Travel Blog: News and Briefs
Where’s the Love for Travel Magazines?
by David Farley | 06.28.07 | 8:05 AM ET
Email to friend
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Ma.gnolia
Mixx
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Yahoo! BuzzWanted: Cambodian Noodle Joint in New York
by Julia Ross | 06.27.07 | 3:26 PM ET
If New York is the food capital of the world, why is a good bowl of kuy thiew so hard to come by? That’s the question writer Matthew Fishbane poses in a Salon essay examining America’s reluctance to embrace Cambodian cuisine. Recalling his days slurping noodles at sidewalk stands in Phnom Penh, he desperately searches the city for an authentic taste of fish sauce and lemongrass, but finds only one Cambodian joint on the Lower East Side, and its offerings don’t quite measure up.
Everest Base Camp in Tibet: The Himalayan Bangkok?
by Jim Benning | 06.27.07 | 2:57 PM ET
As we recently noted, the Chinese government is building a 67-mile highway to Everest base camp in Tibet, paving over a rough path, allegedly so runners will have an easier time carrying the Olympic torch to the mountain. That new road, writes Michael Kodas in the New York Times, is going to “turn Mount Everest into the first arena, and profit center, of its Olympic Games.”
British Tabloid Travel Headline of the Day: ‘Riot at 30,000 Feet…Over Reclining Seat’
by Michael Yessis | 06.27.07 | 11:02 AM ET
From The Mirror: “A British Airways pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger reclined his seat, annoyed the man behind him—and sparked a mid-air riot.” Twenty people were caught up in the brawl on the 747 from Lagos, Nigeria to London’s Heathrow airport, according to Mirror crime correspondent Justin Penrose. The weapons of choice: fists, bottles and belts. Sounds like the passengers would have been better off flying The “Zinedine Zidane 10.” (Via Jaunted.)
Related on World Hum:
* British Tabloid Travel Headline of the Day: ‘Boy, 12, Makes a Mockery of Air Security’
* British Tabloid Travel Headline of the Day: ‘Santa Claus in Travel Ban’
* British Tabloid Travel Headline of the Day: Fattie Ordered Off Ship
Sin City Weighs New Slogan: ‘Your Vegas is Showing’
by Michael Yessis | 06.26.07 | 3:23 PM ET
Ooh. It’s seems racy, but, when you think about it, it’s really not, just like Las Vegas’s current hall-of-fame marketing slogan: “What Happens Here, Stays Here.” Las Vegas isn’t getting rid of what might be the most successful tourism slogan ever. According to the AP, it’s just looking for a complimentary slogan. If Las Vegas should ever tire of the “What Happens Here…” campaign, we might see the new slogan take its place. Or, maybe the city will turn to one of the many suggestions that have popped up in the last few years.
What’s Your Global Literacy?
by Michael Yessis | 06.26.07 | 8:35 AM ET
Newsweek has put together a wide-ranging, 130-question Global IQ quiz, probing its American readers on everything from politics to technology to literature. “We are hoping to start a conversation about what we are calling Global Literacy—facts and insights about the world (some objective, some subjective) that we think are worth knowing,” Jon Meacham writes in the introduction. “We are not saying this is all you need to know; just that what you are about to read amounts to a good start.” It is a good start, but for many travelers it’s also a conversation that’s already in progress.
Bambi Roll, Anyone? Inside Japan’s Sushi Crisis.
by Michael Yessis | 06.25.07 | 4:01 PM ET
How about raw horse meat? Japanese chefs are considering both because, given fishing limits and international demand for sushi, the country can’t get enough tuna. Martin Fackler writes in the New York Times that Japan has fallen into a “national panic,” with news programs devoting much airtime to the crisis. In Japanese sushi bars, the search is on for replacements. “At nicer restaurants, sushi chefs began experimenting with substitutes, from cheaper varieties of fish to terrestrial alternatives and even, heaven forbid, American sushi variations like avocado rolls,” Fackler writes.
Is Your Kilt Up to Code?
by Jim Benning | 06.25.07 | 3:31 PM ET
When I first heard about a new law related to kilts, I naturally assumed it had something to do with the hordes of kilt-wearing, buttocks-baring Scots now invading Poland. But it turns out the new law has nothing to do with protecting the poor, terrorized Polish men and women who have suffered the indignity of witnessing one too many bare Scottish buttocks. In fact, the law has everything to do with protecting the poor, terrorized, protected species—otters and badgers, to name just two—whose fur has traditionally been used to make sporrans, the little purses often worn with kilts. Kilt wearers, it seems, may now have to get a license for their sporrans. Well that’s great for the otters and badgers. But what about the good people of Poland? Who’s protecting them?
Cameron Diaz to Peru: Lo Siento Mucho
by Jim Benning | 06.25.07 | 1:02 PM ET
Poor Cameron Diaz. She was only going for the commie-chic, retro-kitsch look on her trip to Peru. Instead, she wound up offending Peruvians. On a visit to Machu Picchu Friday for the taping of a Canadian TV show called “4 Real,” Diaz toted an olive green bag featuring a red star and the words “Serve the People” in Chinese. That old Mao-era propoganda is hip among many young people in China—the same crazy kids enjoying plates of “Socialist Economic Model” at Beijing’s Red Capital Club. But is it hip in Peru? Not so much.
The World Hum Travel Zeitgeist: From Weddings in Las Vegas to Flirting in Turkey
by Michael Yessis | 06.22.07 | 12:34 PM ET
Can you feel the love? Yes, travelers have romance on their minds, and not just because it’s the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Here’s the Zeitgeist.
Most E-Mailed Travel Story
New York Times (current)
Boston: The Taming of Southie
“Hot This Week” Destination
Yahoo! (this week)
Wellington, New Zealand
Most Viewed Travel Story
Los Angeles Times (current)
A Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Las Vegas Wedding Options
* With video starring an Elvis impersonator, of course
Most E-Mailed Travel Story
USA Today (current)
Heathrow’s Bad Connections Leave Passengers Fuming
Most Popular Page Tagged Travel
Del.icio.us (recent)
Vayama.com
Most Read Feature
World Hum (this week)
The Woman in the Kuffiya
Most Popular Travel Podcast
iTunes (current)
National Geographic’s Atmosphere
* Current podcast: Mount Everest Expedition
Top Travel and Adventure Audiobook
iTunes (current)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Most Viewed Travel Story
Telegraph UK (current)
Time to Move On?
* An explanation of why the Queen Elizabeth 2 was “left behind.”
‘Glacier Girl’ Set to Complete Flight Begun 65 Years Ago
by Michael Yessis | 06.22.07 | 12:23 PM ET
This afternoon, a restored P-38 airplane that made an emergency landing in Greenland in 1942, and became buried under ice for 50 years, will take off from New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport in an attempt to complete its mission—to fly to England. “Glacier Girl” was part of an eight-plane team flying from the U.S. to England to help with allied defenses during World War II when rough weather over Greenland forced all the planes onto the ice. In the early ‘90s, The Lost Squadron was located and “Glacier Girl” was excavated from under more than 200 feet of ice.
Holy Sites or Hot Babes? Israel’s Tourism Controversy Rages On.*
by Jim Benning | 06.22.07 | 12:01 PM ET
We thought the Maxim photo-shoot controversy we wrote about in April was all over. We figured the whole question of whether Israel should promote tourism by inviting Maxim magazine to photograph babes in bikinis in Tel Aviv—or just stick to a more traditional campaign focusing on Holy Land sites—was finally chalked up to one of those great unanswerable questions, not unlike, say, Jon Stewart’s recent question to “A Mighty Heart” star Angelina Jolie about whether the burka she wore in Pakistan was capable of containing all of her hotness. Some questions are simply too profound for answers. But the Maxim controversy rages on.
‘Sopranos’ Tourism Surges in Wake of Series End
by Michael Yessis | 06.22.07 | 11:57 AM ET
It’s been almost two weeks now since HBO’s immensely popular series “The Sopranos” ended in the booth of a New Jersey diner with an order of onion rings on the table, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” on the jukebox and an abrupt black screen. Now travelers are descending on that diner—actually an ice cream parlor in Bloomfield called Holsten’s, according to an AP story by Janet Frankston Lorin—looking to eat Tony Soprano’s last meal or to sit in that same booth. “The phone just rings constantly all day from people wanting to make reservations,” co-owner Chris Carley said. “They ask ‘Can we reserve the booth? Can we get a T-shirt?”’ Longer “Sopranos” bus tours in New York and New Jersey are also gaining popularity.
Stonehenge Welcomes ‘Druids, Drummers, Pagans and Partygoers’
by Michael Yessis | 06.21.07 | 3:23 PM ET
They partied like it was 3,000 B.C. at Stonehenge today. It’s the summer solstice, and according to the AP, more than 20,000 people made the pilgrimage to the mysterious prehistoric monument on the Salisbury Plain. They’re giving it love, but we hope not too much.
Introducing the ‘Hank Aaron 755’ Airplane (and Other Sports-Star Tributes We’d Like to See)
by Michael Yessis | 06.21.07 | 2:29 PM ET
Delta Air Lines has honored one of its hometown heroes, Atlanta Braves baseball legend Hank Aaron, with the “Hank Aaron 755” plane—a craft featuring his likeness and the number corresponding to his soon-to-fall career home run record. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants is on pace to surpass Aaron’s 755 home runs later this summer, but the 73-year-old hall of famer didn’t mention his challenger during the unveiling ceremony. “I am so thrilled to have an airplane named after me,” he said, according to an AP report. “This is something I never dreamed about. As my mother always said, you’ve come a long ways baby, and enjoy yourself.” As far as I can tell from the story and Delta’s press release, the Boeing 757 plane won’t see any changes beyond the new paint job. Too bad. What Delta really should have done to honor Hammerin’ Hank is purchased an Airbus A380 and outfitted it with 755 seats. Some other ways airlines may want to pay tribute to the world’s sports stars:
Recent Features
-
Back to The Beach: A Lost Interview with Alex Garland
Twenty years ago, Frank Bures chatted with a young Alex Garland about his travel novel,...
-
A Sort of Homecoming
Ivana Waz left Serbia for America when she was 14. She returned to her homeland with her son to answer the question: Was she more Serbian or American?
-
How Korean Karaoke Changed My Life
After being turned away from the school choir, Lavinia Spalding lost her love of public singing. Then she moved to South Korea.
- Riding the Slot
- Road Trip to the Spiritual Assembly
Join the Discussion
Email Your Tip
Got a suggestion? Send it to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)