Jetsettersblog

A new work and holiday visa arrangement between Australia and the USA allows 18 to 30 year old American students and recent graduates to work in Australia for a 12 month period.

Australia is the first country with which the United States has entered into a work and holiday visa arrangement. Whilst the GAP year has been popular for years in Australia and Europe, it is a new concept for American students, and one that is becoming increasingly attractive. Princeton University recently announced its new ‘bridge year’ program allowing students to defer enrollment for a year so that they can go abroad. Geoff Buckley, Managing Director of Tourism Australia said Australia has long been extremely popular with Americans of all ages, and particularly young Americans.

US citizens wishing to come to Australia must be aged 18 to 30 and can either apply for the visa over the internet or by completing an application form and lodging it with the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate.

Visit: www.australia.com/workinoz  for more information.

What is the purpose of the Work and Holiday visa? The Work and Holiday visa programme provides opportunities for young people for social and cultural exchange and promotes mutual understanding between Australia and other nations.

What is the duration of the visa and can it be renewed? The Work and Holiday visa allows a stay of up to 12 months in Australia. What are the eligibility requirements for the visa? US citizens wishing to come to Australia must:

-be aged 18 to 30 inclusive

-be outside of Australia when they apply for and are granted the visa

-show evidence that they are enrolled in a post secondary course of study or hold post secondary qualifications

-have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay, and meet health and character requirements.

What is the definition of “student” under the arrangement? The definition of “student” is a person who is currently studying or deferred, or a person who has graduated from a post-secondary institution within the previous 12 months. Australia will include all graduates of post secondary courses. What opportunities are there for young people who are not post secondary students or do not have a post secondary qualification? Young US citizens may be eligible under the Youth from the US Programme, which is a four month work programme for people sponsored under this arrangement.

Can visa holders work? US citizens holding a Work and Holiday visa in Australia can work for each employer for up to six months and are able to work for the entire 12 months of the visa. There are no restrictions on the typ e of work that may be undertaken.

Can visa holders study? US citizens holding a visa in Australia can study for up to four months. There is no restriction on the type of study.

Where do I apply for this visa? US citizens can either apply for the visa over the internet or by completing an application form and lodging it with the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate. Application forms will be available on the internet and from Australian Embassies from the date the arrangement commences.

Where can I find further information on the program? US citizens can find further information about traveling to Australia at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website.

See this link for details.

The Palazzo Las Vegas was named the largest “green” building in the world. The Las Vegas Sands property received a Silver LEED Certificate from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and David E. Rodgers, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency at the U.S. Dept. of Energy were also on hand at a ceremony where the awards were presented. Gibbons issued a proclamation in recognition of The Palazzo’s commitment to energy conservation. The DOE presented The Palazzo with “The Energy Innovator’s Award,” which recognizes businesses, individuals, and governmental agencies that have successfully developed or deployed energy-efficient and/or renewable energy technologies, services, or policies.

“From the beginning, we were determined to create Las Vegas’ first truly eco-friendly property and we are extremely proud to have achieved it and be recognized for it,” said Sheldon Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., who accepted the awards on behalf of the company.

“There is an increasing necessity to employ ‘green’ construction principles and we are proud to be a leader in the evolution of environmentally focused building practices, not only on the Las Vegas Strip, but at Las Vegas Sands’ properties throughout the world.”

According to USGBC, The Palazzo is not only the largest LEED-certified building in the world, but is more than four times bigger than the second-largest. “The Palazzo is to be commended for achieving LEED certification.

This facility is one that both the community and its guests can be proud of,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC. “The Las Sands Corp. development team worked closely with LEED consultants to establish an array of strategies and develop a truly ‘green’ building,” said Brad Stone, executive vice president of Las Vegas Sands Corp. “The total annual environmental savings generated as a result of our commitment to ‘green’ technology and construction is staggering, and we are convinced that this will have a positive impact for years to come.”

The Palazzo employs such effective environmentally efficient technologies that it conserves enough water to provide each Nevada citizen with 266 eight-ounce glasses of water for a year and saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 12,100 years. It even promotes alternative modes of transportation by offering valet parking for bicycles. Artificial turf, drip irrigation and moisture sensors in planted areas result in over a 75 percent reduction in irrigation needs. Swimming pools are heated with an expansive solar system. In the summer, the excess solar energy not needed for the pools is directed to the hotel’s hot water system, reducing the need to heat water for guest suites. Air conditioning controls in guest suites automatically setback by several degrees when guests are not present and reset to the desired temperature upon return. Team member service areas equipped with lighting occupancy sensors that shut off lights when no one is in the area.

Interior plumbing fixtures use 37 percent less water than conventional buildings as a result of water-efficient showerheads, high efficiency toilets and low-flow lavatory faucet aerators. Moisture sensors monitor real-time, site-specific air temperature, humidity, rainfall and other factors to provide daily watering cycle adjustment.

Also, a waste recycling program implemented from demolition through completion diverted over 70 percent of waste from the landfill. The building’s structural steel averaged 95 percent recycled content, while the concrete averaged a 26 percent recycled content rate. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and a healthy place to live and work.

For more information, visit http://www.palazzolasvegas.com/

Vietnam’s Nam Hai Resort is attracting international carriers to Vietnam’s Central Coast area. Korean-based Asiana Airlines will begin service between Seoul and Danang in July.

Last week, the resort convened a meeting with officials of Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Silkair and Cathay Pacific. Resorts are coming also. Over the next year, Raffles, Banyan Tree, Kor and Hyatt, will be developing resorts in the region. Greg Norman and Colin Montgomerie are both building golf courses near China Beach. The Nam Hai Resort features 60 one-bedroom villas and 40 pool villas that border the sea around a horseshoe-shaped spit of sand. In addition to a private stretch of Ha My Beach, there are three pools available to guests, including a 50-meter-long Olympic swimming pool.

For more information, visit http://www.ghmhotels.com/

MAUI, Hawaii—Imagine hiking through Maui’s stunning Kipahulu Valley to see miles of Hawaiian streams and forests. The area of Kipahulu Valley, still described as “old Hawaii”, is the ultimate waterfall wonderland and visitors will be enchanted by the waterfalls that can cascade up to 400 feet or more, the acres of dense and towering bamboo, and the exotic, lush rainforest.

Visitors can see the ‘Ohe’o Gulch and Stream—some of Maui’s most magnificent scenery. Hike Maui is the oldest and most experienced hiking company in the state and takes visitors on naturalist-led hikes to places in Maui that many people never get to experience. Their naturalist guides are “walking encyclopedias” and are known for their knowledge of Hawaiian botany, geology, culture and history.

This Full Day Waterfalls and Rainforest Hike is one of the most popular, and gives visitors the chance to learn about the real Maui by pioneers in eco-tourism while doing some hiking and optional swimming through Maui’s pristine landscape. Lunch and snacks are included on this day hike. Cost: $150 ($135 with advance online registration).

Participants will Meet in Central Maui, then ride in the Hike Maui van two hours to the trailhead.

www.hikemaui.com

The mighty Mendenhall Glacier forms a pristine cathedral perfect for a glacier-top wedding. Wedding planner, Diane Pearson with Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa will arrange your adventure wedding.

A helicopter will whisk you away for a short flightseeing and glacier landing. Your destination wedding is complete with photography, officiate, witnesses, flowers, champagne toast and a cake cutting ceremony.

You can even dance in ice crampons on to your favorite song in a natural cathedral of ice. The mild weather allows brides to dress in jeans or formal dress with full train. After the wedding, return to Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa, named a Top 10 Most Romantic Destination and Alaska’s only AAA Four Diamond and Select Registry property.

The Inn includes double jacuzzi tubs, romantic canopy beds with fireplace, waterview balconies and kitchenettes. The inn’s garden weddings are listed as a Top 100 Wedding Destination in the U.S. Juneau is within the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rain forest in the world, and is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and Admiralty Island National Monument (the largest concentration of brown bears in North America). The wildlife and spectacular scenery in Juneau, Alaska, where the mountains meet the sea, will inspire you for years to come.

http://www.traveljuneau.com/

Mustards Grill, Napa Valley’s landmark restaurant, is pulling out all the stops in June to celebrate twenty-five years of extraordinary food. When award-winning Chef Pawlcyn first fired up the grill at this wine country roadhouse in 1983, she was at the forefront of the farm-to-table revolution, and set a precedent for culinary innovation and excellence that continues to be an inspiration today. A place where Mac trucks are as welcome as Mini-Coopers, Mustards enchants and surprises all who visit with creative twists on America’s favorite comfort foods.

Throughout the month of June, Pawlcyn will pay tribute to her culinary past by rolling out Mustards’ greatest hits, including appetizers, entrées, and desserts from various years along the way. Chinese chicken salad, ripe garden tomatoes with basil, and warm goat cheese salad have all evolved into classics, becoming standard fare at diners and restaurants across the country. These and other iconic dishes are now part of America’s culinary heritage, and the public will be able to experience the original creations firsthand.

Mustards Grill became an instant hit when it opened its doors in 1983. But just like a movie or song that keeps fans entranced for decades, this overnight sensation had staying power. More than just a neighborhood hangout, devoted fans have been meeting here for lunch every week for two decades. Perhaps even more telling is the fact that newcomers never feel out of place. Much like Cheers, which gained a foothold in America’s imagination that same year, Mustards is a place where everyone knows your name. The idea of a spot beyond the realms of home and work, where people can let down their guards and meet new friends, resonates just as strongly with today’s customers as it did then. This warmth, however, is just one part of the recipe.

With Northern California’s bountiful harvest at her fingertips, Pawlcyn draws inspiration from her extensive travels and vast cookbook collection (with upwards of 6000 volumes) to invent the cross-cultural combos that Mustards is famous for. From the very first menu it was clear that Pawlcyn had a unique approach: She combined grilled, locally made, house smoked ham with Jarlsberg cheese and tomato chutney for a new take on the classic ham and cheese sandwich. With Executive Chef Erasto Jacinto by her side, other scrumptious dishes followed: Sonoma duck with tomato salsa and black beans (1988), fried calamari with curried slaw (1994), and chile marinated lamb shanks with mashed potatoes and pumpkin seed pesto (2006).

Pawlcyn’s commitment to fresh, local, and hand-grown food goes beyond the norm. The tomatoes for the housemade ketchup, served as a condiment to Mustards’ famous onion rings (1983), come from her personal organic farms. Mongolian pork chops (1986), tea-smoked duck (1992), and baby back ribs (1990) all get their wood-smoked goodness from the house smoker, hand-built by a German bricklayer. Persimmons, apples and citrus grow on trees in Mustards’ garden, one of the first organic restaurant gardens in the country. Local blueberries, the size of marbles, show up in cobblers and crisps.

Pawlcyn went on to become a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, chef-owner of Go Fish and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena, and co-creator of many renowned Bay Area restaurants, including Fog City Diner, Bix, Roti, Tra Vigne, and Buckeye Roadhouse—quite a journey from twenty-five years ago when Pawlcyn was in her 20s and had just realized her dream of opening Mustards.

Throughout June, special selections from the early wine lists will available. Brimming with hard-to-find gems and older vintages that have sold out, Mustards has been called a “wine geek’s paradise” but is also accessible to casual sippers thanks to an extensive and varied list of wines by the glass. The comfortable dining room and lively atmosphere is the perfect backdrop to this snobbery-free wine country dining experience. So stop on by in June to raise a glass to a quarter century of good friends, happy times, and great food.

Mustards Grill is located at 7399 St. Helena Highway in Yountville, California and offers lunch and dinner seven days a week. For reservations please call 707-944-2424 or visit http://www.mustardsgrill.com/

New Culinary Destination Debuts in Emerging District from Chef Toby T. Hill and Consulting Chef Michael Schlow

606 Congress restaurant in the Renaissance Boston Waterfront now open /24-7PressRelease/ – BOSTON, MA, April 06, 2008 – Chef Toby T. Hill, together with the creative direction of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow, open 606 Congress, at the new Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, located in the revitalized South Boston Waterfront district. The menu features modern American cuisine with regional influences that complement the sleek and sophisticated design of the restaurant.

Celebrating fresh ingredients and diverse flavors and techniques, this South Boston restaurant’s menu offers six progressive categories of tasting plates—or hearty appetizers—from light to robust dishes that allow guests to share and savor specialties. Signature offerings include: Lobster Soup with Chanterelles, Cauliflower and Marcona Almonds; Really Tender Pork Stew with White Beans, Fennel and Spiced Jus; Slow Roasted Chicken Breast with Spaetzle, Salsify, Bacon, Mustard and Crushed Pistachios; and Andrea’s High-Falutin’ Mac’n'Cheese with Country Ham, Peas and Black Truffles. To conclude, guests can mix and match cheese pairings including a riff on a classic pairing: Cabot/Jasper Hill Farm Cheddar with Grilled Apple Salad and Cinnamon Crumble.

At lunch, 606 Congress offers New England-inspired first courses, sandwiches, salads and entrees including Clam, Chorizo and White Bean Soup with Green Onion & Grilled Bread; Spicy Crab Cake BLT; and Grilled “2 Minute” Steak with Old Bay French Fries.

Locally and nationally celebrated chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow of Radius, Via Matta, Great Bay and Alta Strada lends his culinary expertise in offering a blend of comforting classics and contemporary interpretations. Chef Toby T. Hill, formerly of notable Boston and Cape Cod dining destinations including Spire at the Nine Zero hotel and the Fireplace restaurant in Brookline, oversees the Boston waterfront restaurant’s kitchens and day-to-day operations.

Designed by Washington DC-based Adamstein & Demetriou, 606 Congress takes inspiration from the nearby waterfront with elegant aquatic themes, polished dark wood, natural and organic tones and fabrics and spacious booths. Striking architectural elements include vaulted ceilings, an exhibition kitchen, communal chef’s table and decorative floor-to-ceiling wine racks. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, a bar and lounge area, two private dining rooms, with entrances street-side and via the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel lobby.

Located at 606 Congress Street, the restaurant is open for lunch Monday – Friday, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. 606 Congress is open for dinner for Sunday – Thursday, 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm. For more information or reservations, please call (617) 476-5606.

The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel has just opened its indoor pool area, and as the newest addition to the Boston Harbor, this downtown Boston hotel stylishly reflects the vibrancy and aqua-elegance of the ocean. Blending contemporary design with state-of-the-art technological enhancements, the acclaimed oceanfront hotel in Boston is setting a new industry standard in innovation. Inspired by the sea, this Boston Harbor hotel boasts luxurious guestrooms with the latest amenities and offers breathtaking ocean vistas. Conveniently situated as a flagship Boston Seaport District hotel, the Renaissance Waterfront offers easy access to Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Logan Airport, and the Financial District.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 617-338-4111, or visit http://www.renaissanceboston.com/

The Pacific Sutera, a five-star resort nestled in the beautiful seafront Sutera Harbour in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, is the definition of a luxurious, comfortable living away from home.

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA, – Considered as one of the best resorts in Kota Kinabalu, The Pacific Sutera lets guests experience the easy, high-end lifestyle with its two latest offerings: the Sutera Easy 11 and Sutera Easy 8. These two specials are being offered in reasonable rates that guests will find truly satisfactory.

The Sutera Easy 11 and Sutera Easy 8 allow guests to choose from any of its wide selection of room categories in special rates. Room categories at The Pacific Sutera range from Deluxe Golf View, Deluxe Sea View, Pacific Club Golf View, Pacific Club Sea View, Junior Suite, and Executive Suite. Validity period for the Sutera Easy 11 is from April 20 to May 8, 2008. The Sutera Easy 8 runs from May 9 to 31, 2008.

The Pacific Sutera is a leisure and business resort perfect for families, vacationers, and business guests. It offers high quality accommodations furnished with topnotch amenities like minibar, Internet connectivity, coffee/tea maker, telephone, and other necessities. Boat enthusiasts will enjoy the resort’s 104-berth marina while spa lovers looking for some pampering will delight on the massage services, sauna, and Jacuzzi that the resort offers.

To know more about The Pacific Sutera’s other facilities and services as well as room rates, visit: http://www.pacificsutera-kotakinabalu.com/

The Pacific Sutera is located within the sprawling Sutera Harbour in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It has an impressive 500 well-appointed rooms and suites ideal for holidaymakers, corporate guests, and families on vacation. Its ambiance speak of opulence in a lush, tropical setting.

Princess Cruises has released its 2009-10 schedule of exotic itineraries which include passenger favorites along with some new, emerging destinations.

The new lineup includes more than 110 sailings on 10 ships to all seven continents with six new itineraries and calls at more than 180 destinations including 11 new ports. Destinations include Africa, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, India, South America, Canada & New England, and a World Cruise. New for this season, the line has increased capacity in Asia with two ships and three new 14- to 16-day itineraries offered on the Ocean Princess (formerly Tahitian Princess), which will also venture into India and Africa. Other new itineraries include a 31-day “West Africa Adventure” and a 13-day holiday sailing in Australia/New Zealand on Diamond Princess. In addition, Pacific Princess will set off on an extensive 107-day World Cruise visiting 40 destinations. The 2010 worldwide sailing will feature maiden calls to Topolobampo for Mexico’s Copper Canyon, Vietnam’s “City of Peace” Halong Bay, and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. The program’s 10 ships range in size from 680 to 3,100 passengers. Ocean Princess will sail on a variety of new sailings in Asia, India and Africa. Pacific Princess will take over the line’s Tahiti and Polynesia sailings before setting out on a new World Cruise itinerary.

Golden Princess will return to the Hawaiian Islands, now with Sunday departures from Los Angeles.

Royal Princess will once again venture up the Amazon, while Star Princess returns to cruising around South America’s Cape Horn and Antarctica, plus offering two South Pacific crossings between the West Coast and Sydney.

Diamond Princess will again cruise through Asia and to Australia and New Zealand. The line will also continue to offer year-round cruising from Australia aboard Sun Princess, which is joined by Dawn Princess for voyages to New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific, departing from Sydney or Melbourne.

And in fall, Crown Princess joins Caribbean Princess to sail the Eastern seaboard to Canada and New England. Eleven new ports debut-Muscat, the capital of Oman; Yangon in Myanmar; Qingdao, a seaside city in China; Fukuoka, western Japan’s major cultural center; Phillip Island in southern Australia, where visitors can watch the local penguins on their daily parade; Newcastle, Australia; the Caribbean island of Nevis; and on the world cruise Topolobampo, Mexico; Picton, New Zealand; Halong Bay/Hanoi, Vietnam; and Sharm el-Sheik, a resort city on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Exotic cruises are available for booking on April 23. “Escape Fares” for 10-day sailings start at $1,395 per person, based on double occupancy. Past Princess passengers are eligible for up to $100 in Captain’s Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by Dec. 31, excluding the World Cruise.

Past passengers booking the full World Cruise by this date are also eligible for special offers, including air-inclusive travel or a $300 savings discount, depending on cabin category booked.

  

The Hilton Waikoloa Village unveiled Dolphin Quest Village in a sustainable, “green” building. The new seaside villa is designed to enhance and personalize guests’ encounters with the hotel’s 11 resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Quest Learning Lagoon.

Additionally, the structure better facilitates Dolphin Quest group functions, evening programs and special events. The structure features three buildings with cedar and lava rock veneer façade, thatched roofs and accordion-style shuttered windows, all connected by breezeways and weathered wooden decks. Within the buildings are the Encounter Club guest lounge area with a multi-species, interactive touch pool and a 200-gallon aquarium featuring native Hawaiian species; the Learning Center, which facilitates classroom programs for visiting schools and special groups; a guest check-in center and changing area with showers; photo viewing stations; and a retail shop featuring gifts designed by Hawaii artists, as well as recycled products and Dolphin Quest logo items.

Dolphin Quest Village is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified building to be constructed by the Hilton Waikoloa Village and Dolphin Quest. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council’s nationally accepted green building rating system for evaluating sustainable design and construction. Energy demand is reduced through natural ventilation, the use of daylight to reduce electrical dependency, water conserving fixtures in restrooms and showers and other means.

Dolphin Quest Village is estimated to consume 30 percent less water and use 20 percent less electricity than a comparable, conventionally designed building. This year is Dolphin Quest’s 20th anniversary, and the attraction is celebrating with special dolphin shows presented on the 20th of each month. In addition, this year’s Dolphin Days event, slated for June 19-22, will highlight the 20th anniversary celebration.

Call 800-445-8667 or visit http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/