Gadling

Ox-drawn carts squeak by towering marble monuments – with slogans like "Live forever our father" [Kim Il Sung]. Remnants of four-lane highways snake parallel to a single train track that handles all traffic through the northwestern corridor. Schoolchildren in tattered shorts play near stiff-faced sentries (the kids wield sticks; the soldiers, automatic rifles).

Such dichotomies reflect the perplexing and almost unimaginable world that is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a hermit kingdom that may harbor a half-dozen nuclear weapons or more while simultaneously being on the brink of a famine that could doom most of its peasant population.

Now, with outside reports that North Korea strongman Kim Jong Il is seriously ill, international attention is focusing once again on this troublesome nation. The world's leaders remain, however, much as everybody else, befogged about the road ahead for North Korea. The reason for this is simple: practically nothing – news, Western luxuries, even people – is allowed in, or out.

But here I am, riding a German-imported train with 30 other Chinese tourists and plenty of North Korean guards patrolling the cabins, on our way to Pyongyang. I've come to see what life here is like for the Koreans, fully expecting the absurd.

It's sunny and mild outside, with just the slightest of breeze: the perfect fall day. But I'm holed up in my room, watching Youtube (Man vs. Wild episodes). But there's a much better way to be anti-social on a Sunday afternoon. It's called Fancast, a site with completely legitimate full length movies and television episodes.

I just finished a 40-minute documentary on the Serengeti, narrated by James Earl Jones. It's below. Oh, and those Man vs Wild episodes? Check them out here.

First part here.

6:20 pm. I ask Akbar how he was able to learn the game in just a few months. "Baseball is very hard," he says, but explains that, like many of the Uighurs on the team, he grew up familiar with the mechanics of batting and fielding, having played shatop, a traditional sport much like cricket.

"And were you good?" I inquired.

"Very good," he says, in complete seriousness.

After the game, I walk over to the catcher, 22-year-old Zheng. To him, baseball is more than just a game of athleticism. "I like it because you need to use your head," he says.

He's also enjoyed getting to know the Uighurs on the team, and says that they even "hang out" after practices, perhaps to shoot some hoops at the always-crowded courts nearby or watch a MLB game online back in their dorm. And if the conversation ever falls short, they have one bedrock bond in common: they're all devoted followers of the New York Yankees.

3:05 pm. The plane from Beijing has barely landed, and I'm already on my phone. The screen flashes 5:05 pm, and for a moment, I fear I've missed the ballgame, that I've flown 2,400 miles to the heart of China's wild west-roughly the distance between New York and San Francisco-for empty bleachers and discarded foam fingers.

Then, I remember that there are two worlds here in Xinjiang, each with its own definition of time. The Han Chinese run this hardscrabble autonomous province on official Beijing time while the Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority, prefer unofficial Xinjiang time. Getting by on two different time zones is easier than you would think, for the Hans and Uighurs live in different neighborhoods, speak different languages, practice different religions, and attend different classes.

When these two worlds clash, violence often erupts. In August, 33 policemen and Uighur rebels were killed around Xinjiang, and with the end of the Olympics, many human rights activists fear an even greater crackdown on the Uighurs.

But there is one place where these two worlds still coexist peacefully: on the baseball field.

I think everyone pretty much has a crush on the Swedes. It's been towards the top of my must-see destinations for a long time. Here to talk about his favorite city--and his homeland--is the mayor of Stockholm, Sten Nordin.

Why Stockholm now?

Stockholm is at its most beautiful in the summer, when the sun stays up for most of the day and night, it's warm and the city is alive with people and activities.

Stockholm has more cultural offerings per capita than any other city in the world but there is also plenty of history, nature, sports activities and gastronomic delights to indulge in. Stockholm has something to offer for every type of visitor.

With the low dollar, can Americans afford Stockholm?

Absolutely! Stockholm is definitely an affordable tourist destination. The city is small enough to walk across so there's little need for transportations. Lunch – even in the most luxurious restaurants – rarely exceeds $25, and entrance fees to museums etc. are considerably less than in other European cities. So, yes, Americans can definitely afford Stockholm!

I'm here with Jamie James, a former critic at The New Yorker turned author. His latest book, "The Snake Charmer", centers around a renegade herpetologist who ultimately dies in the jungles of Burma after getting bitten by a krait, one of the world's deadliest snakes. Jamie traveled to Burma to research the book.

He also writes frequently about travel and culture for The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times. He currently lives in Bali.

The NYT review of Snake Charmer declared the book's protagonist, herpetologist Joe Slowinski, a "Class A jerk." From all the research you've accumulated, what's your take on the guy?

The Times review presented a very shallow analysis, concentrating on one sliver of a complex character -- 5% of the book yanked out of context. It's true that Joe was ruthless in his pursuit of knowledge, and rubbed some people the wrong way; but few scientists bother with "please" and "thank you."

Joe was also widely loved and respected by his colleagues. One fascinating reflection of Joe's personality, which I never could find a place for in the book, is that no fewer than SEVEN people told me that he was their best friend. That seems truly remarkable to me -- how many people have that kind of impact on the people around them? And from his colleagues he commanded widespread respect for his brilliant mind and original thinking, more important qualities for a scientist than simple niceness. Joe Slowinski truly did not care what people thought of him, which is a key aspect of what makes him so fascinating.

Only in America will you find need a "guide" to understanding one of our own states. But Alaska is weird.

In this insightful Monitor story, the reporter opens with some peculiar relics of life in the 50th state: "The Alaskan Independence Party? Sourdoughs and cheechakos? Boomers and greenies facing off in the "Mad-Zoo?" A moon at noon?"

Now that Sarah Palin is the Republican vice-presidential candidate, I bet a lot more people are googling Alaska, and in particular, Wasilla, her hometown, an exurb of Anchorage.

While much has been said about the bizarre politics and lifestyle of this state, I've yet to come across any great travel pieces or dispatches. In fact, I'm tempted to jet up there myself and do the gig. Where should I go though? (Yes, I'll be the first to admit I need a guide to Alaska).

Gregory Witt is author of Ultimate Adventures: A Rough Guide to Adventure Travel, which is out in bookstores today. This is a guy who has done pretty much everything when it comes to extreme adventures, so I'm definitely picking up my copy. He happens to be a skilled mountaineer guide, having led summit trips to Mt. Rainier, Matterhorn, and Peru's Pisco. He's also summited Colorado's three highest peaks back-to-back in three days.

You've said that the "unattainable" destinations were weeded out. I love a challenge. What were some of the top ones?

I intentionally excluded some adventures like climbing Mt. Everest. It's an exceptional challenge and adventure, to be sure. Instead, I explore uncommon adventures for the common man. These are adventures that most anyone, with proper training, preparation, and a healthy dose of tenacity can achieve. Some of the more physically and emotionally demanding adventures include climbing Yosemite's El Capitan, hiking the length of the Pacific Crest Trail, or climbing Mt. McKinley.

You're an experienced adventure guide. How does someone get that sort of job? What kind of training did you have to do?

Fortunately, I've never thought of it as a "job." It's just doing what I love to do-and isn't it cool that someone actually pays me to do it! It requires a varied skill set, some of which can be learned, like wilderness emergency medicine, field geology, or wildlife identification. Other skills, like wilderness navigation, leadership, and managing the personal and group dynamics of clients in stressful or challenging situations is best learned on the spot and after years of experience in similar circumstances.

I'm here with Doug Poindexter, president of the World Wide Pet Industry Association, the oldest nonprofit within the field dedicated to pet care. He's here to talk about the tricks of the trade when it comes to traveling with pets, or what to do if you have to leave them behind.

What types of trips are feasible to do with pets, and which ones are not?

More pet owners are traveling with their pets, which means that an abundance of hotels and businesses are looking to host you and your four-legged companion. However, you must do your research before your trip begins. Below are some tips for booking the perfect hotel for you and your pet.

• Don't book online - You should call the hotel and ask for a rundown of the rules associated with booking a pet-friendly room. Explain the size and weight of your pet to ensure he/she falls within the requirements.
• Ask for a list of restrictions – Pet friendly hotels often have rules surrounding the types of pets they allow in the room. Confirm the size and weight restrictions, breed policies, and supervision stipulations prior to reserving a room (ie. You can not leave your pet unattended in the room).
• Don't assume all rules are universal – Hotel chains can vary in policy surrounding pet friendly programs due to differences in state and local laws. It's important to always request a list of rules surrounding pet lodging at every new hotel location.
• Inquire about pet programs – Many pet friendly hotels offer perks such as dog beds, treats, water bowls, etc. for no additional charge. An increasing number also partner with local dog walkers and groomers to offer discounts to residents traveling with their pet. Be sure to request a list of programs for you and your pet to check out while you are in town.

In the past few years, Anak has been back in the spotlight-quite literally. German and Indonesian volcanologists rigged the island in 2005 with three remote monitoring stations, each capturing a dizzying array of data-meteorological, chemical, seismic-that are recorded 24/7. The raw numbers have been broadcasted online in real-time, including a video feed.

And in 2003, Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, a trade book on the 1883 eruption, with a chapter devoted to Anak Krakatau, became a New York Times bestseller. Such attention is a testament of the singular importance of Anak to the scientific community, given that "new islands", while rare, appear (and disappear) with some regularity. Anak Krakatau itself only became a permanent island after three previous forays during 1927-1930.

Back at Anak, the sun is about to set. Tukirin eyes the summit wistfully. "Why not," he exclaims. "Let's go." (A longstanding government directive warns tourists not to go anywhere near the active cone.)