Myanmar Cyclone Kills Nearly 4,000, Toll Could Reach 10,000

International Travel Up This Summer, Predicts AAA

Man Jumped to His Death from Disneyland Hotel

Delta Baggage Fee May Mean Refunds for Travelers

Photo-Enforcement Technology Nabs Travelers

Not News: Man Wants to Fly on Helicopter; News: Dangling By His Ponytail

MYANMAR CYCLONE KILLS NEARLY 4,000, TOLL COULD REACH 10,000 – Associated Press
Tropical Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 4,000 people in Myanmar, and almost 3,000 are missing. Foreign Minister Nyan Win stated at a briefing that as many as 10,000 could be dead. The cyclone hit Myanmar, also known as Burma, on Saturday, with winds topping out at 120 mph. The storm did the most damage in the town of Bogalay. The
countryside’s status remains unknown due to poor communications and roads blocked by the storm. “What is clear at this point is that there are several hundred thousands of people in dire need of shelter and clean drinking water,” said Richard Horsey, a spokesman in Bangkok, Thailand for United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Link: Associated Press
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL UP THIS SUMMER PREDICTS AAA – Los Angeles Times
Despite the dropping dollar and skyrocketing airfares, more Americans are expected to travel overseas this summer says AAA. More than 25 million people are expected to go abroad, which is a 2.6 percent increase up from last year. Some travel agencies have reported brisk business with international travel while domestic travel appears to be slowing down. Bookings to Europe are down but travel to Australia, China and India seems to be increasing. Travelers are also choosing alternative European destinations such as Ireland and countries in Eastern Europe.

Link: Los Angeles Times

MAN JUMPED TO HIS DEATH FROM DISNEYLAND HOTEL - Reuters
A man apparently leapt from a 14th floor balcony of the Disneyland Hotel on Friday. The man, who was in Anaheim on business, was sharing a room with another associate and stepped out onto the balcony in what seems to have been an intentional act, though it’s not yet known if he left a suicide note.

Link: Reuters

DELTA BAGGAGE FEE MAY MEAN REFUNDS FOR TRAVELERS - Consumerist
If you bought tickets on Delta before the airline announced its new baggage surcharge, you’re in luck (OK, it’s all relative). Based on Delta’s contract of carriage, those who booked their tickets before February 4 for travel starting May 5 can get a full ticket refund. The clause in the contract states that if Delta makes a change that “materially affects the terms and conditions of your ticket purchase after you have purchased your ticket but before your travel begins, and you do not agree to be bound by the rules as amended, you may request a full refund of your ticket price.”

Link: Consumerist

PHOTO-ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY NABS TRAVELERS – The New York Times
Surveillance cameras that snap a photo of cars running red lights have been taking some travelers by surprise, who return home to find tickets from incidents they may not even remember. According to a spokeswoman with Avis, citations from enforcement cameras have increased 25 percent since last year among its customers. Since the fine usually ends up on the desk of car-rental companies, both Avis and Hertz say that they often pay the fine and bill the customer later, with a processing fee tacked on. Red-light cameras can currently be found in 26 states across the U.S.

Link: The New York Times

NOT NEWS: MAN WANTS TO FLY ON HELICOPTER; NEWS: HE’LL DO IT DANGLING BY HIS PONYTAIL – BBC

A man in India is planning to take to the skies by dangling from a helicopter by his foot-long ponytail. Last week, Shailendra Roy showed off the strength of his hair by pulling the 35-ton Darjeeling toy train with his ponytail for about 32 yards. Officials say that he could have pulled the train farther, but he was stopped due to safety reasons. In the past, Roy has pulled buses and trucks and practices on small cars, and last year he flew between buildings with his hair suspended by a rope.

Link: BBC

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