Kuala Lampur | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

While it was evident that the recent TripAdvisor 2011 Travellers’ Choice Destination Awards for Cape Town was not bringing enquiries to Cape Town accommodation establishments immediately after its announcement in May, an e-mail from TripAdvisor, sent to all its accommodation establishment ‘members’ on Thursday, listed the ten “most searched-for destinations on TripAdvisor this month”. Disappointingly, Cape Town does not feature on this list!

The Top 10 most-searched for destinations on TripAdvisor were the following: Singapore, Rome, Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York City, Barcelona, Albufeira in Portugal, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, and London. The list was headlined “Trending on TripAdvisor”. Only six of these destinations were on the Top 10 Travellers Choice Destination Awards: Rome, Hong Kong, New York City, Barcelona, Paris and London. Cape Town, Sydney, Machu Picchu, and Rio de Janeiro did not make the most-searched destination cities – what they have in common is that they are all Southern Hemisphere cities, and long-haul destinations for the American and UK markets, probably making up the largest percentage of TripAdvisor users.

One hopes that other recent exposure for Cape Town, in the Telegraph Ultratravel 100 best holiday destinations, and the location for most of the action in the new James Bond book ‘Carte Blanche’, will attract much-needed tourists to Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage

A wheel is to be erected in the V&A Waterfront at the beginning of June, prior to the start of the World Cup, and will operate for six months, reports the Weekend Argus.

The Wheel of Excellence, which also operates in London, Brisbane, Perth, Copenhagen, Kuala Lampur and the Niagra Falls, will be similar but smaller to those operating in London and Paris, with a 50m diameter. It has 36 enclosed airconditioned cabins taking eight persons each, and 288 persons can be taken on a ride at a time.

The wheel will be set up at the V&A’s Gateway Canal, coming in from Coen Steytler Avenue. Tickets for the ride are expected to cost R 70, and will allow 15 – 20 minutes’ panoramic view of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape Town Stadium and Paarl mountains. A VIP cabin with leather seats and Champagne Bar will be offered. It will run from 10h00 – 22h00 every day.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com