TV From Everywhere

by Erik Olsen on

The Web is an amazing place. I know, that’s a rather absurd statement of the obvious, if not a completely useless platitude. But that is exactly what came to mine when I saw this site called Medinalia on a random click-stroll around media sites. I’ve seen similar sites to this before (I can’t remember where, though), but the thing I lie about this one is that it seems to be very well organized and nicely designed. Essentially what Medinalia does is allow you to watch television channels from countries and cities all over the world. They are listed alphabetically from (yes, Neil) Albania to Yugoslavia (what, no Zimbabwe channels available?!), and the various programs can be viewed by not just country, but also by type (i.e. Christian, Adult) and language (anyone out there eager to catch a little Papiamentu TV?)

I imagine one could spent a fair amount of time checking this stuff out. The only problem on my end seemed to be buffering. Maybe my connection today is slow, but it took a good long time to get some of these channels to play, and even then the experience was often frustratingly bad quality. But it is still a rather amazing grouping of lots of visual media from around the world and, well, the Web IS an amazing place.

North Korea Dance Video

by Erik Olsen on


I can’t vouch for the authenticity of this video, but it sure seems like it’s something that would come out of an axis of evil…if by evil we mean tormenting young children through dance. The video here is said to be of some North Korean kids doing the kind of passionate, high-intensity dance steps you’d expect from a rogue nation…or American Idol, for that matter.

In all honesty, I thought it was very cute. Kinda made me feel warm and tingly for the North Koreans…for the kids, anyway. But you just KNOW that Kim Jong Il had a say in the choreography. He’s apparently quite talented, you know. Very artistic.

I mean, look at those suits! So 70’s, so Sid and Marty Croft, in a way…which kind of begs the question :maybe the North Koreans aren’t so far behind us after all.

Word for the Travel Wise (07/22/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Now that I’ve got my invitation letter from the Habitat affiliate in Tajikistan I ready to roll out and hit the country, but not without practicing a little more of the local language. So tonight it’s another Tajik word for the road.

Today’s word is a Tajik word used in Tajikistan:

rahmat / tashakkur – thank you

Tajik is the official language of the country and is closely related to the Persian (Farsi) language spoken in Iran. According to Wiki the most important Tajik-speaking cities of Central Asia are Samarkand and Bukhara which are located in present-day Uzbekistan. In addition to giving interested language learners a taste at some commonly used words and phrases, the Great Game Travel Company has excellent info and short trips for touring the city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Be sure to check out the list of words first. If you’re near the University of Washington look into their Near Eastern Language Programs. Lonely Planet has a pocket-sized phrasebook on Central Asian lingos worth packing along and several other book picks can be found by clicking here.

Past Tajik words: rohi safed, mailesh

Photo of the Day (07/22/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Having spent the last few months of my life walking across the country it is safe to say my feet endured some amount of wear and tear along the way. Not too much ache and pain though. However, looking at this picture captured by Irish Guy from his Round the World Trips at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore makes my feet feel burned and sore. According to Irish Guy this fire-walking ceremony is a major event at this Hindu Festival where devotees honor the goddess Draupadi. After walking across the fiery coals without wincing or displaying any type of pain, they wade through goat’s milk and then stain their feet with yellow tumeric. I’m just glad that wasn’t a requirement for my tour across the U.S. Read more at Irish Guy’s photostream in our Gadling Flickr pool.

From Afghanistan to Tajikistan

by Adrienne Wilson on

A few nights back I was introduced to a gentleman I was told could help me. I was told he was filled with an enormous amount of information about where I am headed and where I should go. He could point out Tajikistan on a map three-times blindfolded. He had been there before. When I met him I felt intimidated at first, questioning the unbelievable amount of knowledge he had on the area. Only five weeks sit between our meeting and the time of my departure to Dushanbe. He came off a little brash, but no matter what I thought of him then, I knew, he knew his stuff. I begged him to tell me everything and told him to promise he’d send more information about Tajikistan, about anything.

I was happy to have made his acquaintance and that I had found someone with even a half-idea of the Central Asian land. Keeping his to his promise, he forwarded this link from a piece he had written for Pology, a favorite online cultural travel magazine of mine. In his story he talks about crossing borders from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and describes the border towns, places, nomads, people, and the distinctive differences between the two. Whether or not Afghanistan or Tajikistan are particularly places of high tourism interest I’m sure anyone would enjoy the piece. Forget the landmines and casual talk about pistols, just read it and soak up the realness of the people, the buildings and the Soviet decay.

Very excellent read…