Photo: ClickE

Well, the Westin Resort Aruba has the answer to that question.

In an effort to up its occupancy rate, the Aruba Westin is running a unique promotion: couples who conceive a child during their stay will receive a “Conception Credit” worth $300 USD, which they can use for a return visit in 2010.

I would have paid money to be at the marketing meeting where this promo was dreamed up.

If you want to take advantage of the offer, there is some fine print: You’ve gotta get it on before December 18, 2009. In addition, once you return stateside, you’ll need to get a note from your doctor indicating that “the likely conception date took place around the time of [your] stay at the resort.”

No word on whether child care is provided on your return visit.

Community Connection:

Interested in outlandish tourism promotions? Read about the “Best Job in the World” or check out how one traveler is taking advantage of JetBlue’s All-You-Can-Jet Pass.

The right Sydney. Photo: Corey Leopold

It was definitely a long-haul flight for Joannes and Nick Rutten, a grandfather and his grandson who planned to take their holiday in Sydney… Australia.

But when their plane landed and they made their way toward Customs and Immigration, something seemed a bit amiss.

The pair weren’t in Sydney, Australia; they’d landed in Sydney, Nova Scotia, located on the east coast of Cape Breton Island.

The wrong Sydney. Photo: Smudge 9000

They weren’t the first pair of travelers to make the mistake, according to this article in The Cape Breton Post. Apparently, the two Sydneys are mixed up with relative regularity.

Who can blame the Ruttens for wandering onto a flight that they thought was going to Sydney? The question is, who was checking their tickets as they boarded?

Community Connection:

Have you ever ended up in the wrong destination? Share your story below!

Note: This is NOT the balloon. Photo: joshmadison

Organizers anticipated as many as 1,000 people would show up to drop their drawers in protest against a surveillance balloon the United States has hovering in the air above the U.S.-Canada border.

The idea was that the balloon–which is believed to have a powerful camera inside it that can spot objects from a considerable distance–would capture images of the protesters expressing their displeasure with its presence.

But the “Moon the Balloon” event, planned for this past Saturday, was a bit of a disappointment, as only a couple hundred Canadians put their asses on the line–literally–to flash the balloon.

Little good it did– the balloon was grounded after having sustained a tear in its fabric last week.

The balloon, which is being tested for Homeland Security purposes, is viewed by some residents on the Canadian side of the border as an infringement of their sovereignty.

Community Connection:

Read more about border issues–but to the South this time–in “Back in 1848? A Closer Look at the U.S./Mexico Border.”

Feature photo: peamasher; Photo above: Sami Keinanen

There are lots of jokes about Fidel Castro. Most make some reference to his propensity for making lengthy speeches.

Throughout his 48 years in power, Castro became renowned for his ability to orate for hours and hours on end. Though you’d probably be tired if you were a Cuban standing in the audience, you could certainly say you witnessed history in the making: some of his speeches, such as “History Will Absolve Me” (given in 1953 before he took power), are widely anthologized in history books around the world.

Just in time for Fidel’s birthday–which is today– Cuban professor Salomon Susi Sarfati published the 339-page Diccionario de Pensamientos de Fidel Castro, or Dictionary of Fidel Castro’s Thoughts, which was released to the public in Cuba last Saturday.

The dictionary defines words based on references from Castro’s speeches.

Castro, who turns 83 today, is reported to be in ill health.

If you happen to head down to Havana, be sure to snag your own copy of the dictionary. It’ll be one hell of a souvenir.

In the meantime, check out Castro’s oratory style in this video:

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Fiordland a week ago apparently twisted the southern island so far out of shape that it actually moved about one foot closer to Australia, says a New Zealand news source. Every year, the island drifts about one-third of an inch westward, but this is giving it about a thirty-six year boost. The earthquake was the biggest in New Zealand after eighty years.

No, it probably won’t make your inter-island travels any cheaper, but at least the South Pacific just got a foot cozier.

Here’s the video from the quake:

Feature photo: Stormy Dog

Feature photo: Daquella manera; Photo: Arturo de Albornoz

Is it media saturation that’s causing PR firms to go bigger and bolder with their tourism clients’ ad campaigns?

First, there was the Best Job in the World, a clever and controversial contest to attract attention to Queensland.

Then, there was the NEXT Best Job in the World, a similar campaign (which, it should be noted, folded without explanation shortly after it was launched).

And now, there’s Nova Scotia’s ad for a product that has nothing to do with Nova Scotia at all.

In fact, the product–the Pomegranate NS08, a cell phone, translator, coffeemaker, harmonica, and electric shaver– doesn’t even exist.

So what’s the connection?

According to this article by Susan Karlin in the tech and engineering magazine, IEEE Spectrum:

“…the Pomegranate exists only in a YouTube video and a Web site designed to draw you to another Web site… the “Come to life” initiative in Nova Scotia…. The idea is to rebrand a rustic vacationland as a bastion of innovative minds, creative businesses, and a balanced quality of life.”

Karlin reported that in the first six months after the launch of the ad campaign for the fake product, more than 1 million visitors from 198 countries clicked through the site, and of these, 64% continued on to the Nova Scotia site.

Though Karlin went on to say that local businesses in Nova Scotia have reported an uptick in new clients, one has to wonder whether the campaign will ultimately be effective in increasing tourism.

What do you think? Will these types of flashy, over the top ad campaigns result in a flood of tourists, or are these PR firms risking backlash from an audience who is tiring of gimmicks? What’s the craziest ad you’ve seen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Community Connection:

Read more of Matador’s coverage of the Best Job in the World. Craig Martin takes A Closer Look at The Best Job in the World in this article, and looks at the environmental impact of the contest.

And what will we do about all the translated editions? Photo: ~Mers

In a story that seems straight from Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird, that venerable mainstream media giant, Associated Press, is reporting that President Obama’s books, Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope, have been banned.

The ban was issued by officials at a US federal supermax prison in Colorado and applies specifically to inmate Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, who requested President Obama’s books to help him while away some time during his 30 year sentence. He was convicted for joining al-Qaeda and plotting to assassinate former President George W. Bush.

Prison officials reported they were advised by the FBI not to grant Mr. Ali’s request, citing the claim that providing Mr. Ali with President Obama’s books would constitute a threat to national security.

Meanwhile, anyone with a library card can check out and read either book without potentially threatening the country?

What will the FBI recommend next?

Community Connection:

It’s common practice to redact news and approve (or deny) prisoners’ reading requests, but this one seems a bit extreme.

What do you think?

Photo: gromgull

Among the stranger news items we’ve come across this week was this report, which announced that the European Union will be permitting “ugly” fruits and vegetables to return to store produce aisles today after a 20 year ban.

Apparently, EU members have had some pretty stringent standards for the looks of their fruits and vegetables for the past two decades, with bureaucrats declaring that “ugly produce is unworthy of the marketplace.” A total of 36 fruits and vegetables were affected by these discriminating beauty standards.

Diana Henry, a popular food personality in the UK, was quoted in the article as saying EU pols “‘don’t know what to do with their time.’” The same thought crossed my mind, as did this one: What happened to all that perfectly good food that just wasn’t pretty enough for customers’ consumption?

Community Connection:

Want to get your hands dirty? Want to know where your food comes from? Consider volunteering as a WWOOFer (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Laurie Pickard’s “A First-Timer’s Guide to WWOOF-ing” tells you everything you’ll need to know.

The yacht tour promises photogenic sunsets… and heavy artillery. Photo: wirralwater

Last month, I talked with an official of the U.S. Navy and asked him about the military’s role in preventing and responding to piracy. “We’re working on it,” he said with obvious frustration. “But it’s not an easy thing; you’re in international waters, there are all sorts of other competing interests….” He trailed off and then changed the subject, clearly annoyed by constraints that prevent direct action.

He might be interested in Russia’s new strategy for responding to piracy: folding anti-piracy actions into its tourism industry.

In a brilliant–if deeply disturbing–stroke of entrepreneurial genius, Russian luxury yachts have begun to advertise adventure cruises where passengers pony up almost $6,000 USD per day to cruise from Djibouti to Mombasa in search of pirates.

The yachts trawl at a deliberately slow speed, hoping to attract pirates. If attacked, the cruise passengers are ready to respond with heavy machinery: machine guns and grenade and rocket launchers. And if they want to tack on an extra $8.00 a day, passengers can hoist their very own AK-47. Ammo, though, costs an extra $11.50.

There’s no word yet on whether any of the passengers have successfully taken out any pirates… or whether there’s a money-back guarantee if a showdown fails to occur.

“They are worse than the pirates,” said Russian yachtsman Vladimir Mironov. “At least the pirates have the decency to take hostages, these people are just paying to commit murder.”

Community Connection:

For more coverage on piracy, check out “To Pay Ransom or Not to Pay Ransom,” one of thousands of articles in the Matador archives.

Feature photo: hoodrat

The country’s first national park just opened, part of a US-Afghan joint initiative to kick-start tourism in a country that’s been conflict-ridden for decades. Afghanistan’s tourism minister, Ghulam Farhai, acknowledged that security remains a challenge, but is confident that his country will eventually be “a perfect travel destination.”

He might have a hard time convincing foreign travelers of that if the news from the Kabul Zoo gets any kookier.

Yesterday, Reuters reported that Afghanistan’s sole pig, on display alongside deer and goats at the Kabul Zoo, was quarantined as a precautionary measure against swine flu.

Though zoo officials realize that swine flu is not, in fact, transmitted by pigs, they explained that a special room was built for the sole swine because guests were worried the pig could infect people with the since-renamed H1N1 flu.

Photo: german

It’s not the first bizarre episode in the zoo’s history, nor is it the only strange sight you’re likely to see if you visit.

In the early 90s, Mujahideen fighters commandeered the zoo, eating the deer and rabbits and shooting the zoo’s only elephant for no apparent reason. Their shells volleyed–and then shattered–the zoo’s aquarium. Then, one of the fighters decided to go for a romp with the zoo’s lions. When one of the lions killed him, the fighter’s brother took revenge, throwing a grenade into the lion’s compound, leaving the other lion blind and toothless.

Clearly, Tourism Minister Farhai has his work cut out for him.

Photo: www.viajar24h.com

Matador Trips co-editor Carlo Alcos recently featured several of Finland’s strangest celebrations.

Contributing writer Michael Ward penned a guide to running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

Matador member Christine Gilbert blogged about La Tomatina (also in Spain) and I’ve written about a local bullfight festival in Colombia.

No matter where you roam, these types of events immerse you in local life in a way that few other experiences can approximate.

So we’re sad to hear that New Zealand is considering canceling future Running of the Sheep events, a tradition akin to the running of the bulls.

Photo: Richard Gifford

After this year’s run, which resulted in the injury of a spectator when a sheep jumped off course and into the crowd of onlookers, officials called for a safety review of the event. Animal rights advocates also chimed in, adding that the sheep wouldn’t have jumped the barriers intended to keep them on the running course if the conditions weren’t so anxiety-provoking for them.

My own opinion? If you’re going to one of these events, you know–and accept–the risk. But what’s your opinion? Should some of the world’s most unique, unusual events be discontinued for safety purposes? Share your comments below.

A little bird over at National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel Blog tells me that this week is Geography Awareness Week.

This excites me, because I’m a big fan of geography. I was a pub quiz regular back in my wild youth, and I’m not too modest to tell you that I won a few gift certificates in my day.

To celebrate, I’ve pulled together a few of my favourites from the vast number of online travel/geography quizzes out there.

Give them a try! And hey, let us know how you did in the comments.

How Many Countries Can You Name in Five Minutes? tests both your knowledge and your typing skills. [Via Vagabondish]

TravelPod’s Traveler IQ Challenge offers a whole range of quizzes, with escalating levels of difficulty. How Well Do You Know Your World? is the classic, but World Capitals and UNESCO Sites are both fun, too.

Finally, over at Gadling Aaron Hotfelder has an ongoing Tuesday Travel Trivia game – here’s today’s installment, but check out the archives to see how you fare with them, too.

Have fun! Happy Geography Awareness Week!

Photo by Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL (Creative Commons)

I don’t know what the final verdict was on the Monster–whether it was a Photoshop job or, as some rumors said, a lab experiment gone wrong– but one has to wonder what effect the story had on summer tourism in the beach town.

Summer’s over, so no more worries in Montauk, but if you’re planning a trip to Vancouver, I’ve got some advice: keep an eye on your feet.

Matador’s own Ian MacKenzie, editor of Brave New Traveler, just released a video in which Vancouver-based reporter Matt Anderson tries to get to the bottom of a local mystery: why are feet–still in their sneakers–washing up on the shores of Vancouver?

There are lots of hypotheses offered to explain the mystery and you should watch the video and see which theory convinces you, but if you’re going to Vancouver, watch out for your feet.

Yup, in playing cards.

The answer? 140,000.

Check it out:

And it seems the card-stacker in the top video isn’t the only one into teeny tiny models of the Olympic Village.

Here’s the whole thing – right down to the sailing venues – in Lego:

Photo: Augapfel (creative commons)

Photo: Shamam (creative commons)

Photo: Stardog Champion (creative commons)

Photo: xiaming (creative commons)

Photo: sproing (creative commons)

Photo: jj look (creative commons)

Photo: jgalvan (creative commons)

Photo: xiaming (creative commons)

Feature photo: xiaming (creative commons)