Ring in the New Year in Richmond during the 2010 Winter Olympics!
Ring in the New Year: While celebrating the Asian Lunar New Year in one of Canada's most densely Asian-populated communities is an event to behold any year, when Richmond rings in the Year of the Tiger on February 14th, two days into the Olympic Winter Games, it's sure to be an unprecedented bash. Visit Golden Village, a four-block hub of Asian malls, or dine at one of the area's 400-some-odd Asian eateries. While you're in Richmond, make sure to visit the O Zone - the largest free Olympic festival. With DJs spinning till 2 a.m. every night of the Games, outdoor skating, free concerts from the likes of Bedouin Soundclash and more, the massive venue (it spans the length of 66 football fields) is a can't-miss party, easily accessible from the airport or downtown Vancouver via the new Canada Line.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
O-Zone Richmond
17 days and nights. Exhilarating. Amazing. Once in a lifetime. The O Zone is where you can be part of a real Olympic Games experience, with thousands of your closest friends, cheering on Canada’s athletes, exploring cool stuff, and rocking to some of the hottest young bands in Canada. The O Zone is also the biggest celebration of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, amassed over 60 acres in the heart of Richmond City Centre, just minutes from the new Canada Line Brighouse Station near Richmond City Hall and Minoru Park.
You’ve never seen Richmond like this: mammoth ice art, massive high-definition screen, outdoor skating on real ice, entertainment from around the region and around the world, art, athletes, exhibits, virtual reality (bobsleigh ride anyone?), food and fireworks. Bands like Our lady Peace, Hawksley Workman, Bedouin Soundclash, Toyko Police Club and Wintersleep headline. Theme nights saluting Canada’s diverse cultures and regions from World Beat rhythms and South Asian dance and music to Pan Northern sounds from above the Arctic Circle. There’s something for everyone, and for all ages. Did we mention it’s free?
On site will be the BCLC 2010 Winter Games Dome. This massive 5,000 square foot four-domed tent features interactive sport experiences. The Immersa-Dome® allows visitors to experience, through sight, smell and touch, what it might be like to compete as a member of Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh or Paralympic sit-ski team from the athletes’ perspective. Within the Games Dome, participants can also shoot targets while skiing through the winter woods on a simulated Biathlon course, or test their wrist shot on the Olympic or Paralympic ice hockey rink. As the Official Lottery and Gaming provider to the 2010 Winter Games, BCLC will be offering free daily draws to win one of 10 pairs of Closing Ceremony tickets, available to anyone 19+ who wishes to enter their name, February 12-21.
The O Zone is located just a few kilometres south of downtown Vancouver and a short hop on the Canada Line, starting Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 28, 2010. Every day. Every night
Monday, January 25, 2010
More Free Olympic Events
GE Plaza (Robson Square)
This is the official site for the International Media Centre during the Games and centrally located at Robson & Howe Streets. It is also home to the new GE outdoor skating rink. Thanks to the generous contribution of the Province of BC and General Electric, the skating is free, but skate rentals are $3 a pair. The rink is open daily from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This will be an extremely popular attraction. Note that although this venue is technically outdoors, it is actually below Robson Street. Just look for the big glass bubbles from street level.
Heineken House
Located near the O-Zone in Richmond, the highlight of the Holland Heineken House experience is the main hall, which can host thousands of people every night, and features celebratory medal ceremonies for successful Dutch athletes as well as nightly performances by renowned Dutch artists and DJ’s. The uniquely close relationship that Dutch sport fans have with their heroes - coupled with their penchant for the national colour of orange - makes for a vibrant and unforgettable atmosphere during celebrations and performances. More than 100,000 people visited the Holland Heineken House during Winter Games in Turin and 95,000 at the Beijing Olympics. At the last Summer Games, supporters were able to celebrate a total of 16 medals for the Dutch Olympic Team. There are plans for HH to serve beer to 4,000 people nightly at its Medal Ceremony Hall and stay open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. The Heineken House will be located at Minoru Arenas 7551 Minoru Gate in Richmond.
LiveCity Downtown
This site located at Georgia and Beatty will open during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will be Vancouver’s version of a downtown “piazza” with a large outdoor screen, daytime interactive school programming, engaging street entertainment, and late-night entertainment. Additional partners and governmental agencies will bring programs and pavilions to complement the site. The site will be open and programmed throughout the Olympic period commencing the day after the Opening Ceremony and concluding right before the Closing Ceremony (February 13-February 28). During that period it is anticipated that LiveCity Downtown will be open daily from 11am through to midnight. The site will reopen during the Paralympic period (March 12 through March 21) with a mix of on-screen programming, demonstration sport events and entertainment. Both the Canada and Manitoba pavilions will be on-site.
Nightly Medal Awards Ceremony
This is the most inexpensive way to participate in an official Olympic event. Tickets costs as little as $22 dollars per person and this provides you access to some of North America’s best entertainers as well as the medal winning athletes. Some of the confirmed bands include Barenaked Ladies, INXS, Nelly Furtado, Headley, Theory of a Dead Man and many more. The warm confines of the newly renovated BC Place Stadium will play home to this nightly event which is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. If you are taking the Expo Line SkyTrain, get off at the "Stadium" station. You will have to walk about 5 minutes to get there. A note for out-of-town visitors, BC Place will undergo a massive renovation after the Games and will have a brand new retractable roof installed.
This is the official site for the International Media Centre during the Games and centrally located at Robson & Howe Streets. It is also home to the new GE outdoor skating rink. Thanks to the generous contribution of the Province of BC and General Electric, the skating is free, but skate rentals are $3 a pair. The rink is open daily from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This will be an extremely popular attraction. Note that although this venue is technically outdoors, it is actually below Robson Street. Just look for the big glass bubbles from street level.Heineken House
Located near the O-Zone in Richmond, the highlight of the Holland Heineken House experience is the main hall, which can host thousands of people every night, and features celebratory medal ceremonies for successful Dutch athletes as well as nightly performances by renowned Dutch artists and DJ’s. The uniquely close relationship that Dutch sport fans have with their heroes - coupled with their penchant for the national colour of orange - makes for a vibrant and unforgettable atmosphere during celebrations and performances. More than 100,000 people visited the Holland Heineken House during Winter Games in Turin and 95,000 at the Beijing Olympics. At the last Summer Games, supporters were able to celebrate a total of 16 medals for the Dutch Olympic Team. There are plans for HH to serve beer to 4,000 people nightly at its Medal Ceremony Hall and stay open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. The Heineken House will be located at Minoru Arenas 7551 Minoru Gate in Richmond.
LiveCity Downtown
This site located at Georgia and Beatty will open during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will be Vancouver’s version of a downtown “piazza” with a large outdoor screen, daytime interactive school programming, engaging street entertainment, and late-night entertainment. Additional partners and governmental agencies will bring programs and pavilions to complement the site. The site will be open and programmed throughout the Olympic period commencing the day after the Opening Ceremony and concluding right before the Closing Ceremony (February 13-February 28). During that period it is anticipated that LiveCity Downtown will be open daily from 11am through to midnight. The site will reopen during the Paralympic period (March 12 through March 21) with a mix of on-screen programming, demonstration sport events and entertainment. Both the Canada and Manitoba pavilions will be on-site.Nightly Medal Awards Ceremony
This is the most inexpensive way to participate in an official Olympic event. Tickets costs as little as $22 dollars per person and this provides you access to some of North America’s best entertainers as well as the medal winning athletes. Some of the confirmed bands include Barenaked Ladies, INXS, Nelly Furtado, Headley, Theory of a Dead Man and many more. The warm confines of the newly renovated BC Place Stadium will play home to this nightly event which is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. If you are taking the Expo Line SkyTrain, get off at the "Stadium" station. You will have to walk about 5 minutes to get there. A note for out-of-town visitors, BC Place will undergo a massive renovation after the Games and will have a brand new retractable roof installed.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Free Events During the Olympics
Be sure to check out these free events during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics!
Canada Pavillion
Centrally located at Vancouver's LiveCity Downtown Celebration Site, the Canada Pavilion will demonstrate Canada's commitment to creative excellence, sustainable development and fostering diversity with informative and innovative content that is sure to make Canadian's proud. The 2010 Games will inspire Canada's young people to get active in sports and live a healthy lifestyle. The Pavilion will provide an opportunity to learn more about Olympic and Paralympic sports and help them to choose the activity that's right for them.
Canada's Northern House
Canada’s Northern House, now open at 602 W. Hastings Street & Seymour in Vancouver, is located in the heart of downtown. You can expect to be captivated with the simulated northern lights shining from the windows. The lights will draw people in to view and get information on Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon art, business, athletes, cultural performers and artists.Visitors to Northern House will be greeted at the entrance by an inuksuk built by former Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq, using stone from Nunavut, Northwest Territories and British Columbia. Canada’s Northern House will showcase talented performers such as Artcirq and throat singers, drum dancers, and traditional games athletes during the Olympic Games. Canada’s Northern House will have an art lounge, story telling area and an exhibit called “The North Today” featuring interactive displays on living, visiting and investing in Nunavut. There will also be business information about the three territories. Visitors also have the chance to win an $8,000 diamond or a 3.8 ounce gold nugget valued at $7,000. The House is open through March 31, 2010. Daily hours during the 2010 Olympic Games will be 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Before and after the 2010 Olympic Games, it will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Casa Italia
In 2006, Italy played home to the Winter Olympics. In a few weeks, the historic Roundhouse Community Centre will play home to the 2010 pavilion known as Casa Italia. The pavilion will be open to the public and will feature some of the best food, drink and entertainment that Italy has to offer. You can expect to see Ferrero Rocher as well as some other fine Italian products on display. Casa Italia will be open daily to the public between Feb 6 - 28th from noon until 6pm daily. The pavilion is only one block north of the LiveCity Yaletown and should therefore be a popular destination will locals and visitors alike.
Granville Island
Located just south of the downtown, this popular tourist attraction will become the place to celebrate Canada’s French heritage. There will be two pavilions, a French bistro and pub, as well as a stage for concerts. They also intend on creating an "artists' alley" like Rue Sainte-Anne in Quebec City. Be sure to visit Place de la Francophie. This little "French Quarter" will offer visitors a cornucopia of activities including shows featuring Canadian and international performers, a sports pub, a farmer’s market, tourism circuits and trails and many exhibits of works by francophone artists. More than just a meeting spot, visitors to Place de la Francophonie will delight in the ongoing festive atmosphere while discovering the cultural and artistic wealth of the country. It runs from Feb 11-28 and the hours of operation are Exhibits: 11am to 8pm; Shows: 6pm to midnight; Club Adrénaline: 11am to midnight; Events: Beginning at noon. You can get there by taking the free streetcar from the Olympic Canada Line Station to Granville Island. Vancouver's famous False Creek water taxis will also provide transportation across the water during the Games. Expect this site to be extremely popular so get there early and take transit if you can.
Canada Pavillion
Centrally located at Vancouver's LiveCity Downtown Celebration Site, the Canada Pavilion will demonstrate Canada's commitment to creative excellence, sustainable development and fostering diversity with informative and innovative content that is sure to make Canadian's proud. The 2010 Games will inspire Canada's young people to get active in sports and live a healthy lifestyle. The Pavilion will provide an opportunity to learn more about Olympic and Paralympic sports and help them to choose the activity that's right for them.
Canada's Northern House
Canada’s Northern House, now open at 602 W. Hastings Street & Seymour in Vancouver, is located in the heart of downtown. You can expect to be captivated with the simulated northern lights shining from the windows. The lights will draw people in to view and get information on Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon art, business, athletes, cultural performers and artists.Visitors to Northern House will be greeted at the entrance by an inuksuk built by former Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq, using stone from Nunavut, Northwest Territories and British Columbia. Canada’s Northern House will showcase talented performers such as Artcirq and throat singers, drum dancers, and traditional games athletes during the Olympic Games. Canada’s Northern House will have an art lounge, story telling area and an exhibit called “The North Today” featuring interactive displays on living, visiting and investing in Nunavut. There will also be business information about the three territories. Visitors also have the chance to win an $8,000 diamond or a 3.8 ounce gold nugget valued at $7,000. The House is open through March 31, 2010. Daily hours during the 2010 Olympic Games will be 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Before and after the 2010 Olympic Games, it will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Casa Italia
In 2006, Italy played home to the Winter Olympics. In a few weeks, the historic Roundhouse Community Centre will play home to the 2010 pavilion known as Casa Italia. The pavilion will be open to the public and will feature some of the best food, drink and entertainment that Italy has to offer. You can expect to see Ferrero Rocher as well as some other fine Italian products on display. Casa Italia will be open daily to the public between Feb 6 - 28th from noon until 6pm daily. The pavilion is only one block north of the LiveCity Yaletown and should therefore be a popular destination will locals and visitors alike.Granville Island
Located just south of the downtown, this popular tourist attraction will become the place to celebrate Canada’s French heritage. There will be two pavilions, a French bistro and pub, as well as a stage for concerts. They also intend on creating an "artists' alley" like Rue Sainte-Anne in Quebec City. Be sure to visit Place de la Francophie. This little "French Quarter" will offer visitors a cornucopia of activities including shows featuring Canadian and international performers, a sports pub, a farmer’s market, tourism circuits and trails and many exhibits of works by francophone artists. More than just a meeting spot, visitors to Place de la Francophonie will delight in the ongoing festive atmosphere while discovering the cultural and artistic wealth of the country. It runs from Feb 11-28 and the hours of operation are Exhibits: 11am to 8pm; Shows: 6pm to midnight; Club Adrénaline: 11am to midnight; Events: Beginning at noon. You can get there by taking the free streetcar from the Olympic Canada Line Station to Granville Island. Vancouver's famous False Creek water taxis will also provide transportation across the water during the Games. Expect this site to be extremely popular so get there early and take transit if you can.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Adventure in Style
I am still a backpacker at heart and still prefer ‘adventure travel’ – small group, low impact, lots of time for independent exploring etc but just not interested so much in roughing it to the same degree as I used to. If you are of the same mind then you may also like to consider an adventure holiday with a little extra style and comfort. This could include staying at a converted Maharajah’s palace while exploring Rajasthan, a cool Riad in Morocco, or a top end tented camp in Botswana, private luxury lodges trekking to Everest base camp, staying in monastery cave hotels while hiking in Cappadocia or a cruise down the Nile on a traditional Dahabiya. After an active day this is the perfect wind down.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Antarctica The Most Popular Destination
TOP 10 - Antarctica can appropriately claim to be the "coolest" desination in the world, according to a ranking by iExplore based on sales of its holiday packages.
Egypt had the top-of-list distinction for the past four years, but not this year when it took the second spot, says iExplore ( iExplore.com),deemed by Forbes and Travel & Leisure magazines as the "best adventure travel website." New to the list are Jordan and Australia, bumping Vietnam and Japan off the list.
"Antarctica has emerged as the number one selling destination this year. Many of our clients tell us that they feel a sense of urgency to travel there, due to the threat of global warming," says Amanda Sundt, head of marketing for iExplore.comin a press release.
Following is the list of most popular destinations with their 2008 ranking in brackets:
1. Antarctica (#4)
2. Egypt (#1)
3. Peru (#3)
4. Jordan (not ranked)
5. South Africa (#9)
6. Costa Rica (#5)
7. Thailand (#2)
8. China (#8)
9. Australia (not ranked)
10. India (#6)
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