Homage to Oman

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s a novel destination idea. News Interactive has an interesting
little peice on traveling to Oman, where
medieval and modern mix to create a unique blend of internet cafes and Bedouin camel merchants. Oman is apparently
making a push for tourism out of concern that the oil dollars that have sustained it for years are running out.
Smart move, perhaps. I understand that it is a relatively safe place to travel. There is still no democracy there, but
the Sultan, whose picture hangs “in offices, hotel foyers, even roadside cafes”, is loved and adored by his 2.5 million
subjects.

What to do there? Oman is a mecca for birdwatchers, a major stopover during the spring and autumn migrations between
Africa, Asia and Europe. But also there is diving, dolphin-watching,
caving, trekking, and bicycling. Not a bad way to while away a holiday.

Bitchen Binocs

by Erik Olsen on

Another gift idea brought to you by the good folks at gadling.go-vip.net:

You know those old movies where the guy looks through the binoculars and sees the image through two circles kinda
munched together in the middle? I presume that the digital pictures taken by
these binoculars cum camera do NOT provide
such an image. It takes 1.3 megapixel still pictures with 16 MB of internal memory…not much pixelage to
folks accustomed to the 5-6 MP brave new world.  

But I have to say that the idea of putting a camera in binoculars, especially a digital one like this model from
Bushnell features, is pretty damn cool. There are several brands out there. Our sister site
Engadget also mentioned a pair with a camera, but the
Bushnells are our favorites for their sturdiness and sleek siliver look. I am thinking these things would be a cool
gift for sports fans, bird-watchers and even hunters who might want to download the picture of a stag just after they
blow it away.

Climbing the Seven Summits

by Erik Olsen on

Maybe you’ve heard of this guy, but he deserves some Gadling accolades
anyway.
Britton
Keeshan, a  22-year-old Middlebury College student, earlier this year became the youngest person in history to
complete the Seven Summits by climbing
the tallest peak on seven continents.

The grandson of TV’s Captain Kangaroo, Keeshan summited Everest back on May 24. He was one of 17 climbers, guides
and Sherpas in his expedition to summit. The feat broke the 2-year-old record held by Japan’s Atsushi Yamada, who was
23 when he completed the Seven Summits.

Not many have completed the Seven Summit feat (about 80 at last count), but 33 of them are Americans. Among them is
Dick Bass who was the first ever to do so 1985. Keeshan began his quest for the Seven Summits when he was 15 and on
break from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. He became obsessed with the effort after participating in a NOLS
program.

ipod at Altitude

by Erik Olsen on

You’re planning that epic weekend trip to summit Mt. Shasta, and the final
thing you toss into your pack is the sleek white jewel that has in the last year changed your life. Your ipod. But hold
on there, Tex. Turns out that may not be such a good idea, and you may find that your best new friend actually stops
functioning at altitude.

According to the specs at the Apple site, the ipod’s top
altitude for functioning properly is 10,000 feet, and while there are
reports that it can go higher, there
are also stories about it’s failure to keep working up
there. So keep this in mind as you plan that next trip. Perhaps those 20 gigs are best left back in the
SUV. 

What expeiences have you had with your ipod?

 

 

Portable Party

by Erik Olsen on

I wasn’t real sure about this one,
but once I got to thinking about it, the idea kind of grew on me. A backback with speakers built right in. Now I can
understand if you’re taking this thing to school or around town and you want to pop in your ipod and crank out the
newest itunes download. Fine. But the company is marketing this thing as “wonderful for travelers” and well, I hate to
be the curmudgeon, but isn’t it the slightest bit lame to cart around two big speakers on your backpack so you can
listen to music?

Yes yes, I know. You’d probably do it. I’d probably do it. It’s just that it seems like such an unnecessary
accoutrement. Not to mention how furious you’d be if you were on some overnight train in Italy and some American punk
is blasting Outkast while you’re trying to catch some Zs. Now that said, I guess this could be a good idea, assuming it
was used with some discretion (man, I am a curmudgeon!).