Anna Brones (l) and Emily Nuchols (r); Photo courtesy of Anna Brones

As senior editor at WEND Magazine, Anna forged a special relationship between WEND and Matador, recognizing that the core audiences of both publications were people who were living adventures by passionately pursuing their dreams.

Now, Anna’s jumped the WEND ship to set out on her own adventure: launching Under Solen, a social media start-up company, with her business partner, Emily Nuchols. Emily, by the way, is also a Matador member.

Over e-mail, the three of us talked about Under Solen, travel, Scandinavia, and whether they’re crazy to start a business in this economy:

What was the impetus for you and Emily to start Under Solen Media?

Emily and I have both been working in the outdoor industry for the past few years, she in the non-profit world and I in publishing. Because social media had been a large part of both of our jobs, we saw that there was definitely a niche in the outdoor industry that wasn’t being filled. The Internet and new media have changed the way companies, organizations and individuals brand themselves, and so much of marketing is about connecting with a message or a cause.

We want to provide the tools to bring these people together to push these messages out in the most interactive, dynamic way possible. In a day and age where a brand can offer a technical, do-it-all waterproof jacket, which company are you going to buy from: the one that listens to you as a consumer, supports worthy causes, and is committed to a certain set of ideals, or the one that simply markets their latest sales offers?

What does the name mean?

Under Solen means “under the sun” in Swedish. Emily and I first bonded over our Scandinavian heritage, so we figured it was only appropriate to choose something that related to that. And since we’re working with folks who love the outdoors…

Will this job allow you to be location independent?

Definitely! We believe in doing business a bit different than usual and that means traveling, exploring, and getting out the message of our clients on the ground. Plus, when you’re constantly working with a bunch of crazy cool adventurers and causes, how can you not be inspired to get out and explore? That being said, Portland is an excellent place to be based, both for the brands that are headquartered here, the general ethos and the number of amazing people.

Who are your ideal clients?

We started this business because we want to work with people who are driven to make positive change in this world and really get their message out. Since Anna and I are steeped in the outdoor industry, we haven’t had to look far. We are stoked to be connecting with people who are passionate about their causes — be they businesses, advocates, or adventurers.

What do you expect a typical work day to look like?

Every day begins with coffee. Swedes LOVE their coffee But seriously, we spend the majority of our time connecting with people — online, on social networks, on the phone, or in our own backyard. We obviously spend a lot of time in front of our MacBooks writing blog posts, streaming content from our clients through social media channels, and promoting our clients.

But Anna and I do things differently and that means a lot of travel and adventure — that could mean jetting off to Brazil to meet up with one of our expedition teams or hitting the trail for a run to mull over a new project.

Your future office?; Photo: mike baird

No one starts a business in a recession. Are you nuts?

Honestly, we didn’t think twice about taking the leap. Some people say that the people we work with are nuts — paddling first-descents on the most remote and dangerous rivers of the world, traveling for months in search of the perfect photo, or going head-to-head with the U.S. government to remove dams…. Well, we’re just proud to call these folks our partners.

We have an amazing group of folks who encouraged us from the very beginning. And we have the connections, energy and passion to succeed and we think that is exactly what is needed to jumpstart a flagging economy. How could we not dive in?

Community Connection:

Planning a trip to the Caribbean? Anna is also Matador’s Guadeloupe expert, and she’d be happy to answer your pre-trip questions.

Porters of Machu Picchu, Photo by Lola Akinmade

Americans who haven’t seen the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. Mexicans who have never been to Chichen Itza. Egyptians who’ve never cast their eyes upon the Sphinx.

It’s one thing to choose not to visit these places. It’s another entirely when your job involves ferrying travelers to the edge of these wonders but never being able to cast your own eyes upon them.

Such is the case in Peru, where porters carry 55 pound packs of travelers’ gear right to the edge–but not within viewing distance–of Machu Picchu before turning around and catching a train to Cusco to start the trek all over again. “[V]ery few porters [can] ever actually visit Machu Picchu,” wrote JoAnna Haugen, adding, “[It] hits a nerve. Global travelers can probably name countless times they’ve met local people who have never experienced the things that draw travelers to a country.”

And she wanted to do something about it… at least in Peru.

Collaborating with Julio Tello, the founder of the tour outfit Karikuy, Haugen co-founded the Karikuy-Haugen Fund, which is raising money to pay`for porters to visit Machu Picchu.

Read more about the fund and learn how you can support the project here.

Community Connection:

Headed to Machu Picchu? Matador Trips co-editor Hal Amen tells you how to visit on the cheap.

Matador managing editor Julie Schwietert eating in Oaxaca. Photos: Francisco Collazo

The Matador editorial tribe is a diverse group of folks, but if there’s one thing we share (besides our love of travel), it’s a love of food. Whether we’re sampling mole in Oaxaca, indulging in Korean tteok in Mexico City, or subjecting ourselves to a tour of the world’s worst pizzas, followed by a full day of binge eating in Berlin, we’re as alert for our next meal as we are for the next adventure.

That’s why we love to hear about other travelers’ favorite food moments.

Matador member Layne Mosler has lots of them… so many, in fact, that she documents them in close detail on her blog, Taxi Gourmet.

Mosler’s mode of travel revolves around food: wherever she goes, she hops into a taxi, asks the driver to take her to his or her favorite restaurant, and then narrates the ride, the meal, and the cultural/political/historical context of the whole experience on Taxi Gourmet.

More than a “Look at what I ate today!” post, Mosler’s writing offers a thoughtful, often funny and often poignant look at cab drivers’ lives. Her writing is so good, in fact, that she’s been featured in The Economist, The Guardian, and The Washington Post, among other international magazines and newspapers.

For the past three years, Mosler’s posts have mapped the culinary landscape of Buenos Aires, but in June of this year, Mosler returned to the US to settle down in New York… and become a cab driver herself.

You can follow her quest to secure a coveted taxi driver’s license–and her ongoing adventures at the table–at Taxi Gourmet. Taxi Gourmet also features loads of useful information for food lovers on the move, including a list of her favorite food blogs, as well as links to cabbie resources in the US and elsewhere.

Community Connection:

Headed to Asia? Check out our 5 favorite Asian food blogs before you go.
What are your favorite food and travel blogs? Share links in the comments below.

But I’ll bet yours weren’t nearly as cool as this one….

The U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper is reporting that four Spanish teenagers were able to send a balloon to the edge of space, capturing atmospheric readings and photographs with some fairly simple technology.

Their equipment? A $62 USD latex balloon…

…and an $80 USD camera.

The balloon and its camera made it to 100,000 feet–nearly triple the altitude at which commercial airliners fly–before it returned to Earth with more than 100 images, which you can view here.

All photos by meteotek08

Travelers — are you looking for businesses to support on your travels that do tourism right?

Or do you know a worthy individual who has put his or her heart into a sustainable endeavor?

Well, you’re in luck. National Geographic and Ashoka’s Changemakers are just getting the second annual Geotourism Challenge started, seeking out and honoring individuals devoted to “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.”

Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Head to the competition website to nominate worthy innovators, check out the other nominees, and engage in a constructive discussion about sustainable travel. The nomination phase closes May 20, 2009.

After that date, the competition’s panel of judges will create a shortlist of finalists — and after that, it’s back to us to vote!

Photo by m o d e (Creative Commons)

Here in the US, we complain a lot about our healthcare system.

Our eyes grow big at the seemingly mythical tales told by the likes of Michael Moore in “Sicko”:

All new mothers in France receive drop-in household assistance?!

Doctors perform emergency house calls?! Heck, I’d be happy with some health insurance!

By comparison, our system seems hopelessly antiquated.

But around the US, both patients and providers are getting fed up and have started thinking outside the box.

A recent article in GOOD magazine highlighted the work of Jay Parkinson, a 32 year old Brooklyn-based doctor who’s determined to make health care more accessible and more affordable by going high-tech.

Parkinson started Hello Health, a collective of doctors who operate independently of insurance companies, charging members a $35 monthly membership fee to begin accessing services.

Think of it as the 21st century doctor’s home visit: a regular consult, boosted with modern day tools like IM and e-mail consultations. Hello Health’s website has a social networking feel, and Dr. Parkinson is totally hip to YouTube. In face, here’s one of his videos:

What do you think about “Medicine 2.0″? Is the Hello Health model a viable alternative to the care you’re receiving now? Share your feedback in the comments.

Photo: Pocketdora (Flickr creative commons)

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Matador members are incredible people.

They travel not just to see the world, but to take in what they see and then act as agents of positive change.

Maybe you’ve already met Misty Tosh.

She’s a regular contributor to the Matador Network… her most recent article, “The Ultimate Baja Escape,” left me ready to step away from the computer, get behind the wheel, and get on the road.

She’s a TV and film producer… currently, she’s on location in Kentucky, where she’s also found time to munch her way around Louisville (she’s a food critic in all her spare time. About Louisville’s eats, she says, “I’ve had some of the best food in my belly’s career here.”)

She also produces Pilates retreats in Isla de Mujeres each year–I’d give you the link for the next one, but it’s already sold out–, drives her solar powered travel trailer around the Americas, and sails her boat on the world’s seas.

And oh, she’s just launched phase 1 of her NGO– Fourth World Love. There’s a million things to say about 4WL, and you should definitely check out its website, which channels the Misty vibe just like any other project she pioneers. But the big announcement she’s asked me to make is this:

DONATE $100 and you can not only provide funding for the next phase of her project–which helps kids in Indonesia–you can also win an expenses-paid trip to Indonesia to see 4WL in action, snorkel in the ocean, trek a volcano, and, I’ve got no doubt, eat some seriously good local food.

That’s her up above in the photo, by the way–and I’m pretty sure that jaw-dropping, eye-popping scene in the background is where you’ll find yourself next spring if you win her contest.

Learn all about it here.

Feels pretty good, right?

That’s exactly what 25 Americans heard earlier this week when the MacArthur Foundation called to inform them they’d been selected as the 2008 Fellows for the so-called “Genius Grants” program.

This year’s Fellows are a diverse and compelling group of people engaged in wildly different but equally exciting community building projects.

There’s Chimamanda Adichie, a Nigerian-born fiction writer.

Will Allen, a farmer who cultivates vegetables in… inner-city Detroit.

Mary Jackson, an artist from my home state of South Carolina who’s preserving Gullah traditions by weaving sweetgrass baskets and advocating for the protection of threatened wetlands habitats in the lowcountry.

Walter Kitundu, an instrument maker and composer who blends Asian and African traditions with modern musical forms, including hip-hop.

Miguel Zenon, a Puerto Rican saxophonist who is resuscitating Afro-Latin jazz, and who obviously is passionate about music… check out this video:

And 20 others whose stories are important and interesting.

Think you’re a genius? Plenty of folks in the Matador community are fascinating people doing amazing work as they travel the world.

If you’re one of them, you’ll have to wait until one of the anonymous nominators discovers you… MacArthur geniuses are nominated and selected by a panel of people from diverse fields who serve the Foundation secretly. If you want to learn more, visit the Foundation’s website.

Get your hands on some genius!

Read Chimamanda Adichie’s book:

Half of a Yellow Sun

or listen to Miguel Zenon’s CD:

Jíbaro

“Our way of life,” write the Ginger Ninjas, “threatens our way of life.” For that reason, they started the Pleasant Revolution.

Who, exactly, are the Ginger Ninjas?

Well, they’re the rock-n-roll group that’s taking “roll” seriously… rolling all the way, in fact, from North San Juan, California to southern Mexico.

On bicycles.

With all their gear, including a 1000 watt PA system.

5,000 miles in all.

And what, exactly, is the Pleasant Revolution?

According to the group, it’s a philosophy of not just looking and talking about our way of life differently, but actually living differently.

And so, the Ginger Ninjas are traveling through Mexico, by bike, giving concerts along the way, playing with local musicians, and raising consciousness about sustainable living.

I think it’s pretty cool all the way around, but if it’s a little too granola for you, just check out this video for their song “Dick Cheney (Needs More Love) to confirm that these guys have a great sense of humor:

Photos: dustinj (Flickr creative commons)

I’ve stayed in a few unusual hostels in my day: a couple of lighthouses, and an old prison.

But a hostel in a Boeing 747? Who’d have thought?

That’s just what a Swedish entrepreneur has in mind, and he’s even got an old plane in place near the Arlanda airport in Stockholm. If all goes well, the hostel could be open by December.

Are you a hostelling fan? Check out our lists of the 20 Craziest Party Hostels Around the World and the Top 10 Hostels in Europe.

What’s the strangest hostel you’ve ever visited? Let us know in the comments!

Photo by bhollar (Creative Commons)

If you’re a regular Pulse reader, then you know that every few weeks or so I’m due a new rant on the American airline industry.

It’s that time again.

A recent article in The New York Times reported what any frequent air traveler already knows: “Sleeping at an airport overnight…has become a lot more common lately,” due to the fact that “airlines are no longer as free with complimentary hotel vouchers as they once were.”

If you’ve ever had to fold yourself into an uncomfortable airport chair to catch a few winks or if you’ve woken up from a power nap with a neck stiff from the arm rests that are deliberately intended to keep weary passengers from lounging, then you might just be interested in a little invention by entrepreneur Frank Giotto.

The Mini Motel, a sort of pup tent equipped with air mattress, was developed by Giotto after spending an unanticipated night in a German airport. In addition to the sleeping comfort afforded by the Mini Motel, the tent comes with a pillow, reading light, and alarm clock. The price isn’t half bad, either: at $39.99, the Mini Motel is certainly cheaper than a hotel, and it’s cheaper than most tents on the market.

No word on whether Giotto’s invention has been popping up in more airports or how airport officials are responding to the Mini Motel, though Giotto thinks that airlines will welcome his invention– it’s one less item airlines will have to spring for!

Perhaps Giotto’s next invention will be an all-in-one parachute, raft, oxygen mask, and flotation device, which disgruntled and disenfranchised airline passengers will have to purchase if they want to fly.

What inventions do you think might make air travel better? Share your ideas below!

Photo: Slim Teller (creative commons)

Leave only footprints behind.

Recently, National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations and Ashoka’s Changemakers collaborated in creating the Geotourism Challenge.

From the press release:

The online contest was created to discover and support entrepreneurs with innovative approaches to geotourism, defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

Now, fifteen finalists have been announced, and the competition needs your votes to select the three winners.

Swing by the contest site to check out the innovative, sustainable projects that are being built around the world, then vote for your favorites. Competition closes on Wednesday, June 11.

(Photo: Eva Holland)

Photo courtesy of Barbara Steinberg

I normally have a healthy skepticism for tour operators, hotels and others who slap an eco- prefix on their name and declare themselves to be green. After all, it’s pretty easy to make some superficial changes to your business without tackling the real impact issues.

But recently I came across a tour operator that really means it: Mother Lode River Center, in California’s Sierra Nevada.

Mother Lode’s camp on the American River is powered by solar panels. Rafters arrive at the camp on the WVO-fueled Eco-Bus, and while there they eat organic food grown in Mother Lode’s garden. The center is also hard at work on educational initiatives to spread the word about permaculture and alternative energies.

From what I can tell, Mother Lode is truly dedicated to making the sort of across-the-board, big-picture adjustments needed to achieve genuine sustainability, rather than just piecemeal cosmetic tinkering.

Headed to the Sierra Nevada? Give their rafting trips and other adventure offerings a browse!

And even if you won’t be hitting the American River any time soon, check out Mother Lode’s news page to learn more.

Community Connection:

Want to create your own WVO-fueled vehicle? Check out How To Stop Paying For Gas and Run on Free Vegetable Oil in Eight Easy Steps. And for some thought-provoking discussion, see How Local Self-Reliance Will Overthrow The System.

While sitting on the patio of an outdoor cafe in Havana last week, I noticed a woman reading Lonely Planet’s Cuba guide. Wondering how she would get outside the guidebook for an “authentic” experience, I asked her what resources she would consult if she wanted to try experiencing Cuba like a local. “Good question,” she said.

The question sparked an interesting conversation about the limited information available for travelers who aren’t interested in excursion buses or guided tours of overrun and overrated sites.

Fortunately, a notable exception is the compelling website, Dine With Locals. Started by a couple in Colorado, Dine With Locals matches locals and travelers around the world as hosts and guests in the ultimate form of cultural exchange: the sharing of a meal. Check out the site before your next trip!

Community Connection: Check out some of Matador’s great content about food and eating on the road:
Ross Tabak’s 7 Secrets for Eating Like a Local

Ian MacKenzie’s interview with Derek Wallace of OrganicReform.org

Photo: gilmarcil

Photo by goldberg (Creative Commons)

A team of journalists in Chicago is hard at work on an ever-expanding new project: LiveNewsCameras.com.

The site streams live news feeds from more than 150 channels around the world – perfect for pre-trip research, or for keeping up with events back home while you’re on the road!

So far, their offerings are heavy on US-based channels, but the site’s creators have big goals and are expanding their collection all the time.

The motto of Live News Cameras?

Veritas odit moras, or, Truth hates delay.

Whether you’re a city hopper or a slow traveler, the newish website Dopplr.com, founded in 2007, may be an interesting social networking tool to add alongside your Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn accounts.

The idea of Dopplr is simple. By creating a free account and noting your upcoming travel plans, you can let friends, family, and acquaintances keep you on their radar. If they also create an account and indicate their travel plans, then Dopplr will automatically let you know whether your paths might cross. Dopplr makes calling ahead and making arrangements to get together seem downright antiquated.

Clean of ads and functional, Dopplr has gained favorable coverage from TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian.

Do you have a Dopplr account? If so, share your experience with Dopplr in the comments section!

Photo: upshift

Photo by bfick (Creative Commons)

Most cities are strategizing ways to cut down on urban traffic, but few cities are relying upon bicycles as the centerpiece of their transportation initiatives. Washington, D.C., however, is willing to be a trendsetter.

This month, D.C. is scheduled to launch SmartBike DC, touted as the nation’s “first self-service bike rental program.” The idea is a variation on the business model pioneered by the company ZipCar, which is a car sharing program that has been successful in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

For a $39.99 annual subscription, SmartBike DC members will be able to pick up a bike at any of the 10 docking locations around the city. When they’re done, members return the bike to the docking location. All transactions are made with the swipe of the SmartBike DC membership card. Get pedaling, D.C.!

Community Connections: Lots of Matador members are passionate about pedaling and our blogs are full of great cycling guides and resources. Check out Hal Amen’s 8 Steps for Successful Self-Supported Bicycle Tours. And for a great travel narrative about a different kind of bike, check out Nicholas Gill’s “The Motorcycle Diaries: North India,” from Traverse.

Here at Matador, we work hard to put together high-quality online resources for travelers. But we’re just getting started, and we’re lucky to have a few longstanding models to look up to; Transitions Abroad is one of those models.

For more than thirty years (mostly in print, and more recently on the web), Transitions Abroad has been an invaluable source of information on long-term travel, cultural immersion, study abroad, work abroad, and more.

Transitions Abroad also runs travel writing contests, and has published and nurtured a lot of young writers who’ve gone on to great travel writing careers.

As the Mission Statement says, the goal of Transitions Abroad is to “enable travelers to actually meet the people of other countries, to learn about their culture, to speak their language, and to ‘transition’ to a new level of understanding and appreciation for our fascinating world.”

Be sure to check it out.

Community Connection: Transitions Abroad point man Gregory Hubbs is also a Matador member.

Plan to be in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, or Rio de Janeiro on May 10? (Yes, that’s tomorrow!)

If so, be sure to check out Pangea Day festivities in these cities that are asserting the power of community through massive public events. On May 10, live performances, inspiring speakers, and 24 short films will be shown in public venues–all with the purpose of “helping people see themselves in others.”

Conceived of by filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, the Pangea Day festivities are intended to be a catalyst for year-round community-building activities that link the citizens of the world in creative and inspiring ways.

Talk to us! What creative community building events are happening in your community? Leave a comment below.

A few years ago, while living in Puerto Rico, I came across a copy of Jared Romey’s excellent guide to local lingo, Speaking Boricua. Romey, an American expat who lived in Chile and Argentina, arrived in Puerto Rico only to find that his fluent Spanish was “of no use.”

Having mastered the distinctions between the words for “straw,” “stapler, and “pen” — not to mention “popcorn,” “kite,” and “women’s panties”–in his former host countries, Romey set out to capture the unique words and phrases of Puerto Rican Spanish.

The result? Speaking Boricua and its follow-up, Speaking Phrases Boricua, two entertaining guides meant, as Romey told me in a recent interview, not to be used as a dictionary, but as “fun, humorous” books, “that a group of people can read in a social setting over beer, wine or shots of rum.”

“Salud!”

Romey, who is currently working on a local lingo guide to Argentina, is also developing a website where visitors can consult words to learn their meanings, as well as contribute local lingo. To order Romey’s books, visit his website.

And stay tuned to Pulse, where we’ll be sharing some of Romey’s tips for learning local lingo soon!

Community Connection: Matador member Christine Gilbert offers great tips for refreshing language skills on her website.

Photo courtesy of Jared Romey

How and where do YOU learn the local lingo of the places you visit? Share your stories in the Comments section below.