Terrible seat assignment kills airline passenger

by Tom Johansmeyer on

When Nas Air flight XY 720 from Beirut landed in Riyadh, airport workers found just how severe having the worst seat on the flight can be. The passenger wasn’t alive any more, of course … oh, and he was found on the landing gear. The corpse, ostensibly cold, has been shipped off to forensic medical experts for tests, according to local authorities.

So, how did he get there? According to AFP:

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said passengers on the plane reported seeing a man in a baseball cap with a backpack make a dash for plane as it prepared to taxi. He stumbled once and then continued towards the plane.

The passengers and flight attendants let the pilot know about this, but he reportedly didn’t do anything about it. Nas Air is staying tight-lipped on the affair.

[photo by dynamosquito via Flickr]

Daily Pampering: Seven chances to try a new job around the world

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Do you feel a bit confined by your gig? Sure, the cash is great, but you are held hostage by it. You can’t throw it all away and chase your low-paying dream. Well, now you have a chance to turn the paycheck that keeps you in the office 14 hours a day into the chance to try something new, even if only briefly. Cox & King is offering several packages designed to give you a once-in-a-lifetime shot at living your dream.

1. The Textile Expert
The “Textiles of India” tour takes you to some of the most famous weaving centers in the country, including Varanasi (known for Benarsi silk wedding sarees), Kanchipuram (zardozi embroidery work on Mysore silks) and Jaipur (handmade block printed cotton fabrics). This experience lasts 22 days and comes at a cost of $12,735 per person (based on double occupancy).

2. Painting Papyrus
With the “Splendors of Egypt” and “Discover Egypt” tours from Cox & King, you can satisfy your jones for Egyptology and learn to paint, draw and write under the tutelage of one of the masters. Participate in the rare and fine art that dates back thousands of years (trips start at $4,075).3. Fine Wine … in Lebanon?
The Phoenicians sold wine to Lebanon more than 4,000 years ago, and it’s believed that the Lebanese brought it to Spain and Italy. The fertile soil of the Bekaa Valley is the secret behind Lebanese wine, and you can get all the details on the “Lebanon & Syria: Empires Past” tour. Spend a day at Chateau Ksara, the oldest running winery in Lebanon, and learn the intricacies of the process of making Lebanese wine. This 15-night tour starts at $6,585.

4. South American Shutterbug
Click like crazy in Argentina on the Cox & King “A Photographic Journey: Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia” tour. You’ll travel with Diego Ortiz Mugica, known as the Ansel Adams of Argentina, and pick up some tips and tricks, against the backdrop of the Argentinean culture. This unique opportunity is only available from November 6 – 13, 2010 and starts at $5,894.

5. Study Primates in the Wild
Startin Kigali, Rwanda on the “Gorillas in the Mist” tour, and you’ll climb into the world of gorillas. After a briefing, you’ll enter Parc National des Volcans, where you’ll enter their habitat and get great views of these massive creatures. The experience lasts four days and starts at $4,195.

6. Jewelry Craftsman
You could make jewelry in your living room … but wouldn’t be more interesting to try it in Mozambique? Go to Ibo Island, and experience classes with traditional silversmiths. You can even bring your old jewelry to melt down and use as a starting point (creating a bridge between old and new) or buy materials from the locals. This trip starts at only $1,585 a person.

7. The Origami Master
Put your fingers to work on an art form that dates back to the seventeenth century. You’ll learn to fold paper into amazing creations and gain an appreciation for the history behind origami on the “Treasures of Japan” tour, which starts at $12,525 per person.

For more Daily Pampering, click here.

Daily Pampering: Four Seasons Beirut

by Tom Johansmeyer on


If you aren’t planning to go to Beirut this year … change your flights. After a decade of preparation and five years of construction, the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut has opened its doors. The latest property from this luxury chain may seem to be opening in an unusual place, but guests are already voting for it with their room-nights, lured by the taste of prime cuts of Charolais beef and pairing with local wine on the terrace of The Grill Room. Or, you can relax up on the 26th floor terrace, sitting by the rooftop pool.

Of course, nothing beats the hotel’s spa, a creative statement of white marble and gold mosaics, with a suede-paneled couples suite that boasts a private terrace and Jacuzzi. Back at your guestroom, one of only 230 rooms and suites in the hotel, you’ll have both space and comfort … not to mention a private terrace where you can soak up the Beirut ambience.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to a stay at the Four Seasons Beirut is the insider access that comes from a conversation with the concierges. You’ll be able to gain admittance to art exhibitions and art shows all over the city. The concierges will also help you find religious architecture, Phoenician ruins … and nightclubs and beachside bars.

According to the hotel’s general manager, Stefan Simkovics, Beirut is “one of the sexiest cities in the world: enticing, vain, scarred, beautiful, complex and exciting.”

Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

[Photo by Paul Thuysbaert]

Gadlinks for Friday 8.14.09

by Brenda Yun on


I hope everyone on the mainland enjoyed the Perseids meteor shower earlier this week! There were plenty of lovely streaks in the sky worthy of a few ooo’s and ahh’s. Here are few recent articles that might elicit similarly inspired reactions.

‘Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Peace brings tourists back to Lebanon

by Sean McLachlan on

Even by the standards of the Middle East, Lebanon has had a rough time of it. A bitter civil war and periodic Israeli invasions have left much of the country in ruins, but now that order appears to be restored, the country’s tourism ministry is wooing visitors back.

Lebanon has a lot going for it–beautiful beaches, good skiing, fine dining, fantastic historical sights, and cheap accommodation. There are World Heritage Sites such as Qadisha Valley (pictured here), a lush region sheltering ancient Christian communities. Unlike much of the Middle East, alcohol is legal and there’s good nightlife. There once was a time when Beirut was the party town of the Mediterranean. Of course that was before Ford was president, but there’s always hope that it can be so again. Hey, why not?

According to a BBC report, hundreds of thousands of tourists have visited Lebanon this year and officials are hoping for two million tourists before the end of the summer. Not bad for a country with a population of only four million.

The country has been relatively stable recently, and if they can keep Hezbollah in line and avoid getting attacked by Israel again, travelers looking for a bargain will have another stop on their agenda.

I’ve seen Lebanon, but only from across the border in Syria! Have you been to Lebanon? Post your experiences in the Comments section.