Word for the Travel Wise (06/04/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

I’ve got Tokyo on my mind and I don’t know why. I take that back. Places like Tokyo always come to mind when I start craving for international travel in big cities with an extravagant amount of lights and sounds I can’t quite comprehend. Like a good number of large metropolises located around the world I won’t be hitting this one up anytime soon, so let’s just proceed with today’s lesson.

Today’s word is a Japanese word used in Japan:

tomodachi – friend

Spoken Japanese comes smoothly for those who either practice or submit themselves to hours of Japanese pop music, but either way one can learn this language in through several avenues. Japanese Online is a VERY good FREE site to start learning. They have audio and a great conversation lessons. The lessons get more in-depth as you become a registered user which is still free of charge. Takese.com has a list of over 2000 words worth checking out. Those on the road already may want to pick up the LP Japanese phrasebook or check into a school for a few weeks of learning. Study Abroad has a list of school located all over the country. If you’re seeking help with written Japanese best of luck to you!

Past Japanese words: hajimemashite, dewa mata

Photo of the Day (6/3/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


When I saw this shot tucked away in the comment box of a buddy of mine on myspace something about it just moved me so. Without htinking further, I decided it should claim a place as photo of the day. Taken in Urayasu, Japan sometime this year by M2C (More to Come) of Lucid Communications the photographer captures a rather appealing piece with both the reflection and the objects behind the glass. The bicycles seem to add this cool new touch and approach to going window shopping. Very, very neat.

Postcards from Tokyo

by Karen Walrond on

While I’ve traveled all over the world, the one area of the globe with which I’m least familiar is Asia.  For this reason, I’ve been dying to visit Japan, and really, I can’t articulate why.  For some reason, Japan intrigues me — in my mind’s eye, Tokyo is the most fashion-forward, technologically-advanced spot on the globe.  Whether I’m right, of course, remains to be experienced.

That said, I love this article in the New York Times written by Carrie Fisher — you know, author of the acclaimed novel Postcards from the Edge, but more well known as Princess Leia from Star Wars? I’m a big fan of Fisher’s writings, and she didn’t disappoint with this article, chronicling her Christmas/New Year’s Eve visit to Tokyo forthe sghts and the shopping.

Definitely worth the read.  And now I definitely have to go.

Word for the Travel Wise (05/14/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Word around town is it’s Mother’s Day and since we here at Gadling love mom’s worldwide I figured I’d provide you with a number of ways to wish your own mum the happiest of days. The New York Public Library online has a list of greetings and expressions for several holidays so use it today and then prepare for Father’s day just around the corner. Here’s a just few from their list:

  • Catalan – Feliç Dia de la Mare
  • Dutch – Gelukkig Moederdag
  • Hebrew – Yom ha’em sameah
  • Italian – Buona festa della Mamma
  • Japanese – Haha nohi omedeto
  • Norwegian – Mors dag
  • Russian –  S dnëm Materi

And again, Happy Mummies day to all the mummies of the world!!!!

Head to Head with the Whalers

by Erik Olsen on

For those of an environmental bent, there are several things that make your heart sad:  1). clubbing baby seals, 2) littering, 3) SUVs filled with toxic waste, and 4) whalers.

And so we have this story in National Geographic not about SUV drivers with toxic waste in the back, but about whalers. Japanese whalers. Did you know whaling was even still practiced? I mean, sure, maybe some Native American groups up North still do it to keep the traditions alive and the skills sharp (skills that might come in handy again some day if global warming happens), but whaling among advanced nations? You’re pulling my porpoise, right?

Well, yes, Veronica, there are whalers. But there are also those who wish to stop them, and that, dear reader, is really what this story is all about. It is a story of adventure, water, greed, culture, and passion. Give it a read and the next time someone asks you to go out on a whale harpooning trip, just say no.