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[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[Petra: Beyond The Treasury]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/petra-beyond-the-treasury/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/petra-beyond-the-treasury/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/petra-beyond-the-treasury/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Treasury at PetraWithout a doubt the most famous destination in the entire country of Jordan is Petra. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, Petra is well known for its impressively detailed structures that are carved directly into the sandstone rock faces that are so prevalent throughout the area. The most famous of those structures is a building known as the Treasury, which has become very well known to travelers across the globe. Photos of the Treasury have become so iconic in fact that many people now mistakenly believe that it is Petra. But in reality the site is a vast complex of tombs, temples and other structures that make up an ancient city, of which the Treasury simply marks the entrance.

The origins of Petra can be traced back to the 6th century B.C., when a formerly nomadic tribe known as the Nabataeans decided to occupy the site and make it their capital. The narrow canyons that lead into the place made it easy to defend and its relatively central location was important to their plans of establishing a trade-empire. Several large and important caravan routes passed through the region and over the centuries the Nabataeans managed to leverage their geographical position into becoming major players in the silk and spice trade. As their wealth grew, so too did Petra.

Visitors to the site today must still navigate a long and twisting canyon, known as the Siq, just to arrive at the entrance to Petra. Walking that narrow gorge offers few clues to what awaits ahead, although several basic structures can still be spotted carved into the rock. Perhaps most noticeable are the two stone channels that run along portions of the canyon walls. Those channels were originally used to collect fresh water and deliver it to the city, helping to provide a steady supply for its citizens.

Continue reading Petra: Beyond The Treasury

Petra: Beyond The Treasury originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelancient historyancient sitesAncientHistoryAncientSitesPetrapetra treasuryPetraTreasuryTreasuryUNESCO World Heritage SitesUnescoWorldHeritageSitesworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageSitesThu, 24 May 2012 12:30:00 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[The Last Pyramids Of Egypt]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/the-last-pyramids-of-egypt/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/the-last-pyramids-of-egypt/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/the-last-pyramids-of-egypt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

pyramids
They just don't make pyramids like they used to.

The pyramids of Egypt have fascinated people ever since they were built. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara started things off around 2650 B.C. Later came the iconic pyramids of Giza. What's often forgotten, however, is that pyramid construction continued for more than a thousand years and there are at least 138 built to house the remains of pharaohs and queens. More are still being discovered. Last year, satellite imagery revealed seventeen previously unknown pyramids.

The later pyramids of Egypt tend to be overlooked, and it's easy to see why considering the sad state of most of them. Just take a look at this photo of the pyramid of Senusret II (ruled 1895-1878 B.C.) and photographed by Jon Bodsworth. Like a lot of later pyramids, it was made of mud bricks instead of stone blocks to save money, and that's why it's a giant sad lump today - an interesting lump, though.

The interior tunnels are still intact and archaeologists discovered the nearby village where the workmen lived. Contrary to popular belief, slaves didn't construct the pyramids. Actually, it was trained craftsmen and farmers who didn't have any other work to do when their fields were underwater during the annual flooding of the Nile.

Senusret II was part of the 12th Dynasty, a high point in Egyptian power and civilization. It's strange then that pyramids were in decline. You can see several of these pyramids at Dahsur, not far from Saqqara and an easy day trip from Cairo. One is the Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III (ruled 1842-1797 B.C.). It started to collapse almost immediately so he had to build a second one at the Faiyum Oasis near a giant temple to the crocodile god Sobek. This site reopened last year.

Gallery: The Last Pyramids of Egypt

Remnants of the stone exterior of Pyramid of Senusret I (ruled 1962-1928 BC)Internal structure of Pyramid of Senusret IPyramid of Amenemhat I, with modern Muslim graveyard in frontPectoral of Senusret IIPyramid complex of Senusret III (ruled 1878-1842 BC) with queens' pyramids

Continue reading The Last Pyramids Of Egypt

The Last Pyramids Of Egypt originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure traveladventure traveleradventure travelersadventure travelsadventure-travelAdventureTravelAdventureTravelerAdventureTravelersAdventureTravelsancient architectureancient Egyptancient egyptian religionancient historyAncientArchitectureAncientEgyptAncientEgyptianReligionAncientHistoryarchaeologyarcheologyarchitectureartart historyArtHistoryEgyptegyptologyhistoryMiddle KingdomMiddleKingdompharoahPharoahspyramidpyramidsMon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How To Go Couch Surfing In a Cave]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/how-to-go-couch-surfing-in-a-cave/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/how-to-go-couch-surfing-in-a-cave/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/how-to-go-couch-surfing-in-a-cave/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As the popularity of the Couch Surfing movement grows exponentially across the budget travel community, it's widely understood that often times you won't actually be sleeping on a couch. Sometimes you will have your own bedroom. Other times it could be the floor.

Or, as this recent article from CNN points out, it doesn't even mean that you're going to be staying inside of a house. In the case of one couch surfer outside of Petra, Jordan, you could opt to spend the night couch surfing inside of a cave.

Listed on the site by Ghassab Al-Bedoul, this 42-year-old Bedouin invites travelers to stay in the same cave he was born in just minutes from the ruins at Petra. Although there is no bathroom, his cave can accommodate up to ten guests who all sleep on thin mats on the desert ground.

A traveler himself who reportedly received ample free lodging while bouncing around Europe, Al-Bedoul has no qualms about opening up his cave to visitors coming to pay a visit to his hometown. As of publication, Al-Bedoul estimates he's welcomed over 1,200 travelers into his humble abode.

Renowned for being a site where travelers are able to have unique experiences unavailable to those staying in traditional accommodations, Couch Surfing yet again offers up a tale such as this one, which can only stir the wanderlust of scores of adventurous travelers.

[Image courtesy of Jack Zalium on Flickr]

How To Go Couch Surfing In a Cave originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bedouin PetraBedouinPetracouch surf in a caveCouch Surfingcouch surfing with BedouinsCouchSurfInACaveCouchSurfingCouchSurfingWithBedouinsPetrastay with Bedoiun in JordanStayWithBedoiunInJordanweirdest spots to couch surfWeirdestSpotsToCouchSurfTue, 15 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: A Glimpse Of The Dargah]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/08/photo-of-the-day-a-glimpse-of-the-dargah/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/08/photo-of-the-day-a-glimpse-of-the-dargah/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/08/photo-of-the-day-a-glimpse-of-the-dargah/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Behind a lattice gate at the end of an alleyway in India lies the Sufi Islamic dargah shrine to Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a renowned mystic, saint and scholar. Flickr user The Delhi Way offers us a tantalizing glimpse at what lies inside this sacred space in today's Photo of the Day, taken in the complex of Qutb on the outskirts of Delhi.

Does your hideaway photo belong here? Upload your favorite travel shots to the Gadling Flickr Pool and your image could be selected as our Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: A Glimpse Of The Dargah originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dargahdelhiindiaphotophoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayqutbTue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Heifer International: Working To End World Hunger, One Llama At A Time]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/03/heifer-international-working-to-end-world-hunger-one-llama-at/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/03/heifer-international-working-to-end-world-hunger-one-llama-at/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/03/heifer-international-working-to-end-world-hunger-one-llama-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

bolivian farmerGot an extra $20 burning a hole in your pocket and want to make a difference in the lives of others? Buy a flock of ducks. Eighty-five dollars will get you a camel share, while a mere $48 purchases a share in a "Knitter's Gift Basket (a llama, alpaca, sheep and angora rabbit)."

Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock, and animal husbandry, agricultural and community development training to over 125 countries, including the U.S. The goal: to help end world hunger and poverty by improving breeding stock, providing valuable dietary supplements such as milk and eggs, and creating viable business enterprises for commodity products such as cheese, wool, honey, or crops cultivated by draft animals like horses and water buffalo.

The livestock species used to support disenfranchised communities are diverse, but traditional to their respective regions. They include goats, sheep, honeybees, beef and dairy cattle, water buffalo, yaks, horses, donkeys, llamas, alpacas, camels, rabbits, guinea pigs and poultry.

When I was a kid growing up on a small ranch in Southern California, we used to donate our male dairy goat kids (which, if sold here, would most likely be relegated to dinner) to Heifer. Although the program no longer ships live animals overseas (it's easier and safer/more humane to ship frozen semen), the concept remains the same: using top bloodlines to improve the quality and enhance the genetic diversity of herds or flocks in impoverished regions.

Heifer teaches the concept of the "Seven M's: Milk, Manure, Meat, Material, Money, Motivation and Muscle." These are the benefits livestock animals provide to people in developing nations. With the training provided by Heifer employees and volunteers, the cycle of poverty can be broken, and families and villages can thrive. During the holidays or for birthdays, I like to make animal gift donations in the name of the recipient, an especially valuable lesson for children (who, let's face it, really don't need another electronic piece of crap to foster their ADD and lack of global awareness).

Never doubt the power of a furry friend to change the world. To make a donation, click here.

Check out this Heifer International gallery of animals and their proud owners from around the world:

Gallery: Heifer International

Heifer International: Working To End World Hunger, One Llama At A Time originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agricultureanimal loversAnimalLoverscattlecharitable donationscharitable givingCharitableDonationsCharitableGivingcheesecheesemakingchristmas giftsChristmasGiftscommodity foodsCommodityFoodscropsdairydairy animalsDairyAnimalsdeveloping nationsDevelopingNationsdonationseggsfaminefood programsfood securityFoodProgramsFoodSecuritygift ideasgoatsHeifer InternationalHeiferInternationalholdiayshorsesindigenous peoplesIndigenousPeoplesknittinglivestockllamasmilkpetsphilanthropic travelPhilanthropicTravelphilanthropysheepstarvationsustainable agricultsustainable agricultureSustainableAgriculturethird worldThirdWorldvolunteeringThu, 03 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Things You Can Do On Earth Day To Save Natural Resources]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/21/five-things-you-can-do-on-earth-day-to-save-natural-resources/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/21/five-things-you-can-do-on-earth-day-to-save-natural-resources/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/21/five-things-you-can-do-on-earth-day-to-save-natural-resources/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

earthEarth Day is upon us, and even if you're not planning to celebrate our planet's making it through another year (what global warming?), there are still some simple measures you can take to show your gratitude. Love your Mother, you know?

Whether you're on the road or at home, the following are smart rules to implement every day of the year:
  • Do laundry at night, after peak electricity usage hours and only wash full loads.
  • Use a travel mug when you purchase your morning coffee and carry a reusble water bottle.
  • Stash reusable shopping bags in your car, purse or backpack and desk.
  • Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, washing your face, doing dishes or shaving.
  • Switch to e-tickets, e-pay, and other paperless forms of commerce; add your name to no junk mail and catalog lists.

[Photo credit: Flickr user kevin dooley]

How to Save Water and Save Money

Five Things You Can Do On Earth Day To Save Natural Resources originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BPABPA-freecarbon footprintCarbonFootprintcatalogscoffeeconservatione ticketsEarth DayEarthDayecoeco productseco-friendlyecommerceEcoProductsenvironmentenvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentallyFriendlyETicketsgreengreen livinggreen travelGreenLivingGreenTraveljunk mailJunkMaillaundrynatural resourcesNaturalResourcespaperlessplasticplastic bagsPlasticBagsreusable bagsreusable water bottlesReusableBagsReusableWaterBottlessaving water at homesaving water while travelingSavingWaterAtHomeSavingWaterWhileTravelingshopping bagsShoppingBagstravel mugstravel tipsTravelMugsTravelTipswater bottleswater conservationWaterBottlesWaterConservationSat, 21 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Nobody minds seeing photos of dreamy castles, especially if the photos are of cool cliff castles. Towering over steep slated valleys and crashing waves, Woman's Day has a great roundup of these kinds of castles on their website here. Featuring castles in Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Tibet, Yemen, USA and India, these photos are the thread with which fantasies are sewn. Knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, drawbridges and dragons, anyone? I'm pretty sure these castles were the backdrops behind the stories surrounding all of those things. For that, these are places worth visiting. And you know what they (by 'they', I mean 'me') say: if you can't visit, look at photos online.

Continue reading Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles

Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlecastle photosCastlePhotoscastlescastles on a cliffCastlesOnACliffcliff castlecliff castlesCliffCastleCliffCastlesindia castlesIndiaCastlesitaly castlesItalyCastlesphotos of castlesPhotosOfCastlesspain castlesSpainCastlestibet castlesTibetCastlesukraine castlesUkraineCastlesunited states castlesUnitedStatesCastlesyemen castlesYemenCastlesThu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

licorice rootNowadays, it seems like there's a pill or shot to cure every illness. But do we really know how safe these unnatural remedies are? Throughout my travels and by talking with locals from other cultures, I've learned there are many natural treatments that are also effective in promoting good health. For those who've ever wondered about the holistic secrets of other cultures, here are some answers.

Turkey

In Turkey, the trick to staying healthy is mesir paste. The concoction was invented in Manisa during the Ottoman Empire, when the wife of Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim and mother of Suleyman the Magnificent became very ill. No doctor was able to find a cure, until one created a unique spice blend that seemed to bring the woman back to life. The mixture is a blend of 41 different spices that form a thick paste, and is used as a general cure-all and tonic. Some of the paste's ingredients include black pepper, cinnamon, licorice root (shown above), coconut and orange peel. The country is so proud of their natural remedy, they celebrate a Mesir Festival in Manisa each year.

Continue reading Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World

Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelBudgetTravelculturedrinkecotourismfoodhealthholisticholistic remediiesHolisticRemediiesnatural remediesNaturalRemediesnaturewellnessSun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Met Showcases Predynastic Art Of Egypt]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/13/met-showcases-predynastic-art-of-egypt/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/13/met-showcases-predynastic-art-of-egypt/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/13/met-showcases-predynastic-art-of-egypt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Predynastic Art, Egypt, MetThe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian art in the world. Now it has opened a special exhibition focusing on the lesser-known art from the early days of Egypt before the pharaohs.

"The Dawn of Egyptian Art" brings together art from the Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods (ca. 4000-2650 B.C.), a time when Egypt was developing into a society with towns, specialized labor and, eventually, a centralized government. This broad swath of time included several distinct local cultures that slowly became the ancient Egypt that we are familiar with.

The main culture was the Naqada culture. Villages each had their own animal deities, many of which survived as gods and goddesses of dynastic Egypt. The dead were buried with works of art such as jewelry and figurines of these deities. As agriculture became more important in the fertile Nile valley, villages grew into towns and art flourished. Local rulers became more powerful and expanded their territories until Egypt was two kingdoms: Upper and Lower Egypt.

The 175 objects from the Met's collection, and those of a dozen other institutions, put Predynastic Art into its historical and cultural context as well as display them as objects of beauty. For example, this female figure, shown here in a photo courtesy the Brooklyn Museum, was made about 3500-3400 B.C. and is typical of the highly abstracted figures made throughout most of the Predynastic Period. It's unclear what this figure symbolized, although many Egyptologists think these figures are goddesses, since similar figures painted onto pots are always larger than the male "priests" shown next to them.

Some art is easier to identify, like ships and hunting scenes painted onto pottery or on tomb walls. There are also statues of gods and goddesses, many of which can be identified as the major deities of the age of the pharaohs. A masterpiece of early Egyptian art is the Narmer Palette, seen in the gallery, which commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in the 31st century B.C.

For more information, check out this excellent page on Predynastic Art and check out the gallery below.

"The Dawn of Egyptian Art" runs until August 5.

Gallery: Egypt before the Pharaohs

Palette in the shape of a pair of turtles, Naqada II (c. 3650-3300 BC)Naqada I bone figureThe Narmer PaletteNaqada II vessel showing a possible boatIvory Hippo from Naqada I Period, c. 4000-3500 BC

Met Showcases Predynastic Art Of Egypt originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient egyptancient egyptianancient egyptian artancient egyptian religionAncientEgyptAncientEgyptianAncientEgyptianArtAncientEgyptianReligionarchaeologyArchaeologyNewsarcheologyArcheologyNewsartart historyart newsArtHistoryArtNewsEgyptEgyptian artEgyptianArtEgyptologyEgyptologyNewshistoryMetmetropolitan museum of artMetropolitanMuseumOfArtmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsnew york cityNewYorkCityPredynastic ArtPredynasticArtprehistoryFri, 13 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/video-somewhere-time-lapse-video/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/video-somewhere-time-lapse-video/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/12/video-somewhere-time-lapse-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"Somewhere" from miadox on Vimeo.

"Somewhere" is the first installment of a time-lapse video series. Covering both natural beauty and man-made wonders, "Somewhere" is a fantastic start for an ongoing project. If the rest of the videos in this upcoming series are anything like this time-lapse, then we all have worthwhile time wasting via film-watching to look forward to in the near future. Created by Miadox, this video features stunning images - the kind that make you tear up a little bit at your desk and think positive thoughts about what a beautiful place planet Earth is. Crashing waves, skylines, sunsets, gigantic machinery, racing clouds, headlights and sparkling stars all make appearances in this juxtaposition-centered video. Enjoy Earth.

Continue reading Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video

Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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photo of american diplomatIn our ongoing attempt to demystify the Foreign Service, we're going to occasionally introduce you to diplomats living in various parts of the world. Amy Tachco is a 36-year-old Foreign Service Officer (FSO) originally from Southern California and Central Ohio who joined the Foreign Service just over ten years ago.

Amy and I joined the Foreign Service at the same time and were part of the same A-100 class, which is essentially a two month long intro to the Foreign Service. As I described in December, at least one of our classmates shed tears over an assignment to Jamaica, but Amy was unfazed when she was sent to Karachi, Pakistan, her 19th choice.

Over the last ten years, she's also served in Casablanca, Madrid, Beirut and Damascus. She arrived in Karachi just days after a suicide bomber struck the embassy, flew into Beirut on a helicopter during the height of the 2006 conflict and recently had a Bashar Assad thug pelt her with a tomato. She was evacuated from Syria in mid-January as the conflict there intensified and recently returned from a brief stint in Istanbul, where she continued to report on the situation in Syria.

Why did you join the Foreign Service?

I did my junior year overseas as an economics and French major and then went to Geneva for grad school. It's an international city and I worked at the World Economic Forum for a while. The lifestyle of the Foreign Service appealed to me - you have a job, but you get to move all the time and constantly do something different. After I graduated I worked for a company that did asset management and then I worked for a hedge fund. I was earning more than my initial salary in the Foreign Service.

Your first assignment was Karachi - your 19th choice. But you took it like a champ. Were you disappointed to be sent to Pakistan right out of the gate?

No. I wasn't upset. Jerusalem was my first choice - it's been my first choice many times but it's never happened.

And the day you were set to leave for post the consulate in Karachi was bombed?

It was a car bomb, a suicide bomber. A car pulled up right in front of the building and blew a 30-foot hole in the front wall. Thirteen people were killed. My parents called and said, 'Turn on CNN, it's your consulate.' I made the executive decision not to call anyone at the State Department, because I was afraid they'd tell me not to go.

Continue reading A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Meet An Intrepid Diplomat

A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Meet An Intrepid Diplomat originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A Traveler in the Foreign ServiceAmy TachcoAmyTachcoATravelerInTheForeignServiceBashar al-Assadbashar assadBasharAl-assadBasharAssadforeign serviceForeign Service Officers BlogForeignServiceForeignServiceOfficersBlogFSOkarachilebanonMadridMoroccopakistanspainsyriaWed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ancient Egyptian tombs to be reopened]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/ancient-egyptian-tombs-to-be-reopened/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/ancient-egyptian-tombs-to-be-reopened/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/ancient-egyptian-tombs-to-be-reopened/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ancient Egyptian
A visit to the pyramids at Giza in Egypt has just become even more interesting with the imminent reopening of six ancient Egyptian tombs nearby.

The tombs have been closed for many years for restoration, including the removal of graffiti left by people who don't deserve to travel. The tombs are part of the Western Cemetery reserved for minor royalty and high officials of the Fourth Dynasty (c.2613-2494 BC) who were important enough to be buried near the pharaohs they served in life.

One is the tomb of Seshem-Nefer, who had the august title of "overseer of the two seats of the House of Life and keeper of the king's secrets." His large is visible in the foreground of this photo courtesy Hannah Pethen.

Other tombs include those of a royal treasurer, high priests and other functionaries. Only one of the tombs is for a member of the royal family -- Princess Mersankh, the granddaughter of King Khufu, whose pyramid is the largest in Egypt.

Several of the tombs have brightly painted scenes of daily life, such as hunting and spending time with family, making them a good way to gain insight into the world of ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian tombs to be reopened originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure traveladventure travelsadventure vacationadventure vacationsAdventureTravelAdventureTravelsAdventureVacationAdventureVacationsAncient EgyptianAncientEgyptianAncientHistoryarchaeologyarchaeology newsArchaeologyNewsarcheologyarcheology newsArcheologyNewsegyptegypt travelegyptologyegyptology newsEgyptologyNewsEgyptTravelGizarestorationtombs of GizaTombsOfGizaTue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel magazines target the 1%]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/20/travel-magazines-target-the-1/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/20/travel-magazines-target-the-1/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/20/travel-magazines-target-the-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

lifestyles of the rich and famous robin leachAn image of a striking, leggy blonde standing in the shadow of a seventeenth-century church in Mykonos graces the cover of the March issue of Condé Nast Traveler. She's wearing a short, silky dress and, as we find out on page 122 in the magazine's "where to buy" segment, it costs $6,900.

And if you like dresses that cost ten times the per capita GDP of Haiti, you'll love Condé Nast's suggested nine-and-a-half hour day trip in Mykonos, which will set you back $3,140, not including accommodation.

I like to indulge in the fantasy world of glossy travel magazines as much as anyone else. But I've always disliked how many of these publications cater to sybarites who stay in hotels that charge more for one night than most people pay in a month's rent -- the kind of people who view travel as nothing more than an excuse to go shopping. It can be fun to see how the other half lives, but it can also be depressing.

I can't help but feel poor every time I read Afar, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast and other magazines. Let's face it, the pages of most glossy travel and city magazines these days are awash in conspicuous consumption - eat, shop, drink, spend, consume. For every nugget about the people the writer met, there are ten about all the expensive places they ate/drank/slept/shopped.

I've been a compulsive traveler for decades and the question I always get from friends is, "How can you afford to travel so much?" But in nearly 40 years of traveling around the world, I have never, ever spent more than $200 per night on a hotel. Maybe I'm missing out, but I don't feel that way.

I understand that these magazines are trying to lure high-end advertisers and are targeted toward people who have more money than me. It's also undeniably true that $800 per night hotel suites and $78 entrees look more appealing on a page than Motel Six and diner food. And I don't fault anyone who likes to travel in style or treat themselves to $7,000 dresses.

If you've got the cash, go for it. The global economy is built around consumer spending so we need you to get out there and do your thing. But the relentless focus on luxury in the travel media contributes to the false notion that travel is for the rich.

I reviewed one recent issue of six national travel magazines and made some calculations on the cost of recommended accommodations. This is not a scientific study but I think it gives a pretty accurate snapshot of the lifestyle that's being promoted on the pages of these magazines.

Below you'll find the median starting price for recommended hotels along with general observations about each magazine.

Continue reading Travel magazines target the 1%

Travel magazines target the 1% originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>high endHighEndluxurymaterialismtravel magazinestravel magazines make me feel poorTravelMagazinesTravelMagazinesMakeMeFeelPoorTue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Egyptomania' grips Houston]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/19/egyptomania-grips-houston/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/19/egyptomania-grips-houston/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/19/egyptomania-grips-houston/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EgyptomaniaThe Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas, has just opened a new exhibition exploring the West's fascination with ancient Egypt.

"Egyptomania" collects forty objects from the Egyptian revivals of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This was the time when the West became widely aware of the great civilization of Egypt and started excavating there. Cutting open mummies became popular entertainment, the rich collected Egyptian artifacts, and it seemed like everyone wanted to own something in the Egyptian style -- like this Art Deco perfume bottle shown here in a photo courtesy MFAH. It was designed by Baccarat c. 1930. Other items on display are Egyptian-style furniture, garden sphinxes (much cooler than garden gnomes) and even Egyptian asparagus tongs.

Visitors to the museum can get a double dose of ancient Egypt right now because the traveling exhibition "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" is on display through April 15. This exhibition features more than a hundred artifacts, most of which have never been shown in the U.S. prior to this tour.

If this isn't enough to stave off your Egyptomaniacal cravings, I suggest a trip to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium in San Jose, California. This place is a strange hybrid of serious museum and cultish quackery founded by a modern spiritual group inspired by ancient Egypt.

"Egyptomania" runs from March 18 through July 29.

'Egyptomania' grips Houston originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient egyptAncientEgyptarchaeologyArchaeologyNewsarcheologyarcheology newsArcheologyNewsartart exhibitionsart historyart newsArtExhibitionsArtHistoryArtNewsCaliforniaegyptegyptologyEgyptologyNewsegyptomaniaexhibitionshoustonmuseummuseum newsmuseum of fine art houstonMuseumNewsMuseumOfFineArtHoustonmuseumsmusuemRosicrucianSan JoseSanJosetexasMon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel full time for $17,000 a year]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/16/travel-full-time-for-17-000-a-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/16/travel-full-time-for-17-000-a-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/16/travel-full-time-for-17-000-a-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you were told that you could travel full time for $17,000 a year, would you believe it? If you had only, I repeat, $17,000 to spend on everything (transportation, lodging, food, recreation, etc.) while seeing the entire world, could you make it work? An enterprising traveler named Nora Dunn has done just that. She's been traveling on this budget for five years now and according to Dunn, she's spending less money traveling the world than she spent while staying put. In an article published on WiseBread.com last month, Dunn details for readers just how they can travel as inexpensively as she has been traveling. Her tips are excellent and her approach is nothing short of inspiring. Read the full article here.

Continue reading Travel full time for $17,000 a year

Travel full time for $17,000 a year originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>affordable travelAffordableTravelcheap travelcheapest travelCheapestTravelCheapTravelinexpensive travelInexpensiveTravelnora dunnNoraDunntravel full timetravel full-timetravel fulltimetravel the world full timetravel the world full-timetravel the world fulltimeTravelFull-timeTravelFulltimetraveling cheapTravelingCheapTravelTheWorldFull-timeTravelTheWorldFulltimewise breadWiseBreadworld travelWorldTravelFri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 mysterious places to visit]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/10-mysterious-places-to-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/10-mysterious-places-to-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/10-mysterious-places-to-visit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fly Geyser, geyser, mysterious placesMystery is a significant travel motivator for some -- and I fall into the category of people who are motivated by mystery to travel. Ghost towns, eerie landscapes and other curious phenomena routinely draw me into destinations. Sky-Today.com published a roundup last month that has me itching to visit some new places. In the article, "10 Weird and Mysterious Places on Earth," contributor Annamaria dishes out the basic information on ten of the most mysterious places to visit. The list profiles Mystery Spot, The Bermuda Triangle, Socotra, Mount Romaima, Rio Tinto, Fly Geyser, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Easter Island, Lake Vostok and Racetrack Playa. Have you been to any of these places? Have any other mysterious places you recommend visiting? Let us know in the comments. In the meantime, read the full original story here.

Continue reading 10 mysterious places to visit

10 mysterious places to visit originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Films like "Contagion" (which I very much enjoyed, and not just because Gwyneth Paltrow bites it within the first 10 minutes) instill a paranoia in the public consciousness about the hazards of air travel. It's true, however, that most public transportation is the equivalent of a mobile petri dish; one can't deny the inherent germiness lurking within. Subsequently, antibacterial hand gel is my new best friend.

There are other quasi-self-inflicted, travel-related maladies: neck and back pain, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), infectious disease, foodborne illness, stress--all of which kind of make you wonder why we travel in the name of relaxation, but I digress.

For many, myself included, part of the thrill of recreational travel is the element of risk involved, even if said danger involves nothing more than scarfing down a few street tacos. Regardless of why you travel, there are always new products on the market designed to make your trip more comfortable, or minimize your chances of getting sick. New research on the hazards and benefits of travel also keep us informed about what we can do to stay healthier on the road.

Below are my picks for making travel in 2012 a little less treacherous:

1. Reduce your risk of DVT
New studies show that choosing the window seat on a long flight can increase your chances of developing DVT. A theoretical DVT risk known as "economy class syndrome" (how's that for an "f-you" to airlines?) has been debated for years, and attributed to the lack of legroom in coach.

Now, however, the American College of Chest Physicians have determined that the real issue is that window-seat fliers have limited opportunities to walk and stretch their legs during lengthy flights, which can lead to potentially fatal blood clots that may travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). There are a number of factors that contribute to one's risk of DVT including age, preexisting health conditions, certain medications, and recent surgery, but even if you don't fit these criteria, you should always try to get out of your seat and/or do some stretching exercises and leg movements once an hour during long flights. In other words, consider the aisle the path to clot-free veins.

Continue reading Travel Smarter 2012: Travel tips for health and wellness

Travel Smarter 2012: Travel tips for health and wellness originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acaiantibacterialantimalarialsantioxidantsbad backBadBackbartonellabartonellosisbug bitesbug repellentBugBitesBugRepellentChiloedeep vein thrombosisDeepVeinThrombosisDVTeconomy class syndromeEconomyClassSyndromeEmergen-Cfree radicalsFreeRadicalsimmune boostersimmune supplementsImmuneBoostersImmuneSupplementslow back painLowBackPainmalariamalarial drugsMalarialDrugsmaquis berryMaquisBerrymeditationmosquitoesneck pillowsNeckPillowsrelaxationsandfliesStress Reductionstress reliefStressReductionStressRelieftickstravel appstravel diseasetravel disease preventiontravel wellnessTravelAppsTravelDiseaseTravelDiseasePreventionTravelSmarter2012TravelWellnessThu, 15 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST