Women-only subway cars comimg to South Korea in 2008

by Catherine Bodry on

When I was traveling through India, the crowds were often the most tiring aspect — constantly being closely surrounded by people. When I took a local train to a guesthouse in Mumbai, I stood next to an open door, my backpack slamming people’s faces every time I turned my body.

Then I discovered the “women-only” car — a calm respite from the crowds. Here, I was able to find a seat next to mellow ladies who chatted amiably with me. My ride was relaxing and I didn’t worry about anyone trying to grab my booty or steal something out of my pack.

South Korea has the same idea. The country will be adding women-only cars to its Seoul subway line in 2008 in order to make rides for women more comfortable. Reuters states that “nearly half the crimes reported on the city’s eight subway lines are sexual in nature, with many taking place on two lines that serve university and office districts.” Officials are hoping the women-only cars will cut down on subway crime.

Thanks to ampontour on Flickr for the shot of the women-only sign for a train in Japan.

The Toilet Hotel

by Jamie Rhein on

If eating out of a toilet doesn’t sound edgy enough–grand enough, how about a night in a house that looks like one? Might sound odd, but don’t be hasty. The Toilet House may not be so weird. The guy who had it built, Seoul, Korea’s, Sim Jae-Duck, is the founder of The World Toilet Association and wants to make sure that people have clean toilets to use. By this, I don’t mean toilet hygiene, per se, but toilets that are clean to use–meaning people have a place to go do their business without creating a health hazard. If you’ve ever lived in an African village, you understand the need for a good latrine that’s far enough away from the village well.

If you pay the $50,000 a night to stay in this house, you’ll be adding money towards Jae-Duck’s work to make sure that people in the world can get rid of their bodily waste without the danger of making people sick. Not a bad idea. Plus, the house does look funky. Again, thanks to Tom Barlow from BloggingStocks for sending this treasure my way.

Birds nest, white fungus. No I would not like some, thank you.

by Grant Martin on

You know those shows you see on the telly where the adventurous, sexy host eats ox testicle because that’s what the back country pygmies eat? Or that one friend you have who will eat fermented shark bile because its the Icelandic specialty? I’m not that guy. Case in point, Birds Nest, White Fungus. This Vietnamese drink comes in a Redbull sized can and contains, well, birds nest and white fungus.

Having a notoriously weak stomach, I’ve never been privy to shooting myself in the foot and trying “new, exciting” food. But in the company of family, it’s harder to refuse. One sip of this stuff though and I was on the floor crying for A&W rootbeer. Who’s idea was it to put these two constituents together into a beverage?

So next time you find yourself in far off lands and you feel pressured to be like that one guy from the Travel Channel and eat sauteed Yak hair, feel free to decline. It’s ok to have a weak stomach and not be the culinary hero. I’m talking about you Bourdain; you’re turning my friends into crazy people. I’ll be in New York with my Santoku knives next Friday and I’m ready to throw down.

Japan to start fingerprinting foreign visitors

by Grant Martin on

It’s taste-of-your-own-medicine time in Japan. The Australian paper The Age reports that starting next month, foreigners visiting the Asian country will be subject to mandatory fingerprint and digital photograph collection. This includes not only tourists but the nearly 800,000 foreign residents already living in the country.

What I find particularly delightful is how angry people are getting about the new security measures. The Age writes that “Amnesty International is calling for the immigration plan to be abandoned”, saying “Making only foreigners provide this data is discriminatory.” What the heck do you call the US policy? Why don’t you have a problem with that?

I can see where the Japanese want to get a head start on security and it’s good that they’re taking a proactive approach to anti-terrorism. But isn’t one of the big reasons that reasons America is a target is that we’re the thousand-pound gorilla meddling in other countries’ affairs? Seems that Japan doesn’t subscribe to that sort of foolishness.

They can have my fingerprints. After this post, the DHS is going to do a thorough background check on me anyway, so there’s no hiding anything now (Mom and Dad, please dig up and burn the Romanian money I have buried behind the bougainvillea in the garden).

Note, if you’re connecting through Japan I don’t believe this extra security measure applies.

Budget Travel’s 39 affordable hotel chains

by Catherine Bodry on

Budget Travel has laid out 39 hotel chains to check out when planning your next trip. And before you start naming the most familiar — Motel 6, Days Inn, or Best Western, for example — note that these are international chains. The comprehensive list covers cheap digs in Europe, Africa, Asia and pretty much everywhere else. Nearly all are under $200 per night, and most are under $100.

Sweet spots include Ginger Bangalore, with eight locations in India. For $45 you get a well-equipped gym and flat-screen TV. Another find is Thailand’s Amari Hotels and Resorts — $62 per night for a place that calls itself a “Beach Resort and Spa.” Naturally, the more expensive rooms are in more expensive areas, like Europe, but the article names one hotel in Helsinki at $45 per night. That’s about what I’ve paid for a bunk bed in a crowded dorm before.

Curious about what else is available? Read the complete list here.