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| Novice's guide to the Melbourne Cup Posted: 05 Nov 2013 12:50 AM PST 10 tips for surviving the horse race that stops a nation  First run in 1861, Australia's $6 million Melbourne Cup is "the race that stops a nation." The capacity crowd of 110,000 would be enough to make a racing novice tremble. But it is possible to enjoy the spectacle at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November and maybe even prosper. Just follow our survival guide. 1. How to be in the know before you goThe locals will be at work on Monday, or at home doing the form, but the tourists will be in Swanston Street at noon to see the Melbourne Cup Parade. Shop nearby and sneak a look at the jockeys in their racing silks and past champion thoroughbreds. Prepare for the atmosphere. Don't worry that everyone will know more about the Cup than you -- they'll be here for the socializing. You should, however, know who won last year's Cup -- that will immediately give you a conversational advantage over more than half the crowd. In 2012, Green Moon won. Also on CNN: Insider guide to Melbourne 2. How to get to the track
How about a taxi? This will mean losing half your cash before you've even placed a bet as the taxi meter ticks over in the traffic gridlock before you get there. At day's end the queue at the racecourse taxi rank will be at least an hour too. Go like the locals -- take the train. There's a station right at Flemington Racecourse. Just get a valid Metcard first. 3. How to get into the racecourseA ticket is the obvious answer. But don't be the one asking, "Can I buy a ticket, sir?" "No tickets here mate!" will be the retort. The Cup is a fully ticketed event. Pre-purchase through Ticketek.com and be sure to avoid the illegal scalpers trying to sell tickets at inflated prices. No ticket means go directly to the pub. 4. How to do the form
Using the racebook for a relaxed discussion of jockey fashions and unusual horse monikers might be more interesting. Whatever you do, don't ask if the legendary Black Caviar is running -- she's a sprinter resting in a paddock. This lot run three times as far as she does. 5. How to understand the jargonThe official online guide has a thorough glossary of racing terms but there's no need to learn it -- there is no test. Plus, there's nothing quite as aggravating as a jargon-fueled know-it-all. Just don't discuss "filly" and "stallion" in mixed company and you'll be right. 6. How to talk about the race
Complaining is a popular pastime in Australia. It's why the expression "aorta" was coined. The word, a contraction of "they ought to," is used like this: "Aorta build some decent roads," or in the case of the foreign horses coming to contest the Melbourne Cup, "Aorta send 'em back where they came from." However, if you hear a French or English accent nearby, stay "shtum." No point having an argument when one of their horses will probably win the race. Don't worry about the Kiwis as they've given up. The last time a Kiwi horse won the Cup was back in 2001. 7. How to place a bet
The second thing to know -- be quick. With $140 million wagered on the Cup around Australia last year, people in line behind don't want you fiddling. But remember the age-old advice to gamblers: "Only bet what you can afford to lose." Also on CNN: A day at the Bangkok races 8. How to be entertained
But by far the most fun is to be had watching the slow-mo deterioration of all the besuited gents and ladies as the day wears on, and their trips to the numerous bars and beer tents around the ground take effect. 9. How to get something to eat and drink
Considering the mammoth queues that comprise the unfortunate, or badly organized, patrons who forgot to ingest anything before arriving, it's best to grab brunch in the city before getting on the train, then grab a snack at the races once the lunch rush subsides. That way you'll only have to worry about the drinking. This you are advised to do in moderation. Wine should be selected over beer because you won't need to visit the toilets as often -- another way to avoid the snaking, hour-long queues that are as much a part of Cup day as flamboyant hats. 10. How to watch the horses
Your time will be far better spent finding a decent vantage point to watch the race. The real romance of the racetrack lies in seeing the thoroughbred racehorse call upon all of his breeding, speed and stamina to win the race -- so long as he's the one you've backed, of course. Feel free to loudly cheer your winner home. Expressions used most are "Go (horse's name)" or "Go you little beauty," for when you have ignored my advice, had too many drinks and can't remember who you backed. For the Cup itself, get to a vantage point early if you want to see anything. And good luck! Also on CNN: World's 15 greatest horse treks |
| Appy Traveler: Best new apps for travelers Posted: 04 Nov 2013 06:40 PM PST Three great new travel apps, including a last minute hotel booking app, offline city maps and the ultimate roller coaster guide  Bookmark this article and check back in occasionally to see what new great apps we love, and think you should try. Also see: 50 best apps for travelers ... so far --- Updated November 5, 2013 --- Hotel Tonight
Android: Google Play
This is when last minute apps like Hotel Tonight come in handy. The app also guarantees the best rates possible and offers 24/7 real-person customer support via phone or email. Note that it's only compatible with iOS 7.0 for apple devices. City Maps 2Go Offline Maps
Android: Google Play
City Maps 2Go Offline Maps' greatness is as straight-forward as its name -- it provides pre-downloaded city maps which don't require any Wi-Fi or roaming data once you're at your destination. As well as providing offline GPS services, the app also pins locations of bars, restaurants and shops. The free version only allows limited downloads of maps. The Roller Coaster Guide
Or they can filter the rides by the height, top speed or even build material to decide the next theme park to visit. The best feature: the app supports ticket booking and offers exclusive discounts daily. --- Updated June 25, 2013 --- Pingspot
Imagine a virtual pin board that flags you and your friends' favorite restaurants and shops. That's Pingspot in a nutshell. The app allows you to ping places you visit, leave a photo and a recommendation for your friends, so that together, you can discover the best eats and hippest outlets around you. Flying
Not only does Flying provide the basics of your trips, including departure time, terminal and gate number, it does so in a fun and slick way to make "the act of flying feel special again." You can also interact with your friends and earn stamps for each flying achievement you've unlocked. Flying also keeps track of the total distance you've flown throughout your trips and shows your journeys on maps. Flying is currently in public beta. iStone
iStone is a translation app that is designed for travelers without any great linguistic skills. It records and translates into 12 languages and comes equipped with more than 300 useful phrases. iStone also features native pronunciation and requires no Wi-Fi. iStone basic version is free. Packing Pro
Clumsy travel "accidents" are common, and hard to avoid. Packing Pro tries to help. With Packing Pro's customizable lists, users can plan what to bring for every type of trip, from a luxurious family holiday to a budget backpacking adventure. The newly upgraded Packing Pro can be synced over iCloud and lists can be shared via email. Postagram
Android: Google Play (Free)
Postagram allows you to design your own postcard by choosing a picture and adding a message. Within days, the postcard will be mailed to the recipient's (real) mailbox. Postagrams also come personalized with the profile picture of the sender. For a limited time, new Postagram users will be able to mail their first five postcards free of charge. Afterwards, each postcard will cost $0.99 for U.S. addresses and $1.99 for international ones. Photosynth
Windows Phone: Windows Store (Free)
For travelers who want to remember everything around them, Photosynth offers an upgrade from the average photo app. It captures images not only from left to right, but also up and down, stitching them together to create a 360-degree view of your surroundings. Once you've created a Photosynth, you can share it on social media. --- Updated March 6, 2013 --- Fly Delta for iPad
But this app's most download-worthy feature is its "Glass Bottom Jet." It provides a bird's eye view of locations you're flying over, allowing users to explore the area with photos, landmarks and Wikipedia pages. It will also tell you which Facebook friends you're flying over. You can spin the globe to explore worldwide destinations. They come complete with shopping and dining guides. Your iPad will also be an entertainment system when flying Delta, accessing in-flight movies and the downloadable Sky magazine, as well as highlighting destination related music and movies. 101 Things to do before you go abroad
The national tourist board wants locals to consider looking around their homeland before vacationing abroad. International travelers can also use this colorful interactive map to find activities all over England. Everyone is invited to vote and offer suggestions. There are six themes, but for fun times too cool to categorize, they are pinned "because it's awesome." Ideas are collected until March 10; nominees are announced mid-March. The complete list of 101 Things to do will be official April 23. Some top experiences include stargazing in Exmoor's International Dark Sky Reserve and watching the Gatehead Millennium Bridge tilt. Splid
The idea is that the "Photoshopped" argument, where one party accuses another of falsifying or changing a picture or file, cannot be used. Splid allows users to record their awful hotel rooms, inedible food and obnoxious travel reps and then save those file to the cloud. If it comes down to their word against yours, Splid will have solid evidence. --- Updated January 11, 2013 --- Minube
The Madrid-based start-up social app covers 24,000 destinations in about 200 countries (and counting). There are more than 100,000 mini-guides from travelers for free or at a small cost. The app tracks nearby spots recommended by travelers and allows users to search for locations worldwide -- from restaurant reviews at your current location to insider tips to Park Güell in Barcelona -- "How to get there without dying because of the hills" -- by browsing through an image library. Users can also plan and interact with friends using Minube. Springpad
Springpad takes the notebook to the next level by adding further details to your entries automatically. It's handy to create a checklist for a trip -- when you add entries like hotels, restaurants or landmarks, the app will save contact information, reviews, maps and pictures. The data can be shared with your friends on Springpad and the saved data can also be accessed offline. Airports by TravelNerd
--- Updated November 23, 2012 --- Air France Music
Maybe the most entertaining airlines' app -- the latest Air France app combines music player and game. Air France's music is no longer only available onboard. App users can now "catch" the tracks hidden in the clouds (virtually) by raising their iPhones towards the sky and aiming at the music icons in the sky. The tracks captured can then be added to the playlist. Music available will vary in different destinations -- from Barcelona to Tokyo to Buenos Aires. Even better, some unreleased tracks, free concert tickets can also be expected several times a year through the app.
Fotopedia Wild Friends
Fotopedia Wild Friends is another gorgeous photo library created by Fotonauts Inc. after Fotopedia National Parks, Heritage, North Korea, etc. The app is packed with great shots of wild animals, educational information, as well as the stories behind the photos. It also locates the animals' pictures on a map accordingly — it includes locations and wildlife in Europe only at the moment.
Xe Currency
Android: Google Play (Free) Xe Currency app is the app to go for if you are not a fan of clumsy currency conversion. Apart from just an accurate currency conversion app, it provides the historic rates for the currency. You can monitor different currencies simultaneously and rate the highs and lows of the currency before even planning the trip. It can be used offline.
--- Updated October 11, 2012 --- SeatGuru
Android: Google Play (free) The new SeatGuru app developed by TripAdvisor has those details covered. It not only allows flight search but also features the website's signature color-coded seating plan -- green is a good seat and red is bad. When clicked, a pop-up box provides seating advice and amenity information. Waze
Android: Google Play (free) The social GPS app gets drivers together to provide live traffic updates on jams, police traps, accidents and other hazards. It also saves cost by comparing the oil prices of the gas stations along your routes or around you. Waze has partnered with a few gas stations to provide discounts through digital coupons on the app. Its service covers more than 100 countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ecuador, Israel, etc. But some of them still require more users before the information available is strong. SnapCast
It's targeted at citizen reporters but is also useful for enthusiastic travel bloggers, by allowing users to produce a 30-second, narrated video package without post-production editing. Then, you can swiftly upload and share it on social media platforms. For now, it is still in its beta stage. Sign up on their website. --- Updated August 21, 2012 --- TripIt Free
Android: Google Play (Free) Travel is great apart from the headache you get dealing with all the itineraries, reservations, numbers and schedules. Travel organizer TripIt helps to make your life easier in this respect. By forwarding your travel-related emails to TripIt's account, the app will create a calendar for you, especially handy for business and frequent travelers. In addition to organizing, the app provides maps, weather forecasts as well as suggested restaurants and attractions. SceneSpotter
Android: Facebook page
The airline's new Facebook app highlights local insights and personal travel tips from Facebook users as well as specialized SceneSpotter editors. "Users can get unique travel tips on 20 of Lufthansa's European destinations from locals and insiders," says Dr. Torsten Wingenter, Lufthansa's head of global co-ordination social media marketing. "Therefore, experiences and tips that are not mainsteam." "But what makes this app really valuable and sets it apart from traditional city guides is the fact that users are able to have real-time information and advice on places to see and visit, they can share these tips with their friends and also see what their friends' plans and their recommendations." CityJet
Android: CityJet's mobile site "The majority of our customers are smartphone users who want the convenience of accessing our services on the go," Christine Ourmières, the CEO of CityJet said in a press release. The CityJet app allows customers do what they normally do on website: view flight schedules, book flights, manage reservations, check-in and view flight status. It also keeps you updated with the airline's latest deals and promotions. You will be directed to the app at m.cityjet.com in both Apple and Android devices. --- Updated June 12, 2012 --- Milestones in Innovation by Boeing
Android: N/A For anyone who's interested in the history of aviation, Boeing launched its first official app for iPad -- Milestones in Innovation. Users can learn about the nine decades of aviation innovation and the airplane company's history and highlights through high quality photos, an interactive timeline and four videos. "This is the history of Boeing as a digital coffee table book," said Fritz Johnston, Boeing's vice president of brand and advertising. Some highlights are 1916 when Boeing was founded by Bill Boeing, and the delivery of the 787 Dreamliner. Condition One
Android: N/A
Condition One is an application that can gives you a sense of "being there." See a video demo here. Combining still images, narrative video and engagement with tactile controls, the app has series of first-person, 180-degree immersive videos that can be controlled by the user. As well as the usual stop, play, pause, fast-forward options, the viewer can pan through the virtual world as if scanning it in real time. Once this provides the option of shooting your own videos, the world of vacation filming will change forever. Image it
Android: N/A Injured in a foreign country and don't know the word for bandage? "Image it" instead. This application helps to solve the language barrier problem. It has more than 450 pictograms in a number of set categories such as food, emergencies, accommodation and transport. Users can pick up at most three pictograms to convey a message, much like a puzzle. The app also lets users to create their own pictograms by inserting pictures from their phones or drawing or writing on existing pictograms. No internet required. Kuoni brochure-browsing app
Once downloaded, the brochures can be read anytime without the Internet. And the app checks for new brochures automatically and will flag for users to notice. "We want to make Kuoni as accessible as possible," Kuoni ebusiness and publishing vice president Matt Rooke said. "The app self-updates so customers are getting the best quality of information on a daily basis, in a format that suits them." --- Updated: May 7, 2012 --- Ritz-Carlton's Presidential Tips
Android: Ritz-Carlton Hotels (free) One of the most anticipated features is "Presidential Tips," authored by president and COO Herve Humler who shares his tips and experiences on each Ritz-Carlton hotel dotted around the world. "I want to enrich a Ritz-Carlton experience for our guests further with details about the things I have found to be quite memorable and marvelous in my travels. With the Ritz-Carlton App I can now do that very easily and in real-time," Humler said in a press release. The app also provides QR codes which include tours of the hotels. For example, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua QR code will guide guests to the hotel's art collection while the Ritz-Carlton Berlin features an exclusive digital scavenger hunt led by various mobile codes and clues. New destination and landmark tips will also be uploaded every week by Ritz-Carlton Concierge experts all over the world. The Ritz-Carlton App is free and available on iPhone and Android. Zuji Packman
Android: N/A Packman, launched by online travel agency Zuji, helps travelers organize their itinerary, coordinate their packing and share travel schedules. "Holiday packing is an integral step of the journey and the Zuji Packman is designed to help organize this process while making travel planning fun and more efficient," said Zuji managing director Asia Pacific James Gaskell. Using the app, travelers can create multiple packing lists, set up personal reminders and even see what others are packing. "It's fast, simple and easy to put together a list, share it with your friends and get out the door, safe with the knowledge that nothing has been left to chance," Gaskell said. ZUJI Packman is available free of charge in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, with an Android version to launch soon. FlyRights
Android: FlyRights (free) Previously, there wasn't really much travelers could do when they went through uncomfortable inspections at airports. But via a new app called FlyRights developed by Sikh advocacy group, Sikh Coalition, travelers can now file their complaints right on the spot. Your complaint is not only is listed on the app, but can also be sent directly to the TSA's official website. "The TSA asserts it doesn't profile -- this application will allow us to better assess whether that's true," said Amardeep Singh, director of programs at the Sikh Coalition. The founders of the app explained that although the TSA tells its screeners not to profile, they have not adopted effective measures to guard against it. The app will hopefully push the TSA to implement better safeguard against profiling, they added. "All travelers now have an easy way of speaking to their government on the issue of airport profiling," said Singh. Available on iPhone and Android. More apps reviews We've run various articles about apps in the past.
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