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[8 Languages You've Never Heard Of (And Who Actually Speaks Them)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/18/8-languages-youve-never-heard-of-and-who-actually-speaks-them/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anal languageAnalLanguageAnus languageAnusLanguageKet languageKet peopleKet SiberiaKetLanguageKetPeopleKetSiberialanguages youve never heard ofLanguagesYouveNeverHeardOfMelpa languageMelpaLanguageobscure languagesObscureLanguagesrare languagesRareLanguagesSamiSilbo GomeroSilboGomeroTaushiro languageTaushiroLanguageweird languagesWeirdLanguagesXhosaYoron languageYoronjimaYoronLanguageFri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outside magazine's inaugural 'Travel Awards' winners]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/outside-magazines-inaugural-travel-awards-winners/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/outside-magazines-inaugural-travel-awards-winners/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/outside-magazines-inaugural-travel-awards-winners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

travel awardsWith twenty-three categories and every continent up for consideration, the competition is fierce, but today Outside magazine released its picks for its new Outside Travel Awards. The winners include everything from travel companies and locales to cameras, suitcases, hotels, and apps, road-tested by those in the know (you know, those people).

Amongst the chosen is Seattle-based Mountain Madness, a mountain adventure guide service and mountaineering school, for its new Tsum Valley trek in Nepal, named "Best Trip in the Himalayas." Known in sacred Buddhist texts as the "Hidden Valley of Happiness," the Tsum Valley lies on the edge of the more visited Manaslu Conservation Area, which opened just three years ago to tourism.

Best travel company Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx) has "consistently taken travelers to the most remote regions of the world, from Everest's north side to Patagonia's glaciers to the far reaches of Papua New Guinea. This year its trailblazing new terrain with a 27-day trek to the north face of K2 ($11,450)." Bonus: "the price of every GeoEx trip includes medical assistance and evacuation coverage from Global Rescue and medical-expense insurance through Travel Guard." Not too shabby.

Also making the list: Myanmar is the "Best New Frontier;" Canon Powershot G-12 makes the "Best Camera;" the "Best New Adventure Lodge" is the Singular, outside of Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile; and the "Best Eco-Lodge" is the architectural marvel, The Mashpi in Ecuador.

[Photo credit: Flickr user tarotastic]

Outside magazine's inaugural 'Travel Awards' winners originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpine schoolsAlpineSchoolsAmazon BasinAmazonBasinbest gearbest tripsBestGearBestTripsbuddhismcameraschoosing a guideChoosingAGuideclimbing schoolsClimbingSchoolscultural travelCulturalTraveleco lodgesEcoLodgesEverestglacier climingGlacierClimingguide servicesguidesGuideServicesHimalayasindigenous cultureIndigenousCulturejungle lodgesJungleLodgesK2mountaineeringMt EverestMtEverestoutfittersoutside magazineOutsideMagazinePatagoniaPuerto NatalesPuertoNatalesSeattlesuitcasestravel appstravel companiestravel insuranceTravelAppsTravelCompaniesTravelInsurancetrekkingTsum ValleyTsumValleyTue, 13 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New ZealandExpatify.com asked the question, "Where would you be the safest if World War III broke out tomorrow?" The answers arrived in a post titled "10 Best Places to Live for Avoiding World Conflict." Irrelevant as it may seem to you, the claws of conflict affect a revolving roster of nations. The knowledge of where not to go because of conflict, or better yet, where to go to avoid it, can be useful if you're planning to live, or even just spend some time, abroad. According to this article, countries that make the safety cut are: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Seychelles, Finland, Tuvalu, Iceland, Bhutan, and New Zealand. Most of these choices make sense to me, based on what I know, but the undeniably gorgeous Seychelles seems like a somewhat uncertain choice. News stories covering the Somali pirates swarming the Seychelles area are prevalent. To be fair, I'm not convinced Somali pirates are a current threat for World War III. What are your thoughts? Where would you move in order to be as far removed from world conflict as possible?

Continue reading 10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict

10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 best places to live to avoid world conflict10 safest countries10 safest destinations10 safest nations10 safest places10 safest places to live10 safest places to visit10BestPlacesToLiveToAvoidWorldConflict10SafestCountries10SafestDestinations10SafestNations10SafestPlaces10SafestPlacesToLive10SafestPlacesToVisitbhutancanadacosta ricaCostaRicafinlandicelandnew zealandNewZealandpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineaseychellesswitzerlandtuvaluworld conflictWorldConflictTue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/worlds-worst-places-top-10-places-you-do-not-want-to-visit-in/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/worlds-worst-places-top-10-places-you-do-not-want-to-visit-in/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/06/worlds-worst-places-top-10-places-you-do-not-want-to-visit-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

world's worst places

What comes to mind when you think of the world's worst place? While it is easy to complain about rural Wal-marts, La Guardia, Applebee's, and any government office with motor vehicle in its title, none of those places escalate the game from nuisance to immediate danger. All of them can be horrible, yes, but a threatened existence they do not pose.

The places on this list are the bad places. Some have run out of hope. Others have fought war for so long it is the new normal. Most are exceptionally dangerous and heartbreaking. And while none of them are fighting for write-ups by travel bloggers or inspiring travel with the NetJet set, some of these locations may someday be on the travel map. After all, it was not long ago that current hot-spots like Cambodia and Croatia would have made such a list.

Gallery: World's worst cities

10. Harare, Zimbabwe9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (ship)

Continue reading World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012

World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afghanistanbrasilBrazilCite SoleilCiteSoleilciudad juarezCiudadJuarezDemocratic Republic of the CongoDemocraticRepublicOfTheCongodrcfaminehaitiharareJustin DelaneyJustinDelaneykandaharKinshasaLiberiaMexicoMOGmogadishumonroviapapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineaport au princeport moresbyPortAuPrincePortMoresbyrio de janeiroRioDeJaneirorocinhasanaaSocotrasomaliatop 10Top10warworlds worst placesWorldsWorstPlacesYemenzimbabweFri, 06 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/08/uncornered-market-qanda-audrey-and-dan-on-iran/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

uncornered marketUncornered Market is one of the most popular travel blogs out there. A quick gander will demonstrate why this is the case. Audrey Scott and Dan Noll's labor of love boasts some of the most arresting travel photography around. The subjects the two take on are of broad interest as well--from reflections on cultural traffic to recipes, to reflections on the importance of diplomacy on a personal level, and even to a particular brand of self-help.

Audrey and Dan talk to Gadling hot on the heels of their first visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran with a range of opinions, suggestions, and tips.

Q: Good day, Audrey and Dan. Define your occupations.

A: Storytellers, writers, photographers, world travelers. Mostly, we're known as the husband-and-wife team behind the travel blog Uncornered Market.

Q: You recently traveled to Iran. Tell us how the trip came about and where you went.

A: Our interest in Iran dates back to 2003 when we befriended Audrey's Iranian colleagues at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and attended a slideshow presentation from travelers who'd recently returned from Iran. Our curiosity was piqued; we wanted to see for ourselves what the country and people were like, to find an alternative story than what the media tends to portray.

We've been on the road for five years and now seemed like the right time to satisfy our curiosity despite the fact that our family and friends thought we were crazy given the current political climate.

Our trip began in Tehran and then made a loop through Hamadan, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, Shiraz, Yazd, Isfahan, Abyaneh, Rasht, Masuleh, Ardebil, and Tabriz. We finished the journey with an Iranian train trip from Tabriz to Istanbul, Turkey, which took two and a half days.

Q: In your interactions with Iranians, did politics ever enter the picture? Did you discuss geopolitics or the actions of the US and Iranian governments with anyone?

A: We never began our conversations on the topic of politics, but particularly after we earned people's trust, it entered the discussion. Most of the Iranian people we met took issue with their government, its rules, its rhetoric, and its disengagement with the rest of the world. Many would conclude with: "People are good. Politics and governments are bad."

The impression of America, and especially of the American people, was strikingly and overwhelmingly positive. The Iranians we met wished to engage more with the rest of the world. However, most Iranians we spoke to did not expect change within their own government, and as a result, they were not optimistic that relations between the Iranian and American governments would improve any time soon.

Q: How were you received, generally speaking?

A: Like rock stars. We traveled with a small group of Americans, Australians and a Dane. We were all well received, but as Americans we were often shown special positive attention. Being American got us a lot of handshakes, hugs and invitations to people's homes.

Continue reading Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran

Uncornered Market Q&A: Audrey and Dan on Iran originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaBalkansIranIsraelJapanpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineatravel bloggerstravel blogsTravelBloggersTravelBlogsuncornered marketUncorneredMarketThu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Tomato launches Epic Tomato, an ambitious new adventure offshoot]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/26/black-tomato-launches-epic-tomato-an-ambitious-new-adventure-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


For years Black Tomato has delighted old travel hands with its inventive, bespoke itineraries to various corners of the globe. The company is especially good at showcasing beautiful destinations not yet well-known to most travelers beyond the surrounding region. Among others, Belgrade, the Carpathian foothills, the Kuronian Spit, and Bhutan have all been embraced by the company.

This morning, Black Tomato launched Epic Tomato, which showcases a selection of hardcore adventure experiences to very hard-to-reach places. These adventures are scheduled for lengths of between four to 21 days, and are grouped into five categories: Polar, Desert, Jungle, Mountain, and River. They are all led by serious expert guides, some with SAS (British special service) military backgrounds.

Bolivia's Apolobamba mountain range, Mali's Dogon region, the Star Mountains of Papua New Guinea (see above), the Mosquito Coast of Honduras, and East Greenland are just a few of the destinations reached by Epic Tomato tours.

Epic Tomato's frankly epic experiences don't come cheap. At the bottom end of the scale, three adventures come in at £5995 ($9660): 14 days in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain and Duke of York Islands; a 21-day trek in Tibet and Nepal; and eight days in Chilean Patagonia. At the very high end: 12 days on Canada's Ellesmere Island for £67,495 ($108,720).

Black Tomato launches Epic Tomato, an ambitious new adventure offshoot originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antarcticablack tomatoBlackTomatocanadaChilechilean patagoniaChileanPatagoniaellesmere islandEllesmereIslandepic tomatoEpicTomatolondonNepalpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineatibetSat, 26 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rome's Vatican Museums host rare Aboriginal art exhibition]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/31/romes-vatican-museums-debuts-archived-collection-of-rare-aborig/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/31/romes-vatican-museums-debuts-archived-collection-of-rare-aborig/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/31/romes-vatican-museums-debuts-archived-collection-of-rare-aborig/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Aboriginal artNo one can ever accuse the Vatican of acting impulsively. In 1925, over 300 artworks and relics were sent to Rome by Aboriginal Australians, for a papal show. Since that time, the items have been squirreled away, despite being one of the world's finest collections of Aboriginal art and artifacts, according to a recent New York Times article.

Fortunately, these treasures are now on public display, thanks in part to Missionary Ethnological Museum curator Father Nicola Mapelli. Last summer, Mapelli flew to Australia and visited Aboriginal communities to request permission to display the collection. His objective was to "reconnect with a living culture, not to create a museum of dead objects." His goal is accomplished in the exhibition, "Rituals of Life," which is focused on northern and Western Australian art from the turn of the 20th century. Despite the fairly contemporary theme of the exhibition, Aboriginal culture is the oldest surviving culture on earth, dating back for what is believed to be over 60,000 years.

The items include ochre paintings done on slate, objects and tools used for hunting, fishing, and gathering, a didgeridoo, and carved funeral poles of a type still used by Tiwi Islanders for pukamani ceremonies. The collection also includes items from Oceania, including Papua New Guinea and Easter Island (Rapa Nui).

The collection was originally sent to Rome because it represents the spiritual meaning everyday objects possess in Aboriginal culture (each clan, or group, believes in different dieties that are usually depicted in a tangible form, such as plants or animals). The items were housed, along with other indigenous artifacts from all over the world, and stored at the Missionary Ethnological Museum, which is part of the Vatican Museums.

"Rituals of Life" is the first exhibition following extensive building renovations and art restoration. The museum will continue to reopen in stages, with the Aboriginal art on display through December, 2011.

For an exhibition audio transcript, image gallery, and video feature from ABC Radio National's "Encounter," click here. The Australian series "explores the connections between religion and life."

[Photo credit: Flickr user testpatern]

Rome's Vatican Museums host rare Aboriginal art exhibition originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aboriginal artAboriginalArtaboriginesarchaelogyarcheology exhibitsArcheologyExhibitsArt Exhibitionart exhibitsart museumsArtExhibitionArtExhibitsartifactsArtMuseumsAustralian aboriginesAustralian artAustralian cultureAustralianAboriginesAustralianArtAustralianCulturedidgeridooEaster IslandEasterIslandhunting and gatheringhunting toolsHuntingAndGatheringHuntingToolsindigenous artindigenous cultureindigenous peopleIndigenousArtIndigenousCultureIndigenousPeopleMissionary Ethnological MuseumMissionaryEthnologicalMuseumNorthern TerritoryNorthernTerritoryoldest living continuous cultureOldestLivingContinuousCultureprimitive culturesPrimitiveCulturesRapa NuiRapaNuireligious ceremoniesreligious exhibitsreligious museReligiousCeremoniesReligiousExhibitsReligiousMusereligous culturesReligousCulturesRomespiritual travelSpiritualTravelTiwi IslandsTiwiIslandsVaticanVatican MuseumsVaticanMuseumsWestern AustralriaFri, 31 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cultures of Indonesia: From Sea Gypsies to cannibals and more]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/12/cultures-of-indonesia-sea-gypsies-cannibals/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/12/cultures-of-indonesia-sea-gypsies-cannibals/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/12/cultures-of-indonesia-sea-gypsies-cannibals/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Indonesia is a sprawling island nation with a rich cultural heritage. From the temples in Bali to the unique street food, it's easy to immerse yourself in all the aspects of Indonesia. If you've ever wanted to know about the culture, scene and surroundings of one of the world's most intriguing destinations, read on...

Sea Gypsies
From the Burma Banks in Myanmar to Eastern Indonesia, the Sea Gypsies stretch across an extremely vast and diverse region. These seafarers survive completely from the ocean's bounty, hunting for fish and mollusks with only their hands and spears. They live in boats or in houses on stilts. A Swedish researcher tested the eyesight of sea gypsy children and compared the results with youngsters from Europe visiting the same geographical area. The results showed that the Europeans saw half as well underwater. Sea Gypsy children possess several eye functions that Western children simply do not, like an ability to constrict their pupils to 1.5mm in diameter. This helps them to see the tiny pearls that they later use to barter. During the fierce tsunami of 2004, their unique understanding of the ocean tipped them off to the approaching danger. They fled for higher ground several days before the waves struck, and as result, waited out the carnage safely in the hills.

The most accessible place to view Sea Gyspies is Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand. The most culturally preserved place to view the seafarers is the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar. A great Indonesian place for gypsies is in north Sulawesi. Their sea huts are common in the coastal areas, and you can ponder how little you have in common while you cruise by in a motorboat. You can fly into Manado on Silk Air from Singapore, and combine a visit to the sea gypsies with Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Full of nature's oddities like Tarsiers and massive hornbills, Tangkoko is not to be missed. All of this can be arranged in Manado or through your guesthouse. Stay at Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort on the fringe of Tangkoko for a perfect home base to explore the region. You can arrange fishing with the locals for a few dollars.

Continue reading Cultures of Indonesia: From Sea Gypsies to cannibals and more

Cultures of Indonesia: From Sea Gypsies to cannibals and more originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baliBaliem ValleyBaliem Valley TribesBaliemValleyBaliemValleyTribesbatakborneocultures of indonesiaCulturesOfIndonesiaDayakDayak tribeDayak tribesDayakTribeDayakTribeshindusjakartaMakassarMyanmarPhang Nga BayPhangNgaBayphuketSea GypsiesSeaGypsiessulawesisumatraTana TorajaTanaTorajaubudwest papuaWestPapuaThu, 12 Aug 2010 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[British woman completes solo row across the Pacific Ocean]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/04/british-woman-completes-solo-row-across-the-pacific-ocean/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/04/british-woman-completes-solo-row-across-the-pacific-ocean/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/04/british-woman-completes-solo-row-across-the-pacific-ocean/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

British ocean rower Roz Savage arrived in Madang, Papua New Guinea yesterday, completing the third, and final, stage of her solo row across the Pacific Ocean. Her arrival marked an end to an adventure that she has dedicated more than five years of her life to finishing.

Roz first came up with the idea of rowing across the Pacific after she completed a solo row across the Atlantic back in 2005. That journey took 103 days to complete and covered 2935 miles of open water. In 2007 she launched her first attempt on the Pacific but was forced to return to land a few days after getting underway. Undaunted, she returned to the water in 2008, and completed the first stage of her journey, rowing the 2324 miles from San Francisco to Hawaii in just under 100 days. In 2009, stage two took her from Hawaii to Tuvalu in the South Pacific, covering an additional 3158 miles over 104 days.

For her third, and final stage, Roz planned to row from Tuvalu to Australia, but strong ocean currents, persistent winds, and other conditions prevented her from traveling that far south. Instead, she drifted towards Papua New Guinea, where she finally stepped back onto dry land after covering an additional 2248 miles in just 45 days.

By completing this final leg, Roz has now become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific, a voyage that took a total of 249 days to complete and covered 7730 miles in total. A former management consultant for a major bank in the U.K., Roz quit her job back in 2001 to pursue a life of adventure. Since then, she has become a tireless environmental activist who has worked hard to raise awareness of the plight of the world's oceans and is likely to continue pursuing that cause in the future. To that end, she recently launched a new website called Eco Heroes that has become a social network for the environmentally conscious set to connect.

British woman completes solo row across the Pacific Ocean originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelglobal warmingGlobalWarmingMadangocean rowingocean wellnessOceanRowingOceanWellnessPacific OceanPacificOceanrowingroz savageRozSavagetuvaluFri, 04 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel company rediscovers seabird thought to be extinct]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/10/travel-company-rediscovers-seabird-thought-to-be-extinct/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/10/travel-company-rediscovers-seabird-thought-to-be-extinct/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/10/travel-company-rediscovers-seabird-thought-to-be-extinct/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Seattle based travel company Zegrahm Expeditions specializes in eco-sensitive travel, organizing trips to all corners of the globe. The company promises to give clients the "ultimate expedition travel experience", whether they're taking part in one of Zegrahm's trekking adventures or small-ship cruises. Zegrahm's strives to give their customers a sense of discovery, no matter which trip they go on, but on one recent expedition that sense of discovery took a very real turn when team members sighed a rare seabird that hasn't been recorded in the wild for more than 83 years.

The expedition, which was led by seabird expert Peter Harrison, took place this past February. The journey entailed a small-ship sailing adventure from Auckland, New Zealand to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Along the way, the ship stopped at several remote, and seldom visited, islands on the Vanuatu archipelago. While there, Harrison, and a number of other members of the group, spotted and photographed, 21 individual Vanuatu Petrels, a seabird that hasn't been seen in the wild since they were first discovered by ornithologist Rollo Beck back in 1927.

Zegrahm is already planning a return trip to the region in November of this year, and again in 2012. Both expeditions are expected to be very popular with bird watchers hoping to get a glimpse of this rare and unique seabird, that until now has only been seen in museums. Known as the Faces of Melanesia expedition, this cruise is generally noteworthy because it routinely visits remote South Pacific islands that few people ever see. But with this recent discovery, it will probably become well known in the bird watching community as an opportunity to add another species to their list.

Travel company rediscovers seabird thought to be extinct originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 10 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure cruiseadventure traveladventure-travelAdventureCruiseAdventureTravelBird watchingBirdWatchingcruisecruisesseabirdssouth pacificSouthPacificvanuatuvanuatu petrelsVanuatuPetrelsMon, 10 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trade Mocked]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/10/trade-mocked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Continue reading Trade Mocked

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingcountriesPRpublic relationsPublicRelationstourismtrademarksSat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/04/u-s-lifts-ban-on-travelers-with-hiv-or-aids/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/04/u-s-lifts-ban-on-travelers-with-hiv-or-aids/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/04/u-s-lifts-ban-on-travelers-with-hiv-or-aids/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

For the past 22 years, if you had HIV or AIDS and weren't American, you couldn't enter the U.S.

That changed today as President Obama lifted the ban. Since the Obama administration is planning to host the 2012 World Aids Conference, the change in policy was necessary.

The biannual conference naturally includes many people living with HIV and AIDS, and barring their entry would have been bad PR for an administration that wants to be seen as a global leader in the fight against the disease

There are only ten countries that now ban people with HIV/AIDS from entering. They are: Brunei, China. Equatorial Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

According to the website hivtravel.org, some of these countries allow people to enter under "special circumstances". Some other countries not on the list put restrictions on people living with HIV/AIDS but not full bans.

Continue reading U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS

U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AidsHIVhiv and aidsHivAndAidsMon, 04 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Man arrested for smuggling kangaroos]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/05/man-arrested-for-smuggling-kangaroos/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/05/man-arrested-for-smuggling-kangaroos/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/05/man-arrested-for-smuggling-kangaroos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It seems that animal smuggling has become the trendy thing lately. Just in the past month a man was nabbed at LAX smuggling lizards, and another man was arrested in Norway smuggling pythons. Both of these guys had wrapped up the critters and strapped them to their chest.

Now a man in Indonesia has been arrested for smuggling kangaroos. Since roos are a wee bit too big to tie to one's body, especially when there's ten of them, he made the logical choice of smuggling them by boat. That didn't stop him from getting caught, though. Initial reports state the animals were red kangaroos, a protected species from New Guinea. Five were dead at the time the man was arrested.

The international trade in protected and endangered species is a lucrative business. All of the animals in the incidents mentioned would have fetched large sums of money on the black market. It seems customs officials have more to look out for than drugs, bombs, and bottles of water.

The smuggler faces up to five years in prison. The surviving kangaroos have been given to an animal sanctuary.

Man arrested for smuggling kangaroos originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kangarookangaroossmugglingSat, 05 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Should a medical exam be required before a major trek?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/should-physicals-be-requiried-before-long-treks/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/should-physicals-be-requiried-before-long-treks/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/should-physicals-be-requiried-before-long-treks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Physicians and politicians in Australia are calling for mandatory physicals for any trekkers preparing to hike the Kokoda Track according to Aussie newspaper The Age. The Kokoda is a difficult and remote trail in Papua New Guinea, which has claimed the lives of three hikers this year alone. The track runs 60 miles in length through a region where the Australian military fought a pitched battle with the Japanese during WWII, and it has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years.

The latest person to die on the Kokoda was a 38 year old man named Paul Bradfield who was hiking the trail as part of a fund raising effort for a children's charity. Before the hike he was believed to have been in good health and spent weeks training for trip. The exact cause of his death is still unknown, but it is believed that he suffered a heart attack while hiking. The other two people to die on the trail this year were also quite young as well. One was a 26 year old man, and the other a 36 year old woman.

This story brings up an interesting debate. Should a physical be required before embarking on any major trek? At what point does a government begin enforcing such requirements and how exactly do they do so? At the moment, Australia has no requirements of the trekking companies that operate on the Kokoda, but they are developing a "code of conduct" for those hiking the trail, and are now strongly considering the requirement of a medical check as well.

Continue reading Should a medical exam be required before a major trek?

Should a medical exam be required before a major trek? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelclimbinghealthhikingkilimanjarokokoda trackKokodaTrackmedical checkupmedical checkupsMedicalCheckupMedicalCheckupsmt. kilimanjaroMt.KilimanjarotrekkerstrekkingWed, 30 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadlinks for Monday 9.14.09]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/14/gadlinks-for-monday-9-14-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/14/gadlinks-for-monday-9-14-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/14/gadlinks-for-monday-9-14-09/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In keeping with the Weird America theme today on Gadling, here are some weird travel reads for you, this glorious fall (it is fall, right?) Monday.
'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Monday 9.14.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deli meatDeliMeatfoodgadlinksmeatoddpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuinearoadside attractionsRoadsideAttractionsstrangevideoweirdMon, 14 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Explorers discover 'lost world' in Papua New Guinea]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/11/explorers-discover-lost-world-in-papua-new-guinea/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/11/explorers-discover-lost-world-in-papua-new-guinea/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/11/explorers-discover-lost-world-in-papua-new-guinea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A team of explorers from the U.S. and Britain, along with locals from Papua New Guinea, recently descended into the volcanic crater of Mount Bosavi, where they discovered a "lost world" with a host of new species that have been evolving in isolation for thousands of years. The crater is more than a kilometer deep and three kilometers across, and lacks the major predators that are often common in rainforests around the globe. The result, is that many creatures were able to adapt to living side by side in an environment that remains nearly completely cut off from the outside world.

In the five weeks that the explorers and scientists were in the crater they found a wealth of interesting creatures, including kangaroos that live in trees, a new type of bat, and a fish that makes grunting noises. They also discovered 16 new species of frogs, including one with a set of fangs, as well as a new breed of rat that my now hold the record as the largest in the world.

The scientists on the expedition were surprised and amazed at these discoveries, and are now making renewed calls for the preservation of rainforests across the planet. The amount of new species they found in just five weeks makes you wonder what else is out there, still hidden in the jungles, that we don't know anything about. There is still a lot of this world left to explore and plenty of new things to discover, despite what we might think.

Explorers discover 'lost world' in Papua New Guinea originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelbatsexplorerfrogsjunglemount bosaviMountBosavipapua new guineaPapuaNewGuinearainforestrainforestsratsFri, 11 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tribe from New Guinea sues <em>New Yorker</em>]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/04/22/tribe-from-new-guinea-sues-em-new-yorker-em/http://www.gadling.com/2009/04/22/tribe-from-new-guinea-sues-em-new-yorker-em/http://www.gadling.com/2009/04/22/tribe-from-new-guinea-sues-em-new-yorker-em/#commentsFiled under: ,

Some of you might have caught Jared Diamond's recent report in the New Yorker about the Handa clan of Papua New Guinea highlands and their penchant for revenge killing. The story profiled tribesman Daniel Wemp and his six-year quest to avenge the death of his uncle.

Well, the Handa tribe is pissed: They say the story unfairly portrays them as bloodthirsty animals bent on rape and murder.

Wemp is now availing himself of the great American pastime: Taking the New Yorker to court.

He is suing the magazine for $10 million, having filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court earlier this week.

How does a New Guinea tribesman come to sue in New York court? I'm a little unclear of that too (though clearly the Handa clan has a bit more contact with the outside world compared to, say, some tribes in Irian Jaya). It appears he has help in the form of the New York City-based Art Science Research Lab, which recently sent a team to New Guinea to closely fact check every one of Diamond's assertions in the story. They claim Diamond was duped by many of the people he interviewed.

The group is preparing a 40,000 word report -- 40,000 words! -- refuting the New Yorker story (which strikes me as overkill given how little Americans likely care about this story).

Right now, the New Yorker is standing behind Diamond.

I'd personally like to know how the Handa tribe figures it was wronged to the tune of $10 million. I mean, the tribespeople live in New Guinea's highlands, for heaven's sake.

Tribe from New Guinea sues New Yorker originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>New Guinea tribe sues New YorkerNewGuineaTribeSuesNewYorkerWed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (1.5.09)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/05/photo-of-the-day-1-5-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/05/photo-of-the-day-1-5-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/05/photo-of-the-day-1-5-09/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Have you figured out yet that I'm a sucker for a portrait of a happy child? And this lovely photograph by muzzman packs a quadruple punch: check out the great smiles on these four little ones, taken in Papua New Guinea. I was initially drawn to the image because it reminded me of an everyday scene in my homeland of Trinidad, but looking at it now, these really could be 4 children anywhere in the world, couldn't they? Lovely shot.

If you've got some great travel shots you'd love to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (1.5.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kidsportraitsMon, 05 Jan 2009 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[2008's best travel writing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/2008s-best-travel-writing/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/2008s-best-travel-writing/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/2008s-best-travel-writing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While browsing my local Barnes & Noble earlier this week, I stumbled upon a display of The Best American Series - a collection of books recapping the year's best writing. Among the collection is a travel-themed edition, curated this year by travel "badboy" Anthony Bourdain.

Gadling has given great reviews to these anthologies in years past, so I decided to pick up a copy. As a fledgling travel writer myself, I've found the pieces in this year's edition to be highly compelling. The featured content covers a surprisingly broad array of topics. Foodies will savor writer Bill Buford's account of Extreme Chocolate, which finds the author deep in the rainforests of Brazil in search of the perfect cacao beans. Adventurers will want to dive into James Campbell's look at the Kapa Kapa Trail, a grueling overland route of American soldiers fighting in Papua New Guinea during World War II, in Chasing Ghosts.

For anyone who's interested in the travel genre, this is a great recap of this year's best-written and most interesting stories. Travel writing is a well-worn style - pithy descriptions of swank hotels and delicious meals can only take you so far. It's the stories that are able to rise above the cliches and well worn metaphors to truly give a sense of place and its people that truly does these locations justice.

Let's continue to encourage this sort of high-quality travel writing. Stop by Barnes & Noble or hit up Amazon and pick yourself up a copy.

2008's best travel writing originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anthologyanthony bourdainAnthonyBourdainbookcacaochasing ghostsChasingGhostsExtreme ChoolateExtremeChoolatekapa kapa trailKapaKapaTrailThe best american travel writingTheBestAmericanTravelWritingtravel writingTravelWritingMon, 22 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top hell-holes on earth]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/07/top-hell-holes-on-earth/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/07/top-hell-holes-on-earth/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/07/top-hell-holes-on-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April Fool's Day, 2007, I wrote a post on Linfen, China. Although it was written as a joke, the premise is true. Linfen is a royal mess. Its mighty pollution problem has earned it the number 2 spot on the recent "Hells on Earth" list. The air quality in Linfen is so horrific that there is a perpetual feeling of dusk in this coal dust laden city.

Here's the rest of the ten places that have a hellish quality. Perhaps you know of others that should have made the cut.

Continue reading Top hell-holes on earth

Top hell-holes on earth originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dhakahell on earthHellOnEarthLinfenOklahomaworst places on earthWorstPlacesOnEarthWed, 07 May 2008 09:00:00 EST