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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller

First, there is a tower, then there is no tower, then there is

Ah, governments are silly old things, aren't they?  Their covert missions, surveillance, collusion and hidden agendas. And their dismissal of the intelligence of the people. But here is a story that beggars belief -- the BT Tower in London.  The story of how, for over a quarter of a century, everyone had to pretend the BT…
2021-07-240Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Europe Fun History Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Travel Solo Unusual World Culture

I wasn’t really naked. I simply didn’t have any clothes on.

PRUDES:  look away now. Inspiration comes from the most unusual places.  You can never predict what an artist will do to make a statement or grab your attention. Art comes in all styles, from the Romans to the Renaissance the Impressionists and beyond.  And so much of it has been saved for us by museums,…
2021-07-230Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Fun Inspiration Mindfulness Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Technology The Thinking Traveller

Nothing up my sleeve, presto!

Your flight tickets will be $550.  Your suitcase will be another $212. Give this man, Bruno, a medal. Overpacked and no room in my carry on, this is the outcome of that predicament - the travel coat: a couple meters of nylon from the Flea Market in two perfect tones of forest green, 29 carefully…
2021-07-220Comments

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Activity Adventure Central & South America Do Something Different Fun History Inspiration Nature & the Environment Outdoors Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

From Alto Cedro I go to Marcané

If you're a music fan, then you certainly must know of the Buena Vista Social Club, 1999 documentary film directed by Wim Wenders. The film follows renowned guitarist Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim, as they travel to Cuba and assemble a group of the country's finest musicians to record an album. But, even if you…
2021-07-220Comments

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Adventure Mindfulness Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely Technology The Thinking Traveller

I’m sorry, Dave – I’m afraid you can’t do that

Sometimes, you wonder where peoples' minds are. The USA's TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Blogger Bob Burns once shared funny, but serious, messages with the public.  Now,  Lisa Farbstein and the team on duty now are doing a great job of keeping the public informed with light but serious messages about what can and cannot go…
2021-07-220Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Partytime Romance Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

More sabor

Tripadvisor fans (like us) get around.  They every corner of the globe to discover the newest, the wildest, the most obscure and the, well,  just plain fun. It's almost impossible to travel without eating something.  And if your budget permits, the lure of "best of" restaurants is just too strong to resist.  Here, here to…
2021-07-210Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Partytime Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

But what if they’re right handed?

You've got questions?  We've got answers - especially to ones that you probably thought you'd never find yourself asking.  Unless you're bored, doing research or are an anorak. This particular peculiarity focuses on the urgent need to understand why airline captains sit on the left-hand side of the plane? You'll find out here, but if…
2021-07-210Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun History Life of Luxury Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller

Ciao, Alitalia

Who doesn't love Italy?  We bet that only a few will raise their hands.  Italy, for tourists, seems to bring out all that's good in traveling. But, sadly, Italy's official airline, Alitalia has had its troubles in the past and up until now, and, as a result, will be shutting its doors for good. Happily,…
2021-07-210Comments

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Adventure Asia Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

It wasn’t too long ago…

Sometimes, we don't realise how lucky we are. If you're not familiar with this story, prepare to be amazed.  Kowloon Walled City was an ungoverned and densely populated de jure Chinese enclave within the boundaries of Kowloon City, British Hong Kong. Originally a Chinese military fort, the walled city became an enclave after the New Territories were…
2021-07-210Comments

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Activity Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Fun Nature & the Environment Outdoors Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness

They walk among us

Do you fully recognise that "they are among us?"  Do you fashion yourself as an extraterrestrial hunter?  Do you have the knowledge, desire and hardware to search for them? The US Pentagon says there’s no explanation for “unidentified aerial phenomenon” detected by pilots over the years. But scientists use tools such as the SETI Allen…
2021-07-200Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

First viewer will buy! Don’t wait!

The electric interwebs are full of articles and videos about failed attempts on a grand scale.  We know that there was thought and planning put into these - there had to be.  But, in the cases here, the dreams crumbled in a number of different ways.  Rather than ridcule, let's be glad that we're able to…
2021-07-190Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun Health History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Try not to drool

AirBnB, constant bad press notwithstanding, has created a wonderful new model on how to travel.  Almost everyone wins. VRBO, an Expedia company (and one of our valued affiliate friends,) have taken the model and successfully given AirBnB a run for their money:  in some recent months, they have marched past AirBnB in bookings. But, this…
2021-07-190Comments

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Adventure Asia Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Health History Life of Luxury Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Pacific Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Do good, feel good UNESCO style

This is a simple, but very important request.  For those of us who are fortunate enough to travel, this should almost be mandatory. UNESCO has created the Sustainable Tourism Pledge. The pledge takes an industry-first approach to environmental and cultural protection, requiring hotel operators to introduce firm measures to eliminate single-use plastics and promote local culture. The…
2021-07-180Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Health Inspiration Meditation Special Interest Spend Wisely World Culture

We are the robots

As mother earth spins faster, and more and more of us spin with her, big changes happen.  New ideas, new materials, new studies, new pharmaceuticals . . all culminating into new "us"? Very soon, we will be presented  with all types of complicated information about the condition of our health, including our individual levels of risk…
2021-07-180Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Meditation Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

Hey, bungalow thrill

"If looks could thrill it would have been us instead of him"  All the children sing. These looks will thrill - at Reserva Alecrim EcoSuite & Glamping in Portugal. The properties, the views, the surroundings, the location - wow!  And the bungalows look more like dwellings on the moon. Set by a lake in the Alentejo…
2021-07-180Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Central & South America Do Something Different Europe North America Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller

Every breath you take, every move you make

Those with tin foil hats, look away now. People are people and, therefore, unpredictable.  Sometimes that's fine (and fun) but when it comes to wrangling millions of us at a time, that can be . . not fun. In the UK,  Transport for London is using aggregated and anonymised data from its wi-fi network to provide real-time…
2021-07-170Comments

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