Which Country Has the Most Couch Potatoes?

by Justin Glow on

The Economist answers what may be the easiest question ever: which country has the most couch potatoes? It’s obvious: the United States.

What’s not obvious, however, is just how much TV Americans watch. It’s unbelievable really. According to the study, people in the United States watch an average of 8 hours and 11 minutes per day. Crazy! But maybe not so crazy considering Americans have what, 18 televisions per household? They’re so cheap, why not? I’ve got two in my bathroom, three in the living room, seven in the kitchen, and a few in the garage for good measure. Just kidding! I don’t have a garage. But seriously … the only country within reach is Turkey, which came in second with 5 hours of television per day.

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Photo of the Day (8/01/07)

by Jamie Rhein on

This photo “watching the world” by benny jewell reminds me of what travel feels like sometimes–still and whirling. Right now I’m traveling out of my element and routine between Seattle, Washington and Philipsburg, Montana. In the midst of visiting friends, I’m searching out places with WiFi, making sure my kids are entertained and taking in new sites. It’s a glorious time, but, like this photo, can make me feel relaxed and dizzy at the same time.

I’m curious about the image right above the person’s feet. Is it a statue? Is the green caused by trees? Turkey is mentioned on the tag list. Where in Turkey is this? This photo was recently posted on July 24 and I wonder what benny jewell is shooting now.

***To have your photo considered for the Gadling Photo of the Day, go over to the Gadling Flickr site and post it.***

One for the Road: Rick Steves Istanbul

by Kelly Amabile on

European travel guru Rick Steves has changed things up a bit for one of his latest books. This new stand-alone guide to Istanbul was not written by him–a first for the super active and involved guide book master. Instead, Rick turned the project over to a pair of trustworthy and knowledgeable Europe Through the Back Door tour guides.

Husband and wife team, Lale Surmen Aran and Tankut Aran are an Istanbul couple that run a “Back Door” style travel agency, SRM Travel, and have led several Rick Steves’ Best of Turkey Tours. As Rick states in an introductory sidebar, “I believe [Lale and Tankut] know their hometown better than any non-Turk ever could. And, after a lifetime of tour guiding, they relate well to Americans and understand their needs and concerns.”

This city guide is a nice slim fit for your backpack or day-bag, loaded with tips on where to dine, sleep and shop in Istanbul. The Turkish travel duo suggest self-guided tours of Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and other sites, as well as walking tours of the Old Town back streets, the historic center, the Golden Horn inlet and the New District.

Where on Earth (Week 13), Pamakkule, Turkey!

by Neil Woodburn on


This snowy landscape is actually a build-up of calcium deposits on a hill overlooking Pamakkule, Turkey. Water that is rich with minerals has been slowly trickling down the hillside for thousands of years, collecting in small pools, and leaving calcified deposits before trickling further down the hill.

I had the good fortune to visit this part of Turkey 15 years ago when the limestone pools were still open for wading and swimming–I’ve been told they have been closed off to swimmers the last few years.

The water wasn’t very deep, just a foot or two at the most, but it was certainly great wading around and staring off into the valley far down below–just as the Romans did hundreds of years ago when they constructed a spa here, taking advantage of the curative waters and the warm springs. In fact, further down the hill is a fabulous set of ruins, part of which lay in a hot spring which I believe is still open for swimming these days.

Turkey really blew me away. This is one of the most underrated countries on our little planet that so very blessed with amazing ruins and fantastic scenery–as you can see from the photo above.

Oh, and congrats go out to Lemonant, the only person to correctly guess Pamakkule, Turkey from Wednesday’s post! Good job!

NPR Reporters Report on Favorite Foreign Restaurants

by Neil Woodburn on

There aren’t too many jobs better in life than being a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). Sure, the pay probably isn’t great, and the hours are probably long, but what can be cooler than filing NPR stories from another country?

NPR has a handful of such reporters across the globe. You know the ones, with the golden voices and inquisitive nature.

Recently, NPR asked their field reporters to report on themselves and file a story about their favorite places to eat, drink, and sleep while pounding their beat in strange lands.

The result is an impressive smorgasbord of mouthwatering local dives from Tuscany, Rio de Janiro, Hanoi, Istanbul, Lhasa, Moscow, Nairobi, and Shanghai. With titles like, Camel’s Milk Ice Cream at the Norfolk Hotel (Nairobi – photo above) and Slurping at Yang’s Fry-Dumpling (Shanghai), how can one resist not digging into what these fine reporters have to say about the cities they cover so very well.

Check it out; food has never been more newsworthy!