Sri Lanka: Just How Safe is Unsafe?

by Jamie Rhein on

So, Sri Lanka is on the list of the 10 most dangerous destinations to visit, according to Willy Volk’s post. Willy’s not fibbing. I read the article myself before I read his post and sure enough, Sri Lanka is a place to think twice about before you travel there. My advice is to think twice, but not that hard. Things change. Perhaps, it will become a bit safer. Who knows? Perhaps, it already is.

We visited Sri Lanka during a time right after political strife created a bit of havoc-I think someone was blown up somewhere. The northern part of the country was off-limits so people didn’t travel there, but because we were living in Singapore, and had friends who raved about the place, we went to a good part of the rest of Sri Lanka anyway. Once there, we could see why the country had such a fan club.

In nine days, because we hired a private driver so we could have easy mobility, we were able to hit areas as varied as: Polonnaruwa, the ancient city built in the 12th century with its reclining Buddha images; Sigiriya, another ancient city that dates back more than 5,000 years and is also a World Heritage Site (Sri Lanka has 7 in all); Galle, the Dutch port on the coast; Kandy, the city that’s considered the arts center and the city with the Tooth Temple where supposedly one of Buddha’s teeth are kept; the beaches of Hikkaduwa, and the mountainous area of Nuwara Eliya and the tea plantations. There was a lot more in between these two or three day stops like a spice plantation and an elephant orphanage.

If you do go, notice the elephants and coconuts. Sri Lankans still use elephants to do work so it’s not uncommon to see elephants getting a bath in a river or being used to transport goods. The coconut industry is labor intensive and you will see more useful items made from coconuts then you ever thought possible. Since the coastal areas were hard hit by the tsunami, I’m sure places like Galle and Hikkaduwa are still recovering. Still, I would hate to think people are scared off from visiting. This is a country that knows how to ensure travelers have a great time. It’s also a place where tourist dollars make a difference. The official tourist website is a great place to start making your list of things to see.

Silbo Gomero, the Whistling Language of La Gomera

by Willy Volk on

The Canary Islands lie off the southwest coast of Spain. Though Castilian Spanish is the official language of the island chain, some adults on the island of La Gomera still use Silbo Gomero, an ancient language that’s “spoken” through whistles. In fact, Silbo (taken from the Spanish word silbar, “to whistle”) boasts a vocabulary of more than 4000 words that can be heard from miles away, which is useful considering the island’s rugged, hilly terrain. With only four vowels and four consonants, the key to understanding Silbo is understanding the nuances and meanings of the various tones of whistles.

According to Sarah Andrews, Silbo was most likely first used as an emergency signal, but over time, it developed into a full language. Over the years, of course, the language all but disappeared, but recently, it’s made a comeback. In fact, the government is trying to resurrect the whistling language by teaching it in schools.

Want to learn more?

Vietnamese Water Puppet Show

by Jamie Rhein on

If you’re ever in Hanoi don’t miss the Water Puppet Theater-even if you think you are not a puppet kind of person. This show is not just geared for kids, but meant to delight adults as well. Water puppetry started in farming communities when rice paddies were used as the stage. These days, puppeteers stand in water, chest deep, behind a curtain. The puppets are fastened onto poles and boards and are manipulated using the water as part of the scenery. Here’s a video sampling of what you will see. Sometimes the puppet troupe goes on tour. If it comes through your town, don’t miss it. Thanks, English Tim for the You Tube post.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 18

by Adrienne Wilson on

What a week here this week! We had the chance to experience deja-vu or something like it with the announcement of another New Year’s being celebrated. I finally had the chance to sit down and provide you with some of the details from my island adventure in St. Lucia and we found out about more explosive destinations and food than one could ever possibly handle from Iva, but now I turn your attention to these five picks selected to help you on your journey – one way or another.

5. Make Your Own Guidebook:
Neil brings up a fine point on guidebooks – most of the time we don’t need but a handful of information from them, yet we’re stuck paying $25 bucks if not more to help us navigate the land of the unknown. Now there is a way to create your own guidebook for $5 from the folks at DK guides. If you act fast you can make one now and get it for free.

4. Build a $25, 10-Day Survival Kit For Your Car:
Breaking down is the last thing anyone wants to think about on a long road trip across the state or the beautiful land of America, but should it happen you’ll want to be prepared. Learn how to stay alive for at least ten days by building a survival kit.

3. Man Uses Air Sickness Bag as Mini-Urinal:
File this one under: Random. Dave Luna brings interesting and slightly stomach turning news about a gentleman who could no longer hold his bladder in flight and took matters into his own hands and air sickness bag because the lavatory could not be used in flight. You wonder the outcome of such an awkward public display and use of an air sickness bag? You’ll have to read further.

2. 5 Destinations for Learning the Flying Trapeze:
Looking for something new to try on your trips out and about? Tired of the endless number of cooking courses and yoga classes offered at every destination? Why not try your hand at learning the flying trapeze man!

1. World’s 10 Most Magnificent Trees:
Spring is here and who doesn’t want to get out of their home and go hug a tree? In this short blurb we discover 10 of the world’s greatest giants and odd-shaped beauties in nature.

More Persian New Year Fun

by Jamie Rhein on

One thing I like about knowing when New Year is celebrated in other countries is that it gives me an opportunity to extend renewal. Like fellow gadling blogger Adrienne Wilson detailed in her post yesterday on March 20, this is the time of the Persian New Year. On my calendar it’s listed as on March 21 and is called No Ruz as well. So, in case you’ve fallen short of your New Year’s resolutions and Chinese New Year also passed you by before you could kick yourself in gear to resolve to do better, consider this as one more chance. This is spring rejuvenation time where house cleaning and family gatherings coincide with the Spring Equinox. It’s the time to rejuvenate by getting rid of whatever is ailing whether it is a messy house or sickness. With the other Spring Equinox celebrations going on in the world with the purpose of renewal and rebirth, it would be great, wouldn’t it, if all this spring cleaning and rejuvenation translated to world peace?

Given that No Ruz falls smack in the middle of the week, here are two other No Ruz events I came across this coming Saturday in addition to the ones Adrienne’s excellent sleuthing discovered. One is sponsored by the Iranian Cultural Center of New Mexico at the University of New Mexico Ballroom in Albuquerque and the other is in Sunnyvale, California. Both have a real party atmosphere attached and from the sound of it, great food. If you have a large Persian community in your city, my guess is there’s a celebration somewhere and you are welcome. Here’s a history of Persia, thanks to Albuquerque’s Persian community.

My cousin’s wife is Iranian, and I can vouch for the food-and the fun. I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun at a wedding reception. Dancing on the tables hasn’t occurred at any other wedding I’ve been to that I can recall. I think I might call my cousin’s wife and say to her, ” No-Rooz-Pirooz ” Adrienne, thanks for the language tip.