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In the Footsteps of Indiana Jones with Bales Worldwide... AS INDIANA JONES PREPARES TO LAUNCH HIMSELF BACK ONTO OUR SCREENS AFTER 19 YEARS, Bales Worldwide has the ultimate low-down on holidays that will take you in his intrepid footsteps. From the jungles of South America and the mountains of Nepal, to the ancient cities of India and the archaeological sites of Jordan, these journeys will have you reaching for your Fedora and heading off on an adventure… On 22 May, the latest instalment — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull — will finally be released after months of anticipation. Much of the action is set among Mayan ruins in the jungles of central and South America, as Indiana battles Soviet agents to find the mystical crystal skull. Bales' Treasures of Mexico holiday will give you a taste of Indiana's latest adventure — from amazing Mayan temples and incredible Aztec ruins to the atmospheric jungle of Yucatan. Unleash the archaeologist within as you visit the ruins of Teotihuacan with its huge Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, wonder at the incredible edifices of Uxmal, explore the fabulous ruins of Chichen Itza and marvel at the breathtaking Mayan site of Palenque, shrouded in lush jungle and ethereal mists. The 14-day holiday costs from £2,620 per person*. The first film to kick off the Indiana Jones phenomenon was Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, which followed the renowned archaeologist's hunt for the Ark of the Covenant. His adventure took him across the globe, including the mountain kingdom of Nepal and the archaeological sites of Egypt. The Best of Nepal journey takes in the diversity of the 'abode of the gods' from the towering Himalayas, to the cultural wonders of Kathmandu. Make like Indy, and explore the country's fascinating capital with its temples and bustling markets before heading further afield. This trip takes in Dhulikehel, the enormous stupa at Bodnath, the wonderful wildlife of the Royal Chitwan National park and the breathtaking landscape around Pokhara and the Annapurna Range. The 13-day holiday costs from £1,435 per person*. For the full Raiders of the Lost Ark experience you will need to add on a jaunt to Egypt — and what better way to do that than with Bales' Splendour of Egypt itinerary? This classic trip takes you on a journey through an ancient world and incorporates all the major sites at a more relaxed pace than Mr Jones. Visit the incomparable Egyptian Museum, wonder at the mighty Pyramids, lose yourself in Cairo's bazaars, sail the Nile and explore the temples of Luxor and Edfu. This 13-day trip includes 4 nights in Cairo — the setting for much of Indy's swashbuckling antics — and a 7-night luxury cruise along the Nile visiting the likes of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Aswan. Splendour of Egypt costs from £1,295 per person*. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the second film in the series, is set in northern India, where Indiana combats an evil cult looking to unleash the ancient powers of the Sankara Stones. To tread in Indiana's footsteps and immerse yourself in the land of the Maharajahs opt for the Magic of India journey, taking in the palaces and temples of this ancient land. This magical trip takes you to the heartland of the once-great Moghul Empire and is packed with historical wonders that would amaze even Indy himself — from the romantic splendour of the Taj Mahal and the majesty of the Palace of the Winds, to the temples of Chattarpur and the dramatic Amber Fort. The nine-day trip costs from £1,060 per person*. The third film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, sees Indiana fighting Nazis in a hunt for the Holy Grail. The climax of the action takes place in the deserts of Jordan and the dramatic ancient city of Petra. Choose the Jordan with a Difference tour to experience first-hand this magnificent land, from the hidden roots of the Hashemite Kingdom to the wonder of Petra — this adventure also takes in many areas that are largely untouched by other UK operators. Explore the fascinating remains of Jerash, walk around old Amman and the Caves of the Prince, experience the majesty of the 'Rose-red City' and, in true Indy fashion, take a jeep ride to Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea Panorama. The 10-day itinerary costs from £1,485 per person*. With Indiana Jones fever set to take hold this summer, there has never been a more appropriate time to visit these stunning locations and archaeological wonders. *All prices are based on two sharing and include all flights, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, local English speaking guides, tipping and most meals. For reservations contact Bales Worldwide on 0845 057 0600 or visit www.balesworldwide.com. |
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2009 Cadillac CTS-V breaks 8-minute Nurburgring barrier — potentially the fastest documented lap time for a production saloon... IN TESTING EARLIER THIS WEEK at Germany's Nurburgring, Cadillac's upcoming new 2009 CTS-V completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32 minutes. This blistering time appears to be the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan. Cadillac is nearing the completion of testing for the highly- anticipated CTS-V — the limited-edition high-performance model based on the award-winning CTS sport sedan.  John Heinricy, director of vehicle integration and an acclaimed racing driver, piloted the CTS-V through its sub-8 minute lap. The car itself had no performance modifications outside of those planned for consumer production, which is scheduled to begin this autumn. Estimated at 550hp, the CTS-V is at the moment going through the final stages of intensive testing and development. One of the realistic objectives of the Cadillac team is to make the CTS-V the world's fastest production sedan, as a part of the overall goal to make the V-Series Cadillac's ultimate expression of performance and technology. More updates will be released in the coming weeks as testing is finalised, including the car's certified SAE power ratings, acceleration specifications and US-market pricing. Watch the video of the CTS-V's Nordschleife performance. The eight-minute mark has long been recognised as a major Nurburgring milestone, reserved for race cars and the fastest exotic sports cars. While there's no single official repository for Nurburgring data from private test sessions, numerous reputable websites and publications report lap times from race teams, automakers and independent sources. The new 2009 CTS-V includes a suite of advanced performance technologies, including a new version of Cadillac's acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control suspension and the LSA 6.2-litre Supercharged V8 engine. For the first time, CTS-V will include the choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, with the new automatic sporting steering wheel-mounted shift buttons. |
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| Vauxhall’s
new Twintops, with prices from £19,295... WITH SPRING ABSENT THIS YEAR, there's no better car than the Astra TwinTop to deal with a mix of weather conditions, be they sub-zero or near-Sahara. And now there are two new models — the Exclusiv and Exclusiv XP — bringing added style and panache to Vauxhall's four-seater convertible range. As with all TwinTops, they feature a three-piece electro-hydraulic roof which can be raised and lowered in less than 30 seconds — even while the car's moving at up to 18mph.  In addition to the TwinTop Exclusiv (which replaces the Exclusiv Black edition), the Exclusiv XP model gains the stunning VXR Styling Pack as standard, with a body-coloured lower front spoiler, rear lower skirt, lip spoiler and side sills. And for the first time, the TwinTop Exclusiv — along with the Exclusive XP — can be specified in two new colours (Star Silver and Panacotta) as well as the existing Power Red and Black Sapphire body colours. As with all TwinTops, specification for the Exclusiv and Exclusiv XP models is generous, with unique 18-inch alloy wheels, heated leather front seats and keyless entry standard on both models. Also included are heated power mirrors, a 3-spoke leather steering wheel and Sport switch, which quickens throttle and steering response while allowing sportier gearchanges on automatic models. Both models come with the choice of lusty 1.8VVT (140bhp) and 2.0-litre Turbo (200bhp) petrol engines, along with the frugal but powerful 1.9CDTi (150bhp) diesel engine. Prices start at £19,295 for the manual 1.8VVT Exclusive, with the 1.9CDTi costing £21,265. The same engine choices for the Exclusiv XP cost £19,995 and £21,965 respectively. A 1.8VVT engine with automatic transmission is also available on both models at an additional cost of £1,035. |
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car: Daihatsu's funky Materia 
cd: Russian superstar Sergey's new single Girlfriend due out in June
book: Lamborghini Today