Gadling

With the 2009 turnover has come new beginnings and changes that have influenced the travel world. Some changes began to happen a few years to thousands of years ago.

• Jeremy who struggles with change on laundry day, discusses the lack of coins problem in Argentina, an issue that has been exaserbated by the economy.
• As a postive change, Brenda highlighted a recent move by President Bush. He announced this week that three marine monuments have been created in the Pacific Ocean in order to protect the environment. Yes, it's true, Shon. It was Bush, the guy in the White House. (Shon left a comment on Brenda's post. We love comments.)
• In his post on Australia's Monash University's new Web site, Aaron points describes how you can find out how the Earth's physical appearance has changed over thousands of years as ice has melted by using the interactive map.
• As tourism to Cambodia continues to rise, changes are happening in its travel landscape. Tom delves into the country's ecotourism efforts.
• Scott's post on the first passenger airplane from Europe to land in Baghdad over the last 18 years, hopefully, indicates positive changes to come. The charter plane from Sweden had mostly Iraqis on board. They now live in Europe.

This week also marked the beginning of Gadling's month long Budget Travel series where we point you towards places that might help you keep more change in your pocket. Check every Monday through Friday for new destinations. So far we've covered: Baltimore, Amsterdam, The Lake Effect Wine Trail, San Francisco, and Butte, Montana.

Also, don't miss the posts of Jon Bowermaster, Gadling's latest guest blogger who is writing posts from Antarctica. Each week there will be something to learn and enjoy from Jon's intimate connection. He first went to Antarctica twenty years ago as part of an international dog sled team.

Summary: Butte, a town in the southwestern part of Montana, began as a group of gold and silver mining camps in the 1870s. When copper mining boomed, it grew into one of the wealthiest spots in the United States. During WW I, Butte was called "The Richest Hill on Earth." Never mind that Jon Stewart's the "Daily Show" made fun of Butte a couple years ago. It's one of those towns with a unique place in American history that is evident at every corner.

The reason for the Daily Show fun-poking is the Berkeley Pit, the now shut down open copper mine. When the mine closed, it resulted in a lake of toxic water that has since become a tourist attraction. Like I said, never mind that. Butte, unlike what the Daily Show reported, has much to offer the traveler who is looking for a wonderful time that is easy on the wallet. For that reason, Butte has been experiencing quite the tourist boom over the past few years. This is a town that blends hard scrabble and artsy--the old with the new.

As people have discovered Butte's charm and splendor, some have moved here bringing their money with them. Historic brick and stone Victorian-style buildings have been lovingly restored, and Butte's can-do spirit has thrived. Evel Knievel was born and raised here, for example. Still, this is a city where laid back might as well be its middle name. You can walk to most places of interest, although, hopefully, you're fond of walking up long hills. Butte has a doozey.

Heather Poole, Gadling's very own flight attendant who knows the moves to take care of herself and everyone else on a loaded plane, brought this China Daily article to our attention. In China, a flight attendant who two guys had kidnapped, got away by using the anti-hijacking techniques she learned in flight attendant training.

The attendant, an employee of Shanghai Airlines, learned -- in preparation for the Beijing Olympics -- how to stay calm, act obedient, keep the kidnappers engaged, discretely untie a rope, and make a run for it when the kidnappers weren't paying attention to her. According to the story, one of the men got into her car at a green light and forced her to pick up another man at a different location.

They took her bank card and her pin number. Her quick thinking probably saved her life. It turns out that, last July, these two guys killed a woman motorist they had kidnapped. This was discovered after she told the police what had happened and they were able to apprehend this pair.

As this story points out, one that is corroborated by Heather's Galley Gossip post on recurrent flight attendant training, flight attendants know the moves that make a difference in air travel. Maybe their theme song ought to be "Kung Fu Fighting." Everyone knows Kung Fu fighting, fast as lightening ... although in this case, rope skills and calm were the key ingredients.

"Ah, geez!" said my son, throwing himself back on his bed when I mistakenly told him about the new booster seat laws two nights ago at lights out. He just turned 7. In his mind, this is an invitation for older kids to tease him.

Starting in February, it's back into a booster seat for him. In Ohio, the governor just signed a bill that requires children to be in a booster seat until age 8--or until they reach 4-feet 9-inches tall, the magic height when a seat belt will fit them properly. I heard about this change on the radio on my way home. According to what I heard, what was written about the law back in December currently holds.

The law, as it was signed, says that a police officer can't pull over a motorist for the booster seat violation unless there is another reason to stop the vehicle. Failure to yield, faulty lights, driving while drunk, etc., etc., etc. Even though the law will be in effect in February, there is a grace period where drivers only will get a warning. After that, tickets will be given. The fines will vary from $25 to $75. Different counties will decide how much the fine will be.

Because I live in Columbus, this story ended up on Wednesday night's local news. As I listened to the report, this is what I picked up.

At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, two guys heading for a Southwest flight at Port Columbus International Airport saw a pilot who seemed like he had been drinking at the security check point and decided to intervene. First, they told TSA officials that they were concerned, and then told the pilot when they thought he was heading to their gate that he reeked of alcohol and shouldn't be drinking and flying.

According to them, the pilot ran off to the bathroom where he changed his uniform jacket for a civilian one. The pilot called in sick from the bathroom and later explained to the airport police who questioned him in the bathroom that he wasn't drunk, but that he had been partying hard the day before.

Haven't you had a day that has felt like this? ultraclay, who took this shot in Paris as part of a Honeymoon Set, didn't specify where this statue is located. Regardless, I'm intrigued by contrast between the soft, airy quality of the sky and the despair illustrated by the figure's stance. This photo is one example how to provide interest by the angle you choose. In this case, the statue looms and my emotions feel stirred.

If you have a shot that has stirred you, stir us and send it our way to the Gadling Flickr Photo Pool. It might be chosen as Photo of the Day.

The moral of this story seems to be, if you're going to use a person as a decoy for a famous person, ask first. Don't just pick the person out of a crowd and let her or him be surrounded by paparazzi while the celebrity gets to trot off without being noticed.

This is exactly what happened to Adessa Eskridge, a woman from Ohio who happened to look a bit like Jamie Lynn Spears, AND, as fate would have it, be on Jamie Lynn's flight. I wrote about this and similar celebrity excitement that goes on at LAX in a post last September. Back then, I didn't know the story behind this story.

While Eskridge was minding her own business, just being her pretty self, the LA police noticed her, and according to this article, surrounded Eskridge as she got off the airplane. The eight or nine officers directed her to keep her glasses on and led her to baggage claim where the paparazzi snapped her picture. In the meantime, Jamie Lynn was able to trot off with her new baby without anyone noticing.

According to Eskridge, the police didn't tell her what they were up to until right before the moment the paparazzi swooped in. Even though she was beyond confused, she went along with them. After the incident, Eskridge decided she's not too pleased to have been used in this way. It caused her mental anguish and upset. As a result, she wants the LA police department to pay her more than $100,000 for her efforts. If the police department won't pay up, she's suing.

For chefs who pride themselves on the artful presentation of their culinary artistry, and people who enjoy looking at their food, probably blindfolded dining is not for them. For anyone who is into a culinary adventure that taps into all other senses but sight, head to the Grill Room restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since October, diners have been able to experience this more unusual way to enjoy their food.

According to executive chef Malcom Webster, dining while blindfolded gives diners the chance to fully experience the various textures, flavors and aromas of the five-course meal. With each course, a new wine is served to further heighten the experience. During the entire time, diners don't know what they are eating. I do wonder if someone stands by to coach a person who is having a hard time directing his or her fork.

"No, a little to the left sir. There you go. Nope, smaller bite. That's it. No, your mouth is a little more to the right."

Recognizing that there are hazards to such an experience, coffee is not part of the meal. I'd add that I'd avoid wearing white. Think of red wine. Even with my sight, I once knocked over a glass of red wine in an upscale restaurant in Albuquerque, sloshing it onto the plate glass window.

This dining experience costs £60 per person. If having someone blindfold you gives you the willies, you can try dining in the dark at Dans Le Noir in London. There the whole dining room is dark. How do the waiters see to bring the food, I wonder? "Ooops, sorry Ma'm."

As you can see from the picture taken by curran.kelleher, you can turn any dining experience into a blindfolded one. This one was at some event in Rüdesheim, Germany. [www.tandorimagazine.com]

Taking a cue from airlines like Northwest and US Airways that charge more for certain aisle and exit seats to increase revenue, some performing arts theaters are doing the same. According to this AP article, some theaters have found patrons willing to cough up as much as an extra $25 to sit in an aisle seat.

Although I can see that the extra cash comes in handy for the theatrical companies who are finding ways to make ends meet, there's a certain aspect of this practice that I find annoying. When you buy theater tickets you already pay according to where you would like to sit--orchestra seats as opposed to the balcony, for example. And just because you've paid for an orchestra seat, doesn't mean your seat is all that great.

After my summer Amtrak trip between Cleveland and New York City, I became a train fan. I couldn't find one negative thing to say about it except that train travel is elusive to many because of the schedule and the fact there just aren't that many train routes.

There is another train route to start on February 9 which should make some folks happy. The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) will take people between Penn Station to Atlantic City, NJ for $50 round-trip in coach class. If you want a jazzier ride, pay $75 for first class. As a bonus aspect of the service, it also includes shuttle service to three different casinos: Bogata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah's Resort. These ticket prices are introductory, so if you don't go soon, you'll be paying more.

This rail project has been in the works for awhile, and according to the USA Today article from 2007, the casinos are footing the bill. Part of the motivation behind the new service is to entice younger New Yorkers (20 to 30 year-olds) to head to Atlantic City. For these folks, the bus wasn't cutting it.

Depending upon your gambling habits, this could be a great day trip during the grey, sloshy months of winter when a bit of glitter and glitz could add a pick-me up to an otherwise gloomy feeling afternoon--or add a night or two for a fun weekend.