World Hum

What We Loved This Week: Grizzly Bears, ‘Among the Thugs’ and Matisyahu

2009-07-10T20:03:26-05:00

Eli Ellison
Guilty of writing superlative-laden tripe about Disney theme parks (hey, I had to pay the rent), I loved finally reading Carl Hiaasen’s wickedly funny book Team Rodent: How Disney Devours The World.

Embassy Architecture: Can the U.S. Build More Than Bunkers?

2009-07-10T19:08:32-05:00

Photo by skpy via Flickr, (Creative Commons)

Our recent troubles with terrorists have wrought many changes, including the rise of American embassies designed with such a strong emphasis on security—at the expense of everything else—that they’ve become, as L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne puts it, “one-size-fits-all bunkers.”

But a new report issued this week entitled “Design for Diplomacy” from the American Institute of Architects suggests that, while security must be at the forefront of embassy design:

U.S. embassies can, and must, reflect American values and ideals. U.S. embassies should symbolize America’s vitality, enduring strength, decency, and innovation. These essential qualities contribute to the conduct of American diplomacy, encourage international commerce, and enhance cultural exchange.

Travel Song of the Day: ‘California Stars’ by Wilco

2009-07-10T18:02:50-05:00

Coming Soon: Neverland China

2009-07-10T17:19:48-05:00

If you can’t make it to Neverland Ranch to pay your respects to Michael Jackson, don’t fret: There’s a Chinese replica in the works near Shanghai. (Via @KelseyTimmerman)

Travel Books and Graphic Novels: ‘A Natural Fit’

2009-07-10T16:37:26-05:00

Whether in Burma, Naples or beyond, we’re fans of travel stories told in pictures—so it’s nice to see the travel book-as-graphic novel genre getting some love in this round-up from Perceptive Travel. Marie Javins writes: “Travel stories are charged with creating an atmosphere, their text inspiring imaginary visuals of foreign lands in the minds of the reader. Graphic novels are a natural fit.” Agreed.

French Tourists: The Worst in the World?

2009-07-10T15:30:11-05:00

Oui, according to a survey of hotel owners. Why? The French come across “as bad at foreign languages, tight-fisted and arrogant.”

The best tourists, according to the survey? The Japanese.

12 Great Summer Vacation Movies

2009-07-10T14:31:19-05:00

Eva Holland and Eli Ellison missed out on some prime tanning time to dig up the finest summer travel flicks

Site to Watch: Atlas Obscura

2009-07-10T13:37:48-05:00

The site’s not-so-modest goal: To catalog “all of the singular, eccentric, bizarre, fantastical, and strange out-of-the-way places that get left out of traditional travel guidebooks and are ignored by the average tourist.”

Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras created the site, and they’ll be looking to travelers to help with the cataloging. (Via @jodikantor)

Beer Lao Goes Global

2009-07-09T20:19:06-05:00

Photo by honey-bee via Flickr (Creative Commons)

After years as a staple on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail, cult favorite Beer Lao is finally making a serious push for leverage in more far-flung markets. From the New York Times: “Like a film festival winner without a distribution deal, the rice-based lager has struggled to turn cult status into anything other than good press ... The company, Lao Brewery, hopes to change that. It would like to see 10 percent sold abroad, and it is counting on Vang Vieng’s beer-loving backpackers to help them make the sale.”

For now, Beer Lao’s well-traveled devotees seem happy to help—the article has the details on the mostly grassroots import effort. But any bets on how long it’ll be before someone mournfully declares that Beer Lao tasted oh, so much better before the passport-less crowds got their hands on it? (Via Frommer’s Behind the Guides)

Africa Travel Tips ‘Not Related to Bandits, Thugs and Murder’

2009-07-09T19:24:03-05:00

Nicholas Kristof took some heat for his recent 15 travel tips column—here and here, for instance. One excellent response comes from WhiteAfrican.com, which put forth 15 Africa Travel tips, and posted a handful more from readers. (Via Frank Bures)

Hybrid Double-Decker Buses Debut in London

2009-07-09T18:30:48-05:00

Photo by Paleontour via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Six of them are now in use on Route 141. The city will assess just how much fuel and money it can save with the buses before expanding the fleet. (Via @joannakakissis, @ecogeek)

Japan’s Love Hotels: Recession-Proof?

2009-07-09T17:43:02-05:00

Looks that way. Apparently Japan’s love hotels have been rocking, even in what CNN calls the country’s deepest economic recession since World War II. “Even these days, on the weekend, every love hotel is full of people—it’s hard to get in,” one woman told CNN. “You can never stop sexual desire.” Or perhaps the drawing power of the Hello Kitty-themed rooms.