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November 28, 2004
Mobissimo, Sidestep, etc.
Everyone is looking for a bargain. I've been more impressed with agencies that specialize in low-fare tix and with going directly to the airlines' websites, but, bargain hunters might fine these travel meta-search engines interesting.
Posted by insideoutmag at 12:38 AM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2004
In Japan, You Are What You Eat, and How You Say What You're Eating
During this Thanksgiving weekend, it seems appropriate to post an article about eating so here is what the Japan Times has served up for you:
Something meaningful to sink your teeth into
By KAORI SHOJI
"If nothing else, the Japanese are food snobs.
The food culture here is vast and deep, spawning such professions as "food coordinators," "table specialists" and even "konamono kenkyuka (specialists of flour-related foods)" -- not to mention the obsessive "Ryori no Tetsujin (Iron Chef)" folks.
[...]
A friend of mine once split up with his girlfriend upon discovering that she was -- gasp! -- a mayoraa (a person who squeezes mayonnaise on most anything). In describing his utter disgust, he said, "When I saw her poised with that mayonnaise tube over a bowl of nikujyaga (boiled meat, veggies and potatoes), the light in my heart went out. It was a case of hyakunen no koimo sameta (the love of a hundred years went cold)."
Happy Thanksgiving and Itadakimasu!
Posted by insideoutmag at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2004
Go Rinoti and Karen!
It was posted a while ago but I only saw it recently, Erik Olsen at www.gadling.com gave Rinoti Amin and Karen Shim each a very nice mention on his blog. Good job Karen and Rinoti!
Thanks again Erik, the blog is a great read.
I came across this enjoyable yarn in a relatively new travel magazine out of SF. I think part of the allure is that I was just in India myself, and just like the writer of this story, about Jaisalmer, found it a wonderfully contradictory place. I like the writers writing style and sense of humor:
The fate of cows in India is somewhat paradoxical. Since calf hood, they are nurtured to become prolific milk producers. Considered sacred by Indian Hindus, their life is of import and respectability until their milk dries up. Sometimes, unable to maintain their upkeep, people let the non-productive ones go feral.
As Ravi, our hotel manager put it succinctly, “if the cow is still giving milk, everyone fights over who owns her. She cannot walk down the street without people trying to claim her. Once she stops giving milk, everyone is trying to convince each other that she belongs to the other.” In hindsight, it is understandable how betrayed these domesticated beings must feel.
I also like the magazine in general and hope they’ll stick around. So few small magazines dedicated to international adventure travel manage to last. I cross my fingers these guys hold on.
Check out Rinoti's article on Jaisalmer, India
Osaka, Japan gets some props from this writer who traveled to the city of Osaka and found a way to please her palate in one of Japan’s large, but not Tokyo, cities. The recommendations are for more than just sushi. Much more.
Start with takoyaki—balls of octopus and chips of green onion grilled in a soft golden batter. They’re cooked at small street stands. Look for ones with the longest queues, they’re usually the best ones. For 500 yen ($4.50 USD), you’ll get eight to ten pieces and maybe cheese melted on top, along with sweet mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce and a flurry of bonito flakes that dance quietly when sprinkled over hot food.
Check out Karen's article on Osaka
Posted by insideoutmag at 09:06 AM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2004
Want to Move to Australia? Test Your Eligibility
Now that we've done it, I would highly recommend City Kayak next time you're in San Francisco. The tour was a lot of fun, not too guided which I personally like, but you weren't completely out on your own either. The guide was nearby and could help anyone that needed it. My favorite part of the trip was when we paddled by house boats and the ball park. The guide took pictures of us so you'll be able to see them at www.citykayak.com in a week or so probably.
Reading International Herald Tribune, I found out about the Skilled Worker Visa and thought I would share with you if you're interested in moving to Australia.
This is the info listed on the Migration Expert website
"To sustain its population growth and fill specific skill shortages, Australia is looking to attract skilled migrants to its shores. The Skilled Migration Permanent Residency visa (work visa) is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities which will contribute to the Australian economy."
There's a short test you can take online to find out if you're eligible. I took it for fun and failed but the rejection letter was so nice, I didn't mind (see below).
"Dear Miss. Goupil,
Unfortunately, according to the information you have provided, you have not passed the Migration Eligibility Assessment under the Skilled Independent stream at this stage.
However, our migration agents can advise you how to maximise your chances of qualifying for the Skilled Independent Visa. Additionally, your assigned migration agent will inform you about alternative visas that may better suit your circumstances.
You can now explore your Australian migration options by taking advantage of our Prospective Migration Service."
Good luck and let us know if you're able to get a visa!
Posted by insideoutmag at 04:13 PM | Comments (0)
November 19, 2004
Happy Birthday Josh!
He doesn't know that I'm posting this so sshhh... Tomorrow (11/20) is Josh's birthday, you can send birthday wishes to publisher@insideoutmag.com .
To celebrate, we've planned a day out on the water. Last year, we took a sailing class with OCSC Sailing School. It was really cold but felt awesome to be on a boat again.
This year we're doing something different, we're going kayaking in the bay of San Francisco with City Kayak. It seems like a great way to see the city... if anyone is interested in doing this next time they're in town, e-mail us or post on here and we'll happily give you our report!
Here is the information from the City Kayak website:
Guided Trip
Location: City Kayak
Cost: $40 per person
Time: Everyday- appr. 4 hours
Prerequisite: None (first timers can join this trip)
City Kayak offers guided trips at selected hours. A guide takes you along the scenic places in San Francisco. Some of the destinations include the Bay Bridge, Ferry Building, Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, SBC Ball Park and house boats. Newly added is The Ramp where we dock for a quick bite.
Your guide will provide valuable paddle stroke clinic, take you through the easist water ways and scenic places, and be a safety escort during the trip.
This trip is good for first timers, beginers, and experienced kayakers who are new in San Francisco bay.
Posted by insideoutmag at 06:13 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
Hit us with Your Best Shots!
It’s time for our second travel photo contest! For those of you who receive our newsletter, you already know what to do but here is the info if you haven't heard yet:
Photo editor Alex Robinson has chosen the theme “Faces of the World” for this photo contest. You don’t need to be a professional photographer to participate but you do need to read our submission guidelines:
- JPG format only.
- Maximum size should be 1,000 pixels on the longest side.
- One photo per e-mail, and a maximum of five pictures per participant.
- Include when and where you took the picture.
- Be sure to include your full name, mailing address and phone number.
- Please don’t superimpose text on the photo with copyright information, etc. You retain all your rights, but we’ll include the photographer’s name in a standardized way.
- Send photos to photos@insideoutmag.com by Jan. 15, 2005.
We’ll show the pictures at one of our Travelers Happy Hours in early spring and have some cool prizes for the best photographers. Good luck!
Posted by insideoutmag at 04:58 PM | Comments (0)
Evolution of the U.S. Passport
I applied for my first U.S. passport last week (I was born in France and became a U.S. citizen a few weeks ago) and although I'm happy to be receiving mine soon, it looks like if I had waited just a little longer, I would have been able to get a new epassport... oh well, next time!
This article is from Wired:
"It may look like an ordinary US passport, but the next-gen booklet being tested by government officials and diplomats this winter will have a silicon component: a microchip that stores your photo ID and other information, which can be accessed wirelessly and analyzed by facial-recognition software. The new document, slated to become standard issue sometime next year, is part of a worldwide passport upgrade designed to improve border security. The global system is still being hashed out. The European Union prefers fingerprints and iris scanning, and civil rights activists are calling for better privacy measures. For now, here's what you can expect as the epassport era dawns."
Posted by insideoutmag at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2004
A Veteran's Memories
I read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle this morning about a war veteran that was really touching.
"On this Veterans Day, Halloran wonders what the long nights will hold, 10 and 20 years from now, for today's men and women fighting in Iraq. How many will wake up sweating and screaming, as he did, years and years after he had returned home safely? Halloran was 62 when, long after abandoning his fourth psychiatrist, he came to understand that every war veteran has to find his or her own way to chase the nightmares.
This was his: He returned to the place he vowed never to set foot in again."
The man reminded me of the survivor Josh and I met in Hiroshima a couple years ago. Matsushimi-san missed the tram that would take him to school the day the Americans dropped the bomb on the city and being late that morning saved his life.
When we went to meet him, I didn't really know what to expect but I guess I thought victims of war generally reacted angrily. Meeting him and finding out that he chose to do everything he could to become friends with Americans was an inspiration. He went to study in the U.S. and even became an English teacher. Reading the article in the Chronicle made me think that was probably Matsushimi-san's way of getting rid of the nightmares.
If you're interested in reading more about our meeting with Matsushimi-san, Josh wrote an article about it.
Posted by insideoutmag at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)
Traveling Abroad on a Student Budget
World traveler Doug Lansky shows students the different modes of transportation during his World Travel Show: An inspirational and comic performance about how to see the world on a student's budget.
Posted by insideoutmag at 12:17 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2004
Other ESL Job Listing Websites
Here are other websites I found that lists ESL teaching jobs in Japan. I used Ohayo Sensei when I lived in Kyoto.
http://www.eslemployment.com/
http://www.ohayosensei.com/
Posted by insideoutmag at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
Teaching Jobs in Japan
Many travelers get to live in a foreign country by teaching English as a Second Language. In some places, you'll need teaching experience and a degree but in other countries, like Japan, there's such a high demand of English teachers, that you should be able to find a teaching position even if you have no or little experience.
English schools in Japan do most of their hiring in March/April and September/October so if you're interested in seeing what positions are available, here are some websites you can check:
Kansai Flea Market
Gaijin Pot Jobs
Kansai Scene
Dave's ESL Cafe
If you're not sure you can tell the difference between a good and "bad" teaching contract, check out the article we published on teaching in Japan
Let us know what are your favorite websites for teaching job listings!
Posted by insideoutmag at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2004
Oh the Things Travelers Do!
Travelers, especially budget travelers, are known to be a courageous bunch, always ready for adventure and discovery. Sometimes, they embark on a solo walking journey across the world, or volunteer in dangerous areas... sometimes they just run naked on the tarmac.
Posted by insideoutmag at 09:16 AM | Comments (2)
November 04, 2004
One Election Down, Four More Years to Go
With all the election madness, we waited to put out the issue until the election hangover clears the air (if ever!) so you'll see new articles posted by Monday November 8. In the meantime, we'll post in this blog so check back with us!
Jim Benning at worldhum.com wrote an interesting post yesterday. We heard and read all the different polls before the elections and they included people from all over the country. But, as Jim mentioned, these polls didn't include the traveler vote. So, what would the traveler have voted?
Well according to this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, I'm guessing, most travelers didn't vote for the winner, and now some are deciding to do what they do best: travel!
Posted by insideoutmag at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2004
Off the Beaten Track Photo Show, November 5th
Laura Mack is inviting you to the opening reception of her photo show, Off the Beaten Tracks on Friday, November 5th at Javarama in Alameda, California. She'll have photographs from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakshtan, Siberia and Moscow.
Click here for more information
Thanks for letting us know about this Laura and good luck!
Posted by insideoutmag at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2004
Are you a Flashpacker?
Sorry for the lack of posts in the last week, we just got back from a trip to Phoenix. Jesse and Kerri's wedding was a lot of fun, especially the karaoke at the reception!
We were on a budget but flashpacked it for an evening with friends at Durant's, Josh's favorite bar in town.
Whether you're a flashpacker or a backpacker, read on for a fun quiz and useful info on Australia, Thailand, Laos, Peru and Ecuador.
Posted by insideoutmag at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)