Direct from India: Introducing the Helirickshaw

by Justin Glow on

Flickr user calamur was recently in Mumbai, India where he shot this amazing photo of the latest in autorickshaw technology: THE HELIRICKSHAW! Never mind those geeks at MIT and their Transition flying car, this is the future of transportation! No more traffic jams, no more choking exhaust fumes — just raw Italian power lifting you into the clouds.

Alright, so the helicopter blades are probably for show, but this is still the coolest rickshaw I’ve ever seen. And if you’ve ever been to Mumbai — even for only a few hours — you’ve seen about 10 billion of them.

Yacht + Helicopter = Skiing

by Iva Skoch on

Still mad that Europeans are greeting the New Year without snow, I think I’ve found an answer.

You can charter a boat called the Absinthe, to take you and 11 of your friends skiing in British Columbia. Billed as the world’s only yacht-based ski-lodge, this $36,000 per day (not including meals and fuel), 201-foot yacht will cruise you along the BC coast until you near an appropriate mountain. Then you’re fully equipped with skis and board their helicopter, which takes off from a heli-pad on the yacht, carries you up to the slopes with a ski-guide, and picks you up later.

And, if not all of your friends are skiers, they can take advantage of local hot springs, sea fishing, fly fishing, visits to Indian villages, kayaking, or a host of other activities offered from the yacht. Absinthe-drinking comes to mind.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of July 9

by Adrienne Wilson on

Time for us to showcase some of our favorite blurbs of the week in case you missed them. I’m guessing most of you dear and loyal readers, haven’t and I completely don’t understand if you did, but here’s another chance to review five.

5. Saving Belizean Music:
Thanks to Neil, Belizean music is remembered this week. In this short blog he points us to a LA Times piece on the sounds of local music in Belize. On top of that he also provides you with a link to get your own fill of these Central American tunes.

4. Saving Pics:
Everyone’s got their own method to saving their precious travel memories. Some will back them up three times on CD, on five different computers or you name it so long as they are protected. A few of us who are a little more trusting in modern technology can probably do without caring too much equipment in the name of protection and that is why I point you to this (oh-so) simple gear piece from Erik. The skinny – Flashtrax XT. Another cool compact option for photo storage on the road.

3. Machu Picchu Helicopter:
To climb or fly? That is the question in this chopper over Machu Picchu piece, where Neil invites readers to share their feelings on whether or not taking the ride up to the ruins is better than hiking. In short, we want to know if it’s cool or lame?

2. Road Trip USA Podcasts:
Here’s a good one if you’re planning a last minute road trip for the summer – Road Trip USA podcasts by Jaime Jensen. While the gas along the way may be high you needn’t worry about the podcasts costing you a thing, because if what Erik says is true, then they’re free. Go get some audio for the road to help you along the way!

1. Self-Erecting Tent:
Some claim it’s spankin’ new and other say it’s a thing of years past, but I’ve never heard of it so for me it’s on the spankin’ side. What am I speaking of? The self-erecting tent by Quechua is making pitching your cozy campsite digs a breeze. All you do is toss it in the air and by the time it lands your home-sweet-tent is all ready to go. Thank Neil for pointing to this fine piece of gear.

Ride to JFK by Copter?

by Erik Olsen on


One of the great pains in the arse about living in new York City is getting out of the city to travel. Personally, I
loathe the cab ride from my apartment to JFK or La Guardia. It can take over an hour if the traffic is bad and its damn
expensive to boot. Sure, I can take the subway, but that sometimes takes two hours or more. If only there were a better
way.

Hello? What about by helicopter? Wouldn’t it be a rush to be whisked to the airport in a
chopper, and arrive just before your flight to an admiring throng who, no doubt, would suspect that you were some kind
of big shot CEO hurrying off for a long weekend in the Bahamas. Very nice.

So yes, starting March 13, a
company called US Helicopter Corp., based in Bridgeport, Conn., will offer hourly
service, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, at the foot of Wall Street and the East River,
and the American Airlines terminal at JFK.

And not only will you arrive in style, but you’ll clear
security and check bags at the heliport, and be on your way in no time.

What’s this going to cost
you?  The introductory one-way fare, good through March 31 is $139 per person. After that the rate will be $159
plus taxes and security fee. When you think about it, if you are in a pinch, that is not half bad. A cab, after all can
run you as much as $60 , so it’s just double the amount. Not a horrible deal, by any stretch, and can you really
put a price on such luxury? Well, yes you probably could, but still, this would be very cool.