Rapid Travel Chai

3 weeks on the road I woke up over the Aleutian Islands on the way back to NY and decided to try United WiFi for $16.99 for the remaining 8 hours of my HKG-EWR flight. 3 weeks of news to catch up and no Great Firewall to slow me down.

News:

• ‘Mad Max’ Fans Prep for Sequel by Dusting Off Muscle Cars (WSJ). Try driving the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City for a taste.
• Bulgaria Puts Up a New Wall, but This One Keeps People Out (NYT). Walls so often backfire and create unintended consequences.
• The Best History Apps (History Today).
• Born Red – How Xi Jinping, an unremarkable provincial administrator, became China’s most authoritarian leader since Mao (The New Yorker). I read any piece Evan Osnos publishes.
• Japanese Emperor arrives in Palau to commemorate WWII victims (Japan Times). Palau is one of the great highlights of travel, from Rock Islands diving to Peleliu WWII sites.
• Russia Could Ban Fruit Imports From Serbia, Report Says (Moscow Times). Nothing too petty for the Russians, this time they are going after re-exported Polish apples. Also, Cathay Pacific Cancels Moscow Service (Business Traveller).
• The U.S. war crime North Korea won’t forget (Washington Post).
• The Real War on Christianity (Foreign Policy). While Congress frets about Iran.
• Norfolk Islanders plot Australia revolt amid financial crisis (FT). Rare to see Norfolk Island in world news. I almost had a trip there earlier this year.

Travel:

• In the Hills of Sri Lanka’s Tea Country (NYT). One of the most beautiful regions in the word, the tidy order of the tea plantations contrasting with the primordial forests.
• IKEA Adds Veggie Balls to Its Menu (WSJ). On ossacional I have stopped in IKEA’s while on the road for cheap snack and air con refresher, free coffee & tea with IKEA Family membership. If you’ve seen the other roadside options in Belgium you won’t blame me.
• Inside the Mad, Mad World of TripAdvisor (Outside Magazine). I use the site sparingly and cautiously.
• Lactation stations ease airport grind for nursing moms (USA Today). MSP in there, of course!
• The most anticipated new roller coasters of 2015 (USA Today). I still love them even if my body doesn’t do as well.
• Yes, you can play Pac-Man on Google Maps right now (USA Today). Fun diversion!
• Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple to stay open daily till 9 pm through September. My favorite Shanghai temple and the best choice of Buddhist vegetarian restaurant nearby.
• It’s here: Tourist season has come to the D.C. Metro system (Washington Post). NY we get it year-round, I try to help the confused in dealing with the baffling system.
• Cairo’s Museum of Islamic Art: A year after a terrorist bombing, the famed museum remains in ruins (Slate). I missed this on my January trip.
• Delta Hopes to Improve Its Pet-Fatality Reputation With New GPS Trackers (Skift). Makes me think twice about sending a pet in the air.
• Five Quick Ways to Save Big on Passport and Visa Related Expenses (Frugal Travel Guy). Such as getting a passport card, great for land & sea & second ID.