There has been some recent debate about what exactly ‘flashpacking’ is. Most define it by the added use of technology while travelling. For example, a Backpacker has no digital camera, no laptop, no mp3 player etc, while the Flashpacker takes it all. Others say it is a mix of technology with a less strict budget. Either way this trend is something of a mystery to me, I feel it’s not easily definable yet. With issues like this no one person is justified to draw the line of what constitutes a backpacker vs a flashpacker. In any case, I would probably fall under the flashpacker category, but I would resent it if a ‘filfthy on the road for 2 straight years sleeping in train stations and living off ramen and tuna type’ individual would not consider me a backpacker because I carry a digital camera. I’ve just always considered those people as vagabonds or true travellers and I have the upmost respect for them (and I have yet to be criticized for not being a backpacker). I still consider myself a backpacker…if only for the reason of not wanting to change this sites tag line. “Backpacker Travel Trends and Culture”

La Menesunda Youth Hostel in Buenos Aires Argentina has created a short flash animation for the website.  Not sure exactly what they are after, but it’s comical and unique if you’ve ever stayed in a hostel.  I love how the tree is not centered in the garden box.  It shows a very keen attention to detail as most of these trees are in fact never centered no matter where you are.

More trendy travel journals. I’ve never heard of Quo Vadis Journals before, but they do look cool. Not overpriced and available in numerous formats, styles, and paper selections. Of course they remind me of Moleskine journals… by the way they are bound, stylish and both have cool names.

Reason number 204 why I love the Internet…no conservative approach to advertising. I’m not a smoker, but a few of my friends are, and for the record, I’m against taxing the hell of out cigarettes. It’s to a point now beyond funny and just past sane. I dislike anti-smoking groups as much as anyone, which is probably why I’m posting this article. But now SuperSmoker people figured out a way to get the nicotine sensation without the smoke. Don’t know how it works, pretty sure they would taste like crap and are overpriced. But anything that says “stick this” to conservative anti-smoker coalitions I’m going to promote. You can check them out yourself at supersmoker.co.uk and read about how they are trying to get them approved for airlines now. Fascinating.

Interesting book American book stores probably don’t have on the shelves.  The Pink Box explores Japan’s sex fantasy clubs little known to westerners.  You can get a small sampling of the book and the crazy underground that is Tokyo here. Joan Sinclair takes some great photographs and dives into the scene.

Not sure exactly if Dan Kitwood took the photos or just got his name posted as the site was in German, but there are a few fascinating takes on the auto-less city known as Venice.  You can check them out here.

At first glance I thought this picture was fake as I didn’t recall any square island in Venice…but that’s typical I suppose, not seeing everything a European city has to offer in a two or three day trip.  There are probably about 5 stages of knowing a place.  Stage 1:  Not knowing it exists, Stage 2: Knowing it exists and having thoughts about what it is like, Stage 3: Visiting for 1 day  to three months, Stage 4: Living there, and Stage 5: Living there from birth to death.  Most travel just gets us to stage 3 unfortunately.  Perhaps I may become a Highlander…that would be better I think.

My taste buds for steak and potatoes are fading.  So being constantly on the lookout for new food, I found IndianFoodForever.com.  A very good site with actual recipes,  no popups…just good solid Indian Food tutorials.  Now if I could find a better supermarket…because it’s Masala Dosa this weekend!