Monday, February 27, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Cathay Pacific premium economy class stretches out

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 06:14 PM PST

by Hiufu Wong

Marking its foray into the "enhanced" economy-class trend that's been re-igniting passenger enthusiasm for long-haul travel, Cathay Pacific accepted delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft yesterday.

Fitted with the airlines' new "premium economy" class seating configuration, the aircraft is the first of 87 planes Cathay plans to offer with the new class of service by the end of 2013.

Cathay Pacific premium economy class will be offered in a dedicated section with 26 to 34 seats. The section will be located between economy and business class areas.

Cathay Pacific premium economy features include more legroom than in economy class and a dedicated flight attendant for the section.

Noting that the cost of a premium economy ticket will be 50 to 80 percent higher than for a standard economy ticket, Cathay Pacific Chief Operating Officer Ivan Chu said that Cathay is stressing the "premium" over "economy."

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What to do in Bali

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:57 PM PST

by Charlene Fang

Many would argue that Bali is a paradise lost. 

It isn't. It's just evolved. 

If you want to know what to do in Bali, remember first that the island has transformed itself from a laidback surfer hangout into one of the world's most popular holiday destinations.

It now offers as many experiences as the varying hues of green found in a plot of terraced rice paddy. 

Whether you're a hardcore partygoer determined to eat, drink and not sleep your way through Seminyak; a yoga devotee seeking peace and tranquility in Ubud's tropical rainforest setting; a die-hard surfer whose only agenda is to paddle out and catch the monster swells at Padang Padang; or a curious traveler charmed by Bali's sacred temples in Manggis -- you can do it all (or do nothing at all) in Bali. 

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Bangkok's 'Hitler chic' trend riles tourists, Israeli envoy

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:55 PM PST

by Tibor Krausz

A shopper poses with a large "McHitler" dummy soliciting donations for flood relief. Its head has since been covered by a Lucha Libre wrestler's mask. Cartoon pandas, Teletubbies, Ronald McDonald. At first glance they don't seem to have much in common beyond a certain childlike quality. But during a visit to Bangkok you may discover another trait these popular cultural icons now share: their resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

In the Thai capital's latest outbreak of Nazi chic, pandas, Teletubbies and Ronald have metamorphosed into cutesy alter egos of the Führer, who seems to exert a childlike fascination over some young Thais.

With any luck you can spot trendy young souls strutting around in T-shirts bearing cartoonish images of the Nazi dictator.

In a particularly popular design, Hitler is transformed into a cartoonish Ronald McDonald, the fast-food chain's clown mascot, sporting a bouffant cherry-red hairdo and a stern look.

On another T-shirt the Führer is shown in a lovely panda costume with a Nazi armband. On yet another he appears as a pink Teletubby with doe eyes, jug ears and a pink swastika for an antenna. He pouts petulantly like a spoiled brat while flashing the Nazi salute.

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Tuscany down under on Melbourne's outskirts

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:55 PM PST

by Ian Lloyd Neubauer

In the mid-19th century, some 2,000 Swiss-Italians from the cantons of Ticino and Grison joined the great European migration to the Australian goldfields.

Many settled in Hepburn Shire northwest of Melbourne and home to the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia.

But, unlike Chinese and other non-English-speaking migrant groups that moved on when the gold ran out, the Swiss-Italians remained and prospered in Hepburn in the production of high-quality wine, cheese, fruits and vegetables.

Europe in Oz

Villa Parma, MelbourneBuilt in 1864, Heritage-listed Villa Parma is arguably one of Hepburn Spring's most impressive architectural treasures.

Reminders of their influence can be found everywhere in Hepburn -- the Old Macaroni factory on Main Road, the Bathhouse/Pavilion Café at Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve and at Parma House -- a stately two-story residence built in 1864 by viticulturist Fabrizzio Crippa.

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Delta expands network in China

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:25 AM PST

by CNNGo staff

As many as a million Chinese tourists traveled to the United States in 2011.

Those numbers are expected to increase by up to 40 percent in 2012, in part due to the new streamlined U.S. visa policy for Chinese visitors.

Reacting to the rapidly growing market, Delta Air Lines has announced that it is expanding its codesharing partnership with two of China's biggest carriers -- China Eastern and China Southern -- in order to enhance its China market presence. 

Bigger and better

The new agreements, approved by Civil Aviation Administration of China on February 15, will allow both Chinese carriers to stick their codes and flight numbers on Delta-operated flights between Seattle and Beijing. 

China Eastern will also piggyback Delta-operated flights between Detroit and Beijing.

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