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  2. Adrift in the Desert

    Leave Israel’s bustling cities to wander the ancient caravan routes of Negev.


    by Kim Foley MacKinnon Standing on the edge of the Makhtesh Ramon “crater,” I felt as if I had been transported to another world — the moon, perhaps, or some unnamed planet. It was hard to believe that less than three hours north by car was Tel Aviv, and even closer was Jerusalem. But once again, I was reminded that Israel is a small country, despite its enormous impact on the world. Only about the size of New Jersey, it makes venturing off the beaten path easy.

    My companions and I had left bustling Tel Aviv to explore a small part of the desert that makes up almost two-thirds of the country yet is home to only 10 percent of the population. Few tourists venture here. With the allure of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Galilee, perhaps it can be a hard sell. But it’s so worth visiting. Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was convinced that the desert was the key to Israel’s future, a belief so firm that he spent his last two decades here at Kibbutz Sde Boker; and he and his wife chose to be buried in the place he loved.

    Negev — meaning both “dry” and “south” — encompasses about 4,000 square miles and was once the heart of the ancient Nabatean empire, where the Nabateans plied their trade along the famed Spice Route, moving spices and incense (think frankincense and myrrh) from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean. The archaeological sites of Avdat, Haluza, Mamshit and Shivta, as well as the Negev capital, Be’er Shiva, incorporate a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is still a nomadic Bedouin population that lives in the Negev.

    Makhtesh Ramon, so mesmerizing to gaze at, is one offive so-called craters (actually geologic depressions) in Israel. The largest in the world, formed millennia ago, it is one of the biggest attractions of the Negev; and if you are going to run into tourists, this is the likeliest place. It’s not a crater at all, but a valley that is 25 miles long, 5 miles across at its widest point and about 1,650 feet deep. Fossils, rock formations and volcanic and magmatic phenomenon date back as far as 220 million years. Ocean once covered this area. The crater formed when climatic forces dictated change. As we walked the rim, we saw a rappelling lesson going on nearby, just one of many adventures to be had here.

    The Ben-Gurion gravesite is perched over the Nahal Zin, or Zin Valley, yet one more surreal vista that begs to be explored. We spotted ibex hopping around; apparently they are plentiful but easy to miss, as they blend into the desert landscape. The best way to discover the region is to get out of your car and wander on foot, bike or camel, Bedouin-style. My group booked a Jeep tour to take us deep into the valley, then we ditched our ride to hike, finally arriving at a spring where several of us took the plunge to cool off after a dusty journey. On the return trip, our eagle-eyed guide stopped the Jeep and pulled out a telescope to show us Griffon vultures nesting in the cliffs. We didn’t see another human soul until we were closer to the park entrance and a campground where two groups were setting up for the night. I was envious of the solitude and magnificent night sky they were going to enjoy, but I also knew I had a treat in store. We were spending the night at Carmey Avdat Farm, a winery and zimmer (bed and breakfast).

     

     



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  3. Best Of Waldorf


    The Waldorf Astoria Collection Florida Keys properties are offering the Best Of Waldorf promotion. Through August, rates begin at $179 per night. With a stay of three consecutive nights, guests will receive a free fourth night. The offer is available at Casa Marina Resort and The Reach Resort. Children under the age of 18 will receive complimentary breakfast and a complimentary stay when in the same room as a paying adult.

     

     



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  4. ’Round The World Promo


    In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, SkyTeam alliance is offering a promotion on its ’Round the World fare pass. Discounts are available between 5–30 percent. Book by Sept. 30, travel by June 30, 2011. The ’Round the World fare pass allows customers to travel on only one ticket anywhere SkyTeam’s 13 member airlines fly. Learn more here.

     

     



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  5. Lufthansa

    Business Class
    Frankfurt (FRA) to Newark (EWR)
    tel 800 645 3880


    by Ron Bernthal Sitting in Lufthansa

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  6. Cabin Fever

    Popular wisdom says an aircraft
    by Beth Vrabel Six years ago, Alissa Dorman boarded a plane from her home in the Pacific Northwest for Arizona. It was her family

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  7. Summer In Rome


    Experience Rome with the Hotel Hassler Roma’s Summer in the City package. The promotion includes three-night’s accommodations, daily breakfast buffet, a massage for two at Amorvero Spa, complimentary Prosecco at Amorvero Terrace overlooking the Spanish steps, and one complimentary lunch for two. Through Sept. 9, a minimum stay of three consecutive nights is required. Visit the website.

     

     



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  8. Wildest Dreams

    Trek deep into the heart of Borneo to discover its untamed treasures.


    by Richard Newton In the dark, at 3:30 a.m., we have to remind ourselves this is Borneo. The island

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  9. Emirates Summer Special


    Emirates is reducing first- and business-class fares in the month of July. Available exclusively online, passengers can save up to 30 percent on fares from any of the airline’s four U.S. gateways, New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Houston (IAH) and San Francisco (SFO) to destinations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Book by July 31 and travel from Aug. 1–Sept. 30.

     

     



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  10. Save At 12 London Hotels


    Available between July 23 and Sept. 5, the 12 Radisson Edwardian hotels in London are offering a summer promotion. The offer includes deluxe accommodations, daily breakfast for two, 25 percent off dining at each hotel restaurant, a bottle of Prosecco and strawberries, a picnic blanket, free WiFi and afternoon tea (Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel only). Call 800 333 3333 or click here. Reference offer code SUMMER.

     

     



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  11. Mission Control

    One of the last U.S. cities to slip into recession and one of the first to emerge, Houston has a firm grip on its super-sized economy.


    by Sharon King Hoge Start off with

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Where to Eat & Drink | Siem Reap | Cambodia

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Where to Eat & DrinkThere is no shortage of restaurants in Siem Reap. They have been opening steadily over the past couple of years. Siem Reap offers an excellent variety of restaurants. Shinta Mani and Hotel Grand D'Angkor lead the fine dining category though there are several places offering excellent cuisine in a stylish, refined atmosphere. There are also plenty of moderately priced Cambodian and international restaurants. Almost every restaurant offers Cambodian food. For the budget minded, check out the inexpensive Chinese places at the south end of Sivatha Blvd. or the local food stalls and noodle cookshops next to Phsar Char (Old Market).

Dinner Theater:
Attending a traditional dance performance is a must when visiting Cambodia. Several restaurants offer dinner performances. Nightly performances: Grand Hotel D’Angkor, Apsara Theater, Kulen II, Angkor Mondial, Chao Pra Ya, Tonle Mekong, and Tonle Sap. Some restaurants, such as the Dead Fish Tower, offer traditional music during the dinner hour. Shadow puppetry can be seen at Bayon 1 and La Noria Hotel.

Pubs, Bars & After Dark:
A traditional dance performance at one of the dinner theatres is a perfect place to begin the evening. If you’re looking for something a bit more conventional, there are a variety of places from which to choose. The piano bar at Grand D’Angkor, and the live traditional music at Dead Fish Tower make for pleasant venues to begin the evening. Buddha Lounge, Ivy Bar, The Red Piano, Temple Bar, Linga Bar, Molly Malone’s, Angkor What and not to forget the bars of the ‘Pub Street’ where you can find popular early evening pubs, drawing tourists and expats alike, and getting more crowded as the evening progresses. ‘Pub Street’ in the Old Market area is the happening place to be in the evening these days offering several bars and restaurants, not only on ‘Pub Street’, but on nearby streets and allies. Things get going in the late afternoon and some places stay open quite late.


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