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Video: "Stuff" skiers say
Feb 11th, 2012 at 2:00PM: I'm in Lake Tahoe--California and Nevada's premier ski destination--visiting my brother and his family. My teenage nephew, a member of the Olympic Valley Freeride & Freestyle Team, turned me on to this farcical video about things skiers say. If you're a skier--or snowboarder--you're fully aware that there are certain phrases ubiquitous to those who spend their days on the slopes--even if the ...
Learning a new language made easy
Dec 27th, 2011 at 3:00PM: If learning a new language is on your list of things to do, there are several products out there to help make that happen. The trick seems to be finding one that will work for each individual and some are a better fit than others.
Back in 2007 Gadling's Jamie Rhein introduced us to Rosetta Stone, an interactive computer software program that has been proven effective even in elementary school ...10 reasons to travel to Ljubljana
Dec 13th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
When I found cheap airfare from Istanbul to Ljubljana, I didn't find many other travelers who'd been there or even say for sure which country it's in. The tiny of country of Slovenia is slightly smaller than New Jersey and its capital city isn't known for much other than being difficult to spell and pronounce (say "lyoob-lyAH-nah"). After spending a few days there last month, I quickly fell ...6 tips for dealing with culture shock
Nov 2nd, 2011 at 4:00PM: When traveling, especially internationally or to more remote destinations, culture shock is bound to happen. Sometimes it is just the smallest feeling of discomfort, and at other times can lead to complete panic and an intense longing to get on the next plane home. While it is completely normal to experience these feelings of culture shock, it is also important to not let it ruin your trip. Keep ...Destination spotlight: Chengyang Village in southern China
Oct 18th, 2011 at 1:00PM: For those looking to get out of big cities of China and explore some of the smaller villages, the Chengyang Village in southern China should not be overlooked. This wooden village has a lot to offer visitors in terms of hiking, history, and culture.
Getting There
Located in the province of Guangxi, the village can be reached by bus from many of the bigger cities, including Longsheng (2-3 ...10 important phrases to know before going to Ghana, Africa
Oct 8th, 2011 at 10:00AM: Learning a foreign language can be difficult. And, for people traveling to Ghana for only a short amount of time, trying to become fluent in Twi, the principal native language of the country, may be a bit farfetched. However, learning some important phrases before you go can help prepare you for a more comfortable experience.
Eti sen?
How are you?
In Ghana, the people are extremely ...Useful foreign phrases, Part 2: how to say, "Can you write this down for me?" in 10 languages
May 5th, 2011 at 1:00PM: A post written by Chris on Tuesday reminded me of this little language series I started in March. In "Ten things Ugly Americans need to know before visiting a foreign land," Chris recommended brushing up on the local language. He joked about dashing around Venice clutching his concierge's handwritten note, "Do you have 220/110 plug converters for this stupid American who left his at home?"
...Italy's South Tyrol: Language disputes
Apr 27th, 2011 at 7:30AM: In the Italian region of South Tyrol a language dispute has emerged over the exclusive use of German on mountain trail signs. In the Telegraph, Nick Squires provides an overview of what he terms a "language war."
South Tyrol's German-language Alpenverein is responsible for replacing all trail signage. Squires claims that around 1500 of these hiking path signs are written exclusively in German. ...The Argobba: visiting a little-known African tribe
Apr 15th, 2011 at 2:30PM:
Ethiopia is home to dozens of different ethnic groups and tribes. Some have populations numbering in the millions, while others have only a few thousand. One of the smallest tribes is the Argobba, a Muslim people scattered in villages across eastern Ethiopia. The Argobba number only about 10,000, yet they're determined to be counted in Ethiopia´s government and are fighting to preserve ...Ancient Jerusalem tunnel causes friction between Israelis and Palestinians
Jan 26th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
Here's a big surprise--the Israelis and Palestinians are squabbling over land rights in Jerusalem again.
Archaeologists have cleared an ancient passageway they believe was a drainage tunnel leading away from the Second Temple, the Jewish holy spot destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Canadian Press reports the tunnel runs from the Temple Mount, now the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, 2,000 feet ...Word Lens: the iPhone app that will change travel
Dec 17th, 2010 at 7:30AM:
There aren't many apps that come along and significantly alter the way we live or travel, but this is one of them. The future is here.
Word Lens, released yesterday by QuestVisual, is an iPhone application that analyzes text in either Spanish or English and produces live translations in real time on your iPhone's screen. Just point your iPhone's camera at a sign, menu, or document and the ...Q & A with Grantourismo round-the-world slow travel bloggers
Nov 24th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
With all the holiday travel madness just beginning, sometimes it's nice to take a breath and think about taking travel more slowly. I recently had a chance to meet up with blogger Lara Dunston and her photographer-writer husband, Terence Carter, of the round-the-world travel project and blog, Grantourismo while they were traveling through Istanbul. Lara and Terence hosted me at their fabulous ...Ten things to know about your destination before you go
Nov 18th, 2010 at 10:00AM: So you've chosen your vacation destination - booked the tickets, agonized over TripAdvisor to find a hotel, and bought the guidebooks or downloaded the apps. Whether you like to plan your itinerary in advance or play it by ear, there are a few things you should research in advance to make your arrival - and your trip - go smoothly.
From airport taxis to local laws to transit passes, what should ...Gadling goes to Greenland!
Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:00AM:
So, there's this huge, ice-covered country at the top of the world--a place that we all fly over and love to overlook. Though perhaps you are more conscientious--perhaps you count yourself among the rare breed of traveler that is drawn to remote, disregarded landmasses where the mighty musk oxen roam. If that is the case--well then, Greenland is definitely the place for you.
I can say that ...
5 reasons to be a tourist
Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:30PM:
After three months living in Istanbul, I've gained a stable of a few dozen Turkish words to string into awkward sentences; learned some local intel on what soccer teams to root for, where to get the best mantı, and the best Turkish insults (maganda is the local equivalent of guido); and have come to avoid Sultanahmet with the same disdain I used to reserve for Times Square when I lived in New ...Finding the expat community and what travelers can learn from them
Jul 6th, 2010 at 1:30PM: No matter how well-traveled you are, moving to a foreign country and living as an expat is a whole new ballgame. Your priorities and standards change, and hours that you may have spent as a traveler in a museum or wandering a beach are now spent in as an expat search of an alarm clock or trying to distinguish between eight types of yogurt. You become like a child again: unable to speak in complete ...Letter from Japan: Learning the language of silence
Jun 22nd, 2010 at 6:57PM: In most countries of the world it helps to know the language a little before you arrive; in Japan, it can only be an impediment. Words tend to get in the way, and the ideal conversation for most of the Japanese I've lived among for 22 years is one in which as few words as possible are exchanged. The country fashions itself more as a family than a free-for-all, and as in any close setting, if you ...Ask Gadling: What if I don't speak the language?
Jun 16th, 2010 at 12:00PM: Today's question comes from Justin in Boise, Idaho:
"I'm going on a vacation to Zurich next month. My girlfriend chose the place. I don't speak any German. Neither does she. Are we going to die?"
Gadling: Everyone dies someday, Justin, but not speaking German will probably not be the end of you.
It just so happens that I went to Zürich last month. Like you, I speak not a word of German. ...Canada gets its very own dictionary
Jun 3rd, 2010 at 9:30AM: Canadians have long been quick to declare the differences with their American neighbors to the south. Whether displayed through a particularly fervent love for hockey or by virtue of the country's publicly-funded healthcare system, there's numerous if sometimes subtle differences. We can now add one more reason to the list - Canada has its own version of English.
OK, yes...I can hear you saying ...Foreign "safety vernacular" for women
Mar 15th, 2010 at 11:00AM: There is, as they say, a time and place for everything. And sometimes, ladies, that occurs when you're traveling. I encourage anyone who travels to a foreign country to learn a few key phrases and learn a bit about the place, in order to avoid cultural faux pas. Even something as innocuous as patting a child on the head in Thailand is considered a grievous offense, because the head is considered ...
