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[10 places to celebrate Chinese New Year]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/10-places-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/10-places-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/10-places-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Chinese New YearChinese New Year occurs in the early months of our calendar year, typically January or February and this year falls on January 23rd. This is the first of 15 days of celebration and the start of the Year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar and a time to welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate any negative chi from the past.

The origin of Chinese New Year taps several myths and traditions and is officially celebrated in countries and territories such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.

Gallery: 10 Places that celebrate Chinese New Year

South KoreaChinaMacauThailand


Continue reading 10 places to celebrate Chinese New Year

10 places to celebrate Chinese New Year originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChinaChinatownChineseChinese calendarChinese New YearChineseNewYearIndonesiaLeicester SquareMacauMainland ChinaMalaysiaPhilippinesTaiwanTrafalgar SquareWorldYear of the DragonYearOfTheDragonFri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 unusual foods from around the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/10-unusual-foods-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/10-unusual-foods-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/10-unusual-foods-from-around-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fried Tarantula in CambodiaWho doesn't love trying new and exotic foods when traveling? Maybe some spicy curries in India, a selection of savory tapas in Spain, or some authentic...Pig's Blood Cake? Check out this list of 10 unusual foods from around the world and see if your perspective on trying international cuisine doesn't change.

Fried Tarantulas, Cambodia

According to Victoria Brewood at Bootsnall, you can find this delicacy in the streets of Sukon, Cambodia, fried whole with their legs, fangs, and all. Apparently, they taste great pan-fried with a pinch of garlic and salt and have a crispy outside and a gooey inside.

Pig's Blood Cake, Taiwan

This unique dish is prepared with sticky rice and hot pig's blood. When the mixture becomes solid it is coated with peanut powder and cilantro then formed into a flat cake and sliced. This meal is usually dipped in various sauces such as chili sauce, hot sauce, or soy sauce.

Continue reading 10 unusual foods from around the world

10 unusual foods from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bear claw soupbear claw stewBearClawSoupBearClawStewcasu marzuCasuMarzucrazy foodcrazy food around the worldCrazyFoodCrazyFoodAroundTheWorlddrunk shrimpDrunkShrimpfoodweek featureFoodweekFeaturefried tarantulasFriedTarantulashaggismaggot cheeseMaggotCheeseoctopuspigs blood cakePigsBloodCakesilk wormsSilkWormsunique foodUniqueFoodunusual foodUnusualFoodweird foodWeirdFoodworm cheeseWormCheeseying yang fishYingYangFishTue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - Picnic in Taiwan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/01/photo-of-the-day-picnic-in-taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/01/photo-of-the-day-picnic-in-taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/01/photo-of-the-day-picnic-in-taiwan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

picnic in taiwan

In the mood for a picnic in Taiwan? Flickr user Pamcy.com sure is. She snapped this image of a small picnic in the north of Taiwan late last month. The views are striking even with the lingering haze across the horizon. The grass looks comfortable, too. Is it time for a nap?

Got an image of a fun summer activity you're dying to share with a wider audience? Go ahead and upload it to the Gadling Group pool on Flickr. If we dig it we might choose it as a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Picnic in Taiwan originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>photo of the dayPhotoOfTheDaypicnicpicnic in taiwanPicnicInTaiwantaiwanMon, 01 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day - street art in Taiwan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/photo-of-the-day-street-art-in-taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/photo-of-the-day-street-art-in-taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/photo-of-the-day-street-art-in-taiwan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

photo of the day
There's a lot happening in this photo: some street art, an intriguing flavor of popsicle, cool sneakers, flammable substances near a lit cigarette, the Asian art of effortless squatting. Overall it's a very interesting street scene, captured by Flickr user marisoleta in Taipei, Taiwan. Looking at more of her photos, it seems like a fun destination, full of temples, tall buildings, and weird foods we all love to photograph on our travels. It's always great when a travel photo makes us want to learn more about a place.

Have you taken any good street scenes to get us curious about a destination? Upload 'em to the Gadling Flickr pool and we may use it for a future photo of the day.

Photo of the day - street art in Taiwan originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flickrphoto of the dayphotographyPhotoOfTheDayphotospopsiclesquattingstreetstreet artStreetArttaipeitaiwantall buildingsTallBuildingstemplesweird foodWeirdFoodThu, 23 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Food blogger jailed over scathing 'salty noodle' review]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/food-blogger-jailed-over-scathing-salty-noodle-review/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/food-blogger-jailed-over-scathing-salty-noodle-review/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/23/food-blogger-jailed-over-scathing-salty-noodle-review/#commentsFiled under: ,

A food blogger in Taiwan has been jailed after writing a critical restaurant review. The blogger, surnamed Liu, will be in the slammer for 30 days after writing that a restaurant's beef noodles were too salty, among other things.

But that's not all: Liu will also be on probation for two years and must compensate the disparaged restaurant nearly $7,000 (NT$200,000).

Lui's scathing review went up in July 2008 after she had tried dried noodles and side dishes from the restaurant. In her online review, Liu wrote that the food was too salty, the restaurant was unsanitary and had cockroaches, and that the owner was a "bully." The owner learned about the post from a regular customer and then filed charges, accusing her of defamation.

After the court found that Liu only tried one dish at the restaurant and found the criticism about cockroaches to be a narration of facts (even though Liu still maintains she saw them), it was ruled that Liu's criticism of the restaurant exceeded reasonable bounds and she was sentenced to jail time.

Food bloggers, be careful what you write and be sure to take pictures of what you eat and see!

[Photo (not of the actual restaurant) by Prince Roy, Flickr]

Food blogger jailed over scathing 'salty noodle' review originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Where Would You Travel for a Meal?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/09/where-would-you-travel-for-a-meal/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/09/where-would-you-travel-for-a-meal/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/09/where-would-you-travel-for-a-meal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Where Would You Travel for a Meal? Just what motivates us to travel? What exactly inspires us to get on a plane and, thousands of miles later, blurry eyed and sleep deprived, to step into a place that was hitherto unknown to us? I'd be willing to guess that for an increasingly large amount of leisure travelers, "food" might be near the top of the list.

Last week, hundreds of hungry people attended the Lucky Rice Festival in New York City, an annual weeklong feast of all things Asian and eating. During the "Grand Feast," where a couple dozen chefs served up Asian-inspired snacks and curious cocktails (a martini spiked with a whole baby squid, anyone?) in a large Mandarin Oriental hotel ballroom overlooking Central Park, I put my hypothesis to the test. I asked some of the chefs at the festival - many of whom are New York City's most esteemed toques - to answer one simple question:

Where would you travel for a meal?

Continue reading Where Would You Travel for a Meal?

Where Would You Travel for a Meal? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 09 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The world's ten creepiest abandoned cities]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/the-worlds-ten-creepiest-abandoned-cities/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/the-worlds-ten-creepiest-abandoned-cities/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/the-worlds-ten-creepiest-abandoned-cities/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Some cities die. The people leave, the streets go quiet, and the isolation takes on the macabre shape of a forlorn ghost-town - crumbling with haunting neglect and urban decay. From Taiwan to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, these abandoned cities lurk in the shadows of civilization. Their histories are carried in hushed whispers and futures stillborn from the day of their collapse. Some have fallen victim to catastrophe while others simply outlive their function. I think we can all agree on one thing - they are all very creepy.


Gallery: Ten abandoned cities

Sanzhi in TaiwanPripyat in the UkraineCraco in ItalyKolmanskop in NamibiaHashima Island in Japan

Continue reading The world's ten creepiest abandoned cities

The world's ten creepiest abandoned cities originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandonedabandoned buildingsabandoned citiesAbandonedBuildingsAbandonedCitiesafricaasiaCentraliachernobylchilecreepyeuropefranceitalyjapannamibiapripyattaiwanturkeyukraineunited statesUnitedStatesWed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[San Jose to add "Silicon Valley" to airport name, maybe]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/24/san-jose-to-add-silicon-valley-to-airport-name-maybe/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/24/san-jose-to-add-silicon-valley-to-airport-name-maybe/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/24/san-jose-to-add-silicon-valley-to-airport-name-maybe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

San Jose to add Silicon Valley to airport nameThat would make it "Norman Y Mineta San Jose/Silicon Valley International Airport" a runway length name but just what city leaders think it needs.

"People want to go to Silicon Valley," San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said. "But they don't really know where it is."

Actually, the problem is that people want to go to San Francisco which has overshadowed San Jose for decades.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, San Jose's airport has struggled, trailing behind San Francisco then Oakland, losing lucrative routes to Paris and Taiwan. The economic slump that started in 2008 pretty much drove a stake through the beleaguered airport's heart causing a loss of a third of its scheduled flights and a quarter of it's passengers.

Gallery: The Coolest Airports in the World

TokyoAeroporto dos Guararapes, Recife, PE, Brasil.Charles De Gaulle Airport TerminalMadrid Barajas AirportParis. CDG / Charles de Gaulle

Continue reading San Jose to add "Silicon Valley" to airport name, maybe

San Jose to add "Silicon Valley" to airport name, maybe originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>San Josesan jose airportSan Jose CaliforniaSan Jose SharksSanJoseSanJoseAirportSanJoseCaliforniaSanJoseSharksSJCThu, 24 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Taiwan: Taipei's traditional Chinese Lantern Festival]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/taiwan/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/14/taiwan/#commentsFiled under: ,

taiwan traditional chinese lantern festival

In Taiwan, the annual traditional Chinese Lantern Festival kicked off in Taipei this past Friday to great fanfare. Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou launched this year's festival, which features over three dozen enormous lanterns.

This year's theme lantern is called "Baby." It is almost 70 feet tall and is designed to serve as a symbol of fertility to encourage higher birth rates. Taiwanese technological sophistication is on display at this year's Lantern Festival as well, with an interactive component designed to encourage direct participation.

Throughout, a rabbit theme predominates in 2011, an exciting year for Taiwan. The country turns 100 in 2011, and there are a number of official centennial celebrations planned throughout the year.

There are lantern festival variations across Taiwan. In Taipei's Pingxi District, for example, participants write their names on lanterns and then release them into the sky for good luck and fortune, a practice that dates back to the Ching Dynasty.

Taipei's Lantern Festival runs through February 20. Those eager to witness the kick-off of Taiwan's Lantern Festival firsthand can always start making plans for 2012. Next year's festival launches on February 6, 2012.

[Photo: Getty Images | Patrick Lin]

Gallery: Taiwan's Lantern Festival

Taiwan: Taipei's traditional Chinese Lantern Festival originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaLantern FestivalLanternFestivalTaipeitaiwanMon, 14 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gastro-diplomacy and the politics of food]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/13/gastro-diplomacy-and-the-politics-of-food/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/13/gastro-diplomacy-and-the-politics-of-food/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/13/gastro-diplomacy-and-the-politics-of-food/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Food has been a trending topic in travel circles for some time now. But though a good meal can tell a traveler much about the local culture, it's not often that food is thought of as a force for political change at home. Yet, in a recent article for the Jakarta Globe, writer Paul Rockower makes just such a claim, part of a growing school of thought called Gastro-diplomacy.

Increasingly Asian nations, including South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, are turning to their national cuisines as a way to promote their country's brands abroad, gaining increased attention and burnishing their image among the international community.

As the argument goes, people are more likely to relate to other cultures in terms of its cuisine, resulting in economic and political gains. In many ways, the effort seems to be working - the Thai government's "Global Thai" campaign, which successfully helped open thousands of new Thai food restaurants in the U.S. alone, is seen as a model for other nations now following similar strategies.

So does a bowl of noodles create new paths to cultural understanding? At first-glance, Gastro-diplomacy does make a simplistic linkage between food and genuine cultural understanding. After all, food can just as easily become a stereotype (rice in Asia, tacos in Latin America) as it can be used to deepen cultural knowledge. But there are some signs that gastro-diplomacy has had success - Sushi, anyone? In the years ahead, look for politicians to not just try to win hearts and minds, but also stomachs.

[Via @EatingAsia]

[Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt]

Gastro-diplomacy and the politics of food originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturecurrydiplomacyeatinggastro-diplomacygastrodiplomacykimchipad thaiPadThaipoliticsstereotypessushithai foodThaiFoodunderstandingxenophobiaMon, 13 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China Airlines fined for price fixing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/29/china-airlines-fined-for-price-fixing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/29/china-airlines-fined-for-price-fixing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/29/china-airlines-fined-for-price-fixing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

China Airlines is the latest carrier to get fined for price-fixing air cargo rates. The Taiwan-based airline plead guilty and now faces a $40 million fine. Northwest Airlines has also plead guilty.

A total of 18 airlines have been snared by the Department of Justice in an ongoing investigation. Eight airline executives have also been charged. The Department of Justice has imposed a total of $1.6 billion in fines and given four executives jail time for a conspiracy that reaches back to early 2000. China Airlines was conspiring with other airlines to fix cargo rates to and from the United States, a violation of antitrust laws. Rates are supposed to be subject to the free market, but the airlines secretly agreed to set a rate in order to maximize profits.

For a complete list of the airlines and executives involved, click here.

China Airlines fined for price fixing originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline industryairline regulationairline regulationsAirlineIndustryAirlineRegulationAirlineRegulationsantitrustantitrust investigationantitrust lawantitrust lawsuitantitrust ligitationantitrust settlementAntitrustInvestigationAntiTrustIssuesAntitrustLawAntitrustLawsuitAntitrustLigitationAntitrustRegulationsAntitrustSettlementaviationaviation industryAviationIndustryChina AirlinesChinaAirlinesconspiracyfinefinesnorthwestnorthwest airlinesNorthwestAirlinesprice fixingPriceFixingtrustWed, 29 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten wild cab rides that you'll never forget]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/20/ten-wild-cab-rides-that-youll-never-forget/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/20/ten-wild-cab-rides-that-youll-never-forget/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/20/ten-wild-cab-rides-that-youll-never-forget/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everyone has their own way of immersing in a culture. Some jump in knees-deep into the food scene, massacring the local food blogs and munching their ways through every gastic adventure that they can find. Others enjoy the philosophical and soft-edged days of lounging in street side cafes, watching passers-by and drinking coffee in the early afternoon sun. Here at Gadling though, we prefer the good old cab ride.

It's pretty surprising what you can pick up about a culture from the cabs, each driver with his own background, each car holding thousands of untold stories. Inspired by the works at the outstanding blog known as HACK, we've thus put together 10 of our favorite rides from around the planet below.

1. Cairo
One of the most fun and arguably scariest things about Cairo city life is the traffic. Here, traffic signals are rare and crosswalks are non-existant, meaning cars, taxis, trucks, people and donkeys are all jumbled into a free-for-all on the dusty Egyptian roads. It takes nerves of steel to brave these roads, which is why it's so fun sitting shotgun in an experienced cabbie's car. An average ride will involve darting through city traffic honking up a storm while barreling past 1960's-era Fiats, diladapidated buildings and remnants of Cairo history, all for the grand sum of no more than 4USD.

2. Moscow/St Petersburg
The funny thing about cabs in Russia is that there really aren't any. Instead, the majority of car service is provided by everyday residents looking for an extra few dollars of income. All you have to do to flag a car is hold your arm out low and wait for a passing vehicle to pull over -- it could be the remnant of a cold-war era beater or a shiny new Volkswagon -- then mutter your destination and you're off to the races.

This could be a little unnerving for the first time hithchiker, which is why we recommend a few Stoli and tonics before trying your first time. Another handy tip: if you don't speak Russian, take a photo of your destination and show the driver.

2b. Moscow at 5AM
Traffic is so thick in Moscow that it's hard to ever really appreciate the passing city while gurgling through the congested streets. For a real taste of Russian ridesharing, try taking a cab to Domodedovo at 5AM when the streets are clear and when your car's throttle can really open up. Roll down the windows and watch the amazing city of Moscow fly by as you get an uninterrupted view of the beautiful capital city.

Continue reading Ten wild cab rides that you'll never forget

Ten wild cab rides that you'll never forget originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbangkokbudget-travelcabcab rideCabRidecairocan rideCanRidechinadelhiegyptenglandindiajapanlondonmexico cityMexicoCitymoscowrussiashanghaist. petersburgSt.PetersburgtaipeitaxithailandtokyozambiaMon, 20 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tourists routinely assault Taiwanese zombies]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/11/tourists-routinely-assault-taiwanese-zombies/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/11/tourists-routinely-assault-taiwanese-zombies/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/11/tourists-routinely-assault-taiwanese-zombies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What would you do if you were face-to-face with the undead? Well, if you're smart, you won't show any fear. That's what several visitors to a Taiwanese theme park have been doing recently. Actors dressed as various creatures have been knocked around by tourists who are choosing not to let fear ruin their vacations.

Well, it's having an effect on morale, unsurprisingly. Some of the employees at Janfusun Amusement Park's "Horrorwood" have been given leaves of absence or transfers, according to a company spokesperson.

Of course, it doesn't help that some of the assailants aren't very bright. Sure, some get a bit scared and lash out. That's not too bizarre. But, one guest said he wanted to find out if the "ghost" in front of him was real.

The worst, however, happened to a male staffer who was hit "in the private parts with an umbrella." Okay, I'd want a transfer, too.

[photo by Ateo Fiel via Flickr]

Tourists routinely assault Taiwanese zombies originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assualtcrimetheme parktheme parksThemeParkThemeParkszombiezombiesWed, 11 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Can you go home again? A question for the long term traveler]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/29/can-you-go-home-again-a-question-for-the-long-term-traveler/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/29/can-you-go-home-again-a-question-for-the-long-term-traveler/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/29/can-you-go-home-again-a-question-for-the-long-term-traveler/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There's the adage "you can't go home again" that does bear merit, particularly if one has been gone from home for years. Perhaps you traveled back to your hometown for Thanksgiving and have a mental checklist for just how much the town has changed.

Certainly you noticed changes in yourself. Or maybe you noticed that even though you've changed, your trip back home was an indication that some things never change--family dynamics, perhaps? But let's not go there. In the case of this post, let's expand home past a person's hometown to a person's country.

I've moved out of the United States four different times for a variety of time periods. The first was on a study abroad program to Denmark for four months. The last was for four years that were split between Taiwan and India. Each time I was gone, I needed to readjust to life back in the United States. As I discovered, readjusting to ones own country can be more difficult than getting used to living in another one. Even after a short period of time of traveling, we change. Once you've made another country home for awhile, there is a disconnect between how you've changed and what your expectations are for life back home.

This disconnect is wonderfully highlighted in "Some Indians Find it Tough to Go Home Again" in the New York Times. The article looks at what happens to Indians who grew up in the U.S. and moved back to India several years later with the notion of helping out their home country. In general, what people find out is that who they have become and how they do business does not match up with India's culture. What they expect is not at all what they get.

Interestingly, as the article points out, expats who are not from India often have an easier time fitting into Indian business culture because they are able to adjust to the Indian system more easily.

This phenomenon is not only common to India, I would guess--or to people who have lived in the United States. I have friends who have lived overseas for years who I can't see living in the U.S. again because they have become absorbed by the cadence of living elsewhere. The U.S. would not be a great fit.

Can you go home again? A question for the long term traveler originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expat livingExpatLivingexpatsgoing homeGoingHomehome againHomeAgainhometownIndialife overseasLifeOverseasliving overseasLivingOverseaslong time travelLongTimeTravelNew York TimesNewYorkTimesnostalgiapsychologySun, 29 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.21.09]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/21/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-21-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/21/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-21-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/21/gadlinks-for-wednesday-10-21-09/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hump day is upon us, and for today I have some pretty fresh, eco-friendly/Asia-themed travel reads for you. Snuggle up with your laptop and enjoy!

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.21.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air travelAirTravelecogadlinksindonesiaislamtaiwanWed, 21 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadlinks for Monday 6.29.09]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/29/gadlinks-for-monday-6-29-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/29/gadlinks-for-monday-6-29-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/29/gadlinks-for-monday-6-29-09/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Welcome to another glorious week of Gadlinks! It looks like the web is full of travel news and stories, so we're not short of interesting links. Here are a few to keep your juices flowing:
  • Matador and the Dir Journal explore abandoned cities in the world and discover the possible appeal of these places as travel destinations.
  • I love summer in small seaside towns. These places really come alive! If you're heading to the coast, consider staying in one of these seaside inns.
  • Take a narrative journey to the Scilly Isles 30 miles off the coast of Land's End. The place doesn't sound silly, though. It sounds purely magical.
  • What is the Mount Everest of scuba diving? Apparently, it's a sunken ship called the Andrea Doria. Getting there is supposedly just as dangerous as climbing Everest, except you're coming up for air instead of going back down.
'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

For more Gadlinks, click HERE.

Gadlinks for Monday 6.29.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gadlinksinnsscilly islesScillyIslesscuba divingseaside innMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[For summer, a banquet of exotic fresh fruits: Bring travel back home]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/26/for-summer-a-banquet-of-exotic-fresh-fruits-bring-travel-back/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/26/for-summer-a-banquet-of-exotic-fresh-fruits-bring-travel-back/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/26/for-summer-a-banquet-of-exotic-fresh-fruits-bring-travel-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

So you're at home this summer. Your vacation budget is bust. Sure, there are backyard barbeques with friends and family stretching out into summer, but that tropical vacation feels long gone.

Or perhaps, you have never been on a tropical vacation. Perhaps a tropical fruit to you is the canned version of Dole pineapple--the one that waits in your kitchen cabinet.

Hop to it. An exotic experience might be as close as your neighborhood grocery store. As you browse the fruit, section buy those that you haven't tried before.

Perhaps, they are the odd looking ones. Go head. Pick one up. If you're heading to a barbeque, bring some with you and give your friends a geography lesson with the bounty. If you're a parent, pull out a geography book and give your kids a taste of the world.

Here are suggestions and countries where such tastes can be had. I found them in local markets where I've lived and traveled, and some of them, in my own backyard.

Continue reading For summer, a banquet of exotic fresh fruits: Bring travel back home

For summer, a banquet of exotic fresh fruits: Bring travel back home originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BangkokBangkok ThailandBangkokThailandbarbequechildrencoconutdurianfamily funFamilyFunFloridakidsmangoespomelorambutanSingaporeTaiwanTaroko GorgeTarokoGorgeThe GambiaTheGambiatropical fruitTropicalFruitFri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winning an island: Even a 4-year-old can do it]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/09/winning-an-island-even-a-4-year-old-can-do-it/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/09/winning-an-island-even-a-4-year-old-can-do-it/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/09/winning-an-island-even-a-4-year-old-can-do-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Imagine this. Instead of the grand prize being a trip to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, the winner of a national lottery gets an entire island. That's what happened to one four-year-old boy. This small boy landed a small island in small country--Taiwan.

The island in Pengu County isn't his forever, but for the next five months he can go there as much as he wants. The great thing is, he gets to take seven family members with him. That's good because I'm thinking that without family along, a four-year-old might have a bit of a rough time making use of an island. It would make for an interesting Disney flick, though.

Lest you think that this small boy and his family will be stuck sitting on the beach looking for shade, this island comes equipped with running water, electricity and a cabin. Considering that Taiwan gets mighty humid and hot in the summer, this island get-a-way is quite the sweet deal.

Although this island is off limits to visitors other than that small boy and his family, Pengu, off the west coast of Taiwan does have 89 others. The scenery, culture, and things to do are worthy of a trip. Here's a link to a page of what you'll find if you make the journey. Straight off, I'm noticing the seafood.

Thanks to Jaunted for the heads up on this lovely island tale. The photo by Hairworm is of Jibay Island, another of Pengu's gems.

Winning an island: Even a 4-year-old can do it originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachescontest winnerContestWinnerislandsJauntedPengu CountyPenguCountyTaiwanWilly WonkaWillyWonkaMon, 09 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos as immigration computers crash at Taiwan airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/#commentsFiled under: ,

A computer crash at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport caused a major headache on Monday. The computer system used by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) failed, forcing immigration agents to get back to basics, taking down people's information by hand. Needless to say, lines became quite long, and frustrated expressions of passengers were commonplace. Add to that the fact that yesterday was an exceptionally busy travel day as people headed home after their holiday vacations.

Approximately 20,000 people left the country during the computer blackout. NIA had to wait until the system came back online to see if anyone had entered or exited the country illegally. The agency recently terminated its contract with the company that performed computer maintenance tasks. A new company began working on the system only last week.

According to airport officials, no one missed an outgoing flight as a result of the system's crash. However, the incident comes of the heels of a baggage mishaps a day earlier. People on a dozen flights were forced to leave without their checked baggage after a conveyor belt broke down for almost two hours.

[Related]

Chaos as immigration computers crash at Taiwan airport originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Computercomputer crashcomputer crashesComputerCrashComputerCrashesimmigrationimmigration agentsImmigrationAgentstaiwanTaiwan immigrationTaiwanImmigrationtaoyuanTaoyuan airportTaoyuanAirportWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Direct flights between China and Taiwan resume]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/direct-flights-between-china-and-taiwan-resume/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/direct-flights-between-china-and-taiwan-resume/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/direct-flights-between-china-and-taiwan-resume/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The miles between Taiwan and mainland China are not many. But, in history the distance across the Taiwan Strait has been huge.

When I lived in Taiwan in the late 1990s, travel to cities in mainland China from Taiwan meant heading to another country or through Hong Kong first. There weren't any direct flights otherwise. This meant a vacation that might have been an inexpensive and easy trip involved more time and money. As a result, we traveled in Taiwan or headed to Thailand instead.

Today the tides have changed. According to this article, the first direct passenger plane between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China (China) happened early this morning. The last such flight was in 1949 after China's civil war when Chiang Kai-shek headed to Taiwan to set up another government. Along with this first flight will be 16 others over the course of today and several more throughout the week. Recently, there have been special tourist charter flights, but today air traffic has been normalized for the regular traveler who is not part of a special group.

This is big news indeed. It does indicate a more normalized relationship between Taiwan and the mainland, for one thing, and points to the power of the tourist dollar. Tourism between these two countries will economically benefit both. It's estimated that by 2010 the number of Chinese tourists to Taiwan could triple, according to the president of Taiwan's China Airlines.

I'm wondering where they will all fit on a weekend? Seriously, there are some places in Taiwan that are already absolutely packed on a holiday.

Direct flights between China and Taiwan resume originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chiang kai-shekChiangKai-shekChina AirlinesChinaAirlineschinese touristsChineseTouristsHong KongHongKongtourismMon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST