• Cleanest Cities: Green
• Most Polluted Cities: Red

In early September, the Blacksmith Institute published their annual survey of the World’s Most Polluted Places. I really like this type of survey and enjoy reading their conclusions. However, personally I also like being able to contrast this type of information with the other end of the spectrum, so I also looked up Forbes most recent publishing of the World’s Cleanest Cities.

As you may have suspected, the most polluted cities are found in the developing world, with emerging markets such as China, India, and Russia, being the main culprits (each contributing 2 cities to the list). As for the cleanest cities in the world, those were all found in the United States, Canada, Europe, and one from Japan.

Obviously, the results of both of these surveys are debatable, and are largely influenced by researchers opinions. However, as I compare those cities on the cleanest list with those on the most polluted list, I find it really amazing to see all that we are capable of as humans–both good and bad.

To see a place like Calgary, the fastest growing city in Canada and fossil fuels center, as the number one cleanest city in the world is really inspiring. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, cities like Linfen, China, where over 3 million people can’t even put their laundry out to dry as it will be covered in coal and soot from abysmal air pollution, shows us that we still have a long way to go (Time).

World’s Cleanest Cities:		World’s Most Polluted Cities:
1. Calgary, Canada		1. Linfen, China
2. Honolulu, United States		2. Tianying, China
3. Helsinki, Finland		3. Sukinda, India
4. Ottawa, Canada		4. Vapi, India
5. Minneapolis, United States		5. La Oroya, Peru
6. Oslo, Norway		6. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
7. Stockholm, Sweden		7. Norilsk, Russia
8. Zurich, Switzerland		8. Chernobyl, Ukraine
9. Katsuyama, Japan		9. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
10. Berne, Switzerland		10. Kabwe, Zambia

Photos:

• World’s Cleanest Cities: Forbes.com
• World’s Most Polluted Cities: Times.com

Ernesto “Che” Guevara: Wikipedia

Earlier this week marked the anniversary of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s death in Bolivia, on October 9th, 1967. Recent years have seen elevated interest in the Argentine rebel, in an ideological sense as well as in pop culture. People around the world seem to connect with the romantic Guevara image for everything from high gas prices to failed democracy. Guevara seems to represent many different things to many different people, but in essence is a symbol of rebellion and defiance.

The Che Effect:

The Economist recently did a piece on the “Che effect” in which they explain “Why the Che myth is bad for the left”.

It’s an interesting article, which after studying and living in Latin American countries for the past 7 years or so, I tend to agree with. The Guevara image is a romantic one, and I fully understand it’s appeal. However, when put into policy it does little more than polarize citizens through populist claims.

My current country of residence, Ecuador, is a good example of this. The new president Rafael Correa is working in the name of some “greater good” to rewrite the constitution, dissolve the majority of congress, and give his position of president more power over the country. He does this with vast support from the general population who hold a romanticized notion of Che Guevera-esque revolution, and believe these types of reforms are more important than working within the system in the promotion of traditional leftist policies for improved education, labor conditions, and healthcare.

Origins of the Word Che:

So which came first the interjection or the rebel? After traveling through Argentina many foreigners misunderstand the widespread use of the word “Che” as a sort of tribute to the fallen icon, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

However in reality the word “Che” has been a common colloquial interjection among Argentineans since before Guevara was even born. The word itself can be used as an expression of surprise or a slang term similar to “man”, “dude”, or “mate” in English. For example, “What’s up man?” could effectively be translated to “Que tal che?” in an Argentine setting.

So how did Guevara come to be known as “Che”? When Ernesto Guevara was traveling across Latin America during his 20’s, he made many new friends throughout the region. Though all shared the same native language of Spanish, Guevara’s use of the expression “che” was unique to Argentina. Therefore, many of his new friends had never heard the expression before and consequently nicknamed him “che” in playful jest for his habitual use of the word. The nickname spread and Ernesto Guevara quickly became known and will forever be known as the “Che”.

The LA Times Online Travel Chat session yesterday was very successful. I apologize for putting the link up just a few hours before the session actually started, but I hope that some of you were able to attend.

For anyone that may have missed it, you can check out the transcript here: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

There were a lot of budget travel topics covered, including two interesting topics I would like to highlight here. The following questions and responses come from yesterday’s Online Travel Chat session with the LA Times Travel Deal Detectives. I have include my own comments at the end:

I’ll be heading to Belize on Thursday, what is the best way to search for inexpensive local tours?

Sara Benson, Travel Deal Detective: I haven’t been to Belize, but in many other Latin American countries (Andrew, you can chime in on this, I know) the best way to find local tours is to ask after arrival at local guesthouses, restaurants, even shops where you find a friendly atmosphere and sincere locals. Always shop around for the best price. Also, ask yourself: do I really need to take a tour, or can I do it myself just as easily?

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Great advice, Sara. Chris, depending on how much time you have for vacation, I’d avise holding off on booking any tours until you can talk to some locals and ask for advice.

My Comments:

I thought this was great advice. With a country like Belize, or really any other developing or small country around the world, it is certainly optimal to hold off on booking tours until you actually arrive in-country. You will find dozens more options and lower prices than if you simply try to book through a travel agent or internet site from abroad. Get recommendations from other travelers, and always try to book locally for the best prices and a more genuine experience.

• International Tour Agencies vs. Local Tour Agencies
• The 5 Fundamentals of Budget Travel in the Developing World

I was wondering if there is a time of the year to go to Europe for the best value? I would love to go but have a budget.

Andrew Nystrom, Web Travel Editor: Sounds like there’s a consensus here in our physical chat room at winter is, in many ways, the best time to visit Europe. I’ll let Jane expand…

Jane Engle, Staff Writer: Hi, cbtrav: Good call. You’ve picked the cheapest season to go to Europe. And since so much fun stuff is indoors–food, concerts, museums and more–weather isn’t big factor. As for when to buy: I’d buy now, if I saw a good fare. From L.A., that’s anything less than about $800 off-season.

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: I spent part of the winter in Europe about 3.5 years ago and loved the difference. I spent two weeks in Belgium (Waterloo) and traveled around. I particularly enjoyed the holiday fairs

Jen Leo, Travel Deal Blogger: Mediapile and Chris, I read the EuroCheapoBlog to stay on top of all Europe deals and to gather resources: http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/

My Comments

I think a lot of people write-off travel in Europe during the winter months, assuming that it’s just too cold to do anything. That’s why I really liked Jane Engle’s point that when you think about it, a large portion of the attractions in Europe are indoors. Museums, concerts, historical sites, and soaking up the culture in a local cafe, bar, or pub. There are far less tourists, airfares drop, and many hotels and hostels lower their prices. All of these factors make Europe a very appealing destination for wintertime travelers.

My one recommendation would be to try to travel in the “snowy” months as opposed to the “cold rainy” months. European sites look amazing under a fresh coat of snow, but they can be miserable during a cold dreary rain.

• Winter International Airfare Deals: How much does the price actually drop?

Again, to read the full transcript, please check out the following link:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-travel-chat-100807-transcript?page=1

* Cishore (flickr)

Part of being a responsible traveler is knowing what’s going on in the world around us. We’ve all heard about the recent protests in Burma, but what is it actually all about. What are the historical precedents, and what has led the country, it’s government, and it’s people to this point?

I am certainly not an expert on Burma, but I have spent some time attempting to better inform myself on the country’s current plight. I have put together a brief summary of the Burma’s modern history, which describes the current situation of the country, and what it’s people are protesting and fighting for. Read on for more information regarding the Burmese struggle:

1948 / Burma becomes an independent nation:

On January 4th, 1948, the Union of Burma (as it was then called) gained independence from the British Empire. The country formed an independent and democratic republic, that even supplied the United Nations with it’s first “non-Western” Secretary General, Pantanaw U Thant.

1962 / The end of democracy and the beginning of military rule:

In 1962, General Ne Win led a successful military coup of the democratic government, and assumed power transforming Burma into a military dictatorship. He led the country down the “Burmese Way to Socialism”, an isolationist path focused on self-sufficiency and the nationalization of practically all private industry.

Nationalized companies are managed or rather mismanaged by military personnel, who slowly run them into the ground creating mass inflation, and leading the country to the brink of economic collapse by the late 1980’s.

1988 / More mismanagement, and the first strike back:

Economic troubles were exacerbated in 1987 by a highly questionable move made by Burma’s leader General Ne Win. Ne Win decided, “he wanted only 45 and 90 kyat notes in circulation. This was because they were divisible by nine, which he considered a lucky number” (BBC News).

He decided to cancel all other monetary notes, and consequently stamped out many Burmese’ life savings overnight.

The economic crisis spurred protests by Burmese students, who were then joined by other citizens and the highly revered Burmese monks, all of whom were fed up with the incompetent and seemingly quack policies of the Burmese military regime. They protested for the dismantling of the military government, and the embracing of democracy.

Protests continued until the 18th of September when, as anticipated, the government decided they had had enough, and broke up rallies by firing on a crowd of protesters and carrying away others - never to be seen or heard from again.

The BBC reports that human rights groups estimate at least 3,000 people were killed in the government led attacks on protesters.

1989-2007 / False reform and widespread poverty:

Following the 1988 protests, Burma’s military government attempted to appease protesters by opening up the economy to market forces. However, the reform was far from genuine as government officials limited actual change by shrouding privatized industry with bureaucratic red tape and by transferring the most important industrial sectors (food production/distribution) to military run companies.

Despite the hollowness of these economic reforms, protest settled down and the country passed quietly through the next decade and a half. However, while the rest of Southeast Asia was experiencing historical economic growth, Burma’s leaders seemed incapable of lifting the country out of poverty. While the government seems content spending roughly half it’s budget on the armed forces, UN reports show that government spending on healthcare and education are among the lowest in the world. 31.8% of children under 5 are malnourished and the average income is under $300 per year - 70% of which goes toward the purchase of food.

Unphased by growing poverty, and increased costs of food staples such as rice, eggs, and cooking oil (up 30-40% by the end of 2006 - BBC News), the Burmese military regime continued to make highly questionable policy decisions. The country, rich with natural resources, has recently profited from rising oil prices and has received an influx of cash. However, the government seems unconcerned with reducing poverty or investing in the country’s infrastructure, and instead spends government funds purchasing nuclear reactors from Russia, and embarking on a high priced relocation of their nations capital to an inaccessible region of the jungle. The countries current head of state, General Than Shwe (who leads an extremely lavish lifestyle - See video of his daughters extravagant wedding), is even believed to take national policy advice from astrologers (who suggested he move the country’s capital out into the jungle).

August 15, 2007-present day / Dramatic raise in fuel prices, and the second strike back:

On August 15, 2007, in another questionable policy decision, the Burmese military government implemented a dramatic increase in fuel prices, and did so without any notice or warning. Petrol and diesel fuel doubled in price, while compressed gas increased by 500%. The tremendous price raise resulted in increased costs for public transportation and trickle-down price increases for food staples.

Again, frustrated by the government’s blatant disregard for public welfare, demonstrators took to the streets. The government took quick recognition of rising public unrest, and attempted to quiet protesters before the movement could build momentum. They used force and arrests to break up rallies across the country, until September 5th when at least 3 Burmese monks were injured as the military attempted to break up a rally in Pakokku. In Burma, where roughly 90% of the population is Buddhist, seeing three monks injured during peaceful protest was extremely upsetting. The monks gave the government until September 17th, 2007 to apologize for their brash actions.

September 17th came and went without any apology or admission by the Burmese government. This resulted in mass protests by monks across the nation. A highly revered and respected population among the general Burmese citizenry, the monks quickly gained support from the general citizenry who are tired of living under what they consider to be an oppressive and incompetent government.

All of this now leads us to today. The Burmese monks and citizens continue to protest for democracy, while the government continues to strike back, cutting internet and other communication links with the outside world and using arrests and violence to intimidate protesters.

Further Reading:

• NY Times: More Than Just a Fighting Force, Myanmar’s Military Is the Nation’s Driving Force
• BBC News: Should it be Burma or Myanmar?
• BBC News: Where the World Stands on Burma
• Brave New Traveler: Tales From the Road: Focus on Burma

Sources:

• BBC News: Q & A: Protests in Burma
• BBC News: The Hardship that Sparked Burma’s Unrest
• BBC News: Burma’s 1988 Protests
• BBC News: Burma’s Hardline Generals

Today from 1pm-2pm (PDT) / 4pm-5pm (EDT), the LA Times’ Travel Deal Detectives, Jen Leo and Jane Engle, will be hosting a live Travel chat session. If you have a free minute, I definitely recommend stopping by and directing your travel and budget travel related questions to them, or just listen to what others have to say.

Should be a great opportunity to pick up some solid advice and inspiration for future travels!

• Check out this link for more information: Oct. 8 live chat w/ L.A. Times Travel Deal Detectives
• Or just follow the direct link to the live chat session at 1pm (PDT) / 4pm (EDT): http://chat.latimes.com

The New York Times published a story Thursday regarding the recent delayed release of “The Kite Runner” movie. For anyone who hasn’t heard of the movie, it depicts the ethnic tensions facing modern day Afghanistan through the story of two young Afghan boys of conflicting ethnic groups, the Pashtun and the Hazara.

The delay in release was prompted by recent attention given to a rape scene in the movie, which experts believe will offend a large percentage of Afghanis (as rape is extremely taboo in the country), and could even put the boys in danger for their participation in the scene. For this reason the film’s release has been delayed until the potential dangers can be properly analyzed and measures taken to ensure the boys safety.

The NY Times articles states that in over a dozen interviews, studio personnel are struggling with difficult questions such as, “testing the limits of corporate responsibility, wondering who was exploiting whom and pondering the price of on-screen authenticity” (NY Times).

However, to me, the big question is, “Why weren’t these questions asked and this issue sorted out before the studio began filming?”

I admittedly know very little about Afghanistan and the details regarding ethnic tensions in the region, which supposedly are on the rise. However, I do know and understand that the majority of the world DOES NOT live and operate in congruence with Western mentalities. Regardless of whether you are shooting a film, doing development work, or just traveling, it is an absolute necessity to research local customs, values, and mentalities BEFORE taking any kind of action that may have an effect on local individuals or communities.

I hear about it all the time in the international development community. Birth control distribution programs failing in Latin America as devout Catholics see it as an endorsement of premarital sex. Impoverished Africans starving because local food drops are simply hoarded by military dictatorships. Or the failure of small business projects in many of the world’s slums for not properly taking into account the strength and influence of local mob authorities.

This most recent blunder by “The Kite Runner” producers is nothing new. It happens all the time, from multi-billion dollar film studios, to NGO’s, to the individual traveler. However, if we’re ever going to bring countries and people closer together, we need to learn that the world is a very complex place. It’s a principal that can be applied to pretty much any interaction between individuals of different cultures: Understanding MUST be a prerequisite to action.

In 1914 an ingenious young aviator by the name of Lawrence Sperry, introduced a revolutionary new invention to the aviation world: the autopilot. Sperry, a selfless man, did not work tirelessly on the perfection of his new invention for money or fame. No, his was a much more noble cause.

Lawrence Sperry devoted his time and effort into the invention, so that in November of 1916 he could truly change the world, and become the very first member of the Mile High Club, engaging in sexual activity in his own plane while flying over Babylon, New York. On this historic occasion, Sperry changed the face of Air-Travel in America forever, and will always be remembered as an innovator and leader in American Aeronautics.

The preceding is based on fact from Wikipedia.org, however the actual motives for Sperry’s autopilot invention have been fictionalized.

The Mile High Club:

Ever since Lawrence Sperry founded the club in 1916, it’s become very well-known across the United States and even the world. Membership generally includes having sex in an aircraft at an altitude over 5,280ft.

The difficulty in joining the club is that the majority of us fly on commercial airlines, in which cramped lavatories are the only truly private areas, and where pushy flight attendants are often attuned to your every move. The legalities of joining the club are hazy (BBC: Is sex on a plane legal?), but at the very least you can be guaranteed a little embarrassment if caught.

For this reason, a number of charter flight companies have begun setting up private charters targeted at individuals who want to join the club, but don’t feel comfortable doing so on a commercial airline. The charter company generally offers about one hour of flight time, a bottle of champagne, and a “discreet pilot”. For the duration of the flight the cabin is yours, free to do whatever your hearts desire!

When I first heard about these companies I assumed they charge a hefty fee for their services. However, the flights are actually pretty reasonably priced, and can run as low as $220 per hour (flights generally run for one hour, unless more time is requested).

Maybe this is your cup of tea, maybe it isn’t. But I know you’re interested in learning more, so check out the following Mile High Charters:

Aero-Tech, Inc.
For the low price of $250, this Kentucky based operator will take you on a 1 hour Mile High Club flight.

Mile High Atlanta
Run out of Atlanta, Mile High Atlanta offers 1 hour Mile High flights for $299. Participants are even sent home with their sheets as a keepsake.

Flamingo Air Inc.
Based out of Cincinnati, offers 1 hour Mile High flights with champagne and chocolates for $299.

Mile High Flights (UK)
Based out of the United Kingdom, Mile High Flights offers packages ranging from £250-£750, depending on the duration of the flight, and level of luxury.

Chicagoland Skydiving Center
Run out of Chicago, they offer one hour Mile High Flights for $999. The price is high, but that’s because the charter is not aboard a small 6-10 passenger plane, but rather a 20 passenger “Boom Boom Plane” that’s over 20 feet in length, giving your plenty of room to “maneuver” around!

Where the heck’s Rob been? Sorry guys, I haven’t made a post to the blog in almost a week now. I’ve been doing some work in very rural coastal Ecuador for the past 5 days, and was mislead as to what my internet capabilities would be in the area. Apparently “sure you can connect there” actually means “No, that community doesn’t even have telephone service”… But as any seasoned traveler knows “asi es la vida”, so I’m just rolling with the punches and getting back up-to-date with the blog.

Regarding the $500 Travel Getaways Contest, I have just started to get a few submissions which will be posted to the site by early next week. I hope these are just the first of many submissions to the contest, so if you haven’t already thought about making an entry please consider it. It’s an opportunity to win $500 USD, get a link to your site/blog, and share your travel expertise with the rest of the travel community. A win-win situation for all involved.

Last of all, I’d like to share a couple funny photos that I have been looking for an excuse to post to the blog. Both were found via other blogs, and do a good job reminding us the funnier lighter side of travel.

Tightest Jeans in the World - Found via Mike at Vagabondish.com. Click on the photo for an enlarged view that does it more justice…

Sounds Tasty in Eng(r)ish - Look at the second to last dish, found via Travelhappy.info. Click on the photo for an enlarged view.

Shira Golding (flickr)

Yesterday I was looking through the NY Times’ online Travel Section, and ran across a feature article entitled “An Air Travel Activist is Born”. The article is about a middle-aged women named Kate Hanni, who was stranded aboard an American Airlines flight, on December 29, 2006, for 3+ hours. Apparently there was some confusion amidst American Airlines and the flight was not cleared for take-off. Instead of letting the passengers off the aircraft, they were forced to stay in their seats for over 3 hours (as is airline policy).

The article the continues on to tell how this event lit a fire under Kate Hanni, who supposedly “had never even written a letter of complaint in her life” (NY Times). She compared the entire ordeal to “imprisonment” and went on to form an activist group to promote airline customer rights (Flyers Rights.com).

My Thoughts:

While I applaud Ms. Hanni’s pro-activism in the matter, and the fact that she is getting out and fighting for what she believes in, I have to question the perspective of the group. The NY Times article provided statistics that roughly 1200 flights have been delayed for 3+ hours from January-July (2007). There are an average of 28,537 commercial flights per day (2005) which would come to roughly 5,992,700 flights from January-June 2007 (a low estimate, as flights have increased since 2005). From these numbers we can conclude that about 0.02% of all US flights over this period (January-July 2007) have experienced 3+ hour delays.

Again, I don’t want to condemn Ms. Hanni for fighting for what she believes in, but I do wonder if this cause is really worth all the time and effort she and her supporters are putting into it. We all know there are thousands of pressing issues facing humanity both internationally and at home. Global warming, genocide, HIV/AIDS, abysmal human rights practices, and poverty to name a few. It’s also no secret that for pretty much all of human history we have tended to ignore the plights and struggles of others, as well as the long-term threats facing humanity. In general we as humans are more interested in tending to our own short-term affairs than taking on global issues in the name of others or even ourselves.

However, Ms. Hanni and her group are NOT guilty of this affliction to indifference. They are not out in search of personal gain, money, or fame. The NY Times article even states that:

“Ms Hanni, 47, essentially put her life on hold to take on the airlines, leaning on her husband to earn more and spend more time looking after their children so she could battle the lobbying might of the airlines”

This kind of devotion is truly commendable, but in my opinion the cause is not worth a fraction of the effort they are putting into it. I remember hearing it all through school, “fight for what you believe in”. But in today’s world, all activism is not equal. Our neighbors around the globe are dying everyday, environmental degradation has the potential to completely transform the world we live in, however Flyers Rights and so many other organizations like them are working day and night so that the average American doesn’t have to worry about the minute chance they will be stuck on a plane for an extra 3 hours.

I can only hope that SOMEDAY these will be the most pressing concerns facing humanity, but for now I think it’s important to put activism in a global perspective, and encourage tireless champions like Kate Hanni to collaborate their efforts on arguably higher priority initiatives.

Last week Forbes Magazine released a list of “Ten Travel Trends You Can’t Ignore” which they put together with the help of some “travel industry experts”.

As I looked over the list, I was delighted to see that the first trend they report is eco-awareness. However, my boyish glee was quickly replaced by solemn dismay, as I read on and found that almost all the other trends are completely contradictory to environmentally sustainable travel.

Below is a reproduction of Forbes’ “Ten Travel Trends You Can’t Ignore” accompanied by my personal commentary.

#1 Eco-Awareness

The hero of our story. Read on to see the villainous trends she’s up against in her ongoing struggle to make people give a damn.

#2 Hotel-Owned Villas

You didn’t think the Hilton’s would allow simple, rural families to continue to rent out their quaint villas in an attempt to supplement their modest, low-impact lifestyles, did you?

Hell no! They were a little late into the game, but luxury hotels are now on a mission to ensure locally run villas plague our travels no more! They will soon be replaced with overpriced, impersonal, and unnecessarily luxurious hotel villas. Thank God.

#3 Private Jet Travel

Sure the carbon emissions per passenger are 4-10 times higher than those on a commercial jet, but you don’t really want to travel with the peasants, do you?

#4 Multi-Generational Travel

Time with the kids, grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

This one we like. Puts a smile on my face every time!

“It’s a Sunshine Day”, sigh…

#5 Yacht Charters

The only good thing about these gas-guzzling behemoths is they used to spend 364 days a year docked, because their workaholic CEO owners were too busy to actually use them.

Not so any longer! Devoted tour agencies are now making sure these giant wastes of space and natural resources hit the seas every day of the year!

#6 Adults Only Travel

Why can’t the little brats just live at school…

Geez…

#7 Traveling with an Entourage

As if our individual environmental footprints weren’t enough, wealthy travelers now want to bring their butlers, nannies, chefs, and yoga instructors along for the fun as well.

As a bonus, this trend also ensures that we invest as little as possible into local service economies.

#8 Vacation on the Decline

While folks are gallivanting around the globe in private jets and yachts, it’s good to know somebody’s hard at work trying to get us out of the global shit storm we’ve created for ourselves.

#9 Human Contact Returns

It’s no secret that wealthy travelers don’t even want to scratch their own ass while on vacation. Unfortunately, however, this means they have to go to the trouble of finding someone else to scratch it for them.

Luxury travel consultants are here to save the day. For the per capita annual income of just 2,500 Ethiopians, they’ll make sure you have someone waiting at your door every morning to scratch your ass for you!

#10 A New Definition of Camping

Camping used to be so lame. You’d live off the land, consume little, and leave nothing behind.

Now, thanks to resourceful companies like KOA Kampgrounds, this antiquated idea of ecological harmony is successfully being replaced by Jacuzzis, movie theaters, and restaurants. This should ensure we leave our environmental mark even while camping, hooray!