Friday, October 28, 2011

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Where are the world's best surf beaches?

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 08:45 PM PDT

Margaret River

The search for the perfect wave has gripped surfers for more than half a century now.

Pioneering board riders traveled to once-empty beaches in Hawaii, Bali and, in Australia, commenced a northerly migration pattern to Byron Bay.

Although those beaches have become tourism hotspots, the waves are still there.

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Forget luxury, economy hotels to take over Asia

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 03:01 PM PDT

Sure, luxury accommodation in Asia takes the headlines, but what about us regular folk who just want a decent bed before hiking in Berastagi?

Big hotel chains such as InterContinental, Swiss-Belhotel International and Accor have recently announced plans to build more than 350 economy and express hotels in various parts of Asia including China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia by the end of 2012. 

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香港最佳公共巴士遊

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT

香港巴士線

既能欣賞無與倫比的景色,又能一探本地文化,且不用花費多少的話,公共巴士就能滿足以上幾點。

暫且忘掉在巴士上或會與到的怪現象,想想看:香港巴士服務範圍廣泛,雙層巴士上的視野特別好,實為暢遊香港的最佳辦法。

港鐵方便快捷,可是大多在地底穿梭,沿途除隧道壁和廣告外,並無其他可觀之處。

巴士則較慢,每數百米停站一次,卻能讓人鳥瞰沿途景色。 巴士遊是步行以外的最佳遊覽方法,讓你放慢腳步,享受目的地之餘也同樣享受旅途。 這不就是旅遊的精粹嗎?

以下三條精選巴士線,讓你不用花費多少便能暢遊香港,大開眼界。 巴士遊最重要的是坐到上層去,佔到第一排的「頭等」座位更佳,以最開闊的視野欣賞景色。

CNNGo 帶您看更多: 十大公共交通工具內的怪現象

1. 港島遊: 從維港到太平山頂

新巴15號 
起點: 中環5號碼頭 
終點: 山頂凌霄閣 
票價: HK$9.80 
車程: 60分鐘

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Haunted Mumbai: Guess which well-known hotel is missing a 13th floor

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT

Trident Mumbai

You can't get to the 13th floor of the Trident Hotel at Nariman Point because there isn't one. 

In fact, it is not uncommon for skyscrapers in Mumbai's commercial district -- like Hoechst, Maker Chambers and Atlanta -- to exclude 13 when numbering their floors.

However, urban legends and local superstitions in haunted Mumbai go beyond mere triskaidekaphobia.

Stories of ghosts, unexplained serial suicides, abandoned mills, haunted houses and territorial widows in white saris determined to make people's lives miserable from the afterlife, populate a large unofficial body of local folklore.

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The Devil's hot spring: A different onsen experience awaits in Kinugawa

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 02:55 PM PDT

Kinugawa Onsen

As temperatures nosedive toward winter, it's an unusual Tokyoite who's not thinking about weekend hot spring escapes. But if the over-visited Hakone is sounding a little too ho-hum and nearby Atami's been done, then why not head north to Tochigi and the quirky hamlet of Kinugawa Onsen?

Devil of a time

Kinugawa Onsen sits atop the rocky banks of the Kinugawa River, which is usually translated as "Angry Demon River." As you might imagine from the name, the waters are lively, and taking traditional wooden boats out into the rapids is a popular activity for visitors.

All the boats have vinyl sheeting attached to the sides so riders can shield themselves from the spray, so don't worry about getting soaked.

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最悪の持久戦に突入したバンコク

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT

タイの洪水

バンコクにはシュールな空気が立ち込めている。洪水相手の持久戦に突入した住民たちは、一時間ごとに発表される、矛盾に満ちた政府の洪水概況を理解しようと頭を抱えている。

災害について事前に国家が警告しなかったことが問題となることはままあることだが、バンコクでは逆の問題が起きているようだ。

最悪の事態に備えるよう政府がバンコク市民に通達をだしてから、かれこれ2週間になる。この間政府は、押し寄せる水が、浸水した都市周辺の中央平野へ流れ込むのをなんとか阻止しようと悪戦苦闘してきた。

大潮に伴い、とうとうバンコクの一部の地域で道路が浸水。ここに及んで政府当局は水門を開け、運河を解放して水圧を下げる方向に動いた。 

しかし、この持久戦はかなりの苦痛を伴っている。 洪水の被害を受けていない住民は不満を口にしている。 

「バンコクでは不安を感じない人はいないし、パニックもみられます。そのほとんどは、矛盾だらけの政府発表と、北部の村や町が水没しているテレビ画像のせいですね」と言うのは、ブロガー、リチャード バーロウさんだ。彼は、ブログThaitravelblogs.comとツイッターを通して、タイの住民や旅行者に最新情報を伝え続けている。

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Boeing through the years: 10 revolutionary aircraft

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 02:40 AM PDT

Boeing 787 dreamliner

It started with a seaplane made of wood, wire and linen in 1916. Then on October 26, 2011, Boeing opened the latest chapter in its aviation innovation with the 787 Dreamliner's maiden commercial flight.

Aviation enthusiasts went wild, while the rest of us pretended not to be unduly impressed. By all reports, the plane is not only impressive but it may well become game-changing.

And it's not the first time Boeing has played a role in altering the commercial aviation landscape.

Here are 10 of the company's greatest planes, with thoughts from Tom Ballantyne, award-winning aviation journalist and chief correspondent at Orient Aviation magazine.

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Touring China with 8 stunning hats

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:40 PM PDT

Is China becoming the new source of inspiration for international fashion designers?

Lady Gaga's favored shoe designer Kobi Levi has done it (check a gallery of Levi's China-inspired high heels), and now Dutch-American milliner Elisabeth Koch is taking center stage.

Striking China-inspired

Based in Beijing, the one-of-a-kind headgear designer has been invited by InterContinental Hotels to produce eight striking hats.

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From Vladivostok to Singapore, with love

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 08:27 PM PDT

Add one more airline to the fleet landing at and taking off from Changi Airport.

Russian carrier Vladivostok Air will start operating twice-weekly services between Singapore and Vladivostok via Hong Kong this year.

Vladivostok -- where?

Located in the Russian Far East, it is the largest city in the region, and the furthest point from Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The APEC Russia 2012 summit is due to take place at Russky Island -- off the coast of Vladivostok -- in October 2012.

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Ultimate guide: The best of New Delhi

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 08:25 PM PDT

Delhi

The very best of New Delhi:

PLAY

HOTELS

EAT/DRINK

INSIDER TIPS

In recent years New Delhi flagged off a new metro line, hosted the Commonwealth Games and India's first F1 Grand Prix. 

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iReport: Rescuing Bangkok's dogs from the floods

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Bangkok floods

Thailand's Soi Dog Foundation has teamed up with other animal welfare groups to rescue Bangkok's stray and abandoned dogs from the ongoing floods. 

Established in Phuket in 2003, Soi Dog is a not-for-profit, legally registered charitable organization in Thailand, the United States, Australia, France and Holland. It helps the homeless, neglected and abused dogs and cats of Thailand.

Marcelo Cacciola, the United States director of the Soi Dog Foundation, says the ongoing operation to rescue Bangkok's abandoned animals is managed by several action teams.

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Boeing Dreamliner: How was your flight?

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:39 PM PDT

Boeing Dreamliner 787

Insiders say it'll change both the aviation business and the experience of long-haul flying, but how was the maiden commercial flight of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner received yesterday by those onboard?

ANA's flight NH7871 landed in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, three hours after it left Tokyo's Narita airport, bringing with it 240 passengers, all with an opinion about the new "future of flying."

More on CNNGo: Why the Dreamliner is so special

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這就是珍珠奶茶的發明者嗎?

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT

珍珠奶茶的起源眾說紛云, 但有一家茶館、一位女士,普遍被認為是這款暢銷飲料的真正發明者。

作為一個忠實珍珠奶茶迷,當知道要到台中春水堂人文茶館拜訪她時,我實在興奮不已。

春水堂創辦者劉漢介80年代初在日本看過凍咖啡後,便想到推出中國茶的凍飲。 

就這樣他初經營的茶店搖身一變成為台灣茶館的神話。

及後於1988年,他的產品發展經理林秀慧小姐,帶著典型台灣甜點「粉圓」去開會。 她一時「貪玩」把粉圓倒進凍紅茶裡一起喝。

「席上各人都很喜歡這飲料,正式發售後不出數月便成為茶館最暢銷的冰茶﹣﹣即使推出了20年,珍珠奶茶現時仍佔總營業額的八、九成,而台灣人亦以這自家發明的飲料為傲。」林小姐說道。 

今天,珍珠奶茶店遍佈台灣大街小巷的每個角落。 而且流行至鄰近國家如日本、南韓和中國,後來更傳至世界各地。 要是林小姐當時申請了專利的話,現在想必成為百萬富翁了。

然而,林小姐別有一套方針。 「春水堂的宗旨是宣揚台灣茶與茶道文化,以及製作更多創新的產品。」她說。 「如果我們著重產品質素和整個上茶館的體驗,我們很有信心會得到客人青睞,吸引他們再來光顧。」

我獲邀參與茶道儀式,負責待應的手藝純熟流暢。 「許多旅居海外的台灣人甫下飛機便到來品茶,也是他們往機場離開前的最後一站。」林小姐說。 「他們經常著我們開設海外分店,可是我們並沒有這打算。」

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