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How Many Pyramids Are There In Giza? Seriously?

October 29, 2008 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments

Marriott is running an online contest right now that asks "How many major pyramids are located at Giza?" If you couldn't figure it out from the photo they show right next to the question, the answer is three.

The two previous questions in the game asked why they celebrate Carnival in Rio (to mark the beginning of Lent) and who officially opened the Sydney Opera House (Elizabeth II). Tomorrow's quiz is about Rome, and judging from the difficulty of the questions so far, we're throwing out these potential answers: The Forum, The Colosseum, Romulus, Julius Caesar, Trevi Fountain and Italy.

Related Stories:
· Marriott World of Rewards [Official Site]
· 3-D Models of the Pyramids for Google Earth [GEHacks]
· The Giza Pyramids World Heritage Site [UNESCO]
· Giza Pyramid Complex [Wikipedia]

[Photo of the famous Giza Pizza Hut: noaman]

King Solomon's Mines

October 28, 2008 at 12:03 PM | 0 Comments

Researchers in Jordan think they've uncovered the location of King Solomon's Mines, a copper-rich region that's inspired multiple films, including one starring Patrick Swayze and another featuring Sharon Stone and John Rhys-Davies.

The area, south of the Dead Sea in Jordan's Faynan district, is known in Arabic as Khirbat en-Nahas and includes roughly 100 ancient buildings. Artifacts recovered from the area as well as carbon dating helped researchers determine that the mines were used in the 10th century BC--and could prove the historical existence of King Solomon.

Lead researcher Thomas Levy says:

We can't believe everything ancient writings tell us. But this research represents a confluence between the archaeological and scientific data and the Bible.

Levy is now working with the government of Jordan to have the area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a status the nearby ancient village of Petra already enjoys.

Related Stories:
· Copper Ruins in Jordan Bolster Biblical Record [LAT]
· King Solomon's (Copper) Mines? [UCSD]
· High-Precision Radiocarbon Dating and Biblical Archaeology [PNAS, warning science content!]
· World Heritage Sites in Jordan [Official Site]

Thailand and Cambodia Talk It Out in China

October 21, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

On the list of people we're glad we're not--after Bristol Palin and Guy Ritchie, natch--comes Thai premier Somchai Wongsawat. The masochist voluntarily agreed to lead Thailand amid unprecedented government protests.

If the burning streets of Bangkok aren't enough to worry about, now the guy has to deal with a potential war with neighboring Cambodia. Last week, fighting erupted along the countries' border over this UNESCO World Heritage temple that both claim to own.

Now, Somchai will again sit down with Hun Sen, Cambodia's 20-plus-year strongman prime minister, for another attempt at a truce. Both men headed to Beijing today for the talks. Looks like hosting bilateral talks is China's way of reminding the world its post-Olympics city still exists.

Related Stories:
· Somchai and Hun Sen Meet in China [Bangkok Post]
· What Are Thailand and Cambodia Fighting About? [Jaunted]

[Photo: daylife.com]

Temple Troubles: Thailand and Cambodia Fight On

October 14, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

It was back in July that we first mentioned the temple trouble between Thailand and Cambodia as they fought over the newly UNESCO Heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple on their disputed border. And we thought it'd all be over soon and we could put this place back on our want-to-visit list.

Not so. Since then, there have been more protests and even a short skirmish between Thai and Cambodian soldiers that left three people injured. Landmines have also caused a few injuries.

This week, the two sides finally sat down for a chat again. But the only result seems to be that Cambodia has told Thailand it has to get its troops out, and the Thais have said they're staying there to do more mine clearance work. Which means that planning a visit to the gorgeous Preah Vihear will have to stay on our "postponed" list.

Related Stories:
· Cambodia, Thailand Resume Talks on Border Spat [AFP, via Google]
· What Are Thailand and Cambodia Fighting About? [Jaunted]
· Cambodia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Mofaitsontdm]

South Africa Field Trip: St. Lucia and a Cultural Tour Gone Wrong

October 3, 2008 at 3:00 PM | 0 Comments

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Our final destination before crossing the border into rural Swaziland was the resort town of St. Lucia. Another volunteer had called it one of the most beautiful places on earth, and Coast to Coast said the village was seated at the heart of a World Heritage Site, amidst five different ecosystems. It sounded promising, and when we read that crocodiles, monkeys and even hippos roamed the streets, we knew it was a place that deserved a closer look.

While the "resort" part of the town was pretty desolate (again, we reasoned, because it was off season) Bib's International Backpackers (our hostel of choice) was busy with travelers from all over the world. In addition to your average dorm-style rooms and self-catering accommodations (all for about R100, or $12, a night), Bib's offers travelers a laundry list of tours, safaris and outdoor escapes to insure visitors experience all that St. Lucia has to offer.

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UNESCO Travel: Heritage Sites Through the Eyes of Artists

September 5, 2008 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

If you're headed to San Diego for one of two film festivals in the next few weeks, then there's something else to add to your itinerary. A new exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego features works from artists that have spent time in World Heritage Sites around the globe.

The exhibit, Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet, concentrates on the environment. For example, artist Mark Dion stalked reptiles in Komodo National Park in Indonesia. Other artists visited the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves in Brazil and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador for inspiration.

If you're interested in a visit, the feature is running through early 2009. Admission into the museum will cost you $10, includes access to the museum's permanent collections as well.

Related Stories:
· Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego [Official Site]
· Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet [Official Site]
· Museums coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: tunachilli]

Out of Bridges, Austrian Wants to Sell You a Lake

August 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM | 0 Comments

Nicolette Waechter is tired of her family's lake in the resort district of Salzkammergut in Austria. So she's selling Mondsee, and €16 million ($24 million) seems to be the going price.

Mondsee, or Moon Lake, is about a mile wide and 10 miles long, and it's one of only five lakes of substantial size in Austria that is still privately owned. It's also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has lent its name to a Neolithic people who built pile dwellings on its shores between 3600 BC and 3300 BC.

But it's not without problems: Waechter has lost numerous court cases trying to ban motorboats on the lake. At least one potential buyer would probably be happy with those rulings, though. Local tabloids say billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-creator of Red Bull, is interested.

Related Stories:
· One of Austria's Privately Owned Lakes for Sale [AFP, via Google]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]

What Are Thailand and Cambodia Fighting About?

July 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM | 0 Comments

For more than a week, the Southeast Asian neighbors have been locked in a standoff that the Cambodian Foreign Minister has called an "imminent state of war." But what about? Some kind of temple? Exactly.

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Adventures of Link: Even More UNESCO

July 9, 2008 at 5:15 PM | 1 Comment

Those UN apparatchiks in charge of telling you what's worth seeing have just added 27 more wonders to their list of World Heritage Sites. (And you had just finished seeing the first 851 of them!)

Not on the list? Crème brûlée, much to the dismay, no doubt, of Nicholas Sarkozy, who was lobbying for it. France did get some love, though, with the addition of the fortifications at Vauban and the lagoons of New Caledonia.

Perhaps most notable is San Marino, which had its historic center and Mount Titano added to the list. So how many of the country's 61 square kilometers aren't UN protected?

Related Stories:
· The Full List of New World Heritage Sites [Official Site]
· Latest World Heritage Sites Announced [Vagablogging]
· Does Creme Brulee Qualify? UNESCO Says No. [WorldHum]
· UNESCO Adds 27 New Sites to List [VOA]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of San Marino from Mount Titano: Wikimedia]

Cinco de Mayo Travel: Where is Puebla, Mexico?

May 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM | 0 Comments

¡Oye, Cinco de Mayo! We're already three micheladas deep, but we thought you'd wanna know why everyone's pounding Mexican beer today. The fifth of May is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, an epic fight between the Mexican army and the French expeditionary forces of Napoleon. The Mexicans, led by Ignacio Zaragoza, won, which is why it's a day worth remembering.

Interestingly, the Poblanos were French sympathizers, which led to an nominative bitch slap when the city's name was officially changed to Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza after the battle.

These days, Puebla is an important cultural capital, in south-central Mexico. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city's home to some of the country's most famous dishes like mole poblano and chalupas. Also worth a try is the cemita, a huge sandwich served on a sesame roll that's sort of like a Mexican muffaletta. Trust us: It'll go down easy with a ton of frosty beer.

Related Stories:
· Mexico Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]
· Google Maps/Where Is... coverage [Jaunted]

La Tour d'Argent, UNESCO Site?

April 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments

Between playboy and presidential duties, Nicolas Sarkozy is lobbying to get French cuisine UNESCO World Heritage status. Don't laugh, it is possible. In addition to sites of stunning human achievement and culture, the list, started in 1972, also includes United Nations-protected oral traditions, performance art, traditional crafts and social practices.

True to form, some French feel that escargot isn't on par with Machu Picchu: It's better.

Now up to 851, the list includes not only Mont-Saint-Michel and, for that matter, Venice but also lesser-known sites from Butrint in Albania to the Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe. Not all the French were thrilled at the thought of having their cuisine co-listed with parts of the Congo basin or an ancient church in Finland.

Related Stories:
· Does French Cuisine Deserve UN Status? [IHT]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Éole]

Laos Travel: The Tourists Are Invading

April 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments

Travelers love to brag about their off-the-beaten-path adventures, but finding a corner of the earth that hasn't succumb to tourism is getting harder all the time. Now you can tack Luang Prabang, Laos right up there with Oman and Bangladesh.

The International Herald Tribune's Seth Mydans tells us that serene mornings along the Mekong are no longer; along with the peaceful pitter-pat of monks asking for alms is the din of camera-toting gawkers. Luang Prabang--a 700 year-old village and UNESCO heritage site since 1995--is slowly being turned into a "replica of itself," Mydans writes. The bars are open until midnight, and the quiet atmosphere that once defined the town is being bled out by a thirst for business.

It's another grim example of how tourism can change a place for the worse, drastically altering the quality of life for locals. And it presents a baffling paradox for travelers who are genuinely looking for a unique experience: How do you go without being part of the problem?

Related Stories:
· An Ancient Town Grapples with Modernity [IHT]
· Bangladesh is the New Bangladesh [Jaunted]
· Asia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Julie+G]