Viagra ice cream and other crazy flavors

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Do you think you’re exciting because you go off-menu at Cold Stone? That’s nothing! To find the strangest flavors in the world, leave the United States and see what the world has to offer. At the top of the list is a fake Viagra ice cream in Venezuela (maybe the placebo effect will help you get lucky). Taiwan has a smelly durian fruit ice cream – but that doesn’t compare to the raw horseflesh concoction you can pick up in Tokyo (as long as it’s not monkeys, right?).

The world’s biggest ice cream eaters are Australia and the United States, but volume doesn’t equal adventure. Candy and sweets dominate in the United States, something that changes in Europe, where fruits and tea become the bases for more flavors. Saffron is a hot flavor in the Middle East. Chocolate and peanut butter – that fantastic staple – only play together over here. But, I think that’s still better than the salty licorice mixed into ice cream in Scandinavia, which Travel+Leisure writer Katrina Brown Hunt likens to “the faint but horrifying aroma of ammonia.”

Don’t worry – if you need more ideas, Hunt has no shortage of them.

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Experience Aussie culture at Darwin Festival

by Mike Barish on

There’s a lot to love about Australia. It has fantastic surfing, gorgeous natural wonders and neat accents. But if you want a taste of true Aussie culture, you should head up to Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, for Darwin Festival. From August 13-30, Darwin Festival features indigenous dance performances, art exhibitions, concerts, cabaret, comedy and much more. This year’s festival features the Lighthouse, a tent-like open-air venue constructed almost entirely out of festoon lighting.

Darwin Festival features some of the best in world music and is also host to the Indigenous Music Awards on August 21. For travelers looking for an authentic Australian experience that goes beyond photo ops at the Sydney Opera House and zoo visits to see koalas, Darwin Festival is a must.

The Northern Territory is home to Australia’s Outback, numerous indigenous cultures and vast landscapes. If I haven’t enticed you to head to the Darwin Festival yet, let me throw in this tidbit: Many of the events are free.

And if that wasn’t enough, how about this: I’ll be in attendance! Look for me wandering around in my Gadling t-shirt. If you see me, please say hi. Us Gadlingers are very friendly and it can get lonely on the road. But you can’t rock out with me unless you you make your way to Darwin. So, get booking!

British woman completes solo row across Indian Ocean

by Kraig Becker on

Way back in March we wrote about Sarah Outen, the 24-year old British woman who set out from Fremantle, Australia in an attempt to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Shortly after that start, she ran into equipment trouble and had to be towed back to shore, but within days, she was back out on the water, and now, more than four months later, she has finished her quest, reaching Mauritius, off the coast of Africa, late yesterday.

Over the course of the past few months at sea, Sarah has endured all kinds of hardships, including nasty storms, winds that actually pushed her backwards, 30 foot waves, and days of solitude at the oars. In fact, after setting out from Australia, she literally went weeks before seeing another ship.

Sarah had hoped to set a new speed record in her solo crossing by reaching Mauritius in less than 107 days, but the inclement weather worked against her, preventing that achievement. She did become the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean however, and the first woman to do so as well.

Sarah’s Blog has a link to photos of her arrival and promises more updates soon. But for now, she’s enjoying a much deserved rest and some time back on dry land.

Gadling Take FIVE: Week of July 25 – July 31.

by Jamie Rhein on

The end of July is here. This is also the last day of Gadling’s “Hotel Month” and time to vote for the winner of Gadling’s Perfect Road Trip contest. The voting for the contest goes through next week, but why wait?

With vacations in mind, here are posts that offer a mix of where to go, what not to miss and details worth knowing.

  • Luxury train travel is one of the most elegant ways to go across Australia. Kraig gives an overview of “The Ghan,” a wow factor passenger train that on August 4th will have been in service for 80 years.
  • A trip to New York City should include time to see “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.” Sean’s post on the exhibit is a thoughtful glimpse of what makes this a must-see happening. Later, head to the beach. Jeremy has five suggestions for beaches close to Manhattan.
  • Tired of the bar scene where it’s hard to hear a person talk or to relax? Katie offers a solution in her post on speakeasy lounges. Her favorite is The Violet Hour in Chicago.
  • To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Hostelworld is offering a contest. Alison has the scoop on how to win a golden ticket and the great prize it will get you.
  • If you need a reason to buy trip insurance, the statistics from Tom’s post on how airline cancellation fees mean big bucks for the airlines might be it.

Traveling the globe with Nat Geo Student Expeditions

by Kraig Becker on

In the summer of 2008, National Geographic launched a fascinating and inspiring project called Student Expeditions, which aimed to send high school students to a variety of exotic locals around the globe, immersing them in that location through unique, special projects that give them the opportunity to experience the culture and landscapes of the place, while learning something special in the process. The program is now in its second year, and even more students are getting the opportunity to take part in this amazing travel experience.

The students can choose to travel to Australia, Belize, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galápagos, Iceland, India, Mexico’s Yucatan, Peru, Rome and Greece, Spain and Tanzania. Each of the trips is three weeks in length, and along the way, the students, and their trip leaders, are joined by National Geographic experts, who share their insights and unique perspectives on each of the countries. These experts are generally writers, photographers, explorers, and so on, and they typically spend between four to eight days traveling with the high schoolers.

While traveling in their selected country, each of the students adopts an On Assignment Project, which are specially designed to teach them something about the country, while offering an experience that only National Geographic can deliver. The projects focus on photography, filmmaking, wildlife and conservation, and more. The trip leaders and experts work closely with the young travelers to help complete the assignments, and create a lasting travel experience unlike any other.

Many of the studens have been blogging their travels all summer long, and you can read all about the Student Expedtioins experience by clicking here. You’ll find thoughts on trekking glaciers in Iceland, exploring Inca culture in Peru, and visiting the sites of ancient empires in Rome and Greece, amongst many others.

And if there are any students out there that are interested in joining future Student Expeditions, click here to begin the application process.