Palin or Obama as a perfect traveling companion, and where do Democrats and Republicans want to vacation?

by Jamie Rhein on

Whether or not the following statistics are true, they’re interesting to ponder. With the election fast approaching, here are findings from a phone survey that blends travel and politics. The survey conducted for Travelzoo ended on October 7, so perhaps the numbers would have shifted a bit by now.

  • Percentage of people who think Sarah Palin would be a perfect traveling companion–33%
  • Percentage who think Barack Obama would be–35%

Destination dreams of Republicans, Democrats and Independents:

Who would take a cruise to Alaska?

  • Republicans–51%
  • Democrats–37%
  • Independents –43%

Democrats would rather take a cruise to the Caribbean–51% of them said this is where they would like to head for the vacation of their dreams.

According the survey, the bickering and pandering during this election are giving Independents the idea that they would like to take a vacation elsewhere–47% of them are looking towards Spain, France, the U.K. or Germany for some R&R.

The survey conducted between September 15 and October 7 included a representative sample of 1,000 people, ages 18 and over.

Travelzoo normally doesn’t delve into politics, but is a Website to head to if you’re looking for travel deals. No matter your political leanings, you might find something to suit your tastes and budget. One thing I noticed is how easy it is to find deal information. Here’s the link for Alaskan cruises. And here’s the link for cruises to the Caribbean.

Photo of the Day (10/22/08)

by Jamie Rhein on

The blues and the clouds first attracted me this shot. Or was it the angle of the structure that draws one up and up? Or perhaps it was the dock that leads outwards.

The combination of the simplicity of each element compels me to keep looking. There’s the froth from the waves that is moving over the rocks on the left. There’s the dead plant at the right corner and the way the water is a greenish brown in the foreground but changes color in gradations towards the distant shore.

This is the type of shot one could use for a meditation or something. I’ve already been sitting here for hours. . . .

Jepstar captured this mood in at the Portulano Resort in Batangas, Philippines. What mood have you captured lately? Send it our way at Gadling’s Flickr photo pool for a Photo of the Day consideration.

Photo of the Day (10.21.08)

by Grant Martin on

With Continental‘s fall fares well underway, I’ve been toying around with the idea of going down to Honduras for a long weekend this November. Just off of the north coast of the Central American country are the Bay Islands, home to some magnificent beaches, crystal clear water, fantastic snorkeling and this sweet starfish. Yeah. Maybe it’s time to pull the trigger on that trip.

Flickr user romeoaban took this shot in Cayos Cochinos, Honduras.

Have any cool photos you’d like to share with the world? Add them to the Gadling Pool on Flickr, and it might be chosen as our Photo of the Day.

U.S.S. Oriskany, McCain’s old stomping ground, now a diving destination in Florida

by Jamie Rhein on

Erik Olsen, former Gadling blogger extraordinaire (he topped 4,000 posts) has a recent article in the New York Times about the U.S.S. Oriskany, a battleship that was turned into an artificial reef off the coast of Florida near Pensacola.

This “great carrier reef,” Olsen reports, is one of the best places to dive in the United States and has put Pensacola in the money. Dive shops have done a booming business and the ship has generated a considerable sum for the county besides.

Along with divers, military buffs and those who served on the ship back when have come to see it.

John McCain, though, has yet to make an appearance. McCain’s plane took off from the ship’s deck almost 31 years ago on his last mission before he was shot down during the Vietnam conflict and found himself in the “Hanoi Hilton” aka, Hoa Lo Prison, most definitely not enjoying the city’s charm like I have.

As Olsen points out, there are some environmental concerns regarding sinking ships, however the Environmental Protection Agency helped to ensure the ship was cleaned up enough to be turned into an ocean life haven. Studies are being done to see what adverse environmental footprints are being made, if any. The fear is that PCBs are being released.

Regardless of the possible downside, barnacles, sea urchins and 38 fish species now call the Mighty O–the ship’s nickname, home. Also, it can’t be denied that sunken ships make great diving spots for folks who know what they are doing. Two people did die while diving at the Oriskany. One person died after getting the bends from diving down too far and coming up too fast, and the other one had a heart attack. The guy with the heart attack would have died regardless of what he was doing–even knitting.

Diving at the ship sounds fascinating–and I have a fear of drowning. Reading Olsen’s description gave me the inkling that learning to scuba dive needs to be bumped up on my things-to-learn list. Actually, I’m not sure scuba diving has been on my things-to-learn-list. I’ve penciled it in.

For a slide show of the ship, click here. Also, check out Olsen’s article. The guy can write. He can also scuba dive. This video was taken during his dive of the Mighty O. Plus, he can take pictures. The photo, as you might notice, is by him. Jeez, what can’t he do?

Video: Preparation of airline food

by Abha Malpani on

If you’ve wondered what goes into the preparation of food for an airline, here’s an interesting 5-minute video on the process. A few points of note: Up to 45,000 meals are made per day by airline catering companies; the type of food depends on the plane’s destination; pilots have to eat different food so as to avoid both of them being down should a full-related illness pop up on the flight; and, every meal is made to be served on the same day. Check it out.

[Via: Upgrade Travel Better]