Surf Movie

by Erik Olsen on

When a major storm hits the coast and kicks up monster waves, most of us run for the hills. But for big wave surfers the allure of riding 40 foot monsters is just too hard to pass up. This was the case on January 28, 1998, when a freak weather system slammed into Oahu’s north shore. It was a situation the Coast Guard called a Condition Black, meaning, simply: get out of the water.

But surfers hear that as an invitation, and so what resulted was a program that aired on PBS called “Condition Black” back last year on May 22. An excellent piece that is said to be re-airing sometime soon. Stay tuned.

30 years after Alex Haley’s Roots, Juffureh is still a travel destination

by Jamie Rhein on

It’s been 30 years since Alex Haley’s Roots became a cultural touchstone in the United States. For those of you too young to remember, this book chronicles the life of Haley’s ancestor Kunta Kenteh who was captured in The Gambia and sold into slavery. The book was a blockbuster and the TV miniseries made LaVar Burton a known actor. Nowadays, many know Burton as Lt. Geordi LaForge from the Star Trek TV series and Roots has moved out of the radar of popular culture.

The recent NPR story about the 30th year anniversary got me thinking about Juffureh, the Gambian town where Kunta Kinteh lived. When Roots came out, Juffureh was put on the map as a tourist place to visit. Haley’s distant relatives spoke to those who came to this small village for a look-see in combination with a visit to nearby James Island where Africans were herded onto ships for the grim journey across the Atlantic.

Several years after Roots influenced American consciousness, I headed to The Gambia myself as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I never made it to Juffreh for whatever reason, probably because, on free weekends, I visited volunteers who were posted in other towns. Juffureh, however is still a tourist destination. Gambia Tours and Travel Ltd. offers a day trip to Juffureh where visitors travel up the Gambia River for the tour that looks like something I would really like to take. Haley’s relatives still talk with visitors. It would be interesting to see how the last 30 years have impacted them.

I have been to Goree Island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal which was also a large slave trading port. Goree Island is a stunning contrast to what humans can do-lovely architecture with a Portuguese influence on one hand– and utter cruelty and devastation on the other. What I like about these tours is that they show both.

Gay? Cleveland, Ohio Wants You!

by Willy Volk on

Cleveland, Ohio’s tourism officials are working feverishly to bring gay visitors to the city. Working in conjunction with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is designing a travel guide that spotlights gay-owned or gay-friendly nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The guide should be finished this year. In reality, Cleveland has a sizable, active gay community, so finding businesses to participate should be no problem.

Visitors bureau spokeswoman Samantha Fryberger said the guide might create controversy, especially since the state bans gay marriage. However, Fryberger counters that some people took offense last year when the traditionally Democratic city actively pursued the Republican National Convention. In other words, the city seems to be adopting a “live and let live” approach.

Inteview With Mark Samuels, President/Co-Founder of Basin Street Records

by Willy Volk on

I visited New Orleans during Mardi Gras in the mid-90s. It was awesome, if not a little overwhelming. Since then, I’ve promised myself I’d return. I love the architecture in the city. My head spins at all the wonderful smells wafting from the restaurants. And, of course, I love walking around the street with a beer.

As a music lover, I’d really like to visit the Big Easy during Jazz Fest, an annual event preparing to celebrate its 1037th Anniversary over the weekends of April 27-29 AND May 4-6. With artists like Harry Connick Jr., Rod Stewart, Norah Jones, ZZ Top, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Counting Crows, Allman Brothers Band, Allen Toussaint, George Thorogood, Better Than Ezra, Taj Mahal, Lucinda Williams, Galactic, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many, many more, the event is going to kick major butt! I wonder if I have vacation days left at work…

Over at Blogging New Orleans, Mike Schleifstein recently interviewed Mark Samuels, president and co-founder of Basin Street Records (which has many artists performing at Jazz Fest). Together, Samuels and Schleifstein discuss the record industry; the current state of New Orleans; the beauty and joy of Jazz Fest; the recovery efforts currently underway in the city; and a whole bunch more. If you love music, New Orleans, or politics, this is a podcast you should check out. It’s really well done.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of January 28

by Adrienne Wilson on

Instead of hunting for the quirky posts you may have slipped past I decided to reflect on travel advice and stories to help you during your own jaunts, because that’s what this whole thing is really all about – useful news.

5. Free WiFi for Vista Users:
One can never find enough free Wi-Fi while traveling, but for new Windows Vista users you can count on T-Mobile having your back. Well, at least until April 30th, but you’ll need to check out this plug from Dave to gain more details.

4. US Airways to Stop Serving Alcohol on New Mexico Flights, For Now:
Interesting and bizarre story on a man who guzzled too much on his US Airways flight, drank more after he de-planed and later lost his life as well as taking others. One effect from the whole situation – the airlines has to stop serving alcohol. Huh?

3. Come to America: We’re Not So Bad:
Exciting news if you are a foreigner looking to check out the scenes in America. From this piece it sounds as though America is looking to cut waiting times on visas and start additional welcome programs at major international airports so foreigners will surely know we’re friendly.

2. Tapping into Relief Organizations for Travel Advice:
Here is a super place to help with your travel searches if the area happens to be prone to natural or political disaster. Neil points us to a relief site geared more towards helping relief workers, but can certainly help the curious mind wanting to travel to shaky lands.

1. 8 Ways to Waste Money on the Road:
If I had a nickel for every dollar I wasted on some piece of junk, cheesy souvenir, or mismanagement of my tight shoe-string budget from some of my travels way back when I’d be a millionaire and probably wasting much more money. Check out these 8 ways to waste your money and then check out 8 ways to save money on the road.