Top 10 Awesome Australian Outback Adventures

Posted on January 30, 2012 by flybuy

Approximately 90% of Australia’s land mass is desert outback. In the past, those who braved the extremes of heat and cold in these desolate regions came back to civilization transformed – if they came back at all. While there are many stories of death and deprivation in the outback of old, today many regions are, if not luxurious, at least doable. Often describing the outback as “a mystical landscape” and a journey into the outback as a “spiritual experience”, some contemporary explorers become so enamored of the outback, they never return to the safe confines of “civilization” again.

In order to fully appreciate the outback, you have to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. In order live to tell the tale, though, you need to have access to at least essential amenities. These 10 awesome outback adventures in Australia are designed for those who want to at least survive the experience and some can even be enjoyed in comfort and style.

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10. Uluru

Uluru is awesome, so why is it in the lowliest spot on our list? With regular direct flights from all of Australia’s major cities, 5 star resorts, 65 different guided tours and all of the other conveniences on offer in Uluru, it is hardly the outback anymore.

On the other hand, as a symbol of the outback, Uluru stands head and shoulders above the rest. In order to fully appreciate Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you have to step back in time, 10,000 years will do, and imagine yourself to be a member of the indigenous Anangu tribe. What we see as “the Rock”, you see as a living presence that speaks volumes about the Meaning of Life and gives you the laws by which you live.

If you give it a chance, Uluru can speak to you, too. Try to spend some time away from the pack, explore the Kata Tjuta desert and imagine yourself finding everything you need to survive in the seemingly arid desert, which, when you look closely, is actually teeming with life. Then glance up at Uluru from a distance and be filled with awe and wonder in its presence. That’s the real Uluru and that’s the real spirit of the outback.

9. Broken Hill

Like Uluru, Broken Hill is regularly frequented by tourists and although by no means as upmarket, it still has plenty of comfortable amenities for visitors. For this reason, it is only Number 2 on our list. Nevertheless, Broken Hill, New South Wales, is a quintessentially outback town. First discovered and populated roughly 40,000 years ago by the Barkindji people, they were the first to sense the region’s timeless mystical qualities and held the area in high spiritual esteem.

The original European settlers were not quite as sensitive as the Barkindji. Where the indigenous population saw a landscape of awesome beauty, the first Europeans saw a silver-rich landscape just waiting to be exploited. Broken Hill became a city of rough and tumble fortune seekers and one of the largest outback settlements in Australia in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, a new generation of Australians discovered Broken Hill. This new generation of artists, sculptors, writers and dreamers, were swept away by the beauty of the landscape, the deep blue sky and the eternal silence of the desert. Today, although it is still called Silver City, Broken Hill, the “biggest city in the middle of nowhere” is equally renowned as a place of inspiration and spiritual enrichment. Thankfully, newer settlers have created the Living Desert Reserve and Sculpture Symposium, a 2400 hectare reserve that celebrates the awesome beauty of the outback in all its glory. The region’s aboriginal roots, too, have been preserved and you can sleep under the stars in nearby Mutawintji National Park and wake up to explore ancient examples of aboriginal rock art, some of which are up to 8000 years old.
8. Bourke

Ask an Australian where anyplace far away is and they will most likely reply, “It’s out the back o’ Bourke, mate.” What they are referring to is the New South Wales outback town of Bourke. Any place beyond the small settlement of Bourke was out in the “back of beyond” or so far away it was considered barely habitable, if that. Fortunately, this is no longer the case and Bourke is a great place to make your base camp if you want to explore the “back of beyond.”

Bourke is the western-most town on the Darling River Run, a sealed road that has been specifically built for transportation, both commercial and tourist, in the New South Wales outback. Originally discovered by legendary explorer Charles Sturt, who considered it uninhabitable, Bourke later became a stockade and then an important trade center. From there, you can go “out the back o’ Bourke” and discover the iconic town of Lightning Ridge. As is true throughout the Australian outback, the only reason this spot in the middle of nowhere was settled was because its desert rocks jealously guarded riches. In the case of Lightning Ridge, those riches came in the form of black opals.
Needless to say, living in the outback can do strange things to your psyche and the Australian locals outside the back o’ Bourke are best known for their eccentricities. They are a friendly lot, though, and going to Lightning Ridge, viewing their quirky creations, like the famous bottle house and “having a yarn” with a local are the main attractions of this classic outback settlement.

7. The Flinders Ranges

When you reach South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, you arrive in some seriously awesome Australian outback territory. To get an idea of just how “outback” the Flinders are, consider the fact that they are one of the earth’s most ancient mountain ranges, with a history that dates back over 130 million years. This is easy to visualize when you actually visit the Flinders and take the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail, an easily traversed 12 mile hike that includes strategically located signs pointing out the geological significance of the landscape you cross.

A little more recently, the aboriginal tribes that have called the Flinders home for tens of thousands of years left reminders of their culture throughout the region in the form of some of the most well preserved aboriginal rock art you will find anywhere in Australia.

More recently still, reminders of just how hard life was for the first European settlers in the Flinders was can be seen in the Appelinna ruins and old deserted mines. In Coober Pedy, the iconic outback opal town, those 19th century settlers managed to survive by building their shelters, pubs and other amenities underground. For a unique and genuine outback experience, stay in a Coober Pedy underground guest accommodation and make that your base for exploring Wilpena Pound and all of the other awesome sights in the Flinders.

6. Nullarbor

In Latin, Nullarbor means “no trees.” That should give you an idea of just how “outback” this outback region of South Australia is. The fact that the longest stretch of dead straight railway track (297 miles) runs through the Nullarbor should give you an inkling of just how flat and arid this vast region is. Geologically, it is of relatively new origin by Australian standards, having risen from the sea a mere 125 million years ago. How this happened is hard to visualize until you find yourself standing on the edge of the Bunda Cliffs, scanning the surface of the ocean over 200 vertical feet below you, waiting for a pod of Southern Right Whales to surface.

There are two ways to explore the Nullarbor. You can do it the easy way and charter a light aircraft or take the comfortable, air-conditioned train or you can do it the hard way and explore it on foot. If at all possible, choose the latter, because you can only fully appreciate it from ground level. From the air or a fast moving train, it appears to be a flat, nearly lifeless plateau. From the ground, you will discover that it is filled with life and you will probably find yourself coming face to face with many indigenous Australian animal species, including emus, wombats and several species of kangaroo. Just beneath the surface, the Nullarbor is peppered with an extensive limestone cave system. This is far too dangerous to explore without a guide and in fact it’s illegal to do so except in a few locations. Stay in the Nullarbor Roadhouse region and you can explore the nearby Murrawijinie Caves without a guide and be in the heart of the awesome Nullarbor outback at the same time.
5. Kakadu

Australia’s Northern Territories are so remote, they are considered territories rather than States. In the heart of the Northern Territories is Kakadu National Park. 62 miles wide and twice as long, Kadadu is the largest national park in Australia and a World Heritage site, but is it the outback? After all, it’s not hard to get to Kakadu anymore and tens of thousands of tourists visit the region every year. When you get there, you will agree that it definitely feels like the outback. Jabiru is the largest settlement in the park and all you will find there besides a bed to stay in is a bank, a post office, a service station, a medical center, a supermarket and a shop that sells newspapers and magazines.

Step outside of the “teeming metropolis” of Jabiru and you are in the land of the ancient aboriginals. Aboriginal culture is everywhere in Kakadu, from its estimated 5000 aboriginal cave and rock art sites to the aboriginal guides who will take you to the East Alligator River, the Magela Wetlands and dozens of other fascinating Kakadu attractions.

4. Kalgoorlie

If you’ve never heard of Kalgoorlie, you’re not Australian. Just mention the name to any Australian and they will instantly recognize it as the home of Australia’s richest gold fields. Interestingly, though, very few Australians will be able to tell you what life is like in Kalgoorlie today. That’s because so few tourists visit the region and in their minds, Kalgoorlie is a small outback town populated only by sunburned gold miners.

Actually, Kalgoorlie is Australia’s largest outback town, with a population of around 30,000. If not for the fact that it is surrounded by awesome empty outback, it would no longer even qualify as an outback adventure. You will find all the creature comforts in Kalgoorlie, but you will also be in an oasis in the middle of nowhere. This is why Kalgoorlie ranks so high on our list. If you really want to immerse yourself in the outback, don’t settle for a Kalgoorlie accommodation. Instead, arrange to stay on an authentic outback station and explore the region on foot, by horseback or in a 4WD.
3. Birdsville

Birdsville has the distinction of being the most remote outback town in Queensland. It would probably take top billing on our list of awesome outback adventures except for the fact that the only reason you would want to go there would be to say you did. A virtual ghost town for eleven months of the year, Birdsville comes alive for a brief period each September, when the Birdsville races are held. Even then, the town’s population only “swells” to around 6000.

Birdsville is also the starting point of the infamous Birdsville track. This 321 mile long dirt and gravel road takes you through some of the Australian outback’s harshest landscape. A 4WD vehicle is a must and it is advisable to travel with a caravan of vehicles rather than alone. If something goes wrong along the way, you can’t just call a tow truck to help you out and it may be a long time until another vehicle comes along. If you are prepared, though, a drive on the Birdsville Track to Marree, South Australia is really an outback adventure to boast about.
2. The Kimberley

The Kimberley region of West Australia is vast, covering over 260,000 square miles from Broome on the coast to Kununurra and Lake Argyle in the eastern outback. To give you an idea of how large a swathe of land the Kimberley covers, it is larger than Japan and much larger than New Zealand or the United Kingdom. In all of that enormous area, there are only three towns with populations greater than 2000. The total population of the entire region, is only 25,000, so don’t expect to find a metropolis in the Kimberley.

What the Kimberley lacks in population it more than makes up for in awesomeness. In fact, you could easily write a top ten outback adventure story about the Kimberley alone. For most of us, Broome, on the Indian Ocean coast, would be the most reasonable starting point for a Kimberley adventure. As the largest town in the region, it has the most amenities and its proximity to the stunning Indian Ocean coast makes it a place you will want to hang out in for quite awhile. Don’t wimp out, though. There are outback stations and campgrounds you can stay in throughout the Kimberley that allow you to get “up close and personal” with some of the most amazing sights in all of the “back of beyond.”
1. Arnhem Land

Once you’ve reached Arnhem Land, you can’t go any deeper into the Australian outback, because it is bordered by the Arafura Sea on one side and the Gulf of Carpenteria on the other. Arnhem Land is separated from Kakadu by the awesome 600+ feet high Arnhem escarpment. Once you are on the other side of the escarpment you are in a land that is still owned by its original aboriginal inhabitants.

Arnhem Land is the birthplace of the didgeridoo and is a virtual art gallery of spectacular aboriginal art. For nature lovers, it is home to hundreds of species of indigenous plants and animals. Step off the shore and into the waters of the Arafura Sea or the Gulf of Carpenteria and you are in some of the world’s best fishing waters, simply because it is so remote it is yet to be fished out. Plan your visit to the awesome Arnhem Land well in advance, because you need to obtain a permit to go there and then you will need to arrange for light plane or 4WD transportation into the area. Don’t expect to find a cozy campground to sleep in, either: you will be roughing it in Arnhem Land. That’s why it’s Number 1 on our list of awesome Australian outback adventures.

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Dolce & Gabbana Womenswear and Menswear Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign

Posted on January 10, 2012 by flybuy

Bianca Balti & Monica Bellucci photographed by Giampaolo Sgura for Dolce & Gabbana Womenswear Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign. Menswear Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign photographed by Mariano Vivanco.

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Top 10 Things to Do in 2012

Posted on January 6, 2012 by flybuy

It’s not as if you need an excuse for travel…but if you did, here are the anniversaries, gatherings and essential destinations to put in your diary for next year. Your 2012 travel planning starts here.

1. Honour Scott’s Polar Centenary

British explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the South Pole arrived on 17 January 1912, by which point they already knew they were beaten by Amundsen’s triumph on 14 December 1911. A century later, the Antarctic summer of 2011-12 will be a bumper one for visits to the frozen continent. Scott buffs should aim for Cambridge, England (home to the Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute) or his statue in London’s Waterloo Place. But the ultimate is to visit his frozen-in-time hut at Cape Evans on Ross Island, Antarctica.

The Scott Centenary concert tour featuring the City of London Sinfonia will tour England in February.

2. Follow Napoleon Across Russia

Da da da da da da da da, daa daaa…BOOM! (That’s Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with cannon fire.) Yes, this year marks the 200th anniversary of 1812 – and Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia and the battles provoked by it. Head to Moscow, where the Battle of Borodino Panorama gives a vivid impression of the events of a key skirmish. Or go further north to St Petersburg’s Hermitage and Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps, which contain paintings and memorabilia from the campaign. This could also be the year to finally tackle Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace, set around the conflict – though you may need to set aside the entire year to get through it.

The 360-degree panorama of the Borodino battle – complete with sound effects – is at Kutuzovsky pr 38, Moscow.

3. Visit Namibia’s Protected Coast

Namibia is a special country, blessed with an abundance of easy-to-spot wildlife, beautiful desert scenery and vast, wide open spaces. This year you can visit the epic Namibian coastline in the knowledge that the entire Atlantic shore is now part of one of the world’s largest protected areas, encompassing four parks: the Sperregebiet National Park, Namib Naukluft Park, newly created Dorob National Park and the infamous Skeleton Coast protected area. Many areas, especially in the south, can be explored independently – though ideally with your own wheels – but getting into serious Skeleton Coast wilderness requires a charter flight and deep pockets.

Chameleon Safaris offers good-value safaris across Namibia, including the Skeleton Coast.

4. Go Football Crazy in Poland and Ukraine

This summer’s European Football Championship shines a light on two of Europe’s least appreciated destinations. Poland and Ukraine are providing four venues each, and the rewards for travelling fans are set to be huge. Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan and Wroclaw, Poland’s host cities, frame a journey around that country, and you can tick off Krakow on the way to Europe’s best-kept secret, Lviv in Ukraine. Kiev, which is especially lovely in the summer, Kharkiv and football-mad Donetsk complete the set of Ukrainian host venues. Both countries offer some of the best-value travel in Europe, with easy transport links to ferry the continent’s supporters to and frommatches.

5. Chase Australia’s Top End Eclipse

Eclipse chasers have had a bountiful few years, pairing one of nature’s greatest shows with visits to Easter Island, Bhutan and Mongolia. This year’s total eclipse on 13 November crosses parts of the South Pacific, with the most significant landfall across Arnhem Land and Cape York in Australia’s Northern Territory and Queensland, respectively. This is wild territory, and access to many areas is restricted by both permit requirements and wet season transport difficulties. However, the remote Palmer River area, inland from Port Douglas, Queensland, sees less rainfall than coastal areas and looks set to be a key eclipse-chasers destination.

Camping, facilities and a gold rush museum are available at the Palmer River Roadhouse on the Mulligan Hwy.

6. Meet the Maid of Orleans on Her 600th Birthday

France’s greatest heroine was born 600 years ago this year, offering a great excuse to explore her former stamping ground. Joan of Arc was a teenage visionary and military hero who took the fight to the English in the Hundred Years War. Following her trail will lead travellers to some wonderful parts of France, from Orleans, where her boldness led to the lifting of a long siege, to the beautiful Reims Cathedral, where Charles VII was crowned King of France, having been inspired by her visions of his succession. Joan was tried in Rouen Castle and executed in the city’s Vieux Marche, where a modern church marks the location of her immolation.

In preparation, read Mark Twain’s fictional but illuminating Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc.

7. Discover a New Middle East

The Arab Spring swept through the region in 2011, offering revolutions that were variously realised or repressed. Few countries in the Middle East and North Africa were unaffected, but the most significant change may be in Western perceptions of the region. Despite their troubled political systems, these countries are steeped in history and offer hospitality unrivalled anywhere else; they’re also are home to a young, energetic and ambitious population. Why not pay a visit to Tunis or Cairo – or any of the other cities that hit the headlines in 2011? You might be among the first to return, and you’ll definitely be warmly welcomed.

Keep an eye on the headlines for the opening date of the amazing new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, projected for some time in 2012.

8. Explore Maribor’s Old Town

Sharing the European Capital of Culture crown with Guimarães, Portugal  is the unheralded Slovenian gem of Maribor. The plan is to use the year in the spotlight to increase the profile of Slovenia’s second-largest city, which is off the usual Ljubljana-Lake Bled-Triglav route through the country. Events are still being confirmed, but expect art, music and other festivals to accompany the well-established theatre, classical music and folklore performances. The real stars of the show will be Maribor’s delightful Old Town and imposing castle, combined with a laid-back air best sampled from a cafe in one of the city’s many delightful, diminutive squares.

Štajerc, a pub-restaurant at Vetrinjskaulica 30, is the place to head for if you’re in the mood for reasonably priced local dishes.

9. Play Arcade Classics at the Smithsonian

Parents, kids, geeks and gamers should rejoice and head for the US capital. The collection at DC’s Smithsonian American Art Museum has over 7000 works of art, but an exhibition this year proves this is no mere load of frames gathering dust. The Art of Video Games explores the evolution of arcade and computer games over 40 years, and promises to make almost everyone who visits feel nostalgic (and possibly ancient). Some 80 games will be featured through still images and video footage. Better yet, you warm up your fingers and then play Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst and World of Warcraft.

The exhibition will run from 16 March to 30 September.

10. Check out Korea’s Expo

Today’s descendants of World’s Fairs, expos are large public exhibitions organised around a particular theme and featuring stands representing individual countries (think World Showcase at Disney World’s Epcot). The modern versions fascinate as much for the ways that countries strive to portray themselves as for the exhibits themselves. Yeosu in Korea is staging EXPO 2012, with a theme of ‘Living Ocean and Coast’, and the port city is a fitting venue with its spectacular coastline. Inside the Expo, expect thought-provoking, futuristic displays and dramatically designed pavilions.

Expo 2012 will be held from 12 May to 12 August.

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2011 Best Photos of the Year Part 2

Posted on December 27, 2011 by flybuy

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1 Elizabeth Brodeur, 7, weeps for her slain father, Maj. David Brodeur, during a graveside service at the Air Force Academy on May 17, 2011 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 34-year-old U.S. fighter pilot was serving as a NATO trainer in Afghanistan when he and 8 other Americans were shot and killed by an Afghan Air Force cadet April 27 at the Kabul International Airport. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

2 Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, performs a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Royal Purple 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 6, 2011 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

3 A police officer in full riot gear sprays tear gas at a protestor’s head after clashes erupted during a general strike that halted services and disrupted flights May 11, 2011 in Athens, Greece. Violence erupted after approximately 20, 000 protestors marched to parliament during a 24-hour general strike . Protestors reportedly clashed with riot police throughout Athens after unions called the strike to protest harsh austerity measures intended to keep the debt-ridden country solvent. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

4 The historic Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Station is surrounded by floodwater May 17, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to crest May 19. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding along the Mississippi River from Illinois to Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

5 Alatasi Tupou of Samoa is tackled by Ezequiel Farelle of Argentina during the IRB London Sevens at Twickenham Stadium on May 22, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

6 (L-R) Queen Elizabeth II, US President Barack Obama, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, First Lady Michelle Obama and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh battle against the wind during a ceremonial welcome in the garden of Buckingham Palace on May 24, 2011 in London, England. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle are in the UK for a two day State Visit at the invitation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. During the trip they will attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and the President will address both houses of parliament at Westminster Hall. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

7 Crystal Kilpatrick plants an American flag on the house of a family friend after the home was destroyed when a massive tornado passed through the town killing at least 125 people May 26, 2011 in Joplin, Missouri. Kilpatrick said she put the flag on the house for all the lives that were lost during the storm. The town continues the process of recovering from the storm. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

8 Stephen Dickson stands in front of his parent’s home while on the lookout for looters at dusk five days after a massive tornado passed through the town killing at least 132 people on May 27, 2011 in Joplin, Missouri. Although the house has no roof, Dickson sometimes sleeps in the home to protect it from looting. The town continues the process of recovering from the storm which damaged or destroyed an estimated 8,000 structures. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

9 The Barcelona team throws coach Pep Guardiola in the air after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, London, Saturday, May 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

10 US Army flight medic SGT Jaime Adame rushes into the dust out of a medevac helicopter from the US Army’s Task Force Lift “Dust Off”, Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment looking for wounded Marines at a “hot” landing zone that was under insurgent attack north of Sangin, in the volatile Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

11 U.S. Army flight medic SGT Jaime Adame, top, cares for seriously wounded Marine CPL. Andrew Smith following an insurgent attack on board a medevac helicopter from the US Army’s Task Force Lift “Dust Off”, Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment north of Sangin, in the volatile Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan on May 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

12 President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

13 Riot police walk in the street as a couple kiss on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

14 Rebel fighters fire a Grad rocket at the front line west of Misrata, Libya, Monday, June 20, 2011. Libya’s government said a NATO airstrike west of Tripoli destroyed a large family compound belonging to a close associate of Moammar Gadhafi, killing at least 15 people, including three children. The alliance said the strike hit a “command and control” center. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

15 A car stands in water on Ferry Road after two magnitude 6.0 and 5.5 earthquakes struck on June 13, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The aftershocks have followed four months after the major earthquake which hit the city on February 22, 2011 resulting in the deaths of 181 people. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

16 The remains of a damaged house at Shag Rock near Sumner after the cliff fell away during two magnitude 6.0 and 5.5 earthquakes struck on June 13, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The aftershocks have followed four months after the major earthquake which hit the city on February 22, 2011 resulting in the deaths of 181 people. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

17 Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing prepares to drive during qualifying for the European Formula One Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit on July 25, 2011, in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

18 Thousands of people gather in Juba, South Sudan, to hear the declaration of independence read aloud as the region celebrated its independence, July 9, 2011. At 1:20 pm on Saturday, after more than five decades of an underdog, guerilla struggle and two million lives lost, the Republic of South Sudan, Africa’s 54th state, officially declared its independence. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)

19 The space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. on July 21, 2011. The shuttle rolled to a stop just before 6 a.m., closing an era of the space program. (Philip Scott Andrews/The New York Times)

20 A young demonstrator during a protest against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, in Hama, Syria, July 16, 2011. (Moises Saman/The New York Times)

21 Runners scatter after a steer broke away from the pact of fighting bulls during the second day of the San Fermin running-of-the-bulls on July 7, 2011 in Pamplona, Spain. Pamplona’s famous Fiesta de San Fermin, which involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona for eight days starting July 7th, was made famous by the 1926 novel of U.S. writer Ernest Hemingway called ‘The Sun Also Rises’. on July 7, 2011 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

22 In this handout image provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASA space shuttle Atlantis in Earth orbit seen over the Bahamas just before docking for the last time with the International Space Station July 10, 2011 in space. Atlantis has embarked on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station where it will deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts. This will be the final launch of the space shuttle program, which began on April 12, 1981 with the launch of Colombia. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

23 Lt. Brian Dennison hugs his twin boys Logan and Grant during the homecoming of the USS Enterprise at the Norfolk Naval Station July 15, 2011 in Norfolk, Virginia. In its 184 days away from Norfolk, the USS Enterprise cruised nearly 60,000 miles while supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

24 Guests gather in the rain at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party attended by Queen Elizabeth II on July 19, 2011 in London, England. At least three garden parties are hosted by the Queen every summer, an event which dates back to the 1960′s and is held as a way of rewarding and recognizing public services. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid – WPA Pool /Getty Images)

25 Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates with teammates after winning the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on July 24, 2011 in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)Cattermole/Getty Images)

26 John Feinblatt (R) and Jonathan Mintz (L) celebrate after marrying with their daughters Maeve (BOTTOM-L) and Georgia at Gracie Mansion on July 24, 2011 in New York City. The longtime partners work at City Hall for Mayor Bloomberg who officiated the wedding on the first day gay couples were allowed to legally marry in New York state. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

27 Indian Railway workers remove debris of a derailed passenger train, near Bhatkuchi, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Gauhati, India Monday, July 11, 2011. Four coaches of the Guwahati-Puri Express derailed following a possible explosion, local police and railway sources said. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

28 Members of the militia employed by Ahmed Madobe, the Islamist sheik-turned-warlord of the Raskamboni movement, ride a vehicle through Dhobley, Somalia, Aug. 31, 2011. For the first time in years, the Shabab Islamist group that has long tormented Somalis is receding from several areas at once, but instead of the Transitional Federal Government uniting this fractious country, a messy, violent, clannish scramble is emerging over who will take control. (Sven Torfinn/The New York Times)

29 People shield themselves from blowing sand and rain as they look over the beach during Hurricane Irene August 27, 2011 in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Hurricane Irene hit Dare County, which sits along the Outer Banks and includes the vacation towns of Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, as a category one hurricane around mid-day. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

30 Freeskier Ted Davenport of the United States crashes after launching off a drop during the World Heli Challenge Extreme Day at Mount Albert on Minaret Station on August 1, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

31 The remains of a destroyed tree are seen five days after a massive tornado passed through the town killing at least 132 people on May 27, 2011 in Joplin, Missouri. The town continues the process of recovering from the storm which damaged or destroyed an estimated 8,000 structures. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

32 Firefighters battle a large fire that broke out in shops and residential properties in Croydon on August 9, 2011 in London, England. Sporadic looting and clashes with police continue for a third day in parts of the capital after the killing of the 29-year-old father of four Mark Duggan by armed police in an attempted arrest on August 4. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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2011 Best Photos of the Year

Posted on December 26, 2011 by flybuy

As 2011 nears its end, let us take a look at the events which took place in the previous 12 months. A picture is worth a thousand words, it is truly said, and photographers around the world have done a great job of capturing all the breaking news as well as personal stories that defined the year 2011.

Every year there are special moments that make us laugh, cry or even be terrified.

Here is a picture gallery which presents the photos featuring significant occurrences around the world in the year.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28
29 30 31 32

 

1 A libyan rebel fighter runs up a burning stairwell during an effort to dislodge some ensconced government loyalist troops who were firing on them from an upstairs room during house-to-house fighting on Tripoli Street in downtown Misrata, Libya on April 20, 2011. Rebel forces assaulted the downtown positions of troops loyal to Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi April 20, briefly forcing them back over a key bridge and trapping several in a building that fought back instead of surrendering, firing on the rebels in the building and seriously wounding two of them during the standoff. Fighting continues between Libyan government forces that have surrounded the city and anti-government rebels ensconced there. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

2 Tunisia officers attempt to break up a protest camp in Kasbah Square in Tunis, Tunisia, Jan. 28, 2011. (Joao Pina/The New York Times)

3 Rally Factory’s Juan Pedrero Garcia rides is motorcycle during the sixth stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Iquique and Arica in Chile, Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

4 A Guastavino Company spiral staircase at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York, on Jan. 25, 2011. The Guastavino Company was founded by the Catalonian architect Rafael Guastavino y Moreno, who arrived in New York 130 years ago. The domes and arches built by the Guastavino Company are everywhere in New York, but you have to look for them. (Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)

5 Mewelde Moore #21 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass over Antonio Cromartie #31 of the New York Jets in the third quarter of the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Jets 24 to 19. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

6 A competitor dressed as a Storm Trooper pushes him- or herself to the limit as he/she competes in the 2011 Tough Guy Challenge on January 30, 2011 in Perton, near Wolverhampton, England. Thousands of competitors from around the world come to compete in The Tough Guy Challenge, an eight mile endurance course of mud, freezing water and fire, held on farmland in the village of Perton. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

7 Visitors ride the Staten Island ferry with the Statue of Liberty in the background January 5, 2011 in New York City. In 2010, New York City drew a record 48.7 million visitors, making the city the number one U.S. tourist destination for the second year in a row. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

8 Andy Murray of Great Britain serves in his semifinal match against David Ferrer of Spain during day twelve of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

9 An anti-government protester reacts before Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was to make a statement February 10, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak made a statement in which he refused to step down, defying expectations that he was preparing to resign. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

10 Egyptians celebrated the announcement that President Hosni Mubarak was stepping down in Cairo, on Feb. 11, 2011. (Ed Ou/The New York Times)

11 An injured anti-government protestor rests in a house in Tahrir Square after clashes with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak on February 3, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. The Army positioned tanks between protesters who had been battling with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak for the second day in and around Tahrir Square in Cairo. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

12 A wounded anti-government protester is carried off after being struck by a rock during clashes with pro-government supporters near a highway overpass on the edge of Tahrir Square the afternoon of February 3, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Clashes between anti- and pro-government factions in Egypt’s central square continued February 3, with anti-government forces gaining more territory outside of Tahrir Square from Egyptians loyal to the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

13 Actress Lindsay Lohan arrives at court for an arraignment hearing in connection with the alleged theft of a $2,500 necklace on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Lohan has been charged with a felony count of grand theft for allegedly walking out of a Venice, California store with the necklace in January. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

14 Protesters run from a cloud of teargas during a clash with Bahraini security forces near the Pearl roundabout on February 18, 2011 in Manama, Bahrain. Protesters said that the army fired on them with live rounds, followed by teargas which drove the demonstrators back. There are unconfirmed reports that there are four dead in the clashes. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

15 The helicopter that will serve as Marine One blows up snow as it lands on the South Lawn of the White House prior to the departure of President Barack Obama February 22, 2011 in Washington, DC. Obama was attending the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

16 Hundreds of cars are seen stranded on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2011. A winter blizzard of historic proportions wobbled an otherwise snow-tough Chicago, stranding hundreds of drivers for up to 12 hours overnight on the city’s showcase lakeshore thoroughfare and giving many city schoolchildren their first ever snow day. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

17 Soldiers from the 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, board a transport helicopter to leave Forward Operating Base Kunduz in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, March 6, 2011. It took a month to get the battalion’s nearly 800 soldiers home, moving them 6,500 miles from Kunduz through Mazar-i-Sharif and Kyrgyzstan to Watertown, N.Y. (Damon Winter/The New York Times)

18 Libyan rebels take cover from government fire as a natural gas facility burns on the frontline on March 9, 2011 near Ras Lanuf, Libya. The rebels pushed back government troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi towards Ben Jawat. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

19 In this handout image provided by NASA, an orbital sunrise brightens this view of space shuttle Discovery’s vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods, docking mechanism, remote manipulator system/orbiter boom sensor system (RMS/OBSS) and payload bay during flight day 12 activities March 7, 2011 in Space. Discovery, on its 39th and final flight, was carrying the Italian-built Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4) and Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot in space to the International Space Station. Discovery was in service for 27 years and will be decommissioned and sent to a museum. Two remaining shuttle missions are planned before the program ends. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

20 A rescue worker stands on top of a burned vehicle looking for more bodies hidden amongst the rubble of a village destroyed by the devastating earthquake, fires and tsunami March 16, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi province, Japan. The 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck offshore on March 11 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten meters which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

21 Paint splattered police officers look on during clashes outside Top Shop on Oxford Street during marches in protest at government cuts on March 26, 2011 in London, England. Thousands are taking part in the Trades Union Congress (TUC) organized march to Hyde Park where a rally will take place. Police say they are deploying 4500 officers. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

22 On the road between between Ajdabiya and Brega, an opposition fighter navigates a truck armed with an anti-aircraft gun on the front line near Brega, Libya, April 1, 2011. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

23 Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

24 President Barack Obama speaks with an emotional high school senior before delivering the commencement address at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tenn. on May 16, 2011. The school was selected for the address after winning Obama’s 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

25 A rebel fighter celebrates as his comrades fire a rocket barrage toward the positions of troops loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi April 14, 2011 west of Ajdabiyah, Libya. Rebels exchanged artillery and rocket fire with loyalist troops west of Ajdabiyah April 14 as the conflict engulfing Libya continued. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

26 Foreign workers from Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries pile in the back of a truck with their belongings trying to leave the besieged city of Misrata April 18, 2011 as the sun sets on the port in Misrata, Libya. Thousands of foreign workers and Libyans alike are trying to leave war-torn Misrata, as fighting continued between Libyan government forces and anti-government rebels. The Libyan government has come under international criticism for using heavy weapons and artillery in its assault on Misrata, which can cause civilian casualties. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

27 Rebel fighters carefully move into a building where they had trapped government loyalist troops during street fighting on Tripoli Street in downtown Misurata April 20, 2011 in Misurata, Libya. Rebel forces assaulted the downtown positions of troops loyal to Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi April 20, briefly forcing them back over a key bridge and trapping several in a building that rebel troops surrounded, firing on the rebels from upper-floor positions instead of surrendering. Fighting continues between Libyan government forces that have surrounded the city and anti-government rebels ensconced there. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

28 Getty Images photographer Chris Hondros stands in front of a burning building while on assignment on April 18, 2011, in Misrata, Libya. Hondros, who was on assignment in Misrata, Libya, was killed on April 20, 2011 by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). (Photo by Katie Orlinsky via Getty Images)

29 A man sits on a ledge high up on the Al Faisaliyah Center tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 23, 2011. Saudi Arabia is flexed its financial and diplomatic might across the Middle East in 2011, in a wide-ranging bid to contain the tide of change, shield fellow monarchs from popular discontent and avert the overthrow of any more leaders struggling to calm turbulent republics. (Ed Ou/The New York Times)

30 President Barack Obama leaves the East Room of the White House after announcing that the United States had killed Osama bin Laden in a military operation, in Washington, May 1, 2011. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

31 Firefighters react in Times Square after President Barack Obama announced that the United States has the body of Osama bin Laden, in New York, May 1, 2011. (Michael Appleton/The New York Times)

32 Lighting strikes in the distance beyond the compound where Osama bin Laden was reportedly killed in Abottabad, Pakistan, May 4, 2011. (Warrick Page/The New York Times)

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10 Holiday Drinks with History Chasers

Posted on December 22, 2011 by flybuy

Before there was such a thing as Christmas, there was a tradition of winter holiday revelry and drinking.

Many of these drinks are tied to customs that are thousands of years old and meant to warm the body at the coldest and darkest time of the year. Here’s to bringing people together to celebrate life — let’s hope it never goes out of style. If you want to drink the old fashioned way, here are some holiday drinks you can make with a chaser of history.

Wassail 1
 Wassail 2
 Lambswool Hot Toddy
Hot Buttered Rum Posset Egg Nog 1 Egg Nog 2
Tom and Jerry 1
 Tom and Jerry 2
 Tom and Jerry 3
 Apple Cider
     
Swedish Glogg      


Wassail

Wassail dates back to pre-Christian fertility rites when villagers would parade through their orchards in mid-winter shouting loudly and pouring cider on their plants in an attempt to scare away evil spirits and ensure a good crop in the coming season. Though this custom, known as wassailing, is still practiced in the cider-producing counties of England, it has more commonly evolved into a night of knocking on neighbor’s doors, caroling, and spreading good cheer during the holidays.

The drink has not always been associated with a benevolent seasonal spirit, though. In the Middle Ages, wassailing was a time for peasants to knock on the doors of the feudal lords and demand food, drink and charity in exchange for well wishes of ‘Waes Hail’ or ‘Good Health’. If the rich did not oblige they were likely to be cursed or have their estates vandalized.

The Christmas carol we sing today, “Here We Go a Caroling” is originally “Here We Go a Wassailing.” And the classic, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” makes more sense if you consider that the wassailers would stand outside the door and call for the master to bring them a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer (wassail). They wouldn’t leave until they got some.

In commercial versions of these carols the words sometimes get changed, so try singing the originals this year and offer some steaming wassail to any carolers you encounter.

Lambswool

Lambswool is a derivative of wassail, where the ale is shaken and stirred to form a large foamy head, then mixed with baked crab apples. The soft, fleshy apples floating in the fluffy froth are said to resemble lamb’s wool. The drink was very popular during a holiday called Twelfth Night, which falls the 12th day after Christmas, the day your true love should give you twelve drummers drumming.

Traditionally, Twelfth Night was a holiday marked by wild celebration and general raucous merriment when the royal and wealthy acted like the peasants and vice versa. A king’s cake would be baked with a bean in it, and the peasant lucky enough to get the bean in his slice was dubbed the Lord of Misrule and permitted to officiate over the feast and the entire upside-down night — that is until midnight when all returned to order.

At contemporary dining tables the king’s cake is often reserved for the children of the family. The bean finder may get a small gift or be the honorary lord of the feast while the adults indulge in a few pints of lambswool.

Hot Toddy

A toddy is any alcoholic drink made with boiling water, sugar and spices. The traditional Scottish hot toddy is whiskey, boiling water, and sugar or honey with the optional addition of cloves, cinnamon, or lemon. Like most heated or mulled cocktails, it was created to bring some joy and warm spirits, emotionally and literally, to the dark and cold winter. The hot toddy and other drinks like it have become associated with the holiday season partially because the need for these spirits was strongest during the solstice.

Hot toddy was also probably invented to appeal to the non-drinkers of Scotland. The whiskey had a harsh, earthy flavor and was drunk more easily when heated and mixed with sugar. The origin of its name is debatable, perhaps derived from a liquor of the same name fermented from palm tree sap in India, or perhaps from Todian Spring which supplied Edinburgh with its water.

This winter, on those frigid nights when the breath plumes from your mouth like a chimney, why not duck into the dim light of your neighborhood pub, hang your hat by the frosy door, and dip into a steaming stein of hot toddy with the regulars?

Hot Buttered Rum

While Europeans were drinking their toddies with whiskey, brandy or sherry, the colonists were taking advantage of a new resource: sugar. Refining imported raw sugar left a fortunate byproduct, and by the 1650s distilleries were making a liquor from the molasses called rum. Rum was one of the cheapest and most widely available drinks in the colonies and thus became the go-to spirit for the Yankees’ toddy needs.

At a time when the sanitary standards of drinking water were questionable, sterile liquor was a popular beverage, so people came up with creative ways to prepare their drinks. Hot buttered rum was also a great way to warm the lungs during the frozen Northeastern American winters.

Originally the drink was associated with secular holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year due to the Puritan belief of abstaining during religious holidays. But as restrictions mellowed, its popularity met in the middle and became a staple Christmas beverage.

Traditionally hot buttered rum is made with dark rum aged in oak barrels to mature the molasses flavor, though it can also be made with Captain Morgan for a spicier flavor or Bacardi for something milder. You can celebrate Hot Buttered Rum Day on Jan 17, which coincidentally or not is also the date of the original Twelfth Night celebration before the Christian calendar was introduced.

Hot Chocolate

Chocolate drink had been used for centuries as a healing and fortifying recipe by the Aztecs when Cortez encountered them in the 1500s. Their drink was cold, bitter, and flavored with spices and chili peppers. In 1528, Cortez returned to Spain, bringing cocoa beans and the chocolate drink recipe with him. The drink was so well-received that the Spanish kept their formula a secret for almost 100 years, during which time the recipe changed, becoming a hot drink without chiles with the addition of cane sugar.

In 1615, Spanish princess Anna of Austria introduced the drink to her new husband, King Louis XIII of France. News of the rich potion quickly spread throughout Europe and by 1657 the first chocolate houses were established in London and Paris. Later in the 17th century milk was added to the recipe, and in 1828 — 200 years after the drink was first conceived in Europe — a Dutchman named Hendrick Van Houten developed a technique of squeezing the cocoa butter out of the seed then cooling, pulverizing and sifting the remaining part. The result was something similar to the instant cocoa powder we pour into hot water or milk to make hot chocolate today.

Hot chocolate is a winter drink, and you can choose to see it as a commercial emblem of the holiday season. Even so, after digging out the car and shoveling the driveway, or battling blizzards on a cold commute, a warm cup of cocoa is hard to beat.

Posset

In its simplest and most traditional form, posset was hot milk curdled with ale or wine and often spiced. This mixture has origins dating back to 100 AD when milk and eggs were revered as symbols of fertility and everlasting life, and alcohol had special significance in religious ceremonies.

The ingredients would be drunk during festivals and offered to the gods in thick leather sheaths, which symbolized the armor of the warring cultures and was the only appropriate vessel for a masculine god. This custom prevailed into the Middle Ages, but as cultures became more “civilized” and fighting armor evolved, a pewter mug was used as the offering container instead.

A posset has three distinct layers: the frothy layer called the grace, a custard layer in the middle, and the alcohol at the bottom, which was served in a special posset pot. The pots were often made of silver and extremely ornate and were given for gifts at weddings and special occasions. They look like a hybrid between a teapot and a baby’s sippy cup, and the traditional way to imbibe is to sip directly from the spout rather than pour a cup.

Contemporary posset resembles a custardy desert that can be indulged in year-round, but the historical drink makes the list for perhaps its most lasting holiday legacy: egg nog.

Egg Nog

This classic holiday drink is a descendant of posset. Nog was an old English term used for strong beer, and as the posset recipe evolved, revelers began mixing the nog with eggs. In Middle English, a noggin was the wooden bowl used to serve the egg concoction. And in the Colonies, where rum was rampant and a popular pseudonym for the potable was grog, the egg drink was called egg and grog.

The drink was originally only reserved for the English aristocracy as dairy products were scarce and expensive, as were the brandy or fortified wines they spiked them with. In America — where there was no shortage of cows and chickens, or inexpensive rum for that matter — the drink was widely drunk.

Egg nog has become a quintessential holiday drink in America and far more popular there than where it was originally conceived. You can make your own or buy a few cartons at your local supermarket, pour it in a large punch bowl and mix in some rum, whiskey, brandy, or if you’d like to go more traditional, ale. Then serve it to your friends and family as ultimately this drink is best suited for parties.

Tom and Jerry

The Tom and Jerry is a lost American classic made from brandy and rum added to a base of heated egg nog. It was created by Pierce Egan, a sportswriter in the 1820s, for publicity purposes to boost sales of his book Life in London: Or the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom. Because egg nog was used, the drink was particularly designed for Christmas.

The Tom and Jerry was a holiday staple for a century in America, until the ’60s when it all but disappeared from the country’s cocktail vernacular. This holiday season why not resurrect egg nog’s fallen comrade and drink a piece of Americana?

A Tom and Jerry should be served in an Irish coffee glass or a coffee mug. But if you want an authentic drinking experience, there used to be official white Tom and Jerry mugs that can still be found in thrift stores or on eBay.

Apple Cider

Apple trees haven been cultivated since the times of the ancient Egyptians, and their fruit has been the symbol of knowledge, fertility, and immortality in countless fables and religions. Apple Cider in both hard and virgin forms has been a mainstay of the holiday season in which we’ve celebrated birth and youth for thousands of years.

By 1650, almost every farm in England had an orchard and cider-making facilities. The colonists took apple seeds with them to the New World, and as English grains for ale-making did not grow well in New England, they soon turned to apples for their spirits.

Cider was omnipresent in America, brewed by the tens of barrels for just one family for one season. In fact, the drink was such an essential part of American dining that when prohibition all but halted the production of cider, thousands of orchards were cleared for new crops as the famers saw no other useful purpose for the trees. Because of prohibition, this once-essential drink now has only a small niche market of drinkers in America.

Because of the timing of harvest and the low shelf life of virgin cider, Thanksgiving and Christmas became cider’s high season. During these cold months it was often mulled or mixed with hard liquors. The most popular cider cocktail was called a stone wall, which you can easily make today at your next family gathering by mixing cider with rum.

Swedish Glogg

Glogg goes by many names: glühwein in Germany, svařené víno in the Czech Republic, vin fiert in Romania. In English speaking countries, we know it as mulled wine. Glogg is from Sweden, where it is traditionally drunk on St. Lucia’s Day, a holiday that ultimately celebrates the victory of light over darkness. It also maintains many centuries old pagan traditions, including using fire as the rebirth of the sun and evergreens and holly as symbolic of lasting life through cold and darkness.

These traditions derive from the ancient Nordic holiday celebration of Yule. When the Christians converted the Pagan Scandinavians to Christianity, rather than eliminate the deeply engrained traditions of Yule, they simply held their own holiday around the same time and adopted many of the same traditions. This holiday was called Christmas.

Because Glogg has origins with the Yule celebration and St. Lucia’s Day falls on December 13, it has become a drink for the entire holiday season. Additionally, in older times, wine would often reach the end of its shelf life during the winter months, so those who wanted to continue drinking palatable wine warmed it and added sweeteners and spices to mask the acidic flavors.

Historically in Sweden it was bad form for visitors to leave your house during the holiday season without being offered some hospitality, otherwise, the Christmas spirit would leave your home. To foster a warmer and more festive holiday spirit in your home, you can try it yourself. Glogg is often served in a glass, mixed with raisins and almonds and the best accompaniment is freshly baked gingerbread cookies or gingersnaps.

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Top 10 Beautiful Small Towns in Europe Part 2

Posted on December 19, 2011 by flybuy

1-1 1-2 1-3 2-1
2-2 2-3 3-1 3-2
3-3 4-1 4-2 4-3
 
5-1 5-2 5-3  

1. Folegandros Chora, Greece

The capital town of the island, Folegandros or Chora, is situated at a distance less than 3,5 kilometers northwestern to the port, at an altitude of some 200 meters higher than the sea level, at the rim of a steep cliff facing the sea. The town counts some 250 permanent residents, most of them occupied in tourism and in agriculture. Chora is the capital town of the island and the seat of the sole community of the island.

2. Arild a little town in Sweden

This little town few miles from the danish border, have a fully different building style. More cosy than in Denmark. 20 years ago it was forbidden to make such houses in Denmark. It was the wrong style and material for Denmark!!! The danes thougt that woodhouses would’nt last many years!!! Stupid. Many of the houses are more than 200 years old.

3. Getaria, Spain

Getaria is a town located in the province of Guipúzcoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain.
Its most famous sons are Juan Sebastián Elcano, Admiral Miguel de Oquendo, who commanded the Guipúzcoa Squadron of the Spanish Armada, and the explorer Domingo de Bonechea.

4. Terschelling, the Netherlands

Terschelling is a municipality and an island in the northern Netherlands, one of the West Frisian Islands.
Wadden islanders are known for their resourcefulness in using anything and everything that washes ashore. With few trees to use for timber, most of the farms and barns are built with masts recovered from shipwrecks. The islands are surrounded by famous shipwrecks, and even today many containers wash ashore that are blown off the decks of cargo ships in the North Sea. Perhaps the most famous shipwreck off the coast of Terschelling is the Lutine, whose bell hangs in Lloyd’s of London. Another famous ship was the Oka 18, which sank near the town of Formerum. Until recently her funnel could be seen rising out from the sea. In West Terschelling a pub was named after this ship.

5. Aberdour, Scotland

Aberdour (Gaelic: Obar Dobhair) is a scenic and historic village on the south coast of Fife, Scotland. It is situated on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, looking south to the Island of Inchcolm and its Abbey, and to Leith and Edinburgh beyond. According to the 2006 population estimate, the village has a population of 1,680.
The village’s winding main street lies a little inland from the coast. Narrow lanes run off it, providing access to the more hidden parts of the village and the shoreline itself. The village nestles between the larger coastal towns of Burntisland to the east and Dalgety Bay to the west.

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Top 10 Christmas Markets Around the World

Posted on December 18, 2011 by flybuy

The mingled aromas of glühwein and gingerbread, thousands and thousands of starry lights and stalls heaving with handcrafted gifts. There’s nothing like a German Christmas market to put you in the holiday spirit.

So enchanting is the German vision of Christmas that a visit to one is a tradition for many families each year. Cities worldwide are replicating the festivities, giving travelers a chance to sip mulled wine and nosh on out-of-the-oven pretzels from Chicago to Copenhagen.

Strasbourg Quebec City Copenhagen Chicago
Dublin Dresden Vienna Prague
   
Brussels Nuremberg    

 Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s Christmas market takes pride of place in front of the sublime, towering Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. It’s the largest and oldest Christmas market in France. For more than 400 years the city has welcomed visitors to its Christkindelsmarik. Beautifully made Christmas decorations, Nativity figurines and traditional delicacies (spiced bread, mulled wine and foie gras) fill the stalls. Each year, a different country is celebrated; in 2011, it’s Switzerland’s turn. Place Gutenberg will host a Swiss market featuring authentic delicacies, concerts, dancing and exhibitions from its cantons. Running until Dec.31.

Quebec City, Canada

Just four years old, Quebec City’s Christmas market has become a fixture on the festive calendar. Its setting is beyond compare. The cobble-stoned streets of Vieux Quebec are made for Christmas cards and the guaranteed cold weather cries out for the hearty German fare and drinks that are on sale from the cheery vendors. Among the delicacies are traditional raisin-studded gingerbread, pretzels, roast chestnuts and delicious Santa-shaped chocolates. Running until Dec. 11.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Tivoli Gardens, the famous amusement park, hosts Copenhagen’s Christmas markets. The willow trees are festooned with lights, there are almost four miles of colorful stalls and the little ones will be able to see how the residents of Nissekøbing spend their time. The market welcomes about 1 million visitors each year, most of whom will want to take a ride on the carousels, Chinese lantern and Elves’ Train. Running until Dec. 30.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

The Christkindlmarket in Chicago is inspired by Nuremberg’s ancient market. Daley Plaza on Washington Street is where you’ll find red-and-white tents groaning under the weight of festive delicacies and traditional handcrafted gifts that will satisfy the pickiest customer. Warming German delicacies like sausages, sauerkraut and potato pancakes keep out the cold and soak up the glühwein and German beers. Running until Dec. 24.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin’s Docklands turn German for 20 days in November and December. German traders display their wares alongside their Irish counterparts. The air is filled with the scent of roasting nuts, mulled wine, eggnog and sizzling bratwurst. The Irish love to party, so it’s fitting that the full program comprises musical entertainment with story tellers, carol singers and bands. Santa turns up on weekends to chat to the visitors and dispense a few sweets to the young and young at heart. Running until Dec. 23.

Dresden, Germany

Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest markets in the world; the first mention of it cropped up in the 15th century. Artisans from all over the country gather to sell some of the best crafts Germany has to offer. Regional specialties include the famous blue-and-white ceramics, crafts from the Ore Mountains, blown glass from Lauscha and much more. The highlight of the market is the arrival of the three-ton baked stollen (German fruit cake) after it has been paraded through the streets. Running until Dec.24.

Vienna, Austria

The Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz starts earlier than most, in mid-November, and is one of the biggest Christmas markets in Europe. Almost 200 stalls dominate the square, selling traditional decorations and hand-crafted gifts as well as scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth Viennese pastries and Weihnachtspunsch (a spiced punch). Dates: Nov. 12-Dec. 24. Those in favor of a smaller (some say, more cultured) market can head to the courtyard of the baroque Schðnbrunn Palace between Nov. 19 and Dec. 26.

Prague, Czech Republic

A giant Christmas tree in the Old Town Square is the focal point for Prague’s festive fun. The main markets are to be found at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square and there are smaller ones at Namesti Republiky and Havelske Trziste. All feature beautifully decorated stalls that sell everything from Bohemian crystal and Czech marionettes to braided pastries and gingerbread. While shopping from stall to stall it’s customary to grab a mug of svaree vino (sweet mulled wine) to sip along the way. Running until Jan. 8.

Brussels, Belgium

The Brussels Christmas market – Plaisirs d’Hiver (Winter Wonder) – is a fairly new arrival to the scene. It has only been around since 2004, but its location at the Grand-Place of Brussels and around the Bourse (on the Place Sainte-Catherine and on the Marché aux Poissons) gives it a centuries-old vibe. Almost 250 chalets, fairground rides, an ice rink and bauble-studded Christmas tree make it a wonderland. Then there are the mouth-watering delicacies to enjoy – the local chocolates, pots of mussels and Belgian waffles. Running until Jan.1.

Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg’s Christmas market was first held in 1628 and is one of the best known in Germany with more than 2 million visitors annually. Candy-cane striped stalls serving glühwein and bratwurst fill the Old Town while live music is performed late into the night. The must-buy souvenirs are the Nuremberg Plum People, tiny figures made from prunes. Running until Dec. 24.

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The Six Best Dessert Food Trucks In New York City

Posted on December 8, 2011 by flybuy

The food truck trend has taken off across the city over the last few years, and the streets of New York have got something for everyone -  from the traditional street meat to dumpling trucks. But if you need a sugar rush to jump start your day, keep your eyes peeled for these vendors. Here are the six best dessert trucks in New York City.

Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck began rolling the streets of New York City in June 2009. Described by The Village Voice as “a cross between Mister Softee and Mario Batali” their menu combines traditional soft-serve ice cream with imaginative toppings such as wasabi pea dust, Nilla Wafers, Dulce de Leche, olive oil and sea salt, and other rotating offerings. These are dispensed the way ice cream should be – with humor and good cheer.

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is the brainchild of Douglas Quint (a professional bassoonist) and his partner, Bryan Petroff. They are thrilled that their idea of pairing “plain-old soft serve” with fun, eclectic toppings, and then selling it with a smile, has sparked both happiness and satisfied palates.

The truck has been blessed with excellent mentions from The Daily News, New York Post, Time Out NY, NBC, ABC, Logo, Change.org, and both NPR and CBC.

Cupcake Stop

Touted as the “first mobile cupcake shop” in New York, satisfy your sweet tooth with their seasonal menu of frosting-topped joy. Summertime specials include mango oatmeal and coconut strawberry. You can get all the usual flavors, plus indulgences like chocolate caramel pretzel and cream cheese brownie, year-round.

Sweetery NYC

How sweet it is – sample tasty treats like orange brioche, chocolate whoopie pies, and oat currant scones baked fresh inside this bright blue truck, dubbed “Chopper.” Get a custom-filled croissant or a savory quiche and wash it down with a fresh espresso or cappuccino.

The Treats Truck

Mexican chocolate brownies, cupcakes, and oatmeal jammies are available from a truck named “Sugar.” The truck itself is sweet to the environment: it runs on compressed natural gas. Self-described owner/baker/driver/eater Kim Ima says her sweets are “not too fancy, always delicious.” She and her team are doing something right: they’ve won a Vendy award for their efforts.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck

Take a vacation from the ordinary when you get dessert at this truck – choose from Michel Cluizel chocolate, tart and light Red Currant, or a variety of other flavors. The truck also serves up Intelligentsia coffee, and offers their own affogato – a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in espresso.

Wafels and Dinges

Get two authentic tastes of Belgium in one truck. Whether you like your wafel light and crispy or soft and chewy, be sure to pile it high with dinges (toppings) like strawberries, fudge, or their famous, cinnamon-y spekuloos spread.

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Vogue Brazil December 2011: Alessandra Ambrosio and Rodrigo Santoro by Eric Guillemain

Posted on December 6, 2011 by flybuy

Alessandra Ambrosio and Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro Captured by Eric Guillemain for the cover shoot of Vogue Brazil December 2011. They make a pair in the elegant designs of Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and others selected by fashion editor Yasmine Sterea.

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