Rule Britannia - Why Britain Will Rule in 2012

Being the Olympic hosts of 2012, it also celebrates the Queens Diamond Julilee, which will make for a summer of events throughout London and the United Kingdom.

A big year for Britain, for it will showcase the world's largest sporting event in the summer, after a massive regeneration of east London, which will only mean prosperity to a nation struggling with financial difficulties. This will boost tourism now and in the coming years for a city which still remains the most visited city on earth!

The year also marks the Queens Diamond Julilee, marking 50 years after the Queen took to the throne. It means a shuffle in bank holidays, and an additional day, making for 4 days of celebration in the first weekend of June,  just 8 weeks before the Olympic opening.

So in tribute to Great Britain, a short video celebrating this nation.

Occupy London Movement - The Debate

The Occupy Movement started as a way to oppose government rules and regulations regarding the banking and financial institutions, in regards to the banking system that got saved by public money, and where wealth is kept in the top 1%.  

The problem with the movement is the lack of agreeing what the movement is about, its focus, and how it can be solved to end such an occupation. Personally, I don't think that even those who are camping here will come to an agreement that will end it. In the end, this movement is one to stay, an eye sore, more like vermin. If true change is to happen, it is by actions, not camping on a site.





This initial statement was agreed by over 500 people on the steps of St Paul’s on 26 October 2011, a work in progress and is used as a basis for further discussion and debate.

• The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.

The above statement is true, but offers no solutions as to how this is done.

• We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.

We do not stand together around the world, each occupation movement has different agendas, and as a whole the movement is not united in one common goal.

• We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.

 Too late, we already have. Lets move on.

• We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.

What does the movement propose? Who will pay? Camping on a site does not contribute towards making our society better, perhaps the movement could be more politically involved.

1. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.

The above statement is true, but in the end it is the people that elect the governments, who in turn, create teh regulators.

1. We support the strike on the 30^th November and the student action on the 9^th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.

OK, but what does this have to do with the initial statement of the movement? It loses its initial focus of the Occupy Movement.

1. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.

No kidding Sherlock! This has been happening for decades, at least 100 years! At the same time we dont' want to pay for equality - its just too expensive! Ask yourselves, have you bought because of the value/price, or because of ethical reasons. War is business - and America and Britain have done well with it for more than a century.

• The present economic system pollutes land, sea and air, is causing massive loss of natural species and environments, and is accelerating humanity towards irreversible climate change. We call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations.

For this we have Greenpeace. The Occupy Movement has another purpose, but again ask yourself, have you bought something because of price/value, or ethical reasons? Even the movement is guilty of not following this mantra above, the site is dirty and polluted, the Occupy Movement does not lead by example.

• We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.

We are oppressed and have been for more than a decade. It is the people that have elected the governments. The propaganda machine is at work. You believed it in the past, only now you realise we are only puppets in the hands of big players.

• This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!

If democracy looks like the Occupy Movement, I'll stick with what I have.

I'm not against voicing your opinion, or beliefs. I understand what the movement is trying to obtain, though am unconvinced how this will be achieved. The camp is not pleasant, it occupies a public space. It is dirty and littered.

If the movement really wants a voice, perhaps daily demonstrations, or involvement in the politics is a much better way of achieving the aim of the first goal, a statement that reads;

Find a system that is sustainable, and just, with true democracy of the people. A call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations.

What makes San Francisco?

The Painted Ladies, San Francisco

An outdoor museum of Victorian architecture and streetcars (or trams) of yesteryear from cities around America and as far as Milan (Italy), used as modern day surface transport, along with electric buses, a green alternative to gas and diesel of today - this is San Francisco!

What appears to be a time warp of memorability and things of days gone by, neighbourhoods like Haight and Ashbury, where beat neck generation of writers lived and hippy days were celebrated. Love and peace still the message today.

The Castro district is colourful and camp, men behave as women and women as men, it is a real declaration of civil liberties that were fought and won here. Though it seems everyone wants/acts to be a character from Will and Grace. It's not really a place where men are men, but characters from American gay friendly television shows, rather a typical characterisation of what a homosexual should behave - but far from the truth - it labels gay men as 'camp'.

The city celebrates the annual Folsom Festival at the end of September, the worlds largest outdoor fetish festival, where erotic pleasures are displayed and exhibited across 13 city blocks. Volunteers ready to be spanked, poked, caged, bound, tied, led in ways that exceed and push boundaries of sexual pleasures. Dress to be pleased, turn on, provoke and shock. Open eyes and minds are necessary to appreciate this festival, not for conservative thinkers or those that judge. This is a celebration of pleasures that pushes intimate personal limits, where pain, submission or domination is expressed and enjoyed.

Regardless of district, one will encounter the dozens of (friendly) homeless people this city seems to have so many of. Shopping carts, trolleys, baby carriages pushed and holding life possessions. It is a sickness San Francisco fails to correct, perhaps its always been there, maybe these street people just don't want the help, but for a visitor it does carry a burden of uneasiness at times.

It's a beautiful city where the sun burns in the hills and the low cloud engulfs the Golden Gate Bridge and blows winds to send chills to your inners. It is never really hot, nor very cold, but a mix of both at all times. One must always be prepared for a sudden change in temperature in San Francisco.

It's a mix of modern and classic nostalgia that is still celebrated and kept, and for this very reason, makes San Francisco a true living treasure.

Lost In A Grid - Barcelona

The Catalan capital of Barcelona is one of the best cities to visit, vibrant, modern, exciting and sexy.

It's not really a super size city and getting around is very easy with an excellent public transportation system of metro, buses and bike network.

Barcelona streets follow a grid which has existed since the Romans ruled, but knowing which direction is what can be rather confusing since all roads appear the same. Exiting a shop, or a bar may mean not knowing what is east or west, north or south. There are no distinct landmarks to point you in the right direction unless your near an open area or familiar tourist attractions.

It's easy to lose your orientation, especially after having a few lethal and strong cocktails of a night out. It can feel like your lost in a maze as simple as a grid.

On Board Five-Star Chef for First Class Food, Etihad Airlines

First Class in-flight meals on Etihad—the Abu Dhabi-based airline—are now being prepared by a qualified chef. One person is dedicated to cooking, preparing and plating the meals served in the front of the plane.

Etihad announced the hiring of 110 restaurant-caliber chefs to fly back and forth from Abu Dhabi to a handful of cities while preparing the menu for the Diamond Class cabin. The chefs will also be responsible for contributing to the evolution of the menu and meal choices both in-flight and on the ground in the each of the airline's lounges. Each chef will need at least 6 years experience in a 5-star restaurant to be welcomed aboard, and there are even some Michelin-starred restaurants that have lost their chef to the airline.

Each aircraft is catered with the fixings to create dishes, just as a chef would do on the ground. Fresh meats, pre-chopped vegetables, spices, sauces and pre-cooked items are available to personalize the menu for passengers. Etihad has even provided the kitchen tools, like whisks and foamers, to jazz up each plate for max "ooo ahhh" reaction.

The complete overhaul of their first class menu, now named "Mazoon Grille," gives premium passengers plenty of options, based on 5 portions of chicken, beef, lamb or seafood. Variety comes in the form of 4 sauces and another 4 sides, allowing passengers to customize their dining experience. The new menu, a Taste of Arabia, has 6 smaller portions, all with distinct Arab flavors.

All of these changes are coming in early 2012 and will begin with flights to London, Paris, Sydney and Melbourne, eventually expanding to the rest of the flights that have Diamond Class service.

Sources: 
Etihad Airway's First Class Chefs take flight
First Class Food from a Five-Star, Onboard Chef? It's Coming to Etihad.

Yotels and Sleepboxes

Your traveling long haul and have a long stop over before your next flight, hanging around in the terminal is not the most comfortable ways of spending your time, though a new option is available in New York, London and Amsterdam where you can rent a room by the hour.

Yotels offers modern compact rooms with free WiFi, showers, flat screen TV's and workstations with multi power points, available for a minimum of a 4 hour booking. This is a great alternative to just hanging around, and a good alternative to checking in at a full feature hotel. Best of all, the location are usually within the airport terminal.



A newer option called SleepBox is soon to become reality in Moscow airport, which if proves popular could be expanded into other markets. Intended primarily to enable a person to sleep or relax in a private space away from crowds. Compact cabins with a bed only, no shower or bathroom.

SleepBox website states the opportunity to have boxes that can accommodate 1 to 3 people, each unit with heat insulation, attached centralized ventilation system with air conditioning. Possible locations of airports, rail stations, hostels and even offices. This could be a new trend for travel in the future.

Azores Tourism Advertising Boost

Is the Azores about to have its moment in the travel world?

The Azores is about to go through a huge European advertising campaign promoting tourism in the region. A footnote in the ad indicates 'construir o futuro', meaning 'building for the future'.

In the last 20 years there have been significant infrastructure development on the the islands with improved roads and highways, along with  a new airport in Ponta Delgada and new routes for its regional airline SATA with direct flights from London, Boston, Toronto, Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm,  Helsinki, and code share and routes from Poland and eastern Europe.

The Azores 'Feel Alive' ad and website Visit Azores promotes eco-tourism and natural beauty in the region such as hiking, whale watching, and traditions of the island. It boasts 120 geological sites to explore on the 9 islands isolated in the middle of the Atlantic.

Tourism has always focused on mainland Portugal and offshore island of Madeira, but this indicates a new focus and push for the autonomous region of the Azores.

These islands offer new options for the off-beat traveler who aims to avoid mainstream destinations and explore a part of the world few know about, though it remains a place reserved for outdoor adventure seekers and explorers.

Visit my pages on Azores, São Miguel, Ponta Delgada, and Achada for photos and videos of the region.