It’s been a while since we blogged about Russell Johnson and his wonderful site, the Connected Traveler. So we thought we’d pay him a visit to see what he’s up to. Well, he’s up to a great deal, and rather than try and cover it all, let me point you to one story I particularly enjoyed. In this audio story, narrated and written by Mr. Johnson, he discusses the Kecak dance, better known as the Balinese Monkey Dance. For those of you who have seen the film Baraka (one of my favorites), you know this dance well. The men sit in a circle and get themselves into a trance, yelling in synche and moving hands like, well, more like birds than monkeys. In Baraka, I am not sure what the men were after, but according to Johnson, in this story they are asking the gods for a return to the days of high tourism. As folks who follow the news know, the Bali attacks of a few years ago dealt a horrible blow to the regions tourism industry. I hope the Kecak dance helps.
GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of October 15
Last day of the work week has arrived and I’m ready to hit the town, but the week would not be complete without Gadling’s Take Five. So, I offer you these tasty little finds you may have missed and then I’m hitting the road. Have fun!
5. Antarctica: The Land Waaay Down Under:
I envy Erik, I envy Carolyn Swindel and anyone else who’s been to Antarctica and for good cause. (Always for good cause.) In this blurb, Erik touches on his travels to the land waaay down under and points us to Ms. Swindel’s details on the incredible icebergs and nature to be found in Antarctica. Read it and you’ll be just a tad envious too.
4. No Fly List Exposed:
Mmm… Having once worked in an environment that dealt both with a list similar to that of the No Fly list and the general public I understand the frustrations among innocent Americans. Not that it is too surprising, but in this piece I point out the 60 Minutes episode that calls out the many, many, glitches in the system. It is pretty upsetting even if your name isn’t Robert Johnson or John Thomas.
3. Milk Bombs on Planes:
If your a traveling breast-feeding mum you may have come across some recent challenges with airport security, but if there is a will there is a way. When Iva puts her feelers out there we soon discover ways to get that non-toxic breast-milk on board thanks to some clever readers. Check it out.
2. Parks in Winter:
Winter is more than a month away still, but the temperature is still dropping and making some national parks less desirable to visit. Erik turns the beat around so that all parks don’t get left out in the cold and names about seven worth parading through during the winter.
1. Removing the “Ugh” from Ugly Americans:
Why don’t we just remove the “Ugh” from all nasty travelers? Wouldn’t that be great?!? Until then we should ALL take a look at this piece helping to rid the world of the culturally Ugly American. And I really do insist on ALL nationalities reading this piece. I’ve met some so-so travelers from distant places before and thought they were pretty ugly if not nastier.
Friday Funny: Indiana Jones Denied Tenure
Going once again to McSweeneys for our Friday Funny, this tie with a decisively travel twist. In a lovely send up of a university peer review by colleagues and administrators at Marshall College, presumably where Indiana Jones teaches in the film, although I recall it being the University of Chicago, but I guess I’m wrong. Oh well. It’s a riot and takes Assistant Professor Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. to task for, among other things, “unabashed grave-robbing”.
Further, Dr. Jones gets chastised by the tenure board for committing a “plethora” of international crimes including: bringing unregistered weapons into and out of the country; property damage; desecration of national and historical landmarks; impersonating officials; arson; grand theft (automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, and watercraft in just a one week span last year); excavating without a permit; countless antiquities violations; public endangerment; voluntary and involuntary manslaughter; and, allegedly, murder.
This reminds me quite a bit of the equally hilarious (or perhaps more so) faux DVD commentaries, which I remember sending out to friends many moons ago. As I say, lovely stuff.
Vidlit: Bill Bryson
Fans of Bill Bryson have a treat in store for them. Sure, maybe you’ve already bought his newest book, a personal memoir entitled The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. But over at one of my favorite Flash-based entertainment book sites, Vidlit, they’ve got a very satisfying little animated blurb online that will help ease you nicely into the weekend.
Narrated by the master travel-writer/humorist himself, the fun, four-plus minute cartoon here will tell you everything you need to know about the word chaise longue…or maybe it won’t. But it’s still entertaining anyway. I just know that Adrienne would love to do all her Words For the Travel Wise this way. And hey, is that lil Bill himself in the photo? How adorable.
Gadling Podcast: Travelistic
The online video space right now is hotter than Georgia asphalt…hotter in fact than a griddle sitting on a bonfire burning on the surface of the sun. YouTube cashed in to the tune of $1.5 billion when Google scooped them up recently, making several lucky individuals quite rich, and leaving the rest of us wondering whether GoogleTV will come to dominate the online video space. I, for one, hope not. And given the nature of the Web, I doubt it. New players are constantly emerging, finding satisfying niches to fill and offering legions of camera-toting Spielbergs the opportunity to become stars…even if just to a few friends and family members.
One genre that seems ripe for new players and opportunities is travel. You and I both know that if you were heading to, say, Cambodia, in a month or two, you’d love to peruse the various travel vids that others have done. Especially if they were informative (as opposed to people lighting their farts on fire in front of Angkor Wat) you’d get to find out what the best hotels are, and which ones you should avoid. You’d meet all sorts of new people, right from the cozy confines of your cubicle. Video is the new word, as it were, because we all know that a picture can be worth a thousand words.
And it is with real enthusiasm that I announce another Gadling podcast with the leader of a new company called Travelistic who is squaring off to compete in this new travel video space. We blogged about them earlier, and drew their attention, and so their CEO Nicholas Butterworth asked us to come down and have a quick chat. Which we did. The new site officially launches on Monday, but we got a sneak peak and learned a bit more than we knew about online travel video. There’s a lot to learn, including how YOU can possibly become the next “Rocketboom” host of a travel show.
We offer you a chance to hear that conversation, here and now.
(Time – 10:30)