Destination Elsewhere Editors' Blog: October 2006

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Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk has been awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Nobel Foundation of Stockhold in Sweden made the annoucement yesterday. Pamuk, who has been prosecuted by the Turkish government for commenting on the genocide of Armenians during World War I, is noted for his vivid portrayals of modern life in Turkey. His recent book, Istanbul: Memories and the City, has received much critical acclaim. An official statement yesterday noted that, "in the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, [Pamuk] has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures.”

To learn more about Pamuk’s portrait of Istanbul, as well as travel writing by other Nobel winners, be sure to take a look at the Armchair Travel Section.

Fly and Plant?

Air travel is a mainstay of our culture, particularly for those of us who love to explore the world. But what does this do to our environment? Environmentalists lament the burning of non-renewable resources and the high C02 emissions produced by air travel, but it seems that, for the individual faced with booking a trip abroad, there is little we can do to solve this problem.

Or is there? One organization based in Wales holds out hope that our consciences will encourage us to take personal responsibility... by planting a tree. Treeflights.com is based on a novel concept. Flying produces CO2. Trees absorb CO2 and purify the air. So if everyone who booked a flight also planted a tree, perhaps something could be done to make the world a better place.

Now, when I first read the strapline, "You Fly, We Plant," I have to admit it made me chuckle. The concept seems rather simplistic at first, but the TreeFlights website does a surprisingly good job of convincing you to appreciate the sentiment here. There are no grand claims about ending global warming for good, just an encouragement to make an effort.

So how does it work? Every time you buy a plane ticket, TreeFlights encourage you to spend an extra £10 (about $18) for your very own tree to be planted in a Welsh forest. You can even visit your tree!

And, of course, the added bonus is that you don't have to actually plant the tree yourself. That feeling of self-satisfaction at having made an effort comes without any effort whatsoever.

http://www.treeflights.com

Culture in the Dark

We promised to bring you the more interesting cultural happenings from around the world that caught our eye, so here's one of them!

Ever fancied exploring Copenhagen's museums, libraries, exhibition halls, and churches... in the middle of the night? On October 13, 100,000 people will be doing just that. This year marks the 14th annual Kulturnatten, Night of Culture, when over 300 venues -- many of which are usually closed to visitors -- fling open their doors to the public between 6 p.m. and midnight. And if that's not enough, there are cultural happenings all night, including concerts and poetry readings. One 10 Euro badge grants you access to all events. And, according to the website, this is also a chance to mix with the locals, who come out in droves to experience their city on what has become a family-night for many.

If you go, let us know about it!

Upcoming Events (UK)

Colin Thubron and Chris Stewart
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

Among the notable figures appearing at the upcoming The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, running 6-15 October, travel writers Colin Thubron and Chris Stewart will be promoting their latest releases. Thubron will be discussing Shadow of the Silk Road on 6 October. Stewart, known as both the author of Driving Over Lemons and as the former drummer for Genesis, will appear at two separate events to discuss his new book The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society. For booking information visit The Cheltenham Festival Website.