Are we getting slower ?

Two different manufacturers’ unveiled supersonic jets at this year's Paris Air Show, eight years after the Concorde stopped flying. The introduction of the new planes got the Explainer thinking—why hasn't commercial air travel gotten any faster over the last few decades?

Commercial airlines have slowed down over the last three or four decades. Today, flying from New York to Denver takes 19 more minutes than in 1983, and a flight from Washington, D.C., to Miami takes 45 more minutes than in 1973. The primary reason for such sluggishness is the cost of fuel. By the laws of physics, the increase in drag equals the square of the increase in speed, so even a slightly faster flight requires a lot more fuel. Hiking a plane's velocity by 10 percent takes 21 percent more energy. Speeding up by 40 percent approximately doubles fuel consumption. Shorter flights can save airlines money on labor, but not enough to offset the loss in efficiency. (Fuel represents about 35 percent of the cost of a flight, whereas personnel expenses constitute 30 percent.)

Fuel isn't the only reason for the slowdown. In the 1960s and 1970s, most personal and corporate planes were propeller or turbo-prop aircraft, which fly at a lower altitude than jetliners. That kept them out of the way of large commercial aircraft. Today, most bigwigs fly jets, and their gain is our loss: Not only are more planes using U.S. runways, but passenger jets must reduce their airspeed when they get caught behind a corporate CEO.

There have also been changes in the way airlines report flight times, which makes them seem longer than they actually are. When airlines started disclosing their percentage of on-time flights in the mid-1980s, they added a few extra minutes to the scheduled times to increase their apparent punctuality, a practice known as block padding.

Manufacturers are technically capable of producing faster planes, but there isn't much demand for them outside of the military. In 1961, American manufacturer Convair released a commercial jet that could reach Mach 0.91, meaning 91 percent as fast as sound. That's significantly faster than current design speeds, which range between Mach 0.78 and Mach 0.82. Even though fuel cost less than 50 cents per gallon back then, few airlines were willing to give up fuel efficiency for the sake of speed.

As for the supersonic planes introduced at this week's air show—they fly more than 25 percent faster than the average jetliner. But even if they make it to market soon, don't expect to be zipping around the country at the speed of sound. Supersonic flights are allowed only over water—and are thus limited to connecting wealthy cities separated by an ocean—because sonic booms can damage things and annoy people on the ground.

Protect yourself from Sun !!

Drastic changes to your eating or exercise routine don’t always create lasting results. Its small changes made over time that can help you reach your goals. Each week, this column will help you take baby steps to good health by suggesting that you "do one thing." 

Too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is bad for your skin and can lead to painful sunburns, wrinkling, sun spots and cancer. So lather on the sunscreen and protect against skin damage.

Sunscreen vs. Sunblock

• Sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb UV rays before they damage the skin and sunblocks contain particles that physically block UV rays from reaching the skin.
• Sunscreen needs to be applied about 30 minutes before sun exposure so that the chemicals have time to soak into your skin and form a layer of protection.
• Sunblock does not need to be applied before going into the sun – it will begin to work as soon as you rub it on because it sits on top of the skin.

Types of Sunscreen

Some people complain that certain types of sunscreens make them break-out, are too oily, or cause allergies. Improvements in sunscreen over the years have eliminated many of these problems. If you have sensitive skin, look for sunscreens that are:

• PABA-free (PABA is a chemical that some people are allergic to – most sunscreens are now PABA-free.)
• Noncomedogenic or oil-free sunscreens (will not clog pores.)
• Sprays, lotions, gel, etc. – sunscreen comes in many different forms to suit various preferences.

Your skin isn’t the only body part that needs protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Your eyes also need UV protection to prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal damage. Follow these tips for finding sunglasses, ski goggles, and contact lenses that will protect your eyes this winter.

• Read labels to find sunglasses or goggles that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
• Wraparound frames keep out more UV. Buy sunglasses that are wraparound; enough UV rays can enter around ordinary (non-wraparound) eyeglass frames to damage your eyes.
• Contact lenses alone cannot protect your eyes from the sun. However, certain contact lens manufacturers now make contact lenses with UV protection. If your contact lenses don’t have UV protection, remember to wear UV blocking sunglasses or goggles.
• Protective eyewear does not have to be expensive to be effective. Many sunglasses and goggles are made currently with UV protection, from the most expensive to the least expensive pairs.
• And remember: just because the lenses are dark does not mean you are protected. UV protection comes from an invisible chemical applied to the lenses, and the color or darkness of the lenses is not a good indicator of protective eyewear.

Sunscreen Basic Info

Always choose and use a sunscreen that is:

• An SPF 15 or higher
• Broad-spectrum (protects from both UVA and UVB rays)
• Waterproof or Sweat proof

Lip Balm

• Always wear a lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher – remember that your lips can burn just like the rest of your skin.
• Reapply often!

Lip balm not only protects your lips from burning, but the moisture helps to prevent chapping and dryness as well.

Using sunscreen is an effective way to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. However, since sunscreen cannot block all UV rays and many people do not apply it correctly, you should always practice additional sun safe behaviors such as wearing protective clothing and seeking shade when possible.

Definition and Workings of Sunscreen:

• Sunscreen is a lotion formulated with unique chemical components to absorb UV light.
• When sunscreen is applied to the skin, the chemical molecules form an invisible, protective layer on the skin that protects from penetrating UV rays.
• All sunscreens protect from UVB rays, but only “Broad-Spectrum” sunscreens protect from both UVB and UVA rays.
• UVB rays affect the top layers of the skin and are responsible for Burning.
• UVA rays affect the lower layers of the skin and are responsible for Aging.
• Remember to always buy a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum!

SPF... What’s it all about?

• SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor.”
• Always wear a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher!
• SPF was developed to describe the amount of protection that a sunscreen provides. No sunscreen can protect your skin from all of the UV rays, but a higher SPF number indicates protection from more rays.
• The SPF number tells you how much longer you can stay outside without burning while wearing the sunscreen product as opposed to not wearing any sun protection product. SPF measures “time to burn.”

Application tips

• Apply the sunscreen generously to all exposed skin – most people do not use enough sunscreen and therefore do not get the maximum protection.
• Reapply every two hours, and even more frequently if you are sweating, getting wet, or are in a windy climate.
• Apply 30 minutes before going outside.

Besides protecting you from sunburn, sunscreens help to prevent other skin damage related to sun exposure, such as premature aging and pre-cancerous growths.

You can make sunscreen application easy to remember by making it a part of your day-to-day routine, like brushing your teeth. Keep a bottle of sunscreen with your other toiletries and apply it every day.

Women are lucky since many lotions and make-up products now include sun protection with an SPF of 15. Seek out these products and you can easily protect your skin from damaging UV rays. So when you go outside, Go Sun Smart! Use sunscreen and lip balm regularly to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. It’s easy!

Las thing though, If you are going for holidays make sure you buy sunscreen products.

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia is a mish match of modern buildings and skyscrapers with very few citizens still trying to hold onto their old culture with having their gears set up in between modern houses.

The roads are totally congested most of the day and there is no driving etiquette, it's every man for them here and that includes the pedestrians. 

In the 2 days I spent in the city I have seen museums, went to a monastery & seen monks chanting, been to a Mongolian song & dance ensemble, see enough pictures and carvings of Ghengiss Khan, had a very good English breakfast and more dumplings than on any Chinese menu and a good few beers at one 5 of the Irish pubs here in the city. Oh, and we were shown round a cashmere factory, which was quite an eye opener, only jumpers here, no beers.

Not only was I in the city but we spent some time out in Terelj National Park which is about 75km out of the city. There we stayed in a traditional place, I got dressed up in the entire garb, met a traditional Mongolian family and had afternoon tea with them went for a few walks (not with the family) then it was off to a temple of enlightenment still not enlightened after the visit.

One thing I have to say, I am so sick of mutton now, I smell of it and I can continually taste it, Yuk!! In fact everything seems to come with mutton. I have to say I do like their food here. Take me back to that cafe with the English breakfast.

Regardless, of the mutton I already have a list of things I want to do when i come back here, the whole experience was a very different one but I never came here with any pre-conceptions. I believe the reason to come to Mongolia is for the culture and vast landscape, definitely not for its culinary delights. Oh, never got to try the aerag, apparently it's too early, so another reason to come back.

Tomorrow, it's back on the train for 36 hours this time to Beijing. Not sure when I will be able to get back on to up-date the blog as there seems to be an issue with certain websites out there, Facebook being one of them due to the communist regime it is banned. 

Cheapest Holidays Ever !!

Especially keenly priced in this, the second cheapest city in our list of budget destinations is coffee, a decent cup of which you'll find here at €1.29/$1.89 a cup. Situated on the shores of Lago de Managua with views of squat Volcán Momotombo in the distance, Managua may not ooze aesthetic appeal but its buzzing nightlife and top-notch restaurants more than compensate.

Don't miss out on Managua's most intriguing attraction, the 6,000-year-old fossilised muddy footprints of Acahualinca, the oldest such remains in the Americas. 

Located a stone's throw from the Russian border, Kharkiv - Kharkov in Russian - has the dubious honour of being the birthplace of Soviet nuclear technology. The second largest city in Ukraine and the country's original capital, Kharkiv has a huge student population of more than 100,000, many of them international scholars, giving the city a lively and multicultural air.

You'll find the cheapest Big Mac Meal (€1.94/$2.84) on this list in Lviv and the cheapest monthly transport ticket (€8.11/$11.86). For a head-spinningly impressive free sight, though, head over to Svobody Square, which locals say is the second largest such space in the world, trumped only by Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

At first glance the capital of Uzbekistan appears to live up to the bleak "City of Stones" literal translation of its name. But dig a little deeper and you'll find there is more to Tashkent, with its interesting Soviet-Muslim mix, than meets the eye. Much of the city was destroyed during an earthquake in 1966 but in its old town with its mud houses, labyrinthine cobbled streets, ancient mosques and packed farmers' markets you can still get a feel for the days when Tashkent formed part of the Great Silk Road.

You can generally exist very cheaply indeed here. As a guide, a dozen eggs cost around €0.09/$0.13, a bottle of Sarbast domestic beer €0.78/$1.15 and a taxi ride €1.68/$2.45.

Namibia has been independent from Germany since the end of World War One, but the latter's influence remains unmistakeable in the capital's architecture, cuisine and population. Located at the heart of the country, Windhoek is the perfect gateway to attractions such as the Spitzkoppe mountains, a towering dome of bald granite, and the city of Swakopmund, which has been described as being more German than Germany courtesy of its abundance of colonial buildings.

You are also exceedingly unlikely to starve here, with a budget restaurant meal costing as little as €0.84/$1.23 and a Namibian beer around €0.90/$1.30 for half a litre.

Discard your Soviet preconceptions of the Ukrainian capital in the dustbin of history. Striking gothic and baroque buildings in the city's centre, a Unesco World Heritage site, far outnumbering grey apartment blocks, for example, but one positive remnant of the city's former Soviet status is that it is priced for the masses. A beer costs just €1.07/$1.57 in the city's pubs (the cheapest pub price on this list) while a counter meal for two could set you back as little as €9/$13.

Keen on a slightly sinister attraction at no cost? Visit, if you dare, the Lychakivske Cemetery, an eastern European version of Père Lachaise, in Paris. There are similarly lush grounds here and extravagant tombstones paying tribute to various late and great Ukrainianians.

Elegant art nouveau architecture, first-class cuisine, hospitable residents, a buzzing nightlife and a cheap cost of living all make Buenos Aires arguably the most attractive South American capital. The country has come a long way back from the brink of its turn-of-the-millennium economic crisis, but there are still plenty of bargains here for the highly cost-conscious traveller - including decidedly cheap public transport (€9.98/$14.58 for a month's ticket), and beer (€0.61/$90 for two pints at the supermarket).

For a bright-hued free day out, head to the portside barrio of La Boca, famous for its multicoloured houses and for the Caminito alley, lined with tango joints.

Once a war-torn city on the edge of total ruin, Sarajevo has reinvented itself in quick time as a favourite destination for savvy travellers. The Bosnian capital is brimful with architecture that celebrates its diverse religious history, with many buildings hailing from its grand Ottoman past.

Most famous of the city's structures is the Latin Bridge, where the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, an event that triggered the outbreak of World War One. Thespians are well catered for in Sarajevo with local cinema and theatre tickets costing just €4.95/$7.24 and €10.10/$14.75 respectively for a pair.

With its incessant traffic, heat and claustrophobic public spaces, boisterous New Delhi can be an overwhelming experience for the first time visitor. But don't be put off. Once you've adjusted to the urban Indian pace of life, the city offers a fantastic array of cultural delights - made all the more enjoyable by how far your pound will stretch here.

New Delhi is home to the second cheapest Big Mac Meal in this list, at just €2.23/$3.20, and basic foods such as cheese (€1.53/$2.23 for 500g) and chicken breast (€1.55/$2.27 for 500g) are a steal. One less-visited attraction for architecture buffs is the Bahai faith's dazzlingly whiteLotusTemple, built in 1986, on the outskirts of the city - made even more attractive by the fact that it's free to enter.

The third largest metropolis in the world may have a reputation as a pollution-choked crime den but it also has a much more positive side - it's a city that is vibrantly alive, steeped in history and enjoys some of the pleasantest weather of any capital.

Mexico City is also a great place to bag fashion labels on the cheap (a pair of Levi's 501s cost just €34.50/$50.43) as well as boasting the lowest price for petrol in this list (€0.54/$0.80 per litre) - great news for travellers who'd like to head out in a rental car to attractions outside the city centre such as the bustling Mercado de Xochimilco (a market) with its astounding floral displays.

True, Bucharest lacks the instant charm of other European capitals, most travellers using it only as a stepping stone en route to the enticing Dracula's castle and Transylvania. But scratch beyond the surface of clogged-up streets and gritty communist-era apartment blocks of the Romanian capital and the city will richly reward you. Best value offerings include €1.50/$2.20 for a beer at a local watering hole, and €2.30/$3.30 for 500g of local cheese.

Also, be sure to visit the city's Palace of Parliament (Palatul Parlamentului) while in town. Built in Ceausescu's heyday, it is listed by Guinness World Records as the second largest building in the world by surface area. 

Tallinn is one of the best preserved and most charming cities in Europe. Cobbled streets wind through its World Heritage-listed old town (Vanalinn), overlooked by medieval churches, atmospheric merchant's houses and scenic squares. There's no shortage of free sights for travellers on a tight budget - notably the city's medieval walls - but one attraction worthy of your hard-earned cash is the art gallery housed in the exquisite baroque Kadriorg Palace (€4.20/$6).

Tallinn is known for its heady nightlife, and with a decent dinner for two at a local pub costing around just €10/$15, you'll have plenty of cash left to enjoy yourself afterwards. Fancy something more indulgent than pub fare? Try a meal of wild boar at the medieval-themed Olde Hansa.

Visit all those gorgeous but cheap places with us