Wins Geographic Championship

"What historic site was carved from sandstone in about 1200 B.C.? This site includes two huge temples and statues of an ancient ruler."
That's the question that gave three students from Mexico victory over teams from Canada and the United States in the final round of the eighth National Geographic World Championship, a biennial contest of geography knowledge. Fourteen other international teams competed in the event, which has been held since 1993.
Ángel Aliseda-Alonso, 16, Carlos Elías Franco-Ruiz, 14, and Emanuel Johansen-Campos, 15, answered correctly to unseat five-time champ the United States, snaring the first-ever win for Mexico.
Watch as TV's "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebek moderates during the final round at SeaWorld San Diego, and find out if you can correctly answer the question that won Mexico the gold.

Angkor's Ancient Enormity Uncovered

The largest religious complex in the world, Cambodia's Angkor Wat (pictured) is the jewel in the vast Angkor archaeological site.
The lost city was an ancient wonder of urban sprawl, according to a new survey that uncovered 74 temples and more than a thousand artificial ponds in Angkor's "suburbs."
The Khmer Empire's King Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat between A.D. 1113 and 1150 to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. Carved from soft sandstone, the temple complex's statues crumbled and toppled in the wake of Angkor's decline. Still guarded by a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) moat, the restored Angkor Wat today fuels a booming tourist trade at the modern town of Siem Reap.

Baby Leopards, Venice's New Bridge, More

Two-month-old Persian leopard cubs snarl for the camera during their debut at the Budapest Zoo on Tuesday.
The rare babies are among triplets—a male and two females—born to captive leopards in June as part of a Persian leopard breeding program. About 70 live in zoos worldwide.
The big cats are native to Middle Eastern countries including Iran and Afghanistan, where, experts say fewer than 2,000 animals remain in the wild.
Researchers are striving to save the Persian leopard, which is the largest of the subspecies and is listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union.

New Baby Gorilla, Glacial Nudes, More

Calvera, whose discovery was announced on August 20, may be the closest neutron star to Earth, at a mere 250 to 1,000 light-years away, scientists say. Neutron stars are ultradense, cold remnants formed when extremely large stars collapse after going supernova. The find's name hails from the villain of the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, since Calvera is now the eighth known "isolated" neutron star—meaning it was discovered without associated supernova debris, stars, or pulsating radio waves. According to Robert Rutledge, lead author of a study on the star slated to appear in an issue of the Astrophysical Journal, the new find is rather mysterious. "Either Calvera is an unusual example of a known type of neutron star, or it is some new type of neutron star, the first of its kind," he said in a press release, adding that its closeness and brightness make it a great candidate for further study.

Opera will deliver In park Divoka SHarka under opened by sky

In Cheches will once again is exposed one of the main of the church valuables Zavishov cross. The Double byzantine silver cross by height 70 refer to and width 28 refer to cover слоем gild, as well as украшен 44 jewels and 166 (on the other versions 174) жемчужинами. Also, the cross decorate nine enamel medallions with scenes saint. The History of the cross darkenning: the known only that Zavish from Falikenshteyna, which he изначально belonged to, got him(it) in XIII age from treasure house угерских (hungarian) of the princes at marriage on sister Ladislava Ugerskogo. It Is Buried Zavish in priory цистерцианцев in city Upper (High) Ford, and owner of the cross was for a long time shown priory while in 1939 relic was not вывезена in Germany nazi. Later cross to manage to bring back into priory, and he single was once exposed on the general review - in Prague hail in 70-h year past age, together with коронационными регалиями. However in honour of 750-летия basis of the priory cross together with other valuable subject in 2009 will was submitted for exposures in priory Vysshem Ford, where his(its) will be able to see all interested persons.

Columbus' Italian birthplace is still blinded

GENOA Genoa IF You ignore the debate amongst scientist, - a birthplace Columbus Christopher. But after visit the glorified history port, You could wonder why researcher ever remained.
Tricked in the whole mass REDNIH ages and Renaissance, this was probably deafened. Even half-millennium after its zenith, Italian reductions of the port impressive figure.
This Italian city follows closely for two from my other loved city, San Francisco and Barcelona. Like both, this has beautiful холмистую terrain and tradition of the navigation. While, for some reason, Genoa slithers under radar of the many guidebooks. The Books, which we used in two preceding trip in Italy of the carrying nary reference of the city. Our last trip was отцентрирована in region Piedmont around Turin and we have solved to add Genoa and Italian Riviera. I pleased we do.
All- Genoa can not push past Rome, Venice and Florenciya amongst Italy must-see the city, this - an incredible point. The Prices reasonable she more crowded with tourist, museum teem and he offers the incredible kitchen, with the emphasis seafood and local profession, pesto.
Stroll through Medieval skin of the centre away century. The Labyrinth of the narrow streets lives in nearly permanent shade since 500- year buildings bend over in while they nearly will not meet. No street follows the direct line for long and she - a call to keep importance of the direction. But get lost is part of funs. Each twist and tumbling shows the surprise, from 500- year palace and glorious церквей before carefully modern cafe Internet and fashionable small restaurant or granular red light county. There is casual surprise mini-traffic jam as defined inch past Italian driver on impossibly narrow street each other.
Genoa Was an important shopping centers third century B.C. The Sailors have missed the worldwide trade messes for the first time since Finikiycy and Greeks. Genoa Offered turning the point for Fighter. And, this was a main плейером in European politician from 13 through 16-e centuries. The Salesmen dumped their incom in stunning lining palace renamed Through Garibaldi. Then, was named Via Aurea, or gold street, approaching name. Many 16-e palace of the century are now museum. And other have a courtyards opened to public.
But port - that really does Genoa to work. The Big part обновлена flooring, is slid for sailboats, galleon, restaurants, touristy shops and incredible aquarium and Mare Galata Museo divide share .
I have lost most afternoon, strolling музее. If You - lodka-v-a-bottle type lad or ventilator Patrick O'Brian, this place beats the coast to remain on Coast Barbary with pocket full doubloons and bottles of the rum. This covers the ship and sailor with the most early суден up to today. He has full restored 17-е-столетие Genovese galley, accompanied by detailed profile of the mans, who intensified these quick ship with banks весел. My wife loved the amusement of the multimedia sea journey in early part of the last century. The Films contrast crowded Atlantic crossing the bounded America migrants on management with sides and dancing flappers above. The Museum glassed-in rooftop gives the panaramic type of the still work and city of the port, rising on mountainside. This - also big point to observe the sun installed on Ligurian By sea.
Acquario di Nearby abacus Genova Themselves as big aquarium in Europe. This has a necessary sharks, penguin and dolphin, which get the visitors that the most main aquariums. But this also has really good exhibit skates and ray, where You may really concern their soft tel. The Other section selects the contributions world- road naturalist, including Charles Darwin. The Tank of the coral from Red Epidemic deathes is filled colorful and outlandish to look fish. This foots, certainly развлечет детей .
As soon as You have built the appetite, смотрящий quite fish, port was going to the restaurant. I have tasted to mussels and traditional noodle with pesto and green bean in Le Maschere in 2/4r Through Ponte Calvi, downwards beside port.
Since traditional birthplace Columbus, Genoa could be excused to overdo moving the researcher. But Columbus' glory does not seem exceed here. Certainly, for equivalent around $4, You may compress in small house where he ostensibly lived for a while as child to see the disappointing display which he could look look like, then. But Genoa - not excess with enterprise, street, square and party was identified after he. You probably see the name Garibaldi and Doria more often. The Military feats Garibaldi's Giuseppe in mid-1800s were central in Italies of the unifications. And Admiral Andrea Doria created Genoa's naval and political power in early 1500s.
The City Nervi does the beautiful lateral trip from Genoa. This - where rich went to become away thereof all in 19-e century. In less than 10 miles from Genoa, this - a short trip of the train. The Walk of the seaside deserves its glory. It follows low s along sea edge, pressing casual small coast. During season, Parco Villa Grimaldi speak that display 2,000 rows of the roses, all- we saw only one solitary bloom in our зимнем visit.
As resolute (some could speak stubborn) hiker, I have persisted that we continue to pass the coast in searching for of the excellent restaurant . We have found the perfection in city Bogliasco, in restaurant il .The Menu of the seafood changes since day catch. We have separated that I awkwardly перевожу as plate of the sampler of the seafood of the delicate anchovy, скампи prawns, oysters and blanching fish I could not translate, accompanied by lobster ravioli and aiming roasted fish. All were such fresh, I expected the half, which this to sail the plate and in its mouth. Ditto friend regular, Silvio, drilled us through menu and spent the afternoon, talking with us on carafe Spumante, refreshing Italian fizzy blame.
All- Genoa probably does not догонит their own знаменитых peer amongst Italian location, this deserves the visit in extended Italian furlough, or in one of the following trip after Italy was conquered your warmhearted and frequent return.

Beijing Olympics

Although the 2008 Summer Olympics, being held Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, are still a full year away, making plans to attend the games has already come down to a roulette-like gamble of hurry-up-and-wait, with choices narrowing as time goes by.
The most important task is securing tickets, which can be difficult. Only a certain number of tickets are allocated to each country, and direct ticket-buying in each is only available to local residents. Unfortunately, June 30 was the cutoff date for entering the lottery to reserve the exact tickets you want. But there are other options if you're willing to compromise on price or on which events you attend.
For starters, keep tabs on a tour operator and the sole official 2008 ticket agent in the United States. Early reservations are being confirmed and tickets allocated now through September; whatever is left will be sold live, first come first served, starting this October. Exact sale dates are unconfirmed, so keep checking for updates. Tickets range from $5 for events such as baseball to $773 for the opening ceremonies, said Adam Wixted, a CoSport spokesman.
If you would rather pay a bit extra to get tickets now, the resale market is already an option. Don't expect to find many sales by individuals on sites like eBay until next July, when tickets are distributed. However, professional resale brokers, who often buy their own tickets or have prearranged deals for the unused tickets of wholesale buyers (like corporate sponsors), already are selling tickets by the thousands at Web sites like , an aggregator for resale brokers, often with buyer guarantees.
One reason for the exceptionally high demand already seen for Beijing's Olympics is the comparative affordability of tickets, said Don Vaccaro, chief executive of TicketLiquidator.
"Beijing is tougher because they took special care and effort to make the pricing low enough to make sure that most of the events - if not all of the events - would sell out," he said. "They didn't want what happened in Torino - where Olympians were playing to far less than packed houses - to happen in Beijing."
The bigger problem, he said, would be finding affordable air fare and a place to stay. As with ticket sales, it's a question of timing, availability and luck. With Olympic Committee members, journalists and corporate sponsors from around the world planning to flood Beijing, availability is tight.
This is particularly true at the luxury end. "Almost all the five-star or luxury hotels in Beijing during the Olympic Games time frame will be blocked," said Dawei Wu, communications director for the China National Tourist Office. Tour operators may be your best option: Major hotel booking sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity won't accept reservations until roughly 330 days before arrival, which means individuals booking a hotel online have to wait until early September. Ditto for plane tickets.
A second issue arises from a combination of lengthy minimum-stay requirements and inflated room rates, with the inability of tour operators other than CoSport to secure tickets.
"We're working with the Peninsula and you have to spend a week there," said Donna Foersom, marketing manager for Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury tour operator that will not be offering Olympic-themed packages, but which can arrange custom itineraries. "Without a guarantee of tickets, it's a difficult thing for people to take up."
Some tour operators have prearranged deals with local hotels. One example is Let's Travel China which has secured the entire 218-room Plaza Hotel for its clients as part of their Olympic tour packages, with minimum-stay requirements of only four nights.

The Wedge Issue

Ever since the creation of Amtrak in 1970-1971, the opponents of passenger trains, primarily those involved in the competing highway and air modes, have tried almost every possible tactic to kill or at least diminish the Amtrak system.
One of the earliest tactics, and one that continues to the present day, is the political attack upon long distance trains, representing them as an expensive anachronism that no normal person would choose to use when faster modes are available.
The arguments are specious. Their artificiality is highlighted when one examines the basis in reality of travelers’ trip length selections.
If it were possible to record the trip lengths of all trips within the U.S. taken by everyone, regardless of travel mode used, in a given time span, the distribution of these trip lengths would show many more short than long trips.
Short intra-urban trips would number the highest, long cross-country trips would be the fewest, and medium-length trips would be somewhere in between those extremes.
One of the traveler’s first considerations in planning a trip is selecting the transportation mode. Some modes are better suited to different lengths than others. The airplane would not be used to get across town, for example.
For those wanting to travel by train, because of its comfort and safety for example, the first step in planning a trip is to determine what train or trains cover the desired route. The traveler does not need to know whether the trains to be used are classified as long distance, medium distance or short distance. For many, perhaps a majority of trips, a traveler will use two or more connecting trains, since the destination is not likely to fall on the route of one particular train.
From the user’s standpoint, the distinctions among trains classified by distance are irrelevant. The user simply wants to reach a certain destination, and if the route requires overnight travel, may opt to use sleeping car service.
Except for the person wanting the experience of dining in a moving train or lying in bed while the train thunders through the night, most travelers by train choose that mode because of its convenience, comfort, safety, or because due to medical conditions they cannot drive or fly.
Because Amtrak was established to serve the public who wanted train travel, the first criterion for judging passenger train service must be how well it serves the public with regard to frequency of service, flexibility, comfort, safety and other amenities.
The approach of train-hating politicians is to put the cart before the horse—to eye budgets in order to cut them, rather than to examine how well the traveling public is being served. In fact, by improving and enlarging the passenger train system and serving the public better, budgets would improve; Amtrak’s financial picture would brighten.
Not only that, but pressure upon the nation’s highway system would be lightened and the tax burden associated with the myriad problems of highway usage reduced.
By hitting on long distance trains, these politicians attempt to drive a wedge into the Amtrak system and its supporters. They know that breaking up the long distance services would eventually kill Amtrak altogether, which is their ultimate aim.
Those responsible for Amtrak oversight must take a citizen-service view rather than that of a hostile bean-counter. There are small signs that such a change may be in the offing, which would bode well for the future of passenger trains in America.

Hotels raise room prices

VietNamNet Bridge – The prices of hotel rooms in the north have increased the most, at more than 21%, while it is 15.7% for hotels in the central region. Prices remain stable in the south.

The north also takes the lead for room occupancy, at more than 74%.

These are results of a survey on the hospitality industry of Vietnam in 2006-2007 by Grant Thornton Vietnam (GTV), a firm specialising in financial consulting and auditing services, based on the data supplied by 29 hotels of 3-5 star standard in Vietnam.

According to the survey, the number of local tourists who are able to afford to pay for luxurious rooms is on the rise.

To become a country with a developed tourism industry, with 6 million international visitors and $5 billion of revenue by 2010 as its goal, Vietnam has to build more 3-5 star hotels, with a total of 28,000 rooms in the next three years.

Qantas confirms frequent flyer changes on way

"The changes to the program themselves we would hope to have totally bedded down between March and June of next year," Mr Dixon said.
"That includes starting a Jetstar loyalty program and many of the major changes."
But Mr Dixon said changes to the ownership of the frequent flyer program, which may involve spinning it off into a separate company or fund, would take longer to determine.
"The ownership issue, how we go forward and how that plays out will take a bit longer maybe," he said.
The Qantas boss admitted to recently meeting with the company that manages Air Canada's loyalty program, Aeroplan, a rumoured suitor of the Qantas frequent flyer program.
But he said the meeting had been purely to discuss Aeroplan's business model, not investment opportunities.
"We've spoken to Aeroplan but we've spoken to them as much to find out... about how their program has gone.
"We are in no discussions with Aeroplan about any investment in the Qantas frequent flyer program and certainly no discussion about them taking over the program or buying it," Mr Dixon said.
A central theme of Mr Dixon's profit presentation was the important contribution the 'two brands' strategy - Qantas and Jetstar - had made to the company's $720 million net profit result.
In the last three years, Jetstar had added $250 million to the bottom line, Mr Dixon said.
"If Qantas had not started Jetstar three years ago, we would be sitting here saying something totally, totally different," he commented.
He tipped an even greater contribution from the low cost offshoot.
"I think Jetstar will probably come up to 10, 11 per cent of the group's profitability next year, maybe a little bit more," he said.
Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg echoed those comments.

Passengers got more than nuts on their New York flight

Passengers on a flight from Lima, Peru to LaGuardia airport in New York got more than juts the complimentary nuts they had bargained for after they witnessed a small monkey stowaway under another passenger's hat. Midway through the flight, passengers were surprised to see a small marmoset monkey crawl out from under a fellow passenger's hat and swing happily off his pony tail, report AP. Alison Russell, a spokeswoman for Spirit Airlines, gave her take on the monkey business that ensued. She said that after passengers first noticed the monkey on the man, they asked him "if he knew he had a monkey on him".The man was arrested on arrival and questioned by police, who decided to place the monkey in quarantine for a month before it will be sent to a zoo. Ms Russell added that once the primate was spotted it sat happily on its owner's lap until the end of the flight.

Hawaii Superferry

After years of planning, much environmental scrutiny and at least one start-up delay, it appears that Hawaii Superferry will begin inter-island service on 28.08.
The ferry will operate daily between Oahu and Maui, and Sunday-Friday between Oahu and Kauai. Each trip will take about three hours. A second ferry due to come online in 2009 will add another daily round-trip between Oahu and Maui and commence service between Oahu and the Island of Hawaii.
When the ferry was first proposed, it sounded like a money-saver for Hawaii Islands residents, many of whom found island-to-island air travel beyond their means. Then the idea was pooh-poohed as more air service came online, increased competition and brought airplane ticket prices down.
Others warn that the air competition can’t last forever and predict that some operators will be forced to leave the market, taking cheap ticket prices with them.
Some wonder whether a ferry service will be able to make a go of it. Ferries in Hawaii Islands have been attempted, and abandoned, in the past .
But maybe this is an idea whose time has finally come to stay. Hawaii Islands residents will be spared car-rental money by taking their own vehicles. Vacationers will get a feel of the Pacific and, hopefully, gain a better appreciation of the land.
There’s nothing like approaching the Islands from the ocean to engender respect for their unique place in the world.

Ralph set to make Tasman debut

Former All Blacks wing Caleb Ralph is poised to make his first appearance for Tasman after being named on the bench for their fourth round Air NZ Cup rugby match against Northland in Whangarei on Thursday night.

On loan from Canterbury, Ralph will make his first appearance since the Super 14 ended in May, and shapes as a ready made replacement for Canterbury-domiciled former All Black Rico Gear.
Last year's first choice halfback Kahn Fotuali'i is also named among the reserves for what will be his comeback from a broken hand sustained against Southland pre-season.
In the only injury-enforced change from the side that beat Hawke's 23-17 in Blenheim last Friday Blair Cook comes on to the wing for Afeleke Pelenisi, who is resting a minor leg injury.
World Cup bound All Blacks lock Chris Jack is replaced in the second row by Nathan George.
Tasman: Robbie Malneek, Blair Cook, Andrew Goodman, Joel Iggo, Kade Poki, Tim Taylor, Lualua Vailoaloa, Peter Nixon, Jonathan Poff, Alex Ainley, Nathan George, Chris Bentley, Ben Franks, Mark Stewart, Ben May.

international puppet festival

More than 20 of the best European ensemble groups will travel to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, at the end of this month to compete in the 40th annual International Puppet Festival.

Staged in the exquisite theatres and streets of the eastern European city, the puppetry festival will offer spectators enchanting performances set against words and music in which the puppets seem almost alive, special seminars on how to make and operate puppets, animation displays as well as a number of exhibitions.

Since its inception in 1967 the festival has been open to all forms of expression in puppetry, showcasing the most cutting edge experimentation alongside traditional art forms of past performers.

The International Puppet Festival is one of the world's foremost puppetry festivals and the performances will appeal to both children and adults, fascinated by the ancient and captivating art of puppetry.

Fancy going to this event? Use Opodo's travel search engine to find flights and hotels for your stay.

Italy's largest theme park

Gardaland, situated on the banks of Lake Garda in the heart of Verona, is the largest theme park in Italy, attracting more than 3m visitors every year.

Blending all the attractions of a top class water park (including an excellent dolphin park) with roller coasters, shows and family attractions, Gardaland is a perfect day out for anyone visiting the north of Italy.

Opened this year, the Gardaland Theatre hosts a number of Broadway-inspired shows while Time Voyagers takes riders on an "extra-sensorial" journey through time.

Other highlights include the Corsairs, a boat trip around a tropical island fully equipped with sea monsters and Spanish pirates and Blue Tornado, a roller coaster in which riders sit in a replica jet plane.

Space Vertigo is the requisite 40 metre free-fall rides, while the Fantasy Kingdom is a special area full of wondrous activities for smaller children. The Jungle Rapids, meanwhile, takes riders on a tour around an ancient civilisation on the side of an erupting volcano.

If you'd like to see this destination for yourself, use Opodo's travel search engine to find flights, hotels, holidays and car hire worldwide.