Tourist guide

Since Virgin Galactic’s Sir Richard Branson and Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos flew into space last month, the question of how to train for such an experience has become a priority. It’s been a long time coming, but suborbital space tourism is now a reality.

The beauty of waiting over a decade for my own VG flight was that there was a lot of time to train for it. While training is not required – VG works in their Future Astronaut Program a few days of prep at Spaceport America in New Mexico before the flight – I thought about designing my own regimen to mimic the actual experience as best I could. could. That way when my seat number pops up – I should be on Flight 102, if not sooner – I’ll know what to expect. In my opinion, there are three main areas to be aware of: the extreme air speed and altitude, the weightlessness and the intense G forces felt during takeoff and reentry.

To get a feel for the supersonic speed and the high altitude views, I traveled to Russia for a flight to the edge of space in a MiG-25 Foxbat fighter jet. We were supposed to reach an altitude of 84,000 feet. Up there, nearly a third of the height of VG’s SpaceShipTwo, the darkness of space, the curvature of the Earth, and the thin atmosphere hanging over the planet are said to be visible. Sure enough, when we reached climax, the band of air enveloping the planet was incredibly thin – a curved sliver of blue-violet light against a black background. To reach this level, we had to reach Mach 2.6, a little over two and a half times the speed of sound. VG’s SS2 peaked a bit above Mach 3, so we were pretty close. It was difficult to judge the speed, because the higher you climbed, the fewer reference points you could see.

Then there was a zero-G flight in an Ilyushin-76 (the equivalent of the American “emetic comet” KC-135 in which NASA astronauts train), still in Russia. In bursts of 30 seconds each on the diving part of the parabolic flight, you are completely in zero gravity and learn to face the unknown environment. My first instinct when I was floating was to breaststroke towards something, like when I was a lifeguard when I was a teenager. Bad move. Since we were in the air, not in the water, I didn’t go anywhere. You learn that in order to head in a particular direction, it has to push something, and then it will move unimpeded in the opposite direction of the push. It was also cool to open a bottle of Evian, say, and then try to catch the water marbles coming out of the top in your mouth. We flew a total of 10 dishes in zero gravity. I can see why they call these planes “vomit comets”. If we had done another one I probably would have fallen ill, as did three of our group.

Finally, I went to train, this time in the United States, in the NASTAR centrifuge near Philadelphia, PA. The circular apparatus, which spins like a giant “clock hand” with the test subject in a sort of crucible at the end, is able to simulate G forces similar to those that will be experienced in VG flight, with a maximum of 6 G, or six times its body weight. We have learned to breathe with essentially the weight of a small elephant on our chests, using what is called the “hook maneuver” (look upwards) to keep the blood in the upper torso. It’s not easy, but it works. So I won’t be surprised and will be ready to deal with similar G forces encountered in SS2. And, believe me, we will experience them.

By the way, the fifty or so astronauts I’ve interviewed over the years, including Sen. John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin, all say to focus on the view from space, not the weightlessness, the speed of the craft or the G forces. Seeing the Earth up there is supposed to be life changing. I got a little taste of it in the MiG, and can’t wait to see it from above. Let’s light this candle and start this party!

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This article originally appeared on Goldleaf and appears here with permission.

The final months of 2018 saw Canada legalize the recreational use of cannabis for its citizens. Tourists can also participate in the new legal cultivation of cannabis in the Great White North. Before you go out and buy your plane ticket, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the details of how legalization works in Canada.

Canada’s recreational market

Although cannabis is legal in all Canadian provinces, its sale is heavily regulated. Legal cannabis can only be sold through government-owned and regulated dispensaries (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) or a combination of government and corporate stores private (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador). Several provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, have dedicated online cannabis retailing with varying levels of age authentication. Alberta requires personal information that it will verify before creating an account. British Columbia and Ontario use a more lax verification method. Of course, to shop online you will need an address, so if you have a friend that you live with you may be better off ordering your cannabis in advance.

Find a dispensary

Of course, if you are a genuine cannabis tourist, you will want the physical ‘kid in a candy store’ experience. Depending on the province you visit, you will either have great difficulty or no difficulty in finding a dispensary. Canada has about 360 dispensaries, including planned locations that have yet to open. By comparison, the state of Colorado has over 560 cannabis stores. Of the 183 locations that were actually open at the start of 2019, 65 of them were in Alberta.

Consumption

One of the strangest aspects of Canadian legalization are laws restricting where cannabis can be used. Many provinces (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon) prohibit consumption in any public space, including those where smoking is permitted. In these provinces, the consumption of any cannabis product is only permitted on private property. Even so, most hotels, Airbnbs, apartments, condos, and the like do not allow cannabis consumption in or around their properties. The whole situation isn’t exactly tourist-friendly, but if you have a friend who owns a property, they’ll probably let you smoke somewhere on it. Otherwise, your best bet is to simply find a sufficiently secluded spot outside and do what you love. Remember to be a green tourist and not to leave any waste where you end up smoking.

Not all provinces are particularly restrictive. In British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, the rules for cannabis use are similar to those for tobacco, with some additional restrictions (no smoking in cars or boats, near schools or playgrounds, or in any place frequented by children). The current regulations in Quebec reflect in all respects the use of tobacco in the province; However, that may change in the future, so be sure to take a look at the latest legislation before you go.

Legal age

Canadian age regulations for who can buy and consume cannabis vary by province. Alberta and Quebec are currently the lowest at 18, although Quebec could change their age to 21. Most provinces have set the limit at 19 years.

Three favorite destinations

What was once a Hershey’s Chocolate Factory is now one of Canada’s leading licensed cannabis producers. Known for its refinement of existing cultivars and its selection of new genetics, Tweed sets the standard for Canadian cannabis. Better yet, their visitor center offers cannatourists the opportunity to visit their grow rooms and learn more about the science and history of cannabis.

The Hotbox Lounge is Toronto’s premier cannabis lounge. They offer a patio known as “Potio” where you can consume cannabis on nice days and a steam room available year-round (ideal during Canada’s freezing winters). The Hotbox Lounge has music and special events every night, so be sure to stop by during the evenings if you prefer to enjoy your cannabis in a lively atmosphere.

This premier dispensary is located in the heart of Calgary’s trendy and historic Inglewood neighborhood. The staff at Aylmer Nelson are some of the most knowledgeable and friendliest customers in the North – or anywhere else. While Alberta offers more options when it comes to cannabis than anywhere else in Canada, you can’t go wrong visiting Aylmer Nelson.

The last word

Everything listed above is just a taste of what Canada has to offer. The country is constantly advancing and as the cannabis scene evolves there will likely be even more places specifically designed for the cannabis tourism crowd.

With all the information we have given you, all you have to do is book your tickets and start practicing your Canadian accent, eh!

Original message from Jake Cressy

Read the original article on Goldleaf

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In 2006, when Bob Kunz was making his debut on the beer scene in Los Angeles, he made a list of all the breweries he could apply to for a job. His magic number? Five.

“These were the only five I could find in LA,” he said in a previous interview with Forbes. “If there was more than that, it was less than ten.”

Kunz now runs Highland Park Brewery, one of the city’s most renowned operations, joining over 150 other breweries in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. In LA, there is something for everyone. The city has been recognized as one of my own ‘Top Five Beer Cities of 2019’ and is frequently visited by tourists from all over the world for its robust drink scene.

Ready to book your flight? Here’s how a Forbes writer would spend his day shopping around from the airport beer to downtown LA.

Brewing Company of the Three Weavers

1031 W Manchester Blvd AB, Inglewood, California 90301

Just an eight-minute drive from the Los Angeles Airport is Three Weavers Brewing Company, one of the largest independent breweries in Los Angeles County. Founded by Lynne Weaver (go to the women founders!) In 2013 and run by master brewer Alex Nowell (go to the women brewers!), The brewery recently joined the CANarchy Brewery Collective, which includes Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beer and Wasatch Brewery, and Deep Ellum Brewing.

What does this mean to you ? If you’re into Three Weavers beer, the brewery is probably not going anywhere anytime soon, and CANarchy’s geographically diverse portfolio could mean opportunities for expanded distribution in the near future. For a taste of the West Coast, try the Expat IPA.

Firestone Walker Propagator

3205 Washington Blvd., Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Twenty minutes north of Three Weavers is the Firestone Walker Propagator, an outpost of one of the MAs of the California craft beer community. Currently one of the largest breweries in the United States, Firestone Walker makes Pale Ale, once named “America’s Best Beer” by the Men’s Journal. While the Pale Ale is tasty and the Propagator has a host of unique and creative beers, you’ll want something crisp and refreshing after getting off the plane. We therefore recommend a Firestone Walker Lager or a classic Pivo Pils. If you are hungry this would also be a great place to grab a pizza.

Modern Day Dankness Dojo

832 S Olive St, Los Angeles, California 90014

NOW you will have the chance to experience this famous LA traffic. But don’t worry – the 30 minutes between the Firestone Walker Propagator and the Modern Times Dankness Dojo isn’t a long ride, and from there it’s going to be pretty smooth sailing. With several arts-focused taprooms on the West Coast, Modern Times is the tour of choice for anyone interested in design (their walls are COVERED with art installations), and their coffee program rivals even that of roasters. local. Grab one of their dark beers like Black House and a bag of cask-aged coffee beans for the road.

Mumford Brewery

416 Boyd Street, Los Angeles, California 90013

In 2015, brothers Peter and Todd Mumford quietly started Mumford Brewing, which quickly became one of the city’s most respected independent craft breweries. For those interested in hazy IPAs, this is your place, although the brewery likes to build muscle by creating a variety of styles. Think barley wines, lagers and stouts, among others. Still, you can’t go wrong with something like Skimboard Stylee, Soundpieces or Oddestly, all IPAs produced by Mumford.

Highland Park Brewery – Chinatown

1220 N Spring St, Los Angeles, California 90012

Highland Park Brewery has quite a history of origin. The incredible space of North Spring Street is just its next chapter. What started as one of the smallest production breweries in the country is now a beautiful space bathed in natural light, right next to David Chang’s Majordomo. The brewery specializes in IPAs and lagers, so try either style. Can we recommend America’s Preference, a low blood alcohol pilsner? And maybe Chang Restaurant for dinner?

Udaipur: In a major breakthrough, Udaipur police arrested four young people for the murder of a 30-year-old tour guide.
Anurag Patwa aka Janu worked as a tour guide in Delhi while his family resided in Udaipur.
On Wednesday morning, his body was found in an isolated location on Kodiyat Road below the area of ​​the Nai Police Station.
Police could not identify the body because the killers took away his cell phone, purse and other personal belongings.
Later, when his photo was posted on social media, the body was identified by some of his acquaintances and the family was notified.
“The father of the deceased told us that Janu had come to Udaipur two days ago. Tuesday night he was sitting in his car until late at night and listening to music. Subsequently, he disappeared. The family also told us that Janu had been threatened by some people as part of a loan taken out a long time ago, ”another SP Anant Kumar told reporters.
Police interviewed all suspects, but none were found involved in the crime.
A special team led by dySP Prem Dhande, Girva Circle, Nai SHO Mukesh Soni, Surajpole SHO Ram Sumer was formed which brought together all the history leaflets of the city.
During questioning, a certain Alfez Mohammed (20), resident of the Malla Talai region, confessed to the murder with his friends Soyal (19) and Pratap Bhati (19), both residents of Ambamata. , and Gaurav Jeengar (20) from the Nai region.
“The defendants said they were drug addicts and planned to loot someone on the road to Kodiyat. They were wandering around when they saw Janu inside his car. One of them approached him and asked for a cigarette, while others stabbed him several times in the chest and neck, ”said ASP.
The accused moved the body to the back seat and went to a secluded location where he dumped the body and escaped with all of his personal effects and the car.

Last Sunday, VS Nagendra Prabu missed his weekly family reunion for the first time in two decades. Media interviews have kept him busy since a Canadian tourist catapulted him to stardom. “My family laughs at me because I have suddenly become so wanted. Only my mother understands, ”he says between disconnections of countless number of calls in an airy conversation with Metroplus in his house in Ellis Nagar.

Everyone now knows Prabu, the city guide who explains the nuances of Indian culture and our intangible heritage through classical dance steps to foreign tourists. A video of him taking foreign visitors through the history of Thirumalai Nayak Palace with graceful bharatanatyam and kathakali postures took the internet by storm three weeks ago.

“For years it has been our family ritual for us brothers and sisters – four brothers and two sisters – to have Sunday lunch with our respective families, as we all live nearby. But in the last 20 days, I haven’t even had time to speak with my wife and daughters, ”Prabu explains.

Prabu was about to leave for work that day when a travel agency informed him that his video was going viral. “I haven’t thought about it much because I’m not on social media,” he says, “until more people started texting and calling me congratulating me.”

From that day until now, Prabhu has given countless demonstrations of his rhythmic steps and movements to TV stations and the media, his smile not even fading for a moment. But what no one knows is his pain. Prabu suffered a spinal injury four years ago when he was struck by a bull at jallikattu in Avaniapuram.

“I was with four tourists from the UK and luckily they got away with it. But I was goaded from behind, lifted and thrown yards away, ”he recalls. The incident damaged both of his lumbar bones, subjected him to a year of treatment and eight months of forced bed rest. A few months ago, while he was lifting a flowerpot, he injured his back again and the pain returned. “But I can’t stop doing what I love to do,” Prabu says.

“I have been taking tourists to Madurai and Chettinad for 12 years and have gone a step further to explain things differently with mudras and abhinaya. But it’s only now that people recognize me as an artist, ”he adds.

The soft-spoken guide from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department says he is not a skilled dancer; but he knew he had it in him from his childhood. “I could easily get into a jig anywhere on any type of music. The expressions and communication came naturally to me, but both of my parents, teachers, were strict on academics, ”he says.

He was interested in history and after obtaining his Masters in Public Administration from Madurai Kamaraj University, he started working as a history teacher and changed four schools in seven years. “Although I enjoyed teaching, I was more involved in organizing the schools’ annual day programs and continued to move to where I found a vibrant atmosphere for cultural programs. “

If he was able to partly follow his childhood passion for music and dance, that was not enough. “I had this feeling of being incomplete and briefly switched to organic farming in my hometown of Nachikulam, near Sholavandan, until my brother, who was already an established tour guide, told me about it. suggested that I also join the profession, ”he says. “And there has never been a day of regret. Everything I liked and wanted to do converges on my profession as a guide. I found myself, ”he adds.

Prabu says he enjoys his job because it gives him the freedom to change tour packages. “Information on historical sites is now available in books and much more easily on the Internet. Therefore, I take my guests on experiential tours and make them happy, ”he says and likens his work to pizza. “The base provides information to tourists and all I do is an extra garnish.”

For example, if he takes a tour of the banana market with his customers, he will dance in a posture that looks like a banana tree or a flower, give details of the use: from the outer core fiber used as thread to the white stem juice for good health, the benefits of the fruit, and finally, offer them a meal on the leaf. If customers have the Tiruparankundram temple on their itinerary, he takes them to see the young priests learning Sanskrit. “Even though it’s not included in the program and weather permitting, I take guests to see the doll makers of Vilachery or to the Saurashtrian weaving colony to showcase our vibrant arts and crafts,” says- he.

Prabu believes that of the 70 or so accredited guides in Madurai, he is the only one who gives tourists a demonstration of his knowledge and skills. And in return, he earns respect and love.

As one of the few “English-only” language guides, Prabu says he’s handled groups as large as 70 tourists at a time. And he can’t forget a Dutch batch who helped him with home remedies when he caught a throat infection in the middle of a ten-day package tour. “And when they found out that my birthday was falling during the tour, they even bought me a plane ticket from Kochi to Madurai so that I didn’t waste time traveling and I could be with my family,” he said. he remembers.

He says he wants to continue to surpass himself; but never imagined that his work would earn him such recognition. “As an artist, I am more than ever enthusiastic about the idea of ​​performing better and guiding tourists in a more interesting way,” he adds. “But I always pinch myself to make sure this isn’t all a dream. People recognize me now and want selfies with me, ”Prabu says, unable to help but groove to the music.

The geological forces that created The Three Sisters are revealed in Paul Gorjan’s book, Geology of the Blue Mountains: Tourist Guide. Thebook was launched at Leura Uniting Church on August 11.

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Peoples and places: Tourist guide of geology. Photos: Mark Hills.

Offering a glimpse into the science of valleys in the landscape: Paul Gorjan at Sublime Point Lookout.

community, paul gorjan, geology of the blue mountains, blue mountains, katoomba, leura, marilla north, theira uniting church, jamison valley

Have you ever wondered about the geological forces that created Les Trois Sœurs? Paul Gorjan’s book Geology of the Blue Mountains: A Tourist’s Guide sheds light on this and other pieces of living evolutionary history written in the rocks of the Blue Mountains that saw this World Heritage listed landscape in 2000. “I came up here four years ago,” he said. “I have a background in geology, so obviously I was interested in the rocks around here, it’s a big attraction … A lot of tourists come … whether they know it or not, to see the geology.” I did not find any books available, “he added.” I found a few technical reports, but they are not readable to the average person. Her book offers insight into the science of valleys in the landscape. As Gorjan writes: “The Three Sisters were formed by the same processes that formed the rest of the Jamison Valley; softer layers of clay were eroded and the harder sandstone on the top tilted and then detached along the common planes. Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science post-doctoral fellowship to work on the study of mass extinctions at Tohoku University. He also worked as a researcher at the University of Washington in St. Louis. Mr. Gorjan’s talents also extend to art. He was a 2018 Gallipoli Art Prize finalist and produced the diagrams for the book. “Learning for me is consolidating my knowledge. READ MORE: Phil Spark of Lithgow has created structures that will be on display at Sydney Zoo Geology of the Blue Mountains: A Tourist’s Guide, A Geological Guide to Echo Point, Three Sisters Walk and Giant Stairway is available in the Mountains bookstores. The book will officially launch at Leura Uniting Church (Cnr of Grose and M egalong Streets) on Sunday, August 11 with a community snack from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Publisher Marilla North said that “The invaluable geological guide to the terrain of our magnificent Upper Blue Mountains is written in clear, precise language that anyone can understand, illustrated with diagrams that will help you read the history of the earth which is written in the rocks.” Email: [email protected] by RSVP Aug 9 READ MORE: Astronomer Ray Pickard looks back on 50 years since the first man walked the moon

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Have you ever wondered about the geological forces that created Les Trois Sœurs?

Offering a glimpse into the science of valleys in the landscape: Paul Gorjan at Sublime Point Lookout.

You might call it a digital sign of the times, but visitors to New Brunswick now receive the last printed copies of the provincial travel guide.

The emphasis is on online marketing and away from the booklet that has been used for generations.

Nevada resident Mike Gagnon says he never goes anywhere without picking up local tourist literature – in this case, The New Brunswick Travel Guide.

“It gives you the slogans to grab your attention,” Gagnon said. “It’s definitely old school, but you need something. There are things you can get online, but it gives you the little details and catches your eye. I really like these magazines.

Another Nevada resident, Arlene Sirois, says her copy is full of dog ears.

“We looked at them yesterday and decided which route we want to take today,” Sirois said.

Tour guide Nicolle Gray says the demand for “the guide” far exceeds tourism literature.

“People come here and they want something to hold in their hand,” Gray said. “We have a lot of others, but we don’t keep them very long. People come in straight in and they take them straight from the shelves. “

California resident Barry Brian, however, plans his tour of the Maritimes with little more than digital information.

“We’re going to customize our own itinerary based on that,” Brian said. “So the Internet is a wonderful source for this. “

Howard Heans, owner of a campground in Hardings Point, New Brunswick, says there are many things that should have been considered before this decision was made.

“Maybe you don’t have internet access,” Heans said. “There are holes in the Internet everywhere. You can always rely on the book.

It’s a book that dozens of New Brunswick tourism businesses advertise in every year, including Heans.

“This classified ad that I have cost maybe $ 3,500 a year, but it worked for us,” he said. “The things that work for you, you hate to lose them. “

The printed guide gets lost in the transition to online marketing. The government also expects to save over $ 600,000 in printing costs.

Massachusetts resident Dick Bauer says he would like to have a choice.

“Touring books, I like to look at them, but I also look at the internet,” he said. “But I wouldn’t be happy if I had to rely solely on the Internet.”

Some tourists also take them home and consider the book as a souvenir, or perhaps pass it on to a friend or relative.

Now this year’s edition can also be considered a collector’s edition.

With files from Mike Cameron of CTV Atlantic.