome theatre, even sleepovers so you can explore the museum at night, conduct workshops and finish off with DJ/PJ party.

Entry: Fee is seasonal and dependent on exhibitions and acitivities

For more: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

And of course a day (or more!) of magic does us all good and the array of theme parks in the US dedicated to putting your stomachs in your throat, and your eyes shoved firmly to the back of your head are at the top of every kids wishlist.

Six Flags

7. Six flags: Across a multitude of locations, Six Flags is a household name among theme parks in the States. With three in California, two in Georgia, Chicago, Washington, Springfield, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Texas and also in Montreal and Mexico City, there’s sure to be one nearby on your US visit. It’s best to do your research online before arriving and take advantage of some of the discounts available, you can even buy a Flash Pass in advance to so you spend less time waiting in line for rides, and more time enjoying yourself.

Entry: Regular Pass $65

For more: www.sixflags.com

Universal Studios

8. Universal Studios, Los Angeles: You don’t need to be a kid to visit Universal Studios. Getting inside the magic of movie-making is what it’s all about along with some of Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk. Universal Studios Hollywood is a great day for the whole family.

Entry: General one day pass $80

For more: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Orlando Theme parks

9. Orlando Theme Parks: I guess you could call it the theme park ‘state’, but Orlando has a huge concentration of a variety of theme parks and you could easily spend a few weeks here taking them all in. DisneyWorld, Universal Studios, Sea World, Magic Kingdom, Legoland even the Wizarding World of Harry Potter; Orlando has it all. Make sure you plan your visit well in advance and check the online sites to secure any special offers and discounts, it’s easy to spend money very quickly here!

Entry: Dependent on attraction

For more: http://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/theme-parks/

San Diego Zoo

10. San Diego Zoo: Spread over 100 acres, the iconic Zoo is home to over 3,700 rare and endangered animals and an amazing botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. Loads of live shows, petting zones and fun activities help make the experience personal and informative.

Entry: 1 day pass is $44 (Adults), $34 (Kids)

For more: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

For all your flights and accommodation to the United States see www.wego.com

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There’s a real buzz in the travel industry right now. It’s all about growth, emerging source and destination markets and I must say it’s a brilliant time to be a part of this industry.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation released their World Tourism Barometer yesterday revealing that international tourism receipts hit a new record in 2012 reaching an estimated US$1075 billion globally, an increase of four per cent against 2011.

UNWTO Tourism Receipts 2012 - Image UNWTO

So where exactly is this money being spent? The Americas recorded the largest increase at seven per cent followed by Asia and the Pacific which recorded an impressive plus six per cent. Europe profited most with a US$457 billion in tourism earnings which is equivalent to almost half of the world’s total tourism receipts in spite of their economic concerns, followed again by Asia and the Pacific at US$323 billion (30 per cent of international tourism receipts).

The top 10 ranking destinations by receipts didn’t alter a great deal in 2012, with the US, Spain, France, China and Italy leading, followed by Macau, Germany, the UK, Hong Kong and Australia.

As reported by Web In Travel this morning, APAC consumers are ‘changing the game’ as new technologies drive new travel behaviour in many ways. Indonesia‘s adoption of social media as a travel tool and influence is well documented, so too the move away from offline to online methods in the Middle East, newer established 3 and 4G networks throughout the APAC region, mobile devices (which will outnumber humans by the end of this year) play an enormous role in the future of the travel industry.

Almost half way through 2013 a ‘robust’ travel industry  is an encouraging description all tourism businesses are happy to hear. With unprecedented online access and control over travel planning, additional air routes with more connections, and continuously expanding markets such as India, Indonesia and the Middle East, you can only wonder what the UNWTO will be reporting next year.

For more information : UNWTO_international_tourism_by_subregion and full UNWTO release

Feature image : Matti Blume

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Is Sir Richard Branson the greatest marketer that ever lived? Quite possibly. He’s given more publicity to his Virgin Airline than any other airline CEO in aviation history.

Most recently Branson delivered on a wager he lost with CEO of Air Asia, Tony Fernandes, when Fernandes’ team finished ahead of his in both team’s début at the Formula One final held in Abu Dhabi in 2010. The bet required Branson to serve as an Air Asia flight attendant in full (female) uniform, which he did with his usual flair and enthusiasm yesterday, shaving his legs, donning bright red lipstick and fake eyelashes, making in-flight announcements and serving refreshments to travellers (including Fernandes) on board a special charity flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur.

Branson and Fernandes' famous bet

Each seat sold on the flight contributed AUD$100 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, who help make life a little easier for seriously ill children and their families, and let’s face it, both airlines benefitted from this publicity.

Branson launching Little Red flights to Edinburgh

Branson’s approach to what some may say is a rather stuffy aviation industry has been criticised and sometimes vilified but undoubtedly reaches media in every corner of the world. No such thing as bad publicity? It seems he can do no wrong really. But just last month the UK’s Daily Mail questioned if Branson’s promotion of his airline’s new domestic flights to Scotland was his ‘tackiest PR stunt yet?’ When the cabin doors opened on his first Little Red flight landing in Edinburgh the CEO lifted his kilt to reveal ‘Stiff competition’ printed on his underwear, directed to his competitor British Airways. The image went viral across all social media networks and travel publications globally.

In 2004 Branson ‘drove’ a high-speed Gibbs Aquada craft from Dover to Calais (across the English Channel) to earn the record of the fastest crossing in an amphibious vehicle in the Guinness Book of Records. Launching Virgin Mobile in India in 2008, he was lifted using a cradle to appear just in front of his logo on an enormous unfurled banner over 100 feet in the air accompanied by the release of thousands of red balloons and a perfect photo opportunity for the press.

Perhaps taking a page out of the Branson book of airline CEO training, his good friend Tony Fernandes is embracing a ‘hands on’ approach to leading his airline, however slightly less flamboyant. The Air Asia CEO uses Twitter frequently to express his mind which more often than not go viral. In 2011 he famously refuted co-owners’ management of the West Ham United football club denials that he had not made an offer to purchase the club through Twitter. The deal didn’t go through although a bid for rival club Queens Park Rangers was more successful and he regularly expresses his love for the club and gains publicity through it at every opportunity.

The Apprentice Asia to launch end of May

His next step? Host of the The Apprentice Asia which premieres on May 22 where Fernandes will showcase his entrepreneurial spirit in the ultimate public job interview for a high ranking apprenticeship in the Air Asia Group. Taking the head of the table made famous by US tycoon Donald Trump, Fernandes will lay down challenges designed to suit a highly entrepreneurial location as is currently reflected in the Asian region.

It doesn’t always go to plan though. Ryanair releases a scantily-clad all female cabin crew calendar each year with proceeds going to charity KIDS.  The UK’s advertising authority has criticised the calendar along with women’s rights groups but sales continue each year into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Similarly Nok Air, a Thai low cost carrier, received disapproval from the Thai Ministry of Culture when it also released a calendar through a Facebook competition. Apparently the women were professional Maxim models and Nok Air’s webpage crashed as a result of the overwhelming interest.

Spring Airlines based in Shanghai announced in late April that they will dress their cabin crew in maid and butler costumes with (gasp) hair untied and received some rather unhappy comments on their Facebook page accusing them of ‘objectifying’ their crew.

Air New Zealand All Black B777-300ER

While Branson remains the king of publicity stunts other airlines are achieving virality through their clever campaigns, highlighted in this story about the great airline commercial wars. Air New Zealand are great at incorporating their country’s claims more famous representations such as their dominating rugby union team, the All Blacks, and as the location of The Lord of the Rings films, theming their in-flight safety videos, even having their livery fly in team colours.

Mostly I think that we all enjoy a good airline stunt, while marketers (and maybe some airline CEOs) around the world slap their palm to their forehead and say ‘why didn’t I think of that?’

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Have you noticed how adventurous we have become as travellers? A few weeks gym workout can prep you for a trek up to the Everest base camp, jumping out of planes is a regular part of a holiday experience, while diving off a tower or bridge with smart elastic tied around your ankles is nothing really.

As Mother’s Day is upon us we thought we’d take a leaf out of Diego Buñuel’s guide book (from the Nat Geo Adventure channel’s ‘Don’t Tell My Mother’ programme) and highlight some groundbreaking hotspots we’re now quite comfortable to explore….but you may want to save the holiday snaps to share with your mother upon your safe return.

Candelaria, Bogota

Colombia

A myriad of countries advise a ‘high degree of caution’, even advising against travel to the South American country which remains incredibly unspoiled and offers some of the most spectacular beaches with 1700km of Caribbean waters that meet the Pacific Ocean in a further 1448km of coastline. Bogota is one of the largest cities in the world and the heights of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada reach heights taller than mountains in Europe.

Only half a million foreigners visited Colombia in 2003 and today figures are in the early millions and especially rising for capital city Bogota. Seems people are discovering that Colombians are super friendly and very welcoming. Colombia was listed in the Happy Planet Index in 2010, acknowledged as the second happiest country in the world.

View of Sandres from Mirador - Image Joao Carlos Medau

It’s the mix of the raw jungle, endless uncrowded beaches, colonial Spanish heritage, mountains covered in coffee plantations and the combination of European, Indian and African cultures which have created a new fan base among travellers eager to experience it all, where the risk, they say, is that you might want to stay.

Myanmar

It’s on the undiscovered hot-list right now after political unrest has settled down and Myanmar or Burma as it was once known is welcoming visitors with open arms. Stretching from the coast inland to border Thailand, Laos, China, Bangladesh and India, the country is not completely prepared for tourism which is part of its new frontier attraction.

Stunning Bagan Plain - Image Corto Maltese

The people are famously friendly and polite but with few foreign visitors for a number of years, be expected to be the source of some excitement when visiting, especially in outer lying villages. Temples to rival Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Indonesia’s Borobudur lie on the Bagan plain believed to have been built during the 11^th and 13^th centuries. The remains of around 2,200 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries survive as a testament to the unification of the diverse regions at the height of the establishment of the kingdom.

Footbridge across Taungthaman Lake - Image Stefan Fussan

Walk the 1200 metre teak footbridge across the Taungthaman Lake or cruise to Mandalay by riverboat. Or explore the 1,930 km of coastline along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, Ngapali Beach reportedly one of its finest, with easy access to Chaungtha and Ngwesaung Beach from Yangon.

Indonesia

Believe it or not, many consider Bali as a separate country, and don’t realise that it’s actually a part of Indonesia. While incredibly popular, the island is ostensibly Hindu while its parent country is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world and is sadly rarely on a tourist itinerary, although this too is changing.

Yogyakarta, Java - Image Chen Wu

Very slowly visitors are beginning to realise the diversity and ease with which this country can be explored. Java (to Bali’s north) has a fairly decent rail system that transverses both coastlines opening up fantastic shopping adventures in cities like Bandung, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, where Dutch colonial hotels are budget accessible and food is a delight to experience.

The word is getting out and revealing some of the world’s greatest diving and surfing spots, once the treasured secret of a select group of dedicated surf-hounds during the 60s and 70s and Raja Ampat and Wakatobi are fast rising the list of undiscovered hot-spots.

Raja Ampat Islands (the four kings) - Image Jonathan Chase

The western island of Sumatra is home to the Sumatran Orangutan and rather efficient rehabilitation and conservation programmes welcome visitors to volunteer and learn more about their survival.

Indonesians are very friendly and absolutely love to show off their country. Don’t be surprised if they shake your hand and thank you for visiting their home.

There’s a real buzz about exploring the relatively unknown, and thanks to the internet, an increase in airline connections and man’s growing affair with exploring different cultures, the fear of the unknown and road-less travelled has dissipated and become rather attractive. After all, what’s a real adventure if there’s no restricted travel advisories attached!

What frontier do you want to next explore? It’s OK, we won’t tell your mum, just remember to always travel sensibly and safely and plan your adventures at www.wego.com.

NB. Feature image Australian Big Wave Surfer and Adventure Athlete, Jeff Rowley.

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