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Stories In Stone: The Tanum Rock Carvings In Western Sweden

by | Sep 25, 2012 | , | 2

tanum sweden rock carvings

I almost missed these (roughly) 3,500 year old Bronze Age rock carvings in Tanum, Sweden, despite being only 50 kilometers away, enjoying the serenity of Smogen. Fortunately, I happened to read about their existence on Gary Arndt’s blog in an article he published a few days day before being in the area. Though when I initially pulled up to the first set of carvings I was slightly disappointed. Sitting a few meters from the side of a quiet Swedish road, there was just a small area of flat granite, with depictions of war, the afterlife, love and more. (Or a man using his iPad and a scorpion eating a dog, according to some of your interpretations.)

Interesting, but not on its own something to go out of the way for in rural Sweden…until you drive down the road to see the main show this initial set of carvings acts as a teaser for. Less than 10 minutes away at a leisurely Volvo (or Saab) pace, is a large park of Tanum’s rock carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The wide granite canvases left behind as Ice Age glaciers gradually melted north during a time of immense change for humans in this part of the world. Agriculture was ending nomadic lifestyles and our species was learning to manipulate cooper and bronze to create new tools.

The Bronze Age is also the era anthropologists believe human cultures began to develop writing for the first time. You can almost see that happening among large and complex pictographs like these in Tanum, regularly painted red by nearby museum staff to make them easily visible. (You’re no the only one who was wondering where those ancient Swedes found paint that doesn’t dull over time.) Fortunately for us, their story hasn’t either.

Entry into the nearby Tanum Museum Of Rock Carvings is free, as is access to all of the Tanum rock carving sites, a 90 minute drive from Gothenburg and 2 hours and 15 minutes from Oslo by car.

What Wireless Passwords Have You Picked Up (And Will Share) From Airports Around The World?

by | Sep 21, 2012 | , , | 21

dusseldorf airport germanyAbout half of all the airports in the United States have free wireless access and roughly that many (major) airports around the world do as well. But for those that don’t, offer wifi only in select areas, or have daily time limits, there’s always the wireless oozing out of the lounges. Of course if you’re staying in the airport lounge getting access to wifi isn’t a problem, but when you’re not, there are some options.

I’ll be getting further into those methods in the coming weeks but want to compile a list of wireless passwords you may have picked up along your travels.

For example if you’re in Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport and want to extend your wireless access to your gate, you can use the password ‘Lounge2012’. Or if you’re passing through Amsterdam’s Airport Schiphol, you can tweak this lounge password with the current date: KLM210912 (i.e. KLMDDMMYY). [Thanks Melvin.]

I’d like to see if we can come up with a living list I’ll help maintain (or end up with a small disappointment)…but I know you won’t let that happen! So throw down your passwords, even those from vague memory, in the comments below and I’ll follow up with the compilation in the next few weeks.

Birthday Pictures Of The Hagia Sophia In Istanbul, Which Turns 1,475 This Year

by | Sep 20, 2012 | , | 21

Originally I was going to highlight the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) with a single photo as I do occasionally from sites I’ve visited around the world. But I couldn’t resist showing off more from this former church, later mosque, now museum that turns 1,475 years old in 2012. The Hagia Sophia is easily one of a handful of my favorite pieces of architecture anywhere. And much like the Taj Mahal in India is a popular tourist destination that won’t disappoint you.

Age brings with it many things, including stories that can make you that fun old crazy person at family events down the line. You can imagine then when you turn 1,475, Hagia Sophia’s got quite a tale to tell – even if she doesn’t look a day over 1,000.

ayasofya

The Hagia Sophia was actually constructed in 3 phases (beginning in 360 A.D.) and the structure that you see today was completed in 537 A.D. It was originally a Greek church in what was then the new capital of the Roman Empire.

ayasofya isa

When the Ottoman army, under the command of Sultan Mehmet II, conquered Constantinople on May 29, 1453, the building was quickly converted into a mosque. That helped to serve three aims – to place the firm stamp of Islam upon the city without completely disenfranchising the majority Christian population of Istanbul at the time; while preserving the one of the world’s architectural wonders. (Plus lay claim to it, hey, Sultan’s prerogative.)

inside hagia sophia

A view of the Hagia Sophia from its right side, a view you’ll most likely get from many of the hostel rooftops that are nearby in the Sultanahmet area. The building’s structure was reenforced and improved in the mid-1500s by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Like much of his other work, including the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Hagia Sophia was engineered to be earthquake resistant. Especially important in a city that sees, on average, one major quake every century and plenty of smaller earthquakes in between.

hagia sophia exterior

In 1935 Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the Hagia Sophia a museum, due to its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance for various peoples. Formal prayer is not permitted inside.

hagia sophia entrance ayasofya blue mosque from hagia sophia

The Hagia Sophia occupies 7,400 square meters but perhaps the museum’s most famous feature is the 50 meter high dome above these people (and travel blogging photographer).

ayasofya

A view of the second floor – from the second floor.

hagia sophia second floor

The Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world for 983 years and today the museum is Istanbul’s second most visited site. (Topkapi Palace is first but honestly, if pressed for time go with Hagia Sophia.) You can visit all days of the week except Monday’s and the entrance fee is 25 Turkish lira (~$14). I recommend taking your time – at least 30 minutes – to wander around this building that has seen the passing of 3 intercontinental empires, a world war, and the birth of the world’s first secular and democratic Muslim-majority nation. Not bad for someone who looks so young.

What Can You Do If Your Passport Expires Before Your Valid Visa(s) Do?

by | Sep 18, 2012 | , , , | 8

what can you do if your passport expires before visas do

Over the next few weeks as I travel through east Asia and the Pacific, I’ll have one passport expire and another whose pages will be filled with stamps and visas. In the first case I’ll need to get a new passport but what will happen to my visas that are still valid once that happens? You may also find yourself in this situation along your travels and the answer is surprisingly straightforward in most cases.

Before I get into that though let me say this is general advice – and the situation can vary between every nation’s passport and every country that’s issued you a visa. Always check the appropriate embassy website or call them (here’s how to find the right number) to be sure as entry requirements tend to change arbitrarily.

passport pagesGet More Pages If You Can

This may seem obvious to many of you frequent travelers but in case you don’t know, many countries around the world allow you to add pages to an existing passport. You may not need to get an entirely new passport if the one you have is simply loaded with stamps (yay for you international jet-setter!). Also, some countries upon renewal will simply add a page with a new expiration and photo (e.g. Turkey) if requested to extend a passport’s validity.

Now for the cases where none of the above is an option, the solution is to simply bring your old and new passport when traveling to a country you’ve already got the visa for.

Bring Both Passports – New And The Old One With The Valid Visa In Question

Many nations around the world will accept entry if you have a valid visa and a valid passport, as is the case for America. This is also true for visas to the United Kingdom, however they do have an option that will let you transfer visas from an old passport to a new one. (It’s not required per say but saves you from having to remember bringing two passports.) In the cases of many countries however it’s important to note that the old visa will only be honored if you renew your passport with the same type. So if you’re changing to a diplomatic visa for example, you’ll need to have all of your valid visas from the old passport most likely renewed. Otherwise you can see if a transfer is possible.

Also, if you’re a dual citizen, the passport with the valid visa and your new passport must be from the same country. You can’t mix and match in those cases.

color paper clipsDouble-Check And Don’t Forget Both

Keep in mind however you need both a valid visa and a valid passport – don’t try to enter another country with a good visa in a passport that’s expired. You won’t be allowed in and to be sure you don’t inadvertently forget, paperclip all of your passports with valid visas in them until the expire. You never know when you might have a sudden change of travel plans and don’t want to have to go through any visa process (plus fees) any more than required.

Finally, I want to mention again to confirm things with the appropriate embassy prior to making any travel plans. Some countries will vary in what they want you to do with your old visas, whether they expire when the passport does, and how to handle those situations. Although you might be a terrible planner like myself, visas are one area of travel where you shouldn’t wing it.

[Last paperclip photo is not mine, but rather public domain from Wikipedia. Mostly because I couldn’t find a paper clip to take a picture of.]

5 Experiences I Want To Travel To

by | Sep 13, 2012 | , , , | 17

anil polat foxnomad motorcycleAs it says over there on the right next to my photo, my overarching travel plan is to visit every country in the world. That’s a pretty broad goal with a number of interpretations though truly there’s no way I can see it all, no matter how long I’ll keep traveling. I want to go so many places, eat countless foods, and meet peoples of all sorts. Yet when it comes to things I want to do, as opposed to see or consume, there a few specific goals that keep circulating in my long-term imagination.

1. Practice Jiu-Jitsu In Brazil

brazilian flag

Prior to traveling full-time I trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for several years in the United States as well as recently in Turkey. The stories of students and instructors over that time who had visited cities like Sao Paulo to practice jit-jitsu for a few months or longer struck and stuck with me. There was definitely a romantic element to most reminisces – old fashioned, run down gyms, with 15 year-olds who put adults elsewhere in the world to fighting shame. Whatever the disparity between tale and truth may be, whenever I do make it to Brazil for the first time, grappling will be a big part of my plans.

2. Meet The Pirates Of Somalia

boat on the water

Unlike jiu-jitsu, I didn’t hijack cargo ships regularly before I began traveling. But like the stories I heard about makeshift jiu-jitsu schools, Jay Bahadur’s The Pirates Of Somalia, enthralled me when I read it. The book is an incredibly detailed account of Somali piracy, though it’s how he got the information – flying into northeastern Somalia (Puntland) and living among the pirates that I admire. I usually stumble into my stories but whether it’s on the shores of Somalia or elsewhere, I’d like to seek out a narrative along these lines.

3. Give A Tour Of Istanbul

meyhane raki

My favorite city in the world, I have a burning desire to show it off to others. I suppose the area inside my own skin isn’t enough to contain my passion about Turkey’s largest city, from the bright Istiklal Caddesi at night to historical sites like the Basilica Cistern and the food… I’ll say this with as much biased pride as I can: Istanbul is one of the best damn places on Earth to eat. Your palate doesn’t really know taste until it’s thoroughly eaten through this city, a glorious calorie road that’s hardly kebabs. I’ve taken friends and visitors around Istanbul over the years but do have plans to organize at least one tour in the not too distant future. You are, of course, invited.

4. Live On A Farm In Montana

farmland

Why Montana? For one it’s beautiful and not a place many have been. Or live, for that matter, as Montana has the third lowest population density of the United States. (And the third highest gun ownership rate per capita in the country. Guess I’ll have to take target practice.) There’s something about the simplicity of farm life that appeals to this admitted techno-addict and I guess late-night television hosts and the stunning backdrop of venues like KettleHouse Amphitheater adds to the charm that even late-night television hosts can appreciate.. Though this goal is probably some time off as I’d like to have animals around: sheep, goats, dogs with wrinkles and without, plus a donkey. I like their attitudes.

5. Follow The Motorcycle Path Of Long Way Round

Buckingham palace

I still remember my uncle, years ago, giving me a magazine with an article about Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor’s motorcycle trip around the world (then still in the planning stages) beginning in London. In many ways, reading those words and eventually one of the best motorcycle books ever, set me off on my journey to visit every country that I’m on now. One day, with ample offline planning for a 6 month motorcycle ride, I’d like to follow the trail in Long Way Round with a friend or two to help me get into keep me out of trouble along the way.

What Experiences Is Your Imagination Wrapped Around?

I’ve got that itching feeling I’m forgetting something, like leaving a hotel room convinced you didn’t look under the bed enough times. Though my plans change often, these 5 things have my imagination in a strong gravitational orbit, allowing other ideas to bounce and deflect off of them. I think many of us share those plans we don’t know when or if we’ll get to but help push us forward nonetheless. I’d like to hear what experiences you want to travel to in order to have them, no matter what stage of planning they’re in, as usual in the comments beneath.

The Best Travel Laptops Of 2012

by | Sep 11, 2012 | | 26

best travel laptops 2012

I’m asked all the time what is the best travel laptop and I’ve said many times there is no one best. It’s like asking what’s the best car, or shoe; everything really depends on your needs, budget, and personal preferences. That being said, there are some great laptops on the market now and I’ve put together a spectrum of those ranging from netbooks to higher-end full sized laptops to help guide your decision. (And after you’re done here you can check out my Traveler’s Guide To Choosing The Right Laptop to find a good fit for your jet-setting style.)

Budget Laptops And Netbooks

Generally speaking, the lower the price range of laptop, the more selection there is, and the greater variation within that group. That makes selecting a laptop of any kind in the sub-$600 range more difficult probably than any other. Mostly because there’s a lot out there and the shelf lifespan of these products is accelerated with frequent model updates that are hard to decipher.

  • asus 1025c netbookAsus EEE 1025C-BBK301 (~$259) – This 10-inch 2.4 pound (1.08 kilogram) netbook falls into a perfect storm of reliability and power (battery life listed at 12.5 hours) for an exceptional price. The Asus EEE 1025C-BBK301 is a good choice for those travelers who aren’t especially concerned about work or connectivity on their trip. You can check email, whip up a few documents, and probably reduce your anxiety about laptop theft at this price.
  • HP Pavilion dm1-4210us (~$450) – HP netbooks tend to be hit or miss but when their parts come together as they do in the dm1-4210us you get a relatively powerful netbook with more 4 times more memory and a 60% larger hard drive than the Asus EEE 1025C-BBK301 above. You also get an extra inch or so of screen, however the drawbacks are a slightly heavier build (3.52 lbs/1.29kg) and less battery life, around 7 hours.

Ultrabooks

Those of you who’ve read my The Ultimate Tech Guide For Travelers Version 2.0 know what I think of the term “ultrabook.” To put it mildly, I’m not a fan. But since I don’t get to add and remove words from languages as I please, let’s talk about this category of laptop that are distinguished by their small size and thinness. Ultrabooks are usually less than 2.5cm thick and weight less than a kilo and a half, the difference between them and netbooks usually being price and power – though there is some overlap between those laptop groups.

  • macbook airMacbook Air 11-Inch (~$1,100) – If you ask me, unless you’re looking for a straight-up Windows machine, the Macbook Air is the ultrabook for travelers. The Air really defined the category before it was made up by Intel in a marketing ploy, and it’s a powerful little machine. Aside from the solid 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, the Air is made even zippier with 64-128GB of flash storage (no spinning hard drive) sitting inside its 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm) frame. The only drawback of the 11-inch is the 5 hour battery life, surprisingly low for a laptop of this design.
  • Toshiba Portege R835-P94 (~$689) – This 13.3-inch laptop skirts the line between ultrabook and full-sized laptop mainly due to its thicker build (8.94 x 12.44 x 1.05 inches) although the trade is an 8x DVD drive built-in. The battery life is also better than the Macbook Air (about 9 hours) and its got a much bigger storage capacity – 640GB – albeit on a hard disk drive (as opposed to flash storage). Still, at half the price of the Air, you might be willing to trade a few grams from your wallet as opposed to your laptop.
  • acer aspire s5 ultrabookAcer Aspire S5-391-9880 (~$,1299) – If you’ve got the luxury to browse by laptops at a store, this Acer Aspire is worth getting a hands-on look at if you’re in the ultrabook market. The size (12.77 x 9.85 x 0.59 inches with a 13.3-inch screen) and weight (2.65lbs/1.2kg) of the Aspire won’t be a problem in your backpack and its 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) is slick as ice. The only big concern are the ports (e.g. USB); built on to a little motor that drops them down when needed. Why Acer would add unnecessary moving parts to a laptop is beyond me but that said, everything on the inside makes it an ultrabook to consider.

Honorable Mentions – Ultrabooks

Full-Size Laptops

  • Macbook Pro with Retina Display 15-inch (~$2,199) – There is so much to like about Apple’s latest addition to their Pro line, including, obviously, the retina display (basically the highest resolution your eyes can notice). A huge 768GB of flash storage, 7 hours of battery life, weighing only 4.46lbs (2.02kg), and it’s thin enough to give “ultrabooks” a run for their money.The only drawback however is the price, though Apple is likely to add a a few tweaks within the next 12 months (or release a 13-inch version) which might send this model sub-$2,000. At the very least in refurbished models.

  • Dell XPS 14z [2.8GHz Core i7-2640M] 14-inch (~$1,300) – This Dell won’t replace the Macbook Pro above or even come close, but it’s a strong overall candidate for good travel laptop in the mid-size range. Especially, this 2.8GHz processor build, though there is less expensive $1,000 1.7GHz version. The Dell cases in general don’t make their laptops feel as nice as they should but the screens on this model appeared crisp and bright when I looked them over. With a few tweaks Dell could really make this laptop feel like a higher-end machine but don’t let the appearances fool you, the insides are much better than the cover suggests.

You’re Probably Asking Which One You Should Buy?

As I mentioned in the beginning, there is no single best laptop and a few more could have been added to this list. However, for travelers in general, the top considerations tend to be: physical size, battery life, and the all important “can it do what I want it to.” Unless you’re a power-user (you know who you are) most of these laptops could probably meet your needs; keep in mind how long you’ll be starring at a screen and typing on a keyboard. Those considerations might be incentive enough to get a sightly larger screen or test out a few laptop keyboards to see how your fat fingers or pixy pinkies do typing on them.

Once you do get your travel computer, you can load these 5 programs you shouldn’t travel without, lock down your laptop from theft, and protect your privacy from invasive governments around the world.

About Anil Polat

foxnomad aboutHi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More

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