LIFE IN DEATH: Desert gold in Death Valley National Park (courtesy, Xanterra Parks & Resorts)

Officials in Death Valley National Park are predicting a bumper wildflower season this spring following record rainfall in the California park. Torrential downpours from head to foot the state at the end of January, plus higher than average accumulation throughout the year, has locals readying for a colorful show of spring blooms. “Because of the rain last week, everyone who lives and works here in Death Valley is optimistic that we will at least have a better-than-average show this year,” says Phil Dickinson, sales and marketing director at Death Valley’s historic Furnace Creek Resort.

Early-blooming species like desert gold, poppies, and evening primrose typically start flowering in mid-February in lower-elevation sites like Furnace Creek. Higher elevations start to see blooms of species such as mariposa lilies, lupine, and aboriginal Panamint daisies through late March and mid-April. The National Park Service (NPS) recommends Jubilee Pass, off Highway 190 near Furnace Creek Inn, and the base of Daylight Pass as the best viewing spots.

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Basil Childers for The New York Times Mutekiya is a trendy ramen shop in the Ikebukuro neighborhood.

Back in 1993, when I was a sophomore in college, I came across a movie that changed my life: “Tampopo,” the charming tale of a truck driver who comes to the aid of a young, beleaguered widow who’s struggling to raise a child—and run a ramen store. The movie, directed by the late Juzo Itami, is all about food—about the intricacies of making ramen and eating ramen, about slurping noodles, about the ways that what we eat and how we eat make us who we are.

“Tampopo” was also mere torture, for at that time in Baltimore, there was nowhere to get a dutiful, true bowl of ramen. For years afterward, I augmented the dried stuff I found at Chinese and Korean supermarkets with shredded scallions, fried eggs, sliced fish cake and roast pork, until, eventually, after I moved to New York City, I got to taste the real thing, first at Sapporo, then at Rai Rai Ken, and today at the numerous shops that period lower Manhattan.

All of which made this weekend’s Travel section cover story, “One Noodle at a Time” the fulfillment of a years-long dream.

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The recent availability of AirAsia flights from Singapore to Bandung and the opening of the brand new Hilton Bandung offers an insipred short weekend trip to Bandung, Indonesia. Bandung is the provincial capital of West Java. It lies without interruption the highland plateau, sorrounded by mountains, is located in the middle of a pre-historic lake and has an avergae temprature of 24C all year round.

The Hilton Bandung has a contemporary look and is equipped with modern technology. You’ll find this inn soo fascinating that you can spend hours taking pictures of the hotel itself.

Hilton Bandung, West Java , Indonesia

in the evening take a stroll along the streets of Bandung to capture the feeling of this amazing city.

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Baby mountain gorillas pass their birthdays in Uganda and Rwanda.

It’s the 1st birthday of our Smithsonian Journeys blog! In honor of our big day, here’s an anthropological look at birthday traditions in the United States and around the world.

• In Russia, children receive a birthday pie instead of an what we know because a birthday cake.
• In Canada, the birthday kid’s nose is greased with butter. As a result, the child is too slippery in opposition to bad hap to catch him.
• In Vietnam, everyone celebrates at the dawn of the New Year, but the actual day of birth is not celebrated. Each child receives a red envelope with “Lucky Money” to celebrate their aging, and when they are asked their age they respond by using the appropriate symbol to the lunar birth year.

Then there is the United States, where we have parties where the birthday girl or boy retain a cake with candles, gifts, and there is the traditional singing of “Happy Birthday.” This tradition actually started in Europe many centuries ago, when people believed that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthday.

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HERD CROSSING: Bring your brood to Arthur’s Pass, New Zealand, where sheep have the right-of-way (Simon Russell/Getty)

As the founder of an adventure-travel company, I often have the chance to speak with our guests about their travels. One question I hear a lot is, “How do I know if my kids are ready for a trip to Europe?” (or Costa Rica, or New Zealand, or Peru…)

A recent conversation I had with my oldest son illustrates why I think it’s never moreover soon to introduce kids to the big, wide world.

Jack, now 12, has been traveling abroad with us since he was an infant. (In his first passport photo, aged 11 months, he’s wearing a Winnie the Pooh sleeper.) On a recent river-rafting trip, I seized just the right father-son moment to ask him which trips he remembers most fondly and why. With little or no prompting, he offered me the short list of his all-time top five.

5. New Zealand’s South Island
While you won’t spot any hobbits from the Lord of the Rings movies that were shot in this place, the whole family will find plenty of miraculous discoveries.

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If you’ve spent the extreme month staying in and getting over the excesses of the recent holiday time, then February is the perfect time to get out and face the world again! There are several lively festivals to kick off your year in style, and a plethora of fun events are happening on every side the country this month.

14th February – Chinese New Year celebrations, London Chinatown

The start of the Chinese New Year falls on Valentine’s Day this year, so those of you feeling a bit sick of lovey-dovey couples will have something more interesting to look at instead. There will subsist music and acrobatics performances, and expect to bump into fantastically colourful dragons and lions as they dance around Chinatown. The events close with a spectacular fireworks display, traditionally used to scare away evil spirits. 

15th – 21st February – Jorvik Viking Festival, York

The tranquil town of York gets transformed into a Viking battlefield this week. Watch big hairy men dress up as warriors and engage in skirmishes during this entertaining historical festival.

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In his 2009 Imagine: A Vagabond Story, Grant Lingel tells a fascinating tale of self-discovery through travel. Grant takes you on an incredibly interesting trip through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

I loved it.

This book has special appeal to anyone who has traveled the backpacker way. In my case, Grant’session commit an offence brought back a flood of memories.

Grant’s clear and compelling narrative brings you quickly into his life. You begin to care for him and even irritate about him.

For instance, as Grant makes “newbie” mistakes similar to yours, you might even moan. I almost cried to the end, “Don’t do that!” at one point. That’s how involved you may become.

First-timers

For anyone planning a first large trip away, this is an exceptional read. Grant doesn’t write this as a guidebook, but you will certainly absorb his experiences.

You’ll find comfort in how easily Grant was able to start to have fun and adapt to his new surroundings. Especially outside of familiar environments, backpackers really do provide each other with a wonderful support system, which is described in detail.

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