Namibia, by Eric Montfort
qualia Hotel, Hamilton Island, Australia
qualia (pronounced kwah-lee-ah) in Latin means “a collection of deeper sensory experiences”. A byword for Hamilton Island luxury, qualia is situated on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island surrounded by all the splendour of the Great Barrier Reef. With a relaxed aspect and mesmerising calmness, time seems to stretch forever.
qualia offers you the indulgent choice of 60 individual pavilions that have been perfectly nestled into the natural environment to complement the unique surroundings. All pavilions boast stunning postcard views either of the Whitsundays or the spectacular tropical bushland.
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Midnight Sun, Iceland
(Best viewed in HD and fullscreen with scaling off)
This short time lapse film was shot during the Icelandic Midnight Sun in June of 2011 by Joe Capra.
Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in the summer months north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle where the sun never fully sets and remains visible 24 hours a day.
For 17 days Joe Capra travelled solo around the entire island shooting almost 24 hours, sleeping in the car, and eating whenever he had the time. During his days shooting this film he shot 38,000 images, travelled some 2900 miles, and saw some of the most amazing, beautiful, and indescribable landscapes on the planet. Iceland is absolutely one of the most beautiful and unusual places you could ever imagine. Especially during the Midnight Sun when the quality of light hitting the landscape is very unusual, and very spectacular.
Iceland is a landscape photographers paradise and playground, and should be number 1 on every photographers must visit list. Iceland during the Midnight Sun is in sort of a permanent state of sunset. The sun never full sets and travels horizontally across the horizon throughout the night, as can be seen in the opening shot and at the :51 second mark in the video.
During the Arctic summer, sunset was at midnight and sunrise was at 3am. The Arctic summer sun provided 24 hours a day of light, with as much as 6 hours daily of “Golden light”. Once the sun had set it wouldn’t even get dark enough for the stars to come out, and they don’t start to reappear until August.
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The World’s Best Restaurants 2013
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants have recently been announced by Restaurant Magazine, and in the Jetpac iPad app this week you can explore the top 15 and see which of your friends who have already been!
The awards are sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. Other key partners include; Veuve Clicquot, Lavazza , Birra Moretti, Cacao Barry, Silestone by Cosentino, Slow Food and Electrolux.
(Psst..If you’re not near your iPad, there’s a secret way to get a sneak peek on the web)
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Norwegian Constitution Day - May 17th
The Jetpac Team is 1/5 Norwegian, and today we’re celebrating the Norwegian National Day here at the office!
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day), although the latter is less frequent. Its common to wear “bunad”, the National costume on this day.
A noteworthy aspect of the Norwegian Constitution Day is its very non-military nature. All over Norway, children’s parades with an abundance of flags form the central elements of the celebration. Each elementary school district arranges its own parade with marching bands between schools. The parade takes the children through the community, often making stops at homes of senior citizens, war memorials, etc.
The longest parade is in Oslo, where some 100,000 people travel to the city centre to participate in the main festivities. This is broadcast on TV every year, with comments on costumes, banners etc., together with local reports from celebrations around the country. The massive Oslo parade includes some 100 schools, marching bands, and passes the royal palace where the royal family greet the people from the main balcony.
Russ
The graduating class from the Norwegian equivalent of high school, known as russ, marks the end of a several weeks long celebration on May 17, staying up all night and making the rounds through the community. The russ also have their own parades later in the day, usually around 4 or 5 PM. In this parade, russ will parade through the street with their russcars carrying signs and pickets. The russ is easily recognized by their colored overalls and hats.
(Source: wikipedia/ Photos: Flickr)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
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Are you a foodie traveler?
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants have recently been announced by Restaurant Magazine, and in the iPad app this week you can explore the top 15 and see which of your friends who have already been!
(Psst..If you’re not near your iPad, there’s a secret way to get a sneak peek on the web)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
(Source: craftandlore, via relentlesstraveler)
Jetpac featured amongst Great Free Apps in the app store
Jetpac is an iPad app that shows you amazing places to travel to and which of your friends who have already been!
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
X2 Kui Buri, Hua Hin, Thailand
The X2 Kui Buri near Hua Hin, Thailand is located in an undeveloped and peaceful surrounding, with the only communities being local fishing villages. Facing the Gulf of Thailand, the 4-acre beachfront property is 3 hours’ drive south of Bangkok and a further 30 minutes south of Hua Hin, the seaside resort town that is a favourite of the Thai royal family.
Opened in 2007, X2 Kui Buri, pronounced as cross two goo-ee boo-ree, is a 5-star resort with 23 private villas that come with their own terrace, garden and a select few with private pools. There are five room types to choose from – the Deluxe Garden Villa, Deluxe Pool Villa, Deluxe Oceanfront Pool Villa, Luxury Pool Villa and Royal Villa.
Its unique and tranquil atmosphere with large open spaces and lush natural surroundings makes it the perfect place for a retreat. Waking up to the sunrise, having your champagne breakfast, swimming in privacy and listening to the sounds of the ocean – there’s no better place to abandon all your cares.
(Text: Wan Phing Lim / Photos: Kate Khasuwan, AsiaRooms)
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EXPLORE Travel Talk: Rajasthan, India
You’re invited to join us for an evening of inspirational travel with Mountain Travel Sobek’s partner from Manoj Sharma. He’ll be discussing the in’s and out’s of MT Sobek’s highly anticipated Royal Rajasthan trip.
His talk will be accompanied by a show of inspiring travel images, maps, and video. Light refreshments will be served.
Royal Rajasthan
Known as the “Land of the Kings,” Rajasthan has a rich history, reflected today through it’s colorful festivals, striking desert landscape, and opulent architecture. On this special adventure you’ll stay the night in royal palaces, enjoy a desert safari over the windswept dunes of the Thar Desert, and experience the rich cultural diversity of India.
Manoj fell in love with mountains while in his teens, and over the past 26 years he has led over 200 cultural and trekking trips in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Sri Lanka.
Manoj will discuss the history of the region, and go into detail about the sights, accomodations, and cuisine. He’ll also describe some of the topics to be discussed on the trip like the mysteries of arranged marriages and the status of the Maharajas.
We hope you’ll join us for this special event at the Mountain Travel Sobek offices in Emeryville.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:00.
There’s a Free Shuttle from MacArthur BART station
- Red line Hollis, stop #12
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Featured Polaroid Photographer: Ben Parks
In honor of Edwin Land’s birthday today, we’re highlighting a polaroid photographer here on the blog. See more of Ben’s beautiful polaroid photos on his Flickr page.
Edwin Herbert Land (May 7, 1909 – March 1, 1991) was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation.
Among other things, he invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and his retinex theory of color vision. His Polaroid instant camera, which went on sale in late 1948, made it possible for a picture to be taken and developed in 60 seconds or less.
In the early 1970s, Land attempted to explain the previously known phenomenon of color constancy with his Retinex theory. His popular demonstrations of color constancy raised much interest in the concept. He considered his leadership towards the development of integral instant color photography — the SX-70 film and camera — to be his crowning achievement.
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Lub d, Silom, Bangkok
The iconic, trend-setting original Lub d is still a “Bangkok must” for travelers in the know. With a downtown location conveniently situated in Silom, Bangkok’s business district, Lub d - Silom is surrounded by a plethora of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. Silom buzzes from early morning until late night. Travelers are connected via the nearby BTS skytrain and the pier for boat rides.
(Photo credit: Lub d)
5 Places Nearby Not To Miss:
Patpong
Patpong is an entertainment district in Bangkok for locals, foreign tourists and expatriates. While Patpong is internationally known as a red light district, a busy night market aimed at tourists is also located in Patpong. Bargaining skills are needed here to get the best prices on a wide variety of familiar products. Entering the roads themselves can get a bit risqué, however, and is not advised for children. There are some nice Irish pubs and other international eateries in this area as well.
Aerobics Dancing in Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park, a great place to cool down from overheated Bangkok, is a huge park located on Rama 4 Road. It is well-known as a recreational area with several activities going on inside the park at any given time. There is action available for people at all ages, including cycling, jogging, singing, yoga, and much more. “Aerobics dance” has become the most popular choice of fitness activities in the park. The highlight is the aerobics session which all are welcome to join. From 6 p.m. onwards Monday to Saturday, hundreds of Bangkokians gather to do aerobics in the front of the park. It’s great fun and good for you, too!
Lumpini Boxing Stadium
If you want to see real Thai boxing, the place to go in the Kingdom is not far from Lub d - Silom. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, the Lumpini Boxing Stadium is run by the Royal Thai Army on behalf of the Thai Government. It has become the symbol of modern Muay Thai (Thai boxing). Muay Thai contests are held every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The fights usually start around 6.00 p.m. Ticket prices range from 200 to 2,000 Baht. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the real thing while you’re in Thailand!
Yaowarat Road, Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown is centered on Yaowarat Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods. It has been the main centre for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago. Yaowarat Road is also famous for many varieties of delicious foods, and it becomes a street of many foods every night. It’s a wonderful area simply to roam around, window shop, and try some unusual and exotic foods.
Bangkok Folk Museum
The Bangkok Folk Museum is located on Soi Charoen Krung 43. The museum was originally the home of the Suravadee family, which was built in 1937. It was converted to the Bangkok Folk Museum to preserve the lifestyle of early Bangkok and the history of the Bangrak District. If you want to learn about the fascinating history of Bangrak, it’s just 1.5 km. away from Lub d - Silom. A wonderful excursion to pass a few hours educationally.
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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Happy Star Wars Day!
Fans around the world have visited local landmarks dressed in their Star Wars costumes. Click on a photo to view as a slideshow.
(All photos from maythe4th.starwars.com)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
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Trollstigen Visitor Center, Norway
Situated in a mountain pass between the towns of Valldal and Åndalsnes in Western Norway, the Trollstigen Visitor Center provides spectacular views of the Trollstigen road - the ‘Troll Ladder’.
The project enhances the experience of the Trollstigen plateau’s location and nature. Thoughtfulness regarding elements and materials underscore the site’s nature and character, and well-adapted, functional facilities augment the visitor’s experience. The architecture is characterised by clear and precise transitions between planned zones and the natural landscape. Through the notion of water as a dynamic element - from snow, to running and then falling water - and rock as a static element, the project creates a series of prepositional relations that describe and magnify the unique spatiality of the site.
location: Romsdalen, Norway
program: National tourist routes
client: Norwegian public roads administration
size: Buildings 1200 m2, landscape 150 000 m2
status: Completed, 2012
year: 2004 - 2012
(Photo & project description by Reiulf Ramstad Architects)
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