This is a Hipmunk post from Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads.

Every fall, the Yee Peng (or Yi Peng) lantern festival is held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, coinciding with the Thai holiday of Loy Krathong. The festival is one of the more photogenic in the world, with thousands of lanterns lit alight and set free into the night sky. 

Daniel Nahabedian, a Chiang Mai-based photographer, was there to photograph the event. I've featured two of his photos below, but for the full photoessay, hop on over to his site, Canvas-of-Light - some wonderful night photography there!

-Jodi

My mother keeps sending me photos of snow. As a Montrealer, we're used to it - but this December's snowfall has been recordbreaking, with a December 27 storm dropping 45cm (almost 18 inches) of snow in under 24 hours. So I can understand all the photos coming my way. 

Sebastien Toutant (@sebtoots) figured it was a perfect opportunity to snowboard our city's urban mountain, replete with his signature powder stunts over Montreal's stairways and sidewalks.  I used to run up and down this  mountain and it's surreal to see it used as a ski piste! Love it.

Enjoy!

This is a Hipmunk post from Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads.


In early 2012, Vincent Urban and friends began a journey to South America in their land rover, visiting Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil. 

While their trip was quite a bit longer, they've put together a wonderful video capturing the contrasts of the continent, from deserts to cities, water to empty, windy plains. 

Enjoy!
-Jodi

This is a Hipmunk post from Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads.

Continuing the Instagram series, I visited LA for the first time earlier this summer, and had a great time discovering the city. I'll be posting from my current location - Vietnam - in just a little while. But first, a few shots from that week in LA...


-Jodi

Are you on instagram? Follow @thehipmunk and tag your awesome travel photos with #hipmunk!

Longreads has rounded up its picks - in fiction and non-fiction - for the best of 2012, and there are some wonderful picks here. If you're looking for some picks for a lazy Sunday, it's a great start!

Since I write primarily about noms, however, here are my picks for the best food reads from the last year.

-Jodi

1. ”The Cosmopolitan Condiment,” Dan Jurafsky, Slate 

You’ll never look at a bottle the same way again once you read this great piece. 

2. “Adjika: Sauce of Glory, Pride of Abhazia,” Oliver Bullough, Roads & Kingdoms 

Adjika holds a special place in my heart, having brightened up many a meal and been a source of great conversation on the road. Worth a read for anyone who likes food and travel.

3. “Manufacturing Taste,” Sasha Chapman, The Walrus

As a Canadian, I grew up referring to Kraft Macaroni & Cheese as “KD”, and had no idea this was not a worldwide phenomenon until midway through 2010, and I was appalled to hear that my American friends did not adopt this affectionate nickname. :)

4. “Bread of Beirut,” Annia Ciezadlo, Granta

A beautiful piece about communal bakeries in the Middle East and how these centuries-old traditions become new again during times of war. 

5. “A Fish Story,” Alison Fairbrother, The Washington Monthly

A must-read about a tiny silvery fish called the menhaden and how crucial it is to the ecosystem of our oceans. 

If you're ringing in 2013 in New York or Las Vegas, there's plenty to do after the clock turns 12. Here are ideas on how to welcome 2013. 

New York

There’s nothing that says “Happy New Year” like watching the ball drop in NYC’s famed Times Square—the iconic event has lured visitors from around the world since 1908. Once the calendar turns though, exploring some of the cultural offerings in the East Village should be at the top of your to-do list. Chefs have made this neighborhood a foodie haven with award-winning restaurants like Momofuku Noodle Bar, Milk Bar, and Terroir Wine Bar. At night, enjoy a cocktail at Amor y Amargo, and then continue to relish the East Village scene at late-night Polish delis around Tompkins Square Park.

Las Vegas

Ringing in the New Year at the Cosmopolitan or ARIA will certainly be glamorous. But when you’re done partying at the casinos and clubs, ditch the strip and get back in touch with Mother Nature. Head to the Summerlin/Red Rocks area, a part of Vegas that stuns visitors with breathtaking views of mountains. Though it’ll be cold, hiking Red Rock National Conservation Area is certainly a great way to start 2013.

Celebrating in New Orleans, San Diego, or Chicago? Get the full scoop reading "Where to Spend New Year’s Eve (and What to See the Next Day)" on Daily Muse.

Scott Rosen and Laura Siciliano-Rosen are the founders of Eat Your World, a guide to the best indigenous, traditional foods and drinks in destinations across the globe. Since launching the site nearly a year ago, they have built up a database of local eats with the help of their users, from 125-plus destinations and growing. They’ve spent much of the past decade seeking adventure—of the culinary variety and otherwise—around the world. We asked them some of our favorite travel questions - check out their responses!

1. Who or what inspires you to travel?

We aren’t full-time travelers: We live in New York City, hold freelance day jobs in magazine and book publishing, run Eat Your World, and travel as much as we can. We both need to break out of the bubble, the daily routine, sometimes. There is nothing like experiencing the world by being in it—not reading about it, not watching it on TV, not daydreaming about it while being stuck late at the office. Connecting with other cultures is the way we connect with the universe and it’s how we continue to educate ourselves. With the website obviously, we focus on the cultural aspect of food more than anything else, and we’ll certainly admit to being inspired to travel to a particular destination based upon eating its food here in New York.

2. What are three of your favorite global bites?

It’s near impossible for us to choose, but here’s a three-course meal composed of some favorite dishes: 

Appetizer: kulle, or salty, tangy fruit chaat, from Delhi
Main course: peppery, buttery BBQ shrimp, from New Orleans
Dessert: sinfully sweet and rich sticky toffee pudding, from London

3. Where do you travel for adventure? why?

In the past, some of our more adventurous destinations have included New Zealand, where we hiked the stunning Tongariro circuit and went sky diving (for what proved to be just the first time!); Australia, where we drove the entire length of the country and did a live-aboard diving trip; Guatemala, where we hiked the gorgeous volcanic backcountry for five days; and Sierra Leone, where we lived on the beach for a week (and every day is kind of an adventure). Closer to home, we go to Cape Cod every summer to visit great friends with a boat, some fishing rods, and adventurous, hunter-gatherer spirits.    

 4. What are the top three things you always pack?

Earplugs, a headlamp—both of those help with sleep, the latter for nighttime reading, specifically—and Tums, which are a must while working on the website! (The notebook and cameras go without saying, right?)

 5. What’s the best travel advice you’ve ever received?

A wise and practical traveler-fiend friend once advised us to travel with a Capital One credit card—it’s the only one we’ve found that does not charge extra for overseas use. Saving money on unnecessary banking fees is huge for any budget-minded traveler, especially when you’re adding up those dreaded daily totals (that’s Scott’s favorite job).  

6. We know traveling can sometimes be painful--what's one of your most agonizing travel memories?

Two words: bed bugs. At a hole-in-the-wall hostel in Guatemala. A run-in with those suckers haunts you for days, weeks even—they’re good travelers, and you don’t want to bring them home. Also, feeling deathly ill in Bali and being physically unable to walk after unwisely opting to ride long-distance on hard motorcycle backs in Cambodia.

7. I'm sure you have tons, but what's one of your most ecstatic travel moments?

In Thailand, we traveled on a whim to this festival called Phi Ta Khon, held annually in the northeast province of Loei, for which the village dons outrageous masks, gets raging drunk, and parades in the street. For two days we joined them, sleeping nights on the floor of a local family’s home and dancing all day in the rain. I think we spotted one other traveler there. It was incredible.  

8. What's the one place you always want to go back?

San Sebastián, Spain. We went for our honeymoon in 2005, pre-Eat Your World, and ate our faces off. But while notes were taken for another assignment, we got only minimal content for EYW. It kills us, because it’s one of our favorite cities in the world for food! One day we shall return.

Wanna explore some of their favorite places? Check Hipmunk for flights and hotels!

This is a Hipmunk post from Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads.

I recently posted from my Instagram feed of London, and next up in the series is the English countryside, from the Cotswolds to Stonehenge and back. A small sample below. While Engalnd's says were rainy and quite cold during my visit, there's no question it had some gorgeous cloudscapes.

Hope you enjoy!
-Jodi

This is a Hipmunk post from Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads.

Graphic designer Aaron Draplin has put together fun and colorful state posters, each filled with the things people love most about that state. For Georgia, for example, he notes:

"We just went down to Savannah for a rock poster show. We made a poster for the event, wrangling together everything we’ve ever loved about The Peach State. And that’s that. From Chickamauga to the north, to Howard Finster’s loose hand, to Godfather of Soul…you’ll be hard-pressed to leave a good viewing of this poster unfulfilled. This one’s for you, Georgia. We’ve got you on our mind."

Each poster has a story behind it and a great, whimsical aesthetic. You can see them all here. 

(Thanks to Lauren for the hat tip!)

Founded in the 70's Art Basel is a global contemporary art show that draws art lovers from around the world. The show is hosted three times a year: in Basel, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and on Dec 6-9, the 11th annual show will be in Miami Beach. Over 260 galleries will be showcasing their work. 

If you're heading to Art Basel, now is the time to get your hotel. We've broken down the best neighborhoods to stay in while you're in town for Art Basel. 

• Miami's Design District: The neighborhood where Art Basel is hosted! Famous for its modern art and fashion scene, the Design District is packed with galleries, showrooms, and art stores. The cultural offerings also draw local residents to the area in search of contemporary art and furniture. The neighborhood also boasts several popular restaurants including Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill and Gigi.
  
  
• Coconut Grove:  An upscale tourist destination, it's known for its variety of restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Its quiet, residential atmosphere makes for a refreshing change of pace. Cocowalk, an open-air mall in the heart of the Grove, draws shoppers to boutique stores. The Grove's tourist attractions also include the Miami Science Museum and the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an early 20th century estate preserved as a park.
  


• Downtown Miami: The city's cultural center and home to most of Miami's museums and entertainment venues. The Miami Art Museum and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida are both conveniently located in Miami Cultural Plaza. Downtown is also known for its parks—the most popular is Bayfront Park, which hosts Miami's weekly DWNTWN concert series. Bayfront Park also includes Bayside Marketplace, an outdoor mall and popular tourist destination. Nightlife in downtown is centered on "Club Row" on NE 11th Street; locals appreciate downtown nightlife for being less exclusive and pricy than the club scene on South Beach.
  

Find the perfect hotel for Art Basel in one of these great neighborhoods on Hipmunk!