Photo by bredgur.

What awaited them included hundreds of new unidentified species, the Colorado Rockies and some 50 Indian tribes. Almost two hundred years later, Christopher Johnson McCandless took on a similar expedition, trekking through the great unknown of the Alaskan wilderness.

Unfortunately, his journey didn’t have a happy ending.

What do these two stories that are separated by 200 years have in common?

The absence of technology.

In the last 30 years, technology has revolutionized the world and continues to evolve every day. This is certainly the case with travel as every travel gadget we could dream of (and many we’d never dream of) seems to exist. Technology like OnStar, the iPhone’s Toilet finder app and of course Twitter, have changed the way we not only plan trips, but how we actually travel.

Imagine this scenario:

You’re walking down Champs-Élysées on the way to meet fellow travelers at a restaurant you picked from your trusty guidebook. Upon arriving, you find the restaurant no longer exists. Your French is rusty, so you conveniently pull out your iPhone to quickly find a new restaurant to rendezvous at.

Better yet, you tweet your 1,000 followers, one of whom has a summer apartment located right on Champs-Élysées, and they save the day by directing you to another hidden Paris gem.

We’ve all got stories about how technology has “saved the day” or how it continually provides convenience while on the road. However, in a time when travel is meant to help us unplug and enrich our life, has technology — initially meant to connect us — actually disconnected us?

Photo by Giorgio Montersino.

The question that we have to answer is whether technology actually impedes our travel experiences and causes us to miss things we may otherwise not have missed.

Ralph Waldo Emerson stated: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”.

Can we honestly leave a trail and experience the world if we’re as connected traveling as we are when we’re at home?

There are places and people we could be missing out on because of technology. Travelers are often so entertained by the sights and sounds of a place, that having another distraction such as an iPod, phone or other form of technology takes away from being able to fully take in a place, causing us to miss moments we’d otherwise capture.

Furthermore, imagine how much we may be missing if we head in 30 minutes early each evening to get our daily technology fix. On a two week trip, that adds up to an extra 7 hours of sightseeing and culture we could be experiencing instead..

If traveling solo, technology can be an easy comfortable companion. Let’s be honest, how many of us sitting by ourselves at a bar have pulled out some electronic gadget to make us appear busy? Our gadgets in effect become our other half. We’re much less likely to connect with people while traveling because, first of all, we’re not initiating contact with others and secondly, others around us are a lot less likely to approach a “busy” person.

Photo by Stinkie Pinkie.

One of the joys of travel, and especially solo travel is the organic connection that comes from meeting and interacting with other people.

Locals are a window into a culture. You can always go back and revisit Auschwitz but you can’t always go back and relive a conversation with a Holocaust survivor.

As travel is meant to connect us with the people of the culture we visit, technology often disconnects us, because we’re instead choosing to connect with home, rather than connecting with locals and their culture.

So where’s the line? At what point do we put the technology down?

This issue remains different for each person but consider leaving it at home the next time you travel to see how unplugging changes your travel experiences.

Community Connection

Still not sold on the benefits on unplugging while traveling? Check out The Joy of Traveling Unplugged and 50 Most Inspiring Quotes Of All Time as well as Matador’s focus page on Slow Travel.

Do you try to unplug when traveling by leaving your gadgets at home? Please share your thoughts below.

Feature photo by derekGavey. Photo above by The Wolf.

Stuff you need

Instrument

This may surprise some, but the instrument itself may actually be superfluous depending on what you play. For those who sing, your voice is rather more transportable as an instrument than, say, an organ.

If you play something like the guitar, you’ll find that many people you encounter while traveling will have some old, beaten-up nylon string hidden away in a closet.

If you’re space-poor luggage-wise, why not roll the dice and assume that someone else has taken the trouble to being their acoustic, and hijack it when they start slurring the third verse of “Livin’ On a Prayer”?

Be smart; if you’re planning on couchsurfing in Ireland, you’re bound to come across a fiddle at numerous points. If you’re backpacking through the Laos highlands, however, you may want to consider bringing your own. Especially if you’re a little in love with the tone/design/sound of your instrument.

If you do decide you can’t leave your “other baby” at home to gather dust, consider any alternatives to the full-size, heavy-as double bass you’ve got (see “awkwardly large instruments”, below).

Hard Case

Banish the thought of buying a soft case to save some dough. Even if your instrument is small enough to carry on to the plane, a couple of centimeters of foam ain’t gonna protect your 18th century Stradivarius against the New York subway crowds.

Hard cases may be heavier, but the protection they provide compensate for the biceps they tone.

Chromatic Tuner

Photo by join the dots.

Essential. Simple as that. Except if you play the drums; and even then it may come in handy.

Chromatic tuners are best because they can tune to any note, rather than specifically the ones on your instrument (assuming you know your instrument well enough to identify what notes you need to tune to).

Sure, online “tuners” are easy enough to find if you happen to have a connected computer on hand, but having a quick, easy-to-use portable tuner to pull out of your case when the campfire’s roaring is indispensable.

And there’s nothing worse than everyone getting fired up for a tune, only to delay the fun by spending 20 minutes tuning up without one. Don’t spend too much on this – I usually lose mine going from house-to-car, never mind continent-to-continent.

The Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner is a solid, reliable and cheap model that will serve most musicians.

Accessories

Capos, bows, slides, reeds, peg tuners, strings, sticks all fall under this category. The little things that are often essential when it comes to playing your specific instrument.

Sheet music

Even if you know the songs off-by-heart, lyrics with some chords scrawled on top are enough for others to join in if they want to/can. At least know the key of each song, in case someone’s lurking nearby with sweet harmonica skills.

Photo by Horia Varlan.

Exercise book

Essential for scribbling down any lyrical or musical inspiration that may hit during your wanders.

Get one with a stave or tab lines if they apply to your instrument (if those two terms mean nothing to you, ignore that suggestion).

Keep an open ear out for local melodies and see if they don’t infiltrate your own musical sensibility.

Travel is such a rich experience that it’s bound to have an immediate impact on any creative pursuit.

Stuff you can do without

Amps

Unless you’re a retro-electro-punk outfit from Australia trying to break the US market, it’s just not worth bringing any other noisemaking equipment.

Electronic instruments

What possible use does a backpacker have for a keytar anyway?

Effects pedals

Photo by Will Scullin.

Forget it. If you can’t make the songs sound good using a run-down scratched-up acoustic round a campfire, no amount of reverb and echo is going to fix it.

Awkwardly large instruments

Even if your overbearing parents got you a Steinway & Sons piano when you were four, it stays.

Find an alternative, like a “portable piano” (thus breaking the “no electronic instruments” recommendation), or a melodica which garners bonus individuality points.

If you play bass sax, take an alto instead. If you play the drums, just bring one. If you play guitar, how about a half-size? Or a ukulele? Just know you’ll never be able to replicate your home playing experience while on the road; and, heck! – that’s kind of the point.

Community Connection

Looking for more packing lists? Check out Matador’s Packing Tips focus page on packing for various travel scenarios.

All photos by Ian Mackenzie.

GETTING THERE

The first step to a successful trip to Burning Man is the trip itself.

1. Don’t make the trip twice – make sure you have your tickets!

2. Printed out google directions to Black Rock City (BRC) — there will be long stretches where you are out of cell service area, so don’t rely on directions from your phone. Directions from SF are here.

3. A spare car key – in case one of them is lost in the Playa.

4. A hide-a-key – so that you can leave the spare and people from your group can get into the car if need be, while everyone is out running around.

5. Car charger for your phone

6. Flash light

7. Make sure your tires are in good shape and you have a spare.

8. Either bring a small gas can or be very sure to fill up often — Gas stations are very rare during the 90 mile stretch from Fernley to BRC).

9. Some people choose to take illegal substances out to Black Rock City. Keep in mind that you will be driving through Nevada which has some of the toughest drug laws in the country.

IF you are going to take illegal drugs to Burning Man, make sure you drive the speed limit and don’t give a cop any reason to pull you over. Having open containers in the car or allowing your passengers to smoke ganja is asking for trouble, as either one would warrant a full car/trunk search.

THINGS TO HELP PIMP OUT YOUR CAMP AND MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE

The Black Rock Desert is not designed to sustain human life. It is hot, flat, windy, dusty, devoid of vegetation and water and very inhospitable. The more of the following things you can bring out, the more comfortable you and your group are going to be.

1. Shade structure! Get creative…it is essential to have some escape from the sun – and something that can sustain high winds. If you don’t know where to start, get some ideas here.

2. An RV — this is a big one. I take an RV out with my group each year because during the day it’s (way) too hot to sleep in tents and provided your RV has a generator, the air-con will save your life and make you lots of friends. And it can mean the difference between getting sand-blasted in a Black Rock wind storm to being inside, rolling doobies and cooking quesadillas.

Unfortunately, RVs are crazy expensive for this week because it’s Labor Day and every rental place knows about Burning Man. If you can’t afford to rent an RV the traditional way, I have had luck the past two years scanning Craigslist for RVs that are listed “for sale”, and cold calling each owner to see if he would be interested in making a quick $1200 for a one week rental before putting it right back on the market. If you can pull this off and split the cost between friends it’s well worth it.

3. Tent(s) – If you have more than one tent, I would suggest bringing two. Anything left “out in the elements” will be covered in dust within 20 minutes of arriving on the playa. It’s nice to have one tent to sleep in and one to store all your stuff in.

4. Extra-long tent stakes – As I said above, the wind is no joke in the Black Rock Desert. I have seen 60 mph gusts at Burning Man and I’ve also seen tents cartwheeling down the playa like tumble weeds.

No fun…so when setting up your tent you need to batten down the hatches and expect the worst. Sometimes for larger tents it’s a good idea to bring super skinny rebar, which can be bent and driven down deep into the playa to hold your tent in place.

5. Warm sleeping bag – yes, it is hot most of the time, but around 3am, temps plummet and it can get very cold.

6. Sleeping pad – the more the better.

7. Pillow(s)

8. A tarp – to go under your tent

9. A large piece of carpet that you are willing to sacrifice — this is a really nice element to have in your camp. It will allow you to take off your shoes and and chill, and will also cut down on the overall dust-swirls where you’ll be cooking and eating. That green AstroTurf they sell at Home Depot works great if you don’t have an old carpet.

10. Folding card table(s) – if you have more than one, bring them all. It’s really nice to have a table to eat/cook on and just sit at when drinking/playing cards.

11. Folding chairs, camping chairs…preferably with cup holders

12. Lanters, tiki torches or other sources of ‘space light’.

13. Camping stove and extra gas – the bigger the better, so if you have a Coleman that you use for car camping, better take that over a an MSR backpacking stove.

14. Christmas lights or strands of LED lights to give your camp a nice glow.

15. A large tub for cleaning feet – after running around in sandals all day it’s SO nice to clean your feet off and put some clean socks on before going out at night.

KITCHEN AND COOKING

Being a ninja about planning your food/booze and kitchen is well worth the effort.

1. A huge cooler. I bring all the coolers I own and one of them could fit a body in it. I store food (after the Costco mission) in a few of the smaller ones and pack the big one with ice. (You will be able to buy ice in BRC but it’s expensive and a pain to carry back to your camp from Center Camp. Bring as much ice as possible. Dry Ice is even better.

2. Pots, pans, cooking spoons, strainer, cutting board.

3. A couple sharp kitchen knives.

4. Cleaning supplies for dishes, sponges, paper towels.

5. A pack of large ziplock bags.

6. A wash tub for doing dishes.

7. Bowls, plates, forks and knives – I would recommend either hard plastic stuff that can be washed or paper stuff that can be burned.

8. A large pack of the heftiest garbage bags you can find.

Photo by andronicusmax, feature photo by Arbron

According to a recent study by DataMonitor, the global software market will have a value of $457 billion dollars. Yet aside from the extra premium I’m paying for Windows or OSX, I don’t see any need to reach deeper into my pockets to get the software I need.

In the past eight years, I’ve been through more than six different computers, from netbooks to laptops to desktops to tablets. Like decorating a new home, I find it impossible to adjust to a new computer without procuring the necessary fixtures to my digital environment. Here are the ones I’ve found most essential, reliable, and, of course, completely free.

Google Chrome/Firefox/Opera

Chances are, your computer came tied to Internet Explorer or Safari as its default browser. While both of these browsers are certainly fit to get the job done, they’re quite possibly the most boring and least user-friendly mainstream browsers out there.

Between Google’s new future-minded Chrome Browser, the ever-now-popular Mozilla Firefox, and Opera’s latest addition to the browser market, you should be able to find the perfect cruiser for your road trips across the information superhighway.

In differentiating between the three, Google and Opera are both neck-and-neck leaders in page load speed, with Chrome offering more aesthetic customization and Opera maintaining its freer-and-speedier-than-thou reputation.

Firefox may come in 2nd in terms of speed, but as it becomes more universally known, many may prefer it over the others, like a broken-in sneaker over a brand new running shoe.

OpenOffice

During college, I’d constantly receive emails and text messages from friends asking if I had “an extra copy of Office” or if I “knew someone who could get a pirated copy.” Even with student discounts, Microsoft’s industry-standard Office Suite can cost a fat chunk of change.

Considering the necessity of a familiar and effective word processor and the ubiquity of the .doc file extention, one could easily make a case for MS Office holding a monopoly on the productivity market.

Photo by Andrew Currie

Enter Oracle, better known for building massive corporate databases than creating free alternatives to the corporate standards of computing. Around the turn of the millennium, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, and a few others decided they’d like to reduce Microsoft’s near-monopoly on the productivity market, and created StarOffice–the first version of today’s OpenOffice.

The latest version is a near-identical-looking copy of the last version of Office (before the weird changes in Word 2007 kicked in), and it will open and save documents in every format you can imagine–including .doc and .docx.

PeerBlock

In the current era of omni-connectivity, if your computer’s turned on, it’s probably connected to the internet. With that, it’s vulnerable to anyone who can crack into your IP and wants to access a part of your computer.

Whether it’s the FBI or an angsty teenage hacker from Eastern Europe, PeerBlock (formerly PeerGuardian) has their number, literally. It continuously updates a database of threatening IPs and acts as a bouncer at your computer’s virtual front door.

Also, if you’re thinking of amassing a large collection of media gathered through P2P networks, without PeerBlock you’re going to get a lot of threatening emails about copyright infringement. Just sayin’.

(Note: Neither I nor MatadorNetwork encourages copyright infringement nor piracy of any kind. We do, however, recommend you wear protection on your internet connection.)

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

To be honest, I have no idea why anyone would ever spend money on antivirus software. Computer viruses are not like wild, airborne pathogens that lurk in each and every corner of the internet. They’re more like Crips and Bloods, hanging out in the seedier sections of web, and places with bad credit. Not downloading anything that doesn’t look legit and keeping a clean cache in your browser will usually work just fine.

But if, from time to time, you like to download sketchy files from P2P sites or simply want bulletproof protection, AVG’s Anti-Virus Free Edition will work just fine without costing you anything. Rated 5 out of 5 stars by CNET editors and used by myself for several years without incident, it’s an idiotproof solution to computing that should keep you from ever thinking your computer needs to see a doctor.

Photo by karen horton, feature photo by BMeunier

“With this EZ tutorial, anyone can make an e-book!”

It was this advertisement that flipped my switch. iPads, Kindles, nooks and apps – bring ‘em on. I love the feel of a paper book, but I can’t deny the greatness of having my entire library stored on one portable gadget. Interactive children’s e-books? Thrillers with multi-media features? Count me in; I’ve been sailing the “technology will save the publishing industry” ship so long I can’t see the shore anymore.

I attended a writer’s conference in July, and one publisher had this to say: “E-books are great. If you don’t think so, you’re wrong.” He got a big laugh, but he meant it. Kindle-version sales may only account for a small percentage of most book sales at the moment, but that small percentage is significantly more than it was a year ago. E-readers aren’t going anywhere, at least in my opinion.

But this publisher was talking about e-books published through traditional publishers – in the Travel section, the guides, the narratives, the commercial stuff and the literary. Regardless of the content, a lot of work went into getting those words out of the writer, printed and bound for us to purchase. Self-publishing, while a different route, also takes a tremendous amount of effort.

And e-books? How much effort goes into writing one?

These “EZ creators” really can help even the least tech-savvy people create an impressive presentation; graphics, pictures, great formatting, eye-catching cover. It’s easy to create a professional-looking package, maybe even something worth charging a buck or two for.

But this package can also be used as a disguise. The simple process to become a “published author” means anyone can be an expert. A couple with two trips to Cancún under their belt can put together a travel guide to coastal Mexico and slap a $2.99 price tag on it. Cheaper than what you might find on Amazon, but worth it?

Photo by alancleaver_2000

The other problem, and one I find more interesting, is how much this contributes to the sheer amount of information there is on the Internet.

As I writer, I have to do a lot of research. If I Google “travel to Cancún,” I get 5,440,000 results. How much is accurate? How much can I rely on for journalistic integrity? And how many will bring on the thousand pop-up ads of doom?

In ten years, how much information will be online, and how much of it will actually be informative?

On the other hand, social media and the rise of the blog has put more power into the hands of the people, leading to (in some cases) more honesty and integrity than one normally finds on the six o’clock news.

Talent and skill aside, some writers just have an easier road to traditional publication than others, and the ebook platform puts us on more equal footing. If the quality is there, the writing will eventually rise above the garbage. Or at least, I’d like to hope.

In the end, anyone can make an e-book. Writing one, writing a book, writing a good book that’s worth not just the cost but the time it takes to read, is another matter entirely.

Photo by Robert Thomson.

From Charyn

People frequently ask me what I pack in my travel first aid kit. I tweak the contents of my kit depending upon the destination, availability of pharmaceutical supplies and foreseeable medical services.

Believe it or not, everything on this list fits into a fairly small zipped container, with the exception of prescription drugs, which I always put in my carry on luggage – just in case.

Since most of my volunteer projects for The Global Citizen Project are in impoverished places, I plan to take this locked and loaded version of my travel first aid kit to all the destinations.

Once there, I can pick and choose what I may need on a daily basis and stash a short list of items in my day pack (in a Ziplock bag to play it weather safe). So far, I haven’t run into a situation where I’ve needed something not on this grandmaster list.

Since I’m always eager to improve my Girl Scout-like packing and travel skills, please share any can’t-live-without first aid items I should add to my kit.

* Ace bandage

* American Red Cross Adult CPR with First Aid card

* Antifungal cream

* Aspirin

* Bandaids (various sizes)

* Benadryl (pill and cream form)

* Cloth tape

* Condoms (if sexually active)

* EpiPen

* First aid antiseptic

* Gauze All Purpose Dressings (4” x 4”)

* Hand sanitizer

* Ibuprofin

* Insect repellent (EcoSMART when malaria/dengue fever isn’t an issue; Ben’s Deet when it is)

* International Certificate of Vaccination (a.k.a. the “Yellow Card”)

* Latex gloves

* Lighter

* One size fits all cough/cold medicine

* Pearls Probiotics

* Prescriptions (Cipro for diarrhea, Ambien for insomnia, Doxycycline as a malaria preventative, altitude meds when necessary)

* Scissors

* Sunscreen (since I’m on Doxycycline for the year and sun sensitivity is a side effect, I pack SPF 50 and above)

* SteriPEN

* Superglue

* Syringes (various sizes, prescribed by travel doctor)

* Temparin One Step Lost Filling Repair

* Tweezers

* World Nomads travel insurance

Community Connection

Do you know you could turn food into first aid? In case you do fall ill while traveling, here are 10 common travel health problems and how to handle them.

My first aid travel kit consists of a couple band aids, and maybe mosquito repellent if I remember. What’s in your first aid kit when you travel? Tell us below.

1. Seems innocent enough, right?… According to photographer Nathal, “Dutch souvenirs with Denmark painted on them. Weird.”

2. “Mr. Perfect..He says what you want to hear”…Photo by UTAC New York Trip

3. One sad looking panda bear…Photo by jetalone

4. A Halloween costume idea from Hungary…Photo by m-louis

5. A weird hybrid camel-like tortoise…or is that a baby tortoise on its back? Either way, still an odd looking fellow…Photo by matsuyuki

6. Dripping boob-looking candy? pastries?…Photo by jetalone

7. According to photographer LunaMoth116, “The “Eiffel Cower”! I guess…I mean, how else do you explain it?”

8. Based on the happy fish drawings on the packet, I’m guessing a not-so-happy fish product….Photo by htby

9. Photographer Nagyman picked up this keychain at a stationery store: a smoking baby “…complete with tarred lungs!”

10. Because you actually need both to complete the outfit…Photo by Adam Jones, PhD

11. “Admit it. You are totally jealous of my bottle kilt.”…Photo by Meggrs

12. A Mt. Fuji Jelly Bean…Isn’t that dangerous? Could easily slice open the roof of one’s mouth…Photo by jetalone

13. Shop for dead cows along with Indian pottery and moccasins…Photo by Pocheco

14. Photographer ainudil didn’t get it either.

15. Needs no explanation…Photo by markehr

16. Pirate bear finger puppet. Kind of cute actually…Photo by theogeo

17. Souvenir from Austria…Photo by Jay Cross

18. Dracula mugs from (you guessed it)…Romania…Photo by martijn.munneke

19. And how is Niagara Falls water different? Please advise…Photo by Paul Young

20. Some pissed off owls from Russia…Photo by hirotomo

*Feature photo by nicolasnova.

Community Connection

Souvenirs don’t have to be tacky. Here are 5 Creative Ideas for Souvenirs – Set I and 5 More Creative Ideas for Souvenirs – Set II.

Got a funny souvenir photo you’d like to share? Please add a link to it below in the comments or email it to lola [AT] matadornetwork [DOT] com to be considered for our next photo essay.

Photo by William Hook, feature photo by Jorge Quinteros

I’ve been reviewing iPhone apps steadily for the last year, everything from blogging and writing apps to games that make me realize just how many developers must smoke crack. I must love them, because even while I’m drowning in apps, I’m designing one of my own.

I believe that apps are like any other product – you get what you pay for. I’ve tried at least five free (and popular) flight apps, for example, and if they crashed repeatedly or had bug issues, they didn’t make the list. But every once in awhile I stumble across an app so kick ass I can’t believe it’s free. If you’re a traveler, writer, or just an iPhone junkie with an addiction to free downloads, check out my 25 favorite free apps.

Travel Preparation

Expedia

Even if you aren’t a registered Expedia user, you can use this app as a guest. Thank you, Expedia, for not making me go through the lengthy registration I’ve dealt with on other travel apps. Find your flight, set email and text notification for changes – it’s not perfect, but it works and it’s free.

Southwest

Worth it just to get the auto-notifications of deals for flights leaving your local airport. Easy to use, maybe a tiny bit slow but I’ve never had a problem with crashes or bugs.

Hotels

Not to be confused with Hotel.com’s app, which is nothing but a link to their website. Hotels opens up to a map of you with pinpoints in all the hotels surrounding you.

The points will either say “full” or have a price estimate for available rooms. You can also book in-app, which I’ve honestly never tried, but it’s hella useful just to locate hotels.

Pack Free

I love this one, and I’m really not much for to-do lists. You can categorize items (gadgets, toiletries) and tap to add them to a list for your next trip. Great for scatter-brained folks like me who go out to buy toothpaste and suddenly think “Bring business cards!” Just add them to your list for later.

Getting There and Getting Around

Point Inside

Definitely on my “holy shit this is free?!” list. Find an airport (or mall) on the app and download an amazingly detailed map of said airport, complete with search function, to use when you aren’t on 3G or wi-fi. In other words, find a gate, a shuttle or a restroom in the airport before your plane has even landed. Great stuff.

Gate Guru

After a quick email registration, this app locates the nearest airport (or allows you to choose) and lets you search for food, restrooms, shops and gates by category. You can also rate, write and read reviews in-app.

Hostel Hero

No frills or fuss here. Pick a location, enter your arrival info, sort hostels by name or price. Tap to get info, pictures, a map and directions, or to book in-app. Fantastic application.

WHERE

I think I use this app more than the Maps app that comes installed on the iPhone. Occasionally it leads me astray, but overall it’s seriously helpful. Enter what you’re looking for – Thai food, library, Radio Shack, burlesque theater – and WHERE pulls up a list of what’s closest, complete with maps and directions.

World Customs & Cultures

Even if you aren’t traveling, this one is fun to toy around with. Choose a country and read ideas on their greetings, personal space, gender issues, taboos and more. An impressive amount of info at no cost.

The Weather Channel

The iPhone comes with a weather app, but it gives very little detail. Open it, let it locate you and you’ve got your current, hourly, 36 hour and 10 day forecast ready to go. There’s also an icon just for severe weather alerts – and if you miss that smooth soundtrack that comes with watching The Weather Channel on TV, just tap “video” and you’ve got it.

Wi-Fi Finder

Wi-Fi Finder, how do I love thee, let me count the ways… It just works so well, pinpointing all the locations around you with public wi-fi (green for free, blue for pay). Tap one to get an address, directions, the provider, even the SSID, and add it to your favorites.

Writing, Blogging and Photography

WordPress

Blogging from a phone isn’t exactly ideal, but having the ability to toss up the occasional short post while you’re out can help you continue adding content. I used it on my road trip from Texas to Washington earlier this year and was quite happy with it.

PayPal

Because if you write full-time online, PayPal overtakes your regular bank as Most Frequently Used Account. This app is plain and simple – check your balance, see transactions, make transfers, all in-app.

SodaSnap

I’m constantly harassing friends and family with pics emailed from my phone when I come across a great view or something cool. In about ten extra seconds, SodaSnap lets me set up my shot like a postcard, complete with a message, and send it via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Dropbox

If you didn’t purchase MobileMe but think the concept is cool, check out Dropbox. Download the program free, which creates a special 2BG folder on your computer. Download the app, and voila – everything in the folder is viewable from your iPhone. So many ways this could be useful.

WriteChain

From dieting to writing, keeping track of what you’ve accomplished can be a good motivational tool. WriteChain is a very simple app that lets you set a daily word count goal for yourself. Open the app and enter your word count for the day. Your goal is to not break the chain – each time you enter a session, it’s added as a link to your chain to help keep you going.

Wikipanion

It is, in my opinion, the best way to browse Wikipedia on your iPhone. And it’s free.

Reading

Stanza

So many reasons this is my favorite e-reader app. Maybe it’s the obvious care that went into the design, despite the lack of price tag. Maybe it’s the annotation feature, or the extreme customization level of the reader itself. Maybe it’s the 50,000 free e-book downloads from Project Gutenberg. One of the best freebies I’ve ever downloaded.

Kindle

No iPad? Head for the competition. Amazon’s Kindle app lets your browse, preview, purchase and read books in-app. Choose from three different text/background colors to customize, and purchasing a book from your Amazon account is done with just a tap. For purchasing and reading books on your phone, this is a good app.

Goodreads

What now? You aren’t on Goodreads? This is social networking for book geeks at its best; share and review books, compare prices, find and reserve books from your local library, connect with others reading similar books – and now, thanks to their free app, you can do all this on your iPhone as well.

Social Networking

Skype

A given, but I couldn’t exclude it. Skype is made of awesome.

TweetDeck

So many Twitter apps out there – I’ve tried quite a few, and this is the only one that’s stuck it out. Other than Mail and Maps, I probably use this more than any other app. If you’re a TweetDeck user, the set up is identical. Love it.

[Insert empty space for Facebook app here, which I've tried multiple times, multiple versions, multiple downloads, and have not yet successfully updated my status without the app crashing]

Bump

I felt stupidly cool the first time I used this app. Open, choose what contact info (phone number, email, photo, etc) you want to share, then “bump” your iPhone against another (also running Bump). Your info is swapped, as smooth as slipping someone a business card.

pownum

“Power in numbers,” in case you were wondering about that name. Thrilled or ticked about customer service? Find the place in-app, rate it, review it, read what others are saying about it. Venting aside, it’s a much more constructive way of warning others not to visit that awful cafe than throwing your all-foam latte on the floor in protest.

Vopium

Make a lot of international calls? This VoIP style app looks just like your iPhone’s keyboard, but uses the 3G or wi-fi network to make international calls and send SMS at a fraction of the cost. The app is free and there’s a 15 minute + 15 free SMS trial, but after that the account will cost you. Check it out if you call overseas frequently.

All photos by Lola Akinmade.

The email I got from National Geographic’s Maps Division began like this, “…so in recent conversations with Julie and Michelle at Matador, I understand you know a thing or two about maps! ”

They instantly scored two points for tapping right into my soft spot – beautifully crafted, superb quality cartographic maps. Before diving head first into the world of travel writing and photography, I built, designed, developed, and integrated maps for 14+ years, first as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programmer, and finally as a GIS System Architect before resigning last year.

Photo by author

I lived and breathed maps for years. Geography had always been my favorite subject and still is.

So when I received a complimentary stack of pretty National Geographic maps to review, I instantly morphed into a child at a candy store, wondering which pack of gummy bears or Smarties to dig into first.

I remember running little fingers over country boundaries, subconsciously outlining my future path and vowing to tread those lands in my lifetime, God willing.

Could I truly write an unbiased review of a company I’ve so admired since my childhood days in Nigeria?

The Booty

The following set of maps arrived:

• U. S. Scenic Drives road map and travel guide, part of their GuideMap™ series
• Washington, D.C. DestinationMap ™ city map and travel guide
• Southeastern United States GuideMap ™ road map and travel guide
• Shenandoah National Park , VA Trails Illustrated Map
• TOPO! 4 Outdoor Recreation Mapping Software for the Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and West Virginia

I immediately went straight for the DC city map, which included all the obvious details such as points of interest and their descriptions, a map of the transit system, a reference legend, and distance scale. An added bonus were a map of Alexandria, Virginia, illustrations of both airports – Dulles and Reagan National – as well as 3D renditions of the tourist attractions so you actually knew what the buildings looked like and if you were approaching them from the right direction.

Photo by author

With traditional paper maps, my pet peeves had been overlapping text as well as easy-rip material (they were made from paper after all) that seemed to tear at inopportune times.

The cartographic quality of these maps in terms of text rendering, resolving text overlap, symbology, feature layering, and labeling are on point. They’re also made from some durable glossy elastic paper material that seemed darn near impossible to rip…and believe me, I tried.

If anything, the maps kept stretching creepily as I tried pulling them apart; which seems to back up their waterproof claims too.

TOPO! Outdoor Recreation Mapping Software

The software was easy to install in 4 steps. I just clicked Next->Next->Install->Finish, and that was it. After entering the complimentary serial number, a screen requesting I enter my mapXchange account information popped up. This account allows you to download all types of maps – USGS Topo Quads and GDT Street maps – to use within the software. You can also choose to sign up for an account later as the software comes with 6 disks worth of map data to use.

Photo by author

Similar to the way an accountant knows his way around a spreadsheet, I felt quite at home within TOPO! The software comes with a slew of GIS tools – from finding locations and coordinates to importing GPS points and creating 3D flyovers of landscapes. You can use the software to plot out your own personal recreational hiking and camping maps, and (I suspect) a whole lot more.

The initial map activating sequences might be confusing for the casual map user, and some of the panning tools such as Centering Tool and Traveling Tool could be merged into one continuous “Move Around” hand tool which would be more natural to navigate.

While I definitely don’t see our regular Matador readers particularly using TOPO! (Unless you really dig drilling down into the nitty-gritty yourself), this software is more useful for those with a little bit of GIS experience and are well versed with navigating and deciphering outdoor maps.

Photo by author

The Practical Stuff

There’s a reason why book publishers keep churning out paperbacks and hardcovers by the hundreds every month. Physically flipping through pages of a book still feels more natural than scrolling down an e-book or Amazon Reader.

Plain and simple.

The same goes for paper maps. Sure, GPS units are extremely popular and location apps on smart phones are being downloaded by the second (statistics not verified), there’s nothing like unfurling a paper map in a new city and plotting out your next route; very much feeling like an explorer in your own way; tourist-in-the-street look aside.

A major plus if you’re also unfurling your map under the pouring rain.

While I may not sway you from your trusty iPhone apps, in-car Garmin unit, or Blackberry maps, if anything, buy these NG maps as collector’s items. Think vintage in a couple years. Plus, check out National Geographic’s World Atlas iPhone App which Michelle reviewed, and download some candy-sweet cartographic goodness to your iPhone.

Price: $7.95 – $11.95 | BUY online at National Geographic Maps

Photo by See-Ming Lee.

Practicing your own art abroad can be equally rewarding, as it gives you a chance to start a discussion about what makes your creation unique and why you’re interested in a different culture’s way of creating.

My chosen career path as a performing artist has taken me to Paris to study mime, Turkey to practice folk dance, and India to teach theater to street children.

Along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two about what I need to pack to keep the spotlight on my art and off any potential mishaps.

Makeup for Performers & Other Essentials of Your Trade

Photo by Ian Sane.

Don’t assume just because other countries have your essential artist materials, they’ll necessarily be affordable.

Being an artist (especially a wandering one) often means keeping a very tight budget.

I’ve found that a $7 tube of mascara can cost upwards of $15 in other parts of the world. If you’re a stage performer, you can’t work without your makeup, so make sure you’ve got an ample supply lest you’re forced to break the bank.

The same goes for a certain color of paint or a specialized sculpting tool.

These kinds of products can be hard to find in foreign countries, and even harder to describe in a foreign language if you don’t immediately find what you’re looking for.

Standard Blacks

Black is the official color of the art world. I’ve found that packing one black skirt, pair of pants, T-shirt, pantyhose, and shoes in simple styles serves me well when I’m away from my full wardrobe.

If you think you won’t use these essentials for an impromptu street performance, they may have other uses. Blacks can be a chic alternative to grungy travel wear at a gallery opening and it’s hard to see charcoal smudges on a dark t-shirt.

Speaking of Formal Wear…

Photo by Mr Michael Phams.

In the US, I often slink out of the theater post-performance wearing sweats and a comfy tee. Other parts of the world aren’t quite so laid back though.

Pack two or three nice outfits (or one nice outfit and a number of accessory pieces you can swap around) for post-performance schmoozing and drinks.

Your chic European counterparts will thank you for your efforts.

Electronic Version of Your Resume & Business Cards

Most of us have our portfolios online nowadays, but if you’ve ever tried to locate and operate a printer in a foreign country, you’ll know how indispensable this one is.

I also like to carry a handful of business cards in my wallet.

It’s much easier to just hand someone who’s interested in my work a card rather than navigate the spelling of my last name with someone whose native language doesn’t involve the ‘th’ sound.

Tip: If you don’t already have business cards and don’t want to spend a fortune getting them, Vista Print will send you 250 for the cost of shipping alone as long as you don’t mind their logo on the back.

Artists’ Fix-It Kit

Photo by Melalouise.

We’ve always got things like scissors, tape and a black permanent marker in our junk drawer at home, but rarely think to pack them in our suitcases. These items can be lifesavers when creating art in strange locales.

I’ve seen a ballerina color her Pointe shoes with a Sharpie and black tape hold up quite a few costumes. Other helpful things might include a small sewing kit and stain remover pen.

Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs

Sometimes being a traveling artist means spending nights on the floor of a bus screaming over ill-paved foreign roads.

Try to look bright and cheery onstage after a sleepless night in transit and you’ll know the importance of a sleep mask and earplugs.

They can make the journey slightly more bearable.

Bonus tip if you have the packing space: A bulky sweatshirt can serve as a pillow and a simple scarf makes a great blanket.

Climate-Specifics for Your Location & Trade

You should consider your target country’s climate when packing your clothes, but are there extras you don’t need at home but might need abroad? Would a sun hat help for painting outdoors during the Asian summer? Or fingerless gloves for sketching in Siberia?

I’m used to dancing in an air-conditioned studio back home so I pack a high-absorbency travel towel for mopping up my sweat when I dance in the Turkish sun.

One last point to consider: Art is subjective. Americans tend to use very constructive criticism when giving artists feedback. Other cultures can be harsher in their critiques.

When I was in Paris, I rarely heard the phrase “Yes, but…” during rehearsal. “No, not like that!” was generally the case. When working as an artist overseas, stay open to foreign criticism.

Just don’t let it adversely affect the way you value your art. What one culture considers singing can sound like screaming to another.

Community Connection

Check out various artists’ journal pages for inspiration at The Traveler’s Notebook. For more packing tips, check out Matador Network’s Focus page on packing.

Photo by janeandd.

But a recent report by British sustainable living magazine Ethical Consumer has uncovered some nasty secrets behind the kit many of us buy before we set off round the world.

Fleeces

Fleece might sound fluffy and natural, but it’s actually plastic, and made from petrochemicals. The oil industry comes in for plenty of flak since the Gulf of Mexico spill, but day-to-day operations have huge environmental and human rights impacts too – from destroying gray whale habitats around Sakhalin to conflict between oil multinationals and communities in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

So for low-impact fleeces? A number of companies – pioneers Patagonia, and now several other brands – offer recycled plastic fleeces. Make sure you opt for ‘100% post-consumer waste’, so that it’s genuinely recycled rather than a way for plastics factories to divert offcuts.

Walking Boots

Photo by Kevin Steinhardt.

Like fleece, leather sounds ‘natural’, but it takes huge amounts of water and feed (sometimes grown on land that used to be virgin rainforests…) to raise cattle for their skins.

The tanning process also uses a whole bunch of nasty chemicals, creating polluting effluent.

Sadly, in consumer tests leather-free boots often didn’t stand up to serious hill conditions. But some outdoor gear manufacturers, including the Mountain Equipment Co-op, Patagonia and North Face, are working with environmental standards organization, Bluesign to raise their game.

Rucksacks

We’re used to hearing about child labor and workers in sweatshop conditions making t-shirts and jeans, but the same issues apply to outdoor equipment.

Ethical Consumer found evidence of poor practices and policies at many big names, including Quechua.

Lowe Alpine and Patagonia came out much better in the workers’ rights rankings.

Cameras

Greenpeace – when they’re not getting in the way of whaling harpoons – produces a ‘Guide to Greener Electronics‘ which looks at whether major brands are cutting their climate change emissions and if your shiny new digital contains toxic chemicals like PVC and brominated flame retardants.

Big names like Samsung and Sharp scrape the bottom of the ranking; Philips, Sony and Panasonic score much better.

Photo by Morten Liebach.

Waterproof Jackets

The scientific jury is still out on whether nanotechnology is safe, as environmentalists and health campaigners are still concerned that microscopic nanoparticles may react differently to ordinary chemicals.

Despite this, some outdoor gear brands boast of the properties that nanotech coatings give their waterproofs – from water resistance to anti-wrinkle textures or stain or odor resistance.

Paramo, with its solid environmental policy, got the best score in Ethical Consumer’s report, while names like Salomon and Arc’Teryx came bottom of the rankings.

Sleeping bags

Where do you think the cozy stuffing for that lovely warm down sleeping bag came from? A by-product of the meat industry, coming from an animal destined for roasting, perhaps?

Wrong.

The feathers used in down products often come from birds kept just for this purpose, which means they have their breasts plucked repeatedly while they are alive and conscious.

Animal welfare organization, Four Paws urges consumers to pick feather-free sleeping bags and down jackets.

Tents

Photo by Katie@!.

None of the 29 tent brands which Ethical Consumer magazine looked at had the kind of basic policies to protect workers from exploitation which any decent-sized firm can be expected to develop nowadays.

With little else to differentiate between company ethics, Vango’s Eco range garnered some praise for containing recycled materials.

Laptops

Manufacturing laptops uses extraordinary amounts of resources – water, energy, plastic and rare metals such as the notorious coltan, mining of which has fueled bloody conflicts in the Congo and helped push species such as the mountain gorilla to the brink of extinction.

A reconditioned or remanufactured laptop from a solid brand such as IBM or Toshiba will often last longer, and cost less, than a cheap new machine.

Community Connection

Worried about production ethics behind some of your favorite brands? Check out the following articles:

Top 10 Adventure Gear Companies You Should Know And Why
12 Items That Will Make Your Travels Greener
10 Tested And True Green Companies
10 Brands That Don’t Deserve To Declare Themselves “Green”

It was one of the loudest and angriest complaints when the iPad was released a few months ago – no flash? Seriously? But if you’re lucky enough to not only have an iPad, but a jailbroken one at that, Engadget has posted a few easy-to-follow steps on getting flash on your toy. And just to prove it works, here it is in action:

Photo by austinevan, feature photo by Footoos Van Robin

If you travel enough, you will inevitably need some kind of first aid. Smaller issues and illnesses are usually no big deal for the well-prepared traveler and a real first-aid kit is invaluable, but what if you get a minor sweat rash under your money belt? Maybe a rogue TSA agent stole your favorite skin cream? Or maybe your budget is tight enough that you’d really rather not buy a tube of the local cure-all ointment.

If you find yourself in need of some comfort from minor ailments that don’t require professional medical attention, here are a few cheap, easy ways to turn food into your personal paramedic.

1. Honey

If you’re lucky enough to stay somewhere that includes single-serving packets of honey as part of breakfast, snap a few up – you’ll use them. If you’re in a colder climate and experience windburn or chapped skin, spread some on your face and rinse off for a rich, moisturizing skin-soother. It’s also great for burns and sore throats. And for long-term trips, take a spoonful of locally made honey daily to assist with allergies.

2. Chamomile tea

Naturally calming, good for relaxing at night, and tasty – that much you already knew. But it’s also great to add to a bath for sunburn. Soaking a washcloth in chamomile tea and applying it to the skin is a good way to help with yeast or heat rashes; let it sit on the skin and dry well afterward. Make sure a few tea bags are in your first aid kit – the cheap kind will do just fine!

Photo by northpolemama

3. Garlic cloves

Yeah, it smells, and if you use it raw, it’s possible that nobody will want to sit next to you on the bus. But crushed or minced and applied to the skin, it fights athlete’s foot.

It stings a bit and those with sensitive skin should dilute with water, but you can use a paste for toothaches, infected scratches, and to help combat salmonella. And depending on where you are, it can be inexpensive: the local farmer’s market near me sells large bulbs at two for a dollar.

4. Ginger

Ginger is essential for motion sickness and nausea. In a tea or even snacking on shaved ginger, it is useful for breaking up congestion and as an expectorant.

Ginger dishes and candies are popular in a lot of places, so while it may not be as cost-effective as true digestive medicines it’s also a good way to sample some local delicacies while staving off the more unpleasant intestinal effects of travel. And it’s a heck of a lot tastier than Pepto tablets.

5. Bananas

Loaded with potassium, bananas are good for athletic trips with lots of walking, running, or climbing. It’s also part of the BRAT diet used to combat diarrhea (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). But hold on to the peel; a banana peel reduces itching and stings from insect bites, and you get a snack out of it too.

Use a bandage to hold a piece of the peel in place over the affected area for a while and it will reduce the inflammation and itch. And if you have a splinter but forgot your tweezers, secure a piece of peel to the splinter overnight with a bandage; the peel will draw the splinter up to the surface for easy removal.

Photo courtesy of Mike Lynch.

Here are the top ten things you’ll want to know before investing in one:

Cost

Everyone wants to get the best deal they can but, a cheap tripod will not enhance your photography. The little $10.00 aluminum ones are good for nothing, unless you plan on taking all your photos while it’s set up on your coffee table.

For a point and shoot camera, you may get by spending under $50.00. If you have a DSLR, plan on spending at least $100.00. There’s always the option of buying a used tripod to save costs as long as you know what to look for.

Folded Height

For travel, you need to know how small you can fold your tripod. Will it fit in a suitcase, backpack or a carrying case that you can wear comfortably on your shoulder?

Make sure it’s not too large that you can’t carry it on a plane.

Weight

See how much it weighs; you’ll more than likely be carrying it a lot in your travels. The best tripods are wooden but they are extremely heavy. Aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber have made modern tripods much lighter. Just make sure whichever you buy, it is sturdy.

Maximum Height

This is as important as minimum height. With your camera mounted on it, make sure you can elevate the tripod to eye level. If not, you’ll be doing a lot of bending over.

Maximum Weight

This is the maximum weight the tripod was designed to support. If you have 10 lbs of camera and lenses to mount on a tripod designed for a maximum weight of 8 lbs, it will bend or break. At a minimum, it will be moving while you’re trying to shoot.

Quick Release

This is a feature that allows you to keep part of the hardware screwed to the bottom of the camera and easily press a lever to install or remove it from the tripod.

It’s a good idea to buy extra quick release shoes to mount on all your cameras, if you have more than one.

Ball Head

Some tripods come with this feature built-in, with others you have to invest in buying them separately. The ball head allows you to “pan” the camera (follow a moving subject) smoothly without creating more noise in your photos from camera shake.

Center Post

This is the pole that can be raised or lowered on the tripod. It should be reversible so you can get lower to the ground for flower and macro shots.

When it’s upright, look for a hole or hardware to attach weight to at the base of the center pole. Sometimes, when it’s windy, even the weight of a camera bag will help steady a tripod from swaying in the breeze.

Footing

Look at the tripod’s feet to see how much room you need to set it up and check for rubber boots to prevent scratching floors or sliding on smooth surfaces.

Some tripods have retractable metal spikes for steadying the camera when you’re on ice, soil or uneven terrain.

Position Locking

See how the leg sections and center pole are locked into position. There are knobs to turn, hand cranks or clamps you squeeze to raise or lower your tripod and secure it in position.

Make sure you check them all out and find which style works best for you and your camera.

Community Connection

If you’re wondering which accessories are the most important to buy for your camera, check out 3 Items Worth Buying Now for Your Travel Photography as well as our resource page focused on travel photography.

Photo by Mat Packer.

Long gone are the days when a basic flip-open cellphone and laptop sufficed for our daily technical needs. If the multi-block line of customers I saw on CNN waiting for the newest iPhone is any indication, our definition of technical “needs” is constantly expanding.

Ironically, as we amass more technology and gear, we’re also touting various lightweight minimalistic approaches to packing for travel.

Hence, the dilemma – Which gadgets to pack for lightweight travel?

In his NYT piece titled Packing the Right Gadgets to Go, Farhad Manjoo shares packing tips for different types of travel; touching on various topics such as charging gear, making phone calls, accessing Wi-Fi, using e-readers, and taking photos.

For example, a single adapter can be used to charge a myriad of gadgets such as camera, smart phones, e-readers, and laptops.

Depending on your trip, it’s always a good idea to take along a few extra cables, adapters and other accessories. For foreign travel, a power adapter — to charge your camera, phone, e-reader and other gadgets — is a must.

How about the universal question of keeping in touch while traveling?

Manjoo suggests using Skype and setting up a call forwarding number. If you plan on making tons of local calls, consider purchasing a SIM card on location which gives you your own local number to use.

For leisure travel, Manjoo suggests the iPad because it’s the “perfect way to read books and watch movies on the go.”

But if you plan to write the great American novel while visiting Parisian cafes, take along a small Bluetooth keyboard (Apple makes a nice one) to connect to your iPad; even with the keyboard, the iPad setup is easier to carry in a satchel or large purse than most notebooks.

Overall, Manjoo’s article provides good packing tips for various travel scenarios – leisure, business, foreign – and more.

For me though, I’ll rather shrink my definition of technical “needs” and stick with my little flip-open cellphone and $30 MP3 player for now.

Which gadgets do you usually carry with you when travelling? Check out the Matador Team’s favorite gadgets.

[via Manolith]

Toilet paper origami (or toilegami, for those of you who don’t shudder at yet another portmanteau invading the English language), is a skill often displayed at fine hotels as yet another sign of luxury, in addition to handcrafted soaps and Oreo-topped pillows.

I noticed the Origami Resource Center had a page devoted to the art, so naturally I crouched down next to the sink with my camera, propped my laptop on the toilet, and tried to make some TP art.

Arrogantly, I began with the rather advanced Pleated Tuck – the one that looks like a little basket with a fan poking out. Start by tearing off a single sheet and fold it accordion-style. Easy enough. Next, the basket.

Remember, luxury hotels have the good, quadruple-ply extra-soft stuff. I blame the issues I had on my recycled, earth-friendly choice in bathroom tissue.

I’m not quite sure what I missed here. I folded the rough edge to make a border, then folded the two corners in and under to form a basket shape…ish. (The sheets were coming apart. You get what you pay for.) The next step said to tuck the pleats into the basket – but there is no real basket, and the base of the pleated fan is rather thick. The result might have knocked a star off my apartment’s rating.

I swallowed my pride and acknowledged that I’d tried something too advanced. How about the Pleated Fold? It’s a step down, but still nice. Not the Ritz, but a really good Holiday Inn. Start by pleating a couple of sheets (still attached).

Press them together tightly, then fold them in towards one another.

Here’s where I got confused. The instructions say: “Hold the two layers closest to one another and fold the corner to form a small triangle. Fold this corner once more to lock the two halves together.” I folded those two flaps every way imaginable, but nothing “locked” them together. Again, I blame my eco-conscious choice in tissue.

Skipping that and thinking I’d have a nice pleated bow instead of a fan, I moved on and fanned the two sides out.

The final step says to “arrange and fluff the TP until you have an inverted fan-like structure.” With cheap toilet paper, fluffing (and usually wiping) means tearing, so I fluffed nothing. Also, I couldn’t get the top to smooth down. I was left with what looked like a rather sad white cotton bowtie.

And this is beginners stuff – experts can have a rose, butterfly or even a boat to greet you at the loo. Have you experimented with the art of toilet paper origami? Share your thoughts – and pics, but before shots only, please – in the comments below.

Photos courtesy of Glenna Gordon

[Editor's Note] – When I first read Glenna’s post, So you want to buy a camera, I immediately reached out to her to have it republished here on Matador Goods.

Glenna Gordon is a professional photojournalist whose publication credits include New York Times Magazine, Time, Newsweek, BBC, Reuters, Guardian, UNICEF, USAID….just to name a few. She has been living in Africa (primarily Uganda and Liberia) since 2006 and maintains the blog, Scarlett Lion.

Words and photography by Glenna Gordon

A couple of friends, strangers, and blog readers have recently asked me for advice about buying cameras. Unfortunately, I actually know very little about non professional model cameras. But, I do know about cameras generally, so here’s some advice.

General Thoughts

You don’t need a million megapixels.

Anywhere from 5 – 10 will be fine – anything else is a feature you’re paying for you won’t need. It’s fine if the camera has more megapixels than that, just don’t let a sales person get you to buy a more expensive model because it has more megapixels.

Weather sealing is very, very very important.

Canon and Nikon are essentially the same and put out identical products. Which one most photographers use is usually based on which one their first photo teacher told them to buy. My first photo teacher happened to be sponsored by Canon, so I use Canon. So I don’t use it because it’s better than Nikon, just because I started with it.

However, that means all subsequent advice is related to Canon models because that’s what I know.

SLR vs point and shoot

At this point, there are now pas cameras that have the same optical abilities as SLRs.

The two models I would recommend looking at are the Canon S90 and the Canon G11 (again with Canon caveat in mind).

They do absolutely everything that a basic entry level SLR will do EXCEPT change lenses.

So, unless you plan to change lenses often or extensively make use of aperture and shutter speed controls manually, these cameras are really really great and will make excellent images.

The entry level SLR that is most similar to the s90 or the G11 but will have the ability to switch lenses and give you better manual controls is the Canon Rebel.

There are a bunch of different models of the Rebel, and they’re all basically the same. It’s a very good camera and will do everything you need – I got started on this model and even started selling images made with this camera in 2007 before upgrading.

After that, if you want something fancier, models like the Canon 7d are neat because they will also do video, though the audio quality is poor.

As far as I can tell, the Canon 50d and Canon Rebel are very similar cameras with different price tags. They have the exact same size image sensors, the same number of auto focus points, etc. The Canon 5d has more ISO expansion than the rebel, but that’s not necessarily a good thing if you don’t know how to use it sparingly.

I’d say if you want something more than the Rebel, save your money and jump from the Rebel to the 5d or the 7d.

Lenses – if you do go the SLR route

The 50 mm fixed 1.8 or 1.4 lenses are awesome and run about $100 and $350 respectively.

Much better investment than bulky cameras.

They are harder to use than zoom lenses but create really great, crisp images where you can have small parts selectively in focus.

They also force you as a photographer to work harder, which always results in better images.

Other than that lens, you might want something that covers the range of about 24 mm – 70 mm or 100 mm at most. Unless you’re doing breaking news or photos in violent situations, you will never need more zoom than that. Wildlife photography usually involves a zoom of at least 200 – 300 mm.

• Make sure you buy a UV filter to protect your lens from dust and scratches.

• Don’t buy a polarizing filter. Good camera salesmen will try and get you to buy these when you say you’re going to Africa (“It’s so sunny!”) but they’re actually horrible because they reduce detail in the shadow areas, which means in black people’s faces too.

• Use a small paint brush or soft bristled tooth brush to clean your camera.

• I also really like disposable lens cleaning tissues because then I don’t worry about cleaning my lens with an already dirty cloth. Also great for keeping my glasses clean.

• Always keep your lens hood on. This is important not just to avoid sun spots in your image, but also because if you bump into something (or someone bumps into you) they hit your cheap and easily replaceable plastic lens hood and not your lens.

  Especially in situations where you have limited personal space or things are moving quickly, this is incredibly important.

Summary

The final thing is that which camera you buy is about a million times LESS important than how you use it. And I’m not just talking about perfect exposure here – I mean getting up close to people and not being nervous about asking for their images.

It also means moving around a lot and finding unique angles rather than shooting from eye level.

And the best thing that you can do to make great images is shoot with great light – early morning and late afternoon only. I don’t even bother taking photos outdoors from about 10 am – 3 pm for the most part if there’s an option not to.

So, readers, what kind of cameras do you use? Are you happy with them? Leave your tips and recommendations in the comments section.

The Daily Mail reports that the latest in bulge-battling technology has been developed by a Harvard biomedical engineer. Professor David Edwards has invented a chocolate spray that you inhale to help curb your chocolate craving.

According to Edwards, “..when you breathe the chocolate into your mouth, it dissolves immediately and coats the tongue and taste buds.”

His invention called “Le Whif,” (an ingenious name I might add) comes in a lipstick-size tube which contains only 8-10 puffs of chocolate scent depending on how much you puff.

More from the Daily Mail:

Critics question whether the experience of biting into a bar of chocolate can really be replaced by a pocket-sized aerosol.

They also point out that the smell of food usually heightens appetite, rather than suppressing it.

Louise Thomas, a chocolate consultant who runs tasting events, said that ‘whiffing’ would not confer the many health benefits associated with eating dark chocolate.

Word on the street is that Edwards has also developed a coffee Le Whif version and according to Daily Mail, “…is working with Michelin-starred French chef Thierry Marx to create new varieties, including aerosol spices, cheeses and liqueurs.”

Classic Le Whif is available in pure chocolate, raspberry chocolate and mint chocolate flavors.

At $2.50 a pop to “smell” chocolate, I might as well just skip a meal and buy a 99 cent king size Twix candy bar from a gas station.

Buy: Le Whif Chocolate and Coffee | $2.50

Have you tried sniffing a food item instead of consuming it to curb a craving? Did it work?

Photo by jenny downing.

Every week TravelBlogs.com reaches out to a couple travel bloggers, soliciting their advice or thoughts on various topics such as Travel Snobbery and To Haggle or Not To Haggle in panel discussions.

In the crowdsourced piece, 18 Things You Don’t Need on Your Packing List, bloggers listed a slew of items from soap and too much underwear (guilty as charged!) to books and jewelry (you mean no one carries a complete set of pearls too?!).

Here are some of my favorite answers:

Too much underwear. Or any cotton underwear.

Nikolas Tjhin from Unearthing Asia: On my last big trip, I learned that I didn’t need to pack my normal cotton underwears for the trip. I got myself some paper underwear which were good for one time use, and that was a great help I intend to follow next time I’m on a trip. It helps because I can live with wearing a slightly dirty shirt and or pants, but an underwear that’s not clean is just gross.

Zip-off convertible trousers

Geoff from Itinerant Londoner: The most common packing mistake I regularly see other travellers make is to bring those zip-off convertible trousers. Why such a mistake? Well, it’s quite simple. They make you look like an idiot.

Soap

Shelly Rivoli from Travels with Baby: An entire industry has been created for little boxes to carry your personal soap as you travel. But when’s the last time you needed an entire bar of soap on a trip? Generally speaking, soap is inexpensive and easy to come by.

It’s even free at most hotels (they want clean people in their beds!). I’m always curious to see what the soap will be like where I am headed: the aroma, the shape, the lather. It’s all part of the travel experience, no to be missed.

High expectations

Bonnie Brewster from The London Spy: It’s better to be pleasantly surprised once you arrive rather than expect too much from a city you’ve never explored.

For the complete list of unnecessary items, check out Travelblogs.com.

Community Connection

Wondering what you should actually pack? Check out our What’s In Your Backpack? series and 10 Multi-Use Items You Should Consider Packing.

Photos courtesy of BuzzFeed

I’ve seen folks at Wal-Mart with a few odd combinations in the check-out line. Protein shakes and toilet paper are fine separately, but look questionable when they’re the only thing in the basket. Ditto condoms and toothpaste. But if this BuzzFeed article is any indication, the mixing and matching can get to a whole new level of weird at Wal-Mart in China.

Like perhaps a baby turtle for your aquarium. Or your stir-fry – not really sure what the intention is there. Crocodiles and dried reptiles are also among the sixteen unique items BuzzFeed pointed out.

Hey, I might get a craving for Hot and Spicy Beef Granules, or maybe a dried, flattened pig face. And sometimes I don’t know what I want, in which case I might pick up something like what’s pictured to the right. (Not sure, but I imagine one would need Sigourney Weaver to help get it out to the car.)

But whatever I choose, at least I’ll know I got it at a rock bottom price.

Feature photo by pittaya. Photo above by Ole1981

As a professional photographer, I place very high demands on gear in terms of quality, flexibility and full features. Now with the new Micro Four Thirds system, it seems I can get 95% of those things with only half the size and weight of an average DSLR camera.

Here are a few facts to know about Micro Four Thirds cameras.

It has an interchangeable lens system.

You are not limited to the built-in zoom range of a point and shoot camera, and you’re also not weighed down by the bulk of a DSLR. Even the best built-in zoom lenses on compact cameras can’t shoot wider than 28mm and do not have apertures wider than F/ 2.8. With a Micro 4/3rd, you can use the Panasonic 20mm F/ 1.7 fast lens to capture great shots at night or a Olympus 7-14mm wide angle zoom lens to get all your friends in the group photo.

It is an open format.

This means that any lens can work on any camera body regardless of manufacturer. You now have access to a larger variety of lenses available and you can be sure the camera system will not go defunct because a single company closes shop.

Photo by bfishadow

There is no shutter sound

Part of the reason the Micro 4/3rds is so small is because it doesn’t use a mirror; similar to the expensive Leica camera system.

An added benefit is its noiseless shutter which makes it perfect for street, travel and documentary photography.

It has a 2X crop factor.

This means that when a lens says 20mm, it is actually shooting at 40mm in the traditional 35mm sense. Most DSLRs have a 1.5 crop factor.

The benefit of this is they can make a 55-200mm zoom that is tiny and affordable but actually lets you shoot to 400mm.

The 4/3rds sensor size means more effective use of your lens and more photo size options.

Most DSLRs have a 2/3 sensor that is rectangular in shape. Camera lenses are circular so all the area outside the rectangle is essentially wasted. The 4/3 format is closer to a square and uses more of the images the lens is capturing.

Smaller Camera = Smaller Everything

Because the sensor format is redesigned and the mirror is taken out, you can get very compact camera bodies. But the true benefits really start to show when you see how small the lenses are. Smaller lenses mean smaller filter sizes, and lower prices. This also means half the battery size and a smaller tripod. It all adds up to a much lighter, more affordable, and more portable camera bag as well as less intrusive photo-taking.

There are two (2) body types to choose from.

You can choose from the really small flat bodies that are about the size of a deck of cards or a larger body with a hand grip and a few more features. Or you could buy both for the price of one semi- pro DSLR body and carry them both or bring just one out for different shooting occasions.

The availability of various accessories is currently expanding.

A few accessories available now are various flashes that work wirelessly, external microphone adapters, and external view finders. Many photojournalists and wildlife photographers have been using the Micro 4/3rds system for several years already.

You can control depth of field

No matter how solid a compact camera is, they will always have nearly unlimited depth of field. This means that almost everything within a scene is in focus all the time. Though the Micro 4/3rds format is smaller then some point-and-shoot cameras, it gives you a lot of control over how much of the photo you want in focus, thus allowing you to control depth of field.

Community Connection

Wondering what “sensor” or “depth of field” or “DSLR” mean? Why not sign up for one of Ryan’s photography workshops.

Snapshot of DSLR Camera Remote Professional iPhone App

While most of the apps we’ve reviewed so far are aimed at (or at least suitable for) beginners and creative amateurs in photography, there are a few programs that are useful for more advanced snappers.

DSLR Camera Remote Professional

DSLR Camera Remote Professional comes with a hefty price tag (a Lite version is also available for $1.99), but is an absolute boon for photographers who want control over aspects of their picture taking remotely.

All you need is a computer and a wifi connection, and this app lets you adjust various settings like shutter control and image review – and you even get a live viewfinder preview on your iPhone screen. It’s great for very difficult angles, self-portraits and when you’d like to have both hands free. The downside is that it’s only compatible with certain Canon and Nikon models (see website for details).

Price: $19.99 | BUY

Photocalc

Also great is Photocalc, which does a range of technical calculations on your behalf – everything from estimating the correct settings for exposure, flash, aperture, shutter speeds and depth of field to accessing a location-based solar calculator for sunrise and sunset, which is handy for knowing when and where the good light is gonna be.

Serious pros may be intimate with these kinds of calculations, but this is good for those that aren’t. The app includes a handy glossary of technical terms.

Price: $2.99 | BUY

PhotoBuddy (v1.5.1)

PhotoBuddy is, as the name suggests, a handy little assistant/friend to have on a shoot. It helps determine depth of field, helps set the white point for your photos (via a list of color temperatures), and calculates exposure settings while manipulating aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings.

You can also calculate Sunrise/Sunset (not quite as accurate as Photocalc) and there’s a Bulb Timer that lets you take long exposure shots.

Price: $1.99 | BUY

Other Articles in Series

Learn how to improve your iPhone Travel Photography by checking out the articles below:

iPhone Travel Snapper Apps Part 1: Replacement Cameras
iPhone Travel Snapper Apps Part 2: Image Editing
iPhone Travel Snapper Apps Part 3: Filters and Effects

Disclaimer – All apps above have been reviewed on the new iPhone 3GS. Please double-check compatibility of your phone if you have an older model.

Do you know of other iPhone Apps that provide image editing? Please share in the comments below.

Photo by TheeErin, feature photo by mikebaird

I wanted to write an article on gadget gifts for the traveling mom, but searching for ideas was frustrating. Something about the dozens of articles touting robot vacuum cleaners and other futuristic Donna Reed bullshit rubs me the wrong way.

I’m not a mom, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for what mothers do every hour of every day. Traveling, moving abroad, or just going to the market is a whole different game when you’ve got kids. And it took me a little while to pinpoint just what was bothering me about these lists.

I can’t provide you with a generic easy-pick list of stuff that “all mom’s will love,” any more than I can give you one that “all people will love.”

You have to know your mom, your wife, whoever you are celebrating Mother’s Day with this year. Call her. If you’re separated by an ocean, download Skype and chat face-to-face. As a wonderful mother and good friend of mine put it, many women would trade the flowers and cards for a spouse and/or child as engaged in the family as she is.

Talk.

That’s my gift suggestion, because I can’t suggest anything for the mother in your life. Only you can.

The most common complaint, if it counts as a complaint, I’ve heard about the iPad is this: “Well, I don’t need it.”

And my reaction is…well, duh. I don’t need my iPhone, or my laptop. Hell, I don’t need a lot of things I own, but they sure make life more fun and convenient. But considering our e-waste problem and the fact that most people still don’t even recycle their cell phones, is there a point where inventing gadgets just for the sake of saying “hey, look at this here crazy doodad!” goes too far?

A few cases in point:

USB Heating Slippers

Heated slippers, robes, and blankets already exist, but can you plug them into your PlayStation? I admire cleverness and ingenuity, but at some point we need to consider the long-term effect of our inventions.

iCarta iPod Stereo Dock and Bath Tissue Holder

Okay, so you could use it to sing along in the shower, but the first thing that comes to my mind is just how long would you have to be sitting on the throne to need an iPod charger handy? The Amazon description says this gadget is “perfect for the music lover who has everything,” and that’s my problem – more gadget junk created for the purpose of a quick laugh and lifetimes in a landfill.

Flower Pot Speaker

It’s like those rock speakers for garden stereo systems. Clever, but I doubt party guests are really looking around in slack-jawed amazement, wondering where on earth that heavenly music is coming from. I think my issue here is that most people who own a computer will already have speakers, and what happens to them when this flower pot takes their place? Recycled – maybe. Trash – likely.

It’s hard to decide how far is too far, especially because I love gadgets, I really do. And in most ways all of them are unnecessary, but that doesn’t mean I wish they didn’t exist. But picturing a Wall-E future with piles of keyboard bras and portable toilet speakers stacked high as skyscrapers makes me wonder where the line is drawn.

Photo by Let Ideas Compete, feature photo by tombothetominator

I’ve taken my dog on a cross-country road trip in a U-Haul and a few flights across the Pacific, and between “pet-friendly” hotels with no grass within a mile radius and watching my puppy’s crate being loaded onto the wrong plane, I’ve learned there are a few items you need to pack for your pet’s comfort and safety during travel.

Keep in mind that different airlines have their own rules and regulations for pet travel, so do your research well in advance of showing up at the airport.

USDA Approved Kennel

Unless yours is in like-new condition, it’s best to purchase a new kennel with a USDA-approved sticker. The kennel needs to close properly without any special locks, keys or combinations, and must be roomy enough for your pet (see airline guidelines for specifics on kennel sizes).

LIVE ANIMAL Labels

Your airline probably won’t supply these, but you can purchase them at your local post office or online. Don’t forget to slap on a sticker on the kennel with your name and contact information as well.

Divided Food and Water Dish

The dish should come with an attachment to secure it to the kennel door, a requirement for flying and a good idea if you’re driving. If someone else will be caring for your pet during your travels, include specific feeding instructions taped to the top of the crate.

A word of advice – leave the bowls attached to the kennel, lest your dog decide that this little piece of plastic is actually her new favorite chew toy, leaving you scrambling around Seoul trying to find a USDA-approved dish days before your flight.

Photo by tombothetominator

Puppy Pads and Disposable Litter Boxes

Because…well, you know. Accidents happen, and we all know cat pee makes sulfuric acid look like lemonade. A little mishap and you’ll end up with a Flinstone-style hole in the floor of your truck.

Pet Notification Door Hangers

Very useful for road trips if you’re staying at a different hotel every night. Just leave it on the door to let housekeeping know if your pet is unattended in your room while you’re out exploring.

Keep in Mind

• If you’re flying overseas, look into that country’s rules regarding animals no less than six months in advance. In most cases you’ll need to have a series of vet check-ups and vaccinations a certain amount of time before your pet’s arrival, and many countries have a quarantine rule for even the healthiest animals.
• While many pet owners give their pets tranquilizers prior to travel, I choose not to and don’t recommend it. Introducing a new drug to your pet in the midst of the stress of travel isn’t a good idea, considering it may have a reaction to the drug you aren’t anticipating. Drugs also affect your pet’s sense of equilibrium, and the kennel will most likely be moving frequently.
• While you don’t want anything in your pet’s crate that could hurt them while unattended, a soft, familiar toy or blanket will help them feel more comfortable during travel.

Shop Now

Currently there are over 10,000 apps dedicated to travel in the iTunes store. Browse through the travel section and you’ll find an app for almost anything travel related; most of the major airlines have their own apps as do travel agencies like Kayak, and car rental outlets like Avis. All of them useful.

But often the apps I find myself using for traveling are those you don’t find in the travel section. You find them under categories such as productivity, social networking or books, although you might not think of “travel” when you first look at them.

These are ten apps that I find most useful.

Kindle and Stanza

Amazon has made the Kindle available for the iPhone and it’s fully customizable so reading even on this small screen can be comfortable for anyone. Carry a small library wherever you go to keep up on your reading.

Likewise, with Stanza, download free books from public domain sites such as Project Gutenberg to help enhance any travel experience. Now reading the Hunchback of Notre Dame while sitting in a café in Paris or Marco Polo’s journals while traveling through Asia is as simple as reaching into your pocket.

Price: Free

Skype

Call your friends and family, heck call a stranger. As long as they have Skype, it’s free from anywhere in the world. You can also call a landline or cell phone for just a minimal charge. For the iTouch, headphones with a mic are required but it’s still easier and a lot cheaper than renting a cell phone.

Price: Free

The PDF Reader

It’s not something you instantly look at and think of travel, but I find it indispensable while traveling. Download any pdf file from your computer or from within the app itself and have it available for offline viewing.

Things I download? Neighborhood maps, subway maps, Wikipedia pages, Google directions, recipes, articles…you get the idea. Added bonus is the space you save not having all of those individual subway/map apps cluttering your iTouch. Additional plus for the iPhone is the battery usage you save not going on 3G.

Price: $0.99

Ambiance

Download from hundreds of free sound clips in their database and create your own environmental mixes. Perfect for drowning out noise and helping you to relax or sleep.

Wolves, rain, birds, trains, white noise, mix ‘em and create your own perfect relaxing atmosphere. Two mixes I’ve created are called Desert Campfire and Rainy Lakeside Cabin. I’m relaxing already.

Price: $0.99

AppBox Pro

This app has a Currency Converter, a Unit Converter, a Translator, a Tip Calculator, a Flashlight, a Ruler, an app for International Holidays and that’s not even half of the programs contained within. Plus it frees up a lot of space by consolidating these frequently used programs into one app.

Price: $0.99

Tweetie 2

Twitter as a travel app? You betcha. A lot of the big name airlines offer special deals only to their twitter followers. Travel writers tweet their discoveries and local specialty food trucks in New York and LA tweet their locations.

If you want to know anything about a place, how to get there, or what to do once you’re there, Twitter is quickly becoming the way to do it. Added bonus, Tweetie 2 was just purchased by Twitter to be their official app. In a few weeks it will appear sleeker with a price drop to “free.”

Price: $2.99

Momento

Make journal entries easily while this app also downloads your activity from Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Last.fm as part of your daily journal. A great app for recording all aspects of your travels as they happen and keeping them in one place.

Price: $2.99

Star Walk

Now no matter where you are, you can locate the planets or the constellations, be informed of meteor showers, anything needed to turn you into an amateur astronomer. An added bonus is that it’s perfect for bringing everyone together around a campfire.

Price: $2.99

myLanguage and myLanguage Pro

Type in any word or phrase and get a translation in 53 different languages. The main difference with the Pro version (besides price) is that it will actually speak the translation in audio form. The only issue is Wi-Fi or 3G is needed to connect to their database for use. Still I’ve still found it indispensable.

Price: Free (Pro Version – $4.99)

ooTunes

Listen to NPR in Greece, the BBC in Kentucky, KCRW in India. A great internet radio app that has access to virtually any station with web play. Added bonus: it automatically records everything you listen to for easy replay later.

Price: $4.99

Community Connection

Looking for more travel apps? Check out 10 Cheap (Or Free) iPhone Apps For Travelers and iPhone Apps for Freelance Writers.

Photo by gamene, feature photo by firepile

Bento boxes, the Japanese art of packing an aesthetically pleasing lunch in a divided lunch box, are more than just a pretty version of a Lunchable. Companies like Laptop Lunches, who sell “bento-ware” in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, are making it easier for Westerners to not only get a grip on portion control and the amount of trash that accumulates from paper bags and Ziplocs, but also how to put a little thought and effort into the artistic side of what we eat.

Environmentally Safe

The beauty of the bento box is that no other container or bag is necessary – the compartments keep your food from touching. Laptop Lunches pride themselves on being a green product:

Our sustainable lunch boxes–which come with a book of healthy lunch ideas and lunchmaking tips and recipes–are reusable, recyclable, and dishwasher safe. Our lunchboxes, recently featured in Shape, Self, and Health Magazines, contain NO phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or lead.

Imagine the trash that comes with the average lunch brought from home – a paper bag, a plastic baggie for your sandwich and crackers, napkins. As a former teacher, I remember seeing the amount of trash bags piled up in the cafeteria after lunch and wondering how much was unnecessary.

A good bento box, including Laptop Lunches, will be airtight and easy to clean, a great reusable choice that cuts down on all that one-time-only garbage. To make it even greener, pack reusable plasticware and a cloth napkin.

Bento for Health

One look at a bento box tells you why it helps with portion control, but that’s not the only way it can be used to pack a healthy lunch. If you’ve been thinking about the ratio of what types of food you eat, like meat to veggies, or starch to fruit, here’s your chance to see exactly what you’re putting in your body and maybe look at what you eat a little differently.

The bento box pictured on the right can be used in many ways. Maybe a roast beef sandwich in the big front compartment, broccoli cheese soup right behind it, crackers and salad in the right two compartments and a few grapes in the small container. Hey, we’ve got veggies, we’ve got fruit, it’s got to be a healthy lunch…but what makes up the majority of the meal?

Sandwich, crackers and liquid cheese, with a little produce on the side.

Take the same items and put them in different compartments. Half a sandwich in the back right, a ladle of soup in the green container. A big salad in the front left with a bunch of grapes behind it, salad dressing on the side.

It’s the same food, but this way over half of your lunch is fruits and veggies and you still get the satisfaction of hot soup and a good sandwich.

Bento boxes can really spark some creativity and help you get out of the same boring lunch habits. Got a good bento box lunch recipe? Share it in the comments below!

Photo by Trinity, feature photo by wanderingone

One Bag claims to specialize in “the art and science of traveling light,” and after reading their recommendations on bundle wrapping, I can see why; it sounds pretty logical, and definitely useful if a duffel bag or backpack is all you’ve got to work with. The most common method of packing is folding or rolling clothes, which One Bag declares to be the worst thing you can do. According to their website, folding results in:

• folds that will “set”, producing creases, and
• garments moving (rubbing) against one another, producing wrinkles (tiny folds) in the fabric, that will also “set”

Their solution is bundle wrapping, which involves wrapping clothes around a soft, stuffed core object. So what’s the process?

Photo by Ben Brown

1. Stuff a small bag or pouch with smaller clothing items like socks, underwear, or bathing suits.
2. Order is important; you want the garments more prone to wrinkling towards the outside of the bundle. Start with button or zipped-up coats and jackets. Lay one out on a flat surface face-down in a way that’s natural and will not lead to creases and smooth out any wrinkles.
3. Lay out any skirts or dresses flat on top of the jacket(s).
4. Buttoned up shirts are next, face-up one by one on the dresses, alternating up and down (collar to hem). Long-sleeved shirts are first, followed by short-sleeved.
5. Continue through with pants, followed by sweaters, and shorts last. Constantly smooth everything out as you go, alternating with waistbands to cuffs to achieve equal thickness.
6. Place the pouch in the center of the stack and begin wrapping each item around firmly, one at a time. Don’t stretch the fabric, but pulling tightly will help avoid wrinkles.
7. Place the bundle in your bag, and be sure to secure it with straps so it can’t move around during travel.

Have you tried bundle wrapping, or do you have any other packing tips? Let us know about it in the comments section!

Last month, The Geek Squad tossed this infographic up on their blog, hoping to help St. Patrick’s Day merrymakers save their phones from potential beer damage. But the techniques they use here could very well help no matter what kind of liquid your phone lands in.

Have you tried this approach, or anything else that saved your handheld from a watery grave? Let us know in the comments section!

Photo by Fergus Randall.

From using dental floss as thread to storing your jewelry in ice cube trays, Woman’s Day rounded up 15 clever ways you can reuse everyday household items.

Here are excerpts from the piece:

Transform old magazines into wrapping paper - Don’t just recycle your old wrapping paper. Turn a flashy fashion spread or a pretty gardening page into cheap and chic gift wrap.

Clean your toilet with Alka Seltzer – So you’re having friends for dinner in 20 minutes, and you’ve just noticed your grimy toilet? No worries, drop in a couple of tablets Alka Seltzer, leave for ten minutes then easily wipe scum away! The fizzing action of Alka Seltzer works as a powerful cleaning agent, so you don’t have to get your hands dirty.

Use dryer sheets to freshen stinky shoes – Good News: You’re making good on your promise to hit the gym every day. Bad news: You’re running shoes and gym bag smell to high heaven! Until you can give them a good wash this weekend, air out those bad boys by stuffing dryer sheets in them and leaving over night. The sheets will absorb the odor so you can hit the gym tomorrow, odor free!

Read the entire article here.

Community Connection

For more ideas on how to reuse common everyday items, check out 5 Ways to Use Dental Floss While Traveling and 10 Multi-Use Items You Should Consider Packing.

All photos by Lola Akinmade

Many professional travel photographers travel light.

This means, one camera body (two if they’re on assignment), 2-3 lenses depending on what type of photography they intend to capture, and a bag of extras such as batteries, memory cards, and sometimes an external flash system.

For many travelers seriously interested in travel photography, a key deterrent is the shear amount of extra gear they may need to carry.

Figuring out what next to invest in after lenses and their camera body can be daunting.

If you’re wondering what additional gear to buy at the moment – from filters to external flash units and other peripheral devices, consider these items below:

Tripod

Photographing a city or street scene at night can be challenging because at that time of day, the light is too low for the camera’s sensor to capture adequately and there is a lot of movement as well.

This combination of low-light and movement makes for blurry photographs.

By setting your camera on a steady surface to help eliminate any type of shake, you have a better chance of capturing a crisper shot of the scene.

From basic table travel tripods and Gorillapods to larger ones, investing in a tripod can help you diversify the types of photos you capture of a particular locale by including night shots.

Cable Release

A cable release system is a lightweight remote device that allows you to control your camera’s shutter button without touching the camera body.

Why this is a valuable tool is that, when used in conjunction with a tripod or flat surface to steady your camera, it helps eliminate any additional movement that you might inadvertently cause when trying to snap a low-light scene.

When buying a cable release shutter system, always check to make sure it is compatible with the brand and version of your camera.

Extra Memory

While filters can help you control some atmospheric elements of your photographs, personally, purchasing extra memory is more important.

Having an extra set or two of memory cards allows you to better focus on snapping as many photographs of that dynamic scene as you can without having to worry about storage or deleting already captured moments.

Community Connection

For more travel photography tips, visit Matador’s Focus on Travel Photography resource.

Photos by Greencolander

More than once I’ve stuffed my hiking boots full of tampons.

When I studied abroad in Morocco, I was warned that no tampons were available outside of major cities. Female exchange students who had stuffed their boots and shoes with less essential items frantically emailed their mothers to FedEx boxes of the precious supplies as soon as possible.

In Pakistan, I found that tampons were available at upmarket department stores, but a regular-sized box can go for more than $10 and they aren’t always in stock. Several times I found myself on a hygiene hunt around the city, desperately looking for a box before the onset of the dreaded monthly flow.

A year’s supply of tampons and pads takes up a ton of space in your luggage, especially if you’re traveling with only a backpack. In some countries, customs officials may not have seen tampons before and could consider the strange tubes as objects worthy of investigation.

In Morocco, I heard about an expat who packed a huge stash of tampons in her luggage and was questioned by officials at the airport. The men inspecting her bags thought the tampons, the applicator type, were being used to transport illegal drugs. The men opened up every single tampon in search of illicit substances. All they found inside the suspicious plastic containers was cotton, but they kept opening them nonetheless.

When I couldn’t deal with hygiene hunts and shoe stuffing anymore, I resolved to find a way to live happily without tampons.

Menstrual Cups

Usually made of latex, silicone or rubber, menstrual cups are small, re-useable tampon alternatives. The cup works by sitting inside your vagina and collecting the blood that would usually get absorbed into a tampon. A cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, even during heavy flow, and when you are ready to remove it, you simply take it out, dump out the contents, wash the cup and reinsert it.

Photo by Multipassport!

When your period is over, sterilize your cup and store it for next month. It usually takes women a few trial runs to get used to inserting, wearing and removing a menstrual cup. Since a cup doesn’t put you at risk for toxic shock like a tampon does, you can try it out when you’re not having your period and get used to wearing it.

A variety of brands are available, including the American-made Keeper and the Canadian DivaCup. International brands include LadyCup (Czech Republic), Fleurcup (France), Miacup (South Africa) and Lunette (Finland). Before buying a menstrual cup, check out pictures and read reviews at Menstrualcups.org. Personally, I have the LadyCup, although I must admit I was swayed by the variety of colors and cute cloth bags that come with the cups.

Menstrual cups are usually good for 10 years of use and cost between $30 and $50. If you are traveling in an area where it is not possible to properly wash your menstrual cup, have a backup and some plastic zip-locks with you. Dump out the first cup, rinse it with some water from your canteen, and store it in a plastic bag until you get a chance to sterilize it.

Washable Pads

If you prefer pads to tampons or aren’t yet ready to try a menstrual cup, washable pads are another alternative. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be reused for three to five years. For a lighter flow, get washable pantyliners, and for a heavier flow go for larger maxi pads. One brand that is popular is Luna Pads; the company also offers washable underwear with built in pads.

A single maxi pad runs around $15 – $20, but most women will spend much more than that during a single year on disposable maxi pads. You can expect to get at least three years of use out of a washable pad, so in the long run Luna Pads are a cheaper, greener alternative.

The pads can be washed by machine or by hand, although it’s best to pre-soak the pads as soon as you take them off. Washable pads are light, easy to travel with, and don’t leave you with any waste while backpacking or traveling. If you can’t wash your pads right away, put them in a plastic bag and then soak them in hot water when you get the opportunity.

Going with reusable menstrual cups and washable pads instead of regular hygiene products will free up space in your luggage, save you money and cut down considerably on the amount of waste you produce during your period. I keep a LadyCup in my purse or travel bag even when I’m not expecting to use it.

In Gracia Burnham’s book, In the Presence of My Enemies, the author shares the story of being kidnapped and held hostage long-term in the Philippines. One of the major concerns among the women hostages was a lack of tampons and other hygiene products; their male captors were not exactly understanding and cardboard was the only viable alternative.

You won’t always be able to stuff your boots and bags full of tampons, but you can always have a menstrual cup and some washable pads on you just in case.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to brush up on my French skills, or lack thereof. So when offered a chance to review some software by TELL ME MORE®, I jumped on the idea.

TELL ME MORE® is a global leader in language learning software, and their products are often used in academic institutions, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. The program is divided into lessons, and the lessons into activities. TELL ME MORE® recommends doing the activities in order (and so do I).

Before You Start

Before beginning, you can opt to take an online test to determine your skill level, or select the level manually. I highly recommend taking the online test: it’s a tedious process that takes about 45 minutes, but it accurately assessed my level to be Beginner Intermediate. Not bad, for ten years of trying to learn the language.

You can also choose to do the lessons in order, or you can be “Free-to-Roam” about all the different topics and activities. In my opinion, it’s best to go with the former. The learning process feels much more structured when it’s mapped out in front of you.

However, there are benefits to doing each, which I will explain in the next section.

The Learning Process

The lessons cover four learning areas: writing, speaking, reading, and listening. The activities in these lessons vary, including Discovery Dialogue, Picture-Word Association, Crossword Puzzles, Sentence Transformation and Words and Functions. If you falter during an activity, you can listen to translations or use Additional Tools to help with Grammar and Conjunction, and other problem areas. The tools also allow you to listen to the dialogue or practice speech recognition.

You also have access to a variety of other resources, like language explanations, a glossary, an atlas with physical, historical, political maps and more. Another section offers tons of information about French culture to better understand the language you’re learning.

If you recognize your weaknesses when learning a specific language, the “Free-to-Roam” option is a fun part of the software. Here, you can choose how you want to learn from listening, speaking, or writing activities.

I spent some time going through the speaking activities, which were more fast-paced and interesting than the structured lessons. This option also allows you to move more freely between themes, ranging from “faire les boutiques” (shopping) to “choisir des habits” (choosing clothes).

Thoughts

The range of activities and in-depth material of TELL ME MORE®’s software is impressive. Initially I was annoyed with the repetitiveness of some of the activities. However, when I revisited the software a day or two later after taking a break from a lesson, I was surprised to find myself breezing through a few activities because the material really stuck with me.

It works, and it’s addictive!

I also genuinely found myself having fun with many of the activities. After spending a great deal of time on one or two activities that had me stumped, the crosswords and picture-word associations were a pleasure. There’s something incredibly satisfying about completing an activity correctly (mostly).

Problem Areas

My biggest issue with the software was that I should have started from the beginner’s level to really refresh my memory. A lot of minor language rules have escaped me over the years, and I had a difficult time with some grammar like “present subjunctives” and “present indicatives.” The lessons launch right into the activities without giving much instruction beforehand.

That being said, there’s enough resources to keep you occupied for a very long time, and no topic goes uncovered.

Bonus

Another unique aspect about the software: you can “learn on the go” by printing out vocabulary and grammar lists or by listening to the material on an MP3 player or audio CD.

Conclusion

If you have a lot of time to devote to learning a language, TELL ME MORE® comes recommended. The material is so persistent, it will get hammered into your mind quickly. On the other hand, if you’re a novice or have not studied the language in awhile, start from the beginning and work upwards.

At a price of $529 USD, the software is cheap in comparison to other language learning software and offers 24/7 online support to keep the learning process smooth and enjoyable.

Community Connection

For more language program reviews, check out our ultimate guide to Language Learning.

Photo by Lola Akinmade

SanDisk Solid State Drive

When I think of SanDisk, I think of solid flash memory cards for digital SLR cameras and to a lesser extent, affordable MP3 players around the $40 range.

Now, the storage powerhouse has revealed its new 2.5-inch G3 solid state hard drives, available in 60GB and 120GB versions.

According to Engadget:

You’ll also be thrilled to know that the G3 range supports the newest Windows 7 TRIM feature, which enables the drive to “continuously manage its resources and retain optimized performance throughout its lifespan.”

The drive will cost you around $229.99 for the 60GB version ($399.99 for 120GB).

New Asus Eee Netbooks

Photo courtesy of Blogeee

Ultralight netbooks at just 0.7-inches thick with a purported battery life of 14 hours?

While no release date has been set yet, Asus is planning on releasing three new models of netbooks.

Both the Eee PC 1015P and 1016P will have up to 14 hours of battery lufe (with WI-FI turned off) while the 0.7-inch superthin Eee PC 1018P will have an integrated fingerprint reader and 10 hours of battery life.

Panasonic’s 3MOS HD Camcorders

Panasonic loyalists swear by their products’ topnotch Leica lens optical quality.

Hence, why photographers Uncornered Market, Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View, and myself all carry backup Panasonic Lumix digital cameras in addition to our main DSLR cameras.

Panasonic has now released a range of handheld High Definition (HD) camcorders for shooting professional-quality video – the HDC-HS700, HDC-TM700 and HDC-SD700.

They come with 35mm Wide-Angle Leica Lenses (sweet!), 18x Intelligent Zoom, SD card slots, and 240GB hard drive in the HDC-HS700. All three snap still photos with 14.1 pixels and support Full-HD 1920 x 1080pixel resolution recording – the highest resolution for handheld camcorders currently available.

Panasonic plans on releasing the camcorders in March and prices are rumored to be within the $1,100 – $1,800 range.

Community Connection

For more nifty technology, check out Top Gadgets To Travel With In 2010 and our lineup of cool gadgets in Technology Bytes.

Know of any new, practical, and cool gadgets coming out soon? Please share with us below.

Feature photo by Pink Sherbet Photography. Photo above by Yogma.

Arguably more important than your toothbrush, dental floss is a handy tool that will help you quickly remove uncomfortably wedged pieces of street food and other local delicacies from between your teeth; one of the root causes of stinky traveler breath (besides dehydration).

In addition to threading floss through teeth to remove remnants of that juicy Argentinean steak, here are a few ways you can leverage its minty goodness during semi-emergency situations while traveling.

Sew Clothes

A little piece of floss and a sewing needle can go a long way in fixing popped buttons and small tears. Granted, the stark white textured property of dental floss does make it less than ideal for top notch hemming and pattern work. However, you can use it as a temporary fix for wardrobe malfunctions till you find a proper sewing kit.

Makeshift Clothesline

Doubled (or tripled) up lengths of floss work great as a makeshift clothesline for drying off panties, socks, and smaller clothing items. String your minty fresh clothesline across your window or bunk bed support beams to create an instant laundry room.

Tie Up Gifts

Find a piece of brown paper or newspaper even and use some floss to wrap up that book , candle set, or gift you’ve purchased for your host family. The probability of them examining your gift and asking, “Hmm, is this dental floss?” is pretty low.

Tie Hair

In lieu of rubberbands or missing hair bands, double up some floss and use it to tie hair away from your face as needed. Unless you’re trying to usher in a new fashion trend, use floss until you get yourself a proper high-fashion rubberband.

Replace Broken Shoelaces

Maybe a stretch, but picture this – The morning of your group-hike up a volcano, one of your shoelaces mysteriously turns up missing and the group isn’t too keen on stopping by a convenience store en route. You might want to triple up a couple cords of dental floss and use it till you’re back down from the volcano.

Looking for more ways of using dental floss, how about 30 Unique Uses for Dental Floss?

Community Connection

Did you know you could also use shampoo as laundry detergent? Check out 10 Multi-Use Items You Should Consider Packing.

Photo courtesy of Lara & Terence.

Editor’s Note: Lara and Terence are currently traveling the world for a year and dispatching about their experiences for HomeAway. Be sure to follow their travels on Grantourismo and follow their tweets. This article was originally written by Terence Carter on their Grantourismo blog.
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Being location independent is something we achieved long ago – as travel writers, we’ve been on the road travelling continuously for the last four years, living and working out of our suitcases as we’ve bounced around the planet from one assignment to another. Yet location independence is a topic we’ve actually devoted little attention to.

Even now, as we prepare for another year on the road, we have a lot to do – an itinerary to finalize, flights and other transport to sort out, and accommodation to decide upon – but technology is actually the least of our concerns. Sure it would be nice to upgrade some gear, try a few new gadgets out, but we have the basics pretty much sorted out.

Yet technology is a topic travel writers often get asked about, and we’re already fielding questions about the gear that enables us to be location independent, so here goes:

Laptops

We’re both Apple users, so I’ll be taking a MacBook Pro and Lara a MacBook. There is no Mac versus PC war for us. As far as we’re concerned, the Mac and the rock solid Apple software best meet our needs.

I need a pretty decent-sized screen for editing photos so the 15-inch model is the best compromise.

Both our babies have bigger hard drives than standard and have the most amount of RAM that you can put in them – one of the best investments for laptops.

Storage & Backup

I use external drives for storing my photo libraries, as well as storing final images on PhotoShelter for my clients. I’m a little bit nervous about just how much storage I’m going to burn through over the next 12 months as I usually fill a pair of hard drives every couple of months. Why a pair? Every single image has a duplicate on a second drive, updated nightly by the generally wonderful SuperDuper! software.

I also carry one of these hard drives and a back-up of my MacBook Pro hard drive with me wherever I go – you never know! I make a backup of my MacBook Pro hard drive nightly. I tried using Time Machine by Apple as well, but it has never ran reliably enough for me. What did I say about ‘rock solid Apple software’? Make that generally rock solid.

Photo Organization

I use Apple’s Aperture for sorting images (I always get asked this question) and while I have my criticisms of the software, I like it better than other offerings such as Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom.

I also use Nikon’s horrible Capture NX2 to process images because it makes the nicest-looking files and I finish up in Photoshop.

For our website, I use BBEdit to edit HTML and CSS files and Fetch to transfer files to our website.

Lara uses iPhoto for her images and stores them on the drive in her MacBook, but she’s just about filled up her hard drive, which makes the MacBook run like a piece of cr*p slowly – another little challenge to deal with before we leave.

Camera Gear – the pro stuff

I use a stupid amount of Nikon camera gear and I’m probably going to need all of it for this trip as we could be doing everything from surfing to safaris.

Please don’t tell Lara, but at this stage I can’t see me leaving one lens or one flash unit (Nikon SB800s) behind.

I carry all my gear around in a Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker Plus AW.

It’s a great bag but it’s rather conspicuous and is always suspected of being too big for the overhead compartments on aircraft. Sigh. I have a Manfrotto lighting bag as well that kind of resembles a golf bag, which holds my light stands and tripod.

Depending on the airport and the class we’re travelling in, it has a habit of getting lost or at least arriving late at the gate. Groan.

Camera gear – the fun stuff

For street shooting this trip, I’m thinking of trying one of the new Micro 4/3 System cameras (stupid name), which is basically a small camera with interchangeable lenses – something like an Olympus PEN E-P2 would be perfect, because some days I don’t want to be seen as ‘the photographer guy’.

And no, I never wear a photo vest. Ever. I don’t care how convenient they are!

Lara is also drooling over the PEN as she dislikes her very overrated Canon G10, which takes wonderful photos at ISO100 and progressively becomes rubbish by ISO800 – it’s more ‘point-and-pray that there’s plenty of light’ around than ‘point-and-shoot’.

Communications

As far as other communication devices go, we have several (!) mobile phones. We each have our ‘home’ mobile numbers on a couple of them and we use the others for local SIM cards, which we buy wherever we go.

We also have an iPod Touch each – which we both love whenever there is free Wi-Fi around.

And speaking of Wi-Fi, we couldn’t live without our Apple AirPort Express for creating our own network wherever we go.

We just have to learn to stop leaving them in hotel rooms…

Community Connection

Be sure to check out What’s In Your Backpack, Lara Dunston, Professional Travel Writer? and Terence’s piece on backing up your photography.

About Terence Carter

Australian-born and Dubai-based, Terence Carter is a travel and editorial photographer and travel writer.

He’s authored more than 40 guidebooks for the world’s best travel publishers, many of which he’s also photographed.

Assignments in the last twelve months have seen him making still pictures everywhere from the south of Italy to the Red Centre of Australia.

He also maintains a blog – Wide angles, wine and wanderlust.

All photos courtesy of Joyce Major

In the introduction to her CD-based PDF, On the Road to Voluntourism: Inexpensive Voluntourism Around the World, Joyce Major explains that this comprehensive 88 page voluntourism resource is the result of her own experiences as a voluntourist and her extensive online research, which earned her the nickname “Queen Google” among friends.

On the Road to Voluntourism is an exceptional resource for the traveler who is serious about making a commitment to volunteering.

In addition to compiling hundreds of volunteer opportunities around the world (listed both by country and by type of experience), Major’s PDF includes tips and resources for topics as diverse as insurance (Bottom line? You need it.), hostels and free places to stay (There’s a lot more to life than just Couchsurfing), packing (Prepared, but light), and grants and fundraising (You CAN get someone else to pay for your travel).

In addition, she offers book and movie recommendations about voluntourism and about specific regions, as well as a special chapter on voluntourism for seniors.

You could easily look up any of this information yourself, but you don’t need to, as Major has done it for you.

She earned the Queen Google title.

What makes On the Road to Voluntourism more than a simple round up of voluntourism resources, though, and what gives it credibility is the fact that Major curated the entries carefully using her insight and experience from volunteering at dozens of programs around the world.

The writing is highly conversational and the overuse of non-specific adjectives like “great” detracts a bit from helping the reader understand exactly what to expect from a voluntourism opportunity.

Another concern is how this PDF will hold up over time; it’s possible that websites like Voluntourism.org and Idealist.org may be more comprehensive and current, though Major plans to update On the Road to Voluntourism each year.

Those factors taken into consideration, I still think On the Road to Voluntourism is a highly useful resource for people interested in spending time volunteering while traveling. The $10.00 spent on this PDF guide will save you hours of Googling.

Let Major keep the title; she deserves it.

Price: $10.00 | BUY from Inexpensive Global Volunteering

Community Connection:

Visit Matador’s Volunteering Abroad Focus Page for all of our archived resources related to voluntourism.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

@lilian_sg, @GirlInCobras, and @amytheexplorer

They’ll each be receiving a copy of the voluntourism CD

Want to win more free stuff from Matador? Follow us here @matadornetwork and keep your eyes peeled for the next contest!

Feature Photo by stuartpilbrow. Photo above by ndanger

Hard won and filled with spending potential, your rupees – dollars – Euros – pounds – dinars are an essential part of any trip.

But that overloaded wallet you are carrying – with phone numbers, business cards, and photographs – is a rather insecure basket to store your cash. A few carefully stashed bills can be the insurance policy that gets you that train ticket, that hospital bed stay, that bottle of red wine, or that emergency call home.

Here are ten places you can stash some cash…

Storm flaps on backpack zippers

Most nylon backpacks have a piece of fabric protecting the zipper from rain and dirt, often built in such a way that you can slit it open with a razor, and slide in a few rolled up notes.

Backpack frames

Modern backpacks have elaborate frames of plastic and metal. Sometimes, you can access the plastic stiffening backboard sheet through a pocket, or by making a slit.

You can hide larger documents and large amounts of money in this area. But if you put too much you might feel it uncomfortably poking your back.

Trouser waist seam

The waistband of trousers is often a folded piece of cloth secured at the bottom to the fabric that makes up the leg. You don’t need to buy a fancy money belt: A quick slice with a razor and you can put several rolled up notes into this unexpected hiding spot.

Don’t push them around to the back; it will be noticeably bumpy between you and your pack. Rather, if you have the slit and the notes towards the front, they’ll be not only more comfortable, but accessible without being too noticeable.

Photo by ArchiM

In your shoes

My brother swears by this one, but you’ll have to be careful to not only place the notes somewhere that doesn’t interfere with your walking, but also doesn’t get ground down to a pulp by your sweaty feet pounding down on them.

This obviously won’t work while wearing sandals.

In your hat

The same razor trick applies here. Many brimmed hats are built with a hat band that is actually two layers of fabric. Give it a quick slit and you can hide in some rolled bills.

In your toiletries/first aid bag

It’s unlikely that any thief rifling through your belongings would be that interested in your toothbrush and band-aids. The bag or box protecting these essentials can be used in your financial security policy.

Shirt collar

Not so long ago, formal shirts were made with stiff collars, and even now you can find some with plastic or cardboard tabs inserted to add structure to the collar points. Get out your trusty razor blade, make a slit or two, and stash some cash.

You might try for comfort and camouflage pushing the notes around to the back of your neck, or putting paired notes in the very front sides of the collar.

And you’ll still have that starched-formal look.

The back of a travel notebook

You can make a simple pocket in the back of a notebook using some paper and tape. Some, like those now-ubiquitous Moleskines, are built with a pocket already.

Notebooks can be small and portable, and if you’ve invested some soul into your writing, then you’ll always remember to take care of it. A notebook can be, literally, priceless and it’s a good habit to keep it in your pocket.

In your wallet…with a string tied to it!

Photo by Mike Schmid

Maybe you have a leather BIG CHAIN hanging off your wallet or maybe you have a big hand wallet with lots of pockets and cards and junk.

You can still carry these, but why not get a spare small wallet, simple nylon, and put your truly essential cards and cash in it.

Two wallets equal two baskets. You can tie or stitch a string to and then put it in your front pocket. It will be handy still, but much less likely to be stolen.

Or let’s face it, much less likely to be left behind after a night at the beach pub.

In your PayPal account

Like a bank, it is an odd thing to consider such an electronic backup as a financial insurance policy in case you are mugged.

But a Paypal account can be especially handy.

It requires less paperwork, and is less tied to the physical offices of the banks throughout the world. Leave the account details with a friend, and arrange with them to use a service such as Western Union to send you your own money via Paypal.

Using a bit of rigorous creativity and with the help of such simple tools as a razor blade or a notebook, you can create these ten extra baskets for your travel-eggs easily, quickly, and discreetly.

Distribute your eggs in many baskets, and it just might save the day.

Photo by dannysullivan, feature photo by robertnelson

The smartphone craze is still going strong, and growing app stores for most operating systems have opened yet another door for travelers looking for ways to live a mobile lifestyle.

From blogging on the road to maintaining your social media ninja-hood, the possibilities for apps are plentiful. But even for an experienced programmer, designing smartphone apps requires taking a few things into consideration.

It’s not your key to riches.

Many play the app development game, few make what could even pass as part-time income from it. You actually might have a better shot at striking it rich as a freelance writer. Hell, just play the lottery instead – better odds.

Designing smartphone apps is a great side project for those who have a experience with programming and a lot of creativity. Like a writing career, it takes the right combination of skill, practice, and some luck to turn it into real income.

There IS an app for that.

You have a killer idea for an app. Sweet. Now it’s time to check out the competition, because oh yes, with thousands of Blackberry and Android apps, and the iTunes App Store closing in on infinity, there is something similar out there already. What does your app have to offer that the others don’t? How is it truly innovative?

Just as writers must be readers first, app developers must be app fanatics. Download and play with as many apps in your category as possible. Hey, it’s research.

Photo by dougbelshaw

Pick a platform

Many developers with successful apps started out on one platform, then spread to others when the app sold well.

The iPhone clearly has the most apps by far, although some of them are…well, crap. And plenty of iPhone app developers have some not-so-nice things to say about how Apple runs the store.

However, now might be the time to jump on the iPad development bandwagon while it’s popular – according to CrunchGear, you might help make or break the device.

Blackberry also has a rapidly growing app store, and if you don’t own one yourself, I’ll bet you know at least three people who do. Blackberry users are devoted – they call it CrackBerry for a reason.

And with the release of the shiny new Nexus One, it’s not a bad idea to get in on some Andoid app development either.

The best and most obvious choice is to pick whichever phone you use. Go with what’s comfortable and familiar, not with what you think will sell – because if your app is that bad ass, all three markets will welcome it.

iPhone App Development

First things first: Spend a few days or weeks poking around the iPhone Development Center. Next, hit the books. A few suggested resources:

Beginning iPhone 3 Development

“Assuming only a minimal working knowledge of Objective-C, and written in a friendly, easy-to-follow style, this book offers a complete soup-to-nuts course in iPhone and iPod touch programming.

The book starts with the basics, walking you through the process of downloading and installing Apple’s free iPhone SDK, and then stepping you though the creation of your first simple iPhone application.

From there, you’ll learn to integrate all the interface elements iPhone users have come to know and love, such as buttons, switches, pickers, toolbars, and sliders.”

The Business of iPhone App Development

“The Business of iPhone App Development is a developer’s guide to achieving and managing success right from the start of the design and development process.

This book includes the information to help you, the developer, plan every aspect of your app with an eye toward business success—from design, to implementation, to the importance of early and continued market analysis, and on past launch into support and updates.

And let’s not forget the business of the iTunes App Store itself! This is the book you wish you had read before you launched your first app!”

Blackberry App Development

First things first: Dive into the Blackberry Developer Zone. Next, hit the books. A few suggested resources:

Blackberry Development Fundamentals

“The BlackBerry smartphone is today’s #1 mobile platform for the enterprise and also a huge hit with consumers. Until now, it’s been difficult for programmers to find everything they need to begin developing new applications for BlackBerry devices.

BlackBerry Development Fundamentals is the solution: the first single-source guide to all aspects of development for the BlackBerry platform.

This book thoroughly reviews the BlackBerry’s unique capabilities and limitations, helps you optimize your upfront design choices, and covers native rich-client applications and Web-based mobile applications for both business and consumer environments.”

Advanced Blackberry Development

“With Advanced BlackBerry Development, you’ll learn you how to take advantage of BlackBerry media capabilities, including the camera and video playback.

The book also shows you how to send and receive text and multimedia messages, use powerful cryptography libraries, and connect with the user’s personal and business contacts and calendar.

Not only will you be learning how to use these APIs, but you’ll also be building a program that takes full advantage of them: a wireless media-sharing app. Each chapter’s lessons will be applied by enhancing the app from a prototype to a fully polished program.”

Android App Development

First things first: Study up on The Developer’s Guide for Android. Next, hit the books. A few suggested resources:

Professional Android Application Development

“A hands-on guide to building mobile applications, Professional Android Application Development features concise and compelling examples that show you how to quickly construct real-world mobile applications for Android phones.

Fully up-to-date for version 1.0 of the Android software development kit, it covers all the essential features, and explores the advanced capabilities of Android (including GPS, accelerometers, and background Services) to help you construct increasingly complex, useful, and innovative mobile applications for Android phones.”

Android Application Development: Programming with the Google SDK

“This practical book provides the concepts and code you need to develop software with Android, the open-source platform for cell phones and mobile devices that’s generating enthusiasm across the industry.

Based on the Linux operating system and developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, Android has the potential to unite a fragmented mobile market.

Android Application Development introduces this programming environment, and offers you a complete working example that demonstrates Android architectural features and APIs.”

Consider the aftermath

There’s more to this than just designing the app. You need a website, you need a well-written description that will convince people to become customers, you need promotion, you need a good support system.

And as someone who practically downloads an app a day, I’m begging you: be reachable. Discovering there is no website for the developer, or worse, that the website is simply a page with a link back to the app store with nary a contact form or email to be seen…ugh. That dev is off my list.

Your app will probably have bugs the first time around – make sure customers can contact you when there’s a problem.

Photo by Core Force

Figure out the workload

A bigger team doesn’t necessarily mean a better app. I have a few high quality apps I love that I know for a fact were designed by a one-man show.

It’s more about what the app does – some ideas just require a lot more work to carry out effectively. To get your app going, you might need to collaborate.

And if you can handle the app yourself, don’t forget the website, promotional videos and ads, and all-important support I mentioned earlier. If that doesn’t sound like your thing, hire someone that can manage it.

Make sure the price is right

The best advice I can give you is to check out appsfire. In short:

1. $0.99 is not the key to success.
2. Quality apps with a comparably high price range make the real money.
3. If no one complains about the price, it’s probably too low.

So how do you price an app? Fuel Your Apps has a round-up of 9 Must Read Sources on Pricing Your App that you…well, must read.

Like any new business venture, designing smartphone apps takes time and preparation with little to no expectation for financial gain, at least in the beginning. Your time, energy, and creativity will be better spent coming up with something clever and useful than an app so awful it makes news headlines.

Feature photo by Max Braun. Photo above by akeg

Write your details

Using a permanent marker, inscribe your name, email, phone number and address. If it gets lost, you never know, but someone might find it and take the effort to get it back to you.

Slice off the extra straps

You can take a lesson from the obsessive ultra-light mountain climbers. Do you really need that extra 50 cm of nylon webbing for your waist belt? Do you really need those ice axe loops hanging from the bottom? Do you have a use and idea for every single bit of nylon hanging off the pack?

Modern packs are over-engineered, and you’d be amazed at the amount of weight and tangle-straps you can remove with a sharp pair of scissors. Use a lighter to melt the plastic to keep it from fraying.

Be careful not to cut anything critical!

Fold-stitch the carrying handles

Nowadays, many packs have a handle between the shoulder straps and the top, and this grip handle is important for moving the pack around. Flat nylon webbing can be harsh on the hand, but if you fold it in half, you’ll find it’s much easier to grip. Just stitch it to keep it folded.

If you want to be really fancy, find a plastic tube to slip over the handle- your fingers will be happy!

Photo by keepwaddling1

Sew on a patch, and make it a pocket

It seems that after a certain point you’ll have more patches than places to put them, but one simple thing to remember is that sewing three quarters of a patch onto a backpack panel can reveal a small, unexpected new pocket!

Rectangular patches work best. You can even add a bit of velcro to keep things inside secure.

Shine on with reflecto-strips

One of the most dangerous situations you may encounter on your adventures will involve motor-vehicles manned by distracted [often insane] drivers.

Like joggers and bicyclists, you will be much safer on the road if you have some high-reflective strips or cord visible on strategic places.

You can sew a panel of reflective material onto your pack or even facing forward on your shoulder straps.

At some outdoor equipment stores, you can get special reflective cord designed for tent guy lines; this works well and can be used for many different purposes.

Stash some cash

Have a careful look at the design of your pack. Can you open any internal frame-pockets or slice open the storm flaps protecting the zippers? You might be able to use this as a place to hide a few rolled-up bills.

Make interlacing zipper pulls

There seems to be an almost infinite variety of zipper pulls: some with bells, thermometers, whistles, compasses… But I’d put all those fancy gadgets-on-a-string somewhere safe and secure inside a pocket and replace the zipper pulls with loops simple cord. Not only is it more discreet, but you can tangle them easily to make a slightly more secure closure.

If you have twin holes for a small padlock built into the zipper, you can also put a piece of string or a paper clip through as a temporary make-shift lock. Obviously, this will not prevent theft, but it can stall the process a little longer.

Photo by Bekathwia

Find a permanent home for a large plastic bag

A plastic sheet is considered a useful survival tool by outdoor experts. After all, you really can’t seek shelter from rain under a Swiss Army knife.

One afternoon monsoon downpour while you are packing your sketchbook and laptop computer, and you’ll wish you had kept a plastic bag in your pack.

Rain covers are good options but tend to be heavier and less versatile.

Find a place, maybe inside the internal frameworks, and line it with a plastic bag to protect your gear.

Tattoo it

Why wait for someone else to embroider the perfect patch for your backpack?

You can tattoo your own design, with the help of a permanent marker or some paint. It will wear down over time, but nylon will hold the ink pretty well.

If you are heading into tiger-country, you can draw false eyes on it to scare off tigers stalking from behind.

If you are going into clear- skied wilderness, you can mark some star constellations on it. If you are joining a large group, you can write your name. If you are going into a unsettled zone, you can mark your flag or affiliation.

You can write key phrases in a foreign language, or just draw pretty pictures.

Your imagination is the limit.

Community Connection

Ever wondered what fellow travelers carry in their backpacks? Check out Matador Goods’ What’s In Your Backpack? series.

Photo courtesy of tomsun

Travel gear and technology continue to evolve exponentially with vamped-up smartphones, faster digital cameras, enhanced fabric engineering for adventure wear, and netbooks bordering on microscopic in size. While the variety of tools to pack can seem daunting, one overarching fact remains – aim for multipurpose gadgets.

Utility tools that have several uses will not only save bag space but will also provide a ton of services you’ll most likely need while on the road.

Open Travel recently rounded up Ten Smart Gadgets For Smooth Traveling, and the tools range from Swiss army knives to medical kits and the solid Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 compact point-and-shoot camera.

A staple for travelers, traditional Swiss army knives come with base utensils and toolbox items like a pair of scissors, corkscrews for wine, nail files, bottle openers, and screwdrivers.

However, the SwissArmyFlash 2 GB kicks the kit up several notches by including a 2 GB USB Flash drive and an LED flashlight.

With 10.1 megapixels, a 12x optical zoom lens, and high resolution video recording, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 does double-duty as a quality compact camera churning out pin sharp images, and a camcorder with high definition (HD) video recording capabilities.

Other multi-purpose items on their list include the Tumi Slim Universal Power Adaptor Kit which comes with a ton of adapters and stores enough energy to power your notebook while away from constant supply of electricity, and the ultralight MacBook AIR laptop which is essentially a mobile office.

Traveling with kids? Open Travel also mentions the Bag-buggy, a travel suitcase that transforms into a kid’s stroller.

Anyone who has traveled with kids knows that pushing a stroller and pulling a trolley bag at the same time is quite challenging and exhausting.

Thank God, the Castiglione Morelli team has designed a suitcase and a buggy in one.

When closed, it looks like a traditional bag.

When pulled out, it stretches over the metallic frame and turns into a comfortable and safe stroller.

Now both you and your kid can enjoy the journey.

Clearly missing from Open Travel’s list is the quintessential multi-use gadget; a smartphone such as Apple’s iPhone or a Blackberry.

From making calls, playing music, shooting video, snapping pictures, surfing the web, finding directions, storing data, and fiddling around with thousands of apps, pocket-sized smartphones practically take up no luggage space while providing most of the tools you’ll be needing on your travels; neatly rolled up into one device.

Now, all we need is a mutant Smartphone-Swiss Army knife device and we’ll be set.

Community Connection

For more multipurpose tools, check out 10 Multi-Use Items You Should Consider Packing and Matador Team’s Favorite Travel Gadgets.

Know of any other multi-purpose gadgets worth adding? Please share below.

Photo of Madrid by Lola Akinmade

Beebe Bahrami’s Historic Walking Guides Madrid offers a refreshing change to typical mainstream travel guides. While you get must-see museum and monument stops around Madrid, you also get an amazing slice of rich history.

Historic Walking Guides Madrid offers eight specific walks through Madrid’s history. These walks include historic eras such as Medieval Madrid, Hapsburg Austrian Madrid, Bourbon enlightenment, writers, artists, wine taverns, and mysteries.

Each walk includes a simple map and step by step walking directions – being a challenged map reader, I truly appreciated the directions. Additionally, Bahrami includes anecdotal historic notes for each stop on the walk that actually allowed me to visualize and imagine I was literally part of Madrid’s history.

Not being your typical tourist content with well-known pit-stops, I was thrilled to read behind-the-scenes stories of Madrid’s different ruling dynasties from Muslim influences to modern day contemporary lifestyles.

Bahrami’s stories about significant writers and artists influential to Madrid’s past give a sense of being in these people’s shoes by weaving in the day-to-day human element – a detail that many mainstream travel guides seem to lack.

Being a huge fan of the Spanish practice of eating tapas while sipping a little wine, I personally favored the historic wine taverns walk, and can’t wait to experience the walk myself when I return to Spain this summer.

Historic Walking Guides Madrid is a reasonably priced book, and for those of you who live large, glossy photographs, there are none in this book. However, the black and white photos in this book give a general idea of what Bahrami is writing about. Quite frankly, Bahrami’s vividly descriptive language is such that I didn’t miss seeing colorful photos.

Simply put, Historic Walking Guides Madrid is an easy, informative read that I am looking forward to using on my next trip to Spain.

Price: £9.99 / €10.99 / $12.99

Community Connection

Check out these articles covering Spain by author Beebe Bahrami: Eat, Pray, Love In Spain, and How to Rock a Tapas Bar When Traveling Solo.

While Apple’s celebrated iPhone has become one of the most drooled-over objects in the mobile world, its camera has always left a little to be desired . The new 3GS has pumped the megapixels up to 3 (from 2) but there’s still a spectacular lack of features: no zoom, no flash, slow shutter reaction, a lack of sharpness and no in-camera editing or post-processing options are some of the failings.

But vex not. A number of apps on the market can dramatically improve your iPhone images. While we wouldn’t claim they will turn you into a ‘pro’ (though some people are trying their best), they can certainly get you acquainted with various ‘pro’ aspects of photography such as editing, composition and post-processing.

Obviously, a lot are more for novelty than anything truly creative, so we’ve road-tested and hand-picked a bunch that we think could be particularly useful for travel snappers.

Photoshop Mobile

Before & After shots of photos edited with Photoshop Mobile by author.

Since the iPhone has no in-camera editing facilities, you’ll have to download an app that allows you to crop, rotate, color adjust, apply FX and all the rest. It took them a while, but software giants Photoshop have finally brought a version of their celebrated software to the iPhone. Photoshop Mobile has just four main controls.

The Basics icon offers Rotate, Crop and Flip; Color offers Exposure, Saturation, Tint & Black & White (all simple, one-touch adjustments); Filters has Sketch and Soft Focus while the Effects option lets you make your photo Vibrant, Border, Pop, Rainbow and Warm Vintage at the click of a button.

While the Basics and Color tools are definitely useful, the Filters and Effects are quite gimmicky, which is perhaps a surprise given Photoshop’s status as one of the leading post-production software manufacturers. The program could also do with a Contrast slider. Then again the app costs nothing, making it by far the best free photo editor app on the market.

Price: Free

PhotoForge

Before & After shots of photos edited with PhotoForge by author.

More comprehensive is the photo/painting app PhotoForge, which ironically is more of a mini-Photoshop than the Photoshop app is. All the features are displayed at the bottom and top of the screen and you can easily access things like Rotate, Flip, Crop (5 different sizes) and Straighten.

There are Filter adjustments for Levels, Curves (you can adjust for RBG, CMYK, and CIE Lab), Noise Reduction, Auto Exposure, Manual Exposure, Brightness and Contrast and Sharpening.

The editing tools include Brushes (8 of them!), Smudge, Clone Stamp, Eraser, Magnify, Eye Dropper and Fill Tools. For quick-fixes there are several preset filters (Sepia, Lomo, Blur, Television, Neon and Dreamy). Not every tool gives excellent results of course, but the sheer variety allows for many creative options, and of course you get to mix photography and painting too if that’s your thing.

Price: $4.99

Picoli

Less in-depth but very useful is Picoli which has less features but handles what is has very well. Using simple sliders you can brighten, saturate, sharpen and adjust things like contrast, color balance and illumination. There are also various filters such as Sepia, Night Vision and Colour Dithering, and “fun” stuff like Posterize and Sunburn.

The normal $4.99 price tag is a bit steep when you consider the superior Photoforge is the same price, but the company are offering the program for $2.99 while they work on a new update, making it a worthwhile investment.

Price: $2.99 *reduced until new update is done

Other Articles in Series

iPhone Travel Snapper Apps Part 1: Replacement Cameras

Disclaimer – All apps above have been reviewed on the new iPhone 3GS. Please double-check compatibility of your phone if you have an older model.

Do you know of other iPhone Apps that provide image editing? Please share in the comments below.

Photo by fimoculous

The advancements in cell phones, PDAs, and laptops over the past ten years have made it even easier for travelers to escape the cubicle. While there have definitely been a few flops, as well as a couple freaky inventions that made us wonder about the future of technology, there’s no question that the past decade has seen a major evolution in gadgets.

2000

Digital cameras weren’t invented in the past decade, but they certainly took over. The first Canon Digital IXUS was released in the summer of 2000, and at the time was the smallest, slickest digital camera available.

This was also the year when many of us got whiplash staring at the suit talking to himself in line at the bank, thanks to the Jabra bluetooth wireless headset.

2001

Despite the invention of the mp3 player in 1997, many of us still preferred lugging around clunky CD players, along with those massive binders. Maybe it was the joy of organizing the CDs alphabetically, with corresponding jackets on the reverse side that so neatly showed off our musical taste. Apple changed all that – and the company itself – with the first iPod.

High-tech convenience. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Steve Jobs announced you could “put 1,000 songs in your pocket,” and that was it. Maybe we don’t get to show strangers in hostels our overstuffed CD binders anymore, but I bet most travelers don’t miss them a bit.

2002

Back when having a stylus was stylish and phones had yet to develop intelligence, the Palm Pilot was the ultimate electronic organizer. The spiffy Palm Zire came out in 2002, and while it would quickly become outdated, having a portable word processor in your pocket was pretty sweet at the time.

2003

It wasn’t a cell phone, but an application that changed the way we make phone calls this year. Skype was created in 2003, letting us chat, talk, even video conference with anyone, anywhere, usually for free.

Also of note this year was the IBM ThinkPad – not because of its specs (although they were good for the time), but because it marked the first time a notebook automatically connected to your local wireless network.

2004

Once again, it wasn’t a physical gadget, but something even more powerful that changed the communication landscape this year: Gmail. Launched by invitation only, Google gave us an email service like nothing else out there, with a staggering 1GB of space – free.

Cleaning up email service. Photo courtesy of Payalnic.

Verizon also helped out travelers this year with their EV-DO network, along with the Sierra Wireless PC 4220 card. No more hunting for hotspots – we were connected on the road.

2005

Remember the days when videos of a grown Frenchman running amok in a Pac Man costume weren’t readily available? Enter YouTube. That’s right, it was created in 2005 (does anyone else feel like they’ve been watching it for a few decades?), and while it may be your go-to source for online procrastination, it’s led to even more ways for travelers to share their video adventures with others.

On a side note, possibly the Worst Gadget of 2005 goes to the Oakley Razrwire. Oaklies. Bluetooth. Fail. Apparently even yuppies didn’t want to shell out the $300.

2006

Call me biased – I am – but the MacBook and MacBook Pro stole the spotlight this year. They were sexy, light, and sported Intel’s dual core processors and magnetized power adapters and about a zillion other features that pulled die-hard PC users over to the dark side.

This may not have been a great invention for travelers necessarily, but it bears mentioning – the Nintendo Wii was also released in 2006, stepping around the Xbox and PlayStation and hardcore bloody car theft games and doing their own thing. They re-popularized the cutesy Nintendo games from the 80s, all while getting video game-addicted kids (and adults) to do something they hadn’t tried in a long time – moving.

Photo courtesy of Saquelateral.

2007

Cell phones, PDAs, laptops, mobile connectivity – it all came together in January of 2007 with the release of the Jesus phone, otherwise known as Apple’s iPhone. MG Siegler of TechCrunch sums up the iPhone’s immediate appeal nicely:

“There was no way I was getting an iPhone. But then I started to wonder why so many people were lined up for this device — what was I missing? I walked up to the iPhones out on display, picked one up, played with it for all of 10 seconds. I left the Apple store $600 poorer.”

Really, that would have been enough from Apple in one year. But just for good measure, they released the iPod Touch that September. Since 2007, we’ve hardly gone a few months without hearing about a new “iPhone killer.” Still looks pretty alive and kicking to me.

Also in 2007 – hey, it was a big year – Amazon struck fear into the hearts of publishers everywhere with the release of the Kindle.

2008

Apple secured their world smartphone domination with the iPhone 3G and, perhaps more importantly, the launch of the App Store. And just to remind us that they kind of do computers too, Steve Jobs ceremoniously pulled the MacBook Air out of a brown paper envelope at MacWorld 2008, causing the crowd to experience a unified Apple Orgasm.

Photo courtesy of Scarleth White.

In camera news, Nikon surprised photographers with the D90 – the first digital SLR camera with video capabilities. Great specs, and at a third of the cost of the Canon equivalent.

2009

After two years of smug Apple talk, critics of the iPhone needed a hero – and they got one. The HTC Hero finally brought the Android operating system to the eager masses in a well-polished package.

The Motorola Droid has its die-hard fans as well, with a great touchscreen in addition to that all important QWERTY keyboard some folks just can’t live without.

And 2010?

Without a doubt, 2010 will be a big year for gadget lovers. Two in particular have already built up quite a bit of hype.

Google and Android will continue to win smartphone owners over with the Nexus One, otherwise known as the Google Phone. I’m still an iPhone kind of girl, but even I have to admit this thing looks pretty sweet.

Meanwhile, Apple will continue its mission to stay ahead of the pack by focusing their attention on the Tablet, which is rumored to be called the iSlate. Think MacBook power in a large iPhone package.

Community Connection

For more on innovative gadgets developed over the last ten years, check out What Is The Decade’s Best Gadget?.

What was your favorite gadget in the past decade? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Shot by Photographer Cheryl Black.…Matador Goods editor Lola Akinmade with nuns in Nicaragua.

Lola Akinmade – Matador Goods Editor

While a Nikon D300 gets me those high quality, print ready travel shots, my favorite piece of equipment is a backup Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5K point and shoot camera.

With a 10x wide angle zoom lens, 9 megapixels, video recording capability, and tons of quick access settings such as “candlelight” and “aerial” mode, this camera has captured some memorable travel photography; though it’s probably due for an upgrade to a newer Lumix model.

My “Anatomy of a Smörgåsbord” photo essay on Matador Life was shot using the Panasonic Lumix.

Michelle Schusterman – Matador Goods Associate Editor

At the risk of sounding like an Apple geek – which I am – I’d have to go with my iPod Touch.

Music, movies, Internet, Skype, plus forty applications that let me do everything from checking flights to editing, exporting, and printing documents.

Paul Sullivan – Matador Network Contributing Editor

I think the iPod touch would have to be my top gadget too. It’s just too ridiculously multifunctional and convenient to not be top of the list.

Second to that though would be a good old fashioned beer / wine bottle opener.

So many times my life has been saved and my sobriety beautifully ruined by that device.

Kate Sedgwick – Matador Nights Editor

I’m not sure if this counts as a gadget, but I can see Inspector Gadget using it, so I’m going to add the Utili-key to the list.

How many times have you needed a knife, screwdriver or bottle opener when you’ve packed light? As long as you have your keys, you’re every tool-less friend’s hero.

Though I can’t guarantee you’ll make it through without a hitch, I’ve never had mine confiscated by airline security as it’s always camouflaged by the other keys on the ring.

Won’t you feel smart when someone asks for a screwdriver and you can say, “Phillips or flathead?”

Tom Gates – Matador Nights Editor

I bought a water purification thing for $60 before I left.

It’s in the bottom of my bag, still wrapped, utterly useless (save a national emergency). I bought this all-in-one opener in Chile for $0.72 and I use it every day, for everything.

I’m pretty sure I could perform surgery with it, were it not covered with baked bean stains and rust. It really doesn’t matter which one but get yourself an all-in-one gadget.

MAKE SURE it can open cans (most don’t).

Carlo Alcos – Matador Trips Editor

For pure practicality, you can’t beat a headlamp.

Versatile, lightweight, and hands-free, the headlamp is the gift that keeps on giving.

A close second is the collapsible cup.

These come in handy with a corkscrew and a bottle of vino.

Leigh Shulman – Matador Life Editor

The Leatherman Super Tool 300.

From making peanut butter sandwiches and opening beers to light carpentry and fixing water tanks, there’s never been a time this thing couldn’t help us out.

Lindi Horton – Matador Sports Intern

While the iPod Touch would be high on my list of essential gadgets, most gadgets will not work for extended amounts of time without being charged.

My favorite gadget is the Kensington 33117 All-In-One Travel Adapter.

At a price tag of 17 US dollars, this all-in-one adapter allows me to charge up all of my electronics without taking up too much room in my backpack.

Hal Amen – Matador Trips Editor

Well, since Carlo already stole headlamp, I’ll go with my Casio PQ-10 travel alarm clock.

Exciting?

Hardly, but I love the little guy.

It’s been running on the same battery for like 3 years (that’s over a thousand mornings of multiple snoozes), and is loud enough to cut through the fog of whatever you might have been tossing back the night before.

Andy Hayes – Matador Network Twitter Ninja

I assume my iPhone does not qualify as a gadget, since it’s more of a lifestyle essential.

So… since I’m Location Independent, I’d give my vote to a Wi-Fi boosting antenna.

Christine Garvin – Brave New Traveler Editor

At the risk of sounding utterly boring and unoriginal (and probably a bit dated), my old Dell laptop was quite the little trouper.

Before it finally died because of a tragic incident involving my cat (cat is A-OK), it made it through many train rides in Europe and a week-long “Adventure tour” in Australia, along with being dragged on flights around the US, thrown next to me countless times on the BART train, and dropped on the floor of the passenger-side seat in my car because of a sudden stop or thirty.

Now, I’m testing out a refurbished Mac to see if it can take the same heat.

Candice Walsh – Matador Life Associate Editor

My Swiss Army Pen.

It writes underwater, upside down, and on glass (although I haven’t used it for those functions yet, it’s just a sweet, reliable pen).

AND it has a nail file!

Adam Roy – Matador Sports Editor

I can’t live without internet, and honestly, with all the photo editing and FTP uploading I have to do at Sports, it’s just easier to use my own laptop than to screw with internet cafes.

Mobile internet keeps me working.

In Argentina, I use a Claro USB mobile modem.

In the US, I use a Bluetooth dongle and my cell phone (a hand-me-down Katana II from Sprint).

Nancy Harder – Matador Network Intern

An earphone splitter so my husband and I only have to pack one iPod.

The best part is being able to share the same musical experience.

Photos by stuartpilbrow

Though I had a few Christian friends growing up, being brought up Hindu meant my family’s religion and festivals were more important to us. Years later, I would experience Christmas in all its splendor, and my first introduction to this tradition would come in the form of books.

Here are four books that have been instrumental in the way I perceive Christmas.

A Doll’s House- Henrik Ibsen

A Doll’s House, a play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is set on Christmas Eve. The playwright articulates the notion of Christmas by clearly defining the birth of one’s self and the decay of another self. In the opening scene, we are introduced to Nora Helmer, who is perceived as being “childish” by her patronizing husband.

Nora’s self-discovery and her decision to walk out on her husband was considered scandalous when the play was written.

When Nora declares that she has no home, no religion and that she wishes to travel all by herself – she wishes to discover her desires independently outside the patriarchal space, it signals the birth of the independent self and brings to light the plight of the woman masquerading in support of patriarchy, an imposition anointed by her husband.

Ibsen’s German agent said that it would not work well with audiences. In Germany, the lead actress refused to play Nora unless the ending was changed. This play is truly an inspiration because in as early as 1879, a man was talking about women’s rights. It is thus hardly surprising that the play is often referred to as “the first feminist play.”

The theme of Christmas in A Doll’s House is literal in that the setting of the play is on Christmas Eve but the exploration of the theme is largely symbolic. Her husband, for instance, promises her that if any calamities befell her, he would protect her and he would act as her Christ figure. However, when he does need to protect her, he accuses her of having slighted his honor.

Christmas is considered to be the birth of Jesus Christ and, in this case, it is the birth of the woman Nora, because she attains self-hood.

A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by 19th century English writer Charles Dickens is about how a miserly man named Ebenezer Scrooge revises his notions of the world after four ghosts visit him in his dreams.

A Christmas Carol also begins on Christmas Eve when Scrooge’s deceased business partner, Jacob Marley appears in a dream and warns him about his impending misery if he does not mend his ways.

The book taps into Scrooge’s inner demons and portrays how a man has been hardened by the tryst of fate. At first, The Ghost of Christmas Past appears, taking Scrooge back down memory lane and enabling him to relive his boyhood years.

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes him to the house of his clerk, Bob Cratchit, who Scrooge pays a rather measly salary and whose son, Tiny Tim is too ill and will die unless the family receives some financial assistance. The Ghost of Christmas Present predicts that Tiny Tim will die, but Scrooge turns over a new leaf and becomes a changed man by helping everyone around him and thanks to Scrooge, Tiny Tim’s life is saved.

The book deals with moral virtues which are associated with Christmas- kindness, altruism, philanthropy and a sense of community. It captures the spirit of Christmas and resorts to an allegorical mode of storytelling rather than a didactic approach. It is worth noting that A Christmas Carol, ever since it was published, has not been out of print.

The Dead – James Joyce

The Dead is a short story written by Irish writer James Joyce. It is the final short story in his book Dubliners. The Dead is set between Christmas and New Year and tells the story of Gabriel Conroy who realizes that his wife Gretta’s deceased childhood acquaintance, Michael Furey was the Christ figure in her life.

It is a story about evaluating oneself.

While the image of Furey was in Gretta’s mind, Gabriel had constructed an image of his wife in his head where his wife could not think about anyone else apart from him.

The first character to be mentioned in this story is the caretaker’s daughter, Lily. The flower, Lily is the traditional symbol of the Blessed Virgin and is also a common sight at funerals. Gabriel’s first encounter with Lily marks the destruction of Gabriel’s fictional self and the beginning of the resurrection of Michael Furey.

The Dead is a story that tells us that Christmas is a time of both decay and regeneration.

The Journey of The Magi – T.S. Eliot

The Journey of the Magi is written in the form of a monologue – from the point of view of one of the Magi who went to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ.

The poem draws from one of Lancelot Andrewes’ sermons of nativity and makes use of several Christian symbols. “The Three Trees” are symbolic of the crucifixion while dealing with Eliot’s constant theme of alienation when the narrator talks about going back home to “an alien people clutching their gods.”

The Journey of The Magi deals with birth and death and how the self is fragmented in its quest for absolute knowledge.

Community Connection

To find more Christmas-related articles on Matador Network, check out our archives.

Do you have a favorite Christmas classic? Please share it below.

The new 3GS may have pumped the megapixels up to 3 (from 2) but there’s still a spectacular lack of features: no zoom, no flash, a slow shutter reaction, a relative lack of sharpness and no in-camera editing or post-processing options…these are just some of the failings.

Shot by author with ProCamera on iPhone

But vex not. A number of apps on the market can dramatically improve your iPhone images.

While we wouldn’t claim they will turn you into a ‘pro’ (though some people are trying their best) they can certainly get you acquainted with various ‘pro’ aspects of photography such as editing, composition and post-processing.

Obviously a lot of these apps are more novelty than anything truly creative, but we’ve road-tested and hand-picked a bunch that we think could be particularly useful for travel snappers.

Since there are literally dozens of apps please don’t yell at us if we missed any – but do feel free to mention your faves in the comments box below.

ProCamera

One of the ways of getting around the iPhone’s inherent limitations is to ‘replace’ it with a different system (don’t worry, your in-camera system won’t be deleted or literally replaced). There are a few on the market, but one of the best we’ve used is ProCamera (v2.5).

It has one of the best zoom systems around (5x) – one that actually feels like a zoom rather than a crop tool, and has a Steady Mode (which helps against camera shake), Composition Grids (that help you line up your shots), Timer (for self portraits, group shots etc.) and a Big Button, which turns your whole screen into a shutter.

The new features in v2.5 such as the Tilt Function (or Horizon Guide) help keep your lines straight and the video – which can be slickly initiated by shaking your phone – also help set it apart, as do the decent macro and low light / night shot results.

Price: $2.99 | BUY

Shot by author with CameraPlus on iPhone

Camera Genius

Another solid app is Code Goo’s Camera Genius (v1.7), which has similar features to ProCamera (Zoom, Timer, Anti-Shake, Big Button and Timer) as well as a selection of Composition Grids (quadrants, parallels, rule of thirds) that help with composition and alignment.

There’s also a Burst Mode that lets you fire three shots in quick succession — great for capturing fast action.

The handy Camera Manual feature offers a host of quick-tips on everything from focal points and lighting to perspective and portraits.

Price: $1.99 | BUY

CameraPlus

The third and final recommendation is CameraPlus, which is a buck cheaper than Camera Genius but still offers Zoom (4x), Anti Shake, Big Button and Burst Mode (which can be adjusted for up to 10 rapid-fire shots).

The downside is that there are less features than those mentioned above, and those that are included have slightly less flexibility (i.e. no adjustment option for the Anti Shake and less Grids to choose from).

Still, it’s certainly not bad for less than a dollar.

Price: $0.99 | BUY

Disclaimer

All apps above have been reviewed on the new iPhone 3GS. Please double-check compatibility of your phone if you have an older model.

Photos courtesy of Theo Chocolate

The four-year-old factory plies visitors with so many samples before, during and after its hour-long tour that if you’re not careful, you’ll leave with a serious stomach ache.

When you finally recover, it’s likely you’ll never buy another kind of chocolate. Next to Theo’s environmentally and socially conscious (and delicious) chocolate, everything else seems mediocre.

Theo, which gets its name from the botanical name for cacao, Theobroma cacao, is the nation’s only bean-to-bar, fair trade, organic chocolate. In bean-to-bar chocolate production, factories make chocolate from fermented cacao beans.

“There’s a distinction in the chocolate industry between chocolate melters and chocolate makers,” said Debra Music, vice president of sales and marketing. “We actually start from the raw material. Chocolate melters don’t actually make the chocolate themselves.” Instead, they melt down already processed chocolate and add flavors, nuts, or fruit.

The bean-to-bar process is just one part of Theo’s philosophy to “commit to sustainability all the way through,” Music said. “We invest in relationships with the farmers to ensure they are paid fairly and continue to grow their cacao organically.” Theo is USDA organic and Fair Trade certified.

Photos courtesy of Theo Chocolate

Theo’s chocolate making process “harkens back to artisan chocolate making in Europe,” Music said. While other, larger chocolate makers take short cuts that make their chocolate cheaper, they also compromise on taste, quality and nutritional value.

Big factories add artificial fats or chemicals and use a short cut called dutching that ends up reducing the natural antioxidant properties in cacao.

Processes like these are “bad for the planet and bad for the body,” Music said. “Our regular, dark chocolate has only three ingredients: cocoa beans, sugar, and cocoa butter.”

It’s Theo’s other ingredients that make their chocolate even more unique—and delicious.

Theo’s line of 3400 Phinney bars (named after their address), include a Coffee Dark Chocolate, using locally roasted, organic and Fair Trade-certified coffee; Fig, Fennel and Almond Dark Chocolate, which is vegan; and a Hazelnut Crunch Milk Chocolate, with a buttery hazelnut brittle, to name a few.

Theo also makes an impressive array of confections, tiny truffle squares with fascinating flavors like Burnt Sugar, Caramel Sage, Chinese Five Spice and Pear Balsamic, each of which are artfully hand decorated in the factory. For the less adventurous, Theo has plain dark and milk chocolate and standards like orange, mint, and cherry almond bars.

Theo also sources their ingredients locally when they can. Music said the company decided to open the factory in Washington because “it’s an agricultural state. It’s so much easier to source locally here than in, say, New York or Boston.”

While cacao is grown only in tropical rainforest ecosystems, Theo uses local, organic eggs, butter and dairy products. Theo also acquires some local spices.

The factory does its best to be environmentally sustainable. “We offset our manufacturing by purchasing green power through our power company,” Music said.

Photos courtesy of Theo Chocolate

She admits the young factory can, and will, do more to reduce their chocolate’s environmental footprint. “We’re extremely mindful of that, but haven’t come up with a good system yet.” She mentioned they’re looking into opening an East Coast factory in the future.

All of their beans are imported and then shipped from the East Coast, so having a factory there would eliminate having to ship the all the beans across the country.

Theo does its best to use minimal packaging, especially around the packaging-heavy holiday season. They use sustainable ribbon, soy-based ink, and the wrappers are made from 30 percent or more post-consumer waste, are recyclable and/or compostable.

“One of our goals is to re-train consumers’ expectations for packaging,” Music said. “As a planet we need to stop buying into packaging.”

Theo Chocolate is re-training consumers on more than just packaging. In a world where environmental destruction and rural poverty are closely tied to the food we eat, Theo provides a guilt-free way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

You can learn more about Theo’s products, including where to buy them online.

Photo credits: Bob Krist

Words and photography courtesy of Bob Krist

Here’s the breakdown:

Nikon D90

Two D90 bodies, one mounted with a 70-300mm VR Nikkor and the other with the 16-85VR Nikkor. Gotta admit, they rarely come off.

Lenses & Flash

A 12-24mm f/4 AF for the tight spots, and the small, sharp 35mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor primes.

These little primes are great for available light and give me the FX-style bokeh I crave at times. Also, a SB 800 with SD8A battery pack.

Audio Recorder

Olympus LS-10 Audio recorder with Sennheiser MKE 400 mini shotgun mic (with windmuff). Also, not pictured, a small Gorillapod to use as a mic stand/handle.

Other Accessories

• Mini rain umbrella and raincover for the camera
• Extra batteries for the camera headlamp for me
• A Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket (which clips inside the bag) filled with 8GB and 4GB fast SDHC cards
• A miscellaneous bag with cable release, PC adapter (in case I have to plug in big flashes), flash filters, model release forms, wrist brace (!), hot-shoe bubble level, IR remote for camera, hex wrench.

The Bag

A Tamrac Velocity 9x sling bag or a Lowepro Outback 300 AW belt/shoulder bag.

Which bag I pick depends on how my back is feeling at the time I’m packing for the gig (the Tamrac rides high, the Lowe is at your waist).

If I have room, I take both and alternate ( it helps to keep that spine feeling springtime fresh after a 14 hour day!).

The whole kit weighs a few pounds less than the D300s & f/2.8 zoom setup that I used to carry on travel gigs and still use on commercial assignments.

One thing I wish somebody made and that I’d pay good money for? A sharp, fast, compact, DX-format wideangle prime, like a 17mm f/1.8 or something!

Yeah, I know, fat chance on that. But I can dream, can’t I?

More on Bob Krist

Bob Krist is a freelance photographer who works regularly on assignment for magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, and Islands.

These assignments have taken him to all seven continents and have won awards in the Pictures of the Year, Communication Arts, and World Press Photo competitions.

During his work, he has been stranded on a glacier in Iceland, nearly run down by charging bulls in southern India, and knighted with a cutlass during a Trinidad voodoo ceremony.

He won the title of “Travel Photographer of the Year” from the Society of American Travel Writers in 1994, 2007, and again this year at the 2008 convention.

In 2000 his work was honored at the Eisenstaedt Awards for Magazine Photography in New York City.

Read more of Bob’s biography and follow his blog, Photo Traveler.

Photo by jenny downing

This latest offering from National Geographic Books has been making a lot of buzz lately. The attractively designed anthology, The New Age of Adventure, celebrates “ten years of great writing” that have graced the pages of National Geographic Adventure magazine. I couldn’t wait to dive into the book once my review copy arrived. I wanted to get deep down into the minds of these adventure writers.

What sets them apart from other writers?

Why did they cross boundaries other writers were willing to set for themselves?

What drove them to spend months with Afghan fighters or forge deeper into Ugandan jungles to find the source of the super deadly Ebola virus?

The Stories

As editor John Rasmus noted in the introduction, as a generation, we’ve switched from old-school exploration of untouched lands and traversing unmapped terrain to an age of frontline conservation and human impact exploration.

He terms this shift the “new age” of adventure.

In a sense, tracking gorillas and going behind the scenes of rebels and guerilla fighters signals a different level of exploration.

According to Andrew Zolli, “we are moving from the age of exploration to the age of conservation.”

The book is divided into the following four sections that group similar stories: Reporting from the Edge, Sexy beasts, Personal Journeys, and Outer Limits.

Thumbing through heart-pounding stories, I was slowly introduced to a different breed of adventurers.

In Dangerous Medicine (one of my favorite stories), Tom Clynes follows a team of scientists as they run right into the epicenter of the Ebola epidemic to set up field labs while others are rightfully fleeing from it. He weaves in the gravity for the situation with humorous scenes such as the one below which I frankly thought only happened in movies.

Bob Swanepoel, a bat hunter has been called in to help the medical teams track the animal sources of the virus:

In a scene that’s vaguely reminiscent of some Great White Hunter epic, Swanepoel’s party – soldiers, hunters, porters, and scientists – trudges over the hills toward the Kalak caves, trailed by an enthusiastic swarm of village children
…..Tom Clynes, Dangerous Medicine

And within the next two paragraphs, Clynes transitions powerfully to a scene where colleagues left behind fear for the lives for Swanepoel’s team after they’d been ambushed right after their gallant ride off into the jungles.

The selected stories highlight various levels of adventure from the stupendous to the surreal to situations where man becomes prey.

Photo by timo_w2s

What would you do if you became lost?

Truly lost?

What if a 30-minute snowmobile ride out into the backwoods turned into a 3-day freezing walk in below zero temperatures back to civilization because a part malfunctioned?

How would you handle it if just one layer of comfort was stripped away from your life?

These are the types of questions the stories ask, leaving their reader reflecting for days afterwards.

In Laurence Gonzales’ Land of the Lost, he breaks down the various stages a person mentally goes through when they realize they’ve become lost in the wilderness/jungle/desert. What’s even more fascinating is the fact that in some cases, children tend to outlast adults in similar desperate situations.

How so? Page 63 hints at this as Professor of Psychology John Leach is quoted:

Establishing a definite purpose to one’s existence strengthens survival, but it must be coupled with the breaking down of the person’s aim or purpose into simple tasks so that life can be handled one step at a time.
…..John Leach, Survival Psychology

In essence, processing situations like a child. A child’s first priority is to seek their comfort, instead of panicking and trying to mentally process the gravity of the situation.

Each wholesome story in New Age of Adventure leaves the reader with a heightened sense of mortality that our technologically advanced age masks so beautifully.

Photo by appenz

In Among the Man-Eaters, Philip Caputo writes about camping with and tracking Tsavo lions, the story behind the movie The Ghost and the Darkness which stars Val Kilmer as the lead actor.

He explores how the lions turned to hunting humans because humans were “safe and convenient” to kill. This heightened sense of death around each corner makes him “mistake his wife’s breathing for a lion’s.”

He goes on to describe just how easily:

…. a lion can drag you out of your tent, and run off with you, wonderful indispensable you, apple of your mother’s eye, and you screaming and scratching and kicking and punching, all to no avail, until he releases his grip to crush your windpipe, and the last sensation you have is of his hot breath in your face.
…..Philip Caputo, Among the Man-Eaters

Area for Improvement

As intriguingly page-turning as the stories were, the excerpts at the beginning of each story really didn’t do the descriptions of the stories themselves enough justice. I easily could have skipped over Peter Lane Taylor’s Off the Face of the Earth because its excerpt didnt’ seem as engaging even though the subject was profound, but I’m glad I didn’t.

Summary

As intrepid travelers, we flirt with the “idea” of adventure – from long distance trekking to kayaking open waters and ice-climbing glaciers.

The difference in mindset these stories aim to show is that life lived one frame at a time and broken down into manageable steps can guarantee survival in any situation.

Once we can get into this base mode of thinking on a daily basis, maybe we too can endure some of these incredible tales of survival and adventure.

After gracing newsstands for 10 years, the recent news of National Geographic Adventure ceasing publication after its December issue means now is the best time to grab a copy of this anthology commemorating the best adventure writing from the iconic magazine.

BUY from National Geographic

Photo by naturegirl 78

The last thing you want to contract on a fun-filled, adventurous trip is dengue, malaria, encephalitis, or yellow fever. There is really no alternative for vaccines and those of us who are visiting or living in tropical countries, are especially vulnerable.

Apart from your typical mosquito repellent and net, here are four kinds of soaps that you can use to ward off mosquitoes.

Bug Off! Farm Soap’s Citronella Fragrance Soap

Farm Soap’s website says that its mosquito repellent soap is made from a lot of natural ingredients such as coconut oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, soybean lecithin & cottonseed oil; palm kernel,olive oil infused with chamomile, comfrey and calendula, essential oil, shea butter ,beeswax, Apricot Kernal, grapefruit seed extract and liquid silk.

Mosquitoes absolutely hate the smell of lemons or anything remotely citrus-y. The Citronella lemon soap will help ward off mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites.

You’ll have to do is use the soap when you’re having a bath.

Cost: $4.95

Mosqui

Another soap that I personally recommend would be the Mosqui Naturveda soap. My father bought it when he was in the former French colony of Auroville, Pondicherry in India.

The French word for mosquito is mosquee and mosqui, the ayurvedic mosquito repellent from Bio Naturveda is “scented with a blend of pure essential oils and herbal extracts.”

Although, there are no price listings on their main website, you can contact them at info@bionaturveda.com for more details.

Cost: $ 2.58 (120 Rupees)

Skin Armour Deep Woods Outdoor Soap

This non-toxic soap was developed by Dr. Archibald of the Australian National Biological Laboratory. It contains glycerine, eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, lavendula, calendula and fragrance.

The Eucalyptus oil repels mosquitoes and also relieves tired muscles: the citronella oil is also used to ward off mosquitoes, and menthol is used to rejuvenate skin.

Lavendula and calendula are used to curb bacteria, while calendula is used to alleviate itching. The Skin armour anti mosquito soap has no side effects, contains herbal extracts and is 100 percent deet free.

Stop using this soap if any kind of allergies occur.

Cost: $16.99

Classique Anti-Microbial Soap

This anti-microbial soap is made from chamomile, rosemary, akapulko (a herbal medicine from the Philippines), neem leaves and aloe vera extracts. The aloe vera extracts soothe the body and alleviate pain and the mild nature of this soap helps preserve skin as well as combat any kind of bacteria as well as mosquitoes.

For more information including how to purchase, visit Classique’s website.

Cost: $19.70

Photo by ddqhu, feature photo by karindalziel

GelaSkins

Chances are someone on your list already has an iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle, iPod…

For all of these and more, GelaSkin offers an artistic way to protect the front and back from scratches. Choose from their gallery of artwork, or visit GelaSkins to customize your own skin with art or even photos.

Price: $14.95 to $17.99

IOGear WiFi Finder

This little keychain will alert users to hotspots within 500 feet, meaning there’s no need to power on the laptop to find Wi-Fi.

Four LEDs will show the signal strength and LAN service coverage. While the finder won’t tell you whether or not the network requires a password, it’s still a good deal for around $10.

Price: $9.95

 

QuikPod Handheld Convertible Tripod

Personally, I like the odd angles and in-your-face images that come from taking a real self-portrait.

But this attachment is great for those times when you actually want to see some background behind your mug, not to mention capturing some decent video.

Price: $17.37

Tavo Gloves

Touch screens are great until winter comes and you realize you’ve got to choose between using your iPhone outside, or losing the gloves (and possibly a finger).

These gloves by Tavo are designed to let you use you iPhone or Blackberry Storm while keeping your fingers free of frostbite.

Price: $29.88

iLuv Mini Portable Speakers

There’s a wide variety of mini-speakers out there that range from cheap and awful to amazing and bank-breaking.

A good option is the iLuv for mp3 Players and iPods, which users claim have great sound for such a tiny package.

Price: $21.99

USB Humping Dog

And finally, for the less mature computer geeks on your shopping list, these pointless but hilarious little pups might make a great stocking stuffer.

No function, no purpose – just plug one in and watch him show your laptop who’s boss.

Price: $8.94

Feature photo by MPD01605. Photo above via Gerrymay.com

Over at the Freelance Writing Jobs Network, they’ve rounded up a solid list of Black Friday Deals for Writers such as a variety of netbook and laptop deals from Best Buy and Dell.

The official 2009 Black Friday Deals site has begun listing some goodies on sale and stores like Circuit City are offering early deals to those of us who’d rather be sleeping off a heavy turkey dinner than lining up at 3am in the cold.

Here are just a few offerings below:

Acer Aspire 10.1 inch Netbook

Complete with a wireless mouse, lightweight external USB DVD burner, and a protective bag, nab this durable 2.79 pound netbook for $309.00.

The deal also includes free shipping to most US locations.

More specifications:

- Intel Atom processor, a full GIG of DDR2 memory
- 160Gb hard drive,
- 10.1-inch brilliant WSVGA CrystalBrite LED-backlit display.
- Powerful 6-Cell Lithium-ion battery with up to 6 hours playing time

Price: $309.99 | BUY from Circuit City

Sony Walkman 8GP MP3/MP4 Player

This 8GB video MP3 player from Sony provides up to 45 hours of continuous music and 8 hours of uninterrupted video on a single charge. 8 hours of video translates into four full length movies that can be loaded onto the player.

It includes a 2.0-inch LCD display and an obviously long-lasting and powerful battery.

Price: $69.99 | BUY from Circuit City

For more sweet deals, visit Black Friday Ads – The Official Black Friday 2009 Website.

Rosetta World™ allows you to play with your newly acquired language skills. Literally. You can play games, engage in chats, and other activities to help you apply your knowledge in everyday situations.

Brief Overview

Rosetta World ™ provides three modules – Solo, Duo, and Simbio. In Solo mode, you get to play games by yourself in your new language (in my case, Swedish). Duo mode means you get to play against another player, and in Simbio, you’ll actually share your native language (in my case, English) with other members and take turns helping each other out. TOTALe’s dashboard is intuitive and so accessing a particular Rosetta World ™ mode was just a click away.

Solo Mode

I had two game options available to me: Mengo and Gambo. Opted for Mengo since it kind of reminded me of mango, plus I couldn’t access Gambo anyways because I hadn’t reached a crucial learning milestone.

The goal of the game was to flip two cards over, find pictures and their matching words or phrases. The game seemed impossible to win or even get into since each time you flipped two cards that didn’t match, it kept saying you were wrong.

If there was some hidden sequence or way of figuring it out besides flipping two random cards, as a Solo player, I didn’t get it right away (read more on Duo mode below).

A cool aspect of the game was the fact that the words were read out in the language you were learning so, in a sense, you kept learning whether you got the concept of the game or not.

Duo Mode

In Duo mode, there were a lot more gaming options. World ™ lets you know how many people are available online to play with and you can also “Find partners” as well. Like Solo mode, some games are in lockdown until you’ve reach certain milestones.

Finding a partner to play with took two days, mostly because Swedish isn’t a popular language but I was finally able to connect with Oleg, another native English speaker learning Swedish. We first played Nimba, a word matching game, but quickly tired of it and moved on to the picture games of Tingo and Mengo.

This was where Rosetta World ™ truly shined.

Once Oleg and I got into the games which required mental mapping and matching pictures with words and phrases, our competitive juices began to flow.

I smoked Oleg while playing Tingo which required quick fingers, matching pictures to words, while Oleg left me in the dust while playing Mengo – the same flipping-of-cards game I didn’t get under Solo mode.

And I finally understood how Mengo worked after playing with a real partner.

Once we were done, I found a way of instantly messaging Oleg using the Connections manager to say thanks for playing, including asking if he was up for one more round of Mengo for the road – which he subsequently won.

Simbio Mode

Simbio mode is when you get a chance to teach others your native language (English) by speaking with them while they teach you theirs as well (Swedish). Since most Swedes already speak English pretty fluently, my Simbio mode had “0 People” available for me to chat with.

I wasn’t able to find a Swedish partner to verbally engage with mostly because of the time difference and because there weren’t too many students studying Swedish so I really couldn’t test Simbio like I wanted to.

But if it’s anything like Studio where I actually got to speak with a live person, I probably would have really liked it.

The Verdict?

I initially approached World ™ skeptically. Nowadays, finding the time to learn a new language, let alone spend hours playing games in that language seemed very unrealistic.

So Solo mode didn’t really work for me, but once I got into Duo mode, I was re-energized because of the one-on-one interaction with another player.

With Duo, I could easily spend hours just playing games with someone else.

Overall Assessment of Rosetta Stone TOTALe

After hours of reviewing TOTALe, an extremely high quality and dynamic product, where it clearly excelled was when there was some real life interaction with someone else. Rosetta Studio is rock solid as is the Duo play mode in Rosetta World.

Like I mentioned in Review 2 of Rosetta Studio, if some of the interactive aspects of the program could be packaged separately, then the pricing structure won’t be a big issue for potential customers.

If you truly are serious about learning a new language while also remotely immersing yourself in the language with native speakers, I highly recommend Rosetta Stone TOTALe.

Read Review Series: Rosetta Stone TOTALe – Part 2.
Read Review Series: Rosetta Stone TOTALe – Part 1.

Pricing information

The entire program costs $1,199 per year and this includes unlimited online access to the three modules outlined above and an accompanying audio kit to use offline for learning the courses.

Feature photo by Ken@Okinawa. Photo above by Ed Yourdon

For the majority of musicians, making music keeps us sane and grounded. Music is an extension of who we are, an aspect of our personality. Too long without music and we end up like my poor houseplants – wilted and ready to die.

Unfortunately, most instruments don’t lend themselves to travel, especially if you’re trying to keep your pack weight low. Imagine schlepping your backpack along for a mile in the rain to board a crowded train.

Now imagine doing that while carrying an acoustic guitar.

Photo by Photomish Dan

Maybe, like me, your main instruments are bass or piano. Or, maybe the thought of even letting the airlines look at your guitar gives you nightmares.

If you choose to leave your primary instrument at home, you will need to learn a new, smaller instrument for travel. Choosing a new instrument to learn is not a choice to be made lightly.

To become even mediocre will take hours and hours of practice, but this time investment will pay great dividends when you find that perfect spot for an impromptu concert.

Plus, learning to play well is a matter of common courtesy. Have you ever heard a poorly played violin? Did it remind you of a dying marmot?

In the following list, I’ve tried to avoid miniature travel versions of real instruments. With the exception of the Martin Backpacker, these are all ‘real’ instruments. For those who can sing, the first seven instruments on the list are good for accompaniment. All others are solo instruments.

Finally, in an effort to improve the quality of sleep for hostel guests around the world, I have omitted djembes and other hand drums.

Guitar

If you really have to take a guitar, the Martin Backpacker has a decent sound, a low price, and plays well. If you’re really brave, you could always take your chances with hostel guitars.

Mandolin

Mandolins require a little more care than some of the others, especially to maintain decent tuning, but gives you a good range and the ability to make chords. . Not the best choice if you have small fingers.

Accordion

These come in several shapes and sizes, and it’s possible to find small models of reasonable quality.

Autoharp

A unique, folksy instrument, the autoharp allows you to play a melody over chords while singing. Like a zither but easier to play because of the chord buttons.

Ukulele

Another good accompaniment instrument. Cheap and versatile, but can’t match the mandolin in terms of sound quality and resonance.

Violin/Fiddle

Possibly the most difficult and expressive instrument on the list. If you can play violin well, you already know how awesome your instrument is.

Erhu

The Erhu is a two string Chinese violin. This delicate instrument requires a hell of an ear but wins hand down for uniqueness. With the right case (think hard foam padding), this could be a remarkable travel instrument.

Recorders

You probably learned to play one of these in school. What this instrument lacks in range it makes up for in low-weight quirkiness.

Clarinet

Not the lightest or easiest instrument on the list, but definitely the dorkiest. Conveniently breaks down into a small package. Pads and reeds could pose a problem, especially in subtropical zones.

Flute

A pretty instrument, difficult to play well, but a little easier to play than the clarinet. Like the clarinet, pads will require extra care. As a bonus you can play along with Jethro Tull covers.

Harmonica

The harmonica is almost a travel cliché. Lightweight, cheap, durable, and reasonably easy to play. Unfortunately, anyone you play with is limited to whatever key your harp happens to be in.

Ocarina

An instrument so light and smooth it can be worn as a necklace. Against all conventions of fashion, people do just this. Cheap and easy to play, but limited in range.

Bonus Instrument – Your Own Mouth

You’re already carrying your own mouth with you, why not use it? The most lightweight instrument of all, you can both whistle and sing.

If this is going to be your main instrument, learn some songs. Pop songs, folk songs, and Irish airs are a good place to start.

Over to you. What kind of instruments have you seen or taken on your travels?

Community Connection

For more on traveling as a musician, check out Essential Gear for the Traveling Musician and 5 Things You Should Know When Traveling With Musical Instruments.

Feature Photo by Hljod Huskona. Photo Above by eflon

To me, this means curling up with a hot beverage and a travel memoir so I can live vicariously through someone else’s adventures. I’m partial to travel memoirs written by women, rather than men, because I can usually relate to both their inner and outward journeys more.

I have found a few good options beyond the ubiquitous Eat, Pray, Love. Here are some suggestions:

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman

During an impending divorce, Rita Golden Gelman makes her first solo journey to Mexico. This trip transforms her. After her divorce is final, she decides to give up everything to become a global nomad and does not settle for observing cultures from a distance.

She finds a way to become a member of each community she visits as she travels from palaces to jungles and everywhere in between.

She shows us that as long as one’s spirit remains young and open, there is no age limit for adventure. Gelman allows us to see deep inside her evolution from a timid traveler to a confident adventurer ready to take on the world.

This is a great read for anyone needing the inspiration and courage to travel independently.

Adventure Divas: Searching the Globe for Women Who Are Changing the World by Holly Morris

In this memoir, Holly Morris recounts her story of the creation of the Adventure Divas documentary series. The Adventure Divas project highlights powerful and unconventional women around the world who are doing amazing things for their communities.

Parallel to the inspirational stories of the women interviewed in this book is the author’s own journey. Morris reveals the intimate details of the struggles and triumphs she encounters while striving to achieve her goal.

On the first Adventure Divas trip, Morris and her crew illegally venture into Cuba where she interviews female rappers, a Santeria priestess and the American activist in exile, Assata Shakur. From there, she travels to India, New Zealand, and Iran.

Most of the women interviewed are people you’ve probably never heard of, but they are all positively impacting small areas in major ways. This book will inspire you to travel and make beneficial changes in the world.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald

After Sarah MacDonald first traveled to India in her early 20s, she vowed to never return again. Several years later, her boyfriend takes a job in India and she apprehensively decides to join him. Upon her return, she still finds India to be a challenge.

But this time, rather than letting the country exasperate her, she fully takes on the challenges India presents. She travels around the country to learn about its unique culture and experience its diverse array of religions.

She dabbles in both major and obscure faiths with a self-deprecating sense of humor and an open mind. This is a hilarious and insightful account of the two years she spent in India and how she finally learns to accept the country as it is.

Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik: One Woman’s Solo Misadventures Across Africa by Marie Javins

Marie Javins goes boldly where few travelers have gone before. In this memoir, she writes about her journey from South Africa to Egypt which was part of a year-long challenge to travel across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa without using airplanes.

On her trip, she was particularly captivated by Africa. As she treks through remote villages, wilderness, and buzzing cities, she strives to share all of what she sees, not just the typical images of war, disease and wild animals.

While this memoir was not the most poetic read, the author still managed to draw me in with unique tales of her exciting off the beaten path adventures.

Kite Strings of the Southern Cross: A Woman’s Travel Odyssey by Laurie Gough

This is a wonderfully descriptive and passionate account of traveling in the South Pacific and South East Asia. Like Gelman, Gough is not content to be a spectator. She spends time living, working, and immersing herself in the cultures of the countries she visits.

She maintains a strong sense of self while exploring different ideas and ways of thinking. Gough is a travel writer who writes for travelers. Her words beautifully express what continuously draws relentless journeyers to the open road.

Reading this memoir is a fantastic way to fill the space between your travels. Not only does Gough make you feel as though you’re alongside her on her adventures, she lets you know that your infatuation with travel is well understood.

What are your favorite travel memoirs written by women? Please share them below.

Eden Project Surfboards. Photo via Telegraph.co.uk

A gift is a small way of showing gratitude and for the environmentally conscious consumer, here are green gifts you can give to friends and family.

Gift a plant

A flowering plant can be a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries or simply for showing appreciation. You could also go a step further and gift seeds.

However, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the climate of the place so ask yourself these basic questions when deciding which bag of seeds to buy:

Which plants grow wild in the region?

What’s the average rainfall?

How warm or cold can it get?

If all goes well, who knows, next time you’re visiting, you’ll find a beautiful sapling (or tree) growing in the backyard.

Gift Green Gadgets

The Solar Power battery Pod with its solar panel, biodegradable plastics and wool felt, is a fantastic present to give to friends who love listening to music.

Gift a pretty journal made from recycled paper

Saving trees to prevent deforestation is a worthy cause. A beautiful journal goes a long way in saying thank you, and what’s more, the trees will be thanking you for not felling them.

Here is a list of some other environmentally friendly gifts and where you can find them:

Organic Cotton Toys

1. Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer, pays artisans fifty percent of the money when an order is placed and the entire amount when the product is shipped.

Beautiful earrings made from newspaper and coiled mats, also made from newspaper, are sold here.

2. For those of your friends and family who love to surf, environmentally friendly surfing boards could be a good option.

3. Soy candles are also a great way to show your love without hurting the planet.

4. Designer Bryan Parks has combined art and conservationism by coming up with a bowl made from Chopsticks.

5. For kids, toys made of organic cotton might be a good bet.

6. Internationally acclaimed authors like J.K Rowling, Ian Rankin, Günter Grass, Marlene Streeruwitz, Isabel Allende and Andrea De Carlo have all pledged to use forest friendly paper, according to Greenpeace.

7. Offer to build a house for someone- if you are using bamboo, make sure it’s not of the variety that giant pandas eat. If that’s too much for you, you can always help around the house by using non-toxic paint while painting the walls or by helping install a tank that conserves rainwater.

Green Gifts can go a long way in you doing your bit for the environment. What’s better than giving a gift that promotes a sustainable lifestyle?

Community Connection

Looking for more eco-friendly gifts? Check out Improving Your Goodprint, 6 Gadgets to Make Your Life Greener, and 12 Gadgets That Harness the Power of the Sun

Feature photo by stevendepolo. Photo above by wili_hybrid

The second little secret is to pack products which serve more than one purpose. Use an oil that is suited to your face, hands and hair, or pack a cosmetic that can put a rose in both your cheeks and lips. The more purposes an item serves, the more it earns a position in the cutthroat world of toiletry cases.

Beyond your basic toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant, here are ten of my personal favorite products; several are multipurpose, and they all come in handy travel sizes.

Now you have more room for that duty free perfume you’ve got your eye on.

Multipurpose Oil –Trilogy Rosehip Oil

This is a brilliant moisturizer that suits all skin types, and can be used on the body, face, and for dry hair. Great to use after time spent in the sun and for cracked cuticles as well. Natural, nourishing and multipurpose.

Dry Shampoo/Hair Powder – Principessa Hair Powder

If you can’t get hold of shampoo for a few days, are in seemingly endless transit, or don’t have time to wash your hair, this is your best friend.

It soaks up oil, extends your blow-dry and gives limp travel hair an instant boost.

Lip Balm – Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter

Lip gloss doesn’t moisturize so make sure you pack a balm. This small compact balm is full of natural goodness for lips that have borne the brunt of in-flight air conditioning.

Cheek/Lip Stain – Benefit Benetint

Stains are long lasting and can be used on both lips and cheeks. Instead of packing a blush compact and a lipstick (too fiddly for traveling), go for a tint.

One handy little bottle means rosy cheeks and lip color and more room in your toiletry case.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an absolute no-brainer and finding a travel sized product is easy, so no excuses. Go with a minimum of 30+, particularly when traveling in the Southern Hemisphere (we lost our ozone layer).

For light face coverage, try a tinted moisturizer with SPF.

Atomizer

Buy an atomizer, available at chemists and most perfume specialty stores, and fill it with your favorite perfume. Not only does it save lugging the full sized bottle around (and the risk of breaking it) but they’re small enough to take in carry-on luggage, so you’ll always have a spritz of your signature scent on hand.

Face Wipes – Garnier Fresh Complete Cleansing Wipes

Cloth wipes don’t break or leak, are easy to transport and a great pick me up after a long day of sightseeing. You can also take them on a plane for that much needed in-flight freshening up.

Hand cream – Nivea SOS Intensive Balm

If you’re flying a lot, or in a dry climate, then your paws will get dry and itchy and when your cuticles split, it’s painful. This perfectly sized handcream provides quick absorption and is uber-hydrating.

Manicure Kit – Dumpling Dynasty Beauty Kit

Manicure kits, like sewing kits are things you think you can do without but when you lose a button, a key or a splinter, these little things come in mighty handy.

Mineral Powder – Inika Mineral Powder Foundation

No one wants to be bothered with a full face of make up when traveling. This light, completely natural mineral powder acts as a concealer and foundation.

It’s the definition of no fuss.

This second review covers Rosetta Studio™ which allows you to practice what you’ve learned by engaging you in “structured conversations with learners at your level”. A way of building your confidence to verbally practice what you’ve learned.

Getting Started

The way Studio works is this: once you’ve reached a certain learning milestone, for example, you’ve completed all 35 lessons under Level 1 Unit 1, you can choose to “Schedule” a studio session.

You can always schedule sessions without reaching any recommended milestones, but once you’re in class and you begin interacting without any basics, you’ll quickly understand why milestones are important.

Each studio session is a live chat session with language learners at your level as well as a Studio Coach that facilitates the discussion for 50 minutes each session. You choose your day and time slot from a calendar and you get a reminder to log in a few minutes before it starts.

My Studio Experience

So I signed up for an 11 PM session slot, eager to find out what Rosetta Studio was all about. Right on schedule, my coach Anna was waiting for me. I could see Anna in the top left corner box and I was the only student or “elev” who’d signed up for that time slot.

This turned out to be advantageous. I had Anna’s full attention.

Easy access to one-on-one conversations with a native speaker at a time of my choosing from anywhere in the world was fantastic.

After pleasant introductions, she’d ask me questions, waiting patiently, listening, and politely correcting me when I goofed. She’d point to various visual learning elements, ask questions, and prompt me to ask follow up questions as well. She sometimes typed up the right spellings for clarification so I could see what the right words looked like in written form.

By the time we were halfway through our 50 minute session, we were laughing (mostly because of intentional nonsensical answers I gave), and….wait for it….we were actually having a ton of fun.

Jättebra! (“Very Good”) she’d exclaim when I answered correctly or kind of answered correctly by saying what the item wasn’t. For example, I’d answer “Det är inte gult” which means “It isn’t yellow” when she’d point to an odd color I didn’t quite recognize and such.

Once our session was up, I’d learned a lot in just that short time frame. After exchanging “Hej då” (goodbyes), Anna noted she’d like to see me in the Studio again and I promised to set up a new session once I reached another learning milestone.

The Verdict?

This feature alone is what makes TOTALe ™ a superb learning product. In my previous review, I addressed the pricing structure in the comments section because (let’s face it) Rosetta Stone isn’t cheap.

But its interactive TOTALe ™ Studio module and the easy access it provides to live chats and sessions with a real teacher and fellow students is such an invaluable tool.

It fosters remote learning from anywhere in the world where internet access is available so you could be learning Swedish with a live native speaker while island hopping around the South Pacific.

Rosetta Stone should consider the option of also selling Studio as a standalone subscription product.

Seriously.

What to Watch Out For

Since Studio uses Flash, make sure you’ve installed the required plug-in. You will also be reminded to do so before you start the session. Also, if your internet connection isn’t fast and reliable, your experience will be miserable.

Bonus

Though I’ve been using an existing headset to go through the audio courses, I only just discovered a free headset tucked away in a compartment behind the set of CDs in that signature yellow Rosetta Stone box. Sweet!

Read Review Series: Rosetta Stone TOTALe – Part 1.

Pricing information

The entire program costs $1,199 per year and this includes unlimited online access to the three modules outlined above and an accompanying audio kit to use offline for learning the courses.

And now as part of the launch of TOTALe, Rosetta Stone is offering an introductory price of $999. Click here for more details on how to purchase the program.

Photo courtesy of Johan Larsson

Laptops may still be number one for most travel writers, but apps like these make it more doable to accomplish some pretty thorough work from your iPhone or Touch.

iPhone Apps for Writing and Editing

TextGuru

According to Brancipater Software, TextGuru is an “advanced, desktop class, multi-function text editor.” With this app, you can read and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint docs, as well as PDF files, in landscape and portrait mode. TextGuru features cut, copy, and paste, find and replace, autosave, a search funtion, web previews, and email capabilities.

Price: $4.99

Photo by motoyen

My Writing Nook

This free web app and $1.99 iPhone app use Google’s App Engine infrastructure to allow writers to write and edit documents anyplace with Internet access. The concept is pretty much like Google Docs: just sign in with your Google account and start writing.

Both apps allow you to email the document, or save to your computer as an RTF. They even include a dictionary/thesaurus feature. And with the iPhone app, you can type in landscape mode, putting your thumbs to good use.

While most people, myself included, don’t like typing much more than a text message on a phone, I’ve found this to be a really great way to sneak in a little bit of writing when I have a few minutes to spare. Those little sessions add up to a decent word count at the end of the day!

Web app: Free

iPhone app: $1.99

NumberKey

When I got my first ever laptop – a clunky Compaq – I remember buying an external numeric keypad because not having one drove me nuts.

Photo by Balmuda Design

But NumberKey by Balmuda Design turns your iPhone into a keypad! The app uses wi-fi to function as a numeric keypad for your laptop – no USB or other connections necessary, just set your iPhone next to your laptop and you’re ready to go!

Before using, you need to download NumberKey Connect. Pretty cool app, particularly for use with spreadsheets and budget docs.

Price: $1.99

iPhone Apps for Blogging

Those who blog regularly know that short and sweet posts are essential; hardly anyone writes an long essay every day for their blog. And usually the best ideas for those quick posts come while your out. These apps for bloggers help you get a post up while you’re out, including pictures.

Wordpress

For bloggers using Wordpress, this free app works great. You can enter several blogs to manage, then post, add pics, and manage all pages and comments right on your iPhone.

The Wordpress app allows you to enter all parts of a post, including tags and categories. There are two versions available, Wordpress and Wordpress 2. I tried the first, and it worked just fine. However, the second didn’t recognize my blog and crashed on me.

Judging from the reviews, a lot of folks who switched from the first to the second had this problem. However, I’d recommend giving it a try – they’re both free, and the second seems to have a lot of great updates if you can get it to work!

Price: Free

Photo by Titanas

BlogPress

This app works with several blog platforms, including WordPress, Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, and Joomla. For the price, you get the ability to upload video from your YourTube account to your blog, uses a visual editor, and lets you send one post to multiple blogs, even on different platforms. A little higher price, but likely worthwhile.

Price: $2.99

iPhone Apps for Printing and Exporting Docs

Print n Share

This app is a great example of something that works exactly as promised. Within minutes of downloading Print n Share, I printed an email off of my iPhone onto a printer that my laptop wasn’t even connected to in the first place.

In order to work, you need to download WePrint helper software onto your computer, which is free. Once it’s installed, you can use Print n Share to print any files, emails, web pages, contacts, and images from your iPhone. I use this one frequently – it’s incredibly easy and super helpful.

Price: $6.99

Photo by philcampbell

Google Export

Another freebie that writers who use Google Docs have no reason not to download! Simply put, Google Export lets you browse and export your Google Docs as an email attachment. It’s free. It works. Not much else to say – if you’re a big Docs user, this is one to get!

Price: Free

iPhone apps for Notes and Research

iTalk Recorder

All writers know the rule; inspiration hits when you’ve got nothing to write with. Many learn to carry a little notebook around at all times, and Notes on the iPhone works well for jotting things down. But if it’s a big idea, sometimes those thumbs just don’t type fast enough!

iTalk Recorder is an easy-to-use voice recorder for vocal notes or interviews. Download the free iTalk Sync, and you can drag and drop them as AIFF files on your laptop. There are two versions available – try the Lite for free and see how it works for you!

Lite: Free

Premium: $1.99

Wikipanion

Yes, I know – Wikipedia doesn’t count as research. But I do use it, and often, and Wikipanion is a great way to navigate the site from my Touch. With the free version, you can bookmark (including individual sections), view history, and save images to your Photo library.

Price: Free

Know of any other iPhone apps freelance writers are missing out on? Share your favorites in the comments section!

Community Connection

Photo by Wesley Fryer

My sister who has been using their Italian program for the last couple of years swears by them, and a colleague who’s currently learning Russian once took me through a walk-through of the Rosetta Stone interface.

Though intrigued by this learning program, my constant on-the-go lifestyle meant packing up and carrying along language CDs all the time wasn’t practical. So when I was approached by Rosetta Stone to test out its new TOTALe ™ online integration learning program which allows you to access the program online from any location without carrying around CDs, I was totally on board.

Photo by Lola Akinmade

My language of choice? Swedish.

Why? I currently split time between Stockholm and the US and consider myself an advanced (word loosely used) beginner .

While Swedish is a relatively easy language to learn, what makes it super challenging are those “extra” pronunciations required to differentiate between words that are written exactly alike and sound exactly alike.

Confused yet?

Read about some of my Swedish language learning woes here.

Brief Overview

The Rosetta Stone TOTALe ™ program is a collection of three learning modules that can all be accessed online as long as you’ve got a steady internet connection, a laptop/desktop computer, and a headset for voice recognition and participation.

Its flagship, Rosetta Course™ provides all the audio guidance and learning programs guaranteed to get you up and running quickly in your new language of choice.

The Rosetta Studio™ allows you to practice what you’ve learned by engaging you in “structured conversations with learners at your level”. A way of building your confidence to verbally practice what you’ve learned.

Rosetta World™ allows you to play with your newly acquired language skills. Literally. You can play games, engage in chats, and other activities to help you apply your knowledge in everyday situations.

In this three part series review, I will be testing out each of the three components above, and providing some in-depth analyses on my experiences with this new Rosetta Stone program.

Part 1 – Rosetta Course™ Review

The first time you log on, it checks your system configuration. You will be required to download a “speech component” that allows for voice recognition. You also get to select your Simbo™ language.

According to Rosetta Stone,

Simbio™ language is your native language or the one you speak most fluently. In Simbio activities, you’ll exchange languages: practice with a native speaker, and help your partner practice your Simbio language.

Setting up my system and voice was a breeze, and I couldn’t wait to start a Level 1 course.

Pros

Right off the bat, I was totally taken by the layout and approach to learning Rosetta Course applies – large pictures with native words denoting each activity, action, noun, and such.

As we all know, children are most impressionable when it comes to quickly picking up languages at an early age through recognizing pictures and associating them to words, and Rosetta Stone, with its layout, aims to tap into that base natural way of learning.

I learn best by directly immersing myself into the language and in classroom settings, not by picking up books and learning on my own. This visual-auditory approach worked great for me, and instant feedback was given when I totally messed up the pronunciation of words.

The use of pictures meant I was always wanting and anticipating what the next visual cue would be. In short, I felt like a kid again, which opened up my mind to readily absorbing the repetitive native phrases that were being fed through the program.

If internet connections drop or you’re done for the day, TOTALe™ resumes where you left off the next time you log back into the system.

Cons (Sort of)

What I found a little confusing was some of the matching sequences where the words weren’t on the screen and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I suppose if I’d actually followed their introductory video before diving right it, I would have solved my own problem.

At first, I chucked it up to a slow Internet connection not loading the words, but once I figured out how that lesson was actually structured, it was smooth sailing from there.

Summary

At the end of each lesson, you get graded and scores are displayed back to you. All in all, I really enjoyed working with Rosetta Course ™.

The interactive, graphics-heavy approach to learning meant I never got bored and boredom is one of the key reasons a lot of people quickly abandon self-learning programs.

Stay tuned for Part 2 – RosettaSTUDIO ™ in the upcoming days.

Pricing information

The entire program costs $1,199 per year and this includes unlimited online access to the three modules outlined above and an accompanying audio kit to use offline for learning the courses.

And now as part of the launch of TOTALe, Rosetta Stone is offering an introductory price of $999. Click here for more details on how to purchase the program.

Feature photo by Extra Ketchup. Photo above by georgehotelling

Unlike newspapers and plastic bottles, there isn’t a green bin to hold your old cell phone or laptop out on the curb, waiting for a truck to carry them away. However, there are several quick and simple options for recycling or reusing electronics.

Choosing the right program for you depends on the type of gadget you have, its condition, and whether or not you want a financial bonus for your efforts at being green.

Get Cash for Used Gadgets

Unless your cell phone is completely trashed or from the forgotten time known as the 90’s, you might be able to score some cash for it. Of course, there’s always Ebay or Craigslist, but if you don’t want to go through the hassle of dealing with bids, there are a few other websites worth checking out.

Gazelle and BuyMyTronics are two great organizations that offer cash in exchange for electronics. Gazelle accepts a huge variety of toys, while BuyMyTronics focuses on iPhones and iPods, gaming consoles, and cell phones.

Just submit your gadget info on one of their sites to receive an instant price quote, ship it to the address, and you’ll receive a payment via PayPal (or a mailed check) within two days. It’s worth noting that, depending on the age and/or condition of your toy, you might receive a quote of $0.00.

Both Gazelle and BuyMyTronics will still accept and recycle the worthless gadget, and the warm fuzzies you get saving the world from brominated flame retardants will surely be worth more than a few dollars.

Take It Back

Many companies offer recycling programs for their products. Dell will recycle any of their products for free, and they’ll also recycle any computer at no additional cost with purchase of a new Dell.

Apple also offers free recycling with purchase of a new Mac, and offers a 10% discount on iPods when you bring an old one in to be recycled.

When you need to recycle, a quick check of the company’s website should be enough to see if they offer similar incentives.

Donate to Charity

Consider donating your gadget to charity if you feel like you’ve outgrown it. Someone else might find it useful. Be sure to wipe your hard drive before passing your computer (or any gadget) on to someone else.

Consider Recycling for Charities; an organization that accepts electronics through the mail, recycles them, and donates the profits to the charity of your choice. These donations are tax-deductible for you, making this option a win across the board.

If you have a PC or Mac still in good condition, the National Cristina Foundation might be able to use it in their program benefiting those with disabilities, students at risk, and the economically disadvantaged.

Donations may be submitted online, and are accepted at no cost outside of shipping.

Local Recycling Options

To find an electronic recycling business in your area, EcyclingCentral provides a handy map and detailed lists complete with addresses, phone numbers, and company websites.

Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection agency’s website for more help on finding the most convenient recycling option in your area.

Community Connection

To learn more about e-waste, read Julie Schwietert’s article, The Problem with E-Waste and take in the visual mass of e-waste in photographer Chris Jordan’s photo essay – Intolerable Beauty: Chris Jordan Photographs American Mass Consumption.

Photo courtesy of Laptops Arena

Here at Matador, we’ve reviewed many laptops, guided you through picking your perfect laptop, and showcased various lightweight alternatives.

For travel writers always on the go, Netbooks are more than sufficient for your writing and blogging needs. Throw in some photojournalism work which includes heavy photo editing and other graphics-related tasks, and you may be looking for something stronger.

At the end of this month, I’m leaving the 9-5 gig and transitioning into the role of fulltime freelance photojournalist. This meant assessing what I had in terms of technological support, upgrading any outdated kits, and investing in a new workhorse laptop to serve as a mobile home office.

Outlined below is a field guide to buying a new laptop including some essential questions you need to ask yourself.

What are others in your field using?

While the laptop someone else uses may not be the best option for you, there are a range of netbooks and laptops that fellow writers and photographers have been using for months and absolutely swear by.

I perused the Matador Network archives and also I hit up Google with a quick search phrase “Best Laptops for Photographers”. Because processing photographs and RAW files take up more memory than working with mostly text, I was looking for solutions specifically geared towards photojournalists.

By reading different reviews and opinions, I was able to boil down the list to the following brands: Apple, HP, Sony, and Lenovo.

What do you need in terms of features and functionality?

With the top four brands for photographers in hand, I began developing a list of minimum functionality. While Apple brands are extremely popular among creative types, it fell off the list because of years of experience with PC platforms.

This decision was based solely on my comfort level, thus bringing the list down to: HP, Sony, and Lenovo.

During my career, compiling code and connecting to large geospatial databases meant getting used to a certain level of processing speed, RAM and memory requirements.

So my rough list had only 3 important items on it:

• Speed – Nothing less than Intel Quad processors
• DVD Rewritable drive – Because even the best laptops don’t come with DVD drives and this requirement can inadvertently slip through the cracks
• USB ports galore – With two external hard drives, a Logitech headset, a mouse, USB printer and much more, I wanted to be able to connect my peripherals all at once.

By listing out features you absolutely need, this also limits the various models left for your review.

What extras would you like?

Once the base list was written down and finalized, I started thinking of nice features to have such as amped up graphics cards, extra hard drive space, and much more.

For months, investing in a Wacom drawing graphics tablet for maintaining my comic strip – Office Supplies – The Comic, was always on the back of my mind.

By this point, my choices were down to Sony and Lenovo having already filtered out HP based on graphics technology, other nice-to-have features, and the level of Adobe RGB color gamut support I needed.

Then I discovered the Lenovo Elite ThinkPad W700.

What made this particular model attractive was its built-in Wacom digitizing tablet which would support the comic strip. This meant not having to lug around an additional peripheral device.

I was instantly hooked.

Photo courtesy of Digital Photography Review

How much are you willing to pay?

It ultimately boils down to how much are you able to dole out on a pricey new system without pulling out all your savings. With the Lenovo ThinkPad W700 starting at $1,799 (basic features only), you can easily run upwards of $4,000-$5,000 for a complete configuration customized to suit your taste.

Ouch.

With a clear budget in mind (way less than $2,000), and finally having to dip into lean savings (double ouch), I was able to customize the ideal solution for my needs while keeping the overall purchase way less than $3,000.

The order has finally been placed and I’m currently keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that the Lenovo ThinkPad would truly be the perfect mobile office for this photojournalist.

Read more reviews of the Lenovo ThinkPad W700. Lenovo also offers an online outlet store where you can purchase refurbished laptops at half the price.

What laptop do you currently have and why did you choose it? Please share with us below

Feature Photo by dreamglow. Photo above by letsputphotographsontheinternet.

Well, that’s what the Japanese manufacturers claim.

Regardless of your beauty goals, the beauty and hygiene aisle in Japanese pharmacies and department shops will never bore you.

Whitening creams

I’ve noticed that whitening products have a big market in Asia where lighter skin is considered a sign of beauty. The Japanese Olay brand carries white radiance, a moisturizer to lighten your skin by breaking down melanin with hydroquinone ( a chemical I saw in radiology class). There are also whitening pills to make you “fairer”.

Photo credit: Hannari-Ya

Nightingale bird poop (Uguisu No Fun)

It’s reputed that the poop of the pretty Nightingale bird has an enzyme which is considered to lighten and even out your complexion.

Traditional geishas and kabuki performers have used this stuff to remove heavy makeup and nourish their complexions.

If you’re brave enough to try it, the Chidoriya brand carries it in powder form which you reconstitute with water and use as a face mask.

Face slimming

A small and slender face size is prettier than one that is huge—or so many Japanese believe. The Akaishi brand makes a face slimming roller that massages the face, rendering it free of facial edema and the double chin. Kogao Sukiri makes face slimming stickers which claim to magically slim your chubby cheeks. There’s also a Kogao Sauna mask which makes your face lose weight by sweating it out.

Eye glue

This glue creates a double eye lid or an eye lid crease. A small plastic “fork” is included in the packet to push and pull the eye lid skin until you’ve got a crease height that you like. I shudder to think of people doing this in with their rear view mirrors, while driving late to work. For those who find glue to be cumbersome, there’s also eye lid tape that does the same thing.

Feature Photo by kalandrakas.

Big eye contacts

If you find the look of baby eyes irresistible or want gigantic anime character eyes, buy some Big Eye Contacts by Acuvue.

Popular in Korea and Japan, these are designed to enlarge your irises like the baby eyes you once had.

Pore cleansing stick

If you’re obsessed with pore cleanliness, this stick made by Dahoo is for you. There’s a pocket for your index finger as you rub the abrasive surface on every single visible blackhead. .

Collagen marshmallows

Perfect for combining a love of marshmallows with a collagen needle injection. Made by the Eiwa brand, a pack costs approximately 200 yen, and the marshmallows have a light grape fruit flavor and decent texture. Eiwa claims they have a similar effect of the injections without the pain.

F cup cookies

F cups seem a lofty ambition for most breast enhancement products, particularly one that comes in the form of tasty cookies. Pueraria Mirifica, a Thai herb is the magic estrogenic ingredient in these cookies which come in chocolate praline or soymilk flavors.

Directions say to eat 1-2 daily with a disclaimer that overdosing causes loose bowels. If you absolutely can’t wait to try them, they’re sold on Ebay, along with F-cup tea, to go along with the cookies.

Pink nipple cream

Its packaging is girly pink and sports a childish cartoon image of a breast with a pink round nipple. It claims to turn brown nipples peachy pink. The idea is enhanced by the addition of peach leaf extract to the product.

Foot peel pack

If you’ve never given your neglected backpacker’s feet a “facial”, the Foot Peel Pack is like a day spa for your feet. There’s a pair of pre-medicated plastic socks with a liquid to slough off all those dead skin cells that you’ve accumulated over the years.

In an hour, emerge with feet as soft as a baby’s.

Mimikaki, the ear picker

Nothing can be a better bonding experience than picking each other’s ears. Mimikaki is a skinny piece of bamboo stick with a spoon like end that scoops out the earwax.

It usually comes with a second stick with a feather pom pom end to dust away “crumbs”. Performing “mimikaki” service is quite common between husbands and wives.

These wooden devices are rather cute—the scooping stick has a small Daruma-like classical figurine, and the Hello Kitty brand makes one in pink. If you’re hooked, the more modern plastic model has spiral-like ridges on the device, for extra trapping potential.

Feature Photo by S Baker. Photo Above by respres

For travelers chronicling their journeys through words and pictures, amassing tons of data without a storage safety net to rely on is risky. There are several ways to keep your data safely tucked away in an online cubbyhole.

As you’re reviewing various options, here are some factors to consider:

Space – How much do you need?

Cost – Storing data shouldn’t mean shredding cash.

While there are sites designed specifically for hosting photos or videos, this piece covers what do you do with the rest of your data.

Photo by adria richard

E-mail

If your needs are basic, the simplest solution is to e-mail files to yourself. Most free e-mail accounts come with plenty of free storage if you just want to keep copies of critical documents.

A scan of your passport, birth certificate and other personal information can easily be organized in a folder and accessed whenever you need it.

Use it if your needs are minimal and you’re good at keeping your passwords secure (which is pretty important in any event).

Lose it if you need to store hundreds of files in a flexible, organized way.

Free File Storage

Several companies promote free file storage. Some may be around for decades, but do you really want to trust that?

File sharing sites like Megaupload and RapidShare offer great features but have speed and other restrictions for their free users. You should also be wary of any software a site asks you to install.

Fortunately, two giants in the data industry are diving into the storage business.

For a free service, Microsoft Skydrive has some great qualities. 25Gb of free storage, albeit with some limitations. While the file system is intuitive, you have to select files to upload one at a time.

No uploading of entire folders which is a deal breaker for most purposes. Another limitation is a max 50Mb file size, so uploading that HD movie of you sledding down the Spanish Steps on a piece of plywood ain’t gonna work.

The long-rumored Google storage service, Gdrive, is supposedly coming soon and may be worth the wait. As in most areas that Google has jumped into, expect them to be very competitive and probably push beyond the limits of Microsoft’s service.

Use it if you have several large files and don’t mind uploading them a few at a time

Lose it if you have huge files, like movie clips, or want to save hundreds of files at once

Full Back-ups and Syncing

If you want to be ready for catastrophic failure and keep your online storage sync’d with your computer, you need a back-up service. Most of these will automatically back-up all of your data whenever you’re connected, updating any files that are new or changed.

Some allow easy access to your files from any internet connected computer or your mobile device, some are useful only for a full restore if your computer dies or disappears.

For a full drive, the first sync could take days even with a fast connection, but you can pick and choose fewer files and folders to include.

While many of these companies offer “free” services, the free limit of 2Gb or less makes that unattractive. With a subscription, however, you have a great way to keep all your data safe in case of disaster.

Here are some of the more popular options:

• Mozy: Unlimited storage, automatic syncs. $54.45 per year
• Carbonite: It worked for Jabba the Hutt, why not you? Unlimited storage, automatic syncs, file access from any online computer; $54.95 per year
• Livedrive: In addition to data sync, it includes ftp support and individual file access, accessible from any connected mobile device. Approx. $65 per year for 100Gb
• Dropbox: Syncs your computer and allows easy access to individual files as well as easy file sharing with friends. Pricier at $120 per year for 50Gb

Use it if you want to have an online copy of everything to protect yourself

Lose it if you think spending a few bucks is too much for peace of mind or your spotty internet connection makes you weep at the thought of syncing your entire 160Gb drive

Your Web Host

If you already have a website with your own hosting account and are enough of a tech geek to set up private ftp access, it can be very cost effective to use an existing web host. One advantage here is that you’ll have your files nearby if you want to move one to your website for public download.

Use it If you’re already paying for a web host with plenty of room to spare

Lose it If programming anything beyond a microwave oven challenges you. You’ll be working without tech support in most cases.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/remote-data-storage-options-for-travelers/feed/ 1 http://matadorgoods.com/10-gadgets-to-unleash-your-inner-james-bond/ http://matadorgoods.com/10-gadgets-to-unleash-your-inner-james-bond/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:20:51 +0000 Michelle Schusterman http://matadorgoods.com/?p=2486 Introducing real-life gadgets that trounce some of 007’s most outrageous toys.

Photo by bionicteaching.

Some of the gadgets featured in Bond films have been laughed off as ridiculous in the past.
A laser watch? Invisible cars? Please…

But this list of real-life tech goodies tops some of 007’s most outrageous toys.

Avatar Digital Spy Camera

China Vasion gives us this handy gadget which is a cross between a telescope and a digital camera and features a 2.5 inch LCD screen and a 2MP monocular lens.

The amazing 40x digital zoom lets you capture distant shots and video in great detail.

Other specs include a mini-USB port, a built-in e-book reader, a standard media player, and 1GB of internal memory.

Price: $128.06 | View Site

Flameless USB Lighter

Designed by Nathan Gabriele, this lighter uses resistance coils to generate heat, lighting cigarettes without flames or fluid.

This technology is already used in car lighters.

On the other end of this lighter is a USB port which allows data transfer with internal flash memory. Useful for those situations where you need to download files secretly while your nemesis is searching for his cigars.

The Moshi Voice Activated Alarm Clock

Chucking your alarm clock across the room isn’t very suave. Why not command it to go into snooze mode instead?

The Moshi Alarm Clock responds to voice control to set both time and alarm, and is officially endorsed by the World Blind Union.

Your Moshi can tell you (literally, it has a voice too) the current temperature of the room, the date, and can change its lighting at your request.

The Moshi alarm will turn off at the sound of your voice, no matter how incoherent, meaning you don’t need to budge to stop the sound.

Price: $50 | View Site

LG Watch Phone

The LG GD910 Touch Watch Phone is one of the slickest new gadgets out there.

If the stereo Blue-tooth technology and camera for video conferences aren’t enough, the mp3 player, 3G HSDPA technology, voice recognition, and text to speech features make this an ultra-modern device worthy of 007.

Price: € 899 ($1,290) | View Site

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard

Despite the amazing advances in touch screen technology, typing a lengthy email on a phone or PDA can be annoying.

Imagine pulling out your bluetooth enabled Blackberry and this handy little device barely bigger than a matchbook…and having a full size standard keyboard instantly displayed on the surface in front of you.

This tiny laser virtual keyboard projects a keyboard onto any flat surface, and even provides key click sounds to accompany your typing.

With a rechargeable battery for two hours of continuous typing and its futuristic look, the laser keyboard is sure to catch the eyes of your fellow cafe patrons.

Stash Card Secret Laptop Drawer

This isn’t exactly high-tech but it is pretty clever.

Wireless Garden presents a drawer designed to fit the PC card slot in your laptop perfectly, giving you a convenient place to hide keys, credit cards, stamps, cash, and incriminating photos.

Price: $9.95 | View Site

 

Memorize Written Data with the C Pen

The C Pen looks like a fat digital highlighter, but what it actually does makes it even cooler. Push the activation button on the side and slide the pen over any line of text as if you’re highlighting.

The C Pen captures the text (up to 2,000 pages at a time) and stores it into its memory, ready for you to transfer onto your computer via an IR port. You can even paste the copied text into Word or Excel.

Not sweet enough? How about this: the C Pen has a language translator, with the ability to translate any word in English to (or from) German, French, Italian, and Swedish.

So ideally, you can scan an article from Le Monde and have it translated into English, all on this nifty little gadget.

The C Pen also allows you to edit and make changes. The plagiarism potential here is astounding, but overall this seems like it could be a very useful toy.

Prices vary based on specification: the C Pen is available in Hosted (PC, Mac, etc.) or Standalone models.

Price: $170-$250 I View Site

Solar Powered Laptop Case

Voltaic Systems has an eco-friendly and convenient way to charge your laptop.

The Generator contains a solar panel that generates up to 15 watts using 20% efficient cells, along with a custom battery pack for conversion.

The battery will charge in around five hours, and the case will also charge cell phones and many other gadgets.

The Generator is made from water resistant recycled materials, making this a great choice for environmentally conscious Bond imitators.

Check their website first to make sure your laptop will charge in the Generator; Apple, Dell, HP, IBM/Lenovo, and Panasonic laptops usually get good results.

Voltaic also offers solar powered backpacks and messenger bags.

Price: $499 | View Site

Car Key Security Camera

Snap a few stealthy photos with this clever spy camera from Brando.

This fake car key has 2GB of memory, with a color video resolution of 640 x 480 and an image resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels.

For the same price and specs, try Brando’s key chain security camera.

Price: $66 | View Site

The sQuba Car

Based on the Lotus Esprit Bond took for a dive in the 1977 classic The Spy Who Loved Me, Rinspeed’s sQuba car is a fully submersible, all-electric convertible with an onboard breathing system that enables passengers to breathe with a design similar to scuba gear.

The sQuba’s two extra engines are used to run a pair of screw drives, which, combined with jet drives that ‘breathe’ through special rotating louvers, help the car maneuver underwater.

Rinspeed had the foresight to include a salt-water resistant interior and a laser sensor system for driverless motoring.

The sQuba is a zero-emission car, making this environmentally friendly automobile, not to mention insanely cool.

Price: Not in a million years | View Site

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/10-gadgets-to-unleash-your-inner-james-bond/feed/ 8 http://matadorgoods.com/6-gadgets-to-make-your-life-greener/ http://matadorgoods.com/6-gadgets-to-make-your-life-greener/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:06:54 +0000 Michelle Schusterman http://matadorgoods.com/?p=2348 There’s been a lot of recent talk about e-waste and mass consumption, and their effect on the environment.

Photo courtesy of Chris Jordan

If you are a gadget-geek but want to reduce your carbon footprint, try these six gadgets for a greener life.

D-Link’s 8-port Switch

The DGS-2208 uses eco-friendly technology to help you reduce power consumption you may not realize you’re using. The D-Link automatically detects idle ports on your computer equipment and reduces the power usage, saving energy and money.

This device is particularly great for offices (public and home) where computers are used for over eight hours a day. In some situations, the D-Link has been able to save up to 40% of the power used in these conditions.

Installation is easy and no configuration is required.

Price: $44.99 | BUY

What’s Fresh

It’s no secret that eating local is good for your body and the planet. This handy little app will help you track down seasonal fruits anywhere in the U.S.

What’s Fresh lists in season fruits and veggies, provides a calendar and lets you know whether products are produced fresh or in a greenhouse, and is constantly updating more foods into its database.

Price: $1.99 | BUY from iTunes

Wind Powered Battery Charger

Solar power is catching on in popularity, but how about wind power? The HYmini, a hybrid universal charger, captures renewable wind and solar power and combines it with wall plug power to charge most 5V gadgets.

A breeze over 9 mph will get the battery charging in just 20-40 minutes. This charger is great for cell phones, mp3 players, iPods, and cameras.

Price: $74.98 | BUY

Light Powered Mobile Phone Charging Sleeve

The Powcell Charging Sleeve, made by MotionTouch, charges up your iPhone or Blackberry via light power. The photovoltaic cells on the back suck up energy from nearby light sources, feeding it straight to your phone.

Ideally, if a phone lives in this sleeve, it never needs charging.

Meaning there’s no more need for AC outlets, saving both energy and money on your electric bill.

Bio-Recyclable USB Drive

Designed with recycled and biodegradable material, the ATP EarthDrive is also shockproof, waterproof, and dust-proof, making it a highly durable USB drive.

Its capacities range from 1GB to 8GB, and security software is built in for password protection.

ATP has partnered with the American Forest Foundation and donates a share of their revenues to planting trees.

Price: $15.99 | BUY

 

Iqua BHS-603 SUN Bluetooth Headset by Orange

If you’re addicted to Bluetooth, Try Iqua SUN, the worlds first solar powered Bluetooth headset.

At just 14 grams, the tiny headset fits into your ear without needing a hook, and draws energy from the sun to charge.

The Iqua SUN will stay powered and ready to go through nine hours of total darkness.

Price: $34.56 | BUY

Community Connection

For more on the environmental impact of consumerism, check out Chris Jordan’s photo essay, and read up on the problem with E-waste.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/6-gadgets-to-make-your-life-greener/feed/ 1 http://matadorgoods.com/photo-essay-taking-two-small-bags-around-world/ http://matadorgoods.com/photo-essay-taking-two-small-bags-around-world/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:21:48 +0000 Lola Akinmade http://matadorgoods.com/?p=2113 Fly Brother blog is currently on a comprehensive round the world journey that would see him trek through Cairo, Istanbul, and Alice Springs.]]> Ernest White II of the popular Fly Brother blog is currently on a comprehensive round the world journey that would see him trek through Cairo, Istanbul, and Alice Springs. Through photographs, he has shared his packing process so he never has to check in any luggage.

1.“August 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. My 15-year-old brother’s room (which I have commandeered for the two months I’ve been home). With the help of Fly Mother and some Zip-Lock bags, I’m all packed for three months on the road….”…..Fly Brother

Observe

2.That would be one dress shirt and a pair of khakis, some jeans, 6 pair of draws, four pair of socks, 3 white tees, swim trunks, gym shorts, four short-sleeve t-shirts, two long-sleeve tees, and a pair of size-13 loafers

.

3.Taking one pair of loafers…

4.…stuffed with socks for saving space.

5.Rolling up clothes significantly saves space.

7.…as well as vacuum packing clothes…

8.Ziplock bags are great for packing underwear.

9.All apparel packed. Now on to accessories….

10.Essentials for the trip include a laptop, 3 guidebooks, 2 notebooks, camera, toiletries, and other miscellaneous items..

11.…all packed into this small backpack

12.Ta-Da! Now set for a trip around the world.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/photo-essay-taking-two-small-bags-around-world/feed/ 3 http://matadorgoods.com/how-to-access-your-home-data-while-traveling/ http://matadorgoods.com/how-to-access-your-home-data-while-traveling/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:37:20 +0000 Elmer Thomas http://matadorgoods.com/?p=2293 Reducing what you take when you travel not only saves your shoulders from having to lug them around, it also drastically minimizes the chances of loss, theft or damage.

Feature photo by **msk. Photo Above by DeclanTM

Anyone who travels frequently has probably built a lengthy list of tips and tricks to help minimize the bulk of items they need to take with them.

Nowadays, many people carry a laptop along, but even the most robust desktop replacement versions have hard drives that pale in comparison to a desktop-class external hard drive for storing data. Many technologies such as external hard drives that were developed for corporate America have seen their fruits trickle down into the home market.

While one might assume I’m suggesting you carry an external drive with you, I’m introducing a more efficient way of accessing all your files while on the road.

In a business environment, it wouldn’t make sense to attach an external hard drive to every workstation especially when sharing data is essential, so Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices were created. NAS devices are external hard drives that plug into a router via Ethernet cables, allowing authorized users on the network access to the same data.

Hard drive manufacturer Western Digital rolled out two feature-packed NAS devices called the My Book World Edition (2 terrabytes in size) and the My Book World Edition II that does everything a NAS device should do.

One of the most interesting features for travelers is the My Book’s built-in remote access technology called MioNet.

Simply load the MioNet software onto your laptop or NetBook and have instant access to everything you keep stored at home or in the office, whenever you want it, wherever you happen to be.

Installation is a breeze and using the software is extremely intuitive. Additionally, with as much as 2 terabytes (TB) of storage capacity, you can keep thousands of photos, tons of home movies, enough music to fill your ears for weeks and all the other important documents you need with instant access anywhere.

If you travel often and need to access your digital data on a regular basis, stop hauling it around with you on an external hard drive, and opt for instant remote access to your digital data, all kept securely at home.

Do you have any data related travel tips? Please share them below.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/how-to-access-your-home-data-while-traveling/feed/ 11 http://matadorgoods.com/10-reasons-why-a-scarf-is-a-must-pack/ http://matadorgoods.com/10-reasons-why-a-scarf-is-a-must-pack/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:41:42 +0000 Luisa Sperry http://matadorgoods.com/?p=2209 There are two things I never travel without. One is a journal in which to record my thoughts while away from home. The other is a scarf.

Feature Photo by bfick. Photo above by occam

A scarf is a great multi-purpose item for when you’re trying to pack light. Here’s why.

Fashion

No doubt your clothing will not see a washing machine and iron very often on the road. A scarf can help spruce up a suffering wardrobe.

Sleeping Sheet

Lay a scarf on your bed to cover those questionable looking stains on guest house sheets. It won’t help with the bed bugs though.

Picnic Blanket/ Beach Towel

Unless you’re planning to stay at The Four Seasons in every country you visit where they supply luxurious lounge chairs, you’ll appreciate packing something to relax on.

Photo by Giorgio Montersino.

Temperature Control

A scarf in a lightweight material like linen or cotton can actually help you stay cool in warmer climates. And, of course, you can wear it as a shawl to stay warm when the temperature drops.

Perfect for chilly nights around the campfire.

Modesty

Donning a scarf instantly makes your attire more appropriate and can be especially useful if you plan on visiting religious sites. Wat Pho, home of the reclining Buddha in Bangkok, even keeps scarves on hand to lend to visitors to the temple.

Bag

Buy more at the market than will fit into your backpack? Place your treasures in the middle of a scarf and tie up the corners for a makeshift bag.

Culture

Many cultures have a distinctive scarf or sarong that epitomizes local style (think of a kanga in Tanzania or kroma in Cambodia). Pick up your own to blend in with the locals or bring one to your home-stay family as a gift.

Photo by iwantarosegarden.

Towel

It may not be as absorbent as your mini Quick Dry towel, but in a pinch, you can use a scarf to dry off after a shower. And it will really come in handy after that impromptu skinny dip in the Gulf of Thailand.

Camouflage

Although it may make you feel like a tourist instead of a traveler, wearing a camera around your neck is convenient. Draping a scarf around your neck conceals a camera hanging there.

Breathe Easy

Tie a scarf around your mouth and nose to keep yourself from inhaling dust and vehicle exhaust on those bumpy rides on dirt roads.

Bonus points for looking like a bandit from the Wild West.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/10-reasons-why-a-scarf-is-a-must-pack/feed/ 10 http://matadorgoods.com/gift-ideas-unusual-intellectual-and-downright-scary-walking-tou%e2%80%8frs/ http://matadorgoods.com/gift-ideas-unusual-intellectual-and-downright-scary-walking-tou%e2%80%8frs/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:41:08 +0000 Michelle Schusterman http://matadorgoods.com/?p=1978 Consider treating your favorite traveler to a gift certificate for a walking tour of their next destination.

Feature Photo: Bulldog Tours. Photo above: Lola Akinmade

While some folks live for getting lost in a new place and discovering a new culture by diving in headfirst without a map or a plan, others need a bit more guidance.

With the wide range of tours available all over the world, from the philosophical to the haunted, there’s bound to be one to please any traveler.

Walking Seminars

Photo courtesy of Context Tours

For the intellectually curious traveler, Context Travel offers a wide variety of walking seminars that range from three hours to all day events.

According to their mission: “In an age of Disneyland and Club Med, we are dedicated to the experience of real places.”

Each group of no more than six people is led by a Ph.D. level scholar or historian. Tours offered include an interesting variety of topics such as archaeology, cuisine, theology, architecture, and art.

Context tours are currently available in New York, Philadelphia, Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Istanbul.

Photography Tours

Photo courtesy of Shutter Tours

Whether a beginner or expert, any photographer would enjoy a tour aimed specifically at improving their craft.

Led by local city experts and photographers, the tours take you to the best spots in town all the while providing tips on how to get that perfect shot.

A great example is Shutter Tours in Seattle, Washington. Each guide is an award-winning photographer who teaches lessons designed to improve your skills.

This tour also focuses on a few “out of the way surprises” that many people miss out on with other tours.

Ghost Tours

Photo courtesy of Wellington Movie Tours

Almost any city will have its ghost stories and several proudly offer tours for the paranormal fanatic.

The Ghosts of Georgetown Walking Tour explores the haunts and dark alleys of DC.

The family-friendly tour guides may just lead your group in a seance, read your future with Tarot, and cast a voodoo spell on disbelievers.

Most people picture a palm tree lined coast when they think of Key West, but the tour guides for The Ghosts & Legends of Key West beg to differ.

This 90 minute tour educates the visitor on the more eerie aspects of Old Town including pirate lore, haunted mansions, and voodoo rituals.

Movie Tours

Photo courtesy of Bulldog Tours

If a movie was filmed there, you can bet there’s probably a tour available.

One of the more well-known movie tours is the Harry Potter tour led by London Walks.

Visit Platform 9 3/4, the Knight Bus Bridge, and Gringotts Banks, and all of the 23 different London settings that appear in the Harry Potter movies.

London Walks offers several other walks including their world-renowned Jack the Ripper tour.

And speaking of blockbusters, any Lord of the Rings (LOTR) geek would love to trudge the road to Mordor with Wellington Movie Tours in New Zealand.

The tour hits over a dozen spots from famous LOTR scenes, and the guides provide behind the scenes facts and information about local filming projects.

Seedy Tours

Some cities only want to showcase the polished neighborhoods, but others offer a glimpse into the gritty side that every town possesses.

The Dark Side of Charleston Walking Tour gives visitors a look at the murders and scandals that taint the past of the “Holy City”.

Brothels, prostitutes, and other sordid affairs make this tour R-rated (travelers under 17 not admitted without parental consent).

Mysteries of Paris leads visitors into the darker parts of the city. Their “Dark Tours in the City of Lights” include info on the Knights Templar, alchemists, satanic conspiracies, the last night of Jim Morrison, and medieval serial killers.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/gift-ideas-unusual-intellectual-and-downright-scary-walking-tou%e2%80%8frs/feed/ 4 http://matadorgoods.com/choosing-the-right-sanitizer-for-you/ http://matadorgoods.com/choosing-the-right-sanitizer-for-you/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:48:47 +0000 Michelle Schusterman http://matadorgoods.com/?p=1975 Between an increase in PDA and cell phone use, more people jumping on board with public transportation, and recent flu scares, the need for a good portable sanitizer is more in demand than ever.

Photo by Muffet

But with the vast selection out there, which is best for you? Here’s our pick of some of the best sanitizing wipes, gels, and sprays.

Gels

If regular disinfectant gels dry your skin out, try Avant Instant Hand Sanitizer. This gel is as effective as Purell, killing 99.99% of germs, but thanks to vitamin A and E enrichment, your hands won’t pay the price of cleanliness with flaky, dry skin.

EO Hand Sanitizer, an organic plant-based gel, is also great for sensitive skin. The organic lavender essential oil is soothing while the non-GMO alcohol sanitizes as well as any chemical gel.

Wipes

For those with sensitive skin, Aroma Essence Towlettes are biodegradable and use no perfumes or detergents. Each towlette contains natural ingredients like tea tree oil and lavender and orange extracts that refresh and soothe your skin.

Aroma Essence Towlettes

Ever sat on a plane thinking you’d give just about anything for a shower?

These organic towelettes by Giovanni are good for an all-over body lift. Pack them in your carry-on, backpack, purse, diaper bag – so you can feel refreshed no matter where you are.

Don’t forget your cell phone! Gadgets like phones, laptops, and mp3 players are a breeding ground for bacteria.

Keep your gear clean and germ-free with these Wireless Wipes which are fast-drying to prevent moisture damage.

Sprays

For anyone looking for a greener spray, CleanWell’s Natural Hand Sanitizer is the way to go. The natural ingredients are non-toxic, alcohol-free, and made from rapidly renewable resources.

A bottle of this Organic Rosemary and Mint Hand Sanitizing Spray by EO is not just eco-friendly (and heaven scented). It’s part of the Teens Turning Green coalition; a national movement of young adults advocating for changes that will create a safer environment and a healthier lifestyle.

]]> http://matadorgoods.com/choosing-the-right-sanitizer-for-you/feed/ 6 http://matadorgoods.com/7-mountaineering-essentials/ http://matadorgoods.com/7-mountaineering-essentials/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:42:35 +0000 David DeFranza http://matadorgoods.com/?p=1960 gear for winter camping and the essentials for backcountry travel, there are only a few additional items you need to get started mountaineering.]]> Once you have the gear for winter camping and the essentials for backcountry travel, there are only a few additional items you need to get started mountaineering.

What is all this stuff? Photo: mckaysavage

1. Plastic Double Boots

Customized plastic mountaineering boots.
Photo: ddefranza

Boots featuring a waterproof plastic shell and soft insulated inner-bootie have become the standard for mountaineers around the world.

While these boots tend to be stiff and heavy, they are very warm, provide adequate support for climbing glaciers, snow slopes, and ice walls, and allow you to dry the inner-boot in your sleeping bag at night.

When buying plastic boots, make certain that they fit comfortably in the store. Because the shell is stiff, they do not conform to your foot, or “break in,” like other boots and shoes will.

Wear the thick socks you plan to wear while mountaineering and make sure the boots do not constrict your feet or have any edges that rub or pinch uncomfortably.

2. Mountaineering Harness

Black Diamond Alpine Bod Harness.

There may not be any technical climbing planned for your mountaineering trip, but a basic harness is still a common necessity.

Mountaineers use ropes to protect themselves on exposed sections where a gust of wind or a slip on the snow or ice could be catastrophic, and you need a harness to tie into these ropes.

A rope and harness is also necessary for any sort of glacier travel.

If you have a climbing harness, chances are you can just use that for mountaineering. If