Telemark Skiing is less popular than downhill or even cross-country skiing, owing in part to the difficulty but also because of its niche status.

Photo by dirkgroeger

That wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that it makes the gear a lot more expensive and difficult to rent. If you’re ready to get on the slope, here’s the gear you’ll need to get started in this sport.

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Driving hypnotic drums.  Deep guttural chants.

I wasn’t sure what I was listening to, but I was loving every sound and rhythm emanating from my sister’s CD player as we drove to our destination.

When the chorus came on, I strained to make out the words.

“Bullet?…Bullet The Blue Sky? What is this?!“.

Knowing I was a viral U2 fan, she’d purposely popped in this CD.

With a captivating rendition of my favorite U2 tune, “Mysterious Ways” by world renown Beninese songstress, Angelique Kidjo to the percussion laden version of “Bullet The Blue Sky” by Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, every track on this album keeps you guessing how each song transforms.

Africa Celebrates U2 is an excellent cross-section of U2 classics sung by an equally superb cross-section of pure African talents - from heavy sounds of brass in “Where the Streets Have No Name” sung by Nigerian-born Tony Allen, a former drummer for the Late Fela Kuti, to the softer remake of “Love Is Blindness” by Afro-pop musician, Waldemar Bastos from Angola.

This album is very reminiscent of bands such as Afro Celt Sound System that fuse African ethnic sounds with pipes, flutes, and other Irish Celtic sounds.

If you love the cross pollination of musical genres across various cultures or are just a viral U2 fan with an open mind, you’ll love this album.

Needless to say, my sister was forced to part ways with her copy.

Price: $14.99 | BUY

Editor’s Note - Today’s backpackers are currently redefining what it means to rough it on the road. This new wave of travelers now called flashpackers still forge on, discovering uncharted territories and remote locales.

But this time around, they instantly beam back their locations and bring the world along.

Photo by AMagill

Here are some savvy gadgets a flashpacker needs to pack before hitting the road.

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One of the simplest ways of giving back if you can’t physically volunteer your time is by occasionally donating money, clothing, and essential household items.

Better yet, you can donate everyday by shopping with companies and organizations that make an effort to donate a portion of their sales, goods, and resources to communities and individuals who need them the most.

Matador Pulse editor Julie Schwietert recently tipped me off on a piece she’d read in Delta Sky Magazine about a certain philanthropic company, TOMS and their shoes.

Intrigued, I had to find out more about their cause.

Founded in May 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, TOMS aims to provide shoes to needy children through the purchases of their shoes. To date, they’ve donated 10,000 and 50,000 pairs of shoes in Argentina and South Africa respectively.

For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, a pair of shoes is given to a child in what they term their “One for One Movement”.

These fun, colorful shoes redefine comfortably casual. They slip on easily, come with soft leather soles and textured rubber bottoms, and are available in a myriad of patterns, textures, designs, and colors.

With creative names like Democratic Vote TOMS and Split Decision Vote TOMS, you’re sure to find at least a pair you’ll like.

They also manufacture a “Vegan Friendly” TOMS - which I assume passes on leather soles.

TOMS expands beyond shoes, selling fitted hats, t-shirts, bags, and its new fashion-forward wrap boot - an elastic wrap that extends from the ankle up to the knee with Velcro closure.

By supporting TOMS’ One for One movement, you can contribute to bringing one pair of shoes to a child in need - one of 200,000 pairs of shoes planned for donation this year.

BUY TOMS Shoes

You’ve probably yanked on your earphones once only to have the black foamy head stay behind - nicely wedged in your ear.

The JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds are made from soft silicone material that fits comfortably in your ear, molding perfectly to the ear canal. This sleek design aids in blocking out external noise.

They are also super lightweight and sturdy enough for travelers constantly on the go and, of course, work well with any portable device such as media players, laptops, and other audiovisual devices.

When you purchase the JBuds, you get 3 pairs of silicone earbuds in three different sizes - small, medium, and large - so you can choose the right size for you.

Also available in black and pink.

Price: $15.99 | BUY

I remember the first word I uttered when I picked up a Nikon digital SLR camera, looked through its viewfinder, and clicked…

I believe it was - WOW!

Photo by Lola Akinmade

With the prices of professional grade equipment and photo accessories dropping, it’s no surprise that the number of photography enthusiasts seems to be skyrocketing. Thousands of travelers straddle the fence between hobby photographers and serious amateurs.

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Ever wanted to tape yourself participating in The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona?

Maybe tape your first bungee jump from your point of view?

Shooting travel videos while in the midst of action has gotten a lot easier and more convenient with the Flip Ultra Mini Camcorder.

This lightweight, pocket-sized camcorder provides 2GB of built-in memory, allowing you to record up to 60 minutes of high quality video and sound.

Its no-glare Transflective LCD allows you to work in low light conditions such as dusk and dawn, as well as under glaring sunlight.

It comes with a tiny USB plug that connects to your computer or any USB-enabled device for video transfers and uploads.

Since video is captured in VGA-quality, you can hook up the camcorder to a TV for maximum viewing.

Now you can add high quality videos to your catalog of travel memories.

Price: $124.98 | BUY

Today’s travel film selection comes from Matador community member, Travel Anna.

5 countries. 300 years.

The main character, a violin, travels the world, forming intimate connections with people that crossed its path.

It adapts to their needs and holds a special place in their hearts.

In the end, though, the person who truly appreciates the journey the violin traveled wins.

As a viewer, I enjoyed seeing the places the violin traveled. The people it met along the way, their cultural differences and the sense of history emanating from each place.

The outside influences that put the violin on a path it wasn’t originally intended to travel made the movie intriguing.

Price: $9.99 | BUY

Packing for a trip is becoming a more daunting task each year, particularly for us ladies. From fluctuating airline luggage fees and weight restrictions to unpredictable climates around the world, it’s hard to know what should go and what should stay from your fabulous fashionista closet.

Photo by Foraggio Fotographic

But don’t despair, you can still pack smart and stay stylish on the road. The first trick is to take “mix and match” items. The more your items work well together in color scheme and style, the less you’ll have to take. The second is to include pieces with “mileage” or versatility.

You should be thinking - How many ways can I wear that top?

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We’ve already touted the quality and practicality of Moleskine journals here on Matador Goods.

The company has recently taken it up a notch with the introduction of its new line of Moleskine City Notebooks.

With a slew of maps at different scales in addition to pages for planning your itinerary, metro route maps, and enough blank pages for journaling, it aims to fulfill a myriad of travel planning needs in a pocket-sized book.

The Moleskine City Notebook includes a key map that provides you with a geographical overview of the city, and approximately 36 pages of detailed zone maps from scales of 1:5,000 to 1:17,000.

It also provides an invaluable alphabetized street name index.

From Kyoto, Japan to Turin, Italy, the City Notebooks span 42 locales covering some midsized cities in addition to the regular international powerhouses such as Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

Price: $12.21 | BUY