Travel Blog

Photo of surfers in Munich by Goetz A. Primke, via Flickr, (Creative Commons).

Ever mixed up Turkmenistan and Tajikistan? Or Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan? (Guilty, on both counts.) Gadling’s Aaron Hotfelder comes to the rescue with his handy series on Keeping the ‘Stans Straight. Not only are his posts helping to fill a gap in my geography knowledge, but it’s also refreshing, amidst a sea of “hot” 2008 destination lists, to read about a region that is still decidedly “not.” The latest installment: Afghanistan.

R.I.P. Sir Edmund Hillary

by Jim Benning | 01.10.08 | 5:26 PM ET

Sir Edmund Hillary has died at the age of 88. He was the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, and he went on to devote much of his life to exploration and humanitarian work in Nepal. In a 1998 profile of Hillary for Salon.com, Don George placed Hillary in the pantheon of great adventurers:

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Where in the World Are You, Valerie Ng?

by Jim Benning | 01.10.08 | 2:47 PM ET

The subject of our latest nearly up-to-the-minute interview with a traveler somewhere in the world: freelance writer and World Hum contributor Valerie Ng. Her response landed in our inbox last night.

Where in the world are you?

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From ‘Tanorexia’ to ‘Floordrobe’: The Latest Lingo in Australish

by Jim Benning | 01.10.08 | 10:57 AM ET

Before your next trip down under, consider brushing up on Australia’s latest words and phrases, including “tanorexia,” which Reuters explains “refers to an obsession with a suntan.”

Why Does Los Angeles’ Metro Rail Stop Two Miles Short of LAX?

by Jim Benning | 01.10.08 | 10:32 AM ET

“I used to believe in conspiracies,” says a former city councilwoman, “until I discovered incompetence.” (Via LAObserved)

Related on World Hum:
* ‘Hey America, Make With the !@~$ High-Speed Rail Already’

Is Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Vulnerable to Hackers?

by Michael Yessis | 01.10.08 | 10:10 AM ET

A Wired story examines whether the “computer network in the Dreamliner’s passenger compartment, designed to give passengers in-flight Internet access, is connected to the plane’s control, navigation and communication systems.” The Federal Aviation Administration issued a report on an apparent vulnerability, and Boeing spokesperson Lori Gunter told Wired that the document is “misleading.” Nevertheless, Gunter says Boeing is addressing the issue and the plane will safe before it makes its public debut.

Related on World Hum:
* Former Boeing Engineer Questions Safety of 787 Dreamliner
* Boeing Unveils 787 Dreamliner

Photo courtesy of The Boeing Company.

Italian Politician on Naples: ‘It’s Worse Than Kabul’

by Eva Holland | 01.10.08 | 9:23 AM ET

Six months after the U.S. Embassy in Italy issued a travel advisory over mounting garbage in Naples, the Italian city is taking decisive action. Or at least, it’s taking action. According to Reuters, a new “trash tsar” has been appointed to clean up the streets—literally. But considering that the latest appointment is one in a series of tsar-ships that began in 1994, when Naples first declared a state of emergency that has never been lifted, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.

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Kenya: To Go or Not to Go?

by Jim Benning | 01.09.08 | 5:37 PM ET

That’s the question travelers are asking in light of the violence that has followed Kenya’s Dec. 27 presidential election.

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Marilyn Monroe, Same-Sex Marriage and the Meaning of Niagara Falls

by Michael Yessis | 01.09.08 | 4:48 PM ET

A recent international incident notwithstanding, Niagara Falls’ moment in the sun has long passed. Yet, as a story in the latest Believer says, it still packs a hell of a symbolic wallop.

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R.I.P. Philip Agee

by Michael Yessis | 01.09.08 | 11:47 AM ET

The former CIA agent, who died this morning in Havana following ulcer surgery, famously outed purported agency operatives in a book, but he also played an eccentric role in the world of travel: He established a travel Web site to help U.S. travelers visit Cuba in defiance of the government ban. He was 72.

Related on World Hum:
* Americans Defy Cuba Travel Ban Before ‘Other Americans…Ruin it All’