Daily Pampering: Seven chances to try a new job around the world

Do you feel a bit confined by your gig? Sure, the cash is great, but you are held hostage by it. You can’t throw it all away and chase your low-paying dream. Well, now you have a chance to turn the paycheck that keeps you in the office 14 hours a day into the chance to try something new, even if only briefly. Cox & King is offering several packages designed to give you a once-in-a-lifetime shot at living your dream.

1. The Textile Expert
The “Textiles of India” tour takes you to some of the most famous weaving centers in the country, including Varanasi (known for Benarsi silk wedding sarees), Kanchipuram (zardozi embroidery work on Mysore silks) and Jaipur (handmade block printed cotton fabrics). This experience lasts 22 days and comes at a cost of $12,735 per person (based on double occupancy).

2. Painting Papyrus
With the “Splendors of Egypt” and “Discover Egypt” tours from Cox & King, you can satisfy your jones for Egyptology and learn to paint, draw and write under the tutelage of one of the masters. Participate in the rare and fine art that dates back thousands of years (trips start at $4,075).3. Fine Wine … in Lebanon?
The Phoenicians sold wine to Lebanon more than 4,000 years ago, and it’s believed that the Lebanese brought it to Spain and Italy. The fertile soil of the Bekaa Valley is the secret behind Lebanese wine, and you can get all the details on the “Lebanon & Syria: Empires Past” tour. Spend a day at Chateau Ksara, the oldest running winery in Lebanon, and learn the intricacies of the process of making Lebanese wine. This 15-night tour starts at $6,585.

4. South American Shutterbug
Click like crazy in Argentina on the Cox & King “A Photographic Journey: Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia” tour. You’ll travel with Diego Ortiz Mugica, known as the Ansel Adams of Argentina, and pick up some tips and tricks, against the backdrop of the Argentinean culture. This unique opportunity is only available from November 6 – 13, 2010 and starts at $5,894.

5. Study Primates in the Wild
Startin Kigali, Rwanda on the “Gorillas in the Mist” tour, and you’ll climb into the world of gorillas. After a briefing, you’ll enter Parc National des Volcans, where you’ll enter their habitat and get great views of these massive creatures. The experience lasts four days and starts at $4,195.

6. Jewelry Craftsman
You could make jewelry in your living room … but wouldn’t be more interesting to try it in Mozambique? Go to Ibo Island, and experience classes with traditional silversmiths. You can even bring your old jewelry to melt down and use as a starting point (creating a bridge between old and new) or buy materials from the locals. This trip starts at only $1,585 a person.

7. The Origami Master
Put your fingers to work on an art form that dates back to the seventeenth century. You’ll learn to fold paper into amazing creations and gain an appreciation for the history behind origami on the “Treasures of Japan” tour, which starts at $12,525 per person.

For more Daily Pampering, click here.

Gadlinks for Friday 8.14.09


I hope everyone on the mainland enjoyed the Perseids meteor shower earlier this week! There were plenty of lovely streaks in the sky worthy of a few ooo’s and ahh’s. Here are few recent articles that might elicit similarly inspired reactions.

‘Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Keep busy with 44 travel ideas

If the entire world is too much from which to choose, take a look at The 44 Places to Go in 2009 suggested by the New York Times. Some are obvious, such as Reykjavik, which was been on everyone’s mind 2008. Others are easy, including Washington D.C. Our nation’s capital has plenty of hotels (including the funky Hotel Helix, photo at right), great public transportation and access via two major airports. Of course, there are a few destinations that probably wouldn’t occur to you otherwise. Here are some highlights:

  1. Beirut, Lebanon: two hotels are expected to open this year (including a Four Seasons), and dining at Al-Ajami is top-notch
  2. Fjallnas, Sweden: this is home to a luxury resort up by the Arctic Circle; rates start at €325 a night, but deals are available
  3. Copenhagen, Denmark: the city’s architecture is headed into the 21st century, particularly with the new zoo and theater
  4. Kazakhstan: no, I’m not joking; the new opera house is not to be missed, and a ski resort is in the works

Need more choices? Not a problem! There are forty more here, and after that an entire world in which to poke around.

Concierge.com names Tel Aviv #1 must see destination of 09

Many of the top destinations on Concierge.com’s 2009 “It” list may surprise you, starting with their number one pick: Tel Aviv. At they pitch it, however, Israel‘s second largest city and economic hub sounds glorious:

…this newly hip city has plenty to celebrate, with a spate of new hotels and redevelopment, a happening contemporary art scene, and vibrant nightlife. Unlike more religious and conservative Jerusalem, Tel Aviv hasn’t seen a serious terrorist incident in years, and is the poster child for a more modern Israel

Sound like it’s worth taking a visit? If you’re in the neighborhood, you might as well stop by number 10 on the list: Beirut, Lebanon. That’s right, the city still recovering from the 2006 Lebanon War has rebounded well enough to be included on this year’s It list as well.

Other top contenders?

  1. Tel Aviv, Israel
  2. Bolivia
  3. Utah
  4. Acapulco, Mexico
  5. Vilnius, Lithuania
  6. Central Philippines
  7. New York City
  8. Rajasthan, India
  9. Toronto, Canada
  10. Beirut, Lebanon

Stop by Concierge.com to check out explanations of each destination.


While visiting the “It” cities, will you encounter any of these 10 ridiculous laws?


(Click the images to see the 10 stupidest laws anywhere.)

Use History to Predict the Weather

I love weather. Seriously — I’ve always been a closet meteorologist. You know, the guy who attempts to predict the weather without knowing a lick of science. Just by looking at the clouds, or maybe sticking a wet finger in the air to test the wind, I’m able to come up with a pseudointellectual prediction — a forecast sprinkled with terms like troposphere, low level disturbances, and cumulonimbus. I have no idea what these terms really mean, of course, but the people on the Weather Channel sound like freakin’ geniuses when they use them.

When I travel, weather is always the first thing on my mind. It’s a funny thing to be so concerned about, because it’s not like we have any control over what the sky decides to do. However, predictions (whether they’re my own, or that of a “professional”) rarely affect my plans — I’m just curious, that’s all. I’ve got a lot of Internet tools in my arsenal of weather-prediction software, but my favorite is Weather Underground. They have, in my opinion, the best web-based radars, and their forecasts have proven to be the most accurate. They also have a feature I recently stumbled upon that will help predict the weather when traveling: the Trip Planner Weather. Horrible name, I know — but the thing is awesome, trust me. Here’s why:

For instance, on Sunday I’ll be going on a float trip down the Niangua River, and camping at Bennet Spring State Park near Lebanon, Missouri. (Locals pronounce it “Le-buh-nun.”) If I plug Lebanon into the Trip Planner, and set the dates for August 15 and 16, the program gives me the following statistics based on historical records:

  • The Average High Temperature is 85 F with a historical range of 75 F to 95 F.
  • There is a 15% chance of a Hot Day (temperature over 90°F / 32°C).
  • There is a 0% chance of a Freezing Day (temperature below 32°F / 0°C).
  • The Average Daily Precipitation is 0.07 with a historical range of 0.00 to 1.23.
  • There is a 5% chance of a Precipitation Day.
  • Average Cloud Cover is mostly sunny.
  • The Average Wind is 6 mph with a historical range of 2 mph to 15 mph.
  • There is a 90% chance of a Humid Day (dew point over 65°F / 18°C).
  • There is a 40% chance of a Sweltering Day (dew point over 70°F / 21°C).

Actually, the Trip Planner defaulted to the nearby city of Fort Leonard Wood, MO, but you get the point. Next week, I’ll give you an update on whether or not history can predict the future. If so, I’m one step closer to coming out of the meteorological closet.

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