Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Will Varanasi and Sarnath join the World Heritage list?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/20/will-varanasi-and-sarnath-join-the-world-heritage-list/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/20/will-varanasi-and-sarnath-join-the-world-heritage-list/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/20/will-varanasi-and-sarnath-join-the-world-heritage-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's World Heritage Week from November 19-25 and countries around the globe are celebrating the priceless treasures that UNESCO, which runs the list, is helping to preserve.

But one country, India, is wondering why two of its most famous places aren't on the list. India has no shortage of World Heritage Sites, like the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, but the 3500 year-old holy city of Varanasi (Benares) isn't on the list and the Buddhist shrines at Sarnath are only on the tentative list.

This seems like an odd oversight. Varanasi is a beautiful, chaotic, ancient city on the banks of the Ganges. Nobody knows just how many temples there are here, from massive golden structures with elegant statues to little flagstones carved with a lotus flower and daubed with a bit of paint or an offering of a flower. It seems that when you are close to the river you cannot look anywhere without seeing a temple or shrine. In fact, it's hard not to see several of them! The riverbank is famous for its burning ghats, platforms where Hindus are cremated before their remains are tossed into the holy Ganges River. But like in Hinduism itself, death and life are two parts of the same process. While people are mourning along one section of the riverside, not far off the dhobis are washing clothes, spreading out colorful saris like terrestrial rainbows, while old men play chess and kids frolic in the water. The ghats are strange mixture of morbid reminders of mortality and the throbbing life that makes India so exciting.

Nearby Sarnath is where Buddha is said to have preached his first sermon, and there are numerous temples in the representing all the Buddhist countries in the world. It's interesting to see Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and other temples all together, attended by monks of all different nationalities.The peaceful, semi-rural surroundings make a stark contrast to noisy Varanasi.

So why aren't these two places, so popular with visitors and so important to world heritage, not on the list? Nobody seems to have a good answer, but the Indian press does have some complaints about how they are treated, not by UNESCO, but by the Indians themselves. An article in the Times of India complains that the temples of Varanasi aren't properly preserved. The stone temple of Kashi Vishwanath, shown here and built in 1777, was recently painted using enamel paint, which can seriously damage the stone. Now curators are facing a hefty preservation bill if they want to save one of the most important temples to Shiva. A recent study found about 2,000 temples in Varanasi that need help, but nobody is sure of the true extent of the problem.

Sarnath was submitted for consideration in 1998. Now it appears poised to get on the list. While the older temples and monuments have crumbled with time, the newer temples are in good condition and give the visitor or pilgrim a world tour of Buddhist practice. Here's hoping Sarnath makes it onto the list soon, and that India will increase its efforts to preserve Varanasi and get it on the World Heritage List too.

Gallery: Varanasi and Sarnath

Morning bathers at the Varansi ghatsA bather returning from his dip in the GangesWorshipping on the Varanasi ghatDurga Mandir, VaranasiTibetan temple at Sarnath

Will Varanasi and Sarnath join the World Heritage list? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BenaresBuddhaBuddhismHinduismpreservationreligionSarnathShivatempletemplesUNESCOVaranasiworld heritageworld heritage listworld heritage siteworld heritage sitesworld heritage tentative sitesWorldHeritageWorldHeritageListWorldHeritageSiteWorldHeritageSitesWorldHeritageTentativeSitesFri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Four forgotten Civil War battlefields]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/four-forgotten-civil-war-battlefields/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/four-forgotten-civil-war-battlefields/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/four-forgotten-civil-war-battlefields/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Civil War battlefields are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. The most famous battlefields, such as Gettysburg and Shiloh, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. But there are many other battlefields that are just as interesting but little-known outside their local area. Here are four that any history buff will enjoy. You'll notice all of them are west of the Mississippi River. After the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863, the Union gained control of the Mississippi, cutting the Confederacy in half. From then on the fight in the West was practically a separate war. It gets little press in comparison to the war in the East, but it's just as interesting.

Lexington (September 13-20, 1861): September 1861 was a hopeful time for the Confederacy. General Sterling Price had defeated a large Union force at Wilson's Creek in southwest Missouri and now marched through central Missouri gathering recruits. At the river town of Lexington he found a Union force under Col. James Mulligan defending the stone building of the Masonic College on a hill overlooking town. Mulligan had built earthworks all around the hill. Price's inexperienced troops had trouble taking this tough position until they hit on the idea of lining up bales of hemp, the local cash crop, and rolling them uphill as a mobile wall. Bales of weed are apparently bulletproof and as the fort became hemmed in Mulligan had no choice but to surrender. This early rebel victory proved short lived, and soon Price had to retreat to Arkansas in the face of superior forces.

The Battle of Lexington State Historic Site has a good museum and remnants of the original earthworks. The town has many interesting old buildings. The courthouse has a cannonball lodged in one of its pillars!



Fort Davidson (September 27, 1864): By the autumn of 1864 the war was going badly for the Confederacy, especially in the West. Other than some raids and constant guerrilla activity, the rebels had been pushed out of Missouri and northern Arkansas. General Sterling Price hit upon a bold plan to march north out of Arkansas and take St. Louis just before the presidential election. This, he hoped, would make Lincoln lose, or at least take pressure off the beleaguered Confederates east of the Mississippi.

His first stop was Fort Davidson in the Arcadia Valley in southern Missouri. While some of his officers recommended bypassing the fort, Price wanted to give his troops an early boost in morale and capture supplies. The rebels charged across an open plain into withering musket fire and blasts of grapeshot. By the end of the day almost a thousand men lay dead around the fort, and the Union troops still held their ground. That night the defenders snuck out under cover of darkness, blew up the fort's magazine, and slipped away into the night. This disastrous defeat so weakened and delayed Price's army that he gave up trying to take St. Louis. His invasion became just another raid as he made a long loop through the state, ending in defeat at the Battle of Westport near Kansas City. Price's invasion was the last major Confederate campaign west of the Mississippi.

Fort Davidson State Historic Site preserves the fort's earthen ramparts and has an excellent museum about Price's Raid.

Gallery: Four Forgotten Civil War Battlefields

Battle of Lexington ReenactmentThe Anderson House, Lexington, MissouriReenactment of Battle of Fort Davidson, MissouriConfederate camp at Fort Davidson, MissouriCamp scene at Fort Davidson, Missouri

Continue reading Four forgotten Civil War battlefields

Four forgotten Civil War battlefields originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Civil WarAmericanCivilWarArizonaArkansasbattlefieldbattlefieldsbattlegroundbattlegroundscivil warcivil war fortcivil war historycivil war reenactorscivil war relicsCivilWarCivilWarFortCivilWarHistoryCivilWarReenactorsCivilWarRelicsMissouriNew MexicoNewMexicoreenactmentreenactorsTucsonwarThu, 19 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Western will never die at Old Tucson Studios]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/the-western-will-never-die-at-old-tucson-studios/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/the-western-will-never-die-at-old-tucson-studios/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/the-western-will-never-die-at-old-tucson-studios/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Old West was a place where there were gunfights on every street, the bank got robbed every day, and every saloon was filled with girls dancing the can-can.

Well, actually it wasn't, but that's the way it seems from the movies, and a lot of those movies were filmed at Old Tucson Studios.

Located a short drive west of Tucson, Old Tucson Studios is the perfect place to film a Western. There's an entire recreated Western town there surrounded by Arizona desert, with the Tucson and Catalina Mountains providing a scenic backdrop. Oh, and the sunsets are more beautiful than anything you'll ever see on the screen.

The main attraction at the studios is the town itself, which has provided a backdrop for seventy years of films. Movie buffs will be in a constant state of deja-vu. Wasn't that saloon in The Outlaw Josie Wales? Isn't that the ranch from Bonanza? In case you're having trouble playing Spot-The-Set, there's a seventieth anniversary exhibit on right now showing never-before-seen production stills from some of the many films that used Old Tucson Studios. A preview video can be seen here. Some of the employees are really knowledgeable, so you might want to go on one of the historical tours.

There's plenty going on too. Costumed performers rob the bank, there are gunfights full of stunts, and even magic shows and train rides. It's all a bit hokey, but that's part of the fun. Kids love it.

Unfortunately there was a bad fire in 1995 that destroyed many of the buildings and irreplaceable movie history, but there's still plenty left to give you a good dose of movie nostalgia. So saddle up and ride down to Tucson, and while you're there you might want to see some more of the Old West attractions southern Arizona has to offer, such as the ghost towns, the Saguaro National Monument, and the Old Spanish Trail. Tune in next time when I'll be talking about Tombstone, a real Wild West town.
.

The Western will never die at Old Tucson Studios originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arizonafilmmovie studiomovie studiosmoviesMovieStudioMovieStudiossouthwestTucsonwesternwesternsMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[An open letter to Kim Jong-Il of North Korea]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/an-open-letter-to-king-jong-il-of-north-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/an-open-letter-to-king-jong-il-of-north-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/an-open-letter-to-king-jong-il-of-north-korea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dear Leader,

I've heard that's how you like to be addressed by the people of North Korea, but since this is the beginning of a letter I guess I should say Dear Dear Leader.

My editor sent me this article claiming that while your people are starving you own six luxurious trains fitted with high-tech communications facilities, conference rooms, and even ballrooms. Since you're reportedly afraid of flying, I can understand you needing a train with all the communication equipment you'd find in, say, Air Force One, but do you really need the ballrooms? Do you like to invite your nuclear scientists to an evening of waltzing?

Perhaps this story isn't true. Not all stories about dictators are, after all. The rumor that Hitler only had one ball is highly debatable, for example, and while you did kidnap a South Korean director to start your own movie industry, that doesn't mean that you have 19 train stations around the country for your exclusive use. This report was in a South Korean newspaper and cited U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies. Not the most sympathetic observers, to be sure.

I'd like to get to the bottom of this, so here's a modest proposal. How about you set up a railway tour of North Korea? If you don't have any luxury trains, you can market it as "Adventure Travel" and bring in rugged backpackers accustomed to hard journeys on third-class trains. If you really do have some luxury trains, perhaps you could spare one of your six, ballroom included, and market it as "Luxury Travel". You'll attract a richer clientele and prove your generosity by opening up one of your moving ballrooms for public use.

Instead of paying money, the visitors could pay with food. The food could be pulled along in boxcars behind the ballroom and distributed to your needy people along the way. This would be a great propaganda coup. Your media could broadcast how the Dear Leader is giving up one of his trains to feed his people. Getting your people to actually believe your media is your problem.

I would, of course, be invited along to cover the event. I've always been curious about your country and this would be a good way to see it. I'd even bring along some food to give to hungry North Koreans, whom I would insist on interviewing privately and anonymously about life under your rule.

I know you're going to see this, because even a relatively unknown writer like me Googles himself on a regular basis, and I'm sure you have a whole team of secret police Googling you. So what do you think? Shall we prove those South Koreans wrong and make North Korea the newest destination for backpackers? Or perhaps prove them right and make North Korea the new Monaco? I promise that if you let me leave the country alive I'll publish a series of features right here on Gadling, and give you an idea of what your people say about you behind your back.

sincerely,

Sean McLachlan

PS: Don't kidnap me. I have no experience making nuclear weapons or movies.

An open letter to Kim Jong-Il of North Korea originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kim jong ilkim jong-ilKimJong-ilKimJongIlluxuryluxury travelLuxuryTravelpoliticspolitics newsPoliticsNewstraintrain traveltrainsTrainTravelFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sacred mountain added to World Heritage List]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/sacred-mountain-added-to-world-heritage-list/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/sacred-mountain-added-to-world-heritage-list/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/sacred-mountain-added-to-world-heritage-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

UNESCO has just made the latest addition to its World Heritage List--Suleiman Mountain in the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

This is Kyrgyzstan's first World Heritage Site. The mountain has been a holy spot for thousands of years. Prehistoric rock art shows it was sacred long before Islam came to the region. When the new faith took over it became a focus for Muslim pilgrims. Sick people sit in the caves on the mountainside hoping to be cured, and there's a natural rock slide that women use to promote fertility. Kids slide down it too, supposedly to make them grow up healthy, but judging from this video it looks like they're having too much fun to think about that. There's an interesting slide show of the mountain here.

There are seventeen places of worship on the mountain, including a reconstruction of a medieval mosque. The original was destroyed by the Soviets in an effort to stamp out religion in the region. Judging from the thousands of pilgrims who go to Suleiman Mountain every year, they didn't achieve much.

The mountain is right next to the 3,000 year-old city of Osh, a stop on the old Silk Road, so adventure travelers following this increasingly popular route will want to stop off and see this.

Sacred mountain added to World Heritage List originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelIslamMuslimspilgrimagereligionsilk roadsilk routeSilkRoadSilkRouteworld heritageworld heritage listworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageWorldHeritageListWorldHeritageSitesThu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Italian answer to swine flu--automatic holy water dispensers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/italian-answer-to-swine-flu-holy-water-dispensers/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/italian-answer-to-swine-flu-holy-water-dispensers/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/italian-answer-to-swine-flu-holy-water-dispensers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Visitors to many Italian churches will see a new addition next to the door--automatic holy water dispensers.

Priests have been noticing that worshipers are reluctant to put their hands in the font containing holy water for fear of catching swine flu. About thirty people have died in Italy from the disease and people are a bit jittery about sharing the same water as hundreds of strangers, however holy it might be.

Some churches have even closed their communal fonts, like Milan's cathedral, pictured here.

When inventor Luciano Marabese saw what was happening, he got to work. He invented an automatic dispenser that works along the same lines as a soap dispenser in a public bathroom, but has the look of a traditional font. The faithful put their hands under the dispenser where an infrared detector senses them and squirts out some holy water. There's a video of the dispenser in action here.

Now if we can only get people to wash their hands after going to the bathroom. . .

Italian answer to swine flu--automatic holy water dispensers originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cathedralcathedralscatholiccatholic churchCatholicChurchcatholicismcatholicsh1n1h1n1 swine fluh1n1 virush1n1swinefluh1n1virusholy waterHolyWaterMilanswine fluswine flu pandemicswine flu panicswine flu travel adviceSwineFluSwineFluPandemicSwineFluPanicSwineFluTravelAdviceThu, 12 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike Tyson arrested after airport fight]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/mike-tyson-arrested-in-airport-fight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/mike-tyson-arrested-in-airport-fight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/12/mike-tyson-arrested-in-airport-fight/#commentsNovember seems to be the month for celebrities embarrassing themselves at airports. First Britney Spears passes through airport security carrying a Big Gulp, and now Mike Tyson is arrested for a fight at LAX.

Details are sketchy at the moment but police arrested the former heavyweight champion and photographer Tony Echevarria after an incident at the Los Angeles airport yesterday. The photographer claims Tyson decked him. He was brought to a hospital and treated for a cut to his forehead. Tyson's attorney claims Echevarria was overly aggressive and Tyson feared for the safety of his wife and infant child. Both say they want to press misdemeanor battery charges.

Police booked both men and released them on suspicion of battery.

Presumably a security camera caught this incident on film, so expect to see some video of this pretty soon.

While it's always tempting to take pictures of celebrities at airports, it's best not to act like the paparazzi while doing it. Tony Echevarria got off easy. He may have gotten a cut to the forehead, but at least he didn't get his ear bitten off.

Mike Tyson arrested after airport fight originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Miners accused of destroying part of Great Wall of China]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/mining-company-accused-of-destroying-part-of-the-great-wall-of-c/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/mining-company-accused-of-destroying-part-of-the-great-wall-of-c/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/mining-company-accused-of-destroying-part-of-the-great-wall-of-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It was built to keep out foreign invaders, but apparently the Great Wall of China can't protect itself from the greed of Chinese corporations.

The Hohhot Kekao Mining Co. is accused of destroying 330 ft (100 m) of China's most famous structure while prospecting for gold. The damage occurred in Inner Mongolia, where the company is prospecting. This stretch of the wall is one of the oldest, dating to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.).

This isn't the first time the Wall has been damaged. Local farmers often steal stones for building materials, much like what happened to parts of Hadrian's Wall in England, and last year five miners were sentenced to up to three years in jail for damaging the Wall while operating heavy machinery nearby. Officials said those responsible for the new damage could face up to ten years because of the greater amount of destruction.

As China goes through its Industrial Revolution, its cultural heritage faces greater threats. The Industrial Revolution in England destroyed many of that country's ancient buildings and stone circles, and the expansion of St. Louis, Missouri, in the nineteenth century destroyed virtually all trace of a prehistoric Native American town. St. Louis used to be called "Mound City" because of the numerous prehistoric earthen mounds there, but now only one survives. it would be nice if China could learn from other countries' mistakes.

Continue reading Miners accused of destroying part of Great Wall of China

Miners accused of destroying part of Great Wall of China originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>goldgreat wall of chinaGreatWallOfChinaInner MongoliaInnerMongoliaminingpreservationworld heritageworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageWorldHeritageSitesWed, 11 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy birthday King Wangchuck and other national holidays]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/happy-birthday-king-wangchuck-and-other-national-holidays/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/happy-birthday-king-wangchuck-and-other-national-holidays/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/happy-birthday-king-wangchuck-and-other-national-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Going to a far-flung destination and want to connect with the people and see something special? One easy way is through local and national holidays. These are often unique to a particular country and provide insights into its culture and history. But it can often be hard to find out what's going on next week in Tuvalu.

The Holidays Around the World blog is your answer, providing daily updates on all the major happenings. Today, for example, is the birthday of the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He abdicated last year, but his birthday is still a national holiday. The website does more than list holidays, it goes into detail about what you can expect while you're there. Today the people of Bhutan are celebrating by eating emadatse (chili pepper and cheese stew) and chang (warm beer made from barley, millet or rice). If it's anything like Tibetan chang, be careful. With the high altitudes in the Himalayas this stuff gave me the worst hangover I've ever had.

November 11 is, of course, the anniversary of the end of the First World War. The ceasefire started on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The soldiers on both sides knew it was coming, but instead of keeping a low profile until the war officially ended, they blasted away at each other with a massive artillery barrage. People are weird. This holiday is known as Armistice Day in France, Remembrance Day in Canada, and a more general Veterans Day in the United States.

So head on over to this cool little blog, and don't forget to dance in the streets tomorrow to celebrate Azerbaijan's Constitution Day.

Happy birthday King Wangchuck and other national holidays originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armisticedaychangfirst world warFirstWorldWarhimalayan mountainsHimalayanMountainshimalayasremembrance-dayremembrancedaytravel websiteTravelWebsiteveterans dayveteransdaywebsitesworld war iWorldWarIWed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tourism experts say discounts, economic upturn will make 2010 a good year]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/tourism-experts-say-discounts-economic-upturn-will-make-2010-a/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/tourism-experts-say-discounts-economic-upturn-will-make-2010-a/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/tourism-experts-say-discounts-economic-upturn-will-make-2010-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's no secret that 2009 has been a rough year for the travel industry. With everyone tightening their belts, discretionary expenses like holidays are often the first thing to go. But industry leaders meeting in London for the World Travel Market say 2010 is looking better.

Cautious optimism about the economy is one cause for this brighter outlook, but travel companies know positive indicators such as increased productivity and exports don't necessarily translate to more money being spent on travel. What will also help is the shift to more budget travel options. Tour operators have been choosing budget airlines and more modest hotels in order to offer lower prices, and some budget companies have actually seen an increase in business. This trend will continue into 2010, experts say, which is good news for people who want to get away from it all without spending it all. An increased emphasis on budget travel will keep people moving and hopefully encourage them to choose more luxurious options once we get into another prosperous period.

The travel industry is certainly looking for a silver lining around the tsunami that hit it this year. A report released at the World Travel Market estimates there will be an 8% drop in global travel bookings this year, as well as a 14% drop in airline passengers and a 16% drop in hotel bookings.

With figures like that, 2009 will be an easy act to follow.

Tourism experts say discounts, economic upturn will make 2010 a good year originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economic crisisEconomicCrisiseconomicseconomytourism industryTourismIndustryworld travel marketWorldTravelMarketWed, 11 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Remote African nation saves rare giraffes from extinction]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/remote-african-nation-saves-rare-giraffes-from-extinction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/remote-african-nation-saves-rare-giraffes-from-extinction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/remote-african-nation-saves-rare-giraffes-from-extinction/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Niger doesn't get in the news much. This landlocked Saharan nation doesn't have much in the way of national resources, is listed by the UN as one of the world's least developed countries, and yet it has a serious attitude towards conservation.

Niger is home to a unique subspecies of giraffe, pictured here. Poaching and desertification had reduced its numbers to only fifty individuals a decade ago, but then the people of Niger realized what they were about to lose, banned hunting, and launched a conservation program. Now thanks to these efforts the giraffes' numbers have risen to two hundred. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation has been working with the Niger government and people to keep this positive trend going.

Strangely, the giraffes are congregating around the capital Niamey, where they can be seen wandering across farmers' fields and drinking from troughs set out for cattle.

The government hopes the giraffes will promote tourism. While Niger is beneath most travelers' radar, its very remoteness could be a draw for people interested in visiting traditional societies and seeing the Sahara's harsh beauty. A night camping under the full moon in the Sahara is one of my favorite travel memories. A few giraffes walking across the silvered landscape would have made it even better.

Remote African nation saves rare giraffes from extinction originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conservationendangeredendangered speciesendangeredanimalsEndangeredSpeciesgiraffegiraffesTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Walking with the angels at Zion National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/walking-with-the-angels-at-zion-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/walking-with-the-angels-at-zion-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/walking-with-the-angels-at-zion-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you're afraid of heights, you've got to do this hike.

First, check out this amazing photograph. See that little strip of black in the upper right? That's a two-lane highway. Dizzy? Good. Head on over to Zion National Park in Utah and go on the Angel's Landing hike.

Zion is my personal favorite among the national parks, even beating out the breathtaking but rather touristy Grand Canyon. Readers over at Tripadvisor voted Zion number one of the Top Ten National Parks.

Take a look at this gallery and you'll see why. Zion is nestled within a network of towering canyon walls of Navajo Sandstone that turn an infinite number of shades of red, brown, and gold as the sun rises and sets. Their shadows and the streams and rivers at the bottom create lush valley floors with a variety of wildflowers and animal life. The main visitor area has most creature comforts, with a luxury hotel and campgrounds with fantastic views. From there you can head off into a maze of side canyons and hike to your heart's content. It's one of the best places in the country to go cayoneering.

The most popular and nerve-wracking hike is Angel's Landing. It starts not far from the main visitor area and climbs a ridge up, up, up, growing ever narrower until sheer cliffs fall away on either side of a thin sliver of rock. Don't worry, there's a chain to hold onto in case you get unsteady. In fact, with the rock being pretty slippery even when dry, it's a good idea to hang onto the chain in any case. There have been a number of fatalities on this hike, but if you're careful you will be in no danger.

I'm scared of heights. When I was in college I took up rock climbing to get rid of my fear, but weekends spent scaling the cliffs of the Catalina Mountains near Tucson didn't cure me. All they did was make me able to control my fear. Now I can go up to any height with steady hands and a sure step, while inside I'm screeching like a schoolgirl. My inner schoolgirl was screeching pretty loud on this hike! But what a reward at the end. When you reach the top you're 1,208 ft. (368 m) above Zion Canyon with the river making a hairpin turn below you. You feel like you're literally on top of the world and the clean breeze blowing a bit too hard against you fills your lungs and makes you feel truly alive. Nothing like acrophobia to add a little extra zing to a hike!

More sedate hikes into the remote side canyons will be rewarded with quiet trails as well as glimpses of rare animal life like Golden Eagles and cougars. Steams cascade down little waterfalls and you'll find lush, peaceful grottoes sheltered from the desert sun. These side canyons are good places to go bird watching and there are even some decent rock climbing routes in case you still want to prove you're not afraid of a sickeningly long space of air beneath you.

Zion National Park is an easy road trip from Southern California and much of the Southwest, but even if you're living in Maine it's worth the drive to see one of the country's truly great National Parks.

Gallery: Zion National Park

Cliffs around Zion National ParkThe trail up to Angel's LandingThe Virgin RiverWaterfall frm the Middle Emerald PoolLower Emerald Pool waterfall

Walking with the angels at Zion National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>national parksNationalParksutahzion national parkZionNationalParkMon, 09 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[November is the month for arts in Madrid]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/november-is-the-month-for-arts-in-madrid/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/november-is-the-month-for-arts-in-madrid/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/november-is-the-month-for-arts-in-madrid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Two major festivals in Madrid this month are enough to keep any culture lover happy.

The first and biggest is the Festival de Otoño, an annual extravaganza of theater, dance, music, and even a trio of circuses. The plays are all in Spanish, but dance and music are universal languages so you can still enjoy this festival even if you don't speak the the local lingo. The styles lean towards the modern and experimental, like the theater/dance fusion of the Belgian production Isabella's Room about an old blind antiquities collector recounting a life lived through the highs and lows of the Twentieth century, or the multinational collaboration of Whale Watching Tour that fuses avant-garde experimental and folk music. One show to watch out for is The New Vietnamese Circus, which will portray life in a traditional village through juggling, acrobatics, martial arts, and music.

Another cultural highlight this month is the XXVI Festival de Jazz de Madrid. Jazz in Madrid? Yep, while it's not as famous as Chicago or New Orleans, jazz is big here and there are a lot of cool venues that will be pulling out all the stops for this, the biggest annual jazz festival in Spain. There will be dozens of concerts at clubs around the city featuring artists playing all styles of jazz.

The Festival de Otoño runs from November 4-29. The XXVI Festival de Jazz de Madrid runs November 4-28.

November is the month for arts in Madrid originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancejazzjazz festivalJazzFestivalMadridpaintingperformance artPerformanceArttheatreSun, 08 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Junkie: Oxford's Ashmolean reopens today]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/museum-junkie-oxfords-ashmolean-reopens-today/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/museum-junkie-oxfords-ashmolean-reopens-today/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/museum-junkie-oxfords-ashmolean-reopens-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The long wait is finally over for the grand reopening of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology.

After being partially or completely closed for the past three years, the museum's vast collection is finally open to the public again, with twice the exhibition space it once had.

The Ashmolean is the oldest public museum in the world, having opened in 1683, and while there have been a lot of changes over the years, none have been as big as this £61 million ($101 million) project. The expansion includes four temporary exhibition galleries so the Ashmolean can host blockbuster traveling shows, something it couldn't do with its previous space.

The permanent collection has gone through some major changes too. More of it is on display now, of course, but also the style of the displays has been revamped with the new idea of Crossing Cultures Crossing Time, which allows visitors to see how civilizations developed as parts of an interrelated world culture. This is an an improvement over the old-style way of displaying civilizations as separate entities when in reality they influenced one another on many levels. It also echoes the global perspective that Oxford's other world-class museum, the Pitt-Rivers, brings to its own collection.

The museum is best known for its collections of Anglo-Saxon, predynastic Egyptian, Asian, and Renaissance art and artifacts, but has a good sampling of treasures from just about every period and culture, everything from crocodile mummies to medieval beer mugs. Museum junkies will not want to miss the new Ashmolean.

If the pictures in the gallery below aren't enough for you, check out this collection of photos by yours truly and Mrs. yours truly.

Gallery: Treasures of the new Ashmolean

Cycladic figurine, c. 2500 BCDeath mask of Oliver Cromwell, 1658Ceramic Chinese horse, mid 8th centuryGreek tetradrachm of Lysimachus, 280 BC

Museum Junkie: Oxford's Ashmolean reopens today originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archaeologyarcheologyarchitectureartenglandmuseummuseumsoxfordoxfordshireSat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Financial trouble at British Airways could lead to strike ]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/financial-trouble-at-british-airways-could-lead-to-strike/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/financial-trouble-at-british-airways-could-lead-to-strike/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/financial-trouble-at-british-airways-could-lead-to-strike/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Anyone following the travel news knows the airlines are in trouble. Well, it appears some airlines may be in more trouble than expected. British Airways announced that in the first half of its 2009 financial year it suffered a loss of £292 million ($485 million). In the same period in 2008 it made a profit of £52 million ($86 million).

This was more than a 13% loss of total revenue, with the company earning £4.1 billion ($6.8 billion) in the first half rather than the £4.75 billion ($7.9 billion) it earned in the same period in 2008. In a cost-saving measure, the company has announced it will cut 4,900 jobs by March 2010 and is considering a two-year pay freeze and a reduction of cabin crew from 15 crew members to 14 for long-haul flights.

What this flurry of numbers means to travelers like you and me is that there might be a strike at British Airways in December, just in time for the holiday season. Unite, the union for BA workers, is against the airline's cost-saving measures and is asking its members if they want to go on strike. The strike vote has been put off for some time as the union negotiated with the airline, and the result of the vote won't be known until December 14. Tune in here at Gadling for updates on this story.

Financial trouble at British Airways could lead to strike originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british airwaysBritishAirwaysFri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Health tourism is big business for Ghana]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/health-tourism-is-big-business-for-ghana/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/health-tourism-is-big-business-for-ghana/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/health-tourism-is-big-business-for-ghana/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ghana is not a big tourism magnet. Unlike other African countries that offer wild safaris and impressive archaeological remains, this West African nation has relatively few attractions to offer international visitors. But that's changing under a new plan to promote health tourism.

As the name implies, health tourism involves more than recharging your batteries on some serene beach. It's a chance to get medical treatment while getting away from it all. One place to do that in Ghana is the Holy Trinity Spa & Health Farm. Set along the Volta River, it's a cross between a resort hotel, ranch, and hospital, where you can take a dip in the pool, ride horses across African countryside, and have a physiotherapy session all in one day.

Their honeymoon packages are reasonably priced by Western standards and offer the usual things like candlelit dinners and sports activities along with treatments such as facials, manicures, and massages. Other treatments include some rather mysterious-sounding procedures such as the "Super Ozone Hydro Bath" and the "Detoxifying Infra Red Sauna." If you want to get a bit more serious about your health and well-being, the spa offers dental and medical care as well as cosmetic surgery. Many of the guests are from African nations looking for medical procedures they can't get at home. Most of the staff were trained in Western medical schools.

If getting a face lift is not your idea of a vacation, Ghana does offer some interesting sights, although it can't compete with heavy hitters such as Kenya and Egypt. The Mole National Park offers safaris and elephants and the Wli Falls offer stunning views of waterfalls through thick jungle. There's also the intrinsic interest of being in a vibrant part of Africa with a rich history and culture, and the added advantage that English is the official language, so you'll be able to say "no liposuction, please, just a massage."

Gallery: Gorgeous Ghana

Elephants at Mole National ParkAnother elephant at Mole National ParkWalking in the jungle canopy at Kakum National ForestRainforest canopy at Kakum National ParkVilage market near Lake Volta

Health tourism is big business for Ghana originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elephantshealth spahealth tourismhealthcareHealthSpaHealthTourismsafarispaspaswaterfallwaterfallsFri, 06 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Christians protest transssexual Jesus]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/christians-protest-transssexual-jesus/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/christians-protest-transssexual-jesus/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/christians-protest-transssexual-jesus/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A play in Glasgow, Scotland, has sparked an angry protest by local Christians. Jesus Queen of Heaven depicts Jesus as a transsexual woman and is part of the Glasgay! Festival celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered culture.

The festival, which runs through November 8, features plays, music, dance, comedy, and many other events and has drawn artists from around the world. The annual festival has been held since 1993, attracts more than 20,000 visitors, and receives partial funding from national and municipal arts councils.

While gay arts festivals and the inevitable protests against them are nothing new, Jesus Queen of Heaven has drawn special ire. The play, written and performed by leading transgendered artist Jo Clifford, looks at her personal path to faith as a transgendered person.

The description of the play begins, "Jesus is a transsexual woman. And it is now she walks the earth. This is a play with music that presents her sayings, her miracles, and her testimony. And she does not condemn the gays or the queers or the trans women or the trans men, and no, not the straight women nor the straight men neither. Because she is the Daughter of God, most certainly, and almost as certainly the son also. And God's child condemns nobody. She can only love..."

About 300 Christians, on the other hand, felt differently. They held a candlelight vigil outside the Tron Theatre last night, holding signs protesting the use of public funds for the festival and Clifford's depiction of Jesus. One read "God: My Son Is Not A Pervert." It is not clear if the sign was written by the protester or was a direct quote from the Almighty.

If November sounds like a bad time to go to Scotland, there's always Pride Scotia in June, a ten-day national LGBT event that culminates in a massive parade in Edinburgh. If you really want make sure you'll be partying in the sun, head south to Madrid, where the Orgullo ("Pride") festival is held in the toasty months of late June and early July.

Christians protest transssexual Jesus originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bisexualbisexualitygaygaysglasgowlgbtscotlandtheatertheatretransgendertransgenderedtranssexualtranssexualsWed, 04 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First map to name America goes on display at Library of Congress]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/first-map-to-name-america-goes-on-display-at-library-of-congress/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/first-map-to-name-america-goes-on-display-at-library-of-congress/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/first-map-to-name-america-goes-on-display-at-library-of-congress/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Visitors to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., have a rare opportunity to see the first map that used the name "America" for the New World.

The Library has the only surviving copy of the famous Waldseemüller map, created in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller, a German cartographer living in France. The map was a major departure from earlier maps in that it relied less on the received wisdom of Classical geographers like Ptolemy and more on reports by the many explorers of the time.

Waldseemüller studied reports by Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci and decided Columbus was wrong in thinking he had reached India. Waldseemüller favored Vespucci's theory that the lands they were exploring on the other side of the Atlantic were actually part of a previously unknown continent. Waldseemüller rewarded Vespucci by naming the continent after him. America is the feminized Latin form of Vespucci's first name. All other continents had Latin feminine names, so it fit.

The map is not only correct about the New World, but also portrays other parts of the globe far more accurately than other maps of the time. It's a fine work of art too, with detailed depictions of terrain and portraits of Ptolemy and Vespucci.

Continue reading First map to name America goes on display at Library of Congress

First map to name America goes on display at Library of Congress originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cartographycolumbusexplorationgps-daylibrary of congressLibraryOfCongressmapmappingmapsmuseummuseumsvespucciwashington dcWashingtonDcMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Junkie: Manga and Moctezuma at the British Museum]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/31/museum-junkie-manga-and-moctezuma-at-the-british-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/31/museum-junkie-manga-and-moctezuma-at-the-british-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/31/museum-junkie-manga-and-moctezuma-at-the-british-museum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Trust the British Museum to have two completely different but totally cool special exhibitions at the same time.

There's still time to catch Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler, a dazzling collection of art from one of Mesoamerica's greatest civilizations. It focuses on the reign of Moctezuma II (1502-1520), who died at the hands of the Spanish conquistadores. He ruled over a large, complex civilization from his capital at Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. While generally known for their bloodthirstiness, the Mexica, as they called themselves, were accomplished architects, administrators, and artists, creating vast cities and delicate carvings. This show closes January 24, and it's advisable to book tickets well in advance.

Another interesting show is just starting. Manga: Professor Munakata's Museum Adventure showcases a series of Japanese manga cartoons featuring leading manga artist Hoshino Yukinobu's most popular character exploring the British Museum, along with other adventures by the professor. There will also be a special "manga coffee shop" area where visitors can sit and leaf through a selection of manga books. The show runs from November 5 to January 3.

So if you're passing through London make some time for the British Museum. There's plenty more than just mummies, although those are amazing too.

Gallery: Moctezuma and Manga

Aztec artProfessor Manukata studies the Rosetta StoneProfessor Manukata explores more treasure of the British Museum

Museum Junkie: Manga and Moctezuma at the British Museum originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aztecaztecsbritish museumBritishMuseumenglandlondonmangamuseummuseumsSat, 31 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pub Etiquette: This ain't no American bar]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/30/pub-etiquette-this-aint-no-american-bar/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/30/pub-etiquette-this-aint-no-american-bar/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/30/pub-etiquette-this-aint-no-american-bar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pubs are a cornerstone of English life. Most English people go to them and many are regulars at their "local." Because of this, pubs are a great way to meet and learn about the English. Even if you don't drink, go ahead and order a juice and soak up the atmosphere. I've been to pubs in London and Oxford that are four hundred years old! Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in London and The Turf in Oxford are two of my favorites.

While much has been written about English reserve, this doesn't seem to apply to pubs. Generally people seated or standing at the bar are open to conversation with strangers, in fact they may be seeking it, while those tucked away in a corner table either alone or in groups aren't looking to make new friends.

Pubs have their own rules and etiquette. There are no queues, unlike everywhere else in England, but the barmen are adept at remembering who's first. When you walk in, catch the barman's eye and he or she will be with you shortly. When ordering, don't forget to say "please." Politeness is de rigueur in all aspects of English society, but to barmen especially. If the folks behind the counter aren't swamped, feel free to ask for advice about what beer you should try. I highly recommend the rich, flavorful real ales.

Tipping is not required but is appreciated, and one nice tradition is tipping your barman with a drink. Once you've been served and given the amount, you can ask, "And one for yourself?" at which point he or she will add on a pint or half pint (usually a half) to your bill. If they're busy they might not get to your drink immediately, but once they do they'll be sure to thank you again. If they've been given too many pints already, or have a stern manager, they might politely refuse. Don't take it personally, they may work at a pub but they're still required to be sober!

Continue reading Pub Etiquette: This ain't no American bar

Pub Etiquette: This ain't no American bar originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerdrinkingenglandlondonoxfordpubsreal alereal alesRealAleRealAlesFri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST