I figured I’d add this to the short list of bag tags.  The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Store has all kinds of luggage tags, and they are very cool.

Happy Valentines Day from IzunoTravel.com.  Love Travel.

1280 x 960 |  1600 x 1200 |  1680 x 1050 |  1920 x 1200

Apparently bringing rail lines and high speed trains to the US has been a task no one has yet been able to accomplish.  However, many agree that the $8 billion from the stiumulus will give HSR a decent shot in the United States.

Anyone who has been to Europe, and I assume most of this readership has, will tell you the rail system is terrific.  Probably one of the main factors that make backpacking in Europe financially possible.  The USHSR is dedicated to doing it.  They have been around for a little while, this is nothing brand new, but they are marketing this decade as the decade of high speed rail.  While their logo is pretty sweet…their website is not so much, but regardless, they do have information and future plans for the first rail network.

I’m not sure how they find so many maps, but they do.  StrangeMaps is the place to go if you are like me and find maps simply enjoyable.  Every kind of map and graphic you would think of is on this site.  So kudos to the creators of strange maps.

What does a travel guy do when he’s bored and out of money?  He watches the Travel Channel…and gets hungry when he sees the Chowdown Countdown.

I also became a little upset because most all these places look great but who is going to write all that information down on the chance they will be in the area.  Not me.  Luckily I was not so upset after visiting the TC website and finding that they already did the logistics with google maps.  All 101 eateries on the countdown are on the website….listed by state.  I’m not saying it’s the most navigation friendly way of searching, but at least they published it online.  As for the restaurants…they are for the most part ma & pop shops with original recipes, great atmospheres, and what appears to be great food.  Somebody needs to make an app for this kind of food.

Just discovered an excellent post (and good design) from Carryology.  They compare backpacks and messenger bags to determine who needs which.  It’s slightyly humorous while making good arguments for each.  I agree with much of what they say, and while I own both, for day to day activities, I prefer the messenger for the simply pure reason that it’s more stylish.  But for backpacking, I’ve never found a use for one.  Maybe I’ll try it on my next trip to appear more local and not so touristy.

Sea To Summit has some of my favorite options for keeping your backpack dry while traveling.  Depending on where you travel, the season you travel, and what activity your doing, you may very well have a need for staying dry when it rains.  And backpack covers or liners are a great option for not having to worry about the elements.  The picture above is Sea To Summit’s line of lightweight dry bags.  The are designed to fit inside your backpack or really anything your need to squish it in.  They make a heavier dry bag, however this is good for tight spots.  Imagine your camera and railpass getting wet, and you will see why this is a necessity for backpackers and travelers.

This is a really intriguing appliation that compares countries/states with each other in terms of population/income/ and basically any other user uploaded data.  Here is their “about us” section:

“Gapminder is a non-profit venture promoting sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by increased use and understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels.

We are a modern “museum” that helps making the world understandable, using the Internet.”

- Gapminder.org

This is now on my wish list.  The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP.  It’s a 10 megapixel waterproof digital camera that is small enough to be put in with your travel sack.  I’ve read a lot of the reviews online and it seems the picture sharpness might need some work, but for underwater travel photography, there probably isn’t a better choice.  4 Colors to choose from and priced around $150.  My next snorkel trip this little guy will be with me.

The number of sites trying to get in with the travel community is always growing.  It seems everybody and their friends have an idea for the next big Facebook of Travel.  Well Baraaza is no exception.  They use locals to hopefully, post good travel information activities and sports.  Good luck to them.  I’ve always liked the idea of using natives to get information, as they know the place better than a travel writer ever could.  But the challenge is getting enough people to actually use it.  The site is still in beta, and you can tell by the limited amount of information they have available, however they are doing some contests you might be interested in.  It also would be worth a quick look if you are going to a spot you’ve been before and are looking for something a little different.