Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fancy breakfast with the giraffes?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/26/fancy-breakfast-with-the-giraffes/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/26/fancy-breakfast-with-the-giraffes/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/26/fancy-breakfast-with-the-giraffes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I was 6 years old, I was taken to Longleat National Park in the UK, where our car got attacked by monkeys, chased by lions, and gazed at by giraffes. I recall desperately wanting to pat and feed the giraffes; those tall, magnificent, doe-eyed, beautiful monsters. I also remember feeling like a Lilliputian in front of them, but they are so adorable that their sheer largeness didn't scare me. I was smaller than the leg of an adult giraffe, and fed them however I could, sitting on the shoulders of my uncle. Pretty awesome.

So when I read that you can go to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, where you might get woken up by a giraffe tongue in your ear, I was strangely excited about the concept.

Located in the Langata suburb, the Manor spans an area of 140 acres, and has 6 bedrooms for rent. The area is inundated with dozens of giraffes and the Manor's windows are made so that the giraffe can let his neck in for breakfast. After the first jolt you'll get facing a giraffe for breakfast, getting used to the idea will certainly make it the most pleasurable and unique part of the day. Giraffes are harmless herbivores, so you really have nothing to worry about.

The history of the place is interesting as the Manor used to be the house of people who spent a large part of their lives working for the cause of endangered wildlife in Africa. The family started the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and the Giraffe Center, and now run the Giraffe Manor. Each room costs $275-360, but that includes all meals with wine, alcoholic beverages, a sight-seeing vehicle, entrance to the Giraffe Center, and taxes, so it's not a bad deal for doing once. The Manor's website has a cool picture gallery, check it out here.

Oh, and happy Boxing day!

Fancy breakfast with the giraffes? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>endangered speciesEndangeredSpeciesgiraffeKenyalodgeNairobiFri, 26 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Dubai, money can buy you a room on a refrigerated beach]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/in-dubai-money-can-buy-you-a-refrigerated-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/in-dubai-money-can-buy-you-a-refrigerated-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/in-dubai-money-can-buy-you-a-refrigerated-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Sometimes the creativity that blistering hot weather breeds is truly mind-boggling: Pallazo Versace Hotel has decided to create a temperature controlled beach extending out and around its new hotel in Dubai, so that the "top people" (ugh) don't burn their feet.

"We will suck the heat out of the sand to keep it cool enough to lie on," says Soheil Abedian, president of Palazzo Versace. Of course, it's "pure luxury" that the super rich want. REALLY!?

Climate change, eco-tourism, environment, throw them all out the window and you get Dubai, money, and ludicrous.

They're going to put heat-absorbing pipes under the sand, refrigerate the hotel swimming pool, and have giant air coolers to keep the guests cool in Dubai's scorching 104F-122F summer heat. The thermostats used in the system will be computer controlled. The hotel is planned to be ready by 2010.

Call it competition, call it thrill, call it whack-job, call it destructive tourism for the filthy rich; do these "top people" for whom this barbarity is being created, care? What is the point? Oh tourism $$$ of course!

Well, environmentalists are more than shrugging: "Dubai is like a bubble world where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate change, are simply ignored so that people can continue their destructive lifestyles," says Rachael Noble of Tourism Concern. I share the disgust in that statement.

Whether it will actually happen or not is another question, but they way things are here, there leaves little room for doubt.

I am not a saint, nor am I an environmentalist, nor do I do any important activity other than recycle. But when I read stuff like this, as numb as I think I am to crazy Dubai deeds, it always gets the better of me and I fail to understand why I live here. I'm waiting for this bubble to explode. Will it ever?

Continue reading In Dubai, money can buy you a room on a refrigerated beach

In Dubai, money can buy you a room on a refrigerated beach originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachbizarreDubaiheathotelluxurysandTue, 16 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dubai hotel offers meals to those made redundant]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/dubai-hotel-offers-meals-to-those-made-redundant/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/dubai-hotel-offers-meals-to-those-made-redundant/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/12/dubai-hotel-offers-meals-to-those-made-redundant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This is definitely one of the most innovative promotions I have seen coming out of Dubai: 3-star Arabian Park Hotel in Dubai is offering free meals to anyone who has lost their job because of the credit crunch.

The promotion is not only open to Dubai residents, but anyone in the world who has been fired. All you have to do is bring your redundancy letter with you as proof, and you will have access to a buffet breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

It's their way of adding "festive cheer" to those unfortunate to have lost their jobs in this down period. The offer is open to those unemployed after November 1, and will run from December 15-January 15, 2009. Guests that decide to take advantage of the offer can bring friends and family, but they will have to pay for their meals. Only one such meal will be permitted per person, although I'm not sure how they will control that.

Continue reading Dubai hotel offers meals to those made redundant

Dubai hotel offers meals to those made redundant originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit crunchCreditCrunchDubaihoteljobmoneypromotionFri, 12 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Extraordinary wildlife video: Buffaloes unite to fight lions and save baby]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/09/extraordinary-video-buffaloes-unite-to-fight-lions-and-save-bab/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/09/extraordinary-video-buffaloes-unite-to-fight-lions-and-save-bab/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/09/extraordinary-video-buffaloes-unite-to-fight-lions-and-save-bab/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Browsing through YouTube last night (taking advantage of it before it gets blocked here in Dubai, just like Flickr is), I came across this astounding video that some lucky travelers at Kruger National Park in South Africa were eye witnesses to. It has been viewed over 39 million times and has almost 43,000 comments.

They have managed to get live footage of a baby water buffalo being caught by a group of 6 lions, and then of over a 100 buffaloes being summoned to come save the baby and fight off the lions. Amazing. It's a wonderful demonstration of how "animal-families" stick together to help each other survive in the wilderness. It's about 8 1/2 minutes long, but well worth the watch. From the 4:40 mark onwards, it's gold. You will find yourself cheering for the buffaloes as they make the lion kings look like scared and meek deers. There is an attack scene of a few seconds, but it's not gory, so don't worry about seeing anything hard on the eyes. A must, must watch.

Extraordinary wildlife video: Buffaloes unite to fight lions and save baby originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffalocrocodilelionsafarivideowildlifeTue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tell us: Do you have bizarre air rage stories? ]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/07/tell-us-do-you-have-bizarre-air-rage-stories/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/07/tell-us-do-you-have-bizarre-air-rage-stories/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/07/tell-us-do-you-have-bizarre-air-rage-stories/#commentsFiled under: ,

Unfortunately, these are true headlines, mostly resulting from incidences of air rage.

Apparently, altitudes and changes in air pressure can temporarily cause psychological changes in a person. If the passenger is drinking alcohol, the effects can be enhanced for the same reason. As a result, there have been other terrible and embarrassing air rage cases like:
You can read lots of such bizarre stories narrated here and on Air Rage.org.

A recent study by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport (UK) was published in the Daily Mail, and says that cases of air rage have increased four-fold over the past four years. Some startling facts from the report:
  • From 2007-2008, there were 2,702 cases of air rage.
  • 63% of incidents were caused by drunk passengers smoking.
  • 78% of the cases involved male passengers.
  • Incidents have increased by 20% in the past 12 months.
  • The number of reported incidents of violence towards cabin crew nearly doubled from 2006/07 to 2007/08.
But the best (and most surprising) news? During 2007-08, no case was reported in which disruptive behavior contributed to an aviation accident.

Any sort of aggression and violence on air crafts is unacceptable, but how can they be controlled? Limit the service of alcohol? Re-introduce a smoker area on board? Hand out nicotine patches to smokers?

Luckily, other than the odd grumpy complaining passenger, I have never experienced a case of air rage. Have you? What happened? How was it handled? Tell us in the comments section!

Continue reading Tell us: Do you have bizarre air rage stories?

Tell us: Do you have bizarre air rage stories? originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mumbai terror attacks: The aftermath and travel information]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/02/mumbai-terror-attacks-the-aftermath-and-travel-information/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/02/mumbai-terror-attacks-the-aftermath-and-travel-information/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/02/mumbai-terror-attacks-the-aftermath-and-travel-information/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's always been hard for anything to get in the way of the normal functioning of Mumbai. But the recent terror attacks paralyzed South Mumbai for about 3 days, and left the rest of the city home bound, shocked, and glued to news channels.

I was there when the attacks happened, but luckily not in South Mumbai. As schools, colleges, and many companies remained closed, the city was relatively quiet. The mess was over Saturday morning (29th November), after which everything has been back to normal. Trains, buses and taxis are back to their usual frequency, offices have opened, the airport is functioning as usual but with tightened security.

Some of the hotels are back to normal as well, others are not taking new guests until things are clearer. Many of the South Mumbai hotels are not allowing people to enter the restaurants and cafes unless they are staying at the respective hotel.

Especially since tourists were the target in Mumbai, most countries have issued travel warnings and even bans for people to fly to India. Post attacks, a British report has named India one of the top 20 most dangerous places to visit. There are currently many rumors floating around that the next attacks are being planned along India's west coast, specifically Goa and Cochin. All of India's big cities are on high alert.

Continue reading Mumbai terror attacks: The aftermath and travel information

Mumbai terror attacks: The aftermath and travel information originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attacksterrortourismtravelTue, 02 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (12.01.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/01/photo-of-the-day-12-01-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/01/photo-of-the-day-12-01-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/01/photo-of-the-day-12-01-08/#commentsFiled under:


"Oh run run run so you don't fall in!" is what I'd be saying if I was watching this heron doing what it's doing above. Such a great shot of the bird (known to be a "wading bird") that looks like it's walking on water, and has to walk really fast to make it to the other side without falling in!

Taken by flickr user LadyExpat in Daejeon in South Korea, it's certainly a hard moment to catch so well.

Have any pictures capturing the beauty of animals in their natural habitat? Add them to our Gadling photo pool on Flickr and we might just pick it as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day (12.01.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (11.24.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/24/photo-of-the-day-11-24-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/24/photo-of-the-day-11-24-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/24/photo-of-the-day-11-24-08/#commentsFiled under: ,



This is an aerial shot of Lake Nasser, in Abu Simbel, Egypt, taken by flickr user BrittElizabeth. Great shot. But how must it have been taken? From a helicopter, or from a high cliff facing the lake? Or with some super lens?

I also like this shot because it's not something you expect to see when you think of Egypt. In the glory of the Pyramids and the local culture there, we forget that there exist remote, dry, desert-like spots. I also find this shot interesting as it shows arid land next to water; makes you wonder why there isn't more vegetation in this area.

Got a pic you want considered for Gadling's Photo of the Day? Submit it here.

Photo of the day (11.24.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerialEgyptLakeMon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (11.17.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/17/photo-of-the-day-11-17-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/17/photo-of-the-day-11-17-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/17/photo-of-the-day-11-17-08/#commentsFiled under:



I have to admit that I didn't know that creature on top of this shack was a crayfish. But I was sure that at this shack you would get seafood. At first I went "ewe" when I saw the image, but a second later I was licking my lips thinking of grilled garlic lobster. The picture has been taken by user The Wide Wide World in Waipapa Bay, New Zealand. Although it's photo difficult to get wrong, I still think it's a cool and sharp shot of an obviously unique shack.

Do you have a shot that should be considered for Photo of the Day? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr pool.

Photo of the day (11.17.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Small yet significant tips to make your long-haul flights better]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/14/small-yet-significant-tips-to-make-your-long-haul-flights-better/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/14/small-yet-significant-tips-to-make-your-long-haul-flights-better/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/14/small-yet-significant-tips-to-make-your-long-haul-flights-better/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All my life I have traveled Economy Class (only once did I get lucky and got an upgrade to Business Class). In my opinion, flights of up to 7 hours in Economy are tolerable, but more than that and the all the fidgeting and frustration starts getting to you.

Having lived in Australia for 3 years, I dreaded the 14 hour flights to and from Dubai (30 hours if you include transfers and waiting); that's when I realized how seemingly trivial things could drastically change the quality of your flight.

MSN just published an article listing some of these small yet significant tips, of which I think these are the most important:

Be comfortable: Wear loose, warm, long, comfortable clothes. Stick to flat shoes, preferably ones you can wear socks with. Being warm and comfortable in your clothes will change the nature of your flight. (It's such a basic point, I don't understand why so many people choose to make a fashion statement on board at the expense of being comfortable. Perhaps they should stop making movies that make people believe they will find "the one" mid air.)

Bring lip-balm: Even if you have never-cracking lips, on a long-haul flight darling, they will crack! I carry lip-balm everyday, everywhere I go, and always have it on a flight. Once I forgot it and my lips chapped like tree bark. (Yes, ouch). I kept going to the bathroom and putting that disgusting hand-lotion they keep in there on my lips. Didn't work, and yuck, never again.

Continue reading Small yet significant tips to make your long-haul flights better

Small yet significant tips to make your long-haul flights better originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircomfortflightlongtiptravelFri, 14 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (11.10.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/10/photo-of-the-day-11-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/10/photo-of-the-day-11-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/10/photo-of-the-day-11-10-08/#commentsFiled under:



This is a shot you expect to see at the beginning or the end of a great film. Taken by fellow Gadling contributor Anna Brones, the picture is of Lake Mcdonald in Glacier National Park, Montana. It's incredible how you can see a crystal clear reflection of the mountains in the lake.

I particularly like this picture because it transmits the calm and serenity of the place, you can feel it though this image without having been there. I imagine sunset or sunrise at this spot would be spectacular. When I travel, I always look out for such spots. I can see myself sitting on the edge of this ramp with my feet dangling in the water, reflecting, contemplating, or just being. Sigh.

Thanks for the photo, Anna!

Have any travel pictures that might stir some emotion? Add them to the Gadling photo pool on Flickr and we might just pick it as our Photo of the Day.



Photo of the day (11.10.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (11.03.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/03/photo-of-the-day-11-03-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/03/photo-of-the-day-11-03-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/03/photo-of-the-day-11-03-08/#commentsFiled under:



I really like this picture because it's made something very normal (rocks in a river) look beautiful. It's hard to appreciate such scenes unless you were there; I'm sure a vertical panoramic view of this place would be naturally beautiful. Taken in Daejon (Korea) by LadyExpat, the water here looks like glass, or even a mirror; the reflections are familiar, and the blue palette adds some emotion to it all. I can remember more than a few occasions where I've sat on a rock, facing such a view, and contemplated everything from life to grasshoppers, haven't you?

Want your pic considered for Gadling's Photo of the Day? Submit it here.

Photo of the day (11.03.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stand By Me while traveling the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/01/stand-by-me-while-traveling-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/01/stand-by-me-while-traveling-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/01/stand-by-me-while-traveling-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Award winning producer and film director Mark Johnson, recorded a guy on his street singing "Stand By Me"; then he traveled around the world and recorded about 100 other local artists doing the same. He edited some of the snippets of their footage into a video, and this (video below) is the result. It's just too awesome. There is also a documentary film co-directed by Johnson, expanding on the same idea -- you can see the trailer here.



This initiative of course is part of a larger program called "Playing For Change" which aims to connect the world through music. The foundation provides musicians around the world facilities to play music and enhance their skills, therefore not only making their lives better but also demonstrating how music brings people together regardless of cultural and socio-economic differences. Current projects include building a music school in Gugulethu (South Africa) to provide the youth there an alternative to the daily violence and deprivation they face; rebuilding and enhancing Tibetan refugee centers in Dharamsala and Kathmandu; and building an arts center in Johannesburg.

Here's a recently recorded interview with Johnson by PBS's Bill Moyers, and a Q&A with him on ComingSoon.net.

Stand By Me while traveling the world originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changedocumentaryfilmsmusicpeacetravelworldSat, 01 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shaping the world: The making of globes (video)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/31/shaping-the-world-the-making-of-globes-video/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/31/shaping-the-world-the-making-of-globes-video/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/31/shaping-the-world-the-making-of-globes-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This is one of those videos you are unlikely to look for yourself, but once you find it, it spurs curiosity and you watch with interest.

In around 4 minutes, this video shows how globes are made in a globe factory. With country borders and place names changing constantly, putting together an updated globe with precision is quite a challenge. The video is the making of a standard desk globe. A bit of Googling and I found that there are hundreds of types of globes these days.

I remember being gifted a beach-ball size desk globe on my 10th birthday. It had a bulb in it and every night before going to bed I would switch-off all the lights, turn on the bulb in my globe, and stare at it with amuse as I turned it slowly. I would then start plotting routes and making up my own adventure travel stories as I discovered new lands. I still have that globe and will never part with it.

I know it's just a globe. But being able to see the world, topography and all, on a scale (rough) of 1:40 million, is pretty incredible. That's exactly why it's worth watching how it's done. The video lacks details on how they do the technical drawings pre-globe-making, but I imagine you would need a lot more than 4 minutes to explain that.


[Via kottke.org]

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

Shaping the world: The making of globes (video) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>globemapsworldFri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[October 31 onwards: £1 rooms at the Hoxton Hotel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/29/october-31-onwards-1-rooms-at-the-hoxton-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/29/october-31-onwards-1-rooms-at-the-hoxton-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/29/october-31-onwards-1-rooms-at-the-hoxton-hotel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The last time we posted about cheap rooms ($20 rooms at the Leading Hotels of the World), we were thanked for the information, but for nothing as the promotion failed.

Here's an excerpt from an email sent by LHW to fellow Gadling blogger Jerry Guo, apologizing for the situation: "...We are extremely sorry for the inconveniences we have caused and regret to advise you that the US$19.28 email promotion scheduled for tomorrow October 2nd shall be postponed. Although our original back-up plan provided a viable solution for the 150,000 people who were registered, it was met with some confusion over submission procedures and timing. In addition, we have become increasingly concerned that a large number of non-registered respondents plan to submit forms which would inundate the system and greatly diminish your chances of securing a US$19.28 rate."

However, one failed promotion of X company doesn't mean that a similar promotion by Y company will fail too. So for what it's worth, here's how you can *try* (again) to get £1 rooms at the Hoxton Hotel in London.

Starting October 31, at 12 noon (7am New York Time), 500 £1 and 500 £29 rooms at the Hoxton will be up for grabs on their website. The rooms are available between 1st November 2008 - 31st January 2009.

Last July when the hotel ran this promotion, the 1000 rooms were sold within 11 minutes, so other than being able to book quickly, you're going to need a large stroke of luck to get one. However, so that it's fair, you are only allowed to book 1 room for 1 night at £1.

Here's the link with all the information and a step-by-step guide as to how to avail of this promotion.

(Oh and don't forget that when local daylight time is about to reach Sunday, 2 November 2008, 02:00:00 clocks in NY are turned backward 1 hour).

Good luck!

October 31 onwards: £1 rooms at the Hoxton Hotel originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (10.27.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/27/photo-of-the-day-27-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/27/photo-of-the-day-27-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/27/photo-of-the-day-27-10-08/#commentsFiled under:



Flickr user t3mujin has done a phenomenal job capturing this wave splash fiercely against a rock. This is the sort of picture we have all seen when by the sea, but almost impossible to catch properly on camera. This one is so clear and well caught, it almost looks photoshoped or painted over.

It's a shame that there is no other information about the photo. From the tags, it looks like it could have been taken in Portugal or in Iceland. Anyway, it's a great shot difficult to get right, so well done t3mujin!

Got a photo you want considered for Photo of the Day? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr pool.

Photo of the day (10.27.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award Winners]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/23/2008-lowell-thomas-travel-journalism-award-winners/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/23/2008-lowell-thomas-travel-journalism-award-winners/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/23/2008-lowell-thomas-travel-journalism-award-winners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The 2008 Society of American Travel Writers Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition recently announced its winners. In its 24th year running, the competition attracted 1,356 entries in 24 categories from which 81 winners were selected. The competition, named after American writer and traveler Lowell Thomas, is today considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in the world of travel journalism. The entries were judged by members of the Missouri School of Journalism Faculty.

National Geographic and the Boston Globe took most of the awards, and freelance writer/photographer Christopher P. Baker won the Lowell Thomas travel journalist of the year. Other than him, and bronze winner of the same category -- Sarah Wildman, all other winners are part of established travel titles such as the Miami Herald, the Chicago Tribune, the Globe and Mail, the New York Times, and a bunch of other American news titles.

You can find the list of gold winners with relevant links to their stories at the LA Times Daily Deal travel blog; the LA Times won a gold for the best travel section. A list of all the winners (gold, silver, and bronze, across all categories can be found on the Society of American Travel Writers website.

So, if you're looking to read some good travel-writing, spend some time going through the links of the winners. The full list of winners has the titles of the winning stories so you can dig them up to read. I thought I would go through them all and give you my top three, but there are just too many good ones! Perhaps a good time-spend idea for a Sunday afternoon.

2008 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award Winners originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsjournalismmagazinesnewspaperstravelwebsiteswritingThu, 23 Oct 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (20.10.08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/20/photo-of-the-day-20-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/20/photo-of-the-day-20-10-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/20/photo-of-the-day-20-10-08/#commentsFiled under:

I can't imagine what it may feel like being around a glacier, just like I can't imagine what it may feel like being on Mars. This is a picture of the Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast of New Zealand.

I grew up in the UK, so I know the cold, and have made a million snowmen, but glaciers to me are a whole different planet. When I see pictures like this one taken by flickr user Martin O'Connell, I get overwhelmed by the idea of visiting such a place as it seems oddly dreamlike but it's very real. It excites me and scares me at the same time.

I want to reach into this picture and touch that block of ice. Half of me wants it to feel like a large lump of shaving foam, but I know that it's probably as hard as a rock. I'd also want to break a bit off and put it in my mouth. Yes, I want to eat a bit of a glacier -- please tell me I'm not the only one with such thoughts?

Have any great travel photos you'd like to share with the world? Add them to the Gadling photo pool on Flickr and we might just choose it as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (20.10.08) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beware pirates: This billionaire yacht will not be easy prey]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/17/beware-pirates-this-billionaires-yacht-will-not-be-easy-prey/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/17/beware-pirates-this-billionaires-yacht-will-not-be-easy-prey/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/17/beware-pirates-this-billionaires-yacht-will-not-be-easy-prey/#commentsFiled under: ,

Russion billionaire, Chelsea Football Club owner, and the world's 15th richest person -- Roman Abramovich (who's net value is estimated at US$23.5 billion) -- has decided to add another luxury yacht to his 5-yacht "navy".

Called the "Eclipse", the yacht will built at a cost of around US$345 million. It will be 550-feet long (half the size of World War II battleship Bismarck), making it the largest private yacht ever built.

Of course, a man with such wealth and a super-yacht cannot sail anywhere without top-rated protection. Pirates are hiding in international waters: in August pirates raided a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, and in September Somali pirates seized a Ukranian ship and demanded a US$35 million ransom. According to the International Maritime Bureau, last year, pirates attacked 269 vessels, took nearly 300 hostages and killed five people.

The boat will have bullet-proof windows, armor plating on the bridge and around the 41-year-old Russian tycoon's cabin, radar equipment designed to give warnings of incoming missiles, anti-bugging equipment, and 70 crew members that include former SAS and Special Boat Service personnel. Should his yacht be attacked, he can escape in a yellow submarine that can dive up to 160 feet. The rest of the information on the boat is a secret. All pretty James Bond, eh?

Beware pirates: This billionaire yacht will not be easy prey originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vahrehvah.com: A superb resource for Indian cooking]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/16/vahrehvah-com-a-superb-resource-for-indian-cooking/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/16/vahrehvah-com-a-superb-resource-for-indian-cooking/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/16/vahrehvah-com-a-superb-resource-for-indian-cooking/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Finding this Indian cooking website has changed my world. I can cook basic Indian food, thanks to my mum, but when it comes to anything a little complicated, I get a lazy -- especially because (from experience) -- after a hours of work, the end result has not been worth the effort. I would also blame the disaster dish on me living in Spain: "All the spices are not available and what are available just don't taste the same." It's all rubbish. What I needed was a good guide and I think this is it!

A bad translation of "vah reh vah" in English would be "that's just awesome", but it's enough to give you the gist. The website has recipes of over 230 Indian dishes, but the best part is that many of the Indian recipes have a video guide to go with them.

The "Vah chef" Sanjay Thumma is a great host. Very Indian. But great. His passion and talent for cooking is evident in the videos. For example, in his video that teaches you how to prepare Hydrabadi Biryani (one my favorite Indian dishes), he gets a little emotional in the end; when he tastes what he made, I'm pretty sure that his eyes welled-up with joy!

Continue reading Vahrehvah.com: A superb resource for Indian cooking

Vahrehvah.com: A superb resource for Indian cooking originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chefcookingfoodIndiavideoThu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST