Results tagged “Traveler” from Intelligent Travel Blog

If you haven't yet snagged it, be sure to pick up a copy of the October issue of National Geographic Magazine for their incredible cover story about National Geographic explorer-in-residence Michael Fay's 11-month journey walking through the Redwoods, from Big Sur to just beyond the Oregon border. I read it last night, and this paragraph alone captivated me:

Fording a vein of emerald water known as the South Fork of the Eel, they climbed the far bank and entered the translucent shade of the most magnificent grove they'd seen yet. Redwoods the size of Saturn rockets sprouted from the ground like giant beanstalks, their butts blackened by fire. Some bore thick, ropy bark that spiraled sky­ward in candy-cane swirls. Others had huge cav­ities known as goose pens--after the use early pio­neers put them to--big enough to hold 20 people. Treetops the size of VW buses lay half-buried among the sorrel and sword ferns, where they'd plummeted from 30 stories up--the casualties of titanic wars with the wind, which even now coursed through the tops with panpipe-like creaks and groans. It's no wonder Steven Spielberg and George Lucas filmed scenes for the Jurassic Park sequel and Return of the Jedi among the redwood giants: It felt as if a T. rex or a furry Ewok could poke its head out at any minute.

The Redwoods also happen to be featured in the latest issue of Traveler, as one our "50 Places of a Lifetime." In his essay, author Richard Preston notes that "when I'm in the Redwoods, I always get the sense that time is slowing down, slowing almost to the point where it hardly seems to exist as an influence in one's life. If human time is a fast-running brook, redwood time is a deep, dreaming river." You can find the entire essay in our October issue, on newsstands now.

Have you experienced the Redwoods yourself? If you have, share your experiences. And if you haven't (and even if you have) click through for a glimpse at the spectacular photo collage of 84 images that Michael Nichols created of one of the tallest trees. It's an insert in the latest issue of National Geographic, and you can see more spectacular images here.

Above Photo: ©2009 Michael Nichols/National Geographic Staff

Our November/December issue is a special collector's edition, "50 Places of a Lifetime," and it's heading to a mailbox or newsstand near you. Here's the introduction to the package from the pages of the magazine; the complete list of all of our Places of a Lifetime can be found after the jump.

A decade ago, Traveler published a landmark issue-- "50 Places of a Lifetime"--that in subsequent years has become something of a hallmark of the magazine, spawning related books, podcasts, special issues, web content, games, mobile apps--even a round-the-world jet trip from National Geographic Expeditions to lift off in October 2010. Long before The Bucket List and 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, we sought to showcase those treasured destinations that every curious traveler should visit in a lifetime.

Now, in Traveler's 25th-anniversary year, we recognize the first 50 places and offer another 50 that speak to the transformation of travel since 1999--how we travel, where we travel, why we travel. Ten years ago, we could see the emerging signs of a new kind of journeying--one that puts a premium on sense of place, authenticity, culture, sustainability, and experience rather than mere sightseeing.

These elements became the compass we use to steer you to destinations that are more than just numbers in a hot list. Our first 50 picks were icons the world collectively recognizes as superlative. What we offer in the following pages is what sets this magazine apart. We go beyond the obvious. You'll see that we've picked locations of character--and asked those with a personal connection to them to tell us why they are important, unique, compelling. Some are places you may know but haven't seen the way we view them here. Others, we hope, are surprises that may seduce you to explore them firsthand. We address what makes a destination special, what will reward the traveler, why you should come here rather than go somewhere else. We are more sensitive than ever to the fact that many places we love most are deeply threatened--and our challenge is to preserve them for future generations. When they travel, I want my children to know the same joy I feel every time I discover somewhere new and different. We all begin that journey by finding a place that sings to us. We hope you find many destinations in these pages that do just that. --Keith Bellows, Editor in Chief

Traveler alumnus and Travel Telegraph blogger Emily Haile is spending the next several months in Taiwan, and she sent us a note from her new home.

Before I left home, I looked on Flickr for some photos of Taiwan and was immediately captivated by the photographs of John&Fish.

When I arrived in the city, I sent them a message through Flickr. A few days later, they were driving me to their home overlooking the Waishuangxi River (sometime written Waishuangsi). Fish set out a feast of sushi and sashimi that was entirely vegetarian. They are devout buddhists, and will not eat any kind of flesh. Between bites, they told me about their adventures bird watching in Taiwan.

By day, they work for a software programming company; every weekend they turn into avid birdwatchers, driving around the island and into the mountains in search of kingfishers, grebes, terns, and egrets. John shows me his camera. The lens looks about as long as an elephant's trunk.

We love our Trip Lit book critic, Don George, so we were excited to hear that we'll be seeing more of him around the office. Starting this fall, Don will be hosting a series of conversations with all-star authors whose works evoke a strong sense of place. His first event will be with best-selling author Amy Tan this September 23, at 7:30 p.m. at our headquarters in D.C. Here's a bit about her and the event itself:

Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from China, Amy Tan rejected her mother's expectations that she become a doctor and concert pianist and chose to write fiction instead. Her acclaimed novels include The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, and The Bonesetter's Daughter; and she has adapted her work for film, television, and opera. In a wide-ranging conversation, Tan will discuss, with Traveler editor Don George, the life-changing challenges of living in two cultures, the importance of fate and family in her life and work, and the places that have most moved and inspired her.

The evening will be preceded by a reception featuring beers from around the world, presented with generous support from the Michelob Brewing Company (must be 21 or older).

Click here for more information and to order tickets. The next event, which will feature travel writer Simon Winchester, will be held October 15. We hope to see you there!

Photo: John Foley
 

Traveler and Photo District News are currently hosting our annual World in Focus Photo Contest, and this year we're letting readers preview the submissions and vote on their favorites. Here's one of of the featured shots from this week:

Hitting the road this summer? Just because you're out of your comfort zone doesn't mean that your eco-friendly habits have to go on vacation too. Responsibletravel.com recently surveyed their readers about which travel faux pas they noticed most often in tourists. It's bad enough looking the part, do your best not to act it by avoiding these ill-minded actions.

1. "Littering - especially plastic bags."
2. "Purchasing illegal souvenirs or food produce."
3. "Wasting water in destinations which face shortages e.g. Spain."
4. "Leaving lights on."
5. "Leaving air conditioning on in hotel rooms when you're not in them."
6. "Purchasing mineral water in plastic water bottles when the hotel provides drinkable water for re-fills."
7. "Standing on coral reefs. It takes approx. one hundred years for one inch of coral to grow. By killing it you affect the whole eco system."
8. "Disturbing wild animals by getting as close as possible for a better picture."
9. "Throwing cigarette butts on the ground."
10. "Failing to take advantage of recycling facilities where offered."

Of course, there's hope for all of us, and lots of great ways to stay green while you're traveling. For more tips and ideas, check out Traveler's Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel. And National Geographic's Green Guide just launched their huge online package on having an eco-savvy summer, offering tips on what not to bring to the beach, a "How Green is Your Road Trip" quiz, and yes, even a buying guide to eco-friendly beer.

Got your own tip? Share it below.

[via Traveling the Green Way]

Photo: Vasjan Gulka, National Geographic magazine's My Shot

On June 9, the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma will present a free outdoor concert in New York City at the Guggenheim Bandshell in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park. The concert will be broadcast live from New York over the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center. Traveler writer Randy B. Hecht interviewed Ma about his interest in music as a way to get to know the world.

Your recordings include music from Brazil to Mongolia. Do you have a natural appreciation of such a wide range of musical sounds and styles, or is that something you had to learn?

I don't tend to think in categories, so I've always been interested in a variety of different music. I think the best way to learn about a new style of music is to have a good guide, someone who can take me to the inside of the music. Daniel Barenboim says that the best way to learn something is to start from the inside and he's absolutely right.

The unfamiliar can be intimidating. How can the uninitiated gain appreciation of "exotic" instrumental and vocal sounds and styles?

One of the things we think about at the Silk Road Project when we program a concert is that we always want someone to hear something familiar to them and we also want that person to hear something for the very first time. Which music is new and which music is familiar will be different for each person, but we want every person in the audience to have both experiences.

Scott McCartney writes The Wall Street Journal's "Middle Seat" column and is the author of the new book "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity, and Wallet Intact." With the travel season about to take off, contributing editor Chris Elliott asked him for his thoughts on flying in the summer of 2009.

What should air travelers expect this summer?

McCartney: I think this will actually be a very good summer to travel, if you can afford it. The recession has lowered ticket prices considerably, left hotel rooms far more available at lower prices and reduced congestion at airports and in the skies so flights are running more on time. The dollar has rebounded some, and so it's a good year to venture overseas. Crowds should be smaller and merchants should be more anxious for your business. We may well look back on this year and say there was a window of opportunity when the airline system and major tourist destinations didn't bog down as much under the weight of summer crowds and travelers actually had the upper hand. I just think that if you are able to do it financially, it's a great time to go.

I really like the subtitle to your book, "How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity, and Wallet Intact." What do you think is more important to travelers -- dignity, sanity or intact wallet?

Thanks. Full disclosure: It was my wife's idea. I think it depends on the traveler, but for most, the wallet is the bottom line. Travelers will endure a lot to save a few bucks -- just look at the popularity of discount European airlines and the long bus rides, infrequent service, high fees, etc. that people put up with for a cheap fare. While indignities anger them and inane experiences do make them crazy, getting gouged is what really sends people over the edge with airlines. I think to some extent it's a reflection of the animosity travelers have toward airlines. Airlines do bad things to people, and people remember. Goodwill and warm consumer feelings get ruined when a bag is lost, a flight is canceled, a traveler is bumped, a crew times out leaving a planeload stranded. What's more, airlines make the money part of the experience so difficult -- changing prices, limited availability, etc, etc. You go to a car dealer to buy a car thinking that salesman is out to take as much advantage of you as possible, and you know you likely won't get as good a deal as the guy next to you. You just assume that. And I think it's much the same with airlines. Airlines battle their customers over money -- not a good position to be in.

David Holmes probably needs no introduction. But just in case you haven't heard of him, he's the 40-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant whose in-flight safety announcement is making the rounds on YouTube. Traveler Contributing Editor Christopher Elliott asked him how he became the rapping flight attendant.


Q: Where did you come up with the idea of rapping an in-flight safety announcement?

Holmes: I did my first rap for our flight attendant graduation class. And I quickly realized, as I began flying, how many customers tune-out when we start demonstrating that very important information. I wanted a way to keep their attention. From there, it just took off.

Whose idea was it to tape your in-flight announcement and put it online?

The one that started all of this was recorded by a customer on her cell phone. We were having a great time and, at the end of the flight, she said "I'm going to put this on YouTube."

It sounded like you had a lot of practice with that particular song. Have you delivered that safety announcement before?

It's been an evolving performance. I have several versions to mix and match through any part of the flight.