Bill Gates traveling in Antarctica

Where does one of the richest men in the world go to get away from it all? Apparently, in the case of Bill Gates, it's Antarctica. The Chairman of Microsoft used his twitter account to post his thoughts on the frozen continent a few days back, saying "the beauty is amazing", while lamenting the fact that his satellite Internet connection prevented him from uploading photos.

Gates is reportedly on vacation at the bottom of the world, taking some time away from his duties with the software giant that he helped found and his Gates Foundation which works with a number of different programs on a global level to improve the lives of people around the world in a variety of ways.

How Gates is traveling in the Antarctic isn't clear, but it's likely that he is on an adventure cruise through the icy waters that surround the continent. While travel into the interior is done for the season, cruises will continue for several weeks yet.

In one of his tweets, Gates says "I'm guessing not much tweeting has been done from Antarctica", but he might be surprised to hear that a number of explorers that traveled to the South Pole on skis over the past couple of years have used twitter to send updates back on their status and progress. Clearly technology has pervaded every segment of our life and communication is now possible from all corners of the planet.

Gates promises to tell us more about his journey on his Gates Notes website in the near future. Can't wait to hear more about his trip.

Digital TV on the go with the FLO TV Personal Television - the Gadling review

Entertainment on the go is very important for most travelers. Some may find their entertainment in a book or stack of magazines, others (like myself) tend to rely on high tech gadgets. For those of you that enjoy their entertainment from TV on the go, there is the new FLO TV Personal Television

The FLO TV Personal Television looks more like a PDA than a digital TV. There is a reason for this - the TV is made by smartphone company HTC. Nothing on the device reminds you that you are looking at a television - there is no antenna and no tuning knobs.

On the front of the unit is a single button, on the top you'll find power button and battery status buttons, and on the side are volume controls. The screen is a 3.5" touch panel, and sound comes from a pair of stereo speakers on the rear of the TV, where you'll also find a sturdy stand.
Coverage

FLO TV is a digital TV service that is available on select mobile phones on AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The FLO TV Personal Television is a stand-alone product that uses the AT&T network for its signals.

This obviously restricts the places where you'll be able to pick up a signal, and in the image above, you'll see just how limited this can be - signals can only be picked up inside major metro areas, and any time you consider yourself to be "in the middle of nowhere", you won't be able to use the TV.

Reception within the coverage area is very good - you obviously won't get the same HD experience you have at home, and the signal occasionally drops for a second or two when it switches between towers, but other than that it's great.
Channel lineup

The channel lineup on FLO TV is probably its strongest point - you get a decent selection of sports, news, entertainment and kids TV. Some channels are specially developed for mobile use, others are the same signal you'd get on your satellite or cable signal.

    * 2.FLO Preview channel
    * MSNBC
    * Comedy Central
    * ESPN Mobile
    * MTV
    * Nickelodean
    * Disney Channel
    * CNBC
    * Fox News
    * Adult Swim
    * Food Network
    * ABC Mobile
    * CBS Mobile
    * FOX Mobile

There is a price to pay for all this entertainment - $14.99 in addition to the cost of the unit itself ($199). Navigating the channels is nice and simple - you can enable a "swipe to change" and use your fingers to slide up or down through the channels, or you can press the front button and navigate through the guide.
Hardware

The FLO TV Personal Television feels well made - the device itself is mainly plastic, but the stand on the rear is made of metal, and allows the TV to be angled any way you want it. The touch screen is responsive, and channel changes take just one or two seconds, plus a couple more seconds for the device to "lock" on to its signal.

Within the menu on the device, you can set reminders to watch a show, enable parental controls and change the touch settings (for changing channels).

Behind the metal stand is a battery cover and a SIM card (hidden behind a plastic cover). During normal use, users will never have to remove that cover. The battery is rated for five hours of continuous use and charges using a MicroUSB jack on the TV. A MicroUSB cable and wall charger are included - but no car charger. Inside the box is also a small carrying pouch.

There is a single headphone jack - but no video output. I'll get back to this shortcoming in a moment.

Thoughts on the service

As a geek, the idea behind FLO TV excites me - being able to receive TV on the go is awesome. Despite its limited coverage area, being able to watch good quality programming on the go is fantastic.

The lack of a video output is pretty inexcusable in my opinion - it forces you to watch the 3.5" screen, no matter where you are. It would have been a great feature if FLO TV allowed you to hook the unit up to your hotel TV or in-car screen (there are automotive versions available of the FLO TV hardware).

Then there is of course the price - the $199 purchase price currently includes 6 months of service, but after that, you'll need to pay $14.99/month to keep watching TV.

Final thoughts

PROS: Well designed hardware, great picture quality, compact, easy to control, good battery life
CONS: Fairly pricey subscription, no video output

A polo match fit for an elephant

Before the Olympics wrap up on Feb. 28, it's only fitting that we pause to admire athletes from every walk of life. Take, for example, the competitors in the 9th annual King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament (March 22-28) held at Thailand's Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa.

Apparently there's actually a World Elephant Polo Association for the sport, which is prevalent in places such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Some rules from the association's website:

    * Elephants are swapped at half time to balance out any advantage
    * No elephants may lie down in front of the goal
    * An elephant may not pick up the ball with its trunk during play
    * Stepping on the ball is prohibited

For the polo tournament, the Anantara Golden Triangle resort has put together a special spectator package. With nightly rates starting at $493 per room per night, you'll get accommodations, breakfast, lunch, and transfers to and from the polo match. It's not cheap, but this hotel isn't exactly roughing it. Guests staying four nights or more will also receive a free round-trip transfer from Chiang Rai to the resort.

If going to Thailand for an elephant polo match this year isn't likely, there are some options closer to home: New York City has bike polo and Barbados hosts a Segway polo championships this year. (Random trivia: Steve Wozniak of Apple fame is reportedly not only a fan but a masterful Segway polo player.)

Furious Ryanair passenger eats his $13,600 winning lottery ticket

Despite all the weird things Ryanair manages to do to its passengers, they do have their fair share of wacky passengers as well.

During one of their flights this week, a passenger purchased a scratchcard lottery ticket (one of the many ways Ryanair makes money). When he uncovered the numbers, he turned out to be the lucky winner of €10,000 (about $13,600).

And this is where the story takes a twist for the weird - when the passenger was told that he would have to send his ticket in for verification, and that the cabin crew don't fly around Europe with that kind of cash, he got furious.

Normal people would throw a tantrum, calm down, and accept the situation. Instead, the lucky winner ate his ticket.

Right in front of all his fellow passengers, this guy actually ate a $13,600 winning lottery ticket. The only upside to this story is that the winning prize money will go unclaimed, so it can be donated to charity. I'm not sure whether alcohol or just plain stupidity played a role here, but it sure seems like one of the dumbest ways to throw away money.

Daily gear deals - $60 noise canceling headphones, $14 Bluetooth headset and more

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Saturday February 27th 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today's first deal is for one of the best deals in noise canceling headphones. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC3's come in a nice carrying case, complete with plug adapters, an extension cable and a set of batteries. On sale for just $60.99. Click here for this deal.

Next up is a "Bluefox" Bluetooth headset kit. Included is a Bluetooth headset, phone case, car charger, retractable charging cord, USB cable and a variety of phone charger plugs. On sale for $14. Click here for this deal.

Find a cable for anything on the road with this $5.43 portable cable kit. Included is an assortment of ethernet, phone and USB plugs, along with a retracting USB cable. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today's lineup, start recording your life in HD with this (pink) Kodak Zi6 HD camcorder. It is on sale for jsut $85.95, and records to SD memory cards.

Giant iceberg splits from Antarctica

A giant iceberg, the size of Luxembourg, has broken free from Antarctica and according to scientists could potentially play havoc with weather patterns across the globe for years to come. The massive chunk of ice, more than 985 square-miles in size, broke free from the Mertz Glacier Tongue along the eastern coast of Antarctica on February 12 or 13, and moved out into a region of the Southern Ocean that is vital to the production of cold, salty water that helps circulate important ocean currents.

The new iceberg was created when an older one, labeled as B9B amongst researchers, slammed into an ice shelf, dislodging it from the continent. B9B had broken away back in 1987, and drifted around the region, but had mostly sat dormant until recently. Now, the two pieces of ice have merged to form this one giant berg which could have long lasting implications to global climate.

The newly formed iceberg, which is over 48-miles in length, has already drifted out into a part of the ocean known as a polynya. Polynyas are an area of the Southern Ocean where dense, extremely cold and salty water is produced. That "bottom water", as it is known, sinks deep into the sea and creates the circulation that moves the various ocean currents around the globe. If the iceberg stays where it is at right now, it could cause a change in those circulations, having an effect on ocean currents worldwide, which will also change jet stream patterns and the movement of weather.

Best case scenario, the iceberg will either move back into the Antarctic coast or drift north into warmer waters, where it won't cause any problems, but scientists say that isn't likely. The good news is that it will probably be decades before the effects of the iceberg will be known, and I'm sure by then global warming will have kicked in, and we'll be happy for the cooling effect this might bring.

Radisson Blue Coming to Mongolia

It's time to go to Mongolia! Almost. In winter 2011, the country will welcome the Radisson Blu Hotel Ulaanbaatar, the first Rezidor Hotel Group property to hit Mongolia. This will increase the company's tally to 61 countries, says Rezidor president and CEO Kurt Ritter. You'll find the new Radisson Blu right in the heart of the country's capital, Ulaanbaatar, walking distance from Sukhbaatar Square and Peace Avenue, and it will be adjacent to the Choijin Lama Temple, which is home to an eighteenth century gold-covered statue of Buddha Shayaryamuni.

The property will have 175 guestrooms, three restaurants (including a microbrewery) and a wellness center – not to mention close to 5,000 square feet of conference and meeting space. Needless to say, this will be helpful in accommodating the increasing number of tourists to Mongolia, which has been growing at a compound annual rate of 15 percent since 2006.

So, if you're looking to check out the temple or trod some of the same dirt as Genghis Khan, you're about to get another lodging option.

Daily Pampering: New restaurant opens at The Landings in St. Lucia

If you haven't been to The Landings St. Lucia lately, the restaurant that just opened is probably worth a trip. This RockResort just threw open the doors of The Palms, which is located in the grand entrance pavilion as an extension of the open-air Viscount Lounge. The menu boasts a Caribbean flavor, not to mention sustainably produced seafood from local St. Lucian farms.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and serves the creations of Executive Chef Richard Tonks. His menu includes potted pork and duck appetizers with pickled vegetables and potato pancakes, but what really excites me are the shredded braised lamb shanks wrapped in lettuce girolles, shallots and merlot sauce – I might book a flight just to toss that into my mouth.

And then there's the art ...

I could spend hours staring at contemporary art, and The Landings is making that pretty easy. In The Palms, the walls are adorned with the creations of local artist Llewellyn Xavier. Every piece on display in the restaurant is made from recycled materials.

With only 28 seats, this is an intimate environment and an ideal space for a meal on a romantic getaway. Be sure to take in at least one meal at The Palms when your down at The Landings.

Get your daily dose of Pampering right here.

Hilton Minneapolis orgy lawsuit settled

There's a reason hotels have "do not disturb" signs and locks on the doors. Aside from safety reasons, utilizing the lock is a good way to ensure no one walks in while you're enjoying the company of your travel companion. Unfortunately, some hotel employees at the Hilton Minneapolis didn't make use of their own amenities and opted to do the deed in the hotel's ballroom, causing a little concern (and ultimately leading to a lawsuit) filed by other employees.

Hilton just settled the lawsuit that was filed back in December 2008 claiming two hotel employees were fired after walking in on an orgy taking place in the hotel's ballroom. No details were released from the lawsuit, except to say that the employees were threatened and later fired after witnessing upper management in some compromising positions after hours.

Here's what the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune had to say:

"According to papers filed in U.S. District Court, the former employees and the Hilton Minneapolis settled their lawsuit. Unlike the attention-inducing complaint, however, no details were provided. Calls to attorneys representing the former hotel workers -- Deborah Smith and April Bezdichek -- and the hotel were not immediately returned Monday.

At the time the suit was filed, Smith and Bezdichek said they were fired from their jobs after they complained about what they witnessed. Smith, who was the night manager of a hotel restaurant, said that she opened the door to a hotel banquet room and saw an orgy involving Hilton Hotel upper management. In fact, she observed Hilton executives on top of a table engaging in sexual activity, according to the suit."

There's more to the story, if you want the torrid details.

In the meantime, we remind all hotel guests (and hotel employees) to keep displays of affection in the privacy of your own room.

Daily Pampering: Join Steve Case's Exclusive Resorts club

 

Steve Case, Co-Founder and former CEO and Chairman of AOL, is not someone we usually associate with luxury travel. I still hear that "You've got mail" soundbyte in my head when I see his name.

Nevertheless, one of the many hats Case currently wears is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Exclusive Resorts, a membership-only collection of extravagant destinations which claims to combine "the best things about staying in vacation homes with the best things about staying in luxury resorts -- while eliminating the disadvantages of both."

How do they accomplish that? Basically, they've amassed a book of rental vacation homes with resort access nearby, thus providing elite guests with the kind of space and privacy they crave, the convenience of resort amenities, and none of the hassle of buying a second home. Guests can check the availability of properties around the globe 24-hours per day and jet off to a vacant villa last minute -- ideal for the busier affluent set.

The cream of the crop of the Exclusive Resorts properties are their Once in a Lifetime packages for families, couples and adventure-seekers. These include destinations with outstanding features like Machu Picchu in Peru (destination screenshot above).

Membership fees start at $160,000, with an annual fee starting just below $1,000 per day. Ten to sixty-day plans are available. Click here to learn more, and say hi to Steve for me if you see him.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Jasmine's Cove, Estate of the Day

I'm not usually a fan of nautical. I grew up in a resort town, ship's wheels and rope decor generally make me itch. Today's estate in Lake Country, British Columbia could change my mind. This home combines a nautical theme with modern architecture and the overall effect is worlds away from the local fish shack. This six-bedroom home has a great room with a huge round window, a canoe seems poised to smash through the center. A curved bar continues the nautical theme and a shower enclosure is designed to mimic the ocean floor, complete with fish. The property also has a beachside cabana, water features, bridges of stepping stones and an outdoor kitchen. It is listed at $10 million Canadian.

 

 

$550,000 Graf Ipanema Mahogany Powerboat from Germany

This beautiful mahogany power launch looks like a classic Italian model at first glance, but actually hails from the Graf boatworks nestled between Munich and Lake Constance at the foot of the Alps. The 29.5-ft. $550,000 Graf Ipanema is made entirely by hand using only traditional tools in the boatbuilder's yard to shape the wood, leather and metal. Powered by twin 400 hp Volvo Penta engines for a maximum speed of 40 knots, it features a hull planked with triple skin diagonal mahogany. Teak, larch, oak and okourné wood are also used on the craft, along with fine oxhide and alcantara, high-grade woollen materials, brass, chrome and stainless steel. A mahogany table with seating for six and compartments for champagne flutes can be folded and stowed away, while the leather-upholstered solarium aft steps down to the teak anti-skid swim platform.

The Glenlivet: 1973 Cellar Collection Out in June

Highlands single-malt Scotch producer The Glenlivet will release its latest Cellar Collection in June, a limited bottling from its three best 1973 casks. This is the eighth release of Glenlivet's Cellar Collection, and will be bottled at cask strength, 49% ABV.The casks selected include one ex-sherry butt and two refilled American hogsheads. Out of the total bottling, 240 will be available in the U.S. at $1250.00.

This release, helped by its 36 years of aging, is incredibly smooth with big sweet orange and gingerbread flavors. The best way to obtain a bottle is to special order it through one of the better spirit retailers such as Spec's Liquor in Austin; Federal Wine & Spirits in Boston; Park Avenue Liquogrs in New York or The Whisky Shop in San Francisco.

As always, though, age and price is no guarantee of quality. The Malt Advocate, for example, rated the 1969 Cellar Collection a 96, but gave the 1972 release just an 89.

Take a custom fly fishing excursion in Colorado this summer

Anglers looking for a unique fly fishing experience will have some amazing new options later this year when The Little Nell, the famous upscale resort located in Aspen, Colorado, begins offering custom guided fishing tours. Visitors will gain access to the Roaring Fork Valley and its Gold Medal waters, including the Frying Pan, Colorado, and Crystal Rivers, which are well known for having the best trout fishing anywhere in the U.S.

These custom guided tours offer a wide array of exciting and unusual options. For instance, multi-day excursions are available, including overnight camping in the pristine Colorado backcountry, some of which is only accessible by horseback. Additionally, the resort's on site equipment shop is the only retail outlet in the U.S. that exclusively sells the legendary tackle from Hardy of England, giving anglers a chance to rent or buy gear from one of the most renowned brands in the sport.

The resort's Director of Fly Fishing (Yes, that's his real title. How cool is that?), David Doerr has worked closely with the Aspen Trout Guides to build an extensive selection of options that can cater to any angler's needs. These top guides, which include former Olympic skier turned pro angler Andy Mill, know all the best places to catch trophy fish and the best ways to put you in position to do just that.

If you're interested in booking your own custom fishing experience with the Little Nell, you can do so on the resorts website or by calling (970) 920-4600.

InterContinental opens new hotel at Walt Disney World

Families, couples, school groups and friends of all ages will have another hotel option for the next Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando, Florida. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened a new 14-storey, 323-room Holiday Inn in Orlando.

The hotel is located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Walt Disney World Resort grounds and offers free transportation to theme parks, access to area golf courses and advance reservations at restaurants. All rooms are equipped with 32-inch televisions, complimentary wireless Internet access and an electronic safe.

This new Disney hotel is part of IHG's global $1 billion rebranding of its hotels. More than 1,800 hotels have been relaunched around the world during IHG's revamp of the Holiday Inn brand.

Starwood bets on Hollywood allure

What do you do when lenders take over two of your hotels, as your coping with the worst recession in seven decades? Well, if you're Starwood Hotels, you make a $350 million bet with a single property from your W line. The hotel opened on January 15, 2010, and it's banking on the reputation of Los Angeles as the center of the entertainment world. Located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, the new W Hotel hopes to attract star-struck tourists who want to get up close and personal with the movie industry.

The only problem is that fewer and fewer people are heading out to Los Angeles, which is putting a bit of a squeeze on the new property. There's an opportunity hidden in the situation, however. Carlos Becil, W's North American vice president, says, "When we come out of this down cycle we'll own the upswing with all these newer hotels," Becil said to Bloomberg News.

The financial crisis has been particularly hard on the W chain. The W San Diego was taken back by its lenders after Sunstone Hotel Investors, which had owned the property, couldn't get the terms of its $65 million securitized mortgage changed. The W New York Union Square was bought by Dubai World in 2006. Well, it missed a payment, which wound up pushing the property onto the auction block back in December. Dubai World also has an intestine the W Washington, D.C., a loan on which is 30 days delinquent. The debt servicer and borrower are working on a solution.

Indianapolis prepares for March Madness with new hotel rooms, vacation packages

Indianapolis is getting ready to host a pair of the NCAA basketball games by opening up more than 600 new hotel rooms.

According to Fox59, a local Indianapolis station, The Courtyard at Marriott, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn are now open and booking guests. The new hotels are within walking distance from the stadium and new convention center, which will host the Final Four games.

The games take place March 14 through April 5 and Indianapolis hosts the Men's Final Four April 3-5. Final Four tickets are on sale now starting at $410 and reaching as high as $3400. GoTickets.com is offering Final Four travel packages starting at $1,025 per person for three nights. The March Madness package includes three nights at the Hampton Inn Indianapolis South, tickets to the games, round-trip gameday transfers and shuttle service to Hoop City.

Indianapolis has suffered its drop in tourism dollars and is hoping the Final Four brings more travelers to the Midwest city -- thanks to the addition of new hotel rooms, there's plenty of room for basketball fans from around the nation.