http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/HCMUCzHxh8g/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/gear/" rel="tag">Gear</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/internet-tools/" rel="tag">Internet Tools</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/comcast3g4g-gadling-bumper.png" alt="" /><br /> <br /> If you use Comcast as your home Internet/TV/phone provider and are regularly on the road, you may want to read up on their <a href="http://www.comcast.com/highspeed2go/#/highspeed2go">High-Speed 2go product lineup</a>. Essentially, High-Speed 2go provides cable broadband Internet at home, and 3G or 4G mobile broadband when you are traveling. The best part is that the 3G subscription is included in your cable bill <strong>and</strong> that in some cases, the combo is cheaper than most providers charge for the 3G alone. In the example above, you'll get the Comcast Powerboost cable service, and a 2GB mobile broadband subscription for $54.99.<br /> <br /> An unlimited 4G combo is also $54.99. A 3G bundle with 4GB of data is $64.99 and a cable/3G/4G combo is $69.99. These prices are all promotional rates and go up in two-tiers, becoming just over $80 in two years. Of course, as with many Comcast promotions, you may be able to negotiate a lower rate when the promo ends. <br /> <br /> As of today, Comcast is also offering the Novatel Wireless MiFi intelligent hotspot as an option for their 3G packages. The MiFi costs $125 (one time fee) and lets you access your 3G subscription over WiFi. <br /> <br /> To learn more about these Comcast packages, head on over to their <a href="http://www.comcast.com/highspeed2go/#/highspeed2go">High-Speed 2go promotion page</a>. <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/">Comcast High-Speed 2go offers Internet at home and on the go - now with MiFi</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618770/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Z8MOnP8eJcLm5XWGGbLwigY_pl0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Z8MOnP8eJcLm5XWGGbLwigY_pl0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Z8MOnP8eJcLm5XWGGbLwigY_pl0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Z8MOnP8eJcLm5XWGGbLwigY_pl0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=HCMUCzHxh8g:lFMqkK7Gyys:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=HCMUCzHxh8g:lFMqkK7Gyys:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=HCMUCzHxh8g:lFMqkK7Gyys:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=HCMUCzHxh8g:lFMqkK7Gyys:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/HCMUCzHxh8g" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/comcast-high-speed-2go-offers-internet-at-home-and-on-the-go-n/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/iHgy7b16yaQ/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/gear/" rel="tag">Gear</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/t10fs2b-gadling-bumper.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <br /> This morning, Samsung announced the HMX-T10 HD camcorder. The most obvious feature on this compact HD shooter is the angled lens. This may look like an odd design, but as soon as you hold the camera, you'll instantly understand the thought behind it. Other features include a 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, a 2.7" touch screen and a back-lit video sensor, allowing for better quality video in low light conditions. <br /> <br /> Despite all these features, Samsung kept the price down to just $299. The HMX-T10 will be available this month. <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/">New Samsung HMX-T10 HD camcorder has pro features at budget price</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618707/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Rs8D691iyJwEY61PSTVr6k43iAc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Rs8D691iyJwEY61PSTVr6k43iAc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Rs8D691iyJwEY61PSTVr6k43iAc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Rs8D691iyJwEY61PSTVr6k43iAc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=iHgy7b16yaQ:4TTR2IPDfhI:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=iHgy7b16yaQ:4TTR2IPDfhI:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=iHgy7b16yaQ:4TTR2IPDfhI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=iHgy7b16yaQ:4TTR2IPDfhI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/iHgy7b16yaQ" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:30:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/new-samsung-hmx-t10-hd-camcorder-has-pro-features-at-budget-pric/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/7EhVvANHvg4/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/europe/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/germany/" rel="tag">Germany</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/poland/" rel="tag">Poland</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-kingdom/" rel="tag">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/airlines/" rel="tag">Airlines</a></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigpresh/2551602773/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/ryanairphoto.jpg" alt="" /></a>When wackiness hits the European skies, it's usually safe to guess that <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Ryanair/">Ryanair</a> is somehow involved. A British plane from this discount carrier had to land in <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Germany/">Germany</a> - rather than in <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Poland/">Poland</a>, its intended destination - because <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38951688/ns/travel-news/" target="_blank">a passenger couldn't keep her tea in her cup</a>.<br /> <br /> The 56-year-old British woman spilled hot tea on herself, according to German police, forcing the flight from <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Liverpool/">Liverpool</a> to Poznan to make an unanticipated stop in Bremen. She was treated for scalding, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38951688/ns/travel-news/" target="_blank">according to Reuters</a>, and released. But, her plane left without her. So, she finished her journey by train, which was probably much more comfortable.<br /> <br /> Hey, come to think it, even hot <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/tea/">tea</a> on your lap is probably better than flying Ryanair ...<br /> <br /> [Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigpresh/2551602773/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">bigpresh via Flickr</a>]<br /> <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/">Flying Ryanair no cup of tea: Poland flight diverted to Germany</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38951688/ns/travel-news/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618459/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/e_f_m0JquK0y1xnF2NH6mwhLty8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/e_f_m0JquK0y1xnF2NH6mwhLty8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/e_f_m0JquK0y1xnF2NH6mwhLty8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/e_f_m0JquK0y1xnF2NH6mwhLty8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=7EhVvANHvg4:Dou5y7RZI-k:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=7EhVvANHvg4:Dou5y7RZI-k:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=7EhVvANHvg4:Dou5y7RZI-k:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=7EhVvANHvg4:Dou5y7RZI-k:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/7EhVvANHvg4" height="1" width="1"/>bremenliverpoolPoznanryanairteaThu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/flying-ryanair-no-cup-of-tea-poland-flight-diverted-to-germany/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/LK2xB0KDLiA/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/gadlings-daily-deal/" rel="tag">Gadling's Daily Deal</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/deals090210-gadling-bumper.png" alt="" /><br /> <br /> <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Thursday September 2, 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone. </strong><br /> <br /> Every time I find what I think is the cheapest GPS unit on the market, someone starts selling one for less. Last month, $39 was the cheapest, but today, Midnightbox.com is selling a refurbished Insignia (the Best Buy brand) unit for just $34.95. Features text to speech and two million points of interest. <a href="http://midnightbox.com/">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> Next up is a deal on an Energizer LED flashlight with 10 AA batteries. On sale over at sellout.woot.com for $6.99 plus $5 for shipping. <a href="http://sellout.woot.com">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> Today's third deal is for a 3-pack of Lewis and Clark compression packing bags. With compressing folders, you don't need a vacuum to suck the air out, simply squeeze it out yourself. On sale for $10. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003R8I374?tag=prd_builder-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B003R8I374&amp;adid=10MFYF21QTWEX2W66YNZ&amp;">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> And finally in today's lineup is the Altec Lansing IM4 portable audio system. These speakers plug into any device with a headphone jack, and run off D cell batteries. On sale for $23.49. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LBVH8?tag=prd_builder-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B0007LBVH8&amp;adid=1HJG4N2T59JD669VB1NZ&amp;">Click here for this deal</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/">Daily gear deals: $35 GPS unit, $23 portable audio system and more</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618575/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NtouagTpAYWrnxodQ0gvBdyXTK8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NtouagTpAYWrnxodQ0gvBdyXTK8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NtouagTpAYWrnxodQ0gvBdyXTK8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NtouagTpAYWrnxodQ0gvBdyXTK8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=LK2xB0KDLiA:UGthvxrW3X0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=LK2xB0KDLiA:UGthvxrW3X0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=LK2xB0KDLiA:UGthvxrW3X0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=LK2xB0KDLiA:UGthvxrW3X0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/LK2xB0KDLiA" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/daily-gear-deals-35-gps-unit-23-portable-audio-system-and-mo/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/FpEh-yhbTwI/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-states/" rel="tag">United States</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/airlines/" rel="tag">Airlines</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/news/" rel="tag">News</a></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4733353463/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/hurricane-photo.jpg" alt="" /></a>As <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/HurricaneEarl/">Hurricane Earl</a> works its way up the east coast, airlines are letting passengers take one item off their lists of concerns. <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Delta/">Delta</a> has announced that <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38964146/ns/travel-news/" target="_blank">passengers affected by the storm can make one-time changes</a> to their plans without incurring any fees. This applies to flights scheduled for today and tomorrow and covers more than 20 airports in the eastern United States, including the <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/NewYork/">New York</a> area, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Washington/">Washington</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Boston/">Boston</a> and <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Baltimore/">Baltimore</a>. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/AirTranAirways/">AirTran Airways</a> has gotten in on this concept, as well, with passengers hitting a number of airports, including San Juan, Puerto Rico, being able to change their plans without paying extra. It only works for flights taking off by Saturday. <br /> <br /> [Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4733353463/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr</a>]<br /> <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/">Airlines provide change fee relief because of Hurricane Earl</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38964146/ns/travel-news/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618444/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-HH1TE4BIxYlfi-glfe-yc1Fw2w/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-HH1TE4BIxYlfi-glfe-yc1Fw2w/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-HH1TE4BIxYlfi-glfe-yc1Fw2w/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-HH1TE4BIxYlfi-glfe-yc1Fw2w/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=FpEh-yhbTwI:SY4jAFXdK58:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=FpEh-yhbTwI:SY4jAFXdK58:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=FpEh-yhbTwI:SY4jAFXdK58:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=FpEh-yhbTwI:SY4jAFXdK58:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/FpEh-yhbTwI" height="1" width="1"/>airtranAirtranAirwaysBaltimorebostondeltaDeltaAirlineshurricanehurricane earlhurricane earl east coastHurricaneEarlHurricaneEarlEastCoastHurricanesnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitypuerto ricoPuertoRicowashingtonwashington dcWashingtonDcThu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/airlines-provide-change-fee-relief-because-of-hurricane-earl/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/vBBbV7R3yss/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-states/" rel="tag">United States</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hotels/" rel="tag">Hotels and Accommodations</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/luxury-travel/" rel="tag">Luxury Travel</a></p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/designpackaging/429507662/sizes/m/in/photostream/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/bliss-spa-photo.jpg" /></a>When I was in college, relaxation came from the best six-pack of beer I could find for under $5. But, it looks like times are changing. The W's <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Blissspa/">Bliss spa</a> chain is kicking in 20 percent discounts on <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/spatreatments/">spa treatments</a> for college kids this year. With fewer business travelers on the road, <a target="_blank" href="http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2010/08/w-hotel-chains-bliss-spa-chases-college-crowd/110522/1">it looks like Bliss wants to get at least some cash from someone</a>. <br /> <br /> For Bliss, targeting the coed demographic is a first. The 21-location spa has typically stayed with a target market that can afford its luxury offering. <br /> <br /> So, what's it take to get your 20 percent discount? Well, you'll be expected to bring your student ID with you. Wearing sweatpants and smelling like you haven't showered in three days doesn't constitute evidence of being a student ... though it probably should.<br /> <br /> [Photo by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/designpackaging/429507662/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Design Packaging</a> via Flickr]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/">Bliss spas discounting for college students</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2010/08/w-hotel-chains-bliss-spa-chases-college-crowd/110522/1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618422/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/c-JQd3yxmIesCMT2sQdjXqc6gbs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/c-JQd3yxmIesCMT2sQdjXqc6gbs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/c-JQd3yxmIesCMT2sQdjXqc6gbs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/c-JQd3yxmIesCMT2sQdjXqc6gbs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=vBBbV7R3yss:k0IMlU86bBo:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=vBBbV7R3yss:k0IMlU86bBo:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=vBBbV7R3yss:k0IMlU86bBo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=vBBbV7R3yss:k0IMlU86bBo:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/vBBbV7R3yss" height="1" width="1"/>blissbliss spaBlissSpaspaspa treatmentspa treatmentsspasSpaTreatmentSpaTreatmentsw hotelW HotelsWHotelWHotelsThu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/bliss-spas-discounting-for-college-students/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/KDVkPziLYjM/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Festivals and Events</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/food/" rel="tag">Food and Drink</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-states/" rel="tag">United States</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1922.jpg" alt="" /></div> Hotdogs and sporting events belong together, so when I went to my first <a href="http://www.usopen.org" target="_blank">U.S. Open tennis</a> match, I knew I'd have to see what the Arthur Ashe Stadium had to offer. Given a delay caused by matches earlier in the day, <a href="http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2010-09-01/201009011283318912536.html?promo=sl_toparticles" target="_blank">the Nadal/Gabashvili pairing started late</a>, so I wasn't able to take my first bite until darkness had descended over <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/Queens/">Queens</a>.<br /> <br /> I left my seat and ambled over to the concession as the players battled into the night to see what a U.S. Open hotdog would taste like, and I found three alternatives I could use to satisfy my <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/hotdog/">hotdog</a> jones. There was an Italian <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/sausage/">sausage</a>, which would have been too upscale for me if it hadn't spent what looked like an eternity under the heating lamp. That left traditional hotdogs in two sizes: regular and foot-long. Obviously, I chose the latter ... wouldn't you?<br /> <br /> Carefully balancing my cardboard tray - laden with my two foot-longs, water and a <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/beer/">beer</a> (Heineken Light, my feeble attempt to make sure there was something healthy on the tray) over to the condiment counter, where I added ketchup and mustard. <br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/">Hotdogs at U.S. Open Tennis 2010</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324242"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1923_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open" title="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324240"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1921_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A healthy meal at the U.S. Open: hotdogs, beer ... and water" title="A healthy meal at the U.S. Open: hotdogs, beer ... and water" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324241"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1922-1283427784_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open" title="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324243"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1924_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open with ketchup and mustard" title="A foot-long hotdog at the U.S. Open with ketchup and mustard" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/hotdogs-at-u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324244"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1925_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A normal-sized U.S. Open hotdog" title="A normal-sized U.S. Open hotdog" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/">U.S. Open Tennis 2010</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324227"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/usopen1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Welcome to the U.S. Open 2010!" title="Welcome to the U.S. Open 2010!" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324228"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/usopen2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Arthur Ashe Stadium before the match" title="Arthur Ashe Stadium before the match" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324223"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1931_thumbnail.jpg" alt="A full crowd for Men's Singles" title="A full crowd for Men's Singles" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324224"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1940_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Rafael Nadal" title="Rafael Nadal" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/u-s-open-tennis-2010/#3324225"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/img1942_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Rafael Nadal" title="Rafael Nadal" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>U.S. Open: Chomp on a Hotdog</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/">U.S. Open: Chomp on a Hotdog</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19618390/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XgJgFMmZjPJqgRo83dF2fqNq-30/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XgJgFMmZjPJqgRo83dF2fqNq-30/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XgJgFMmZjPJqgRo83dF2fqNq-30/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XgJgFMmZjPJqgRo83dF2fqNq-30/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=KDVkPziLYjM:1PrF3sJKaoI:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=KDVkPziLYjM:1PrF3sJKaoI:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=KDVkPziLYjM:1PrF3sJKaoI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=KDVkPziLYjM:1PrF3sJKaoI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/KDVkPziLYjM" height="1" width="1"/>arthur ashe stadiumArthurAsheStadiumfoodHotDogHotDogsjunk foodjunk foodsJunkFoodJunkFoodsnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityQueenssausagesausagestennisus openUS Open 2010US Open Tennis 2010UsOpenUsOpen2010UsOpenTennis2010Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/u-s-open-chomp-on-a-hotdog/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/tJ9NXmP_GmE/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/europe/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/italy/" rel="tag">Italy</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/photo-of-the-day/" rel="tag">Photo of the Day</a></p><center><img hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/4576720325476b4b1e9c.jpg" alt="" /></center><br /> You can schedule yourself into oblivion when you travel and tick off every major sightseeing spot in your guide, but sometimes it's the quiet moments that are the most memorable. This tranquil scene of Florence at dusk -- shot by Flickr user <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justindelaney/">Justin Delaney</a> -- reminds me that it's important stop and take a good look around every once in a while. After all, isn't that why we travel, anyway? It's not just about checking tourist spots off a list: It's actually getting a different viewpoint. <br /> <br /> Have any travel photos that prompt whimsical musings? Upload them to our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/gadling/pool/" target="_blank">Flickr pool</a> and we just might select one for our <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/photo-of-the-day" target="_blank">Photo of the Day</a> feature<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/">Photo of the Day (9.1.10)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19614425/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AjsgfxWj-smmLAoOXuLPwz4by1Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AjsgfxWj-smmLAoOXuLPwz4by1Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AjsgfxWj-smmLAoOXuLPwz4by1Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AjsgfxWj-smmLAoOXuLPwz4by1Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=tJ9NXmP_GmE:VeE-WfxZJQU:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=tJ9NXmP_GmE:VeE-WfxZJQU:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=tJ9NXmP_GmE:VeE-WfxZJQU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=tJ9NXmP_GmE:VeE-WfxZJQU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/tJ9NXmP_GmE" height="1" width="1"/>florencephoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayWed, 01 Sep 2010 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/xuzW0EdvZ_o/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/asia/" rel="tag">Asia</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/maldives/" rel="tag">Maldives</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hotels/" rel="tag">Hotels and Accommodations</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/luxury-travel/" rel="tag">Luxury Travel</a></p><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/webst4960.gif" />What was once a room for foodies is now a suite for lovers. <br /> <br /> The Ithaa restaurant at Conrad <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/maldives">Maldives</a> Resort &amp; Spa normally features a "reverse-aquarium" room that seats about a dozen guests for an underwater dining experience. However, in honor of the hotel's fifth anniversary, that room has been converted into an undersea honeymoon suite (10 other guests not included).<br /> <br /> The glass-domed room is submerged in the Indian Ocean and must be reserved at least two weeks in advance. The rate? It's a mystery, but HotelsMag.com found a water villa r<a href="http://conradhotels1.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.do?ctyhocn=MLEHICI">oom rate at the resort</a> for $1,725 per night.<br /> <br /> Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/dailypampering">here</a>.<br type="_moz" /><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/">Daily Pampering: Maldives resort turns restaurant into undersea honeymoon suite</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19614854/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIHz4pYLhGbI6sWIYiDx-JZZc1Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIHz4pYLhGbI6sWIYiDx-JZZc1Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIHz4pYLhGbI6sWIYiDx-JZZc1Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIHz4pYLhGbI6sWIYiDx-JZZc1Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=xuzW0EdvZ_o:XZHMVYSpDdM:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=xuzW0EdvZ_o:XZHMVYSpDdM:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=xuzW0EdvZ_o:XZHMVYSpDdM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=xuzW0EdvZ_o:XZHMVYSpDdM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/xuzW0EdvZ_o" height="1" width="1"/>asiadailypamperingLuxuryTravelmaldivesWed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/maldives-resort-turns-restaurant-into-undersea/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/b2sNEJh1ORc/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/biking/" rel="tag">Biking</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/cultures/" rel="tag">Arts and Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/history/" rel="tag">History</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/learning/" rel="tag">Learning</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/food/" rel="tag">Food and Drink</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/asia/" rel="tag">Asia</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/vietnam/" rel="tag">Vietnam</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hotels/" rel="tag">Hotels and Accommodations</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/budget-travel/" rel="tag">Budget Travel</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/nightlife/" rel="tag">Nightlife</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/womens-travel/" rel="tag">Women's Travel</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/luxury-travel/" rel="tag">Luxury Travel</a></p><img border="1" hspace="4" alt="" vspace="4" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-075-1600x1200.jpg" />There are few things I enjoy more than perching on a plastic, Playskool-size stool on a steaming sidewalk, surrounded by clouds of carbon monoxide. Why do I so enjoy impersonating a contortionist and inhaling carcinogens? Because it means I'm somewhere in Southeast Asia, eating <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/06/top-ten-foreign-street-foods/">street food</a>.<br /> <br /> On my <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/11/dear-first-time-vietnam-visitor/">first visit to Vietnam</a>, I flew up to Nha Trang, on the South Central Coast. I found a cheap hotel several blocks off the beach, and set about giving myself a crash course in Vietnamese street food. I was familiar with staples such as <em>pho</em> and <em>banh mi</em> (baguette sandwiches with pork pate and a variety of condiments). Yet I was soon overwhelmed by the array of comestibles being hawked from carts and storefronts, despite frequent thumbing through my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-World-Vietnam-Guides/dp/186450028X">Vietnamese food guide</a>.<br /> <br /> Compounding the issue was the lack of recognizability of many of the ingredients. No one could ever accuse me of being squeamish, but I like to know what I'm eating, if only for curiosity's sake. The mysterious, meaty hunks stewing in battered, aluminum stockpots, and hanging behind Plexi-glass shields gave no indication as to their origin. Clearly, I needed someone to help me achieve Vietnamese street food cred.<br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/">Nha Trang street food motorbike tour</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/#3308800"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-065-1600x1200_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/#3308801"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-068-1600x1200_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/#3308805"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-094-1600x1200_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/#3308806"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-096-1600x1200_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/nha-trang-street-food-motorbike-tour/#3308807"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/ride-the-cockle-train-098-1600x1200_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Vietnamese street food tastes better by motorbike</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/">Vietnamese street food tastes better by motorbike</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19611874/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HM3UQFEdJdUvR4ukiNwJYKKwVaQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HM3UQFEdJdUvR4ukiNwJYKKwVaQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HM3UQFEdJdUvR4ukiNwJYKKwVaQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HM3UQFEdJdUvR4ukiNwJYKKwVaQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=b2sNEJh1ORc:jKRCvpTEo44:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=b2sNEJh1ORc:jKRCvpTEo44:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=b2sNEJh1ORc:jKRCvpTEo44:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=b2sNEJh1ORc:jKRCvpTEo44:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/b2sNEJh1ORc" height="1" width="1"/>budget travelBudgetTravelCentral VietnamCentralVietnamcoastal VietnamCoastalVietnamcooking classesCookingClassesculinary travelCulinaryTravelfood toursFoodToursHo Chi Minh CityHoChiMinhCitymarket toursMarketToursmotorcycle touringMotorcycleTouringNha TrangNhaTrangphoSaigonstreet foodStreetFoodVietnamese beachesVietnamese foodVietnameseBeachesVietnameseFoodWed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/vietnamese-street-food-tastes-better-by-motorbike/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/7PIg80jzjCw/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/asia/" rel="tag">Asia</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hotels/" rel="tag">Hotels and Accommodations</a></p><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/washingtonhotel.jpg" />Whoever said hotels aren't creative enough clearly hasn't stayed in a <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/tokyo">Tokyo</a> hotel. <br /> <br /> While some hotels focus on zen environments or Michelin-starred chefs, other hotels look for the unique and quirky to attract guests. Enter: <a href="http://www.wh-rsv.com">The Washington Hotel</a> in Tokyo, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/japan">Japan</a>, the first hotel to build a large train set inside one of its rooms.<br /> <br /> The hotel took a twin room from its 13th floor and remodeled it with a train set and model Tokyo Tower, a mosaic of the city's neighborhoods and the resort area of Hakone. You can bring your own train to the room, or rent one from the hotel for approximately $12 ($1000 yen). The 'railway room' goes for about $300 (25,000 yen) and even overlooks the Shinkansen bullet train railway. The room is decorated with photos of old locomotives and offers railway-related DVDs.<br /> <br /> How's that for in-room entertainment?<br /> <br /> [via <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68018I20100901">Reuters</a>]<br type="_moz" /><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/">Tokyo hotel builds hotel rooms for train lovers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19617368/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/y-Rwo2nV1Ke9gw_XBDWykCLBd-M/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/y-Rwo2nV1Ke9gw_XBDWykCLBd-M/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/y-Rwo2nV1Ke9gw_XBDWykCLBd-M/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/y-Rwo2nV1Ke9gw_XBDWykCLBd-M/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=7PIg80jzjCw:-5rMX9jzNhs:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=7PIg80jzjCw:-5rMX9jzNhs:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=7PIg80jzjCw:-5rMX9jzNhs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=7PIg80jzjCw:-5rMX9jzNhs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/7PIg80jzjCw" height="1" width="1"/>hotelhotelsJapantokyotrainWed, 01 Sep 2010 14:30:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/tokyo-hotel-builds-hotel-rooms-for-train-lovers/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/E_nxMih8voc/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/#comments<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathika/3350210774/sizes/z/in/photostream/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/33502107748fc15f9956z-gadling-bumper.jpg" /></a><br /> <br /> Consider this a gentle reminder to enter our <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/25/jetblue-and-gadling-are-giving-away-two-all-you-can-jet-passes/">JetBlue All You Can Jet contest</a>. You've got till 5PM (EST) today to enter. <br /> <br /> Two lucky winners will receive a JetBlue All You Can Jet pass, valid for one month, along with a $250 gift card from <a href="http://www.scottevest.com">Scottevest</a>, an Eye-Fi wireless memory card, a three month <a href="http://www.boingo.com">Boingo subscription</a> and a free book and cd or movie from <a href="http://swap.com">Swap.com</a>. <br /> <br /> Entering is very easy, and takes just a minute - <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/25/jetblue-and-gadling-are-giving-away-two-all-you-can-jet-passes/">head on over to this article</a>, and leave a comment telling us how you'd use your All You Can Jet pass. <br /> <br /> [Image from: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23842402@N07/3350210774/">Flickr/Mrkathika</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/">Reminder: Final day to enter our JetBlue All You Can Jet contest!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19615125/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h7JqesFw_FaDhF5YX5sNa8BuHWg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h7JqesFw_FaDhF5YX5sNa8BuHWg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h7JqesFw_FaDhF5YX5sNa8BuHWg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h7JqesFw_FaDhF5YX5sNa8BuHWg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=E_nxMih8voc:GT4DHme3ugk:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=E_nxMih8voc:GT4DHme3ugk:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=E_nxMih8voc:GT4DHme3ugk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=E_nxMih8voc:GT4DHme3ugk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/E_nxMih8voc" height="1" width="1"/>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/reminder-final-day-to-enter-our-jetblue-all-you-can-jet-contest/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/IF-Z8Bhl6XI/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/canada/" rel="tag">Canada</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/pelee-island-1-gadling.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <br /> The southernmost inhabited bit of Canada is Pelee Island, a 36-square mile island in Lake Erie just 90 minutes from Sandusky, Ohio by ferry. To its south is an even more southerly uninhabited Canadian island, Middle Island, which was a safe haven for rumrunners during Prohibition, but Pelee is Canada's southernmost community.<br /> <br /> Pelee is very quiet and (how shall I put this?) truly out of sync with the urgencies of contemporary life. For the first two days of my stay on Pelee I tried to find a pocket of wireless Internet access. I was unsuccessful. "We're working on it," said a clerk at the police station. "You can use my computer," the owner of Connerlee Bakery offered. "Nowhere on the island," said the guy at the register at Pelee Island Winery. "This is your vacation! Relax! You're as bad as my husband," said the proprietor of Comfortech Bike Rentals. Her husband, it turned out, is Pelee's mayor.<br /> <br /> We were on Pelee to celebrate a belated birthday and to chill out. Both goals were accomplished. We rented two adjoining houses at the north end of the island and spent our time biking, swimming, and eating. We had all our meals at home save a few bakery runs and our final night's dinner, which saw us sampling <a href="http://www.anchorwheelinn.com/island.htm" target="_blank">Anchor &amp; Wheel Inn</a>'s C$16.95 all-you-can-eat fish fry. <br /> <br /> On balance, Pelee is a very affordable place to vacation. Our house rental ran about C$160 per person for the week. Beyond housing, bike rentals (C$20 per day), and the final night's dinner (about C$20 per person) there were no costs beyond market and bakery runs.<br /> <br /> Actually, that's not quite true. There is a fabulous <a href="http://www.peleeislandmuseum.ca/" target="_blank">Heritage Centre</a> on the island, and we spent a few dollars (adult admission C$3) to check it out. Opened in 1988 by founder Ron Tiessen, it contains well-curated exhibits on various aspects of Pelee's cultural and physical history. The Heritage Centre has helped pioneer organic farming on the island and also operates an annual event in early May called <a href="http://www.peleeislandmuseum.ca/i?page=home&amp;sid=9012832720159N" target="_blank">Springsong</a>, which celebrates birds and birding and typically features a banquet with Margaret Atwood, a long-term part-time resident of the island. Ron is a Pelee expert, and talkative to boot, and the Heritage Centre functions as a tourist information center as well as a museum. <p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Lake Erie's secret: Pelee Island</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/">Lake Erie's secret: Pelee Island</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19615341/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cmzcPfnGMgI8hzd9egj6fwNIfn4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cmzcPfnGMgI8hzd9egj6fwNIfn4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cmzcPfnGMgI8hzd9egj6fwNIfn4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cmzcPfnGMgI8hzd9egj6fwNIfn4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=IF-Z8Bhl6XI:REYPyC3Qh1I:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=IF-Z8Bhl6XI:REYPyC3Qh1I:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=IF-Z8Bhl6XI:REYPyC3Qh1I:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=IF-Z8Bhl6XI:REYPyC3Qh1I:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/IF-Z8Bhl6XI" height="1" width="1"/>canadaohioontarioPelee IslandPeleeIslandWed, 01 Sep 2010 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/lake-erie-s-secret-pelee-island/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/RPerhpFLZYY/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/gadlings-daily-deal/" rel="tag">Gadling's Daily Deal</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/09/deals090110-gadling-bumper.png" alt="" /><br /> <br /> <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Wednesday September 1, 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone. </strong><br /> <br /> Today's first deal is for the Microsoft Arc wireless mouse. This travel friendly mouse folds in half when not in use. Normal price is around $40, but Dell is selling them today only for $19.95. <a href="http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=a3788630&amp;cs=19&amp;c=us&amp;l=en">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> Next up is a product designed for roadtrip fans. The Wagan Powerdome is a car jumpstarter, tire inflater, power outlet and more. On sale for $55.76. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TZWE1S?tag=link_bldr-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B001TZWE1S&amp;adid=0FJZD541DJRX6ZHZ4KMA&amp;">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> Today's third deal is for a 2GB MicroSD memory card. These cards fit in many mobile phones and even some digital cameras. The card is free, but you'll need to pay $4.99 shipping to get it. <a href="http://www.dailycheckout.com/">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> And finally in today's lineup is a Solo rolling laptop case from Solo. Normal price is over $100, but currently on sale for $28.23 (plus a steep $10 for shipping.) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OOZ6FA?tag=prd_idnr-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B001OOZ6FA&amp;adid=08YG5ZW0AP2W3D31FTPR&amp;">Click here for this deal</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/">Daily gear deals - $20 Microsoft Arc mouse, free MicroSD memory card and more</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19616720/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Fv9Rxd80zudUnCSu2oWLALddMY8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Fv9Rxd80zudUnCSu2oWLALddMY8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Fv9Rxd80zudUnCSu2oWLALddMY8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Fv9Rxd80zudUnCSu2oWLALddMY8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=RPerhpFLZYY:D1Z-4NaaeCQ:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=RPerhpFLZYY:D1Z-4NaaeCQ:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=RPerhpFLZYY:D1Z-4NaaeCQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=RPerhpFLZYY:D1Z-4NaaeCQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/RPerhpFLZYY" height="1" width="1"/>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/daily-gear-deals-20-microsoft-arc-mouse-free-microsd-memory/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/FLsnk6fD_dk/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/cultures/" rel="tag">Arts and Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/history/" rel="tag">History</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/learning/" rel="tag">Learning</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/europe/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-kingdom/" rel="tag">United Kingdom</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp3895.jpg" /><br /> Ever hear of Durham? Unless you're British or a church historian, you probably haven't. That's because a disproportionate number of visitors to England never get beyond London and its neighbors Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, and Stratford-upon-Avon. This concentration on southern England means that many visitors miss out on seeing the beauties of the country's north.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.thisisdurham.com/">Durham</a> is one of the north's most important towns. Never an industrial powerhouse like Newcastle or Manchester, its influence was as a cathedral town. Durham is built on a hill dominated by a <a href="http://www.dur.ac.uk/r.c.widdison/tour/">cathedral and castle</a>, both built by the Normans. Together they're a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral dates to the 11th century and was built on the foundations of an earlier church. It's one of the most important pilgrimage sites in England because it houses the remains of two great church leaders. Saint Cuthbert was a seventh century missionary who performed miracles and helped spread the rule of the church over the chaos of Anglo-Saxon England. The Venerable Bede lived a generation later and was also an important religious figure as well as writing one of the <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.html">earliest histories of England</a>.<br /> <br /> The castle has been used for various purposes over the centuries and is now part of the local university. The guided tour will take you past a collection of armor, a giant dining hall, and into a Norman chapel. This chapel is in almost perfect condition and while it's Norman, it was decorated by Anglo-Saxon artisans. Each pillar carved with animals and warriors. The reason it's so well preserved is that the learned scholars at the university didn't recognize its importance and used it for years as a storage room!<br /> <br /> The River Wear wraps around three sides of Durham and there's an attractive river path that offers fine views of the city's historic center rising above the trees. Don't swim in the river, though, because you might comes across the Lambton Worm, a sort of Loch Ness Monster. While <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/08/has-the-loch-ness-monster-gone-extinct/">Nessie may have become extinct</a>, keep a sharp eye out for this local beastie.<br /> <br /> According to legend, one Sunday a long, long time ago a local boy named John Lambton went fishing instead of going to church. His only catch was a strange, ugly little thing that looked like an eel. Angry, John cursed it and threw it down a well. When John grew up he left Durham to become a soldier. The worm grew up too and started eating local children and terrorizing the city. When John came back from his military service he heard what was happening and went off to see a witch for advice on how to slay the monster. The witch gave him magical armor that would protect him from the worm's attacks, but also warned him that after slaying the worm he must slay the first living thing he saw.<br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/">Durham</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/#3315605"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp3835_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Durham's historic center has some fine old historic lanes" title="Durham's historic center has some fine old historic lanes" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/#3315606"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp3847_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Durham cathedral" title="Durham cathedral" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/#3315608"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp3864_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Another view of Durham cathedral" title="Another view of Durham cathedral" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/#3315609"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp3868_thumbnail.jpg" alt="The cloisters of Durham cathedral" title="The cloisters of Durham cathedral" /></a><a href="http://www.gadling.com/photos/durham/#3315610"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/imgp4044_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Durham castle" title="Durham castle" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Durham: castles, cathedrals, and monsters in northern England</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/">Durham: castles, cathedrals, and monsters in northern England</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19615740/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mUpkLHAFPtiNgQLYrwrID51mqNo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mUpkLHAFPtiNgQLYrwrID51mqNo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mUpkLHAFPtiNgQLYrwrID51mqNo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mUpkLHAFPtiNgQLYrwrID51mqNo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=FLsnk6fD_dk:cB8GX1CauqY:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=FLsnk6fD_dk:cB8GX1CauqY:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=FLsnk6fD_dk:cB8GX1CauqY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=FLsnk6fD_dk:cB8GX1CauqY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/FLsnk6fD_dk" height="1" width="1"/>castlecastlescathedralcathedralscounty durhamCountyDurhamCryptidcryptidscryptozoocryptozoologicalCryptozoologistscryptozoologyDurhamEnglandfolklorelegendlegendsLoch Ness MonsterLochNessMonstermonstermonstersnessieNormanNormansriver wearRiverWearsaintsaintsUNESCOunesco world heritag...UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO World Heritage SitesUnescoWorldHeritag...UnescoWorldHeritageSiteUnescoWorldHeritageSitesworld heritageworld heritage listWorld heritage siteworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageWorldHeritageListWorldHeritageSiteWorldHeritageSitesWed, 01 Sep 2010 09:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/durham-castles-cathedrals-and-monsters-in-northern-england/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/5piEn1xxKUA/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hiking/" rel="tag">Hiking</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-states/" rel="tag">United States</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/camping/" rel="tag">Camping</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/transportation/" rel="tag">Transportation</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/travel-deals/" rel="tag">Travel Deals</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/cruises/" rel="tag">Cruises</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/luxury-travel/" rel="tag">Luxury Travel</a></p><a href="http://www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com/media/7723/desertshadow2.jpg" target="_blank"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/desertshadow2.jpg" alt="" /></a>When the Glen Canyon Dam was built back in 1966, it created Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States behind Lake Mead. Covering more than 250 square miles in area, Lake Powell falls along the border of Utah and Arizona, a spectacularly beautiful region of the country that offers picturesque sandstone cliffs, winding canyons, and sun drenched vistas. It is truly an amazing natural setting that is best explored by boat, or better yet, by houseboat.<br /> <br /> With the fall travel season just around the corner, <a href="http://www.lakepowell.com/" target="_blank">Lake Powell Resort and Marina</a> is giving travelers a chance to experience an interesting combination of luxury and adventure by discovering everything that the lake has to offer via a houseboat. Heading into their peak season, the resort is offering an unprecedented 40 percent off boat rentals when booked before Sept. 15th, which makes this trip as affordable as it has ever been. <br /> <br /> Lake Powell has a lot to offer visitors, including hidden beaches, great fishing, kayaking and even hiking trails that will take you into the Pueblo cliff dwellings. You can be as active or lazy as you choose, while discovering everything that his aquatic playground has to offer. Best of all, the fall weather is generally very good, making this a great warm weather escape when the cooler temps set in.<br /> <br /> The luxury houseboats have all the amenities you would expect, and more. For instance, they come with fully equipped kitchens, comfortably sleep 12, are fully stocked with plenty of towels and linens, and include deck chairs, and water slides. The top of the line models even have state rooms with queen sized beds, hot tubs, wide screen HDTV's with satellite television, outdoor gas grills, and wine coolers as well. All the comforts of home, and then some. <br /> <br /> To book one of these houseboats, and take advantage of these great discounts, <a href="http://www.lakepowell.com/plan/specials--packages/fall-houseboat-offer.aspx" target="_blank">click here</a>. Then start planning your fall escape to an unexpectedly beautiful and comfortable destination. <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/">Explore Lake Powell by houseboat this fall</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.lakepowell.com/plan/specials--packages/fall-houseboat-offer.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19612149/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PdDKeXPTz_pECvFiQV40BavXabA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PdDKeXPTz_pECvFiQV40BavXabA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PdDKeXPTz_pECvFiQV40BavXabA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PdDKeXPTz_pECvFiQV40BavXabA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=5piEn1xxKUA:GHPeEobtfNQ:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=5piEn1xxKUA:GHPeEobtfNQ:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=5piEn1xxKUA:GHPeEobtfNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=5piEn1xxKUA:GHPeEobtfNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/5piEn1xxKUA" height="1" width="1"/>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelarizonahouseboatHouseboatinghouseboatsLake PowellLakePowellluxuryluxury travelLuxuryTraveltravel dealsTravelDealsutahWed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/explore-lake-powell-by-houseboat-this-fall/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/wqlp3IT8A_4/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Festivals and Events</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/photos/" rel="tag">Photos</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/stories/" rel="tag">Stories</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/asia/" rel="tag">Asia</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/sri-lanka/" rel="tag">Sri Lanka</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/photo-of-the-day/" rel="tag">Photo of the Day</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/travel-trivia/" rel="tag">Travel Trivia</a></p><div style="text-align: center; "><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/23962182436f658b88eo.jpeg" /></div> <div style="text-align: left; "><br /> I think that the best travel photography is the kind that captures a unique instance of the human experience and opens it up for further discussion. It intrigues the viewer to ask questions, to delve deeper and to examine the unfamiliar. It refuses to let you look away or ignore the subject. For me, this moment captured by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-r-g-o/">e.r.g.o</a> in Sri Lanka does exactly that.<br /> <br /> The festival being photographed is called the Esala Perahera (festival of the tooth), which takes place in the city of <em>Maha Nuvara</em> (Kandy) in July or August. The man seen here is swallowing a burning coal as a display of relentless faith.<br /> <br /> The image is <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-r-g-o/sets/72157622780035198/with/517713114/">part of a series</a> from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-r-g-o/">e.r.g.o</a> during a three year stint in the South Asian island country. He notes <em>"This project is my farewell to Sri Lanka. Of the six images, some are pretty and nice, while others are ugly and harsh. This has been my Sri Lanka experience." </em>The full series (with a couple extras from Melbourne) can be <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-r-g-o/sets/72157622780035198/with/517713114/">viewed here</a>.<br /> <br /> Do you have a story to tell with photos to prove it? Submit to our Gadling <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/gadling/pool/">Flickr Pool</a> &amp; it could be tomorrow's <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/photo-of-the-day/">Photo of the Day</a>!</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/">Photo of the Day (8.31.10)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19614352/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/na8HZmxDM-juu_Ns2aYTK-nDVbU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/na8HZmxDM-juu_Ns2aYTK-nDVbU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/na8HZmxDM-juu_Ns2aYTK-nDVbU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/na8HZmxDM-juu_Ns2aYTK-nDVbU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=wqlp3IT8A_4:v19hQyBt4Bk:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=wqlp3IT8A_4:v19hQyBt4Bk:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=wqlp3IT8A_4:v19hQyBt4Bk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=wqlp3IT8A_4:v19hQyBt4Bk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/wqlp3IT8A_4" height="1" width="1"/>Coale.r.g.oEsala PeraheraEsalaPeraheraFestivalFireKandyMaha NuvaraMahaNuvaraRobert GoRobertGoSouth AsiaSouthAsiaSri LankaSriLankaSwallowTue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/photo-of-the-day-8-31-10/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/RDj6W0G5KWc/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/united-states/" rel="tag">United States</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/hotels/" rel="tag">Hotels and Accommodations</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/luxury-travel/" rel="tag">Luxury Travel</a></p><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/image003.jpg" />Need a breather? We totally understand. The daily rigors of life can be complicated and every now and then you just need a moment for some uninterrupted meditation. The <a href="http://www.elysianhotels.com">Elysian hotel</a> understands, too, and has put together a yoga program fit for a celebrity.<br /> <br /> The Elysian is adding a dose of Hollywood glamour to its Greco-Roman-inspired urban oasis by partnering with celebrity yoga instructor Mandy Ingber to host a restorative three-day/two-night Yoga Retreat Weekend from Sept. 10 - 12, 2010. Ingber will instruct on wellness principles and yoga poses that toned the bodies of Jennifer Aniston, Brooke Shields and Helen Hunt. <br /> <br /> The yoga weekend will include three yoga sessions, smoothie breaks and an afternoon spa treatment. <br /> <br /> <strong>The price?</strong> Rates starting at $1,445 including the yoga sessions, accommodations for two nights, an in-room welcome amenity, keepsake Lululemon yoga mat, and lunch and Q&amp;A session with Ingber Book. Can't you just feel the stress melting away?<br /> <br /> Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right <a href="http://www.gadling.com/tag/dailypampering">here</a>.<br type="_moz" /> <p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/">Daily Pampering: Yoga retreat at luxe Chicago hotel</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19614820/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SKCe_TibPmsawqo3oSlKJsf4jlU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SKCe_TibPmsawqo3oSlKJsf4jlU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SKCe_TibPmsawqo3oSlKJsf4jlU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SKCe_TibPmsawqo3oSlKJsf4jlU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=RDj6W0G5KWc:-wFYjW6Ys-4:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=RDj6W0G5KWc:-wFYjW6Ys-4:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=RDj6W0G5KWc:-wFYjW6Ys-4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=RDj6W0G5KWc:-wFYjW6Ys-4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/RDj6W0G5KWc" height="1" width="1"/>chicagodailypamperingElysian HotelElysianHotelhotelhotelsyogaTue, 31 Aug 2010 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/yoga-retreat-at-luxe-chicago-hotel/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/B_sE9S8wpcY/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/cultures/" rel="tag">Arts and Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/history/" rel="tag">History</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/stories/" rel="tag">Stories</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/europe/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/turkey/" rel="tag">Turkey</a></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girolame/4615903919/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/4615903919dc0b4a2e67b-resized.jpg" /></a>When Selim the Sot ascended the throne of the Ottoman Empire in 1566, he proposed a new theory of royal governance. Henceforth the greatness of an emperor was to be judged not by bravery or glory, but by indulgence in comfort and pleasure. In Selim's case this meant two things -- women and drink. It was the kind of wheeze that modern leaders can only dream about.<br /> <br /> I blame the Topkapi Palace. It seemed to have this corrupting effect on all its inhabitants. Its fragrant luxuries did not exactly encourage effective government. Once Selim had moved himself and his harem of 150 women into the Topkapi, he never seemed to want to come out again. In 1573 the French ambassador noted that in three months Selim had only left the palace twice, and that was to nip next door for prayers. What was it about this palace above the Golden Horn that seemed to cast such a spell over its princes? I hurried along to find out.<br /> <br /> For outsiders, entrance to the Topkapi Palace was never easy. In the old days European ambassadors, who were kept waiting for weeks, vied with one another for admittance to the reception halls of the Ottoman sultans. Little has changed. In the Court of the Janissaries, I found myself in an interminable ticket queue vying with a busload of Italians to whom queuing did not come naturally. After twenty minutes I realised I was going backwards. When I finally fought my way to the ticket window, I was surprised to find it was level with my shins, obliging me to kneel and genuflect slightly to ask for an adult single.<br /> <br /> The Topkapi sits astride the best real estate in the city, overlooking the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. Walled and secluded, it is a city within a city where, for four centuries, the Ottoman Sultans were pampered and indulged in a series of salons and pavilions that came to be known as Dar-us-Saadet, or the House of Felicities. Once through the gates, I began to feel the Selim effect. Between the splashing fountains and the swirling tilework, it suddenly seemed a good day for doing nothing.<p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Letter from Turkey: exploring Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's pleasure palace</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/">Letter from Turkey: exploring Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's pleasure palace</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19602847/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AG89wc2dm5-u2kvIrFzGtXJtpBQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AG89wc2dm5-u2kvIrFzGtXJtpBQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AG89wc2dm5-u2kvIrFzGtXJtpBQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AG89wc2dm5-u2kvIrFzGtXJtpBQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=B_sE9S8wpcY:qkQxlbi1A78:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=B_sE9S8wpcY:qkQxlbi1A78:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=B_sE9S8wpcY:qkQxlbi1A78:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=B_sE9S8wpcY:qkQxlbi1A78:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/B_sE9S8wpcY" height="1" width="1"/>Dolmabahce PalaceDolmabahcePalaceistanbulTopkapi DaggerTopkapi PalaceTopkapiDaggerTopkapiPalaceTue, 31 Aug 2010 15:35:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/exploring-topkapi-palace-istanbuls-pleasure-palace/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/rbCdy-a0XCc/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/cultures/" rel="tag">Arts and Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/learning/" rel="tag">Learning</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/food/" rel="tag">Food and Drink</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/stories/" rel="tag">Stories</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/asia/" rel="tag">Asia</a>, <a href="http://www.gadling.com/category/thailand/" rel="tag">Thailand</a></p><em>"Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans...are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit."</em> -- Anthony Bourdain<br /> <br /> The Traveler's Code of Conduct -- a body of oral law etched indelibly into the collective nomadic consciousness -- is very clear on matters of food: However unfamiliar, unappetizing and/or squirmy, nothing a host serves may be turned down. Especially when you're a stranger in a strange land. To violate this rule is to violate one of the most ancient and sacred precepts of hospitality -- and to reveal simultaneous provincialism and schmuckiness of the highest order.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/morrissey/3285113200/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/08/3285113200d40e7500bbo-resized.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> Here, then, is one schmuck's tale.<br /> <br /> I became a vegetarian 25 years ago, during a 10th-grade biology lab, when my designated dissectee turned out to be the pigeon that broke the camel's back. Deceased animals placed before me, whether as meals or science projects, had long since induced guilt and a gag reflex. And for some reason, with this one squab au jus de formaldehyde, I was done.<br /> <br /> But alas, some 20 years later, my hosts on Yao Yai didn't get the memo.<p><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Vegetarians in a foreign country (or, How not to eat meat in Thailand)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/">Vegetarians in a foreign country (or, How not to eat meat in Thailand)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.gadling.com">Gadling</a> on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/forward/19602825/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lcLyTcnt97dvVXeXaVzK0Dimukk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lcLyTcnt97dvVXeXaVzK0Dimukk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lcLyTcnt97dvVXeXaVzK0Dimukk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lcLyTcnt97dvVXeXaVzK0Dimukk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=rbCdy-a0XCc:FnunDhyczQs:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=rbCdy-a0XCc:FnunDhyczQs:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?a=rbCdy-a0XCc:FnunDhyczQs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/gadling?i=rbCdy-a0XCc:FnunDhyczQs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~4/rbCdy-a0XCc" height="1" width="1"/>Abbie KozolchykAbbieKozolchykfishvegetarianvegetarianismvegetariansYao YaiYaoYaiTue, 31 Aug 2010 14:28:00 ESThttp://www.gadling.com/2010/08/31/vegetarians-in-a-foreign-country-or-how-not-to-eat-meat-in-thailand/