Photo of the Day (11.16.08)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Maine is one of the few states on the East Coast I have never visited. But there’s something about the state that I find particularly compelling. I always picture rocky coastlines and vast swaths of virgin pine trees, dotted with tiny lighthouses and foaming surf. Today’s image from Flickr user ableimes is pretty much a perfect match for the idea of Maine I had envisioned in my head – sometimes perception does indeed match reality! It’s pretty much picture-postcard beautiful.

Have any scenic New England vistas hiding on your hard drive? Why not share them with our readers at Gadling by adding them to our Gadling photo pool on Flickr? We might just pick it as our Photo of the Day.

The Triple Crown of Surfing: Reef Hawaiian Pro

by Brenda Yun on

The Triple Crown of Surfing got off to a mammoth start on Thursday with wave faces reaching over 20 feet for the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Ali’i Beach in Haleiwa. Each event in the Triple Crown undergoes a 12-day waiting period and usually takes 4-5 days to complete. Thursday and Friday saw big, clean conditions for both days, but the surf will wane over the next few days and the Men’s Final date and time is yet to be determined.

I headed to the North Shore on Friday for what was my first time attending a Triple Crown event, and I wasn’t disappointed. These surfing events are so packed with beach babes, film crews, and hot surfers that it is nearly impossible NOT to have a great time. I even saw Bethany Hamilton (the girl who lost her arm from a shark attack on Kauai), and she is MUCH taller than what you see in photos! She is at least six feet tall and is a statuesque young surfer girl.
As a spectator, however, it is best to go on the day of the final or on the day with the biggest waves. The waves were already backing off a bit (they were still well above overhead) and were a bit slow and crumbly for my viewing taste.

My good friend, Bernie Baker, is the contest coordinator and a judge for this and nearly all surfing events on Oahu, and was nice enough to pose with me in a photo between heats.

Surfing here in Hawaii is one of the many activities that happen year-round. Somewhere in these islands is a surfable wave. You just have to find it. There’s also a contest nearly every weekend — on the south shore of Oahu during the summer months, and on the North Shore during the winter. Check out Surf News Network for wave conditions on all islands, and the Vans Triple Crown website for livestream videos and other news about what is arguably the biggest annual event in the sport of surfing.

Kiteboarder Gets Whacked by a Whale

by Brenda Yun on

If you haven’t seen the footage already, here’s a clip of the now-famous Kiwi kitesurfer that had an encounter with a whale.

When I first heard this story, I couldn’t help but think it was another piece of outrageous sensationalism. Then, I thought about those times when I’ve surfed alone or gone free diving and remembered the real fear that crept into my mind: There’s a whole world in these waters — a world that is wild and unpredictable.I’ve heard many a story from my surfing pals about shark and whale sightings. My ex-boyfriend surfer told me about three encounters he had with large sea mammals that remain some of the most vivid and outrageous Ive ever heard: he was once pulled into the wave of the day by a playful seal; he surfed right next to a whale that was so big he thought it was a megalodon; he fought off two territorial elephant seals to secure his spot in a lineup.

These kinds of occurrences, though rare, get you so close to nature and the wild that sometimes you rethink your own existence.

Traveling to Asia next year? Keep your eye on AirAsia for great deals

by Jeffrey White on

Asia’s largest budget airline announced this past week that it was abolishing its fuel surcharge and giving away 500,000 free tickets for travel beginning halfway through next year.

The airline is called AirAsia, and it is the first airline in the world to do away with fuel surcharges.

What’s more, the free ticket offer doesn’t appear to be the usual budget carrier scam, in which free tickets suddenly end up costing a few hundred bucks when you tack on taxes.

AirAsia’s CEO Tony Fernandes tells the Associated Press that the tickets “will be completely free. Passengers will only have to pay airport tax.” Ok, I know that isn’t ‘completely’ free, but those taxes are out of airlines’ hands anyway and should increase the base price too much.

No word yet on when the free tickets will be available, but they’ll be good for travel between June 22 and October 24 next year. Moreover, the offer is good for both AirAsia’s domestic routes (in Malaysia) and its international destinations, including China and India.

So, if you’re planning on bumming around S.E. Asia next year, keep an eye on AirAsia as a way of snagging some cheap tickets to get you to a few places faster.

What strange things have been found on planes?


Air Canada passengers greeted in Havana with mojitos

by Jeffrey White on

If you were on Air Canada flight 370 flying from Toronto to Havana, Cuba, this past Friday — and let’s face it, you probably aren’t from the US — then you were greeted with a nice surprise upon arrival: ice cold, strong mojitos.

Cuba celebrated its 2 millionth tourist of the year on Friday. The country pulled out all the stops, throwing an airport cocktail party complete with a salsa band and welcome banners. Similar parties were held in the eastern city of Santiago and the beach resort of Varadero.

Tourist authorities in Cuba made a big deal out of it because while the country has surpassed 2 million tourists annually since 2004, this was the earliest point at which it hit this milestone.

The record for tourist visits to Cuba is 2.3 million, set three years ago. Tourist officials say they’ll pass that mark this year.

And here’s hoping the US may soon lift its pointless, anachronistic (not to mention ineffectual) embargo so that more Americans can be among those enjoying what Cuba has to offer. Who comprises the tourists traveling to Cuba these days? Canada, Britain, Spain and Italy are the island’s top sources of visitors, says the Associated Press.