New Zealand is known worldwide for its beautiful, lush landscape. Having stood in for the imaginary lands of J.R.R. Tolkien, the areas in and around Nelson, New Zealand are awe-inspiring. The area lies near the center of the country, and is a great attraction for movie fans and nature-lovers alike. From Cape Reinga, visitors can see where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. This cape is significant to the native Maori people, and is also home to an iconic and popular lighthouse. And the Huka Falls allow you to view firsthand the enormous power of water. In this video, WatchMojo.com looks at New Zealand’s striking scenery.
If a traditional church wedding isn’t your thing, you’re in luck: Creative couples are finding new ways to make their big day different. Check out this list of unique places to get hitched:
- The British Airways London Eye in England
Say your nuptials while overlooking the Thames River, Parliament, and the Tower Bridge.
- Ferris Wheel in Vienna, Austria
Get an aerial view of one of Europe’s most romantic cities.
- Marriage in the Sky, Anywhere
You and your wedding party could be suspended 164 feet in the air.
- Skibo Castle in Dornoch, Scotland
This is where Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married.
- Liebig Dome in New Zealand
Say, “I do” on an isolated mountain top.
- Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada
Rebuilt each December, Quebec’s ice hotel offers packages that include a civil celebrant, a bottle of champagne and handmade ice flutes that are created especially for each couple.
- Four Seasons Nudist Resort near Toronto, Canada
At least you won’t have to buy an expensive wedding dress.
Check out WatchMojo’s video profile of Quebec’s Ice Hotel:
I have enough trouble trying to figure out what to tip in my own country - I can’t even begin to describe the issues I have when traveling and this problem arises. Fortunately, here is a guide to tipping around the world:
Restaurants: 15% to 20%, with 20% being the norm at high-end restaurants.
Taxis: 15%, or round up to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: $1 per bag, but at luxury hotels such as Four Seasons properties, $2 to $5 per bag is the norm.
Hotel Concierge: $3 to $5 for a simple service, such as arranging airport transportation. For a more complicated request, such as a hard-to-score reservation, tip $20 and up.
Restaurants: Service charges are included in most meals, but add another 5% to 10%. If no service charge is included, add 15% to the bill.
Taxis: 10%.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $2 per bag (or about 1.50 euros)
Hotel Concierge: $2 is enough for easy requests, but this amount should increase to $30 or more for special requests, such as getting an after-hours tour of the Louvre.
Asia: Japan, China and Hong Kong
Restaurants: In Japan, it’s considered an insult to tip for anything. In China, 3% is the norm, and in Hong Kong, 10% to 15%, if it’s not already included in the bill.
Taxis: In China, no tip is necessary. In Hong Kong, round up to the next dollar.
Hotel Porters: $2 to $3 per bag at high-end hotels.
Hotel Concierge: $3 to $5 for basic requests such as dinner reservations. Incrementally increase the amount based on the complexity of your request.
Restaurants: If it’s factored in, leave a few dollars extra. If not, leave 10%.
Taxis: It is not necessary to tip.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for easy tasks and up to $20 for more intricate requests, such as arranging Mumbai’s top jeweler, Neelam Kothari, to bring her latest collection to your hotel room for a private viewing.
Africa (Major cities such as Cape Town or Nairobi)
Restaurants: In most cases, gratuity is already factored in. If not, 10% is the norm.
Taxis: 10% in major cities.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for simple tasks. Increase the amount based on the complexity of the request, but usually there’s no need to exceed $20.
Restaurants: For fine dining, 10% to 15% is acceptable. Otherwise, a service charge is almost always included.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $2 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for each basic task, such as arranging transportation, and up to $50 for harder requests, such as scoring tickets to a sold-out opera at Sydney Opera House.
Restaurants: There is no tipping in Argentina. Otherwise, if it’s not already included, leave 10%.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: Nothing is required for basic requests such as dinner reservations, but you can leave $10 or more for trickier tasks, such as getting a private tour of one of the several wineries just outside of Santiago.
Restaurants: 10% to 15% is expected.
Taxis: Round up to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: For simple tasks, $2 per request is enough. For more complicated ones, increase incrementally based on the task–up to $20.
The annual World Brand Index results were released. Compiled by international consulting firm FutureBrand, this study “ranks countries as brands and assesses opportunities, insights and findings related to nation branding.” Here are this year’s rankings:
Check out this list of locations where you’ll get the best bang for your buck.
Stockholm, Sweden
Now: $1 buys 7.9 Sweden kronor (SEK)
June 2008:$1 bought 6 SEK
Increase in value of the dollar: 32%Reykjavik, Iceland
Now: $1 buys 120 Icelandic kronur (ISK)
June 2008: $1 bought 74 ISK
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%Bruges, Belgium
Now: $1 buys 0.79 euro (EUR)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%Madrid, Spain
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Now: $1 buys 1.6 Australia dollars (AUD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.05 AUD
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%Rotorua, New Zealand
Now: $1 buys 1.8 New Zealand dollars (NZD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.28 NZD
Increase in value of the dollar: 41%Istanbul, Turkey
Now: $1 buys 1.7 new Turkish lira (TRY)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.2 TRY
Increase in value of the dollar: 42%Montreal, Canada
Now:$1 buys 1.28 Canadian dollars (CAD)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.99 CAD
Increase in value of the dollar: 29%Enniskerry, Ireland
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought .64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%
Every year, Mercer consulting compiles a list of the most desirable cities to live in worldwide, based on quality of life. This year, like last, Zurich, Switzerland took the top spot. The highest-ranking US city is Honolulu, Hawaii, coming in at #28. Check out the top twenty:
1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Vienna, Austria
2. Geneva, Switzerland
4. Vancouver, Canada
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Munich, Germany
7. Frankfurt, Germany
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Sydney, Australia
11. Copenhagen, Denmark
12. Wellington, New Zealand
13. Amsterdam, Netherlands
14. Brussels, Belgium
15. Toronto, Canada
16. Berlin, Germany
17. Melbourne, Australia
17. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
19. Ottawa, Canada
20. Stockholm, Sweden
Check out this list of the world’s most beautiful skydive locations. In no particular order…
Mt. Everest, Nepal/Tibet
Lido Lakes, Indonesia
Swakopmund, Namibia
Gardiner Valley, N.Y.
West Coast, New Zealand
Tympaki, Crete
West Tennessee
Oahu, Hawaii
Yarra Valley Winery, Australia
Burnaby, Ontario
Find out why…
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