Photo of the day (8.5.10)

by Meg Nesterov on

This photo by narinnr from Kagoshima, Japan (the Naples of the East, says Wikipedia) captures a Ferris wheel built atop a shopping center next to the train station. How fun is that? Imagine if you could kill time between trains at Penn Station riding high above New York?! I’m partial to the Gravitron when choosing an amusement ride, although spinning around against centrifugal force is probably not so fun before a long train ride.

Even more interesting are the statues in front of the Ferris wheel, part of the Satuma students’ monument, dedicated to 19 Japanese students smuggled into Britain in 1865 to learn Western technology. Imagine being the first in your country to study abroad and being responsible for the start of the industrial revolution. Kinda makes a semester abroad in Prague drinking as much beer as humanly possible seem a little weak.

Do you have a photo that will inspire many Google and Wikipedia searches? Or maybe an interesting monument or an unusually-located amusement ride in your travels? Upload it to Gadling’s Flickr group and we might use it for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (8.4.10)

by Melanie Nayer on


Every time I see a hot air balloon I want to burst into song. All I can hear is “Up, Up and Away” by Fifth Dimension, and I get a strange urge to don bell bottoms and break out my old tie-dyed t-shirts (yes, I still have them). While this isn’t quite reflective on a 1970s trip, this photo of a hot air balloon festival sure is, well festive.

This photo, taken by Jillian Logee, is titled “Ascending Explosion” and was taken over Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey. Between the colors of the balloons, the undulations of the hills, the contrasting colors of the landscape, we don’t know where to look first. But whatever man, it’s totally groovy…

Have a photo you think is far out? Submit it to our Gadling Flickr Pool and we might just choose to feature it as a Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (8.3.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
Fancy an expedition in the desert of North Africa? Then add Merzouga, Morocco to your list. Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco that is famous for its proximity to one of Morocco’s two massive ergs (large dunes formed by windblown sand) – Erg Chebbi.

This image of two Toureg people was photographed by Flickr user Maïlys just outside of Merzouga. The contrast of color, ideal lighting, and expressions captured all make this a great shot. The Touareg, also known as Imashaghen (“the Free people”) or Kel Tagelmust (“People of the Veil”), have thrived as the primary inhabitants of the Saharan interior for thousands of years.

Have you encountered a lifestyle completely opposite from yours during your travels? Have pictures to prove it? Submit them to our Flickr Pool and we’ll consider it as our next Photo of the Day!

Photo of the Day (08.02.10)

by Mike Barish on
Overly touchy couples always bother me. Sure, simple gestures like a kiss on the forehead, holding hands or walking with your arms around each other are acceptable and pretty adorable. But, when the general public has to endure seeing your hand in your girlfriend’s back pocket or some vertical dry humping while standing in the subway, you’ve crossed the line.

I once had to endure the horrible sounds of a couple attempting to eat each other’s faces on a hot air balloon ride. You know where people can go to escape your excessive PDA while in a hot air balloon basket? NOWHERE! It’s a friggin’ hot air balloon! Get your tongues out of each other’s head holes and gawk at the landscape like everyone else, you perverts!

Maybe that’s why I appreciate this sign photographed by Flickr user myeyesareclosed (second day in a row – wow!). Physical contact between couples can escalate quickly. Petting becomes heavy petting. Kisses become French kisses. Grinding becomes bumping and grinding. The last thing any of us need is a couple full on basting the turkey while we’re taking in the scenery.

Seen anyone having sex in public? Don’t add those pictures to the Gadling Flickr group. Instead, add your best travel photos and we might just use one for our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (8.1.10)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

There’s nightlife, and then there’s Thailand nightlife. In addition to its rich cultural legacy, astounding culinary traditions and stunning scenery, the buzzing nightlife of places like Thailand’s islands continues to be a major draw for young (and young at heart) travelers. Flickr user myeyesareclosed does a great job of capturing the essence of a fun night out on the Thai island of Samui. I particularly love the energy of the photo – the blurs of movement and overexposed light suggest exactly the kind of gauzy dream-like state of a night powered by one-too-many cocktails. It’s all punctuated by menacing bolts of lightning in the upper left. Hedonists, beware.

Taken any great photos during your travels? Why not add them to Gadling’s group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.