Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 9)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Yes, it’s only two days before Christmas, but Tuesday Travel Trivia never takes a holiday. (Well, maybe for Mardi Gras.) This week we’ve once again got ten tough-as-nails questions for you to answer in the Comments, in the pursuit of fame, fortune, and a justified feeling of smugness over those who aren’t as smart as you.

Congrats to last week’s winners Eva and Sammy 1022, who prevailed over ten very difficult questions. (Gadling’s own Grant Martin was not so fortunate.) Now on to the questions…

  1. Who wrote the critically acclaimed travelogue The Sex Lives of Cannibals, a book about the author’s time spent living in the island nation of Kiribati?
  2. What western US town is known as the “Biggest Little City in the World”?
  3. Name two of South Africa’s three capitals.
  4. What well-known TV travel host and guidebook publisher is on the advisory board of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws?
  5. The three-letter abbreviation for what busy airport comes from its previous name, Orchard Field Airport?
  6. American Airlines acquired what large US-based carrier in 2001?
  7. What large body of water gets its name from the Latin for “in the middle of land”?
  8. The often-mispronounced city of Wroc??aw is located in what European country?
  9. The first Australian aboriginal word to appear in the English language was the name of what animal?
  10. In what Russian town will the 2014 Winter Olympics be held?

For the answers to last week’s brutally-hard questions, look below the fold…

  1. To what well-known sports league do Manchester United and Chelsea F.C. belong? Answer: The Premier League (if you said simply “soccer” or “football,” I congratulate you on your keen eye for the obvious)
  2. Which two Saudi Arabian cities are considered Islam’s holiest? Answer: Mecca and Medina
  3. The 2002 fictional travelogue You Shall Know Our Velocity, about two guys who travel the world handing out large sums of money, was written by whom? Answer: Dave Eggers (Bonus fact: The book was re-issued under the title Sacrament)
  4. What unusual, travel-related distinction do the following celebrites share: Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, John Travolta? Answer: They are all licensed pilots.
  5. Alphabetically, what country comes directly after Mauritania? Answer: Mauritius
  6. The 1993 film Alive was the true story of a rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes, and who were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. What country was the rugby team from? Answer: Uruguay
  7. True or false: Norway shares a border with Russia. Answer: True (Really, look at a map!)
  8. What is located on the second and third pages (not including the inside cover) of almost every Lonely Planet guidebook? Answer: A map!
  9. The eight-day, free-spirited festival known as Burning Man is located in what western US desert? Answer: The Black Rock Desert
  10. The names of two countries contain the letter “q” not followed by the letter “u.” What are they? Answer: Iraq and Qatar

Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 8)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Tuesday Travel Trivia (the kids just call it the “Gadling T-Party”) is back for its eighth installment, and if you haven’t noticed it by now, this game is (let’s just say) sweeping the nation. Big congrats go to last week’s winner Sammy1022, as well as honorable mention awards to Matthew O’Connor and Eva, who came up this short.

As always, check out these questions and leave your non-Googled answers in the comments. Then come back next Tuesday for the answers. Here we go…

  1. To what well-known sports league do Manchester United and Chelsea F.C. belong?
  2. Which two Saudi Arabian cities are considered Islam’s holiest?
  3. The 2002 fictional travelogue You Shall Know Our Velocity, about two guys who travel the world handing out large sums of money, was written by whom?
  4. What unusual, travel-related distinction do the following celebrites share: Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, John Travolta?
  5. Alphabetically, what country comes directly after Mauritania?
  6. The 1993 film Alive was the true story of a rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes, and who were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. What country was the rugby team from?
  7. True or false: Norway shares a border with Russia.
  8. What is located on the second and third pages (not including the inside cover) of almost every Lonely Planet guidebook?
  9. The eight-day, free-spirited festival known as Burning Man is located in what western US desert?
  10. The names of two countries contain the letter “q” not followed by the letter “u.” What are they?

Look below the fold for the answers to last week’s trivia…

  1. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a member of what US government department? Answer: Department of Homeland Security
  2. The titles of at least two 2008 films contained the names of European cities. Name one of them. Answer: In Bruges; Vicky, Christina, Barcelona
  3. In what city is Disneyland located? Answer: Anaheim, California
  4. The 2000 film The Beach, about backpacker culture on an idyllic Thai island, is based on a novel by what author? Answer: Alex Garland
  5. Whom do Italians refer to as Babbo Natale? Answer: Santa!
  6. The world’s largest national park is larger than 163 countries. On what large island is it located? Answer: Greenland
  7. The US has more than 27 million Facebook users, the most of any country. Which country has the second most? Answer: the UK
  8. Once an important post on the Trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu is located in which West African country? Answer: Mali
  9. The Charles Bridge is located in which scenic European capital? Answer: Prague
  10. What term describes the seats occupied by airline crew and personnel during takeoff and landing? Answer: Jump seat

Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 7)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

It’s Tuesday, folks, and that means it’s once again time to test your knowledge of almost-useless travel-related facts. Congrats to last week’s trivia winners SV, Eva, and Taylor. Those were some tough questions– hell, even I didn’t know them!

Without further ado, here are this week’s brain-busters. Leave your answers in the comments and come back next week for the answers. Get 7 or more correct and I’ll be seriously impressed. Buena suerte!

  1. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a member of what US government department?
  2. The titles of at least two 2008 films contained the names of European cities. Name one of them.
  3. In what city is Disneyland located?
  4. The 2000 film The Beach, about backpacker culture on an idyllic Thai island, is based on a novel by what author?
  5. Whom do Italians refer to as Babbo Natale?
  6. The world’s largest national park is larger than 163 countries. On what large island is it located?
  7. The US has more than 27 million Facebook users, the most of any country. Which country has the second most?
  8. Once an important post on the Trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu is located in which West African country?
  9. The Charles Bridge is located in which scenic European capital?
  10. What term describes the seats occupied by airline crew and personnel during takeoff and landing?

Look below the fold for the answers to last week’s questions…

  1. The indigenous name for this Australian landmark is Uluru. What is it otherwise known as? Answer: Ayers Rock
  2. The satirical newspaper The Onion recently released a mock atlas of the world. What is it called? Answer: Our Dumb World
  3. The names of at least four Southern-hemisphere countries have been used as the titles of feature films in the last 25 years. Name two of them. Answer: Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, and Congo
  4. What popular travel website owned by the Travel Channel has the slogan, “Travel Dispatches from a Shrinking Planet”? Answer: World Hum
  5. The popular tourist destination of Goa is located in what country? Answer: India
  6. Which of the following countries is not a member of the European Union: Finland, Sweden, Croatia, or Bulgaria? Answer: Croatia
  7. What is the name of Russia’s largest airline, also one of the world’s oldest? Answer: Aeroflot
  8. In what North African country would you find the “imperial city” of Fes? Answer: Morocco
  9. What scenic highway runs along much of California’s Pacific coast? Answer: Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy. 1)
  10. Vientiane is the capital of what Southeast Asian country? Answer: Laos

Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 6)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Your long wait is over– Tuesday travel trivia has finally arrived. Congrats to last week’s winner Matthew O’Connor, who got 8 out of 10 very tough questions correct. (Good friend Eva also wins participation points.)

This week’s questions are listed below. Answer them in the comments for your shot at fame and fortune. No Googling!

  1. The indigenous name for this Australian landmark is Uluru. What is it otherwise known as?
  2. The satirical newspaper The Onion recently released a mock atlas of the world. What is it called?
  3. The names of at least four Southern-hemisphere countries have been used as the titles of feature films in the last 25 years. Name two of them.
  4. What popular travel website owned by the Travel Channel has the slogan, “Travel Dispatches from a Shrinking Planet”?
  5. The popular tourist destination of Goa is located in what country?
  6. Which of the following countries is not a member of the European Union: Finland, Sweden, Croatia, or Bulgaria?
  7. What is the name of Russia’s largest airline, also one of the world’s oldest?
  8. In what North African country would you find the “imperial city” of Fes?
  9. What scenic highway runs along much of California’s Pacific coast?
  10. Vientiane is the capital of what Southeast Asian country?

Look below the fold for the answers to last week’s questions.

  1. What New York Times travel writer pens the “Frugal Traveler” column? Answer: Matt Gross
  2. What portable tent-like structure, popular with nomads in Mongolia, is made from a wooden frame and covered with wool felt? Answer: a yurt (or ger)
  3. What is the most widely spoken language in Hungary? Answer: Hungarian (duh!)
  4. The Galápagos Islands are a province of which South American country? Answer: Ecuador
  5. With roughly 7,000,000 people, Baghdad is by far Iraq’s most populous city. Which Iraqi city is second? Answer: Basra
  6. Lake Turkana is almost entirely within the borders of which East African country? Answer: Kenya
  7. What’s the name of Hawaii’s largest island? Answer: the Big Island
  8. When participating in international sporting events like the Olympics and the Asian Games, Taiwan usually goes by what name? Answer: Chinese Taipei
  9. Pirates from which African country have recently made news by demanding $25 million dollars for the return of a Saudi oil tanker. Answer: Somalia
  10. Everyone knows that Buenos Aires is Argentina’s capital and largest city. Name one other city in Argentina. Answer: Cordoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Ushuaia, more here

Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 5)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

If it’s Tuesday, it’s time for your weekly dose of travel trivia. Check out these ten brain-busting questions and leave your answers in the Comments. Come back next week for the answers.

In other news, congrats to last week’s winners, Craig, Kev, and Woody!

Want to see your name here next week? Answer the following questions:

  1. What New York Times travel writer pens the “Frugal Traveler” column?
  2. What portable tent-like structure, popular with nomads in Mongolia, is made from a wooden frame and covered with wool felt?
  3. What is the most widely spoken language in Hungary?
  4. The Galápagos Islands are a province of which South American country?
  5. With roughly 7,000,000 people, Baghdad is by far Iraq’s most populous city. Which Iraqi city is second?
  6. Lake Turkana is almost entirely within the borders of which East African country?
  7. What’s the name of Hawaii’s largest island?
  8. When participating in international sporting events like the Olympics and the Asian Games, Taiwan usually goes by what name?
  9. Pirates from which African country have recently made news by demanding $25 million dollars for the return of a Saudi oil tanker.
  10. Everyone knows that Buenos Aires is Argentina’s capital and largest city. Name one other city in Argentina.

Below the fold are the answers to last week’s questions…

  1. What is the name of Brook Silva-Braga’s 2007 documentary about round-the-world travel? Answer: A Map for Saturday (a great movie, by the way)
  2. What lively street in central Bangkok, Thailand, is known as the world’s most popular “backpacker ghetto”? Answer: Khao San Road
  3. The region known as Patagonia is located in which two countries? Answer: Chile, Argentina
  4. What’s the name of the daughter of guidebook maven Arthur Frommer, also a popular travel writer herself? Answer: Pauline
  5. Though cricket is India’s most popular sport, it is not officially its national sport. What is? Answer: Field hockey
  6. What is the name of French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife, a musician and former model? Answer: Carla Bruni
  7. Spell Iceland’s capital. Answer: Reykjavik
  8. In the 1983 film National Lampoon’s Vacation, what is the name of the fictional theme park that the Griswolds drive across the country to visit? Answer: Walley World
  9. Name four African countries that start with an “S”. Answer: South Africa, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Seychelles, Senegal, Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe
  10. True or false: Brazil is South America’s largest country in area and also its most populous. Answer: True