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- 12 in-flight innovations that will make your trip better
- Last-minute delay for Qatar's new airport
- Gallery: World’s largest freshwater aquarium opens in Singapore
- 4 best places for photographing big cats
| 12 in-flight innovations that will make your trip better Posted: 03 Apr 2013 02:59 AM PDT In-flight innovation these days focuses on digital developments, including Wi-Fi and debate around BYOD (bring-your-own-device), but a lot is happening elsewhere, from interior design, to storage of food to making restrooms more user friendly. The annual Crystal Cabin Awards recognizes excellence in aviation interior innovation. For the 2013 awards, it recently released a list of 21 finalists. We've culled that list to the 12 that look most intriguing. You can find the full list of finalists at CCA. Winners will be announced as part of the aircraft cabins trade fair in Hamburg, Germany, April 9-11. From Skift Other stories from Skift:      |
| Last-minute delay for Qatar's new airport Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:05 PM PDT The opening of Qatar's new Hamad International Airport has been hit by another delay. The airport was due to soft open on April 1 with the arrival of a Qatar Airways plane, local media reported. But that flight was canceled at the last minute, reportedly due to the airport's failure to meet safety and security standards, according to gulfnews.com. The airport was originally slated to open in 2010 but that has been pushed back several times. An announcement on the new opening date will be made in the coming few days, local media reported. At a reported cost of over US$15 billion, the airport will supersede the current Doha International Airport. Though the soft opening was planned for early April, Doha News reported that many airlines would not be operating fully out of the airport until at least later this year when shops, lounges and other facilities are completed. Areas of the airport will be opened in phases and once complete (it is expected to be fully operational in 2020) is expected to handle around 50 million passengers a year.    |
| Gallery: World’s largest freshwater aquarium opens in Singapore Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:00 PM PDT Singapore's long-awaited River Safari is now open to the public. Asia's first river-themed wildlife park, the 12-hectare space features animals from eight major river systems of the world, including the Mekong River, Amazon River, the Congo, the Ganges and the Mississippi. Already home to the world's largest oceanarium, Singapore gets to add another watery accolade to its list thanks to River Safari –- the world's largest freshwater aquarium. With a volume of 2,000 cubic meters and a viewing window measuring 22 meters by four meters, the tank is part of River Safari's Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit. More on CNN: What's cuter than a giant panda? Two giant pandas River Safari falls under the control of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which also owns the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park. Those looking for the full experience may want to hold off on a visit. Park officials say River Safari's boat rides won't be available until later this year. For now, they're undergoing technical adjustments. River Safari is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets S$35 (US$28) for adults, S$23 for children between 3-12 and S$17.50 for senior citizens above 60. As the boat rides and some exhibits won't be ready until a later date, daily admission during the soft opening phase will be priced at a discounted rate of S$25 (adults), S$16 (children between 3-12) and S$12.50 (senior citizens above 60). Visitors can purchase tickets at the Singapore Zoo and River Safari's ticket booth. River Safari, 80 Mandai Lake Road; +65 (0)6269 3411; Riversafari.com.sg More on CNN: World's largest oceanarium opens in Singapore    |
| 4 best places for photographing big cats Posted: 02 Apr 2013 02:55 PM PDT Africa is the default destination for spotting big game. But once you've bagged the Big Five, what's next? One emerging activity for wildlife lovers is searching for Big Cats. Tour operators specializing in feline safaris have emerged over the past several years, and, as with everything safari-based, most commonly operate in Africa. But there are also Asian and Latin American treks to be made for Big Cat experiences. Jaguars, Brazil
Defined by its yellow-brown coat decorated with black spots, jaguars are similar to leopards but with broader heads and more solid torsos. The Brazilian Pantanal -- the world's largest wetland, spanning 54,000 square miles and with more open terrain than the Amazon -- offers some of the best viewing with a reported 5,000 jaguars inhabiting the area. Safaris take place on small motorboats that travel the rivers, passing by savannah, scrubland and flood plains. Latin American tour operator, SouthWild, guarantees at least one jaguar sighting if you stay three nights in a floating hotel. So far they boast a 100% success rate. I had three sightings on a three-night, four-day trip. SouthWild; +51 1422 9888; from US$3,795 per person for six nights; info@southwild.com; www.southwild.com Tigers and leopards, India
At the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces property of Baghvan Lodge in Madhya Pradesh, guests wake at 5 a.m. for the chance to spot them on safaris around Pench National Park. The park is open between November and March (monsoon season forces closure between June and October). On a four-night stay in January, I saw plenty of paw prints and discarded kills, but no tigers. March is the month that brings most tiger sightings, but there's no guarantee -- there's just too much undergrowth for the big cats to hide in. I did, however, spot three leopards -- a mother and two cubs, lying on a large stone waiting for the sun to set. Enchanting Travels; +1 888 263 2574; from US$3,890 per person for six nights; www.enchanting-travels.com Lions, Botswana
This means higher prices, lower numbers of tourists and better quality sightings. Expert Africa's Lion Safari covers both the Okavango Delta and more unusual Linyanti region further north. Both are places for high quality sightings, and evenings spent kicking back in the lap of rustic luxury. Among many sightings, I watched as a lioness and her cubs fed on a giraffe. Expert Africa; +1 800 242 2434; from US$6,000 per person for seven nights at three different camps; www.expertafrica.com; info@expertafrica.com Also on CNN: Searching for hippos in the Okavango Delta Pumas, Chile
In Patagonia, pumas are known to prowl through Torres del Paine National Park. Sightings, however, are rare. That doesn't stop some tour operators from "guaranteeing" a photo op. With the help of local park guides, and some painful 3 a.m. wake-up calls (safari and sleep never seem to go hand in hand), I did manage to notch four separate sightings. The most memorable was a mother with a pair of yearling cubs in tow, standing on a ridge, silhouetted against the early morning sky. SouthWild; +51 1422 9888; from US$3,000 per person for four nights; www.southwild.com; info@southwild.com    |
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