Published on CNN on 15th April 2013:
Also published on CNN Espanol on 24th April 2013
When the first toilet-themed restaurant, Modern Toilet, opened in Taipei in 2004, public reaction was mixed.
Was it weird, funny or just plain unsavory?
Whatever the answer, the concept’s popularity quickly became obvious — the chain now has successful franchises across Asia.
London, however, has put a new spin on the business.
Published on CNN on 12th April 2013:
You walk into your Caribbean resort’s lobby and see a promotional sign: “Free suite upgrade for newlyweds.”
Do you and your mate tell a white lie and snag the cheap trip?
Plenty of travelers would.
According to a recent survey, 5.5% said they’ve pretended to be on honeymoon or celebrating a birthday or anniversary to get a room upgrade while on vacation.
Published on CNN on 11th April 2013:
Thieves have forced the closure of Paris’ Louvre museum. But an art heist was not the reason.
Instead, the closure came after staff walked off the job on Wednesday in protest against the increasing number of pickpockets operating in the museum.
Published on CNN on 10th April 2013:
Among all the woes of modern air travel — cramped seating, extra charges for baggage, outrageous prices for airport food — perhaps nothing frays the nerves of passengers faster than air turbulence.
Well, brace yourself for even bumpier skies. And costlier flights.
A pair of British scientists are predicting that the white-knuckle rocking and rolling at 35,000 feet is going to get worse.
Published on CNN on 9th April 2013:
Which event from the London Summer Olympic Games resonates most powerfully in your memory:
The Queen’s appearance in the Danny Boyle-produced opening extravaganza?
Usain Bolt’s record dash in the Olympic 100 meters?
Brunei, Qatar and Saudi Arabia including female athletes on their teams for the first time?
The baffling, cycloptic visages of Olympic and Paralympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville?
Whatever your memories of last summer’s Games, you may find them in the Museum of London’s new exhibition, “Opening the Olympics.”