Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

Here we are in the start of another week. To begin it, we have the British supergroup, Asia with their hit from 1982 "Heat of the Moment".

From Wikipedia:

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful lineup was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands who had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep and U.K.), guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes and the Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their best-selling album and went to number one in several countries. Billboard listed it as the top album in the U.S. in 1982. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets. It peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. 

U.S.-Asia Airfares Jump 30%

Above, Japan's Narita Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the pandemic is over, demand for travel to Asian destinations are on the rise, and so are airfares, particularly those from the U.S. to China and Japan.

Nikkei Asia has posted an article on hikes in airfares since the pandemic ended.

They begin it with:

HOUSTON/NEW YORK -- Airfares from the U.S. to China and Japan rose about 30% last year as more travelers headed to the countries after pandemic-era travel restrictions were lifted.

Fares on 29 routes between the U.S. and Japan's Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports increased 20% to 50% on the year in 2023, according to an analysis by Nikkei and U.K. aviation information company Cirium.

The average increase was 25%, compared with a 7% rise the previous year.

Fares for travel from Denver, Colorado, to Narita rose 46%, as United Airlines' hub airport attracted Japan-bound travelers from other parts of the country.

The study analyzed 2023 economy-class fares from major U.S. airports to popular overseas destinations. Of the 200 routes that saw the highest price increases, 80 were to Japan or China.

To read more, go here. 

American Tourists Continue To Be Banned From Japan

Above, Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan appears to be the lone holdout among developed nations in banning foreign tourists. Frustration over this is mounting.

According to Travel Off Path:

Even though the continent of Asia has been finally lifting its overly restrictive travel rules, which kept most foreigners locked out for the best part of two years, Japan is one of a few with ‘no immediate plans’ to reopen for tourism.

In other words, American tourists are still banned from visiting Japan for non-essential reasons.

The Travel Off Path article discusses Japan's stance and here are the most important points:

While other nations like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have started lifting curbs, welcoming vaccinated Americans under less bureaucratic border regimes, Japan has yet to lift what many deem dated travel bans.

In doing so, the Southeastern Asian hub goes directly against the official World Health Organization’s recommendation.

Not even Europe, where movement was once seriously restricted, went as far as Japan has.

Earlier this week, Japan officially removed travel bans for certain categories of travelers, from 106 countries, which do not include tourists. This means that, while vacationers are still not allowed to visit, travelers from the U.S. with evidence their visit to Japan is necessary in order to conduct business, can again cross the border.

The decision will surely boost Japan’s slow economic recovery, especially after the country saw 40,000 companies go bankrupt due to harsh border measures. On top of that, the country will also begin allowing more international students to enter, signaling the end to an era of blanket travel bans on all foreigners.

Sadly, American tourists continue to be left out, as do Canadians, Brits, and other foreigners hoping to visit for tourism purposes.

Having enacted similar border measures, Australia and New Zealand have recently reopened for tourism, further isolating Japan as one of the last countries in the world to ban tourists.

Japan’s visa waiver program, which up until 2020 allowed Americans to visit without applying for a visa, has also been suspended. Now, U.S. citizens hoping to travel to Japan for reasons other than tourism must submit an official application at a Japanese Consulate abroad.

In my view, the longer Japan bans foreign tourists, they run the risk having frustrated potential tourists giving up and say, "screw you", even after Japan reopens. "You don't want my spending dollars? Then to hell with you! I'll go elsewhere where my dollars and I are welcome."

To read the full article, go here.

New Airline to Connect Asia to the U.S.

Above, Tokyo's Ginza Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Starting a new airline may be risky business, especially during a pandemic year where, no pun intended, things are up in the air. 

This airline is to connect the U.S. to destinations in Asia, particularly, South Korea and Japan.

Travel Off Path reported:

New U.S. Airline, Northern Pacific Airways, is hoping to hit the skies in late 2022, offering travelers new options to fly from North America to destinations within Asia.

On the airline’s official website they state, “An airline should do more than just ‘get you there.’ Northern Pacific Airways will be a new bridge between people and place, connecting the U.S. to Korea’s and Japan’s breathtaking sites and millennia-old culture.”

Well, the more, the merrier. 

To read more, go here.

Study Finds Superbugs Hitching Rides During International Travel

Above, Osaka's famous Dotonbori. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, this is news that may put a major damper on thoughts of enjoying international travel again.

Apparently, those vaccinated will find that superbugs resistant to drugs are "hitching rides" internally.

The Japan Times reported:

WASHINGTON – Newly vaccinated travelers enjoying a return to trips abroad may find a drug-resistant superbug hitching a ride in their gut, a study in Genome Medicine says.

U.S. and Dutch researchers studying the effects of travel on the bacteria in our stomachs were unnerved to find that a third of their subjects who traveled to Southeast Asia carried a bacterial gene resistant to “last resort” antibiotics for infections such as pneumonia and meningitis.

“These findings provide strong support that international travel risks spreading antimicrobial resistance globally,” said Alaric D’Souza, a researcher studying microbial genomics and ecology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis who co-authored the study published this week.

The team, which studied the feces of 190 Dutch travelers before and after travel to parts of Africa and Asia, found international travelers to be “reservoirs and spreaders” of drug-resistant superbugs.

When the travelers returned home, their fecal test kits revealed a “significant amount” of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) genes that do not respond to commonly used antibiotics.

 To read more, go here.

Travel + Leisure's 2017 World's Best Survey Results

Above, Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel + Leisure has posted their annual "World's Best Awards" survey results.

For example, in their top cities of Asia, Kyoto made number two on the list, although Japan isn't really in Asia, but a chain of islands off Asia.

They start with:

When it comes to Asian cities, T+L readers are shifting their allegiances. This year’s World’s Best list leans heavily toward ancient traditional capitals and tropical resort towns, rather than the sprawling, futuristic super-cities that have often dominated the rankings in the past. 

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

To access their top awards, go here. 

Crossing The Pacific Ocean: International Date Line Explained

When people fly west from North or South America to Japan, Australia and Asia, their airplane will cross the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific Ocean. Then this happens, they will be going ahead one day. 

Ever wondered why there is an International Date Line and why should you care?

LiveScience.com explains in detail the International Date Line.

Dan Heim, President of the Desert Foothills Astronomy Club, wrote:

We all heard about the International Date Line (IDL) in geography class — it was this special line on the globe where the day and date change. But beyond that, our teachers didn't say much more. 

That's probably why I keep getting questions like these on my [Dan Heim, President, Desert Foothills Astronomy Club] blog:

• What is the IDL, why do we need it, and who invented it?

• When you cross the IDL, what exactly happens?

• If you stood on the IDL with one foot on each side, what day would it be?

• Is the IDL a legal thing, or just some kind of scientific idea?

• Could Superman repeatedly fly around the world and go back in time?

• Does the IDL apply in outer space?

To see what the International Date Line is all about, go here.