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[Luxury Vacation Guide 2012: Baku, Azerbaijan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-baku-azerbaijan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-baku-azerbaijan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/luxury-vacation-guide-2012-baku-azerbaijan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Alternately called the Paris of the East and the Next Dubai, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is poised to become the Middle East's next big luxury travel destination.

Once the busiest harbor on the ancient Silk Road, Baku is the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. A recent flood of oil money has led to massive development in anticipation of a 2020 Olympics bid, and early 2012 will mark the opening of the Flame Towers, an iconic complex which will significantly alter the Baku skyline. With a design inspired by the natural gas-fueled fires that once sprung spontaneously from the Azerbaijan landscape, the towers will house offices, high-end apartments, and a new luxury property from Fairmont.

As a country, Azerbaijan is no stranger to progress, having been the first Muslim country to build operas, theatres, and a democratic republic. Baku's walled inner city, which contains Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, and the city's cultural agenda includes world-class ballet performances and philharmonic concerts. To boot, Lonely Planet recently ranked Baku one of the world's top destinations for urban nightlife, alongside Buenos Aires, Dubai, and Cape Town.



[flickr image via teuchterlad]

Luxury Vacation Guide 2012: Baku, Azerbaijan originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaazerbaijanbakucaspian seaCaspianSeacaucasuseuropeflame towersFlameTowersjessica maratiJessicaMaratiluxury travelLuxuryGuide2012LuxuryTravelmiddle eastMiddleEastnightlifeShirvanshahs PalaceShirvanshahsPalacesilk roadSilkRoadunescoMon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Introducing Far Europe and Beyond]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/17/introducing-far-europe-and-beyond/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/17/introducing-far-europe-and-beyond/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/17/introducing-far-europe-and-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

far europe and beyond

Far Europe and Beyond, a Gadling series in partnership with bmi (British Midland International) launches today.

Europe's eastern borders cannot be defined simply. The western, northern, and southern perimeters are easy: The Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Mediterranean provide those boundaries, respectively. It's the eastern border that is more difficult to pinpoint. There are two basic definitions of the eastern border of Europe: the Bosphorus, which divides Istanbul; and the Ural Mountains. The problem here is that there is a gap of around 1200 miles between the point where the Ural River hits the Caspian Sea and Istanbul.

The former definition leaves most of Turkey outside of Europe and makes it difficult to draw a continental border from the Bosphorus northward. If one assumes the latter definition, then a piece of western Kazakhstan is in Europe, but the continent's Eastern flank fails to have a fixed boundary once the Ural river empties into the Caspian Sea. Does Europe's border then get drawn along Russia's southern edge or does it include the former Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, along the Iranian border? Increasingly, this is the working definition of Europe, with inclusion of the Caucasian trio; it is the definition, more or less, that the BBC and the Economist endorse.

Continue reading Introducing Far Europe and Beyond

Introducing Far Europe and Beyond originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlmatyArmeniaAzerbaijanbakubeirutbishkekbmiBritish Midland InternationalBritishMidlandInternationaldamascuseuropefar europe and beyondFarEuropeAndBeyondgeorgiakazakhstanKyrgyzstanlebanonrepublic of georgiaRepublicOfGeorgiasyriaTbilisiYerevanMon, 17 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[10 countries Americans need advance visas to visit]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/17/10-countries-americans-need-advance-visas-to-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/17/10-countries-americans-need-advance-visas-to-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/17/10-countries-americans-need-advance-visas-to-visit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

advance visaWe live in an increasingly borderless world and we have access to many countries that were closed (or non-existent) 20 years ago. As reported earlier this week, Americans are especially lucky with access to 169 countries visa free. Still, there are still many countries that Americans need advance visas to visit. Visa applications and processing services can cost several hundreds of dollars and take a lot of time and energy to obtain, so figure in that into your travel planning but don't let it discourage you from visiting.

Nearly all countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Western Europe, and the Middle East will give you a visa free or for a fee on arrival. See below for our guide to countries you will need to apply for advance visas, along with fees, useful information and links to consular websites.

Continue reading 10 countries Americans need advance visas to visit

10 countries Americans need advance visas to visit originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advance visaadvance visasAdvanceVisaAdvanceVisasAfghanistanaustraliaAzerbaijanbelarusBhutanbrazilCentral AmericaCubaHong KongIndiairanMacauMiddle Eastnews:topic:travelNigeriaNorth KoreaParaguayrussiaSaudi ArabiaSurinameTurkeyVietnamvisavisa freeVisaFreevisasWestern EuropeWorldWed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

european passport stamps
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia.

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that European passport stamps have become harder and harder to get. The expansion of the Schengen zone has reduced the number of times tourists are compelled to show their passports to immigration officials. For most Americans on multi-country European itineraries, a passport will be stamped just twice: upon arrival and upon departure.

Where's the fun in that?

There's nothing wrong with enjoying your passport's stamps. They're souvenirs. So ignore the haters and treasure them. You won't be the first to sit at your desk alone, lovingly fingering your stamps while daydreaming of your next adventure. You won't be the last, either.

And if you are a passport stamp lover with a penchant for European travel, don't despair. There are plenty of places in Europe where visitors have to submit their travel documents to officials to receive stamps. Some countries, in fact, even require Americans to purchase full-page visas in advance.

The Western Balkans remain almost entirely outside of Schengen. Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all require visas for Americans, while Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia do not. Immigration officers at the borders of all of these countries, however, will stamp your passport when you enter and when you leave. Turkey provides visas on arrival. These cost €15. Among EU countries, the UK, Ireland, and Cyprus remain outside of Schengen for the time being, while Romania and Bulgaria will soon join it.

Continue reading Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport

Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albaniaArmeniaAzerbaijanbelarusBosnia-HerzegovinaBulgariacroatiacypruseuropeEuropean unionEuropeanUniongeorgiairelandkosovomacedoniamoldovaMontenegroPassportpassportsRomaniarussiaSan marinoSanMarinoSerbiaturkeyukukraineunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvisasWed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

travel to the USSRThis year is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union and 21 years since the reunification of Germany. While citizens of the USSR and GDR were unable to travel abroad and restricted in domestic travel, foreign travelers were permitted under a controlled environment. In the early nineties, if you were a foreigner looking to go abroad to the Eastern Europe or Central Asia, you called your travel agent and hoped to get approved for a visa and an escorted tour. After your trip, you'd brag about the passport stamps and complain about the food. Here's a look back at travel as it was for foreigners twenty years ago and today visiting the biggies of the former Eastern Bloc: the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Soviet Union/USSR (now: independent states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldovia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.)

Travel then: Before 1992, most tourists were only able to enter the Soviet Union with visas and travel itineraries provided by the state travel agency, Intourist. Intourist was founded by Joseph Stalin and also managed many of the USSR's accommodations. Like North Korea today, visitors' experiences were tightly controlled, peppered with propaganda, and anything but independent, with some travelers' conversations and actions recorded and reported. Read this fascinating trip report from a Fodor's community member who visited Russia in 1984 and a Chicago Tribune story with an Intourist guide after the glasnost policy was introduced.

Continue reading Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR

Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armeniaAzerbaijanbalticberlinddreast germanyeastern europeEasternEuropeEastGermanyestoniagdrgermanyintouristkazakhstankrygyzstanlatvialithuaniamoldovarussiasovietsoviet unionSovietUniontajikistanthenandnowThomasCookturkmenistanukraineussruzbekistanvisawallTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: More drugs found on cruise ship]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/12/breaking-more-drugs-found-on-cruise-ship/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/12/breaking-more-drugs-found-on-cruise-ship/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/12/breaking-more-drugs-found-on-cruise-ship/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

drugs found on cruise shipUPDATE: Less than a month ago we told you about the cruise line crew accused of smuggling drugs into the Port of Baltimore. Now we have learned that authorities found more drugs on the same ship.

When U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents boarded Royal Caribbean International's Enchantment of the Seas Tuesday, they had good reason. Last month agents found 700 grams of heroin and 300 grams of cocaine hidden in the waistband and shoes of the crew member, The drugs had been picked up from a Jamaican man in the Dominican Republic, brought on to the ship, to be sold once they reached the United States.

"If we already encountered an incident where drugs were discovered on the ship, we're more than likely going to take another look at the vessel further down the road," Steve Sapp, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the Baltimore Sun.

In this discovery, $94,000 worth of cocaine was found wrapped in duct tape by a drug-sniffing dog in a common area of the ship, accessible by any crew member. No arrests have been made.

"It could be just about anybody," Sapp said. "It would be really difficult for us to bring in everyone for an interview."

This is not good news for Royal Caribbean or the cruise industry. The ongoing investigation aboard Enchantment of the Seas indicates that Federal authorities are beginning to target cruise ships for drug smuggling operations. Frequently visiting Caribbean islands where drugs are plentiful and easily distributed, the supply side of smuggling has minimal risk. Crew members with access to all areas of ships can find plenty of places to hide the contraband.

Last week's raid on MSC Cruises Poesia and the would-be high times Jam Fest cruise added a different but similar focus, targeting passengers.

Royal Caribbean, along with other cruise lines, maintains a zero tolerance policy for illegal drugs on their ships. Look for TSA-like security precautions on cruise ships in the near future. This is inevitable. The cruise industry has always been a model for insuring the safety and security of passengers and crew at sea. This recent news, combined with their intense ongoing commitment to safety and security will bring new procedures.

It's just a matter of which line will be first.

Flickr photo by anythiene

View Poll

Breaking: More drugs found on cruise ship originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cruise industryCruiseIndustrydrug smugglingdrugsDrugSmugglingEnchantment of the SeasEnchantmentOfTheSeasMSC CruisesMscCruisesPoesiaroyal caribbeanRoyalCaribbeansafety at seaSafetyAtSeaWed, 12 Jan 2011 04:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Vote for the new Seven Wonders of Nature]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/21/vote-for-the-new-seven-wonders-of-nature/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/21/vote-for-the-new-seven-wonders-of-nature/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/21/vote-for-the-new-seven-wonders-of-nature/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Seven Wonder of NatureA few years back there was an organized effort to select a New Seven Wonders of the World, which resulted in a list of seven amazing places that joined the Great Pyramids on a modern list of spectacular destinations. Now, a similar effort is being made to select a New Seven Wonders of Nature as well.

The process began not long after naming the New Seven Wonders, with more than 440 locations, in 200 countries being nominated. That list was eventually whittled down to 77 locations for the second round of voting, which resulted in 28 finalists which are now being considered.

Amongst the finalist are such iconic places as The Amazon Rainforest in South America, the Grand Canyon in the U.S., and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Those locations are well known and are likely to earn a spot on the list, although there are a few destinations that are just as spectacular, but are lesser known to the genearl public. Those places include Milford Sound in New Zealand, the Mud Volcanoes of Azerbaijan, and Jeju Island in Korea.

The organizers of the competition have made it easy to cast your votes for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, but just in case you need a little help, they've created a video showing you just how to make your selections. Voting will continue in 2011, with the officiall annoucement expected to come on November 11. (11/11/11)

If I were pressed to make my choices, my Seven Wonders would include The Amazon, The Great Barrier Reef, The Galapagos Islands, The Grand Canyon, Kilimanjaro, Angel Falls, and Jeju Island. What are yours picks?

Vote for the new Seven Wonders of Nature originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelAmazon Rainforestamazon riverAmazonRainforestAmazonRiverangel fallsAngelFallsgalapagosgalapagos islandsGalapagosIslandsGrand CanyonGrandCanyongreat barrier reefGreatBarrierReefJejuJeju IslandJejuIslandkilimanjaromilford soundMilfordSoundmud volcanoesMudVolcanoesseven wondersseven wonders of natureSeven Wonders of the WorldSeven Wonders of WorldSevenWondersSevenWondersOfNatureSevenWondersOfTheWorldSevenWondersOfWorldSun, 21 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Azerbaijan's visa hassles]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/azerbaijan-visa/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/azerbaijan-visa/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/azerbaijan-visa/#commentsFiled under: ,



Prior to mid-October, as Andrew Mueller notes in today's Monocolumn, visitors entering Azerbaijan without visas at capital Baku's Heydar Aliyev Airport had to engage in a bizarre hop from booth to booth to obtain their visas. First, they had to stand in a line to get a passport stamp, then stand in another line to apply for a visa, then wait for the visa to be issued, and then stand in line again to have the visa inspected.

Unnecessary hassles like these are reminiscent of Soviet-era bureaucracy. They feel to many travelers like punishment, even when the reciprocal hassles (those faced by citizens of the country in question trying to enter the visitor's country) are harsher and require greater advance planning.

Then, in the middle of October, Azerbaijan suddenly changed its visa regime, requiring visitors to obtain visas at the country's embassies in advance. This requirement is not particularly annoying for tourists, who usually have time to drop their passports off at embassies prior to travel, but it's a huge hassle for business travelers who often need to travel at the drop of a hat.

Mueller instructively contrasts Azerbaijan's visa regime tightening with neighbor Georgia's loosening of visa requirements. Georgia now offers visa-free access to the country for citizens of close to half the world's nations, and the length of stay following entrance has been extended to a year from 90 days.

Here's the rub: Azerbaijan is perfectly situated to take advantage of new waves of tourism. Interest in the country is growing, air routes from Europe are quite good, facilities for visitors are expanding, and oil money has Baku flush with venues for visitors to spend money.

But if the country makes it harder for people to visit, fewer will show up.

For the record, Monocle's daily Monocolumn is a fantastic briefing courtesy of the magazine's correspondents and contributors from around the world.

[Story source: Andrew Mueller, Monocle; photo credit: indigoprime / Flickr]

Azerbaijan's visa hassles originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AzerbaijanbakumonoclevisasFri, 29 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AirBaltic expands, spruces up]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/03/airbaltic-expands-spruces-up/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/03/airbaltic-expands-spruces-up/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/03/airbaltic-expands-spruces-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, Latvian airline AirBaltic launched two new routes: Riga-Madrid and Riga-Beirut.

Riga-based AirBaltic is an airline to watch. Little known in North America, the airline is notable for its low starting fares and the inclusion of most of Europe's most popular tourist destinations on its route map. But what really sets the airline apart from the pack is its range of underserved destinations across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Nordic countries.

These less well-served destinations include Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan in the Caucasus; Almaty, Dushanbe, and Tashkent in Central Asia; Amman, Beirut, Dubai, and Tel Aviv in the Middle East; and destinations like Kuopio, Tromsø, and Visby across Nordic Europe.

The catch is that most routes fly in and out of Riga, a beautiful city that is sadly not exactly top-of-mind among most visitors to Europe. While AirBaltic's fabulous range of destinations can best be accessed from a starting-point in the Baltics or the Nordic countries, the airline's fares for connecting flights from cities across Western Europe can also be quite competitive.

In anticipation, no doubt, of the summer traffic to come, AirBaltic also upgraded its site yesterday. The visual changes are minimal, but they go some way toward making the site more streamlined and enjoyable to peruse.

(Image: Flickr/Londo_Mollari)

AirBaltic expands, spruces up originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air balticAirBalticbudget airlinesBudgetAirlinescaucasuscentral asiaCentralAsialatviamiddle eastMiddleEastnordic europeNordicEuroperigaThu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (12/23/09)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/23/photo-of-the-day-12-23-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/23/photo-of-the-day-12-23-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/23/photo-of-the-day-12-23-09/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When I saw this photo last week while looking for Santas from around the world, I knew I'd found today's Photo of the Day. Although this fellow appears among the other Santas, here he is again-- center stage.

The cultural mix of this Santa shot is superb. Taken by Carpetblogger in Azerbaijan, this is an excellent look at how elements of culture travel. As Carpetblogger explains, although the country is predominately Muslim, some aspects of secular Christian culture are celebrated. Santa is one of those boundary crossers.

If you have an interesting shot of cultural boundary crossing, send it our way at Gadling's Flickr Photo Pool. It could be chosen as Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (12/23/09) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AzerbaijanChristiancultureholidayholiday photosHolidayPhotosiconsislammuslimphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayredSanta clausSantaClaussecularSt. NickSt.NickWed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/18/santa-crawl-around-the-world-ho-ho-ho-from-gadling-to-you/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/18/santa-crawl-around-the-world-ho-ho-ho-from-gadling-to-you/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/18/santa-crawl-around-the-world-ho-ho-ho-from-gadling-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last Saturday night, Times Square was literally a Santa free for all. I first noticed the Santa madness as I approached from the direction of the Empire State Building while walking along Broadway. Along the way, a group of five Santas passed me. Then another group of Santas strolled by. Then there was a lone Santa and a Santa with Mrs. Claus. There were also elves.

By the time I reached 42nd Street, I wondered if this was some Improv Everywhere stunt. Nope. This was the annual Santa pub crawl where people dress like Santa Claus--some better than others, and wander the streets stopping to pop into a bar now and then or indulge a tourist with a photo op.

These hundreds of jolly Santas provided a surprising night of entertainment and an unusual taste of holiday cheer. There's nothing quite like seeing Santa Claus taking pictures of tourists who are flanked by other Santas. The guy with the fake ear locks dressed up like a Jewish Santa was my favorite version.

Here are 15 more shots of Santa's around the world--some in surprising places. Each was taken by a traveler who happened by. From Gadling to you, here's another version of a Santa crawl. Ho! ho! ho! and enjoy.

Continue reading Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you

Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmsterdamBethlehem IsraelBethlehemIsraelColumbus zooColumbusZooCopenhagenEmpire State BuildingEmpireStateBuildingfestivegood willGoodWillho chi minh cityHoChiMinhCityholiday spiritHolidaySpirithumorjohannesburgLondonmerry christmasMerryChristmasNew York CityNewYorkCitySanta ClausSantaClausSouth AfricaSouthAfricaSydneyTaronga ZooTarongaZooTate GalleryTate ModernTateGalleryTateModernTimes SquareTimesSquareUShaka Marine World DurbanUshakaMarineWorldDurbanFri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 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[New York cigarettes to cost 9 dollars a pack. In Kazkhstan, the price increases to 32 cents.]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/05/new-york-cigarettes-to-cost-9-a-pack-in-kazkhstan-the-price/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/05/new-york-cigarettes-to-cost-9-a-pack-in-kazkhstan-the-price/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/05/new-york-cigarettes-to-cost-9-a-pack-in-kazkhstan-the-price/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Smokers in New York already face some of the highest prices for cigarettes in the country. But last Wednesday, the New York legislature approved a $1.25 tax hike on cigarettes, meaning that taxes alone on a pack in New York are a whopping $4.25, not including a roughly 8% sales tax. Add it all up and a pack of smokes in New York is likely to cost around $9.00. Ouch!

This all got me thinking: Where in the world are cigarettes the cheapest? And more importantly, how can I smuggle a couple hundred thousand packs into New York and sell them for a handsome profit? I think I've more or less discovered the answer to the first question, but I'm still working on the second.

A table produced by the World Health Organization (maybe a couple years old) shows that one pack of Marlboros or an "equivalent international brand" costs about $1.70 in Argentina. As much as I'd love to spend some time in Buenos Aires, I have a feeling I can track down a cheaper pack.

In China, an international brand costs about $1.57, which is sneaking down into my price range. The same thing in Ghana will run about a buck-forty. Cigs in Egypt look to be about $1.17, and those in Georgia are a dollar even. But we can do better than that.

The cheapest "international brand" smokes are to be found in Indonesia, where even fetuses are known to light up every now and then. A pack in the steamy Southeast Asian nation will run you a cool $.62. I probably have enough in my couch cushions for at least a couple.

But enough of this hoity-toity "name brand" crap. Let's look at some prices for the hard stuff-- the kind of violent cigarettes that leave open sores in the mouths and throats of all those who dare to inhale.

Continue reading New York cigarettes to cost 9 dollars a pack. In Kazkhstan, the price increases to 32 cents.

New York cigarettes to cost 9 dollars a pack. In Kazkhstan, the price increases to 32 cents. originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Help Gadling buy this woman a cow]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/help-gadling-buy-this-woman-a-cow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/help-gadling-buy-this-woman-a-cow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/help-gadling-buy-this-woman-a-cow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you've ever traveled to a third world country and fell in love with its people, you know that feeling of guilt that inevitably arises when you realize just how difficult life can be for those less privileged than you.

Most travelers caught up in this epiphany often wonder what they can do to help, how can they give something back to the wonderful locals who made their trip so memorable? Unfortunately, so many of us return from our travels with good intentions, but poor follow-through.

If this happens to be you, than today is your lucky day; Gadling is here to help and it's not going to cost you a thing.

Just in time for the Holidays, Gadling is teaming up with Kiva, a unique non-profit that provides micro loans to "help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence."

The concept is simple. Local entrepreneurs contact Kiva's field partners around the globe requesting small loans to help out their businesses--which are often not much more than a single cow or perhaps a roadside stand selling melons. The field partners determine risk, and if acceptable, will then post a description of the loan on the Kiva website. In addition, the field partners will also post information about the borrower, thus adding a human face to the transaction.

Continue reading Help Gadling buy this woman a cow

Help Gadling buy this woman a cow originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidcharitydonatefeaturedgiving backGivingBackmicro fincancemicro loansMicroFincanceMicroLoansthird worldThirdWorldThu, 13 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Moscow's best outdoor markets]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/11/05/moscow-s-best-outdoor-markets/http://www.gadling.com/2007/11/05/moscow-s-best-outdoor-markets/http://www.gadling.com/2007/11/05/moscow-s-best-outdoor-markets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There is nothing quite like a Russian outdoor market.

Imagine a place where produce and goods from the largest country in the world come together in a bounty of pleasure. Throw in tastiness from the former soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucuses, and you've got a veritable cornucopia of mouth-watering, eye-popping goods which make Moscow markets some of the very best in the world.

I've spent hours wandering through their spectacular array of eye candy, marveling over Siberian tomatoes, uzbek melons, dried fruit from Kazakhstan, hard cheese from Georgia, honey from Azerbaijan, and more. Man, it's unfathomable how people ever went hungry in the former Soviet Union!

While most of these markets do not appear in your typical Moscow guidebook, they are most definitely worth a visit if you have the time. Just wandering around will give you a feeling for the breadth of the former USSR and the myriad of cultures and regional dishes spread throughout.

The Moscow Times has recently published a great article detailing Moscow's very best outdoor markets and what one can expect when visiting. If you've got any type of palate whatsoever, reading through their description of goods for sale will make your mouth water up. As it did mine. Mmmm...

Moscow's best outdoor markets originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:16:00 EST<![CDATA[New train route to connect Turkey with Georgia and Azerbaijan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/30/new-train-route-to-connect-turkey-with-georgia-and-azerbaijan/http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/30/new-train-route-to-connect-turkey-with-georgia-and-azerbaijan/http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/30/new-train-route-to-connect-turkey-with-georgia-and-azerbaijan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I always get excited when new rail routes open up.

In my opinion, there is no better way to travel than by train. And when countries that are normally difficult to traverse by other means suddenly open up a new rail route, it makes travel and exploration all that much easier.

This will be the case in 2009 when work is completed on a rail link that will connect the Turkish city of Kars to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and onwards to China. The $600 million project, which was approved early this year, sadly excludes Armenia--a political oversight blamed on continued bad relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Nonetheless, the rail project opens up a very exciting new route that is no longer dependent on local buses and decrepit ferries. Instead, adventurous travelers can now embark on a simple rail journey through some very difficult, yet extremely rewarding countries.

New train route to connect Turkey with Georgia and Azerbaijan originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Kazakhstan Replacing Cyrillic Alphabet with Latin One]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/03/kazakhstan-replacing-cyrillic-alphabet-with-latin-one/http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/03/kazakhstan-replacing-cyrillic-alphabet-with-latin-one/http://www.gadling.com/2007/10/03/kazakhstan-replacing-cyrillic-alphabet-with-latin-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One of the biggest challenges of traveling through the former Soviet Union is tying to decipher the Cyrillic alphabet. The unnerving thing is that it shares many letters with the Latin alphabet, yet they are pronounced very differently. Like a "B" having a "V" sound, for example. This makes it very challenging to find Lvov on a map when it is actually spelled "????."

Surprisingly, the Cyrillic alphabet is actually quite easy to learn and can be done so on your plane ride over.

But don't spend too much time on it. Since the fall of communism, a number of countries have transitioned away from the Cyrillic alphabet and have replaced it with the Latin one, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Most recently, Kazakhstan has announced their intention to do so as well. The government anticipates it will take 12-15 years to reeducate the public and basically replace every sign and official document in existence. Man! Imagine growing up with one alphabet and suddenly having to change it mid-life. That must be tough. But than again, Kazakhs have already suffered through this in 1940 when the Soviets forced Cyrillic upon them.

As for us foreigners visiting the country, travel will be just a little bit easier with a more familiar alphabet at our service.

Kazakhstan Replacing Cyrillic Alphabet with Latin One originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cyrillic alphabetCyrillicAlphabetKazakh LangaugeKazakhLangaugeWed, 03 Oct 2007 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 "Worst Polluted Places" of 2007]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/09/13/top-10-worst-polluted-places-of-2007/http://www.gadling.com/2007/09/13/top-10-worst-polluted-places-of-2007/http://www.gadling.com/2007/09/13/top-10-worst-polluted-places-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Blacksmith Institute yesterday released a new list of the "Worst Polluted Places" in the world. This year the places spread out over 7 countries and effect over 12-million people. In Vapi, India, for instance, "Local produce has been found to contain up to 60 times more heavy metals (copper, chromium, cadmium, zinc, nickel, lead, iron) than non-contaminated produce in control groups," according to the Blacksmith Institute. Appetizing. Here's a list of the top 10 sites, along with a map containing the "dirty thirty."
  • Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
  • Linfen, China
  • Tianying, China
  • Sukinda, India
  • Vapi, India
  • La Oroya, Peru
  • Dzerzhinsk, Russia
  • Norilsk, Russia
  • Chernobyl, Ukraine
  • Kabwe, Zambia.

View Larger Map

Top 10 "Worst Polluted Places" of 2007 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChernobylDzerzhinskKabweLa OroyaLaOroyaLinfenNorilskSukindaSumgayitTianyingVapiworst-polluted-placesThu, 13 Sep 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Go Now before They're Gone: Conde Nast Traveler's 20 Most Threatened Places]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/17/go-now-before-they-re-gone-conde-nast-traveler-s-20-most-threat/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/17/go-now-before-they-re-gone-conde-nast-traveler-s-20-most-threat/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/17/go-now-before-they-re-gone-conde-nast-traveler-s-20-most-threat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Travel, on occasion, takes on apocalyptic proportions.

This is a fragile world we live in, after all, and it is no secret that marvelous destinations which beckon our travel spirit simply may not be around for much longer. Or, at the very least, will be so damaged by pollution, global warming, or the heavy hand of man that they will no longer be worth seeing.

This "see-them-before-they're gone" theme pops up every once in a while in travel literature and when it does, we make sure to cover it for two reasons; we want you to go before they're gone and we want you to do something to help prevent them from disappearing.

This month's Conde Nast Traveler (May) has put together one of the very best compilations of "Places to see before they Die." With an introduction by travel legend Pico Iyer, Conde Nast Traveler jumps into 20 of the most threatened locations around the globe, which, they tell us, "are just a fraction of those vanishing before our eyes."

Six of the locations warrant an entire page in the print edition describing "what's at stake," "the threat," "best-case scenario," and "worst-case scenario."

And don't think these are obscure places you'd probably never visit. Many of these you've heard of before and even though you think you may not want to visit, you're wrong.

The list is sad and poignant and includes such places as the Borneo rain forest, the walled city of Baku (Azerbaijan), the Jewish quarter in Budapest, the Florida Everglades, Tibet, the Galapagos Islands, Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), and more.

Take a moment and read about these places before they are written about only in the history books.

Go Now before They're Gone: Conde Nast Traveler's 20 Most Threatened Places originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 May 2007 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 17 May 2007 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Nagorno-Karabakh: A War Zone worth Visiting?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/05/nagorno-karabakh-a-war-zone-worth-visiting/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/05/nagorno-karabakh-a-war-zone-worth-visiting/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/05/nagorno-karabakh-a-war-zone-worth-visiting/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's not so often that one hears about travel to Nagorno-Karabakh. After all, this was hell on earth during the 1990s when regional conflict ripped it apart as Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for control of this parcel of land--a predominantly Armenian enclave located in Azerbaijan.

I'd like to say that everything has been resolved and that peace has settled in the disputed region, but this is simply not true. Armenia technically won the war, but there are constant rumblings from neighboring Azerbaijan that the issue is far from dead.

Currently, there is peace in Nagorno-Karabakh. Is this a temporary peace between wars? Who knows? But if you want to visit, now would be a good time.

Yasha Levine, writing for The Exile did so last summer and sheds some interesting insights on the conflict and the present mindset dominating the region. Most importantly, he also reveals a stunning landscape that I had always envisioned as extraordinarily desolate. I'll leave you with a nice quote describing what he came across and if you get out of it what I got out of it, Nagorno-Karabakh just might be bumped up your list of future travel plans.

"Nagorno-Karabakh was worth fighting for. The place is like a condensed version of the best scenery of Northern California and the Sierra Nevadas put together: 6,000 ft mountains, rolling golden-sunburned pastures, sandstone hills, steep limestone cliffs, and mountain streams."

Nagorno-Karabakh: A War Zone worth Visiting? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 May 2007 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 05 May 2007 07:33:00 EST