Problem solving Bali style

post from Bali Blog on 21 March 2007 11:57:00 PM. © Bali Blog

Life in Bali is very different from the place most expats originate from. Not just the climate or the scenery, but the whole mentality, priorities and thought process of the locals. That’s actually part of the attraction of Bali.Recently I’ve seen a couple of examples of how local mentality is out of sync with its [...]

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Foreign artwork of old Japan

post from Japan Probe on 21 March 2007 11:10:44 PM. © Japan Probe

Ever wonder what Japan looked like in the 19th century? These galleries of artwork created by foreigners in the early days of the opening of Japan provide an interesting look into that time period and how westerners perceived the Japanese:Images from Narrative of the Expedition of An American Squadron to the China and Japan [...]

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Cruise Ships Squash Belize

post from Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations on 21 March 2007 10:49:20 PM. © Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations

Since I already annoyed half the cruise ship industry in the last post, might as well get the other half riled up as well. There’s a disturbing Belize article in the March issue of National Geographic Traveler titled, “A Reef Takes a Dive.” It’s not posted online yet, but hopefully will be later. Meanwhile, you [...]

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Poll: 51% of Japanese smokers think theyll get
cancer, but most wont quit smoking until they are seriously ill

post from Japan Probe on 21 March 2007 10:11:37 PM. © Japan Probe

Smoking causes lung cancer, you say? Well, I won’t quit smoking until it’s already too late: More than half of Japanese smokers feel they may develop lung cancer someday but say they will not kick the habit unless they do contract a grave illness, according to a recent Johnson & Johnson KK survey….…Among the [...]

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Rinko Kikuchi cut from Babel in China

post from Asia Blog on 21 March 2007 08:04:40 PM. © Asia Blog

The strangest, most fascinating, complicated part of the recent movie Babel was Rinko Kikuchi’s scenes, where she portrayed a mentally distraught deaf-mute obsessed with finding someone in the world to love her. However, since her part involved occasional nudity, they cut a good five minutes from Alejandro González Iñárritu’s movie:This reporter observed that apart [...]

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Modern Istanbul

post from Gridskipper on 21 March 2007 05:50:29 PM. © Gridskipper

buzada%20modern%20istanbul.jpg Istanbul has been a cultural treasure and choice destination for about 1,500 years. However, the city changed and grew drastically after Turkey was formed in 1923, and again via waves of massive immigration in the 1970s and onward. Now with a population of over 11 million and enjoying its advantageous location on travel routes between Europe and Asia, it's becoming a cultural capital of sorts. We've collected a grab-bag of Istanpul picks gleaned from our Guardian pal Benji Lanyado as well as suggestions from Grdiskipper's Istanbul correspondents.

Benji Lanyado's Picks

Halide D: Benji's first stop on his tour of modern Istanbul is Halide D. It's a designer furniture store with the latest goods inspired by the "local design guru" Halide Didem. Pieces are mostly minimalist and geometric in design, ranging from colorful tables to apple-shaped lamps to stone vases.

180 (Turnacibasi Sokak 28): While in the shopping district of Cukurcuma, Benji finds 180, a teensy boutique with trendy clothes and modern lighting and design. He writes "I began to realise that my pursuit of a 'modern' Istanbul was a bit patronising ... if anything, Cukurcuma could teach Soho a thing or two."

Chillout Hostel: For accommodation, Benji heads to the budget-sexy Chillout Hostel, mostly because of the price (under £7 per night). He finds the lounge full of the owners' friends and family, and it also sports a quaint candle-lit cafe.

Istanbul Modern : Benji checks out the Istanbul Modern for a real glimpse at the modern side of the city. Turkey's first national museum of modern art, its highlights include video installations featured in the Venice Biennial and large prints by locals.

360 Istanbul: Benji's next rec is 360 Istanbul, a hip bar and restaurant located on the top of a 19th-century apartment building. He writes, "360 Istanbul was a festival of razor-sharp neoteric design, doused in ephemeral light filtering in through the restaurant's all-glass exterior, through which the apricot, minaret-dotted skyline rolled out in all directions." Check out our review.

Indigo: For nightlife Benji finds Indigo, the city's hottest electronic club. The line is packed with Istanbul's young and beautiful, and the party inside is wild. Everyone dances "even ... the DJ, who threw himself into the crowd during musical peaks."

Gridskipper Picks

Sonic Garden of Babylon: Contributor Christy Quirk picks Sonic Garden of Babylon as a modern Istanbul hot spot. They host all kinds of bands, from Turkish jazz vocalists to American alt-country bands to local Istanbul hip-hop groups.

Café Turco: Our friend Carpetblogger recommends Café Turco for its Turkish and American cinema posters, live music, Efes beer. "If the weather's nice, the action takes place in the alleyway."

Club Crystal: One of our faves is Club Crystal, a large nightclub complete with heated tent for the winter. DJs spin house music until the wee hours, and famous local and international DJs all stop by. The crowd is a mixture of hipsters young and old.

Buzada: Neal Ungerleider suggests Buzada as another great place to experience young and modern Istanbul. It's a large nightclub attached to three restaurants located on a private island in the Bosporus. Includes bonus swimming pool.

-- Amanda Kludt

Previously: Istanbul Street Style, Istanbul's Photo Epidemic, Markiz Patisserie

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Japan News for March 22, 2007

This morning’s Japan-related news links:The Japan Times has posted a Q&A with two historians about the comfort women issue: Were they teen-rape slaves or paid pros? [Link via Ampontan]South Korean activist scaled a wall of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday and staged a brief protest of Tokyo’s recent statements about comfort women. [...]

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Clear as Mud

clear%20card%20daily%20candy.jpg Often enough, Daily Candy is perfectly fine as a recycler for idea-mulch. It's all chosen on merit, after all -- "no pay for play," right? Right? How then to explain today's recommendation of the "Clear" Registered Traveler card, which has been knocking around since the summer of 2005? In a nutshell, the Clear card allows you to pay $99.95 per year for the privilege of submitting to an extensive background check. You're then issued a Clear card, which grants access to a special Clear security line at a few selected airports. (Previously you just got to skip individual post-x-ray searches.) Even with 40,000 alleged Clear members, I'm very skeptical that these special Clear security lanes are really 100% Clear-only, or that they'll be staffed at all hours. If you've bought into Clear or seen it in action, tell your story to tips@gridskipper.com.

Clear Skies [Daily Candy]

-- Chris Mohney

Earlier: The Price of Clear Flying