Langston Hughes: Poetry inspired by travel

by Jamie Rhein on

When Langston Hughes’s dad moved to Mexico when Langston was a child, he created the path to the poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” In 1920, while crossing the Mississipi River on a train on his way to Mexico to visit his dad, Langston was inspired to write the poem on the back of a letter. He had just finished high school.

In honor of Black History month, the inspiration gathered from world travel and Langston Hughes, whose poetry still inspires, here’s a short video of him talking about this trip and writing the poem. Plus, he reads it at the end. See what images of your own trips are conjured up. This is a lesson in always having a scrap of paper and a pen or a pencil with you when you travel.

You think your train is crowded?

by Grant Martin on

You could live in China. This week, weather issues and transportation shortages are creating a tight squeeze on holiday travel. Four hundred thousand Chinese were stuck at the Guangzhou railway station earlier, where a full out stampede broke out when a train pulled up for loading.

CNN has some interesting video of the station (click on the ‘huge crush’ link), showing lines of police wrapped around a sea of people surging back and forth. You can see several poor souls falling over and getting swallowed by the tides of Chinese. Scary. And according to the article, this is half of what the volume was earlier last week.

Why hasn’t the Chinese government prepared for this spike in activity? Is it all really related to crummy weather? Either way, I’d hate to be in the middle of this debacle.

I’m never complaining when I have to stand on the subway again.

Planes or Trains? Which is the Best Way to Travel in Europe?

by Neil Woodburn on

There was a time not so long ago that train travel was the only way to travel Europe; planes were prohibitively expensive and only used by businessmen.

Obviously this has all changed with the arrival of budget airlines. Super low fares, some as low as a euro, now make plane travel the obvious choice.

Or does it?

Tips for getting around Western Europe by plane & by train is an LA Times article which tackles the modern day euro-conundrum: train or plane?

To answer this question, Journalist Jane Engle went on assignment, traveling through four countries in four days using a combination of budget airlines and high speed trains. I wasn’t too surprised with the eventual outcome of her journey; planes are better for long distances, trains are better for shorter ones.

The problem with many budget airlines, she learns, is that they normally fly into smaller airports that are usually further from the city center and more expensive to get to. In addition, there are the security lines to deal with as well as getting to the airport an hour early. Trains, on the other hand, simply pull into the center of town, and you’re there!

Giving the option, I personally will always opt for train travel; it’s more scenic and relaxing and is part of the journey itself; plane travel is nothing more than transportation.

Japan’s Leaf Peeping Splendor

by Jamie Rhein on

Leaf Peeping in Ohio is probably going to be a big bust this year. It’s been 90 degrees lately, and today’s temperature drop may be a little too late. Basically, we’re looking at a fall of mostly dull yellow and brown. Perhaps, Japan will have more luck.

While I was hunting for links to leaf viewing via vintage trains, I came across details about Japan’s autumn splendor on a Frommer’s Web site. In the Honshu region of the country, colors pop out in the fall. I went to Nara on a day trip from Kyoto in the middle of summer when the maple trees around the temples were thick with green leaves. In October and November, they become brilliant orange and red around Todaiji Temple.

Kyoto, where I became obsessed with going to as many temples as I could for some reason, has ginko trees galore. They were green when I saw them, but, according to Frommers, become an awesome yellow in November. Frommers also recommends Kamakura and Nikko for their leaves. Not just their leaves. The temples–yep, I hit them–are wonderful. Nikko is has the famous one of the see no, hear no, speak no evil monkeys. I went to both towns as day trips out of Tokyo. (I had a free place to stay in Tokyo, so in the seven days I spent in Japan I only stayed overnight elsewhere once. Kyoto was it.)

The Kyoto Tourism Federation also has a section dedicated to leaf viewing. November is also the month with the best colors according to this source. In addition to places to see in Kyoto, several towns are listed, along with what to see when you go there. One suggestion is Nagaokakyo, which is quite close to Kyoto and the site of this lovely photo.

That Market in Thailand That the Train Moves Through

by Jamie Rhein on

The market in Justin’s post that the train moves through, literally–you really need to see it to understand the intricacies of the situation–could be in Bangkok. Or it could be near Bangkok. Bangkok is a city after all that sprawls and sprawls and sprawls.

I’ve taken a train to Bangkok twice, both times from Chiang Mai. Once it was the night train where we passed into Bangkok early in the morning. Along the tracks, even before the sun was barely up, life was bustling. There is a section that looks like the one in the video, although, I don’t think it’s the same track. The second train I took was the day train and a chance to see how the countryside gradually becomes dense with buildings and people.

Richard Barrow on his Web site, Richard Barrow: Promoting Thai Culture and Life to the World, details a train trip that sounds like it passes through the very market in the video. It sure looks like it to me. Plus, his description in the post “Market on the Railway Tracks” sounds identical. Here’s the description. Go to the post for more.

“I knew that during the last 100 metres or so the train would pass through a market. Literally. I know it sounds strange but this was my planned highlight of the trip. I wanted to get pictures of the market stallholders pulling back their produce as we passed through the market. “

Plus, look at the picture. Look at the first shot of the video. See? According to him, this market is along the Maeklong Railway at the outskirts of Maeklong. His post also explains how you can take this train trip to see the market for yourself and provides other photos. If you want info about Thailand, his blog is a wonderful mix of details.