Destination: Asia
Western Tourists Told to Avoid Bali
by Valerie Conners | 10.24.08 | 11:19 AM ET
Bali tourism officials and other governments issued the warnings in response to news that the convicted bombers in Bali’s 2002 nightclub terror attacks will be executed in November.
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Yahoo! BuzzTrains Roll Into Kashmir
by Eva Holland | 10.21.08 | 12:07 PM ET
Jeremy Page writes: “Thousands of engineers worked on the project ... braving the constant threat of attack by militants as well as appalling conditions during Kashmir’s long, harsh winters.”
‘There’s an Old-School Charm to the Indian Train Experience’
by Michael Yessis | 10.20.08 | 11:05 AM ET
I often hear the Indian train experience described as intimidating or uncomfortable, so I was intrigued by the latest installment of the Washington Post’s Time Zones series. “I love the train, because you don’t have to be in a rush,” says one passenger. “You can think.”
Are These Chinese Villages Resting on the Fountain of Youth?
by Joanna Kakissis | 10.20.08 | 10:07 AM ET
An unusually large number of very old people live in hamlets near the Vietnam border in China’s scenic Guangxi Autonomous Region, creating a so-called “longevity cluster.” So how do you market a place like Bama county, home to 250,000 and 74 centenarians, to the Western world? Bill it as a haven for health tourism, reports The Wall Street Journal. Visitors can have a low-cost spa vacation by simply breathing the air, drinking the local water and eating meals here.
Sesame Street, Global Edition
by Joanna Kakissis | 10.17.08 | 1:59 PM ET
When I heard Big Bird and South Africa’s muppet Zikwe talking to NPR about Putumayo Kids’ “Sesame Street Playground” album this weekend, I couldn’t help feeling jealous that I hadn’t grown up hearing songs like “Rubber Duckie” in Mandarin. The 40-year-old dean of all children’s shows now airs in 120 countries, and the new album showcases its worldwide reach.
There are songs from Israel, Palestine, Tanzania, South Africa, France, China, Russia, Mexico, the Netherlands, India and the United States. Concierge is especially fond of the “Pollution Song” from South Africa: a ditty about cleaning up after yourself. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone in the world sang along to that?
Another Tet Offensive
by Joel Carillet | 10.16.08 | 9:43 AM ET
Photo by Joel Carillet At a cafe in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in the midst of Chinese New Year celebrations, Joel Carillet worked up the courage to ask out his waitress
Solar-Powered Rickshaws Unveiled in India
by Valerie Conners | 10.16.08 | 9:39 AM ET
Currently being road-tested in one of Old Delhi’s busiest markets, “soleckshaws”—as the new solar-powered rickshaws have been dubbed—are considered a boon for rickshaw drivers as much as for the environment. “Earlier, when people hailed us it was like, ‘Hey you rickshaw puller!’ Police used to harass us,” said one rickshaw driver. “Now people look at me with respect.”
The Virtual Forbidden City: Eunuchs, Courtesans and More
by Valerie Conners | 10.13.08 | 3:42 PM ET
Armchair travelers, gamers and the merely curious can now explore China’s famed Forbidden City via a virtual 3-D recreation of the Chinese landmark. Forbidden City: Beyond Space & Time is an interactive animated experience developed by IBM that allows users to adopt avatars and explore the city, interacting with other users while participating in activities like training fighting crickets, dressing up like a eunuch or practicing archery with a courtesan.
Related on World Hum:
* In Beijing: A Rainbow of Nations
Photo by jimg944 via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Everest Skydivers Take the Plunge
by Eva Holland | 10.09.08 | 10:30 AM ET
A couple weeks back we noted that the first-ever skydivers at Mount Everest were due to drop. Well, they’re a little behind schedule, but three people finally took the plunge—and made history.
Everest Plane Crash Kills 18 Tourists
by Valerie Conners | 10.08.08 | 12:21 PM ET
A passenger plane crashed on landing at Tenzing-Hillary airport in Nepal’s Everest region, killing 18 people on board, including 12 German tourists and two Australians. The plane’s pilot is the only survivor. We’ve previously noted the dramatic landings at the airport, which is located on a steeply angled hillside.
Related on World Hum:
* Introducing Tenzing Hillary Airport
Thou Shalt Not Skinny Dip in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace Moat
by Valerie Conners | 10.08.08 | 10:52 AM ET
Was he unstable or just another British tourist behaving badly? Regardless of motive, a British man was arrested after skinny dipping in the moat surrounding Tokyo’s Imperial palace. The naked shenanigans created quite a stir for nearby tourists and security.
For Sale: Mao’s Airplane
by Michael Yessis | 10.07.08 | 2:29 PM ET
The Trident jet currently resides at a shopping mall in Zhuhai, China. The mall’s owner, Wang Zhilei, wants to sell it to free up space for parking. Can’t tell you how much yuan it’ll cost you, though: Wang won’t disclose his price. (via Jaunted)
Related on World Hum:
* Mao Mao Mao Mao Mao. Enough With the Mao Already.
Photo by yeowatzup via Flickr (Creative Commons).
In Vietnam, a Moto is ‘a Bionic Limb, a Magic Carpet, a Personal Jet Pack’
by Eva Holland | 10.06.08 | 12:40 PM ET
Anyone who has traveled in Vietnam has seen the motos—everywhere. Patti McCracken paints a vivid portrait of the country’s moto culture in the Christian Science Monitor.
New Travel Book: ‘Indian Takeaway: One Man’s Attempt to Cook His Way Home’
by Eva Holland | 10.03.08 | 11:00 AM ET
In Indian Takeaway, author Hardeep Singh Kohli takes a foodie tour of the subcontinent, reflecting on the experience of being a British Indian while eating his way through countless local households and, bizarrely, rewarding his Indian hosts with some home-cooked British classics of his own—think toad in the hole and bangers and mash.
Beijing Catches ‘Salsa Fever’
by Valerie Conners | 10.01.08 | 12:00 PM ET
This week marks the start of China’s third annual Salsa Congress, a competition that will showcase the many ways the dance thrives in a land where, during the Cultural Revolution, social dancing was banned.