travelwriter

Last Saturday Southwest Airlines flight 1402, enroute from Phoenix to Detroit, was diverted to Denver because of an unruly passenger.

The woman apparently had an altercation with another passenger and began slapping the passenger on the head.  According to eye witnesses, the flight attendant tried to restrain the woman but was unable to do so until several male passengers stepped in.

With 137 passengers onboard, the Southwest Airlines flight was diverted to Denver where police took the woman into custody.  The flight continued enroute to Detroit approximately 30 minutes later. 

Southwest Airlines flies to 64 cities across the USA and flies over 104 million passengers annually.

Only minutes ago, an earthquake measuring 4.6 hit the San Francisco region of Northern California.   

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the earthquake hit at 10:40 a.m. and occurred approximately 45 miles northeast of Monterey, California.  Reports of any damage have not been confirmed at this time.  However, if you felt the earthquake, the USGS encourages you to report your experience directly on the USGS website.

The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) routinely supplies a list of earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or greater in the United States as well as those that measure 4.5 or greater occurring in the rest of the world.

The USGS reports that the location and magnitude of this California earthquake will not produce a tsunami.

Earlier this week the Vancouver Organizing Committee unveiled the Torchbearer Uniform that will be worn by 12,000 Canadians as they carry the Olympic Flame across Canada.

Designed by the Hudson’s Bay Company, the predominantly white uniform is highlighted by the blues of the Pacific Ocean and greens of the Pacific Northwest, symbolizing the Sea to Sky.  White is traditionally chosen for Olympic events as it represents peace and hope.

The 2010 Olympic Torchbearer Uniform is made specifically for the cold Canadian winter and includes a signature Maple Leaf toque and red mittens. 

The 2010 Olympic journey will take 106 days and will cover 45,000 kilometers across Canada before the games begin in Vancouver on February 12, 2010.

Earlier today, Mount Redoubt, located on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, erupted twice spewing gas and smoke as far as 45,000 feet into the air.

Ash fell 100 miles away onto the city of Anchorage forcing Alaska Airlines to once again cancel flights for the second time in a week disrupting over 10,000 passengers in as much time.The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has issued a Red Warning volcano alert, its highest level, meaning “hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected.” 

The National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) has no current advisories but will continue to monitor the situation.

Alaska Airlines advises that until further notice they will no longer be accepting unaccompanied minor or pets on any flights to/from Anchorage or Fairbanks.  Find out what to do if your flight is affected or check the status of your flight here.

Already well under way, cities in Australia have already participated in this world wide environmental awareness event.

The idea is to turn off your lights for 1 hour at 8:30 p.m. at your own local time.  So far, the Earth Hour network has a commitment of 2,712 cities in 83 countries in participating in the event. 

In 2007, 2.2 million participated; in 2008 there were 50 million people; the ultimate goal is to have 1 billion people participating worldwide.

The results of 2009’s Earth Hour will be presented to the Global Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen this coming December.

You still have time!  Pass this along to your friends and let’s all do our part!

Already in its 3^rd year, Earth Hour is intended to increase awareness for the world’s environment.  This year, on March 28^th at 20:30 Pacific Time, people around the world are encouraged to turn off their lights for 1 hour. 

So far, the Earth Hour network has a commitment of 2,712 cities in 83 countries in participating in the event.  In 2007, 2.2 million participated; in 2008 there were 50 million people; the ultimate goal is to have 1 billion people participating worldwide.

The results of 2009’s Earth Hour will be presented to the Global Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen this coming December.

Pass this along to your friends and let’s all do our part!

Vancouver Aquarium: with over 70,000 species of under sea creatures, including otters, beluga whales, and dolphins, the Vancouver Aquarium practices conservation through education.  Adults $19.95 CAD, children/seniors/youth $11.95-$14.95

Capilano Suspension Bridge: for over 100 years the Capilano Suspension Bridge has provided a breathtaking experience for those daring enough to walk 230 feet above the Capilano River.  Adults $27.95 CAD, children/seniors/youth $8.75-$25.95

Museum of Anthropology: showcases aboriginal art & culture & provides a looking into the authentic Pacific Coastal experience.  Adults $12 CAD, seniors/students $10

Gastown: walk along the cobblestone streets of the birth place of Vancouver to view shops, restaurants and galleries

Kitsilano: this area of Vancouver offers the most popular & best beaches in the lower mainland, plus endless shopping & restaurants, along with heritage B&Bs

Check out my other blog: MyFavoriteThings and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

With this week’s eruption of Mount Redoubt, the Red River flooding and remembering the New Orleans disaster, it got me to thinking again about Emergency Preparedness. 

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), officials and relief workers will arrive on location after a disaster has occurred but it may take “hours, or it might take days” before they can reach everyone.  And we all know how that went.

1800Prepare is a website owned by Disaster Kits, LLC., offering all things for emergency preparedness: tips and information, survival planning and preparation, plus an array of products for purchase from survival kits to pet preparedness. 

I love the idea of giving a survival kit to your family or friends as a gift – what a way to show that you truly care!  Disaster Kits, LLC., donates a percentage of sales to other groups and organizations that also help in dealing with disasters.

THE PRIZE:  A 30% off coupon that can be used on the 1800Prepare website.

ENTER TO WIN: Submit a comment to this post with a valid email address and one winner will be chosen on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  The winner will be notified by email and announced in Monday’s TravelWriter blog post.  Thanks for reading and Good Luck!

Southwest Airlines is offering low fares to destinations across the USA for as low as $49 one-way during its Wanna Get Away? Sale.

All seat sale flights require a 14-day advance purchase and are only available on Southwest.com.  Sale fares are available for travel every day except Friday and Sunday. Sample Wanna Get Away sale prices include $49 one-way from Tulsa, OK, to Dallas (Love Field) or from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Chicago Midway.

Tickets must be purchased by April 6, 2009, with all travel completed by August 14, 2009.  Blackout dates apply and prices shown do not include taxes/fees/surcharges and are subject to availability.  Travel is not available to/from Washington (Dulles), DC, or Fort Meyers, FL.

Dallas based Southwest Airlines flies to over 60 cities in 32 states.

Located on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, Mount Redoubt erupted last night spewing gas and smoke more than 15 kilometers into the air.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has issued a Red Warning volcano alert, its highest level, meaning “hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected.”  The National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) has issued an ashfall advisory which remains in effect until noon today.

Alaska Airlines was forced to cancel 19 flights due to the eruption of Mount Redoubt.  Here are links to Alaska Airlines where you can check out their latest information, check the status of your flight or find out what to do if your flight is affected.