Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/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[Obese Toddler Kicked Off Plane For Not Turning Off Cellphone]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/obese-toddler-kicked-off-plane-for-not-turning-off-cell-phone/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/obese-toddler-kicked-off-plane-for-not-turning-off-cell-phone/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/obese-toddler-kicked-off-plane-for-not-turning-off-cell-phone/#commentsFiled under:

No fat babies April Fools 2012A family traveling to Orlando this week had to make other plans after their son was taken off the plane by airline staff for throwing a tantrum that delayed departure from Houston. The boy, aged 20 months, had been screaming for ice cream and had been given a cellphone to pacify him. When a flight attendant asked the parents to turn the device off, the toddler refused to end his "Words with Friends" game.

"Given the fact that the boy was rolling over the arm rests, we assumed he was over the lap child age," said a flight attendant, who asked not to be named. "I don't think he needed that ice cream he demanded either," added a passenger seated next to the family. "It's time for the parents to buy him his own seat, maybe two."

The family was removed from the flight as a safely precaution, and given a voucher for an airport ice cream shop.

[Photo via Flickr user Mykl Roventine.]

Obese Toddler Kicked Off Plane For Not Turning Off Cellphone originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Ten Billion Dollar Bill]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/photo-of-the-day-ten-billion-dollar-bill/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/photo-of-the-day-ten-billion-dollar-bill/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/photo-of-the-day-ten-billion-dollar-bill/#commentsFiled under:



A ten billion dollar bill? Must be another one of those crazy Gadling April Fool's Day posts, right? Except it's real. Today's photo comes to us from a store in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where I recently came across this framed ten billion dollar bill from Zimbabwe. Back in 2009, as the Zimbabwean economy was in free-fall, the country started printing 50, 20 and 10 Trillion dollar notes in an effort to keep up with rampant hyperinflation.

Taken any great photos (hilarious or otherwise) during your recent travels? Why not share them with us by adding them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Ten Billion Dollar Bill originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trend-Spotting: Backpacker Food Gets Hip]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/trend-spotting-backpacker-food-gets-hip/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/trend-spotting-backpacker-food-gets-hip/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/trend-spotting-backpacker-food-gets-hip/#commentsFiled under:

In the midst of a challenging global economic landscape, many travel lovers aren't able to globetrot like they once did. Some innovative entrepreneurs have sensed an opportunity and are finding new ways to bring the world home, and restaurants are setting the trend. Restaurateurs have long sought to recreate world cuisines in other parts of the world - hence the popularity of Japanese cuisine in San Francisco, Indian in London. Now some cutting-edge restaurants are going one step further and are attempting to bring the travel experience itself to diners.

At New York City's Vegabond in the South Bronx, open for less than a year but already drawing a crowd of younger foodies through word of mouth, diners are digging into what looks a lot like backpacker food, but with a modern high-concept spin.

Dishes are produce-heavy, often with an Asian street food influence, and notably spare: portions are modest, garnishes non-existent. The regular menu item 'instant ramen with powdered vegetable broth' looks much like a version that might be found in Styrofoam bowl from a vending machine, but the instant noodles and powdered broth are both prepared in-house by Vegabond chefs and cooked table-side. 'It was a eureka moment,' says owner and chef Zach McReady. 'Making a perfect vegetable broth and then turning it into a uniform powder is no easy feat.'

Continue reading Trend-Spotting: Backpacker Food Gets Hip

Trend-Spotting: Backpacker Food Gets Hip originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New 'Retro' Airline Air Wright Takes To The Skies]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-retro-airline-air-wright-takes-to-the-skies/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-retro-airline-air-wright-takes-to-the-skies/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-retro-airline-air-wright-takes-to-the-skies/#commentsFiled under:

A new airline is shaking up the aviation industry today with its announcement of a new "retro" flight service concept. Called Air Wright after the historic flight pioneers, the new company is taking the current trend for all things vintage to the next level, offering passengers a new flight service based out of Kitty Hawk, N.C., and a chance to return to the glory days of aviation.

Looking to capitalize on passenger dissatisfaction for current air travel and the trendiness of all things retro, Air Wright has introduced a one of a kind in-flight experience. Instead of forcing travelers to fly in cramped seats, three passengers will be strapped to wings of each Air Wright biplane, allowing them to "feel the fresh air" and stretch their legs in comfort. In-flight meal service will include a selection of hand-mixed moonshine cocktails and a snack of pemmican and hard tack. And instead of a tiresome TSA security check, customers will be asked to settle all duels and grievances in Air Wright's pre-flight dueling lobby.

Air Wright's CEO Orville Lindbergh pulled no punches at the company's inaugural press conference, laying out the reasons travelers have grown tired of the inconveniences of modern air travel. "In an era when travelers are hassled on other airlines like never before by endless security checks, cramped seats and stale airplane food, Air Wright is confident it will win customers with a flight experience that takes them back to a time when things were simpler." Even though the airline won't launch its inaugural flight until later this year, CEO Lindbergh has big plans for a range of "retro" travel businesses, including plans for a vintage cruise line called Melville Tours and a cross-country bus service named Donner Coaches.

New 'Retro' Airline Air Wright Takes To The Skies originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Recycled Canvas Airsickness Bags Answer Fliers' Eco-friendly Demands]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/recycled-canvas-airsickness-bags-answer-fliers-eco-friendly-dem/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/recycled-canvas-airsickness-bags-answer-fliers-eco-friendly-dem/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/recycled-canvas-airsickness-bags-answer-fliers-eco-friendly-dem/#commentsFiled under:

Barf Bag hat on Ryan AirAirsickness bags have long provided a comfort and security for nauseated travelers.
Catering to those for whom turbulent airflow inspires gag flow, the easy-access (and decorative), paper bags are available beneath most airplane seat trays ready to conceal even the worst bile deposits of pukey-passengers - but at what cost to the environment?

Enter new, eco-conscious company Up, Up and UpChuck, which plans to roll out environmentally friendly canvas bags to aid air-sensitive fliers. The Upchuck airsickness bags follow suit amongst green companies switching from paper to canvas. "It was an obvious move," says Founder and CEO Ronald Pearson in a release. "Clothes stores and grocery stores are banning paper and plastic bags to better the environment and it seems only right to answer this noble consumer demand in the air as well."

The reusable Upchuck airsickness bags are made from 100 percent recycled cotton canvas and offer reinforced flat bottoms with overlapping seams. With nanotech-treated fibers, the material resists absorption as does any queasy traveler's stomach lining. Designers have even partnered with Up, Up and UpChuck to offer on-trend totes for chunks (the 2012 debut line features graphics by Ed Hardy and Zac Posen).

There are a few hiccups (and belches) in the UpChuck release, however, as some early testers have noted the inconvenience of the canvas airsickness bags being labeled "dry clean only."

"Our eco-minded passengers have different priorities," counters Pearson. "We are hoping our customers will adopt new mottos -- 'fly clean only' and 'fly green only.'"

Look for the airsickness canvas bags in airports at the end of this month.

[Flickr image via gthills]

Recycled Canvas Airsickness Bags Answer Fliers' Eco-friendly Demands originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[California To Build Bridge To Hawaii]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/california-to-build-bridge-to-hawaii/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/california-to-build-bridge-to-hawaii/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/california-to-build-bridge-to-hawaii/#commentsFiled under:

You know what happens when you ship a car with a Hawaiian license plate from Hawaii to the mainland? You get this sentence at every gas station:

"Hawaii huh? So how long was the drive?"

This, inevitably, is always followed by hearty laughter as if they are the first person to ever think up that joke. Often, the laughter is followed by coughing, then hacking up phlegm and then another trip to the bathroom.

Finally, however, after years of speculation and intense research, a private construction firm in California has reached a deal to construct a bridge from California to Hawaii, which will render the bad joke obsolete.

Beginning in Oxnard, California, and terminating in Kahului, Maui, "Interstate 2" is projected to take seven years to complete and will employ over 2,700 workers. Privately funded by various Southern California social elite who can't stand renting a Ford Mustang while spending the obligatory one week per year in their Maui mansion, as part of a plan to reduce costs and simultaneously free up prison space, the firm has agreed to a deal, which would utilize California inmates who have a passable background in either engineering, construction or commercial diving.

As can be expected, news of the project has brought about mixed reactions.

Trevor C. McLeonard, a retired accounting executive from Newport Beach who spends eight days per year in his Maui home, seemed a bit ambivalent about the development.

"It's going to be a long drive for sure," he admits. "But it beats dealing with the TSA."

Meanwhile, in Wailuku, Maui, county lifeguard Kimo Ka'ahui was all smiles about the new road.

"Ho, now I can drive my truck to Vegas! Shoots!"

[Image: Quasimime on Flickr]

California To Build Bridge To Hawaii originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Baby On Board Skateboard Released]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/baby-on-board-skateboard-released/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/baby-on-board-skateboard-released/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/baby-on-board-skateboard-released/#commentsFiled under:



A skateboard company has taken the concept of 'baby on board' to a new level. According to a press release we received, Gr8Sk8 Parents have released a skateboard that we find questionable. The skateboard, designed for parents, operates just as a traditional skateboard would, except a built-in bucket-like baby seat is situated in the middle of the skateboard. Parents find assurance in the placement of the baby seat.

"Noah's always right between my legs while I'm skating. I feel safe and I think he does, too", said a Boulder, Colorado mom earlier this week when asked about the newest Gr8Sk8 release.

The baby seat is equipped with a sturdy fastening system, but some still have their doubts. Should the skateboard fall out from the skater's feet and send the board straight into traffic, what about the baby? Needless to say, we still have some questions over here at Gadling about the board. But should the board prove useful and popular enough, prepare to travel with your young one in an entirely new way. Imagine exploring a brand new city's twisting alley ways via skateboard without having to leave your baby behind. The future is now.

Continue reading Baby On Board Skateboard Released

Baby On Board Skateboard Released originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World's Fattest Country Unveils New Tourism Slogan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/worlds-fattest-country-unveils-new-tourism-slogan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/worlds-fattest-country-unveils-new-tourism-slogan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/worlds-fattest-country-unveils-new-tourism-slogan/#commentsFiled under:

obese person in nauruThe tiny South Pacific Island of Nauru, known for its spectacular beaches and obese residents (see photo above), unveiled a slick new marketing campaign designed to boost tourism yesterday. The new motto, "Feel Thin in Nauru," refers to the fact that 94.5 percent of the country's citizens are overweight.

"A lot of people say Americans are fat," said Hoku Detemano, Nauru's 5-foot-3, 368-pound Minister of Tourism. "But they've never been here before."

Detemano said that the campaign was primarily targeted towards Americans, 74.1 percent of whom are overweight.

"We think they'll feel really good about themselves here," he said, noting that Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" is still charting in Nauru. "We have hotels that are offering special gastric bypass weekends and our national airline offers an all-you-can eat deal on ribs, and an in-flight magazine called 'Gigantic Asses.'"

Detemano also noted that hungry travelers shouldn't be concerned about food shortages on the remote island.

"We actually don't eat that much," he said. "We all just have really slow metabolisms."

[Photo of Nauru resident via Willy Cypress on Flickr.]

World's Fattest Country Unveils New Tourism Slogan originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrity Chef Grant Stone Creates New Underground Eating Club 'Erect']]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/celebrity-chef-grant-stone-creates-new-underground-eating-club/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/celebrity-chef-grant-stone-creates-new-underground-eating-club/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/celebrity-chef-grant-stone-creates-new-underground-eating-club/#commentsFiled under:

Fresh off his groundbreaking win in "Top Chef," Season 74, celebrity chef Grant Stone issued a press release this morning announcing the foundation of a new Chicago-based underground eating club. Named after the "grand architecture and aspirations of this wonderful city," Erect will be a members-only eating club, catering only a select, worthy demographic and a small lottery of lucky winners who win tickets at the nightly table.

Each day the exclusive staff at Erect will create only one meal -- thirty-eight courses for exactly one person. Erect's exclusive dining room has space for only one person, making the chef to diner ratio an unprecedented 48:1. The diner will eat in a pitch-black sensory deprivation chamber, focusing solely on the "explosive bouquets of flavors, textures and vanities proffered by Erect's unparalleled meals."

Tickets, which run $750 per meal, will be offered to exclusive members of the foodie underground and on a limited basis to Web customers. For a chance to win online, prospective clients need to sign up precisely after tickets go on sale at a random time each week. Tickets typically sell out after 20-30 seconds, so it's best to leave the browser window open 24/7 and voraciously mash the reload button until their release.

The first fifty contestants then take an SAT-style test combining food pop culture, celebrity chefs and multi variable calculus to determine their aptitude in the field. The top five remaining candidates will finally be matched tête-a-tête "Top Chef"-style trivia quiz gauging a wide spectrum of foodie knowledge such as the number of calories in an unladen African Swallow (braised) versus a European Swallow (boiled). That winner gets the chance to dine in the exclusive Erect dining room.

Continue reading Celebrity Chef Grant Stone Creates New Underground Eating Club 'Erect'

Celebrity Chef Grant Stone Creates New Underground Eating Club 'Erect' originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New PR Push from TSA: Checkpoint Hotties]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-pr-push-from-tsa-checkpoint-hotties/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-pr-push-from-tsa-checkpoint-hotties/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/new-pr-push-from-tsa-checkpoint-hotties/#commentsFiled under:

calendar, bookstore
This winter, you'll find something new between the super cute kitties and inspiring nature photos that fill the calendar racks at your local bookstore. Sources say the TSA is hard at work on "Checkpoint Hotties: 12 Reasons to Opt Out in 2013," a calendar featuring their most attractive screeners.

There's no gender discrimination here. Two versions of the calendar will be released, one featuring men, the other featuring woman. Participants were recruited during a vigorous screening process that included a backscatter image. "We wanted to make sure that those bulges were all original equipment," said Lorenzo Hermosilla-Schmidt, the stylist for both editions of the calendar.

A TSA PR representative (who asked not to be named) revealed the thinking behind this new project. "We're constantly accused of invasive procedures at screening checkpoints. Since the TSA has no intention of altering the process, we thought, why not do something fun? Why not make the pat-down something to look forward to?"

The TSA was overwhelmed with internal support for the project. "I was just a part-time office temp in Odessa before I got my checkpoint screening gig at Houston International," said one pin-up. "Now I'm Mr. November!"

"My night shift schedule is hard on my family," said Miss July. "I'm also hoping that the additional recognition will earn me a position where every person I meet doesn't hate me. And a day shift would help."

Hermosilla-Schmidt says the calendar promises to be racy but not X-rated. The example he was willing to share? Mr. August. He's wearing boots, a highly abbreviated TSA uniform, and those signature blue latex gloves. Along with the suggestive wink, there's a caption that says, "I'm just going to use the backs of my hands, okay?"

With that kind of incentive, who wouldn't want to opt out? The calendar is projected to be in bookstores in November, just in time for pre-Christmas sales.

New PR Push from TSA: Checkpoint Hotties originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>checkpointpat-downsecuritytsaSun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hospitality Employees Waste 1.7 Million Hours Annually Creating Towel Origami]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/hospitality-employees-waste-1-7-million-hours-annually-creating-t/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/hospitality-employees-waste-1-7-million-hours-annually-creating-t/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/hospitality-employees-waste-1-7-million-hours-annually-creating-t/#commentsFiled under:

towels hearts origami

According to a new study published in Terry Cloth Scientific, employees in the hospitality industry waste nearly two million hours a year folding towels into the shapes of animals and other figures. Employees at hotels, aboard cruise ships and at spas spend entire shifts at their places of business folding, rolling and tucking towels to resemble local and exotic wildlife. The study suggests that employee time would be better spent servicing customer needs. However, industry leaders believe that the practice will continue.

Continue reading Hospitality Employees Waste 1.7 Million Hours Annually Creating Towel Origami

Hospitality Employees Waste 1.7 Million Hours Annually Creating Towel Origami originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2012Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Extreme Kayaker Prepares For The 'Seven Plummets']]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/extreme-kayaker-prepares-for-the-seven-plummets/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/extreme-kayaker-prepares-for-the-seven-plummets/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/01/extreme-kayaker-prepares-for-the-seven-plummets/#commentsFiled under:

Kayaker going over waterfallIn mountaineering circles the Seven Summits refers to the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents and, over the past few decades, climbing those peaks has become quite the badge of honor in the adventure community. Now self-proclaimed extreme kayaker Bob "Gnarly" Goldstein has come up with a similar rite of passage for paddling sport that is equally challenging and dangerous. Goldstein says that he intends to paddle over the biggest waterfalls on each of the continents, an endeavor that he has dubbed "the Seven Plummets."

Goldstein claims he first came up with the idea while in Base Camp on Mt. Everest last spring. He was there attempting to become the first person to ride a mountain bike to the summit of the world's tallest peak - an attempt that ultimately ended in failure - when he heard other climbers discussing the Seven Summits. Intrigued with the concept, he never the less soon discovered that mountaineering might not be for him. "Turns out riding a bike up Everest is really hard," he says without a hint of humor in his voice. "I learned pretty quickly that it is much easier going down than up."

Defeated on the slopes of Everest, Bob returned home to Topeka, Kansas, where a new idea began to slowly germinate in his head. "I wanted to do something that combined my love for the outdoors with my natural talent for going down something," he explains. "This seemed like an obvious way to combine those two things and I'm looking forward to having gravity work in my favor this time."

Continue reading Extreme Kayaker Prepares For The 'Seven Plummets'

Extreme Kayaker Prepares For The 'Seven Plummets' originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seven Star Alliance launches new standards for ultra-luxury hotels]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/seven-star-alliance-launches-new-standards-for-ultra-luxury-hote/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/seven-star-alliance-launches-new-standards-for-ultra-luxury-hote/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/seven-star-alliance-launches-new-standards-for-ultra-luxury-hote/#commentsFiled under:

seven star allianceMove over, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Aman and Banyan Tree. You've been outdone. A new level of travel award, launched today, has declared a new level of recognition. The Seven Star Alliance is awarding hotels a new level of recognition to ultra-luxury hotels.

"Today's luxury traveler is seeking a higher level of service and customized experience than is typically found in today's five-star hotels and resorts," says Branson Smythson Winters IV, chairman of Seven Star Alliance. "We seek to cater to the traveler who, when tired of their private island in the Maldives, says 'I want to go somewhere really special.'"

All of Seven Star Alliance's properties must meet the following criterion:
  • Private landing strip on property available for private aircraft of an size, dockage for 100'+ yachts if waterfront
  • Personal concierge service at a 1-1 minimum staff-to-guest ratio
  • All-suite facility, maximum 50 rooms
  • Michelin four star or James Beard award-winning chef(s)
  • Championship golf, tennis, equestrian, skiing or yachting facilities on-site
  • Luxury spa with 75+ treatment option menu
The guide has thus far recognized that no hotels have yet to meet their criteria, but several are slated to open within the next year in Asia.

[Flickr via ThisIsDuffy]

Seven Star Alliance launches new standards for ultra-luxury hotels originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Russia breeds petite lap giraffes]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/russia-breeds-petite-lap-giraffes/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/russia-breeds-petite-lap-giraffes/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/russia-breeds-petite-lap-giraffes/#commentsFiled under:

lap giraffeAllergic to cats? Can't commit to walking a dog several times a day? The petite lap giraffe may be for you. Developed and bred on a farm outside Krasnodar in Southern Russia, these little longnecks are perfect for people with pet allergies, small children, or just a taste for tiny opulence.

The lap giraffes need a diet of bonsai tree leaves and filtered water, and prefer to be inside with air conditioning. They are ideal for travelers as they are under 11 pounds, under the weight requirement for many airlines. Plus, think of the adventure you'll have traveling to Sokoblovsky Farms near the Black Sea! Click here to get on the waiting list for your own little Vladimir or Svetlana and happy travels with your petite lap giraffe!

Russia breeds petite lap giraffes originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AprilFoolsaprilfools2011Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogger accepts press trip to Great Pacific Garbage Patch, lost at sea for seven weeks]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-accepts-trip-to-great-pacific-garbage-patch-lost-at-sea/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-accepts-trip-to-great-pacific-garbage-patch-lost-at-sea/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-accepts-trip-to-great-pacific-garbage-patch-lost-at-sea/#commentsFiled under:

Steve Zorio, staff blogger for travel blog upstart hipjaunter is not a happy person. The wayward travel blogger, just back from seven weeks at sea has just returned from what he calls "a totally lame" press trip to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the 15,000,000 square kilometer island of trash slowly circling through the world's largest ocean.

After being air dropped out of a sea-plane into the center of the swirling mass of diapers and plastic bags, Mr. Zorio spent a whole two hours waiting for happy hour and a massage until he got suspicious about the whole way that this press trip was going to shake out.

Three days into his affair, he was able to fashion a raft out of orange peels, boarding passes and his comped Delsey Platinum edition ultra-fit four robolaser roll-a-board and set sail for the west coast of North America, where he washed ashore earlier this week.

We were able to reach Mr. Zorio for comment at LAX where he was waiting to board his flight back to New York City:

Dude, I thought GPGP was the acronym for Galapagos or some shit. My contact at Clampet International PR said that this place was totally going to be on the New York Times hotlist for 2012 and I wanted to make sure that I filed all of the first Yelp reviews.

I don't know. I saw "You're Invited" in the title line of the message from CIPR and just kind of blacked out.

Asked about whether or not a visit to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch had changed his life or whether his visit had any impact on his opinion of the region he replied:

Where? I don't know, I'm already on my way to check out a boutique spa in Barbados. I'll probably just paste the press release that I got into a blog article and try to sneak it past my editor. I don't give a shit about what he thinks anyway.

Blogger accepts press trip to Great Pacific Garbage Patch, lost at sea for seven weeks originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[25 newly-discovered travel destinations from Wanderfly.com]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/25-newly-discovered-travel-destinations-from-wanderfly-com/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/25-newly-discovered-travel-destinations-from-wanderfly-com/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/25-newly-discovered-travel-destinations-from-wanderfly-com/#commentsFiled under:

newly-discovered travel destinationsIf you've checked out Wanderfly, the new travel planning and booking service that suggests destinations and activities based on your interests, you know they've come up with some unique and untouristy destinations. Now they've gone beyond the beaten tourist track with 25 newly-discovered travel destinations. Why just see the Great Wall of China when you could see a whole city full of kittens in China (far greater if you ask us!)?! Fan of Dolly Parton? Thousands go to Dollywood, why not relax on a man-made archipelago in the shape of Dolly and Kenny Rogers at Islands in the Stream in Dubai? Can't get enough of that rascal Charlie Sheen? Intrepid adventurers can get inside his brain and see what all that tiger's blood does.

The Wanderfly researchers teamed up with Whim Quarterly to unearth these new places and the best activities to do. The new destinations were chosen for their interactive experiences to give travelers the most authentic experience. "We challenge any traveler to find even a single destination that can compare to these unearthed gems," says Wanderfly co-founder Christy Liu. "Paris? London? Cleveland? With respect to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they all pale in comparison to such places as ObeCity, Funkytown, and Your Mom's House."

For more on these exciting new discoveries, visit Wanderfly.com and click the crazy kitten on the home page and then Get Going. But hurry, some of these destinations may only be available on April 1st.

25 newly-discovered travel destinations from Wanderfly.com originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AprilFoolsaprilfools2011archipelagobookingcharlie sheenCharlieSheenchinaclevelanddestinationsdiscoveriesdolly partonDollyPartondollywooddubaifunnygreat wall of chinaGreatWallOfChinaislandislands in the streamIslandsInTheStreamjokekenny rogersKennyRogerskittenskittylondonnewly-discovered travel destinationsNewly-discoveredTravelDestinationsparisplanningrock and roll hall of fameRockAndRollHallOfFamesatiretiger bloodTigerBloodTravelPlanningwanderflywanderfly.comFri, 01 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogger writes world's most perfect travel story]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-composes-worlds-most-perfect-travel-story/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-composes-worlds-most-perfect-travel-story/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/blogger-composes-worlds-most-perfect-travel-story/#commentsFiled under:

Earlier this Friday, travel writer Zack Jones put the finishing touches on a post the online publishing community is hailing as a new standard in the realm of web travel journalism. The piece, titled "Lady Gaga Justin Bieber Drunken Airplane Bronx Zoo Cobra Bikini Mishap Injures 11," offers an exclusive chronicle of an improbable mid-air tussle between the two famous pop stars, interrupted by an escaped venomous Egyptian snake and the eventual intervention to end the melee by the Swedish Bikini Team.

As bizarre as the incident was to Jones and his readers, the page views it created for his website, Travelizcool.net, have been even more astounding. The post's SEO-friendly subject matter has placed it as the #1 result across searches on Google, Bing, Altavista, Lycos and Excite. It's also quickly become the #1 trending topic on Twitter and has already collected over 500,000 Likes on Facebook. Jones was able further encourage the spread of his post by allowing readers to check-in to the story on Foursquare, Gowalla and Loopt and through a unique "story remix contest" on YouTube, where readers were encouraged to record themselves reading the piece out loud using Autotune for a chance to win a month long blogging stint at Travelizcool.net.

The post's continued success and soaring ad revenues have Zack thinking big plans for the formerly tiny Travelizcool.net website. "This story's success was anything but a flash in the pan" said Jones in an interview by phone. "We're hiring 500 new writers in the coming months to keep up with the demand. By the way, can you make sure to StumbleUpon this interview when it gets published?"

[Photo courtesy Flickr user stuartpilbrow]

Blogger writes world's most perfect travel story originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Ugly Truth: Gadling's revolutionary new video series to launch in May]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/the-ugly-truth-gadlings-revolutionary-new-video-series-to-laun/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/the-ugly-truth-gadlings-revolutionary-new-video-series-to-laun/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/the-ugly-truth-gadlings-revolutionary-new-video-series-to-laun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ugly truth gadling videoWith the goal of improving its cross-platform social media presence, Gadling proudly announces the Ugly Truth, a new video series hell-bent on capturing the viler dimensions of the travel blogger lifestyle.

The Ugly Truth series will revolutionize the sanitized travel show media with depictions of a host of things designed to provoke intense, visceral reactions from viewers.

There's some great hardcore gross-out material, of course, and there are also plenty of examples of a newly-diagnosed condition referred to by doctors as TBRC (Travel Blogger Rage Syndrome).

"We're excited to bring the more disgusting side of travel to the attention of Gadling's audience," says Gadling Editor-in-chief Grant Martin. "And really, who cares about boring travel news or how-to posts dealing with travel logistics, flight upgrade strategies, or museum discounts when you've got video footage of Meg Nesterov consumed by TBRC, beating a defenseless Turkish cat? Or a video of Jeremy Kressmann having eating one too many Big Macs in Thailand, losing his lunch in a tuk-tuk?"

Which Gadling writer chewed so much khat in East Africa last summer that he puked for days? We'll tell you--better yet, we'll show you.

Which Gadling writer had a torrid affair with the head of a major European national tourist board? We'll show you that as well, with crystal-clear HD footage that leaves nothing--not even some unfortunate back acne--to the imagination.

There is also a mine of simply baffling, unclassifiable material on tap, like the dreamy sequence documenting the Gadling contributor so in love with the room's décor at São Paulo's Fasano that she arose from a nap to lick the edge of her desk.

Martin, again: "We'd really like to become the first place people turn to for disgusting travel videos, and we're really pushing our stable of writers to take the lead by getting themselves into some truly gross situations. I can't wait to see the enormous traffic these gems are going to get!"

And as for rumors that Martin's recent TBRC episode involving an inefficient airport employee at Kastrup will appear in a The Ugly Truth episode to be released on June 17? "No comment."

Check out the first installment of The Ugly Truth in early May.

Happy April Fools' Day!

[Image: Flickr | Mike Burns]

Continue reading The Ugly Truth: Gadling's revolutionary new video series to launch in May

The Ugly Truth: Gadling's revolutionary new video series to launch in May originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2011Brazileast africaEastAfricagadlingsao pauloSaoPaulothailandtruthuglyugly truthugly truth gadling videoUglyTruthUglyTruthGadlingVideovideoFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/dubai-tour-company-offers-pirate-hunting-cruises-off-horn-of-afr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/dubai-tour-company-offers-pirate-hunting-cruises-off-horn-of-afr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/dubai-tour-company-offers-pirate-hunting-cruises-off-horn-of-afr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

pirate

After years of murders, kidnappings, and heists, the lawless sea near the horn of Africa seems to be getting worse. A Dubai firm is capitalizing on these pirate infested waters with a strange new form of pirate tourism. The tour company, Dubai based Seahunters LLC, sells both 7 and 14 day cruises embarking from Salalah, Oman and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Unlike the quintessential cruise, the cruisers do not board in hopes of devouring mid-morning nacho buffets or snorkeling with dolphins. These cruisers board in hopes of embarking on a hunting trip with the most taboo of target - humans.

Like any proper cruise, you can choose a type of stateroom with offers ranging from the humble sounding "standard inside" to the opulent "Hemingway suite." The similarities to any other cruise end abruptly when you begin assembling your personal armory. With offerings such as the predictably yielding "bazooka package" and a "mercenary madness" kit, you can personalize your weapons cache almost endlessly. The "mercenary madness" package includes rental of a M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle, an AR 15 assault rifle, and an 18kt gold plated Desert Eagle pistol. Bow and arrows are also available for purists. Flamethrowers can be rented as well, though require a 3 day licensing course prior to departure.

Continue reading Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa

Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsAprilFoolscruisecruise shipcruisesCruiseShipdubaiFlameThrowergulf of adenGulfOfAdenGunsmogadishumuscatomanpiratePiratesSocotrasomali piratessomaliaSomaliPiratesYemenFri, 01 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New foodie tours explore little-known world cuisines and delicacies]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/new-foodie-tours-explore-little-known-world-cuisines-and-delicac/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/new-foodie-tours-explore-little-known-world-cuisines-and-delicac/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/01/new-foodie-tours-explore-little-known-world-cuisines-and-delicac/#commentsFiled under:

food toursAre you a foodie with a taste for travel and adventure? Have you mastered the arts of cheesemaking, coffee roasting, patisserie, and charcuterie? If yet another holiday spent making wine in Napa Valley, rolling pasta with Tuscan Nonnas, or whipping up tom yung goong in Chiang Mai makes you want to yawn, then you're going to love the newest culinary travel company to emerge in this burgeoning industry.

Jaded Palate Tours, based out of San Francisco, California, offers "luxury artisanal culinary adventures" for the the discerning, well-traveled foodie who loves to be on the cutting edge of all that's edible. Imagine the bragging rights you'll have after spending a week deep in the Sulawesi jungle, harvesting kopi luwak--the world's most expensive coffee--with local indigenous peoples. You'll hand-sort the rare and precious beans by extracting them from the dung of the native Asian Palm Civet cat (after the creatures feast on coffee berries, their digestive enzymes soak into the beans, giving kopi luwak its prized aroma and lack of acidity).

Continue reading New foodie tours explore little-known world cuisines and delicacies

New foodie tours explore little-known world cuisines and delicacies originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilfools2010Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST