GADLING'S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 21

by Erik Olsen on

Hey ho, lots of great posts this week. It’s Friday
and time to take a quick look back at the best posts of the week here on Gadling. So let’s see, what do we have?

5. Anti-Tourism:  In this post, Neil alerted
us to the concept of anti-touriism, something I think we can all appreciate. Anti-tourists rebel against guided tours,
souvenir knick-knacks and anything else the smacks of consumerist travel. Music to our ears.

4. Red Corner: Hip Berlin: Then not soon before the
Ecuador piece, Neil talks a bit about hip Berlin. Berlin is one of the hotest, hippest cities in Europe right now, and
Neil tells us a bit about why that is so.

3. Family Rescued from Snowbound RV: Then
Adrienne alerted us to the story of a family that was stranded in the middle of nowhere in their RV. Surely one of the
odder stories of the week.

2. Travel Setback: Ecuadorian
Roadblocks: Well, first you have to appreciate the kind of first person reporting we get from Neil’s superb post on
his friend Tom, who is experiencing some travel trouble in Ecuador. Of course, trouble on the road is often what makes
travel such an adventure, and that seems to be the case with Neil’s friend Tom, whose efforts to move on have
been hindered by indigenous protests in the country.

1. Jamie Pierre Hucks Record for God:
Sorry, I don’t often put my own posts first when I’m the one writing the Take Five, but in this case, the
post warrants reading..or at least the story is worth checking out. Jamie Pierre, the extreme huckster…in the
literal sense…in that he “hucks” hiself off cliffs to the amusement of others…pulled off the
biggest huck in the world. Very cool. And crazy

Gadling Spring Cleaning: The African Kanga

by Adrienne Wilson on

Today the great spring cleaning closet
excavation will come to a close, but not without one last hint at what should be replacing yesteryears fashions. Again
I’m no expert in telling one how to dress themselves by the season, but I’m a woman of ideas and I like to make use of
them.

My last idea and recommendation for spring: Zip over to Kenya or search online for a traditional
African Kanga or cloth used to cover-up at the beach, lounge at the house, wall-hanging, or tablecloth. I prefer the
Kenya and beach cover-up combo. You may be thinking the kanga is far too similar to the saree selection mentioned
yesterday, but like their destinations they are quite different. The kanga usually carries a message in Swahili. You
cannot tell from the photo above, but this particular kanga has a Swahili saying that translates into English as this:
"Do not blame others for problems you have created yourself." If you ask me that’s much better than
the "Trust me, I’m a Doctor"  message so overused on tee-shirts. With that being said – should
you happen to have one of those please toss it now.

Here’s where to look:

  • Kanga USA – an online distributor based out of Lebanon, PA with a variety of genuine
    kangas made of 100% cotton
  • Magical Kenya – Official
    tourism site for the country.

Friday Funny: McSweeneys

by Erik Olsen on

Ah, McSweeney’s. Always good for a Friday chuckle. This piece by John Hallman takes a somewhat Python-esque look at the travelogue. Entitled Traveling Europe In Style With Auckland Dingiroo, Dark-Age Tourist And Critic Of Food And Drink, the hilarious satire pokes fun at food critics, travel writers and plague sufferers alike.

My favorite graph (among several):
Whether it be from the wrath of God, fleas, or the stagnant, foul-smelling water emanating from the city’s wells, nearly half the population has disappeared since I visited last. In spite of the smell of death, which has yet to entirely recede from the air, it did not take me long to appreciate what it was that keeps me coming back again and again to this little Frankish gem along the Seine.

Thank god for Friday, and McSweeney’s.

Torekimi Japan Photos and Links

by Adrienne Wilson on

As curious as
you are to know what we here think is cool enough to blog about on travel (or lame enough to question) we’re just as
interested in knowing about what you guys think, where you travel, or just nosy enough  to spend several hours
gawking and envying your totally awesome photoblogs online. (Okay, I speak for myself and not all the contributors
here.) Anywho – It was me who noticed the recent comment of a reader and decided to dash off to their site though it
indicated nothing about travel and man was I ever glad that I did!

This torekimi.com site is a photoblog featuring some incredibly cool shots of Japan that
get my heels clicking and feet antsy as ever to finally make a trip over to Tokyo – if only for a weekend. Temples,
gateways, zoo-trips, elephants, city lights and a variety of everyday shots
of life in Japan can be found here. Just as I was tempted to share one of these spectacular works of art with the rest
of you here I noticed she said she would send some folks from the Staatsanwaltschaft (a word far too foreign and large for me
to fool around with) after me. To divert my attention and tempting hands from doing such things she’s listed some
equally exciting links on Japan like this Quirky Japan website. They’ve got
some pretty nifty photos online as well and since there was
no threatening message attached I opted to display one of them here. It is a picture of an old fashioned brothel in an
area called Tennoji.

In summary – two fantastic Japan sites to most definitely check out.

Blog Alert: The Pan Collective

by Adrienne Wilson on

Since the return of my trip I’ve been
rather hush-hush on speaking anymore about Trinidad & Tobago. Mostly because I figured someone would scream or send
a dart to my back if they heard one more story or trip tip about this spectacular island in the Eastern Caribbean, but
my silence stops here. (Kick, shout, scream and do whatever.) For those who can never get enough of island things I
point your attention to a brand new blog in town called The Pan
Collective. Don’t be fooled – the site may have a good number of talented bloggers straight out of TnT, but lookout
for blurbs on Aruba and Jamaica as well.

Overall it’s a place where you’ll find info on art, culture, food,
family life, and unique perspectives about the region. (Check out this entry on the Phagwah festivities.) Be sure to bookmark this one and continue to
visit as they grow.

via Chookooloonks