“The pre-installations are exciting news for Psiloc, as we will see World Traveler’s reach continue to grow with the platform pre-installed on not only more, but some of Nokia’s most-advanced devices,” Marek Filipiak, president and founder of Psiloc said.

World Traveler, Psiloc’s popular mobile travel platform, has gained more than three million active users since arriving on the market in June 2009. World Traveler works on a “freemium” model, which includes both free plug-ins, such as a five-day Weather forecast, Currency converter and World Clock, as well as premium plug-ins that are available on a paid-subscription basis, such as Flight Assistant and Travel Safe.

Flight Assistant enables users to check alternative flights and get alerts in the event of changes to a flight schedule. Hotelzon, another World Traveler plug-in, allows a user to search for available hotels and book rooms through the mobile phone. Travel Safe is a virtual vault for sensitive information, such as passport, or credit card numbers.

Psiloc’s popular Font Magnifier application also comes pre-installed. Font Magnifier has been a Psiloc mainstay for years, as users find it improves the user-friendliness of a cellular phone with the ability to increase or decrease fonts.

The addition of World Traveler to the E5-00 and coming Nokia devices promises to significantly extend the Polish company’s already formidable reach.

Notes to editors:

• Psiloc is one of the world’s leading mobile phone application providers, with Filipiak attributing recent success to a combination of the company’s deep knowledge of Symbian technology and strategic relationships with the world’s leading cellular phone manufacturers.
• Psiloc’s mobile travel platform, World Traveler, is compatible with all Nokia S60 phones and is pre-installed on several current devices.
• World Traveler has more than three mln users, with the number growing at a rate of more than 8,000 new users a day.
• World Traveler’s Hotelzon plug-in has access through the Hotelzon network to more than 90,000 hotels worldwide. The Hotelzon plug-in is the first “third-party” plug-in to be added to World Traveler, and users will be able to download the plug-in by either going to the plug-in manager within the World Traveler application or by visiting Psiloc’s www.worldtraveler.biz website.
• Psiloc’s popular Font Magnifier product can be downloaded from the Psiloc website (www.psiloc.com) or can be accessed through menu/applications on Nokia phones where the application has been pre-installed.

For more information, please contact this blogger at preston.smith@psiloc.com or Edyta Kozińska, Psiloc PR Specialist at edyta.kozinska@psiloc.com.

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Hurricane Earl spun out of the Gulf of Mexico to roll up the U.S.'s Atlantic Coast - disrupting air, automobile and train travel as it went. Photo by NASA/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The scene is replayed year after year. A businessman books a flight to Florida—or in this case North Carolina—and then bad weather forces him into a rerouting nightmare.

The result? Unplanned stopovers. A day wasted in an airport. Missed meetings and the cost of the trip still on the books.

Could it all be avoided? Maybe or maybe not—after all hurricanes are hurricanes. But the business traveler in question would have a better chance with World Traveler’s Fight Assistant plug-in. (To check out Flight Assistant, hit this link: http://www.worldtraveler.biz/product.html#2.)

The fact is that Flight Assistant has become one of our most-downloaded and used plug-ins for a reason. You can check alternative flights through your mobile phone, but when it comes to bad weather you can also get a heads up by simply checking your flight’s current status, or by setting an alert to notify you immediately of a sudden status change.

And within a matter of days an upgraded version of World Traveler, World Traveler 1.7 (0) will be available, which—among other cool features—will offer Flight Assistant will expanded airline coverage.

Of course, some skeptics will say: “Wait a minute. What good does Flight Assistant really do in the event of a major hurricane. After all, it’s not like I’m going to find an alternative flight into the heart of a hurricane—or that I would want to.”

True. In fact, this is absolutely true. Yet there is another scenario that the skeptic may not be taking into account. Hurricane Earl, for example, rolled into the United States East Coast basically over Labor Day weekend. Not only were flights delayed or canceled, but train service was also suspended in the Northeast, according to the Associated Press. Moreover, the wire service also noted that Interstate 95 was also expected to flood in some stretches, and even airports still functioning saw delays across the board.

Now, unless they happened to be members of the Coast Guard, those flying into North Carolina, at the height of the storm would be unlikely to expect their business meetings to go through. Yet in reality, the true headaches come with the side effects of such a disruption. In the airline industry the ripple effect of a hurricane is huge. Flights get backed up, diverted and the great game of passenger musical chairs begins—which means your two-stop flight to Chicago or even to the West Coast could be altered significantly.

Which also means it’s best to know what’s going on, if only to make that quick, emergency call to your secretary or possible business partner. Sure, a hurricane is a pretty good excuse for missing a meeting, but you are still paying for the trip—and face it, people are often quite ego-centric. Explaining after the fact why you missed that board meeting in Vegas, thanks to a Hurricane in North Carolina could get a bit delicate. Yet making the call before-hand with the alternate routes at the tips of your fingers is another thing altogether. And what better than to check out alternate routes and move the meeting by a few hours or a day so the entire trip does not become a washout?

It all comes down to information—and the information and tools you need are right smack in your mobile phone with World Traveler’s Flight Assistant.

Good luck, and let’s hope that we have a mild hurricane season from here on out.

By Preston Smith

This blogger can be contacted directly at preston.smith@psiloc.com.

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It might be tempting, but avoid drinking from even high mountain rivers or streams. Parasitical invections such as giardia are simply too common and potentially too serious to risk should you become infected on a hike. Photo by Yorian/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

You’ve been there. You’ve rationalized. You’ve faced the consequences.

The fact is that travel and food don’t always mix. The fine dining experience abroad is all well and good, but the ordeal of just getting to that foreign country of choice is often where diets slip, where food-borne pathogens take advantage of fatigue and stress and where the trip often goes wrong in the first place.

So here are a few tips that may save from that queasy stomach—or worse—the next time you travel.

1)      Whether on the plane, train or in the automobile, drink plenty of water. The first rule of thumb is that water—good water—is a good thing. Plane passengers especially need to follow this rule as the circulatory air systems in planes tend to dehydrate, and dehydration leaves you that much more vulnerable to pathogens, primarily those that attack the nose, throat and lungs. In short, if mucous linings dry out, they lose their ability to deal with viruses  bacteria of the kind that cause strep throat, the common cold, etc. Keep hydrated and you keep your natural mucous strong. Okay, so it’s not exactly picturesque advice, but you get the meaning.

2)      Don’t think that sweets and alcohol won’t come back to haunt you. Many otherwise “moderate” eaters go overboard abroad, and much of this begins on the trip out. Those shots and chocolates may help you while away the hours, deal with stress and the like, but they are full of sugar, which can play havoc on your sleep patterns, especially if you are already dealing with potential jet lag or even prescription medications to help you sleep or stay awake. Then there is the lesser known fact that sugar feeds bacterial and fungal infections like jet fuel. Thus, if you are going to be cooped up on a long trip where you a) are not going to get a chance to wash b) are not going to get much sleep and c) are going to be in warm/hot climes where sweat is a factor, stay away from sugar. The combination of decreased hygiene, fatigue and sugar could bring on anything from a Candida attack to staphylococcus—and frankly neither are a laughing matter.

Safaris, such as this one in West Bengal's Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, should not be missed, but it's better to be careful with "safari picnics." While wild game may be tasty, go for well-cooked meats in order to avoid potential parasitical infections. Photo by JKDs/Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

3)      Keep your stomach settled by following the meat and vegetable rule. This correspondent learned this trick from a pair of elderly Poles—although apparently in the Slavic countries it has become quite a popular diet. First, keep meat away from breads, pastas and the like. Or simply put, meals should consist of meat and vegetables or breads, pastas (or carbs like potatoes) and vegetables. Don’t mix meat with carbs and don’t mix meat with milk or milk products. This may sound tough to those used to eating cheeseburgers every day, but it works. There are several supposed reasons for this, ranging from the fact that bacteria in meat can take advantage of milk, milk products and carbs (read sugar) to stories that claim it is better to keep different kind of stomach acids separate to Judeo-Christian teachings on milk and meat and the will of God. Believe what you like, but as a travel diet, it’s good to go.

4)      Carry disposable wipes and use them. Airplanes and trains are simply not that hygienic. Half the battle is keeping your hands clean, and in general try not to touch your face (especially your mouth) while flying. Another tip, if you have no handy wipes handy, is to dust off your finger tips on your lapel like a gambler before picking up finger foods. Of course, it’s better to stay away from finger foods (especially anything with sauces) altogether, but the gambler technique at least can give you a bit of confidence—and as they say, half the battle to staying healthy is in your head.

5)       Don’t share spoons, forks, knives—anything actually—even with your loved ones. All right, it may not be very romantic or even familial, but planes and trains give that many more opportunities for pathogens, and face it, you may be trying very hard to stay sanitary, but your child likely is not. Keep your utensils to yourself, and you may very well be thanking your lucky stars when you are there hale and healthy to help your son or daughter who is not.

6)      Once on the ground, be careful with the water. Obviously, we don’t expect you to drink from the faucet, but fresh salads, ice cubes and even frozen juices are often risky as many countries do not have as stringent sanitary codes as in the West. In fact, health-food nuts in the U.S. have recently been sickened (and some would say victimized) with diseases long eradicated in the States, simply because fruit used in frozen smoothies or “healthy popsicles” was unsafe to begin with and/or harvested south of the border in countries with lax produce controls. At any rate, when in doubt, turn to pop and beer. Sounds strange, but according to one former Peace Corps. worker (who wished to remain anonymous), it worked in Guatemala. Which should mean something—but in the end, it’s simple enough advice that will keep away the stomach bugs.

7)      . Very spicy foods are spicy for a reason, they prompt sweat, which gets rid of waste and cools the body and they also kill a fair share of pathogens just as do other methods of curing meat, for example. However, none of this means anything if your stomach cannot handle spices to begin with, and in countries such as India, Pakistan (or interestingly enough, Ethiopia), the food can become unbearably, painfully, out of control spicy. This correspondent has actually seen blistered lips, so take care with going native.

In hot climes spicy food is the norm, as not only it has a cooling effect, but many spices have anti-bacterial properties. However, go slow with ultra-spicy dishes, as the short-term and long-term effects can be... unpleasant. Photo by Simon Law/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

In hot climes spicy food is good—if your stomach can take it

8)      Boil water for tea twice—or use bottled water. In some locations the water system contains flora and fauna that you seriously do not want to ingest. When in doubt, boil and boil and boil.

9)      If you are hiking, mountain-climbing, trekking, etc., don’t eat too lean. While fruit and granola may live up to the image, outdoorsy types need to remember that a little grease is always better for the wheels. Carbs and fats will pay off, especially if you get caught off guard by long treks in bad weather, and over the long run eating too lean can, some claim, lead to premature joint wear. Likewise, eating game—while on safari, for example—may be tasty and thrilling, but it should be done with a bit of caution as well. That wildebeest flank may be mouthwatering, but make sure it is cooked well. Parasites in game are a problem, and on safaris or hunting trips you can’t count on the Food and Drug Administration to hold your hand. Or your toilet paper, for that matter.

10)   Finally, don’t EVER drink from streams, not matter how pure and crystalline they may seem. The world is not what it used to be. Maybe if you are on the top of a mountain at the source of some unknown river—then maybe it’s okay—but it’s probably not worth the risk. If you are out of water at this point, well, you weren’t thinking and you don’t have a choice, but this is asking for it. Seriously. Wild animals have no modern toilet facilities. Moreover, they have a tough life. And a short life. And one of the reasons behind this lies in parasitical infections that are transmitted, for example, through streams and runoff.

In the end, the chief rule of thumb is to simply use your head. Traveling often means cramped, unhygienic conditions. If you remember to take a break, to sit down and eat—and if you break the typical American habit of eating on the go—you can avoid the traveler’s stomach of your nightmares and get the most out of your trip.

By Preston Smith

This blogger can be reached directly at preston.smith@psiloc.com.

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American Airlines is likely to pay a huge fine for 2008 maintenance infractions on the airlines MD80 passenger planes (shown above). Despite attempts to fight the FAA ruling or to negotiate the fine, the bad publicity will likely haunt the carrier as it deals with potential strikes and unrest within its ranks. Photo by Felicity and Phillip/uploaded by Kai Brinker/courtesty of Wikimedia Commons.

American Airlines must be reeling.

By now most in the industry already know that U.S. officials have slapped a $24.2 million fine on American Airlines for 2008 maintenance lapses. The fine is record-setting, hammers American Airlines when it’s down, and if perhaps the collective reaction is “ouch, I bet that hurt,” the real problem with fines is the publicity.

The very, very bad publicity.

In short, the general public tends to have the collective memory of a goldfish. The year 2008 is ancient history. No blood, no foul, life goes on. Whatever maintenance problems were going on at the time, 99 out of 100 Joe Travelers have long since forgotten about them—if they ever knew to begin with.

Yet massive fines—which quickly become far-resonating business articles (and blogs, for that matter)—are a different story. The public will now take a closer look, and trust me, it gets ugly quick.

Flash back to 2008. Badly harnessed wiring grounded more than 3,000 flights, seriously hurt American Airlines reputation (jilting well more than a quarter of a million passengers will do that) and cost the airline quite a sum of money. But if that were not enough, now comes the fine—and comments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the maintenance lapses could have caused fires or explosions on planes.

And when it gets right down to it, this is scary stuff.

Worse, this comes at a time when American has been facing a wide range of strikes, not to mention continued financial losses and criticism from all sides—and even from within. But still more devastating are yet comments from the FAA, with the Associated Press citing the administration as having “made progress with American Airlines ‘maintenance culture’.”

Ouch. Now that does sound worrying. Perhaps the intention was to highlight progress, but this blogger “maintenance culture” sounds a bit too much like counter culture. At any rate, American Airlines most likely wishes the FAA would kindly keep such comments to itself.

Unfortunately, this probably will not happen. Equally bad, this little bit of history is just going to go away. The airline now has its back against the wall. Considering billions of dollars in losses over the past two years, it will certainly work to challenge or negotiate the fine. Quite possibly the FAA will give a little, but only if this nefarious “maintenance culture” is seriously improved. At any rate, expect more comments from the FAA—and expect carefully phrased responses from American Airlines lawyers as the battle continues.

Ugly, ugly, ugly.

On the other hand, you know what they say: Even bad publicity is good publicity.

That is what they say.

At least American Airlines would like to believe it.

By Preston Smith, editor, Psiloc

This blogger can be reached directly at preston.psiloc.com.

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The Mexican crocodile can be a scary beast, but Cancun visitors have little or nothing to worry about--unless they drink too much and go swimming in the lagoon. Photo by Tomas Castelazo/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

In an effort to both inform and entertain the wonderful readers of this esteemed World Traveler blog, we have decided (on a monthly basis) to explore the myths, mysteries and legends of some of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

No, we are not (necessarily) talking the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot, but other, perhaps less known and more practical bits of info that could very well come in handy should you set foot in the vacation spot of your dreams.

And if we poke a bit of fun along the way, hey, most top destinations can fend for themselves.

Which leads us to the multiple, wonderful and titillating subject of crocodiles in Cancun.

1. The crocodile that ate the newlywed parasail enthusiast. When it comes to Mexican vacation horror stories, this has to be No. 1 in our book—and it is a story that must be at least 20 years old, as this blogger first heard at the tender age of 23 on his first trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. At any rate, legend has is that a couple honeymooning in Cancun saw a vacation and marriage come to a quick and tragic end, thanks to the lagoon’s infamous crocodiles. The new husband just had to try parasailing, but the cable broke just as he was flying past his much-impressed new bride. She then watched in horror as he floated in from the ocean, back over the beach, over road and out into the lagoon—where he was promptly devoured by two- and three-meter crocs. Although we’re not saying this is impossible—there are some locals who still swear this is the truth—the lagoon has long been described as harboring a species that feeds on small fish and, reportedly, (see point 3) crocodile attacks simply do not happen.
2. On a similar note, the Great Cancun Kidnapping and Crocodile Caper was in the end a hoax—with a tiny sliver of truth thrown in just to get it off the ground. The story goes like this: a 20-year-old Canadian man claimed he was kidnapped outside a bar, forced into a three-way tourist grudge match, shot in the shoulder and then fed to the crocodiles. The story was aired by CBC News, which was interestingly enough, quite skeptical about the story from the beginning. Apparently, he had ignored signs warning of large crocs and, drunk as a skunk, crept down to the water to relieve himself. Here he was bitten on the leg by a small crocodile, and then attacked by a number of foot-long monsters with whom he engaged in vainglorious battle. The gunshot wound, grudge match and the like were apparently just related, or, we should say, unrelated flights of fancy. The understood truth that Cancun crocodiles only feed on small fish, however, was also called into question, as authorities later revealed (to the shock of many) that, in fact, the young Canadian is not the first tourist to have been attacked.

3. 

   The Gulf side of Cancun (in bright blue) offers fantastic swimming and beaches. The Lagoon side (darker) also is used for watersports, but for the visiting tourist it simply does not compare. Photo by Safa in la but uploaded by Mardetanha/courtesty Wikimedia Commons.

    Cancun crocs regularly attack tourists. Or they sometimes attack tourists. Or they actually prefer less-transient prey. Or… well, it’s hard to get to the bottom of this one, but on the one hand Mexican authorities recently stated that the aforementioned Canadian is the only tourist to have been attacked by crocodiles in Cancun’s history. However, at least one other tourist, an American named Andrew Dales, also aged 20, was severely bitten when he (like the infamous Canadian) also descended to the lagoon to relieve himself under the influence of alcohol. (Yes, there is apparently a moral to this story). Reportedly, Mexican authorities have since indicated that minor incidents with drunken tourists are actually rather common. Other authorities and news agencies have, reportedly, also stated that crocodiles never attack tourists while still, paradoxically admitting that Cancun crocs have at the same time made life quite difficult for local fisherman, with one news source claiming that at least 27 fishermen have been mauled by crocs in Cancun’s history. Apparently, many of the attacks have come in the past few years as more of the poor have fished the lagoon as a food source, following hurricane damage to the coast. Frankly, this blogger simply does not know what to think—apart from the fact that a crocodile-infested lagoon does not make the best alternative to your nearest public toilet.

4. Australians actually read the story of the croc-bitten, toilet-stumped American. Actually, this is not a legend, but an interesting truth that we discovered while researching croc attacks in Cancun. Oddly, this story was featured among Australia’s ABC news coverage of a number of serious tragedies involving Australians killed by salt-water crocs in Australia’s Northern Territory, so yes, even though quite trivial, Mr. Dales, your 15 minutes of fame are now up.
5. Crocodile visits to Captain’s Cove restaurant are a nightly treat. Not a legend, but perhaps not nightly. However, Captain’s Cove (Paseo Kukulkan km 15 +52 998 885 0016) is a pretty darn good restaurant with a great staff and incredible views. On some nights an exceptionally large crocodile does show up to wow diners. On other nights he doesn’t. But you are unlikely to regret the evening out.

So the moral of the Cancun legends? Crocs are best seen from a distance—but frankly destinations like Cancun have so many stunning places to party that late-night croc chasing would not be particularly high on this traveler’s list of priorities. But the real moral is that partying (in terms of heavy drinking anyway) and dabbling in lagoons are not the perfect combination—especially at night.

Put simply, put the croc down. Step away from the croc. Somebody could get hurt here.

By Preston Smith, editor, Psiloc

This blogger can be reached directly at preston.smith@psiloc.com.

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Traveling via a 'packaged holiday' may mean that you miss cool, off-the-beaten-track spots like Myrtos Beach near Greece's Kefalonia. Photo by Christos Vittoratos/courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Perhaps nothing is more tempting for European travelers than the cheap, flashy, ‘package holiday’ trip. Whether advertised in the storefront windows of small travel agencies or whether sold in tandem with the slick telephone-book like catalogues produced by big name travel companies, there is definitely something attractive about booking that last-minute, completely pre-packaged voyage to an idyllic Greek Isle or laid-back Spanish beach.

After all, there is no stress. Your hotel is chosen. Your transport is guaranteed. Mealtimes are set. In fact, you hardly have to use you brain at all.

All you have to do is relax. Right?

Wrong, actually.

Let’s just put it this way: Been there, done that. In fact, this blogger would even recommend “winging it”—i.e. heading for a foreign destination with nothing booked in advance—to the typical charter tour.

Here’s a few reasons why:

1)      You are joining the herd. While you obviously have no obligation to spend time with fellow travelers—or even talk to them—make no mistake that the travel company now in control of your life sees you much differently. You are a number. Import-export material. Of course, your travel company or booking agent would claim that there is no truth in this whatsoever, but in fact, he or she would be lying. Decisions in the sector are based on moving the most people in one go for the most money that can be made on the cheap—i.e. to the most “cattle-friendly” hotels and resorts. This is not to say that you can’t find a great trip and enjoy a package holiday vacation, but expect that catalogue room to be a bit smaller than you thought—and don’t expect a great deal of sympathy on the ground if you complain about it.

2)       Your service may well vary by your country of origin. As horrible as this sounds, it is a fact. Hotels need to fill empty space, just like airlines—and they are also well aware that at least in the past the average German or Frenchman has more disposable income than the average Pole. Does this mean that they will simply book French tourists? No, for the very simple reason that you cannot put all your eggs in one basket. Thus, French-based charter or “last minute” tourists will likely pay more for the same hotel, but they will also likely get better rooms than a tourist (regardless of his nationality) who books the same hotel out of a charter set up in country where the average salary is lower.

3)      If you do not go with a big-name, don’t expect big-name travel protection. Why? The bigger companies send more tourists to hotels and hotel chains. If they are unhappy, they punish the hotels hard. So hotels work to make sure those tourists are satisfied first. Unfortunately, many of the cheapest last minute offers come from smaller companies—which means you may be asking for second-tier, if not second-rate service.    

4)      You may find that you are trading in perceived savings for freedom and less quality, especially when it comes to food. This correspondent has experimented with charter trips to Crete, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Turkey, and in every case but one hotel in Turkey was the food provided of lesser standards for the same or more money than what could be had in small niche hotels or local bed-and-breakfast arrangements. Half-board and full-board measures may seem cheap—and it is true that sometimes the “all-you-can-eat” strategy pays off—but more often than not the meals will at the least quickly grow repetitive, and you will feel tied to your hotel because you want to make meal call. In a sense, this goes against the whole idea of traveling. Our recommendation? Don’t do it.

5)      You may be faced with the hard sell from your “travel guide” on the ground. While some relish a contact in a foreign country, often the local representative is only there to sell tours and make sure you catch your bus/flight home. Often, such representatives will try to suggest that at least one such meeting is mandatory (usually the next day when you would really like to finally hit the beach), and the meek tourists among you will tend to show up simply out of good manners. In truth, no one wants to sit through such meetings—a flyer on the way out of the bus will do—and nobody really wants to feel that they are being rude by skipping such meetings. Best to just avoid the situation altogether and book independently.

6)      Do not be surprised if that first evening is completely wasted. Here is how your arrival should look: You land in the airport, cruise through passport and customs control and then rent a car. You then drive straight to your hotel, stopping if and when you want to get a meal or take in the sights. During a package holiday trip the situation is a bit different. Sure, you avoid the rent car hassle and fees (although in most countries this is not a big deal), but you then pile into a bus and set out to make the rounds. Often the rounds can take you a good bit out of your way, and at every stop you must wait for your fellow travelers to pull their belongings off the bus. Your hotel may be a two-hour drive from the airport, but do not be surprised if you arrive in five or eight hours. That’s one vacation evening blown, my friend. It’s ugly, but it’s the truth.

 Of course, pre-packaged trips are not all bad. First, they tend to be cheap—often cheaper than anything you can find without some honest research regarding where and how you want to travel. And, at least with the bigger names, you do have some protection should your trip go bad. On the other hand, life’s a risk. Playing it safe is going to get you that mundane, safe (and quite possibly substandard) travel experience. Invest the time and effort into traveling independently, and you may very well be rewarded with the trip of a lifetime.

By Preston Smith, editor, Psiloc

This blogger can be reached at preston.smith@psiloc.com.

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JetBlue is getting much press over the Steven Slater affair, but oddly the mystery passenger who prompted Slater's meltdown remains anonymous. Photo by JKrugel/Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Yes, the Steven Slater-JetBlue soap opera continues, with the airline finally addressing the situation by saying only that “sometimes the weird news is about us” while acknowledging that Slater has become the darling of internet forums everywhere.

But oddly, there has still been no mention of the name of the passenger involved.

Strange, strange, strange. Under most circumstances we would hear that 1) the passenger had been arrested for unruly behavior on a flight and 2) that assault charges had been either dropped or were now pending–simply due to the obvious bruise on Slater’s head, which was apparently caused when the passenger disobeyed Slater’s request to remain seated and opened the luggage rack on the flight attendant’s head.

Then there were would issues of worker’s compensation, a possible lawsuit against the airline for inadequately standing behind employees, etc.

So who is this mysterious passenger? Why has she been shielded from the press? Why has Slater been held accountable when the passenger has not?

It would be no exaggeration to say that the JetBlue mystery passenger has become no less than an enigma on the net and in the industry as a whole. Most frequent flyers have seen passengers pulled off flights and arrested for less boorish behavior, and certainly cursing out a flight attendant and then dumping baggage on his head would seem to be a matter for security.

Unless, we understand, the attendant uses the inflatable slide to flee the scene.

But all kidding aside, the silence on the matter is quite atypical. Instead—at least from JetBlue—we have heard only that Slater’s actions endangered no one. And if Slater endangered no one, we can assume that the airline will not press charges.

Which brings up another question:  Does this mean Slater is off the hook?

Not necessarily. Leaping out onto the tarmac with a couple of beers goes beyond the airline itselt, and the airport authority likely has much to complain about to police. But with public sentiment widely favoring his reinstatement (he is currently suspended until further notice), JetBlue has set itself up to dance a delicate public relations tight rope.

Meanwhile, what we really want to know is just who was the horribly rude passenger? And why has this become such a one-sided affair.

The fact is, as anyone in the service industry will tell you, serving drinks or food to the general public is a thankless task. Working as a flight attendant in the post 9/11 age frankly sounds like a leap straight into hell. True, this blogger has never worked as a flight attendant, but he did watch a lifelong friend go completely gray over the space of two years at a major U.S. airline—a development that she credited strictly to the “ups and downs” of the job.

And actually, she didn’t mention any ups.

Now make no mistake, here at World Traveler we are not joining the call to return Slater his job. Frankly, the guy would worry me a bit if we were somewhere over the Atlantic and another passenger got rude (instant slide of death anyone?).  Still… we are sympathetic.

And curious. Seriously, like the vast majority of Internet commentators out there we do want to hear more about the passenger. After all, it takes two to tango–even if it only takes one to set off emergency procedures.

By Preston Smith

This blogger can be reached directly at preston.smith@psiloc.com.   

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JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater chose the emergency chute over the typical method of disembarking from a plane upon landing. Despite his arrest, he has become something of an American folk hero for those fed up with dead-end jobs. Photo by PlusMinus/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

By now many of you have heard of the Jet Blue steward who “lost it” following a confrontation with a passenger—and who now is being vilified by much of the public and the press.

Yet a glance at the details of what actually happened are more than revealing—in fact, they quite likely give us perhaps too close a look at not only the behavior of frustrated airline personnel, but of the behavior of passengers, which is not always exemplary to say the least.

Although reports vary, Steven Slater, a flight attendant who had worked for a number of airlines before JetBlue, apparently became involved in a verbal altercation with a female traveler who first refused to sit down while the plane was taxiing to the gate at JFK airport in New York. The passenger not only refused to sit down, but cursed Slater as she pulled luggage out of the overhead bin and reportedly hit Slater in the head.

Slater asked for an apology and received still more curses. He then went to the plane intercom and said, according to ABC News: “To the passenger who just called me a motherxxxxxx, fxxx you. I’ve been in this business 28 years, and I’ve had it.”

Then Slater activated the inflatable chute for emergency evacuations, slid out of the plane and escaped to his car. Then he drove home.

What followed was then perhaps even more surreal. According to television reports, Slater was arrested after his home was surrounded not only by police, but by SWAT teams. The New York Daily News reported that he was arrested “in bed with his boyfriend” and subsequent newscasts did their best to paint Slater as unstable psychologically—although there seemed to be no quotes or facts to support these stories.

Then quotes were posted from his Facebook page describing a long battle with substance abuse and other reports surfaced about his dying mother and the considerable stress he has been under of late.

In any case, Slater is now charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. He has also become a new American folk hero for “walking off the job in style.”

Still, it is safe to say that Slater’s career is over. Not only does he face jail time, but it is highly unlikely that he will ever be employed by an airline again. His personal life has been exposed and questions about his temper have come to the fore, thanks to reporters and apparently at least one person on the JetBlue staff.

Hmmm. While not condoning his actions, this blogger has to wonder if everyone, including the press, is not overreacting. We’ve probably all wanted to walk off a job in grand fashion at one time or another—and more of us than we’d like to admit have also probably wanted to try that cool inflatable evacuation slide. Throw in a beer or two, and yes, Slater starts to seem kind of… normal.

On the other hand, you can’t just set off the chute whenever you want. The fact is that spontaneously opening the chute on the ground could injure airport staff on the tarmac. Likewise, had the plane been moving when the chute opened, potentially it could have put the entire plane in danger.

Or so we are meant to believe. On the other hand, JetBlue has taken pains to state that at no time were passengers or the crew in danger—which would seem to negate the current charges against Slater for reckless endangerment.

What can you say? In a world of spin, spin spins the world. What is definitely true, however, is that the passenger violated regulations by refusing to obey lighted signs or the cabin crew. What happened regarding the luggage is up to debate, but judging by Slater’s badly bruised head, there would also seem to be the basis of litigation here.

Finally, behaving in such fashion to cabin staff is downright rude.

In the end, perhaps we all need to remember that while travel can be uplifting, invigorating and the like, it can also quite easily descend into the worst depths of hell. It’s better for travel professionals to keep a cool head, but passengers have responsibilities too. Was Slater irresponsible? Yes, but at least he quit and at least he did so quite publicly without denial or a real attempt to hide from his critics. As far as the rude passenger goes, we only know it was a woman with bobbed hair. And a foul moth.

Strange how one man’s career has now been destroyed, but that the instigator in this affair still remains nameless.

Then again, maybe a name is not necessary. After all, the saying goes like this: We have met the enemy, and it is us.”

By Preston Smith, editor, Psiloc.

This blogger can be reached directly at preston.smith@psiloc.com.  

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The ancient city of Petra in Jordan tops our list of desert destinations, especially as Wadi Rum is close by. Photo by David Bjorgen/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

There are those who need the sun and those who really need the sun.

For the latter—whose idea of a holiday involves dunes, pyramids, arroyo hikes, etc.—and no beach—well, we’re not saying we completely understand you, but there are definitely some destinations that separate themselves from the rest.

Below is a list for top hotspots (literally) if you want that perfect “Lawrence of Arabia” vacation—or if perhaps you don’t, but you still want sand dunes, desert nights and… well… erm… desert nights, this is the list for you.

1)      The ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Designated by the BBC as one of the 40 destinations you “must see before you die), the city of rose-colored rock is now familiar to millions simply for its appearance in the Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In short, yes, the famous entrance shown in the film not only exists, but it is even more impressive in real life, as is the “siq” or shaft—the dark, sandstone crevasse that leads to the entrance of what in antiquity was basically a man-made oasis and trading center. The history of Petra, in part mystery, in part an impossible tangle within the myriad empires of the times, would basically take pages to even properly sum up. Suffice to say that it was a Nabataen trade center/fortress that later fell into neglect under Roman rule. At any rate, this is a must-see destination, which should be high on the list, if not top, on a visit to Jordan.

The Egyptian pyramids (this one at Giza) are a sight to behold, although heavily infested with hawkers and various tourists traps. Photo by Ljanderson977/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

2)      The Egyptian pyramids. Yes, this had to be on the list, and it is tough to imagine a desert destination list ignoring the Great Pyramid and Sphinx in Giza. Likewise, desert tours out of Cairo, the Red Sea destinations (and just about any other Egyptian destination) are plentiful, but unfortunately vary greatly when it comes to their true destinations and execution. Our recommendation is to base your stay at Sharm el Sheikh and grab a one-day trip to Giza (although tearing yourself away from Sharm el Sheikh may be the hardest thing of all). Still, don’t skip the pyramids. They aren’t a wonder of the world for nothing.

3)      The Grand Canyon, Arizona. ‘What?’ you exclaim. ‘That’s not a desert.’ True, the canyon is a canyon, but you simply must see it (and the blue-green Havasupai Falls deep inside the canyon before you die. But back on the subject, don’t miss Painted Desert, which is located near the canyon’s south rim, and especially don’t miss the Painted Desert at sunrise, as this may be the highlight of your trip. Finally, the Painted Desert lies between the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest, so this is basically a can’t-miss trip.

4)      The Valley of the Moon (which is actually known as Wadi Rum), also in Jordan. Serious rock climbers have basically had Wadi Rum on their list of sites to conquer since the late 1980s since it was “rediscovered” (for climbing purposes anyway) by Tony Howard, Di Taylor, Mick Shaw, and Al Baker. Non-climbers may remember Wadi Rum from the writings of British officer T.E. Lawrence, and the film Lawrence of Arabia, in which Wadi Rum is shown. Younger travelers may remember it from the film Red Planet, and indeed, with the right light Wadi Rum is more than surreal. Rocky outcrops, including Jordan’s second tallest peak, Mount Rum at 1734 m above sea level, shoot up out of the desert sands, and the only village is, as you might expect, a small tribe of Bedouin. Still, a steady tourist trade thrives, and Arabian horse riding, trekking, overnight camping (you haven’t seen stars until you’ve seen them from the desert) climbing and day trips from Petra are the norm.

Moab, Utah, has become famous for its outdoor recreation, including the infamous Slick Rock biking rail. Photo by Christof Berger/courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

5)       Finally, our sleeper pick (although some would say that this was spent on Kazakhstan) Moab, Utah. At first glance, visiting a desert in Utah may seem like an odd choice for a vacation. And considering the fact that Moab until very recently was simply dismal, this might make the choice seem that much odder. But in fact, Moab has become hip in an outdoorsy way, as it is placed smack dab between two national parks, Arches and Canyonlands, and everything from jeep rides to trekking to river rafting are on offer. Moreover, the Slickrock Bike Trail, a legendary bike loop for mountain bikers that offers much more than most bikers are ready to handle. With regard to the trail, it winds about 10.5 miles over “petrified” sand dunes, includes steep hills and drop-offs that are accidents waiting to happen, and the best part is that the rock is not slick at all, but instead has the consistency of very cutting sand paper. In short, you slip, you fall, your skin slides right off. Things get even trickier when it rains, as the sandpaper-bike-tire-gripping surface suddenly becomes as slippery as ice—although the falls don’t get any softer. Yet the fun does not stop there, BASE jumpers practice their art nearby, and a film currently under way, “127 Hours,” depicts the true story of a rock climber forced to cut off his own arm following a nasty fall. In short, bring your video camera, you may be able to sell some cool footage to reality TV. On a more positive note, however, Moab has been called one of the most livable small towns in the West for a reason. The weather is just about always “pleasant.” The scenery is stark, but beautiful and even eye-popping once you venture further into the nearby national parks. There are even a few bars to wander to once evening sets in. No, as town go, it’s not big, but it could be worse.

Kazakhstan's Singing Sand Dune actually gets its name from sand displacement, which causes loud "rumbles" that range from the eerie to overwhelming. Photo by Jonas Satkauskas/courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

So there you go, enough desert for anyone but the true hard-core desert lovers, who will likely as not note that no, the Sahara as the Sahara was not listed—and neither was the Gobi. Both are mind-bogglingly huge and varied, and perhaps the only way to properly do the Sahara justice would be to entire the Paris-Dakar. Our advice if you want a bit more of the Sahara (but maybe something else as well), think Morocco and Marrakech. Short and long excursions out of Marrakech include everything from quad bike trips (watch those corners) to camel treks into the desert and nights spent in Berber tents.

And finally, for the real, ultimate, hard-core risk-taker, there is not only the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, but also… you guessed it: The Singing Sand Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Kazakhstan. If you’ve seen those awe-inspiring mountains-of-sand dune photos that look too phenomenal to be real, well, this one is definitely real and at 100 meters high it is just about unbelievable in person as well.

Problem is that you have to get there and Kazakhstan is not exactly on high on the list in most mainstream travel guides. It is also not exactly high on the list when it comes to hotel standards, tourist amenities and the like. On the other hand, Kazakhstan is vast to the point of mind boggling, has a relatively small population for its size and boasts surreal, harsh and at times lunar-like terrain. In short, once you leave Almaty (which may surprise you for its modernity) this is a hard-core trip and it may not make you happy. But as far as the dunes go, not only is the Singing Sand Dune tall, but it sings. Or rumbles. Or roars, depending on the heat, humidity and the wind. Is this a must see? Is it worth the distance and post-Soviet privations? Hard to say, but it is fairly, kinda-sorta unique—and if it’s not everything you ever expected, you can always head to the Altai Mountains, which border Russian and China and feature alpine forests, lakes and wildlife should Altyn-Emel simply prove too… lunar.

Then again, this is the desert we’re talking about. After all, the Gobi ranges from up to -40 degrees Celsius in winter and 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Which is a reminder that exotic certainly does not always mean easy.

By Preston Smith, editor, Psiloc

This blogger can be reached at preston.smith@psiloc.com.

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