Shocking News – Americans Don’t Vacation Enough

by Adrienne Wilson on

Okay – it’s not shocking at all, but I needed something to get your attention here. At this point all the world knows Americans take the least amount of vacation time. It’s sad – so sad, man. It makes me want to sing the “My Fellow Americans Don’t Take Enough Time Off” blues. Would things be any different if we were REQUIRED to have time off? (Notice the all-caps on the word REQUIRED.) I wonder… AOL has a neat little slideshow with vivid eye-popping pictures to help capture the imagination of travel-deprived individuals while noting the country pictured and the minimum amount of paid vacation time required in each. China requires people take 15, Italy (20), Australia (20), Germany (24), Sweden (25) and America (0). Depressed yet? If you’re still in the mood after checking out their slideshow read this piece from ABC News on the Death of the American Vacation.

My suggestion: Just quit your job and move to the Maldives where you can vacation all year if you like. Take the basics and live in a cozy 1-2 man beach hut or something. Don’t like that one? Then create your own man. You’re the one not getting enough vacation – not me.

(Picture taken from my trip to Trinidad & Tobago earlier this year.)

Genghis Khan Time in Mongolia

by Adrienne Wilson on

Just a few days ago I featured a bit of Mongolia lingo for the first time and wouldn’t you know the ole’ NY Times posted a thing or two on Mongolia this weekend as well! If I didn’t know any better I’d say they were spying on me, but I doubt that. For starters I gave readers the opportunity to learn the word horse in Mongolian. This New York Times articles tells readers what it’s like to ride a horse in Mongolia. Not only that – Edward Wong does us the favor of describing what made Mongol horses much better for the calvary men during the times of legendary Genghis Khan. Basically, Mongolian horses are short and stubby. It’s an excellent read if you’ve ever contemplated going to Mongolia and a great time to act on those funny travel urges.

As previously mentioned; 2006 is the 800th anniversary of Genghis Khan, so saddle up and start exploring!

Helsinki Festival

by Erik Olsen on

We’re always eager here to alert you to great events that are happening around the globe. If you’re luckier than we are and happen to be heading to Europe…or perhaps you live there…you might consider the wold-famous Helsinki Festival. The festival actually started a few days ago, but is gong strong and offers opportunities to listen to fabulous music. The Helsinki Festival is a broad-based international arts festival, featuring music, dance, theater, art, cinema, circus performers and more. The focus is somewhat on on Finnish talent but there is a definitive international reach. The festival emerged from the Sibelius Week celebrations of the 50’s and the 60’s, that celebrated the music of Finnish composer Sibelius. Since then, they’ve really expanded though, and this year they will even feature a series of films. Myself, I’d probably find a good pub somewhere and enjoy a little Finnish food.

Blueeyes Magazine

by Erik Olsen on

I urge you to check out the newest issue of a new magazine called Blueeyes that might become your newest bookmarked photo/essay site.

I just stumbled upon it while cruising through Coudal.com, and found it to be lusciously illustrated with photos, in addition to being rather charming and quirky. They say that the issues are kind of defined as they go along, with emerging themes that come together as the magazine is produced.

This issue takes you on a tour of African-American Chicago as well as Romania, and there is a wonderful collection of photographs from freelance photographer Michael Brown. It looks like they take submissions, so any budding shutterbugs out there might send them some samples and see if you can get your work published.

Tourists – Take Photos in Saudi Arabia

by Adrienne Wilson on

Exciting news for the snap-happy tourists that find themselves very down in the dumps when they’re restricted from taking photos in places like museums or of the native people – Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on photography to help increase tourism. I find it odd that a ban on photography would have that much of an impact on tourism to begin with, but I guess the interior ministry thinks it does. Anyhow, permission is still needed to take photos of private property and locals. You should always ask permission when taking a picture of someone in any place and as a word of advice be careful taking pictures of the Saudi women. They’re still pretty sensitive about that sort of thing.

via WorldHum