Denmark first in yet another survey of the world’s happiest countries

by Jeffrey White on

Back in April, Catherine posted about Denmark being ranked the world’s happiest country by the University of Leicester in England, which published its so-called Map of World Happiness.

Well, just in case you doubted that institution’s findings, another study, this one released last week by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, has also ranked Danes No. 1 in terms of happiness and life satisfaction.

The Michigan study’s overall conclusion: Happiness is on the rise worldwide.

It’s perhaps no surprise that Denmark tops the list, since it is a perennial favorite in any survey of this ilk. There is just something about life in that Scandinavian country that is apparently better than anywhere else. But a few other countries in the top 10 do surprise…at least me: Puerto Rico. Colombia. Northern Ireland.

The 10 happiest countries in the world:

  1. Denmark
  2. Puerto Rico
  3. Colombia
  4. Iceland
  5. N. Ireland
  6. Ireland
  7. Switzerland
  8. Netherlands
  9. Canada
  10. Austria

The U.S. comes in 16th on the list, not too shabby given the sad recent years we’ve lived through.

This is the 26th edition of the U of M study, which annually surveys around 350,000 people worldwide, asking them, well, just how happy they feel.

The 10 unhappiest countries in the world:

  1. Zimbabwe
  2. Armenia
  3. Moldova
  4. Belarus
  5. Ukraine
  6. Albania
  7. Iraq
  8. Bulgaria
  9. Georgia
  10. Russia

Not many surprises there.

Check out the complete U of M rankings here.

Gadling TAKE FIVE– June 28 – July 4

by Jamie Rhein on

In the traveler’s world it’s been a bit of drama this week. Plus, there have been lessons in traveling with a wider perspective and an open heart.

On the drama end:

  • Iva reported on passengers in China refusing to get off a plane because the flight was canceled.
  • In his Letter from Albania series, Jeff presented an intimate look at blood feuds through the experiences of people he has talked with in his travels there.
  • From Anna we heard about the drunken Swede who tried to row back home from Denmark
  • Grant told us about British Airways passengers who thought the smell of curry meant there were terrorists

On the wider perspective and open heart end:

  • Read Part 3 of Jerry’s “Talking Travel with Patricia Schultz,” the author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die. As she says at the end of the interview, “Life is short–get off the couch.”
  • And, after you’re off the couch, pick up a copy of Sacred Places of Goddess,108 Destinations by Karen Tate who specializes in openness.

Drunken Swede tries to row back home from Denmark

by Anna Brones on

Partying while traveling certainly has its perks; for starters you get to meet new people and test out the local drink of choice. Often drunken escapades turn into great stories — “this one time at a bar in [insert country] I…” — but sometimes things get a little too out of hand. That’s what happened to a 78 year old man who was preparing to board a ferry at Helsingør, Denmark to cross the straight back home to Swede. When the man opened his wallet he realized that he had spent all of his money at the bar, and could therefore not pay for the ferry ride.

Wanting to get home, the man stole a rowboat and headed in the direction of Sweden. Tired and slightly inebriated, the man passed out in the hopes that the currents would get him across the 4 kilometer straight. Eventually he was found by the Danish Coastguard. When he sobered up he was put on the next ferry home; no news on how he paid for the ticket.

Travel moral of the story: always keep some extra emergency cash stashed away in an inner wallet pocket so that you don’t find yourself in this kind of a situation.

THE WORLD’S DIRTIEST CITIES!


Controversy over Scandinavian ban on sexist advertising

by Anna Brones on

Scandinavia is known for being liberal; universal health care, government funded secondary education and open immigration policies are the first things that come to mind when thinking about Denmark, Norway and Sweden. But when it comes to advertising, the Scandinavian countries are a little more at odds.

Sweden recently decided not to put a ban on sexist advertising, something that is strictly regulated in Denmark and Norway. Sexist content used to sell a product has been banned in Norway since 2003. “Naked people are wonderful, of course, but they have to be relevant to the product. You could have a naked person advertising shower gel or a cream, but not a woman in a bikini draped across a car,” said Sol Olving head of Norway’s Kreativt Forum.

In Sweden however, the government cited concerns that such a ban would conflict with freedom of speech and freedom of the press. “I don’t want to infringe on fundamental human freedoms and rights for a legislation the efficacy of which I question. This is not the way to win the fight for gender equity,” said Gender Equity Minister Nyamko Sabuni.

Basically if you want half-naked photos of Scandinavian hotties, better make your way to Stockholm and not Oslo.

Earth Day Kite Flying: 10 suggestions

by Jamie Rhein on

Every year when the temperature warms and the wind picks up, we buy a cheap kite to fly for a day or two before we get too busy to head to an open field. As an Earth Day Celebration, what could be more environmentally friendly than kite flying? Except, of course, for the gas to get to a place with wind and enough space.

Open fields are among the best places to fly a kite if you live in an urban area. Think the middle of a high school track for one option. Look out for power lines, though. Kites and power lines are not a good combo. If you live near a coast or a large lake, head to the beach. Other places to consider are fields in city parks.

One thing I like about kite flying, once you have a kite, it’s free. It’s also participatory. What a great way to join in with humanity in environmentally friendly fun. Here are suggestions–some based on personal experience, what people have told me, or in this article, “The Ten Best Places Around the World to Go Fly a Kite”:

1. Central Park in New York City. There is an Earth Day Celebration on April 20, this Sunday, at Rumsey Playfield. Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder are on the line up of entertainment. The park is also on the Holden Caufield tour of New York City.

2. Fano Island, Denmark. With Denmark being the happiest country in the world, flying a kite can only make some one happier than happiest. The family I lived with, when I was a student in undergraduate school, took me here as part of a weekend trip. It was gorgeous.

3. Great Wall of China, China. With China as the country credited for the invention of kites, the Great Wall is an interesting option for kite flying. Here’s an account of one family who found this to be the case. When I went to the Great Wall, it had just snowed. Then it was a place for building snowmen and sliding down the steps on ones bottom.

4. Jaipur, India. Even though the kite festival happened in January, this is a wonderful city to spend some time. A place to launch a kite is from the top of a roof. It’s not uncommon for hotels to have a roof-top terrace restaurant. I never tried it, but I bet roof-top kite flying would be a conversation starter. India is one of those places where everything and nothing is out of the ordinary.

5. Long Beach, Washington. I posted a video taken at the Washington International Kite Flying Festival. It’s not until August, but kite-flying is good anytime.

6. Mission Bay Park and Mission Beach, San Diego, California. When I was walking the boardwalk at Mission Beach last month, the kite fliers were braving chilly weather to send their massive kites sailing. By now, I bet the temperature is perfect.

7. Nan-Liao, Taiwan. This harbor town, a bus ride from Hsinchu, where I used to live, is a popular weekend spot for kite flying. We did fly kites here and ate squid-on-a-stick that we bought at the nearby market. Andrew Zimmern gushed about this popular street food on the last Bizarre Foods episode on China.

8. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. One of my cousins and his son bought a kite to fly here. When they stopped some place for lunch, they tied the kite to a bike rack so it would stay airborne. They left it behind so someone else could have it. While they shopped they could see it dipping and weaving.

9. Venice Beach, Venice, California. Also a great place to see kite-flying or fly one yourself in the midst of the cacophony of humanity. Check out the drum circle Neil wrote about when you are there.

And a place I haven’t been, but it was recommended in a comment on the 10 great kite-flying places article.

10. El Morro National Park in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. There is a kite flying festival here in March, although, the commenter said it has great kite flying conditions most of the year. As a bonus, this is also a World Heritage Site.