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[Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/photos-of-cool-cliff-castles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Nobody minds seeing photos of dreamy castles, especially if the photos are of cool cliff castles. Towering over steep slated valleys and crashing waves, Woman's Day has a great roundup of these kinds of castles on their website here. Featuring castles in Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Tibet, Yemen, USA and India, these photos are the thread with which fantasies are sewn. Knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, drawbridges and dragons, anyone? I'm pretty sure these castles were the backdrops behind the stories surrounding all of those things. For that, these are places worth visiting. And you know what they (by 'they', I mean 'me') say: if you can't visit, look at photos online.

Continue reading Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles

Photos Of Cool Cliff Castles originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlecastle photosCastlePhotoscastlescastles on a cliffCastlesOnACliffcliff castlecliff castlesCliffCastleCliffCastlesindia castlesIndiaCastlesitaly castlesItalyCastlesphotos of castlesPhotosOfCastlesspain castlesSpainCastlestibet castlesTibetCastlesukraine castlesUkraineCastlesunited states castlesUnitedStatesCastlesyemen castlesYemenCastlesThu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/15/holistic-healing-practices-from-around-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

licorice rootNowadays, it seems like there's a pill or shot to cure every illness. But do we really know how safe these unnatural remedies are? Throughout my travels and by talking with locals from other cultures, I've learned there are many natural treatments that are also effective in promoting good health. For those who've ever wondered about the holistic secrets of other cultures, here are some answers.

Turkey

In Turkey, the trick to staying healthy is mesir paste. The concoction was invented in Manisa during the Ottoman Empire, when the wife of Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim and mother of Suleyman the Magnificent became very ill. No doctor was able to find a cure, until one created a unique spice blend that seemed to bring the woman back to life. The mixture is a blend of 41 different spices that form a thick paste, and is used as a general cure-all and tonic. Some of the paste's ingredients include black pepper, cinnamon, licorice root (shown above), coconut and orange peel. The country is so proud of their natural remedy, they celebrate a Mesir Festival in Manisa each year.

Continue reading Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World

Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelBudgetTravelculturedrinkecotourismfoodhealthholisticholistic remediiesHolisticRemediiesnatural remediesNaturalRemediesnaturewellnessSun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Kiev, Ukraine]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/03/budget-vacation-guide-2012-kiev-ukraine/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/03/budget-vacation-guide-2012-kiev-ukraine/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/03/budget-vacation-guide-2012-kiev-ukraine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



This summer, soccer fans from around the world will flock to Ukraine when the country co-hosts UEFA Euro2012 with Poland for the very first time. There's no better time to visit the capital city of Kiev, which has spent the past few years beefing up its tourist infrastructure and recently unveiled a completely redesigned Olympic Stadium in preparation for the final match of the quadrennial European soccer tournament.

If you're not a soccer fan, or don't want to shell out the big bucks to ticket scalpers, Kiev offers plenty of cheap diversions. In the warmer months, the city comes alive with flora and fauna, not to mention a packed agenda of free outdoor activities. Lie on the beaches (yes, beaches) of Hidropark in the Dnieper River, or take a cultural stroll through Andriyivskyy Descent, advertised as the "Montmartre of Kiev". You can even try scaling the Moskovskyi Bridge (but please don't).

While Kiev has experienced inflation in recent years, it's still a bargain compared to other European capitals. To keep things cheap during the games, try a short-term apartment rental instead of a hotel; check Airbnb or 9flats for listings. Food-wise, traditional Ukrainian cafeterias are a cultural experience as well as money-saver. Specialties like potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, and dumplings will provide more than enough fuel for the games.



[flickr image via Matvey Andreyev]

Budget Vacation Guide 2012: Kiev, Ukraine originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelAndriyivskyy DescentAndriyivskyyDescentbudget travelbudget-travelBudgetGuide2012BudgetTravelDnieper RiverDnieperRivereuro2012hidroparkjessica maratiJessicaMaratikievolympic stadiumOlympicStadiumuefaukraineTue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gallery: More travel sketches from BBC's Tim Baynes]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/18/gallery-more-travel-sketches-from-bbcs-tim-baynes/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/18/gallery-more-travel-sketches-from-bbcs-tim-baynes/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/18/gallery-more-travel-sketches-from-bbcs-tim-baynes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

travel sketches
We wrote yesterday about Tim Baynes' delightful travel sketches from around the world on BBC and liked them so much we came back for more. You can (and should!) get lost for hours looking at his drawings on Flickr with fun anecdotes and scribbles bringing depth and humor to his slice-of-life artwork.

Check out some of our favorites in the gallery below, from a look inside the BBC Starbucks to the madness of Dubai immigration during the ash cloud to a quiet barbershop in Tripoli.

Gallery: Tim Baynes travel drawings from around the world

Eurostar passengersTorontoDubai arrivals during 2010 ash cloudJapanese fashionLondon tube commuting and texting


See more of Tim Baynes' work on the BBC, his personal Flickr stream, or order a copy of his book Doors to Automatic and Cross Check, direct from the artist.

All photos courtesy of Tim Baynes.

Gallery: More travel sketches from BBC's Tim Baynes originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artartworkash cloudAshCloudbarberbarber shopBarberShopbbccommutingdim sumDimSumdrawingsdubaienglandeurostarhong kongHongKongimmigrationistanbullibyalondonmapmoleskinesketchesstarbuckssubwaytextingtim baynesTimBaynestorontotraintravel sketchesTravelSketchestripolitubtubeWed, 18 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Illegal animal smuggler busted in Thai airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/14/illegal-animal-smuggler-busted-in-thai-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/14/illegal-animal-smuggler-busted-in-thai-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/14/illegal-animal-smuggler-busted-in-thai-airport/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

An illegal animal smuggler was busted in Thailand yesterdayA man identified only as a citizen of the United Arab Emirates was arrested in the international airport in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday for the illegal smuggling of animals. At the time of his arrest, he had several suitcases which contained two baby leopards, two panthers, two macaque monkeys, and an Asiatic black bear.

According to this story from our friends at AOL Travel, the 36-year old was preparing to board a plane to Dubai (Where else?) when he was taken into custody by anti-trafficking agents. Those agents had been reportedly monitoring him since he had made the purchases on the black market a few days earlier, and were simply waiting for the best time to nab him, and safely recover the animals.

The man's smuggling operation was described as quite sophisticated. Prior to leaving for the airport, he had drugged the small animals to put them to sleep for the flight back to the UAE. He then placed them into flat cages and slid those cages inside the suitcases, which he would have used to get the animals through the airport had he not been caught in the act.

The illegal trade of exotic animals is becoming a bigger problem throughout Asia and especially in Thailand. Wealthy collectors will visit the country to purchase rare, and sometimes endangered, animals, to add them to their own personal zoos, although it is unclear if this particular smuggler was picking up the animals for himself or to be sold after his return to Dubai. Officials say he seems to be quite well connected however, and he had already posted bail just hours after his arrest.

It is difficult to decide which is worse; the illegal animal smuggling in Asia or the terrible problems with poaching in Africa. Both are highly unsavory acts and I applaud all efforts to put a halt to activities.

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

Illegal animal smuggler busted in Thai airport originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelanimal smugglinganimalsAnimalSmugglingasiabangkokdubaiillegal animal smugglerIllegalAnimalSmugglersmugglersmugglingunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesWildlifeSat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Knocked up abroad: second trimester travel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/knocked-up-abroad-second-trimester-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/knocked-up-abroad-second-trimester-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/27/knocked-up-abroad-second-trimester-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

second trimester travel
Not far along enough for second trimester travel? Read more about pregnancy in a foreign country, Turkish prenatal care, travel in the first trimester,Turkish superstitions, and foreign baby names on Knocked up abroad.

A few years ago, before the word staycation foisted itself into the travel lexicon, babymoons were all the rage. A babymoon typically referred to the last getaway for expecting parents, often a deluxe resort vacation replete with couples' massages, room service, and lots of pampering. I've spent my my pre-baby travel slightly differently, exploring post-Soviet museums before needing a stroller, eating at restaurants that have never heard of kids' menus, and learning what non-alcoholic drinks are on offer in local dive bars. Living abroad in Istanbul has also changed my short-haul destinations considerably. In the first trimester, my husband and I traveled to Kiev and Warsaw, Russia in the dead of winter, and to Frankfurt for the Christmas markets, and I don't regret having gone without the his-and-hers massages. For second trimester travel, I found Singapore to be nearly ideal: the food and shopping are epic, the street food is safe, and the people polite and helpful. Though the hotel prices and high temperatures can be hard to deal with, the Southeast Asian city-state is a nice balance of relaxation and city exploration.

Continue reading Knocked up abroad: second trimester travel

Knocked up abroad: second trimester travel originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babybabymoonbabymoonsexpectantexpectingfoodfrankfurthotinfantistanbulkievknocked up abroadKnockedUpAbroadlocalmalaysiamaternitynew york cityNewYorkCitypenangpregnancypregnantpregnant travelPregnantTravelrussiasecond trimestersecond trimester travelSecondTrimesterSecondTrimesterTravelsingaporesingapore zooSingaporeZoosnackssoutheast asiaSoutheastAsiastaycationtrimestertropicalturkeywarsawwinterzooWed, 27 Apr 2011 11:30:00 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[Observe the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl searching for radioactive beasts with VBS]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/observe-the-25th-anniversary-of-chernobyl-searching-for-radioact/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/observe-the-25th-anniversary-of-chernobyl-searching-for-radioact/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/26/observe-the-25th-anniversary-of-chernobyl-searching-for-radioact/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



25 years ago today, a catastrophic nuclear disaster took place at the Chernobyl power plant in the city of Pripyat. Haunted by the specter of radiation, the one time city transformed into a spread of creepy abandoned buildings and one of the most poisonous places on the planet - the Red Forest. With humans gone, the town has been taken back by wildlife. Today, wolves wander abandoned schools with kitschy Soviet propaganda peeling from the wall and bears lumber through the overgrown amusement park that opened the day after the disaster, April 27, 1986.

In this video by the crew at Vice, Shane Smith goes on a tour of Pripyat to hunt for mutant beasts and explore derelict buildings. The abandoned radioactive town is an eerie ghost-scape, but many travelers have been making the 100km journey from Kiev to visit this strange example of an abandoned modern town. The video is an interesting and somewhat humorous look inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Observe the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl searching for radioactive beasts with VBS originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastschernobylmeltdownnuclear meltdownnuclear powerNuclearMeltdownNuclearPowerpripyatukrainewolvesTue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre foods: European "delicacies," by country]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/16/bizarre-foods-european-delicacies-by-country/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/16/bizarre-foods-european-delicacies-by-country/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/16/bizarre-foods-european-delicacies-by-country/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

European foodsWhat constitutes "food" is relative, depending upon what part of the world you call home. In Asia, pretty much anything on no (snakes), two, four, six, or eight legs is up for grabs. Europe, however, has its own culinary oddities, as detailed below. Got maggots?

Iceland
Hákarl: Fermented, dried Greenland or basking shark. This tasty treat is prepared by burying the beheaded and gutted shark in a shallow hole in the ground for six to 12 weeks. Unsurprisingly, the end result is considered noxious to pretty much everyone on the planet aside from Icelanders.

Norway
Smalahove: Boiled lamb's head, traditionally served at Christmas. The brain is removed, and the head salted and dried before boiling. Because they're the fattiest bits, the ear and eye are eaten first. More fun than a wishbone.

Sardinia (yes, it's in Italy, but this one deserved its own listing)
Casu marzu: This sheep's milk cheese has maggots added to it during ripening, because their digestive action creates an "advanced level" of fermentation (also known as "decomposition"). Some people prefer to eat the soupy results sans critters, while the stout of heart go for the whole package. Be forewarned: according to Wikipedia, irate maggots can propel themselves for distances up to six inches. Here's fly in your eye.

Northern Sweden or Finland
Lappkok: This charmingly-named concoction consists of blodpalt--a dumpling made with reindeer blood and wheat or rye flour--served with reindeer bone marrow. Well, Santa's herd had to retire sometime.

[Photo credit: Flickr user fjords]

Continue reading Bizarre foods: European "delicacies," by country

Bizarre foods: European "delicacies," by country originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beefbizarre foodsBizarreFoodsblood puddingblood sausageBloodPuddingBloodSausagecalves foot jellyCalvesFootJellyChristmasChristmas foodsChristmasFoodsdelicaciesdonkey meatDonkeyMeatEasterEaster foodsEasterFoodsEastern EuropeEasternEuropeEuropean cuisineEuropean foodEuropeanCuisineEuropeanFoodFrench foodFrenchFoodGreek foodsGreekFoodsholiday foodsHolidayFoodshorse meatHorseMeatItalian foodItalianFoodJewish cuisineJewish foodJewishCuisineJewishFoodlamblutefiskoffalorgan meatsOrganMeatsporkreindeerreindeer meatReindeerMeatsausageScotlandsharkshark meatSharkMeatspeciality meatsSpecialityMeatsspecialty foodsSpecialtyFoodsstrange foodsStrangeFoodsvariety meatsVarietyMeatsvealweird foodsweirdest foodsWeirdestFoodsWeirdFoodsWed, 16 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/02/on-the-trail-of-european-passport-stamps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

european passport stamps
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia.

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that European passport stamps have become harder and harder to get. The expansion of the Schengen zone has reduced the number of times tourists are compelled to show their passports to immigration officials. For most Americans on multi-country European itineraries, a passport will be stamped just twice: upon arrival and upon departure.

Where's the fun in that?

There's nothing wrong with enjoying your passport's stamps. They're souvenirs. So ignore the haters and treasure them. You won't be the first to sit at your desk alone, lovingly fingering your stamps while daydreaming of your next adventure. You won't be the last, either.

And if you are a passport stamp lover with a penchant for European travel, don't despair. There are plenty of places in Europe where visitors have to submit their travel documents to officials to receive stamps. Some countries, in fact, even require Americans to purchase full-page visas in advance.

The Western Balkans remain almost entirely outside of Schengen. Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all require visas for Americans, while Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia do not. Immigration officers at the borders of all of these countries, however, will stamp your passport when you enter and when you leave. Turkey provides visas on arrival. These cost €15. Among EU countries, the UK, Ireland, and Cyprus remain outside of Schengen for the time being, while Romania and Bulgaria will soon join it.

Continue reading Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport

Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albaniaArmeniaAzerbaijanbelarusBosnia-HerzegovinaBulgariacroatiacypruseuropeEuropean unionEuropeanUniongeorgiairelandkosovomacedoniamoldovaMontenegroPassportpassportsRomaniarussiaSan marinoSanMarinoSerbiaturkeyukukraineunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvisasWed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/travel-then-and-now-travel-to-the-ussr-and-gdr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

travel to the USSRThis year is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union and 21 years since the reunification of Germany. While citizens of the USSR and GDR were unable to travel abroad and restricted in domestic travel, foreign travelers were permitted under a controlled environment. In the early nineties, if you were a foreigner looking to go abroad to the Eastern Europe or Central Asia, you called your travel agent and hoped to get approved for a visa and an escorted tour. After your trip, you'd brag about the passport stamps and complain about the food. Here's a look back at travel as it was for foreigners twenty years ago and today visiting the biggies of the former Eastern Bloc: the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Soviet Union/USSR (now: independent states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldovia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.)

Travel then: Before 1992, most tourists were only able to enter the Soviet Union with visas and travel itineraries provided by the state travel agency, Intourist. Intourist was founded by Joseph Stalin and also managed many of the USSR's accommodations. Like North Korea today, visitors' experiences were tightly controlled, peppered with propaganda, and anything but independent, with some travelers' conversations and actions recorded and reported. Read this fascinating trip report from a Fodor's community member who visited Russia in 1984 and a Chicago Tribune story with an Intourist guide after the glasnost policy was introduced.

Continue reading Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR

Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armeniaAzerbaijanbalticberlinddreast germanyeastern europeEasternEuropeEastGermanyestoniagdrgermanyintouristkazakhstankrygyzstanlatvialithuaniamoldovarussiasovietsoviet unionSovietUniontajikistanthenandnowThomasCookturkmenistanukraineussruzbekistanvisawallTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Knocked up abroad: getting pregnant in a foreign country]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/16/knocked-up-abroad-getting-pregnant-in-a-foreign-country/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/16/knocked-up-abroad-getting-pregnant-in-a-foreign-country/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/16/knocked-up-abroad-getting-pregnant-in-a-foreign-country/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


pregnant in a foreign country My first clue that something was different came when I woke up one night on vacation in Kiev at 3am, proceeded to eat 3 slices of toast with caviar spread, went back to bed and woke up a few hours later wondering if they made blueberry muffins in Ukraine (tragicially, they do not). That "time of the month" hadn't happened but flying tends to always mess with your body, so I didn't give it much of a thought. Since moving to Istanbul from New York in May 2010 for a work project, my husband and I take frequent trips around Eastern Europe (see my Weekending posts) and that week we spent exploring Kiev and Warsaw while Turkey celebrated Kurban Bayramı (the Muslim festival of sacrifice).

When we arrived back home in Istanbul a few days later, I dug out the Turkish pregnancy test I had purchased a few months earlier after a previous false alarm. Though the instructions were in Turkish, peeing on a stick is fairly universal, and the "POZITIF" results were hard to misinterpret. Excited and nervous to be pregnant in a foreign country, my husband and I wondered what a mountain of paperwork we'd have to provide U.S. Customs in 9 months, what the medical system in Istanbul would be like, and if we could get away with having a baby in Turkey not named in some way for Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, father of modern Turkey and namesake for millions of Turks. Being pregnant in a foreign country is the ultimate way of "going native," the most "authentic" travel experience you can have. It's also challenging, sometimes scary, and limits where you can travel, but can be a great way to discover a culture, their hospitality, and traditions.

Continue reading Knocked up abroad: getting pregnant in a foreign country

Knocked up abroad: getting pregnant in a foreign country originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abroadataturkbabybayramc-sectionchildbirthcitizencravingsculturecustomsdr. ozdr.ozenglishexpatexpectingforeignhospitalityistanbulkievKnocked UpKnockedUpknockedupabroadkurbanmaternitymuslimoprahpaperworkpolandpre-natalpregnancypregnantpregnant travelPregnantTravelPreNatalrespectsacrificesuperstitiontraditionsturkeyturkishukrainevaccinationswarsawweekendingWed, 16 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aquarium crocodile swallows cell phone]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/22/aquarium-crocodile-swallows-cell-phone/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/22/aquarium-crocodile-swallows-cell-phone/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/22/aquarium-crocodile-swallows-cell-phone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

crocodileA visitor to an aquarium in the Ukraine was trying to take a picture of a crocodile with her cell phone when she dropped it right into the creature's mouth, the BBC reports.

Last month at an aquarium in Dnipropetrovsk, Rimma Golovko reached her hand towards Gena the crocodile in order to get a good shot as it opened its mouth. She fumbled and the phone fell right into the Gena's gullet. The reptile then gulped it down. She told the aquarium staff but at first they didn't believe her. It was only after Gena's tummy starting ringing that they realized the crocodile had, indeed swallowed the cell phone.

Funny? Well, yeah, but not for the croc. Gena has since lost its appetite and energy. Considering all the harmful chemicals involved in making a cell phone (they're considered hazardous waste, after all) it's not surprising the critter is feeling a little under the weather.

The aquarium's vet has tried giving Gena laxatives-laced meat, but the it didn't take the bait. Now he's considering an operation.

And Ms. Golovko? She says she wants her Sim card back. Well, too damn bad, Ms. Golovko. I'm sympathizing with the giant predator on this one.


[Photo courtesy user MathKnight via Wikimedia Commons]

Aquarium crocodile swallows cell phone originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquariumcell phonecell phonesCellPhoneCellPhonescrocodilecrocodilesfunnyFunny animalsfunny newsFunnyAnimalsFunnyNewsmobile phonemobile phonesMobilePhoneMobilePhonesoddodd newsodditiesOddNewsOddworldstrangestrange newsStrangeNewsstupid touristsStupidTouristsUkraineweirdweird newsWeirdNewsSat, 22 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The sushi invasion of Eastern Europe]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/15/the-sushi-invasion-of-eastern-europe/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/15/the-sushi-invasion-of-eastern-europe/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/15/the-sushi-invasion-of-eastern-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

sushi in eastern europeTraveling through Eastern Europe recently, what stood out to me the most (aside from ultra low prices and varying success with capitalism) is the extreme popularity of sushi. Particularly in Kiev and Warsaw, sushi restaurants are nearly as prolific as the national cuisine and if you find yourself in a fashionable restaurant, odds are raw fish will be on the menu.

My husband and I had differing theories as to the sushi invasion. I figured it was popular as it is the exact opposite of most Eastern European food. After many years of boiled meat, heavy sauces, and pickled vegetables, sushi must make a refreshing palate cleanser and a delicious novelty. My husband, who was born in what was then Leningrad, USSR, had a more subjective theory. He maintains it has to do with a way of thinking that is particular to post-Soviet and developing countries: after the oppression of communism, wealth and status are held in high regard; imported goods once impossible to obtain exemplify status and wealth. In other words, nothing says how far you've come from bread lines more than eating fish flown in from another country while wearing Louis Vuitton and texting on your iPhone.

In order to delve deeper into the sushi explosion, I consulted a few expats familiar with the former Eastern bloc to get their insights and found both of our theories supported.

Continue reading The sushi invasion of Eastern Europe

The sushi invasion of Eastern Europe originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CzechRepubliceastern europeEasternEuropefoodforeign foodForeignFoodFormer Soviet UnionFormerSovietUnionfsuglobalizationkievleningradnew moneyNewMoneyoligarchoysterspolandpost sovietPostSovietpragueseafoodsoviet unionSovietUnionstatussushithaiukrainevietnamesevietnamese foodVietnameseFoodwarsawwealthWed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five great European budget-friendly travel sites]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/03/five-great-european-budget-friendly-travel-sites/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/03/five-great-european-budget-friendly-travel-sites/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/03/five-great-european-budget-friendly-travel-sites/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

budget-friendly travel europePractical, how-to budget travel advice is indispensible. There's something particularly valuable about travel advice that opposes the emphasis on expensive hotels and other forms of high-end consumption that characterizes the contemporary travel media, perhaps especially in regions like Europe where costs are generally quite high.

Budget-friendly travel in Europe is no impossible dream, and the following sites are good for inspiring shoestring feats, assessing likely costs, and, above all else, disproving the idea that you have to spend hundreds of dollars a day to see Europe well. For some ideas about where to travel affordably in Europe, check out last week's ten budget-friendly European destinations post.

1. Less Than a Shoestring. Though no longer publishing on a regular basis, the archives of this blog are astoundingly helpful in their low-budget audacity. Particularly useful for anyone scared off at the thought of Europe's cost index are the blog's "Baring my Budget" posts, which run through budgets for various short trips in great detail: three nights in Malta for €50 (currently $66); five days in London for £85 (currently $133); four nights in Venice for €91 (currently $120), all departing from Berlin. Costs breakdowns are provided in these "Baring my Budget" posts, as are the freebies encountered along the way. The mention of freebies is particularly helpful, as it reveals how often tourist information, maps, museum admission, and various cultural performances can be accessed free of charge. Though this series ran over two years ago, it is still very relevant.

2. EuroCheapo. Disclosure: I worked as an editor at EuroCheapo for almost three years and continue to do occasional freelance projects for the site. Phew. Glad I got that out of the way. Personal loyalty aside, EuroCheapo really is an enormously helpful resource. It is first and foremost as a hotel review site with useful descriptions of hotels written by trained hotel reviewers. EuroCheapo also edits a great blog full of essential budget-oriented tips penned by correspondents on the ground.

3. Guardian's budget travel section. To be fair, the Guardian's budget travel section is good for destinations around the world, though the density of articles on the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and other European countries is impressive. Recent articles that showcase well the newspaper's creatively open approach to the subject of budget travel include Susan Greenwood's budget Stockholm journey story, indebted to insider tips provided by a local blogger; a piece on backpacking in the Crimea by Maxton Walker; and Benji Lanyado's TwiTrips series, for which the author receives tips via Twitter about the city he's visiting and then liveblogs his discoveries. The most recent TwiTrip series installment sees Lanyado visiting Liverpool.

Continue reading Five great European budget-friendly travel sites

Five great European budget-friendly travel sites originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berlinbudget airlinesbudget travelbudget-travelBudgetAirlinesBudgetTravelcrimeaeuropefrancegermanyitalyliverpoollondonmaltaparisStockholmswedentrainsukraineunited kingdomUnitedKingdomVeniceFri, 03 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[12 historic sites in danger of disappearing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/27/12-historic-sites-in-danger-of-disappearing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/27/12-historic-sites-in-danger-of-disappearing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/27/12-historic-sites-in-danger-of-disappearing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

[Photo credit: Christian Koehn via WikiMedia]

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelcultureGlobal Heritage FundGlobalHeritageFundhistorysustainabilitysustainablesustainable travelSustainableTravelUNESCOUNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO World Heritage SitesUnescoWorldHeritageSiteUnescoWorldHeritageSitesworld heritageworld heritage listWorld heritage siteworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageWorldHeritageListWorldHeritageSiteWorldHeritageSitesWed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel writer Q&A: Julia Dimon]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/10/travel-writer-qanda-julia-dimon/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/10/travel-writer-qanda-julia-dimon/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/10/travel-writer-qanda-julia-dimon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Travel journalist and television host Julia Dimon lives the sort of fast-paced traveling lifestyle that most people, even quite experienced travelers, fantasize about. She's visited over 80 countries and she's been featured as a travel expert for countless print, online, radio, and television sources. Dimon's excitement as a traveler is palpable. I asked her about her background, her move from writing to television, some of her favorite destinations, and her top tips for travelers and prospective travel writers both.

Q: Describe your profession.

A: I'm a travel journalist, host of several travel TV shows and hard core adventuress with a blog called Travel Junkie Julia.

Q: Tell me about your family background as a traveler.

A: My mom is a travel writer. I guess that adventure is in the blood! I had the privilege of traveling with her on assignment when I was growing up. As a family we went to Costa Rica, China, Europe, Cuba. I got the travel bug at a young age.

Q: For years you wrote about travel for the Toronto Star and then for Metro. How did you make your move from writing to television? Do you expect to remain in television or return exclusively to the writing at some point?

A: I started out as a travel writer and columnist, freelancing for many publications. Then, while in Turkey on a round-the-world trip, I met a fellow Canadian travel writer named Robin Esrock, who is now my co-host. Robin thought it would be a cool idea if we had our own TV show. I agreed. He pitched a concept to a production company, who took it to a Canadian-based broadcaster. From there we collaborated and developed a show about the real lives of two young travel writers, under pressure and on deadline. The show is called Word Travels and we've shot 40 episodes over three years.

TV, like travel writing, is also in my blood. My Dad is an Emmy-award winning producer, so I suppose it was fitting to blend travel and TV. Getting on a full-time travel show was a combination of luck, timing, my strong reputation as a travel writer and a helluva lot of work. Since filming Word Travels, I have shot a travel series for MSNBC and am hosting a new show with Ethan Zohn (winner of Survivor Africa) for the new adventure network Outside Television. I really enjoy the medium of TV and am moving more into that direction but writing is a part of who I am. I've been a writer since I was 12. I wrote movie reviews for a kids page in the Toronto Star for over a decade before moving into the travel section. Writing will always be a part of who I am and what I do.

Continue reading Travel writer Q&A: Julia Dimon

Travel writer Q&A: Julia Dimon originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antarcticajordanLaosnew york cityNewYorkCityparisTanzaniathailandtorontoturks and caicosTurksAndCaicoszanzibarTue, 10 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/23/top-10-souvenir-hats-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/23/top-10-souvenir-hats-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/23/top-10-souvenir-hats-from-around-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ever notice how every airport, tourist trap, and hotel gift shop is trying to sell you some kind of hat? That's because a hat is local. In a globalized world where McDonald's is universal and Duty Free in Dubai sells the exact same sunglasses and chocolate as Duty Free in Detroit, it's nice to know that there are certain things (like hats) that you can still only find in certain far-flung destinations. Once upon a time, the hats hanging in the back of your closet said loads about where you've been and what you're been up to, especially if you have the real deal. Read and learn:

Fez This red felt hat may be named after the tourist-loving Moroccan city of Fes, but it's traditionally found all across the former Ottoman empire as well as much of the Muslim world. Worn by: dancing monkeys, Muammar al-Qaddafi, bellhops in Cairo. Cheap knock-offs: The Shriners and some Istanbul bazaars. The Real Deal: Moroccan hatmakers, markets in Cyprus and the Balkans, the Turkish army.
Panama hat A finely handwoven straw hat still made in Ecuador, even though Panama takes all the credit. Worn by: Teddy Roosevelt,Panama Jack, and the poor laborers who dug the Panama Canal. Cheap knock-off: Paper imitations are made in China and sell for little while lesser-quality imitations are made and sold all over Panama for under $30. The Real Deal: Like sheets, what counts in authentic Panama hats is thread count. The tighter the weave, the better the quality (real Panama Hats will hold water and have more than 1,000 fibers per square inch). Hats must be made in Ecuador from the toquilla plant and have a black silk band around the base. Buy at fine shops in Panama, in Ecuador, or else for several thousand dollars at Christie's in London.

Continue reading Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world

Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andesauthenticatorberetbuyoutFelipe MassaFelipeMassahathatsknockoffnon laNonLaPithHelmetshapkashoppingsouvenirsouvenirswoolFri, 23 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Top ten art museums you haven't been to]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/12/top-ten-art-museums-you-havent-been-to/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/12/top-ten-art-museums-you-havent-been-to/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/12/top-ten-art-museums-you-havent-been-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you wanna see inside someone's brain, stick 'em in an art museum and then leave them there for an hour. Some will feign interest for at least 10 minutes and then start looking for the bathroom. Others will politely wander or become transfixed by a certain wall and never leave, others will head straight to the gift shop to try on silly hats. Big or small, art museums offer the truest personality test on the planet.

Because art is famous and expensive (and sometimes meaningful), the world's most famous art museums have become iconic travel destinations unto themselves. Cultured people the world over have exhausted the Louvre in Paris, burned hours in the corridors of St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, and nodded through Madrid's Museo del Prado (Tick, tick, tick). There are few things Americans will wait hours in line for, but the Musée d'Orsay's French impressionism is right up there with Super Bowl tickets and some mattress outlet's Midnight Madness sale.

It's nice to know that art still matters, even when the world's most well-known museums have become their own top ten of cheesy travel status symbols. But true art lovers need not despair--humans have managed to collect art the world over and many a hidden gem are lying in wait for your art-loving eyes to arrive on the spot.

The following list highlights a selection of some of the world's best art destinations with the least amount of fanfare. (Disclaimer: Just like any person's taste in art, this list is entirely subjective). What the following museums share in common are their high-quality collections and their pleasant lack of lines going out the door:

Continue reading Top ten art museums you haven't been to

Top ten art museums you haven't been to originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart museumsArtMuseumsFranceGuangdongGuangzhouLondonMontpellierMusee FabreMuseeFabreOhiopaintingsParisToledoWinnipegMon, 12 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitchhiker's Requiem]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/27/hitchhikers-requiem/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/27/hitchhikers-requiem/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/27/hitchhikers-requiem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My father taught me to never, ever hitchhike because I would die. He illustrated the point with dinner table horror stories starring chopped up teenage bodies strewn along the highway and acid-crazed madmen speeding across America at 120 mph: "Those are the kind of people who pick up hitchhikers."

I followed his advice until I turned 18, which--in this country--is the legal age to stop following your parents' advice. I don't remember my first time, though. I was probably in Europe and it just happened--I stuck out my thumb and got a free ride. It was so easy and I was so hooked. Others chased drugs and girls but I chased cars. Free travel is addictive.

I started small and safe, catching lifts with blonde families in minivans in the Benelux. I branched out and grew bolder in places like Sardinia, Poland, and the Sahara--I shrugged, pointed and thumbed my way across the map. I crossed foreign borders in the backseats of strangers, I rode shotgun in diesel-farting trucks and talked my way onto fishing boats that ferried me between islands. Once, when stranded up in the English Cotswolds, I managed to flag down enough cars to carry myself and ten grad school friends all the way home. I became a legend among my worrywart peers.

I devised a "hitch rate" for countries--the average number of cars that passed by before I got a lift. France has a better hitch rate than Spain, Spain better than Italy, Italian Switzerland worse than German Switzerland. Russians always pick up, as long as you have cash. Scandinavia is surprisingly good. The smaller the island, the better the hitching--unless it's a British colony. And then there's stuck-up bourgeois countries like Slovenia, where I waited 2 hours and walked over 10 miles before getting a lift from a bleach-blonde Austrian man who had crossed the border to buy a vacuum cleaner.

It wasn't always movie montage bliss. I've had my fair share of scares:

Continue reading Hitchhiker's Requiem

Hitchhiker's Requiem originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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