First I need to give credit to the photographer of this photo…Paranoramix’s Flickr photostream can be found here. This is an effort by the WWF to increase awareness for the giant pandas and their declining population. There were 1600 paper mache pandas used, to signify how many giant pandas are left. Above is a picture of Lyon, France. They have also been to the Piazza Del Popolo in Rome, and I believe they are planning more stops before the poor paper pandas go for sale on eBay. On a side note, the World Wildlife Fund website kind of made me want to poke myself. No article about this campaign could be located using their search or google’s search. It’s an attractive site, I just found it extremely hard to get the information I wanted. Anyways, GO GIANT PANDAS!

If you’ve always dreamed of jetting off around the world, but didn’t have the cash to burn, then check out this new competition. HostelBookers are offering you the chance to win plane tickets and hostel accommodation for you and a travel buddy to go backpacking around the world.

HostelBookers are a booking website for hostels and budget accommodation, and EyeforTravel Research has recently revealed that they are cheaper than their nearest competitor. To celebrate they have teamed up with RoundtheWorld Experts to give away round the world tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Even if you don’t nab the top prize, you’ll still be in with a chance of winning 49 other prizes perfect for the budding packer, including…

• A Sony HDR-TG3E HD Camcorder
• An iPhone Touch
• An ipod Nano
• A backpack of handy travel supplies
• Another 30 entrants will receive a travel hammock for napping on the road.

To enter all you have to do is go to HostelBooker’s website and answer how much cheaper HostelBookers is than their nearest competitor, and you’ll be automatically entered into the prize draw.

NOTE: This is a continuation from Stage 1 – Setting Guidelines. I encourage all travelers and those at home to participate and create your own drink. Think of this project as your own drink you will want in your hand when you die, the drink you want when celebrating, and the drink to toast to the world.

Stage 2 – Roughing in Ingredients
From the beginning I knew I wanted to use rum as a major ingredient in the ‘Izuno’ cocktail. Rum has been a staple of the warm zone I love so much, and the Caribbean is a major player in the rum industry, which I enjoy visiting. So I first needed to study rum. After a jaunt to wiki-load myself with facts on rum, I realized most cocktails use light rum. However most light rum is produced faster and cheaper out of a by-product of sugarcane (molasses based). I wanted this drink to be about discovery and truth (stage 1 guideline #4). So I think to be true, rum should be made straight from the product and not the by-product. The rum must also be able to be infused and mixed with different ingredients, so a long aged rum in oak barrels to add hints of spice, nuts, etc. wasn’t necessary. It is not going to be drunk straight, so a premium aged rum is just a waste of money. After a few trips to the store, I decided on Agua Luca. It fit my requirements (mixable, straight from the sugar-cane, and not premium aged) plus the clerk recommended it based on what I wanted.

Next, I need to add some uniqueness to it. Agua Luca is from Brazil, so I wanted to find out the exact opposite area (globe and weather wise) and what that area produces so that there is a balance in opposites which will fit my global requirement (stage 1, guideline #3). So I went to look at a globe. What is on the other side of the world from Brazil?…The Philippines/Malaysia area. Naturally, the weather is similar since both locations are close to the equator, but that is okay. After more wiki-ness and searches, I found a few potential fruits that might play a part. The papaya, mangosteen, lime, or pineapple are all potential fruits that just might find a home in the ‘Izuno.’ I will have to do some testing to get a final decision.

More ingredients I might choose to add later may be simple syrup, sugar, soda, or really just some standard cocktail ingredients. Those will have to be on trial during Stage 3 – Testing and Elimination – Coming Soon.

Upon returning from a long trip, things change…it’s funny and depressing at the same time. Here are 10 reasons why backpackers usually want to leave shortly after returning home.

1. People ask you…”What was the trip like?”

2. People ask you…”You left your passport at the hostel counter?”

3. People ask you…”Why are you traveling there?”

4. Overhear McDonald’s soccer mom say…”This restroom is dirty…I will never use a public toilet”

5. Your friends are suddenly not as interesting as the 50 you just made.

6. You realize you didn’t miss TV and can’t understand why you liked it before.

7. You trade experiential food for easy food…and realize ‘easy food’ is usually crappy.

8. After realizing you travelled abroad people want to share their travel story…which is either …a honeymoon to an overpriced Caribbean resort or a cruise to a 1/4 mile stretch of city with a talented tourism board or a 10 hour port call in the Navy.

9. It’s no challenge plugging your ipod directly into the wall.

10. Leave reason #10 in the comments section and win a prize in on August 08, 2009. That’s right…Izuno Travel is holding a giveaway for some very cool travel gear, all you have to do is leave a comment on any post anytime between now and August 08, 2009 for a chance to win. You can also enter by sending us your email at [email protected].

I just finished watching “A Map for Saturday” by Brook Silva-Braga and the movie is bringing back all kinds of thoughts and feelers I haven’t felt for a long time.  I was going to start a list of all the similarities our trips had to discuss about on this site, but it was pointless, as our trips were so very similar, and yet so uniquely different. It’s so fascinating how much emotion pours into you when you are seeing your family/friends for the first time in many months.  I think it’s the exact point in time when you actually realize what you’ve done & how you’ve changed.

BrookSilvaBraga.com is his site if you want to keep up to date with his works.

The movie has inspired me to do some more posts about what I call PTL (Post Travel Lows) because I know I’m not alone.

Yes, that is a zip tie around 2 seats tray tables. Absolutely hilarious video showing a solution to stop people from putting their recliner seat back in your face. Or as the author Evan Roth titles it “How to Keep Motherfu#%ers From Putting Their Seat Back.”

I feel I need to play the disclaimer card here. In no way shape or form does Izuno Travel promote the use of zip ties to keep people from being able to recline. (Link to giant reusable zip tie)

iJourneys produces walking tours for some Europe hot spots.  iJourneys have 12 locations available for audio tours ($14.95 with map), mostly Italy and Austria.  Download their mp3 to your ipod or mp3 device, head to the starting location, and press play.  I’ve always been a fan of these mp3 style tours.  There is no group or tour guide to go follow around like a bunch of sheep (which I’ve done more than once), there is no silly over-sized phone or playback device to hold to your ear walking around like a tourist.  These allow you to use your own headphones, with some degree of discretion, and still get some good information.  This particular company uses the voice of Elyse Weiner, who has worked as a news producer.  Her voice is about what you would expect from a tour guide.

Which got me to thinking…who would you most like to be the voice on your mp3 travel guide?  I think I’d want someone with a sarcastic take on the whole process yet smooth voice.  Maybe Julia Louis-Dreyfus?  That could be alright.

“Lightspeed Station…The Future of Travel” t-shirt by Pinhead Industries.  A little overpriced at $27.53?…sure, but ultra trendy.  If you visit the site, it’s got major city hubs connected like a rail map.  I love this.  Red Bubble also has some other travel tees/t-shirts worth a looksie.  (I’m not sure whether to say ‘tee’ or ‘t-shirt’ or ‘tshirt’)

From FlipAndTumble.com comes the 24/7 reusable eco bag.  It’s developed for groceries as a way to carry a big bag in a very small space, then transform it into a shopping bag to not waste plastic bags. I think this bag has very cool travel potential as well.  Pack it up and fit it into a shoe or some tight space, then when travelling, it can be used as a laundry bag, grocery bag, day bag, or just about anything.  I would encourage you to check out their site and watch the video of this being folded up…sort of like a sock.

Where does ‘izuno’ come from?  I wish I could say the origins have extremely special and creative meaning, however…they don’t.  Long in my past a favorite athletic company with blue colors that rhymes with ‘_izuno’ is about all I wanted to use when playing sports.  Well shortly after that, all of us (including you) had to decide on an email address and creative username.  So, I took off the first letter of my sporting equipment and my handle was born.  I immediately liked it due to the Japanese sound, the aesthetics of it looks nice, and it’s unique.  So I adopted ‘izuno’ for usernames, business, and eventually this blog.  There is a city in southern Japan named Izuno, but it’s not that well known.  More people think of ‘Izumo Taisha’ which is an important shrine and the oldest in Japan.  Other than that….no meaning….apologies if you were hoping for more.