Postcrossing: Making your Mail Fun Again!

Anyone who's ever experienced the heartwarming highs and aching lows of the Summer Camp Mail Call knows the feeling. Waiting eagerly as one name after another is called out, breath held in the hopes that the next missive might be meant for your eyes only. Even when you knew precisely what to expect, a weekly postcard from a parent or a letter promised by a friend, the thrill of its arrival was still singular. There were no bills or coupon booklets, no appeals for donations and no false promises of million-dollar windfalls. Just lovingly handwritten correspondence, the stamp licked and placed carefully so, ferried in safety of the mailman's satchel through sleet, snow, and dark of night, only to arrive at last in your hands. Pretty special stuff.

Nowadays, most correspondence is handled instantly and effortlessly, and the few parcels of note that do arrive in the post are invariably embossed with the seals of internet stalwarts like Netflix or Amazon. It's a bittersweet compromise. Our ability to connect online becomes exponentially easier, but the actual act of connecting becomes ever less meaningful. By creating an online hub to facilitate the thoughtful exchange of ink-and-paper objects, the online postcard sharing community Postcrossing has struck an elegant balance between the convenience and efficacy of the World Wide Web with the tactile satisfaction and trip-to-the-mailbox exertion of the World Wide World: a place of texture and odor and heft and refrigerator magnets.

It's pretty simple, really. When you first sign up as a member, you're given an address to which you send a postcard. Once it arrives, your address is then given to another one of the 170,000+ members in 209 countries who sends you a postcard from their particular far-off locale. And that's it. You keep sending them off into the world, and they keep showing up in the mail. It's armchair traveling, but with souvenirs to show for it. It's a tiny way to brighten your day, from a stranger a world away.

The Grand Spirit of Small Adventures

With all our talk of Discoveries, explorations, and epic adventures, it's really quite difficult to find the time to get out there in the thick of it, fearlessly setting adrift on daring expeditions to far off lands, charting unknown water, and all the rest. Most of the time, we're stuck with fantasies of swinging vine to vine across the dense canopy of the vineyards just outside, or embarking on camel back, traversing the vast expanse of parking lot in search of our destiny. Somethings tells us François Delfosse has a similar take on the adventure potential of ordinary stuff. That something happens to be "Antarctica in a Bag," his photo series documenting the inner worlds of plastic grocery bags, which captures the grand spirit of small adventures pretty nicely. Don't you think?

Travel Site: The Cranky Flier

Travel much? Gallivanting across the world to exotic locales like Machu Picchu (we’re going to get there eventually), and trekking across the Tuscan countryside (right around the corner) are amazing adventures. However, there are the pesky details of getting there. We like to stay on top of the airline industry for this very reason. One of our favorite resources on all things flying and air-related travel is The Cranky Flier. Written by self-professed airline dork, Brett, this blog will regale you with best practices of airport survival, insider tips and ticket deals, and the very latest in airline news. On his blog or via his travel assistance service, The Cranky Concierge, you can find everything from the cheapest hubs for round-the-world airfare to investigating where one can purchase duct tape in the Newark airport. The site also tackles topics like, how long pilots rest between flights, which airports are expanding or contracting, or exactly how much leg room to expect. In an industry that seems to lack the golden customer service of yesteryear, The Cranky Flier is a refreshing example of customer advocacy. Kudos!

Overseas & Overwhelmed

We've all experienced something similar to this tweet (from @ChrisTackett posted on @Pictory): "Arrived in Florence, boarded bus in wrong direction, ticketed by Polizia for non-validated ticket & homeless for first night." Really, you don't even have to leave the country to experience culture shock. Sometimes all you have to do is travel across the country, or in extreme cases, a bordering city. Regardless of the innocent passion for adventure and sincere curiosity that drives us to travel, sometimes the journey can be hellish. Overseas and Overwhelmed sought out to capture those moments - those times that, in retrospect, teach us a great deal about ourselves and our own perseverance, but in that very moment almost break us. It's the stuff that the greatest travel stories are made of, right? In celebration of those travel horror stories that make us stronger, more in-tune and creative human beings, Pictory Magazine's "Overseas and Overwhelmed" captures 25 stories of culture shock shown through amazing, vibrant photos. We can all relate and learn a thing or two from this site. What some of your culture shock moments?

Slightly Risky Paradise: Thrilling or Silly?

There's a lot of plainly beautiful places in the world. White sands and crystal blue waters. Palm trees, grass huts, the whole nine. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all, and at this point we can all agree that plain old pristine is a little played out. Which is why we can totally sympathize with Outside Magazine's Editors' Choice of the island of Kiwayu, just off the coast of Kenya, as a must visit vacation destination, if only for the measured risk inherent in the location. Most resorts don't list Security between Location and Weather on their website's navigation bar, for instance. And don't be surprised at the occasional Somolian warship quietly passing by on the horizon. Just keep snorkeling.

Incidentally, here's an interesting short documentary about the island's practice of flip-flop recycling.

Capsule Hotels: Ready for Export?

The capsule hotel concept has been around for some thirty years in Japan, mostly taken advantage of by business travelers in transit. The purpose is simple: to provide a place to sleep and shower, nothing more. Of course, there is the obvious caveat is that those beds are found in individual stacked capsules, which has makes Westerners, well, a little uncomfortable. Up to this point, the focus of capsule hotels has been purely functional. Enter The 9 Hours Hotel, which recently opened its doors in Kyoto, Japan. Its purpose-driven architecture blends function and style for the modern savvy traveler. Designed in an open, minimal aesthetic, the hotel has absolutely no clutter and only four colors found in the entire hotel. Each capsule, tucked with same linens as luxury hotels, includes Panasonic's advanced system for good sleeping by computerized control lighting. It still may take a while for Westerners to warm up to this idea, but can you imagine the collective sigh of relief if this concept were launched in airports...during the holidays? Oh and why 9 hours? It is based on a simple calculation: 1 hour to shower, 7 hours to sleep, 1 hour to rest. Check out this video report from Monocle Magazine.

Big News! Pathfinder Reroutes to Italy

John Lennon’s words ring true: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” After a year of prepping for life on the Inca Trail, we faced a very hard decision. As you might have heard, the area of Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru received heavy rains in late January and early February. While neither Machu Picchu nor the Inca Trail itself were affected, the railroad running from Cusco to Machu Picchu was washed out in half a dozen places. This means there is no transport to or from Machu Picchu. The railroad is being repaired, but the tentative April completion date put our April 17-25th tour date in jeopardy. We knew we had to make the call (and quick!), so we went straight to our Pathfinder Brain Trust: Pathfinder Margie Tosch, guest Chef Rodelio Aglibot, and Allan Wright of Zephyr Adventures. Late Wednesday night, we came to a decision.

In keeping with our Firestone Wines spirit of adventure, our Pathfinder and guest Chef will completely change their plans, instead traveling to Italy to undertake a self-guided, eight-day hiking tour of Tuscany, also organized by our partner Zephyr Adventures. That’s right, we said “self-guided,” meaning this journey is about to get interesting, and certainly open to its own series of discoveries. Pathfinder Margie Tosch will be blogging daily about life on the Terra di Siena, while chef Rodelio Aglibot will be preparing delicious Italian meals paired with Firestone wines for the group along the way. Better yet, you can join the crew on this trek! To read up on all the amazing trip details, or to reserve your spot on the trip, head straight to Zephyr Adventures.

Our sincere thanks to Margie and Rodelio for their sense of adventure and readiness to pick up and change routes!

Arrowtown (NZ): It's An Attitude

Arrowtown Club House, hidden deep in the valleys of New Zealand's South Island, is an attitude, rather than a building, according to its architect Andrew Patterson. Truly one of the most stunning examples of harmonizing building with breathtaking landscape, this golf course and club house take careful cues from nature. A philosophy of being part of this world and this world being part of us is thread through Patterson's design. Built from local rock, wedged from the earth, and covered with native grasses, its evident that Arrowtown Club House respects its gorgeous new home. Cruise over to the South Island via video, produced by Wallpaper Magazine.

7 Great Coastal Drives via Budget Travel

Although snatched up by an early 90’s VW ad campaign and countless t-shirt designs since (somebody made out like a bandit), the German word Farhvergnugnen is the perfect expression for the joy of driving. It encompasses that abandon we've all felt at some point in our lives, whether it was that first cross-country road trip or the freedom of a lonely desert highway. Sometimes it just feels good to drive. That’s why we had to share this article from Budget Travel featuring 7 Great Coastal Drives. Although it was published last fall, it rings true right now. When temperatures are chilly and rain keeps us inside, a beautiful coastal drive cannot be beat...coffee in hand, soothing tunes, and a breathtaking view. It's really a perfect time of year to escape: the ocean on one side, the air damp with oxygen and the smell of the sea, and the restrained hum of the engine as it careens around a corner. For added vergnugen, rent the Benz.

Kick Back, Rent a Yurt

Homesteading, back to land, old school hippies and Mongolians may have a thing or two in common...and yurts are surely among them. The tent-like circular fabric structured with wooden lattice frames are not just all rage on the steppes of Ulan Bator. They can be found (and rented) in some of the most beautiful places on earth. The great thing about these low impact buildings is that they are inexpensive to set up, and a cross between camping and going on a posh safari. What we like most is that you’re connected to the outside environment in a way that you would never be in a hotel. One of our favorite places to experience yurt life is at Treebones Resort, located just outside Big Sur, CA. Yeah, it’s hard to beat Big Sur, and Treebones is practically seconds from the ocean. The 16 yurts for rent have plush, comfortable queen beds with linens, cozy comforters and colorful quilts. There is a small table and chairs, reading lights, and plenty of hooks for hanging your gear. You have to walk 2 - 3 minutes to restroom and shower facilities at the lodge, but hey, you’re in the middle of the nowhere. We're not complaining. The yurts have generous redwood view decks with Adirondack chairs facing the ocean. Cell phone reception? Don’t count on it. We highly recommend this as a mini getaway, especially in the off season.

A Packable Olympic Stadium?

Have you ever considered London an eco-destination? As we collectively gear up for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, London is quietly and fervently preparing to host the 2012 games. Some of the first glances into their massive preparations are pretty remarkable. Namely, we’re super impressed with plans for the new Olympic Stadium, a prefab eco-marvel that could in theory be broken down and packed up for the next Olympic host. Wowzers! And we’re not done. Among a pool of other green features, there is one that ups its eco-cred to new levels. Inhabitat reported that the stadium will be constructed out of recycled guns and knives confiscated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The lot will be melted down into scrap metal and used to help build the stadium. Definitely a new take on recycling!

Coffee, Travel, 100% Organic

Coffee is one of the most ubiquitous beverages on the planet. From Turkish bizarres, to the hilltops of Columbia and the coffee houses of Vienna, this fine beverage is among standard morning operating procedures. We like ours with a little social responsibility, which is why we’re supremely fond of the roasted beans from Taylor Maid Farms in Sonoma County. For those of you outside the Bay Area, who may not be aware of their quality products and inspiring philosophy, now is the time to get acquainted. Founded by Mark Inman in 1993, Taylor Maid has spent the past fifteen years fighting the good fight for the environment, for people and above all for coffee. They have traveled to some of the most remote communities in the world to source the finest 100% organic, shade grown, and fair trade coffee produced by family farms. All that adds up to great tasting coffee and the fact that your purchase not only preserves rare varieties of coffee, but also helps preserve many endangered species, vital watersheds, rainforests, small communities and the survival of family farms. All that in a morning cup-a-joe.

Travel Tools: Field Notes

2010: a new year full of new adventure. For every journey, there are the necessary tools, and sometimes we find that the simplest tools function as the best companion. Take the memo book for example; we all have our favorites. Whether traveling across the globe or across town, there is something profound about taking pen or pencil to a blank page, especially when bound in a tidy little booklet. We’re always on the lookout for new travel-esque books in prep for a trip or the adventures of daily life, so Chicago-based Field Notes caught our eye. In their words, they hope to offer “an honest memo book, worth fillin’ up with good information.” Pretty straightforward, right? Field Notes takes a very simple, yet scientific slant with its line of memo books and iconic documentation tools. The design, which summons The Royal Tenenbaums, could even make a grocery list exciting. Onward to the next expedition!

Global Travel: 24 Hour Visual

This is pretty wild. We just ran across this video, which demonstrates just how interconnected we are during this age of travel. It's a 24 hour observation of all of the large aircraft flights in the world (represented by the yellow dots), condensed down to about 1 minute. This particular snapshot was taken during the summer months.

Airbnb.com: Travel Like a Human

A recent article in the New York Times caught our travel eye. One of our favorite sections, The Frugal Traveler, highlighted a travel site called Airbnb, which according to the article, "connects budget travelers with locals who are offering anything from an air mattress in their living room to a private bedroom in a luxury loft — for a fee." The site seems to be more functional, straight forward, and organized, than, say, CouchSurfing or Craigslist. Travelers can also rest easy knowing that the site thrives on user reviews and handles all transactions through a secure PayPal account for you (as the host or the traveler). The site, with the charming tagline, "Travel Like a Human," and called the "Ebay for space" by Time Magazine, boasts accommodations in 1,590 cities in 95 countries, from Vietnam to Tennessee. In its two years of operation, Airbnb seems to have garnered quite a following, especially in major cities. Listings include vacation rentals, private rooms, entire apartments, bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, castles, treehouses, and the like. Hmm, an ancient British Castle looks pretty good. Any takers?

Featured Destination: Lake Titicaca

Our Discoveries contest has got people pretty excited about Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, and with good reason. What could be better than taking in the breathtaking Andean views alongside a Firestone-approved chef preparing fresh local fare as you near one of the coolest historical sites on Earth? Hmm. Yeah, nothing really comes to mind. But lest we forget, Peru has an abundance of amazements, including the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. Located at 12,500 ft above sea level in a basin of the Andes, this lasting vestige of an ancient inland sea is South America's largest lake, and is even visible from space. It is even thought to be the birthplace of the Incan Empire.

Among the hallmarks of this amazing body of water are the roughly forty floating islands, known as Uros, made from floating reeds which are abundant on the lakes shore. Check out this great video from Firestone Favorites How Stuff Works to learn even more.

Peru's Nazca Lines: Where Crop Circles Meet Easter Island

It's hard to imagine creating a complex and laborious work of art that you would never be be to actually see, right? Well, unless historians have drastically missed the mark on the first human flight, this is exactly what the native inhabitants of Peru's Nazca desert did about 2,000 years ago. Their creations consist of hundreds of images, ranging from fairly simple geometric lines to more complex images including a 360 foot wide curly-tailed monkey comprised of a single labyrinth-like path, etched into the desert floor by scraping away the darkly colored topsoil to reveal the pale clay below. The 500 square-mile area that these geoglyphs cover is among the driest on earth and sees very little temperature fluctuation or wind, which has allowed these incredible images to persist for as long as they have. Whether the lines were drawn as a tribute to the gods, to signal visiting aliens, or simple to fend off the desert blues is unknown. But there is one thing I think we can all agree on: it's gotta be the aliens, right?

Behold a very dramatic old video whose creators apparently did their research before there was wikipedia, but are kind enough to abruptly bid you adieu at the end.


For more info, check out an interesting article at The Skeptic's Dictionary. Though, spoiler alert, they do disagree slightly with our consensus about the aliens. Some people are just no fun at all.

Featured Destination: Totally Radical

We recently caught wind of The Radical Innovation in Hospitality Awards, which identifies cutting edge ideas in hospitality, from existing locations to the purely conceptual. This winner this year is The Pixel Hotel, located in Linz, Austria. Based on the concept of providing immersion into the local scene in a private setting, the hotel is completely decentralized with a network of beautifully-designed apartment-like rooms scattered across the city. Employing a fully mobile on-demand staff, complimentary wireless internet access, and a 24/7 emergency phone line, The Pixel Hotel already sounds legendary. How much better can it get for those of us who want to truly experience a new city and attempt to blend in, with the added bonus of having a dose of luxury and a mobile concierge?

Featured Clip: This is Richmond

We must say, these guys definitely make a case for River City...

We Challenge You

There's a flipside to our Firestone Discoveries contest, one that has been a little hush-hush since contest launch. One exciting announcement at a time, whew. In addition to searching for a Firestone Discoveries Pathfinder to join our amazing trip to Peru and the Inca Trail, we have a Guest Chef Challenge. We're searching for an exciting, outgoing, creative, and adaptive chef who will join us, work alongside our Peruvian cooks and serve as the official Guest Chef on the four-day Inca Trail trek. The winner will be hired as a Guest Chef Consultant and will receive an all-expense paid trip to Peru -- to experience the incredible Inca Trail -- in return for your time and effort. This will not be just any chef - cooking on the Inca Trail trek will be an amazing challenge, guaranteed to stretch your horizons and your idea of what a kitchen should look like. Know someone who would fit the bill? Or maybe you're ready to take on the Chef Challenge? Let the games begin! Our official Firestone Discoveries YouTube Channel is about to be brimming with Guest Chef applicant videos - who will be the first? Get tips on how to create your Chef Challenge applicant video from our team.

Also, find an amazing promo video recently uploaded to the site (see below) - if it doesn't get you geared for adventure, we don't know what will! The video is also very easy to share - remember, the more friends to get to apply to become our Firestone Discoveries Pathfinder, the better your chances for winning the assignment (i.e. a trip to Peru!). Whether you are submitting Discoveries Pathfinder application or the Guest Chef Challenge video, we look forward to hearing from you.