Tag: New Year's Travel

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Six Necessities for a Successfully Soggy Songkran

Where: Thailand
April 9, 2013 at 11:12 AM | by | Comment (1)

Our travel plans will soon bring us to Thailand and not just to sample various noodle recipes or tour some temples. While all that's on the plan, the real focus for travel to Thailand during this time of the year is the celebration of one of the most festive times of year in Thailand: Songkran, Thai New Year.

Chiang Mai is on our itinerary since we've heard it's the epicenter for all things Songkran. Traditionally, throwing water on friends, family and passers-by is considered the best part of the festivities. Originally done to cleanse Buddha statues, the drenchings during the holiday require some advance preparation for travelers.

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Three Weird Falling Foods That Welcome the New Year

December 27, 2012 at 6:01 PM | by | Comments (0)


A past look at Wisconsin's cheese drop...

Everyone knows about that ball drop in Times Square to celebrate the New Year, but there’s even better stuff falling from the sky around the country. If New York City is out of range this year, there might just be something a little more unique to welcome in 2012 close to home especially if you enjoying flying food. Here’s three options and celebrations that might just be a little more interesting:

· Watermelon Drop - Knox County, Indiana:
The skies over Knox County in Indiana will be crowded in just about a week, as it’s almost time for the annual New Year’s Eve watermelon drop. The area celebrates the local cash crop by raising an 18-foot 500-pound watermelon into the sky, and then once it’s at the top, 13 watermelons will be dropped to welcome in 2013. The fun starts at 9pm as locals and tourists alike are welcome to join together at the Riverfront Pavilion for music, food, beer, wine, and plenty of noisemakers—they’ve even got t-shirts to celebrate the big night.

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Leaving on a New Year's Trip? Donate Your Extra Food First.

December 27, 2012 at 9:51 AM | by | Comments (0)

A new year is about to hit and with it usual comes the start to a fresh year of travels. The winter months may mean you're prepping to jet off to warmer climes and, when you do, check your refrigerator first. Are there still perfectly good fridge and pantry items left? Donate them to a local organization who'll feed it to people who aren't fortunate enough to be off on a big trip.

In large cities, Food Banks will happily accept individual donations while, in small cities, you'll have to give your local soup kitchen a call. In New York City, where residents are constantly impulse-buying yummies at Duane Reade without remembering that they're jetting off on a business trip the next day, the Food Bank of NYC has clearly outlined rules for such donations:

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How Many Times Have You Circumnavigated Earth in 2012?

December 26, 2012 at 9:37 AM | by | Comments (0)


Not our map, but a sample

112,425 miles.

Does that seem like a lot? It is or it isn't depending on how much you yourself fly, but this number, our personal 2012 total for miles flown, represents a year of new adventures.

The number comes courtesy of the free website FlightMemory.com, where anyone is welcome to sign up for an account to then enter travel itineraries for detailed stats. We recommend getting on that now, before 2013 plans command your attention from the fun of 2012.

Miles tracking on FlightMemory is as involved as you want it to be; ranging from the basics (airports, dates, airline, flight number) to the advanced (airplane type, registration, seat number and class), all resulting in sweet, sweet statistics to brag about share at the dining room table or at the airline lounge bar. Our particular favorites are how many times we've circumnavigated the Earth (4.51x), total different airports (28) and average flight length (2,294 mi, 4:39 h).

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Eight Hangover Cures from Around the World

December 19, 2012 at 11:01 AM | by | Comment (1)

There's only about 11 days until we bid fond adieu to 2012 and ring in a brand new year. This can really only mean one thing for the day after NYE: a good amount of people will have some killer hangovers and, if staying in your hometown with a dose of 'hair-of-the-dog' isn't your style, we have the list for you irrespective of your location on this planet.

Eight hangover remedies from around the world:

1. Starting with some of the first people to welcome 2013, Australia will be reaching for the beloved Berocca. It's a dissovable tablet that enriches a glass of water with heaps of vitamins and minerals that are known to reduce the effects of overindulgence; think of fizzy Tang with a health kick.

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McDonald's Contribution to Chinese New Year: The 'Prosperity Burger'

Where: Singapore
January 26, 2012 at 11:58 AM | by | Comments (2)

Singapore may be like 22 hours of travel away from the US, but that doesn't mean they haven't got 24-hour McDonalds here and there. One we passed today—just off the Esplanade near the Fullerton Bay Hotel—was sporting some flashy banners for limited-time-only eats. Curious, we got closer. Holy shnickeys, they're trying to make a buck off of Chinese New Year with the introduction of four special items: Beef Prosperity Burger, Chicken Prosperity Burger, Twister fries and a Prosperity McFizz.

According to the banners, these babies are only around until January 31. According to the internet, this isn't the first McDs has been cooking "Prosperity Burgers." And just exactly how prosperous are these sammies? Well, the patties are dipped in black pepper sauce, topped with onions and finished with a sesame seed bun. Sounds okay, but none of those ingredients were in the traditional Prosperity Salad. The only thing we can tell is that the twister fries can resemble 8, an auspicious number.

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Beginning the Year of the Dragon with a Healthy Dose of Fireworks

January 23, 2012 at 9:48 AM | by | Comments (0)

恭禧發財!

Just a quickie video to start the week off right—or rather, year off. Today marks the first day of the Year of the Dragon; it's Chinese New Year and yep, we're still chilling in Singapore, where we managed to take in the holiday fireworks with a view from the top of the RItz-Carlton, Millennia.

Whether or not you're passing out red envelopes or dining on Yusheng "prosperity salad," we bet you appreciate a good fireworks display now and then. And it was good! The pyrotechnics in Singapore burst above the Marina, surrounded on all sides by tall buildings from which to view the spectacle. There's the Central Business District (CBD) to the north and west, a gaggle of high-rise hotels to the east (where we are) and—we briefly pan over to it—the triple towers of the Marina Bay Sands to the south.

Pardon the fact that there's no sound; it was all people talking and our camera clicking, so you aren't missing any of the big booms.

Disclosure: Flights and some accommodation in Singapore are as a guest of Singapore Airlines. Regardless, all photos/videos and opinions presented are utterly and completely our very own.

[Video: Jaunted]

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Transatlantic Time Hop: Skipping the New Year on British Airways

January 2, 2012 at 5:03 PM | by | Comments (0)


Comedy hats and smiles. Two things you don't normally expect to see British Airways staff wearing

When we told people last week we were flying British Airways from Las Vegas to London overnight on New Year’s Eve, they were aghast. Why weren’t we partying? Why were we flying alone? Why were we leaving Vegas on the best night to be in Vegas?

We told them they were wrong on several counts. First, NYE in Vegas is horrendo, period. Second, after the Christmas Eve mini party we experienced on our flight out, we suspected the return journey could actually be fun. Thirdly—since there are few things we enjoy less than forced festivity—the idea of spending NYE at 40,000ft watching crappy movies was highly appealing.

And fourth, we coolly assumed we’d fly past loads of fireworks and cross so many timezones that we’d witness the year turning about six times before we reached London.

So how was it?

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Celebs Stuck Together for New Year's Weekend Travel

January 2, 2012 at 1:40 PM | by | Comments (0)

This year, New Year's Eve was about banding together for celebrities.

Maybe the most unlikely celeb pairing of the weekend was Gwyneth Paltrow and Courtney Love, who partied together in Abu Dhabi on NYE. Over the weekend Courtney tweeted, “getting the best [advice] for the new years from a true friend, love you @GwynethPaltrow @Goop xoxo.” Later Gwyneth added, “Happy New Year everyone from Abu Dhabi! Hoping 2012 is your best year ever.”

On the other side of the world, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, and their L.A. neighbor Jimmy Kimmel—who was with his girlfriend Molly McNearney—spent New Year's Eve in Kauai, Hawaii. The couples were spotted hitting the surf together in wetsuits on Saturday.

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17 Travel Resolutions We're Making for 2012

December 28, 2011 at 1:15 PM | by | Comments (0)

After thousands of stories and countless countries in 2011, we're more than ready to begin a fresh year. Before we hit 2012, however, we're making a few resolutions. Travel resolutions. It goes beyond losing weight or promising to do our laundry more frequently; these tackle how we interact with the world.

What are you resolving to do with your travels in 2012? Share in the comments!

And now, without further ado, 17 travel resolutions for 2012 from Jaunted's regular, frequent-traveling contributors:

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Three Unusual and Unique Alternatives to the New Year's Eve Ball Drop

December 28, 2011 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

Everyone knows about that crystal ball drop in Times Square to celebrate the New Year, but there’s even better stuff falling from the sky around the country. If New York City is out of range this year, there might just be something a little more unique to welcome in 2012 close to home. Here’s three options and celebrations that might just be a little more interesting:

· Oversized Orange in Miami, Florida:
Sunny Florida may be a great place to welcome 2012, especially if you’re looking for some balmy temperatures. In the city’s downtown—away from the South Beach scene—a big neon orange rises to the top of the Intercontinental Hotel as the clock approaches midnight. The party goes down at Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay beginning at 8pm, and there’s even a Disco Dance Party—their terminology not ours—to keep you going. Admission and entertainment is free for all, but we’d bring along some cash for a snack or a drink.

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Australia on New Year's Eve: How Aussies Will Boogie Down, Down Under

Where: Australia
December 27, 2011 at 11:39 AM | by | Comments (0)

New Years Eve plans don't have to include ways to stay warm while singing Auld Lang Syne, or fighting for a cab in a snowstorm. it's summer down under in Australia! And some time spent with friends and family on a beach or dining alfresco while watching a fireworks display of Olympic proportions can surely be on your December 31st agenda.

Australia is one of the first countries to ring in the new year. Each city center hosts a myriad of events showcasing the individuality of each region, while drawing domestic and international visitors alike.

Please make sure you leave the fireworks to the professionals, however, as they are illegal throughout the country. Here's what's going on, plus our own tips for what to go if you find yourself in Australia this weekend:

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