International Value Destinations

by Kraig Becker on

USAToday has put together an interesting list of 10 great international places to go for a value on your vacation. These places were specifically picked to allow us to get more bang for our buck when traveling abroad this year, something that seems to be on every traveler’s mind at the moment.

The list of locations really does span the globe, and there is something for everyone on the list. Want to head to the beach on your break? Then Bermuda is the recommended spot. Want something a bit more adventurous? Give LIma, Peru a go. And for a destination that is still a bit off the beaten path, they recommend Vietnam, where you can stretch your dollar a long way, without skimping on the amenities.

The list offers up some great ideas for international travel in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Each of the destinations has a link to a local tourism website where you can find more information about where to stay and what to do, and with a little creative planning it seems that you won’t have to skip that international vacation this year after all.

Eggnog: Where does it come from?

by Brenda Yun on

I’ve long been a fan of spiced ‘nog. It’s one of the creamiest, best tastes in the world. For over 300 years, eggnog has been a Christmas staple, and I just had to get to the bottom of the mystery of ‘why’? What I discovered in my research of the origin of eggnog was quite startling. While ‘nog definitely came from Europe circa early 17th century, the term “eggnog” and the etymology of the word is perhaps the more interesting story.

The original eggnog was a mixture of milk, egg, spices, and wine (in parts of Europe like France), beer (in England), or sherry (in Spain). The alcoholic portion of the drink depends on how you interpret the “nog” in the name. That is because “nog” could mean the Old English term for a strong beer, or it could be interpreted from Middle English as “noggin,” the wooden mug that the drink was served in.
It seems quite unusual (and kind of unappetizing) to me that, before it arrived on America’s shores, eggnog was made with wine, beer, or sherry. Americans — the drunks that we are — decided to spike the drink with more concentrated spirits such as rum and brandy. Our first President, George Washington, would make the drink so strong that only the burliest of drinkers could handle it. The term for rum is actually “grog,” but “eggrog” doesn’t sound very good at all, now, does it? (It makes me think of a lumpy, spiked oatmeal — yuck!) Americans also boil their eggnog so as to avoid getting salmonella from the raw egg.

Even more variations of traditional eggnog are popping up around the globe. In Louisiana, they replace the rum with bourbon. In Puerto Rico, they add coconut milk. In Mexico, it’s a hard drink, as it’s mixed with grain alcohol. In Peru, it’s made with “pisco,” a local brandy.

Whatever the form or unique flavor, drinking eggnog is a Christmas tradition because of its warming effect and generally sweet, smooth, and spicy taste which make it a perfect holiday drink.

[Information was gathered from Wikipedia, About.com, and TheKitchenProject.com]

Cultural Delicacies: Guinea pig

by Brenda Yun on

I had a guinea pig as a pet when I was in elementary school. His name was Guinea (I know, really original). He was brown with a little splash of white on his chest. He had a cute pink nose. He was kind of a nibbler (he would often bite me with his two sharp teeth), and whatever he put in his mouth came out the other end. I guess it comes as no surprise, then, that I had to change Guinea’s cage frequently. What I didn’t realize in his very short life was that he froze to death. I didn’t know it then, but I had put Guinea’s cage right under the air conditioner. He died of pneumonia, and I spent a whole afternoon in bed holding my dead guinea pig, feeling like I had wronged the poor thing. I had been a very irresponsible pet owner.

As is the case with other household pets (like fish, dog, and turtle), guinea pigs (or “cuy,” in Spanish) are cultural delicacies in some parts of the world. Although I couldn’t bear to order it last year in Ecuador, “cuy” is a pretty common item on traditional restaurant menus.

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I am a vegetarian cook, so the thought of killing and roasting a small guinea pig sounds awfully unappetizing to me. Even more baffling to me is how anyone could find the little meat on a guinea pig worth eating or even the slightest bit delectable. According to Wikipedia, it tastes like rabbit or dark chicken meat.

“Cuy” can be fried, roasted, broiled, or served in soup. It is commonly found in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, as indigenous tribes in the area would cook them for ceremonial purposes. Peruvians consume over 50 million guinea pigs a year. If that number doesn’t surprise you, then this fun fact will: the past two decades have seen a rise in guinea pig exporting from South America to the U.S., Europe, and even parts of Asia. To be certain, it has become more acceptable to eat guinea pig as a common meal. Some restaurants in New York City now serve “cuy asado” and hang them in the window like Peking duck in Chinatown.

I don’t think we have to worry yet about locking up our pet guinea pigs for fear of someone killing and eating them, but I know my little Guinea is rolling in his grave in pet heaven thinking about how his life could have ended.

Man Caught at Airport with 200 Birds in his Suitcase

by Josh Lew on

A man was arrested at the airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil after 200 canaries were found in his suitcase. The smuggler is a resident of Brazil and had just gotten off a flight from Peru. Over 60 of the birds were dead. The others are being returned to Peru by a more humane means of transport. The man has been charged with animal trafficking and is currently being held by police in Sao Paulo.

The birds were found after a routine x-ray at a security checkpoint. They were stuffed into 4 cages inside a large suitcase. The deceased birds had succumbed to suffocation and dehydration.

Of more interest to authorities was the fact that the particular species of canary is considered invasive and would have posed a threat to similar birds native to Sao Paulo. Exotic bird smuggling is a huge problem worldwide. Not only are certain birds endangered or considered a threat to local wildlife, there is a risk of viruses and diseases, like H5N1, spreading because of the illegal importation of exotic birds.

Talking travel with author of Rough Guide’s Ultimate Adventures

by Jerry Guo on

Gregory Witt is author of Ultimate Adventures: A Rough Guide to Adventure Travel, which is out in bookstores today. This is a guy who has done pretty much everything when it comes to extreme adventures, so I’m definitely picking up my copy. He happens to be a skilled mountaineer guide, having led summit trips to Mt. Rainier, Matterhorn, and Peru’s Pisco. He’s also summited Colorado’s three highest peaks back-to-back in three days.

You’ve said that the “unattainable” destinations were weeded out. I love a challenge. What were some of the top ones?

I intentionally excluded some adventures like climbing Mt. Everest. It’s an exceptional challenge and adventure, to be sure. Instead, I explore uncommon adventures for the common man. These are adventures that most anyone, with proper training, preparation, and a healthy dose of tenacity can achieve. Some of the more physically and emotionally demanding adventures include climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan, hiking the length of the Pacific Crest Trail, or climbing Mt. McKinley.

You’re an experienced adventure guide. How does someone get that sort of job? What kind of training did you have to do?

Fortunately, I’ve never thought of it as a “job.” It’s just doing what I love to do-and isn’t it cool that someone actually pays me to do it! It requires a varied skill set, some of which can be learned, like wilderness emergency medicine, field geology, or wildlife identification. Other skills, like wilderness navigation, leadership, and managing the personal and group dynamics of clients in stressful or challenging situations is best learned on the spot and after years of experience in similar circumstances.
You’ve said that the “unattainable” destinations were weeded out. I love a challenge. What were some of the top ones?

I intentionally excluded some adventures like climbing Mt. Everest. It’s an exceptional challenge and adventure, to be sure. Instead, I explore uncommon adventures for the common man. These are adventures that most anyone, with proper training, preparation, and a healthy dose of tenacity can achieve. Some of the more physically and emotionally demanding adventures include climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan, hiking the length of the Pacific Crest Trail, or climbing Mt. McKinley.

You’re an experienced adventure guide. How does someone get that sort of job? What kind of training did you have to do?

Fortunately, I’ve never thought of it as a “job.” It’s just doing what I love to do-and isn’t it cool that someone actually pays me to do it! It requires a varied skill set, some of which can be learned, like wilderness emergency medicine, field geology, or wildlife identification. Other skills, like wilderness navigation, leadership, and managing the personal and group dynamics of clients in stressful or challenging situations is best learned on the spot and after years of experience in similar circumstances.

What percent of the trips in this book do you have under your belt? How’d you get the scoop on the places you’ve never visited yourself?

There’s no one on the planet who has done all of these adventures. I’ve done the great majority of them. But if there is any “hero” in Ultimate Adventures, it’s the guides, outfitters, instructors, and on-site tour operators who know these destinations and adventures inside and out. In every chapter I made thorough use of these local experts. For example, in my chapter on climbing Mount Rainier, one of my resources was George Dunn, a guide who has summited the peak a record 489 times. And even though I’ve climbed Rainer, no one in the world knows that mountain better than George. The contributions of people like him-over 300 of them-were invaluable. The result is an authoritative, hands-on guidebook, packed with insider information. But Ultimate Adventures isn’t about armchair exploration. It demands action-it’s a lifelist for doers.

How did you select what destinations and adventures made it into this book?

In my travels, the goal has always been to discover the greatest outdoor adventures the world has to offer. Adventure should put you face to face with the power of nature. It’s human flesh in harmony with earth, wind, and water. Adventure may cause you to squirm, sweat, shake, or do all three simultaneously. And at some point along the way you may ask yourself: “What on earth was I thinking?” Ultimate Adventures introduces readers to 170 life-shaping and unforgettable experiences.

Favorite five trips from the book?

I have a personal love affair with mountains and rivers. I also love wildlife, scenery, and great photo ops. So here goes:

1. Tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda
2. Running the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in a dory
3. Hiking in the Swiss Alps (and climbing the Matterhorn or Mt. Blanc as part of the trip)
4. Hiking New Zealand’s Milford Track
5. Rafting the Pacuare in Costa Rica (great river and wildlife viewing in one day)

Someone who loves the ocean might choose diving the Great Barrier Reef or surfing Oahu’s North Shore. If you’re looking for family adventures it may be wildlife viewing in Galapagos or rock climbing in Joshua Tree. Everyone will find something to tantalize their adventurous spirit. And don’t ask me this same question next week-you may get a totally different answer. My top picks depend on my mood at the time. Right now, after the blistering heat of summer, any cool climate adventure sounds appealing.

I’m about to climb Mt. Fuji in a couple weeks. What insider’s tips do you have for me?

Climbing Fuji-san makes you part of a thousand-year-old procession of humanity, which during climbing season can consist of up to 3000 people a day. The day-hike up this national icon is more a cultural experience than an mountaineering challenge, but it’s well worth the time. If you want to avoid the peak season crowds, but still climb in fair weather, try the first two weeks of July, before school vacations begin. One interesting fact: The summit of Mt. Fuji-in fact, all of the land above the 8th station (3000m)-is a part of a Shinto shrine, and as such, is the world’s most prominent privately owned natural feature.

What about New Zealand. It’s one of the greatest playgrounds for the outdoorsman. What’s the perfect itinerary for a 2-week trip?

No doubt, New Zealand is spectacular. For hikers, the Milford Track lays claim to being “the finest walk in the world,” and it may also be the wettest walk in the world, so bring raingear for this 4-day hike. And don’t overlook the Routeburn Track, a similarly spectacular 3-day tramp that straddles two national parks on the South Island. If mountaineering is in your blood, a guided climb of Aoroki/Mount Cook can take you to the summit of a legendary peak, where Edmund Hillary got his start. For world-class whitewater, put on your helmet and hit the Karamea River. Anytime a whitewater rafting trip requires a helicopter ride up a granite gorge to access the put in, you know you’re in for a great descent on a wild river, and these Class V rapids won’t disappoint.