Rich Russian to send parents into space

Those who enjoy reading our blog may have noticed how tough life is for wealthy people who never know how to spend their money. Fortunately, companies such as Virgin always come up with great ideas to get their money back from their super rich oil suppliers.

A Russian businessman has paid $200,000 dollars to take his parents kilometers above Earth on a ride in a space ship, the Interfax news agency reported overnight.

“When I told my mother we were going to fly in space, she asked me just one question: ‘When?’ said Kutsenko, a 34-year-old who runs an advertising agency. “We booked a couple of extra places. Maybe one of our friends will want to come too,”
Another businessman, Timur Artemiev, also bought tickets along with his wife for the trip on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo craft, which is to take them 100km above the Earth.

Virgin Galactic commercial director Stephen Attenboro said 250 people, including 11 Russians, had signed up for flights on SpaceShipTwo, according to the agency. The company’s commercial space flights are due to start in 2010.
Passengers will take a two-hour flight and spend four minutes floating in zero gravity.

Space Wedding

Space will now be the ultimate frontier for grooms and brides in 2011, when Rocketplane Kistler Japan who teamed up with wedding planner First Advantage begin hosting weddings aboard a 1-hour space flight that reaches an altitude of more than 100 kilometers (62.1 miles).

The cost of $2.2 million per wedding includes a photo and video album, “original space wedding dress”, wedding certificate, transportation cost from the launch site, accommodation, four days of rehearsal and live broadcast of the ceremony to those making up to the running reception on ground !

The space wedding services are scheduled to begin in 2011, but the group will start accepting applications early next month.

The world’s largest swimming pool

Already drawing the crowds in the South American resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile, this artificial lagoon and swimming pool has been acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the the biggest and longest swimming pool in the world.

The pool is 1013 metres (3,324 feet) long and covers an area of 8 hectares (19.77 acres), had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons (250,000 cubic meters ) of water. It is even navigable in small boats !

The idea to create this resort came as far back as 1997, when Chilean real estate developer and biochemist Fernando Fischmann, wanted to create a revolutionary resort. The motivating factor to create such an immense pool was the Pacific Ocean itself. The waters of the Pacific Ocean coast of Chile is cold, unclean and dangerous, so Mr Fischmann wanted to create a place for people to swim and enjoy water sports in a comfortable and safe environment. Rather than creating just another small swimming pool, he wanted something totally extraordinary.

The water is pumped in from the Pacific Ocean and treated before being pumped into the pool. The water temperature is kept at 26°C. It is 9°C warmer than the adjoining sea, allowing it to be used on cold days

It took five years to build, cost nearly £1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be £2million.

 Let’s take to the sea for $1 billion

Do you fear flying or detest being crammed into economy? If so, why not drive to a British port, board a luxury liner and relax on your cabin balcony, sipping champagne as you head off for the Med?

At least, that’s the message from the world’s biggest cruise firms as they invest more than £1billion this year on huge new ships, many specifically designed for the British market. They hope to finally shake off the ‘quoits and cribbage’ image of holidays at sea with sleek modern facilities, must-see destinations and exciting excursions to attract younger travellers.

Giant among the newcomers will be the 160,000-tonne Independence of the Seas, arriving in Southampton later this month. The £420million Royal Caribbean ship, which shares the title of the biggest liner in the world with its two older sisters, is the length of five jumbo jets. Its crew will serve 100,000 meals a week to 3,600 passengers and among its attractions are a climbing wall, ice rink, surf machine and a shopping mall.

World’s Most Expensive Champagne Balloon Ride by Krug

Krug, the French champagne house, has come up with a new way to attract luxury consumers by offering the world’s most expensive balloon rides, available in locations all over the world ; in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tuscany, France – and Gloucestershire.

Besides the obvious trip up in a luxury balloon (gleaming hardware, basket lined with premium white leather) you also get gourmet dining complete with champagne and butler service while you’re in the air for a price tag of €50,000 for a group of up to 8 people.

 Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru

Imagine a candlelight dinner with your loved one under the stars in the middle of the ocean. With only the ticklish feel of silky soft sand on your toes, and the melodies of gentle ocean waves caressing the shore, the universe seems for an instant a private Edenic playground for just the two of you.

Welcome to the Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives. The jewel of the North Malé Atoll, the Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru is only 25 minutes by speedboat from Maldives’s international airport at Malé.

The resort’s 48 luxuriously appointed villas have their own private outdoor jet pool, sundeck and pavilion, with the ocean just a few steps away. Wake up each day to the warm embrace of the sun’s golden rays. Listen to the balmy sea breezes whisper secrets of seafaring tales from afar. If you’re feeling adventurous, head out to explore the numerous dive sites that dot the 26 atolls in the Maldives.

 t day’s adventures.

Cox & Kings’ Bombay delight

Another proof of India’s growing economic power is the success story of Cox & Kings. The British travel company was founded in 1758 for officers serving in India. The company will be conducting their IPO on the Bombay Stock Exchange next month. In order to make this stock offering possible the UK parent company of Cox & Kings had to be taken over by its Indian subsidiary. The company plans to raise $130 million in the IPO.

What’s even more interesting is that Cox & Kings has entered into a partnership with the state-owned Indian Railways to build a luxury Orient Express-style train. The train will travel from Mumbai and Rajasthan across to Varanasi and Kolkata. Right now India currently has only two luxury trains, and they only travel within single states.

In an article in the Telegraph, Peter Kerka, the chief executive of Cox & Kings said that while seven years ago the bulk of Cox & Kings’ UK business involved shipping passengers from Britain to India. Today more Indian families are taking vacations all over their country. The company plans to increase its travel franchises in India from 15 to 300 by the end of 2008.

Samsonite Launches Solana and Hommage 2 Collections

Samsonite presents two new luggage collections for the frequent business traveler – the Solana and Hommage 2

The Solana line is designed to pack everything you would need or could possibly think of for your trip in a neat and organized fashion. It comes with a toiletry kit, wet pocket or removable suit sleeve. There’s even a 5 cm expandability for that extra packing space.

The Hommage 2 collection is an extended line of chi-chi luggage from the Hommage collection, and is only available this summer. With its nappa leather trimmings and lighter tones of almond ecru, sun olive, chocolate and charcoal black, the Hommage 2 collection exudes beauty and timeless elegance. The collection consists of duffles, spinners, shoulder bag, rolling tote, beauty case, toilet kit, lady bag and messenger bag.