Another stellar week for Gadling has come and gone. You’ve probably noticed two new names on the roster: Brett Atkinson and Matthew Firestone. When he’s not touring the world as a guidebook writer for Lonely Planet, Brett lives in Auckland, New Zealand covering the bar and nightlife scene and writing about all things travel for Gadling. Welcome aboard, Brett! Matthew also joins us from the Lonely Planet ranks. He’s penned guidebooks on Costa Rica, Panama, and Botswana & Namibia, and now calls Japan home. Look out for his bi-weekly column, Big in Japan. Now for five posts that shouldn’t be missed (it’s getting harder and harder to choose these!):
- Across Northern Europe: A Perishable Feast — Brook explores the differences between “traveling” and “vacationing” while dancing in Berlin, Germany.
- Chinese Buffet – Part 10: Day Train to Shanghai — Kelly takes the train from Beijing to Shanghai, and is escorted by her 8-year-old Chinese bodyguard and his grandfather.
- Big in Japan: The Myth About Money — New writer Matthew Firestone talks about the biggest myth in Japan: it’s so expensive! Turns out it’s not as expensive as you may have heard…
- Afghanistan – Back On The Travel Map — Is Afghanistan a safe destination yet? New writer Brett Atkinson reports on Lonely Planet’s new Afghanistan guidebook, as well as the country’s greatest treasure, the crumbling Towers of Victory.
- Alcohol Shortage on Bali May Impact Tourism — What’s a beach without alcohol? If you’re traveling to Bali anytime soon, you might find out.
Have a good weekend!