Committed to preserving national secrets, the new Jiangsu National Security Education Museum in Nanjing is only open to Chinese citizens. So, if you want to see guns embedded in lipstick, maps hidden in decks of cards and other accoutrements of the spy trade (or, “tradecraft,” as spies over here call it), you have to have the right passport.
Most of the items on display are well past their “use by” dates. Guns disguised as fountain pens and pipes, a bugged calculator and instructions for wiretapping can be found … some of which date back to the communist fight against the nationalists in 1927.
Even though some of these tools and methods are dated, the government likes to keep a leash on its secrets, so the best you’ll get is a second-hand account from a loose-lipped local. A spokesman for the spy museum said to The Associated Press, “We don’t want such sensitive spy information to be exposed to foreigners, so they are not allowed to enter.” Most of the prospective guests turned away, though, understand the reasoning.
Desperate to get a look? You can usually get in if you have “Chinese features” and look “clean.”
According to National Geographic, an ancient temple has been discovered in southeast Turkey, on the site of an ongoing archaeological dig, near the border of Syria. The temple sits at a location that is believed to have been a cultural and economic crossroads for centuries, and is expected to provide valuable insights into the lives of the people that inhabited the region 3000 years ago.
The find is being hailed as a major discovery that calls into question some common beliefs about that era in Turkey. Most historians believe that a “dark age” descended on the area around 1200 to 900 BC. It has been widely accepted that it was a very turbulent time that put an end to cultural and political development, but archaeologists found evidence in the temple that seems to refute that. They now believe that the ancient civilization that built the temple not only survived, but possibly even thrived, pushing its language, art, and political structure forward.
Inside the temple, which dates back to the time of King Solomon, researchers discovered large, ceremonial slabs carved with hieroglyphs in an ancient and long dead language which was once spoken throughout the region. Further inside, in the temple’s main room, which had suffered major fire damage at some point, they found silver and gold foil inlays, along with remnants of bronze and ivory.
I’m always fascinated by stories like this one. It is amazing that in the 21st century we’re still discovering new things hidden around the globe. It makes you wonder what else it out there, just waiting for us to stumble across it.
May 1 is May day, and here in Hawaii it’s called Lei Day. Most of the islands’ schools are off today, and surfers will likely be in the water (as the first legitimate south swell of the summer season is here). You will find me and most of the Oahu’s daytime party goers celebrating Lei Day in Kapiolani Park, on the eastern end of Waikiki. There, between 9-5, will be a lei making contest, good old fashioned hula and musical performances, as well as plenty of food and locally made gifts.
Lei Day is all about giving and receiving aloha — and wearing leis that are one of eight colors, each representing one of Hawaii’s eight major islands. At Barack Obama’s (and my) alma mater, Punahou School, there is a grand Holoku pageant that features a royal court and lots of Hawaiian music and Polynesian dancing.
In other parts of the world, May Day means something rather different:
In England and other parts of Europe, a Queen of the May is crowned, and there is dancing around a maypole to celebrate the first day of summer.
My students tell me that only in Zurich (but not in other cities in Switzerland), there right-wing groups riot in the streets.
In other countries such as Greece and Australia, today is International Workers’ Day, kind of like the U.S.’s Labor Day (in early September)
Finally, in (post-)Communist countries like China and Russia, there are formal parades in the streets to celebrate the people’s earnest work.
However you celebrate today, I hope you receive a little “aloha.” Welcome to summer!
One of my favorite aspects of travel is visiting unique markets in foreign countries. These sometimes charming, sometimes chaotic, always fascinating and entertaining places offer up slices of local culture, unusual foods, and a variety of other goods, both common and unidentifiable.
It is in that spirit that BootsnAll gives us a list of eight of the world’s best food markets, offering up great places to shop for fresh food in all corners of the globe. Each of the markets on the list exhibit local influence and style, while providing a shopping experience that is sure to leave an impression on visitors long after they’ve gone home.
For instance, the list starts with Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, a market that has been open for more than 100 years, and specializes in fresh fish and giant crab legs. There are more than 200 merchants in Pike Place, selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade cheeses. The market is even the site of the original Starbucks.
For a completely different experience, head to the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia. The article notes that Queen Victoria is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere, offering up plenty of fresh food items, but also electronics, antiques and more. And during the summer months, the night market comes alive with a party atmosphere, with visitors from all walks of life strolling the market late into the evening.
Checkout the other six markets on the list as well, and if you’re traveling to any of these cities in the near future, be sure to drop by one of these markets and explore it for yourself. It is likely to be one of the most unique travel experiences of your life.
Join us on a tour of the worst potholes in the world – and find out which American city makes many third world countries look like a bunch of amateurs with their potholes. Harare, Zimbabwe
According to its residents, nowhere in the world is the pothole situation worse than in Harare. Unlike potholes that just make your ride a bit bumpy, their potholes actually attempt to swallow your car.
Chicago, IL
Chicago is on par with many third world countries when it comes to road repairs.
Not only does the city have 100’s of miles of poorly maintained roads, they also lack the money/manpower/will/interest to repair them.
The city keeps telling residents that they have crews working around the clock, but try telling that to the 1000’s of people who need to buy new wheels for their car after hitting one of these monstrous holes. Chicago even has a special portion on their web site where drivers can file a claim for pothole damage.
Yes – the city of Chicago is so behind on their pothole repairs that KFC decided to fill the holes themselves, and use the whole thing for a bit of goodwill generating PR.
Colombo, Srilanka
Colombo is one of those cities where potholes morph into sinkholes. Large amounts of rain scour the ground from under the roadbed, and the result is the kind of hole that can swallow a car.
Another Colombo pot/sinkhole. Thankfully it doesn’t look like any vehicles were lost in this thing, but you can clearly see some damaged pipes and other infrastructure in the massive hole.
Jamaica
Bad combination – super relaxing island and the kind of pothole that will really put a dent in your day (and wheels). It is bad enough when you hit one of these things with your car, but popping the front wheel of your moped or bike in them is enough to turn your bike seat into an ejector seat.
Michigan potholes from hell
I’ll let this video clip speak for itself. New Orleans, LA
It’s not really fair to criticize New Orleans for their potholes – the city is still recovering from Katrina, but that doesn’t make this pothole less impressive. Notice the car tire on the left, showing just how deep this thing is. Xiamen City, China
Ouch. The only thing worse than hitting a killer Chinese pothole, is hitting one when a photographer is standing there waiting for you to go flying, just so he can snap a great picture.
Liu Tao was criticized for not warning cyclists of the danger lying ahead of them. If you enjoy seeing people get hurt, or just want to know how the fall ends, check out the other photos at the source article.
In Russia, pothole drive you?
Funny how you can make almost any video interesting by adding some snappy Greek music to the background!
Kiev, Ukraine
I’m not sure whether this pothole appeared out of the blue when people were coming down the road, or whether these cars were simply parked in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it sure looks like an expensive mess.
New York, NY
For the final pothole in this lineup, what better place than New York City? Seriously, when the potholes get this big, you may be better off leaving the car at home and sticking with public transport.