Mango Madness

by Karen Walrond on

Ah, the noble mango!  I have to admit that mangoes are absolutely, by far, my most favourite of all favourite fruits ever.  It might be partly nostalgic — the memories of growing up in the tropics, eating mangoes with my friends, juice running down my arms — but it’s also because it is one of the sweetest, most amazing fruits I know.  And mango juice?  Nectar of the gods.

And if you think that perhaps my fixation on mangoes is a bit nuts, check out this article in the New York Times:  it’s mango season in India, and everyone is taken with this succulent fruit.  Why, even President Bush himself has lifted a ban on importing Indian mangoes into the United States, as part of a recent deal struck with allowing for easier access by India to nuclear technology.  “The U.S. is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes,” he said at a recent press conference in reference to the deal…

…aaaaanyway…

…the article is a delightful read, and in addition to describing the mango culture that surrounds this particular season, a very detailed account on how to properly eat a mango is included — and I have to say that the author has it spot on. 

Movie Trips

by Neil Woodburn on

There’s been a lot of press recently about Da Vinci Code tours in England, France and Scotland and we here at Gadling have also jumped on the bandwagon.  Now it’s Travel & Leisure’s turn. 

Jessica Antola’s Travel & Leisure article covers much of the same information many of the other articles have conveyed about what to see and the impact the famous book/movie has had on these locations (tourism to Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh, for example, has increased from 6,000 visitors pre-book to 120,000 annually). 

What makes Antola’s article unique, however, is that she recognizes that such tourism is nothing new.  65,000 people a year still visit the legendary baseball diamond from Field of Dreams, she tells us.  Other movie locations draw even larger crowds, such as Lord of the Rings, Notting Hill, Sideways, Lost in Translation, Harry Potter and Amélie.
 
It’s a love/hate relationship for those who must endure such tourist invasions as a daily part of their lives.  With nearly 100 people a day visiting the small café in which Amélie worked, you can imagine that the regulars who used to enjoy a nice quiet cup of coffee have long since vanished.

One Night Stand: Columbus, Ohio

by Adrienne Wilson on

Perhaps this is something I should just hand over to the folks that handle it best and could refer to the most exciting hot spots the state of Ohio has to offer over at our sister site BloggingOhio, but dear readers I’m out to ask you this evening where or what should and must I do on my one full day of play in Columbus, Ohio? As it stands right now my knowledge on the areas most exciting attractions or knowledge on Ohio as a whole is pea-sized. Right now I sit in a hotel room in Zanesville listening to that awful faint noise the semi-trucks make as they move down the highway and tomorrow you will find me wandering somewhere around on Hwy 800 (I believe) and as I walk Columbus will be on my mind. What to do? What to see? What is the nightlife like? Is there anywhere to go dancing? What will I eat? My walking pals and I are scheduled to arrive in nearby Grove City on Thursday, but we’ll be making the trip to the capital for sure.

If you’re out there Columbus help me out! Here’s your chance to really show your city some love and tell the world what it’s all about. Don’t worry about my tastes as I’m not picky, but to give some area of focus let’s concentrate on food and dancing. All recommendations welcome.

Venice Beach Through the Eyes of an Aussie

by Karen Walrond on

Several years ago, I flew from Houston, where I was living, to Los Angeles, to visit a friend of mine over a long weekend.  It was my first trip to L.A. since I was a child, so I was  excited to get to know her city.

During the weekend, my friend took me to Venice Beach, to see its alternative-lifestyle inhabitants and street performers.  I loved it, but I wasn’t surprised by it.  “It’s like Montrose, but on the beach,” I said, referring to an area in Houston known for its bohemian vibe.  In fact, I suspect most large cities in the United States have their own versions of “Venice Beach” — some districts are probably larger than others, but they exist.

Which is why I read, with some wry amusement, the review of Venice Beach in the Sydney Morning Herald.  The article is quite accurate; however, it was interesting reading about Venice through a non-Californian’s eyes — or the eyes of anyone unfamiliar with the United States.  It made me realize that no matter how objectively I write a travel review, it’s always tinted by Trinidadian-cum-American glasses.

Still, it’s an entertaining read — and made me want to re-visit the Los Angeles area, for all its wackiness. 

Head to Head with the Whalers

by Erik Olsen on

For those of an environmental bent, there are several things that make your heart sad:  1). clubbing baby seals, 2) littering, 3) SUVs filled with toxic waste, and 4) whalers.

And so we have this story in National Geographic not about SUV drivers with toxic waste in the back, but about whalers. Japanese whalers. Did you know whaling was even still practiced? I mean, sure, maybe some Native American groups up North still do it to keep the traditions alive and the skills sharp (skills that might come in handy again some day if global warming happens), but whaling among advanced nations? You’re pulling my porpoise, right?

Well, yes, Veronica, there are whalers. But there are also those who wish to stop them, and that, dear reader, is really what this story is all about. It is a story of adventure, water, greed, culture, and passion. Give it a read and the next time someone asks you to go out on a whale harpooning trip, just say no.