Party Train

Rail Travel in Europe has always been innovative and exciting. Check out SNCF's new concept train called iDTGV in which you can choose the style of travel that best suites your mood. There is a chill car, a social car and a night party car...remember to pack your dancing shoes!

get on board with manners

Sometimes while travelling I wonder if some people may have checked their manners along with their luggage. This is a wonderful article reminding us all that minding our manners can make travel all that much more pleasant!

Sub cultures

Often the best and easiest way to get around a new city is to take the underground, metro or subway. Not only do you save money but you get a fantastic glimpse into daily life. Many cities around the world have invested not only money into new snazzy trains but also into the architecture and art in the stations.
Here is an article in business week which highlights twelve of the best.

Also urbanrail.net is a fantastic source of underground maps from cities around the world

Nepal the next hotbed for tolerance?

Looks like Nepal is trying to edge its way into the gay travel market and why not?
Two years ago the supreme court passed legislation awarding gays, lesbians and transgendered people equal rights along with a third gender option on all national ID cards. Gay marriage is favored to be legal soon and tour companies and gay bars have sprung up all across Kathmandu
Nepal based Pink Mountain Travel and Tours specialises in treks, tours and all sorts of travel arrangements.

Word of mouth 2 -French!

French is spoken by over 110 million people around the world and is the official language in 29 countries.

1. hello = bonjour
2. good bye = au revoir
3. please = S'il vous plaît
4. your welcome = De rien
5. excuse me = excusez-moi

Asian Street food!

If you are a foodie or ever travelled through Asia (or perhaps both!) you will love this blog. It reminds me of all the fantastic street food I eat when ever I travel to that part of the world.
www.eatingasia.typepad.com
What really brings the site to life for me is the fantastic photogrpahy by David Hagerman

Gracious Good(ness)!

Traveling to me is all about discovery! When I am not on the road I'm trolling the web, newspapers, magazines, books and local shops seeking that same kind of discovery.
Here is one site that always delights me and ties me over until I'm off on another adventure!
www.graciousgood.wordpress.com

Jetlegs Radio Travel Mix 1

Before you board that next flight make sure to include some of these artists on your playlist.
Click below to give each a pre-view listen.
Stay tuned for more suggestions from culture guru Fruit du Jour!



1. Holiday - Vampire Weekend (from the album Contra)
2. All Yr Songs - Diamond Rings (from the single PS I Love You 7")
3. Measure - Field Music (from the album Measure)
4. Postcards - An Horse (from the album SXSW 2009 Showcasing Artists)
5. Love Everlasting - Jeremy Jay (from the album Love Everlasting)
6. Train Song - Feist & Ben Gibbard (from the album Dark Was the Night)
7. Luv Goon - Pearl Harbor (from the EP Something About the Chaparrals EP)
8. The Dark - Woods (from the single Captured Tracks 7")
9. Photograph - B For Butterfly
10. Hug The Harbour - Emma Pollock (from the album The Law Of Large Numbers)
11. Empty-Hall Sing-Along - Woodpigeon (from the album Die Stadt Muzikanten)
12. A Funny Thing - Penguin Prison (from the EP Animal Animal)
13. Warm In The Shadows - Music Go Music (from the album Warm In The Shadows)
14. When I'm With You - Best Coast
15. Islands (Nosaj Thing Remix) - The xx (from the album xx)

Word of mouth

I'm not sure about you but when I travel I always try and learn a few words in the native language. So I thought it might be fun to post a few.
Today, Portuguese. Please correct me if any of these are incorrect. I'm sure all my Brazilian and Portuguese friends will have a great laugh over this!
1. hello=olá!
2.good bye =adeus
3. please =por favor
4.your welcome = sua boa vinda
5. excuse me =desculpe-me
Next will be French as I prepare for another trip to Paris in February!

List of top 15 February festivals around the world

Start packing! Here is a list of the top 15 festivals going on around the world in February!

1. ITALY: February 7,14,16,17 Viareggio Carnival

2. FRANCE: February 13-28 (Wednesdays and week-ends) Nice Carnival

3. ITALY: February 6-16 Venice Carnival

4. SPAIN: February 11-17 Sitges Carnival

5. BELGIUM: February 14-16 Carnaval de Binche

6. PERU: (Puno) February 2-11 Candelaria Festival

7. MALI: February 3-7 Festival des Masques et Marionettes

8. JAPAN: February 5-11 Sapporo Snow Festival

9. CANADA:(Ottawa) February 5-21 Ottawa Winterlude

10. THAILAND: (Chiang Mai) February 5-7 Chiang Mai Flower Festival

11. BRAZIL: (Rio) February 13-16 Rio Carnival

12. EGYPT: February 22 Abu Simbel Festival

13. TRINIDAD: February 15-16 Carnival

14. INDIA: February 14-16 Goa Carnival

15. AUSTRALIA: February 19- March 7 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Shut eye

Design obsessed travellers will be the first to check into Abu Dhabi's Yas Hotel designed by New York based architect firm Asymptote. The 500 room hotel with its curvilinear grid-shell is covered with over 5,300 diamond-shaped steel panels and contains nearly 5000 LED fixtures. The project is being hailed as the world’s largest LED project.

Street Art in Buenos Aires

Not that anyone needs another excuse to visit Buenos Aires but here it is anyway.
Since the economic crash back in 2001, many street artists have emerged, most with a strong background in graphic design. Tours are now being offered by graffitimundo for AR$75 pesos. You'll tour the graffiti scenes and learn all about the history and artists involved.

PACKING LIST: Prada Leather Trolley

Let's do our part for the enviroment and park the private jet back in the hanger and go commercial. You'll still be a star as long as you are sporting one of these darling Prada leather trolleys! Could the colours get any better?
From $2,650. prada.com.

WHERE TO GO NOW: Wrocław, Poland

The town of Wrocław, Poland is an easy drive from Prague, Berlin or Warsaw. Not to mention cheap flights from much of Western Europe can be had via discount carrier WIZZ Air starting from €23. The town is built on several islands and connected by over 100 bridges. Full of history, the beautifully restored Market Square is full of amazing architecture. With Over 65 percent of the population being of a young working age, many spend their winters hitting the famous ski slopes just south of town. Winter or Summer your sure to have a great time, just make sure you head to Wrocław before the rest of the world finds out!
www.wroclaw-life.com
www.poland.travel/en

on the right track

Here's some news to kick off 2010.
To assist the growing number of woman who are joining the workforce in India the state Railroad has introduced woman only cars in their trains. The train cars, known as "Ladies Specials" are now running between India's largest cities, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.
Japan, Egypt, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Belarus, the Philippines and Dubai are other countries who have had similar problems with men behaving badly during the daily commute and have jumped on the right track with similar programs.