Virgin Galactic space tourist drops bid to fly like an astronaut

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Venture capitalist Alan Walton has trekked to the North Pole, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and skydived over Mount Everest. A hop into space to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness would have been the ultimate adventure.

After waiting seven years to fly aboard Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceline, Walton gave up on the dream and asked for a $200,000 ticket refund on his 75th birthday this past spring.

Walton, who was among the first 100 customers to sign up, is not as spry as he used to be, and he's concerned about the project delays.

"This was a decision I wish I didn't have to make," he said recently. But "it was time."

Promises of space travel for the masses reached a euphoric pitch in 2004 when the experimental SpaceShipOne air-launched over the Mojave Desert and became the first privately financed, manned spacecraft to dash into space. It won the $10 million Ansari X Prize on Oct. 4, 2004, for accomplishing the feat twice in two weeks.

The flights were hailed by space enthusiasts as a leap toward opening the final frontier to civilians.

Virgin Galactic, which licensed the SpaceShipOne technology, began taking reservations before a commercial version was even built. Branson predicted back then that the maiden passenger flight would take off in 2007.

Other private rocketeers hunkered down in their hangars and sketched out designs to compete with Virgin Galactic. Soon a cottage industry rose. While there's been progress made — most are in the testing stage — there's still no launch date.

"It's tough," said Erika Wagner of the X Prize Foundation, which sponsored the 2004 contest. "We've seen slower progress than a lot of people would have liked."

Human spaceflight so far has been restricted to governments and a handful of wealthy thrill-seekers who have plunked down millions of dollars to hitch rides aboard Russian rockets to the International Space Station, which circles the Earth 250 miles high.

Instead of flying all the way to orbit, current space tourism efforts are focused on suborbital trips using vehicles designed to rocket up to the edge of space then immediately descend rather than circle the Earth. Virgin Galactic promises flights to altitudes of at least 62 miles with a few minutes of weightlessness. Cost per head ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 — far cheaper than the trips to orbit but still pricey.

Besides Virgin Galactic, other players include XCOR Aerospace headed by rocketeer Jeff Greason; Armadillo Aerospace founded by computer game programmer John Carmack; and Blue Origin headed by Amazon.com chief executive Jeff Bezos.

The companies are privately held and do not answer to shareholders. As a result, details about progress are hard to come by. Scaled Composites, which designed SpaceShipOne and is building a passenger version for Virgin Galactic, is publicity-shy, but posts results of test flights on its website.

Blue Origin is the most tight-lipped. The company didn't disclose a recent accident until a week after it happened. Even now, details about what failed during the test flight are sketchy.

Except for Blue Origin, the space tourism players are separate from those vying to build space taxis to the International Space Station under a NASA contract.

John Gedmark, executive director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, a trade group that represents suborbital and orbital space companies, is pleased with the testing despite the longer-than-expected time frame to get off the ground.

"Everything in aerospace always takes longer that you originally think," he said.

Scaled Composites, considered by many in the industry as the front-runner, has been conducting glide tests in the Mojave Desert since last year. The project suffered a setback in 2007 after a deadly explosion during testing to develop the propellant flow system for the hybrid rocket motor.

Virgin Galactic chief executive George Whitesides said he expected powered test flights to begin sometime next year. Commercial service will start up after the company gets a license from the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.

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Partnership wants to boost tourism between Seoul, NYC

CRISTIAN SALAZAR Associated Press

9:17 a.m. CDT, October 4, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's got Seoul.

Seeing potential in attracting more travelers from Asia, the city's tourism agency announced a partnership Monday with the government of the South Korean capital to spark more cultural and recreational visits between the two metropolises.

The partnership also was announced at a news conference at Seoul City Hall.

As part of the agreement, an advertising campaign will appear in the entertainment and shopping districts of both cities. More than 130 posters in Seoul will promote travel to New York City; 70 posters in the city will encourage New Yorkers to visit Seoul. Digital ads for Seoul also will appear in Times Square.

In addition, Korean Air is offering a discount on flights between Seoul and New York City for a limited time. The airfare, starting at $1,295 for Seoul-bound flights, must be purchased by Oct. 31 for travel between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012. The period includes major winter holidays, as well as the Lunar New Year.

George Fertitta, chief executive of NYC & Company, said the two cities have much in common.

"Both are global leaders of business, innovation, design and style," he said in prepared remarks. "Both are pop culture capitals."

The partnership is NYC & Company's first with an Asian country. It previously formed partnerships with London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Miami.

NYC & Company said travel from South Korea to the United States rose 49 percent last year. About 223,000 South Koreans visited New York City in 2010. Among them, about 60 percent visited for leisure and 40 percent to see friends or relatives.

More than 650,000 traveled from the U.S. to visit Seoul, a city of almost 10 million.

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10 spas worth barking about

Tribune Newspapers

October 2, 2011

Top pet-friendly spa resorts, according to SpaFinder.com (tinyurl.com/68yju8v):

1 Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, Pa.

2 Las Ventanas al Paraiso — A Rosewood Resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

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• Miami Hotels
• Personal Service
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• Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, 1001 Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA 15437, USA
• Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
• L'Auberge Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA
• Miami, FL, USA
• 7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, USA
• Floyd, VA 24091, USA
• San Diego, CA, USA
• Bluffton, SC, USA

3 L'Auberge Del Mar, Del Mar, Calif.

4 Loews Coronado Bay, San Diego

5 Hotel Monaco, various locations in U.S.

6 The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami

7 Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, Ariz.

8 Miracle Farm Bed & Breakfast, Spa & Resort, Floyd, Va.

9 Epic Hotel — a Kimpton Hotel, Miami

10 Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C.

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Bulky item? You can Handle 'it'

Handle "it" helps you wrangle unruly loads. (Photo courtesy Handle "it")

By Judi Dash Special to the Los Angeles Times

7:30 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2011

Such a simple concept, such a boon for beleaguered travelers

Handle “it” is two adjustable 8-foot straps and a heavy-duty plastic handle that work together so you can carry big boxes or bundles at the airport, to the train or car without juggling the load in your arms.

The straps, which can be used parallel or perpendicular to each other around a bundle, extend to hold packages of varying shapes and sizes. Depending on the bundle, they may even hold a bunch of boxes or other items taut enough to check in as is at the airport.

Handle “it” costs $29.99.

Info: Handle "it"

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Hawaii debut

Even as Disney celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Central Florida kingdom, it rolls out something new in the company portfolio: a resort in Hawaii that actually goes light on the Disney brand.

KO OLINA, Hawaii — The new Aulani hotel on Oahu sets out to replace the cliches of tiki torches, totem poles, bamboo furniture and tacky luaus with a resort that celebrates Hawaii's history, traditions and cultures sprinkled with just a small dose of Disney's trademark pixie dust.

A modern take on a Hawaiian resort that puts a premium on tradition, the $800 million Aulani in Ko Olina on the southwest coast of Oahu opened in late August with 359 hotel rooms, 460 time-share units, two restaurants, two bars, a spa and a conference center. The official grand opening was Sept. 22.

Though this premise seems more than just a bit ironic for a company that has built its brand on fairy-tale fantasy, Disney manages to pull it off with style, grace and beauty, resulting in a modern Hawaiian resort that delivers on its promise and its considerable marquee name.

The 21-acre resort, about 30 minutes from Waikiki, is worlds apart in look, feel and spirit from that tourist mecca of high-rise cement monoliths.

As I approached the Aulani with my wife, Nancy, and daughter, Hannah, 11, the rock and timber porte-cochere extended from the tallest of three A-frame thatch huts that serve as the hotel lobby.

Above, a pair of towers rose like modern interpretations of a Hawaiian fishing village — if fishermen could build a 15-story hotel.

Just inside, telephone pole-size timbers supported the cathedrallike vaulted ceiling that arches to a point. Geometric-patterned mats filled in the gaps between the spines to maintain the thatched-roof feel. Lights dangled from above in clusters of fishing nets like luminescent jellyfish. A verdant ribbon mural depicting island life wrapped the perimeter.

The open-air lobby was decorated with symbolic Hawaiian elements. Outside the lobby, a balcony overlooked the lush grounds with the pool (more like a water park) and the Pacific just beyond.

Water plays a central role, from the pool and the sunset-facing hot tubs to the saltwater snorkeling pool and the adult and youth spas.

The centerpiece of the Aulani's pool is Pu'u Kilo, a man-made volcanic outcropping with hidden stingrays, squid and crabs carved into the lava rock. Two water slides — one a zippy body slide through the dark and the other an inner-tube slide with plenty of airtime — start at the top of the peak.

Hannah's favorite part of the Aulani pool complex was the 900-foot-long lazy river that wound through misty caverns, under footbridges and around the resort's lush tropical grounds.

My favorite spot was the sunset-facing hot tubs, one cascading into the other. It was a great place to decompress while sipping a tropical cocktail. I was at my most relaxed just leaning on the edge of the pool, peering off at the horizon.

The most unique aspect of the Aulani's pool area was the saltwater Rainbow Reef snorkeling lagoon, an 8-foot-deep pool filled with 1,000 angelfish, tangs and butterfly fish.

It was the perfect introduction for a first-time snorkeler like Hannah and a second-time amateur like myself.

An all-day fee ($20 for adults, $10 for kids) included use of the snorkel equipment in the protected cove just beyond the Aulani's beach.

Nancy had been looking forward to the resort's Laniwai Spa, which offered massage therapies ranging from therapeutic, herbal and hot stone to shiatsu, Thai and traditional Hawaiian. She also opted for the $45 access pass that allowed her access to the vitality pools, "rain" showers and outdoor hydrotherapy garden.

As for the rooms, you pay according to the view — standard, island, poolside, partial ocean or ocean. The island-view rooms offer rolling green panoramas of Oahu's undisturbed countryside, save the midrise hotels to either side of the Aulani.

All the resort's hotel rooms measure in at a comfortable 382 square feet, with 16 suites ranging from 764 to 1,910 square feet.

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On the trail of the white truffle festival

SANT'AGATA FELTRIA, Italy — The clouds and fog are hanging so low and the rain so heavy that we can barely see. We blindly follow the GPS up the single winding mountain road that leads to Sant'Agata Feltria.

With the same focus and tenacity as foraging pigs, my husband and I are on the hunt for white truffles.

This small medieval village is the home of the National White Truffle Fair held every Sunday in October.

When we reach our destination, we're met by throngs of people holding colorful umbrellas — undaunted by the weather. If you've ever tasted paper-thin white truffles over fresh pasta, you can understand the unbridled passion of aficionados of the rare and pricey tuber. (Historically, it's been purported to be an aphrodisiac.)

Most people associate white truffles with Alba in Piedmont, where a legendary trade fair is held each autumn. Compared with that, this one is less commercial and more like a county fair. The cobblestone streets are lined with small booths, at which farmers and artisans proudly display truffles, mushrooms, chestnuts, cheeses, honey, wines and handicrafts.

The white truffle appears in many forms: fresh and in oils, pastes, purees, butters, vinegars, grappa and salts. In the small town square, the butcher's case is filled with truffled meats; the cheese store has hard and soft cheese with truffles.

The festival has been in operation for more than 25 years. Each year, judges select the truffle that is best in show, based on quality and size. The 2010 winner weighed in at a whopping 580 grams (more than a pound), with a value estimated at $2,500-$4,000.

An enormous tent is set up for lunch, seating 600 people at a time at long tables. Four restaurants offer a variety of tempting plates for less than $10. We try three dishes: tagliatelle al tartufo, risotto al tartufo and gnocchi ai funghi.

After lunch, we stroll on one of the paths leading to the castle. We succumb to our appetites again, pausing to taste some warm, freshly made bomboloni (pastries made from fried dough with custard filling).

The National White Truffle Fair at Sant'Agata Feltria, Sundays in October, prolocosantagatafeltria.com or winefoodemiliaromagna.com.

If you go

National White Truffle Fair at Sant'Agata Feltria Sundays in October.

Prolocosantagatafeltria.com or Emilia Romagna wine and food events at winefoodemiliaromagna.com Sant'Agata Feltria, Italy

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2 months after riots, all is almost well in London

London riots (Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

By June Sawyers, Special to Tribune Newspapers

2:17 p.m. CDT, September 27, 2011

LONDON — The headlines were shocking, the images sickening. The widespread rioting, looting and arson in early August here and in several other English cities recalled the work of two 20th century novels, William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" and Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange," come very much to full-blown, 21st century life.

Now, nearly two months later, those disturbing events seem long ago. After recently spending three days and nights in London walking its streets and taking the tube, the capital seems to have returned to normal.

And yet the aftereffects are still evident. News reports on the riots were frequent: an 11-year-old boy who participated in the rioting was sentenced to an 18-month sentence for looting; a headline, "Stash of weapons seized by police," flashed quickly across the Jumbotron screen at King's Cross railway station; Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited London's Tottenham neighborhood, where the riots began. Inquiries were being conducted into the origins of the riots even as London's wild-haired mayor, Boris Johnson, warned that rioters should not be "abandoned" by the system but rather "rehabilitated."

The media reports served as background chatter for those who wished to listen. It was just as easy to ignore them altogether. The buses and trains ran as usual, the iconic London taxicabs weaved in and out of clogged traffic, patrons packed into the Duchess Theatre on a weekday night to see American comedian Ruby Wax's hilarious show "Losing It"; bartenders served up pints of beer and ale; and tourists read dog-eared copies of "London A to Z" outside city-center hotels.

Unless prompted, no one seemed to want to discuss current events. When asked his response, Adam Ford, an Anglican priest and author of "The Art of Mindful Walking," referred to the riots as "an aberration." Indeed, to the unsuspecting eye the only obvious evidence that something terrible occurred was the jarring sight of two police officers on the street near Kensington Palace carrying automatic weapons.

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