It’s been far too long since we last checked
in with our friend Carl Parkes (aka Friskodude), whose writings/ramblings
related to travel never cease to entertain, and whose
photos will impress you beyond measure. He opens today with a rather interesting mini-essay on Brokeback Mountain,
but then gets into more travel-related posts, which more often than not focus on Asia, as he seems to be quite the
Asiaphile. But as I say, always peppered throughout, and easily viewed on his Flickr site, the photos are amazing. We
wish we had both his talent and his time to travel.
Gadling Spring Cleaning: Saree Shopping
One more day and your
spring cleaning chores will have come to an end. Since you will have been one of few to finish the task before the
weekend you’ll get to sit back, relax and finally plan your trip to one of the destinations featured in this short-run
series to claim your valuable new spring attire. (Your closet should be looking pretty empty by now.) All this is
getting ahead of ourselves though. I’m sure the women still have much more work to do than the men so I’m tossing
another item to help re-clutter your closet your way.
Today’s recommendation: Scour the internet for a
beautiful handwork saree and get ready to explore exotic India. The saree is a piece of fabric 5-6 yards in width which
isn’t really a dress but must be draped correctly in order to achieve a fully dressed effect. It is a traditional
garment in India and comes in a multitude of colors and styles. There are quite a few sites online to help one learn
about the history of saree and purchase as well with a few listed below. Start your shopping at Home India who looks to be
tossing in some pretty sweet embroidered mojaris (shoes) with any handwork saree purchase.
Other spots to
look into:
- Gagan.com – Saree
how-to and selection for sale. - Saree
Online – Amazing collection of casual and fancy saree for purchase. - Daily Candy – Part II on their guide to India
this spring. - Incredible India – Everything you need to know
about travel in India. Check out the events page to see wear you might want to sport your saree.
Africa Travel: Somalia
Let’s let out a sigh before we touch quickly on Somalia. There is no tourism site developed for
this East African country bordering the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean because of the constant violence and famine.
Polo’s Bastards, notorious for going places they shouldn’t be even lists Somalia as one of the world’s most dangerous countries to visit
and suggest journalists and backpack toting vagabonds hire an armed guard if wishing to come out the country in one
piece. Pretty crazy considering these guys are the type to go just about anywhere. Lonely Planet tends to play it fairly
safe, but for them to offer not even an inch of anything to possibly think Somalia might be a safe bet means the
situation has got to be bad over there.
Stay up on events going on in the country by visiting Somalia News.
Red Corner: Hip Berlin
Berlin is not only the most historically fascinating city of the 20th century, but it is also one of the hippest of the 21st century.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many young Germans moved to the eastern half of the city to take advantage of cheap rent and plenty of rundown buildings in which to squat. The amazing nightlife and art scene which erupted in the wake of this migration was grungy and fascinating. Although some of it has become refined and even upscale over the course of time, there is simply no ignoring the cult status of Berlin’s hipness.
New York Time’s journalist Guy Trebay journeyed to the German capital recently to check it out himself. His insightful article navigates through the city’s specialty bookstores, art galleries, vintage furniture shops, restaurants, and fashion centers. He spends a pleasant afternoon in the happenin’ Café Einstein, and an unforgettable night at club Week End. In short, he indulged in every manner of western excess the communist government hated ever so much. Isn’t democracy just grand!
Religious Inspiration in New York City
Having lived in New York City for over six years now, I
can say that in religious terms, the city is a rich mish mash of religious cultures and beliefs. From the stone
synagogues in Brooklyn and Manhattan to the city’s midtown cathedrals and uptown mosques, whatever your belief, you can
find a place to worship and meet like-minded folks. But aside from churches, I have never given much thought to what
kind of religious experiences also exist in the city. Turns out there are lots. From the MOBiA, or the Museum of Bible Art on second floor of the American Bible Society to the
Cloisters and afore-mentioned cathedrals, it turns out that the city is actually quite a, if you’ll pardon the mixed
religious metaphor, Mecca for the Christian devout. So if you are of Christian religious bent, you might
find this piece on the Sun Sentinel both informative and inspirational. The writer visits many of the Christian
spots in the city and finds in them a city with a vibrant Christian mood.