If you’re anything like us, you have all kinds of experience with plastic spaceships. From the Star Wars toys we begged our parents for every year at birthdays and Christmas time to the impressive (if we do say so ourselves) plastic spaceships we made ourselves out of Legos and other building blocks. We’ve flown through galaxies untold, all without travel insurance. Of course, we never left the back yard, so it was all good.

It turns out that we were onto something when we were flying our plastic spaceships out in the yard. Scientists believe we are now closer to landing a man on Mars than we were to landing a man on the Moon in the early 1960s. And when we do, it appears that those astronauts may very well be traveling in a plastic space ship. Well, partly plastic, anyway.

Most spacecraft in use up until today have been made predominantly with aluminum. Aluminum is durable and lightweight, both qualities which astrophysicists look for in spacecraft material. Unfortunately, aluminum isn’t terribly good at deflecting or absorbing radiation, which is the main thing keeping us from landing a man on Mars at present.

Most of our trips into space to date have involved orbiting our own planet, which absorbs and deflects a significant portion of the radiation in space, or trips to the Moon, where again, the Earth is poised to absorb much of the dangerous radiation. With lunar missions, astronauts are exposed to some radiation, but it’s usually not enough to do serious damage (unless you consider glaucoma serious) because astronauts are only exposed for brief periods. A trip to Mars, on the other hand, would take at least 39 days and would expose space travelers to a lot more potentially harmful radiation.

It turns out that reinforced polyethylene absorbs a hell of a lot more radiation than aluminum, however. In case you’re not a chemical engineer, polyethylene is the plastic used to make things like garbage bags. If everything goes according to plan, they may soon be able to use it to line passenger compartments of spacecraft. So, they’ll essentially be building a space ship out of plastic blocks. Seems like we’ve done that before. We wonder if they’re hiring.

Where all of this gets truly exciting is that if space travel is made safe enough using the plastic blocks, civilians might eventually get to participate in space travel, perhaps even traveling to Mars or other places in the solar system. There’s already a burgeoning space travel industry just bristling to be able to offer those kinds of possibilities for travelers.

Can you imagine traveling to Mars? Can you imagine what the travel insurance would cost? We’re not sure we can, either, but we’d sure like to try.

Image by Repoort

Of course, most of the time we either ignore what’s being said or listen with passing interest. But imagine if one of these guys was at the microphone (and this at the controls of the aircraft):

• Han Solo. Granted, he’s the best pilot in the galaxy, but who wants to spin and do negative Gs in an airplane? Besides, he has a bad habit of dumping his cargo when he realizes the Empire is on his tail. In this case, that cargo would be you. And if that happens, even travel insurance won’t help you.

• Holwin’ Mad Murdock. If you’re old enough to remember the A-Team television series, you know that he was the best pilot in the Army. You also know he’s a bit daft and you could be in for a ride. And if you’ve seen the more recent A-Team movie, you know that version of Murdock took crazy to a whole new level. Nothing like a little PTSD flying the plane. In either case, the US Army would be chasing you, which is never fun.

• Launchpad McQuack. Anyone whose most memorable lines were, “If it flies I can crash it,” and “Any crash you can walk away from is a good crash,” is not the pilot you want on your vacation. Fortunately, he’s an animated duck, so your chances of getting him, or any close facsimile of him are fairly slim.

• Any Student pilot. At the point where he says, “This is my first time flying a real plane with real people,” you’re probably ready to get off the plane. Unfortunately, it’s already in the air. You’re in luck, though, because if it is the pilot’s first time commanding the jet, they’re not going to tell you.

• Chuck Yeager. One of America’s foremost test pilots, he probably could handle a large aircraft, and he holds a number of records amongst pilots. But, for crying out loud, he’s almost 90. He flew way back in World War II. Do we really want him to get in the cockpit and “see what this baby will do?”

Photo via Richard Jones

Given that space travel may very well be a reality in our lifetimes, we got to thinking about where we’d like to go. We don’t know if galaxies far, far away will ever be within reach, but just in case they are, here are our top 6 picks for travel destinations within the Star Wars universe:

• Hoth. We know, it’s cold, but it’s a cross country skier’s dream. Lots of snow, all year ‘round and plenty of wide open country. There is a bit of a lack of groomed trails, but with a little work, this could be a primo destination for winter sports lovers.

• Mos Eisley. The busy spaceport on Tatooine may be the “most wretched hive of scum and villainy” that Obi-Wan has ever seen, and it’s probably not a place to take the kids, but from the little we’ve seen of it, it looks like a happening place. The music is top notch, with bars having live music not only at night time, but during the day. You might want to avoid the place if you have a price on your head, as Imperial troops and bounty hunters tend to hang out there, but otherwise, you should be set to have a great time.

• Coruscant. Another great place for those who love the night life. But then, what would you expect from a planet whose entire surface is covered by a city? When it comes to bright lights, NYC and Vegas have nothing on Coruscant.

• Naboo. Lush, beautiful countryside, perfect for a romantic getaway. Scuba divers will find all kinds of interesting undersea life. As long as you aren’t eaten, you should have a great time here.

• Alderaan. This peaceful planet is kind of like the Star Wars universe’s Switzerland. Make sure you go before Episode IV, though. You wouldn’t want to be caught there when the planet is suddenly blown to bits by the Death Star.

• Endor. It may be primitive, but who wouldn’t want to spend a week or two with the Ewoks? Lively music, interesting cuisine (possibly including you, if you’re not careful) and a boat load of overgrown teddy bears await you. Make sure you take out enough travel insurance, and don’t drink the water while you’re there.

Photo via laap mx

Go back to your childhood and live in a tree house
Time to forgo all that hotel shenanigans. Tree houses provide an exciting experience. Tree house resorts are slowly cropping up across the states.

These tree houses of vacation love are more than just a box in a tree though. Most vacation tree houses have all the amenities that your home has. They just happen to be in a tree and include a spectacular view.

You will need to provide your own super-secret entrance password though. You might also have to let girls into your tree house of testosterone. See how easy it you can let that adulthood go.

Play cowboy on a working ranch
Play cowboy with your kids. You might be surprised at how much fun you have working on a ranch. You might feel a bit odd slapping on some chaps and learning how to throw a lasso. You are not the first to do this, nor will you be the last. Besides, what better way to tucker the kids out than by making them chase animals around all day?

Best of all, when the day is done you will have a nice quiet evening to enjoy. Your travel insurance agent might not like the idea of you playing cowboy, but the kids just might love it.

Travel by rail
Cars and planes are not the only way to get to your destination. Traveling by train is often one of the last things people consider for their travels. Trains take away the stress of 3oz bottles of fluid and bumper-to-bumper traffic. You can enjoy all the splendor of Mother Nature without dropping four letter words of anger in front of junior.

Rock the houseboat
The mighty Mississippi offers a great time for some leisurely travel. The best way to enjoy this grand river will be on a houseboat. Not only can you enjoy a leisurely stroll down the river, but also you can enjoy swimming, fishing, and hidden alcoves of water fun. You just might get bonus points with the kids for that Tom Sawyer accent as well.

Visit some old lighthouses
Lighthouses are offer a unique history. Some lighthouses will even allow you to stay in them for a night. What better way to spend a day on the ocean than entrenched in some nautical history? You might even enjoy the towns that come with these beacons of boating safety.

There are plenty of unique vacations that you would be proud to put traveler insurance on. All it takes to find these amazing wonders is a bit of looking. Sea World is so yesterday; tree houses are what the cool kids do these days. Time to get off that duff and start planning that unique vacation! Just don’t forget to protect that trip with a bit of travelers insurance.

Photo via emdot

In that spirit, we’ve put together some bizarre travel ideas for you to consider. Keep in mind that these are largely untested, and you can try them at your own risk:

1. The “George Washington Slept Here” trip. All over New England, you’ll find little bed and breakfasts that claim to have hosted famous people. Find as many as you can, and visit them. Take pictures of the room the person is said to have stayed, and talk to the proprietor about the visit.
2. The “Go North For The Winter” trip. Florida is for pansies. Where you want to go in February is Hudson Bay or Anchorage.
3. The Alphabet trip. For this trip, you need a good old-fashioned state road map or atlas that lists the cities in your state. Starting with the nearest “A” city, visit one city in your state that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Take a picture with your family at each of the city limit signs. Extra bonus coolness if you visit them in alphabetical order.
4. The Dartboard trip. For this trip, you need a map of the region you live in. Put it on the dartboard and throw a dart. Visit whatever town is nearest where the dart landed.
5. The “Get Lost On Purpose” trip. Drive at least 100 miles from your home. Without using GPS or a map, try to find your way back home without using any Interstates or even state roads. Only use back roads, and avoid any town along the way.
6. The McDonalds 500. Just about every state has at least 500 McDonalds restaurants. Find them all. Works best in Rhode Island.
7. The Staycation. The recession has brought this dumb-ass word into our language as people try to have fun at home. Put a new spin on the staycation. Go to someone else’s house – preferably a neighbor – and set up a tent in their front yard. Have S’mores at night. Dig your own latrine.

Photo via theotherway

Here are the 7 most extreme and dangerous vacation destinations we could think of:

1. Iraq. Yeah, things have quieted down there as the locals have become more adept at maintaining their own security. Still, insurgency and military action are commonplace. Vegas has nothing on Baghdad.
2. Somalia. While the Middle East has captured our attention for the past decade, Somalia is still a mess. For the past decade, it’s been under the control of warlords engaged in constant clashes over weapons and drugs. Oh, and don’t forget about the Somali pirates, too. Make sure to watch out for landmines. You won’t find those in Vegas.
3. Haiti. Even before the earthquake that left over 150,000 people dead, Haiti was in rough shape. It’s been plagued by civil unrest and corruption of officials for a long time. Forget the Dominican Republic, the vacation destination that shares an island with Haiti.
4. Afghanistan. Today, the former home of the Taliban is hotter, in a military sense, than Iraq. There are plenty of IEDs and insurgents loyal to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. There are plenty of hills and mountains to climb, though, if that’s your thing.
5. Pakistan. Like its neighbor, Pakistan is now home to many former Taliban. Add to that the struggle between opposed Sunni and Shia tribes, and you’ve got a real hotbox.
6. Brazil. OK, there are the safe resort communities in Rio de Janeiro, but if you want to really experience Brazil you need to get far away from those places. Brazil has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world.  Most often, this involves being taken to an ATM to withdraw your ransom payment.
7. Burundi. Burundi is one of the smallest and most densely populated nations on the planet. The warring Hutus and Tutsis were involved in a civil war from 1993 to 2006, and while a cease fire has been declared, most of the provisions of that agreement haven’t been implemented. You’ll find mass murder, mayhem, muggings, carjacking and plenty of other extreme activities. Make sure to brush up on your first aid, because quality medical care is almost non-existent.

Told you we’d make Vegas sound tame. Whether you’re traveling to Branson, Missouri or Burundi, make sure you have enough travel insurance to take care of you if the unfortunate happens.

Photo via The Raggedy-man

Bored with ordinary hotels? There’s no shortage of wacky and wonderful offbeat hotels, no matter where in the world you may be. Some are luxurious; others are rustic; all are unforgettable.

Doing Time
If you’ve got a hankering for thick stone walls or the knowledge that you’re sleeping in a former prison cell, you’ve got choices in England, Switzerland, and Australia, ranging from very un-prisonlike luxury to more Spartan (and wallet-friendly) digs.

Recycled Rooms
Some innovative hotels and smaller bed and breakfasts have done amazing work to repurpose vehicles or buildings that would otherwise be defunct. For instance, you can stay in a cute tugboat bed and breakfast, a covered wagon, or a train car. Repurposed buildings include a windmill, a lighthouse, a grain silo, a water tower, and even a nuclear bunker. If that’s just too ordinary, you can stay in a section of drainage pipe, a former wine cask, or a floating pod that used to be part of an oil rig. If you’d like a sense of control as part of your hotel stay, there’s a crane out there for you.

Ice, Ice Baby
There’s more than one ice hotel out there, with two of the best known being in Sweden and in Quebec, Canada. In addition to being able to say that you’ve spent the night (snuggled with your honey, we hope!) surrounded by ice, you’ll be blown away by the sheer skill that it took to build these.

In the Treetops
If that treehouse you had as a kid never quite lived up to your wildest dreams, try Safariland Resorts, Ariaua Amazon Towers, or the Wild Canopy Reserve. Not only will you be staying in the treetops, but you’re sure to get great views of some truly interesting wildlife.

In a…What?
If you’ve ever wanted to stay inside a giant dog statue or huge boot, you’re all set.

It’s Art
Want your lodging to walk the fine line between art and life? You can enjoy some very unusual rooms at Propeller Island, stay in a museum, or visit an old opera house for some extra culture along with your stay.

Underground
Find your inner caveperson in Arkansas, Cappadocia (Turkey) or New Mexico.

If that’s not enough, maybe an old mine will do the trick.

Themes
Many hotels cater to the kid in us (or to actual kids) with fun themes. You can pretend that you’re a hobbit. Want to return to the 1950’s or to medieval times? No problem. Can’t get enough of the Beatles? There’s a hotel for you too. You can also find hotels themed around philosophy or famous detectives. At the Madonna Inn or the Fantasyland Hotel, each room has a different theme. Go ahead, pretend you’re in an English manor or an igloo or ancient Rome.

Uncategorizable…
No matter what kind of experience you seek, there’s a hotel or bed and breakfast somewhere for you. Need gothic witchiness? A haunted plantation? Over-the-top ornate décor? Giraffes? Something…else? You got it.

Built Out of What?
Luckily, these hotels built of sand and salt are more stable than they sound! If they’re a little too gritty for you, maybe you’d like to stay in a house of cards. Key cards, that is—this temporary hotel was built by a professional card stacker for Holiday Inn as part of a promotion. (How do you get to be a professional card stacker? Just wondering.)

Underwater
For a little underwater novelty, try the Utter Inn, the Jules Underwater Hotel, or the Poseidon Undersea Resort, opening in 2010. If you’re a little more of a landlubber, there’s a hotel for you too, complete with a waterfall cascading down the front of the building. Need some rotation with your flotation? The Hotel Marmara in Turkey has a place for you.

Geek Out, Inside
Stay at the Hotel Sidi Driss, where part of Star Wars was filmed, or come to the dark side with a visit to this “Death Star”-shaped hotel. More space age lodging awaits, or, alternatively, your own galactic suite. Or, stay down to earth with a magnificent view of the stars at the Astronomer’s Inn.

Ohhhhh….kay
Want to live like a hamster? Now you can.

Take Me There Now, Please.
In the mood for serious relaxation? Try a hotel focused on hot springs, or a luxury villa in Barbados complete with gourmet chef. Ahhhh. Where’s that suitcase?

Amazingly, this list only scratches the surface. We’re sure that somewhere there is a hotel constructed from junked cars, or one inside a former insane asylum or a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex. If you know of more unique hotels, we’d love to hear about them in the comments!

If you want to go all out this year, pack your bags, reserve a hotel room, get your travel insurance and get to one of the most awesome New Year’s Eve destinations in the United States:

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sin City knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve bash, and they know how to throw it in style. The sheer number of hotels, casinos clubs and bars to pick from is almost mind-numbing. You can go outside on the strip and watch a huge fireworks display, or you can join the Fremont Street Experience block party. There you’ll find plenty of sounds and sights, and usually some famous musicians headlining, too. Rumor has it that this year you can sit in and hear the Black Eyed Peas at the LAX club.

Austin, Texas

Austin is the city known for its night life, and the first night of the year in Austin is often the coolest. The First Night Austin event is family friendly, and features both indoor and outdoor activities. You’ll find everything from digital portraits to puppet shows to clog dancing here. There are sculptures, jugglers, drumming and, of course, plenty of fireworks to be seen by all. This festival displays the best of Austin, and you can experience it on the night of nights.

Niagara Falls, New York

Already a popular tourist destination, Niagara Falls isn’t just for honeymooners. Here you’ll find the Party in Niagara, organized by the Parks Commission. The event features fireworks twice during the evening, first at 9 PM to allow families to view and then put little ones to bed, and then, of course, later on at midnight.  The celebration draws in around 30,000 people every year. You’ll also find plenty of music here at Clifton Hills, a major tourist spot. During the day, you can also enjoy Niagara Falls’ Annual Winter Festival of Lights.

No matter where you go, make sure you’re covered in the event of inclement weather or disasters. Look into travel insurance, and minimize your risk of loss this New Year’s Eve.

Click to view the graphic!

Embed the above image on your site
<a href="http://www.travelinsurance.org/high-flyers-badass-pilots-compared-graphic/"><img src="http://www.travelinsurance.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/pilot640.jpg" width="640" height="660" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-559" /><br />Badass Pilots Compared</a><br />Created by <a href="http://www.travelinsurance.org">TravelInsurance.org</a>

The last few years, airlines around the globe have tightened the restrictions on what is and is not allowed on board planes. We all know some things just aren’t going to make it, and while we may not understand why nail clippers can’t come on board, it’s a rule and we follow it. And then there are things no one would honestly try to get onto plane. Of course, dishonestly is another matter altogether.

9) Snakes in a Bra

Object: 65 snakes and 7 lizards

Though dogs are trained to sniff out drugs, the advantage you have when trying to smuggle narcotics is that the narcotics probably sit still.  If you have jammed your underwear full of snakes, however, things will not go smoothly.

Security at an airport in Stockholm, Sweden watched a woman continually adjusting her top until they decided to investigate.  As it happens, she had filled her bra with 65 snakes and also managed to find room for 7 lizards under her shirt as well.  Officials claim they noticed “something unusual” about her chest, which is likely very polite, European talk for “her boobs were wriggling.” Source: http://www.snopes.com/critters/gnus/snakebra.asp

Definitely not as appealing as this.

8) Powder Pockets

Object: 6.6 kg of cocaine divided in 160 pockets

Generally speaking it’s not surprising that people try to smuggle drugs onto planes, that’s probably the most common thing anyone tries to get across borders.  Some people probably succeed while others get caught by security and they’re always looking for new and creative ways to trick the dogs.  What is surprising is how some people go about it.

A 65 year old German national on his way from South American to Barcelona got busted with 6.6kg of cocaine on him when he tried to smuggle it in his pants.  Specifically, he had outfitted the butt and thighs of his pants with 160 pockets in which the drugs were stuffed.  Security guards watched him literally waddle through the terminal, his body between the waist and knees looking like it belonged to a body builder, and figured they should stop him.  A drug sniffing dog confirmed that, indeed, he had not spent the last 5 years doing butt crunches and was in fact weighted down with over 12 lbs of drugs. Source: http://www.nowpublic.com/strange/man-tried-smuggle-6-6-kg-cocaine-pants-160-pockets

How else do you think Marc Anthony gets his drugs?

7) Crotch Birds

Object: 2 pigeons

Surprisingly, next to drugs, animal smuggling is one of the biggest draws for people trying to pull one over on airport security.  Some people are just hardcore nature lovers.  Or hard up for cash.  Or maybe it’s just the thrill of live animals jammed in your pants, hard to say.

A 23 year old Australian was stopped coming into the country from Dubai when it was found he had a package of eggs on him, which was a little odd and certainly against the rules.  A further search revealed a money belt around his waist full of seeds.  Likely at this point someone raised an eyebrow and decided to investigate further.  What they found was that, under his pants, he was wearing tights with a pigeon jammed in each leg.  An actual, live pigeon. Source: http://www.newslite.tv/2009/02/03/man-tried-to-smuggle-pigeons-i.html

Actual photo from customs: Look closely…those are two pigeons wrapped in paper!

6) A New Way to Wear Crocs

Object: A baby crocodile

Probably the worst fear of any smuggler is being caught before they even board the plane.  The second worst fear has to be that whatever it is they are smuggling will escape and start wandering aimlessly about the plane.

Unfortunately for a smuggler en route to Cairo, the baby crocodile he had packed in his carry-on was restless and made a break for it.  Passengers panicked as the reptile made his way around the cabin, possibly looking for a tiny bottle of booze, before the crew managed to corner it and keep it safe until they could hand it over to authorities.  Understandably, no one on the plane took ownership and so no one was charged. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5949738/Crocodile-causes-panic-as-it-wanders-around-plane-in-mid-air.html

Like their shoe counterparts, these babies attract all the wrong attention.

5) Cocaine Cast

Object: Cast made out of cocaine

Some smugglers are really dedicated to what they do and go that extra mile to commit their crimes.  If only everyone in the world was so determined to get their work done, we’d all be better off.  But alas, not everyone has the work ethic to do themselves harm in an effort to succeed.

A Chilean man on his way to Barcelona aroused some suspicion from security personnel who took a keen interest in the cast on his broken leg.  As it turned out, some silly doctor had forgotten to use plaster and actually made the cast out of cocaine instead.  Don’t you hate when that happens?  That in and of itself is mildly interesting and creative, but the fact remains the man actually did have a broken leg, one that officials are fairly certain he broke on purpose, just to have the cocaine cast put on. True love for the game. Source: http://news.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150662125&page=4

Nobody signed it. The sign of a truly heartless drug dealer.

4) Gettin’ Some Head

Object: A real human head

Myrlene Severe apparently thought everything was kosher when she flew into Ft Lauderdale with a head in her luggage.  She had a skull in her bags for use in a voodoo ritual but customs noted it still had organic matter on it and it had not been declared.  She was charged with smuggling a human head, which apparently is a real thing you can be charged with, and that implies this has happened before.

Severe said she had received the head from a man in Haiti and the purpose was to ward off evil spirits as even evil spirits want to avoid people who fly around with heads.  Customs said it posed a health risk (must have been that organic matter) and she was taken into custody on $100,000 bail. Source: http://www.eclectics.org.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=655&POSTNUKESID=8a3d835df18a816daa1ad4725b553080

Heads up!

3) Box o’ Spiders

Object: 1000 tarantulas

If you’re going to risk your own safety to smuggle something, you may as well go all out.  Why smuggle one animal from its natural habitat in your luggage when you have room for a hell of a lot more?

A per shop owner from London, England was stopped in Rio de Janeiro when security ran his bags through the X-Ray machine and noticed that, nestled next to his underwear and souvenirs for mom, he had 1,000 spiders boxed up.

It’s suspected he was either bringing the spiders home to sell in his store or he had some involvement in medicinal poison extraction.  It’s also obvious the man came to Brazil and spent his entire time in the jungle hunting spiders and then jamming them into his bag, a curious way to spend one’s time in Rio, given the fact that, you know, there are like a million beaches there. Source: http://www.nowpublic.com/strange/london-pet-shop-owner-tries-smuggle-1000-spiders-suitcase-2515532.html

Gotta have some serious luggage to pack 1000 of these bad boys.

2) Horse in a Dog Cage

Object: 1 miniature horse and 1 dog cage

When people smuggle animals, by and large they’re not large.  You can fit a squirrel in your pants much more easily than a moose.  Probably.  We assume.  But still, if there’s a demand for a bigger animal, someone’s going to at least give it a try.

Officials discovered something a little odd while taking stock of the cargo on a flight from Germany to Atlanta when it appeared one of the dog cages was a little more crammed than it should be.  The reason being there wasn’t a dog in the cage, but a horse.  Sure, it was a miniature horse, but it’s still a horse.  In a dog cage.

The horse was bound for Guatemala and the owner had apparently thought he could dupe people into thinking it was a dog in the cage, possibly by crossing his fingers and praying very hard that all customs officials and  baggage handlers would be blind. His wishes came half true. The horse was eventually seized and the horse’s owner as well as the airline were to face the full fury of the Department of Agriculture. Source: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/14206730/detail.html

Above: Not a dog.

1) Roofied Monkey

Object: 1 drugged up monkey

Everyone loves monkeys, they’re delightful.  Except for when they sling poo or attack or whatever, but for the most part they’re charming and hilarious.  So it’s not hard to understand why people would want one.  But wanting one and getting one are two different things for most of us.

A mother and daughter from Washington figured if people in far away lands can have monkeys then surely they could do and set about a plan to get one.  And this wasn’t just slapdash, they actually planned this thing out with a ridiculous amount of detail.  From actually plotting out (on paper, of course) what they wanted to do and details of monkey experimentation to see how much medication you needed to give a monkey to knock it out long enough to fly it home, they did it all.

Eventually the pair left for Thailand, found themselves a rhesus monkey and apparently slipped it a mickey.  From there, the 28 year old daughter strapped the passed out monkey under her shirt and pretended to be pregnant.  Sp presumably from the time they left their hotel in Bangkok until their flight arrived in Los Angeles, this woman had a passed out monkey under her shirt.

Unfortunately for the pair, security is not always so easily duped and they were apprehended, complete with the convenient mountain of evidence for a conspiracy they had created for themselves as well.  The two were sentenced to 60 days in jail, three years of court supervision and were ordered to pay around $5000 in restitution.  It is unknown in whose shirt the monkey currently lives. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/09/monkey.smuggling/index.html

My, what a…lovely baby you have.