For Immediate Release:

Sir Richard Branson’s latest addition to the Virgin Limited Edition collection and one of the most stylish yachts on the water is the Necker Belle! With accommodation for up to 12 guests and a fabulous crew of seven, Necker Belle sails tailor-made Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries, making her perfect for any adrenaline seeker into scuba diving and game fishing, or those who just want some serious sun tanning action. I look forward to welcoming you on board

soon.

Jono Tobin
Captain

Get to know our lady a little more intimately…

Where does she cruise?
Picture white sandy beaches and turquoise waters fringed with coral reefs – welcome to the Caribbean, the perfect island hopping hot spot. Why not explore the British Virgin Islands – home to our very own Necker Island, the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Lucia or perhaps Barbados?

Or discover the charm of the Mediterranean and cruise the t. By day, anchor amongst sweeping bays and tranquil islands, and by night, visit world-famous restaurants and live the glamorous nightlife. Or explore the idyllic island of Corsica and its fishing villages, secluded beaches and marine reserves. We’ll create a tailor-made itinerary just for you, so you can sit back, relax and count down the days until your cruise in paradise.

Things to do… and also included!

- Wakeboard with a speed boat capable of 40 knots
- High adrenaline game fishing
- Plunge into the sea from our 6ft diving board on the aft deck
- Snorkel and scuba with vibrant marine life
- Sunbathe on the forward beam trampoline
- Watch movies at the open air cinema
- Relax in the saloon complete with books, DVDs and iPod music selection

…And make sure you click below to find out about our new Voya seaweed beauty treatments on board (cost additional), plus rates for chartering Necker Nymph, our 3-person underwater aero-submarine!

Charter Rates

Caribbean Season
High Season: For charters over Christmas and New Year 2010-11 the weekly rate is US$100,000, plus APA*
Low Season: For charters at all other times from December through to April the weekly rate is US$95,000, plus APA*

Mediterranean Season
Please contact our friendly reservations team for summer sailing season rates from May to October 2011.

*Please note that rates exclude the advance provisioning allowance (APA), which is 25% of the weekly charter rate to cover operating expenses such as fuel, food and port fees.

Associated Press today covered a story on more attempts to hold BP accountable for one of the U.S.’s worst disasters that are affecting millions of jobs, lives, the environment. Here’s what the release had to say.

Travel group seeks $500 million for Gulf tourism

WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Travel Association is proposing that BP set aside $500 million for a marketing campaign to help draw tourists to the Gulf Coast.

Association president and CEO Roger Dow has made the proposal in prepared testimony to a House panel looking at the oil spill’s impact on tourism.

Dow says in his remarks that a study his group commissioned found the spill could result in lost tourism in coastal areas to the tune of $22.7 billion over three years. He says the $500 million could come from either $20 billion BP has set aside to pay for economic damages or could be added to it.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau made a similar proposal last month.

Source: AP

Loretta Henderson’s story on her solo cycling adventure in Mongolia continues here…

A man standing in the center of the bus terminal courtyard notices what I’m doing and comes over.  I show him the map, the bicycle and the money.  He smiles and takes Pandemic over to the trunk (boot) of his car.  Pandemic, even without her wheels, won’t fit into the trunk.  His friend comes over and picks up Pandemic and her wheels and tries to fit them into his trunk.  And then his friend and his friend and his friend repeat the same effort.  But Pandemic the stubborn magic bicycle will not give an inch.  Asking a whole bunch of men lingering at a bus terminal in China, to fit a bicycle into the trunk of car, could be a sitcom all of its own.  China is a country where the ratio of bicycles to people is 10:1, and each of those people has a PhD in bicycle.

A caucus of dissertations and head scratching debates fills the courtyard as Pandemic the magic bicycle floats from one trunk to the next to the next, splattering her sandy Gobi remnants across the courtyard.  Eventually, as a result of a lengthy seven way debate, someone points to Pandemic’s back rack and motions for me to remove it.  I have the Allen key tool in my pocket, but I am enjoying the how many clowns can you fit into VW bug circus act far too much to do anything about the rack at the moment.

A woman shimmies through the testosterone filled circus and grabs hold of my arm; she is waving her cell phone.  She presses the cell phone up to my ear.  She had called her English speaking friend and wants to invite me in to her café for free Chinese dumplings and she wants me to have a nice visit to China.  She motions for me to leave the courtyard circus and the bicycle which is in view of the café window.  I sit like a geriatric patient on my left butt cheek and have a nice visit via cell phone translations over dumplings and tea.

I return to the courtyard of circus bicycle engineers and remove the carrying rack from Pandemic’s bicycle frame.  A driver has finally won the prize at the circus and fit a square through a round hole and gotten Pandemic to fit into the trunk, a puzzling success.  I squat in the back seat of the VW Jetta for 2 ½ hours as we rush towards Hohott, the regional capital.  Half Ass Helen is about to erupt, hot pussy lava is gathering pressure and heat in explosive anticipation.

Half Ass Helen erupts for three long days burping out red puss and blood on a rhythmic hourly schedule while I lay around on top of a towel in a sterile hotel room.  Helen doesn’t ground any planes or anything, but the volcanic shaped cone blows her top and exposes a deep canyon lake, an abyss large enough for antiseptics.  The lake has since dried up, the abyss has healed and all that remains of Half Ass Helen the volcanic abscessed butt wound is a scar the size of coin and a story to tell.

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Loretta Henderson – Solo Female Cycling Around the World

I hit a huge rocky dirt rivet in the trail and bounce right off Pandemic, my magic bicycle’s seat, and land on the solid steel cross bar.  I think I just gave myself an epistiotomy. I immediately stick my hand down my throbbing pants to check for blood.  I am grateful I haven’t seen anybody for a few days and can only imagine what they would think of this strange woman alone in the desert on a bicycle with her hand down her pants.  There isn’t any blood but I am fairly certain I have rendered myself infertile.  I am cycling out of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, into China.  My 2 month visa time is ticking away like rosary beads at a prayer ritual.

By that afternoon, I am sitting on the sandy floor of the Gobi Desert, my bicycle wheel laid out in pieces.  I am concerned about the tube part that appears to have been hit again by an array of machine gun shrapnel.  I am at least 80 kilometers lost or I think I am lost.  Cycling the hardened clay labyrinth trails is like cycling through a bowl of spaghetti.  I have been picking a path in the spaghetti maze and taking it with confidence, that all of these sandy hardened clay “roads” will eventually lead south to China.

I am thirsty and repairing yet another gasping puncture, air leaking through multiple stab wounds.  I am scrapping the bottom of the barrel of my trusty patch kit and the spare tube is holier than a preacher at the pulpit on Sunday morning.  Each full patch, I cut with my nail clippers into two or three tiny patches.  I begin to examine the 7 fresh holes in the tube and patch each one with a freshly cut, tiny jagged edged patch and a whole lot of glue.  I inspect the tire for the cause of this multiple stab wound puncturing madness out here on the semi-arid desert floor.  The villainous culprit is a tiny coral looking fraggle rock with hair of sharp rocky thorns.  The wind is at a constant howl and the tiny thorny fraggle rocks appear to blow with ease and loiter in crowds on the hardened clay “roads”.

As I reassemble the wheel and pack up the trusty patch kit, I sit back and get stabbed with a sharp rocketing pain.  The final puncture of the day has been to my gluteus maximus.  I quickly stand up and pluck the fraggle rock out from my right butt cheek.

After 6 more days of cycling, I cross the Mongolian/Chinese border and I find myself sleeping in my sleeping bag on my belly, bottoms up.  Each evening and morning in the tent, I touch the growing bump, which I have named Helen.  Helen has taken over one half of my buttocks.  Half Ass Helen is named after Mount Saint Helen, the volcano in the pacific northwest region of America.  Half Ass Helen has a cone shaped top and is increasing in painful pressure and is threatening to erupt.  I don’t have a mirror so I can’t see her and can only touch her with a dirty finger.  Half Ass Helen’s location is a bit of a mystery.  I have antibacterial hand wash so I have been rubbing that on Half Ass Helen since her debut to the center stage of my butt crack sometime last week.

I stand up and peddle for 23 miles and then push Pandemic the magic bicycle in the dark another 10 miles towards the street lights of the town of Sonid Youqi in inner Mongolia, China, to contemplate the impending eruption going on inside my pants.  After another night of bottoms up, I wake and push Pandemic the concerned magic bicycle to the town center in search of a bus.  Hohott, the region’s capital and a computer, are about a 2 hour drive away.  Hohott would have medical supplies, a mirror and a computer so I could contact an ex-boyfriend who is a doctor in America and an old friend who likes to laugh at the predicaments I get myself into then helps me sort them out.  Half Ass Helen, the volcanic butt wound, will not disappoint the doctor.

The bus terminal is bustling with activity but I am denied a bus ticket to Hohott.  Perhaps there isn’t a bus or perhaps they won’t accept magic bicycles.  I don’t speak Chinese so I am not sure which.  Therefore, I do something I am normally very opposed to doing and start acting like a rich tourist.

Tourists in Asia have the reputation for being very affluent.  I have never related to this image much.  I subside on a meager diet, always travel on a budget of limited means and share or trade what I do have with those around me.  But the seismic activity brewing in my pants makes this a special occasion.  I take out my Chinese map and 200 yen (about $37) and bring Pandemic over to a taxi.  I point to the map, the bicycle and the money.  The taxi driver just shakes his hand at me, which is Chinese for no, no, no.

Part 2- What happens next? Read it here!

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The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most popular treks in New Zealand, but that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. In fact weather changes are so sudden and dangerous that there’s a strict control of who goes in and out and when. It also requires at least an average physical condition and about four days of your time. This said if Tongariro doesn’t suit your fancy there are several other great to enjoy that are shorter.

Getting there is quite easy along the well paved roads. You will probably arrive from Taupo, bordering the eastern bank of the North Island’s (and country’s) largest lake. At 660 km sq this lake is in fact the crater of a huge volcano; simply imagining what the eruption must have been like makes one shiver.

Many travel guides recommend you stop at one of the nearby DOC Visitor Centers. The one in Turangi is set right besides a river and lake, and is a good place where to spend the night  before heading to the park the following day. It’s imperative you plan ahead your trek, and thus asking for weather forecasts, current trek conditions and different trekking options is advisible. Turangi is also famous for fly fishing, and while there we spent some time looking at the few aficionados that were perched on the rocks- none of them ever caught a single rainbow trout, a species that was introduced in the lake and is now abundant. If you feel like becomming an expert in this sport or simply want to give it a try there are many clubs and organizations that will help you.

The best hikes to the park begin along its western side, and this is where you should head to. You’ll be driving along HWY 47 if comming from the north or HWY  4 if you do so from the south . If comming from the north I recommend one of the passengers keeps an eye out the left windows of the car as there are excellent views of the area  and are well worth pulling over for a picture or two.

If you’re not planning on doing the 4 day trek but would like at least to go for a walk I highly recommend the option we chose: the 5 hour (17 km) round trip hike to the Tama Lakes. You will certainly get tired, enjoy spectacular views of Mt Tongariro and contemplate the stunning lakes. To do this make your way up Mangatepopo Road early in the morning and continue all the way to where the visitor center and hotels are located- it is here you can leave your car in any of the free parkings. You can ask for a free map of the area and then simply follow the well marked paths. There is a loop for this option; I recommend you see the Taranaki Falls from beneath first and from above on the way back.

It will probably be windy no matter what time of the year you go in, and chances are you will see snow as well. Walking at a quick pace will let you stay warm, and you will reach your destination sooner; it would be a pity if you walked too slowly and the weather changed enough to make you have to return, not having a chance to see the lakes. Make sure you have plenty of water and a snack with you to replinish your energy.

Despite walking quickly and thinking we were going to accomplish the trek in less time than expected it took us just over 5 hours to see it all, with a 15 minute break at the lakes included. You will see several hikers along the way, so don’t worry if you think you can get lost.

Once back in the car you can drive further up the road to where Whakapapa Ski Area is. You would expect the views from up there to be amazing, but the truth is that they are nicer along the way. We pulled our camper van over and enjoyed our meal on the curb, and also filmed a bit.

Whether you’re a natural born hiker or not Tongariro National Park should certainly be part of you New Zealand route. Make sure you bring your camera, and even if the weather doesn’t let you take any breathing fresh air in the mountains of New Zealand is a wonderful experience by itself. So get your hiking gear and make your way to Tongariro!

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The Farm at San Benito, a serene, luxurious tropical medical and wellness resort in the Philippines, embraces advice from ancient times, by Greek physician Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.”

Meals at the Farms “85/15″ restaurant not only please your senses. Nutrients are carefully preserved by heating most edibles not over 40 degrees (C). (The name “85/15″ reflects the ratio of ‘live’ uncooked food (85%) to cooked (15%) food served here.)

Mind you, this wellness farm is not for everyone. Not because it’s exclusive, or because of the occasional celebrity you see here. It’s because when they say ‘wellness’, they mean it: No meat is served. No smoking. No alcohol allowed except with meals. Use of mobile phones, computers, radios, TV…even perfumes, is strongly discouraged. Not without good reason, since he focus is on unwinding, de-stressing…renewal of body, mind and spirit. Your stay here is meant to be a retreat from the noisy, hectic ‘outside’ world.

You can enjoy a daily dose of traditional and modern wellness modalities from East and West: Massages, reflexology, medical consultations, salt baths, foot scrubs, Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong and meditation classes, swimming and walking.

And to complete the day in style… how about a moonlit hot bath in your private,  outdoor designer tub, or a massage under the stars poolside.

The friendly therapists and physicians here want you to get the most out of your stay – no matter who you are or what shape you are in. They even offer detoxing and customized programs to address chronic health conditions.

During the day, between treatments, why not check out a book from the on-site library. Or chat with other guests over a juice or tea. Stroll, smell the orchids, relax in a meditation pagoda…or count the swans in the pond.

The next day, after sleeping in, yet another massage and a leisurely walk, I get to enjoy the wellness brunch by the South Pool. Home made coconut ice cream for desert! Makes the Farm’s motto “Eat for Health” even easier to embrace…

What a difference five days at The Farm made. How peaceful and energized I feel, compared to when I arrived. Now I feel better than ever prepared to face the hectic outside world again.

The Farm at San Benito

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NO, this isn’t just any man in a towel! It’s part of the latest social media news, the latest and most creative campaign to date online. It’s the Old Spice Man campaign. Nothing short of brilliant, Isaiah Mustafa answers questions from Facebook and Twitter fans in less than 1-minute quips. He’s been a busy man since the campaign launched, add on the social media video component, and well, one can only imagine.

All this press has been great for Mustafa, who just landed a network development deal, and appeared recently on Oprah.

More to come on this story as Stefanie interviews the creatives behind the scenes.

In the meantime… enjoy the video response Old Spice Man gives our very own Adventure Girl, which has all ready gone viral with more than 80,000 views.

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The beautiful island of Taha’a was chosen as the prime location for one of the season final episodes of ABC’s The Bachelorette.

Bachelorette, Ali Fedotowsky and her three remaining bachelors started their adventure to paradise on award-winning Air Tahiti Nui. The first date in the islands took place at the breathtaking  and remote location of Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, a Relais & Chateaux.

Ranked among the sexiest resorts in the world by Brides Magazine, the picturesque setting of Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa will offer Ali the experience of a lifetime in her quest for that one simple “yes!” moment.

Nestled in the shadows of Bora Bora, Ali will explore the hidden paradise of Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa by diving further into the depths of romance with her remaining bachelors. From cruising the crystal clear lagoon to flying high above Tupai Island (heart-shaped island) and Bora Bora in a private helicopter, America will witness how Le Taha’a Island Resort Spa was able to play matchmaker in creating such sacred and pivotal moments for Ali. Plus, viewers will not want to miss an unforgettable Rose Ceremony.

While these types of experiences may seem too-good-to-be-true and only “made for television,” Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa has created a special Bachelorette Package to help bachelorettes and bachelors around the world experience their own special moment to remember.

The Bachelorette Package includes:

• Four (4) nights in a Raiatea Overwater Bungalow
• Complimentary daily American breakfast for 2
• Flower bed and ½ bottle of champagne upon arrival
• “Milky Way” romantic dinner on the terrace of the suite, which includes

Floral decoration in the suite on the day of the dinner
Bachelorette “Rose Ceremony” with flower decoration
½ bottle of champagne
3-course dinner for 2, with 1 bottle of wine (red or white)

• 50-minute Monoï Vanira massage for 2
• Daily special turndown

This package is 265,050xpf, plus taxes (or approximately USD$2650), per couple and is based upon availability. For additional costs, couples may upgrade the package to include specific experiences seen in the actual episode, such as a moonlight dinner on the beach or private islet, musical and dance accompaniments, or a scenic helicopter flight over Tupai Island (heart-shaped island) and Bora Bora.

Each special romantic rendez-vous experience at Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, Relais & Châteaux, makes it the perfect hideaway to discover true romance while exploring the hidden paradise of Tahiti. To continue following Ali’s quest for love, please tune into The Bachelorette on Mondays at 8/7 Central on ABC. For more information on The Bachelorette, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor. To learn more about Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, visit www.spmhotels.com/resort/taha-a.

About Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, Relais & Châteaux
Located on the coral reef of Motu Tautau with a spectacular view of Bora Bora, Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa offers first-class accommodations in 60 luxurious suites and villas, warm Polynesian hospitality and excursions that range from romantic to adventurous. Guests who love the water will find an endless list of activity choices, from scuba diving, jet skiing and ray feeding to island jeep tours, evening lagoon cruises and excursions to black pearl farms and vanilla plantations. For a relaxing alternative, the full-service Manea Spa offers a wide variety of face and body treatments, incorporating the island’s natural elements to soothe and moisture.

About The Bachelorette
In the hit primetime romance reality series The Bachelorette, one lucky woman gets the opportunity to find the man of her dreams — and hopefully her groom-to-be — in this two-hour reality series. This single, very eligible bachelorette — a confident, successful and sensitive woman who is ready to find love — will embark on a romantic journey as she meets 25 handsome and intelligent men. As the Bachelorette gets to know each one, she’ll continue to narrow the field. They will travel to exotic locations and spend time getting to know each other; she will introduce them to her family and friends and meet some of theirs. At the end of her romantic voyage, if she has found Mr. Right, will there be a proposal — and from whom? Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelorette is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television.

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Fijian Kokoda

• Time 10 minutes prep time
  
• Serves 8 people
  

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