More details on American access to North Korea in 2009

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It may not be time to celebrate, but you can certainly be optimistic (with a dose of caution). Koryo Tours has received an update from its partners in North Korea about the upcoming Arirang (i.e., “Mass Games” event). The Mass Games are expected to be held in August and September – and could run into October (based on past experience). Koryo Tours is currently scheduling tours for westerners for this period.

Americans will be able to attend the event this year, but there are some restrictions. North Korea is expected to limit U.S. visits to four nights, and Americans will only be able to enter and exit the country by plane. But, Koryo Tours is willing to remain flexible in the event that longer stays are permitted. For guests who have already been to North Korea, the company is working on itineraries designed for repeat visitors.

Of course, this has not been confirmed yet, but Koryo Tours is confident based on how these developments have unfolded in the past. As we get more information, we’ll be sure to pass it along

[Thanks, Koryo Tours]

Top 10 stupidest laws you could encounter abroad


Urbane Nomads

by Brenda Yun on

Have you ever dreamed of taking a romantic trip to Bhutan to learn about fertility rituals or yearned to travel around Kyrgyzstan by horseback performing a courtship ritual? Well, if I had known it was possible, then I might have. If you’ve ever wanted to travel to some far-off destination and have your itinerary planned by a knowledgeable agency, then Urbane Nomads might just be the travel agency you’ve been looking for.

Urbane Nomads, a travel agency focused on delivering unique experiences and destinations, offers a range of trips. You can take the “Lover’s Tour” which could start in Saigon, through to Halong Bay, and then onwards to Sapa and the ‘Love Market.’

Or maybe you want a trip with a bit more flair — perhaps a tango-inspired trip to learn about fiery Latin dancing? A trip like this could involve a visit to Buenos Aires or to San Telmo, right at the heart of where it all started. They might even be able to arrange for a private tango lesson at the Philippe Starck-designed hotel Faena.

For traditional romance and luxury, Urbane Nomads is able to organize a getaway to Indonesia, where you can island hop between Java, Bali, and lesser-known Sumba, a remote island where headhunting practices were still ongoing until relatively modern times and where the sight of tourists are few and far between.

You can get a real taste of the eccentric if you step out of your comfort zone even more. Urbane Nomads is happy to arrange a visit to Sri Lanka, Syria, or Pakistan. Urbane Nomads specializes in four distinct thematic trips: Sports and Adventure, Culture, Relaxation, Romance. Read sample itineraries within these themes HERE or you can have them design your trip from scratch.

This company prides itself in being “travel mixologists,” with intention of offering unique travel experiences to sometimes unusual and rarely touristed destinations. It even leads scholarly tours to certain destinations and alternative experiences for more trodden locales.

It’s definitely worth taking a look if not taking a plunge and indulging the vacation they specially concoct for you. I really like the idea. I’m not at all sure about the cost, but the company appears to be connected and worthy of the buzz.

Seeking Enlightenment in Kathmandu

by Kraig Becker on

Kathmandu is a vibrant, noisy, colorful city, whose name alone elicits thoughts of adventures in far flung places. It is the Gateway to the Himalaya, and the home of more than 700,000 people. For nearly 2000 years it has been a cradle of civilization in Nepal, and the spiritual center for many practitioners of Hinduism and Buddhism as well.

Although steeped in tradition, in many ways this ancient city has become a large, thriving metropolis with round the clock activity. It can be challenging to find some peace and quiet at times, but savvy travelers know that you can head to the eastern portion of Kathmandu to a place called Boudhanath, a Buddhist enclave that is a bit of the cam at the eye of a storm. That’s exactly what writer Seth Sherwood did in this story from the New York Times travel section.

Sherwood traveled to Boudhanath to wander amongst the bazaars and stupas to soak in the Buddhist culture there. The area is inhabited with many refugees from Tibet, who have fled the country over the course of the past 60 years looking to escape the Chinese rule there. The result is a slice of Tibetan culture on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

The author grabs a traditional meal in a local restaurant that offers better food than atmosphere and service, and then wanders the street interatcting with the people there, who are as colorful and unique as the city they inhabit. For visitors to Kathmandu, Boudhanath adds another experience in a city that is already legendary. With travel to Tibet still challenging, visiting this area may be as close as some can get in the near future.

Jetstar charges passengers by the pound

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The debate has gone on for years. Larger people have had to deal with shrinking plane seats. We all complain, with the svelte arguing that the not-so-trim should have to purchase an extra seat. I have to be honest, here. I believe that you should pay for what you consume. If you take two seats pay for them. Apparently, low-cost Australian airline Jetstar agrees, with much more zeal than I would have ever imagined.

For some, airfare must be purchased by the pound … and I’m not talking about the British currency.

Samantha Scafe, a 350 pound transgender passenger on Jetstar, was forced to pay for a second seat “for other people’s comfort” after twice being assured that this would not be necessary. Jetstar later apologized for the debacle, saying that it doesn’t provide overweight customers with “two-for-one deals.”

Obviously, she’s filing a lawsuit over this.

Now, let’s give Jetstar credit for follow-through. Not only do they offend a passenger, but the two seats they gave her had a slight problem: they were separated by the aisle. If she occupied them, she’d have had the flight attendants all over her for not getting out of the way of the drink cart!

These women should’ve been charged for their “crimes”!


[Via news.com.au, Blackbook]

Photo of the Day (2.2.09)

by Karen Walrond on

This amazing photograph is entitled “An Angel in Burma” — and really, there’s not a whole lot more to say. Photographer uncorneredmarket shared this beautiful image with us in our Gadling flickr pool, and says he took this shot at a railway station stop on the first day of his trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake in Burma (Myanmar). The quiet expressions and the subtle lighting really capture the intimacy of the moment between a mother and her daughter. Really lovely image!

If you’ve got some great travel shots you’d love to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day.