Wanderism Travel

Eating on the road is an opportunity to search for, seek out and to try different foods – meals you might not find at home. Local specialties, for instance, like Rava Dosa at the Tekka Wet Market in Singapore. Or a breakfast of Huevos Motuleños at Cafe Pasqual’s in Santa Fe…

…sorry: drifted off for a moment there.

But diners, especially American establishments, have had a place in the travelers’ psyche since long before cars plied asphalt covered roads and the motor hotel was invented.

Over at AOL’s food website — Slash/Food — they weighed-in (no pun intended) on a TLC program called “Best Food Ever”, and it’s 10-Best List of American Diners.

I’ve actually been to a couple of these places, and if the rest of the list is any indication of terrific food, then I’m definitely adding them to MY personal list. Check it out.

Damn! Now I’m hungry.

[REW] – [Source]

* See The World By Train

Let’s face it, some things in life just defy description.

The Grand Canyon… awe inspiring, yes, but does the phrase do it justice…?

The birth of a child… life affirming, true, but isn’t it mind boggling just the same…?

The popularity of Glenn Beck… okay, well maybe that one does defy description.

All of us have similar feelings about places we’ve visited, sights we’ve seen, and experiences we’ve had during our travels that are so jaw-dropping they… well, defy description; they have to be experienced first-hand to begin to even grasp them.

This… um… ‘railway system’ you’re about to visit is one such experience that surely must be awe-inspiring, mind-boggling and jaw-dropping in person, because the photos and video absolutely defy description.

I dare you to not be blown away by the Miniatur Wunderland Railway in Hamburg, Germany. Enjoy the trip!

But wait – there’s more »»

I was sort of mugged once. In New York City.

I say ’sort of’, because while the mugger in question pulled a knife, I ended up winning the day (and keeping my life and my wallet!) with a head-fake and a Bic pen. A story for another day, perhaps.

My point is, when faced with adversity and danger we never really know what’s going to happen next. How will we get through it? Will we survive? Is a writing instrument really an option when confronting an actual knife…? (Hey, it worked for Jason Bourne!)

Adversity and danger were definitely two feelings going through NatGeo photographer Paul Nicklen’s mind when he slipped into the frigid waters of Antarctica and came face to face with a massive Leopard Seal.

Now THIS is reality TV!

[REW] – [Source]

Doug and I are always on the lookout for the unusual, the off-beat, even the strange when it comes to travel.

Seattle, for instance, has the Space Needle, the rockin’ EMP (Experience Music Project), Pike Place Market and enough quirky neighborhoods to keep even the most jaded traveler entertained for weeks. But what about Underground Seattle…?

So, when we read a post on one of our favorite websites — Mashable — entitled, “Ten Great Geek Destinations“, we just knew we had to take a look. We think you should too.

Don’t forget to pack your horn rims and pocket protectors.

[REW] – [Source]

I’ve written a travel book. Doug’s written a travel book. We’re both working on other travel books as we speak. Hell, just about everyone we know in this business has, or is about to write a travel book.

So, in the midst of the worst downturn in travel book sales in a decade is there a point in continuing? Will our yet-to-see-the-light-of-day tomes ever… well… see the light of day?

According to Bookseller.com travel book sales have slumped more than 10% over last year’s sales figures which themselves were almost 30% lower than the year before that.

Some imprints had modest increases apparently — Rough Guides for one — but across the board business has been terrible. What, with Icelandic ash clouds, airline strikes and Bangkok turning into the OK Corral, travel guides particularly haven’t been selling. But marketing always has its greatest impact in times of struggle. Lonely Planet tackled the downturn in a unique fashion by giving away their iPhone City Guide apps for free when volcanic ash closed many of Europe’s key airports.

If the global economy is coming around as most financial pundits seem to believe, and if the summer travel season begins to percolate, then perhaps all these setbacks will be nothing more than short-term events and we can all get back to doing what we do best: reading, writing and road trips (the three ‘R’s…?)

[REW] – [Source]