Whats your travel style?
My article from this past week in the Moose Jaw Express – Enjoy!
Moose Jaw Express.com
28 Jun 2012
Archive for the ‘In the News’ Category
RitchWorld – What’s your travel style?
Posted: July 3, 2012 by mkritch in In the News, TravelTags: family vacation, Geckos Adventures, holiday, Tour, tourism, travel, Travel Style, vacation, Vietnam
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Virgin Atlantic YVR – LHR Starting May 24, 2012
Posted: March 18, 2012 by mkritch in Europe, In the News, North America, TravelTags: Air Canada, Airbus, AirCanada, Boeing, Canada, cars, europe, Heathrow, Inaugural Flight, LHR, London, may 24, pressdisplay, pressreader, Province, Richard Branson, RichardBranson, Star Alliance, transportation, travel, traveling to europe, vacation, vancouver, Virgin Airlines, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, wedding anniversary, year wedding anniversary, YVR
I saw in the Province (Vancouver) newspaper today that Virgin Atlantic will be starting YVR-LHR flights starting May 24, 2012. I am unsure if this is seasonal or will be a daily operation? In any case, Virgin Atlantic is one of those Airlines that I have yet to fly. I have been on Virgin America a few times which was absolutely brilliant. I am excited to see a new airline fly from Vancouver and offer more flexibility and more options when traveling to Europe. It would be great to see Virgin join the Star Alliance, so that I could start using Virgin Atlantic (or at least try) when I go to Europe… in any case May 24, 2012 is my 1-year wedding anniversary for my wife and I, so if you want to send me to London for the weekend with my wife on the inaugural flight, that would be sweet!
The Province
18 Mar 2012
It’s ok to couch travel
Posted: March 14, 2012 by mkritch in In the News, Reviews, TravelTags: city population, couch travel, dream destination, dreams and visions, faraway lands, galaxy, greatest gifts, iPad, monocle, moose jaw express, pressdisplay, pressreader, tablet, travel, vacation, wikipedia, wikitravel
The world is a big place with lots to see, learn and discover. For most people, it is understandable that they may not get many chances to visit faraway lands or discover and explore exotic or historic places. However, there are more ways than ever to bring those places closer than you might think. Couch traveling offers a very relaxing trip without leaving home. I love to do it in my spare time. One of the greatest gifts, that we as humans have, is imagination, dreams and visions. Most of us are able to close our eyes and see ourselves in that special place. There are lots of very interesting websites, magazines and tools that can really help you get a feel for that dream destination!
Wikipedia and WikiTravel are two incredible sites to search out information about a specific country; you will find everything from the name of the Capital city, population, GDP, climate, electricity type, etc. Some of this may sound useless, but when you start globe-trotting these types of things are extremely useful to know and really determine what goes into your luggage. Also on Wiki, you will find the key attractions, things that are a must do, as well as what to buy!
Another great site is TripAdvisor. Whether you are on your couch or on a trip, to see pictures of some famous sites can help give some guidance and a general over-view of what to expect. TripAdvisor is my absolute favorite. You can find out reviews of specific attractions, hotels, restaurants, as well as information on tour-guides, etc. There is so much to explore on this website. The best thing about it is reading the feedback reviews compiled by real travelers! Often times, you will find that if you give a review of a hotel or resort that shines negatively on their operations or maybe even to compliment them on their quality of service, their management may respond to you and try to rectify a perspective problem or just thank you for the positive feedback! Last but not least, you can always check out LonelyPlanet & Frommers. Your local library may also have Travel Guides to access and read.
Bar none, the absolute best way to get familiar with a country or city is to read their local newspaper. The website PressDisplay.com and their companion app, allow you to access full replica newspapers from around the world. Their collection consists of more than 2000 Newspapers from 95 countries in more than 50 languages. Some of the newspapers also allow you to translate (ie. Italian newspaper translated into English), and can be shared by email or social networking.
There is also an incredible magazine available that offers culture and the inside scoop on international relevant matters called Monocle. The review is a “briefing on global affairs, business, culture & design”. Monocle is more than a captivating magazine with interesting reporting; it literally draws you in. A little expensive at the cost of $10 but well worth the knowledge gained. It can be purchased locally in Regina at The Book End, Chapters and Coles Northgate. Annual subscriptions are 90GBP ($140); you can do so on their website (Monocle.com).
At the end of the day, if you can’t travel for whatever reason, travel on your couch as much as you can. Read, read and read some more… Learning about the world may unfold new opportunities and possibly challenge you!
Oh, the places you’ll go!
People For good
Posted: March 6, 2012 by mkritch in In the News, Life, Words From My MouthTags: golden rule, good feelings, kindness, movement, patience, people for good, peopleforgood.ca, pleasure, pressdisplay, pressreader, the province, understanding
I liked this ad in the Province Newspaper Today. As individuals we have to remember to try and treat others the way we want to be treated. – I am probably the biggest offender, but sites like Peopleforgood.ca are a great reminder that it doesn’t take much to do something to brighten up somebody’s day.
Share some goodness! I will try to do my part locally or globally!
Mk
7-11 FREE Birthday Slurpee NOT FREE and Limited?
Posted: July 11, 2011 by mkritch in In the News, Scum, Words From My MouthTags: 7-11, 7-eleven, birthday, convenience, fail, lies, misleading, misled, slurpee, vancouver
Pretty annoyed this evening with 7-11 located at 6904 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. BC. All day I saw ad’s online, in newspapers, on radio, etc saying Come wish 7-11 a Happy Birthday and enjoy a free Slurpee! Well I was out getting groceries and went out of my way to swing by 7-11 and was planning to buy some other snacks and lottery as well but when I showed up there was a sign on the door saying “SORRY we do not have any FREE SLURPEE we gave more than 1000 cups already sorry again”…
Stupidly, my wife decided she didn’t care and wanted one because of all the ads and ended up going in an buying one. I refused to pay for one…I HATE being told one thing and then seeing something else. Being misled is not cool 7-11. You may have just lost a customer….
Alcoholic mayor banned from meeting one-on-one with female employees.
Posted: March 16, 2011 by mkritch in In the News, ScumTags: aa, alcoholic, banned, bashful, bitterness, british columbia, cheating, creeper, deceit, drunken mayor, fort st. john, ft. st. john, guilty conscience, heart attach, Honesty, Integrity, karma, leadership, mayor, punishment, scum, theft
I have always been taught not to be happy in someones downfall, but for some reason today I feel OK to be happy about one mans fall…with a little hope he doesn’t get back up…yes it sounds harsh, but there might be a little bitterness…
Today’s headlines shows the ‘mayor’ of Fort St. John getting himself into a little trouble of being a drunken dog and obviously a dirty little man… why else could he not be around a female colleague…Creeper? You can decide! My thoughts on people who hold some type of power or authority should definitely hold some type of honesty, integrity and should be someone who displays excellence both personally and professionally.
I am very curious to know what kind of alcoholic activities he might have done to be barred from one-on-one meetings with female employees along with being barred from leaving his region?
This could definitely be the start of some interesting revelations….I am curious to know if there will be some stories about cheating, lying, deceit, theft or anything else of that matter…
I have to wonder if a mans guilty conscience could weigh down so much on a person to cause them a heart attack?
Karma’s a Bitch, What goes around comes around!
Mk
O’man, I am going to Oman – Business as usual in Oman?
Posted: March 1, 2011 by mkritch in In the News, Middle East, Travel, Words From My MouthTags: Arab Culture, Bahrain, business, Egypt, Libya, Middle East, muscat, oman, Protests, Qaboos bin Said, Safe travel, sultan, tourism, travel, Tunisia
O’Man, I am going to Oman! I have plans to leave on Friday for Muscat, Oman where I will be speaking at a library conference on digital newspapers as well as plan to exhibit and promote our company. I have been to the Middle East a few times now and know that the people there are wonderful, caring and the region generally feels quite safe to me. As we have seen the news over the past month the region is clearly unstable…looking at Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and now Oman. Starting last week there have been some protests in Oman with several people killed from my understanding.
As, I want to be a cautious, safe and smart traveler. I have emailed my associates in Oman asking about the situation and have been clearly told “The situation in Oman is stable, news and media always make a big exaggeration for the situation in the Gulf Region, protest can happen in Canada & USA, but the life, business and everything is running normally”. Another associate said “The situation is stable and we do not feel any difference in daily life, don’t worry and welcome to Oman!”
There was also an article in Google news today that says “Business as usual in Oman“
So there you have it, Oman is as safe is it will ever be. I am looking forward to doing business with my Middle Eastern partners and meeting new partners and clients. I have lots of respect for the culture and the people and enjoy my time with them.
Looking forward to a successful and safe business trip and of course experiencing some of the beautiful Arab Culture
Mk
