GADLING TAKE FIVE: Week of October 13-19

by Jamie Rhein on

If you missed that big things happened at Gadling this week, then all I have to say is, “Where have you been?” Gadling has a brand new look and we’re enjoying it. It’s kind of like a shiny new toy. Wow! What does this drop down menu do on the left? The information we used to have is all here, it’s just relocated and gussied up. Also, perhaps you’ve noticed the slight name change. Instead of the heading “Gadling: The traveler’s blog,” we’re “Gadling: go there.”

Here our some of the offerings we’ve dished up this week that hopefully will help you go there where ever that may be. Hey, and if you’re not going off on some huge whirlwind mega trip, that’s fine by us. Sometimes, it’s the close to home treasures that are worth writing home about.

Abha Malpani, who just joined our Gadling forces this week, has some ideas for the best places to hook up with someone if you are so inclined, while Catherine’s got you covered when it comes to avoiding tourist traps. Grant knows just where you can get your hands on some of the best street food in Europe, and if you have a sweet tooth craving, check out Martha’s top places in the U.S. for a sugar fix ideas. To help you gather a bunch of facts that might come in handy at a party, or on a bus, or on an airplane –or just to amuse yourself in the privacy of your own bathroom, pick up a copy of Take Me to Your Leader. Kelly’s always dishing up good finds with her One for the Road Series.

Okay, that’s five and I still haven’t mentioned Matthew’s wealth of Japan know-how this week. Lastly, don’t miss Neil’s post “Visiting an American embassy, Simpson’s style.” Perhaps, you can relate.

One for the Road: Rum & Reggae’s Puerto Rico

by Kelly Amabile on

I’d never heard of Rum and Reggae guidebooks until just recently, and have yet to get my hands on a copy to review, but since we always try and bring you a wide variety of travel titles here at Gadling, I didn’t want to delay on this one. Those of you planning a trip to Puerto Rico may most appreciate this news, since Rum & Reggae’s latest guide to the island was published earlier this year. It contains all the essential information you’ll need for planning a trip to Puerto Rico, including tips for San Juan, El Yunque and the nearby islands of Culebra and Vieques.

Rum & Reggae books cover locations in the Caribbean, a few in Central and South America (Brazil and Costa Rica) and Hawaii. They are all written by travel writer Jonathan Runge. If you’ve ever used one of these guides before, let us know in the comments if you found these books to be helpful during your island hopping travels.

One for the Road: Take me to Your Leader

by Kelly Amabile on

You can’t miss this book. Literally — I’ve seen it everywhere recently. Any Barnes and Noble I’ve passed this week has dozens of copies of this bright yellow oddball guide standing upright, luring readers in. “Buy me! And Take Me To Your Leader“, it screams. If you crave bizarre stories and weird facts, than you might get hooked into buying this irreverent look at Planet Earth.

So what useless world facts will you find in this quirky guide? You’ll learn which drink is the traditional “hooch” in countries like Sri Lanka (Kasippu) and Macedonia (Rakia), and how to say “Cheers” and “I love you” in Arabic, Swahili and Esperanto (and a bunch of other languages). There are also handy drawings of every airplane ever designed, a list of the Seven Wonders of the World (as chosen by the American Society of Civil Engineers) and that all important two-page spread of famous world sausages. (I was surprised to learn that I’ve already sampled six in my lifetime.)

The list of random yet (arguably) useful facts continues…keep your eye out for the yellow cover and see if you get sucked into the void.

World Nomads wants your travel stories

by Kelly Amabile on

The wanderlust travel insurance gurus at World Nomads are making a book — but not without your help! They’ve put a call out for stories from members of their travel community for stories and photos to be included in their 2007 Book of Travel. Anyone can contribute, but you have to create a travel journal on their website first.

While you’re there, check out some other cool ways to get involved with projects sponsored by these guys. World Nomads is much more than a travel insurance company, and they seem to be supporting a boatload of worthwhile endeavors these days. Their Travel Scholarships program will expand to offer four scholarships in 2008, one in each of these areas: Writing, Radio Broadcast, Photography and Documentary. (You must be a registered student to apply.) They’ve also got a nifty job-locator service if you’re traveling in Australia and New Zealand — get job opportunities text-messaged right to your phone! We’ve already told you about their Ambassador program, and they have a foundation called Footprints that is making a mark worldwide. Lots of opportunities to get involved, so choose the one that’s right for you.

Book inscriptions inspire travel, and make great souvenirs

by Kelly Amabile on

I walked into the wrong bookstore in Granada, Spain last February, but I’m so glad I did. I was looking for an English-language bookstore on Calle Gracia called Metro, but instead I wound up at a different shop just a few doors down. Libreria Praga shelves mostly Spanish titles, but has a small section of used English-language books. A spine with Simon Winchester’s name caught my eye, and I was soon the owner of a used copy of The Professor and the Madman. This story about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary seemed like something I’d enjoy (which I did when I read it a few months later) but I bought the book simply because of the fascinating inscription I found written in blue ink on the title page:

August 18, 2003: For darling Maggie on her one hundred and fifty-sixth birthday from him who unabashedly adores her – U. David.

Actually, there is another short word scribbled before “U. David”, probably a first name or initial, but I can’t quite make it out. But what an interesting discovery, huh? Was it an inside joke between old friends? Or did someone really live for as many years as Hong Kong was under British rule? Highly unlikely. There is surely a backstory, and one that most likely will remain untold. But for a book-lovin’ traveler, this is one of the best souvenirs around.

If you’ve come across interesting inscriptions, consider submitting them to The Book Inscription Project, a neat online effort to collect special book messages found by readers worldwide. Two recently posted travel-inspired inscriptions on the site reminded me that I have to submit my Granada discovery. Take a look at these: First, a short note to a voyager about finding his special island, inside a copy of Vonnegut’s Galapagos. Second, a Christmas gift for a nomad — a copy of On the Road, the only book that moves as incessantly as he does.

Books move and messages get carried with them, from one reader to the next. What travel treasures have you found (or left for others) inside the front cover of a book?