Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

World

Places to Stay: BYD Lofts Patong Beach

Aleksandr Shatskih

Situated Thailand’s largest Island, Patong Beach is a Phuket resort any visitor to this part of Asia simply must discover. And, what better way to enjoy this fascinating part of the world than at a chic boutique like BYD Lofts, our Monday places to stay focus? Check out one hidden gem set to make your Thai vacation all the more enjoyable. If you are planning travel to Phuket, a look at this luxury boutique stay can’t hurt.

Portimao Sardine Festival – A Portuguese Senses Feast

Aleksandr Shatskih

Running from 3 to 10 August in the colorful town of Portimao in western Algarve, the Sardine Festival 2012 greets visitors with plenty of music, theatre, dance, various art and comedy shows, sunshine and of course, the delicious grilled sardines served with homemade bread and Algarve salad.

Buy A Bit of Finland: Kerilandia

Aleksandr Shatskih

Chances are if you are reading this in English, or any language other than Finnish, Eastern Finland is largely a mystery to you. Even more mysterious, and beautiful too, the town of Kerimäki is a curiosity of inestimable value. News of people outside Finland becoming land owners is, about as magical as the place itself today. For the low, low price of $499, you too can be a proud land baron of Kerimäki.

World’s Largest Pinball Expo Comes to California

Aleksandr Shatskih

Alameda’s Pacific Pinball Museum (PPM) and Novato’s Pinball Revival Company have announced the Sixth Annual Pacific Pinball Exposition (PPE) to be held at the Marin County Civic Center Exhibition Hall in San Rafael, California, September 21-23, 2012. PPE attracts thousands of visitors as the world’s largest pinball exhibition over the three-day weekend. PPE is the primary fundraiser for the PPM.

Taitung Celebrates 2012 Taiwan Balloon Fiesta

Aleksandr Shatskih

The Taiwan Balloon Fiesta, an annual summer extravaganza hosted by the island’s eastern county of Taitung, launched its 2012 celebration Friday, June 29. The 47 participating pilots will showcase 21 hot air balloons from over 13 countries for the two-month festival. Through September 2, visitors to the isle of Formosa will enjoy witnessing freestyle performances by experts from the United States, Canada, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Spain, Thailand, India, the Netherlands and Brazil. Various balloon models will be debuted during the 2012 Taiwan Balloon Festival and many hot air balloon artists will offer special rides to audience members.

Pandemics and Other World Health Cataclysms

Aleksandr Shatskih

You don’t have to be a rabid conspiracy theorist to imagine calamity. For many people in the world, living today, calamity has been a fact of life. Just look at Fukushima residents, Japan as a whole, or dozens more places anyone could name. Nothing is more horrifying, and somehow interesting too, as the dynamic of human catastrophe. Maybe this fact is because we are often at our very best during such times.

Wyndham Names Joel Goldman VP Development

Aleksandr Shatskih

News from Wyndham Hotel Group, Joel Goldman was appointed Vice President of Development for the group for the UK and Western Europe. Goldman, who has spent the past couple of years with Luxury Hotel Partners in the US, has also previously been Director of Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality, will now report to Michael Poynter, Senior Vice President and Managing Director EMEA.

Seattle Great Wheel Now Open

Aleksandr Shatskih

After several months of construction, Seattle residents and visitors can enjoy the historic Seattle Great Wheel. For nearly 30 years, Seattle businessman and restaurateur Hal Griffith longed to create a Ferris Wheel for the city, but encountered many setbacks to its development over the decades. Workers eventually realized Pier 57 would be an ideal location and completed the project in under a year.

Tune Hotels To Award Exciting Trip Along Silk Road

Aleksandr Shatskih

Tune Hotels will sponsor a winner to explore the ancient Silk Road. Beginning August 5, 2012, and approximately 30 other explorers will begin a month-long four-wheel drive (4×4) expedition spanning over 10,000 kilometres along China’s piece of the Silk Road. The journey begins in Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China bordering Tajikistan and ends in the Chinese northern city of Tianjin, near Beijing.