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[Twilight vamps boost travel worldwide]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/twilight-vamps-boost-travel-worldwide/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/twilight-vamps-boost-travel-worldwide/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/26/twilight-vamps-boost-travel-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

TwilightThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn is packing movie theaters worldwide as vampire fans turn out to see the latest installment. For many, viewing the film multiple times satisfies their hunger without compulsion. For others, travel is in order as the more-than-a-movie lifestyle requires active participation to satisfy their burning desire.

Even before the film's New York opening earlier this month, fans turned the emotional journey they knew the film would represent into a literal trek, coming cross-country for the premiere.

"We came all the way from North Dakota to come to a New York premiere of Twilight", die-hard fan John Myhre told MTV news.

In Brazil's Mamangua Bay, close to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the glamorous coastal home used for filming is now being rented out for $7,000 a night. The 11,000 square-foot property , designed by architect Thiago Bernardes, boasts its own private beach as well as luxury furnishings.

The so-called "Twilight Effect" looks to be benefiting all of Brazil too with country-wide tourism numbers up.

Continue reading Twilight vamps boost travel worldwide

Twilight vamps boost travel worldwide originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Breaking DawnEntertainmentRio de JaneiroTwilightSat, 26 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How many continents are there?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/16/how-many-continents-are-there/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/16/how-many-continents-are-there/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/16/how-many-continents-are-there/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We are commonly taught that seven continents exist - North America, South America, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. But is this answer really true? As YouTube sensation C.G.P. Grey points out in a new video, the definition of a continent isn't consistent. In a nearly four-minute video, Grey explains (to I-guarantee-it-will-be-stuck-in-your-head kind of music) that depending on the determining factors, the number of continents could range from as few as five or four to as many as dozens.

Using the definition of "large land masses separated from others by oceans," is problematic, Grey points out, as technically Europe and Asia aren't separated by an ocean, North and South America are technically only "separated" by a man-made canal and Antarctica, if one is to be precise, is actually an archipelago covered by ice rather than a legitimate land mass. Very confusing.

Weigh in below - is the traditional definition of "continent" correct? Or, like the shocking discovery that Pluto is, in fact, not a planet, should our definition and childhood textbooks be revised?

How many continents are there? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CGP GreyCgpGreycontinentcontinentsviral videoViralVideoyoutubeFri, 16 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Coping with a fear of flying: the secret rituals of aviophobics]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/coping-with-a-fear-of-flying-the-secret-rituals-of-aviophobics/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/coping-with-a-fear-of-flying-the-secret-rituals-of-aviophobics/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/06/coping-with-a-fear-of-flying-the-secret-rituals-of-aviophobics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

fear of flyingMy name is Laurel, and I have aviophobia. I, like millions of Americans, am scared shitless of flying. Aviophobia can manifest for a variety of reasons: a traumatic experience on a previous flight; claustrophobia; fear of heights; fear of loss of control (ding, ding, ding!), even a fear of motion sickness. After years of researching the subject, I've learned that I fit the classic profile of an aviophobic: female, with sudden onset in my early twenties.

In my situation, there was nothing to precipitate my phobia; I actually loved to fly as a kid. But over a period of 10 years, it progressed until I was not only having anxiety attacks on flights, but suffering frequent nightmares about crashes in the weeks before a trip, no matter how anticipated. The final straw came when, in December of 1999, I was about to embark on a five-week solo backpacking trip of Southeast Asia. It was days before my departure, and I was so terrified by the thought of 21 hours in the air, I was ready to bail on the entire thing.

Fortunately, I got a grip, called my doctor, and explained the situation. He immediately wrote me a prescription for Xanax and my life as a traveler has been the better for it ever since. Why it took me so long is a mystery, but Xanax quells (but not eliminates) my anxiety and enables me to fall into slumber that renders me drooling and pleasantly out of it during flight, but alert enough to awaken should it be necessary.

I know Xanax is a crutch, and that's okay. I'm not advocating taking drugs to solve all of one's problems, but in this instance, it's what worked for me after other methods (including therapy) failed. I know people who no longer fly because of their phobia, and to me, that's sad. The world becomes a smaller place--literally and figuratively--when you let fear control you.

I still don't enjoy flying, although my phobia has lessened. There are even the rare flights where I don't take Xanax. But there's one thing I must always do before departure that's far more important than popping a pharmaceutical. I must perform My Ritual.

[Photo credit: Flickr user runningclouds]

Continue reading Coping with a fear of flying: the secret rituals of aviophobics

Coping with a fear of flying: the secret rituals of aviophobics originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agoraphobiaanti-anxiety drugsAnti-anxietyDrugsAOLaviophobiaclaustrophobiacontrol freakControlFreakflight phobiaFlightPhobiagadlinghuffington post media groupHuffingtonPostMediaGrouphypnotherapyjet lagJetLagmotion sicknessMotionSicknessnightmaresobsessive-compulsive disorderObsessive-compulsiveDisorderOCDovercoming phobiasOvercomingPhobiaspanic attacksPanicAttacksphobiaspsychotherapyreligionsleep aidsSleepAidssleeping pillsSleepingPillsSoutheast AsiaSoutheastAsiatravel anxietyTravel WritingTravelAnxietyTravelWritingturbulenceXanaduTue, 06 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Mexico Tourism launches Billy the Kid-themed scavenger hunt featuring $10,000 reward]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/29/new-mexico-launches-billy-the-kid-themed-scavenger-hunt-for-10/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/29/new-mexico-launches-billy-the-kid-themed-scavenger-hunt-for-10/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/29/new-mexico-launches-billy-the-kid-themed-scavenger-hunt-for-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

billy the kid, new mexicoThe Land of Enchantment just became the Land of Advancement. "Catch the Kid," a new summer travel promotion launched by New Mexico Tourism Department, has turned the entire state into a "real life video game," with the prize being $10,000 in cold, hard cash. "The Kid" in question is one William H. Bonney, aka "Billy the Kid." Participants (it's geared toward families) try to track down this most iconic of New Mexico outlaws by finding clues hidden throughout the state.

Now through September 24th, you can register your family online at www.CatchtheKid.com to create a "posse profile," as well as gain access to exclusive New Mexico travel deals and weekly vacation giveaways throughout the summer. The reward money is the inflation equivalent of the $500 reward offered by Governor Lew Wallace in 1881 for the Kid's head.

If you have a smartphone, you can download the "Catch the Kid" smartphone app. Alternatively, you can play by taking pictures or you or your family posing next to clue posters placed throughout New Mexico, and upload them to your profile page. Designated locations around the state will unlock clues that lead to the Kid's New Mexico hideout. The more clues you collect, the more information you'll gather on when and how to capture the wily criminal. The first posse to present the Kid with an arrest warrant will win their handsome reward.

Players using a smartphone to play can unlock additional New Mexico travel deals and win prizes, because the app allows players to find Billy's money bag loot which is virtually placed and hidden in every county in New Mexico. You'll have the chance to use this loot to buy vacations, deals, or meals online in the general store section of the "Catch the Kid" website. Good luck, pardners.

Watch New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez announce contest details, below

New Mexico Tourism launches Billy the Kid-themed scavenger hunt featuring $10,000 reward originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American outlawsAmerican SouthwestAmericanOutlawsAmericanSouthwestBilly the KidBillyTheKidcontestsgravesitesNew Mexican historyNew MexicoNew Mexico historyNewMexicanHistoryNewMexicoNewMexicoHistoryold westOldWestoutlawspromotionsSouthwestsouthwestern statessouthwestern travelSouthwesternStatesSouthwesternTraveltravel promotionsTravelPromotionsWestern U.S.WesternU.s.wild westwild west outlawswild west townsWildWestWildWestOutlawsWildWestTownsFri, 29 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sorry Trekkies: Science proves time travel and warp drive not possible]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/25/sorry-trekkies-science-proves-time-travel-and-warp-drive-not-po/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/25/sorry-trekkies-science-proves-time-travel-and-warp-drive-not-po/http://www.gadling.com/2011/07/25/sorry-trekkies-science-proves-time-travel-and-warp-drive-not-po/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Time TravelNot long ago, Vanderbilt University physicists planned to use the world's largest atom smasher, the Large Hadron Collider, to cause matter to travel backwards in time and things were looking up for time travel. Now, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology physicists say they have proved that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light which pretty much puts an end to the dream of time travel as well as faster-than-light warp drive.

"Einstein claimed that the speed of light was the traffic law of the universe or in simple language, nothing can travel faster than light," the university said on its website.

The possibility of time travel was raised 10 years ago when scientists discovered superluminal - or faster-than-light - propagation of optical pulses in some specific medium reports HeraldSun.com.au. It was later found to be a visual effect, but researchers thought it might still be possible for a single photon to exceed light speed.

"The study, which showed that single photons also obey the speed limit confirms Einstein's causality - that is, an effect cannot occur before its cause," the university said.

Continue reading Sorry Trekkies: Science proves time travel and warp drive not possible

Sorry Trekkies: Science proves time travel and warp drive not possible originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>time travelTimeTravelwarp driveWarpDriveMon, 25 Jul 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphing the deepest ocean to the highest peak]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/18/graphing-the-deepest-ocean-to-the-highest-peak/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/18/graphing-the-deepest-ocean-to-the-highest-peak/http://www.gadling.com/2011/06/18/graphing-the-deepest-ocean-to-the-highest-peak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

deepest ocean highest peak

The surface of the Earth plummets deeper than 35,000 feet in the Mariana Trench and reaches up to the lofty heights of the Himalaya mountain range. The rest of our planet exists somewhere in between. Every hill, coral reef, dance contest, and disappointing vacation takes place at some point between these two extremes. This amazing graph by NOAA and NASA details some of the more significant earthly markers in height and depth, such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the resting place of the RMS Titanic, and the highest peak - Mt. Everest.

Continue reading Graphing the deepest ocean to the highest peak

Graphing the deepest ocean to the highest peak originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Everesthighest mountainHighestMountainMariana TrenchMarianaTrenchMt. EverestMt.EverestNASAnoaaSat, 18 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bigger is better: scout these mega-sized attractions on a cross-country trip]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/27/bigger-is-better-scout-these-mega-sized-attractions-on-a-cross/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/27/bigger-is-better-scout-these-mega-sized-attractions-on-a-cross/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/27/bigger-is-better-scout-these-mega-sized-attractions-on-a-cross/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

largest attractionsTaking to the roads this long weekend or on a summer road trip? Don't miss these larger-than-life tourist attractions.

World's Largest Rooftop Farm
New York City
Brooklyn Grange, is 40,000 square foot elevated garden is located on top of a six-story warehouse, and grows everything from tomatoes to peppers to fennel to salad greens and much, much more. Check out Inhabitat for more info and pics of the rooftop farm.


Largest Tourist Trap: South of the Border
Dillon, South Carolina
Perhaps more famed for the signs up and down Interstate I-95 that lead up to the attraction than for the actual destination, South of the Border has caused many a family carload to play never-ending games of "I Spy," and, at least in my family, caused an unexpected delay as my childhood self insisted that we stop for a drive-through.

Largest Ball of Twine
Cawker City, Kansas
This ever-growing attraction today weights more than nine tons. Sadly, this is the only "big" attraction we could find in Kansas. Do let us know if we've missed anything else in this flyover state.

Largest Hole in the Ground: Grand Canyon
Arizona
Okay, so it's way more than a hole in the ground, but it is certainly a destination unto itself. Pause for a day or an afternoon and marvel. Check out our previous coverage on Gadling for more information about what to see and do.

World's Largest Dinosaur
Cabazon, California
Say hi to Mr. Rex and Ms. Dinny (12 million people visit them annually) or visit this great exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.

Should you want to fly to any of these destinations, CheapOair.com is offering a great series of travel promotions to all of these destinations, bookable through June 7.

Gallery: Largest Attractions


Odd Locations and Events on Road Trips in America


Bigger is better: scout these mega-sized attractions on a cross-country trip originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brooklyncaliforniagrand canyonGrandCanyonkansaslargest ball of twineLargestBallOfTwinesouth of the borderSouthOfTheBordertourist attractionsTouristAttractionsFri, 27 May 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Crime In Mexico: the good, bad and the pretty cool]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/crime-in-mexico-the-good-bad-and-the-pretty-cool/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/crime-in-mexico-the-good-bad-and-the-pretty-cool/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/crime-in-mexico-the-good-bad-and-the-pretty-cool/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Crime in mexicoMexico just can't seem to catch a break. The news is filled with accounts of gruesome murders, mass graves and brutal drug lords. Regardless of the fact that these incidents are isolated and not a country-wide crisis, tourism suffers. People get things stuck in their heads that are sometimes difficult to shake off. Travelers have a hard time associating a happy holiday vacation with death and crime.

The bad
"Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere. While most victims of violence are Mexican citizens associated with criminal activity, the security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well" said the U.S. Department of State in a renewed travel alert for Mexico issued Friday.

Crime in mexicoCertainly, it is appropriate for the U.S. government to issue a warning when at least 177 bodies have been taken from interstate buses, tortured and slaughtered in recent weeks. Survivors say women were raped first then killed and some victims were burned alive. This all in an area a little over an hours drive from Brownsville, Texas.

This particular problem does not look to be going away any time soon. Not that Matamoros, Mexico was on the top of very many travel bucket lists, but the problem runs deep.

Continue reading Crime In Mexico: the good, bad and the pretty cool

Crime In Mexico: the good, bad and the pretty cool originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cruisecruise vacationcruisesCruiseVacationMazatlanMexcoMexicoMexico crimeMexico drug cartelMexico drug warsMexicoCrimeMexicoDrugCartelMexicoDrugWarsTue, 26 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kayaker paddles near enormous rare shark]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/25/kayaker-paddles-near-enormous-rare-shark/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/25/kayaker-paddles-near-enormous-rare-shark/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/25/kayaker-paddles-near-enormous-rare-shark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In this video we see a kayaker off the coast of Panama City, Florida caught on video paddling near an enormous basking shark. Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world, second only to the whale shark and can grow to 33 feet long and weigh up to four tons.
Kayaker/Adventurer Josh Reeves works for a shark tour guide company, so when he saw a rare "basking shark" off the Panama City Coast, "he couldn't believe it" reports KTLA.com.

Related Stories

Kayaker paddles near enormous rare shark originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kayak near sharkKayakNearSharkZany Kayak paddles near enormous rare sharkZanyKayakPaddlesNearEnormousRareSharkFri, 25 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (11.30.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/30/photo-of-the-day-11-30-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/30/photo-of-the-day-11-30-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/30/photo-of-the-day-11-30-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


India is the seventh largest country by geographical area and with a population of 1.18 billion people, it's the second most populous nation in the world. With such an immense concentration of people, unique languages, and religious practice, India has a well known reputation for being a little chaotic at times.

I love this photo for the symbolic dichotomy of chaos; masses of people on the streets and a frightening tangle of wire strung up in between crowded buildings. It's almost as if the wires are delicately holding the buildings together as the crowd bustles, unaware. The photo was captured by Flickr user Trent Strohm in the crowded lanes of Old Delhi.

Have you gotten lost among the crowd in a foreign place? Send us your pictures! Submit to our Flickr group and it may be selected as our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (11.30.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChaosChaoticCrowdsDelhiIndiaOld DelhiOldDelhiStrudelmonkeyTrent StrohmTrentStrohmWiresTue, 30 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (11.16.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/16/photo-of-the-day-11-16-2010/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/16/photo-of-the-day-11-16-2010/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/16/photo-of-the-day-11-16-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This Sunday marked the beginning of the Hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As the fifth pillar of Islam, the pilgrimage is a religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim that can do so. Saudi officials have reported that a record-breaking 3.4 million people are expected to come from all corners of the globe to perform the Hajj this year.

This astounding photo, titled "Headed to Mecca" was taken by Flickr user Theodore Kaye as a mother prepares to leave Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan for Mecca. I love that Theodore was able to be present for and capture the intimacy of this moment and took advantage of the lighting to make the image even more beautiful. The result of being in the right place at the right time, and knowing how to capture a great photograph.

If you want to see more of the Hajj, Boston.com put up an amazing series of images of this year's processions. Also worth checking out is VBS.tv's short documentary of an inside look at the pilgrimage. What's your personal Mecca? Share it with us by adding photos to our Flickr group and it could be our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (11.16.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Al-Safa and Al-MarwahAl-safaAndAl-marwahBig PictureBigPictureBoston.comCultureEid al-AdhaEidAl-adhaHajjIslamKaabakyrgyzstanMeccaMount ArafatMountArafatOshPilgrimagePilgrimsReligionRitualSaudi ArabiaSaudiArabiaTawafTeoKayethe HajjTheHajjTheodore KayeTheodoreKayeVBSZamzam WellZamzamWellTue, 16 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (11.2.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/02/photo-of-the-day-11-2-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/02/photo-of-the-day-11-2-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/02/photo-of-the-day-11-2-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


How often can you claim that you've drifted between two continents in one afternoon? Welcome to the Bosphorus; the liquid body that officially separates Europe & Asia. At a maximum width of 3,420m, it's the world's narrowest strait used for international navigation and its shores are home to the 5th most populous city in the world.

This photo, titled "Bosphorus Sunset" comes from Flickr user roxie88. I love the raw quality of this image; the off center and out-of-focus ship, the subtle lens flares. It's natural, captivating, and preserves what I imagine to be a very special sundown.

If you left your professional camera at home & snapped some quick, unpolished snapshots from incredible places, we want to see them! Upload them to our Flickr group and it could be our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (11.2.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AsiaBlack SeaBlackSeaBoatsbosphorusEuropeIstanbul StraitIstanbulStraitPhoto of the DayPhotoOfTheDayroxie88SeaSea of MarmaraSeaOfMarmaraShippingSunsetTue, 02 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (10.19.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/19/photo-of-the-day-10-19-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/19/photo-of-the-day-10-19-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/19/photo-of-the-day-10-19-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you've ever thought that running up a mountain sounds like a good way to spend your weekend and you have some free time in the coming week, pack your bags & get to the State of Sabah on the island of Borneo. This Saturday & Sunday, the 24th annual Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon will be taking place, marking the last event of the 2010 Skyrunner World Series. The Skyrunner series consists of five major races throughout the year, each at a minimum altitude of 2,000 meters.

This photo, titled 'end of the world', was shot by Flickr user stefaniembutler on the plateau of Mt. Kinabalu (the highest mountain in Southeast Asia). The climbers dwarfed by the jagged rock formation and mountains far below make a great image; enticing enough to make me want to climb it... but run it? No thanks. Skyrunners, I salute you.

Have you stumbled upon a festival or competition that deserves some recognition? Do you have a hobby that's cooler than Skyrunning? Share it with us! Submit your photos to Gadling's Flickr Pool & it could be our next Photo of the Day!

Photo of the Day (10.19.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BorneoClimbMalaysiaMountainMountain RaceMountainRaceMt. KinabaluMt.KinabaluRaceSabahSkyrunnerSkyrunner World SeriesSkyrunnerWorldSeriesstefaniembutlerTue, 19 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (10.12.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/12/photo-of-the-day-11-12-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/12/photo-of-the-day-11-12-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/12/photo-of-the-day-11-12-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If you're feeling the need for a little underground adventure, October is the perfect time of year to visit the Karst region in Slovenia. Ranking as one of the largest underground canyons in the world, Slovenia's Škocjan Caves stretch for 5.8km at depths of 250m below ground. Why October? Travelers headed this way in the autumn months can skip the summer crowds and take leisurely tours before the unpleasant bitterness of winter sets in.

This rare picture was captured on the sly by Flickr user StrudelMonkey in the Škocjan's final cavern. Here, visitors can peer at the Reka River which flows just 50m beneath the carefully marked paths. Taking photos isn't permitted in the caves (hence the blur in the picture), so follow StrudelMonkey's lead and turn your flash off if you want share your memories with the folks at home.

Do you have epic (or prohibited) tour photos shot from the hip? We want to see them! Upload your best to our Gadling Flickr pool and it could be our next Photo of the Day!

Photo of the Day (10.12.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (10.5.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/05/photo-of-the-day-10-5-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/05/photo-of-the-day-10-5-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/05/photo-of-the-day-10-5-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (9.28.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/28/photo-of-the-day-9-28-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/28/photo-of-the-day-9-28-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/28/photo-of-the-day-9-28-10/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Does a 2,979km, 48 hour train ride across the Australian continent sound like your cup of tea? Then say hello the 'The Ghan' - Australia's legendary passenger train that connects Darwin and the Northern Territory with Adelaide in South Australia. Completed in 1878, the service was nicknamed 'the Afghan Express' as a homage to the many Afghan cameleers that supplied the construction of the railroad and telegraph lines in the harsh Australian desert.

The distinctive red locomotive and logo of the train is seen here thanks to Flickr user Kritta. Great shot!

If you're in the region and riding in a train across the desert sounds too passive (and sane), then check out South Australia's Simpson Bike Challenge! The race begins today and goes until October 2nd; covering over 590km of sand dunes and lots of other terrain you'd never want to bike through.

Photo of the Day (9.28.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Afghan ExpressAfghanExpressAustraliaAustralian DesertAustralianDesertCameleersDesertDesert ChallengeDesertChallengeKrittaSimpson Bike ChallengeSimpsonBikeChallengeThe GhanTheGhanTrainTrain RideTrainRideTue, 28 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GadlingTV's Travel Talk - Virgin America's first international flight - Toronto!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/07/travel-talk-toronto1/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/07/travel-talk-toronto1/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/07/travel-talk-toronto1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



GadlingTV's Travel Talk, episode 29 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Join us on Virgin America's first ever international flight! We hop on a plane with Sir Richard Branson, Drake and a gaggle of entrepreneurs and fly on the airline's inaugural flight to Toronto, Ontario to explore the (arguably) most diverse city in the world.

In this episode's couch talk, we'll discuss just why Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world & what other cities contend for the title of most diverse, based on foreign-born population.

Continue reading GadlingTV's Travel Talk - Virgin America's first international flight - Toronto!

GadlingTV's Travel Talk - Virgin America's first international flight - Toronto! originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnold schwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggercanadadrakeinaugural flightInauguralFlightMayor NewsomMayorNewsompartyRichard BransonRichardBransonsan franciscoSanFranciscoSFOtorontoTravel TalkTravelTalkvirgin americaVirgin America TorontoVirginAmericaVirginAmericaTorontoYYZTue, 07 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (8.31.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Coale.r.g.oEsala PeraheraEsalaPeraheraFestivalFireKandyMaha NuvaraMahaNuvaraRobert GoRobertGoSouth AsiaSouthAsiaSri LankaSriLankaSwallowTue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GadlingTV's Travel Talk - White Water Rafting on the Tuolumne!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/traveltalk-whitewaterrafting1/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/traveltalk-whitewaterrafting1/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/traveltalk-whitewaterrafting1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



GadlingTV's Travel Talk, episode 27 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Suit up, strap in, and get ready for this week's Travel Talk! We're going white water rafting down California's mighty Tuolumne River on an action packed 2-day adventure. We'll show you what it takes to navigate Class IV+ rapids and teach you all of the vocabulary that you'll need in order to stay dry.

In this episode's couch talk, we'll delve into a little bit of the history behind America's National Park System; what the first established park was, what the most frequently visited park is, and what terms the NPS uses to classify our many protected lands.

Think you're ready? Click the link below to watch.

Continue reading GadlingTV's Travel Talk - White Water Rafting on the Tuolumne!

GadlingTV's Travel Talk - White Water Rafting on the Tuolumne! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdventureBoatingCampingcapsizedDangerFunGuideNational Park ServiceNational Park SystemNational ParksNationalParksNationalParkServiceNationalParkSystemOarsOars RaftingOars.comOarsRaftingRaftingrafting companiesRaftingCompaniesRaftingOutfittersRaftingTripsRivertraveltalkTuolumneTuolumne RiverTuolumneRiverWhite Water RaftingWhiteWaterRaftingYosemiteYosemite ValleyYosemiteValleyFri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Galley Gossip: Funny flight attendant book - Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/09/galley-gossip-a-funny-flight-attendant-book-betty-in-the-sky/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/09/galley-gossip-a-funny-flight-attendant-book-betty-in-the-sky/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/09/galley-gossip-a-funny-flight-attendant-book-betty-in-the-sky/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ever since reading the book Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase: Hilarious Stories of Air Travel by the World's Favorite Flight Attendant, written by Betty N. Thesky with Janet Spencer, I've been tempted to do a spin in the middle of the aisle as soon as I've finished serving my three rows to alert the flight attendant working on the other side of the cart that I'm ready to move. Normally we'll patiently wait for our partner to finish serving or we might fill a few cups with ice, restock the cart or offer to make a few drinks, but in Betty's hilarious book two flight attendants add a touch of disco pizazz to the boring beverage service routine. One of these days I'm going to do it - the spin.

If you're looking for a book full of funny stories about flight attendants, pilots, ground crew and even passengers this is it! Reading it is like going to dinner with your favorite crew on a fun-filled layover. The crazy stories just keep on coming! While the book is full of laughs, there's a lot to learn, too. Throughout the book Betty answers common questions asked by passengers every day. For instance...

The reason you have to stow your carry-on items and put away your computers is to avoid the possibility of having them act like airborne missiles.

The reason you have to return your tray table to its upright and locked position is so you won't impale yourself on it if the plane crashes

The reason you have to return your seat to its upright position is to make evacuation easier in event of a disaster, to minimize whiplash, and to prevent you from slipping under your seat belt in the event of a sudden stop.

By far my favorite thing about the book is all the interesting facts at the bottom of each page, and there are 139 pages!

10 FUN FACTS FROM BETTY'S BOOK...

Continue reading Galley Gossip: Funny flight attendant book - Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase!

Galley Gossip: Funny flight attendant book - Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase! originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AirlinesAirplanesAviationBetty in the sky with a suitcaseBetty TheskyBettyInTheSkyWithASuitcaseBettyTheskyBooksBooks about flyingBooksAboutFlyingFlight attendantsFlightAttendantsFlyingPassengersPilotsStewardessStewardessesStoriesMon, 09 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST