Saturday, August 18, 2007

Ethical Traveler

from Yahoo!Picks:

Ethical Traveler
It screenshotis not down in any map; true places never are. - Herman Melville

Too often, travel consists of running around with your head in a guide book. But focusing on the list of things to see keeps us from getting to know the people and culture of the places where we spend our precious few vacation days—and the richest experiences in other lands often begin with a surprisingly simple gesture. This site aims to bring together informed travelers as "freelance ambassadors" to serve the world community. Stops on the itinerary:

  • Learn about the places you visit and your impact on the society and environment.
  • Get involved and help address time-sensitive issues.
  • Step beyond the map and immerse yourself in a culture by following the guidelines for ethical travel.

Global voyagers acting together can make the world a better place. It's a small world, after all.

(in Travel)

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Tiny Animals on Fingers

from Yahoo!Picks:

Tiny Animals on Fingers

Page through the hundreds of photos in this remarkableFlickr pool, and you start to get the feeling that many of the Earth's smallest beasties just want to get a good look at their human neighbors. Image after image reveals insect, mammal, reptile, and bird in an inquisitive position, griping some person's index finger and gazing intently at the enormous creature that has hoisted it upwards. Big-eyed hamsters, bigger-eyed moths, and five (count 'em, five) red eyed tree frogs all appear to say, "Just let me take you in!" In some cases, though, the wee ones are too new or too busy to peek at their many-fingered photographer. And, of course, not everyone likes being handled in such a manner. We wouldn't want to meet this guy in a dark alley. Many of the insect portraits are worth special notice for their amazing Technicolor dream coats. These moths, ladybugs, and worms come dressed to the nines.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

The Bathroom Diaries

from Yahoo!Picks:

The Bathroom
Diaries
A screenshotpox on eco-tourism. Death to luxury travel. The only frontier left for truly experienced travellers (like us) is a tour of the world's most inspiring toilet facilities. Thankfully, this was a tour guide we didn't have to write. The Bathroom Diaries—touted as "the world's largest database of restroom locations"—took care of that business for us. When you gotta go, you gotta go, and it's so much better to know which way the toilet flows. If you have to tinkle in Tehran or doodie in downtown Detroit The Bathroom Diaries will have every journey covered. And if you find yourself out on the go, and want to relieve yourself in the richest environs, check your wireless or your GPS device for one of the award-winning commodes. Sometimes a weary traveller just needs to be pampered. (in Travel)