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[Photo of the Day - Daejeon National Cemetery]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/photo-of-the-day-daejeon-national-cemetery/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/photo-of-the-day-daejeon-national-cemetery/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/photo-of-the-day-daejeon-national-cemetery/#commentsFiled under: , ,

daejeon national cemetery

National cemeteries are symbolically loaded places, and Daejeon National Cemetery in Daejeon, South Korea is no exception. Completed in 1985, the cemetery was designed, in the words of the official cemetery website, "to worship patriots, patriotic martyrs, and the souls of all the fallen heroes and the war dead."

This image was taken by LadyExpat, a prolific Flickr user. Its subject is immediately recognizable as a military memorial. The photographer's vantage point renders it particularly interesting.

Do you have a photo of a symbolically powerful cultural site taking up space in your personal photo archives? Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool, enable downloading, and sit back. You might just end up seeing your image pop up on Gadling as a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day - Daejeon National Cemetery originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daejeon national cemeteryDaejeonNationalCemeteryphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDaysouth koreaSouthKoreaFri, 25 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

mapHave you ever wondered what countries are the most and least frequented by travelers? Estonian tech firm Bluemoon has taken data from the photo sharing service Panoramio and created a heat-map based on photos. The map details which countries are the most visited (in yellow), which have a medium amount of visitors (in red) and which are explored the least (in blue). A grey area signifies that no photos have been taken there using Panoramio.

As you can see from the map, Europe is a major tourist destination, as is much of the east and west coasts of the United States and Japan. Certain regions that seem to receive few visitors include Mongolia, India and Australia. Moreover, many areas in Canada and Africa remain unexplored.

They've also created a map of the "world's most interesting remote places." It only looks at destinations away from cities with remote tourist attractions. Some examples from the data show the Greek Islands are touristy (red), the Amazon Basin has almost no tourism (green) and Ladakh falls in the middle (yellow).

For a bigger view of the map, click here.

Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google mapsGoogleMapsheat-mapleast popular destinationsLeastPopularDestinationsmapmost popularmost touristymost visitedMostPopularMostTouristyMostVisitedphotostravel dataTravelDatawhere to travelWhereToTravelFri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

jean beliveau walk around the worldOn his 45th birthday, Quebec native Jean Béliveau went out for a walk. He crossed over Montreal's Jacque Cartier Bridge in Montreal, where he originally dreamed up the idea of escaping his life as a neon sign salesman nine months before, and kept going for 75,554 kilometers through 64 countries. He burned through 54 pairs of shoes but somehow managed to maintain his relationship with his wife, Luce, who stayed at home while Jean spent 11 years walking around the world. But when he returned to Canada, some criticized the walk as a self-indulgent escape from a midlife crisis since it wasn't done for a specific charity.

Seven months after returning home from what is believed to be the world's longest uninterrupted circumnavigation on foot, Béliveau is being courted by publishers who want the rights to his story. We caught up with Jean to find out more about his motivation for taking an 11-year walk, how he pulled it off without losing his wife and what he's up to now.

Why take a walk around the world?

Jean: I owned a small neon sign factory but when Quebec had a terrible ice storm in the winter of 1998, we lost power for weeks. We had to close the factory and then my wife had to move to Montreal for her job. I had a midlife crisis in the meantime. I began to sell neon signs but I wasn't making much money. I said, 'My God, what happened with my life? I'm throwing my life away.'

I felt like I was working just for money and giving my soul away, and for what? I ran over Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal one day and thought, 'I wonder how many days it would take to get to New York. And how many weeks or months or years to get to Mexico, South America, the rest of the world.'

Continue reading Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return

Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FeatureJean BeliveauJeanBeliveauwalk around the worldWalkAroundTheWorldFri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



While in DC a couple of weeks ago with fellow Gadling writers, a few of us hopped into a taxi on our way to dinner. Our driver was an African man from a country he kept under wraps. He told us that if we wanted to find out which country he was from, we'd have to earn our way to the answer through his impromptu trivia. And so we tried to answer his questions.

"You have to exercise your anthropological and geographical versatility to comprehend my country of originality," he teased us.

"I can guess the continent," one of our writers chimed.

"Oh yes, guessability, no problem, Madam," he cooed.

"West Africa?" she guessed.

"Well," he drew out the word for a few seconds. "I will formally agree but I will formally disagree with you. I am an individual of complexity. You want a clue?"

"Yes," we all answered in unison.

"OK. I am going to give you a complex geographical clue. Let me see. Name me 11 countries in the world that have four letters," he began.

Continue reading A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World

A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all of the countries in the worldAllOfTheCountriesInTheWorldcountries in the worldCountriesInTheWorldgeographygeography challengegeography questionsgeography triviaGeographyChallengeGeographyQuestionsGeographyTriviahow many countriesHowManyCountrieslearn geographyLearnGeographylist of all of the countries in the worldlist of countriesListOfAllOfTheCountriesInTheWorldListOfCountriesobscure countriesObscureCountriesthe countries of the worldTheCountriesOfTheWorldThu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[12 Hours In Yangon, Myanmar]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/12-hours-in-yangon-myanmar/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/12-hours-in-yangon-myanmar/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/12-hours-in-yangon-myanmar/#commentsFiled under: ,



For most of the past two decades, the only images and sounds of Myanmar that have reached the outside world is of its repressive military regime and the heroic resistance of the Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. For years, travelers found themselves caught up in the debate over the ethics of traveling to Myanmar resulting in the country becoming more remote and inaccessible.

Now, with extraordinary political changes sweeping the country, Myanmar is once again back on the global stage. There is a near frenzy of who gets there first, to (re)discover this ancient land lodged between India and China. Most tourists that arrive will immediately head to Bagan, a dreamland of ruined pagodas, or Inle Lake, to soak in the serenity of its placid waters and photograph the famous leg rowers. That is indeed a great choice if you want to experience picture-perfect Myanmar - the Myanmar of myth and mystique. But if instead you want to feel the pulse of Myanmar as it is today - experience the sounds, sights and smells of a living, breathing city on the move - then stay a while longer in Yangon, the biggest city and the commercial capital of the country.

10 a.m.: Visit Bogyoke Market

Every great city has a thriving, bustling market to call its own and Bogyoke is Yangon's. Most still know Bogyoke by its old colonial name - Scotts Market - and come in search of crumbling colonnades and cobblestoned lanes that bulge with an extraordinary variety of Burmese specialities. You could spend your entire day here, so keep your focus. Best buys at Bogyoke: traditional longyis (the Burmese sarong that is the de facto national dress), green tea from the upper Shan States, jade Buddhas, ruby pendants and teakwood shot glasses.

Continue reading 12 Hours In Yangon, Myanmar

12 Hours In Yangon, Myanmar originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aung San Suu KyiAungSanSuuKyiburmamyanmaryangonTue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Woman Becomes Oldest To Summit Everest]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/japanese-woman-becomes-oldest-to-summit-everest/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/japanese-woman-becomes-oldest-to-summit-everest/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/22/japanese-woman-becomes-oldest-to-summit-everest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tamae Watanabe: The Oldest Woman To Summit EverestA 73-year-old Japanese woman by the name of Tamae Watanabe extended her record as the oldest female to climb Mt. Everest when she reached the summit for a second time this past weekend. Watanabe first climbed the world's tallest mountain a decade ago and that previous record has held up until she decided to raise the bar herself.

Climbing with Asian Trekking, Watanabe scaled the 8848-meter (29,029-foot) mountain from the North Side, which falls inside Chinese controlled Tibet. She topped out, along with four other climbers, early Saturday morning after climbing throughout the night. The team spent a brief time enjoying the view from the world's highest point, before starting their descent back to one of the high camps on the mountain. The following day Watanabe and her teammates all proceeded back down to Base Camp, where they are now preparing to head home after spending nearly two months on the expedition.

As we mentioned over the weekend, Saturday was summit day on Everest and as predicted, the climbers went to the summit in droves. The weather did take a turn for the worse late in the day on Saturday, however, and high winds forced a number of teams to retreat back down the mountain. Most of the remaining climbers are moving into position to take advantage of a second weather window that is expected to open later this week.

Incidentally, the distinction for being the oldest person to climb Everest belongs to Min Bahadur Sherchan, a Nepali man who was 76 years old when he reached the summit back in 2008.

[Photo credit: AP]

Japanese Woman Becomes Oldest To Summit Everest originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelEverestMount EverestmountaineeringMountEverestmt everestMtEverestoldest everestOldestEverestTamae watanabeTamaeWatanabetibetTue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Indonesian Dancers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/photo-of-the-day-indonesian-dancers/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/photo-of-the-day-indonesian-dancers/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/photo-of-the-day-indonesian-dancers/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There's a wonderful sense of pattern and repetition in today's photo by Flickr user don.wright. Shot at a dance ceremony in Banda Aceh, the largest city on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the photo's subjects each carry a unique expression that adds personality and charm. Some break into a bashful smile, some are expressionless, some - like the woman in the center of the frame - look deep in thought. I wonder what they're all thinking?

Taken any great photos during your own travels? Why not add them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Indonesian Dancers originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banda acehBandaAcehdanceislammuslimsilhouettesumatraveilSun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unusual Tourist Attraction: Japanese City Unveils World's Largest Toilet]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/unusual-tourist-attraction-japanese-city-unveils-worlds-larges/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/unusual-tourist-attraction-japanese-city-unveils-worlds-larges/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/unusual-tourist-attraction-japanese-city-unveils-worlds-larges/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

toilets While most travelers spend time visiting sites like churches, castles, parks and museums, Ichihara City in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan is hoping to bring in tourists with a new kind of attraction: the world's largest toilet. In fact, they're so hopeful that the unusual attraction will bring in travelers; they've spent 10 million yen (about $125,945) on the project.

The site, which sits in front of Itabu Station on the Kominato Railway Line, is actually your average-sized toilet; however, it's housed in a giant clear box and sits on an expansive 2,153 square-foot plot of land. While it doesn't provide much privacy on the property, there is a surrounding fence to hide the toilet from outsiders. The city is hoping the beautiful new toilet will provide an enjoyable reprieve for drivers and passengers of the train, as well as attendees of next year's Ichihara Art Festival.

Right now, the lavish restroom is only open to women, although the designer of the toilet, Sou Fujimoto, wants it to be open to the public for everyone to enjoy.

"I could enjoy the spectacular view while still feeling protected," the architect told the Japan Times. "No other toilet would allow you a feeling like that."

[flickr image via Britt Selvitelle]

Unusual Tourist Attraction: Japanese City Unveils World's Largest Toilet originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artculturedesignichihara cityIchiharaCityluxury travelLuxuryTravelquirkyunusualunusual attractionsunusual sitesUnusualAttractionsUnusualSiteswomens travelWomensTravelworlds largest toiletWorldsLargestToiletSun, 20 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hanoi's Oldest Hotel Will Open Secret Bunker To Visitors This Week]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/hanois-oldest-hotel-will-open-secret-bunker-to-visitors-this-we/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/hanois-oldest-hotel-will-open-secret-bunker-to-visitors-this-we/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/20/hanois-oldest-hotel-will-open-secret-bunker-to-visitors-this-we/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

bunkerDuring hotel renovations last August at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in Vietnam, construction workers discovered an unknown bunker thought to be used during the Vietnam War. While drilling near the poolside bar, they found a flooded hallway, numerous rooms and a staircase leading to the secret 500-square-foot bunker. Moreover, wine bottles, unbroken light bulbs, graffiti and air ducts were also found, according to VietNamNet.

"In the hotel's history, there is a story of the American folk singer, Joan Baez, who sought shelter in this bunker during the Christmas Bombings in 1972, and who sang some songs beside a Vietnamese guitarist," explains Kai Speth, the hotel's General Director. "We don't know of any other hotels, in Vietnam or anywhere else for that matter, that maintained a shelter for guests and staff."

The luxury hotel is the oldest in Hanoi, boasting a 110-year history that has welcomed guests such as Charlie Chaplin, Jane Fonda, Fidel Castro and Somerset Maugham. That will be celebrated, along with the opening of the bunker to guests, on May 21, 2012. Likewise, people who actually spent time in the bunker, such as Bob Devereaux, the Australian diplomat who carved his name into the bunker in 1975, will also be present at the opening ceremony.

[image via The Metropole Blog]

Continue reading Hanoi's Oldest Hotel Will Open Secret Bunker To Visitors This Week

Hanoi's Oldest Hotel Will Open Secret Bunker To Visitors This Week originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accommodationshanoihistoryhotelsluxury travelLuxuryTravelquirkysecret bunkerSecretBunkeruniquevietnam warVietnamWarSun, 20 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Singapore Celebrates Launch Of Bay South Garden With Two Weeks Of Events]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/singapore-celebrates-launch-of-bay-south-garden-with-two-weeks-o/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/singapore-celebrates-launch-of-bay-south-garden-with-two-weeks-o/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/singapore-celebrates-launch-of-bay-south-garden-with-two-weeks-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

gardens by the bay On the night of June 28, 2012, Singapore will debut its brand new Gardens by the Bay, which has been under construction for the past five years. The attraction is the first of its kind in Singapore. The launch takes place in the city's new Marina Bay downtown area, and is part of the "city in a garden vision," which aims to make Singapore a place of natural beauty.

From June 29 to July 8, to help celebrate the 134-acre garden's grand opening, there will be concerts by Jason Mraz and Corrinne May, family carnivals, an eco-friendly green fair, trail hikes, movies under the stars, live entertainment, a photography competition, storytelling, educational demonstrations, children's activities and more.

Gardens by the Bay will feature many different facets. Visitors can choose to wander through the cooled conservatories of the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, stroll through the Supertrees in the Golden Garden, learn about Singapore's plant history in the Heritage Gardens, discover aquatic life in the Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes and educate themselves on an array of flora in the World of Plants. And for some extra excitement, there will be choreographed light and sound shows in the Supertree Grove, changing floral displays in the Flower Dome and interpretive media performances to bring the story of plants to life.

Gardens by the Bay will be free to enter, and will be open to the public from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.

Singapore Celebrates Launch Of Bay South Garden With Two Weeks Of Events originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelBudgetTravelcity in a gardenCityInAGardenecotourismeventsfestivalsgarden in a cityGardenInACitygardens by the bayGardensByTheBaysingaporeSat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Expedia Launches Flip Flop Report On Beach Behavior Around The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/expedia-launches-flip-flop-report-on-beach-behavior-around-the-w/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/expedia-launches-flip-flop-report-on-beach-behavior-around-the-w/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/expedia-launches-flip-flop-report-on-beach-behavior-around-the-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

beach Have you ever wondered what country enjoys the beach most? Or what culture is most likely to sunbathe in the nude? To help unravel the mystery of beach behavior around the world, Expedia has shared the results of a global study that looked at 21 countries on five continents. Some areas the study examined include what things people look at when choosing a beach, preferred beach activities and what makes people most nervous about going to the beach. Some of the findings from the study include:

  • The average beach vacation lasts 7.7 days, although this is less true of Koreans, Japanese and Singaporeans, who seem to prefer beach weekends.
  • For Americans, one of the least important criteria when selecting a beach destination is a desire to find a new location. This is the opposite for Indians, who view finding a new location to be one of the highest priorities.
  • Germans are the most likely to sunbathe nude, and are also the most likely to spend time at the beach with a stranger.
  • Fifty percent of travelers keep the presence of sharks in mind when deciding on a beach location. Likewise, 68 percent of beach vacationers admit to not swimming at a beach due to the possibility of sharks.

Click here for the full report. If you're having trouble viewing the infographic, click here for the interactive version.

Expedia Launches Flip Flop Report On Beach Behavior Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art and cultureArtAndCulturebeachbeach behaviorBeachBehaviorculturenew destinationsNewDestinationsnewsnude beachNudeBeachsharksstoriessunbathing nudeSunbathingNudeFri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Daredevil Russian Teens Film Their Insane Bridge Climb Above Russky Island]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/video-daredevil-russian-teens-film-their-insane-bridge-climb-ab/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/video-daredevil-russian-teens-film-their-insane-bridge-climb-ab/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/video-daredevil-russian-teens-film-their-insane-bridge-climb-ab/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in September, Gadling brought you news of Ukrainian teens capturing an insane bridge climb over the Moskovskyi Bridge in Kiev. But Russian teens recently topped this daredevil act with their own ascent of the recently completed Russky Island Bridge, which finally connects the very isolated island in eastern Russia with Vladivostok and the mainland.

Eighteen-year-old Raskalov, one of the Russian teens in the video, has devoted a blog to his extreme, free-climbing endeavors. The mind-blowing photos on his blog are from atop Russia's tallest structures and include gorgeous scenery of famous Moscow squares, glimpses of snowy Siberia and more.

We recommend you watch the following video while on solid ground else you may get vertigo.

Video: Daredevil Russian Teens Film Their Insane Bridge Climb Above Russky Island originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bridge climbingBridgeClimbingdaredevilextreme sportsExtremeSportsrussiarussian+bridge+climbrussianbridgeclimbRussky IslandRusskyIslandvideovladivostokFri, 18 May 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[8 Languages You've Never Heard Of (And Who Actually Speaks Them)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



As anyone who follows my articles here on Gadling knows by now, I don't travel to relax poolside at a resort or sip a fancy drink with coconut oil. I travel because this world is a fascinating place.

While everyone has their own travel philosophy and reasons for wanting to get away, I know that for many travelers, one of the greatest joys of travel is experiencing other cultures and peeking into corners of the world, which are far removed from our own. This could range from immersing yourself in a culture with a different religion, cuisine, or something as simple as driving on the other side of the road.

More often than not, however, one of the largest indicators that we "aren't in Kansas anymore" is traveling to a place with a language that is different from our own. With linguists estimating there are over 7,000 languages spread across the globe, there is little to no chance of any traveler ever having the opportunity to properly experience them all. Furthermore, as Gadling blogger Kraig Becker points out, there are still uncontacted tribes in parts of the Amazon where we don't even know what language they speak yet.

Though situations like these are encouraging, the sad reality is that the majority of indigenous languages is critically endangered and will most likely not survive the next generation. According to the United Nations and UNESCO, not only does an indigenous language go extinct every two weeks, but up to 90% of the world's languages are likely to disappear in the next century if current trends continue.

While the Economist reports that recent advances in technology may actually be able to aid in the rescue and rebirth of languages, the fact of the matter remains that thousands of global languages are dying at a terrifying rate.

So, in a nod to the fascinating beauty of global tongues, here is a rundown of eight languages that you've probably never heard of, and are lucky if you ever hear.

Continue reading 8 Languages You've Never Heard Of (And Who Actually Speaks Them)

8 Languages You've Never Heard Of (And Who Actually Speaks Them) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anal languageAnalLanguageAnus languageAnusLanguageKet languageKet peopleKet SiberiaKetLanguageKetPeopleKetSiberialanguages youve never heard ofLanguagesYouveNeverHeardOfMelpa languageMelpaLanguageobscure languagesObscureLanguagesrare languagesRareLanguagesSamiSilbo GomeroSilboGomeroTaushiro languageTaushiroLanguageweird languagesWeirdLanguagesXhosaYoron languageYoronjimaYoronLanguageFri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Maldives Fishmonger]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/photo-of-the-day-maldives-fishmonger/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/photo-of-the-day-maldives-fishmonger/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/photo-of-the-day-maldives-fishmonger/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Photo of the day - Maldives fish
Not sure who is scarier in this photo: the enormous fish or the intimidating fishmonger. The deep saturated colors and sparse backdrop add to the intense scene. Remove the fish and it could be a set from a "Hostel" horror movie. Today's Photo Of The Day was taken by Flickr user Mark Fischer in Male, Maldives. Although it may not be thought of as a major urban center, Male is one of the most densely populated islands of the world, even greater than Manhattan or Hong Kong. The island nation has been in the news frequently in the past year for environment and political issues, as well as a short-lived (but much hyped) spa ban. Luxury resorts without massages? Now that could be really terrifying to some travelers.

Have a scary travel photo you want to share? Add it to the Gadling Flickr pool for another Photo Of The Day.

Photo Of The Day: Maldives Fishmonger originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fishfish marketFishMarketflickrHong KongislandsMaldivesmalemanhattanMark Fischerphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayThu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Search Of Harmony In Hong Kong]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/in-search-of-harmony-in-hong-kong/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/in-search-of-harmony-in-hong-kong/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/in-search-of-harmony-in-hong-kong/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Quest for Harmony in Hong KongWorld traveler and television personality Richard Bangs has a knack for finding adventure wherever he goes. His award winning program "Adventures with a Purpose" routinely sends him to the far corners of the planet where he immerses himself in the history and culture of the destination while taking part in a host of unique activities.

In a recent episode entitled "Quest for Harmony," Bangs visited the Pearl River Delta, a region that includes Hong Kong, Macau and portions of China's Guangdong Province. That particular show gave viewers a brief glimpse at all the many travel opportunities that exist throughout the area and, intrigued with what was shown, it left me wanting to know more. With that in mind, I recently sat down with Bill Flora, who was instrumental in getting Bangs to visit the Delta. Bill also happens to be the U.S. Director of Hong Kong Tourism, so as you can imagine, he has a lot to say about the region.

Gadling: The theme of "harmony" crops up often in this episode and it seems to play an important part in life in Hong Kong. How is that concept exhibited in the city?
Bill Flora: Finding harmony or balance is a universal theme in Asian culture and that is evident throughout Hong Kong as well. The city has a Yin and Yang to it that blends both high technology and nature surprisingly well. Amidst the towering skyscrapers and bright lights there is a peaceful serenity found in the city's parks and natural spaces. Life there is a wonderful blend of traditional values and modern sensibilities.

G: Hong Kong and the surrounding Pearl River Delta seem to offer something for just about every kind of traveler. Is that a major part of its appeal?
BF: Absolutely! Variety is definitely the key. Hong Kong is the type of city where you'll find a five-star restaurant on one corner, then walk around the block to discover an ancient temple on another. It is that mix of modern sophistication and traditional culture that makes it such an interesting place. Great shopping, a thriving nightlife, a sophisticated art scene and so much more - it's all there for visitors to experience for themselves.

Continue reading In Search Of Harmony In Hong Kong

In Search Of Harmony In Hong Kong originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelharmonyharmony hong kongHarmonyHongKongHong KongHongKongmacauPearl River DeltaPearlRiverDeltaRichard BangsRichardBangsThu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Vintage Turkish Taxis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/video-vintage-turkish-taxis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/video-vintage-turkish-taxis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/video-vintage-turkish-taxis/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Millions of people get around Istanbul each day via dolmuş, a shared taxi. Similar to the colectivo of Latin America or the dollar vans of New York City, a dolmuş is generally a mini-bus or van that follows a fixed route for a fixed price. At the beginning of the route, the bus waits until it is full of passengers (dolmuş means stuffed in Turkish) before departing. You hand your money (theoretically a share of a private taxi's rate, but usually 2-3 TL) up to the driver, and hop out whenever you get to your destination; there are rarely official bus stops.

The video above may look like it's from the 1950s, but it's actually from 1986. As recently as a few decades ago, the dolmuş vehicle of choice wasn't the large yellow van you see today, but classic American cars from the mid-century and pre-war. Some of the vintage cars were customized with a third bench to stuff in more passengers!

Thanks to Turcopedia for the links and info.

VIDEO: Vintage Turkish Taxis originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcarsclassic carsClassicCarscolectivodollar vanDollarVandolmusistanbulpublic transportationPublicTransportationtaxiturkeyvehiclevideovintageTue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

bridge on river kwaiHistory has never been my favorite subject, but once I began traveling in earnest, I discovered something. If I visited a destination, I usually became obsessed with its history or indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this in time to save the downward trajectory of my GPA when I was a student, but it's made me sound infinitely more worldly in daily life.

I found the JEATH War Museum in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, purely by accident. Anything historical pertaining to war is a subject I normally avoid - I'm a girl like that - with the exception of the "Platoon" soundtrack. Thus, the most I knew about "The Bridge on the River Kwai," which is located in Kanchanaburi, is how to whistle the tune. The town and bridge are actually located at the confluence of the Rivers Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, at the headwaters of the Maeklong (Mekong).

I ended up there because I had a few days to kill prior to flying home, and it's less than a two-hour bus ride west of Bangkok. Kanchanaburi sounded peaceful, and is a popular getaway for backpackers and Thai urbanites. The main activities are dining in the many "floating restaurants" on the river, taking cooking classes, hiking in beautiful Erawan National Park and sightseeing (more on that after the jump).

I ended up meeting two fun Australian girls at my riverfront guesthouse, and we proceeded to spend the next three days together. On our first afternoon, I asked them how they'd ended up in Kanchanaburi, and they told me they were there to visit the JEATH War Museum and pay tribute. I looked at them blankly.

"The what?" I asked. They looked at me with pity, thinking, like millions of Aussies before them, that the American educational system is an abysmal failure (no argument there).

"The Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, Holland War Museum," one of the girls said patiently. "Y'know, it's dedicated to the thousands of Allied POWs who died while constructing the Bridge and Death Railway from 1942 to 1943."

Cue crickets chirping.

Continue reading Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokBreakingNewsbridge on river kwaiBridgeOnRiverKwaibridgestonedeath railwayDeathRailwayerawan fallsErawan National ParkErawanFallsErawanNationalParkfamous bridgesFamousBridgesfloating restaurantsFloatingRestaurantsforced laborForcedLaborgenocide memorialsGenocideMemorialshellfire passHellfirePassimperial japanese armyImperialJapaneseArmyKanchanaburimaemomegan foxMeganFoxmilitary museumsMilitaryMuseumsMuseumMonthPOWPresident2008prison musemsPrisonMusemsps3river kwaiRiverKwaithai burma railwaythai cooking classesthai riversThaiBurmaRailwayThaiCookingClassesThaiRiverswar machinewar museumsWarMachineWarMuseumsworld war twoWorldWarTwoWWIIWWII museumsWwiiMuseumsMon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Torture Museum
Ah, the Good Old Days, when everyone lived in a perpetual Renaissance Festival quaffing ale and shouting "Huzzah!" It must have been wonderful.

Not!

People died young, the cities were filled with rats and open sewers, and God help you if you ever got arrested. You'd be taken to a torture chamber in order to "confess" while being subjected to various imaginative torture devices, like the rack shown here in a photo courtesy Jan Mehlich. It's from the torture exhibit in the Lubuska Land Museum in Zielona Góra, Poland. A victim would be tied to it and stretched until his limbs popped out of their sockets. The spikes on the cylinder would add an extra level of agony. This museum stands out among torture museums in that many of its objects were used in the local area.

Germany was a pretty rough place back in the Bad Old Days, and this has spawned several good torture museums in the country. The biggest is the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg, with 2,000 square meters of displays on torture, execution and medieval law. Nuremberg has a preserved torture chamber underneath city hall.

Italy was a rough place too, and you can find out more at the Criminal Museum in Rome, the Museo della Tortura housed in the Devil's Tower in San Gimignano and the Museum of Criminal Anthropology in Turin. The latter museum is interesting because it reflects the 19th century belief that a person's physical features, especially the shape of the skull, could show criminal proclivities. Hundreds of skulls, brains and death masks from executed criminals are on display, as well as the weapons they used in their crimes and the instruments of their demise.

Gallery: Torture Museums of the World

The gibbet displayed the rotting bodies of executed criminalsThe skull cracker removed heretical thoughtsEarly waterboarding, Inquisition Museum, LimaMask for gossips, RothenburgChain worn as punishment for cheating at gambling, Rothenburg

Continue reading Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History

Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimecrime preventionCrimePreventioncriminalcriminal interrogationCriminalInterrogationcriminalscriminologyEuropeEurope tourismEurope travelEuropeTourismEuropeTravelgrosshistoryinstruments of tortureInstrumentsOfTorturemedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesoddrenaissancescarystrangestrange museumsStrangeMuseumstorturetorture instrumentstorture museumtorture museumsTortureInstrumentsTortureMuseumTortureMuseumsweirdweird museumsWeirdMuseumsSun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Where Would You Travel Just to Eat?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/where-would-you-travel-just-to-eat/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/where-would-you-travel-just-to-eat/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/where-would-you-travel-just-to-eat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Where Would You Travel Just to Eat?It's a question that comes up again and again. Even more so in the last few years, as the industrialized world seems to become food obsessed. Not just with eating in general but also where it comes from (is it local?) and how it's grown. Our preoccupation with provenance is almost an existential crisis: it seems we have this growing need (no pun intended) to touch our food, to get closer to it, because technology is alienating us in an unprecedented way.

And so now, more than ever, we're traveling just to satisfy that craving - a simple desire and a deeper one. Okay, this is getting way too serious. The point is, when I attended a couple food-centric events recently for the Lucky Rice Festival and the James Beard Awards, both in New York, I asked the participating chefs and mixologists the question: where would you travel just to eat? Not surprisingly many of them were looking to Japan and Spain for their inspiration.

Here's how they all answered:

Continue reading Where Would You Travel Just to Eat?

Where Would You Travel Just to Eat? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityFri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 Extraordinary Islands To Visit On Your Next Vacation]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/10-extraordinary-islands-to-visit-on-your-next-vacation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/10-extraordinary-islands-to-visit-on-your-next-vacation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/10-extraordinary-islands-to-visit-on-your-next-vacation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

vacation islands

Summer is the time of island vacations. It is time to put as much distance between you and the real world as possible. It is time to stand outside of your everyday life and to see how it all looks from a paradise perspective. Here is a collection of islands for escape - places to recharge, gain perspective and explore. From an island in the land of the gods to a tropical Amsterdam at the edge of an ocean trench, each of these ten destinations provides something extraordinary.

Gallery: 10 Islands To Visit Next

SantoriniSantoriniSantoriniGili TGili T

Continue reading 10 Extraordinary Islands To Visit On Your Next Vacation

10 Extraordinary Islands To Visit On Your Next Vacation originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaborneoCorsicafrancegalapagosGiliIslandsGR 20Gr20greeceindonesiaislandislandsmalaysiamaldivespalauperhentianperhentian islandsPerhentianIslandssantoriniscuba divingScubaDivingSt. CroixSt.CroixtasmaniaUS Virgin IslandsusviUsVirginIslandsvacationvacation islandsVacationIslandsvirgin islandsVirginIslandsThu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 EST