Matador Network's Blog, page 2098

NASA's Instagram is amazing

NASA IS THE US GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT DOES THE MOST awe-inspiring work, so it probably shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that they have the most awe-inspiring Instagram account. The account, @nasa, regularly posts pictures of the sun, earth, moon, and the universe as a whole. The photos they put up manage to both dazzle and educate, and will give you a perspective on the world and universe that you hadn’t seen before — whether it’s a picture of a rocket take-off from space, of the late-night urban sprawl of the US eastern seaboard, or of the dazzling drama of the sun. Give them a follow and add a little bit of wonder to your daily routine.

A team of astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope found an unambiguous link between the presence of supermassive black holes that power high-speed, radio-signal-emitting jets and the merger history of their host galaxies. Almost all galaxies with the jets were found to be merging with another galaxy, or to have done so recently. The team studied a large selection of galaxies with extremely luminous centers – known as active galactic nuclei – thought to be the result of large quantities of heated matter circling around and being consumed by a supermassive black hole. While most galaxies are thought to host supermassive black holes, only a small percentage of them are this luminous and fewer still go one step further and form what are known as relativistic jets. The two high-speed jets of plasma move almost at the speed of light and stream out in opposite directions at right angles to the disc of matter surrounding the black hole, extending thousands of light-years into space. Image credit: NASA/ESA/STScI #nasa #astronomy #space #hubble #hubble25 #hst #esa #blackhole #galaxy #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on May 31, 2015 at 8:08am PDT

Caribbean Sea Viewed From the International Space Station: From the Earth-orbiting International Space Station, flying some 225 nautical miles above the Caribbean Sea in the early morning hours of July 15, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman photographed this north-looking panorama that includes parts of Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida, and even runs into several other areas in the southeastern U.S. The long stretch of lights to the left of center frame gives the shape of Miami. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #space #spacestation #exp40 #iss #caribbean #earth

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jul 17, 2014 at 8:39am PDT

Sunrise over the Grand Canyon! From the International Space Station (@ISS), astronaut Terry Virts (@Astro_Terry) took this photograph of an early morning sunrise over the Grand Canyon and posted it to social media on May 10, 2015. The space station and its crew orbit Earth from an altitude of 220 miles, traveling at a speed of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. Because the station completes each trip around the globe in about 92 minutes, the crew experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. Image Credit: NASA #iss #space #spacestation #nasa #astronauts #earth

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on May 12, 2015 at 9:40am PDT

Puff the Magic Sun: A suite of our sun-gazing spacecraft have spotted an unusual series of eruptions in which a series of fast puffs forced the slow ejection of a massive burst of solar material from the sun's atmosphere. The eruptions took place over a period of three days, starting on Jan. 17, 2013. This combination of three wavelengths of light from our Solar Dynamics Observatory shows one of the multiple jets that led to a series of slow coronal puffs. The light has been colorized in red, green and blue. Image Credit: Alzate/SDO #nasa #sun #space #solarsystem #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jun 27, 2014 at 11:40am PDT

The artist's concept depicts Kepler-186f , the first validated Earth-size planet to orbit a distant star in the habitable zone-a range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the planet's surface. The discovery from April 2014 of Kepler-186f confirms that Earth-size planets exist in the habitable zones of other stars and signals a significant step closer to finding a world similar to Earth. Kepler-186f orbits its star once every 130 days and receives one-third the energy that Earth does from the sun, placing it near the outer edge of the habitable zone. If you could stand on the surface of Kepler-186f, the brightness of its star at high noon would appear as bright as our sun is about an hour before sunset on Earth. Kepler-186f resides in the Kepler-186 system about 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The system is also home to four inner planets, seen lined up in orbit around a host star that is half the size and mass of the sun. Image Credit: NASA Ames/SETI Institute/JPL-Caltech #nasa #nasabeyond #exoplanet #space #kepler #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Apr 7, 2015 at 9:21pm PDT

Our Terra Satellite Sees Shadows of Solar Eclipse During the morning of March 20, 2015, a total solar eclipse was visible from parts of Europe, and a partial solar eclipse from northern Africa and northern Asia. NASA's Terra satellite passed over the Arctic Ocean on March 20 at 10:45 UTC (6:45 a.m. EDT) and captured the eclipse's shadow over the clouds in the Arctic Ocean. Image Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 21, 2015 at 9:57am PDT

Hawaii from Space! From the International Space Station, European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti took this photograph of the island of Hawaii and posted it to social media on Feb. 28, 2015. Cristoforetti tweeted, "And suddenly as we flew over the Pacific… the island of #Hawaii with its volcanoes! #HelloEarth" Crew members on the space station photograph the Earth from their unique point of view located 200 miles above the surface as part of the Crew Earth Observations program. Photographs record how the planet is changing over time, from human-caused changes like urban growth and reservoir construction, to natural dynamic events such as hurricanes, floods and volcanic eruptions. Astronauts have used hand-held cameras to photograph the Earth for more than 40 years, beginning with the Mercury missions in the early 1960s. The ISS maintains an altitude between 220 – 286 miles (354 – 460 km) above the Earth, and an orbital inclination of 51.6˚, providing an excellent stage for observing most populated areas of the world. Image Credit: NASA/ESA/Samantha Cristoforetti #nasa #esa #space #iss #spacestation

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 4, 2015 at 9:25am PST

Happy President's Day! Here's an International Space Station photo of the eastern (Atlantic) coast of the United States, which includes Virginia, where George Washington, the first U.S. president, was born. The image was taken in February 2012 by an Expedition 30 astronaut. Large metropolitan areas and other easily recognizable sites from the Virginia/Maryland/Washington, D.C. area spanning almost to Rhode Island are visible in the scene. Boston is just out of frame at right. Long Island and the Greater Metropolitan area of New York City are visible in the lower right quadrant. Large cities in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) are near center. Parts of two Russian vehicles parked at the orbital outpost are seen in left foreground. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #iss #spacestation #washington #gerogewashington #presidentsday #virginia #space

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Feb 16, 2015 at 12:06pm PST

Exploded Star Blooms Like a Cosmic Flower: Because the debris fields of exploded stars, known as supernova remnants, are very hot, energetic, and glow brightly in X-ray light, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has proven to be a valuable tool in studying them. The supernova remnant called G299.2-2.9 (or G299 for short) is located within our Milky Way galaxy, but Chandra’s new image of it is reminiscent of a beautiful flower here on Earth. G299 was left over by a particular class of supernovas called Type Ia. Astronomers think that a Type Ia supernova is a thermonuclear explosion – involving the fusion of elements and release of vast amounts of energy − of a white dwarf star in a tight orbit with a companion star. If the white dwarf’s partner is a typical, Sun-like star, the white dwarf can become unstable and explode as it draws material from its companion. Alternatively, the white dwarf is in orbit with another white dwarf, the two may merge and can trigger an explosion. Image Credit: NASA/CXC/U.Texas #nasa #chandra #space #supernova #astronomy #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Feb 12, 2015 at 3:50pm PST

On this day in 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space when the space shuttle Challenger launched on mission STS-7 from Pad 39A at our Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This high-angle view of the shuttle liftoff, showing a lengthy stretch of Florida Atlantic coastline and a number of large cumulus clouds, was photographed with a handheld 70mm camera by astronaut John W. Young, who piloted the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) for weather monitoring at launch and landing sites for STS missions. The STS-7 crew consisted of astronauts Robert Crippen, commander, the first two-time space shuttle astronaut; Frederick H. Hauck, pilot; and three mission specialists — Ride, John M. Fabian and Norman E. Thagard. One of Sally Ride's jobs was to call out "Roll program" seven seconds after launch. "I'll guarantee that those were the hardest words I ever had to get out of my mouth," she said later. Image Credit: NASA #otd #tbt #throwbackthursday #sallyride #space #nasahistory #history #nasa

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jun 18, 2015 at 1:37pm PDT

Earth From Space: 15 Years of Amazing Things The view of Earth from orbit is never the same – from minute to minute, day to day, year to year. In December of 1999 NASA launched a satellite that opened up a new era in our ability to see, measure and understand Earth. The satellite called Terra rocketed to space on Dec. 18, 1999. (And while it was designed for a five-year mission life – Terra is still up there, collecting invaluable data on Earth’s land, atmosphere and oceans.) In 2002 and 2004, satellites named Aqua and Aura followed. These are often called the three flagship satellites of NASA’s Earth Observing System — which began in earnest with Terra and now comprises a fleet of 18 Earth-observing satellites that have revolutionized our ability to observe our home planet from space. NASA and other space agencies had launched satellites to study Earth before. But the past 15 years have produced a more comprehensive look at Earth from space than any other period in history. At a time when our planet is undergoing critically important changes, this global view offers not only stunning imagery but also vitally important information about how Earth is changing. In 2002, NASA scientists and visualizers stitched together strips of brand new data, in natural color, collected over four months from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, instrument aboard Terra. Seen here is the western hemisphere of that Blue Marble image. Image Credit: NASA's Earth Observatory

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Dec 29, 2014 at 3:10pm PST

View from Above: From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore took this photograph of the Great Lakes and central U.S. on Dec. 7, 2014, and posted it to social media. This week on the station, the Expedition 42 crew has been busy with medical science and spacesuit work while preparing for the arrival of SpaceX's Dragon commercial cargo craft, scheduled to launch on Dec. 16 on a two day trip to the station before it is captured by the Canadarm2 and berthed to the Harmony node. Image Credit: NASA/Barry Wilmore #nasa #iss #space #spacestation #exp42 #earth #greatlakes #isscargo #spacex

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Dec 10, 2014 at 8:12am PST

Efforts to conserve parks and protected areas around the world are being aided by Earth observations from space-based sensors operated by NASA and other organizations. “Sanctuary,” a new book released this week at the World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, highlights how the view from space is being used today to protect some of the world’s most interesting, changing, and threatened places. In the book’s foreword, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden writes, ““As a former astronaut who has looked upon our beautiful planet from space, I hope that we can advance the use of space-based remote sensing and other geospatial tools to study, understand, and improve the management of the world’s parks and protected areas as well as the precious biodiversity that thrives within their borders.” NASA’s basic research and applied conservation programs have advanced our understanding of global change impacts within and around protected areas. Ongoing projects include assessing coral reef health, investigating the vulnerability of U.S. National Parks to climate change, and establishing marine biodiversity observation networks. Seen here is development and agricultural clearing (pink areas) shown encroaching the Sundarbans mangroves along the Bay of Bengal in this Landsat 8 image taken in March 2014. Credit: NASA/USGS

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Nov 16, 2014 at 12:27pm PST

A View from Space: Astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station today and write, "My favorite views from #space – just past #sunrise over the ocean." The crew has been busy aboard the space station, recently performing health checks and humanoid robot upgrades. In the meantime, a trio of orbital residents is packing up gear as they prepare to return home in less than two weeks. Image Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman #nasa #space #spacestation #exp40 #iss #science #earth

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Sep 2, 2014 at 8:29am PDT

Retreating Glacier: Located in the Brabazon Range of southeastern Alaska, Yakutat Glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world. It is the primary outlet for the 810-square kilometer (310-square mile) Yakutat ice field, which drains into Harlequin Lake and, ultimately, the Gulf of Alaska. The Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite captured this image of the glacier and lake on Aug. 13, 2013. Snow and ice appear white and forests are green. The brown streaks on the glaciers are lateral and medial moraines. Over the past 26 years, the glacier’s terminus has retreated more than 5 kilometers (3 miles). What is causing the rapid retreat? University of Alaska glaciologist Martin Truffer and colleagues pointed to a number of factors in their 2013 study published in the Journal of Glaciology. The chief cause is the long-term contraction of the Yakutat Ice Field, which has been shrinking since the height of the Little Ice Age. Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Robert Simmon, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey #earth #earthrightnow #climatechange #ice #glacier #nasa #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Aug 20, 2014 at 11:03am PDT

The six-person Expedition 40 crew wrapped up a productive week of cargo vehicle traffic and science aboard the International Space Station with more medical studies, physics and robotics on Friday. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the launch of another station resupply vehicle next week. Seen here is one of the more spectacular scenes of the Aurora Borealis that was photographed by one of the space station crew members aboard the International Space Station from an altitude of approximately 223 nautical miles. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #space #iss #exp40 #aurora #astronautpictures #astropics #astropix

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jul 25, 2014 at 2:12pm PDT

The Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 years old today! Celebrate with us as we share incredible images from Hubble: This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image captures the chaotic activity atop a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars. The pillar is also being assaulted from within, as infant stars buried inside it fire off jets of gas that can be seen streaming from towering peaks. This turbulent cosmic pinnacle lies within a tempestuous stellar nursery called the Carina Nebula, located 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 observed the pillar on Feb. 1-2, 2010. The colors in this composite image correspond to the glow of oxygen (blue), hydrogen and nitrogen (green), and sulfur (red). Credit: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI) #Hubble25 #hubble #hst #telescope #nasa #space

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Apr 24, 2015 at 10:24am PDT

50 years ago today, astronaut Ed White floated out of the Gemini IV spacecraft to become the first American to walk in space during the first Mission Controlled from Houston's manned spacecraft center. In this image, White floats in the microgravity of space outside the Gemini IV spacecraft. Behind him is the brilliant blue Earth and its white cloud cover. White is wearing a specially-designed space suit. The visor of the helmet is gold plated to protect him against the unfiltered rays of the sun. In his left hand is a Hand-Held Self-Maneuvering Unit with which he controls his movements in space. Credits: NASA/Jim McDivitt #nasa #space #gemini #otd #spacewalk #eva #spacewalk50 #suitup #missioncontrol #houston

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jun 3, 2015 at 7:19am PDT

Since measurements began in 1895, Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier has been thickening and steadily advancing into Disenchantment Bay. The advance runs counter to so many thinning and retreating glaciers nearby in Alaska and around the world. This image, acquired by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8, shows Hubbard Glacier on July 22, 2014. According to Leigh Stearns, a glaciologist at the University of Kansas, Hubbard’s advance is due to its large accumulation area; the glacier’s catchment basin extends far into the Saint Elias Mountains. Snow that falls in the basin either melts or flows down to the terminus, causing Hubbard to steadily grow. In addition, Hubbard is building up a large moraine, shoveling sediment, rock, and other debris from Earth’s surface onto the glacier’s leading edge. The moraine at the front gives the glacier stability and allows it to advance more easily because the ice does not need to be as thick to stay grounded. (If it is thin, it can start floating and will not necessarily advance.) Image Credit: NASA/Earth Observatory #earth #nasa #earthrightnow #climate #hubbard #glacier #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on May 20, 2015 at 11:49am PDT

Fresh Martian Crater: The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars on March 30, 2015. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta. The steep inner slopes are carved by gullies and include possible recurring slope lineae on the equator-facing slopes. Fresh craters often have steep, active slopes, so the HiRISE team is monitoring this crater for changes over time. The bedrock lithology is also diverse. The crater is a little more than 1-kilometer wide. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona #mars #nasa #mro #uarizona #hirise #crater #planets #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jun 5, 2015 at 9:40am PDT

Sparkling cities below the International Space Station are haloed by an aurora on the Earth's horizon on May 26, 2015. Crew members of Expedition 43 took this image of another day beginning from the vantage point of the International Space station and its crew, high above. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #space #iss #exp43 #spacestation #earth

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on May 30, 2015 at 7:30am PDT

Coronal Loops Over a Sunspot Group The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) images the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes in the surface to interior changes. Its data includes images of the sun in 10 wavelengths every 10 seconds. When AIA images are sharpened a bit, such as this AIA 171Å channel image, the magnetic field can be readily visualized through the bright, thin strands that are called "coronal loops". Loops are shown here in a blended overlay with the magnetic field as measured with SDO's Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager underneath. Blue and yellow represent the opposite polarities of the magnetic field. The combined images were taken on Oct. 24, 2014, at 23:50:37 UT. Image Credit: NASA SDO #nasa #sdo #sun #coronalloops #solar #space #solardynamics

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on May 24, 2015 at 9:12am PDT

In this Feb. 7, 1984 photograph taken by his fellow crewmembers aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-41B mission, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II approaches his maximum distance from the vehicle. McCandless became the first astronaut to maneuver about in space untethered, during this first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit. For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. The first American to conduct a spacewalk, astronaut Edward H. White II, floated into the vastness of space on the Gemini IV mission on June 3, 1965. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #space #eva #spacewalk #geminiiv #otd #spaceshuttle #history #suitup

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jun 3, 2015 at 12:34pm PDT

34 maps that you can learn from

EVERY MONTH OR SO, WE TRY AND COMPILE SOME OF THE most interesting, informative maps out on the internet. There’s no shortage of them: there are websites, blogs, and subreddits dedicated entirely to cartography. Because people love maps. They can convey an infinite amount of information in easily digestible, visually interesting comparative ways. Their construction can have social and political implications (Aaron Sorkin famously explained these implications in an episode of his TV seriesThe West Wing).

Some of the maps this month include the states that still celebrate confederate holidays, the most popular books set in each state, the countries with the smallest amounts of Muslims, Christians, and unaffiliateds, and the best countries to live in if you want to survive climate change.

1

The largest company by revenue in each state

The largest company by state. Via

2

The price of weed in each state.

According to Forbes. Via

3

Which state is the most underrated

According to Business Insider, these are the states Americans rate "most underrated." Via

Intermission


200
The 20 coolest towns in the US
by Matador Team



372
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones



4
Awesome maps show how big the US is compared to the rest of the world
by Matt Hershberger













4

The most popular book set in each state

Based on the book's Goodreads score. Via

5

The hourly wage required to afford a 2-bedroom rental in each state.

According to the Huffington Post. Via

6

US defensive pacts

The creator notes, "The US is bound by treaty to protect a quarter of humanity." Via

7

Map of cousin marriage by percentage

These are the countries with high percentages of cousin marriage. Via

8

Nations where Christians make up less than 1% of the population.

Via

9

Nations where Muslims make up less than one percent of the population

Via

Intermission


372
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones



139
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes



4
23 maps that will teach you something new about the world
by Matt Hershberger













10

Countries where less than one percent of the population is not affiliated with any religion

Atheists, agnostics, and "spiritual but not religious" included. Via

11

States that still celebrate confederate holidays.

States that still celebrate Confederate holiday, officially or otherwise. Source

12

The skin color of the heads of state

According to the Fitzpatrick scale, a dermatological scale used for pigmentation research. Via

13

Countries that are at war with ISIS

The key, according to the creator: Red: Countries officially at war with ISIS. Blue: Countries currently performing counter-attacks, air support, and/or ground forces against ISIS. Green: Countries providing military equipment to nations fighting ISIS. Purple: Countries otherwise helping the nations fighting ISIS. Via

14

The world divided into 200 countries of equal population

You can see where the population is the densest. Via

15

Europe by their culinary horror

The grossest foods in each European country. Via

Intermission


139
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes



501
9 American habits I lost when I moved to Germany
by Vanessa Van Doren



5
27 awesome maps that will help you understand the world
by Matt Hershberger













16

The religions of China

The key, if you can't make it out in the corner: Red: Chinese traditional religions: including worship of gods and ancestors, Confucianism and Taoism, Yellow: Buddhism Dark green: Islam, Purple: Ethnic minorities' indigenous religions, Blue: Mongolian shamanism, Light green: Dongbei folk religion and Manchu shamanism. Via

17

The most distinctive deaths by state

The measurement "most distinctive" refers not to the number of deaths, but to the number of deaths as compared to the national average. Via

18

Percentage of people in Europe saying they're "very happy."

The happiest and saddest places in Europe. Via

19

The legal systems of the world

A larger version is available here.

20

Indian land cessions over time

These are only cessions to the United States, not to Spain. A larger version is available here. Via

21

These six countries make up half of the world's population

The countries are the US, Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Via

22

The most common job in each state

There are a whole lot of truck drivers in this country. Via

23

The countries most reliant on non-renewable, non-nuclear energy sources

China and India are particularly troubling, as they are some of the biggest carbon emitters. Via

24

Percentage of last 30 elections that each state has voted for the Presidential winner

Don't be confused: the number in the state refers to the number of electoral votes, the color refers to the percentage. Via

25

gay-happiness-index

Dark green represents most happy, red represents least happy. This is according to a survey of 115,000 gay men around the world. Via

26

Belief of God in the EU

Percentage that believe in god by country. Via

27

The world's straightest roads

The least curvy-road part of the world? The American Midwest. Via

28

The most disproportionately popular cuisine in each state.

Via

29

Obesity in America

For the year 2011. Via

30

The true size of Africa

Larger version here

31

Death rate for drug and alcohol use

By county. Via

32

The best places to ride out climate change

According to the University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, these are the countries best prepared for climate change. Via

33

Gender difference in years of education

According to the CIA Factbook. Via

34

Average spending on lottery tickets per state

For the fiscal year of 2014. Via

h/t: The MapPorn subreddit was incredibly useful for finding a lot of these. Check them out for maps, commentary, and critiques for these maps and thousands more.[/mn_slideshow_slide]

Name the country by its capital

Featured photo by m01229

30 signs you were born and raised in Annapolis

1. You learned to boat before you learned to drive.

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2. You don’t go out the night before Thanksgiving, unless you’re home from college or actually like seeing your hometown reduced to the Las Vegas strip.

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3. You have worked at least one boat show just to go to the parties — before realizing that you could have just gotten your friend to let you in. Then you wouldn’t have had to spend an entire two days talking about the application of tea tree oil as though it were a life-changing experience.

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4. You refuse to pay a cover charge at Federal House but you will eat their Oysters Rockefeller.

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5. You know that the Crab Wrapper is a parody paper but have been horrified at even the suggestion that some were true.

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6. You know that the best place to get a beer in Annapolis is not downtown, does not serve crabs and is not on the water — but it has some of the best staff, decor and wings. Heroes Pub don’t ever change.

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7. You’ve felt the disappointment in the following realization: “Damn… Boat show… have to take forest drive!”

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8. You can never remember what the deal is with all of the huge chicken sculptures, even though your friends have told you five thousand times.

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9. You know the terrible pain of sitting through beach traffic when you’re not even going to the beach.

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10. You know every possible way to personalize a lacrosse stick.

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11. You will not eat crab cakes anywhere outside of Maryland.

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12. You support the troops but when Navy plays Army — you’re a Navy fan all the way.

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13. When you go for bagels in any other town, you’re always sad to find that no trivia questions, celebrity birthdays, words of the day, tides, quotes or cartoons listed anywhere in the bagel place.

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14. And obviously, only Naval Bagels can get your morning started right.

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15. McDonald’s milkshakes may as well be health shakes. Chick & Ruth’s knows how it’s really done.

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16. You have to buy socks every winter because you burn all of yours at at the Oyster Roast every spring.

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17. You have at least three pairs of back up sunglasses in your car and another three pairs in your boat or your friend’s boat.

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18. You have your boater’s license but you have no idea where it is.

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19. You have tried to use last year’s leftover BarBayq coins to buy just one more hush puppy or orange crush.

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20. If you hear someone say “Crabcakes and Football” one more time, then you are going to hit them over a head with a lacrosse stick.

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21. If you’re a girl, you have a picture somewhere of you wearing a midshipmen’s hat.

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22. If you’re a guy, you have dressed up in flight suits and impersonated Blue Angels on a weeknight in the month of May in order to pick up ladies at the bar.

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23. You don’t bat an eye when someone walks by in a colonial costume.

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24. You complain when your friends from DC want to go to Pusser’s but have at least one good story from there that you are hoping your best man/maid of honor forgets when it’s time to make their toast.

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25. You have gone to Eastport-A-Rockin’ every year but you’re lucky if you can remember the name of just one of the bands that you heard.

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26. You face off with the weather every year to see who is going to bail first — the cold weather or your flip-flops?

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27. You were really excited when you got nieces and nephews because it meant that you could go to the Renaissance Festival without getting shit from your friends.

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28. Harry Browne’s may be one of the few restaurants that still has real tablecloths and serves sorbet with every meal to cleanse the palate, but you know that you can go to the upstairs bar for a killer happy hour every day of the work week and get a $6 burger with fries.

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29. When you are interviewing for a job, you wonder how you are going to break it to them that you need to leave early every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening during the summer for AYC races, JWorld Races, and EYC Beer Can races, respectively.

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30. You have a strong opinion about the preservation of historic buildings, until it interferes with drinking, sailing, profits, or art. But you know that deep down we’re all on the same side — we live in an amazing city and we want the best for it.

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Midsummer nudity in Finland

Photo: Artur Potosi

ON MY FIRST JUHANNUS NINE YEARS AGO, I participated in Finland’s summer exodus, riding in the car for five hours with my wife’s (then girlfriend’s) Finnish family, traveling from Helsinki to Central Finland. To pass the time, my in-laws sang several Finnish national songs. Inspired by the fierce patriotism of my wife’s family (especially her bass-voiced father), I eventually volunteered to sing a solo-version of America’s national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” I sang loud and proud until I realized that I had forgotten many of the lyrics. My face turned red as a Finnish strawberry.

At my in-laws’ summer cottage, the conditions were perfect for Juhannus. And if you’re a Finn, you know exactly what I mean.

The vibrant dusk over the calm lake. The warm breeze rustling the leaves of the birch trees. The smell of grilled sausages and smoke.

On this evening, I would enjoy my first authentic sauna in Finland. (Tonight I hoped to forget about the electric one I often used at my American college where throwing water on the rocks was illegal.)

By the time I had reached the changing room, my father-in-law and his middle-aged Finnish friend were already baking inside. As I undressed, I realized that I faced a crucial decision.

Should I wear swim shorts or go butt-naked?

I had heard that Finns go nude to the sauna, but the Americans I knew would never feel comfortable wearing their birthday suits around their in-laws, let alone their own family.

In the United States, you can go to your grave without seeing anyone in your own family naked. And millions of Americans are more than happy to keep it this way.

But it was Midsummer, and I wasn’t in America anymore. I was in Central Finland, thousands of kilometers from home (and hundreds of kilometers from civilization, for that matter). And since going au natural to sauna was a Finnish habit, I wouldn’t want my Finnish father-in-law and his friend to feel uncomfortable with me being the only man wearing a bathing suit.

I mustered all of my American courage and threw my swim shorts to the corner of the dressing room. I pushed open the door of the sauna and after taking one step inside, I was hit in the face with an unexpected realization.

I was the only naked man in that sauna.

As I sat down on the lowest bench and crossed my legs, the embarrassment of forgetting the lyrics to America’s national anthem seemed like no big deal.

Why did these Finns have their swim trunks on, I wondered. Had I missed out on a hidden cultural rule? After five minutes had passed, I left the sauna scratching my head.

Later that evening, I discovered through my wife that her father had agreed with his friend to wear their shorts in the sauna in an effort to be culturally sensitive to me, the modest American.

These two Finns and I were like polite strangers on the street who had tried too hard to avoid walking into each other — swerving one way, then the other way and then back again — but ultimately, achieved the one thing they sought to avoid by crashing into each other clumsily.

After surviving the awkwardness of my first Midsummer, I have learned to treasure the uniqueness of this Finnish holiday. Now I know that Juhannus is so much more than a long car-ride and another excuse by Finns to hop into the sauna.

Juhannus is when vegetarians like myself crave grilled sausages (or even — gasp! — devour one or two of them).

Juhannus is when even New Yorkers would be impressed by the amount of traffic in Finland.

Juhannus is when millions of Finns act like American college kids, wearing pajamas all day, staying up all night and consuming way too much alcohol.

Juhannus is when the cottage-less Finns becomes an ethnic minority that the majority of Finland pities.

Juhannus is when even the unemployed of Finland take a vacation from being unemployed.

Juhannus is the deadline for every self-respecting Finn to have taken her first swim of the year.

Juhannus is when Finnish mosquitoes will suck your blood dry but will never steal your Midsummer joy.

Juhannus is when you promise you will never move away from Finland (although by November, you will seriously rethink this vow).

Last week, I asked my father-in-law to share his best memories of Midsummer. (I was secretly testing him to see if he had forgotten about my first Juhannus sauna.)

As he reflected on this Finnish holiday, he kept referring to it as Christmas by mistake, so at one point I interrupted him and joked, “Perhaps Juhannus is the Christmas of summer?”

With a boyish laugh and a twinkle in his eye, he said, “Maybe even better than Christmas.”

I'm an Afropolitan.

Photo: Fernando Mafra

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya. I moved to Minnesota at 17, went to college in St. Cloud, and spent the last 6 years in Minneapolis. I have family scattered throughout the US and Kenya.

I’m an Afropolitan (Af-roh pol-i-tn).

First appearing in 2005 with Nigerian/Ghanaian writer Taiye Selasi’s article, “Bye-Bye Babar,” “Afropolitan” describes a new generation of African; the creative, politically aware, multicultural African emigrant with roots firmly on the African continent and bodies and minds in the world. Afropolitanism is more than a description of a sub-set of Africans who find their feet pounding pavements in Barcelona, Daegu, New York City or even Michigan. Instead, it is a state of mind that identifies Africans who straddle two or more distinct cultures, identities, continents, sets of friends, languages and levels of awareness.

As Afropolitans, we are chameleons, constantly adapting and finding new ways to be African. Yet, “ultimately, the Afropolitan must form an identity along at least three dimensions: national, racial, cultural — with subtle tensions in between,” and this is what typifies us. This undulating movement along nation, race and culture is what makes me Afropolitan. Here are the 5 reasons why:

1. “Where are you from?” is a complicated question.

An inevitable question in understanding the people we meet, whether on a date, your friend’s dining table, a bar, or even at work. But every time I hear this question directed at me, I take a deep breath, ready to offer a variety of interpretations on the meaning of where I am “from.” For the Afropolitan, we were either born in one place, moved to another, or spent 10 years in yet another, and our travel appetites stoked, have been on the move ever since. The question of where we are “from” becomes more complicated over time.

Where I’m “from” means multiple things; where I was born, where I currently live, where my family lives, or even where I identify the most with. I do not define myself by one city, or country, but by multiple geographies.

2. Time zones are sown into my daily fabric.

Forget Eastern Time versus Pacific Time zones, we’re talking longitudes and hemispheres; friends and family who are whole days ahead of, or behind me, in living, eating and breathing. I carry with me a constant knowledge of what time it is in a special place on that African continent, Nairobi. For others is it Dakar, Harare, Cairo, Brazzaville…

The World Clock, and weather on my phone is set to Nairobi, and all the other cities that hold my identity and the people I love in them; Minneapolis, New Orleans, Seattle, Dallas, Sydney, Cape Town, et cetera. As if by always knowing what time it is, and whether the sun is shining there too, I retain with me a sliver of these places. Or maybe even that I exist in them, if only for a few seconds a day.

I also know that a phone call “home,” to my country of origin, means staying up late or waking up too early. With 8 hrs and thousands more miles separating my brother and I, we have learned to find each other in those golden hours when his day is ending and mine is just beginning. Yet even then, after the numbers have been dialed and phones answered, we find that our conversations seem to hold in them entire time zones: the 1-2 seconds between my words and their reception on a phone halfway to the other side of the world. Over time, we’ve learned not to speak too fast, and that the white silence preceding a response, is our words carried over miles to be planted on a loved ones ear.

3. I am multilingual.

Afropolitans are a multilingual,ethnically mixed bunch who can speak, think, or write in more than one language at a time. We grew up speaking Igbo, Amharic, and Hindi as our parents ferried us between two worlds; the world of our grandparents, and the new countries and regions we found ourselves in. And so, I find my thoughts and ideas reflected through 2 different languages (Swahili & Kikuyu) and mirrored back to me in English.

My understanding of the world, and its people is framed by the boundaries these languages give me to speak about them. There are words in Kikuyu that hold in them an entire cultural universe, and words in Swahili for which there is no English equivalent. For instance how do I explain to you what a Ngurario is, because to call it a “traditional wedding” is to fail to paint you the rituals, performance, and tradition it holds. Likewise, I do not know how to say “there’s an app for that” in Kikuyu when my mother shares with me her latest tech dilemma.

The result is that as Afropolitans, we seamlessly move from one language to the other in our minds, and in conversation with others like us. When we find one language lacking the emotion, or oomph to describe what we’re trying to say, we simply find the one that does. I am adventurous in my speech and thoughts, refusing to be limited by the boundaries of a single dialect, and reinventing vernacular as I speak, think, and write it.

4. I belong to an African community.

No matter where we are, we create enclaves that give us a community to belong to, and fulfil that ever-present longing for people like us. As African emigrants, we engender them out of whole neighborhoods (Little Ethiopia in LA or Little Senegal in Harlem), and other times out of a shared group of friends. We congregate at weddings, backyard parties, African dance nights, churches, and mosques, opening the doors to our homes, and hearts, and carrying away into the night in tongues that are kept for the few. In this way, we give to each other something the world can’t.

For my African friends, the words fufu and injera, conjure up images of their mother’s kitchen, and we all hold within us “a coming to America” story that inspires laughter and surprise. I know also that a visit to their home comes with it the sort of hospitality I remember from those early years playing in and out of my neighbors and uncles’ houses; when friends were cousins, and all adults “aunties” or “uncles.” So you’ll find us in that corner booth at brunch, each of us fighting above the other to be heard in that excited way fellow Africans speak to each other. We come from different cities, countries and tribes but we are united in the African experience that shapes us all.

5. I am Afro-fusion.

Afropolitans are hard to define stylistically, blending traditional, modern, and global to create Afro-fusion. For instance, I grew up listening to Euro charts, American pop, and African hits. I watched blockbuster Hollywood flicks, intricately plotted Nigerian Nollywood movies, interspersed with scene-stealing Bollywood dance-offs (that I am yet to live out one day). All the while, I was borrowing fashion tips from Euro streets, South African magazines, my grandmother, and the American hip-hop scene. My fashion, my music, what movies I love, and even who and how I love is determined by all these things that I have seen, felt, and heard.

The only thing constant is that I give a nod to my roots in all my tastes, whether in the multicolored bracelets that populate my wrist, or the earrings carved out of and into African continents that dangle from my ears, or even the brightly patterned fabrics that find themselves as art on my walls. Sometimes it is the afro-pop music that blares into my ears as I maneuver the city dancing to a different beat, or the African writers and thinkers who occupy my bookshelf and reading list, stirring in me decolonized thought.

For me, jazz is not just Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, but also Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela. The greats of literature aren’t limited to the Homers, Chaucers and the Twains, but also hold in them the Achebes, Thiong’os and Soyinkas. Likewise, the creativity that pours out of me, and into this world is defined by this fusion; my experience as a global citizen, and African of the world.

45 best travel books

Photo: Ed Yourdon

1. On the Road

Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel should be compulsory reading for all nomads, backpackers and folks who want to live off the grid. In ‘On The Road’ discover 1950’s underground America as Kerouac hitches backwards forwards across the states in search of Jazz, drugs, sex and the meaning of life.

2. The Cloud Garden

The Darien Gap is a place of Legend. The only break in the Pan-American highway, which runs from Alaska to the tip of South America. The gap is often seen as an almost impregnable strip of swamp, jungle and cloud forest inhabited by FARC gorillas. This fascinating book tells the story of two unlikely travelers who team up and try to get through the gap from Panama to Colombia, on foot. After a grueling journey they are just hours from success when they are captured by FARC fighters and held prisoner in the jungle for nine months.

3. Shantaram

The first book I ever read on India, Shantaram inspired me to book a one way flight to Delhi and travel around India for 14 months. The book follows the possibly true, possibly exaggerated, story of an escaped Australian convict who finds his way to India where he falls in love, works for gangsters, fights the Russians in Afghanistan, gets imprisoned in Bombay, becomes a professional forger and an amateur doctor and experiences life in an Indian slum. The book is extremely well written and paints an accurate, although somewhat rosy, picture of life in India.

4. Last Man in the Tower

21st Century Mumbai is a city of new money and soaring real estate, and property kingpin Dharmen Shah has grand plans for its future. His offer to buy and tear down a weathered tower block, making way for luxury apartments, will make each of its residents rich — if all agree to sell. But not everyone wants to leave; many of the residents have lived there for a lifetime, many of them are no longer young. As tensions rise among the once civil neighbours, one by one those who oppose the offer give way to the majority, until only one man stands in Shah’s way: Masterji, a retired schoolteacher, once the most respected man in the building. Shah is a dangerous man to refuse, but as the demolition deadline looms, Masterji’s neighbours — friends who have become enemies, acquaintances turned co-conspirators — may stop at nothing to secure their money. This is a really poignant read which I read in India, it changed how I viewed the country irreversibly.

5. The White Tiger

One of the first books I read whilst backpacking in India, this is a really useful, often amusing, often horrifying, tale which will help you better understand the caste system.

6. On a Shoestring to Coorg

This is the first travel book that tested the idea that a five-year old daughter makes for a decent travelling companion. A really interesting read on the now-defunt Indian state of Coorg, this book gives a fascinating insight into the origins of backpacker travel in India.

7. The Kite Runner

A fascinating, sometimes painful, read about Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The story follows the fate of two young boys, one of whom is able to escape to America whilst the other, of the Hazara minority group, is forced to stay behind.

8. A Thousand Splendid Suns

One of the most inspirational books I have ever read, I felt that this gave me a real insight into the little known women of Afghanistan and the events that have shaped the country over the last thirty years.

9. Born to Run

A tale of a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live hidden in canyons and are reputed to be the best long distance runners in the world.

10. The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test

This is THE book to read if you are interested in how the psychedelic movement began, squats, hippy culture or experimenting with LSD. Follow Ken Kesey, author of One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, as he leads his band of Merry Pranksters across America fermenting a revolution unlike any other.

11. The Lost City of Z

This is THE book you want to read if you are headed into the Amazon. The book tells the tale of an eccentric British explorer, Percy Fawcett, who spent his life leading expeditions into the Amazon in search of the legendary lost City of Z. The book recounts his life, his encounters with uncontacted tribes and his final expedition, from which he did not return.

12. Indonesia Etc.. Exploring the Improbable Nation

In Indonesia Etc, Pisani weaves together the stories of Indonesians encountered on her journey with a considered analysis of Indonesia’s recent history, corrupt political system, ethnic and religious identities, stifling bureaucracy and traditional ‘sticky’ cultures. Fearless and funny, she gives a compelling and sharply perceptive account of a captivating nation.

13. The Motorcycle Diaries

A travel classic, these are the diaries of Che Guevara in which he travels around South America by motorbike.

14. The Killing Fields

Hands-down THE best book you can read about Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Heartbreaking, beautifully written and historically accurate, this book will change how you perceive Cambodia forever.

15. First They Killed My Father

The personal account of a young girl who was taken from her family and trained as a child soldier by the Khmer Rouge.

16. Are you experienced

An easy read and a funny satire on the whole concept of student travel and the India backpacker trail.

17. Nine Lives

A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet — then spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve herself to death. Nine people, nine lives; each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. William Dalrymple is one of the best writers when it comes to offering an insight into Indian culture and I highly recommend reading everything he has written.

18. Dark Star Safari, Overland from Cairo to Cape Town

Travelling across bush and desert, down rivers and across lakes, and through country after country, Theroux visits some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, and some of the most dangerous. It is a journey of discovery and of rediscovery — of the unknown and the unexpected, but also of people and places he knew as a young and optimistic teacher forty years before.

19. Mud, Sweat and Tears

The inspiring autobiography of Bear Grylls in which he recovers from a broken back and goes on to become one of the youngest climbers to scale Mount Everest.

20. Heart of Darkness

At the peak of European Imperialism, steamboat captain Charles Marlow travels deep into the African Congo on his way to relieve the elusive Mr Kurtz, an ivory trader renowned for his fearsome reputation. On his journey into the unknown Marlow takes a terrifying trip into his own subconscious, overwhelmed by his menacing, perilous and horrifying surroundings.

21. Blood River

When Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher was sent to cover Africa in 2000 he quickly became obsessed with the idea of recreating H.M. Stanley’s famous expedition — but travelling alone. Despite warnings that his plan was ‘suicidal’, Butcher set out for the Congo’s eastern border with just a rucksack and a few thousand dollars hidden in his boots. Making his way in an assortment of vessels including a motorbike and a dugout canoe, helped along by a cast of characters from UN aid workers to a campaigning pygmy, he followed in the footsteps of the great Victorian adventurers.

22. Stranger in the Forest

The best account of an adventure expedition that I have ever read. Stranger in the forest recounts the humorous story of the author’s travels in Borneo where he made lifelong friends with the Penan, jungle people who can catch fish with their feet, imitate the cry of the elusive barking deer, and survive in a fearsomely inhospitable environment. With their help Hansen learned to hunt pigs, danced in the tribal rituals, discovered the eyewatering nature of Penan sex aids and was given the ceremonial name “Rajah Kumis”: King of the Moustache. He conveys how he came face to face with himself in the patch of map marked “unsurveyed”, and records the experience of living in a proud and ancient tribal community based on mutual respect.

23. Absurdistan

Award-winning foreign correspondent Eric Campbell has been stoned by fundamentalists, captured by US Special Forces, arrested in Serbia and threatened with expulsion from China. He’s negotiated dating rituals in Moscow, shared a house with a charismatic mercenary in Kabul and taken up smoking at gunpoint in Kosovo.

24. Travels on My Elephant

With the help of a Maratha nobleman, Mark Shand buys an elephant named Tara and rides her over six hundred miles across India to the Sonepur Mela, the world’s oldest elephant market. From Bhim, a drink-racked mahout, Shand learned to ride and care for her. From his friend Aditya Patankar he learned Indian ways. And with Tara, his new companion, he fell in love.

25. Chasing the Devil

For many years, war made Sierra Leone and Liberia too dangerous for outsiders to travel through. Facing down demons from his time in Africa as a journalist, Tim Butcher heads deep into this combat zone, encountering the devastation wrought by lawless militia, child soldiers, brutal violence, blood diamonds and masked figures who guard the spiritual secrets of remote jungle communities.

26. A Walk in the Woods

For those of you not familiar with Bill Bryson, he is point blank one of the most amusing travel writers out there. In this tale of walking and woe, Bryson attempts to traverse the Appalachian Trail, the longest continuous footpath in the world which crosses tangled woods and heady peaks.

27. Royal Road to Romance

When Richard Halliburton graduated from college, he chose adventure over a career, traveling the world with almost no money. The Royal Road to Romance chronicles what happened as a result, from a breakthrough Matterhorn ascent to being jailed for taking forbidden pictures on Gibraltar.

28. The Great Railway Bazaar; By Train Through Asia

Paul Theroux’s account of his epic journey by rail through Asia. Filled with evocative names of legendary train routes – the Direct-Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Hikari Super Express to Kyoto and the Trans-Siberian Express – it describes the many places, cultures, sights and sounds he experienced and the fascinating people he met. Here he overhears snippets of chat and occasional monologues, and is drawn into conversation with fellow passengers, from Molesworth, a British theatrical agent, and Sadik, a shabby Turkish tycoon, while avoiding the forceful approaches of pimps and drug dealers.

29. Just a Little Run Around the World

After her husband died of cancer, 57-year-old Rosie set off to run around the world, raising money in memory of the man she loved. Followed by wolves, knocked down by a bus, confronted by bears, chased by a naked man with a gun and stranded with severe frostbite, Rosie’s breathtaking 20,000-mile, 5-year, solo journey is as gripping as it is inspiring.

30. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, A Journey Through Yugoslavia

Rebecca West’s epic masterpiece is widely regarded as the most illuminating book to have been written on the former state of Yugoslavia. It is a work of enduring value that remains essential for anyone attempting to understand the enigmatic history of the Balkan states, and the continuing friction in this fractured area of Europe.

31. Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know

One of the first books I ever read about expeditioning, I was inspired to start travelling and to get involved in trekking, climbing and rafting. Ranulph Fiennes has travelled to the most dangerous and inaccessible places on earth, almost died countless times, lost nearly half his fingers to frostbite, raised millions of pounds for charity and been awarded a polar medal and an OBE. He has been an elite soldier, an athlete, a mountaineer, an explorer, a bestselling author and nearly replaced Sean Connery as James Bond. In his autobiography he describes how he led expeditions all over the world and became the first person to travel to both poles on land. He tells of how he discovered the lost city of Ubar in Oman and attempted to walk solo and unsupported to the North Pole — the expedition that cost him several fingers, and very nearly his life.

32. The World’s Most Dangerous Places

A serious read for the serious explorer, packed full of practical advice on how to travel in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

33. The Dharma Bums

Another Kerouc classic, The Dharma Bums is a journey of self discovery through the lens of Zen Buddhist thought. Essential reading for all aspiring explorers.

34. The Piano Tuner

I read this whilst backpacking in Myanmar, it is beautifully written and enabled me to get a lot more out of my time in this stunning country. The story follows a quiet piano tuner, Edgar Drake, who is ordered by the War Office to travel to the jungles of Burma to tune a rare grand piano for an eccentric British officer renowned for his peace making methods in the war-torn Shan states.

35. Walking the Amazon: 860 Days

In April 2008, Ed Stafford began his attempt to become the first man ever to walk the entire length of the River Amazon. Nearly two and a half years later, he had crossed the whole of South America to reach the mouth of the colossal river. With danger a constant companion – outwitting alligators, jaguars, pit vipers and electric eels, not to mention overcoming the hurdles of injuries and relentless tropical storms – Ed’s journey demanded extreme physical and mental strength. Often warned by natives that he would die, Ed even found himself pursued by machete-wielding tribesmen and detained for murder.

36. The Carpet Wars

A personal odyssey through war, friendship and craftsmanship along the old Silk Route. A fascinating travel book that illuminates the contemporary story of south west Asia and offers a unique insight into the characters of warlords, presidents and sheikhs.

37. The Wild Places

“The Wild Places” is both an intellectual and a physical journey, and Macfarlane travels in time as well as space. Guided by monks, questers, scientists, philosophers, poets and artists, both living and dead, he explores our changing ideas of the wild. From the cliffs of Cape Wrath, to the holloways of Dorset, the storm-beaches of Norfolk, the saltmarshes and estuaries of Essex, and the moors of Rannoch and the Pennines, his journeys become the conductors of people and cultures, past and present, who have had intense relationships with these places.

38. Extreme Survivors

60 of the World’s most extreme survival stories.

39. Kon-Tiki, Across the Pacific by Raft

“Kon-Tiki” is the record of an astonishing adventure — a journey 4,300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft. Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea Islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by the mythical hero Kon-Tiki. He decided to prove his theory by duplicating the legendary voyage. On April 28, 1947, Heyerdahl and five other adventurers sailed from Peru on a balsa log raft. After three suspenseful months on the open sea, alone among raging storms, whales and countless sharks, they sighted land — the polynesian island of Puka Puka.

40. Into the Wild

Perhaps one of the most popular books on the backpacking circuit, although not one of my personal favourites, Into the Wild follows the true story of Chris McCandles, a young man who walked deep into the Alaskan wilderness in search of enlightenment and ultimately perished.

41. Honeymoon with my Brother

After being jilted at his wedding, the author heads off on his two-year, fifty two country, honeymoon…. with a brother he barely knows. What follows is a series of emotional, amusing and unexpected adventures as the author battles to overcome his loss and reconnect with his brother.

42. Travels with Charley

When he was almost sixty years old, worried that he might have lost touch with the sights, the sounds and the essence of America’s people, Steinbeck took note of his itchy feet and prepared to travel. He was accompanied by his French poodle, Charley, diplomat and watchdog, across the states of America from Maine to California. Moving through the woods and deserts, dirt tracks and highways to large cities and glorious wildernesses, Steinbeck observed — with remarkable honesty and insight, with a humorous and sometimes sceptical eye — America, and the Americans who inhabited it.

43. The Alchemist

Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.

44. Siddhartha

A travel classic, Siddhartha is perhaps the most important and compelling moral allegory our troubled century has produced. Integrating Eastern and Western spiritual traditions with psychoanalysis and philosophy, this strangely simple tale, written with a deep and moving empathy for humanity, has touched the lives of millions since its original publication in 1922. Set in India, Siddhartha is the story of a young Brahmin’s search for ultimate reality after meeting with the Buddha. His quest takes him from a life of decadence to asceticism, from the illusory joys of sensual love with a beautiful courtesan, and of wealth and fame, to the painful struggles with his son and the ultimate wisdom of renunciation.

45. Full Tilt, Ireland to India with a Bicycle

Shortly after her tenth birthday, Dervla Murphy decided to cycle to India. Almost 20 years later, she set out to achieve her ambition. Her epic journey began during the coldest winter in memory, taking her through Europe, Persia, Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan, and into India.

11 of the trippiest places to stay in Tennessee

11 of the trippiest places to stay in Tennessee

1. Elkmont

In addition to being the first national park partially paid for with federal funds and the most visited national park in the United States, the Great Smoky Mountains is also home to the former logging town of Elkmont. Once an Appalachian Club vacation community, the company began selling land to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in 1910. Eventually, it became a place for the hoity toity to socialize until 1992 when the National Park Service refused to renew the cottage owner’s’ lifetime leases. By 2001, the whole town of Elkmont was abandoned.



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Campers who stay right down the gravel road at Elkmont Campground can explore the decayed remains of the Wonderland Club Hotel, the Appalachian Clubhouse, and the rest of the ghost town littered with dead leaves and spooky Deliverance-style cabins just thirsty for some sacrificial rituals.

2. The Inn at Christmas Place

There’s people who like Christmas, and then there’s people who like Christmas all year round. But I’m not talking about folks who leave lights strung along the porch to make next year’s decorating ‘that much easier’ – I’m talking full blown boughs of holly and sleigh bells, a plethora of Christmas trees, jolly Santas sweating their asses off in July, and wreaths every-goddamn-where you look in a Bavarian-style, Smoky Mountain inn.

It’s as if the Christmas spirit has possessed everyone there to spin their heads around violently while projectile vomiting eggnog, poinsettias, and candy canes.



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3. Oakridge

Sitting 18 miles west of Knoxville, the little town of Oak Ridge was chosen by the federal government in 1942 as a site for developing materials for the Manhattan Project due to its low population, easy access by highway and rail, and affordable land. To uphold secrecy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began carving out 60,000 acres, nailing eviction notices to many residents’ doors and fencing in the whole town. And, of course, keeping true with the whole do-as-you’re-told-and-keep-your-mouth-fucking-shut cliche, workers assigned to the project were also kept in the dark. Sure, they knew they were working with uranium, but most hadn’t a clue what uranium even was. That is, until August 6, 1945, when radio broadcasts announced The Atomic Bomb having been dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

Today, certain parts of Oak Ridge appear to be frozen in the 1940s as remnants of a town once scattered with billboards warning “SILENCE MEANS SECURITY” or “WHAT YOU SEE HERE, WHAT YOU DO HERE, WHAT YOU HEAR HERE – WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE, LET IT STAY HERE,” making the real mystery being why M. Night Shyamalan has yet to overrun the town with a film crew.



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4. Adams

Thought to have been the inspiration for The Blair Witch Project, Adams in northern Tennessee is home to the legendary Bell Witch folklore, citing the only recorded case in US history of an entity-on-human murder in the early 19th century.

If camping in Adams interests you, it’s important to remember to bring plenty of witch repellent as well as tissues so you don’t get snot all over the camera as you wait for your inevitable demise. Just be warned — Andrew Jackson, having been intrigued by the story at the time, went to visit the Bell family but bailed along the way, too freaked out to finish the trip.



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5. Spaceship House

Believe it or not, that’s not a retro UFO on the side of Signal Mountain in Chattanooga — it’s actually a retro house with a drop-down airplane door leading to the interior of a place straight out of the Jetsons, designed to just look like a retro UFO. Speculation claims that the original owners once had a stuffed panther coffee table, but as it’s private property nestled on a hairpin turn, speculating may be all you can do for now. That is, unless the house goes up for auction again where you, too, can live that vintage intergalactic lifestyle.



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6. The Peabody Hotel

In the 1930s, following a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas, General Manager of The Peabody was sippin’ some Jack Daniel’s with a friend when they decided to throw some live duck decoys in The Peabody fountain because why the hell not? One thing led to another, and soon the former circus-animal trainer-turned-Duckmaster was teaching five North American Mallards the Peabody Duck Mark, which is still performed daily. Ducks strutting down a red carpet and splashing in the lobby’s travertine marble fountain? What more could you want from a hotel?



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7. Chattanooga Choo Choo

Having once been a breeding ground for train cars and railway tracks for the Southern Railway line, the Chattanooga Terminal Station was converted to a hotel in 1974 where folks could rent old victorian sleeper cars and pretend to be jerked around on clackety tracks while they smear Tennessee Toe Jam on toast. Oh, Chattanooga — won’t you choo-choo me home?



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8. Heartbreak Hotel

This ‘50s-inspired hotel in Memphis celebrates The King in all his glory with lots of burning red, a jungle room den, retro decorated Gold & Platinum Suites, and, of course, a little less conversation with a lot more action.



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This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More




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9. Prancing Poet

Whether it’s boogying under a shiny disco ball, getting ready in the Purple Haze bathroom, hanging out with Mushroom People, exploring the eco-friendly Green Dragon tavern, or being in the company of a bunch of welcoming hippies on one of North America’s oldest intentional communities, there’s really nothing about this hostel at The Farm that’s isn’t trippy — and totally fucking awesome.



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10. Room 311 at the Read House

This Chattanooga building once served as a hospital for the Union Army before it was destroyed by a fire in 1867 and reconstructed as a 10-story, Georgian architectural hotel in 1926. However, Room 311 didn’t get the memo to lose the grim and grisly vibe. In this particular room, you’ll see anything from a face in the mirror to a spirit lounging on the bed, making it one of the most famous haunts in Chattanooga.

Legend says that a woman was brutally murdered by a man in that very room. So if you happen to be a male guest, you may want to consider an upgrade to Room 312.



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11. Bonnaroo

But let’s be honest — it’s only trippy because you’re sweating profusely in a tent two hours into an acid trip delusionally thinking you’re jamming to Earth, Wind & Fire.


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14 solid reasons to quit your job and just backpack the US forever

WE LOVE OUR FANS at Matador, and one of the ways we show it is by posting your photos on our Instagram account. Our #travelstoke galleries provide a daily dose of travel inspiration, challenging us to push the boundaries and photograph the world in innovative ways.

Here’s a collection of our favorites from followers who have been exploring the outdoors in the US and tagging their images with the official Matador hashtag, #travelstoke.

1. Monument Valley, Utah

Tag someone you want to explore the American southwest with! Photo by #MatadorN reader @rovingmementos from beautiful Monument Valley, Utah. Thanks for sharing the #travelstoke!

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 9, 2015 at 4:57pm PDT

2. Sauk Mountain, Washington

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 14, 2015 at 1:59am PDT

3. Rappelling 150 feet in Moab, Utah

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 17, 2015 at 2:06pm PDT

4. Death Valley, California

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 6, 2015 at 2:18am PDT

5. Big Four Ice Caves in Granite Falls, Washington

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 4, 2015 at 10:25pm PDT

6. Studhorse Point near Page, Arizona

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 9, 2015 at 6:32am PDT

7. Soaring over the desert en route to Las Vegas, Nevada

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 1, 2015 at 11:36pm PDT

8. Camping in Carlsbad, San Diego County

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 8, 2015 at 12:20am PDT

9. Arches National Park, Utah

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on Jun 1, 2015 at 1:28pm PDT

10. On top of Smith Rock in Oregon

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 29, 2015 at 7:40pm PDT

11. Looking out over San Diego, California

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 28, 2015 at 10:15pm PDT

12. Dead Horse Point, Utah

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 31, 2015 at 6:24pm PDT

13. Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 28, 2015 at 8:23pm PDT

14. Olmsted Point, Yosemite

Where do you go when you need to hit the reset button? Tag someone you want to explore Yosemite after dark with! Photo by #MatadorN reader @radam2 taking a moment to meditate at Olmsted Point, Yosemite. Thanks for tagging #travelstoke!

A photo posted by @matadornetwork on May 23, 2015 at 11:25pm PDT

Reasons to never visit Ohio

Photo: Jonathan Kos-Read

EVER HEARD SOMEONE REFER TO OHIO as a flyover state? They’re totally right. You should never visit the Buckeye state. Here’s why:
1. The theme parks are just insanely boring.

Photo: Patrick McGarvey

Gotta love a quick ride on the Bat… did you know that when Top Gun opened in 1993, it was the last suspended coaster of its kind to be built? #arrowdynamics #legacyofarrow #suspendedcoaster #rollercoaster #thebat #awesome #cool #followme #kingsisland #kibestday #ki2015 #coasterexpeditioncrew

A video posted by Coaster Expedition Crew (@rollercoaster_expedition) on Jun 16, 2015 at 6:52am PDT

2. We’re going to ruin marching bands for you.

3. The variety of good beer is going to give you lifelong, crippling indecision.

Bringing a few friends to @clesummercamp on 8.2! Tickets at www.clesummercamp.com.

A photo posted by Great Lakes Brewing Company (@glbc_cleveland) on Jul 18, 2014 at 1:28pm PDT

Every Friday night we have $8 growler fills from 4pm to 9pm. Start your weekend off right with us at 1621 Moore St in OTR . #christianmoerlein #otr #thisisotr #moerlein #beer #brewery #drinklocal #cincinnati #cincy

A photo posted by Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. (@moerleinbeers) on Jan 23, 2015 at 5:00pm PST

4. You’re going to get confused about what real chili is.

It's Skyline time!

A photo posted by Skyline Chili (@skyline_time) on Aug 4, 2013 at 12:22pm PDT

5. Your irony receptors will explode.

For #fbf allow me to tell you west coast folk the story of #bigbutterjesus. This hideous thing was located in one of those megachurches back home, right outside of Cincinnati. The locals loved to make fun of it, and it was also known as #touchdownjesus. In what is perhaps one of the better acts of irony ever recorded, it was STRUCK BY LIGHTNING and burned down to the ground.

A photo posted by Alex Mera (@zerochance09) on Sep 5, 2014 at 9:25pm PDT

6. There’s just no music scene to speak of.

#WTMintheUK

A photo posted by WALK THE MOON (@walkthemoonband) on May 23, 2015 at 2:24am PDT

@BunburyFestival // Cincinnati, Ohio // June 5th Hand printed on 150lb. White Exact Tag, 18×24" 3 colors/screens: hot pink, electric blue, black Edition of 160 prints Artwork by @powerhousefactories // #TurnBlue

A photo posted by The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) on Jun 3, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT

#kidcudi

A photo posted by Kid Cudi ☁️ (@officialindicud) on Feb 1, 2015 at 8:49pm PST

The Parade the Circle puppets are bringing the boogie! Fireworks start at 8pm! #RockHall2015

A video posted by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) on Apr 11, 2015 at 3:11pm PDT

7. Water sports aren’t your scene.

Hello #ohioriver

A photo posted by millerdave01 (@millerdave01) on Jun 13, 2015 at 2:44pm PDT

Living the good life