Intelligent Travel Blog

Today's Pic: Harmony in Mozambique

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

National Geographic Magazine's International Photo Contest has just ended, and the judges have some tough decisions to make. But you can be a judge, too, and vote for your favorite image in the People, Places, and Nature categories. Here's last year's People winner, taken by Ilvy Njiokiktjien in Mozambique:

The verdict: "This is one of those wonderful moments when everything comes together visually," says freelance photojournalist Maggie Steber. "There is a musical rhythm to the image." National Geographic design editor Darren Smith agrees: "The composition is intriguing with the mirroring of the women's bodies. I find it to be very harmonious and soothing. There is something reassuring in the play between the colors, shadows, and light. It appears simple at first but gets more complicated the more you look at it."

For more images, visit the weekly galleries on National Geographic Magazine's site and vote for your favorite images. Viewer's Choice winners will be announced in early December. Check out the gallery of last year's Viewer's Choice favorites. Voting closes November 8.

Building a Greener Greensburg

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Last year, we wrote about a progressive green community with a fitting name--Greensburg, Kansa--that continues to set new standards in eco-development.

After a May 2007 tornado ravaged this town of 1,500 residents, the community voted to rebuild Greensburg as energy-efficient as possible. According to a New York Times article, community leaders' goals were to "build a sense of economic dynamism that would generate new businesses and jobs and persuade Greensburg's talented young people not to leave."

One of the newest additions to the town, the Sun Chips Business Incubator (above), is designed to help local businesses recover after the tornado. The Business Incubator, completed in May 2009, received a LEED Platinum rating, the highest rating possible, due to its greater than 50% energy savings and innovative water reuse system. Strategic window placement and skylights allow the Incubator to be mostly day lit, while photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof supply 10% of the building's energy needs. Water from the sinks and showers is collected and reused to flush the toilets.

I Heart My City: Andy's Edinburgh

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Hello city lovers! Andy Hayes, author of the Edinburgh Walking Guides, takes us on a stroll through his favorite city.

Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. And if you're still waiting for us to feature yours, fear not! We're going to keep posting as long as we keep getting them (please include photos and links!).

Edinburgh, Scotland is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is a walk down the Royal Mile. It's the heart of the city and where most of the popular attractions are.

When I crave fish and chips I always go to Bene's on the Royal Mile - if it's fit for royalty then it works for me.

To escape the city I head for the Water of Leith Walkway. It's 12 miles long but you can do any number of sections, or the whole thing if you feel like.

If I want to have good coffee I go to Artisan Roast.

For complete quiet, I can hide away with a stroll down the Innocent Railway Tunnel bike path. It's so easy to reach from the city centre, yet miles away from the world.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with a bagpiper. I suppose it's just what is done.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from any pub it has to be haggis! Don't ask what it is, just try it.

Locals know to skip Princes Street and check out the boutiques on Cockburn Street as well as hidden alleyways across the city.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go for a nice pub meal. Greyfriars Bobbys Bar does a mean steak and ale pie.

Photo ops in my city include anywhere in Holyrood Park and the best vantage points are anywhere near the castle.

Daily Radar: 11.06.09

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

The hills are alive, with the sound of... Google? Google recently opened its offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and certainly knew how to integrate Swiss culture into the office, as evident by these meeting rooms--in the form of ski gondolas--above. [FastCompany]
In other European news, the Munich Airport was recently rated Number 5 in the world, according to a recent Skytrax survey. One of the main reasons it fared so well? Its abilities to reduce stress. The airport has a visitors' park where travelers can take walks, mini golf, and in summer, sit on a beach. The airport also has a brewery with local beer, a Fit & Fly Health & Spa Club with message chairs in multiple terminals and, at Christmastime, the airport has a traditional Bavarian market, making me almost wonder why anyone would ever want to leave the airport in the first place.

Photo: via FastCompany

Today's Pic: Lighting the Way

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

National Geographic Magazine's International Photo Contest has just ended, and there are some great submissions, like this one taken in Shanghai.

We like how photographer Gail von Bergen Ryan was able to capture the bright colors in this tunnel. She says, "I was in the front car of the short subway between Pudong and the Bund, and was treated to the wonderful spectacle of an oncoming train in the tunnel's changing light show. I put my camera up to the window and shot as fast as possible to get this image."

For more images, visit the weekly galleries on National Geographic Magazine's site and vote for your favorite images. Viewer's Choice winners will be announced in early December. Check out the gallery of last year's Viewer's Choice favorites. Voting closes November 8.

Quirky Hotels Around the Country

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Travel writer and photographer Lola Akinmade rounds up some exciting lodging options for hobbyists.

These days, bedding down on sterile white cotton sheets in a typical hotel room doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Our insatiable need for peculiar lodging alternatives that cater to specific hobbies and personal interests means more fanatical and themed hotels keep popping up across the country. From "Choo choo" trains to pirate-themed digs and "Wild Wild West" villas, here are some of the most fanatical hotels from around the country.

Adobe Grand Villas, Sedona, Arizona
Travel back in time to the Wild Wild West with a stay at the Adobe Grand Villas. This boutique bed & breakfast resort offers a "Wagon Wheel Villa" with elaborate beds built out of wooden wagons and white canopy covers complete with wheels. Other themes include a "Cactus Flower Villa" and a "Silver Spur Villa."

Vision Quest Ranch, Salinas, California
Welcome to the jungle...literally, at this safari-style bed and breakfast. You'll share the grounds with real lions and tigers and giraffes along with a host of other wild animals. Apparently, daily continental breakfasts are delivered to your bungalow by elephants.

The Vick, Los Alamos, California
This Victorian Mansion Bed & Breakfast offers you six different themes--a 1950s Cadillac; an Egyptian room complete with a chariot; Pirate, French, Roman rooms; and a special Gypsy-themed room that sports a repurposed caravan for a bed.

Wigwam Village, Cave City, Kentucky
Have you ever wanted to sleep in an authentic wigwam? Now you can. This village has actually been around for awhile, since 1937, and has been designated a historic landmark. It is also located close to Mammoth Cave National Park. Though usually open year round, the village will shut down on November 15 and is scheduled to reopen on February 25, 2010.

Animal-Friendly Travel Tips

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world's largest alliance of animal welfare organizations, just launched a new component to its animal rights advocacy work, a new website called Compassionate Travel.

Compassionate Travel lists travel dos and don'ts and functions as a clearinghouse for international volunteer opportunities with an animal-welfare focus.

To make sure your next trip is animal-friendly, please heed some or all of the following:

Visit nature reserves and national parks instead of petting zoos and roadside attractions.
Skip the marine park and take a dolphin- or whale-watching cruise instead.
Boycott bullfights and other festivals that use animals in potentially exploitive ways.
Support the local humane society or shelter where you're traveling. Even donations of used towels and dog or cat food are helpful.
Avoid animal rides or taxis.

Daily Radar: 11.05.09

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

A South Korea court has ruled that cab drivers can continue to have televisions on their dashboards, despite the obvious risk of getting into an accident. The BBC reports, "The ruling comes after a taxi driver challenged a $507 (£311) fine imposed by the local authorities in the capital, Seoul. The city's tortuous congestion led taxi drivers to install new mobile TV systems in an attempt to beat boredom." [BBC]
Scotland's family-friendly Crieff Hydro Hotel has asked that its guests leave video games at home this holiday season in an attempt to "restore traditional family values." The hotel, said to be the oldest family-run hotel in Scotland, is hosting family quizzes, Highland games and archery, sporting activities and outdoor laser quest over the holidays. We're realistic, acknowledging that teenagers may want some time away from their parents, and vice-versa, and there are plenty activities to break free and be independent with family friends or others in their peer group," says the hotel's managing editor. "We're not just offering a fun family Christmas but opportunities for our younger guests to be active, learn new skills and make new friends." [Scotland Herald]

Photo: Paul in Uijeongbu via Flickr

Today's Pic: Bored in Bangkok

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

National Geographic Magazine's International Photo Contest has just ended, and there are some great submissions, like this one taken in Bangkok.

This picture really does say a thousand words. Says photographer Ashutosh Karkhanis, "This picture was shot in Safari World in Bangkok last year. As we were waiting for the orangutan show to begin, this orangutan caught my eye. He looked so bored of doing the same act day in and day out. His body language seemed to say, 'When is this all going to end?'"

For more images, visit the weekly galleries on National Geographic Magazine's site and vote for your favorite images. Viewer's Choice winners will be announced in early December. Check out the gallery of last year's Viewer's Choice favorites. Voting closes November 8.

After the Monsoon in Oman

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Sabina Lohr visited Salalah, Oman, just after monsoon season. While there, she got a unique taste of the region.

In Salalah, Oman, the annual khareef, or monsoon season, brings cool relief from the oppressive summertime temperatures felt throughout the rest of the country. Each year, many Middle Easterners travel to this town of 180,000 in the Dhofar region of Oman, on the Arabian Sea northeast of Yemen, from late June through September, when its desert skies fill with a drizzle that turns its brown landscape a temporary green. But after the khareef, during the autumn and winter, when the skies dry out and temperatures hover in the low- to mid-eighties, this little part of the earth becomes an ideal escape for Westerners craving a wintertime respite.

For my first visit to Salalah I wait until just after the end of the monsoon season, arriving in late September to find rolling hills blooming with grass, flowers, and foliage. The desert, starkly beautiful itself, is still visible through the greenery. My guide, Ali Amer Al-Mashani, leads me to a roadside stand where strips of camel meat hang to dry before being wrapped in foil and cooked over coals (above). I eat some, tangy and delicious. We make our way to another stand where we buy coconuts, drink the fresh milk inside and peel and eat the soft, wet and sweet coconut meat.

Goings-On at the Geographic

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

There's so much going on here at National Geographic headquarters that it's hard for us to keep track. Here's a roundup of events happening in November.

Terra Cotta Warriors, National Geographic Museum
Our eagerly anticipated special exhibition opens November 19 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC, and will run through March 31, 2010. The crated warriors arrived the other night and the museum staff is getting the statues in place right now. Timed tickets are required and they're going fast. You can buy them here. Save your ticket stub to get 20% off in our newly redesigned and expanded National Geographic Store. For directions on how to get to the museum, click here.

Glimpse Correspondents Program
If you plan on working, studying, or volunteering abroad, apply for the Glimpse Correspondents Program. Each semester, the Glimpse Foundation picks a team of talented young writers and photographers between the ages of 18 and 34 and rewards them with a $600 stipend, career training in writing or photography, and publishes their work on Glimpse.org. All entries are due by November 8.

National Geographic Expeditions
Want to go on a warm-weather trip? National Geographic Expeditions is hosting a free online webinar on Monday, November 9 at 8 p.m. about its upcoming expeditions to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. To register for the webinar click here, or learn more about the expedition here. Best of all, those who book a trip between January 1 and March 31, 2010 will get a $500 airfare credit.

National Geographic Image Collection
Stop by our DC headquarters and take a stroll around our courtyard to see LED lightboxes showcasing some of the best (and some never-before seen) National Geographic photography. The exhibit is free to the public, and is based on our new book, National Geographic Image Collection (hint: makes a great present!). A video preview of the book is here. The New York Times recently profiled Bill Bonner here, the keeper of our photo archives, which contains more than 11.5 million images.

National Geographic Channel
Admit it: you love IKEA and all of its fashionable, cheap goodness. On November 5 at 8 p.m., National Geographic Channel's Ultimate Factories series takes viewers inside IKEA's largest plant in Zbaszynek, Poland, and shows just how IKEA makes its wood furniture. Here's a video preview of the show.

All Roads Film Project
On November 4, the Society will hold a special screening of Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of one Apache Family, a documentary about Native American art and traditions. There will be a discussion with the director, producer, and Allan Houser following the screening. Tickets are $8.

National Geographic Traveler Seminars
Our fall-winter schedule is available now, and lists one-day seminars in travel photography taught by National Geographic photographers. The next seminar is December 6 in Seattle, with our lively team of Jim Richardson and Catherine Karnow, who share with you their secrets on how to make photos "that tell a story." Video preview here. For more info and online registration, click here.

Daily Radar: 11.04.09

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

For the past month, 10 slabs of the Berlin Wall have been installed outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). According to thelocal.de, "The 2.6-tonne slabs have been made available to artists, who have been given free rein to make their own statements on each block of concrete." The wall will be on display until November 8, "being symbolically toppled." [thelocal.de]
Through November 5, Omni Hotels is offering 40 percent off select stays in Austin, Chicago, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Diego, New Orleans, San Antonio, Houston, and Tucson. Reservations must be made for travel between Dec. 2, 2009 and Feb. 10, 2010 (and excluding December 31). Fore more information, click here. [Omni Hotels]

Photo: currentevents via Flickr

Today's Pic: Grazing in the Ganges

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

National Geographic Magazine's International Photo Contest has just ended, and there are some great submissions, like this one taken in India's Ganges River.

Says photographer Jenay Martin, "The Ganges is the holiest river in India. Every morning and every evening Hindus bathe in the holy river. However, it is very polluted, and in this very location there is no living oxygen and is pure sewage. Even in the filth of Varanasi, life goes on. People still bathe, and animals still manage to find things to eat. This goat is eating a holy garland that was offered to the river during a funeral procession."

For more images, visit the weekly galleries on National Geographic Magazine's site and vote for your favorite images. Viewer's Choice winners will be announced in early December. Check out the gallery of last year's Viewer's Choice favorites. Voting closes November 8.

Istanbul's Whirling Dervishes

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Managing Editor Scott Stuckey has just returned from Turkey and got an insider's look at Istanbul's famous Whirling Dervishes.

I first heard the term "Whirling Dervishes" as a young child and, reasonably enough, surmised that they were dervishes who loved to whirl. What a dervish was, exactly, remained a mystery to me until last Friday, when I stepped into a 500-year-old Turkish bathhouse (repurposed as the Hodjapasha Culture Center) in the Sirkeci area of old Istanbul. Here, monks of a mystical Sufi order of Muslims--known traditionally for their spirituality, self denial, and tolerance--perform a centuries-old dance ritual for the admission price of 40 Turkish lira, beverage included.

My tour group streamed into the circular brick room, and we took our seats just a few feet from the Plexiglas stage, lit from beneath with colored lights, where the dervishes would spin. A worry crossed my mind: What if a dervish got dizzy and landed in my lap? We were that close.

Soon, musicians took their place in an alcove and began playing and chanting classical Turkish music, using traditional drums and stringed instruments. In time, five dervishes appeared, walking around the perimeter of the stage. Their every movement--crossing their arms, laying a sheepskin on the floor opposite the door, bowing, saluting one another--followed established traditions lost on most of us in the audience, though we sensed there was meaning to it all.

Click below for a video of the Whirling Dervishes.

Chatting with Tom Hanks

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Last week, National Geographic Traveler assistant editor Janelle Nanos got to chat with legendary actor and World War II enthusiast Tom Hanks, who has "perhaps done more than anyone in Hollywood today to help tell the stories of the war with the film Saving Private Ryan and HBO series Band of Brothers" and who just helped produce the interactive film Beyond All Boundaries for the World War II Museum in New Orleans. Hanks's goal of the film--which premiers on November 8--was to make an impression: to give the viewer a chance to look beyond the familiar black-and-white portrayal of WWII and see that these were real people, living their lives in a period that would change them forever.

A trailer of the movie can be seen here. For the complete interview and insiders look at the film, click here.

Photo: Greg Gorman