The Expo Shangai 2010 will be, undoubtedly, one of the events of the years (together with the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver and the World cup in South Africa). It starts in exactly 53 days and will last from May 1^st until October 31^st. It is expected to have a sum of 70 million visitors and at least 200 participants.

We all know that Expos always have a mascot. Shanghai’s one is called Haibao. The name is easy to remember and it comes from Hai Bao, a typical lucky name in Chinese tradition. Its shape was developed from a Chinese character meaning people. It has already been place all over Shanghai . Moreover, the theme of Expo 2010 is “Better City, Better Life,” representing the common wish of the whole humankind for a better living in future urban environments.

The UK pavilion is still under construction. It is an outstanding, visual demonstration of the UK as a creative and innovative nation. Developed by Thomas Heatherwick, the centrepiece of the UK pavilion is a six storey high object formed from some 60,000 slender transparent rods, which extend from the structure and quiver in the breeze. This rods will illuminate the interior by day and the exterior by night.

Shanghai World Expo will be the most spectacular and important event of its type. It is an Expo for the 21st Century and every participant is working hard to make be unique and unforgetable. If you haven’t decided what to do in your next holidays, this could be a candidate! Check your hotels in Shanghai in Hotelopia.

The Academy Awards (popularly known as the Oscars) are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world.

Yesterday night was the 82^nd edition of this ceremony, held in the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The night was, as always, full of magic, beauty, fashion and surprises. The biggest surprise was the victory of Kathryn Bigelow. She is the first woman to win an Oscar for best director. Her film ‘The Hurt Locker’ won also Best Picture. The film with low budget triumphed over Avatar, the favourite.

Films with low budget, a woman winning the Best Director Oscar…Does this mean that Hollywood is changing?

The International Geneva Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo convention centre and organised by the “Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles”. It is considered an important major international auto show, where new cars and automobiles are exhibited.

This year’s highlight is the launch of a great number of “green cars”. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, all-electric production, models, concept, and sports cars coming from almost all the manufacturers, from Volkswagen to Ferrari .

For a few days the automobile world has left he global financial crisis and all its negative effects behind it to exhibit new models and concepts of cars in expositions and even in a catwalk… Luxury car makers such as Ferrari or Porsche have launched their very last  models in this salon.

Do yo want to visit? Check the best hotels in Geneva with Hotelopia UK!

Amy Williams, Skeleton

Vancouver has been, during the month of February, the place to be if you are a winter sports fan. It has held (and will be holding until next Sunday 28^th February) the XXI Olympic Winter Games, an international multi-sport event.

It started on 12^th February with the traditional lighting of the Olympic torch, after the flame had travel by air, earth and water in a 106-days journey across Canada. Of course it was light in Olympia, Greece, as it is meant to be.

At the moment, the countries with more medals are the United States with 25, Germany with 22 and Norway with 17. Great Britain has achieved one gold medal, won by Amy Williams in Skeleton.

Of course, Hotelopia can find the best hotels in Vancouver if you have just decided you would like to see the last days of this magnificent sports event or the closing ceremony, a unique experience.

Betty Jackson (catwalking.com)

London Fashion Week was started last Friday with a bang last night, thanks to Naomi Campbell and her seasonal Fashion for Relief charity catwalk. The top model managed to get the help of some of her most famous friends by getting them to take part in the show, which was organised to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

It will be on until next Wednesday 24th and until then, the catwalk will be full of top models showing the thoughts of the most important designers about what next winter’s tendencies are going to be like. Colours, fabrics, cut… they are the Gods in fashion and tell us what we will be wearing in a year from now.

If you have tickets to go to this event you shouldn’t miss it, check out the best prices for hotels in London in Hotelopia UK!

If you like travelling and your girlfriend/boyfriend likes it too, in stead of a bunch of flowers and a nice card, Valentine’s day is the perfect excuse to flight somewhere and spend a romantic weekend with your partner. And what could be more romantic than Paris?

Paris has always been known as “the city of love”. Nobody knows exactly what it is but we all agree on the fact that Paris has “that something”. The small streets, a walk by the Seine, the Tuileries Gardens… everything will seem perfect for the lover’s eyes. From having a dinner for two in a cruise through the Seine, with some romantic music and the views of the wonderful Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, to hiring a bike and going around the city on two wheels, plans for each and every pocket and all different tastes.

However, if this is not the plan for you, it is maybe a bit too sentimental or you don’t have a couple to share this with, wait for the next few posts on Blogtelopia. We will give you other ideas on how to celebrate the day of love, even if you are single!

Modern vampires don’t come from Transylvania (Romania) anymore, where the infamous Count Dracula was from. The movie New Moon from the Twilight Saga, for example, finds them in Forks, Washington. In this case, these blood-thirsty creatures live in a region full of lush forests and transparent lakes. It is the perfect place for people who enjoy wildlife to go on different nature walks. It rains heavily in the winter, but the summer is hot and sunny. Highway 101 runs through Forks, where you will come across the only stoplight on a 163 mile stretch. There are also Indian settlements nearby for you to visit. If you want to discover the real America of the deep south of the United States, your best bet would be to follow the trail of the True Blood vampires. This HBO TV series takes place in a small town in Louisiana. Heat, humidity and the sensation that an elderly lady is going to appear at any minute sitting on her porch swing, sipping an ice-cold lemonade. The movie Let the Right One In (fantastic, by the way!) puts a completely different spin on the vampire’s origins. This time, if you want to follow the vampire trail, it will take you to Stockholm, Sweden. Considering that the streets here in the winter are dark and bitterly cold, this spot is a good option for these creatures, who must hide from the penetrating rays of the sun. The idea of following a vampire’s trail could be a perfect excuse for organising a trip. A word of advice though: don’t forget to pack some garlic in your suitcase…just in case.

The passengers from the flight that just landed wait at the baggage claim belt, watching one sad and lonely (yes, its looks like it’s sad and lonely) suitcase go round and round, and although everyone watches it closely as it pushes through the wide straps hanging in front of the door and circles by, it doesn’t seem belong to anyone. What flight did it come in on? What is its destination? A voice on the loud speaker announces what everyone is waiting for: “your luggage is coming out.” The passengers straighten up and get in position to leap like tigers towards the belt as soon as they catch a glimpse of the bags they checked in. You always end up asking the question: “Is that one mine? “No, that one’s mine. Excuse me, I need to get through please, that suitcase is mine.” You examine every one: big ones, small ones, canvas ones, hardback ones, backpacks, bags; black, red, pink, with Mickey Mouse smiling back at you.” The minutes tick by and the other passengers from the plane seem to all find their bags and head off. When they finally get their hands on it, something inside them relaxes and they start to breathe easier: “Phew, it didn’t get lost.” The remaining passengers still have to suffer a few minutes more, thinking: “please don’t let this be the start of a bad day…” Some suitcases look similar and some are even identical. That’s why everyone has their own little trick to recognise their own bags: maybe a small scratch on the side, a sticker or a ribbon on the handle. Finally, all the passengers from the flight that just landed head off in different directions, toting along their luggage behind them. One sad and lonely (yes, it looks sad and lonely) suitcase carries on going round in circles on the belt. Then suddenly it occurred to me: Has anyone ever seen a suitcase on one of these belts in some airport around the world, like the ones that were auctioned off a few days ago in London? They were exclusive models from the luxury brand, Louis Vuitton, designed by celebrities such as the chef Ferran Adriá, the photographer Anne Leibovitz or the artist Damien Hirts. The 495,000 pounds (549,450 euros) that were paid for then will be donated to a Red Cross aid programme in the fight against malnutrition. What will those suitcases get used for? Will their owners take them on a trip with them? Will they go round in circles on a baggage claim belt at some airport? Will a ribbon get tied to them so that they can be identified easier?

In the first of a series of weird festivals around the world, Blogtelopia brings you inspiration for two great events coming up this winter.

Guaranteed to give you an experience of a lifetime and make your mates green with envy, book a break with a difference and head to where the parties at this winter.

1.   Roadkill Cookoff: On the 26 September, book a trip to West Virigina in the USA for the annual Roadkill Cookoff. The perfect event for the “recessionista” who can get inspiration from a festival of nature’s best cuisine – best of all, it’s already been slaughtered and it’s free.

Yes, join the fun as festival goers bring along their fresh road-kill.  The barbecues are lit and a chefs gather to cook up a storm by either grilling, flaming, or baking whatever’s brought to the table.

Expect some surprises, and dishes you probably will never find anywhere else.

Favourites in the past have included squirrel gravy over biscuits, teriyaki marinated bear and tasty deer sausage.

After this festival, animals everywhere will be taking care crossing the road.

2.  Hadaka Matsuri: The Japanese Naked Festival: If you’ve ever wanted the chance to get naked in the middle of Japan’s freezing winter, then here’s your chance.

On January 14th, head to small town of Konomiya, outside Nagoya.  And when you hear the cry “Hadaka ni narimashou!” it’s time to get naked – well almost.

Sake fuelled naked men take the streets, cover themselves in a loin cloth (although some don’t worry about that) in an attempt to touch the hin-otoko (or “god-man” an honorary position selected from the group of followers the day before).

When he appears, the crowd surge forward to touch the “god man” for luck. Judging by the video, it also looks like all that body warmth really keeps out the cold.

Red strips of cloth are given out to the thousands of spectators and participators.   Grabbing one is brings luck for year ahead.   And if  it at least wards off hypothermia then it’ll have definitely worked its magic.

Today, Friday 5th June 2009, millions of people worldwide come together to celebrate World Environment Day to combat climate change.

The theme for this year is “Your Planet Needs You!” and there are celebrations taking part around the world. But you can still do your bit without leaving your desk.

A Twitter campaign is being held by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) whereby one tree will be planted for every person who follows them on Twitter.  Just log onto http://twitter.com/UNEPandYou , and click “follow”.

The event is billed as being truly global.  Other highlights include:
- Afghanistan:  A street clean is taking place in Kabul with awareness-raising campaigns through schools and mosques.
- Nepal: An ‘Ecofootball’ match entitled ‘GOAL-against Climate Change’ will bring together celebrities, politicians and environmentalists.
- Brazil: Volunteers will be targeted to produce, translate and disseminate information and advice on environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
- Kenya: A seafront clean-up will be organized on the island of Lamu with schoolchildren, students, as well as community and government representatives.
- Belgium: The EchoFestival in Brussels’s Royal Park will include a picnic, exhibits, a concert and a fair for a “shared eco-cultural experience”.
- Republic of Korea: 30,000 children will take part in a painting competition on the environment.

So are days like this useful in terms of changing public opinion, and most importantly, protecting the environment?  Let us know…