Travel Blog
Forbes Ranks World’s Billionaires Against National GDPs
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 2:54 PM ET
And, for many nations, it’s not a flattering comparison. Bill Gates’ net worth, for instance, is higher than the gross domestic product of more than 140 different countries. Warren Buffett’s wealth ranks up there with North Korea’s, while George Lucas and Guyana are neck-and-neck further down the list. Hmm. I smell gimmicky rebranding potential—tropical vacation in Lucasland, anyone? (Via Kottke)
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Yahoo! BuzzTango Gets the UNESCO Treatment
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 1:46 PM ET
And the Big Picture treatment. After tango was added to UNESCO’s “List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” last week, the photo blog followed up with a predictably fabulous photo essay honoring the dance style.
Travel Song of the Day: ‘Love This Town’ by Joel Plaskett
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 12:37 PM ET
New Travel Book: ‘Strange Maps: An Atlas of Cartographic Curiosities’
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 11:33 AM ET
We know there’s no shortage of odd and innovative maps out there these days—and now, a new book aims to collect some of the best. This “atlas of cartographic curiosities” comes from Frank Jacobs, the author of the Strange Maps blog, and it mixes everything from inaccurate historical maps to satirical cartoon maps, map mash-ups, maps of fictional literary settings and more. Book Bencher Jenna Krajeski calls the book “a peculiar and delightful compiling of disparately obsessive imaginations, selected on the criteria of strangeness, rarity, and originality.”
“Strange Maps” hits bookstores on October 29.
TripAdvisor Goes to the Movies
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 10:41 AM ET
Over at College Humor, some classic traveling movie characters review their destinations, TripAdvisor-style. My favorite comes from a member calling himself “Fr0d0”—here’s a sample: “Took a trip up to Mordor on official business, DO NOT GO THERE!!! The journey was absolute mordor! (lol)”
‘The Best American Travel Writing’ in New York City
by Eva Holland | 10.06.09 | 9:49 AM ET
The Best American Travel Writing 2009 has landed in stores, and, for anyone in the New York area, there are a couple of upcoming events celebrating the release.
First up, Idlewild Books is hosting a launch party this Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m. Several contributors to the 2009 edition will be reading, including guest editor Simon Winchester and World Hum contributor Elisabeth Eaves. You can RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Later this month, there will be an installment of the Restless Legs Reading Series devoted to the anthology. It’ll take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, at Lolita Bar—series editor Jason Wilson will host, and World Hum contributors Elisabeth Eaves, Tony Perrottet and Frank Bures will be reading.
I’ll be attending both and hope to see you there.
Photo You Must See: Surfer in the Fog
by World Hum | 10.05.09 | 5:55 PM ET
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton A surfer walks along New York’s Rockaway Beach as the fog rolls in.
A Poetry Traveling Scholar Busts Out the Maps
by Michael Yessis | 10.05.09 | 5:11 PM ET
Where would you go if you won a scholarship to travel for one year outside of North America? That’s the question facing former Army infantry team leader and 2010 Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholar Brian Turner. He writes about his deliberations—and the gift of travel—at the New York Times Home Fires blog.
R.I.P. Gourmet
by Eva Holland | 10.05.09 | 4:02 PM ET
The 69-year-old magazine, which has published many fine foodie travel stories over the years, will be ceasing publication along with several other magazines cut this week at Conde Nast. Here’s just one travel classic from the Gourmet archives, David Foster Wallace’s Consider the Lobster.
Slideshow: Classic Hotel Door Hangers
by Michael Yessis | 10.05.09 | 3:17 PM ET
Michael Lebowitz found 55 classic door hangers from hotels around the world among the belongings of his late grandfather. They’re beautiful. (Via Coudal)
Video You Must See: China’s 60th Anniversary
by Michael Yessis | 10.05.09 | 2:31 PM ET
Travel Song of the Day: ‘Passenger Side’ by Wilco
by Michael Yessis | 10.05.09 | 1:55 PM ET
Did Airport Security Ruin Chicago’s Olympic Bid?
by Eva Holland | 10.05.09 | 11:32 AM ET
Michelle Higgins ponders the impact of U.S. border control policies on Chicago’s failed bid for the 2016 Summer Games. For my part, I suppose that could have been a factor—remember the visitor shortfall in Beijing after China tightened its visa restrictions—but beyond any specific considerations, I’m just not sure about the assumption that 2016 was Chicago’s to lose. After all, the United States has already hosted the Olympics eight times, while Rio’s winning bid will mean the first Games ever on South American soil. It’s about time, isn’t it?
‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Travelers’
by Eva Holland | 10.05.09 | 10:24 AM ET
Over at Uncornered Market, Audrey and Daniel offer a thoughtful post on the life skills required for (and developed by) independent travel.
What We Loved This Week: Chicago, Ken Burns and Sundarbans National Park
by World Hum | 10.02.09 | 5:57 PM ET
Photo by Joanna Kakissis Michael Yessis
Chicago. I’m here through the weekend, and I can feel the sadness in the air about the city losing its bid for the 2016 Olympics. But just remember, Chicagoans, you’ve got plenty to get you through the disappointment. Just one reminder: a classic video I loved this week.
