Photo of the Day (3.21.09)

by Brenda Yun on


I watched “No Country for Old Men” for the first time last week, and I guess it’s still on the brain. Having spent my childhood in Texas, I have some great memories of the expansive countryside. This photo in particular is of Big Bend National Park, which is where my family drove through when I was young. In our cream colored Volvo, would would dip and bend along the road and, when we’d spot the “DIP” signs, we’d cry out in unison, “Dip dip dip dip dip” as if we were on a roller coaster.

Indeed, there is something haunting and inspiring about the Sierra del Carmen of Mexico, the huge mountain range that looms in the distance.

The even more ironic part of my photo selection is that I’ve spent a full week with two very serious birdwatchers and today’s photo comes to us from sngcanary, who is also an avid birdwatcher who hails from San Antonio.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

Tartan Day with Whiskey and Castles

by Tom Johansmeyer on

You probably don’t know this, but Tartan Day is right around the corner. Drumscot Tours is celebrating with a deal in Scotland that’s good for only one day – April 6 – for its “Whiskey, Castles and The Gathering” tour. You’ll spend a little over $2,700, but it goes a long way.

Seven nights in a hotel with a full Scottish breakfast, dinner for the first five evenings and admission to several Castles (including Dunvegan and Armadale) are included, as well as a ferry crossing from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye and a Loch Ness boat trip. You’ll also score admission to the Gathering 2009 and the Highland Games on July 26 and 27.

Unique to this deal is a 10 percent discount and a free Silver Passport (which normally would set you back $130) that’ll get you into the Gathering’s Clan Parade and Pageant.

To take advantage of this, you need to book your trip on April 6. Not for April 6. Not around April 6. Pick up the phone (1.866.441.9936) or tap out an e-mail (info [at] drumscot.com) and use the code “Tartan Day”.

Ten Must See Monuments

by Kraig Becker on

BootsnAll brings us another excellent list, with the intention of adding yet more destinations to our ever expanding “life lists”. This time it’s their selection of ten magnificent monuments, amazing structures from around the globe, that inspire us to travel thousands of miles just so we can take them in ourselves.

Some of the selections on the list are centuries old, such as the Nubian monuments found in southern Egypt or Stonehenge in England. Others are relatively recent in their construction, like the Washington Monument in D.C. or the Brandenburg Gate in Germany. These monuments were built for a variety of reasons, some religious in nature, like the Reclining Buddha in Thailand, others to commemorate a particular person or event, like the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico. Each of the places on the list include a photo and a nice description of why it deserves your consideration as a travel destination.

One thing that I like about this collection is that not everything on it is well known. For instance, the obvious choice for Egypt is the Great Pyramids or the Sphynx, but BootsnAll went with the temples located in Abu Simbal, far to the south, and far less visited by tourists.

For the traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, perhaps this list will give you a few new ideas for future adventures. For those just setting out on their travels, this is a great list to start with.

Gadling Take FIVE — March 14-March 20

by Jamie Rhein on

Happy first day of spring! This week we’re having a book give-a-way. Pico Iyer’s book The Open Road: Global Travels of the 14th Dalai Lama can be yours. All you have to do is leave a comment about a place that captured your attention at the end Iyer’s Talking Travel interview. Two winners will be picked in a random drawing.

Mike just came back from his awesome trip to New Zealand and Australia. He’s promised to give us the highlights of his travels. Here’s his first missive. Then there’s Kent who is racing about Europe with his wife. They’re in the Competitours Race competition, an Amazing Race style contest that is keeping them hopping and us entertained.

Here are five other posts on subjects that range from eats to hikes and worldwide events.

  • Did you know that tomorrow is World Water Day? Brenda’s post gives the scoop about the occasion and a link to events.
  • Karen’s post on the top 20 list of the most bizarre holiday grievances includes something having to do with the size of an elephant.
  • Annie is continuing to taste test jerky. This week she dove into buffalo jerky and presented her take in a flavorful post.
  • Because we have friends who are moving to El Salvador, Tom’s post on green travel in El Salvador caught my eye.
  • This week, one of Kraig’s posts gave the rundown on ten great unknown treks.

World Water Day 2009: Events around the globe on March 22

by Brenda Yun on

How cool is this photo, entitled “water fireworks” by Gadling photo contributor jonrawlinson? If you look at the enlarged photo, the light creates star-shaped, firework-like reflections on the water. Beautiful.

World Water Day was conceived over ten years ago by a United Nations committee as an international day of observance for the critical role water plays in our lives. Whether we live in an urban or rural environment, we cannot live without and must find a way to both conserve and utilize it wisely.

From global events like the “Activism and Water Rights Webinar” to a World Water Day hike in Morro Bay, there are things happening all over the world to raise awareness of water conservation. Check out all of the events happening on or around March 22 HERE, or find your own way to consider how to celebrate, appreciate, and learn about water.

I recently helped a student write a poem about water conservation for a statewide poetry contest held by Hawaii’s Board of Water Supply. The theme this year: “Ola I Ka Wai” (Water Gives Life). It appears efforts are happening within schools all over the globe to educate kids on what can be done to save this precious resource.

If you think of a cool activity to celebrate this special day, you can publicize an event on the offical WWD website HERE.