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[Impact of climate change on the Himalaya far less than estimated]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/impact-of-climate-change-on-the-himalaya-far-less-than-estimated/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/impact-of-climate-change-on-the-himalaya-far-less-than-estimated/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/impact-of-climate-change-on-the-himalaya-far-less-than-estimated/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Climate change in the Himalaya is far less than previoiusly thoughtA new climate change study, released this past Thursday, has surprised some experts and blown some major holes in the doom and gloom predictions that have been given out in recent years. In fact, the new study, which was published in the scientific journal Nature, found that there has been virtually no ice lost in the Himalaya over the past decade, which runs contrary to reports that many climatologists have given over that same time period.

In this new study, satellites were used for the first time to track the loss of ice in glaciers and the polar ice caps. Previously, teams of scientists would have to visit the glaciers themselves, and measure the changes manually. This was a time consuming and challenging process, and only allowed them to visit a few locations. The satellites gave researchers the opportunity to see the big picture more fully, and what they found was quite surprising.

Previous climate change studies estimated that the loss of ice in the Himalaya Mountains was quickly approaching 50 billion tons per year, but the satellites showed that the actual loss was closer to 4 billion tons annually, which one scientist in the study labeled as insignificant. That means that while the glaciers are indeed still melting, they are doing it at a far less alarming rate than we've been led to believe in the past. Researchers went on to say that the contribution to rising sea levels, from these melting glaciers and the ice caps, was less than half what had been predicted by other recent reports.

This research project began in 2003 and ran through 2010, giving the scientists involved an opportunity to observe changes over a substantial amount of time. Their findings fly in the face of predictions from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which once predicted that the Himalayan glaciers could be completely gone by 2035, a statement they were forced to retract later.

All of these different climate change reports just indicate to me that we really don't know what the hell is going on with our planet.

Impact of climate change on the Himalaya far less than estimated originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"This guy over here has been tagged three times mate."

The dive instructor on our Whitsunday Islands cruise peels off his neoprene gloves and shows us a slight scar located just above the knuckle of his right thumb.

"Luckily every time they got me it was in the hand or the foot", he claims. "If they'd gotten me on the bloody torso I'd be a gonner."

As someone who has worked on charter boats for a number of years, I know that telling tall tales to tourists just comes with the job. True story or not, I know that the threat is real nonetheless. A dreamy island chain set at the southern tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands from November through April are home to one of the world's deadliest creatures: the irukandji jellyfish.

Similar to a box jellyfish, the tiny irukandji measure only 2.5 centimeters across and have tentacles that pack more venom than the combined amount of 100 cobras. Although actual irukandji fatalities are rare, one Australian teen actually reported he wishes he were dead during a recent irukandji attack.

For this very reason many towns and resorts on the Queensland coast have massive salt water swimming lagoons or fresh pools which serve as refreshing watering holes (and nighttime love hideouts for inebriated backpackers) during the annual irukandji season.

Yet, for some reason, I decided it was still a good idea to go snorkeling. In the ocean. In the Whitsunday Islands. In the peak of irukandji season.

A bit sketchy? Yes. But is it really that dangerous? Not really. Although the safest way to keep from being stung by a massively poisonous jellyfish is to abstain from the ocean completely, for those still harboring fantasies of gliding above a giant purple clam or catching a rare sighting of a giant Napoleon wrasse, the easiest thing thing to do is to simply don a stinger suit.

Wait. A stinger suit? What's a stinger suit?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Snorkeling with irukandji, one of the deadliest animals on Earth

Vagabond Tales: Snorkeling with irukandji, one of the deadliest animals on Earth originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airlie Beach snorkelingAirlieBeachSnorkelingAustralia animals that can kill youAustraliaAnimalsThatCanKillYoubox jellyfishBoxJellyfishdive whitsundayDiveWhitsundayirukandjisnorkel whisundaySnorkelWhisundaystinger suits AustraliaStingerSuitsAustraliavagabondtaleswhitsunday islandswhitsunday islands snorkelWhitsundayIslandsWhitsundayIslandsSnorkelworlds deadliest animalsWorldsDeadliestAnimalsSat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten random observations about Greece]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/ten-random-observations-about-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/ten-random-observations-about-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/ten-random-observations-about-greece/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GreeceWhile researching my travel series on Greece I noticed some interesting things that didn't fit into any of the articles. Some of these observations may be obvious to those more familiar with Greece, but odd first impressions are one of the fun things about travel!

1. Flying low over the Aegean as we made our descent into Athens airport, I swear I saw dolphins playing in the blue waters. We were still high enough that they were only visible as dots, but there was a whole group of these dots appearing and reappearing in the water, as if they were coming up and diving. Has anyone else seen this?

2. Like many countries, Greece has a smoking ban in public buildings. It's often ignored, especially in bars and cafes. Some places even have ash trays on the tables.

3. I always like hearing the local music, in my hotel I tuned into MAD TV, a music video station. I discovered lots of Greek stars I'd never heard of (is DEMY hot or what!?) and noticed a strange thing--cans of Red Bull appear in almost all their music videos. Even the lovely DEMY knocks one back in her latest video. Did Red Bull buy up Greek music or just MAD TV?

4. Greece is very visitor-friendly by having bilingual signs in all the touristy areas. This is a bit of a trap, however, because as soon as you get used to them and go someplace a bit out of the way, you'll be staring at Greek-only signs.

5. Have no fear, you can always learn the Greek alphabet. Many of the letters are the same as our alphabet and you're already familiar with some of the others. Learning the Greek alphabet takes less than an hour and you'll discover so many words that are the same or close enough to English that the hour will be well spent.

6. Greek can still throw you some curve balls. For a while I thought "ne" meant "no" since it's similar to so many other "no" words (nein, nyet, non). In fact it means yes.

7. Athens has a large and active Couchsurfing community. Get in touch before you go and they'll show you some awesome nightlife!

8. Small Orthodox Christian shrines can be found everywhere. Some are the size of a mailbox with only room enough for a little icon and a candle. These are often found beside roads. Others are little buildings that can fit a dozen or so people. They're tucked away wherever there's room. Dealerships for these these ready-made churches look like mobile home lots.

9. I saw a lot of graffiti, especially in the smaller towns, that was actually advertising for local businesses. I'm not sure if the businesses themselves are tagging concrete bridges and blank walls or if it's their loyal customers, but I suppose it's a cheap way to advertise during times of financial cutbacks.

10. Speaking of graffiti, my neighborhood in Madrid is covered with the tag "farlopa", which is slang for cocaine in Spanish. Walking through the Exarchia neighborhood in Athens one night I saw the "farlopa" tag. Same word, same style. I guess the tagger went on a road trip!


For something a bit more adventurous, check out my ten random observations about Ethiopia!

Ten random observations about Greece originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AthensAthens nightlifeAthensNightlifecinematicalCouchsurfingdolphindolphinsfarleyfunnygraffitiGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreek cultureGreek economyGreek languageGreek musicgreek orthodox churchGreek smoking banGreekCultureGreekEconomyGreekLanguageGreekMusicGreekOrthodoxChurchGreekSmokingBanlearning GreekLearningGreekMAD TVMadTvoddpastinperilrandomsmoking bansmoking bansSmokingBanSmokingBansstrangeweirdSat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mistra, GreeceOn a steep hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta in southwestern Greece stands the last capital of the Roman Empire.

In 395 AD, beset by enemies, the empire split into western and eastern halves. The Western Roman Empire was soon overwhelmed. The east flourished. Its capital was at Constantinople, modern Istanbul. Known as the Byzantine Empire, it developed a distinctive style of art and architecture and protected the Greek Orthodox Church of its citizens.

Byzantium declined as civilizations always do, and suffered a serious blow during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The Crusaders, who had originally set off to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims, decided to capture Constantinople instead. With its capital gone, Byzantium shattered into three small states. Byzantine art and the Greek Orthodox Church survived.

The Crusaders built an imposing castle on the summit of a hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta, one of a number of fortresses to protect their new domains. That didn't work. The Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos recaptured Constantinople and steadily pushed the Crusaders out of the lands they had conquered. The castle at Mistra was handed over to the Byzantines in 1262 and a fortified city gradually began to take shape around it. Mistra became the regional capital of the Morea, as the Peloponnese was then called.

The Palaeologian dynasty was the last to rule the Roman Empire. It was a time of political and economic decline, with the Turks pushing in from the east, the Venetians dominating trade, and numerous other enemies nibbling away at the borders. Morea was one of the last wealthy regions of Byzantium and despite the empire's troubles witnessed a renaissance in art, learning, and culture.

Mistra is only seven kilometers outside of Sparta. It's an easy walk but I was anxious to start my visit and so I took a taxi and decided I'd walk back through the olive groves. After a week of cloudy, cold weather, the sky had cleared and the air was cool and pleasant. The winding road up the hill is dominated by the massive town wall. Passing through the gate, I found myself walking along steep, narrow lanes between the remnants of homes, palaces, and churches. Several of these Orthodox houses of worship are still open.

These churches are deceptive. On the outside they are prettily made with patterned brick and a series of small domes and half domes around a large central dome. It's inside that they show their true splendor. Frescoes cover the walls, domes, and pillars. Every available space is decorated with Biblical scenes and images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, all painted in a rich but somber style.
Mistra, Greece

Gallery: Mistra

Mistra from the distance with the Teygetus mountains behindThe city wallLooking up the hill toward the castle

Continue reading Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece

Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectureartart historyArtHistoryByzantineByzantine artByzantineArtByzantineEmpireByzantiumcastlecastlesChristianitychurch frescoesChurchFrescoesConstantinoplecrusadecrusadersdespotate of the MoreaDespotateOfTheMoreafall of ConstantinopleFallOfConstantinoplefourth crusadeFourthCrusadefrescofrescoesghost townghost townsGhostTownGhostTownsGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreekGreek orthodox ChurchGreekOrthodoxChurchhistory of religonHistoryOfReligoniconiconsmedievalmedieval architecturemedieval churchmedieval churchesmedieval religionMedievalArchitectureMedievalChurchMedievalChurchesMedievalReligionmiddle agesMiddleAgesMistraMistrasMoreaMystraMystrasPalaeologoipastinperilPeloponnesereligionreligonSpartaVale of SpartaValeOfSpartaFri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



There aren't many places where you feel the urge to wear your wedding ring around your neck and begin dodging fictional forces of evil.

New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, however, is exactly one of those places.

As anyone who has been to a movie theater in the last ten years probably knows, New Zealand was the setting for the epically popular Lord of the Rings trilogy which introduced us to the adventures of Middle Earth.

Arguably one of the best known movie series of an entire generation, the movie saga has simultaneously done wonders for the New Zealand tourism economy by displaying the country's enchanting and other worldly scenery to a global audience of millions. While Middle Earth tourism has sculpted out its own niche for diehard fans (my 2012 New Zealand road atlas, for example, points out where each scene was filmed), as a casual viewer there are only a few place names I actually recognize.

One of these, of course, is Mt. Doom, and as I set out from the campervan into the volcanic cinder of the Tongariro Crossing-one of New Zealand's most heavily trafficked walks-I found myself standing directly beneath it.

So what exactly is Mt. Doom?

Well, to begin, its real name is Mt. Ngauruhoe, it is 7,516 ft. high, and from the best I could tell there aren't any quivering, flaming black eyes located anywhere near it. While Mt. Ngauruhoe doubled as Mt. Doom, the surrounding bits of Tongariro National Park provided the scenery for Mordor, the fiery and terrifying volcanic wasteland that serves as the home of evil.

As it happens, Tongariro is actually pretty cold, even during the summer months. Lacing up my hiking boots at 6am with about 100 other trekkers, the morning dew had frozen and blanketed the campervan beneath a thin layer of frost.

"Weird", I thought. "There's not supposed to be snow in Mordor."

Continue reading Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park

Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best hikes in New ZealandBestHikesInNewZealandChateau TongariroChateauTongariroFreedomtoroamHike the Tongariro CrossingHikeTheTongariroCrossingNew Zealand Lord of the Rings TourismNew Zealand travelNewZealandLordOfTheRingsTourismNewZealandTravelTongariro Nationaal ParkTongariroNationaalParkwhere is MordorWhereIsMordorFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Anyone who has visited Thailand will recognize the word Chang.

The national beer of Thailand, the over sized green bottles are found everywhere from the markets of Chiang Mai to the bars of Bangkok's Khao San Road. In the Thai language, however, Chang does not mean beer. It means elephant. Hence the ornately drawn white elephant placed prominently on the bottle.

Another Thai word you may be familiar with is the word koh (also spelled ko). Ask anyone who just returned from Thailand about their trip, and they'll rattle the word off as if they're trying to remove a hairball.

"Oh the trip was great. We visited Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, Koh Mak, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui" etc.

Koh, as it turns out, is not the Thai word for hairball, but rather, it is the Thai word for island.
Put the two together, Koh and Chang, and what you are left with is Elephant Island, a nod to the fact that when viewed from the sea, the island appears to have the same profile as an elephant lying down. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that the lush and mountainous island of Koh Chang is one of Thailand's premier locations for riding elephants.

Though there are many places around the world where you can rest on top of a moving pachyderm, what's unique about Koh Chang is that it's the first place I've seen where you don't just get to ride on top of an elephant, but you go swimming with it as well.

Wait. Swimming with an elephant? This sounds dangerous. They're the largest living land mammal on planet Earth, and you want to go jump into a watering hole with them?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand

Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbest island in ThailandBestIslandInThailandbudget-travelelephantsKoh ChangKoh Chang elephantsKohChangKohChangElephantsride elephants ThailandRideElephantsThailandswim with elephantsswim+with+elephants+thailandswimming with elephantsSwimmingWithElephantsSwimWithElephantsswimwithelephantsthailandthailandThailand travelThailandTravelvagabondtalesThu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Disneyland 1957]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



This footage of Disneyland 1957 was previously unreleased until recently. The film was cleaned up, edited, and paired with music, but all of the images are original. In 1957, the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California wasn't even yet two years old. The park opened in July of 1955. The best part about this footage is that it is actually good! The editing and overall cleanup job helps, of course, but the original filmmaker did a respectable job at capturing various aspects of the park and the young Disneyland experience.

Continue reading Video: Disneyland 1957

Video: Disneyland 1957 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnaheimAnaheim CaliforniaAnaheimCaliforniaDisneyDisney LandDisneylandDisneyland 1957Disneyland1957old footageold videoOldFootageOldVideoWed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-haight-ashbury-museum-of-psychedelic-art-and-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-haight-ashbury-museum-of-psychedelic-art-and-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-haight-ashbury-museum-of-psychedelic-art-and-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The Haight Ashbury movement may seem like a thing of the past. That's true or false, mostly depending on who you ask. But no matter how present the psychedelic spirit might still be in modern culture, its debut was art-altering, no one can deny that. That's why I hope the dream of the Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History is soon realized. Tourists flock to Haight Ashbury in San Francisco as it is--maybe we should support giving them all a destination wherein they can view art from and learn about the Haight Ashbury movement in one, respectable place. Personally, I'm been using Pinterest to document my favorite pieces under the umbrella of 'Psychedelic Art' and, as a traveler, I'd love to see this sort of fixture in San Francisco. What are your thoughts?

Continue reading Video: Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History

Video: Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While every city has its own unique landmarks, culture, and sights to see, there are certain general things you can do in any city you visit to make your experience more memorable. To enhance your next trip, take this checklist with you and try to do each of these things in every city you visit.

food Sample the local cuisine

One way to really get to know a culture is through the food. It's seriously incredible how much cuisine can differentiate from culture to culture, and how much the way food is prepared and eaten, as well as what the food is, can tell you about a community. When visiting Ghana, Africa, I was amazed at how most of the staple foods seemed to come from root vegetables and were eaten without swallowing and without using utensils. While I wouldn't say fu-fu and banku are my favorite foods, I definitely am glad I tried them and got to see the intense preparation that went into making these dishes. Even if you travel to a western country or a place that isn't too different from your own, try a local favorite or something that the area is known for (it will almost definitely taste better than what you're used to anyway). If you're in Maine make sure to have a lobster. Visiting Naples, Italy? Eat a slice of pizza from its birthplace. Traveling to Australia? Vegemite, Tim Tams, and barbequed meats are definite musts.

Continue reading 10 things to do in every city you visit

10 things to do in every city you visit originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelartbudget travelBudgetTravelcultural immersionCulturalImmersiondrinkfoodmarketsmuseumsWed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SpartaAfter having seen Athens and Corinth, I couldn't resist visiting one of the other great city-states of ancient Greece: Sparta.

Sparta needs no introduction. It's a star player on the History and Discovery channels and that schlocky pseudo-historical film 300. While I wanted to see the ancient ruins where brave warriors once strode, my main reason for going was to explore nearby Mistra, a Byzantine ghost town with a castle that rivals Acrocorinth. I'll get to that in my next post.

Sparta is a three-and-a-half hour bus ride from Athens. The route passes along the Aegean shore, through the Isthmus of Corinth, and into the Peloponnese, the peninsula that makes up southwestern Greece. Passing Corinth, the road ascends into rough hills that were being buffeted by a snowstorm.

Luckily the roads were in good condition and I made it on time. The clouds were breaking over the Vale of Sparta although it remained bitterly cold. My first stop was at the Fifth Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities to learn more about how the economic crisis was affecting archaeologists' ability to explore and preserve Greece's past. The Ephorates are divided by region, in this case Lakonia, roughly the central and southern Peloponnese, and also by period. There's a Fifth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities too.

Archaeologists Lygeri Nikolakaki and Ageliki Mexia greeted me in their cramped office overflowing with books, reports, and maps. They spread out several maps in front of me to demonstrate just how rich their area was in medieval remains. Castles, churches, monasteries, and medieval towns dotted the landscape. This area was called the Morea in late Byzantine times and was one of the few centers of wealth, art, and learning during the waning days of the empire in the 14th and 15th centuries.

One region caught my eye--the Mani peninsula. The Ephorate has recorded some 2,000 Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments on the peninsula, and the map showed hiking trails crisscrossing the area. The Maniots were always semi-independent, fierce fighters and pirates who never fully submitted to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, or Byzantines. Their culture remains distinct even today. As I was researching this trip I was already planning another one.

Gallery: Sparta

Map of the PeloponneseRuins and olive treesStairway to nowhereRecent excavationsThe theater and modern Sparta


Don't miss the rest of my series: Our Past in Peril, Greek tourism faces the economic crisis.

Coming up next: Mistra: a Byzantine ghost town in Greece!

Continue reading Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city

Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient Greeceancient historyancient SpartaAncientGreeceAncientHistoryAncientSpartaarchaeologistarchaeologistsarchaeologyArchaeologyNewsarcheologyArcheologyNewsByzantineByzantine EmpireByzantineEmpireByzantiumcastlecastleseconomyGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelgreek debt crisisGreekDebtCrisishistorymedievalmedieval greeceMedievalGreecemiddle agesMiddleAgesmodern SpartaModernSpartaMoreamuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumspastinperilPeloponneseSpartaWed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten bizarre travel diseases that can ruin your next vacation]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/ten-bizarre-travel-diseases-that-can-ruin/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/ten-bizarre-travel-diseases-that-can-ruin/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/ten-bizarre-travel-diseases-that-can-ruin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

travel diseasesOn some level, catching a weird disease or picking up a little-known tropical parasite on your travels gives you bragging rights. "Look at me, I'm so hardcore!" Trust me, I've been there. But with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) making headlines worldwide, I'd like to remind fellow travelers that these diseases are no joke, and even those of us with healthy immune systems and access to industrialized medicine aren't impervious.

The reality is, you never know what you might be susceptible to. In my case, my doctors and medical research indicate that I may be lacking an enzyme that made me vulnerable to an extremely rare but serious tropical disease caused by the bacteria Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Oroya Fever (and its precursor, Verruga Peruana). I'm still recovering from a three-year battle with the disease that has resulted in permanent organ damage because of a failure to protect myself against sand flies in the Amazon Basin region of Ecuador. Regular applications of DEET could have prevented that, as well as the various misdiagnoses of tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, but that's another story.

A lot of tropical and uncommon travel-related ailments are difficult to diagnose, and sometimes even more problematic to cure (if they don't kill you, first). Statistically, however, most travelers--even if they're in extremely sketchy parts of the world--will stay healthy if they take the necessary precautions. Having a trustworthy travel doctor is also helpful if you spend a lot of time in developing nations.

Continue reading Ten bizarre travel diseases that can ruin your next vacation

Ten bizarre travel diseases that can ruin your next vacation originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>African sleeping sicknessAfricanSleepingSicknessAmazon BasinAmazonBasinantibioticsbartonellaCDCciguateradiseasefatal diseaseFatalDiseasefilariasisfoodborne illnessFoodborneIllnesshistoplasmosisJapanese EncephalitisJapaneseEncephalitismalariamds roboticsMdsRoboticsmisdiagnosismosquito borne diseaseMosquitoBorneDiseaseOroya feverOroyaFeverparasitesparasitic diseaseParasiticDiseaseTBtravel disease preventiontravel innoculationstravel medicinetravel vaccinationstravel wellnessTravelDiseasePreventionTravelInnoculationsTravelMedicineTravelVaccinationsTravelWellnesstropical diseasetropical medicineTropicalDiseaseTropicalMedicinetsetse fliesTsetseFliestuberculosisvaccinationsvector borne diseaseVectorBorneDiseaseverruga peruanaVerrugaPeruanaTue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Athens War Museum]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Athens War Museum
This is a Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm submachine gun with gold plated parts. It was given by the Defense Minister of Kuwait to former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, probably as a thank you for his nation's help in liberating Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. It's one of a case of Papandreou's personal weapons on display at the Athens War Museum.

Greece has a long and proud military history stretching all the way back to when hoplites met Persian invaders and chariots were the latest thing in military technology. This museum starts right at the beginning and goes up to the modern day. While the section on Classical Greece is large and well detailed, I'd seen this sort of thing in other museums. The other periods of history were much more interesting to me.

One hall is devoted to the armies of the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately all the weapons here are reproductions, but there are some detailed dioramas of fortresses and troop formations that show just how advanced the Byzantines were. They even had "Greek Fire", an early form of napalm that played havoc with the sailing ships of the time.

The largest amount of space is devoted to Greece's two wars of liberation-first against the Ottoman Empire starting in 1821 and again against Nazi Germany during World War Two. This is when the Greeks really showed their fighting spirit-outnumbered, outgunned, and under occupation, they nevertheless fought against the superpowers of their day and eventually won.

Gallery: War Museum, Athens

How it all began. . .A reconstruction of a medieval flamethrower used to squirt Greek FireGreek fire shown in a 12th century manuscriptA more modern flamethrower from WWIIA passel of polearms

Continue reading The Athens War Museum

The Athens War Museum originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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barcelona Barcelona, Spain, is full of fun things to do and interesting sites to explore. Luckily, the city features many experiences for the budget traveler with free museums, walking tours, beaches, parks, museums, dance shows, and more. Use this list to help you save money while still experiencing the best the city has to offer.

Walk down Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona, and often the first stop on many tourists' to-do list. Not only is the street lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, theaters, and shops; it's also home to various street entertainers, performance art, and colorful markets, making the street both fun and aesthetically pleasing. I love seeing all of the people dressed in ostentatious costumes trying to act like still sculptures (Note: Some of them look really real. I actually leaned on one not realizing it was a person!). Las Ramblas is also a bit historical, as the famous native painter Joan Miró, who died in 1983, helped to create part of the street. You can see one of his mosaic creations on the ground of the main center walkway.

Continue reading 10 free things to do in Barcelona, Spain

10 free things to do in Barcelona, Spain originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antonio gaudiAntonioGaudiarchitectureart galleriesArtGalleriesbarcelonabeaches in barcelonaBeachesInBarcelonabudget travelBudgetTraveldancefree flamenco shows in barcelonafree tapasfree tapas in barcelonafree things to do in barcelonaFreeFlamencoShowsInBarcelonaFreeTapasFreeTapasInBarcelonaFreeThingsToDoInBarcelonamuseumsspaintagoSat, 04 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure travel with a purpose in Israel's Negev Desert]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A view from the Negev DesertTravel can be such an incredible, life altering, experience, both for us, and the people that we interact with on our journeys. But seldom is that more clearly defined than in the case of an upcoming special trip from an organization called Bustan, which works closely with indigenous Bedouin tribes of the Negev Desert, a rocky, arid region located in southern Israel.

Starting in March, Bustan is launching a five-month long project in the Negev that will be a unique and intensive mix of education, cultural immersion, and desert adventure. Over the course of the time spent there, those joining the expedition will get the opportunity to live with the Bedouin people, while learning about their way of life and picking up practical skills on how to live simply and sustainably with the desert. They'll also gain extensive knowledge of the history of the Middle East, while also sharpening their Arabic language skills and discovering the unique landscapes of the Negev Desert.

But this journey also has a larger purpose as well. Participants will be living in the village of Qasar A Sir, which remains without many basic amenities that most of us take for granted, such as running water, electricity, or a sewer system. While there, travelers will be a part of Bustan's permaculture and sustainability program, which will help to create a more permanent community for the Bedouin people. They'll learn eco-building techniques, help create water harvesting systems, basic waste management facilities, organic gardens, and more permanent structures, all under the supervision of a team of educators who specialize in desert culture.

The cost for joining the trip has still not been posted on the Bustan website, but you'll find a lot more information about this opportunity by clicking here. This is one of those unique opportunities where you know before you go that you'll be a part of something that can truly impact the lives of those living in the place you visit.

[Photo courtesy Free Israel Photos via WikiMedia]

Adventure travel with a purpose in Israel's Negev Desert originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbedouinnegev desertNegevDesertSat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

colombia adventure travelAcclaimed Seattle-based adventure travel company and guide service Mountain Madness debuts its newest trip on February 4th: an excursion to Colombia's El Cocuy National Park. Although Colombia is often characterized as being mostly tropical jungle or coastline, the Andean Cordillera Oriental crosses a significant portion of the country. The El Cocuy trip will allow trekkers to explore glaciers, alpine lakes, and remote colonial villages.

Mountain Madness owner and president Mark Gunlogson has years of experience as a mountaineering guide all over the world, and the company is renowned for its reputable and distinctive trekking trips and alpine climbing schools, particularly in South America and the Himalayas. For this inaugural El Cocuy adventure, Gunglogson will lead five other trekkers and climbers as they "explore this area's potential for adventure travel. The team hopes to dispel the myth of danger with travel in Colombia and open up a new, cutting-edge trip."

Activities will include mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, and cultural exchange, a Mountain Madness hallmark. Check out the company's blog for dispatches from El Cocuy. Buena suerte, team!

Video: How to self-arrest with an ice ax

How to Self Arrest with an Ice Axe

Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Visiting Greece and not visiting the Acropolis is unthinkable. Set atop a high rock overlooking Athens, the temples here were built primarily to honor the city's patron goddess Athena in all her attributes. The buildings here are some of the best examples of Greek architecture and have had a profound effect on the architecture of all the Western world. While I have a preference for medieval sites like Acrocorinth, and I've visited the Acropolis before, I couldn't help but go back.

The last time I was there was 1994, and a lot has changed. There has been a great deal of restoration and the world-class Acropolis Museum has opened up.

Here's one attraction that the Greek government needs to preserve as it passes through its worst economic crisis since World War Two. People still flock here and it's a major reason why Greece is an important tourist destination. Tourism accounts for 18 percent of the Greek GDP and tourist numbers went up last year. Several sources told me there were two reasons for this: budget-conscious Europeans are traveling closer to home and people are staying away from North African favorites like Tunisia and Egypt.

Even though sites like the Acropolis generate billions of euros a year in revenue, the Ministry of Culture survives on just 0.7 percent of the national budget, and that budget is shrinking faster than the supply of Greek olives I brought back from this trip. In the past year the ministry has seen its budget slashed by almost a third, with warnings of more cuts to come. Museums are already feeling the pinch and now ministers, archaeologists, and site directors are scrambling to find ways to maintain their their heritage. There are even plans to lease the Acropolis for film backdrops and photo shoots to help raise funds.

Gallery: The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

The Propylaia, the entrance to the AcropolisThe first view of the Parthenon as you enter the AcropolisThe Sanctuary of Athena NikeThe ErechtheionCaryatid columns in the Erechtheion

Continue reading The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis

The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though Captain James Cook was the first European to set foot on the islands of New Zealand in 1769, he was not the first European to "discover it". That honor would belong to Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who sailed past the country while navigating the Southern Ocean for the Dutch east India Company in 1642.

Blown off course by a strong easterly wind, Abel Tasman first sighted the northwest reaches of the South Island of New Zealand and thought he may have stumbled upon the bottom part of Argentina. Confused but intrigued, Tasman decided to make the most of the discovery and arranged an expedition party to be sent ashore to gather fresh water.

Unfortunately, the expedition was met by a band of native Maori people curious of the tall ships which had suddenly appeared off their coast, and after a hostile skirmish which historians have attributed to multiple cultural misunderstandings, Tasman sailed from the area with four fewer men than he had arrived with. As a result of the incident, Tasman saw it fitting to label the area as "Murderer's Bay".

360 years later, I ruminated on this violent turn of events while stand-up paddling above a gray stingray languishing in the tidal shallows of Murderer's Bay.

On a brilliantly sunny and calm morning in which it was possible to stare straight through the turquoise waters, I found myself paddling in nearly the exact same spot where Tasman's men had met their fate so many centuries ago. No longer referred to as Murderer's Bay, with the discovery of gold in the region in the 1850's it was prosperously renamed Golden Bay, and the name has stuck ever since.

Located in the sunniest region of New Zealand, Golden Bay is still somewhat of a secret when compared to neighboring Abel Tasman National Park. Although the Tata Islands--rocks that sit just offshore of Golden Bay and are covered in fur seals--are technically still part of Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay offers the same South Pacific setting as it's crowded counterpart, yet for some reason there is hardly anybody here.

Except, of course, for me and the stingrays.

Gallery: Welcome to Golden Bay, New Zealand

Kayking the empty beaches of Golden Bay; All photos by Heather EllisonWIndsurfers with a plan for all tidesA colony of black oystercatchers relaxes on the sandspitStandup paddling the empty spits of Golden Bay

Continue reading Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay

Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abel+tasmanabeltasmanbest of New ZealandBestOfNewZealandcampervan+nzcampervannzFarewell Spit toursFarewellSpitToursfreedomtoroamGolden BayGoldenBayNew Zealand campervan travelNew Zealand travelnew+zealand+mapNewZealandCampervanTravelnewzealandmapNewZealandTravelPaddle Abel Tasman National ParkPaddleAbelTasmanNationalParkstand up paddle Golden BayStandUpPaddleGoldenBaystingraySurf Wharariki BeachSurfWhararikiBeachTata IslandsTataIslandstravel New Zealand south islandTravelNewZealandSouthIslandundiscovered New ZealandUndiscoveredNewZealandWharariki BeachWhararikiBeachzealandFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The ultimate guide to Carnival in Rio: parties and parades]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-ultimate-guide-to-carnival-in-rio-parties-and-parades/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-ultimate-guide-to-carnival-in-rio-parties-and-parades/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-ultimate-guide-to-carnival-in-rio-parties-and-parades/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

carnival rio de janeiro

What's Carnival in Rio de Janeiro without its lively parties and parades? Now that planning, packing, and logistics are taken care of, it's time to think about the important stuff: your social calendar. In this second installment of the ultimate guide to Carnival in Rio, we'll walk you through some of the main events.

Continue reading The ultimate guide to Carnival in Rio: parties and parades

The ultimate guide to Carnival in Rio: parties and parades originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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food poisoningFor many people--myself included--one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is experiencing how other cultures eat. Even if you're only traveling as far as the other end of the state, chances are there's a regional specialty, street food, farmers market, or restaurant that's a destination in its own right.

Sometimes, however, the pickings are slim, or no matter how delicious the food, the odds are just stacked against you. As Anthony Bourdain put it on a recent episode of his new series, The Layover, "...if there's not a 50-percent chance of diarrhea, it's not worth eating."

Gross, perhaps, but gluttonous travelers know there's truth in those words. Bourdain happened to be referring to a late-night drunk binge at one of Amsterdam's infamous FEBO fast food automats (above), so with that in mind, I present this photographic homage to the things we eat on the road, despite knowing better. Walk softly, and carry a big bottle of Imodium

Gallery: Ten places to get food poisoning in 2012



[Photo credit: Flickr user .waldec]

Food poisoning! What to watch out for in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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blue mountains While it's smart to plan a budget and make wise spending decisions, there are times while traveling when a splurge is in order. Don't think of these instances as wasting money, but as investments into your personal happiness and enhancements to your travel experience.

If there's a site you really want to visit

Whether it's a museum that covers a topic you're passionate about, a trek that will take you through unexplored territory or ancient ruins, or a historical site with a unique story to tell, you should let yourself experience it. No matter how much information a guidebook or website gives you, it can never compare to actually seeing the site for yourself. And if you think about it, isn't the point of traveling to a city to experience things for yourself? When I was in Sydney, Australia, I had heard about a place called the Blue Mountains, and although I was a broke student at the time, the vivid photos and natural landmarks I kept reading about online made me realize that if I didn't go visit this area I would regret it later on. I splurged on a coach bus and a cabin in the mountains, which allowed me to have an unforgettable long weekend hiking diverse terrain, getting aerial views of valleys and mountains, photographing unusual rock formations like The Three Sisters and Orphan Rock, and seeing firsthand why they call it the Blue Mountains (the oil mist from the eucalyptus trees creates a blue haze over the area).

Continue reading 10 best times to break your travel budget

10 best times to break your travel budget originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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