Mondo India

by Adrienne Wilson on

Just wanted to throw out a small music recommendation for people looking to stock their iPods or music libraries with something a bit more eastern and exotic. After listening to a Bollywood radio station online for the last few hours, a couple different tracks from this Mondo India album played and it seems like a good buy. I checked the CD out on Amazon where you can hear song samples and found several good reviews. The album is said to be a celebration of the work of A.R. Rahman (a well-known filmi composer) who blends Western and Indian techniques, instruments and melodies like no other. Caught my ear, but I’m a lover of world music. Go see the reviews and hear a few of the samples for yourself.

The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh

by Erik Olsen on

Some folks here might remember the trip I took to a while back and the series of dispatches I filed from that lovely, wonderful country. Armenia is one of those lesser-known gems in the world, a place you can go to not only see centuries-old historical sites, but also to get s glimpse of modern history as well, since the country was for several decades under communist rule, and there is still a marked, somewhat brutal feel to much of the architecture there. Of course, what may be brutal in some ways is today’s kitsch, and so many of the places in , and in particular, Yerevan, that might have been eyesores at one point, are now quite lovely in their own way. Take, for example, the Cascade complex downtown, a monstrous concrete plaza and series of seemingly unending stairs that speak of Soviet times, but also maintain a rather impressive grandeur.

All this is to bring up a wonderful new guide book that is out that I recommend you consider if you are thinking about a trip to . Soon to be released by Matthew Karanian, Robert Kurkjian and their Stone Gardens Productions, the book: Armenia & Karabagh is one of the best guides you will find on the region (the guide includes not just Armenia, but the disputed territory of Karabagh. I used the earlier version of Stone Garden Guide during my trip and found it immensely useful. The book provides ample history and context for its recommended sites and is both lively and informative about what you should see and do. As I mentioned in some of my dispatches, Armenia is not just a great place to experience history, it is also lovely and very appealing to the adventuresome. There are rivers and mountains and lakes all perfect for hikers, climbers, bikers and paddlers.

Anyway, I recommend you take a look at the guide if this fascinating little country happens to be on your life list of places to visit.

Six Hours in Istanbul

by Adrienne Wilson on

The clock is ticking and I’m still trying to narrow down what to see or do during my layover in Istanbul on Thursday. I’ve been told to visit the hamams or have lunch on a roof top or do both. The blue mosque, Galata Bridge, Taksim, Sultanahmet, Golden Horn and Tower of Galata have also been tossed my way, but I’m more for quality than quantity so seeing ALL the sites in one run isn’t a priority. If there were only one or two YOU personally feel are must-visits while in the city please shoot your ideas and thoughts my way. I’m truly game to anything and if it doesn’t work for me it may work for someone else.

Checking out LP’s worldguide now.

Unusual Hotels of the World

by Erik Olsen on

Travel and Leisure and most of those other big glossy magazines are always going to offer you the well-known, glitzy hotels as recommendations of places to stay on your travels. But what about the lesser-known, off-beat places? Places like the Aurora Ice Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska? Well, over at Unusual Hotels of the World, you can find a wild assortment of bizarre, but certainly entertaining places to rest your weary bones. The site is rather simple, not wonderfully designed, but the list of ideas is extensive and quite fascinating. Want to sleep in a cave? Well, then try the Desert Cave Hotel in Turkey. What about a tree house? Then try Kadirs Tree House Hotel in Turkey.

Good recs, all for the adventuresome person looking for something different. The site offers not just a list of these places, but also rates and booking opportunities.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of August 20

by Adrienne Wilson on

Last Friday of the month folks and it’s time for a little review. Strap on your seatbelts and get ready for a take five ride.

5. Travel Trivia:
Nothing beats testing your travel knowledge. I’ve always been pretty confident in my geography skills, landmark knowledge and some historical facts, but pretty confident doesn’t always get you a 100%. Ugh! Time to hit the books or do you think you know enough to score perfect marks on this MSNBC travel quiz. Find out.

4. Red Corner: Vodka Hangover Cure:
Funny piece pointed out by Neil on the joys of toasting to new Russian friends and journeys abroad with Vodka. For the Russians the beverage is like water, but how does a foreigner peer-pressured into drinking to friendship handle a vodka hangover? From the pre-drinking stage to the actual event and next morning here is your guide to some effective cures!

3. Inside Africa Vol. 1 & 2:
TASCHEN has some new books out and these Inside Africa volumes are very much worth your attention if you’re into dwellings and living around the continent.

2. One Hundred Very Angry U.S. Cities:
Shocking piece from Men’s Health on the top 100 angry places around our United States. Florida cities rank very high on the charts, but what about your state or city?

1. Farecast Launches:
Probably one of the biggest travel buzzworthy pieces comes from Erik and his plug on Farecast. What started off as a two city travel search and airfare prediction / watch engine has expanded to 55 cities. Can’t wait to see if it’s worth all the buzz