Photo of the Day (9/20/07)

by Neil Woodburn on


Dammit!

I’ve been to this exact location and after trying many “cool” angles, the best I could come up with was this.

Ace photographer Pirano, however, has managed to snap the coolest shot of Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial I’ve ever seen. The dark looming pillars, the glimmery shine, the little brick path the runs on forever, and foreboding doom that hangs over this masterpiece really blows my feeble attempt away. Congrats, Pirano, for an excellent photograph.

If you’d like lavish praise heaped upon your photography skills, jump on over to our Gadling Flicker Pool and upload your most worthy efforts.

To Talk Like a Pirate, Go Where the Real Ones Are–Or Not

by Jamie Rhein on

Catherine posted the scoop on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, even translating boardroom talk into pirate lingo–impressive, but for some honest to goodness pirate talk, head to the Straits of Malacca. Pirates still sail the waters here, wrecking havoc by capturing crews, taking over ships, and stealing their goods. The goods might be three million dollars of diesel fuel, for example. Just in case you’re a bit fuzzy about where this is exactly, (I even looked it up to be clear and I used to live in the region), here’s a map. The Sraits of Malacca is the stretch of water between Sumatra in Indonesia and the west coast of Malaysia. Singapore is at one end of it.

Marilyn Terrell, chief researcher for National Geographic Traveler, sent us a link to a National Geographic magazine article that details the history of and the current practice of honest-to-goodness pirates in this part of the world. It’s a fascinating read made more interesting by the account of the writer Peter Gwin who travels to where the pirates are. He interviews various players along the way, starting with one who is in jail. The pirate, like many other pirates, is from Batam, Indonesia. This is where Peter Gwin’s journey takes him, until he eventually learns, first-hand, the ropes of pirate living–part of it involves a karaoke bar.

I’ve been to Batam, Indonesia. At the time, it was a popular quick getaway from Singapore because of it had a decent resort hotel and a golf course. The school where I taught had a three-day retreat here. When I was at the retreat bonding with co-workers, I had no idea pirates were making their thievery plans close to where people recreate. I’ve also been to the west coast of Malaysia near to where pirates roam. Malacca is one of my most favorite towns, one I’d love to go back to and I recommend without reservations. My husband did say that Medan in Sumatra, also close to the straits, is, to paraphrase, “the armpit of hell.” He went there on a school trip with high schoolers. The night before their return flight, all 20 kids, plus the other chaparone got food poisoning. It was a real barf fest. Sorry, but it’s true.

When I read this article about the Straits of Malaysia and pirates, it reminded me about how little one can know about where one lives and travels sometimes. There are so many different realties. My version of Singapore and travel to the places near it, was mostly the clean cut version, although I could go on about some of the seamier details. Most of the time, however, I was busy with my job and with friends during the week. Holidays and weekend travel was a chance to unwind and have a bit of adventure–safe adventure. If I walked by a pirate, I wouldn’t have noticed.

If you have a notion to head through this part of the world, keep your eyes open. If you’re traveling through on the water, stay off of tankers. And if you get stopped by a pirate, refer to Catherine’s post. Maybe talking like one will help.

The photo is a montage created by Tarky7 and posted on Flikr today. The decription talks about Talk Like a Pirate Day and Modern piracy.

Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival: Living the High Life

by Jamie Rhein on

In two weekends when I’m off having my solo, small, spontaneous adventure in Los Angeles, there is another event at the opposite side of the U.S. This one looks like it would make for a perfect, spontaneous trip as well. Newport, Rhode Island was once the playground of the over the top, filthy rich during the Guilded Age. This is when fortunes were being made in steel, coal, railroad expansion, silver–all the stuff that made a few folks gobs and gobs of money– folks that had a real knack for building gorgeous, palace-like domiciles to show off their high culture tastes.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Vanderbilts–(The most famous family member these days is perhaps Anderson Cooper who is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt) The two Vanderbilt mansions in Newport are now part of the Preservation Society of Newport County. The society also operates the nine other Newport Mansions that date from the Colonial Period through the Guilded Age (250 years). The properties, including former Vanderbilt holdings, are open to tours.

At the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival, you can attend the Grand Tasting on the lawn of Marble House, go to a wine gala celebration at Rosecliff and dine at a restaurant that is part of this wine event. Chef Jacques Pepin is part of the occasion and there are a variety of options depending on your time and your budget. By the way, Marble House was built by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt between 1888 and 1892.

Historical Building to be Demolished for View of the Acropolis

by Catherine Bodry on

Against opposition from architects and cultural conservationists, George Voulgarakis has cleared the way for the razing of a once-protected art deco building in Athens, Greece, because the building stands in the way of a direct view of the Acropolis from the new landmark Acropolis Museum. Voulgarakis also added that demolition of the building “would allow the plot to be excavated ‘to reveal antiquities whose existence is considered highly likely.'”

The Culture Minister revoked state protection of Areopagitou 17 and 19 when the rest of the nation was focused on forest fires in the southern part of the country.

The building, standing just 300 meters from the Acropolis, was designed by Greek architect Vassilis Kouremenos, a Paris-trained friend of Pablo Picasso. Ironically, the structure was originally protected by the driving force behind the new museum, the late actress and former Culture Minister Melina Mercouri.

Two adjacent buildings on Dionyssiou Areopagitou Street will not be automatically demolished, as they are both still protected by the Ministry of Public Works. But Voulgarakis’ decision is expected to ease the way for that listing to be revoked too.

Read the whole article here.

Thanks to Mel Kots and John Kots on Flickr for the photo of the “almost ready” Acropolis Museum.

Greetings from Crete: Santorini Is Therapy for the Photographically-Challenged

by Iva Skoch on

Seriously. If you want to boost your picture-taking self-esteem, head over to the Greek island of Santorini. I am convinced it is not possible to shoot a bad photo of this place, which is essentially a rim of a volcano. Even I was able to score a few good ones and I am a really impatient photographer.

The white buildings against the deep blue sea, the shocking cliffs, colorful fishing boats, wrinkled men on donkeys, broken pottery randomly placed on ancient staircases, old women in black gossiping on benches… It is almost as if they staged everything perfectly in place just for your picture-taking pleasure. (Which, they probably do just before the cruise ships dock there each morning.)

As beautiful as the island is, I can’t honestly see spending more than a day or two there. And that’s not just because my new favorite coffee drink–frappe–costs $5-6. Ouch. It’s so damn picturesque, it’s kitschy. There is only so much beauty one take take before longing for the comfort of ugly chaos if you ask me. Still, the fast ferry from Crete today took only about 90 minutes and cost about 30 Euro, which made it a great day trip.