Art of the Tehran Metro

by Erik Olsen on

Way back when, Adrienne posted a link about art on
the Tehran metro and I just happened to stumble upon it while Googling for that very topic (I love finding gadling
posts in Google).

It’s worth mentioning again, becuase this is a really cool
site that shows some of the very impressive art in any metro anywhere. Beats even most of the stations in NYC. With
such a fantastically rich culture, it’s a shame that the President listed Iran as one of the axis of evil
countries.

Several folks I know who have been to Iran say it is one of the loveliest, friendliest countries on earth.
Giving the whole country a bad rep via political rhetoric seems such a shame. The photo here is from a work called
dream and is
just one of several superb works that can be seen online or (even better…much better) in person.

Tranquilo Traveler

by Erik Olsen on

Most travel blog writers are content to visit a place and ruminate on what they see, describing the sights of a
particular location with a certain tourists’ distance. Not so Josh Berman, who’s blog the
Tranquiilo Traveler documents his experiences in Southeast Asia. Berman is
not only writing about the problems he sees, but is trying to do something about them. A true “engaged” traveler to be
sure.

In this entry, for
example, Berman and his new wife, along with two folks named Sarmishta and Debasish, are attempting to “systematically
measure the malnourishment of a sample of tea worker families”, by surveying 160 tea worker families on eight gardens.
They sit with the families and ask them about their diets and health, compiling data on food consumption (or lack
thereof), disease and death. Berman is doing this as a volunteer…needless to say a heck of an interesting way to
travel…and the blog is a fine work of travel writing and activism. There are other entries here on other places they’ve
been so far, and the couple will be traveling for quite some time ahead, so we’ll check back on them occasionally.

Cambodia’s Newest Citizen

by Kelly Amabile on

Angelina Jolie, who adopted her son Maddox from Cambodia, will
donate $5 million dollars over the next 15 years to set up a wildlife sanctuary in the region, where she has bought a
home. Dubbed the Maddox Jolie Project, the goal
will be to rehabilitate the eco-system of the Samlaut Multiple Use Area in the Battambang Province. You can read an
account of her visit to the from region several years ago.
(Via Treehugger)

Battambang is Cambodia’s second most populous city, known for its rice mills, Khmer history, French colonial
architecture, plethora of statues, and location along
the Sangker River. Lonely Planet
calls it an “elegant
riverside town” and the Thorn Tree board members who have been there tend to say it is relaxing and not as crowded as
some of the more popular traveler spots in Cambodia. You can get to Siem Reap from Battambang by bus or boat, although
the travel time can vary considerably. The city is also not far from Thailand.

We’ll point you to some spots to start further research on the region: This BootsnAll traveler shares the story of
his 2002 visit to the region, and this
travelogue and
collection of photos both provide great info. Here is a
map of the city and a good list of
resources to get you started on planning a
trip.

Never Be Complete

by Dave (Blogsmith Old) on

This post marks the first installment of a new regular series at Gadling that will spotlight one “engaged traveler” each week. Engaged travelers can be defined in many ways, but I’ve chosen to focus on those that are giving back – let’s call it “philanthropy on the road”. I’m active in the fundraising field, so I find myself paying particular attention to what motivates travelers to give. The reasons are endless and the examples are everywhere. I read A LOT of travel blogs and am simply amazed by the outpouring and generosity I see. So, let’s get inspired…

First up is Dan Demole of Never Be Complete. I’ve been reading Dan’s blog since February. He has written wonderfully detailed reports as he’s moved from Costa Rica to Europe to Africa, where he is now. I donated $10 to his site for upkeep back in March, because it takes considerable time and money to provide the level of detail he does, and I think his site is one of the most impressive out there. (His flash intro must not be missed!)

Well, last week Dan had the bus ride from hell. But then, just a few days later, he had a truly unforgettable experience at an orphanage/school in Mozambique that cares for 55 kids whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Because of this, he decided to act, and is no longer accepting donations for himself on the site. Instead, Dan is asking for support for the orphanage, which can be directly transferred to the organization through his website. Dan has continued on his journey and is currently in Zimbabwe, but he has been hard at work setting up the support page on his site and getting the word out about this incredible group of children he encountered. If you want to help, check out Dan’s story and consider making a donation. (Also, for anyone planning a RTW trip, his site is an excellent resource, with detailed budget and pre-trip info.)

Grand Canyon Noisemakers

by Erik Olsen on

When you go to the Grand Canyon, the expectation is that you will be in a
quiet, wonderful wilderness, where the most prevalent sounds you hear are chirping birds and the occasional howl of a
coyote. Alas, for the last eights decade or so, you are as likely to hear the thrum and buzz of an airplane or
helicopter, as sight-seeing outfits take passengers on flights over the canyon. That has got lot of folks pretty upset.
But efforts to reign in the flying noise-makers have, as you might expect, encountered resistance from the folks who
run the fly-over businesses. But according to
this piece on NPR, the two groups (that is, noise makers and noiise haters) are beginning to work together.

This summer, as part of a new project to determine exactly how much noise there is in the canyon, they are sending out
dudes with microphones to compile 50 days’ worth of data of natural sounds from within the park. Heading out with
microphones and recording equipment, they are capturing the everyday sounds of the park, including afore mentioned bird
tweets, as well as the planes. The overall goal is to make sure that at least 50 percent of the park remains quiet. In
the long run, too, I’ll bet all this recording will create a kind of neat historical document.