Two Chinese New Year Performances

by Jamie Rhein on

This weekend is still a big one for Chinese New Year since this is a 15-day holiday that ends with the Lantern Festival. It’s now going into its second week. In case you can’t get to a celebration this year, here are two performances that I’m sending to you. The first is of last year’s Chinese New Year festivities in Singapore. This one was in Chinatown. (Yes, Singapore does have a Chinatown.) Having been to a Chinese New Year festival in Taiwan, Singapore and Columbus, Ohio myself, I can say each have a similar look and sound, so turn up the volume and enjoy a real deal experience. At the end is a brief look at dining out after the show. Made me hungry. Thanks jinaye for the post.

Also, because the Lion Dance is not included in this particular video that presents snippets of various performances, here is a link to a Lion Dance performed by Ling Nam Siu Lum Kung Fu Academy last Chinese New Year and posted on You Tube by siulumkuen. Click on the more section for a detailed explanation about the performers and the Lion Dance.

Strange Statues

by Erik Olsen on

There is a statue in Central Park from Alice and Wonderland that is delightfully odd. It features the well-known assortment of characters from the Lewis Carroll book, but the face on the Mad Hatter is, well, mad. I sometimes walk by a find myself looking into his bronze eyes and a creepy feeling crawls up my spine. But the Mad Hatter statue is nothing compared to the pictures that this site features of delightfully odd pictures of statues from around the world. The page just goes on and on and on, but I can pretty much guarantee you will keep on scrolling because each page down offers new silliness. The one I posted here is one of my favorites.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of February 18

by Adrienne Wilson on

As another work week comes to a close on this Friday evening, let us all let out a sigh of relief and “TGFG” or Thank God for Gadling or for the non-religious Thank Goodness for Gadling. Whatever – just kick back and check out some of this week’s posts to get the travel idea engine going.

5. Should You Pay For Airport Electricity?:
For frequent travelers always plugged into an airport socket this might be something to think about. Would you be willing to pay to be connected during your layover or would you rather let you battery die and wait until you make it home? Doesn’t sound like it is a trend spreading fast, but you never know?

4. The Year of the Pig is Here:
We love holidays! (Especially ones that give us a reason to run off and explore foreign culture.) Chinese New Year is here and this year is the year of the Pig. You don’t have to go running off to China to get in on the action or even learn a little about this unique calendar system, Jaime does a fine job listing several destinations to find out more about the Pig.

3. Come Back Alive: Pelton’s Website:
I’m not too certain “Come Back Alive” is a travel slogan many folks would feel comfortable with, but for the individual who likes to flirt with risk, chance, danger or possibly be taken hostage and held for ransom – this is a site for you. Go see dangerous places and come back alive with helpful tips from Pelton.

2. How to Travel America:
Curious to find how to make your next journey across America safe and enjoyable? Check out this online guide which focuses less on roadside attractions and more on issues like tipping and what American’s attitudes are like towards foreigners. It’s a guide full of the practical stuff.

1. Top Party Beaches for Spring Break:
Spring breaking doesn’t cross my mind anymore, but for some tender and young college student Spring Break trip planning is all the rage right now. If you’re planning on escaping the books and heading to the beach here is a list of a few greats to visit on your week long stint to erase everything you learned with beer, sand and sun.

In a Bag Cities: Toy Blocks for Travelers or the Kid Inside

by Jamie Rhein on

At my dad’s house is a bag of wooden blocks. They are vintage Playskol-a present given to my brother way back when but still fun to haul out just the same. I use my son as an excuse. The Japanese company MUJI makes blocks in a bag that are so adult friendly a kid isn’t needed for a reason to play.

Taking the term, “city blocks” to a new level, MUJI’s wooden blocks cross generations by representing the world’s most famous cities. You can own New York, Paris, Tokyo or London-or buy them all to mix it up. The Eiffel Tower joins Big Ben perhaps? The Empire State Building next to Senso Ji?

If you’re looking for a present for the world traveler in your life, these might be it. Or use them as a creative way to drop a “Let’s go there” hint. Or when you’re sitting at your desk wishing your were heading somewhere exciting you can build your destination and pretend. If you live in a city and wonder how suburbia might feel, you can build that too. Suburbia comes with trees.

You can buy In a Bag, New York at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in Manhattan. All of them can be ordered on-line from the MUJI website.

Travel the World with Oscar

by Willy Volk on

In years past, local tourist boards saw generous spikes in traffic after popular movies featured the locations they tout. For example, both Alberta and Wyoming enjoyed gobs of slack-jawed, cash-carrying visitors last year after Brokeback Mountain won all those accolades. If you want to travel to the locations in which this year’s Best Picture-nominated films were set, here’s where you’d have to go.

The nominees for best picture are:

  • Babel — To visit the locations in this whirling dervish of a film, you’d better make sure your passport is current. After all, you’ll be heading to Morocco, Japan, and Mexico.
  • The Departed — Set in Boston, lucky movie-set-hunters may also get to see where Good Will Hunting was filmed.
  • Letters From Iwo Jima — Next month, Military Historical Tours will visit Iwo Jima on the 62nd anniversary of the historic Battle.
  • Little Miss Sunshine — Road trip!!! Follow the dysfunctional Hoover family’s path along Route 66. Just be certain to have a more dependable vehicle.
  • The Queen — Filmed in Scotland, the movie mainly uses stand-ins for the locations on film, but persistent travelers can book cottages at Balmoral Castle.

Personally, I’d like to visit Uganda, but The Last King of Scotland didn’t get a nod for Best Picture. Nevertheless, the 79th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. You can book your travel any time you like.