Without Baggage: A traveler’s online magazine with brains and heart

by Jamie Rhein on

Sarah, a Gadling reader, recommended to us another traveler’s online publication she recently discovered. I headed to Without Baggage to see what was there. Hank Leukart’s Without Baggage is an online magazine that delves into the world’s interesting places with a sense of purpose. The essays posted every so often evoke emotions and intellectual pursuits that aim to explore the depth and meaning of travel experiences whether one heads to Laos or Alaska.

Leukart’s latest essay, “stalking the solitary leopard” is the last installation of his three part series chronicling his trip through Botswana and South Africa. The series has the flavor of part travelogue and part critique of human existence. Hank’s writes thematically. There is a deeper meaning within the the mix of writing and lush photographs. Woven together are the specifics of place and his impressions of it. South Africa is not only a place to go, but a place to study the effects of years of apartheid. Enjoying an animal safari has to do with the willingness to be open to any experience, no matter if your original purpose is met or not.

One of my favorite essays, “i’m never leaving thailand. ever” starts:

“UM PHANG, Thailand — I’m never leaving Thailand. Ever.

Just testing. I wanted to see what how I would feel if I decided never to leave. I just finished reading Spiritland by Nava Renek, a novel about a young backpacker and her rollercoaster vacation in Thailand. . .”

Leukart continues with a discussion of Renek’s book and his own desires, plus other people’s fantasies of living in Thailand for the rest of their lives. I have had my own. My daughter would also move to Thailand tomorrow if there was a way and she could take her high school buddies with her.

Leukart has been around the world travel writing for some time now with an enviable list of print magazine and newspaper credits that attest to his passion. Like Sarah said, Without Baggage is a place to return to in case Leukart has more of the world he wants to share. In the meantime, there are plenty of essays for a leisurely approach.

Photo of the Day 12/2/07

by Catherine Bodry on


This photo comes from localsurfer. Taken on an early morning in South Africa, the shot captures a dramatic sky bulging with clouds (I sort of expect to see a cartoonish face appear out of the center cloud, puff out its cheeks, and blow those boats around). What’s that saying — “red sky at night, sailors’ delight; red sky in the morning, sailors’ warning?” It does look as though these tiny sailboats might want to take heed, but the rays of light shining down also seem to symbolize good fortune. Or perhaps I’m thinking too much.

If you’d like a Gadling blogger to over-analyze one of your photos, upload them to Gadling’s Flickr pool.

Engine falls off Boeing 737 mid-flight

by Justin Glow on

Stop and think for a moment: what’s the worst thing you could see while looking outside of an airplane window mid-flight? How about seeing the engine fall off the wing? That’s what happened to a Nationwide Airlines Boeing 737 in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday.

“I heard this huge bang.” Passenger Ronel Derman was seated directly over the wing when a man next to her explained the situation. “He said, ‘That’s our engine that’s just fallen off.’ I couldn’t believe it. He had to repeat it to me,” she told the South African Press Association.

100 people were on board, yet no injuries were reported and the plane returned safely to the airport. Donnie Darko was unavailable for comment.

Love planes? Check out the brand spankin’ new Airbus A380, the largest passenger plane in the world:

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South Africa Holds Sex Fair

by Catherine Bodry on

South Africa was once ruled by Puritan Dutch and French settlers. During apartheid, customs officials not only confiscated pornography but occasionally detained people trying to import it. Oh, how things have changed. Now, with one of the most liberal constitutions in the world, the nation held its first-ever sex fair. At “Sexpo SA,” around 40,000 attendees lined up to examine erotic sex toys, learn how to pole dance, and finger some naughty lingerie.

But it wasn’t all fun and games. South Africa has one of the world’s worst AIDS epidemics, with an estimated 12 percent of its 47 million citizens infected. 1,000 people a day die from the virus and another 1,500 per day contract it. A “handful” of health advocacy groups set up stands, including LoveLife Trust, the national HIV prevention program for young people.

Read the full story at Reuters.

Robbers Super Glue Naked Man to Exercise Bike

by Justin Glow on

South Africa can be a dangerous place. According to a survey compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “South Africa was ranked second for assault and murder (by all means) per capita,” while the U.S. Department of State urges foreign visitors “to be vigilant and avoid any large gathering, particularly protests and demonstrations.”

However, things are evolving in the world of South African crime. Gone are the days where you could expect to be restrained and robbed with the classic tools consisting of rope or gaffer’s tape; Criminals in South Africa have a new weapon of choice: super glue.

The Register is reporting on a case where an unnamed man was pulled off the streets and forced to his home, where theives super-glued his naked body to an exercise bike. “They also glued his feet to the pedals and hands to the handlebars. Finally, his lips were sealed with the adhesive.”

Worried about being victim of this new trend in robbery? Just carry around some nail polish remover next time you’re traveling in unsavory places. “Even though Super Glue is incredibly strong, it has one weakness: acetone,” says the Superglue Corp’s guide to proper removal. “Fingernail polish remover with an acetone base has also been successful for removal of cured adhesive from skin.”