Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Photo of the day: Disney silhouette]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/photo-of-the-day-disney-silhouette/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/photo-of-the-day-disney-silhouette/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/photo-of-the-day-disney-silhouette/#commentsFiled under: , ,

disney silhouette

Images of Disneyworld fall into two categories: personal snaps and images that look like they could be used as marketing collateral. I love this image of the Magic Kingdom's iconic Cinderella Castle towers, taken by Flickr user insEyedout, precisely because it falls into neither camp. It's too pretty to count as a random snap and too sparse to go in a brochure.

That said, it certainly achieves the aim of advertisement. What better way to encapsulate the deep thrill that Disney's amusements inspire than to reduce those towers to a silhouette on a horizon? How recognizable is this image to hundreds of millions of people?

Upload your photos of Orlando (and Las Vegas, while you're at it) to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Our favorite images are chosen as Photos of the Day.

Photo of the day: Disney silhouette originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydisney silhouetteDisneySilhouetteDisneyWorldfloridaphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 03 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[London: Extraordinary Saatchi Gallery suite at Hyatt Regency]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/london-extraordinary-saatchi-gallery-suite-at-hyatt-regency/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/london-extraordinary-saatchi-gallery-suite-at-hyatt-regency/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/london-extraordinary-saatchi-gallery-suite-at-hyatt-regency/#commentsFiled under: ,

saatchi gallery suiteHyatt Regency London - The Churchill is currently partnering with the Saatchi Gallery on One Giant Leap, a series of three 2012 exhibitions. These exhibitions, the first of which opens today, bring pieces from the Saatchi Gallery's collection into the hotel's public spaces.

Since 1985, the Saatchi Gallery has been the UK's leading contemporary art collection. Like a number of other high-profile museums in London, the Saatchi Gallery never charges admission. And for its part, the Churchill has developed a tradition of working with art and artists. Since 2008, the Hyatt Regency property has been a hotel partner for the Frieze Art Fair.

One inarguable highlight of the exhibition is Martin Honert's Riesen (Giants), a mesmerizing sculpture of two giant men who look like modern day hobos. They are positioned across from the hotel's main elevator bank, looking far less menacing than their three meter (almost 10-foot) height might suggest in the abstract.

There are artworks on display by a number of contemporary artists, including a sizeable jesmonite sculpture of a hippopotamus by British artist Christina Mackie.

The real treat, however, is the Saatchi Gallery Suite, which is crammed with remarkable pieces by contemporary artists, including works by Carla Busuttil, Ronin Cho, and Jill Mason.

The suite's most appealing feature in my view is Celine Fitoussi's site-specific installation (see photo) in its en suite bathroom. Fitoussi has tiled the bathroom's walls with bars of soap. Their gentle scent is fragrant enough to be sensed, very faintly, throughout the suite.

The suite will remain decked out in contemporary art (and classic Republic of Fritz Hansen furniture pieces) through April 30. Admittedly, it does not come cheap. The suite is is priced at £700 ($1100) per night. High rollers and splurging art fans, however, are in luck. Its short three-month season has not yet sold out.

London: Extraordinary Saatchi Gallery suite at Hyatt Regency originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>saatchi gallery suiteSaatchiGallerySuiteWed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The 10 smallest countries in the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/the-10-smallest-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/the-10-smallest-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/the-10-smallest-countries-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ten smallest countries in the world

The world's ten smallest countries in terms of area fall into two general categories: European microstates (Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican) and small island nations of the Indian Ocean, Pacific, and Caribbean (Maldives, Marshall Islands, Nauru, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Tuvalu.) Some of these countries are quite new as independent nations: Tuvalu gained independence from the UK in 1978, while the Marshall Islands gained full independence from the US in 1986. Others have been around for a very long time. San Marino dates its founding as a republic to 301. These countries vary greatly from one another along other axes as well: population, income, life expectancy, industry, tourist facilities, and membership in various international organizations.

Gallery: World's ten smallest countries

TuvaluLiechtensteinMaldivesMaltaNevis


[Image of Tuvalu: Flickr | leighblackall]

The 10 smallest countries in the world originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Liechtensteinmaldivesmaltamarshall islandsMarshallIslandsmonaconauruSan marinoSanMarinost kitts and nevisStKittsAndNevisten smallest countries in the worldTenSmallestCountriesInTheWorldtuvaluvatican cityVaticanCityWed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day: Kauai sky]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/photo-of-the-day-kauai-sky/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/photo-of-the-day-kauai-sky/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/photo-of-the-day-kauai-sky/#commentsFiled under: , ,

kauai sky

This Kauai sky is awfully pretty. It doesn't even need the surrounding habitat, which is likely amazingly beautiful, to compel viewers. Vast elongated cotton-candy clouds are location-independent, after all.

Captured by Flickr user matt coats earlier this month, this is a dreamy image, a reminder that the sky, like the ocean, inspires journeys through its very enormity.

Upload your images of skies to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr, and be sure to let us know where you took them. We choose our favorite images from the pool to be Photos of the Day. And while you're at it, make sure you've enabled downloading of your photos.

Photo of the day: Kauai sky originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hawaiikauaikauai skyKauaiSkyphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 27 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lampedusa: Italy's loneliest off-season island]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/lampedusa-italys-loneliest-off-season-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/lampedusa-italys-loneliest-off-season-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/lampedusa-italys-loneliest-off-season-island/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lampedusa

Lampedusa is Italy's southernmost island. Geologically part of Africa, it sits about 70 miles from the Tunisian mainland and a good 125 miles from Sicily. If the island sounds familiar to you, that's probably because it's been in the news quite a bit recently.

In the wake of the Arab Spring, tens of thousands of migrants from Africa (first from Tunisia and Libya; later in the year from points south) set out for Lampedusa, many on rickety boats not designed to cross rough open waters. Many would-be migrants died en route, and Lampedusa has come to be associated with these tragedies in the ensuing months.

The migrant flow has had an undeniable effect on tourism on the island. Earlier this month in La Stampa, Federico Geremicca cited a 60 percent drop in tourism in 2011. Tourism on Lampedusa is confined to one very concentrated high season, the end of July through the end of August. During this period, scores of northern Italians descend upon Lampedusa to spend their school holidays in the serious heat.

Despite the concentration of high season into a single month, tourism is the major economic driver on Lampedusa. Aside from tourism, only fishing and a small crafts industry motor the economy.

Outside of its brief high season, the island is quiet. In January it's almost silent. The concierge at my hotel, the very comfortable and inexpensive Hotel Martello (with rooms starting at €45 in low season) told me that I was the only tourist on Lampedusa.

Continue reading Lampedusa: Italy's loneliest off-season island

Lampedusa: Italy's loneliest off-season island originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>italylampedusasicilySun, 22 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day: Bright lights of Las Vegas]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/photo-of-the-day-bright-lights-of-las-vegas/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/photo-of-the-day-bright-lights-of-las-vegas/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/photo-of-the-day-bright-lights-of-las-vegas/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Las Vegas and bright lights: peas in a pod, lovers on a park bench. They're intertwined, and frankly unimaginable without the other. Flickr user jrodmanjr plays around with this association, capturing some of Las Vegas' less extraordinary lights. He juxtaposes hotel neon with car lights, all set against an evening sky.

Las Vegas is an extremely popular destination by any measure, and we'd love to feature more photos of Sin City as future Photos of the Day. So upload your Vegas shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. We pick our favorite images from the pool to be Photos of the Day.

Photo of the day: Bright lights of Las Vegas originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Las VegasLasVegasnevadaphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayunited statesUnitedStatesFri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day: Ushuaia in spring]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/photo-of-the-day-ushuaia-in-spring/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/photo-of-the-day-ushuaia-in-spring/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/photo-of-the-day-ushuaia-in-spring/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ushuaia

Ushuaia, Argentina is the end of the line. Situated near the tip of South America, Ushuaia is the main departure point for Antarctic cruises. Though technically not the world's southernmost settlement--that honor goes to the tiny town Puerto Williams, Chile--it is without question the world's southernmost city, with a population, according to the 2010 census, of just under 57,000.

Flickr user Guillermo Esteves snapped this image of Ushuaia in mid-December, capturing Ushuaia in its full late spring glory.

Got an epic image of a far-flung place in your archives? Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we like it, we might just choose it to be a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day: Ushuaia in spring originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argentinaChilephoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayPuerto WilliamsPuertoWilliamsUshuaiaThu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Luxury Vacation Guide 2012: East London]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-east-london/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-east-london/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-east-london/#commentsFiled under: ,



London, a perennial tourist favorite, is no stranger to the luxury travel market. What's relatively new is the proliferation of luxury hotels and other venues in traditionally working-class East London.

In 2012, East London's reputation as luxury territory will intensify. Why? The Olympics, mostly. London hosts the Summer Olympics from July 27 through August 13. The Olympic Village along with many Olympics sites are are located in London's East, far beyond the capital's traditional tourist sites.

London's East has seen significant high-end hotel development over the last several years. Luxury hotels like Hoxton Hotel, Andaz Liverpool Street by Hyatt, Boundary, Shoreditch House, and Bethnal Green's Town Hall Hotel have transformed East London's hotel scene.

Edgy fashion, weekend markets, and various creative venues will continue to characterize East London, but there are luxury shopping opportunities as well. East London is packed with galleries and specialty shops, with particularly interesting hubs in Shoreditch and Spitalfields.

For dining, there is the outstanding Viajante, a Michelin-starred restaurant, located in the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. Other Michelin-starred restaurants not far from the East London hubbub include St. John Bar and Restaurant in Clerkenwell (with a less formal outpost, St. John Bread & Wine, in Spitalfields) and Club Gascon, located just inside the City of London, across from Smithfield Market.



[flickr image via Harshil.Shah]

Luxury Vacation Guide 2012: East London originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>east londonEast London luxury vacation destination 2012EastLondonEastLondonLuxuryVacationDestination2012englandlondonluxury vacation guide 2012 east londonLuxuryGuide2012LuxuryVacationGuide2012EastLondonunited kingdomUnitedKingdomTue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Macedonia]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/budget-vacation-guide-2012-macedonia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/budget-vacation-guide-2012-macedonia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/budget-vacation-guide-2012-macedonia/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Since the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Macedonia has hidden beneath the radar. While Croatia and Montenegro receive sustained coverage for their coastlines and Slovenia pops up here and there as a budget-friendly alternative to pricey Switzerland, landlocked Macedonia has received short shrift.

The country remains shut out of major Europe-wide organizations over its very name, which the Greek government contests as a stealthy move toward an eventual invasion of the northern Greek region of Macedonia. It's a ludicrous proposition, and it has kept Macedonia far more isolated than it should be.

Macedonia's reputation as a tourist destination has slowly grown over the last few years, and with good reason. The country offers amazingly good value for money. Transportation, accommodation, food, and tourist attractions are all inexpensive. The country's chief draws are Lake Ohrid, which Macedonia shares with Albania, and its scattered monasteries. Lake Ohrid is starkly beautiful, great for swimming and water sports. It's anchored by the city of Ohrid, itself spilling over with churches, fortresses, and other objects of historical interest.

Monasteries abound in Macedonia. One of these, Treskavec, is located near the town of Prilep in the south. There are marked hiking trails winding up hills to the monastery. At the top, you'll find accommodation for the cost of a small donation. A simple dinner is even included in the deal.

If Macedonian tourism taps into its treasures the right way, this country should see its current trickle of tourists become a modest stream.




[flickr image via Rilind Hoxha]

Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Macedonia originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelbudget-travelBudgetGuide2012BudgetTravelmacedoniaMacedonia budget vacation destination 2012MacedoniaBudgetVacationDestination2012Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Buenos Aires overpass]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/photo-of-the-day-buenos-aires-overpass/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/photo-of-the-day-buenos-aires-overpass/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/photo-of-the-day-buenos-aires-overpass/#commentsFiled under: , ,

buenos aires overpass

This vibrant Buenos Aires overpass can't help but grab viewers' attention. Situated in the neighborhood of Recoleta, it looks as if it were inspired by a fancy silk scarf. (As an aside, why does super colorful public art crop up so infrequently in cities much grayer than Buenos Aires? One glance at colors like these and a minor case of Seasonal Affective Disorder might just vaporize.)

Flickr user Guillermo Esteves took this photograph. We just featured another of Esteves' photos as this past Wednesday's Photo of the Day. We like his work.

Want greater fame? Do what Mr. Esteves did and upload your favorite images to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Make sure you've enabled downloading while you're at it. We feature our favorite images as Photos of the Day several times a week.

Photo of the day - Buenos Aires overpass originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argentinabuenos airesbuenos aires overpassBuenosAiresBuenosAiresOverpassphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDaysouth americaSouthAmericaFri, 06 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Tiblisi, Georgia]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/budget-vacation-guide-2012-georgia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/budget-vacation-guide-2012-georgia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/budget-vacation-guide-2012-georgia/#commentsFiled under: ,



Why now? Georgia's investments in infrastructure and tourism over the last several years mean that the country is raring to go. Tourist facilities have improved and Tbilisi's domestic travel agencies are well organized.

With a bustling capital city, Tbilisi, mountainous regions like Svaneti and Tusheti, a prime beach resort in Batumi, and the wine region of Kakheti, Georgia boasts a seemingly unending supply of exciting sites and experiences for visitors. And while Georgians may be feeling the pinch of rising prices, most visitors will experience Georgia as a great bargain.

In Tbilisi, dinner feasts at top restaurants can easily be had within the $10-$15 range; filling khachapuri dinners at hole-in-the-wall restaurants cost around $5. Taxis around town set passengers back around $1, once basic bargaining has been mastered. Tbilisi's only drawback for budget travelers is its hotel cost index, which is geared toward visitors traveling on expense accounts; hostels and apartment rentals pick up the slack.

For anyone itching to get into some gorgeous wilderness, there is Svaneti, a district that has slowly but surely become a backpacker destination; quick flights connect the regional capital of Mestia to Tbilisi. Another mountain region, Tusheti, receives far fewer tourists. Seasonal farmhouse accommodations in Tusheti can be had for $35 a night, including two or even three meals daily.




[flickr image via shioshvili]

Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Tiblisi, Georgia originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BudgetGuide2012georgiaGeorgia budget vacation destination 2012GeorgiaBudgetVacationDestination2012Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New budget travel magazine debuts: Off Track Planet moves into print]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/04/new-budget-travel-magazine-debuts-off-track-planet-moves-into-p/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/04/new-budget-travel-magazine-debuts-off-track-planet-moves-into-p/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/04/new-budget-travel-magazine-debuts-off-track-planet-moves-into-p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

off track planetOff Track Planet, a Brooklyn-based online budget travel publication, takes its f-bomb dropping idiom into print today with the debut of an eponymous magazine.

Off Track Planet, for the uninitiated, is geared toward the 18-30 set and is particularly focused on undergraduates.

Accordingly, the publication directs its attention to several subjects of primary interest to college kids; among these: partying, volunteering, and hostels. This online article, which claims to have located a Buenos Aires "party hostel" that is also "clean and comfy," ensnares two of these themes simultaneously.

Sample articles at the Off Track Planet webzine include an overview of Mumbai volunteerships, a guide to culturally-specific insults, a Berlin club primer, and tips for getting stoned in Vancouver.

This is, in other words, one publication that knows its market.

It is a tough time to launch a print magazine, though Off Track Planet sets off into print with a built-in audience and ambition to boot. The Off Track Planet empire is also developing a trip planning mobile web platform to debut later this year.

[Image: Flickr | frontlinefreddie]

Continue reading New budget travel magazine debuts: Off Track Planet moves into print

New budget travel magazine debuts: Off Track Planet moves into print originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argentinaberlinbrooklynbudget-travelbudgettravelBuenos AiresBuenosAiresgermanyIndiaMumbaiNetherlandsnew yorkNewYorkoff track planetOffTrackPlanetunited statesUnitedStatesvancouverWed, 04 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Winter branches]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/photo-of-the-day-winter-branches/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/photo-of-the-day-winter-branches/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/photo-of-the-day-winter-branches/#commentsFiled under: , ,

winter branches

Today's Photo of the Day captures a mess of winter branches spread across a gray sky like competing capillary systems. Winter officially began in the Northern Hemisphere on December 22. There's no nice way to say it. Winter is here, and the leaves have been gone for some time.

Unlike most Photos of the Day, this one was uploaded without any information provided as to the shot's location. Its photographer, Flickr user femme_fm, lives in Zagreb, so we'll imagine that this image was snapped in the Croatian capital, where it is, no surprise, currently freezing.

Upload your favorite seasonal images to the Gadling Group Pool over at Flickr. We're always looking for season-attuned photographs to be featured as future Photos of the Day.

Photo of the day - Winter branches originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>photo of the dayPhotoOfTheDaywinter branchesWinterBranchesFri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Argentine salt carver]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/photo-of-the-day-argentine-salt-carver/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/photo-of-the-day-argentine-salt-carver/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/photo-of-the-day-argentine-salt-carver/#commentsFiled under: , ,

argentine salt carver

It's not enough that this Argentine salt carver works in a blindingly white salt desert under richly blue skies. He also drives a blue car and wears a blue-and-white striped shirt. This striking image was snapped by Flickr user megansnedden at Las Salinas Grandes, a salt desert in central Argentina. It is hereby dedicated to everyone currently inhabiting a dark, candle-lit, potpourri-scented Christmas space.

Got a color-popping image you'd like to share with a broader audience? Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Our favorites from the pool are selected to be Photos of the Day.

Photo of the day - Argentine salt carver originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argentinaargentine salt carverArgentineSaltCarverphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDaysalt desertSaltDesertsierras de cordobaSierrasDeCordobasouth americaSouthAmericaFri, 23 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Otago sheep]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/16/photo-of-the-day-otago-sheep/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/16/photo-of-the-day-otago-sheep/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/16/photo-of-the-day-otago-sheep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

otago sheep

These Otago sheep have a great view, which they might be able to see if they'd only get their heads out of their grasses. Joking aside, we can't help but hope that these assiduously grazing sheep are enjoying the steady march towards summer in New Zealand.

This image was captured earlier this week by Flickr user carlcroom in New Zealand's southern region of Otago.

Got an image of some cuddly Antipodean animals in your photos archives? Upload them to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Photo of the day - Otago sheep originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new zealandNewZealandotagootago sheepOtagoSheepphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 16 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Easter Island at sunrise]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/09/photo-of-the-day-easter-island-at-sunrise/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/09/photo-of-the-day-easter-island-at-sunrise/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/09/photo-of-the-day-easter-island-at-sunrise/#commentsFiled under: , ,

easter island

Remote places are special. They certainly capture the imagination. Organized economically and socially around their distance from centers of commerce and distribution, they often share both a rhythm and many characteristics with each other.

Easter Island is one very remote place. The Chilean island, located over 2000 miles from the Chilean mainland (and another 2000-plus miles from Tahiti) is off on its own on the edge of Polynesia. Flickr user John Overmeyer snapped this impressive image of 14 of Easter Island's mysterious Moai at sunrise.

Upload your favorite images of remote spots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we like what we see we might just choose one of your images to be a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Easter Island at sunrise originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChileEaster IslandEasterIslandphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

uncornered marketUncornered Market is one of the most popular travel blogs out there. A quick gander will demonstrate why this is the case. Audrey Scott and Dan Noll's labor of love boasts some of the most arresting travel photography around. The subjects the two take on are of broad interest as well--from reflections on cultural traffic to recipes, to reflections on the importance of diplomacy on a personal level, and even to a particular brand of self-help.

Audrey and Dan talk to Gadling hot on the heels of their first visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran with a range of opinions, suggestions, and tips.

Q: Good day, Audrey and Dan. Define your occupations.

A: Storytellers, writers, photographers, world travelers. Mostly, we're known as the husband-and-wife team behind the travel blog Uncornered Market.

Q: You recently traveled to Iran. Tell us how the trip came about and where you went.

A: Our interest in Iran dates back to 2003 when we befriended Audrey's Iranian colleagues at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and attended a slideshow presentation from travelers who'd recently returned from Iran. Our curiosity was piqued; we wanted to see for ourselves what the country and people were like, to find an alternative story than what the media tends to portray.

We've been on the road for five years and now seemed like the right time to satisfy our curiosity despite the fact that our family and friends thought we were crazy given the current political climate.

Our trip began in Tehran and then made a loop through Hamadan, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, Shiraz, Yazd, Isfahan, Abyaneh, Rasht, Masuleh, Ardebil, and Tabriz. We finished the journey with an Iranian train trip from Tabriz to Istanbul, Turkey, which took two and a half days.

Q: In your interactions with Iranians, did politics ever enter the picture? Did you discuss geopolitics or the actions of the US and Iranian governments with anyone?

A: We never began our conversations on the topic of politics, but particularly after we earned people's trust, it entered the discussion. Most of the Iranian people we met took issue with their government, its rules, its rhetoric, and its disengagement with the rest of the world. Many would conclude with: "People are good. Politics and governments are bad."

The impression of America, and especially of the American people, was strikingly and overwhelmingly positive. The Iranians we met wished to engage more with the rest of the world. However, most Iranians we spoke to did not expect change within their own government, and as a result, they were not optimistic that relations between the Iranian and American governments would improve any time soon.

Q: How were you received, generally speaking?

A: Like rock stars. We traveled with a small group of Americans, Australians and a Dane. We were all well received, but as Americans we were often shown special positive attention. Being American got us a lot of handshakes, hugs and invitations to people's homes.

Continue reading Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran

Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaBalkansIranIsraelJapanpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineatravel bloggerstravel blogsTravelBloggersTravelBlogsuncornered marketUncorneredMarketThu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Skies above Paris]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/02/photo-of-the-day-skies-above-paris/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/02/photo-of-the-day-skies-above-paris/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/02/photo-of-the-day-skies-above-paris/#commentsFiled under: , ,

skies above paris

Oh, the skies above Paris...

There's a reason so many people love Paris. The city itself seems to be bathed in a special light. It's a place of tempestuous moods and lovers' quarrels. It's like one big all-encompassing set for a film about the glory or tragedy of love.

Concurrently, it's just a city. But what a grand city it is. Flickr user Aypho captures the City of Light's basic grandeur in this awesome photograph.

Got an image of one of the world's most romantic cities? Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we fall in love with it, we might just choose your interpretation of romance to be a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Skies above Paris originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>franceparisphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayskies above parisSkiesAboveParisFri, 02 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Heathrow: The shut-down that wasn't]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/heathrow-the-shut-down-that-wasnt/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/heathrow-the-shut-down-that-wasnt/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/heathrow-the-shut-down-that-wasnt/#commentsFiled under: ,

heathrow shut-down

It wasn't the Heathrow shut-down of the decade, that's for sure.

As widely reported, there was a public sector strike yesterday in the United Kingdom. The biggest fear within the travel industry and media was that London's Heathrow Airport would go into heavy-delay meltdown, but the anticipated chaos never materialized. In the Guardian, Robert Booth and Alan Travis reported yesterday that Heathrow remained calm and relaxed throughout the day, a result of a concerted effort on the part of UK authorities to encourage airlines to operate at lower capacity and to cancel a small number of flights.

Booth and Travis also site a BAA employee's claim that the UK Border Agency partnered with authorities in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan to increase scrutiny of passengers bound for the UK as a pre-screening measure. Immigration agents at Heathrow were replaced by civil servants and police officers.

The one-day strike was prompted by pension reforms announced by the current government. These reforms, if enacted, will force public sector workers to contribute more of their income to their pensions and will also raise the retirement age. To add insult to injury, the strike came a day after the government announced that public sector workers would only see annual income increases of one percent through 2014, despite annual inflation rates of around five percent. Many institutions were affected by the strike. Most schools in the UK were closed yesterday, as were many other public offices.

Today is expected to be a more difficult day at Heathrow despite the return of Border Agency staff to work, given the passenger backlog from cancelled flights. Anxious passengers may have some of their questions answered by the airport authority's FAQ.

[Image: Flickr | .curt.]

Heathrow: The shut-down that wasn't originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heathrowheathrow airportheathrow shut-downHeathrowAirportHeathrowShut-downlondonNovember 30November30public sector strikesPublicSectorStrikesunited kingdomUnitedKingdomThu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kids travel gift: Junior "crumpled" city maps]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/kids-travel-gift-junior-crumpled-city-maps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/kids-travel-gift-junior-crumpled-city-maps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/kids-travel-gift-junior-crumpled-city-maps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

crumpled city maps

Last year we reported on Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso's crumpled city maps, a delightful series of maps made out of tough waterproof material. Pizzolorusso's maps can withstand crumpling and crushing. They fit in a little pouch and are easily transportable. They are a wonderfully fanciful yet solidly utilitarian tool for tourists.

Pizzolorusso, working with Berlin-based illustrator Alvvino, has just released a series of maps for children, colorful and vibrant objects containing main attractions as well as "not-to-be-missed" junior locations of particular interest to younger tourists. In addition to illustrating the maps, Alvvino is also responsible for their packaging. See the Berlin version of the Junior map above. (Note that the superimposed figures and monuments are not included.)

Thus far, junior maps to Amsterdam, Berlin, London, New York, and Paris have been released. Additional cities will follow.

Currently, Junior crumpled maps can be purchased online through the Palomar shop for €10 ($13.25) apiece.

Kids travel gift: Junior "crumpled" city maps originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdamberlincrumpled city mapsCrumpledCityMapsemanuele pizzolorussoEmanuelePizzolorussofrancegermanykids travelKidsTravellondonNetherlandsnew yorkNewYorkparisunited kingdomunited statesUnitedKingdomUnitedStatesSat, 26 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST