2008 April

Beijing to Promote Condom Use at Hotels, Clubs and Construction Sites

Like what you see? Subscribe to the full RSS feed.The Chinese government is making further efforts to contain the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Health officials have proposed that condoms be made easily available at night clubs, hotels and … construction sites (huh?). According to the proposed regulation, hotels and resorts would be required […]

Photo of the Moment: Fjord Sunset, Iceland

A Late Night Visit to Prague’s Kutna Hora Bone Church

The day had already passed its prime, yet we decided to set out for a destination none of us wanted to miss. Although the dreary cloud cover and apathetic mist that once set the mood for the bleak communist city of Prague was beginning to roll in despite the 1989 revolution, we headed east. […]

Photo of the Moment: Autumn Leaves, Rome

Website Review: Magica Venezia

The Magica Venezia website belongs to a group who, in their own words: … rent luxury furnished apartments in the centre of Venice, Italy, next to the most important places in the city … starting from 200€ per night (for whole apartment) including breakfast, welcome prosecco cocktail and WiFi internet connection. The idea itself is good, and […]

Croatia’s Strangely Beautiful ‘Sea Organ’

Not unlike the U.K.’s Singing Ringing Tree, this sea organ in Zadar, Croatia is an experimental, public art and architectural installation. Mounted below a series of large marble steps, ocean waves push air through thirty-five perfectly tuned sound tubes creating random, but oddly beautiful “music”. Well … I think so at least. Sort of reminiscent […]

Singapore Government Offers Course in Loveology

Alarmed by waning birth rates, Singapore’s government is offering its youth courses in seduction. Yes, you read that right. Students at two of the country’s polytechnics can now earn two credits if they choose a ‘love elective’. The seduction course covers love song analysis, sexuality, family relations, and involves activities like hand holding and watching mushy […]

Tanzanian President Condemns Albino Hunting

Tanzania’s albino population has in recent years lived in fear. They have been hunted by people who have bought into the claim by the country’s witch doctors that harvested albino body parts can bring people prosperity. Since March 20007, at least 19 Albinos have been hunted down. In one instance, a teacher […]

Photo of the Moment: Our God Is Awesome, Buffalo

Following the Wind: Hitchhiking New Zealand’s Wild Northland

Traveling to New Zealand to revel in its wild beauty and farm the land where sheep outnumbered people eight to one.

Photo of the Moment: Borobudur Sunrise, Indonesia

Thailand Clamps Down on Cosmetic Castrations

© batega Thailand’s famed lady boys or “katoeys” are an inescapable part of the capital Bangkok’s racy night life. Unlike in many other parts of the world, these katoeys who span the range from transvestites, to men who have undergone sex change surgery, are widely accepted in society. The numbers of young boys opting for […]

Surviving the Suburbs: An Unconventional Travel Guide

Ben Hancock finds plenty to explore in the unlikely travel destinations of America’s suburbs.

Maryland’s Miss Outdoors Pageant, Muskrats and All

It’s a beauty pageant. With muskrats. The Miss Outdoors Pageant has been a long-running staple of Golden Hill, Maryland. As it happened, this beauty pageant shared the stage with another contest: the World Championship Muskrat Skinning Contest, which drew crowds of hundreds. The contests usually take place, back-to-back. But these days, some contestants decided to enjoy […]

Photo of the Moment: Entering the Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport © Stuck in Customs

Aussies Are Undisputed Extreme Ironing World Champs

© ExtremeIroning.com A group of 72 Australians have been crowned Extreme Ironing champs after beating a Guinness record for ironing laundry under water. The feat was achieved when the 72 brave souls plunged into the murky waters off a pier in Melbourne. Extreme ironing, according to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, combines the “thrills of an outdoor […]

Off the Tourist Trail: 5 Places the Travel Brochures Don’t Tell You About

Amanda Kendle reveals five places you can find in almost any city, but the travel brochures won’t tell you about.

Amsterdam’s Narrowest Bike Path

Alaska-Siberia Tunnel Rumor Gaining Traction

The rumors of an Alaska-Russia tunnel are growing stronger by the day. Among the gossip is that the Russian President is already in talks with Washington to finalize the project. The rumor mill was boosted recently when Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire and governor of the Chotoka region, shelled out $160 million to manufacture […]

Flybe Pays Passengers to Fly

We’re all familiar with cutthroat airline fare slashing, but this is ridiculous. Budget airline Flybe has admitted that it paid temps to fill up its flights from Norwich to Dublin. The move was a desperate attempt by the airline to obtain a 280,000 pound rebate in passenger fees from Norwich Airport. The rules state that […]

A New Way to View Travel News … Sort of

Since the relatively widespread adoption of RSS feeds provided by websites around the interwebs, I really can’t imagine getting my daily news fix - travel and otherwise - any other way. It’s like having a digital subscription to every website I love all in one, easy to access place. That said, a new kind of […]

11 Bizarre Hotels That Will Knock Your Socks Off

Nora Dunn rounds up 11 bizarre hotels from around the world that will knock your socks off.

Photo of the Moment: St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg

Inflight Handgun Rules May Be to Blame for Pilot’s Gun Firing

The US airways pilot whose gun accidentally discharged just before landing might not really be to blame for the incident, according to an airline pilot association. The Airline Pilots Security Alliance says that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) has not adopted safety measures recommended by the Federal Air Marshal Service. Apparently, the pilot was following […]

The Great Eiffel Tower Hoax

The proposed Eiffel Tower expansion project that we reported on a while back has been exposed as a hoax. According to a tower spokesperson, the idea is “preposterous,” and the entire scheme is a hoax. The news reports said that there were plans to add an extension to the globally recognized landmark to allow people […]

The Art of Getting Sloshed: The Finer Points of Korea’s Drinking Culture

There is no bar time in Seoul. Evenings tumble forth endlessly in the city while citizens enjoy copious amounts of beer and soju — or, more recently, wine and cocktails. From the late-night alleyway restaurants to the posh clubs of the Apgu district, drunken nights are part of the culture: they seal business deals, solidify […]

Sadly, TravelChannel.com Will Not Be Acquiring Us After All

I feel very, very guilty. Okay … at least a little bit guilty. I felt guilty as soon as the first congratulations comment posted yesterday to the “news” that we’d been acquired by TravelChannel.com. In the past 24 hours, my e-mailbox has been flooded with a steady stream of congratulations and well […]

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