Travel to Japan returning to normal, slowly

by Chris Owen on

In the wake of the major earthquake and resulting tsunami that hit Japan in March, travel disruptions were fueled by a rising death toll, fear of a nuclear disaster plus travel warnings issued worldwide. Now, just a few months later, flights, tours and cruises are returning to normal scheduling.

“We are confident of returning the capacity to full level on July 1” Japan Airlines President Masaru Onishi told the Mainichi Daily News today noting that business travel in Japan has rebounded and Japanese tourists have also resumed making overseas trips following a drop-off after the disaster.
Passenger bookings had fallen nearly 30 percent in March, and were still down by about 20 percent for international routes and 15 percent on domestic routes in April.

Cruise lines are returning too with Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas set to be back calling in Okinawa on August 1st.

“Judging from the current situation in Japan, we are well-assured of the safety of travelling to Japan. Japan has always been an attractive tourist destination and its show of great resilience in the face of the recent crisis has given travelers the confidence to visit the country again,” said Kelvin Tan, regional director Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

It looks to be a long road to “business as usual” in Japan. The US Department of State downgraded a Travel Warning just after the disaster to a Travel Alert recently, signaling an improvement in conditions but still urges caution:

“Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world. Tokyo and areas to the Northeast continue to experience strong aftershocks related to the March 11 earthquake. Aftershocks following an earthquake of this magnitude can be expected to continue for more than a year. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake” the Department of State notes in their most current analysis.

Photo courtesy Royal Caribbean International

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Thirty years of AIDS: Smithsonian remembers the start of a pandemic

by Sean McLachlan on

Thirty years ago this summer, the first official reports were released about a new virus that destroyed the human immune system. The virus was the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

Since that time HIV/AIDS has become a global pandemic, claiming millions of lives and seriously damaging several developing economies.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is marking this grim anniversary with a special two-part exhibition at the Washington, DC, museum. HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago looks at the initial public and government response to HIV/AIDS from 1981-1987, and how the virus was first isolated. Archiving the History of an Epidemic: HIV and AIDS, 1985-2009 takes the story forward to look at society’s growing awareness of the problem and oral histories of those affected. There’s also an online exhibition.

For more information on how HIV/AIDS and how to protect yourself, go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HIV/AIDS information page or the government’s AIDS page for basic information about HIV/AIDS.

[Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Zingerman’s Deli: Is a $15 Sandwich Worth the Price?

by Paul Brady on

Everyone told me that I had to eat at Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor, so I drove past Michigan Stadium and turned off Main Street, parked on Detroit Street and discovered that it’s not just a sub shop but an overflowing gourmet market that happens to serve tasty, Dagwood-sized sandwiches.

After sampling some brownies, I put in an order for a Bill’s 2 over Prime, a brisket-and-turkey-on-challah number, stacked with Vermont cheddar and slathered with yellow mustard. (I went with a crunchy “new” pickle instead of Zingerman’s classic, garlic-cured “old” pickles.) Outside, at a picnic table, sitting under an umbrella to stave off the summer sun, I dug in, hoping for a sublime sandwich experience after dropping $14.50 on my sandwich and $3.50 on a lemonade. Delicious? Absolutely. But was my lunch really worth nearly $20? I’m still chewing it over.

Colorado ski resort to be auctioned off

by Kraig Becker on

A Colorado ski resort will hit the auction block later this summer, giving aspiring resort moguls the opportunity to live out their fantasies. It was announced earlier this week that Powderhorn ski area, located in Grand Junction, would go up for sale on August 4th, and includes 1600 skiable acres, four lifts, a separate lodge and inn, as well as several maintenance buildings.

Representatives for the resort say that it does a healthy, profitable business, and that this isn’t a “distress sale.” Instead, the two owners, who are in their 70’s are looking to retire, and pass on the business to someone else. They claim that the ski area receives approximately 75,000 visitors per year, with roughly 2500 to 3000 season pass owners.

Powderhorn sits in prime ski country and offers a vertical drop of 1650 feet, as well as a summit elevation of 9850 feet. It also averages more than 220 inches of snow each year, which means there is plenty of the white stuff to go around when the ski season is in full swing.

Putting the resort up for auction with no minimum bid is a bit risky. After all, there is the chance that someone could get it on the cheap. But it is estimated that its price will rise into the millions of dollars range fairly easily, especially considering there are 500 more acres of untapped terrain right next door, that are just waiting to be added to the park.

Does anyone want to start pooling our money now? We have until August 4th to raise enough cash. I’ll start taking my lunch to work and skipping happy hour just to have a little extra dough. Who’s with me?

[Photo credit: Charles J Sharp via WikiMedia]

Three trails, three bloggers, three adventures

by Chris Owen on

Since yesterday was National Trails Day I thought we might take a look at some of the best trails in North America. Trails.com tallied over 10 million votes for the top trails and has a list that represents the most popular trails and outdoor destinations in North America. That got us a list. From there we went to Flickr for photos and searched the web for bloggers who had been there and done that. Here are three trails, three blogs and three adventures that were included in Trails.com’s top ten and look like our kind of people.

Breakneck Ridge Trail– Beacon, NY

“Our first hike took us from the Breakneck Ridge Trail (conveniently next to the MTA train station of the same name) past Sunset Point, up to the summit of South Beacon Mountain and into Beacon, NY. Including our not-short walk through Beacon, NY, total time was 8 hours” records TomandZoe.com.

Tom and Zoe are friends/computer nerds who live in New York City. In 2009 Tom donated his kidney to a stranger and Zoe “has a stupid heart that don’t work too good. Both of us are going to make it up to the top of Kilimanjaro this summer!”

Flickr photo by kimba

Glacier Gorge– Estes Park, CO


“Glacier Gorge, located in the Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, is one of many beautiful Colorado hiking areas. On the 9.6 mile hike, you will come across alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls and spectacular peak views. Much to the surprise of many, you also get to hike on the actual glacier, a rare event in the continental United States” says Rick Chapo in an article on the My Secret Passions blog.

Rocky Mountain National Park itself is a treasure for hikers and the subject of several blogs. One we check before heading that way, aptly called Rocky Mountain National Park Blog, offers on-the-scene background and weather information as well as trail conditions like in this recent entry “Currently there is 3 to 4 feet of snow above Rainbow Curve and wind with gusts up to 55 mph above Many Parks Curve. There is 2 inches of ice on the road between Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve. The snow and wind is supposed to continue through this evening at higher elevations. The sun aids in our efforts to clear Trail Ridge Road and we might not see it again until tomorrow morning sometime!”

Flickr photo by Anneh632

Appalachian Trail: The Pinnacle– Hamburg, PA


In a post about Top Hiking Locations, The Adventure Travels blog tells us “Located in Humberg, Pennsylvania, The Pinnacle trail is also a part of the Appalachian Mountains. The trail gives views of scenic mountains and rivers along the way. Not far from the Pinnacle Trail is the Hamburg Dam for a breathtaking view of mother nature and technology tied into one.

Weather can be mostly rainy and humid, which allows a more advanced hike for those who like the challenge of fighting the elements.”

Mount Whitney– Lone Pine, CA

Are you into hiking, camping, backpacking or other “I gotta have my feet on the ground” outdoor activities, travels and/or passions? Comment with a link to your blog, photos or stories and let the world know about it right here.

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