Jetsettersblog

Singapore Zoo is offering visitors the chance to become zookeepers and wildlife experts for a day.

Animal lovers planning a holiday this winter may like to visit Singapore Zoo, where people are being given the chance to learn more about everyday life at the attraction.

Zoo Hoo, an event taking place each weekend from Sunday November 27th to Sunday December 18th, will offer visitors an opportunity to become zookeepers and wildlife photographers for the day.

According to the zoo, people will be encouraged to “get hands-on” and inhabit the roles of some of the centre’s key personnel.

With free ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s on offer to all those who take part, this free event looks sure to attract plenty of wildlife enthusiasts.

Each Zoo Hoo event is set to run from 10:00 to 16:00 local time. People are advised to arrive early to register.

Home to more than 2,500 animals, Singapore Zoo is spread over 28 hectares and is explored by approximately 1.6 million visitors each year.

Popular attractions include the Elephants of Asia zone, the Critters Longhouse and the Reptile Garden.

Standard admission is priced at S$20 (GBP9.75) for adults and S$13 for children aged between three and 12 years. The zoo is open between 8:30 and 18:00 each day.

Visit http://www.zoo.com.sg/  for more information about this event.

FOR SAVVY HOLIDAY SHOPPERS

Half-Off Rates & Convenience with “All That Glitters” Shopping Package Through Dec. 30

DALLAS, November 10, 2011 – Guests will get a head start on holiday bargain hunting as they stay and shop in style with the “All That Glitters” shopping package at Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Dallas this season. Offered through December, the package features half-off stay rates, plus plenty of perks and insider tips for enjoying the best in Big D. shopping and sites.

The Hotel Palomar Dallas “All That Glitters” shopping package features:

50 percent off best available room rate, with discounted rates starting at just $139 per night

$40 dining credit for use at acclaimed Central 214, a Kimpton restaurant, or convenient in-room dining before or after a big day of shopping

Complimentary transportation to popular nearby shopping destinations like NorthPark Center, Highland Park Village, and the West Village. Or, take a stroll over to the shops at Mockingbird Station located just across the street.

Insider “Live Like a Local” luxury shopping secrets from Hotel Palomar’s chef concierge

The package and offerings are based on availability, now through December 30, 2011, with the rate code “GOLDEN.”

Guests can unwind after their shopping sprees at the complimentary evening wine hour hosted in Hotel Palomar’s cozy living room lobby. Special holiday treats include hot apple cider (spiked or not) and Rock and Rye cocktails, made with bourbon, rock candy, vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks.

“We’re ringing in the season with this special offer for savvy holiday shoppers looking to take in the best of Big D shopping and festivities,” said Andrew Wright, general manager of Hotel Palomar Dallas. “Whether scouting Thanksgiving weekend Black Friday deals or strolling through Dallas’ designer boutiques, our ‘All the Glitters’ package offers the ultimate in experience and convenience for every guest.”

For more information or to book the “All that Glitters” package at Hotel Palomar Dallas, please call 888-253-9030 or visit the hotel website at www.hotelpalomar-dallas.com. For additional deals and specials throughout the year, “like” Hotel Palomar Dallas on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hotelpalomar.dallas 

HALFMOON BAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, November 10, 2011 — Winter chills bring warm thoughts of hot cocoa, cozy wool blankets and intimate fireside conversations. Escape the rain and wind this season, and sneak away to Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, where three-course meals are candle lit and the private tenthouse suites are preheated.

If you’re looking to add winter activities to your two-night getaway, Rockwater’s Winter Escape package will take you to explore the well-groomed trails of Dakota Ridge, with either a snowshoeing tour or cross-country skiing adventure. After a day of crisp winter air, return to the resort and opt to soothe those tired muscles at the Rockwater Spa, before indulging in a three-course dinner for two.

The Winter Escape Package runs December 7, 2011 – March 30, 2012, excluding Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day. Rates start at $349.50 per person for a luxury tenthouse suite, Sunday to Thursday, and $389.50 per person for Friday and Saturday. Rates are based on a two-night stay, and double occupancy; gratuities and taxes are not included. All rates are in Canadian dollars.

For couples that prefer to ring in the New Year with an intimate dinner party, let Rockwater Secret Cove Resort take care of your year-end party planning. Rockwater’s New Year’s Eve Gala includes a six-course dinner, live music with dancing, and of course, party favours and bubbles for the countdown at midnight.

The New Year’s Eve Gala can be booked for one or two nights, and is available December 30 and 31, 2011. For more information, visit Rockwater Secret Cove Resort or call 1-877-296-4593.

The Resort: Rockwater Secret Cove Resort is a private paradise located on BC’s Sunshine Coast 15 minutes’ drive north of Sechelt. The accommodations at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort are unique, as they enhance the Resort’s relationship with nature. Rooms in the Lodge offer ocean views, as do the deluxe poolside rooms. The cozy rustic cabins offer up private decks, while the luxury tenthouse suites reward guests with king-size beds, hydrotherapy tubs for two, fireplaces and expansive ocean views.

German Originals: Lebkuchen, Stollen, Klaben and a Quick Look Back

Before plunging into Advent and the Christmas season, a quick look at 2011 shows that it was an extraordinary year packing in event after event of culture and fun. The Women’s World Cup filled the stands with soccer fans from around the world; Dresden and Thuringia celebrated 200 Years of the composer Franz Liszt; Baden-Wuerttemberg and all of Germany honored 125 Years of the first automobile thanks to Karl Benz; and Dresden unveiled the renovation of its Military History Museum, to mention a few highlights. Fortunately year-end in Germany ends on a high note as the 2,500 Christmas markets mark the calendar with fun and frivolity and baked goods: Gingerbread from Nuremberg, Stollen from Dresden, Klaben from Bremen. We have included the recipes for a few delicious seasonal delights. Enjoy!
Advertisement

Theme: Bremen’s Christmas: A Sweet Package
Christmas is in the air on the banks of the River Weser. Boats glisten as they reflect the festive blue lights from the harbour. The wintry air is filled with the warming aroma of smoked fish and freshly baked bread. From 24 November until 23 December 2011, the promenade (Schlachte) along the river is magically transformed offering historical, seasonal and maritime attractions.

Walking past the fortifications of towers and imposing wooden palisades, visitors will feel as if they have stepped back in time to the Middle Ages. Craftsmen, market sellers, jugglers and street entertainers recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era when the cog ships would return from afar to the Hanseatic port of Bremen laden with valuable cargo. In the run-up to Christmas, the town hall and the Roland statue, a combined UNESCO world heritage site, is transformed into an atmospheric Christmas market with more than 170 festively decorated stalls. It is regarded as one of Germany’s finest Christmas markets. The historical setting, the lovingly adorned stalls and the romantic Christmas lights create a special ambience that enchants more and more visitors every year.

The Christmas Market package from Bremer Touristik-Zentrale (BTZ) starts at €107.00 per person sharing a double room and includes two nights’ accommodation, a city tour, mulled wine with a souvenir Christmas mug and a Bremen discovery card. www.bremen-tourismus.de

If you cannot wait for a whiff and a taste of Christmas in Bremen, try creating the Bremer Klaben, or Christmas bread, in your own kitchen:

Ingredients: 2 packets active dry yeast; 1 cup raisins; 1/2 cup warm water; 1/2 cup currants; 1 1/2 cups milk, lukewarm; 3/4 cup slivered almonds; 1/2 cup sugar; grated rind of 3 lemons; 1 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. cardamom; 1/2 cup butter, softened 7 to 7 1/2 cups sifted flour.

Directions: Sprinkle yeast over the warm water; stir until dissolved. Set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, scald the milk and allow it to cool. (You may use reconstituted non-fat dry milk if you’d like to skip the scalding step). Combine lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, butter and about half the flour. Beat for 2 minutes; add the yeast mixture. Toss the nuts and fruit in a small amount of flour to coat. Add this and enough of the remaining flour to the batter to make a soft dough (more or less flour may be needed), along with lemon rind and cardamom. When you have a soft dough, knead on a floured work surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a buttered bowl, brush top with melted butter, and let rise until doubled in size. Punch down and knead again, form into one long roll, tucking ends under neatly. Place on a greased baking sheet, and let rise until doubled. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 1 hour. Top should be nicely brown. Brush with melted butter or dust with powdered sugar while still warm.

Feature: Getting in the Christmas Spirit: Recipes German Style
Nürnberger Lebkuchen

Ingredients: 4 eggs; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 2 cups unpeeled almonds, coarsely grated; 1/3 cup candied orange peel, finely chopped; 1 lemon, grated for peel, juice reserved; 1/4 whole nutmeg, grated; Confectioner’s sugar; rose water if you can find it; edible baking paper.

Directions: Beat eggs and sugar until they have the consistency of thick cream. To this gradually add almonds, candied orange peel, lemon peel and nutmeg. Place wafers on baking sheet and spoon dough onto paper. Dough should be about 1/2″ high. Smooth dough with a knife dipped into rose water. Bake in a pre-heated 325-350° oven for 10-15 minutes or until breadlike. Remove cookies and let cool. Meanwhile, mix Confectioner’s sugar with lemon juice to form a paste. Frost cookies.

Cinnamon Stars or Zimtsterne

Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups whole almonds (a little over 1 lb.); 5 egg whites; 2 cups Confectioner’s sugar, sifted; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon Kirschwasser (cherry Schnapps); star pattern cookie cutter.

Directions: Scald almonds with boiling water, remove their skins and let cool. Grind finely. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in Confectioner’s sugar and set aside 1 cup of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold in ground almonds, cinnamon and the Kirschwasser, then quickly form a dough. Let the dough rest covered for one hour in the refrigerator. Cover a work surface with sugar and roll out the chilled dough to 1 cm thick. Cut out stars. Cover each star evenly with the reserved egg and sugar mixture, place on an ungreased cookie sheet and let the uncooked cookies dry overnight at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 425° F and bake for 5 minutes. Check the cookies often while baking so the top stays white and the insides remain soft.

Vanilla Crescents or Vanillekipferl

Ingredients: 3 1/2 tablespoons unpeeled almonds; 3-1/2 tablespoons hazelnuts; 1-1/4 cup flour; 1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon sugar; a pinch of salt; 1/2 cup, plus 6 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces; 2 egg yolks; 5 packets vanilla sugar; 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Directions: Pour boiling water over the almonds, remove the skins and finely chop. Finely chop the hazelnuts. Sift the flour onto a large wooden board. Make a well in the flour and add the almonds, hazelnuts, sugar, salt, butter and egg yolks. Knead dough until it is smooth and pliable, but do not over knead. Wrap the dough in aluminum foil and let rest for 2 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Divide the dough and form into several pencil-thick rolls. Cut the rolls into 2 inch lengths and bend into crescent shapes. Place on cookie sheets and bake on middle rack until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir the vanilla sugar and powdered sugar together in a shallow bowl. Carefully dip the still warm crescent cookies in the sugar. Tip: to store the cookies so they won’t break, stack them lengthwise between wax paper in a cookie tin.

Gluehwein

Ingredients: 10 sugar cubes; 2 bottles red wine; 1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick; 1 whole nutmeg; 1 whole star anise pods; 1 1/2 cups sour cherries – drained, juice reserved; 1 orange, thinly sliced; 3 fluid ounces Kirschwasser. Cloves are also a great addition and could replace cherries and the Kirschwasser.

Directions: Combine the sugar cubes, wine, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and star anise in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to foam. Remove from heat and transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm. Stir in the sour cherries and juice; add Kirschwasser and the orange slices.
www.germanoriginality.com

Special Deals
Berlin to Bavaria – Go Ahead Tours
Marvel at Germany’s time-tested ability to maintain its charming, nostalgic traditions, while transforming into a modern cultural center. This 12-day tour will introduce you to Berlin, Postdam, Dresden, Bamberg and Munich. The tour includes round-trip air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers, the services of a bilingual Go Ahead Tour Director, a professional local guide in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Weimar, Bamberg and Munich, ten nights accommodations in well-located hotels including baggage handling, a buffet breakfast daily, 4 three-course dinners, including wine or beer, transportation aboard a private deluxe motor coach, a personal audio headset and entrance fees to some of Germany’s most popular sights. Call 1-800-590-1170. www.goaheadtours.com

International Reformation Music Festival 2012 – Luther Tours
This is an unusual opportunity to join with choral groups and church choirs from around the world as you perform in the most historic churches and venues throughout Germany’s “Reformation Road”, such as the Castle Church Wittenberg, St. Thomas Church Leipzig, St. Mary’s Cathedral Erfurt and Moritz Church Coburg. www.irmf2012.com

Maritim Hotels Festive Weekend Package
Enjoy time with family and friends in any of the 37 Maritim Hotels in Germany with our special Festive weekend package. Bookable through February 2012 your package includes two nights with our signature breakfast buffet; a welcome gift and cocktail; dinner on the first evening; festive menu or gala buffet on the second evening including a glass of champagne. Complimentary use of swimming pool and sauna for 230 Euros! www.maritim.com

Special Events
Jan 01
New Years concert, Bremen
For more than six years one of the lovliest New Years concerts, the “Wiener Neujahrskonzert”, takes place in the Bremer Glocke in the city of Bremen. Greet the new year with music by f.e. Johann Strauß and PjotrIljitsch Tschaikowsky, a fascinating ballet ensemble and many more! www.musicaviva.de (German only)

Jan 04 – 08
Biathlon-Weltcup, Oberhof
These five days around the exciting World Cup will start on Wednesday with the women’s team. On Thursday the men will take the challenge and compete for the cup. www.biathlon-oberhof.de

Jan 06
Epiphanias, Leipzig
The 800th anniversary of THOMANA kicks-off at the St. Thomas church with a premier of the first commemorative music (Erste Festmusik) by Sofia Gubaidulina with the St.Thomas Boys Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig. www.thomana2012.com

Jan 12
Theater Premiere “Ich, Friedrich der Große”, Potsdam
The year of the 300th birthday of Frederick the Great starts with a theater premier about the famous prussian king at the Hans Otto Theatre in Potsdam. www.hansottotheater.de  (German only)

Jan 18 – 20
Bread & Butter, Berlin
Fashion trends at the former Tempelhof Airport: the renowned fashion fair Bread & Butter moved back to Berlin from Barcelona in the summer of 2009 with tremendous success and has taken place at the historic Berlin-Tempelhof Airport ever since. Hundreds of brands, labels and designers take part in the trade fair with their creative stalls and presentations. Numerous upscale brands and labels have confirmed their participation for January 2012. www.breadandbutter.com

Experience all three of some of the world’s premier golf courses with Fairmont Kea Lani Maui’s Ultimate Golf Package. With views of surf breaking on pristine sands and neighboring Islands on the blue horizon, golf has never had more spectacular surroundings. Visit the Fairmont Kea Lani and Wailea Golf Club!
Dates: May 1, 2011 – December 15, 2011
Price range: $818
For more information, please click here.
http://www.fairmont.com/kealani/HotelPackages/Golf?UnlimitedGolfPackage.htm

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Mystical Golf — owner and operator of The Witch, Man-O-War and The Wizard golf courses in Myrtle Beach — announces its easy-on-the-wallet winter stay-and-play package from Dec. 12 — Jan. 31, 2012.

Known as one of the ultimate “golf buddy” trips, accolades for the three layouts continue to mount. GOLF Magazine says Mystical Golf is “the best value in Myrtle Beach.” Golf Channel.com states it’s “one of the best deals in the country.” Golf Vacation Magazine adds it’s “the best deal in golf travel.” Additionally, the three Dan Maples-designed courses are rated from 4 to 4-1/2 stars by Golf Digest.
Mystical Golf’s deluxe condos offer proximity to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) as well as a multitude of family attractions, array of nightlife, restaurants for all tastes and The Grand Strand — 60 plus miles of continual Atlantic Coast oceanfront. The winter package is $189 per person (quad occupancy, taxes included), featuring:
• Three rounds with cart on The Witch, The Wizard, Man-O-War
• Two nights’ accommodations in a three-bedroom golf villa (four beds)
• Free steak dinner at Max & Emma’s (includes non-alcoholic beverages, taxes, tips)
• Free lunch and range balls each day
• Two beers per day
• $15 gift card toward a golf shirt
• Instant replay rounds for cart fee only

“Our economical winter stay-and-play package is ideal for golfers to escape cold weather and tee-it-up on our well-maintained courses,” says Claude Pardue, President and CEO. “Diverse layouts, comfortable condos and first-class service create an unforgettable golf experience.”
The Witch sits on 500 acres of tranquil cypress groves and wetlands teeming with flora and fauna. Tactical play is rewarded on the par-71, 6,702-yard layout. With 4,000 feet of bridges wending through swamps (front nine) and rolling hills (back nine), golfers may spy cranes, bald eagles, alligators and black bears.

Man-O-War is revered for its back-to-back island greens and water features touching every hole. With a commanding 141 slope rating, the par-72, 6,967-yard layout is offset by straight-forward shots and excellent, bent-grass greens.

Reminiscent of classic, wind-swept links golf courses in Scotland and Ireland, The Wizard presents deep bunkers, mound-framed fairways and dramatic elevation changes. Trademark stone bridges and an Old-World, castle-style clubhouse add character to the par-72, 6,721-yard shot-maker’s course.

For Mystical Golf information: www.mysticalgolf.com, 843.282.2977. To book the Mystical Golf winter package: http://www.magicalgolf.com/condodeals.php?id=1.

Getting There:
The Witch, Man-O-War and The Wizard are in the heart of Myrtle Beach and within 15 minutes of Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), beaches, accommodations, restaurants and other attractions. A short distance from I-95 and other major thoroughfares, Mystical Golf courses are easily accessible. More than two dozen cities — including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Washington — offer direct flights.

Amtrak is operating all available railcars and locomotives on trains to and from the Chicago area in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday travel season. Fresh from fall colors trips to and from the East Coast, the historic Amtrak “Great Dome” rail car will provide an opportunity to experience city and prairie views to and from Chicago as it adds extra seating capacity to super-size the busy trains. The dome car features an upper level with windows on all sides, as well as overhead, to provide passengers with panoramic views. The dome section runs the full length of the car, a rare feature even when dome cars were more numerous on the nation’s railroads.

The dome car is scheduled to operate on the following Lincoln Service, Carl Sandburg/Illinois Zephyr, Wolverine Service and Illini/Saluki routes to and from St. Louis, Quincy, Detroit/Pontiac and Carbondale on the following dates: Trains 301 and 304 on Nov. 17, Nov. 19 and Nov. 25; Trains 303 and 306 on Nov. 18 and Nov. 26; Trains 381 and 382 on Nov. 21; Train 305 on Nov. 22; Trains 300 and 352 on Nov. 23; Train 351 on Nov. 24; Train 393 on Nov. 27; and Train 390 on Nov. 28. Seats in the dome car are not reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Food service will be available in the dome car on Nov. 23, 24 and 26.

The heaviest single travel day of the year for Amtrak is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which set a record last year of 134,230 passengers for the day. Amtrak also set a record last year by transporting 704,446 passengers for the holiday week. Amtrak anticipates similarly strong ridership for this year’s Thanksgiving travel. From Nov. 23 to 25, passengers traveling on Amtrak long-distance trains will be offered a menu item of a traditional Thanksgiving meal featuring a fully-cooked turkey breast with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and side accompaniments. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream and maple walnuts will be offered as a dessert option.

On the West Coast, anticipating the busiest travel week of the year, Amtrak, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) are planning ahead for Thanksgiving by adding extra equipment to accommodate extra passengers traveling by rail throughout California. More capacity will be added to the Amtrak San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes. Cars will be added to the San Joaquin service (Bakersfield-Oakland/Sacramento) beginning Wednesday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 27, adding more than 700 seats, a 35 percent increase. The Pacific Surfliner trains (San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara-Los Angeles and San Diego) will require reservations beginning Tuesday, Nov. 22, through Monday, Nov. 28, with more than 3,200 seats added. More than 500 seats will be added to the Capitol Corridor service beginning Wednesday, Nov. 22, an increase of 32 percent in seating capacity.

Amtrak will also be increasing the number of reserved Thruway buses on its busiest routes. Passengers can anticipate exceptionally heavy travel the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so reservations for these days should be made as soon as possible (where required). For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com

Morocco Mall will open in Casablanca, Morocco, on Dec. 5, combining retail, leisure and food and beverage concessions in a location bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The project’s developers are calling it the first and only destination Mall in the Mediterranean region and Africa.

Situated on the Atlantic Coast, Morocco Mall stretches over 10 hectares (24,700 acres) with a 600-meter waterfront. More than 600 international retail brands will be represented in 350 stores. Many of the brands will be new to Africa. Morocco Mall will also host the first Galeries Lafayette and FNAC stores in Africa and the first IMAX theater in Morocco. The mall will house 40 restaurants, from fast food to casual dining. For more information, visit www.moroccomall.com

Airport car rental reservations for the Thanksgiving holiday are up more than 10 percent over last year for the Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brands, all owned and operated by Enterprise Holdings.

Rob Hibbard, vice president, Enterprise Holdings, said that the company had anticipated this peak in travel and was prepared for the demand. “It’s an encouraging economic sign that car rentals are up over last Thanksgiving,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO, U.S. Travel Association. “Last year, the car rental sector had an economic output of $33.5 billion and supported 152,000 U.S. jobs at 7,170 places of business across America. When Americans travel, they create jobs, boost economic output and increase revenues for states and local communities.” For more information, visit www.enterpriseholdings.com

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering reduced rates on vacation home rentals with air/hotel packages for Florida, South Carolina, New York, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Clients can receive a free upgrade from full-size car to minivan or SUV on select Hertz car rentals when added to a Florida vacation home package for travel by Dec. 15.

Discounts are valid for vacation home packages booked between Nov. 18 and Jan. 5, 2012, by 6 p.m. CT for travel Nov. 19 through March 31, 2012. One-day advance purchase is required. Golf bags, skis and snowboards fly free with Southwest Airlines Vacations, a savings of up to $120 per person, roundtrip. For complete details on this offer, visit www.southwestvacations.com/Deals/Deal.aspx?deal=376.

Customized vacation home packages include roundtrip flight via Southwest Airlines, hotel accommodations (including taxes), Rapid Rewards points on the flight portion, 24-hour traveler assistance, and two bags checked free.

Southwest Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages to more than 80 destinations with flight service available from every scheduled Southwest Airlines departure city. Customized vacation package may include flight, hotel, car rentals, show tickets, attraction passes or tours. Southwest Airlines Vacations is located in Orlando and operated by The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC). For more information, call 800-423-5683 or visit www.vaxvacationaccess.com