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[Disneyland in Sand: The Blankenberge Sand Sculpture Festival]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/disneyland-in-sand-the-blankenberge-sand-sculpture-festival/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/disneyland-in-sand-the-blankenberge-sand-sculpture-festival/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/disneyland-in-sand-the-blankenberge-sand-sculpture-festival/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're traveling near Brugge, Belgium, over the next two weeks, you might be wondering if you took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in the outskirts of Paris. No worries - your GPS is not broken - you've just stumbled upon the annual Blankenberge Sand Sculpture festival. This year's theme happens to be the recreation of the Disneyland Paris Resort, based on the Magical Moments Festival currently underway.

Drawing a team of nearly 40 of the most talented artists in the world, Blankenberge's Sand Sculpture Festival is a world-renowned event that continues to grow each year. In 2010, it set the world record for the longest sculpture promenade at 841.80 meters - more than a two hour walk!

While past festival themes have taken inspiration from Disney elements, the recreation of an entire Disney theme park in 125 sand sculptures is a first.

Enter the first festival tent and find yourself in the middle of Disneyland Paris' Main Street, U.S.A. Intricate details and elements are vividly captured in each of the sculptures, helping to bring that special Disney magic to life.

As you wind through the tent, the sculptures seemingly get more detailed and larger than life as you now find yourself in Fantasyland with iconic Disney attractions, like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Casey Jr. Train.

Much like each of the Disney Theme Parks, the central focal point is the iconic princess castle. The tallest and most elaborate sculpture in the initial display tent is undoubtedly Sleeping Beauty's castle, which is flanked by many legendary and modern day Disney princesses.

While most people stopped to admire the castle for what seemed like hours, I found myself drawn to the labyrinth that was just ahead. Next to the 3-D experience of watching Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie - or perhaps a visit to an Amsterdam coffee shop - this is probably the closest any of us will get to "being" Alice.

Gallery: The Blankenberge Sand Sculpture Festival

Continue reading Disneyland in Sand: The Blankenberge Sand Sculpture Festival

Disneyland in Sand: The Blankenberge Sand Sculpture Festival originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BelgiumBlankenbergedisneydisneylandDisneylandParisEuropeSandSculptureFestivalWaltDisneyWorldTue, 06 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Coming face to face with history in Hiroshima, Japan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/04/coming-face-to-face-with-history-in-hiroshima-japan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/04/coming-face-to-face-with-history-in-hiroshima-japan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/04/coming-face-to-face-with-history-in-hiroshima-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

hiroshimaHiroshima.

Just saying the name can often evoke a strong emotion or reaction. When I told people I intended to visit Hiroshima on my Japan trip, the response was usually the same.

"Why would you want to visit there?" my friends asked.

"Why not?" I quipped. "The city is home to one of the most epochal events in modern history!"

Despite the admonishments and the bitter winter temperatures, I now stand before it -- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. There are no children playing, only a few tourists snapping photos nearby. The neatly manicured grounds seem to merely provide a cover for the somber history located here.

The clouds part, allowing sunlight to stream through the crumbling walls and cragged ruins of the A-Bomb Dome, regarded as one of the most recognizable remnants from World War II.

Located a mere two blocks away sits a nondescript gray and blue tile building with only three Japanese characters at the top and a small plaque on the side that reads "Hypocenter". As we approach, we spot a group of local Japanese surrounding the plaque, deep in conversation. Not wanting to intrude, we wait quietly behind, but their guide stops talking and motions for us to approach.

Continue reading Coming face to face with history in Hiroshima, Japan

Coming face to face with history in Hiroshima, Japan originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A-BombDomeHiroshimaHiroshimaPeaceMemorialParkHypocenterJapanWorldWarIIFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman calls in fake bomb threat to keep boyfriend from leaving]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/woman-calls-in-fake-bomb-threat-to-keep-boyfriend-from-leaving/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/woman-calls-in-fake-bomb-threat-to-keep-boyfriend-from-leaving/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/woman-calls-in-fake-bomb-threat-to-keep-boyfriend-from-leaving/#commentsFiled under: ,

fake bomb threatIn a time when everyone's on heightened alert against terrorist attacks, a woman in Chile called in a fake bomb threat to keep her boyfriend from flying off to a new job. MSNBC has reported that Grace Guajardo phoned in the threat to keep Rodrigo Gomez from departing on his Iberia flight bound for Madrid.

The couple, who've been in a relationship for over eight years and have three children together, were to be separated for several months while Gomez worked as a cruise ship waiter. Guajardo first tried to get authorities to tell Gomez his father was gravely ill. When that ploy failed, she did what any other reasonable and distraught girlfriend would do -- she phoned in a bomb threat.

Ironically, Gomez stayed behind in Santiago, but Guajardo now faces up to 61 days in jail if convicted of making the false bomb threat. Had she pulled this stunt in the U.S., she'd likely be facing terrorism charges and they'd be separated for years -- not a few months.

MSNBC currently has a poll going -- love story or crazy girlfriend? An overwhelming majority have declared her "the crazy girlfriend". What's your vote -- is this a story of true love or is she just plain crazy?

Woman calls in fake bomb threat to keep boyfriend from leaving originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AirplaneBombThreatChileIberiaMadridMSNBCSantiagoTravelNewsMon, 14 Feb 2011 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Summer vacation in Tahiti: 5 reasons to visit French Polynesia's Tuamotu Atolls]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/summer-vacation-in-tahiti-5-reasons-to-visit-french-polynesias-tuamotu-atolls/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/summer-vacation-in-tahiti-5-reasons-to-visit-french-polynesias-tuamotu-atolls/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/summer-vacation-in-tahiti-5-reasons-to-visit-french-polynesias-tuamotu-atolls/#commentsFiled under:

French PolynesiaIf you've had enough with the recent onslaught of wintertime blizzards, you're probably ready to start your summer vacation planning. How about jetting off to a part of French Polynesia that few travelers ever visit?

Considered to offer a number of the best diving sites in the world, the Tuamotu Atolls are some of Tahiti's lesser known islands. These remote atolls, most specifically Rangiroa and Fakarava, possess all the exotic charm of Tahiti and Bora Bora, but they have the distinction of featuring a few activities the others don't. Since summertime in the northern hemisphere is the dry season in French Polynesia, June through August is the perfect time to plan your visit.

If you aren't enticed just yet, then consider these five reasons to visit the Tuamotus when finalizing your summer vacation plans this year.

Visit a Winery

How about sipping wine from a winery located in the midst of a coconut grove, flanked on one side by turquoise lagoons and the deep blue ocean on the other? Rangiroa is home to Vin de Tahiti, one of the world's most scenic wineries. While these wines may not be on par with your favorite Chateau in Bordeaux just yet, they are well-crafted and the views are unsurpassed.

Continue reading Summer vacation in Tahiti: 5 reasons to visit French Polynesia's Tuamotu Atolls

Summer vacation in Tahiti: 5 reasons to visit French Polynesia's Tuamotu Atolls originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdventureFakaravaFrenchPolynesiaGauguinsPearlRangiroaScubaDivingSummerVacationTahitiTahitiWineVindeTahitiMon, 14 Feb 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fine Dining in Hong Kong: Mandarin Grill + Bar at Mandarin Oriental]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/03/hong-kong-mandarin-grill-mandarin-oriental/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/03/hong-kong-mandarin-grill-mandarin-oriental/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/03/hong-kong-mandarin-grill-mandarin-oriental/#commentsFiled under: , ,

fine dining hong kong mandarin orientalIf you keep up on celebrity chef buzz, you might remember hearing something about a certain renowned chef who recently aired his laundry at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

Famed chef, Thomas Keller, brought his signature three-Michelin-starred cuisine from The French Laundry in Napa to Hong Kong, wherein lucky diners were able to meet him and witness his culinary talents firsthand. The price for this life-changing experience? It was touted as 2010's most expensive dinner with guests paying $900 each -- not including wine!

Following the dinner, Mandarin Grill + Bar received a lot of attention, leaving some wondering -- how did this one-Michelin-star restaurant rate the honor of hosting an esteemed chef like Thomas Keller? Determined to find out firsthand, I convinced my husband to fly out last weekend to check out the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

Continue reading Fine Dining in Hong Kong: Mandarin Grill + Bar at Mandarin Oriental

Fine Dining in Hong Kong: Mandarin Grill + Bar at Mandarin Oriental originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FineDiningHongKongHongKongMandarinGrill BarMandarinOrientalHongKongUweOpocenskyThu, 03 Feb 2011 22:15:00 EST