In The Battle For Beauty, Nature Wins Every Time

Do man-made creations only harm the planet, or can they be as powerful as nature’s?

It hasn’t been an easy week, what with more hidden photos of torture, the arrest of a former Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and learning that all of us recyclers/composters/bikers/tree-huggers are really just taking down the planet by sending out our emails to save the Arctic.

Plus, I locked myself out of my apartment. But I digress.

Even with all the bad news out there, every once in a while, I come across something that makes me ponder the beauty of even man-made creations.

Lanscapes From Above

The Boston Globe recently ran a series of pictures from photographer Jason Hawkes called Human Landscapes From Above. Here is the first pic:

Photo: Jason Hawkes/Boston Globe

Some people may see a sea of red and metal, and think this picture is just an example of our over-consumerism.

While on the one-hand, this is true, I also see the many hands went into creating these cars, possibly being the life’s work of some. The intricacy with which the cars are placed speaks to our ability to create usable patterns that the eye is still able to get lost in.

And every once in a while, stepping back to contemplate that just over a century ago, a very simple version of these machines were just a dream in the minds of a few people, is pretty staggering.

So how are we able to bridge the two - over-production of something that is causing harm to the planet versus the art of creating machines beyond the wildest dreams of our ancestors - and handle these realities without jumping to either extreme?

Call me an optimist (and most people I knew growing up never would have), but I believe that every “problem” has a solution. You shine a light in a dark corner and guess what happens? It’s not dark anymore.

And I have a sneaking suspicion travelers understand this best of all.

Natural landscapes

Another one of Hawkes’ photographs is of the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park:

Photo: Jason Hawkes/Boston Globe

The colors and landscape are a simple reminder that nature outperforms us every time. But that’s ok - we have the ability to work with (not against) nature’s beauty and bounty, enjoying all its free entertainment, if we keep trying to figure out how we can work with (not against) the Earth.

I remember a story a friend once told me about a Native-American tribe who volunteered to hold some nuclear waste on their land. Why would they do such a thing, I asked?

My friend explained: the tribe knew it was better for them, who have always had a give-and-take relationship with the Earth, to figure out what to do with the waste than it was for the US government.

Good point, and a starting place from which to ask questions.

Will human creations be as beautiful - and not harmful - as nature’s? Share your thoughts below!

Waging Peace: Israeli Mother And Palestinian Soldier Unite

Understanding the suffering of the “other side” may just give peace a chance.

Robi Damelin / Photo: Speaking of Faith

The piece begins with the following idea:

The approach of personal transformation is the idea of the future for ending war…If enough people in the world transformed themselves into peacemakers, war could end.

So I was inspired when I came across an article about an unlikely pair trying to wage piece in the Middle East: a former Palestinian fighter, and a Jewish mother whose son fought in the Israeli army.

Personal transformation occurred for both of these individuals due to something that will touch each of us at some point in our lives: death.

Robi Damelin, the Israeli mother, lost her son to a Palestinian sniper seven years ago; Ali Abu Awwad’s brother Youssef was killed by an Israeli soldier two years before that.

They met five years ago through Parents Circle, an organization that brings together the families of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost close relatives in the conflict.

Awwad says of his relationship to Robi:

If someone had said to me when I was 15 that I would have someone like Robi as a friend, in my wildest dream I would not have imagined it. But when I met her she began to tell me about her relationship to her sons and how the killing of David affected her relationship with her other son. I felt this very deeply because my mother didn’t pay much attention to me after the death of my brother, because she was closer to him than me. We made a connection.

They stress that their relationship is not one of no disagreements, but one of understanding. After all, reconciliation is rooted in understanding the suffering of the person on the other side.

Ali Abu Awwad / Photo: Encounter Point

And they are taking this message to as many parts of the world that they can: speaking together at mosques, synagogues, parliaments and public meetings throughout the Middle East, and most recently at an Amnesty International event in Britain.

To me, this story signifies that we are all allowed to maintain our own beliefs, ideals, and points-of-view when working toward peace.

Conflict occurs when any beliefs are taken too far, or when they’re pushed on another who doesn’t agree.

When we travel, we often come up against points-of-view that are completely different than our own. But I believe that most travelers see these different approaches as the diversity that makes our world beautiful, and can make each of us a better person in some way (even if we completely disagree with the belief).

And maybe those disagreements simply give us a chance to practice waging peace within ourselves.

To learn more: check out Encounter Point, a doc featuring the story of Ali and Robi.

Insect killing robots!

Hoi Hoi San

Kotobukiya's entrance into the articulated figure scene?
Hoi Hoi San is a partialy painted kit that can be easily put together. Retail price is 3,150 yen and will be out this September.

Know nothing about the series apart from what I just read at ANN.

Plot Summary: The time is the near future. Cockroaches and other household pests have become immune to all forms of insecticides. In response to this crisis, a Japanese company has created small, doll-like insect exterminating robots called Hoi Hoi-san.

A competing company has also released their own version, Combat-san. Because of their adorable appearance, these little robots have become somewhat of a phenomenon and have gained many fans. Late at night, in the home of one such fan, Hoi Hoi-san and Combat-san search for insects to exterminate... but Combat-san is not above trying to exterminate Hoi Hoi-san while she's at it.

If you have not seen it and watch the video below then I think you will end up wanting one like me ^^;


More pics of the Kotobukiya figure kit at Hobby Stock.

Adult theme park gets Chinese talking about sex

A giant doll outside " Love Land", billed as China's first-ever sex theme park, in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

China's is building its first sexually explicit theme park, and the giant genitalia sculptures and suggestive exhibits are getting many people hot and bothered in a country where talking about sex is still taboo.

Love Land is set to open in October in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing and will feature exhibitions about sexual history and how to use condoms properly. It will also host sex technique workshops, the China Daily newspaper said.

A picture of the main entrance shows a signboard bearing the park's name being straddled by a giant pair of women's legs topped by a red thong.

The park's manager, Lu Xiaoqing, said Love Land would help people "enjoy a harmonious sex life."

"We are building the park for the good of the public," Lu said. "Sex is a taboo subject in China but people really need to have more access to information about it."

Sex is not a topic for open discussion in China, where government figures show only 7 percent of women and slightly over 8 percent of men get immediate medical help for sexual problems.

Earlier this year, the government launched a national sex education campaign aimed at getting more people to seek treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and infertility, to try and break some of the taboos.

The newspaper said the park was inspired by a similar attraction on South Korea's Jeju island, also called Loveland.

China's Love Land appears to be helping to get the conversation going. Months before it opens, the park is already generating heated discussions among bloggers in cyberspace.

"It's just too much," wrote blogger "Autumn Rain" on the popular Chinese portal baidu.com. "It's only about getting your heart to beat faster."

"Overseas, this park would be considered artistic. But in Chongqing, it's just vulgar," wrote "Big Scandal."

Other bloggers supported the idea.

"I don't object. Young people need to start sex education young as China has a problem when it comes to this," wrote "Eaglefly."

Park manager Lu said he was happy with all the debate.

"It is quite normal to see so much discussion about it," he said. "I have found that the majority of people support my idea but I have to pay attention and not make the park look vulgar and nasty."

Traveling with Twitter

Using Twitter for Travel

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Find Out More

See our Using Twitter for Travel slideshow.

The micro-blogging, social-networking site is full of travel deals, insider tips, news, and useful information.

From April 2009

By Everett Potter

See our Using Twitter for Travel slideshow.

Heather Whaling, a marketer from Florida, was recently planning a business trip to Long Beach, CA, and wondered if she should fly into Long Beach or LAX. She could have looked at blogs, checked out airport websites, or even called a travel agent. Instead, she turned to a different network—her friends on Twitter. “Everyone said to stay away from LAX,” she says. Following the advice of her fellow tweeters, she flew into Long Beach.

Twitter, the 140-characters-at-a-time Web phenomenon of the moment, turns out to be a powerful tool for travelers. It can take you deep into the collective mind of the Internet to find the latest—and often the hippest—information about hotels, restaurants, and airfare deals. And lots of travelers are discovering the site’s potential.

A bit of Twitter 101 (skip ahead if you’re already tweet-friendly): it’s a free service that lets you send and receive brief messages, called tweets, which are restricted to no more than 140 characters of text—meaning Twitter is a hybrid of instant messaging and blogging. People who follow you get your tweets, and you can choose which other Twitterers you want to follow. Tweets can be sent and received on twitter.com, traditional e-mail accounts, mobile phones, RSS, and Facebook.

Travel publications, of course, use Twitter to get the word out about their latest stories; travelandleisure.com (@TravlAndLeisure) also offers up travel deals. Hotel chains, food critics, and bloggers you won’t find on conventional travel sites maintain profiles as well. And established visitors’ bureaus are showing up; Portland, OR, has what it calls a Twisitor Center (@travelportland) to answer questions and promote the city to potential tourists.

Those on the receiving end of this information run the gamut of travel types. Zena Weist, a senior manager at a communications company in Kansas, was planning a Florida vacation that included Disney World and scoured @twisney and @TheDisneyBlog. “Twitter came in handy for nailing down the details,” she says. And Paul Smith, a Brit known as the Twitch Hiker, recently demonstrated Twitter’s usefulness—and ubiquity—by traveling from England to New Zealand using only suggestions from the Twitter community for transport and accommodation. (The Twitch Hiker made the 30-day trip to raise money for charity.)

No matter what kind of travel you’ll be doing, Twitter can be a powerful and efficient tool; after all, skimming the posts is faster than visiting a bunch of blogs. Use Twitter’s search engine to find, say, a member who tracks hotel deals in Tokyo or monitors rafting companies in Central America. Join a Twitter group like @travelpeople to find others with similar interests. Or follow an established family travel site such as @WeJustGotBack.

Because it’s informal, Twitter allows you to be conversational and responsive. And it connects you with travelers who prefer social networking over official travel websites. It can also be very local. With so many eyes scouring the Internet, culling from websites, and providing links, Twitter is a way to essentially create your own aggregator. Just as Kayak gleans the best fares from dozens of sources, you can manipulate Twitter to bring in a customized feed of information.

Happy tweeting.

Castle/Love hotel for sale

Lend me $1.5million would you? I want to buy a castle

These harsh economic times are apparently forcing the owners of this huge fairy tale castle in Ehime prefecture to put it up for auction. As an added bonus, the castle used to used as a love hotel up until 5 years ago, so it could be converted back to a SM and schoolgirl themed love hotel quite nicely, I suspect. That’s my plan anyway, assuming you’ll all bunch together and lend me a cool $15 squillion.

How To Raise Successful Kids While Living Overseas

Balloon photo by jesse.millan. Feature photo by ^riza^.

Here are some practical tips on how to raise happy, well-adjusted children while living overseas.

Your daughter is twelve years old and on her second passport. Her first passport is tattered and filled with stamps from Asia and the Middle East. This one looks set to go the same way.

Photo by broma

She was born in Boston but has only visited there during Christmas.

Her birthday parties are like a UN General Meeting. You watch in amazement as she moves between three languages while collecting her gifts .

When you took that first overseas posting, you weren’t even thinking about children. Back then, you never thought past the next contract. Then you got married, and suddenly there were diapers in your suitcase.

While your friends back home recreate their own childhood with their families, life as an expat parent is very different.

But traveling and living abroad with your family can be the most rewarding thing you’ll do together. You just need to make a few preparations and adjustments.

Who are the Expat Kids?

Some children think a nomadic life is normal; they’d put any Khao San road backpacker to shame.

Children from military, missionary and business families clock up the miles, sometimes before they’re even old enough to understand what’s happening.

Researchers working with these children call them ‘Third Culture Kids’. They discovered that children take what they know or remember from their home culture, and mix it with their host culture to make a third mixed-up bag that works just fine for them.

So, for example 90% of those recently surveyed here said they felt they understand foreigners better than the average American and 80% said they can make friends with anyone.

Photo by Cia de Foto

What do Expat Kids worry about?

Well, you need to listen to them. Your own relocation issues might seem bigger but knowing that Santa will find her little sister is a big deal for your twelve-year old.

Take the time to find out as much as you can about the new culture so you can recognize things like tasty fruit or dangerous spiders.

If your children look radically different to the people in your new home, be ready for some healthy curiosity and prepare your kids for life as a minor celebrity if you’re moving to a rural area.

Playing games is a big part of life for many kids, but ice-hockey isn’t big in the tropics and the football isn’t quite what you’re expecting. Talk to other expat parents online and find out what they do and how to join in.

What language should you speak abroad?

Sure, everyone at your workplace will speak English, and the staff provided for your home will probably do the same, but do you want your kids to continually impose English on their friends or learn some local words?

Even a six-month stay can leave them with an appreciation for the way the non-English speaking world runs.

Schooling for Expat Kids

Your choices for longer stays usually include:

• an international school
• the local school
• home schooling

The familiarity of English and the curriculum are the benefits of the international school system. Most countries have American schools and if not, then the UK system comes a close second.

Photo by LizMarie

Your kids can mix with other expat children and their local classmates are the perfect way for your kids to find out what the country is really like.

But because of the exclusive nature of most of these schools, some parents take the local option. If your kids are younger and not facing exams, then this could be a great experience for them with guaranteed local friends.

But do remember that their first weeks here will be tough. Being the new kid on the block is never easy, and if they don’t speak a word of the language, it’s even harder.

The third option is home-schooling, which is easier than ever before, with so much support online. Home-schooling is a good choice in countries where one parent can’t work because of visa restrictions.

Expat Kids at College

When your little girl grows up, you’ll be making college choices from Kuwait to Switzerland. Once again, the internet comes to the rescue. Whether your kids are seen as local or international students varies from school to school, so make sure you ask before completing the applications – are they in the smaller and coveted international pool or competing with everyone else?

Photo by Josiah MacKenzie

Give your child time to investigate colleges online, and think about whether they want to go back to their native country or not.

For some Third Culture Kids, going back to a normal life isn’t all that exciting. It might be a shock to discover that your kids are bored rigid at the thought of studying where you call home, but think of the savings in tuition fees.

Expat Kids Love Life

Don’t stress too much. Most expat kids are incredibly well-adjusted and have friends all over the globe. They get to visit worlds that most teenagers just see on television and are comfortable with traveling in a way many older people only dream about.

And it’s not just about travel; these kids tend to be more tolerant than children raised in only one culture. If you’re still not convinced, just look at the most famous Third Culture Kid in the world today: Barack Obama.