Roam the Planet: May 2006

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park, California

The Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert come together in Southern California to form the Joshua Tree National Park. Made up of 800,000 acres, this unique stretch of land was declared a U.S. National Park in 1994. Viewed from the road, the park doesn't seem to offer much but upon closer examination, visitors will find a fascinating variety of plants and animals, a rich cultural history, and surreal geological features. There are also plenty of activities to participate in including park tours, superb rock climbing, and camping.

For more info:

National Park Service

WikiTravel Joshua Tree National Park Travel Guide

Joshua Tree National Park Virtual Tour

Joshua Tree National Park Specialty Lodging

tags: joshuatreenationalpark, california, travel, vacation

Check this out!

Top 25 Free New York Experiences

image originally uploaded by automatt on flickr

So head over to Fodor's and check out this great list of free things to see and do in the NYC. Some of these include:

Riding the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty

Catching Shakespeare in the Park

The Museum of Modern Art

Going to the New York Botanical Garden

Visiting the Bronx Zoo

Related:

Best New York Street Food

New York Hotel Alternatives

New York Travel Tips

tags: newyork, bronx, travel, vacation, free

Get Your Drink On!

image originally uploaded by melyviz on flickr

So here is a short history of the some of the world's most famous beverages:

Vodka was first seen in Russia in the 15th century where it was manufactured in monasteries. It was originally made from grain which was abundant in Russia. Later, in the 1530's, vodka started being produced on a mass scale by the state which tried to maintain a monopoly on the substance. Needless to say, this idea didn't work very well over the centuries. By the 18th century, almost every landowner had their own distillery. In 1885, bottles were introduced (as opposed to barrels before then) which led to worldwide consumption. Today, there are thousands of brands and flavors of vodka to choose from.

Ouzo is a licorice-flavored liqueur that originated in 19th century Greece. The history behind ouzo is hazy and it's true origin is uncertain. Following Greek independence, ouzo production mostly took place on the island of Lesbos (still a major producer). Many ingredients are used to make this strong spirit but anise is what gives it it's unique flavor. The end product is 40% ABV and is served in cafes all over Greece.

Tequila was first introduced in the 16th century near the town of Tequila, Mexico. This alcoholic beverage is made from the agave plant only found in Mexico. In the year 1600, Don Pedro Sanchez de Tagle began mass production at the first known tequila factory in Jalisco. The type of tequila that is popular today was first mass produced in the early 1800's.

Related:

The Vodka Train

The Ouzo Museum

Pictures from Tequila

tags: vodka, russia, ouzo, greece, tequila, mexico, travel, vacation, agave, anise

The Great Blue Hole of Belize

photo courtesy of 43places.com

The Great Blue Hole, an underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize, lies at the center of Lighthouse Reef. It was originally a limestone cave system during the last ice age and eventually flooded and then collapsed. The hole is approximately 1000 feet across and 400 feet deep. The area was made famous by Jacques Cousteau who declared it one of the top dive sites in the world. Today, people who visit The Great Blue Hole say that diving here is a unique and spectacular experience.

Related:

Ambergris Caye Tourism

Blue Hole Scuba Diving

Curse of The Great Blue Hole

tags: greatbluehole, belize, ambergriscaye, lighthousereef, travel, scubadiving, vacation

Visit the Taj Mahal

image originally uploaded by prince roy on flickr

Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in December of 1631. The white marble mausoleum stands in a formal garden on the River Yamuna amongst the desert of Agra, India. Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is the most well-preserved tomb in the world.

From Angelfire:

Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. It was designed by the Iranian architect Ustad Isa and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a "symbol of eternal love".

In addition to the tomb itself, the Taj Mahal is actually a large complex of buildings. There are several additional mausoleums, a mosque, four towers, and a building constructed simply for architectural balance. Other points of interest on the grounds are the intricate passages of the Qu'ran and the abstract, geometric decorations that cover the walls, ceilings, and domes.

For more info:

Explore the Taj Mahal Online

Getting to the Taj Mahal

Travelling to India

tags: india, taj, mahal, agra, travel, vacation

Russian Architecture

image originally uploaded by josef stuefer on flickr

Over the centuries, Russian architecture has been influenced by many sources including the Mongols, Europeans, and the Communists. Probably the biggest influence, however, came from the Byzantine Empire. This is evident in the large number of domes that adorn Russian buildings and churches that were built prior to the 17th century.

After the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the architecture of Russia began to borrow more from European rather than from Eastern styles. Around 1750, the palaces and cathedrals that emerged were decorated with pediments, arches, and columns. This was due to the fact that Peter The Great brought European architects over to design the important buildings of St. Petersburg, his namesake.

The 20th century brought the Russian Revolution and with it, mass produced building components. As a result, large, neo-gothic skyscrapers became all the rage. Josef Stalin brought about major changes in the Russian economy that allowed it to flourish. He wanted Russian buildings to rival American skyscrapers so he devised the construction of the "Seven Sisters", a group of large buildings at the center of Moscow.

In recent years, the architecture of Russia has experienced another urban revival. In the next 15 years, another 60 buildings will be constructed in Moscow alone. In addition, a renewed interest in traditional Russian architecture has prompted the preservation of many older, wooden churches and buildings.

To learn more:

History of Russian Architecture

Russian National Group

Lonely Planet's WorldGuide to Russia

tags: russia, architecture, byzantine, moscow, history, travel,

Tourist Farms of Slovenia

image originally uploaded by paleontour on flickr

There are over 200 tourist farms across Slovenia that allow you to come in contact with the people, their customs, and not to mention the beautiful scenery. Some of the farms boast home-cooked meals, horseback riding, kayaking, paragliding, and skiing. Sounds like there is always plenty to do and see here. The locals are especially proud of their wines, brandies, and herbal medicines.

Related:

Slovenia Travel Guide

Tourist Farms of Slovenia

More Slovenia info

tags: slovenia, farms, tourism, vacations, travel

Famous Buddhist Temples

Byodo-In Temple, Oahu, Hawaii

Even though I've only been to one Buddhist temple in my life, I was immediately drawn to it and didn't want to leave. Ever. It was the most peaceful place I had ever been to and I hope I get the chance to visit many more Buddhist temples in the future. Here is a list of some of the more famous temples around the world:

The Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii is a replica of a temple in Japan. It contains the largest Buddha statue carved in the last 900 years and the grounds contain koi ponds, wild peacocks, and black swans.

The Nan Tien Temple of Berkeley, Australia is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The land on which the temple sits was purchased from the Australian government for only $1 and it's architecture is notable because it incorporates many different styles of Buddhism.

In Bodh Gaya, India, the Mahabodhi Temple marks the location where Siddhartha Buddha attained enlightenment. Every year, there are several festivals to celebrate the historical events surrounding the Buddha's life.

The Daigo-ji Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Kyoto, Japan. Several of it's structures and buildings are considered national treasures of Japan.

tags: buddha, buddhism, temple, australia, hawaii, oahu, india, , kyoto, japan

In Pictures

image originally uploaded by automatt on flickr

I spend a lot of time looking for cool pictures so I thought I might share some of the photo galleries that I have come across recently:

Summer Skiing in San Francisco

Female Android Debuts in S. Korea

Deap Sea Creatures

The Beer Collection

tags: photos, pictures, gallery, beer, android, ski, san, francisco,

The Driest Place on Earth

photo courtesy of NASA

Some parts of Chile's Atacama Desert haven't seen a drop of rain since recordkeeping began. Despite this, over a million people occupy this 600 mile stretch of land, mostly in fishing villages and coastal towns. The locals have come up with ingenious ways of collecting moisture , mostly from fog, and have even figured out how to farm the land. Quite amazing considering that scientists have not been able to even find bacteria in the soil.

Travellers have plenty to explore in this remote place. The Atacama is home to a large flamingo breeding colony, the world's highest geyser field, salt lakes, and several volcanoes. Not to mention little villages, sacred Inca sites, and many churches.

Related:

Atacama Desert Vacation

Atacama Desert Photo Gallery

History of Chile

tags: atacama, desert, chile, vacation, travel

Sketches of Frank Gehry

photo courtesy of trailerdownload

The legendary actor/producer/director, Sydney Pollack, brings us Sketches of Frank Gehry, a documentary about the work and methods of world-famous architect, Frank O. Gehry. Pollack explores the process of turning Gehry's sketches into three-dimensional models (often made of cardboard and scotch tape) and, ultimately, into finished buildings.

Related:

Reviews for Sketches of Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry Architecture Images

Gehry Work Under Construction

tags: frank, gehry, sydney, pollack, architecture, documentary

Visit the Louvre

image originally uploaded by omar omar on flickr

As the world's most famous art museum, the Louvre sees 7.5 million visitors each year and has a staff of 2,000. Once a royal palace, the Louvre lies at the center of Paris and was opened to the public in 1793 during the French Revolution. The museum holds the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Besides art, the Louvre has many exhibits on architecture, history and archealogy.

Since many works at the Louvre are in storage, a new extension is under construction north of Paris in the town of Lens. The new facility will attract 500,000 visitors each year and will house 500-600 pieces. It is scheduled to be completed in 2009 and is reported to cost $158 million dollars.

Related:

Life at the Louvre

Paris Vacations

Lens Travel Deals

tags: paris, louvre, lens, france, travel, vacation, museum

The World's Best Public Transportation Systems

image originally uploaded by moriza on flickr

Tokyo offers the world's largest and most efficient network of trains, subways, buses, monorails and trams. Over 20 million people depend on this system every day as most residents don't own cars. If you're planning on visiting Japan, a Japan Rail Pass would be a wise investment because it allows for unlimited travel on all Japan Railways lines.

Prague has a well known public transportation system that is used by two-thirds of the city's population. There are tourist passes available that allow you to use any type of mass transit in and around Prague as many times as you want within the time period for which your pass is valid. A complete list of tickets, fares, and schedules are available here.

The transit system of Vancouver covers over 1,100 miles and operates seven days a week, 18-20 hours a day. Rapid transit is available on the SkyTrain and the SeaBus offers transport between Vancouver and North Vancouver.

San Francisco has a multitude of public transit options including the Muni (San Francisco only), CalTrain (reaches from San Francisco down to Gilroy) and Bart (travels to the East Bay). These will take you anywhere you need to go in Bay area.

tags: tokyo, vancouver, prague, san, francisco, transportation, subway, train, travel

Net SAAver discount air fare to Hawaii

American Airlines just posted a long list of discounted fares to Hawaii from various U.S. cities (including a few Hawaiian cities for you lucky island-hoppers). Buy tickets online and get "up to" 1000 bonus AAdvantage miles. Restrictions include: You have to buy the tickets at least 7 days in advance, and the fares cover travel through June 8, 2006.

After you buy tickets, check the Hawaii page on TripAdvisor to find a good deal on a hotel. Happy sailing!

tags: aadvantage, hawaii, discount, travel

Did you know water can explode?

It will if you add certain alkali metals to it, as this Brainiac video proves by blowing up a bathtub.

The Brainiac team uses rubidium and caesium for their biggest explosions, both of which react violently when placed in cold water. Caesium is particularly nasty. Don't try this at home, in other words.

tags: science, chemistry, rubidium, caesium, water, explosion

Useless Facts

image originally uploaded by refractor on flickr

From Hooked on Facts:

The streets of Victor, Colorado, once a gold rush town, are paved with low-grade gold.

The average home creates more pollution than does the average car.

Real diamonds can be made from peanut butter.

Alaska has the highest percentage of people who walk to work.

From Angelfire:

It is against the law to whale hunt in Oklahoma.

In Saudi Arabia, a woman reportedly may divorce her husband if he does not keep her supplied with coffee.

Mount St. Helens dropped 1,313 feet in 1980.

tags: useless, facts, alaska, victor, colorado, oklahoma, divorce, saudi, arabia

Got cajones?

photo courtesy of Incentive Travel

I guess some people just don't get enough out of life as it is. Here are a few examples of things that would get the old adrenalin pumpin':

The Grand Canyon Skywalk Project in Arizona is unbelievable. Standing on 4-inch thick glass 4,000 feet directly above the canyon floor just doesn't sound appealling to me. Maybe to others but not to me. Check out some of the comments at the link above. They're freakin' hilarious.

If you like sharks, you can always go cage diving with Great Whites in South Africa. The only downfall: some of the smaller sharks can squeeze through the bars. Ummm...No thanks.

Running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain sounds kinda cool. Until you get gored to death, that is. Did you know that the encierro (the actual running away part) only lasts for 3 minutes?

tags: arizona, spain, south, africa, encierro, pamplona

Alternative Accomodations in Europe

image originally uploaded by babasteve on flickr

The possibilities are endless here. Just to name a few:

In Switzerland, a group of 200 farmers rent out their barns out to travelers in the summer for $15 a night. They even include breakfast. Believe it or not, people have said it's the best night's sleep they had while in Europe.

In Spain, they like to get naked.

Restoring ancient castles in France sounds like it would be a unique and interesting experience. Small villages, local wine tastings and nothing but organic food are just a few of the perks (not to mention the price:$750).

For about $770, you can spend a month at Summer Prague University learning about the Czech language and culture in the center of Prague.

Technorati Tags: switzerland, europe, spain, france, prague, vacations, travel

The Summer Resort Towns of Estonia

image originally uploaded by jurvetson on flickr

The town of Pärnu has been dubbed the "summer capital" of Estonia and it has been a favorite tourist destination for centuries. According to the experts, you will probably need about a week to explore everything Pärnu has to offer. The town has a widely popular theatre following and has tons of indoor and outdoor venues to prove it. Pärnu also has beautiful beaches, a famous yacht club and several museums. The highlights of the Pärnu summer season are the Watergate water festival (for water sports and sailing enthusiasts) and the Moonsund Regatta (an annual offshore racing event). As far as accomodations, you have plenty to choose from: beautiful hotels, cozy villas, tourism farms and camping sites.

Haapsalu is a resort town which was founded in the 13th century. It is known for it's warm sea water and curative mud. The most notable sights in Haapsalu are the Assembly Hall, the Promenade and the Episcopal Palace (a 15th century castle that was blown up in 1715 by Tsar Peter I to prevent its use as a stronghold). The summer season brings the Old Music Festival, the Ptojr Tchaikovsky Music Festival and the August Blues Festival. The town boasts spa resorts, old Nordic style homes and a peaceful atmosphere.

Related:

Estonia Travel Guide

Pärnu Vacations

Haapsalu Attractions

Technorati Tags: estonia, parnu, haapsalu, vacation, travel, august blues festival, watergate water festival, moonsund regatta

Doctor? Doctor.

Google's Dr. Razavi publishes a blog of "practical but not all inclusive responses to FAQ's from my Google and my private practice patients," including Travel Recommendations for China and India.

Technorati Tags: health, travel, china, india, google, blog

Quick Picks

Pescadero, CA

Over at Forbes.com, there is a cool little slideshow of the ten tallest buildings in the world.

According to News of the Weird, some kid from Ottawa, Illinois felt that in order to make his life "memorable", he had to get 1,016 piercings in one sitting just to get in to The Guinness Book of World Records.

Scientists are claiming that a substance called mucilage, which gets extracted from cactus plants, can change contaminated water in to fresh, drinking water. Science News for Kids

Technorati Tags: pescadero, california, forbes.com, buildings, slideshow, news of the weird, ottawa, illinois, piercings, the guinness book of world records, mucilage, cactus, plants, science news for kids

Dalmatian Riding a Bike in Japan

I'm not sure why but every time I see this video, I can't help but die laughing.

Some of the Health Benefits of Dead Sea Mud

image originally uploaded by Just Jane on flickr

From Wikipedia:

The mineral content of the waters, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects. For example: persons suffering reduced respiratory function from diseases such as cystic fibrosis, seem to benefit from the increased atmospheric pressure.

From Canada.com:

The curative properties of the Dead Sea have been recognized since Herod the Great more than 2,000 years ago. There's sodium, which balances the skin pH, magnesium, which enhances skin metabolism, bromine, which acts as a relaxant, and detoxifying sulphur. Cleopatra had Mark Antony conquered the area, and at her command, pharmaceutical and cosmetics factories were built.

Technorati Tags: wikipedia, minerals, pollens, allergens, atmosphere, ultraviolet, solar radiation, diseases, cystic fibrosis, dead sea, canada.com, herod the great, sodium, pH, magnesium, metabolism, bromine, relaxant, sulphur, cleopatra, marc antony

Discover the Nazca Lines of Peru

Photo courtesy of Hat.Net

Scientists have been baffled by large geometric figures and lines spread across the Peruvian desert since their discovery in 1939. According to About.com, there are over 300 of these drawings, the largest of which is 1000 feet across. They are approximately 2,000 years old and were etched by three different native groups.

No one has been able to explain the purpose of these figures but there are several theories. The most interesting (and perplexing) is the theory put forth by Erich von Daniken who "argued...that they are the remains of a giant extraterrestrial airport".

The Nazca Lines are very popular tourist destinations in Peru. There are several ways to see the lines: You can catch a bus, charter an airplane, or take a hot air balloon ride over the desert. There are plenty of other things to do in the area, as well. Several museums and archeological sites dot the landscape in this region of Peru.

Related:

Nazca Travel Guide at Peru For Less
Volunteering in Peru
The History of Nazca, Peru

Technorati Tags: nazca, peru, bus, airplane, hot air balloon, nazca lines, erich von daniken, extraterrestrial airport

Expect a Weak 2006 Hurricane Season

image originally uploaded by GISuser.com on flickr

According to Larry O'Hanlon at Discovery News, many weather experts agree that the 2006 hurricane season will be less severe than last year. Sensors and buoys have been tracking the effects of La Niña, the "unusually cool surface water in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean" that has basically disappeared since late last year. Although this won't guarantee that we won't see any hurricanes this year, it is seen as a good sign.
Over at the Tulane Hullabaloo, a storm expert by the name of Gary Gray "continues to project 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, five intense. That would be considerably more active than the average season of 10 named storms, including six hurricanes, two intense. Yet it would be significantly slower than the 27 named storms, including 15 hurricanes that made 2005 the busiest and most destructive season on record."
Overall, this is pretty good news for travellers. But I guess this assumes that people can accurately predict the weather. Vaya con Dios, people!

Technorati Tags: weather, hurricane, 2006, storm, la nina, pacific ocean, discovery news, sensors, buoys

Win the Chance to Write for Lonely Planet

image originally uploaded by ah BOB lee -- the JiuHukia on flickr

So if you haven't noticed, here at RTP, we are thoroughly impressed by Lonely Planet's annual publication, BlueList. Every year, they hold a huge competition where they allow everyone to write a BlueList of their own. From there, they pick three lucky winners. This year the prizes include: six nights in Shanghai with a Lonely Planet author, the opportunity to write for Lonely Planet, and their winning entry will be published in next year's BlueList. Here are a few of the interesting entries:

5 Places to See Before They Say Goodbye

Things That Get 'Lost' in Japan

Top 5 Ways to Kill 12 Hours in Cairo Airport (Without Money)

Technorati Tags: lonely planet, bluelist, shanghai, competition, japan, cairo, egypt

National Geographic Expeditions

Photo courtesy of Virtual New Zealand

The National Geographic Expeditions site is really worth checking out. If you are looking for unique family vacations and you have money to burn, this is the place for you. A couple that caught my eye:

Around the World by Private Jet

Alaska Family Voyage

And my favorite:

Navigating New Zealand's North and South Islands

What could possibly be better than spending 2 weeks on a luxury yacht travelling down the breathtaking New Zealand coast? Some of the perks include: snorkeling with dolphins, spectacular parks, and exploring several cities and towns.

Technorati Tags: new zealand, travel, yacht, national geographic expeditions, alaska, private jet, family vacations, dolphins

See Hawaii on a budget

You really do need to visit Hawaii at least once. If you've been there before, I don't have to convince you to go again -- you know how incredible it is. Before I went, I thought many of the postcards I'd seen of Hawaii were fake or "enhanced" photos of rainbows, waterfalls and sunsets. But it turns out they're not fake. Hawaii is so beautiful it almost doesn't look real. The picture above is definitely not fake. My wife took it on our wedding night just minutes after we got married on the beach -- under a double rainbow. Hawaii is spectacular.

Unfortunately it's not the cheapest of vacations, but you can do it on a budget (we did). The plane tickets can be the most expensive part of the trip, but Aloha Airlines has a "Spring Special" going with pretty big discounts on airfare. Some examples:

San Diego to Maui for $159
Orange County to Honolulu for $169
Sacramento to Maui for $159
Oakland to Kona for $149

Now all you have to do is get to the West Coast, and finding cheap fares for those flights is much easier than cheap flights to Hawaii. The hardest part's over. Go have a blast!

Queen of Trees worth watching

Caught the last hour of "The Queen of Trees" (the latest installment of the PBS series "Nature") today. I'd been looking for sports but the Nature program instantly engrossed me. A fig tree and a community of tiny wasps carry on a fascinating symbiotic relationship:

There is typically only one species of wasp capable of fertilizing the flowers of each species of fig, and therefore plantings of fig species outside of their native range results in effectively sterile individuals. For example, in Hawaii, some 60 species of figs have been introduced, but only four of the wasps that fertilize them have been introduced, so only four species of figs produce viable seeds there. (Wikipedia)

Neil Genzlinger approves in the New York Times article "PBS 'Nature' Series, 'Queen of Trees,' Focuses on Giant Fig and Tiny Wasp."

Sex, drunkenness, treachery, murder. Not bad for a nature program about a fig tree.

"The Queen of Trees," an installment of the PBS series "Nature" tomorrow night, is full of little dramas of perseverance and interdependence, and no matter what your belief about how the world came to be, it will leave you awfully impressed at the handiwork.

So does Shannon Huebscher in Film Monthly.

Growing up I had a crabapple tree in my backyard, and every spring when it would blossom, the flowers were amazing. But as the flowers wilted and made way for the crabapples to grow and ripen, they would drop onto our concrete patio and become engrossed by insects and put off a horrible stench. After watching the NATURE documentary Queen of Trees, I have come to appreciate this process, rather than look back on it with a not-so-fond memory.

The film won a Peabody award.

The Queen of Trees, which the Peabody board called "a magnificent nature film," profiles an African sycomore [with an "o"] fig tree, an eco-system in and of itself. Presented in high definition, The Queen of Trees uses macro-photography to convey in extraordinarily vivid detail the astonishing relationship between the sycomore fig tree and the fig wasp - and its far-reaching ecological consequences. The Queen of Trees is a co-production of Deeble and Stone Productions, Thirteen/WNET New York, NHK, Granada International, BBC, and ZDF.