Other than checking out the Vancouver Olympics, there are some ideas kicking around for what to do in the New Year. If your resolution happens to be traveling to places where your conscience remains intact, then check out this article from The Star of the Top Ten Ethical Places to travel compiled by the group, appropriately named, Ethical Traveler. The reasons factored into its list range from environmental protectionism to the support of social infrastructures in different countries.

Although every place on the list seems fascinating, I would still like to question the overall integrity of what defines “ethical.” Glaringly, some of the countries listed are involved in politically and/or economically actions at home. But what country doesn’t? So, what constitutes “ethical”? I don’t mean to diminish the list, I’m more or less curious on people’s thoughts or ideas about these and other places to travel. Rather, perhaps ethical traveling is about being aware and keeping an open mind.

However, whether you need a suggestion, something to give weight to a decision, or just to learn an interesting tourism fact, check out the Top Ten.

It’s the cliché, “pictures don’t do it justice” phenomenon, yet, it may be true. What gets me is how these invoke your curiosity. It leads me to wonder what, and where, is possible in the world.

I will never forget when I rounded a corner along the Parks Highway in Alaska (just about where the picture above was taken) and saw for the first time the massive, jaw dropping, splendor of Denali. Actually, it startled me into the nearest snow bank. As I grabbed my camera, scurried across the highway for a better composition, I took in North America’s tallest peak. I’m sure of it, that mountain kindled my wanderlust, and it was that view which did it (and cheers to that nice gentleman who stopped to tow me out of the snow).

This Travel+Leisure article touches on those very same feelings, saying, “they get us thinking about the four corners of the earth as well as humankind’s minor place in the scheme of things. And when we see them in person, we are startled and humbled by their physical magnificence.” I concur.

That being said, here are their ten most amazing views on earth.

1. The Manhattan Skyline (with a margarita in hand)
2. The Cliffs of Moher (from a surfboard)
3. The Great Wall of China (in October with less crowds)
4. The Paris Skyline (from Nomiya, a restaurant on top of the Palais de Tokyo museum)
5. The Matterhorn (or its reflection in Lake Riffelsee)
6. The Grand Canyon (as sunrise or sunset)
7. Machu Pichu (atop Huayna Picchu, but be one of the first 400 people there)
8. The Golden Gate Bridge (set against fog)
9. Bhutan’s Tigers Nest (from anywhere you can see it, really)
10. The Great Barrier Reef (off of Lady Elliot Island)

This short video of the world’s second largest aquarium in the world — Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan (the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the record holder, for now, until this beast in Dubai opens next year) — is strangely hypnotic given that it’s a single-shot of a bunch of marine life swimming by at a snail’s pace. What’s amazing is that as you watch, you slowly realize how truly amazing the world’s water ec0-system is and it’s place in this world.

Highlight: Check out the scuba diver hop out of the way of the massive whale shark at 3:15. I don’t blame him.

We’re heading in the westerly direction from our offices here at TheExpeditioner.com and searching for the best deals this week in the Pacific.

Sydney for $798 — Plus Samoa or Tonga: Air New Zealand’s not only offering cheap flight to the land of Vegemite, but they’re throwing in a free stop in Samoa, Tonga or Auckland along the way.

Seattle to Honolulu for $329: If it’s good enough for Obama, it should be good enough for you. This deal includes taxes and fees. Click through to check out the other good deals from the West Coast.

L.A. to Taipei for $781: Did you know that Taipei has one of the world’s biggest New Year’s gatherings? Makes sense, the country’s one of the most densely populated countries of the world with about 1,595 people per square mile.

I have yet to meet a person who is not fascinated with Cambodia. Even if the person has no desire to visit the country, they never stop asking about the people, the culture, the safety, or the temples. It’s difficult to describe Cambodia because of its past ancient civilizations, a relatively recent genocide, and the ever-present reality of the growing economic gap, but I say two things: awe-inspiring and majestic.

A couple of years ago, some friends and I rented a driver to take us from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap in his Toyota Camry so that we could see Angkor Wat. When we arrived, we hired a tuk-tuk driver to bring us to the world-renowned temples. I remember being really excited, but I was not prepared for what I saw: a vast, expansive sea of tourists. I was so distracted by the people that I forgot to appreciate what I was actually looking at.

When I read the NYT’s piece about Preah Vihear Temple, located in the north-east of Cambodia, I thought it sounded inspiring and majestic. The temple was built between the 9th and 12th Centuries and it receives, on average, a paltry five tourists a day — mostly Buddhist monks on pilgrimage. It’s longingly described as being “breathtaking” and “spectacularly situated” atop a plateau.

However, be forewarned: This sanctuary may not be ready for mainstream tourism. The temple borders with Thailand and the fight for ownership of the land has erupted in military combat. Despite the “apparent tranquility,” the sense of uneasiness is palpable. Thai and Cambodian military bunkers lie just 20 yards apart in a clearing in the forest outside the temple. Even though some are slumbering or talking on their cell phones, they are apparently ready to fight at any given order.

Nevertheless, the site is described as an “Anglorian masterpiece” and every bit worth the heart-lurching effects. Is it the treacherous voyage of getting there, or the touch of something divine? Either way, as the author points out, be prepared to be richly rewarded.

You can visit the temple’s site to keep updated about the conflict or check out the end of the article for tips on how to safely get there.

Maybe it’s the -15 I see on my thermometer this morning that is making tropical destinations front and center on my mind. I have to personally thank the crew at GoNomad for taking me to the island of Papua New Guinea. I couldn’t have imagined a better mental getaway.

Battling jet lag, the author describes the “perfect mix of rising sun, blue sea and towering mountains” of Kimbe Bay. He then heads under that blue sea, probably the best decision he’s made in a while. New Guinea is said to have over 2,000 species of fish, 900 in Kimbe Bay alone. That’s not even taking into account the over 400 coral species identified there. On top of that, the WWII fighting has left many plenty of plane wrecks in the area drawing divers from all over the world.

Not sold yet? The province of West New Britain is a center of cultural diversity, including seven tribal groups speaking as many as twenty-five different languages.

Oh look, it’s snowing now; time for a Google search for something like, “virtual beach screensavers.”

… or should that read, “So-called” World’s Best Job Winner?

Ben Southall, the winner of that hyped Barrier Island caretaker gig off the coast of Queensland, Austraila, was jet skiing with some friends when he had a little run in with 5 millimeters of venomous fury, otherwise known as the deadly irukandji jellyfish.

According to his blog, he was on his way back to the beach and felt a “bee-like sting” on his forearm that he quickly dismissed. At a massage a little later on, he noticed symptoms including tingling, hotness, back tightness, and high blood pressure. Apparently common knowledge in the area, the masseuse immediately directed him to the doctor, who quickly treated him, and was later released from the hospital. Lesson learned… to avoid death by jellyfish, rock the stinger suit.

As Matt would most likely agree, see his post noting the wickedly dangerous creatures in that part of the world, I have a feeling this may not be his only trip to the ER in the next 18 months on the job.

Did you guys notice the same thing I did? One word: massage. Maybe it’s still the best job in the world, after all.

Christmas Eve was a unique experience. The roomies and I got to hang out with some people that we have met, drinking wine, eating beef, and watching fireworks go off from the rooftop terrace. Not like any Christmas I have experienced before.

After some eats and treats, our hosts decided to give out some presents. We didn’t expect gifts this Christmas. We were taken aback and humbled by the gesture. We tore open the wrapping and found a guide to Argentina. However, it wasn’t just any guide. Upon reading the contents within, we were shocked and humored at this compilation of hilarious, and sometimes crude, colloquialisms used by porteños.

It begins with a disclaimer to use the book wisely. Although Argentines are known for some pretty vulgar slang, the guide warns to use the language only amidst friends and open-minded family.

Essentially, is is a dictionary that starts with abollado (literally meaning dented, but in Argentina it means someone who appears to be in rough shape), all the way to zoquete (which literally means short socks; porteños use the word to mean “idiot” or “fool”), and everything in between.

Apparently, the word for “fart,” pedo, is really common here. For example, “en pedo” is translated as “in farted,” but really means “to be drunk.” The saying, “vivir en nubo de pedos” (to live in a cloud of farts), means to be out of touch with reality.

However, some of the content is quite shocking. Some of the words used for genitalia or profanities are words that one could accidentally use everyday. Be careful what context you use words like palo (stick) or concha (shell). Sometimes they mean something entirely different.

There are also double meanings that may seem bizarre at first. Transar can mean two things: to french kiss or to make an illegal deal or agreement. Is there a common root there?

In the back of the book are common phrases that an Argentine could use. When someone says, “me pica el bagre” –  catfish is nibbling at me — it doesn´t mean anything crude, instead it means, “I´m hungry.” If someone does “mandar fruta“  — send fruit — he or she is actually lying or talking crap. If someone eats a little bone — comerse un huesito — he is talking about how he slept with a beautiful women.

There are more quips and phrases that I don´t have space nor the nerve to write. However, a highly recommended read, even if you don´t travel to Argentina but want to know the idiosyncrasies of the language. If you ever see the guide, pick it up because they are hard to find. Copies are available in the U.S. on Amazon starting at $16.11.

Not content with listing the best New Year’s parties in the world (everyone knows this occurs at TheExpeditioner.com’s annual New Year’s party where we break out the bottles of Boone’s Farm and Twister for a rockin’ evening), I decided to find out where the biggest parties in the world take place.

1) RIO DE JANEIRO

The record-holder for the largest New Year’s party in the world goes to Rio de Janeiro where 4 million people packed the beaches of Copacabana in 2008 (although this number dwindled to only 2 million at last year’s 2009 celebration).

2) SYDNEY

Over 1.5 million people pack Sydney’s harborfront on New Year’s to watch 3,000 kilograms of explosive devices, including 11,000 shells, 10,000 shooting comets and 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects get lobbed into the air over the harbor for a spectacular fireworks show.

3) NEW YORK CITY

Coming in at number three is New York City’s Times Square celebration. An estimated crowd of over 1 million people cram into the cavernous recesses of Time Square to watch the 1,875 pound, 2,668 Waterford Crystal-covered ball drop at midnight. Little known fact: of the 1 million people in attendance, there are actually no New Yorkers there. Yeah, surprising.

4) BERLIN

A relatively new annual event (for obvious reasons), Berlin’s celebration along the Party Mile (June 17 Street) between the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column attracts roughly 1 million people.

5) LONDON

Rounding out the top five is London, where 400,000 people pack the banks of the Thames for a giant fireworks show and to collectively grumble about the presence of the London Eye.

RUNNER-UPS

Las Vegas, Edinburgh, Prague, Paris, and Taipei all come very close to cracking the top five. Better luck next year!

All destinations have a dual nature. In Guatemala there is the Guatemala that is shown to tourists, and then there is the other Guatemala. In the Northern jungle region of the country, tourists marvel at Tikal, a breathtaking parked filled with ruins of Mayan pyramids. Not far from Tikal, in garbage dumps across the country, are the descendants of the Mayan kings who built these pyramids, young boys and girls working 12 hours a day to salvage recyclables that will pay for a meal, that will allow them to survive for another day, that will do nothing to break them out of the cycle of generational poverty.

Travelers spending enough time in third-world countries learn willingly (or reluctantly) is that for much of the world, life is tough. For many it is a struggle just to get through another day. In the West we have figured out food. It’s like breathing. We have never gone a day voluntarily without eating, and just as the air will always be there for our next breath, food will always be there for our next meal. When we ask what we will eat tomorrow, we’re thinking: Pizza Hut? Perkins? The Olive Garden? etc. . . For much of the third-world, it is the same question, but many struggle to answer it. What will I eat tomorrow? Will I eat tomorrow? (more…)

I have just been informed that the fees charged to Americans, Canadians and Australians as of January 2010 are going to be a one-time payment that is good for 10 years. So, for those that are visiting, or planning to visit Argentina frequently over the next 10 years, the fee will cover you for multiple entries and exits.

Merry Christmas from TheExpeditioner.com

Kayak to a limestone spire jutting defiantly out of the Andaman Sea. Climb said rock formation without that cumbersome safety gear. Willing or not, jump from spire into the ocean safety net waiting below you. Simple, yeah? Only after you squash an episode of fear-induced vomiting.

I’m in. Where can I sign up?

This article over at WaveJourney explains two beginners’ introduction to Deep water Soloing, a style of rock climbing gaining a popularity in the sport, particularly on the islands off the coast of Krabi, Thailand. The author, set on avenging earlier climbing issues, makes it up, battles temporary paralysis, and plunges from only “the mezzanine, not the penthouse.” His comrade, a dainty female marathon runner, reaches a height three times his and gracefully heads down to the emerald water.

Her reaction to the “DWS baptism” after surfacing?  Total euphoria.

If you’re thinking of hopping a flight to Buenos Aires in order to escape the snow or cold, I have some things to point out. I am not writing this to critique Argentine culture, but as a heads-up to travelers. Even though I read a lot about Buenos Aires before living here, it seems that I may have skipped over these tips.

In no specific order, the bizarre behaviors of porteños are:

No. 1: Porteños kiss everyone as a greeting and farewell. Whether it is woman to woman, man to woman, man to man, just one kiss, right cheek to right cheek will help you blend in. Don´t be frightened if an Argentine leans in for a beso.

No. 2: Some days you will be walking down the street and see young people covered in a) paint, or b) egg and flour. I have no idea what kind of initiation or ritual this is, apparently it happens in a lot of Latin American cities and towns. Here, it happens a lot. (UPDATE: Turns out this has to do with celebrating university.)

No. 3: Dodging dog poop is a fact of life. In fact, scooping poop is the third most important issue in an election. Currently, the government has a campaign, jugálimpio, to try and encourage people to clean up after their dogs. My advice: scan the sidewalks before you step.

No. 4: Change, coin, centavos are a rarity, but are vital to taking the colectivo (the bus) anywhere. Vendors, store owners, or people on the street are reluctant to make coin. They will even give you more money back if it means holding onto their centavos. Just remember to keep your change whenever you can. Wonder why? Check out this bizarre explanation.

No. 5: Last, but not least, ladies be warned, cat-calling and wolf-whistling is everywhere. Even the slightest feminist-sympathizer may get angry or frightened, but do not be, most of the calls are harmless. That is not to say you should be wandering around alone at night in all neighborhoods. Just don´t let the calls bother you, it´s a cultural thing. Let me put it this way, even the buses can wolf-whistle.

Turns out the crew over at Tripfilms.com just moved to new digs in downtown Manhattan, just around the corner from TheExpeditioner.com! So cool, it’s turning into Silicon Valley, but for travel, except we’re in the heart of the Financial District (which the area is somewhat better known for).

Check out the well-coiffed Kelly as she highlights the best of the X-mas vids on Tripfilms, including stops in Bavaria, San Fran, and Key West.

Highlight: Check out 1:18. Isn’t that the scary old neighbor from “Home Alone” who turns out to be nice?