People willing to pay more for travel to help save the planet: Study

From the products we buy to our travel habits, almost everything we do affects our planet. But how easy is it to reduce our impact on the planet? Everyday, people commute from one place to another, whether for work, education, shopping or leisure. Humankind is a species which cherishes the freedom to travel where and when the individual chooses. But this travel is not without cost. Yes, I’m talking about the environmental cost.

I’m sure you’ll agree with me if I say that people in the past were not aware of this environmental cost but these days, travelers are becoming more aware of the damage their trips may do to the environment. Thinking of travelers is undergoing a significant change and they are willing to alter their actions to protect the environment.

The recent online polling of more than 24,500 consumers from 144 countries, conducted by the guidebook publisher Lonely Planet shows that the number of people willing to consider offsetting carbon emissions has increased.

The travelers are willing to opt for more radical options such as giving up flying for less damaging modes of transport, the introduction of an annual personal carbon allowance into which they must fit their travel and reducing the number of flights taken or increasing the cost of flying via a carbon tax.

Traveling by train is time consuming and more expensive as compared to air-travel and people are putting off by the high price of tickets. Following table shows the comparison between rail fares and airfares to Rome and Madrid from Britain’s major cities.


I agree that some people are putting off trains for reason being hight ticket prices but the majority of people still find trains as viable alternative for traveling. The increasing number of such people who are willing to alter their actions brings hope that our planet might be saved.

World's first hybrid train to be launched in Japan

After the runaway success with hybrid cars, Japan is bringing the world’s first environment-friendly hybrid train. The train named Kiha E200, developed by East Japan Railway Co. is the latest entrant in the battle against global warming and is scheduled to debut on the Koumi Line in central Japan on July 31, 2007.

It’s a two-train car that is powered by a diesel engine and electric batteries. Also, there is lithium iron battery installed on the train’s roof that has a capacity equal to the batteries of 3,000-4,000 regular mobile phones. The batteries of the train are charged when the train slows down.

The train has 46 seats and can hold 117 people including standees. Compared to conventional trains, the new technology will help reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter by up to 60 percent. The fuel consumption is cut by up to 20 percent.

In addition to the hybrid train, the Railway Technical Research Institute of Tokyo plans to develop a hybrid-type next-generation streetcar or light rail transit (LRT) by next year.

Libya's Green Mountain Project: Blend of environmental and cultural tourism

Libya is planning to build a green village to protect the Greek and Roman ruins in Cyrene from haphazard developments. Cyrene is one of the oldest and the richest Greek cities and lies in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar uplands. It is home to some of the most beautiful ancient structures like the Temple of Apollo, the temple of Demeter and the temple of Zeus. Most of these were damaged under the orders of Moammar Al Quadhafi in 1978.

The project, the Green Mountain Conservation , will be powered with wind and solar energy and the trash generated would be recycled and converted into biofuel. The architecture of the resorts, hotels, villas and residences would be in sync with the rugged landscape. The idea is to blend environmental and cultural tourism across the thousand miles of undeveloped coastlines.


The area is also the last breeding ground for some species of turtles and tuna in the Mediterranean, so care is taken to see that the ecosystem remains intact and is not subjected to dangers.

Foster and Associates, a British architectural firm would be designing the Green Mountain Conservation and Developmental zone while the UNESCO aid the restorations of the ruins.

Though, the idea is welcoming, the skeptics are unsure about the tourist inflow as the basic infrastructure like an airport is missing. Hopefully, the basic amenities will be taken care of soon.

Best of India

Story of Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan met Mumtaz Mahal and fell in love. He married her after five years and they were leading a very happy life. While giving birth to their last child, Mumtaz Mahal died due to some complications. A few years later Shah Jahan built the world's most beautiful monument "Taj Mahal" in the memory of his wife.

One of the wonders of the world "Taj Mahal" has a beautiful love story behind its construction. Taj Mahal love story is about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, took birth in the year 1592. The son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India, he fell in love in Arjumand Banu Begum at first time. At that time he was 14 years old and she, a Muslim Persian princess, was 15. After meeting her, Shah Jahan went back to his father and declared that he wanted to marry her. Read on to know more about the love story behind Taj Mahal of Agra.

The match got solemnized after five years i.e., in the year 1612. Shah Jahan became the Emperor in the year 1628 and entrusted Arjumand Banu with the royal seal. He also bestowed her with the tile of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "Jewel of the Palace". Though Shah Jahan had other wives also, but, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and accompanied him everywhere, even on military campaigns. In the year 1631, when Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to their 14th child, she died due to some complications.

It is said that Shah Mahal was so heartbroken after her death that he ordered the court into morning for two years. Some time after her death, Shah Jahan undertook the task of erecting the world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved. It took 22 years and the labor of 22,000 workers to construct the monument, which is also said to be the last wish of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument came to be known as "Taj Mahal" and now counts amongst the Seven Wonders of the World.

This is the true story of the Taj Mahal of India, which has mesmerized many people with its bewitching beauty.


India's $42 billion travel and tourism industry today has secured itself the fifth rank amongst the 134 most preferred tourist destinations in the world. With over 3 million tourists visiting the the Seventh Wonder of the World - the Taj Mahal - alone every year, the floodlights were focused at Agra, until globetrotters began to look around. They found India studded with delights more than many and gradually the attractions were unraveled, one after the other. 

The architectural archipelago that India is, owes its genesis to the various dynasties that ruled different parts of India at different periods. The most significant embossing on the Indian landscape was that of the Mughals and the erstwhile British masters. The Mughals believed in luxuriant living and their palaces were a rich blend of Indo-Islamic and Persian architecture. Their fascination for gardens got a whole legion of them laid at different parts of their territory. The British brought in their Victorian and Gothic elements and built monuments of use (railway stations, educational institutions, museums et al), while the Rajput and the Gupta rulers, keeping in with their jealous territorial stronghold, got some of the most splendid Palaces and Forts built. South India, of the Chandelas and the Pallavas, boasts of some of the most magnificent temples. India's coastline, hill-stations, adventure trails and so on, are recent boosts of the tourism industry and needless to say, they have surpassed the oldies.

We have randomly handpicked the most popular tourist attractions in India so that you know what not-to-miss.

View of Manhattan from Lincoln Center

A view of Manhattan from the Julliard School,
located in Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, NYC.

Image: antonee, 10 May 2009

I posted this picture of Manhattan, which I snapped yesterday, to let you know that I am thinking of you, but I am working hard on a writing project right now. My deadline is Friday, and I am hopeful that I will deliver a good product. As you know, Friday evening, I will be visiting AMNH's sneak preview of their new mammals exhibit, so I won't be doing much writing until Saturday (although I plan to post a photoessay of the exhibit ASAP, which means it might become live on Friday evening sometime). The mystery birds and other daily features will still appear as scheduled, but my essays are further delayed.

I do have some news about whom I am writing for that might make you happy .. but I don't feel I can tell you who it is until after I have finished and delivered my essay to them, but I will share that news with you soon, though.