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- What does the United States think of Girls' Generation?
- Qantas first to get in-flight movies on iPads
- Singapore tourism: Marina Bay a bull, Singapore Airlines a bear
- Seven dazzling days in South Korea
- World’s 10 toughest endurance challenges
- China: $100,000 around-the-world tour sells out in 13 seconds
- Stem cell banking: The newest lure in medical tourism
| What does the United States think of Girls' Generation? Posted: 02 Feb 2012 10:00 PM PST by CNNGo staff With a perky performance on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" and a guest appearance on "LIVE! With Kelly!" earlier this week, K-Pop sensation Girls' Generation have begun barnstorming their next target audience -- the United States. The response? "Just saw a bunch of really really hot Asian chicks on Letterman," tweeted one viewer. "I'm not sure who those girls are on Letterman but I think I'm a fan," tweeted another. The Korean media also made much of the fact that Harry Potter star David Radcliffe said on "LIVE! With Kelly!" that he has a Girls' Generation CD in his possession, despite the fact that he said he has not listened to it yet. So what will the mainstream U.S. audience make of Girls' Generation? read more     |
| Qantas first to get in-flight movies on iPads Posted: 02 Feb 2012 09:58 PM PST Aussie national airline Qantas has become the latest carrier to experiment with new ways to deliver in-flight entertainment to passengers, after it went public with a trial of its new Q Streaming system using Wi-Fi-connected iPads. By replacing the traditional entertainment on some of its Boeing 767-300 aircraft with the Apple tablet, Qantas has set up an instant field test of its own Q Streaming channel, which is based on Lufthansa's BoardConnect technology. Hands onIn use, passengers find an iPad 2 in each seat pocket that's loaded with a Q Streaming app and a fully charged battery. Other apps are locked down, leaving users to browse what Qantas says is more than 200 hours of video and audio programming delivered over a password-protected wireless network. Qantas executive Alison Webster said passengers are responding favorably so far. read more    |
| Singapore tourism: Marina Bay a bull, Singapore Airlines a bear Posted: 02 Feb 2012 07:32 PM PST by CNNGo staff Two tales -- one of success, the other a failure -- came out of Singapore's tourism industry this week. The good news came via casino resort Marina Bay Sands, which reportedly took in S$17 billion in the nine months up to September 30, up 22 percent from the same period in 2010. And most of the gamblers are foreigners. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, foreign visitors to Marina Bay Sands -- run by U.S. gaming group Las Vegas Sands Corp. -- now account for about four out of five visitors to the resort's casino. What's more interesting, the WSJ says Marina Bay Sands reported S$3.72 billion in gross gaming revenue for 2011, equivalent to almost 50 percent of the total gaming win for the Las Vegas Strip over the 12-month period to November 30. The resort's hotels are also thriving. A report in Singapore's Today quoted Sands' billionaire chief executive Sheldon Adelson as saying he's in talks with the Singapore government to buy land adjacent to Marina Bay Sands resort to add an additional 1,000 to 1,500 rooms, as average occupancy rates are running above 90 per cent. read more    |
| Seven dazzling days in South Korea Posted: 02 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST by Violet Kim This itinerary is for the helpless Korea virgins (and despite Korea's burgeoning tourism, we know you're out there), not been-there-done-that backpackers in search of the obscure. But the adjective "dazzling" here is no meaningless tag. It's a nod to the process of aggressive elimination and selection that gave us the model itinerary for seven days of travel in South Korea.
Incheon International Airport is the gateway to Seoul. Numerous taxis, airport limousine buses -- and now, a specialized railway line -- shuttle passengers to and fro, but the airport limousine buses offer the best value. Bus 6701 towards the Seoul City Hall from Gate 4B or 11A will take you straight to the Westin Chosun in downtown Seoul. The fare is ₩15,000.
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| World’s 10 toughest endurance challenges Posted: 02 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST by Jini Reddy Think you're tough? Fit? Tenacious? If you're the outdoorsy sort, addicted to high-octane pursuits and like the thought of challenging yourself amid spectacular scenery, you might want to lace up your trainers, pick up your paddle, get on your bike, climb into the saddle, step into those skis -- and more -- for one of these grueling endurance events. 1. Jungle marathon, Brazil
Competitors can expect to clamber over hills and through swamps, mangrove, and thick jungle foliage, all while trying not to fall prey to the local wildlife: jaguars, deadly snakes, scorpions, ticks, electric eels. As if that isn't stomach-churning enough, there's also the risk of heat stroke. Fortunately there's a crack medical team on hand, with donkeys on stand-by for emergency evacuations. read more    |
| China: $100,000 around-the-world tour sells out in 13 seconds Posted: 02 Feb 2012 01:57 PM PST by CNNGo staff We wrote more than a dozen posts on China's growing appetite for luxury last year. Few things surprise us anymore. Then we saw this: a 66-day around-the-world tour that sold out in China 13 seconds after the reservation hotline opened -- roughly the time it takes Olympic-champion hurdler Liu Xiang (刘翔) to cover 110 meters. Did we mention the price? The cost of the whole trip is a whopping RMB 660,000 (US$104,654), about eight to 10 times the annual salary of an average Chinese. The Magnificent 11The tour -- which takes in more than a dozen countries and both poles -- is organized by Ctrip.com, one of China's biggest online travel agencies. News of the fast sellout was confirmed to us by Jack You (游金章), general manager of Ctrip's high-end package tour department. You said the eye-catching package was sold last June through Ctrip's hotline. After a half-year visa application process, the group took off from Shanghai on January 29. read more    |
| Stem cell banking: The newest lure in medical tourism Posted: 02 Feb 2012 12:32 AM PST When Min Lee, 54, first toured Seoul's Chaum Life Center -- which is spearheading Korea's stem cell banking industry -- she didn't quite know what to make of it. "It rather looks and sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, with all the talk about stem cell treatments," said Lee, who accompanied her friend to a fitness class at the medical facility and soon found herself touring the luxurious 20,000-square-meter premises in disbelief. Opened in 2010 and operated by Cha Hospital, one of the larger hospitals in Korea, Chaum has more state-of-the-art technology than a university hospital, but styles itself as a "Life Center." It has been the subject of significant media attention recently for its glittering facilities, controversial stem cell treatment, customized schools of therapy and hefty membership fees that match its ritzy Cheongdam-dong location. The deposit for a membership costs ₩170 million (approximately US$152,000, and returned after 10 years) and an additional annual charge of ₩4.5 million (approximately US$4,000). read more    |
Warning: routes marked on this map may deviate slightly from actual routes. 
This five-star business hotel is comfortingly insular. But more importantly, sights like City Hall, Gwanghwamun Plaza, and various palaces are within walking distance.| You are subscribed to email updates from CNNGo.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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