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.

Earth Hour on March 28

by Brenda Yun on

Get ready to celebrate Earth Hour 2009 next week on March 28. Wherever you are in the world, you are encouraged to participate in this effort to raise awareness of climate change by turning off your lights for an hour at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Earth Hour has been encouraged by the United Nations (as seen here in the video), and is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, an organization that continues to seek solutions to solve our planet’s critical environmental challenges. Looking over Abha’s report on the same event last year, Earth Hour has grown substantially in just a year. According to the Earth Hour website,”1,760 cities, towns and municipalities in 80 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.”

I just heard the song “We are the World” on the radio, so I’m feeling pretty inspired, aren’t you?

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.

Ten Great Unknown Treks

by Kraig Becker on

Every adventure traveler knows about the Inca Trail or the Annapurna Circuit. They’re amongst the best known hikes in the world, and the amount of traffic on those trails reflects that. While they both offer amazing scenery and a great travel experience, that experience can be tempered by the crowds.

Thankfully, Backpacker is here to offer us ten great unknown treks, a list of outstanding long distance hikes that are, for now, relatively unknown and off the radar for most travelers. Backpacker thinks they’re all destined to eventually become classics in their own right, and I would argue that some of them already are, so they recommend that we get there before everyone else does.

The treks stretch from Europe to New Zealand, with a number of stops in between. They also range from a few days in length to several weeks, with accommodations running the gamut from backpacking tents to comfortable inns. For instance, they Pyrenees Traverse in France is 500 miles in length, with the trail winding through quaint mountain villages. At night, hikers stay in rustic huts that offer great food and ample access to local wines.
Looking for something a bit more adventurous? Then check out the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia. This eight day trek covers roughly 83 miles and is an interesting mix of culture, wildlife, and scenery. The trail crosses through gorges and rock canyons, and up 14,000 foot peaks, with active volcano vents dotting the landscape. Along the way you’ll pass through remote Ethiopian villages, while wild baboons wander the surrounding countryside and unique birds soar over head.

Each of the treks on the list is accompanied with great information for planning your own hike, including suggestions for a guidebook and map. You’ll also find other tips such as the best time of the year to visit and what essential gear you should take with you. Backpacker even goes so far as to recommend a top guide service to hire for each of the treks as well.

So, if you’ve already hiked most of the great trails of the world, or you’re simply looking for a trek that offers up a unique experience while still providing plenty of solitude, then this is the list for you. You’ll find outdoor adventures from around the globe, and some great ideas for your next trek that you may not have thought of before. Just make sure you get there before everyone else does.

Teens capture amazing shots from 20 miles above the Earth

by Karen Walrond on

(Via Daddy in a Strange Land and Gizmodo) : Four teenagers in Spain have gone where no Spanish-teenagers-with-a-camera-operated-weather-balloon have gone before — they’ve taken astonishing photos from 20 miles above the Earth’s surface.

The Meteotek team from IES La Bisbal school in Catalonia built electronic components from scratch, harnessed them to a heavy-duty latex balloon, and were able to capture beautiful images from the edge of space.

Said team lead Gerard Marull, 18: “We were overwhelmed at our results, especially the photographs to send our handmade craft to the edge of space is incredible.”

You can see the photographs of their process, as well as their stunning results, here. Well done, boys!

And NASA? You might want to keep an eye on these young men.