Friday, June 27, 2008
Bad humor
A plane is decreasing speed rapidly downward, the pilot comes over the intercom and says "I'm sorry it had to come to this folks, but unfortunately we're gonna have to let some of the luggage go"...the plane continues to decrease speed.
Again you hear the pilot over the intercom "I hate to have to do this, but now we're gonna have to start releasing passengers by alphabet order beginning with the letter A."
"A!!!"...AFRICANS, ANY AFRICANS?!?... No one answers
"B!!!" BLACK PEOPLE ANY BLACK PEOPLE?!? again, silence.
"C!!!" COLORED PEOPLE, ANY COLORED PEOPLE?!?...silence.
A black boy in the back turns to his mother and says "But mom, aren't we African American? Aren't we black? Aren't we colored?"
The mother turns to her son and says "Yes son, but today we NIGGAS!!!...mexicans go first..."
The little black boy turns to the little mexican and laughs......The mexican kids laughs back and says "Nigga I'm a WETBACK......"
Again you hear the pilot over the intercom "I hate to have to do this, but now we're gonna have to start releasing passengers by alphabet order beginning with the letter A."
"A!!!"...AFRICANS, ANY AFRICANS?!?... No one answers
"B!!!" BLACK PEOPLE ANY BLACK PEOPLE?!? again, silence.
"C!!!" COLORED PEOPLE, ANY COLORED PEOPLE?!?...silence.
A black boy in the back turns to his mother and says "But mom, aren't we African American? Aren't we black? Aren't we colored?"
The mother turns to her son and says "Yes son, but today we NIGGAS!!!...mexicans go first..."
The little black boy turns to the little mexican and laughs......The mexican kids laughs back and says "Nigga I'm a WETBACK......"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The 6 Worst Swimsuit Foods
Beach season ought to be a sensual time of bare skin and sunshine. But for many of us, sand dunes inspire doom and gloom, as we look down regretfully at our winter-thickened bodies.
Researchers at UCLA surveyed more than 50,000 people — picture the white coats trolling Venice Beach — on body image and swimwear, and they discovered that only one-quarter of men and 12 percent of women feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit in public. Call it Tankini Syndrome: Most of us would rather hide in the beach grass than show off at the beach. And that's no way to approach the sexiest time of the year!Of course, the best way to shape up for the skin season is to make consistently healthy food choices, day in and day out. But research shows that certain foods — from salt-laden salads to sugary summer cocktails — can actually sabotage our smart choices.
Indeed, some foods not only make us fatter, they make us look fatter than we really are, by causing the body to retain water, shocking us with high calories, and otherwise pumping us up in all the wrong ways.
Learning to identify and avoid these bust-out foods could be the difference between a glorious day in surf and sun, and a paranoid one stuck under a mumu, washed up behind the tide-line. Here are six foods that can ruin your summer fun.
1. Caesar salad ~Salt binges can lead to water retention, which gives you way too much in common with a blue whale — and it’s so embarrassing when Greenpeace shows up and tries to roll you back into the water. And with the sodium-soaked trio of anchovies, fried croutons, and Parmesan cheese, Caesar salad is a salt mine in a bowl.
But it’s not just sodium: Caesar ranks right up there with taco salads as the most misbegotten "health" foods out there. Need proof? A Chili’s Chicken Caesar Salad has 1,010 calories, 76 grams of fat, and 1,910 mg sodium. If you spill some of it, you should chuck it over your shoulder for good luck.
2. Potato salad~ This mayo-drenched spud festival may be a summertime staple, but it’s capable of doing both short- and long-term damage to your beach bod. The short-term damage comes from the carbs in the potatoes, which produce gas as they’re digested — cue the on-shore breezes — and the high sodium content: a full cup of the stuff can contain well over 1,000 mg of sodium. And this simple "salad" is one of the most calorie-dense foods on the planet — so you eat now, and pay later, and later, and later.
3. Cruciferous vegetables~ Nutritionists will tell you that cruciferous vegetables — including broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts — are the best foods for any occasion. And they’re great foods for maintaining long-term weight loss. But we offer a single exception: the moment immediately before you don a swimsuit. These veggies contain a complex sugar called raffinose, which is not digested by the body. Instead of feeding you, the raffinose ends up feeding the uncouth bacteria in your stomach, which express their gratitude by giving you gas and bloating. By all means, go cruciferous after the beach visit, and you'll fill your belly with nutrient-dense foods, not the calorie-dense variety.
4. Chili~ Chili's paunch-heavy impact deserves a mention, especially since the meat-and-bean concoction is so likely to decorate countless hot dogs this summer. Even without meat, chili can have you nervously clutching your belly with both hands to cover the swell-and-ripple effect of too much sodium and a big helping of beans (beans are the most abundant source of the bloating sugar raffinose). Even Au Bon Pain’s Low-Fat Vegetarian Chili has nearly 1,300 mg of sodium and a slurry of beans in a 12-ounce cup. Make your own low-salt bowl at home, though, and you'll have a healthy meal and process it before sunrise. Assuming you can work out any after-effects with your family and friends, it's all good.
5. Margarita~ For many, the beach and neon-tinted booze go hand in hand, but this summertime favorite hits you on two levels: First, with a tide of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup that comprises 99 percent of margarita mixes out there. Second is the immediate impact of the salt-encrusted rim, which will keep all of that liquid stored up in your midsection. A 12-ounce goblet rings up 564 calories and 2,150 mg of sodium. A couple of these will have your belly looking more like a water balloon than a washboard.
6. Beef and Broccoli ~Remember what we said about the raffinose in cruciferous vegetables? That's the first reason you should avoid the beef-and-broccoli special at the Chinese takeout. If they serve it over lo mien noodles, the carb payload can create a gas build-up as it passes through your system.
The beach-body death blow, however, comes from the guaranteed quadruple-digit sodium count in so many Chinese dishes. For perspective, P.F. Chang’s traditional beef and broccoli dish has more than a day’s worth of sodium — plus 65 grams of fat, enough to cloud the entire vacation weekend.
As for the very best foods you should be eating when you're feeling fat, stressed, sad, tired — or want an instant brain boost or to get "in the mood" — check out these superb food fixes for whatever your body or mind may need.
And when you're out, these 15 restaurant swaps can help you avoid a dietary disaster. Have other suggestions? Please share them with all of us here.
Researchers at UCLA surveyed more than 50,000 people — picture the white coats trolling Venice Beach — on body image and swimwear, and they discovered that only one-quarter of men and 12 percent of women feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit in public. Call it Tankini Syndrome: Most of us would rather hide in the beach grass than show off at the beach. And that's no way to approach the sexiest time of the year!Of course, the best way to shape up for the skin season is to make consistently healthy food choices, day in and day out. But research shows that certain foods — from salt-laden salads to sugary summer cocktails — can actually sabotage our smart choices.
Indeed, some foods not only make us fatter, they make us look fatter than we really are, by causing the body to retain water, shocking us with high calories, and otherwise pumping us up in all the wrong ways.
Learning to identify and avoid these bust-out foods could be the difference between a glorious day in surf and sun, and a paranoid one stuck under a mumu, washed up behind the tide-line. Here are six foods that can ruin your summer fun.
1. Caesar salad ~Salt binges can lead to water retention, which gives you way too much in common with a blue whale — and it’s so embarrassing when Greenpeace shows up and tries to roll you back into the water. And with the sodium-soaked trio of anchovies, fried croutons, and Parmesan cheese, Caesar salad is a salt mine in a bowl.
But it’s not just sodium: Caesar ranks right up there with taco salads as the most misbegotten "health" foods out there. Need proof? A Chili’s Chicken Caesar Salad has 1,010 calories, 76 grams of fat, and 1,910 mg sodium. If you spill some of it, you should chuck it over your shoulder for good luck.
2. Potato salad~ This mayo-drenched spud festival may be a summertime staple, but it’s capable of doing both short- and long-term damage to your beach bod. The short-term damage comes from the carbs in the potatoes, which produce gas as they’re digested — cue the on-shore breezes — and the high sodium content: a full cup of the stuff can contain well over 1,000 mg of sodium. And this simple "salad" is one of the most calorie-dense foods on the planet — so you eat now, and pay later, and later, and later.
3. Cruciferous vegetables~ Nutritionists will tell you that cruciferous vegetables — including broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts — are the best foods for any occasion. And they’re great foods for maintaining long-term weight loss. But we offer a single exception: the moment immediately before you don a swimsuit. These veggies contain a complex sugar called raffinose, which is not digested by the body. Instead of feeding you, the raffinose ends up feeding the uncouth bacteria in your stomach, which express their gratitude by giving you gas and bloating. By all means, go cruciferous after the beach visit, and you'll fill your belly with nutrient-dense foods, not the calorie-dense variety.
4. Chili~ Chili's paunch-heavy impact deserves a mention, especially since the meat-and-bean concoction is so likely to decorate countless hot dogs this summer. Even without meat, chili can have you nervously clutching your belly with both hands to cover the swell-and-ripple effect of too much sodium and a big helping of beans (beans are the most abundant source of the bloating sugar raffinose). Even Au Bon Pain’s Low-Fat Vegetarian Chili has nearly 1,300 mg of sodium and a slurry of beans in a 12-ounce cup. Make your own low-salt bowl at home, though, and you'll have a healthy meal and process it before sunrise. Assuming you can work out any after-effects with your family and friends, it's all good.
5. Margarita~ For many, the beach and neon-tinted booze go hand in hand, but this summertime favorite hits you on two levels: First, with a tide of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup that comprises 99 percent of margarita mixes out there. Second is the immediate impact of the salt-encrusted rim, which will keep all of that liquid stored up in your midsection. A 12-ounce goblet rings up 564 calories and 2,150 mg of sodium. A couple of these will have your belly looking more like a water balloon than a washboard.
6. Beef and Broccoli ~Remember what we said about the raffinose in cruciferous vegetables? That's the first reason you should avoid the beef-and-broccoli special at the Chinese takeout. If they serve it over lo mien noodles, the carb payload can create a gas build-up as it passes through your system.
The beach-body death blow, however, comes from the guaranteed quadruple-digit sodium count in so many Chinese dishes. For perspective, P.F. Chang’s traditional beef and broccoli dish has more than a day’s worth of sodium — plus 65 grams of fat, enough to cloud the entire vacation weekend.
As for the very best foods you should be eating when you're feeling fat, stressed, sad, tired — or want an instant brain boost or to get "in the mood" — check out these superb food fixes for whatever your body or mind may need.
And when you're out, these 15 restaurant swaps can help you avoid a dietary disaster. Have other suggestions? Please share them with all of us here.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Best Cities to Live, Work and Play
These ten great places will only get better.
Our approach this year to picking the ten best cities in which to live and work was simple: Look for places with strong economies and abundant jobs, then demand reasonable living costs and plenty of fun things to do. When we ran the numbers, some of the names that popped up made us do a double take at first. So we hit the road to meet movers, shakers and regular folks, experience the ambience and take in the sights.
More from Kiplinger.com: • Top Ten Best Cities at a Glance • Which City Is Best for You? • Take Virtual Tours of Our Top Ten Best Cities
We discovered that our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, hadn't steered us wrong. Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity, says: "Our formula highlights cities not just with strong past performance, but also with all the ingredients for future success." One key to a bright future is a healthy shot of people in the creative class. People in creative fields -- scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists and entertainers -- are catalysts of vitality and livability in a city.
The cities that made our list also represent larger surrounding areas. And because we understand that city living isn't for everyone, we've highlighted some great suburbs, too.
Pack a bag and join us on a tour of the Best Cities for 2008 and prepare for some surprises.
1. Houston
Population: 5,542,048
Population Growth Since 2000: 14.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.3%
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.1 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,250
Income Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
2. Raleigh
Population: 995,662
Population Growth Since 2000: 19.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 99 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,150
Income Growth Since 2000: 10.3%
3. Omaha
Population: 821,356
Population Growth Since 2000: 6.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30%
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $51,627
Income Growth Since 2000: 15.1%
4. Boise
Population: 568,086
Population Growth Since 2000: 18.2%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 33.2%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.5 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $49,833
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.6%
5. Colorado Springs
Population: 600,444
Population Growth Since 2000: 10.5%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.3 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income Since 2000: 53,486
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.1%
6. Austin
Population: 1,506,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 17%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.5%
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.8 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $52,882
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
7. Fayettville
Population: 419,455
Population Growth Since 2000: 17.3%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.4%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $42,267
Income Growth Since 2000: 17.6%
8. Sacramento
Population: 2,067,117
Population Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34%
Cost-of-Living Index: 121.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,953
Income Growth Since 2000: 19.1%
9. Des Moines
Population: 532,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 9.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $53,384
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.3%
10. Provo
Population: 474,351
Population Growth Since 2000: 20.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32%
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,583
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
For more places, tools and walking tours, visit Kiplinger.com's Best Cities Center.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
Our approach this year to picking the ten best cities in which to live and work was simple: Look for places with strong economies and abundant jobs, then demand reasonable living costs and plenty of fun things to do. When we ran the numbers, some of the names that popped up made us do a double take at first. So we hit the road to meet movers, shakers and regular folks, experience the ambience and take in the sights.
More from Kiplinger.com: • Top Ten Best Cities at a Glance • Which City Is Best for You? • Take Virtual Tours of Our Top Ten Best Cities
We discovered that our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, hadn't steered us wrong. Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity, says: "Our formula highlights cities not just with strong past performance, but also with all the ingredients for future success." One key to a bright future is a healthy shot of people in the creative class. People in creative fields -- scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists and entertainers -- are catalysts of vitality and livability in a city.
The cities that made our list also represent larger surrounding areas. And because we understand that city living isn't for everyone, we've highlighted some great suburbs, too.
Pack a bag and join us on a tour of the Best Cities for 2008 and prepare for some surprises.
1. Houston
Population: 5,542,048
Population Growth Since 2000: 14.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.3%
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.1 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,250
Income Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
2. Raleigh
Population: 995,662
Population Growth Since 2000: 19.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 99 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,150
Income Growth Since 2000: 10.3%
3. Omaha
Population: 821,356
Population Growth Since 2000: 6.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30%
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $51,627
Income Growth Since 2000: 15.1%
4. Boise
Population: 568,086
Population Growth Since 2000: 18.2%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 33.2%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.5 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $49,833
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.6%
5. Colorado Springs
Population: 600,444
Population Growth Since 2000: 10.5%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.3 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income Since 2000: 53,486
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.1%
6. Austin
Population: 1,506,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 17%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.5%
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.8 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $52,882
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
7. Fayettville
Population: 419,455
Population Growth Since 2000: 17.3%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.4%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $42,267
Income Growth Since 2000: 17.6%
8. Sacramento
Population: 2,067,117
Population Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34%
Cost-of-Living Index: 121.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,953
Income Growth Since 2000: 19.1%
9. Des Moines
Population: 532,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 9.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $53,384
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.3%
10. Provo
Population: 474,351
Population Growth Since 2000: 20.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32%
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,583
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
For more places, tools and walking tours, visit Kiplinger.com's Best Cities Center.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday - TONIGHT
As the full moon rises this Wednesday evening, June 18, many people will be tricked into thinking it's unusually large. The moon illusion, as it's known, is a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger when it's near the horizon. The effect is most pronounced at full moon. Many people swear it's real, suggesting that perhaps Earth's atmosphere magnifies the moon.
But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.
The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.
If it's any consolation, space station astronauts report the same effect.
Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.
If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.
Moonrise times vary by location. On Wednesday, it will come up at these local times at these locations, according to NASA: New York City, 8:58 p.m.; Miami, 8:35 p.m.; Seattle, 9:51 p.m.
The moon rises about 50 minutes earlier Tuesday night, when the effect will also be noticeable because the moon will be nearly full. Oh, and that raises another fallacy: There's no such thing as a full moon.
Additional moonrise times for your location are available from the U.S. Naval Observatory Web site.
Key to All Optical Illusions Discovered
Top 10 Cool Moon Facts
Moon Image Gallery
Original Story: See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday
Visit SPACE.com and explore our huge collection of Space Pictures, Space Videos, Space Image of the Day, Hot Topics, Top 10s, Multimedia, Trivia, Voting and Amazing Images. Follow the latest developments in the search for life in our universe in our SETI: Search for Life section. Join the community, sign up for our free daily email newsletter, listen to our Podcasts, check out our RSS feeds and other Reader Favorites today!
But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.
The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.
If it's any consolation, space station astronauts report the same effect.
Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.
If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.
Moonrise times vary by location. On Wednesday, it will come up at these local times at these locations, according to NASA: New York City, 8:58 p.m.; Miami, 8:35 p.m.; Seattle, 9:51 p.m.
The moon rises about 50 minutes earlier Tuesday night, when the effect will also be noticeable because the moon will be nearly full. Oh, and that raises another fallacy: There's no such thing as a full moon.
Additional moonrise times for your location are available from the U.S. Naval Observatory Web site.
Key to All Optical Illusions Discovered
Top 10 Cool Moon Facts
Moon Image Gallery
Original Story: See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday
Visit SPACE.com and explore our huge collection of Space Pictures, Space Videos, Space Image of the Day, Hot Topics, Top 10s, Multimedia, Trivia, Voting and Amazing Images. Follow the latest developments in the search for life in our universe in our SETI: Search for Life section. Join the community, sign up for our free daily email newsletter, listen to our Podcasts, check out our RSS feeds and other Reader Favorites today!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
10 Special Places to See Before You Die
(Places that I'll never see)
Life is short, and there is an understandable urge to check off the planet’s main attractions first. But you are unlikely to have the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal to yourself. After a lifetime of travel, I’ve found that the more out-of-the-way places leave the deepest impression.Most people have a list of favorite spots, from a weekend retreat to a bench with a view of the ocean. As someone who's been lucky enough to spend the last 30 years circling the globe, here is mine. From Zen monasteries to Roman villas, French villages to Incan temples, all possess a unique sense of place and inspire a feeling of quiet wonder.
If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity, do seek them out; they are still points of the turning world, serene places filled with immense beauty. And if you get up early enough, you may have them to yourself for a little while. A list of specifically American places will follow soon.
Since I make my living reviewing the world’s finest boutique hotels, I have also recommended some nearby places to stay.
1. Italy — The exquisite Villa Farnesina in Rome, hidden away in the Trastevere district, with frescoes by Raphael. It is said that while he was painting the villa, Raphael had an affair with the daughter of a nearby baker, “La Fornarina,” who became the subject of one of his most celebrated and enigmatic portraits. Situated on the west bank of the Tiber River (its name means "Across the Tiber"), the charming medieval neighborhood of Trastevere is a wonderful place to stroll. And in the evening, eat at one of the restaurants in the marvelous Piazza di Santa Maria.
Harper hotel: Hotel de Russie.
2. Australia — Arnhem Land. The Northern Territory is still chiefly populated by Australia’s Aboriginal people, who have inhabited this lonely expanse of outback for more than 40,000 years. During that time, they have left an astonishing legacy of rock art. Virtually every suitable flat surface has been painted, and the area is like a vast outdoor art gallery.
Harper hotel: Seven Spirit Bay.
3. Peru — The Inca capital of Cuzco in the Andes. Largely destroyed by the Spanish conquistadores, its fabulous Coricancha, the golden Temple of the Sun, was incorporated into the Church of Santo Domingo. Centuries later, it was rediscovered, hidden beneath a few inches of stucco. The gold had gone, but much of the extraordinary and evocative structure remained intact.
Harper hotel: Hotel Monasterio.
4. France — The tiny village of Ste.-Anne-la-Palud on the windswept Breton coast. Surrounded by the remains of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall (built to defend against the Allied invasion), it overlooks a couple of miles of glorious ocean-swept sand. Less known than neighboring Normandy, Brittany has many long and scenic beaches, and the Atlantic yields some of the finest seafood to be found anywhere in the world.
Harper hotel: Hôtel de la Plage.
5. England — The lovely, unspoiled Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, with its mysterious 13th-century church of St. Just in Roseland. The hauntingly beautiful church is set just above a serene tidal creek and is ringed by subtropical gardens. In April, the rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in every imaginable shade of red and purple.
Harper hotel: Hotel Tresanton, St. Mawes.
6. Indonesia — The extraordinarily dramatic and picturesque gorge of the turbulent Ayung River in Bali, near the highland town and artist colony of Ubud. Ten-thousand-foot volcanoes survey a landscape of lush rice terraces. Balinese religion and mythology have constructed a vast and colorful spirit world. In the Ayung Gorge, even foreign visitors begin to sense the landscape’s invisible inhabitants.
Harper hotel: Como Shambhala Estate.
7. Morocco — The road south from Marrakech, crossing the epic Tizi n'Test Pass in the Atlas Mountains then descending toward the fortified town of Taroudant at the gateway to the Sahara. The sinuous drive from the snowcapped peaks to rolling desert sands through small Berber villages is utterly spellbinding.
Harper hotel: La Gazelle d'Or.
8. Namibia — The majestic valley of the Huab River, dominated by the huge massif of the Brandberg (the country’s highest mountain) and home to the famous desert elephant, which have provided endless opportunities for National Geographic’s photographers and filmmakers. More than twice the size of California, Namibia is an arid, sparsely populated country where savagely beautiful deserts extend to the breaking surf of the Skeleton Coast (named for the many shipwrecks caused by strong tides and ferocious winds).
Harper hotel: Damaraland Camp.
9. Japan — The magical Zen garden of Ryoanji temple in Kyoto, constructed from weathered rocks and raked gravel. The capital of Japan from 794 until 1868, Kyoto is a treasure house of Japanese culture, with more than 2,000 temples and shrines. The garden dates to the late 1400s and contains 15 moss-covered stones, of which only 14 are visible at any one time. Only the enlightened can see all 15!
Harper hotel: Tawaraya Ryokan.
10. South Africa — The unbelievably pretty town of Franschhoek, founded in the 17th century by Huguenot (French Protestant) exiles. Just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, it is at the center of the South African wine industry. High, jagged mountains rear out of manicured vineyards. Even the inhabitants of Napa and Sonoma freely concede that the Franschhoek Valley is the most beautiful wine-growing area in the world. Along the main street, you will find craft shops, art galleries and some of South Africa’s finest restaurants. Life feels good!
Harper hotel: Le Quartier Français.
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