Fall 2011
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The Best Odds
South Africa is a country that lives, breathes, and exudes uniqueness. In some ways it stands out as an oddity among other countries of the world because some things about it are unique in a way that we never even thought to think about. Since it is impossible to entirely capture the essence of a country in a lifetime, let alone in a few short words, here are some odd numbers that have special significance and that showcase a few of South Africa’s unique features—seven colors, five languages, three capital cities, one nation.
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Trey Fitz-Gerald is Out of the Office
While most people go where their careers take them, some people find careers that take them where they want to go. Trey Fitz-Gerald, director of Public Affairs and Broadcasting for the Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer (MLS) team, spends from one-third to half of every year traveling the country with the team, and that’s just the way he likes it.
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Falling through Time
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from a dusty red cliff, I felt like I was falling through time. I could be Aegeus, the king of Athens, waiting for my son, Theseus, to return from killing the Minotaur. As I turned to behold the marble temple, I could be the wife of a sailor praying to Poseidon to keep her husband safe.
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Cliff Rescue
On a cool summer day I went with friends on what we knew would be a rigorous mountain hike. But rigorous soon turned to life-threatening. At the first viewpoint, we came upon a group of hikers screaming for help: a member of their party had fallen off the cliff.
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Get Lost!
Ever since European monarchs began building elegant garden mazes for entertainment centuries ago, people have loved the thought of getting lost in a maze. Corn mazes, the American spin on this European tradition, are located in every U.S. state excluding Alaska. Whether you’re out to enjoy autumn in an unconventional way or simply want to have a blast on a budget, corn mazes are fun for families and thrill seekers alike. Here’s a look at some of the coolest and quirkiest corn mazes out there. Be sure to check what times and dates each maze is open before planning a visit.
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Cinque Terre
The unpredictable cliff formations of the Italian Riviera have allowed the villages known collectively as Cinque Terre (the five lands) to be constructed in unique patterns that hug the mountainside. Monterrosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are meant to be experienced on the hiking trails, carved into the mountainside, that the locals use themselves. While hiking along the terrain, you are able to see the unmistakable beauty of each trail and village. A local train makes frequent stops in each village throughout the day. But taking the train will deprive you of experiencing the areas of the trails that are home to gardens, vineyards, and old bridges. While each trail boasts beauty and intrigue, the individual villages have developed their own unique splendor well worth the hike.
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You Say Goodbye I Say Hello
Going to Moscow and asking—in English—where to find an authentic local restaurant may just get you directions to the nearest bathroom. What do you say when your foreign travels surround you with equally foreign languages? English may be the international language spoken among airline pilots, but it certainly isn’t going to help you land the respect of the local waiter.
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Dare to be a Traveler Not a Tourist
For the locals in hotspot cities like London, Paris, Beijing, and Tokyo, the common tourist sticks out like a sore thumb. Often a local can’t help rolling his eyes or muttering under his breath about “another one of those tourists” who is simply “in the way.” The key to avoiding these labels when you travel is to remember that you are a visitor and should be courteous during your stay. Stowaway offers seven simple suggestions to help you look like less of a foreigner and to avoid the eye-rollings and breathy mutterings of “another one of those locals” who is simply “in too much of a hurry.” If you apply these seven tips, you will be on the road to becoming a traveler—not just a tourist.
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Kansas City
The Greatest Place You’ve Never BeenI’m going to Kansas City; Kansas City, here I come!” These words were made popular by Wilbert Harrison in his 1959 R&B and Billboard Hot 100 Charts version of the rhythm and blues song Kansas City. You can sing those same words this fall when you take a weekend getaway to enjoy barbecue, baseball, and beats in the heart of America—Kansas City.
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Norway — The Land of the Midnight Sun
Hear the word Norway and the first thing you may think of is a long-bearded Viking sporting a horned helmet and rough-hewn sword, lording over a fjord from the top of a cliff with the northern lights dancing behind him. This Scandinavian country, with its deep-slicing coastal canyons and heaven-scraping mountains, certainly evokes an atmosphere of mystery and magic. From its rich cultural heritage to its stunning scenery, Norway invites visitors to experience natural and indigenous wonders.
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Bon Om Tuk
Hundreds of colorful dragon boats fill the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers in Phnom Penh. In many ways, it seems travelers come to Cambodia to see what is dead—the land is literally dotted with temple ruins and landmines. Siem Reap is most famous for its ancient temple ruins from the twelfth-century Khmer empire, including the iconic Angkor Wat. Thousands of people travel to Cambodia every year to see the intricate carvings of dancing Apsaras (nymphs), Khmer kings, and scenes from the Ramayana on ancient temple walls—scenes of power, wealth, and riches that have mystically disappeared from the land, leaving only ruins as their last testament. Many visitors also take time to visit the historical sites of the infamous Khmer Rouge regime. Killing fields, marked by pillars of human skulls; the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Pehn; and schools for child victims of landmines remind visitors of the destruction and crimes against humanity that once took place here. However, there is more to Cambodia than just its temples and brutal history. Though Cambodia still wears its battle scars, both ancient and modern, there are many reasons Cambodia is still thriving today. Its joy and survival as a nation are best demonstrated by its largest celebration every year—the Cambodian Water Festival, where both past and present are celebrated.Bon Om TukSome call the Khmer Water Festival the greatest celebration in Southeast Asia. In 2010, Bon Om Tuk, as it is called in the Khmer language, attracted over three million people from all over Cambodia and the world to join in the merriment. Even Buddhist monks, gracing the crowds in their saffron-colored robes, come to watch the boat races from a safe distance. Each October or November (depending on the arrival of the full moon) Phnom Penh and Siem Reap both host extraordinary boat races, carnivals, and ceremonies, marking the reversal of the Tonle Sap River from upstream to downstream. This natural phenomenon takes place as the current shifts at the end of the rainy season, and all the water that once flowed upstream into the swelling Tonle Sap Lake changes direction to flow back into the Mekong River. This annual flooding of the Mekong River provides vast quantities of freshwater fish, fertility to the land, and livelihood for many Cambodians. Thus, the water festival is a celebration of thanksgiving for the life and sustenance that the river provides.
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Exchanging Lives
The Irish Troubles were worse this year than they had been for decades. Even though the Tuckfields lived in a mixed Catholic and Protestant neighborhood, the roads were barred by police barricades. When the roads would open again after a day or so, the family would go to the grocery store to stock up. On the way they might pass protesters, or a tank might weave as delicately as possible around them.
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Wacky World Sports
After you’ve achieved “cultural authenticity” by eating with your hands, experience something your hosts actually care about—their sports. Not your typical breed of athletics, these attractions are often an ancient cultural tradition of their host nation.
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Backpacker's Guide to Europe
Back in the day, the “Grand Tour” was the thing to do for 20-something-year-old rich kids. Young aristocrats would tour Europe searching for cultural enlightenment and a bit of adventure.
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Parting Shot
From the perspective atop the Hohensalzburg Castle (literally, “High Salzburg Fortress” in German), twilight appears over the Salzach River on the eve of the Salzburg Festival, a five-week music and drama celebration held each July. Earlier that day, cannons blasted on the banks of the river and musicians’ instruments resonated through the streets. These festivities were homages to the city’s musical history: Salzburg, Austria, is the birthplace of Mozart and the opening setting for The Sound of Music.
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The Re-Invention of the Creative Escape
The Ace Hotel is not for your average traveler. You won’t find a lobby with floral décor or a stuffy concierge. You won’t find basic toiletry samples in the bathroom. You won’t find rooms that all look alike or restaurants with basic diner food. The Ace Hotel is “everything you need, and nothing you don’t,” as a hotel guest coined at the opening of the first hotel.
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