New York City ( JFK or EWR or LGA ) ?

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 05:15:15 -0500

(New York, US) When you are planning your way IN and OUT New York city... there is a crucial decision you have to make, along with choosing which airline will you be flying and how much are you willing to pay. And this is which airport will you be flying IN and OUT. ?  Traffic in New York City and surrounding areas are a mess, believe me I have experience that myself in the past, running with my suitcases all over town sweating and wondering will I make it on time. Keep in mind that you always need to plan in advance and allow at least 30 minutes for the checking in process and then about an hour ( if flying during the rush hours ) for the security check.

In the New York City area there are three major airports JFK ( to me the most accessible and convenient ), EWR ( Newark International Airport ) and LGA ( La Guardia ). From these three I would recommend to avoid arriving or departing from the last option.   There are so many flights and so many option that it is very easy to choose your airport when doing your own bookings, and if you have someone doing that for you.... well if it is an experienced Travel Agent they should know before hand about this.... if not, well there it goes the rest of your trip in the hands of someone that seats behind a desk, has never Been There Done That, and calls himself a Travel Agent.

Of course if you count with ( USD 40 to 50 ) to pay for a taxi ride, this post is not for you. But if you are one of those that like to experience the destinations in full or simply you are one of those many that travel on a budget.... why spending that much when you can have a quick and pleasant ride for approximately USD 18. ( FYI this recommendation is in case you are traveling SOLO or in a small group.... because if not, if you add up the cost of 3 people then the taxi makes perfect sense... )  JFK ( IN or OUT ). Total cost is approximately USD 17 ( including the Airtrain + LIRR ). Total time approximately 40 minutes. IN to Manhattan: From your arrival terminal, take the Airtrain to Jamaica station. There you can transfer to the LIRR ( Long Island Rail Road ) which will take you directly to Penn Station in the heart of New York City (aka. Madison Square Garden or 34th. Street and 8th. Av). OUT to JFK International Airport: From your hotel, walk or take a taxi or jump to the subway towards Penn Station and from there take the LIRR to Jamaica Station and then the connection with the Airtrain. You may check the LIRR timetable online at any time ( here ).   EWR ( IN or OUT ). Total cost is approximately USD 20.50 ( including the Airtrain + NJ Transit Train ). Total time approximately 30 to 40 minutes. IN to Manhattan: From your arrival terminal, take the Airtrain to final EWR International Airport Station. There you can transfer to the NJ Transit Train ( New Jersey Transit Train ) which will take you directly to Penn Station in the heart of New York City (aka. Madison Square Garden or 34th. Street and 8th. Av). OUT to EWR International Airport: From your hotel, walk or take a taxi or jump to the subway towards Penn Station and from there take the NJ Transit to EWR International Airport Station and then the connection with the Airtrain. You may check the NJ Transit timetable online at any time ( here ). There are trains from/to Penn Station almost every 30 minutes.  (*) if your flight is between 2AM to 5AM then you must keep in mind that the best and only option is to take a taxi. So in this case it makes no difference which airport you will be flying IN or OUT.

Worldwide Mr Gay 2010 ( Oslo, Norway )

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 20:21:40 -0500

(New York, US) As I am writing this post I am prepping to fly out tomorrow to Oslo, Norway to participate assisting the Board of Directors and the organization of Worldwide Mr Gay with the logistics, PRs and Marketing of their second edition. 2009 was at the breathtaking Whistler (British Columbia, Canada). 2010 will be taking place at Oslo (Norway). And the rumors are now in the air that 2011 Manila (Philippines) will be the chosen host city..... we will have to wait and see.  GO Online, express your voice, support your candidate and VOTE ONLINE. From FEB 3rd. you can go online and place your vote once a day. Online votes will count as 1 official vote along the final decision of the judges to choose the next Worldwide Mr. Gay 2010.  
Former Mr Gay will be present: Max Krzyzanowski (Ireland Delegate 2009) and Carlos Melia (Argentina Delegate 2008) . International Host, Australian TV personality Will Fennel. Performances by Velvet, the Swedish hit machine.
 WWMG Mission Statement The primary purpose of Worldwide Mr. Gay (WMG) is to identify leaders who will take responsibility of being a spokesperson not only in his own community but on a global stage speaking out for equal and human rights. WMG is a positive role model and will work on humanizing being gay in the media both queer and mainstream.  WWMG Competition The Worldwide Mr. Gay Competition is a 4-day, indoor/outdoor series of events to help our judges identify a strong spokesman or Ambassador to tell the world about our mission. The Competition includes athletic tests and extensive interviews with our panel of judges. Judging points are based on a diverse set of criteria including qualities in charisma, leadership, personality, appearance and communication.  WWMG Delegates Regional producers are responsible for selecting which delegates will represent their region as the best possible spokesperson for local culture, ideas and equal and human right challenges.
Each year the Executive Committee will consult with the board of directors to determine the total number of delegates to participate in the world competition, and number of delegates from each region.  Justin Glen Savage ( New Zealand ) • Brent Douglas Kuenning ( United States of America ) • Sorawit Piamthongkum ( Thailand ) • Drew Hanna ( Northern Ireland ) • David Baramiya ( Rusia ) • Darren Geoffrey Bruce ( Canada ) • Marcus Wynne ( Ireland ) • Maximiliano Duran ( Argentina ) • Jair Vega ( Mexico ) • Kamil Szmerdt ( Poland ) • Sergio Lara ( Spain ) • Pablo Salvador Sepulveda ( Chile ) • Tobias Dickenmann ( Switzerland ) • Walter Heidkampf ( Norway ) • Anthony Cortonovis ( Italy ) • David Noel Bosley ( Philippines ) • Rick Dean Twombley ( Hong Kong ) • Charl van Berg ( South Africa ) • Magnus Goubergur Jonsson ( Iceland ) • Cedric Flevet ( Belgium ) • Thiago Silvestre ( Brazil ) • Byron Adu ( Australia ).

Worldwide Mr. Gay 2010 takes place in Oslo, Norway February 10 - 14, 2010, with the slogan "In the name of love!"
Worldwide Mr. Gay 2010 – Official Program
Monday and Tuesday
Some Delegates arrive early
Wednesday, February 10
12.00     Registration at hotel 14.30     Press Conference/Briefing (Rica Victoria Hotel, Lobby Bar) *) 16.00     Official reception hosted by Lord Mayor (Oslo City Hall) **) 18.00     Official Welcome Dinner **) 20.00     Norwegian Winter Fairytale *) 23.00     Oslo by night
Thursday, February 11
7.00       Breakfast & Briefing 9.00       Photo Session and Press *) 12.00     Lunch 12.00     Board of Directors Meeting (Rica Victoria) 13.00     Photo Session (Cont.) 16.00     Visit Norwegian Parliament **) 18.00     Debate meeting: Our Gay Stories (Rica Victoria Hotel) **) 20.00     Sports and fun with gay handball team Raballder *) 21.30     Dinner 23.00     Oslo by night
Friday, February 12  7.00       Breakfast & Briefing 9.00       Photo Challenge and Interviews **) 12.00     Lunch 13.00     Photo Challenge and Interviews (cont.) **) 16.00     Visit Nobel Piece Price Centre *) 18.00     Dinner 20.00     Rehearsals 22.00     Concert, show and swim wear competition (Ballroom) with live act Hitparade and Swedish hit machine Velvet (Ballroom) *)
Saturday, February 13  7.00       Breakfast & Briefing 9.00       Rehearsals 12.00     Lunch 13.00     Dress rehearsals and last minute preparations 17.30     Dinner 19.00     Getting ready for the finale 21.00     Champagne reception (Ballroom) *) 22.00     Show starts (Ballroom) **) 00.00     Celebration Party – in the name of love! (Ballroom) *)
Sunday
11.00     Presidents Farewell Brunch
(*) Open to press
(**) Open to press but some restrictions may occur due to security, number of seats, filming and/or broadcasting in progress.   Come and JOIN US !!!! and let the best one WIN... Get your tickets for the final of Worldwide Mr. Gay 2010 ONLINE now.... ( here )
 Norway extends the red carpet and WARM Welcome to Worldwide Mr Gay and their Delegates. Oslo's Lord Mayor Fabian Stang is hosting an official reception for the 2010 Worldwide Mr. Gay Delegates. “... We are extremely proud and honored that the Lord Mayor finds time in his busy schedule to show the 2010 Worldwide Mr. Gay Delegates this honor...”  Oslo is called “The City with the Big Heart” and this shows the Delegates that it is not only the people behind Worldwide Mr. Gay or the gay scene in Oslo that welcomes them – the Lord Mayor’s reception shows them that the city of Oslo is happy to have them as her guests.
The Lord Mayor’s reception takes place Wednesday, February 10, at the Oslo Town Hall.

Dolphin Odyssey at Seaquarium Miami

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:34:20 -0500

(South Beach Miami, US) Guys for all those coming to SOUTH BEACH, please save some extra bucks or streach a bit your tigth clubbing budget ( Mmmmhhh ) an try the Dolphin Odyssey Tour at the Seaquarium, in Miami Beach. I did it today, and I have to say was one of the nicest experiences in my life. The close encounter with the Dolphins was a DONE in my to do list before going the next life.  
For 1 hour and 30 minutes, you get to learn about this fascinating little friends, their life, the way they are train and the topping of the cake.... interacting with them for over 30 minutes, playing with them, riding on their back, kissing and hugging them.

There are two different tour options: Dolphin Odyssey ( USD 190 x person ) where you get full interaction with them, swimming and riding or the Dolphin Encounter ( USD 139 x person ) intended for those that either are scare of the water, do not know how to swim or under age.  
I will be uploading full information on this tour, pictures and videos soon. You may check them at the TOURS Miami Beach section of my web.

Heading Off to Miami, New York and Oslo (Norway)

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:29:01 -0500

(Buenos Aires, Argentina) At the EZEIZA International Airport ( Buenos Aires ) waiting to board my flight. For the next month I will be touring and working around several destinations, reviewing hotels and helping with the organization and press for Worldwide Mr Gay 2010.  > First stop SOBE ( Florida, South Beach ) IN 19 JAN - OUT 26 JAN With the purpose to start the BRAND NEW section for Miami Beach, I will be reviewing 4 hotels: The LOFT Hotel, The NEW Hotel, Dorchester Hotel, Victor Hotel and AQUA Hotel. Also will be checking out several Restaurants, Bars and clubs to later share with you all at the Concierge MIAMI section of this site.  > Second stop New York City ( Manhattan ) IN 26 JAN - OUT 07 FEB Time to check new options in the city and coordinate the final details for the upcoming gay group planned for the next New York City Gay Pride ( 25 - 29 JUN 2010 ). Also I will take some time to check new restaurants and other interesting TIPS.

> Third stop Oslo ( Norway ) IN 08 FEB - OUT 15 FEB The Board of Directors for Worldwide Mr Gay 2010, has extended their invitation to participate and assist them with the logistics, coordination, press and marketing of the events. For second consecutive year I will be assisting on this duties. Worldwide Mr Gay 2010 will have the grand finale next FEB 13th. at the BALLROOM. For more information check the official website of Worldwide Mr. Gay.

Expect lots of new photos, videos, information and TIPS during and after my trip to this 3 exciting cities.
See you... !!!! and do not forget that you can follow my steps at www.twitter.com/carlosmelia or www.facebook.com/carlosmeliapage   Carlos

San Antonio de Areco is Reborning

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:46:05 -0500

(Buenos Aires, Argentina) After the unfortunate floods that affected the tourist area of San Antonio de Areco ( 2hs. away from Buenos Aires city ), the tourism, local community and destination in general is Reborning. The local hoteliers say... WE ARE TAKING BOOKINGS AGAIN. !!!!  We at CM Boutique Gay Travel, are happy to support and endorse their efforts and to once again thrilled to be able to offer this AMAZING tour and quick Buenos Aires gateway. San Antonio de Areco Full Day Tour.  From floating tables, mattresses still dripping on roofs, men literally diving into their homes to rescue their savings, there is a day-after. San Antonio de Areco is now the gesture of a "shuffle and deal again" fast, the image of those who live off tourism, who realized that they had no time to sit and mourn dead animals or to tell how they saw the flow stealing their furniture.   "At first it was apocalyptic, paralyzing, you get the feeling of getting into a basement," she says now, the Mayor Estela Lennon. 21 days ago, when the overflowing river Areco drowned many houses in 1.80 meters of water, making hysterical calls wandering barefoot.   In a town where everyone knows everyone by name, "the chocolate factory" is “that of Gaba”, the hostel is "that of Lucas" - everyone contributed to the rescue and to meet the season (tourism represents a 40% of economic activity in Areco). Clarin Newspaper toured the area with Guillermo González Guereño, a member of the Tourism Association. Clearly, they deeply cleaned everything, disinfected and discarded the furniture that the river destroyed in his madness. Downstream, they continue cleaning and removing everything that prevented the water from passing through.  About 90% of restaurants and hotels close to the riverside sacrificed their savings, painted, refurbish and they are again taking reservations. The rest of the micro-entrepreneurs is trying to access to soft loans. Those who suffer more the effects of the flooding are the families who live in Amespil, Don Pancho and Canuglio neighborhoods: areas that are not dedicated to tourism, and where most of the 3 thousand evacuees came.  Although the Museum Güiraldes will take at least two months to reopen, failed to save some letters, books and photos, the rest of cultural heritage is on foot. Museum "Las Lilas" (with the collection Molina Campos) and eight other museums did not interrupt their activities. The same with the Church of San Antonio, the Pulperías (old gauchos´ bars), historic old stores, the narrow sidewalks of the great colonial houses, the cobbled streets and workshops of silversmiths, pottery and chocolate factories.  Together.!!! Hoteliers, silversmiths, owners of shops and restaurants are facing the new era with enthusiasm.  
Ramon Ojeda is the owner of the cabins "La Ofelia" and an educational farm: "I asked tourists to leave and I saved some sheep and pigs. At home, water ran over the cars and had to swim to rescue documents and savings. But then disinfected, buy new furniture, silverware, refrigerators and in four days we are making reservations again. "

Lautaro Sforzini, owner of the Hotel San Carlos, convert it into an opportunity and even take it with a lot of humor: "There were 1.6 meters of water inside. I had to demolish eight rooms, but this way now we have a large and beautiful solarium next to the pool". In the boutique hotel Draghi, which is run by the family of the prestigious silversmith, water entered in three of the five rooms and forced them to quickly move the furniture. Today, there are no traces of the atypical event.

KRISHNA Veggie Lunch • Palermo SOHO (BUE)

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:47:21 -0500

(Buenos Aires, Argentina) Was walking this morning around the neighborhood of Palermo SOHO, looking for a nice relaxed restaurant where to have a light supper, something new and funky. Was not in the mood for a typical restaurant, or a big meal.... And there it was KRISNA Veggie Lunch.   Great atmosphere, low and cool indian music, amazing drinks and the most tasteful Veggie Indian options. What else could I ask for ? Well there is always more.... Love the outside seating area with this only 4 tables and low light blue chairs, where you can wait while they bring your food, facing the main square and watching people go by.

Ideal for a nice lunch, either during the week or weekends. On weekends you will have the plus of the flea market that takes place just across the street.

You cannot miss: (starter) Kachoris - pies stuffed with homemade Ricotta, carrots, red pepper, broccoli, corn and peas. (main dish) either go for the Seitan Stew with Rice or Thali - pakoras, raitha, sabji, ginger rice, chutney and chapati. (desserts) Ladhu - balls of crushed almonds with toasted chickpea flour. (drinks) the Ginger Lemonade and/or the Apple Lassi.

The restaurant is located in Palermo SOHO - Malabia 1833 ( Tel. 4833 . 4618 ). Approximately USD 15 per person for a 3 course meal with non-alcoholic drinks.