Gadling

Flickr user jrodmanjr titled this image of San Francisco's famous prison "Escape from Alcatraz." I happen to like the play on words, almost as much as I like the perspective of this shot. Any time you're taking a photo of a famous landmark, it's fun to try framing it with some nearby objects to add some additional depth and personality. In this case, the chain link fence adds a playful, geometric aspect to the shot, forcing you to give it a second look. Well done!

Do you have any panoramic photos from San Francisco? Or maybe some candid shots from Sweden? Why not share them with our readers at Gadling by adding them to our pool on Flickr? We might just choose one as our Photo of the Day.

We love music here at Gadling, and we're always on the lookout for great new sounds to accompany our travels. Earlier this summer, Aaron posted an interesting feature on Asian music, a frequently overlooked source for some hidden pop gems. But for anyone who's hungry for some fresh sounds, there's no greater treasure trove of amazing pop music than the continent of Africa.

When one thinks of Africa, it's unfortunate that the first associations that come to mind are often famine, civil strife and abject poverty. However, the many regions of Africa are home to rich musical traditions. In addition to their homegrown musical styles, 20th Century African musicians played a pivotal role in the development of Western pop, creating a rich cross-pollination with musical styles ranging from the Blues to Psychedelic Rock to Funk. From the Proto-Blues Gnawa music of Northern Africa, to Funk and Disco-laden rock of 1970's Nigeria, to the jazzy Mbalax of Senegal, African pop offers us an unmatched depth and breadth of choices for even the most casual listener.

Over the last few years, I've stumbled upon some hidden gems that have ignited an obsessive search into the annals of African pop. I've unearthed a few of my favorites here - it's by no means a comprehensive listing, but any music fan will surely want to give these albums a listen. Click below for Gadling's top African pop music picks and make sure to leave us some of your own favorites in the comments.

There's something intriguingly dreamlike about this photo from Flickr user Emerald2810. Is it the silhouetted biplanes? The luminous sky blanketed with clouds? I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seems to be laden with hidden symbolism and meaning. In some ways it reminds me of the work of early surrealist photographers like Man Ray.

Shot any of your own surrealist masterpieces during your travels? Why not share them with our Gadling readers? All you have to do is add them to our pool on Flickr, and one might just get chosen as our Photo of the Day.

Here at Gadling we'll be highlighting some of our favorite sounds from the road and giving you a sample of each -- maybe you'll find the same inspiration that we did, but at the very least, hopefully you'll think that they're good songs. Got a favorite of your own? Leave it in the comments below and we'll post it at the end of the series.

Manu Chao is a vagabond by nature. He was born in Paris to a Spanish mother and father, but he's really from all over. Chao's music wanders and meanders like his personal life, drifting languages from Spanish to English to French, and picking up influences and passport stamps from South America to Spain and to France and then back again. His improvised concert tours are equally freewheeling, featuring actors, circus performers and tour stops only accessible by boat (?!).

I stumbled across Chao's free-form music while I was in college. There was something that sounded very culturally rich about it - it felt authentic and regional, yet somehow equally global and devoid of place. As I began to travel and see more of the world, I found Chao to be a poignant soundtrack for my travels, particularly in the Spanish speaking world where I happened to be visiting.

Whether wafting over the balconies of ancient windows in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, jingling from makeshift speakers in an apartment in Buenos Aires, or bouncing out of a car radio in Mexico City, Manu Chao's music somehow made a particular sonic sense to me. Perhaps my favorite example is his song, Me Gustas Tu:

Welcome back to this week's installation of Undiscovered New York. New York has a longstanding love affair with all things Italian. From the Feast of San Gennaro to some of the world's best pizza outside Italy, to our town's infatuation with the Cosa Nostra, it's hard to deny that Italian culture has strongly influenced New York culture. In fact, many visitors come to New York specifically to check out Little Italy, a well-known strip of Italian restaurants and shops around the intersection of Mulberry and Grand Street in downtown Manhattan.

For those who came to check out Little Italy, have a cannoli and grab some calamari at Umberto's, it's certainly a fun time. Seems like a good dose of Italian culture, right? What if I were to tell you there's another, some would even say better, Little Italy in New York? Well that's just what I'm trying to tell you paisano, and it's in the Bronx.

Curious? Why not click that link below and find out the story behind Arthur Avenue, New York's other Little Italy.

Welcome back to Gadling's weekly series, Undiscovered New York. Don't act surprised when I tell you we like our bars here in New York. Sure, you can grab some suds in just about any town in the United States, but New York boasts a culture of drinking that goes hand-in-hand with the manic highs and crushing lows of our obsessive-compulsive residents. Just take a look at some of New York's most famous residents as proof.

Writer Dylan Thomas supposedly drank as many as 18 shots of whiskey one fateful night 1953 before meeting his maker. Beyond Thomas, New York has frequently played host to a literal "who's who" of famous alcoholic artists, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Truman Capote and Jackson Pollack. Tragic as their alcoholic deaths may be, their lives are inextricably linked to New York's hard-boozing culture and legendary taverns and nightspots.

Which leads us to another question - are any of these historic watering holes still open for business? Nobody is saying 18 shots of whiskey is a good idea for anyone, but wouldn't it be neat to throw back one or two in the same spot as Thomas? What about a bar that's been open since the Civil War? Click below to get Gadling's picks of New York's best historic bars.

Sorting through our pool today, I found my eye particularly attracted to this photo by jamescapstone. James was in Bangkok when he took this shot of a local temple. I love the perspective - by shooting this from down low, James was able to make the temple tower and stretch up above our field of view. It looks downright otherworldly doesn't it? I'm curious if this is some kind of camera lens trick. Way to go James...thanks for the photo.

Have any amazing photos of temples in Thailand? Or even a cathedral in Corsica? Add them to the Gadling photo pool on Flickr. We might just pick it as our Photo of the Day.

Here at Gadling we'll be highlighting some of our favorite sounds from the road and giving you a sample of each -- maybe you'll find the same inspiration that we did, but at the very least, hopefully you'll think that they're good songs. Got a favorite of your own? Leave it in the comments below and we'll post it at the end of the series.

WEEK 4: Colder - One Night In Tokyo

Japan has a reputation of creating bewilderment and a sense of wonder for visitors from the Western world. For anyone who has ever gotten lost in the "fiction" of Japan created by movies like Lost in Translation or anime series like Gundam, there is a perception created of a place that looks strangely familiar yet somehow slightly askew, like your friend was hiding around the corner, waiting to jump out and scare the crap out of you. You're left constantly on edge, ready to be surprised, shocked and amused by a constant barrage of stimuli.

It was with these thoughts in mind as I landed in Tokyo for my first trip to Japan earlier this year. My home base for the next 10 days was a high rise in the Shinjuku neighborhood - a bustling, neon-lit business district in central Tokyo. As I unpacked my things in my room, I flipped on my iPod to a song by Colder, a French electronic artist known for his moody, atmospheric compositions, fittingly selecting one of my favorite tracks called "One Night in Tokyo."