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culture posts
A cultural tour of Burma through tilt-shift timelapse
Mar 8th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
For those who've wondered what local life is like in Burma (Myanmar), "Bonsai Burma" by Berlin filmmaker Joerg Daiber can enlighten you. Using tilt-shift photography, Daiber takes viewers on a cultural tour of the country showing daily life, women working in the hillsides, children playing, hawkers selling goods at the market, and fisherman working for their catch. Furthermore, viewers ...
Weekend trip from Rio de Janeiro: Buzios, Brazil
Mar 4th, 2012 at 9:00AM: While many travelers to Brazil choose to spend a majority of their time in the large and lively metropolitan city of Rio de Janeiro, there is a culturally rich and sophisticated village about two hours away that is well worth a visit. Búzios, with its sandy beaches, opportunities for adventure, ambient restaurants, and charming shops, was once a tiny fishing town made famous by a visit from ...Tranquil travel hits Bali as the entire island falls silent during Nyepi
Mar 2nd, 2012 at 2:00PM: While many cultures around the world celebrate their New Year with fireworks, parades, and loud parties, the island of Bali in Indonesia takes a different approach. In fact, travelers looking to enjoy some peace and quiet in a beautiful setting should consider taking a trip to the island on March 23 to take part in the Balinese New Year, or Nyepi, "Day of Silence".
During Nyepi, the entire ...A journey through Turkey in high definition
Feb 28th, 2012 at 2:30PM:
In this video, titled "Going to Cappadocia" by Kyoto Studio, a filmmaking couple from Krakow, Poland, documented their journey through Turkey as they visited Ölüdeniz, Marmaris, Dilek National Park, Kusadasi, Cesme, Izmir, Efez, Cappadocia, and Istanbul. The video explores an array of Turkey's features, including ancient ruins, wildlife, landscape, shopping, transportation, ...
Turkey gets ready to celebrate its annual Mesir Festival
Feb 24th, 2012 at 3:00PM: Every spring for the past 500 years, Turkey has been celebrating the traditional Mesir Festival in the city of Manisa. Not only does the event encompass parades, concerts, and exhibits, but also the throwing of spices.
Mesir, also known as "power gum," is a blend of 41 different spices made into a thick paste. The story of its origin is that the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim and ...10 museums that will make you feel like a kid again
Feb 24th, 2012 at 9:00AM: Usually when you hear about a "family-friendly museum," you can assume that what the experience will be tailored around is children. But why should kids be the only ones who get to have fun?
With these ten museums, adults will be able to travel back to a time when playing with dolls, watching cartoons, riding rocking horses, and running through rooms full of fun-house mirrors was acceptable. ...Hotel packages for art and culture enthusiasts
Feb 20th, 2012 at 5:00PM: Hotel Villa Magna
Madrid, Spain
Hotel Village Magna is a 5-star luxury hotel located in the center of Madrid. Until December 2012, the property will be helping travelers get to know the art and culture of the city through their Prado Package, which includes a private guided tour of the Museo Nacional del Prado, a museum featuring fine European art from the 12th-19th centuries. Not only that, ...Discovering the wonders of Turkey through photos
Feb 19th, 2012 at 5:00PM: Turkey is a historical country filled with culture, beauty, and natural wonders. In fact, there are many interesting facts that many people may not know that help add to the enchantment and splendor of the country, like the fact that the world's oldest known human settlement can be found in Turkey, two of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World were located in Turkey, and the seven churches cited ...Tips for teaching English abroad without speaking the local language
Feb 19th, 2012 at 2:00PM: When people hear I spent a summer teaching English in Thailand, they often assume I speak fluent Thai. The truth is, you don't need to be fluent in the local language to teach English abroad. I'm not saying that it doesn't help, however, it isn't necessarily required, as the goal is creating an environment of English-language immersion.
Teaching English is a great experience for all parties ...Why you should visit Singapore in 2012
Feb 18th, 2012 at 4:00PM: There are many reasons Singapore makes a great travel destination, from unique architecture to rich cultural experiences to carefully prepared cuisine. In 2012, the Southeast Asian destination has even more reasons to visit, from exciting new restaurants to the opening of their first river-themed animal park. Here are some reasons to put Singapore on this year's trip itinerary.
New cultural ...Jerusalem to host their first International Ice Festival this spring
Feb 13th, 2012 at 3:00PM: While Jerusalem, Israel, is well known for its religious traditions and sacred sites, there is actually a lot more for tourists to experience. In fact, this spring the celebration of Passover isn't the only reason to visit the city, as Jerusalem will be hosting their first ever International Ice Festival.
The festival will take place at the Old Train Station Plaza from March 3-April 4, 2012, ...Paris postcard: Savoring the subversively seductive splendors of the Marais
Jan 31st, 2012 at 11:00AM:
French star architect Jean Nouvel once gave me a ride home from his studio in Paris' edgy 11th arrondissement. I chuckled to discover that the guru of transparency, glass and steel lives around the corner from me in a 1600s building on the Rue des Francs Bourgeois, the spinal column of the Marais. Old is better?
I was amused but not surprised: after 40 years of blanket gentrification the ...Untouched Italy: Exploring Basilicata through a dream
Jan 27th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
While many people go to Italy to explore the wonderful cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan, there many off-the-radar areas also worth discovering. One of these regions is Basilicata, which Seattle, Washington, filmmaker Matthew Brown captures in this video. The project was part of a Digital Diary competition put on by the Italy Tourism Board, and ended up winning the Grand ...
National Gallery in Budapest exhibits art of epic Hungarian history
Jan 11th, 2012 at 2:30PM:
The Hungarian capital of Budapest is a popular destination for those who love high art and culture. Its sumptuous National Gallery is famed across Europe, and now it's putting on a new exhibition highlighting the nation's history.
Heroes, Kings, Saints - Pictures and Memories of Hungarian History brings together some of the masterpieces of 19th century Hungarian painting. This was a high ...New York Shots: photos captured in new york via disposable cameras left out in public
Jan 5th, 2012 at 4:30PM: New York Shots. What a cool idea. The idea is this: A Tumblr user, a girl named Katie O'Beirne, recently started leaving disposable cameras out around New York City. Tied to a park bench, left at the Brooklyn Bridge. This project has been evolving for a while now, especially thanks to a Kickstarter campaign that collects funds in its honor. It's a beautiful project. It captures people, generally ...Stay at a former military prison turned art hostel in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dec 22nd, 2011 at 1:00PM: Recently, Gadling's Meg Nesterov talked about 10 reasons to travel to Ljubljana in Slovenia. The country has a lot to offer to visitors, and for those looking for an affordable and historical place to stay, a unique hostel experience, as well.
Hostel Celica, currently an artsy youth hostel, was once a military prison within the military barracks of Metelkova Street, dating back to 1882. Once ...New public artwork imitates the changing mood of the city
Dec 17th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
For the people of Lindau, Germany, there is no such thing as keeping your mood to yourself. At least, not since German artists Julius Von Bismarck, Richard Wilhelmer, and Benjamin Maus installed a "Fuehlometer" (Feel-o-Meter), an interactive piece of public artwork that gauges and replicates the city's mood swings.
The large smiley face is set on top of a lighthouse and changes ...
Ten things adventure travel has taught me
Dec 15th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
The adventure travel bug bit me early, back when I was twenty years old. That was, I shudder to say, more than half my life ago. In that time I've been to many places generally considered dangerous--Somaliland, Syria, Iran--yet I've come through just fine and made lots of great friendships on the road. I've learned some things too. Here are ten things you might want to remember when you go on ...Popular blind French eatery in Europe debuts in New York this month
Dec 5th, 2011 at 11:00AM: The popular French eatery where patrons are served by blind waiters in complete darkness has been a complete success in Europe. On December 9, 2011, the restaurant will try its luck in the United States, making a debut in New York.
Right now, Dans Le Noir has locations in Paris, London, Moscow, Barcelona, and St. Petersburg. While a bit bizarre, the concept is actually educational as well, as ...Artists make childhood dreams a reality with an interactive land submarine
Dec 1st, 2011 at 3:00PM:
While this submarine may not go underwater, it certainly has a lot of features. Five Ton Crane, a San Francisco Bay Area collective arts group, has created a life-sized vessel called The Nautilus in West Oakland, California, that not only has built-in iPad technology, a library, GPS navigation, hydraulic drive controls, a night vision periscope, and a full bar, but also the ability to defend ...
