Continue reading Traveler Q & A: Pavia Rosati

Traveler Q & A: Pavia Rosati originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

India restarts ferry to Sri Lanka after 30 years of civil war originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Photo of the day - Non-royal wedding originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Blogger Justin Delaney

Blogger Justin Delaney originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Travel to Sri Lanka grows, along with obstacles for tourism

Travel to Sri Lanka grows, along with obstacles for tourism originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I think that the best travel photography is the kind that captures a unique instance of the human experience and opens it up for further discussion. It intrigues the viewer to ask questions, to delve deeper and to examine the unfamiliar. It refuses to let you look away or ignore the subject. For me, this moment captured by e.r.g.o in Sri Lanka does exactly that.

The festival being photographed is called the Esala Perahera (festival of the tooth), which takes place in the city of Maha Nuvara (Kandy) in July or August. The man seen here is swallowing a burning coal as a display of relentless faith.

The image is part of a series from e.r.g.o during a three year stint in the South Asian island country. He notes "This project is my farewell to Sri Lanka. Of the six images, some are pretty and nice, while others are ugly and harsh. This has been my Sri Lanka experience." The full series (with a couple extras from Melbourne) can be viewed here.

Do you have a story to tell with photos to prove it? Submit to our Gadling Flickr Pool & it could be tomorrow's Photo of the Day!

Photo of the Day (8.31.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Blogger Meg Nesterov

Blogger Meg Nesterov originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Photo of the Day (5.15.2010) originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 May 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

25 great adventures for 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ten amazing "green" adventures originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Sri Lanka in Photos - Dominic DeGrazier could have gone anywhere for his recent sabbatical. He chose Sri Lanka, the tiny island nation just off the coast of India. While he was there, Dominic fell in love with the lush scenery, vibrant colors and frenzied street life. Check out this link to see some of his photos and read a few of his observations on the country.
• It's just Africa - say the word "Africa" to many travelers, and you frequently evoke some strong negative reactions. An entire landmass of varied countries is characterized as one giant continent, rife with poverty, danger and disease. Laura Claire-Corson wants to set the record straight. She's got a few reasons why every traveler should check out Africa at least once. It's easier to visit than you think, incredibly diverse and an experience you're not soon to forget.
• FREE Europe - earlier this year, Gadling took a look at how you can make that trip to Europe a reality, even if you're on a tight budget. Cristina Dima is backing us up - she's got a list of 12 of the best FREE European attractions you should check out. How can you say no to free museums and attractions? Take a look.
• Food for thought - food is such a huge motivator for travel. Whether its eating sushi in Japan or an authentic bowl of pasta in Rome, food is a language that reveals the true details of destination's culture. And one of the best places to experience food while traveling is the local market, where you can get some fresh specialities. Katie Hammel takes a look at eight of her favorite markets from around the globe.
• Going it alone - face it. At some point the travel bug is going to sneak up and you and none of your friends and family will be able to come along. Have you considered trying a trip by yourself? JoAnna Haugen weighs to pros and cons of solo travel in her recent post. There's plenty of reasons to give it a try - read her post and decide for yourself if a solo trip is right for you.

Gadling + Bootsnall - Picks of the Week (5.8.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 08 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When I first read Pico Iyer's book Video Night in Kathmandu, I was hooked. Reading Iyer's words is a trip down streets that you may have traveled before but have not found the words to describe. When you read his prose, the tendency is to say, "Yes, that's it." For places one hasn't been, he draws you into the scenes as if you are there looking at the world through his perceptive eyes.

Seven years ago, I met Iyer, who lives in Japan when he's not traveling the world, at a writers symposium in New Delhi. As usual, there was a bit of trepidation in saying hello to a person whose work I admire. Like, what if this person I think so highly of turns out to be a jerk? There was no need for such concern. Iyer is as gracious and warm as his writing.

As fate has it, I was able to reconnect with him this past summer via e-mail. In between his recent trips to Sri Lanka and New Delhi to attend literary events earlier this year, Iyer answered my Talking Travel interview questions. In subsequent e-mails, I found out that we have a mutual admiration for Kentucky, Thomas Merton and Johnny Depp. Yes, they are connected. More on that later. That post is percolating.

In the meantime, here's the interview where Iyer gives his impressions of honing into the essence of place, the Country Bear Jamboree, Atlanta, and more.

Bonus: This Talking Travel interview comes with a bonus for Gadling readers. This month Iyer's book The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama came out as a Vintage Books paperback. His publisher, Random House, will give away two copies of the book (shipping included). See the end of the interview for contest rules and how to win. Look for the book review on Wednesday.

Continue reading Talking Travel with Pico Iyer and a book give-away

Talking Travel with Pico Iyer and a book give-away originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ever wondered how much you need to tip at restaurants while abroad? Or how many cheek kisses to give a new acqutainance? Or whether, in a particular country, it's proper to wear shorts? (I'm looking at you, Andrew Zimmern!) One website has all the answers to those questions, and more.

While most guidebooks have sections on local etiquette, I haven't found too many websites that aggregate all that information in one place. Thankfully, I've just stumbled across Travel Etiquette, a site with dozens of articles explaining the everyday customs and traditions of many of your favorite travel destinations.

From the Sri Lanka entry:

"Women should not touch a Buddhist monk under any circumstance and should also never try to give anything directly to a monk... It's OK to take pictures of statues and images of Buddha, but it's not acceptable to pose in front of Buddha."

From the Saudi Arabia article:

"If you are planning on giving your Saudi acquaintance a gift, remember that men presenting women with gifts, especially flowers, is not always wholly appropriate. A gift for the whole family would be well received."

Got it? Trying to pose in front of Buddha = bad. Giving flowers to Saudi women = also bad.

Check out more tips here. (thanks to AlphaTangoBravo for the pic)

One website is your guide to local etiquette originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How useful are those U.S. State Department travel warnings? If you read too many, you might become scared off of travel all together.

As Carol Pucci points out in a recent Seattle Times article, politics and economics might play into U.S. State Department travel warnings and recommendations. This doesn't mean that, if there is a travel warning for a particular country, you should poo poo it as nonsense, and not proceed with caution when making plans. Perhaps, though, the travel warning isn't totally warranted. Pucci suggests checking other government's travel warning venues, such as Canada's, Australia's and the United Kingdom's.

Sometimes, even when a warning might be a good idea, the country does not make the travel warning list. Pucci cited India as an example. Consider this:

Continue reading U.S. State Department travel warnings. Useful or useless?

U.S. State Department travel warnings. Useful or useless? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I just read that Arthur C. Clarke died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90. He was, no doubt, one of the coolest guys out there. Not only was he a great writer, but he was a pioneer traveler, too.

Although he was British, he moved to Sri Lanka some 50 years ago because "he loved diving." Honestly, how many 90-year-olds do you know today who could say that?

The photo is of Kirinda, Sri Lanka, a place Clarke put on the map when he used it as his base for his diving exploration in order to write his book 'The Treasure of the Reef'. A particularly unique feature of the Great Basses is the light-house that was actually constructed on the reef in 1860, according to EcoTeam Sri Lanka.

Times online writes that "Clarke first visited Colombo, Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) in December 1954. He moved there in 1956 and lived there ever since, pursuing an enthusiasm for underwater exploration along that coast and on the Great Barrier Reef. His fascination with diving led to him meeting his wife Marilyn Mayfield, whom he divorced ten years later. In 1998, his lifetime work was recognized when he was honored with a knighthood - formally conferred by Prince Charles in Sri Lanka two years later."

Marking his "90th orbit of the Sun" in December, the author said that he did not feel "a day over 89" and made three birthday wishes: for ET to call, for man to kick his oil habit and for peace in Sri Lanka. Arthur, you are cool!

Here is to Arthur C. Clarke. Here is to Sri Lanka. originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yesterday I ran into a woman I know who is an avid traveler. Her trips are the type where you learn a thing or two--historical trips of famous European paintings, or something. I can't quite remember, but I do know they are themed versions that she researches herself based on her interests. Yesterday, she told me she recently retired and is off this month to Hungary and another country whose name escapes me. (It's a Kellie Pickler moment, not to be mean. We all have them.)

She mentioned how she has arranged this trip herself. "I'm not doing that again," she said. "It's worth the money to get a travel agent." I'm under the impression she spent a lot of time on this do-it-yourself endeavor. Last I knew, she doesn't have a computer at home. I assume she's used the computers at the library since that's where I saw her. Then we talked about how if you have a travel agent, you also have a person who can work on your behalf if you have a problem. Possibly, a travel agent might even find a cheaper deal.

Years ago I had a travel agent arrange a trip for me going from Albuquerque to Taiwan for a week, then to Japan for another week, then Honolulu for two weeks, then to Los Angeles for a layover of a couple of days before heading back to Albuquerque. The two tickets, one for me, and one for my traveling companion whose itinerary was different than mine, were screaming deals. Since I had given her the names of companies that were offering cheap fares from ads I saw in the Los Angeles Times, she told me I could book what she found myself. I let her do the booking and paid her fee. That seemed fair since she did most of the work. Obviously, I had one of those travel agents who was competent and dedicated.

We've also had a wonderful travel agent in Singapore who got us what we wanted, and we used one in Sri Lanka to find us the deals we were after. I say the more specific you are in your desire, the better your luck. Wondering about this, I checked over at Travel Troubleshooter columnist, Christopher Elliot's blog to see what his take is on travel agents. Sure enough, a few days ago, he took on the question "Are travel agents worth the extra money." He generally thinks so for the reasons I think. There some comments from people who differ. Maybe it's a toss-up. Still, I'd tell my retired friend next time, find an agent with a good reputation so all she has to worry about is what to pack.

Getting a travel agent--or not originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm a huge fan of guides--not necessarily guide books, although I do use them to give me a running start on figuring out where I might head before my interests lead me in other directions, but living, breathing human guides who know a place well. These folks are worth hiring for a few hours tour--or a day. Or even a week. Guides can save lives even.

When trekking with a guide and sherpas through the Markha Valley in Ladakh and on the Annapurna trail in Nepal, I saw fliers for missing hikers who had set off on their own. Either they become lost or hurt. Regardless, they were unable to get back from what they probably imagined as a solo adventure. With thieves not uncommon in Nepal's mountains, guides offer protection. The trails in Ladakh are so rugged and faint and head in so many directions, it would be easy to get lost. It's certainly easy to get sick. The sounds of people in my group heaving at night from altitude sickness on my Ladakh trip was not exactly music to my ears. We had a trip that involved people cooking for us and mules carrying our bags, so I can't fathom what it would be like to attempt 17,000 feet while carrying belongings, food.and water. And, by the way, the people who got the most sick were the ones who fancied themselves the most athletic. They pushed themselves to prove something and BAM!!! a real puke problem.

Continue reading Hiring A Guide Can Enhance a Travel Experience

Hiring A Guide Can Enhance a Travel Experience originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've got $14,500 to spend on dessert, why not consider a stay in a $30,000 hotel room, a luxury wildlife tour, or some chill-out time in a luxury holiday inn.

Gallery: Priceless Desserts

How Much Would You Pay for Dessert? $14,500? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I dabble in a bit of sports writing in New Zealand, so when I'm on the road I try and get along to a local sports event. It's a great way to get a feel for a place.

Here's my top five suggestions for on the road sports experiences.

1. Watching Boca Juniors in the cauldron of Buenos Aire's La Bombonera soccer stadium
2. Chowing down on hot dogs at a Yankees vs Red Sox game in the Bronx (and sorry New Yorkers, but the standard of food available was the worst I've seen at any sports event in the world)
3. Discovering the joys of Australian Rules Football at Melbourne's cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground.
4. Feeling every punch and sharp elbow watching Muay Thai (kick boxing) at Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok (with just maybe the best food)
5. A day at the races (above) in the Sri Lankan hill town of Nuwara Eliya. I never did work out how you could place a bet on the horses, but the chill-laced snacks went great with a local Lion beer.

Click here for my article on the sleepy Sri Lankan town that's surrounded by tea plantations.

Where else have readers sat in the bleachers drinking beer and cheering on the local team?

Thanks to PhantomMenace on Flickr for the pic.

Is The Local Team Wearing Red? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Photo of the Day (4/25/07) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.