Gadling

Karakoram Glaciers Defy Trends, Actually Grow In Size

Kraig Becker — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Asia, China, India, Pakistan, News

Scientists are once again demonstrating that we actually don't really have a clue about how our planet works. A team of researchers from the University of Grenoble in France has released a new report that indicates that glaciers in the Karakoram mountain range are actually growing in size. This is, of course, counter to what is being observed elsewhere across the planet and defies the theories behind global warming.

The scientists who conducted the study used satellite imagery collected from 1999 through 2008 to compare the land surface elevation over that period of time. Their observations indicate that the mass of the glaciers in the Karakoram continues to grow, even as others in the nearby Himalaya Mountains and around the world are actually in retreat.

Critics of the study are quick to point out that this method of research hasn't proven to be reliable just yet. There are a number of factors that can interfere with the imagery including cloud cover and the amount of snow on the ground. They say that the only way to be sure that the glaciers are growing is to visit them in person and take measurements by hand. That isn't easy in a place like the Karakoram, which is amongst the most remote and unexplored regions on the planet.

Located along the borders of China, India and Pakistan, the Karakoram runs about 310 miles in length and features some of the tallest mountains on the planet, including the infamous K2, which is second only to Everest in height. The high concentration of peaks in a relatively small area has made the mountain range nearly impassable at points and has hindered exploration over the years. That rugged terrain would make it very challenging to get an accurate measure of the glaciers there, which is necessary in order to verify the findings in this study.

[Photo credit: Guilhem Vellut via WikiMedia Common]

Karakoram Glaciers Defy Trends, Actually Grow In Size originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Meet An Intrepid Diplomat

Dave Seminara — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, Morocco, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Spain, United States, Middle East

In 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 19^th 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.

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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.

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Three climbers missing on remote Pakistani peak

Kraig Becker — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Asia, Pakistan, News

The search for three missing climbers on a remote peak in Pakistan was called off yesterday when rescue teams could find no trace of the men. The trio was last seen on March 9 as they made their way toward the summit but what became of them after that remains a mystery.

Veteran climber Gerfried Goschl of Austria, along with Swiss mountaineer Cedric Hahlen and Pakistani guide Nisar Hussein were attempting to make the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum I, the 11th tallest peak in the world at 26,509 feet. On Thursday, March 8, they used a satellite phone to call their support team to inform them that they were just 1475 feet from the top. The climbers sounded optimistic about their chances as weather conditions improved around them and they put the more technically challenging aspects of the ascent behind them. Unfortunately, that was the last time that anyone ever talked to them.

The following day a second team of climbers made history by becoming the first to successfully climb Gasherbrum I in the winter. While on the summit, those climbers reported seeing Goschl, Hahlen and Hussein on the move and still trying to reach the top. It would be the last time that anyone would ever see the men alive.

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Serena Hotels: Opulence amidst squalor and bloodshed

Dave Seminara — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Hotels and Accommodations, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)

Anyone for a game of badminton and a round of emerald-hunting in Pakistan's Swat Valley? Or perhaps you fancy a beach resort on the shores of Lake Kivu, just minutes from the Democratic Republic of Congo?

The March/April issue of Foreign Policy features an interesting story and photo gallery on the luxury Serena hotel chain, which they dub the "Ritz Carlton of Failed States." The chain, which originated in Africa in the 70s, operates luxury hotels in a variety of dodgy places, including Pakistan, Kabul, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Mozambique and others. The Serena hotels are operated by an economic development fund founded by the Aga Khan, a spiritual leader for Shia Ismaili Muslims.

FP reports the Kabul Serena (see photo above), which has been attacked three times has rooms that start at $356 per night. The chain has been criticized for partnering with the Assad regime in Syria on the development of hotels in Damascus and Aleppo, but Aga Khan told FP that the company's involvement in conflict zones brings "an investment seal of approval" that helps attract more foreign investment. The hotels also create jobs in countries with high unemployment.

But is there something unseemly about a luxury hotel which features "holistic health and wellness services," a pastry shop, swimming pool, a "mind, body and spirit spa," and other amenities in an impoverished, failed state like Afghanistan? FP's slideshow juxtaposes scenes of opulence at the Serena hotels with images of children sorting through trash, smoldering buildings, and tin roof shacks.

One can certainly quibble with the high prices and unnecessary luxuries of these hotels, but the notion that aid workers, journalists, government officials, and businessmen should stay in slum-like conditions while traveling to conflict states is far-fetched. The reality is that many of these people are stuck in very primitive, dangerous conditions, sometimes for weeks, months or even years, and only get to repair to places like the Serena hotels for well-deserved R & R's.

I certainly wouldn't begrudge a Medicins Sans Frontieres volunteer who spent the last six months treating sick children in the Congo a long weekend at the luxury Serena resort in Rwanda. That said, a case can be made that holing foreigners up in luxury hotels allows them to exist in a fairytale bubble, where they are insulated from what's going on in the country at large. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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Serena Hotels: Opulence amidst squalor and bloodshed originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Climbers summit K2 for first time in three years

Kraig Becker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Asia, China, Pakistan

K2, arguably the world's toughest mountain to climb, was conquered for the first time in more than three years earlier this week, when an international team of three men and one woman reached the summit. They were the first people to stand on top of the mountain since the tragic 2008 climbing season, during which 11 people lost their lives.

Located in the Karakoram mountain range, K2 straddles the border between Pakistan and China and stands 8611 meters (28,251 ft) in height. It is the second highest peak in the world, behind only Mt. Everest, although it is orders of magnitude more challenging to climb. While each year more than 500 people summit Everest, the top of K2 is rarely visited at all due to its extreme technical challenges and notoriously bad weather. In fact, K2 has earned the nickname "the Savage Mountain" because of its high level of difficulty and the fact that for every four climbers who have successfully reached the top, one has died trying.

On Tuesday, Austrian climber Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, along with Polish mountaineer Darek Zaluski and Kazakhs Maxut Zumayev and Vassiliy Pivtsov ended the three-year drought on K2 by reaching the summit from the Chinese side of the mountain. Climbing for nearly 18 hours, the team endured waist deep snow and -25ºF temperatures on their way up, although the winds were mercifully light and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. That afforded them some great views from the summit, but the exhausted group didn't linger for long, as they still had a long trek back to their high camp below.

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10 countries Americans need advance visas to visit

Meg Nesterov — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Cuba, United States, Australia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, Middle East, Caribbean, Hong Kong

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

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

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Brits behaving badly abroad

Alex Robertson Textor — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, Jamaica, United States

Today the Foreign Office released British Behaviour Abroad 2011, with detailed figures on British nationals in trouble overseas (read: Brits behaving badly abroad). The period surveyed: April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.

There are lots of interesting tidbits in the survey. British nationals request consular assistance in greatest numbers in Spain and the United States, though since both of these countries are very popular destinations for people from the UK, this is perhaps not all that surprising.

The more interesting chart in the report is of which countries see the highest numbers of requests for consular assistance per visitor and resident abroad. The top five, in descending order: The Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Cyprus, and India. British nationals abroad are most likely to be arrested in Thailand, followed by the United States.

Another interesting detail: The Foreign Office claims that 43 percent of the 18-24 set know someone who has taken illegal drugs while abroad. Aggregate drug arrests are highest for British nationals abroad in Spain (171), the United States (100), Jamaica (63), Norway (55), and Thailand (51).

The good news is that the number of British nationals arrested is down, 10 percent overall and 20 percent for drug-related offenses.

The report also tabulates deaths, hospitalizations, rapes, and sexual assaults abroad. Each of these categories saw slight movement up or down in 2010-2011, with deaths, hospitalizations, and sexual assaults slightly up and rapes down.

[Image: Flickr | La Citta Vita]

Brits behaving badly abroad originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three Cups of Tea author under scrutiny

Kraig Becker — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Asia, North America, Afghanistan, Pakistan, United States, News

His books have inspired millions with their tales of generosity, both given and received, but following a scathing 60 Minutes segment that aired this past weekend, author and philanthropist Greg Mortenson finds himself at the center of a controversy. The investigative piece put together by the staff at CBS alleges that Mortenson has fabricated key parts of his stories and profited from his charitable organization, the Central Asia Institute.

For those not familiar with Mortenson's story, back in 1993 he was climbing in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan. After a failed attempt to climb K2, he found himself lost, and wandering in a remote region of the country. Mortenson says that at one point he stumbled into the village of Korphe, where the villagers welcomed him warmly, sharing their food and water, and helping him to regain his bearings so he could find his way home. The mountaineer was so moved by their generosity that he vowed to repay their kindness by building them a school.

Fast forward a decade and Mortenson would write his bestselling book Three Cups of Tea, which shared the details of his story with the world. He would follow it up with another bestseller, Stones into Schools, and then building CAI into a $20 million a year non-profit organization. The charity is credited with building a number of schools throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan, enriching the lives many children in both countries. Mortenson has been lauded for his work the world over, and many people donate to his organization based on the stories they are told in his books.

But what if those stories weren't exactly true? What if elements of them were exaggerated to enhance their dramatic value? What if the author too major liberties with his own exploits?

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Three Cups of Tea author under scrutiny originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skiing in a former Taliban stronghold: Malam Jabba, Pakistan

Sean McLachlan — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Skiing, Asia, Pakistan, News, Middle East

Thumbing your nose at the Taliban has never been so fun.

The Malam Jabba ski resort in the Swat Valley of Pakistan has been a battleground between the Pakistani army and the Taliban for years. When the Taliban seized the area in 2006 they blew up the resort. They decided that skiing is unislamic, probably because it's fun. Well, the Muslims in the Pakistani army didn't agree with this interpretation of Islam and when they retook the region in 2009, they rebuilt the resort. Now they're hosting a skiing competition to show off the new facilities, the BBC reports. Six Pakistani teams are competing. No news on the winners yet, but the only losers are those grumpy nutcases in the Taliban.

The army, which runs the resort, is hoping to attract tourists to the region. It used to draw intrepid foreign skiers but the fighting, which continued into last year, scared them away. Judging from the above photo, the skiing looks pretty good. Unfortunately it's hard to tell what the facilities are like now because this picture was taken in 2005 by M. Sajid Ishaq, before the Taliban got their hands on it.

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Skiing in a former Taliban stronghold: Malam Jabba, Pakistan originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Great Himalayan Trail on schedule to open in 2011

Kraig Becker — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Festivals and Events, Asia, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Camping, Ecotourism

Way back in February of this year we told you about the Great Himalayan Trail, an epic hike more than 2800 miles in length that will eventually wind its way through the mountainous regions of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. The trek, which is expected to take roughly 150 days to hike end-to-end, is scheduled to officially open in early 2011, although there are still some challenges to over come before the boots of adventurous travelers begin to walk the route.

2011 is being called Nepal's Tourism Year, and the country is gearing up to promote itself as the top adventure travel destination on the planet. The GHT will play a role in that celebration, as roughly 1200 miles of the trail passes through the country, and while it is expected to officially open in January or February of next year, some are already questioning if that will happen as planned. Ang Tshering Sherpa, a former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, says that the trail has mostly been promoted and built by private sector dollars thus far, and he is calling on the Nepali government to inject some much needed funds to help launch the trail in early 2011.Without those funds, he feels that the GHT won't get the recognition that it deserves to draw trekkers to the route.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Tourism Board named American Sean Burch as one of its Goodwill Ambassadors this past week. The 40-year old Burch recently completed an endurance run across Nepal, from the border of India to Tibet, that followed 1250 miles of the GHT, in just 49 days. He will now help to promote the epic new trail abroad, while also encouraging economic development in the villages through which the trail passes.

That economic development will be important for the future of the GHT. On other trekking routes in the region hikers find teahouse lodges and simple restaurants every few hours along the route, but there are large sections of the GHT where those amenities are not yet present. But the trail will provide opportunities for enterprising individuals to build these places, which should help the economies of each of the countries that the GHT passes through.

Trekkers interested in hiking some or all of the trail, should check out GreatHimalayanTrail.com for more information on the available routes and what to expect when it officially opens next year. Start planning your trek now and be sure to let your boss know you're going to need 150 days off to make the hike.

Great Himalayan Trail on schedule to open in 2011 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 10 country brands in the world, Canada hits #1

Tom Johansmeyer — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, Oceania, Zimbabwe, Iran, Pakistan, United States, Australia, New Zealand

Remember when you could make all those "two thirds" jokes about Canada? Based on the currency, there were so many ways we could tweak our northern neighbors. Then, the U.S. dollar plunged. I remember being in Quebec and seeing parity between the two dollars for the first time in October 2007. Well, the momentum has continued, and it's not just about money. It seems as though Canada's brand is stronger than ours now.

According to FutureBrand's Country Brand Index, the United States isn't looking so good these days. From 2009, we fell down to the #4 spot, from the #1 position. Meanwhile, Canada worked its way from #2 last year to the top of the heap in 2010.

USA Today reports that the United States reached #1 last year because of the "Obama effect," with the prospect of "hope" and "change" making us look promising. A year later, the prospect doesn't burn as bright, and it's reflected in the FutureBrand rankings.

It could have been worse: we could've wound up joining Zimbabwe, Iran and Pakistan at the bottom of the heap.

See the full top 10 list below:

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Top 10 country brands in the world, Canada hits #1 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12 historic sites in danger of disappearing

Kraig Becker — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Africa, Asia, Europe, Kenya, Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine, Guatemala, Haiti, Ecotourism, News, Middle East, Central America

The Global Heritage Fund has released a new report that lists 200 World Heritage Sites around the globe that are in danger from a variety of threats, turning the spotlight on 12 in particular that could disappear altogether due to a lack of funds, neglect, and mismanagement.

The 12 sites listed in the report include Palestine's Hisham's Palace, Turkey's Ani, and Iraq's Nineveh. Hisham's Palace, the remains of a royal winter retreat built in 747 AD and the ancient city of Nineveh are both under threat from encroaching urban development, while Ani, an 11th century city on Turkey's border with Armenia, finds many of it's ancient structures literally falling apart on their foundations.

Other Heritage Sites that make the list of "most threatened" include Mahansrhangarh, the oldest archeological site in all of Bangladesh and Mirador in Guatemala, which is a pre-Columbian Mayan ruin which sits in a remote jungle location. Haiti's Sans Souci Palace suffered damage during the recent earthquakes that hit the country, while the Maluti Temples in India suffer from years of neglect. Kenya's Lamu Village, Famagusta, located in Cyprus, Pakistan's Taxila, Intramuros and Fort Santiago in the Philippines, and Chersonesos in the Ukraine round out the list.

The GHF's report recommends that the countries in which these historic sites are located invest in restoring and preserving the ancient places. While those repairs could cost millions of dollars to complete, the sites could potentially generate that income back through tourist dollars, although UNESCO representatives say that caution should be taken when going down that road, as sustainable tourism is not always an easy thing to accomplish and there are a lot of factors to consider before proceeding.

One thing that everyone agrees on however is that these amazing sites need to be preserved for future generations to visit and explore. Just how that will be accomplished remains to be seen.

[Photo credit: Christian Koehn via WikiMedia]

12 historic sites in danger of disappearing originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day (10.5.10)

Stephen Greenwood — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, Asia, China, Pakistan, Photo of the Day, Travel Trivia

Contrary to what it may look like, today's Photo of the Day is not from the set of Indiana Jones 5. Welcome to the Karakoram; one of the greatest and most sparsely inhabited mountain ranges in the world.

Apart from being home to K2, the Karakoram is most well known for hosting the highest international paved road in the world - the Karakoram Highway. Completed in 1986, the 1,300km road connects Kashgar in the Xinjiang region of China with Pakistan's modern capital, Islamabad. This dramatic shot (don't worry, this isn't the highway) was captured by Flickr user madang86 over the Hunza River near Passu, Pakistan. It certainly gives a new meaning to the phrase "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it".

Have you risked life & limb to capture a great photo on your travels? We can't wait to see it. Share it on our Flickr Pool and it could be our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (10.5.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Gadling: What to do in a Muslim country during Ramadan

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey

Ramadan is a month-long religious festival during which Muslims don't eat, drink, smoke, or have sex from sunup to sundown. This reminds them what it's like to be without the things they take for granted, and encourages them to be thankful for what they have. Certain people are excused from fasting, such as children, the sick, the pregnant, menstruating women, and travelers. The rest of the population has to suck it up and get through the day.

Traveling in a Muslim country during Ramadan poses two problems--you can't eat in public and tourist sights may be closed. In countries such as Turkey and Egypt tourism is such a big draw that major sites will remain open and there are enough restaurants catering to non-Muslims that you'll be able to eat. In smaller towns, however, you might find the attractions and restaurants closed. Gadling's Grant Martin was visiting Cairo during Ramadan and found many places had abbreviated hours so the staff could eat at the appropriate times. He also found that while touristy restaurants remained open, some didn't serve alcohol. Gadling's Meg Nesterov, who's living in Istanbul, reported very little changed during the fast.

The big challenge comes in more devout, less visited countries. Back in 1994 while I was crossing Asia, Ramadan started during my last week in Iran and my first three weeks in Pakistan. Pretty much everything shut except for museums in major cities and large archaeological sites such as Mohenjo-daro. Restaurants all closed their doors and I found myself in the odd situation of being an agnostic compelled to observe Ramadan.

So what to do?

Get into the spirit. Ramadan is one of the biggest occasions of the Muslim calendar and you're there to witness it firsthand. You'll almost certainly be invited to an iftar, the evening meal right after sunset. Muslims make up for their day of hunger with some seriously good cooking, and it's traditional to invite a guest. One of my coolest travel memories was an iftar at a home for deaf people in Karachi. We communicated by hand signals the entire evening and one of my hosts gave me a silent tour of the city.

Be flexible with your hours. While shops and restaurants may be shut during the day, they often stay open long into the night.

Continue reading Ask Gadling: What to do in a Muslim country during Ramadan

Ask Gadling: What to do in a Muslim country during Ramadan originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photos show effects of climate change on Everest

Kraig Becker — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Photos, Asia, China, Nepal, Pakistan

A new series of photos from the Himalaya reveal the undeniable effects of global climate change on the glaciers there. This is especially evident on Mt. Everest, where comparative shots from 1921 show just how much the Rongbuk Glacier has retreated over the past 89 years.

Filmmaker and mountaineer David Breashears made the journey to Everest's North Side, where explorer George Mallory once took a very famous photo of the mountain. Standing in the very spot where Mallory once shot his image, Breashears took a new one, and the differences between the two are startling. In the earlier photo, a thick layer of snow and ice stretches far down the valley, but in the one taken by Breashears, the glacier has withered dramatically. In fact, the Rongbuk has lost more than 320 vertical feet since Mallory shot his photo.

Over the past few years, Breashears has visited a number of other famous mountains throughout Nepal, Tibet, and Pakistan as well. While there, he took similar photos, and each case he discovered a significant loss of glacial ice, which is particularly troubling considering that the Himalayan glaciers are the Earth's largest sub-polar ice reserves. The loss of that ice has already had a direct and profound impact on the mountains and the people that live there, many of whom now have to walk for hours each day just to find fresh water.

Breashears has taken his collection of photos and created an exhibit known as Rivers of Ice, which just went on display last week at the Asia Society, located in Manhattan. The photos will be open to the public to see until August 15, giving visitors a chance to witness the changes for themselves.

[Photo credit: AFP]

Photos show effects of climate change on Everest originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trade Mocked

Andrew Evans — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, Bangladesh, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Arab, Emirates, Vietnam, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Jamaica, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Internet Tools, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean, French Polynesia

You were a cheerleader, you dated a cheerleader, or you hated the cheerleaders. As I recall, that's how high school worked.

Thanks to travel PR, that same primeval paradigm lives on long after graduation. That miniskirts-shouting-slogans thing still works, whether you're a used car salesman, Miley Cyrus on VH1 or the tourist board of a small Balkan nation. When it comes to selling your destination in today's busy world of busy people, a country's name just isn't enough--just like school spirit, you need colors, a pep band, a mascot, a brand and most important--a cheer.

It's tragic but true: tourist boards don't trust their country's name to inspire appropriate thoughts in your brain. Toponyms are too open-ended and too untrustworthy--also, way too obvious. For example, what's the first thing that pops into your head when I say . . . Monte Carlo? How about Australia? The Bahamas? Kuwait? The Gambia?

Whatever you're thinking, it's not enough. Tourist boards want you to choose their destination over all others, then allocate all of your vacation days to them and then come spend your money on very specific things--like miniature golf by the sea or hot air balloon rides across the prairie. In short, they want your school spirit so much they're churning out cheers to fill up all the Swiss cheese holes in your mental map of the world.

Like a good cheer, a good destination slogan is simple and so memorable it sticks in your head like two-sided tape. Sex sells, but then so does love: "Virginia is for Lovers", Hungary offers visitors "A Love for Life", Albania promises "A New Mediterranean Love", while the highlighted "I feel Slovenia" spells out sweetly "I Feel Love". Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina call themselves "the Heart Shaped Land" and Denmark's logo is a red heart with a white cross. Colombia and Dubai have red hearts in their logo. Everybody else uses sunshine.

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Trade Mocked originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New epic trekking route set to open in the Himalaya in 2011

Kraig Becker — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Asia, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan

Have you already conquered the world's top treks? Already hiked the Inca Trail, made the trek to Everest Base Camp, and scaled Kilimanjaro? Do the Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trails seem passe? Then get ready for a new long distance trekking route set to open in the Himalaya next year, that will challenge even the heartiest of backpackers with its distance and altitude.

Known at the Great Himalaya Trail, this new route will run approximately 2800 miles through some of the most remote and stunningly beautiful locations on the planet. The snow capped peaks of the Himalaya will tower above hikers as they pass through Bhutan, Tibet, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, on a route that will be an epic undertaking from beginning to end.

The trail will begin in Namche Barwa in Tibet and extend all the way to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. It is estimated that it will take roughly 150 days to hike the GHT from end to end, although it will also be broken up into seven sections, which can be completed in 18 to 35 days depending on which segment a trekker elects to do. Much of the route will be inaccessible by road, but will instead pass through remote villages that will allow for resupply, while giving backpackers a chance to immerse themselves in the unique and fascinating local cultures.

Continue reading New epic trekking route set to open in the Himalaya in 2011

New epic trekking route set to open in the Himalaya in 2011 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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India opens remote trekking and mountaineering routes

Kraig Becker — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Asia, China, India, Pakistan, Camping

Adventure travelers were given even more incentive to travel to India recently when it was announced that the government would begin allowing access to previously restricted areas in the remote Jammu and Kashmir provinces. The move has both economic and political motivations that officials hope will provide benefits for the country in years to come, but trekkers and mountaineers will begin receiving benefits of their own beginning this summer.

In all, 104 new mountain peaks have been removed from the restricted list, and opened up to climbers for the first time. Most fall in the Leh and Ladakh regions, along India's border with both China and Pakistan. Because of their close proximity to the disputed Kashmir region, only ten previous mountaineering expeditions, primarily made up of Indian climbers, have made their way into the region. This means that the vast majority of those mountains have not yet been climbed. Climbers looking to claim a first ascent will find plenty of altitude to challenge them. Many of the peaks top out above 22,000 feet, including Saser Kangri I, II, and III, which stand 24,327 feet, 24,649 feet, and 24,590 feet respectively.

Backpackers will find plenty to love in this remote and stunningly beautiful region as well. High altitude passes and trails that have previously been off limits are now open to foreign travelers, including a route that leads to the village of Turtuk in the Nubra Valley. The village played a historically important role in the region in centuries past when caravans traveling the Silk Road passed through the high altitude settlement, ferrying goods from East to West.

This move by the Indian government comes following a recommendation from the Ministry of Defense. The region has been a source of conflict for years between India and Pakistan, but tensions have now eased in the area, and this will signal a return to normalcy. The influx of climbers, trekkers, and other adventure travelers is likely to help the local economy as well.

India opens remote trekking and mountaineering routes originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crazy roads from around the world

Kraig Becker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, South America, China, Pakistan, Italy, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Transportation

Lets face it! We all love a good road trip now and again. Who hasn't enjoyed hopping in the car with some friends to hit the open road? And when that road is unique and interesting, it makes the journey all the more fun. To helps us find more of those roads Popular Mechanics has put together a list of their selections for the 18 strangest roadways from around the world.

As you can imagine, the list, which includes photographs of each of the routes, has some crazy roads, often located in exotic locations. Take for example, the Hana Highway on Maui, Hawaii. This road made the list thanks to the stunningly beautiful views of rocky cliffs on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. But what really sets it apart is the 600 curves and 54 bridges, spread out over just 52 miles of pavement.

If you prefer the mountains to the ocean and you're looking for something more remote for your next road trip, then consider the Karakoram Highway, which runs for 800 miles between Pakistan and China. This road winds through the Karakoram and Himalaya mountain ranges, and reaches altitudes in excess of 15,390 feet. Altitude sickness can be a legitimate concern for drivers making this drive.

A number of countries are represented on this list, including Italy, Iceland, China, Argentina, Norway, and more. Some of these streets are marvels of modern engineering, while others are primitive and basic. But they all have one thing in common, they are unique and interesting in their own way, and each of them will give you a road trip to remember.

Crazy roads from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get out and go: Events around the world (October 15-18)

Brenda Yun — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Asia, North America, Oceania, South America, Malawi, China, India, Pakistan, United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Nightlife, News, Middle East

Happy Hump Day, Gadling'ers! It's time to look at the festivals and events happening around the world, and this week has a particularly international selection of happenings. If you're close and have time, then you have no excuse to get out and go!

Islamabad - The Hot Air Ballooning Competition in Pakistan begins this Thursday, October 15 and ends on the 18th.
Malawi - Lake of Stars: This special music festival takes place on the shores of Lake Malawi. The festival begins on Thursday, October 15 and lasts through the 18th.
New Zealand - Wanakafest 2009: The Wanakafest, a fun festival that includes urban downhill biking, bike back flips, snowboard rail jam, music, waterfront events, a fashion show, a food and wine fair and a street parade among other things begins this Thursday, October 15 and ends on the 18th.
Pittsburgh - International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival: Pittsburgh's an annual celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered writers, directors, actors and their work begins this Friday, October 16, and continues until October 25th.
Delhi - Diwalli, the Festival of Lights, will be held this Saturday, October 17. It is a colorful celebration of the victory of the good within people over evil. Traditionally people give gifts to family, friends and employees, making Delhi a bustling marketplace.
Shanghai - The 10th Annual China Shanghai International Arts Festival begins this Sunday, October 18 and runs until the 23rd. The performing arts fair, a major sector of the festival, is the largest and most effective performing arts market of its kind in China.
Sao Paolo - Grande Premio do Brasil: Brazil's featured Formula 1 car race will be held this Sunday, October 18 at 2 p.m.

If you make it to one of these events, let us know how it was, or if you know of an even that's coming up, please let us here at Gadling know and we'll be sure to include it in the next "Get out and go" round-up.

'Til next week, have a great weekend -- the first of October!

Get out and go: Events around the world (October 15-18) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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