I’ve reported on the Solar Impulse before, but this time, it’s legit next door. The Solar Impulse (HB-SIA) piloted by André Borschberg took-off this morning from Payerne Airfield (Switzerland) at 08:24AM (UTC +2), heading straight for Madrid Barajas Airport. It’s scheduled to land around 01:00AM (UTC+2) for a minimum 3-day technical stopover. Depending on the weather conditions, the first possible departure for Rabat, with Bertrand Piccard at the controls, will be Monday, May 28. 

Solar Impulse is an ultra-lightweight revolutionary plane, capable of flying day and night, without fuel. Silent take off with it’s four motors, huge wingspan equal to that of an Airbus A340, and Carbon fibre structure will wow even the more powerful of pilots, and may just be the game changer aviation isn’t ready for. 

We must be smoking the same pipe, because we’re both on the Madrid to Marrakesh route. In case you can’t catch the action live, the airplane’s position, altitude and speed will be shown live; cameras fitted inside the cockpit and at “Mission Control Center”, the mission’s nerve center, will allow you to get in on the action. Track the Crossing Frontiers Flights 2012 via internet, app, Twitter (for André or Bertrand) and Facebook. Fly on fellas, fly on.  

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I rarely hold anyone to any standards. How can you know the rules of the road if you don’t drive on it? Like cab-cutting in NYC, spitting in the TLV, bringing pastries in the DAC or looking down in PVG, every place should come with a list of manners, or in some cases, maneuvers.
In Tokyo, tradition is a tall order… so here’s how to not get fired as a foreigner

Slurp yo’ noodles.
Do exactly what your mom to you not to do. The whole point of slippery spaghetti is to eat them super fast, and very hot. So get on with your loud self and embrace the slurping sound. If you’re silent, the Ramen master might take it as a sign of dissatisfaction - so beware and be loud. 

Saved by the Subway.
Don’t even think about taking a cab; Japans rail system is nothing short of sheer brilliance. The uber effecient subway and train system in Tokyo is quite possibly the best invention on earth. For those traveling to more than one city, opt for a Japan Rail pass (7 days, 14 day etc.). It’s worth it. And unlike the swipe and go systems in the US, the JR machines check-point you twice. So save the stub for the way in, and out. Most likely at some point you’ll pay the wrong fare - the Japanese machines can confuse almost anyone. Just go to the Fare Adjusment counter, you cant miss it. And believe me, the guards won’t miss you.

Go Nude.
Nothing does it for me quite like a warm body of water, and Japan is full of them. Onsens, or hot springs, are a huge part of the tradition and culture. But don’t even think about that tankini; Onsens are for nudist only! So strip and sit down (sorry, no nude photo of me here).

Kill your cell. 
Despite being super tech savy citizens, Tokyo can be eerily quiet. You will rarely hear a cell phone conversation, and certainly not one on the train. When riding the rails in Japan, you should turn your phone off when near Priority Seats, keep it in silent mode when in other areas, and refrain from talking on the phone at all times. After all, thats what sexting is for.

Shoe Styles.
Some eating and drinking establishments in Japan offer “zashiki”-style seating where you must remove your shoes when entering. So snuggle in sans sneakers, it’s semi-liberating.

Noteworthy Notes:
Cab doors close automatically, so refrain from slamming them shut. 
Eat all of your food, which isn’t exactly difficult when it’s super delicious
Don’t tip, it can often be seen as rude, or that you’re a silly tourist.
If you’re not an adventurous eater, learn the word for vegetarian. But honestly, just don’t be a vegetarian. 

A list of the best ramen spots in Tokyo reads like its own guide book. Shio or Shoyu, with pork chāshū or without. Noodles in broth or spicy hot sauce. So when I finally paired it down to my must-go list, I said screw it, stick with what I know… and what I know, is Miso Ramen. And spicy-as-hell Miso Ramen at that. Tanmen Nakamoto is one of those joints where the reputation comes with a warning sign. Famed as one of the spiciest bowls this side of Shibuya, the underground shop serves 5 levels of spice. Pay via vending machine (yes, vending machine), pick your poison, sit down and sweat it out. If you can’t take the heat… (Near Shibuya Station, across from 109 Women’s, B3 Floor)

(Source: brilldotcom)

My schedule for the next three weeks, via @TripIt for the iPad. Looks nice, and insane doesn’t it?

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Not one, but two Francis Ford Coppola properties: Turtle Inn, an intimate resort fronting the Caribbean on the narrow peninsula of Placencia; and Blancaneaux Lodge, set in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. See it through the eyes of Austyntatious…

Dish. The ride from the airport to Blancaneaux Lodge can get a little lengthy so stop at Amigos for a traditional Belizean meal. Order up some arroz con pollo, chicken wings with Belizean hot sauce (Marie Sharpe’s is my personal favorite) and one of ten local beers.

Ride. The stables at Blancaneaux are located right at the front of the property, making it easy to explore the surrounding area on horseback. Take a ride through the jungle and the rainforest, all in one breathtaking trail, or head to Hidden Falls for a swim.

Dine. While in Blancaneaux, take advantage of all of the organic produce grown on the property. The poolside restaurant, Guatemaltecqua, specializes in mildly spiced cuisine that fuses traditional Guatemalan cuisine with Mexican, Caribbean and Mayan influences. Open up a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola’s delicious red wine to wash down the hand grown cornmeal, homemade hot sauce and rellenitos, a delicious dessert consisting of plantains filled with sweetened black beans.

Trip. To get a true sense of Belizian culture, take a trip to San Ignacio for the Saturday market. Listen to English, Spanish and Creole as locals trade and sell fresh produce, Mayan handcrafts and souvenirs.

Explore. Situated high on the Vaca Plateau deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the most extensive Mayan site in Belize and was only re-discovered in 1936. Situated 1600 feet above sea level with no natural body of water nearby, it remains a mystery how such a huge population was able to survive there. Take a deep breath at the top and look out over the fores-clad mountains. 

Advertising that does some good, well that’s exactly what Citi Bank has in mind with it’s new Bike system for NYC. We’ve seen versions of this across the globe, and it’s about time the big apple got a taste of eco-friendly transportation. 

Citi Bike is a self-service system that provides members with easy access to a network of thousands of bicycles. Pick up a bike close to home or work, ride, then return it to any of the hundreds of stations to be located throughout the city.The Citi Bike system will consist of 600 stations and 10,000 bikes, strategically placed across New York City depending on density and relative location to other transit options. Each station consists of a kiosk with a touch-screen, a map of the system, and docks into which durable bikes are securely locked and held until hired for rental.

Bike share is envisioned to be used primarily for trips under 3 miles, providing convenient and inexpensive mobility twenty-four hours a day for 365 days a year. Citi Bike will be available for anyone 16 years or older. To ride you must first purchase access, available for 24-Hours, 7-Days or Annually. 24-Hour and 7-Day access is purchased from any Citi Bike station and Annual access will be purchased online. Your access period allows you unlimited trips, however, charges apply for rides lasting longer than 30 or 45 minutes, depending upon your access type.

24-Hour and 7-Day users will be provided with an unlocking code to use in removing bikes from docks, and Annual members use unique keys to unlock bikes. So ride on citi-dwellers, ride on.