Travel Tips For Machu Picchu

Airline Employees, Parents and Retireeswho have traveled to Machu Picchu rate it as one of their favorite vacation trips. For many interliners who have not yet traveled to Machu Picchu, you can bet it is on their list of places to visit. It is probably the top tourist destination in Peru. If you are not aware of Machu Picchu here is a quick overview of the great mystery of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu!

This mysterious Inca citadel is hidden deep in the green Urubamba Valley’s jungle, high on a mountain top is the most well preserved city of the great Inca Empire. Recently selected as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”, it is undoubtedly the World’s top mystery site!

Now there are two ways to see Machu Picchu. One is doing it on your own and other other is buying an organized tour package. First let’s cover the way to experience Machu Picchu on your own.

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is May to September. May is the prettiest month (the dense, subtropical mountain forests are exceptionally green) while August is the best all around month. The least desirable period is from October to April, the rainy season. June, July, August and September are the busiest months when as many as 2500 people visit the ruins everyday. Even during the low season you can expect between 1500 and 2000 visitors per day.

Machu Picchu opens at 6am and stays open until 6pm. You can take small bags into the ruins but anything larger must be left at the luggage store near the entrance for US$1.5 a piece. Machu Picchu is a lot quieter before 11am and after 3:30pm. Monday is the busiest day, as many people head off to Machu Picchu after visiting Pisac market on Sunday. Sunday is one of the quietest days.

Most travelers take a day trip to Machu Picchu (they ride the mid afternoon train back to their hotels in Cuzco). This leaves just about two hours at the site – and part of that precious time is expended by having lunch at the hotel. You’ll have more hours to enjoy and explore the ruins if you stay overnight at the hotel located next to the ruins or (less expensively) at one situated in nearby Aqua Calientes. You will be able to explore this travel wonder in the late afternoon and early the next morning when the tourist count is low. Rooms are scarce in Aqua Calientes, so book well ahead.

Nearly all tourists begin their adventure by flying from Lima to the city of Cuzco (1 hour 15 minutes). Like we said most people then go straight to Machu Picchu from there, arriving at 1pm and enjoy. BUT if you can find an extra day or two for your trip when you are planning your trip to Machu Picchu plan to stay the night at Aguas Calientes. This is the town right below Machu Picchu (about 30 min away) it used to be nothing but has become a huge tourist attraction. It is filled with restaurants and night life and it has thermal waters, which most American’s pass ony. Then you can then wake up at the crack of dawn (hopefully your a morning person) around 5am and take one of the first buses that go to Machu Picchu. There usually aren’t a lot of people and you will get to see the sun rise through the mountains which is INCREDIBLE!!! and a giant PLUS is that you have about 4-5 hours in which it is almost empty and you get to enjoy the park so much more. Around 1pm it gets full.

By far the simplest method of getting to Aguas Calientes is to buy a round-trip train ticket from Cusco. Peru Rail currently offer only 2 departures a day to Machu Picchu from the station in Cusco. One of these departures is on the Vistadome service and one departure on the Backpacker service.You then transfer to a bus that zig-zags up a steep 2,000 foot high mountain slope to reach the Machu Picchu site (30 minutes).

The Backpacker service is a comfortable service, everyone is seated with no standing. Snacks and drinks are available at an extra cost. The Vistadome service has slightly larger windows and also windows in the roof. This sound a bit strange but much of the last hour and a half of the journey is through a mountain valley so the windows in the roof help you to appreciate the scenery. A snack and hot drink are included with the Vistadome service. There is also a table in front of you and a little more leg room although I actually thought the seats in the backpacker class were slightly more comfortable. You need to arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure time.

The bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu takes about 20 minutes and costs US$6 each way (US$12 return). The ride itself is spectacular as the narrow track winds its way up the mountainside. It can be a bit scary at times with almost vertical drops plunging down into the Vilcanota Valley below especially when you meet a bus coming in the other direction! The scenery is lush cloud forest with great views of the sacred mountain Putucusi on the opposite side of the valley. If it wasn’t for the rush to get to Machu Picchu this ride would be an attraction in itself. If you look closely out of the window you can see splashes of pink and orange flowers growing on the slopes – these are actually the orchid Wi??Wayna which can be commonly seen throughout the region.

The buses are clean and modern with air-conditioning (the whole fleet of 20 buses were renewed in 2006).

You have to buy your bus ticket before you get on the bus in the morning. There is a small ticket office just opposite the departure point which opens at 5:15am. The first group of buses depart from Aguas Calientes at about 5:20am then at 10 minute intervals throughout the day depending on demand until about 4pm. However if you really want to get to Machu Picchu early I would recommend arriving by about 5:10am since during the peak season there can be quite a queue by 5:30am!! It speeds things up if you buy your bus ticket in advance, either from the ticket office in Aguas Calientes the night before or from the Consettur offices in Cusco (located in Avenida Pardo opposite Parque Espana – its a short walk from the main post office or just ask a taxi driver to take you there which will cost 3 Soles / US$1). Each bus departs when its full so by the time the 20th bus departs Aguas Calientes the 1st bus is already on its way back.

The last buses depart Machu Picchu at about 5:30pm, be sure to check the time of the last bus as it can be a long walk back to Aguas Calientes if you miss it (well about 1 hour if you follow the more direct route rather than follow the road)

A few years ago you could wake up in Aguas Calientes, have breakfast and stroll down to where the buses depart, buy your ticket, have another coffee and easily get on the first bus at 6:30am arriving at Machu Picchu for just before 7am. You’d be one of the first people there. The next bus wouldn’t arrive for another 20 minutes. Although officially sun rise at Machu Picchu is at about 5:30am the sun doesn’t actually start to break out from behind the mountains until about 7:20am (give or take 10 minutes due to variations throughout the year). So arriving at Machu Picchu for about 7am in the morning is ideal as it takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the Watchman’s Hut which offers the best views over Machu Picchu.

As from May 2007 the government has put a limit of 400 on the number of people who can climb Huayna Picchu, the mountain that you see rising up behind Machu Picchu. This means that during the peak season if you really want to be among the lucky (or mad!) 400 you really have to make the effort to get up early. As soon as you enter Machu Picchu its recommended that you make your way over to the base of Huayna Picchu where you’ll find a small hut handing out the tickets to climb. The tickets are free. The first 200 people can climb Huayna Picchu straight away, however they all have to be back down by 10am when the 2nd group of 200 can make the climb. It takes about an hour to reach the top climbing slowly – not recommended for sufferers of vertigo. The narrow trail can be quite dangerous at times after wet weather.

Unfortunately if you are arriving by the Inca Trail or by train the same day then it is becoming increasingly difficult (in fact almost impossible in the peak months) to climb Huayna Picchu the same day. You’ll just have to spend the night in Aguas Calientes and return early the following morning.

Tickets to enter Machu Picchu can no longer be bought at the entrance to Machu Picchu itself. You now have to buy the entrance tickets at the Machu Picchu Cultural Centre in Aguas Calientes (10m from the main Plaza, opens at 5:15am). The entrance fee is 122 Peruvian Soles (which is approximately US$44). There is a 50% discount for students with a valid ISIC card. They only accept payment in Peruvian Soles and rarely have any change so make sure that you take the exact amount. If you don’t they’ll just tell you to come back when you have the correct change – which can be difficult at 5:15am !! If you can, best to buy the entrance tickets the day before. Alternatively you can buy the tickets in Cusco at the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) offices which can be found at Calle San Bernado a few blocks from the main Plaza de Armas). The tickets are valid for 3 days from the day of purchase which means you have time to travel to Aguas Calientes, stay the night and enter Machu Picchu the following morning. However once you enter Machu Picchu they are only valid for that day. If you want to return to Machu Picchu the following day then you have to buy another ticket!!

Guides are available at the site. Expect to pay around US$20 per guide for a 2 hour private tour. You may be lucky and find a group that you can join for as little as US$3 per person depending on the size of the group. Check that the guide speaks a language that you understand !! If you don’t want to spend half your time listening to the descriptions again in Spanish go with a guide that is going to speak just in English (the information will be more in-depth and informative). Guides are not mandatory and you can enter Machu Picchu and explore it on your own or with the help of a guidebook (or you can just stand next to one of the several places of interest and listen to the explanations given by someone else’s guide!)

Now the other optional way to see Machu Picchu is to take a preset organized tour. These tours include airfare, transfers, hotels and everything you need to see Machu Picchu so you just book and go. InterlineTravel.com offers several packages. You can reach them at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.

Taking Photos on a Cruise to Antarctica

Taking a cruise to Antarctica is a once in a lifetime experience for many people, including interliners. So you are heading south for the cruise you have always dreamed of. One of the things you are packing is your camera and film for this incredible journey. What to take, how much, so many questions and you had better get them right because there is no Wolf Camera or other store you can go get more film, the right filter or more batteries. Yes the ship may sell film and batteries onboard but at highly inflated prices!

So here are some tips so you can be better prepared for your cruise to Antarctica.

The usual advice for nature photography in remote areas is to bring at least two compatible (e.g. same lens mount) camera bodies and plenty of film. This may seem to be obvious, but you only have to take one trip where the shutter breaks for you to see the value of this tip.

Since most travelers visit the sub-Antarctic islands and Antarctica in during their summer, the temperature isn””t really that cold and most modern cameras will operate just fine. There is no needto bring all-mechanical bodies because of the cold weather. However, do bring extra batteries. Lithium or rechargeable NiCd batteries tend to work better and last longer than Alkalines in cold climates. Like we said earlier they may sell these on your cruise but the price will be double or more of what you could have bought them for at home.

Most of the wildlife in Antarctica has little fear of humans so that one can approach them and you can get fairly close to them. In some cases, young birds and seals are so curious about human visitors that they may approach you. Therefore, probably the most useful lens is a 80-200mm (or 70-210) type zoom. A 300mm lens with a 1.4x teleconvertor should be sufficient when one needs additional reach or isolation of a particular animal. It is unnecessary to bring very long 500/600mm type lenses as they are very heavy and awkward to carry in and out of Zodiacs while wearing cumbersome clothing. Of course, some people bring them anyway. If it is possible, use telephoto lenses on a tripod. Some landing sites are very windy, and a tripod can greatly improve camera stability, even with a short lens. In particular, when there are multiple animals in an image, one needs to use a small aperture to obtain sufficient depth of field in order to keep all of them sharp. A tripod provides the much-needed stability at slower shutter speeds. You should be able to bring the newer type collapsible tripods to handle this.

One or two wide-angle lenses arereally handyto photograph the beautiful landscape in Antarctica. On some cruises there are Zodiac excursions where you can photograph icebergs from sea level. A wide-angle zoom can be very handy in those occasions. In fact, since one can get really close to some nesting birds, it is even possible to take bird portraits with a 20mm lens and geta fantastic perspective.

It is hard to say how much film one needs for these trips.I have know people whobrought over 100 rolls of slide film for an 18-day cruise and ended up shooting almost all of it. Also bring enough film to each landing. It is extremely frustrating to run out of film standing on an island with plenty of photo opportunities around you while your film supply is on the cruise ship. If you are shooting with a digital camera then being enought photo cards to handle this much shooting. Now you can always spend your evenings on the ship deleting those pictures you don””t want so you might be able to get away with less digital cards that way.

A good photo backpack is the best way to carry camera gear in and out of Zodiacs. In particular, those that come with a plastic cover are good for preventing salt spray and rain from damaging the camera bag and equipment. A shower cap or plastic bag can help keep the camera dry during light rain. Lens cleaning paper and fluid is also useful.

Keep in mind that some Zodiac rides can be very rough especially in poor weather. Besides the salt spray, all the vibration and occasional crushing motion near the bow of a Zodiac is very bad for photo equipment. It is important to keep cameras in bags with good padding and avoid placing camera bags near the front of Zodiacs.

Depending on a cruise ship”’’s country of origin, it may provide 110V or 220V AC outlets in its cabins, and some passengers will need a transformer and/or an adapter for their applicances. In particular, some Russian ships use a recessed type 220V sockets with European-style round prongs. The front plate of these sockets is not flat. Instead, it has a round cavity to fit circular plugs. The problem is that transformers or converter plugs larger than the cavity will not fit inside and therefore the prongs may not be able to make contact with the outlet. For those who travel on European ships, it is important to verify what type of sockets are available on board and bring small converter plugs that will fit.

During cruises in the open ocean, a lot of sea birds such as albatrosses and petrels like to fly alongside the ship. Therefore, those “at sea” days provide good opportunities to shoot in-flight shots. Unfortunately, even with modern auto-focus equipment,your success rate for in-flight shots will not be that high.You can really burn through a lot of film this way. One of the better angles you will find will befrom a middle-level deck to shoot these in-flight images.

When a cruise ship sails through ice fields in narrow channels, the landscape can be extremely beautiful. In that situation, look for an angle from the top deck to show the floating ice in the sea. Occasionally, there are birds or seals sitting on the floating ice where a lower angle from the bottom deck would be better. Pay extra attention to keep the horizon level, as it will keep moving when the ship rocks.

Photography requires light; there is good news and bad news on this issue. Since most people visit the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas in the austral summer (November to March), the daylight hours are very long and the quality of light at high latitude is good. The bad news is that the weather changes quickly and frequently in this region. It can rain and even snow in the summer. Expect to have a number of overcast days during a visit to the Antarctic. It doesn””t have to be completely sunny to take great photographs, but when the light gets dull, so will the images.

People often find it difficult to meter a snow scene. In reality, as long as you have a spot meter, it shouldn””t be too much of a problem. In a sunny day, spot-meter white snow under bright sunlight and expose it 1.5 to 2 stops above medium, depending on your personal preference, and the exposure for everything else in the image should fall in place. In other words, the dark areas should be 1 to 2 stops below medium. In an overcast situation, expose white snow at 1 (or at most 1.5) stop above medium. If the contrast is greater than that and one need details in the dark area, either a graduated medium density filter to darken the bright area or, if possible, fill flash to brighten up the dark area will be necessary. Keep in mind that at 1.5 to 2 stops over medium, the details in the white snow could be washed out. Some bracketing may still be necessary, especially in backlit situations, but it shouldn””t be that difficult to get within half a stop. If one wants to bracket, this should be a good starting point.

It is important to photograph wildlife from their eye level so that the image represents the animal”’’s world rather than a human”’’s perspective. Since penguins don””t fly, it is important to photograph them from a low angle. However, if it is a penguin rookery image that covers a larger area that shows their nesting enviroment, it is necessary to shoot from a higher angle to include both the foreground and background.

One problem with photographing at bird colonies is that they are densely populated. If one wants to take a penguin portrait, there frequently are several other penguins around, creating an annoying background. One solution is to shoot near the edges of a colony to eliminate other birds from the background or select a position where the background is rocks or the ocean. Moreover, penguins are primarily black and white birds. There is plenty of contrast within one body. If a penguin occupies a large area in an image, one can always spot-meter the front and the back. Similar to snow, the white front should be 1 to 1.5 stops above medium and the dark back should be a stop or two below medium. The head of an adult King Penguins is extremely dark. Unfortunately, their eyes are also very dark such that a King Penguin portrait can easily become a large black head with a colorful beak and neck but absolutely no eye and feather details. Sometimes that problem is inevitable.

Another issue with photographing penguins is that after they sit on their nest for a while, their white front feathers tend to get dirty very quickly with guano and dirt all over. A penguin with a dirty brown and green chest looks ugly. However, when they feed in the ocean, their feathers get cleaned and their front becomes snow white again. Therefore, it is better to photograph those “clean” penguins that have just returned from the ocean.

Hopefully these tips will help you get the most from your photo”’’s on your next cruise to Antartica. Now if this article has peaked your interest on taking a cruise to Antartica then contact InterlineTravel.com. There have been several cruise lines offering fantastic interline rates on some of their Antartica cruises this year. You can reach InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.

Learning to Tango in Argentina

The new year is almost here and you have you long list of resolutions. Maybe one is to learn something new or maybe it is to learn to Tango. Now as an airline employee you could learn to Tango at the local dance studio or you could hop on a plane and head for Buenos Aires and learn from the authorities how to Tango.

Should you be willing to learn from the best here is what you want to look for in your dance package.

Find a tour package that can place you where you will have lessons with a private tango teacher, who will tailor your program to your individual level of expertise.Depending on how much time you want to spend these packages can range from two to nine nights. Here is a sample of what a nine night package might include:

In the first week of your classes you should go see a Tango Show within the wonderful city of Buenos Aires. Tango shows include both singing and dancing and are on display in local theatres. Currently, ?omero Manzi?and “La Esquina Balcarce” are both popular shows which interpret the story and history of Tango from its early beginnings to date. The exact show that you will visit depends on the time that you start your Tango classes.

For the rest of yourtrip youshould alsoattend lessons with one of two private tango teachers. If you are female youshould have lessons witha male teacherand if you are male you should have lessons with a female teacher.

The lessons scheduled for you should look something like this:

• Threeprivate tango classes per week, each lasting one and a half hours. These will usually be taken in the afternoons but there will be some flexibility, depending on your teacher? schedule.
• One group class per week (lasting one and a half hours). All of your teacher? current studentsshould get together for this class. If, at any time, your teacher doesn? have many other students or feels that volunteers are not at a certain level or have sufficient experience, then this class will be an additionalprivate lesson instead. Usually this will happen with folks who are there for a short time.
• One Milonga per week. A Milonga is an open Tango party where all levels mix together. People from all over come to this weekly social event, where everyone dances together and continually change couple – all lots of fun! Your teacher should attend this Milonga every week. You usually can chose to go any day of the week should you want to.

Your dance scheduleshould allow plenty of time for sightseeing and absorbing the experience of being in Argentina. When you head home you should be able to amaze your friends with your Tango expertise!

Popular Festivals in Brazil

Interliners are always looking for a good party! Be is a local festival or a world reknown blow-out if there is a fun party taking place you can bet there is at least one airline employee in the middle of it having a great time.

So we thought we would take a look at Brazil. Known for it’s latin influence, Brazil offers festivals throughout the year. However if you take a poll of your fellow interliners, the only party, Carnival in Rio. However Brazil is internationally known for its other popular feasts such as the New Year and June Feasts. These enthusiastic celebrations, which combine singing, music and much dance, attract millions of foreign tourists to the country every year. In them, it is almost impossible to remain as a mere spectator ?everyone participates, everyone plays along. Accept this invitation and come celebrate life in Brazil. Those who visit, become fans.

Carnival
The joy of the carioca (Rio de Janeiro citizens) is contagious on those who visit Rio to participate in the Carnival ?regardless of their origin. It calls on everyone to move their feet, let their arms loose, let their eyes shine and fully participate in this feast. be it in Samba schools, on Avenida Marques de Sapuca?or in the street blocks, the order is one: fun.

In Salvador, Bahia State, the Carnival effectively begins in December, with the opening of the celebrations by the Concei? Beach feast. But it is in February that the merry makers of all ages fill up the capital of Bahia, animated by sound trailers ?large and colorfully decorated trucks equipped with powerful loud speakers, from where singers sing and make people dance.

In the state of Pernambuco, we have the Olinda and Recife carnivals. Frevo dance emerged from this location, one of the most enticing rhythms of the nation. For a week, people go out on the streets in costumes and dance frenetically, next to traditional giant dolls and maracatus.

In S?Paulo, the Carnival had been formerly a party restricted to saloons. Overtime, it conquered the streets, following the influences of the Rio de Janeiro Samba Schools.

New Year
New Year throughout Brazil is one of the most majestic and democratic feasts. People of all ethnic groups, social classes and creed forget their differences and embrace together the new year.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, this celebration is quite exciting. there is homage paid to Iemanja, queen of the sea. There are those who jump waves to attract good fortune in the new year. People celebrate together, illuminated by a huge fire works event that decorates the skies of the Marvelous City at midnight.

June Feasts
The June feasts began as small celebrations in countryside towns, which celebrated Saint Peter, Saint Anthony and Saint John, greatly devoted to by Brazilian. Over the years, however, they began to grow until they became mega events, gathering millions of visitors in June and July.

The June circuit in the Northeast of Brazil is one of the most famous and traditional around the world. Caruaru, in the State of Pernambuco, and Campina Grande, in Para?, dispute the title of best feast in the country. The first is known as the ?apital of forr??a popular dance and music, while the other as the ?iggest Saint John in the world?

In the cablocla (mixed white and indigenous) Amazon, the tradition of honoring the saints has a calendar that begins in June, with Saint Anthony, and ends only in December, with Saint benedict. They are market feasts, with bonfires, fireworks, much food and fun.

In the South of Minas Gerais, there is concern in celebrating the June feasts in the simple format of the countryside people. Contrary to the major cities, which have put aside the folkloric aspect of these feasts, the countryside keeps the tradition alive. During the event, typical meals are served by bonfire light, while dance groups entertain everyone.

Other celebrations
In addition to the national popular feasts, Brazil also offers regional celebrations that animated and conquer tourists from all over:

• Parintins festival ?Large folkloric celebration, mobilizes the Paritins city in Amazonas, around the fight between the “Caprichoso” and “Garantido” bulls, with allegoric vehicle parades, choreographies, and much music. The spectacle takes place annually in June.

• Bumba-meu-boi of Maranh??one of the most traditional merriments of Brazil, bumba-meu-boi is a vehicle staging a combination of theater, dance, music and circus. It is a very popular feast in S?Lu? capital of the State of Maranh? also taking place in June.

• Oktoberfest ?in October, the city of Blumenau enters into festivities, showing visitors from all over Brazil and the world its rich culture. With music, dance and typical cuisine, the party preserves the customs of German immigrants who settled in the region.

• Micaretas ?out of season carnivals. Created in the city of Feira de Santana, Bahia unpleased with the carnival, which did not take place that year due to heavy rainstorms. It was so successful that it became a national mania. Since the 1990?, many Micaretas take place in many capitals of Brazilian cities, almost throughout the year.

So check the flight loads and get ready to enjoy yourself in Brazil!

Top Spots for Shopaholics in Bangkok

Shopping is one of the top things to do when anyone travels and that includes airline employees. Thailand has always been popular with interliners who love to shop.

Bangkok is a shopper? paradise where you can find just about everything from expensive brand name goods to cheap knockoffs all within easy walking distance. Daytime shopping can be hot and sweaty if you do it outdoors and can leave you absolutely exhausted afterwards. What better way to increase your stamina by exploring the various air conditioned malls hunting for bargain in style and comfort.

A series of excellent shopping malls are located between BTS ( elevated train ) stations Chit Lom and Siam, where you can find just about anything under the sun. After sunset, check out the outdoor shopping arcades of Suan Lum Night Bazaar and Patpong Night Market for some serious bargains and unique products. For the brave hearts, check out Chatuchak Weekend Market, a bustling weekend bazaar unlike any place on earth. It is hot, humid, but loads of fun. Be prepared to literally rub shoulders with the locals.

CentralWorld Shopping Complex – With 550,000 square metres of retail space and a total area size of 830,000 square metres that is 30% larger than any other shopping centre in central Bangkok, CentralWorld is now officially the largest lifestyle shopping complex in Southeast Asia, with an unrivalled mix of products and services at prices that put the fun back into shopping for Thai consumers and tourists. www.centralworld.co.th

Siam Paragon – This shopping and entertainment complex is an upmarket, five-storey colossus with 500,000 square metres of retail space. The gleaming, modern mall opened in December 2005 at a cost of 15 billion baht (US$ 375 million), and is home to more than 250 famed international and local luxury brands. There is also Underwater World on the Basement floor, another popular tourist attraction. www.siamparagon.co.th

MBK Shopping Centre – The multi-storey MBK, or Mah Boon Krong, is very popular with both tourists and locals. Its 2,000 shops sell everything from food, clothing, accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture and various electrical gadgets. MBK is especially crowded weekends, when holiday shoppers combined with holiday makers converge on MBK for some serious bargain hunting. www.mbk-center.com

The Emporium – The Emporium is like a glossy magazine come to life. Behold the seven layers of shopper? paradise, where the first three floors are dedicated solely to fashion. Exclusive world-class brand names dominate the ground floor, hot international designer items, leather and jewellery the first floor, and glamorous garb for the young and trendy, the second. Fashionistas, this is your playground. www.emporiumthailand.com

Siam Center – Siam Center is one of the oldest malls in Thailand, constructed in 1976, this original looks good for her age, thanks to the panoply of bright and playful shops and the ever-younger and fresher clientele, expending their reeling energies and pocket money. Having gone through a few revamping exercises, this mall targets adolescents, and has a loyal and fashionable following. Siam Centre contains about 300 shops, 20 restaurants and a cheerful and spacious food court. www.siamcenter.co.th

Amarin Plaza – The stylish Amarin Plaza is linked to Erawan Bangkok via a skybridge. The five-storey shopping plaza has an almost festive aura to it, drawing in a mixed crowd – from affluent Thais to expats and business travellers – with highly desirable brand names such as Guy Laroche, Valentino and Crocodile, to name but a few. www.amarinplaza.com

Gaysorn Plaza – Gaysorn is a luxurious, upmarket white marble and gleaming chrome complex housing exclusively high-end luxury goods and designer labels. Its contemporary design and an innovative retail concept create a very exclusive shopping experience. Expect to find a wide range of highly desirable international brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Hugo Boss, to name but a few, as well as a selection of Thailand? most innovative designers such as Fly Now, ?enada Theory and Kloset Red Carpet. www.gaysorn.com

Siam Discovery - This trendy shopping complex is still a favourite among Bangkok? younger and fashionable crowds. Opposite Siam Square, this modern centre adjoins Siam Centre and showcases a good selection of shops,restaurants and designer fashion outlets. Expect popular local fashion designers and global brand names as well as European established names, as well as a number of home d?r and hip interior design stores. Guess? DKNY, Shiseido, Mac, Swarovski and many more. Asia Books and Habitat have branches here too. A huge cinema complex is located on the top floor, while the ground floor houses popular coffee hangouts including Starbucks and Au Bon Pain. www.siamcenter.co.th

Suan Lum Night Bazaar – A mixture of poshly dressed, fresh-from-the-office Thai? and expats along with fisherman pant-clad tourists, Suan Lum could best be described as the VIP outdoor market of Bangkok (where you?e always welcome, of course). Covered walkways with centrally-located snack bars provide perhaps the most luxurious (outdoor) market shopping experience in the city. Several bars along with Thai, Italian, German, and even Mexican restaurants are conveniently within the market area, close enough to analyze the crowd while enjoying a drink, yet away from the market? hustle-and-bustle. In the same area, dinner shows featuring classical Thai puppetry can be enjoyed at the famous Joe Louis Puppet Theatre. www.suanlum-nightbazaar.com

Patpong Night Market – After recently cleaning up its act, Patpong? become one of the ?ust?night shopping destinations for avid shoppers. Found in the built-up area known as Silom, the place is always busy and chaotic with all the commotion from the GO-GO bars nearby and lots of foreign tourists. This market in Bangkok? notorious nightlife district is often the first and easiest stop for many tourists just arriving to Bangkok, whilst lodging at one ofseveral mid-to-upper-end hotels in Silom.

Chatuchak Weekend Market – Covering over 35 acres of land with over 15,000 stalls and more than 200,000 visitors every Saturday and Sunday, Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok is the mother of all markets – and possibly one of the biggest and most famous markets in the world. If bargain-hunting gives you an adrenalin rush, get ready for a head-spinning, earth-moving experience. Conquering this massive market is no easy feat though. The reward for taking a lot of patience along – together with a bottle of water – is that you can find pretty much anything here. www.jjmarketplace.com

Now the biggest issue you have, is how many empty bags do you bring so you can haul your shopping treasures home!

Ski Japan!

Airline employees who love to ski and are looking for a new destination this winter might want to set their sights on Japan. Home to several Winter Olympics, Japan offers skiiers a wonderful experience and a wealth of opportunities.

A skitrip to Japan isn? just about enjoying your time on the slopes. A ski trip to Japan is also an opportunity to embrace a new culture,whether you are taking part in an elaborate tea ceremony, sleeping on a futon in a ryokan (guest house) or adding on a couple of days in hectic Tokyo or the more serene Kyoto. When it comes to food, Japanese cuisine makes a tasty change to your usual resort fare of burgers or pizza. You canenjoy on a bowl of steaming hot udon noodles, try winter delicacies such as taraba-gani (snow crab – caught in the waters off Hokkaido) orfill up on hearty winter warmers like chanko nabe, a delicious stew of seafood, meat, tofu and vegetables, said to be a favorite with sumo wrestlers

Japan is often perceived to be an expensive destination even for airline employees, but a trip there needn? involve taking out an extra mortgage. Lift tickets in the main resorts are very reasonably priced, particularly compared to major North American resorts – a one-day pass typically costs around W,500 (US$38). You don? have to spend your life savings to stay in comfortablehotel roomeither. Rates at a minishuku, a traditional Japanese inn, start at Y,500 (US$55) per person including two meals.

The ski runs in Japan canare incredibly busy over New Year andon weekends, butduring the weekyou?l have the pick ofwhich runs and liftsyou want toenjoy. This is perfect for experiencing that legendary powder Japanese Ski Resorts are known for. Did you know that Japan has more resorts than any other country in the world (around 700)? So there is no shortage of slopes toexplore.

While someinterliners prefer the temptation of sushi and sake or a well-deserved Asahi beer in an izakaya (Japanese pub), hard-core interline skiers and snow boarders can rack up plenty snow-miles after dark. Assuming that your muscles can handle it, many resorts allow you toski well into the evening. Some of the Niseko lifts stay open as late as 9pm.

The cold air blasting across the Sea of Japan from Siberia means Japan? mountains are blessed with snowfalls of sometimes epic proportions. Trees become so caked in ice and snow the locals call them juhyo (snow monsters), and annual snow accumulations regularly beat the largest North American resorts. Niseko receives a massive 46 feet on average each season, while skiers are virtually guaranteed knee-deep powder at Hakkoda, in Aomori on the northern tip of Honshu (Japan? main island). Don? expect to find any groomed pistes here though – the mountain is very much a backcountry skiers?paradise, but fortunately there is a gondola to avoid hiking back up. Hakkoda Powder Snow Tours offers the only English-speaking guides.

Japan? super-efficient fast train service means it? a hop, skip and a jump from Tokyo to the nearest resorts.Tokyo to Yuzawa in the Japanese Alps isjust 77 minutes away by bullet train.Once there you will findaround 30 resorts within a 30-minute drive of Yuzawa station. Regular packages start at

Traveling Around China

Interliners are going to China in ever increasing numbers. The opening of new flights by new airlines is one reason and the increase in tourism opportunities is another. So we thought we would give an overview on how to get around the vast and fascinating country.

Despite over 115 ports of entry and exit, most visitors to China travel via Hong Kong, Shanghai or Beijing. The national carrier is Air China, which also operates a company called Dragonair as a joint venture with the Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific (bookable through Cathay Pacific worldwide). If you are leaving China by air, there”””’’s a departure tax of 90.00, payable onlyin local currency, so be sure you have enough yuan to avoid a last-minute scramble at the airport money changing booth. However, there are plans to include this in the price of the air ticket so check before you fly.

If you are travelling to China from Hong Kong, be aware that you should organize your Chinese visa before arriving in Hong Kong.

You can travel to China and back from Europe or Asia without having to leave the ground. Exotic routes include Laos-China, the Trans-Siberian railway, Tibet-Nepal and Xinjiang-Kazakstan – but don””””t even think about bringing your own car, as foreigners are rarely allowed to drive in China. Other entry points include Zhuhai-Macau, Kashgar-Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, via the Torugart or Irkeshtam passes), Beijing-Pyongyang (North Korea) and Pinxiang/Hekou-Dong Dang/Lao Cai (Vietnam). You can take a slow boat to China from Japan or South Korea. Popular places to sail to and from include Shanghai, Xiamen (opposite Taiwan), Tanggu (near Tianjin), Macau and – of course – Hong Kong.

Now that private carriers have been allowed to set up operations in China, the Civil Aviation Administration of China CAAC) has assumed the role of ””””umbrella organisation”””” over airlines including China Eastern, China Southern, China Northern, Great Wall, Yunnan Airlines and several others. Discounting is common. There is an airport tax of 50.00 payable on all domestic flights.

Long-distance buses are one of the best means of getting around on the ground; they””””re frequent and cheap (which also translates as crowded and stuffy) but there are extensive services, passable roads and interesting towns and villages en route. An even better mode is the train, which reaches into every province (including Tibet from July 2006) along a 52,000km (32,311mi) network. It”””’’s cheap, relatively fast and a safer proposition than buses; the only dangers on the trains are getting your luggage pinched or dying from shock at the state of the toilets.

As land transport improves, the romantic days of domestic boat travel are fading. But there are still a number of popular boat trips to be had between Hong Kong and the mainland. The best known river trip is the three-day cruise along the Yangzi River from Chongqing to Wuhan.

Taxis cruise most city streets; while most cabs have meters, they usually only get switched on by accident. Motorcycle taxis, motor-tricycles and/or pedicabs hunt in packs around most major train and bus stations. They””””re a motley bunch, but they””””re cheap and useful if you don””””t mind sudden traffic-induced adrenalin rushes. But really, once you””””ve settled in somewhere, the best way to get around is by renting a bike and joining the pedalling throng.

Now if you are not adventurous to see China on your own then check out Viking River Cruises and UniWorld Grand River Cruises as they offer excellent cruises on the Yangtzee and pre and post tours of China. Trafalgar Tours also offers wonderful tours of China and the Far East. All offer interline discounts to airline employees, parents, retirees and spouses on most departures. In many cases inter-China airfare is also included so you just need to non-rev to Hong Kong or Beijing and then join the tour. For more information on these options including prices and reservations contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.

New Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Sleeper Train

A Beijing-Shanghai high-speed sleeper train debuted on December 21, a newspaper in Beijinghas today.

The Beijing Morning Post report said two trains would depart from Shanghai and from Beijing respectively with departure times about 9:40pm with an interval of five minutes. The trip will take about 9h15m, which is two hours faster than current sleeper trains. The shortest travel time for other trains between the two cities is 11.5 hours and the highest current price for sleeper tickets between the two cities is 499 yuan. The trains are likely to be attractive to business passengers as they are comfortable and cheaper than flights, the report said. Passengers can book the train tickets 10 days in advance.

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