One for the Road: Journeys of a Lifetime

by Kelly Amabile on

Another recent entry in the popular mega trip-list travel book category is National Geographic’s Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips. Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic writers, this 400-page collection of glossy color photos and descriptions is another daydream machine for wanderlust readers. In addition to the featured journeys, there are also secondary lists for things like the top 10 elevator rides, ancient highways and bridges to walk across.

So, can every travel experience be listed? It seems that way these days. But, as Frank Bures eloquently argued in a recent World Hum travel book column, the checklist approach to travel misses the point. Super-sized itineraries are not practical, and in most cases, just not possible. And that is a good thing. However, this book, and similar titles, are still fun to flip through. They’re kind of like destination menus for travelers to pick-and-choose from — for ideas, inspiration or discussion with others. But over-ordering should be avoided.

Tim Cahill goes down Death Valley

by Abha Malpani on

If, in Tim Cahill’s words: “the sight of Death Valley National Park is something akin to scientific pornography for hard-rock geologists,” the piece he wrote on his travel there is soft-porn for the solitary adventure travel-writer.

Metamorphosis used to vaguely tickle my curiosity in geography class at school, but other than that, I have absolutely no interest in geology. I still managed to read Cahill’s detailed narration in National Geographic on Death Valley in one shot, without yawning.

For those of you who don’t know about Death Valley other than being a set for Star Wars, it’s a valley in California that is recognized as the lowest point of the Western Hemisphere and one of the hottest places on the planet; it covers an area of 3-million acres.

It’s called Death Valley after some explorers got lost there around 1845; although only one of them died, they all thought that it would be their grave.

What makes the place interesting other than it’s grim and forbidding name, is that it has sand-dunes as well as snow-capped mountains; multicolored rocks that move, and canyons. It is home to the Timbisha Shoshone tribe, and 1000 types of species and plants — 50 of which are not found anywhere in the world.

Cahill’s feature reads as if you were in an open museum of the Valley — he captures more than the essence of the place. So if you get a kick out of obscure geographical dwellings of our mother earth, you will love this article.

I suggest you start off by reading Cahill’s interview about the trip; then go on to the full article if it did something for you. The feature will be in print in National Geographic’s November issue.

%Gallery-8988%

National Geographic Encourages Making of Wild Animal Videos

by Abha Malpani on

I have a vlog now (come on, you don’t!?), and now I can dub myself to bark, chirp or roar if I want. I can even drag and click to have a pet penguin appear in my video. Finally, all my animal fetishes can surface and be recorded in the privacy of my own home!

Not quite what National Geographic might have had in mind with the recent launch of Wildlife Filmmaker, a creator amateur nature-loving filmmakers to make, urrm, nature-loving films!

Perhaps that’s why it doesn’t seem to have the rocking popularity (or abuse) it might have had in today’s freaky vlogger world. That’s where all the video-production junkies muck around giving reality television new meaning; Wildlife Filmmaker doesn’t allow you to mesh any of the features with your own ‘animal instinct’ videos.

When you try to find Wildlife Filmmaker, the link takes you to the National Geographic homepage. Perhaps they’re going to fix the program, that’s why access to the link doesn’t exist anymore (?).

Oh well. I was I am quite excited to have animals featured in some of my productions.

UPDATE: The link works now. Check it out!

National Geographic Film Festival

by Neil Woodburn on

The All Roads Film Project is one of those very special, very wonderful National Geographic events which any traveler worth their salt will truly love.

The project was launched four years ago “to provide an international platform for indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture artists to share their cultures, stories, and perspectives through the power of film and photography.”

Man, you can’t go wrong with that mission statement.

And, National Geographic hasn’t.

The spectacular results of the project can be seen this upcoming weekend (October 4-7) at the All Roads Film Festival being held at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington D.C.

The festival will feature films from Finland, Bolivia, Kurdistan, Denmark, Australia, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Tonga and many more places on this planet you might only be able to visit through film. But, if you miss it in D.C., don’t worry; you can catch the festival next month in Sante Fe, New Mexico starting November 28.

National Geographic Launches “Places of a Lifetime” for Travelers

by Catherine Bodry on

On Thursday September 6, National Geographic launched a new website, Places of a Lifetime, which is a continuation of its 1999 article on the world’s top 50 destinations.

The site currently profiles 10 cities (but plans to have 50 by spring of 2008), with slide shows, essays from Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, and travel tips for when you go. Tips include places to stay, eat, and shop for different budgets — and there’s more. Each city guide has 3 walking tours, recipes, books and movies, cultural tips, must-dos, and maps.

I checked out Washington D.C.’s profile because I just couldn’t imagine what type of regional recipes might be included. The President’s Humble Pie? Not so much. Instead I found Maryland Crab Cakes, a mint julep recipe, and Georgia Brown’s French Toast (yum!). While including recipes may not be practical, it’s a move that definitely got my attention.

In all, the website is easily navigable, provides interesting tips, and — in true National Geographic style — has pretty photos. For now it’s a good place to start when you’re in the beginning processes of planning a trip.