GadlingGadlingOkayama, Japan: a place to see Japan at a quieter pace- April 29, 2008 Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Asia, JapanWhen I went to Japan several years back, the U.S. dollar was the pits against the yen. Luckily I had a friend of a friend of my brother's to stay with in Tokyo. I had a Japanese rail pass for a week so we ventured out on day trips mostly, except for two nights in Kyoto. We went on a day trip to Nara from there. Other trips were to Kamakura and Nikko. This was an impressionistic sort of trip. Japan is such a vivid place that I..http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/29/okayama-japan-a-place-to-see-japan-at-a-quieter-pace/ Converse All-Stars: You can still walk miles almost 100 years later- April 28, 2008 Filed under: Hiking, History, Business, GearWhen I went on trek in Ladakh, India, most people who went along were outfitted to the gills in the latest, greatest, newest hiking clothes and shoes for such an occasion. One person, however, wore a pair of Converse All-Stars--the basic low cut version. Nothing fancy and he didn't even lace them. I can't remember if he wore socks. Probably not. He walked unhurriedly for nine days along the trail that lead up the mountains through the Markha Valley..http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/28/converse-all-stars-you-can-still-walk-miles-almost-100-y... Inca Trail Not this summer.- April 22, 2008 Filed under: Hiking, South America, Peru, NewsWorld travelers just can't get enough of Peru's famous Inca Trail. But has the Inca Trail had enough of them It may come as surprise to anyone still planning summer travel to Peru, but the world-famous path to Machu Picchu is completely sold out for the 2008 summer travel season, with the next available opening in September 2008.As veteran Peru trekkers might know, the Peruvian government began imposing restrictions in 2005 on the number of hikers...http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/inca-trail-not-this-summer/ Video: Earth Day ode to the John Muir Trail- April 22, 2008 Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Festivals and Events, Video, EcotourismI've been thinking about John Muir and people who have such a passion that their whole life is dedicated to its pursuit. John Muir, as I wrote in a previous post, was dedicated to the preservation of nature. To really see the world as John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club, saw it, hiking the John Muir Trail is one option. The trail winds 211 miles through mountainous scenery that...http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/earth-day-ode-to-the-john-muir-trail/ John Muir: An Earth Day ode- April 22, 2008 Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Stories, Consumer ActivismEven though this weekend was filled with Earth Day activities, the actual Earth Day is today. Because yesterday was John Muir's birthday, it seems fitting to mention those places that travelers are able to appreciate today due to Muir's dedication to the environment. Besides, he was a traveler with a capital T, the kind Abha referred to in her post on Henry Lee McGinnis, the 80 year-old who has been...http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/john-muir-an-earth-day-ode/ He's 80 and has been walking the world for 16 years- April 22, 2008 Filed under: Hiking, StoriesSometimes it's years before we hear of the real vagabonds; I wonder how many we never hear of at all! Henry Lee McGinnis has been walking the world for the last 16 years, Google him and I find nothing other than a one-minute video on BBC.So far he has walked over 80,000 miles across the US and 66 other countries. He is currently entering South America and will finish around 2010 in Texas, after passing through Central America and Mexico.According to his website, the..http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/hes-80-and-has-been-walking-the-world-for-16-years/ Big in Japan: Tibet unrest changes Everest climbing routes- April 21, 2008 Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Asia, China, Japan, Nepal, Big in JapanFrom San Francisco to London and Paris to India, protestors are taking to the streets to demonstrate against China's hosting of the Olympic Games. Angered by the Chinese government's refusal to meet with the Dalai Lama, as well as the continued suppression of human rights in potential breakaway regions, the world is seeking to punish China on the eve of its long-anticipated coming out party.For travelers on the ground in...http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/21/big-in-japan-tibet-unrest-changes-everest-climbing-route... |