The Global Oneness Project is a group that travels the globe creating what they refer to as a “living library of films.”  A section of a non-profit, they keep all the films free and have been racking up awards.  All donations go to the costs involved in traveling the globe and filming.

Kirsty Henderson, of NerdyNomad.com just put out a new e-book, “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering.”  If you are thinking about volunteering overseas or if you are interested in reading from those who have done it, it’s your best choice for the most up to date information, resources, and advice.  There are a lot of interviews in the 63 page e-book and most every one of the volunteers will tell you it’s been a good experience.   Did I mention I dig the cover as well?

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.

I’ve actually got a good excuse for not making as many posts as I would like.  The Infant & Children Sleep Apnea Awareness Foundation decided to do something for the children of Haiti after the earthquake in January 2010.  They contacted me about designing a website and branding for their HelmetsForHaiti.org site.  And of course I took on the project (and ignored izunotravel.com for a while).  So if you would like to make a donation, check out the site and you can either bid on auction items starting March 8th, or you can make a small monetary donation if you’d like as well.  Personally, I wish the Red Cross would get a higher percentage of their donations to the actual cause.  And that’s what I really like about Helmets For Haiti, I believe the percentage of their donations is much higher to actually aid the cause.

So after two years and numerous comments (that I still get) I have revamped the Travel Journal Review for 2010.  This has been one of my most popular posts, so I sat down and completed the task.  There are a total of 26 online travel journal/travel blog sites that I evaluated and ranked in my favorite order.  Based on numerous categories hopefully this will help you decide which online journal you wish to use for yourself.  Be assured I do not claim that this is 100% accurate or perfect.  I spent 8 days registering, evaluating, and ranking these sites, and everything was starting to look like the same toward the end.  Nevertheless, in order to be as accurate as possible, if you feel something is entirely wrong just send me an email (info@izunodesign.com).  You can read more about the sites and ranking by clicking on the salmon colored “i” circle.

Click here for the 2010 Izuno Travel Journal Review

Izuno Ranking (please note this is just my personal opinion…nothing more)

1. TravellersPoint.com (very powerful, do everything and more with this site, great travel content)
2. MapVivo.com (very cool mapping)
3. TravelPod.com (great usability)
4. OffExploring.com (I found very fun)
5. TravBuddy.com (great social network for meeting other travelers)
6. GoAbroad.net
7. FuzzyTravel.com
8. RealTravel.com
9. MyLifeOfTravel.com
10. Blogs.StaTravel.com
11. HostelWorld.com
12. Traveloblog.com
13. TripnTale.com
14. TravelJournal.net
15. GetJealous.com
16. TravelJournals.net
17. NomadicJournals.com
18. MyTripJournal.com
19. TravelBlog.org
20. TripDiary.com
21. CheckOutMyTrip.com
22. BootsnAll.com
23. TripsLog.com
24. TravelBlogr.com
25. FootStops.com
26. TravelPost.com

Click here for the original 2008 Travel Journal Review (now outdated of course).

Happy Valentines Day from IzunoTravel.com.  Love Travel.

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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.

One.org.  I find this picture quite intriguing.  I’m picturing the marketing dept. for the organization at a table in a high rise New York building saying “we want to be Abercrombie yet…multi-dimensional.”  That at least explains why the guy in white does not fit in to your traditional marketing techniques.  I like that guy in white.  I like how they made him stand out.  That guy is my kind of guy…2 to 1 he’s got a better story than the two to his right.

Anyways.  One.org is a non-profit (with Bono attached to it) that wants to end poverty.  Attached with Africa in many ways, they tackle poverty issues in various places and has the reach to do it.  In fact I just purchased 10 ‘One’ bracelets.  I feel that education helps solve problems later, so they’ve sold me by bringing up that point on their site.  It’s the whole ‘give a man a fish’ argument.  One.org seems to understand that.

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.