Family stuck in airport for six days... and other news
Family stuck in airport for six days
A family of four were stranded at Salt Lake City airport for SIX days. With echoes of 2004 Tom Hanks flick The Terminal, the family had used stand-by ‘buddy passes’ to visit family in Utah but couldn’t get a flight home as they were all full. After FIVE nights of ‘sleeping with rats’, the family were saved by good Samaritan who paid for their fares after seeing their plight on TV. What people do for a bargain…
Atoll in one: man-made golf island set for Maldives
As rising sea levels threaten the very existence of the Maldives, the government of the tropical archipelago is set to build the world’s largest artificial floating islands. One of proposed projects, estimated to cost £3220million, is a stupendous golf course, spread over several different islands reached by underwater tunnels. The course will be the centrepiece of a collection of 43 man-made islands making up a resort just a short speedboat ride from capital Male.
Face-kini craze hits China’s beaches
Move over mankini, the latest fashion craze to hit the beach in China is the ‘face-kini’. Apparently factor 50 just doesn’t cut it for those who are serious about their skin protection. These brightly coloured balaclavas have been around for seven years but, for some reason (can’t possibly think why!) the face-kini has never taken off. That is until these bathers in the Shandong province started sporting the protective masks.
Air France flight demands passenger whip-round
Once you’ve made it through duty free and boarded the plane, you’re usually safe to stick your wallet away, unless you get an attack of the mid-flight munchies. However, 174 unfortunate Air France passengers were asked to cough up any spare cash to pay for a refuel in Damascus. The flight from Paris was supposed to land in Beirut, but was forced to divert to the Syrian capital due to lack of fuel. Sanctions on Syria had prevented crew from paying with the company credit card. Fortunately a solution was found and flyers didn’t have to part with any of their hard-earned holiday cash.
Luxury dog hotel opens in NYC
Seriously spoilt pups will be treated to the lap of luxury at the new D Pet Hotel, set to open in Manhattan, New York, next month. Man’s best-friend can kick back on a double bed and watch a movie (101 Dalmatians?) on the flat-screen. Make sure Rover doesn’t pile on the pounds while you’re away by booking him a session with a personal trainer in the hotel’s state-of-the-art gym. Hotel staff are happy to take Lassie on a guided tour of the Big Apple, in a Lamborghini. The finest doghouse will set you back £130 a day.
Flying car set for a showroom new you?
It’s pure science fiction. Or is it? The transportation of the future has arrived: California company Aerofex has designed the ‘Hoverbike’. It doesn’t look much like a bike, more like something Luke Skywalker would ride, but it definitely hovers. Two rotor blades allow the craft to stay 5ft above the ground and go at a speed of 30mph. A few hurdles still remain but they are well on their way to making every wannabe Jedi’s dream come true.
Qantas pimp their planes
Changing Rooms comes to Qantas, as they completely refit their fleet with modern designs and swanky fabrics. New carpeting, improved lighting and a nice set of fresh curtains will greet every flyer boarding a revamped Boeing 767 from this October. Business class passengers can also pretend they’re in their very own DFS ad, seated in a plush leather armchair with wood-finish arm-rests. But forget the seats. Flyers on most domestic flights will have access to all in-flight entertainment via an iPad!
And finally...
Cucumbers are cool for holidays
It’s official, cucumbers are indeed cool. Scientists have revealed that cucumbers are the best thing for regulating body temperature whilst cold foods and drinks will only send parts of your body into shock (well, any fruit and vegetable with high water content does the same). So next time you are on sweltering on holiday, forget that gelato and tuck into a nice cucumber sandwich.
