CNN's 2013 travel wish list

(CNN) -- We've all got them: places that live large in imagination or memory, begging us to hop on a plane to uncover their delicious mysteries.

As the new year kicks off, a handful of our very well-traveled CNN correspondents -- who've been places and seen things many of us may never see firsthand -- share their destination wishes for 2013 and beyond.

Where are you dreaming of visiting this year? Please share your picks in the comments below.

8 travel resolutions for 2013

Mongolia

Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman set his sights on Mongolia early in life.

"Back when I was, I think, nine or ten years old I read a book about Marco Polo, how he traveled with his uncles on the ultimate business trip to the Mongol Empire at its height," wrote Wedeman, who recently moved to Rome after an assignment in Cairo.

"The trip lasted almost a quarter of a century, during which he grew up, mastered Mongolian, gained the confidence of the Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan, and then eventually returned home with fantastic tales of strange lands and stranger people. The story hooked me."

12 months, 12 trips to make your friends jealous

Wedeman socked away money from his first job delivering newspapers with an eye toward a $3,000 trip to Mongolia advertised in the Sunday New York Times magazine. "Making around $30 a month, it would have taken me more than eight years to come up with the money."

He read about Mongolia in the meantime but spent most of his teenage years in the Arab world, where he learned the language and became interested in journalism, "for better or for worse, a busier profession in the Middle East than in Mongolia, for example."

Wedeman took courses in classical and modern Mongolian while studying for his master's degree and found it "beastly difficult."

He still wants to visit, in the spring or summer, he said. "Mongolian winters, when temperatures drop to 30 C (22 F) are not for me, thank you very much."

He says he would hire a guide and horses and set out for the vast steppes.

"I know it's changed radically since I first latched on to the idea. For one thing it's no longer part of the communist bloc, it's no longer isolated, and its economy is growing rapidly fueled by a mining boom (which is destroying the traditional nomadic lifestyle, and severely harming the once pristine environment)."

The price today with an upscale company is reasonable, he said, "compared to the $3,000 it was back in 1971."

"Today the same trip is around $5000, which though a still hefty sum, is, in terms of inflation, a steal."

Jordan

CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson spent much of the past year in conflict-ridden places that many travelers avoid these days, including Syria, Libya, Egypt and Lebanon. Next year, Robertson expects to travel to Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Jordan and Mali in North Africa, where he says al Qaeda is putting down roots.

So you'd think he might like to spend some time on a secluded beach somewhere. Nope. He wants to travel with his wife and two daughters (ages 17 and 21) to Jordan.

"I have yet to take my children there and it is a very special place to my wife and I as we met there in the build up to the first Gulf War," wrote Robertson, briefly at home in London, in an e-mail. "The hotel we met in, which was the CNN hotel, at the time called the Philadelphia, now the Radisson, was attacked by Zarqawi suicide bombers in 2005.

"Jordan today is becoming less stable and I would like to take my children there to visit places like Petra, the Roman ruins in Amman and Jerash, the Dead Sea and Aqaba where I learned to dive. My eldest daughter's second name is Jordan after the country ... so you can see the connection runs deep."

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Work has taken CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley all over the world, but in her free time she's "never been much of a traveler" beyond a yearly pilgrimage to Sleeping Bear Bay in Michigan, which Crowley calls "the place of my heart."

Yet a few years ago, she was in a boat off the coast of Australia with her grown children, living out a travel dream.

"I began to see massive areas of dark brown spread across the horizon of blue water. I started to cry. I never thought a dream I had since I was a teenager would come true, but there I was about to scuba dive and snorkel in an area of The Great Barrier Reef," wrote Crowley.

"I love water, sea life, scuba diving and snorkeling. I love the warmth of sand just before it gets so hot you need shoes. I love a place with that spiritual feel of history and mystery. I love being with my children there to share."

Crowley's got her next fantasy trip mapped out.

"Now I have a bank account with 'The Galapagos' written on it. It's not in the cards for 2013, but I'll get there.

"I want to do one of those week long boat trips with the scientists on board who tell you what you've seen, what you're about to see because I think it will ratchet up the awe factor, if that's possible."

Pantanal region, Brazil

Shasta Darlington, a CNN correspondent based in So Paulo, is determined to visit the Pantanal region of Brazil.

"This is my second time living in Brazil and it's something I failed to do the first time, so I want to make sure I get there this time," wrote Darlington.

"It's the largest contiguous wetland in the world and teeming with animal life. Most people think the Amazon is the place to go to see Brazilian flora and fauna, but the Pantanal region is easily just as rich in animals and they're easier to spot, especially during rainy season when rivers rise forcing animals literally onto islands."

The region is hard to reach and navigate, Darlington said, with mostly lodge-like accommodations and boats, small planes and four-wheel-drive vehicles for transportation.

But the rewards are rich. "There are an abundance of birds, monkeys, caimans, snakes, butterflies and fish out there."

South Africa

"There are some destinations that you know as soon as you step off the plane will change you. For me, it's always been Africa," wrote Patrick Oppmann, CNN's correspondent in Havana.

He has visited the continent three times but has yet to make it to South Africa.

"As a journalist, I have long been fascinated with how South Africa is emerging from decades of the racial divisions of the Apartheid era.

"But it's one thing to read about those years and another to actually visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, or to walk in District 6, the area where thousands of black residents had their neighborhoods destroyed."

And of course, the country's spectacular beauty is a big draw. "You can hit the beach, hike Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, take in amazing wildlife and cage dive among Great White sharks."

Oppmann wouldn't miss trying braai, the South African way of spit-roasting meat over an open fire.

"And if there was a cold glass of the excellent local wine or beer to go along with the braai, that would be just fine too."

Where are you dreaming about going in 2013?

Via: CNN's 2013 travel wish list

10 global New Year's eats

(CNN) -- Americans who celebrate on New Year's Eve with a bottle of champagne, party hats and a kiss at midnight have an important lesson to learn from the rest of the world (and certain regions of this country): The arrival of the new year is meant for feasting.

As the new year arrives around the globe, special cakes and breads abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck). The particulars vary, but the general theme is the same: to sit down and share a meal with family and friends to usher in a year of prosperity.

Where to see in the new year in style

Here are some of the common traditions around the world and a few hints about where to partake in them:

Hoppin' John, American South

A major New Year's food tradition in the American South, Hoppin' John is a dish of pork-flavored field peas or black-eyed peas (symbolizing coins) and rice, frequently served with collards or other cooked greens (as they're the color of money) and cornbread (the color of gold). The dish is said to bring good luck in the new year.

Different folklore traces the history and the name of this meal, but the current dish has its roots in African and West Indian traditions and was most likely brought over by slaves to North America. A recipe for Hoppin' John appears as early as 1847 in Sarah Rutledge's "The Carolina Housewife" and has been reinterpreted over the centuries by home and professional chefs.

The dish reportedly got its name in Charleston, South Carolina, and it is a veritable staple of Lowcountry cooking. So this is as good a place as any to eat it. Husk, the acclaimed restaurant of chef Sean Brock, often serves Hoppin' John, as does Charleston institution Hominy Grill. Not heading south for the holidays? Seersucker in Brooklyn, New York, is serving Hoppin' John from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year's Day.

Twelve grapes, Spain

While Americans watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve, Spaniards watch the broadcast from Puerta del Sol in Madrid, where revelers gather in front of the square's clock tower to ring in the New Year. Those out in the square and those watching at home partake in an unusual annual tradition: at the stroke of midnight they eat one grape for every toll of the clock bell. Some even prep their grapes -- peeling and seeding them -- to make sure they will be as efficient as possible when midnight comes.

6 food must-haves for 2013

The custom began at the turn of the 20th century and was purportedly thought up by grape producers in the south with a bumper crop. Since then the tradition has spread to many Spanish-speaking nations.

Those spending New Year's Eve in Madrid should head over to the Puerta del Sol before midnight. It's a lively square, surrounded by bars, restaurants and shopping, so it's a good place to be when the new year comes.

Tamales, Mexico

Tamales, corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese and other delicious additions and wrapped in a banana leaf or a corn husk, make appearances at pretty much every special occasion in Mexico. But the holiday season is an especially favored time for the food. In many families, groups of women gather together to make hundreds of the little packets -- with each person in charge of one aspect of the cooking process -- to hand out to friends, family and neighbors. On New Year's, it's often served with menudo, a tripe and hominy soup that is famously good for hangovers.

Those who live in cities with large Mexican populations shouldn't have much trouble finding restaurants selling tamales to go for New Year's Eve and Day. But gourmands who want the real deal should head to Mexico City, where steamed tamales are sold from vendors on street corners day and night. They can also be found at established restaurants like Flor de Lis or Pujol or tamale specialists like Los Tamales y Algo Mas.

Oliebollen, Netherlands

In the Netherlands, fried oil balls, or oliebollen, are sold by street carts and are traditionally consumed on New Year's Eve and at special celebratory fairs. They are doughnut-like dumplings, made by dropping a scoop of dough spiked with currants or raisins into a deep fryer and then dusted with powdered sugar.

In Amsterdam, be on the lookout for Oliebollenkraams, little temporary shacks or trailers on the street selling packets of hot fried oliebollen.

Marzipanschwein or Glcksschwein, Austria and Germany

Austria, and its neighbor to the north, Germany, call New Year's Eve Sylvesterabend, or the eve of Saint Sylvester. Austrian revelers drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices, eat suckling pig for dinner and decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan, called marzipanschwein. Good luck pigs, or Glcksschwein, which are made of all sorts of things, are also common gifts throughout both Austria and Germany.

Vienna bakeries this time of year will be filled with a variety of pig-shaped sweets. Head to Julius Meinl, with more than three floors of gourmet food shopping, cafes and restaurants, to find the most impressive display of pig-shaped Champagne truffles, marzipan and chocolate in a variety of sizes.

Soba noodles, Japan

In Japanese households, families eat buckwheat soba noodles, or toshikoshi soba, at midnight on New Year's Eve to bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome the year to come. The tradition dates back to the 17th century, and the long noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity. In another custom called mochitsuki, friends and family spend the day before New Year's pounding mochi rice cakes. Sweet, glutinous rice is washed, soaked, steamed and pounded into a smooth mass. Then guests take turns pinching off pieces to make into small buns that are later eaten for dessert.

This New Year's Eve, at Manhattan Japanese restaurant En Japanese Brasserie, the chef (and willing customers) will take part in the mochitsuki. The resulting mochi will be served as dessert later in the evening. The restaurant is also serving two kaiseki menus, both featuring soba noodles as a final savory course. At midnight, they will break open a barrel of sake to welcome the New Year.

King cake, around the globe

The tradition of a New Year's cake is one that spans countless cultures. The Greeks have the Vasilopita, the French the gateau or galette des rois. Mexicans have the Rosca de Reyes and Bulgarians enjoy the banitsa.

Most of the cakes are consumed at midnight on New Year's Eve -- though some cultures cut their cake on Christmas or the Epiphany, January 6 -- and include a hidden gold coin or figure, which symbolizes a prosperous year for whomever finds it in their slice.

Cotechino con lenticchie, Italy

Italians celebrate New Year's Eve with La Festa di San Silvestro, often commencing with a traditional cotechino con lenticchie, a sausage and lentil stew that is said to bring good luck (the lentils represent money and good fortune) and, in certain households, zampone, a stuffed pig's trotter.

The meal ends with chiacchiere -- balls of fried dough that are rolled in honey and powdered sugar -- and prosecco. The dishes find their roots in Modena, but New Year's Eve feasts thrive across the country.

Pickled herring, Poland and Scandinavia

Because herring is in abundance in Poland and parts of Scandinavia, and because of their silver coloring, many in those nations eat pickled herring at the stroke of midnight to bring a year of prosperity and bounty. Some eat pickled herring in cream sauce, some have it with onions.

One special Polish New Year's Eve preparation of pickled herring, called Sledzie Marynowane, is made by soaking whole salt herrings in water for 24 hours and then layering them in a jar with onions, allspice, sugar and white vinegar. Scandinavians will often include herring in a larger midnight smorgasbord with smoked and pickled fish, pate and meatballs.

Kransekage, Denmark and Norway

Kransekage, literally wreath cake, is a cake tower composed of many concentric rings of cake layered atop one another, and they are made for New Year's Eve and other special occasions in Denmark and Norway. The cake is made using marzipan, often with a bottle of wine or Aquavit in the center and can be decorated with ornaments, flags and crackers.

Those who can't make it to Copenhagen this year for Danish treats should check out Larsen's Danish Bakery in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. They have a long-running mail-order business to accommodate kransekage lovers across the country and carefully pack each ring on the tower individually for easy assembly right before your New Year's Eve feast. A 10-ring cake goes for $86; an 18-ring cake is $150.

What are your New Year's dining traditions? Share your favorite dishes in the comments below.

Via: 10 global New Year's eats

When the holidays turn depressing

(CNN) -- When the holidays bring heartache instead of joy, I think they do so because they stand as an unforgiving yardstick against which we measure our losses and troubles.

If no one reminds us, we can sometimes overlook the fact that loved ones are gone, or that our lives are filled with painful conflict in exactly the intimate areas that should be sources of strength and comfort for us. But then along come the holidays, imposing upon us once again a template for what happiness and interpersonal success is expected to look like.

It can be hard to measure up. It is far easier to overlook the death of loved ones when you don't have to stare across the holiday table at their empty places. It is far easier to pretend that family trauma or conflict don't exist when you are far away and on your own.

But the holidays force us to either return to painful family interactions or to fully own our isolation and spend the season alone.

It is a terrible choice. I've treated many patients over the years who reliably became depressed during the holidays out of dread of having to interact with their families. On the other hand, the silence of Christmas morning on one's own carries its own unique pain.

I never cease to be amazed at how often both emotional well-being and mental illness hinge on how we negotiate these types of impossible choices. Because the choices really are often insoluble and the losses are often so actual, we in the mental health professions frequently try to find "a third way" to help people cope. In the end, these "third way" approaches usually come down to helping people reframe their issues so they that seem less hopeless and painful. Or we provide people with medications such as antidepressants to make their brains and bodies less reactive to stress. Or we do both.

Reframing

I've given many interviews over the years regarding strategies for helping people cope emotionally with the holidays. For people truly overwhelmed, I often recommend exploring ways to neutralize Christmas negativity by changing how they approach the holidays. For example, if someone develops a major depression every year before or after going home to see her family, I encourage her to explore what would happen if she abandoned this painful pattern and instead proactively planned a Christmas vacation somewhere beyond the reach of her memories and holiday associations that generate symptoms of depression.

Sometimes this type of strategy works beautifully. Often other family members are equally miserable and join the exodus, providing strength in numbers. Sometimes the person's absence leads the family to re-evaluate itself and change in positive ways. But sometimes, the attempt to flee Christmas is met with such anger and guilt production from the family that the patient actually ends up doing worse. Everyone's holiday situation is unique.

This type of approach toward reframing Christmas follows what I sometimes call the "who says" rule. Many times we torture ourselves with ideas of how things should be, or would be if we were somehow smarter, richer, different. To which I often ask, "Who says?" "Who says things have to be the way you think they should be?" "Who says you have to suffer over a painful fantasy of what you think Christmas ought to be?"

We cling tightly to our fantasies -- good and bad. But sometimes when we can loosen their grip on us, we can see new possibilities for how to be at peace with our lives and find a little joy.

Medications

This holiday season I've been thinking a lot about Christmas 1987, because it was four days later, on December 29, that fluoxetine, better known by its brand name Prozac, received FDA approval for use in the United States. The approval of Prozac launched one of history's greatest run of "third way" approaches to trauma and loss.

With Prozac came a growing belief that medicines might hold promise as the ultimate solution, not just to clinical depression, but perhaps to heartache more generally.

Having once believed this myself, I find that now, 25 years later, I am far more cautious in my appraisal of what the coming of Prozac actually meant for the world's emotional well-being. I've seen repeatedly with my own eyes how modern antidepressants like Prozac can help depressed people get their lives back. And I've seen people who had struggled with negative thoughts and feelings for years find that they were different -- and more successful -- with the addition of an antidepressant in their lives.

But in the last several years it has become increasingly clear that antidepressants are not, and probably will never be, a cure-all for heartache, in any of its forms clinical or mundane. For one thing, our best current data suggest that antidepressants only work adequately for 40% to 60% of depressed people, with the percentages varying depending on what one thinks of as "adequate."

More recent evidence suggests that antidepressants can actually worsen depressive symptoms in a sizable minority of people who take them. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise us. Chemotherapeutic agents that increase the probability of surviving cancer also increase the risk of developing a second cancer in the future. And yet despite this fact, and despite the dread we feel at the mere mention of the word "chemotherapy," most of us embrace chemotherapeutic treatment when diagnosed with cancer, understanding that despite the manifold limitations and horrendous side effects, it's the best that we've got.

Perhaps the most concerning recent debate in the antidepressant literature revolves around the question of whether taking these medications increases the risk of having a depression relapse when the antidepressant is discontinued. This issue is complex and hotly debated. But if the weight of the evidence eventually suggests that antidepressants carry this risk it will further complicate the clinician's task. Still, as with chemotherapy, they're the best that we've got.

Finding more solutions

This year, with Christmas upon us, I am more convinced than ever that we who work clinically or conduct research in the realm of mental health must redouble our efforts to find new and better "third ways" to help deal, not just with clinical depression, but also with the ubiquitous heartache and anxiety that are so prevalent in the modern world.

Although I personally research biological approaches to treating depression, I suspect that part of our movement forward will come from better integrating older ways of wisdom into our treatment protocols. Many wisdom traditions point toward the same thing -- that full healing requires not just reframing or biology, but an inner transformation that embraces suffering itself as a means of escape from our suffering.

Read more: Losing can be hazardous to your health

Via: When the holidays turn depressing

Give children the gift of travel

(CNN) -- If Melika Nixon has a free moment and a few extra dollars, she's planning a trip with her 7-year-old twin boys.

Even though one of her sons has serious medical issues, including a kidney transplant and feeding tube, it doesn't stop this Huntsville, Alabama, family. The trip list has included Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville and the Bahamas.

"Travel is a way of life for us," says Nixon, a single mother. "It is a way for us to explore cultures, people, food and places, and to see that there is more to life than just our way of doing things. Travel is a way for me to teach my children respect (for) others and appreciation for life."

They also learn to take care of themselves in new places. "They learn that exploring is a must. They learn to ask questions. They learn how to navigate cities. First and foremost, they have to know the name of our hotel and how to get back to it if they were to ever get lost. They learn that life must be lived and not watched on TV or played on a video game."

Put something under the tree

This holiday season, as parents struggle to figure out what toys to give their children, consider giving the gift of travel. Although none of the gifts Nixon has given her sons can be found under a tree, they're likely to last longer than the latest computer gadget or hottest electronic toy.

Younger children won't really understand that a future ski trip to Colorado, swimming in Santa Monica, California, or a week at Disney World is a (pricey) present, says Eileen Gunn, founder of the family travel website FamiliesGo!

That's why it's a good idea to wrap a travel-related present to put under the tree. It can be a stuffed elephant for a trip to the San Diego Zoo or a Disney movie for Disney World or the "Anne of Green Gables" books for a trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Robert Reid is giving his daughter a sleeping bag for Christmas, part of his plan to take the 3-year-old on a camping trip next year. He got the idea from building forts and tents in their home.

As he starts to plan the trip, "I'm looking at her interests," says Reid, Lonely Planet's U.S travel editor and contributor to the publisher's "Not For Parents" book series. "I can't wait to do more trips and plan with her. I can't wait."

Maps, landmarks and animals

Teach them geography by giving them age-appropriate atlases and travel books for the journey, and hang a large map on their bedroom wall where they can pinpoint their travels, suggests Jennifer Emmett, editorial director of National Geographic Society's children's books department.

Older children and teenagers will be more interested in doing research for your travels if you let them help choose activities at your destination and or even help choose the places to visit.

"We find that kids get genuinely inspired by the idea of seeing places and landmarks they think are cool," Emmett says.

Even younger children who can't read can get excited if you link their favorite animals to the places you're visiting, such as crocodiles in Florida or bears in Alaska.

"Young kids latch on to the fact that China is where pandas live, Australia is the home of kangaroos, and lions are in Africa, and on and on," Emmett says. "Linking animals to a place makes the place come alive in kids' heads."

Little children will need a bit more care and feeding on any vacation, however. Don't assume they will suddenly get more energy or need less sleep when they're on vacation.

"Younger kids need to stick to those schedules," says Lissa Poirot, editor of FamilyVacationCritic.com. "You need to give them their snacks and nap time. You don't have to see it all in one day."

Poirot recommends finding a hotel with a good swimming pool, where children of all ages will like to relax.

'It's not the destination, it's the journey'

Dawn Wilson loves traveling and is proud her children know how to travel, whether the family of five hits the road or boards an airplane.

When they see her organizing her car, her children ages 9, 7 and 5 ask if she's going on a trip and if they can join her. When they head to the airport, the two older children know how to carry their luggage, and the youngest has stopped bolting from her parents.

When any trip is announced, "They ask, 'Are we taking the short way or the long way?' " says Wilson, a stay-at-home mom in Dallas. "Meaning: Are we driving or flying? They're used to spending a day or two in the car, and they're getting a sense of how big the country is."

Wilson makes sure the destination has something for the children to enjoy, whether it's a beach, pool or amusement park. They often took night walks on the beach during their Vero Beach, Florida, trip, looking for crabs because the 7-year-old inspired them to do so.

When they drive, she plans a nice break in the trip. They took four days to drive from Texas to California last summer, stopping for two nights at a Tucson, Arizona, resort with a pool.

"They always say it's not the destination, it's the journey," she says. "I always incorporate the journey into the trip.

"My husband and I have had opportunity to travel without them when the grandparents offered to stay with them for a week. We don't want to go without them. We love traveling with them as family."

Do you remember your first trip as a child or the first trip you took with your children? Please share your memories in the comments section below.

Via: Give children the gift of travel

5 healthy eating tips for travelers

(CNN) -- Your stress level could be measured on the Richter Scale. It's the week before Christmas, so there are a zillion people at the airport. Your flight has been delayed. The kids are crying. Your husband is yelling. Starving, you find the nearest food vendor and order a $12 basket of chicken fingers with fries.

Been there? Done that? Eating healthy on the road has long been a struggle for holiday travelers. It's one of the many reasons people tend to gain a couple extra pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

The good news is that consumers are demanding more nutritious options when they fly -- and the industry is responding, says Renate DeGeorge, director of culinary services for HMSHost, which operates dining facilities at more than 100 airports worldwide.

In recent years HMSHost has made several changes to their menus, including adding a variety of new salads, offering hummus plates as an appetizer and providing whole-grain bread for sandwiches.

"Most places now offer a variety of healthy options no matter where you stop, so that every traveler can find something they are looking for," DeGeorge wrote in an e-mail.

How to have a harmonious holiday

Here are five ways you can make sure you eat right while flying this holiday season:

Have a plan

You know your departure time, arrival time and the time you'll -- hopefully -- have during a layover. Use that schedule to plan full meals throughout the day.

"A meal in general is typically the same calories as many snacks," says Charles Platkin, founder and editor of DietDetective.com. But if you eat a real meal, "you're actually going to get decent nutrition... and you're going to feel a higher level of being satiated."

For example, if you leave early in the morning, plan to eat breakfast at home. If you'll be on the plane during lunch, decide what you'll eat in the air before you get to the airport. If dinner will be late because your plane lands after 8 p.m., make sure to eat a bigger protein- and fiber-filled lunch to tide you over.

When mapping out your meals, remember to prepare for the possibility that your timing and/or location could be thrown off by a delayed flight or missed connection. Which leads us to our next hint...

Know your airport

Every year the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine reviews the food served at the busiest airports in the United States. In 2012, the group found that on average 76% of airport restaurants sell at least one low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-free vegetarian entre.

In other words, the excuse "there's nothing healthy to eat at the airport" is no longer valid (sorry).

Airport restaurants in Newark, New Jersey; Las Vegas; or Detroit are most likely to offer a healthy option, according to the PCRM report, while Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport landed at the bottom of the group's ranking for the third year in a row. So if you're passing through D.C. or Atlanta, stock up on some healthy fare beforehand.

Know your airline

Platkin publishes an annual food investigation survey that ranks the snacks and onboard food-service offerings from most major airlines.

"When you're a passenger on an airplane, you don't really have much choice," he says. "You're a captive audience and that creates a higher standard that airlines need to have."

Virgin America and Air Canada each earned four stars on Platkin's site for offering plenty of healthy options and providing calorie information for consumers. Platkin recommends Virgin's snack boxes -- like the protein meal with hummus -- and Air Canada's Roasted Chicken Wrap with salsa. You can check out his recommendations for other airlines here.

Airport cuisine at the touch of a screen

Pick wisely

Most of us have at least a general idea of what's good for our bodies (a fruit plate) and what's not (a king-size chocolate bar). Making smart decisions is half the battle.

The other half is knowing where hidden dangers lie. Platkin cautions consumers to be wary around anything that comes with a sauce, whether it's salad dressing, mayonnaise on a sandwich or caramel dip for your apple slices. Even an extra tablespoon can add unnecessary calories.

Also be on the lookout for packaged snack foods like chips or crackers that are probably high in sodium. "Look for things that are in their natural state," he says.

Most importantly, avoid fried food, DeGeorge says. Anything smothered in batter then dipped in hot oil isn't good for your health, even if it did at one time resemble a vegetable.

Pack for emergencies

You always pack an extra pair of underwear in your carry-on, so why not some extra healthy snacks too?

"We often underestimate the amount of time a trip can take," Platkin writes on his site. "A two-hour flight could mean four or five hours of travel."

Although liquids are restricted, most foods can be taken through security, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Platkin recommends dry cereal like shredded wheat, energy bars or cold cut sandwiches. Raw fruits and vegetables are also easy to pack and carry onboard.

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Via: 5 healthy eating tips for travelers

The world's craziest golf course?

(CNN) -- It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and chopsticks, the Great Wall of China for a hazard, a fairway threading through Mayan ruins and a panda-themed hole.

China is getting into golf in a big way ahead of the sport's reintroduction to the Olympics in 2016, and even its take on the mini version of the game is larger than life.

"Traditionalists will probably hate it," says design guru Brian Curley, principal partner in Schmidt-Curley, the company behind the 22 courses that make up the Mission Hills complex in Hainan Island.

"But this is real golf, with real clubs on real fairways," he told CNN.

Just about everyone has tried their hand at crazy or mini-golf, a scale-down variant of the game which has the ability to delight and infuriate in equal measure.

Read: Golf brings China, U.S. closer together with PGA Tour upgrade

Usually situated at seaside resorts or other leisure locations, the prerequisites for success are a modicum of actual golfing skill, the ability to putt in a straight line or at unlikely angles off prominent obstacles -- and a large slice of luck.

President Barack Obama, who takes every opportunity to hit the fairways when not leading the Western world, even tried his hand at crazy golf while on holiday with his family in Florida in 2010.

Making a par on his opening hole, he then had to watch as his nine-year-old daugher Sasha made a hole in one, besting her dad in front of the gathered ranks of the world's media.

Obama might well be tempted to put his handicap on the line at the ground-breaking new course being constructed at Curley's Mission Hills Haikou development.

Combining the wacky elements of mini-golf with the "grown-up" version of the game, the proposed 18-hole layout would leave little chance of aces by nine-year-olds -- but still plenty of chances of humiliation for the average golfer.

Fantasy golf

Mindful of the impression that there is a "sameness" to the courses being churned out in their droves in the fastest expanding golf market in the world, Curley and his team wanted to come up with something that he felt would appeal to the wider Chinese public and other visitors to the resort.

So instead of bunkers, rough and trees, the players will be faced with a replica of the Great Wall of China winding its way the length of a 400-meter par four hole.

It also has a hole to rival the infamous "island green" seen at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, home of the the U.S. PGA Tour's Players Championship.

That tricky 17th sees the best in the world attempt to hit their ball onto a tiny green surrounded by water, and spectators delight in seeing the likes of Tiger Woods find the lake.

At Mission Hills' new course, set to open in 2014, the water is replaced by an 80-meter wide noodle bowl with 50-meter giant chopsticks.

Standing on the tee, players will not know whether to laugh or cry, and the degree of difficulty may not end there.

Tiger Woods eyes long rivalry with McIlroy

Wind machine

Curley is promising the addition of "man made" gale force winds on each tee, adjustable depending on the standards of the players and available by hitting a red button.

There is a par-5 threading its way through Mayan ruins, while another green is created in the image of the "Birds Nest" Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Another hole is styled after China's favorite animal, the panda bear.

On a conventional golf course, the degree of difficulty is often dictated by which tee the player chooses to play from. Leading professionals play from the tees furthest from the hole, while higher handicappers can opt to hit their first shot from much closer.

On the Chinese fantasy course, one of the par-3s will give golfers the choice of hitting their ball onto a tiny green surrounded by lava rocks.

In true mini-golf fashion, the other easier option at the volcano theme hole will let players hit towards a mound from which the ball will be whisked nearer the hole down a pipe.

Curley and his team needed the permission of the owners of the complex before committing to the costly project, but Mission Hills' chairman Dr. Ken Chu is an enthusiastic backer.

"This will be a fun alternative for families, novices and children on holiday," he was quoted in the Asian edition of Golf Course Industry International.

Only time will tell if Chu's faith in the project proves founded, but the Mission Hills group has already established itself as a host venue of leading professional tournaments.

Last year the Hainan Island development staged the World Cup teams event for the first time, taking over from the Mission Hills complex at Shenzhen.

This year Shenzhen was the venue of the prestigious HSBC-World Golf Championship event, won by Englishman Ian Poulter.

The Ryder Cup hero conquered the conventional bunker-bound Olazabal course in 21 under par, but knowing Poulter's reputation as a golfing trendsetter, he will probably be itching to test his mettle on Curley's new wacky creation at the first opportunity.

Schwartzel triumphs at Alfred Dunhill

Via: The world's craziest golf course?

2012: The year in aviation

(CNN) -- With 1 billion tourists in 2012, it's little wonder the last 12 months have drummed up some juicy fodder for aviation reporters.

London's Olympic Games were a success -- the expected tourism boon not so much.

"Dark tourism" (travel to sites of death, disaster or the macabre) became a phrase.

And various climatic events conspired to wreak havoc on travel plans across the world.

But which were the stories that really stood out to those who are involved in the industry every day?

These are the top 10:

10. SAS on its last legs

"A new comprehensive plan will pave the way for a new, strong and competitive SAS," read the statement from SAS last month.

"The plan needs to be fully implemented and new collective agreements must be signed in a very short space of time in order for SAS to have access to necessary funding."

One of Europe's oldest airlines -- and one that still knows the meaning of passenger service -- is in dire straits. SAS faces aggressive competition from low cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle, which has hundreds of aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing.

The pioneer of polar flights, fully 40 percent of SAS's workforce is to be chopped.

If the airline fails, and it's been on the brink before, this will continue the trend in Europe toward consolidation that included the acquisition by British Airways of struggling Iberia.

Not that this consolidation under the International Airline Group (IAG) banner has gone well, either.

9. Iberia on the brink

IAG's Iberia will lose 4,500 jobs in a cost-cutting effort after losing 262 million (US$340 million) through September.

IAG characterizes Iberia in a "fight for survival." Nearly 25 percent of its aircraft will exit the fleet and pay might be cut by 35 percent.

There's a January 31, 2013, deadline for labor to reach an agreement with IAG, which is negotiating to buy Spain's Vueling Airlines, which is based in Barcelona.

Iberia cuts jobs in survival bid

8. A380 loved by passengers, but continues to be a profit drag on Airbus

The Airbus A380, a technological marvel and by all accounts a passenger delight, continues to be a thorn in the profit-and-loss statements of Airbus and parent EADS.

Discovery of wing rib bracket cracks in 2011 after the November 2010 high-profile engine failure on Qantas Flight 32 required costly refits.

Never a safety-of-flight issue and affecting only a handful of the thousands of brackets on the A380's wings, the retrofits and airline compensations cost Airbus nearly 300 million (US$394.8 million).

Airline schedules all over the globe were disrupted as fixes took aircraft out of service.

The ad wars that broke out between Boeing and Airbus in late November -- 747-8 versus the A380 -- only add another dimension to the long-running rivalry.

How do you pick up an Airbus A380?

7. Boeing roars back with 737 MAX

In 2011, Airbus stunned Boeing by announcing orders and commitments for about 1,500 re-engined A320neos.

This year, Boeing came roaring back, expecting to finish with firm orders for around 1,000 re-engined 737 MAX aircraft.

Boeing still trails market share, and the MAX will enter service two years later than the NEO. But any way you look at it, this was Boeing's year.

Boeing unveils futuristic 'swallowtail' wingtip for 737 MAX

6. AirAsia continues to become major force

AirAsia and its CEO Tony Fernades are leading the low-cost carrier revolution in Asia.

Taking a page from Sir Richard Branson's book with the Virgin brand, Fernandes is leveraging the AirAsia name and logo to bring low-cost travel to hundreds of millions of people.

Fernandes likes to point out Asia (excluding China) has a larger popular base than the United States or Europe and that island and mountainous geography make flying the best (and sometimes the only) way to get around.

AirAsiaX, the long-haul, low-cost operator, floated an initial public stock offering this year. Fernandes has major expansion plans in mind for this airline.

A word of caution: Citi Research in Hong Kong thinks AirAsia is expanding too rapidly, has too many aircraft on order and faces over-capacity in Malaysia from LionAir.

AirAsia inks huge Airbus deal

5. Boeing dithers on 777X

While Boeing moved ahead with the 787-10, it dithered on enhanced revisions to the highly profitable 777-300ER.

When Jim Albaugh was CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, he wanted Authority to Offer (ATO) by the end of this year.

Albaugh is gone, retiring unexpectedly. ATO for the 777X is put off for perhaps a year, say people familiar with Boeing's current thinking.

The 777X is Boeing's answer to the Airbus A350, which promises to be far more economical than the 777-300ER. But Boeing figures it has more time because ...

4. Airbus delays A350

The composite A350 was already some 18 months behind schedule when Airbus announced a new delay this year for its planned entry-into-service (EIS) from mid-to-late 2014.

Many expect a further slip into 2015. First flight is still planned for mid-2013 -- in time for the Paris Air Show in June?

But technical issues at Airbus' plant in Broughton, Wales, will delay assembly for the test aircraft needed for certification, thus delaying EIS.

Airbus' challenges with the program prompt questions over whether the smallest family member, the A350-800, will be canceled and whether the largest, the A350-1000, is sufficient.

Airbus says the -800 won't and the -1000 is, but market doubts remain.

First look at the Airbus A350 XWB

3. Boeing launches 787-10 -- sort of

The 787 program's problems have become legendary in the industry and Boeing won't make money on it for years.

The ATO of the third member of the family, the high capacity, 6,800 nautical mile range 787-10 is a key bright spot.

Although official ATO didn't come in October as expected, a "soft" ATO did and Boeing is talking with potential customers.

A formal launch of this program is now said to be expected by mid-2013. This sub-type should be a real winner for Boeing and a profitable member of the 787 family.

2b. China expands aerospace role

China's ambitions to become a major global aerospace player draws skepticism from many quarters.

The AVIC/COMAC ARJ21 regional jet is essentially a Chinese copy of the old McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10 built in 1965. And it's yet to enter service and is already five years behind schedule.

Many think the COMAC C919 will be similarly disappointing.

But the C919 has 380 orders and commitments (albeit entirely from Chinese airlines and lessors) even though it's not expected to be up to Airbus and Boeing standards.

The government wants the C919 to take half the home market, about 2,000 aircraft over 20 years, and this comes out of Airbus' and Boeing's market share.

But this isn't all.

There are more than 20 Chinese companies that want to play in the aircraft leasing field, though fewer than a dozen are active so far. Many are affiliated with Chinese banks, which are becoming bigger players in financing aircraft.

Anyone who thinks China won't be a major global player for aircraft, lessors and finance needs to think again.

It's just a matter of when, not if. It might take a generation, or even two, but China will become a viable, global aerospace presence.

2a. China leads the way to block Europe's Emission Trading Scheme

The European Union announced plans to implement its Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) that requires airlines to buy and sell carbon credits.

Airlines and several countries, led by China, objected to this unilateral action, saying it should be a global accord reached through the International Civic Aviation Organization trade group.

China was the first to tell its airlines not to comply. Others followed. But China uses aircraft orders from Airbus and Boeing as political leverage and refused to ratify an order for US$14 billion worth of Airbus product.

This would cost jobs. In November the EU blinked and put off implementing ETS. We'll see if Airbus lands the stalled orders by year end.

Nothing demonstrates the powerhouse clout China has on the global stage more than this.

1. Merger between EADS and BAE Systems collapses

Barely in office after assuming the slot in mid-2012, EADS CEO Tom Enders proposed a merger between EADS and Britain's BAE Systems.

Word leaked prematurely in September and under British takeover law, a decision to move forward or not had to be made the next month.

The combination would have created a global defense behemoth rivaling The Boeing Co. It would have positioned EADS North America to bid more credibly on future U.S. defense contracts.

It would have balanced EADS' over-reliance on subsidiary Airbus for revenues and profits. It would have diversified BAE's sole reliance on defense, a shrinking market.

It would have, at long last, diminished the government ownership (and meddling) of France and Germany in EADS and Airbus affairs.

Fat chance.

The highly parochial French surprised everyone by going along.

But Germany's government objected to losing sway over Airbus jobs.

Britain's government feared losing influence over BAE, a stock company, but which is one of Britain's major employers and a top defense contractor.

German opposition killed the deal, and with it Enders' dreams of EADS becoming a "real" public company free of government influence.

BAE, EADS $45 billion deal collapses

What was the biggest aviation story for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Via: 2012: The year in aviation

The hidden home of skiing's 'madmen'

(CNN) -- Buried deep in the French Alps, the tiny 11th-century mountain village of Val d'Isere has an unmistakable "je ne sais quoi" that has produced some of the most successful -- and wild-spirited -- skiers in racing history.

Henri Oreiller, the "madman of downhill," and Jean Claude-Killy -- his speed-driven successor -- both spent their formative years on its slopes.

From its humble beginnings as a ski resort in the 1930s, it has become one of the world's top alpine destinations, hosting more top competitions than any other European venue. Local farmers mix with the moneyed elite who stay in its five-star hotels.

"I don't think Val d'Isere would be the place it is today without Henri Oreiller and Jean Claude Killy," writer Yves Perret told CNN.

"To be the resort of champions is what makes you different from a lot of other places. One of the downhill tracks here is called the Oreiller Killy track. They both remain here. They will always be a part of Val d'Isere."

Read: Skiing glamor girl's battle to race the men

Oreiller was its resident snow showman in the 1940s -- a fearless adrenalin junkie who lived up to his nickname, and claimed skiing's first Olympic gold medals when the sport was introduced at the 1948 Winter Games.

He was famous for tearing recklessly over bumps in the slopes, balancing himself in mid-air. When the thrill of skiing wasn't enough, he moved on to motor racing -- and was killed behind the wheel of a Ferrari in 1962, aged just 36.

Born in Paris, Oreiller has a shrine in the village that he called home, next to his wife.

"Oreiller is the man who inspired a lot of kids in Val d'Isere to try to become ski champions in the post-war period," said Perret, author of a book about one of Val d'Isere's most famous events.

"He was a funny guy who loved to play accordion and loved speed. He had a risky way of skiing, he took all the risks, everyone who saw him said he was an amazing skier."

Read: The world's most luxurious ski resorts

Killy took his lead from Oreiller, and was part of a group of children who desperately tried to keep pace with Val d'Isere's "madman" while he trained on the slopes.

He went on to emulate Oreiller's golden hat-trick, at the Grenoble Winter Olympics in 1968, and his pursuit of speed and glory once saw him complete a trial race on one leg, legend has it, having broken the other one en route to the finish line.

"Killy was different. He was the guy that was always thinking of being the best and doing more training than anyone," Perret said. "He was, and he still is, always thinking of what can be done to improve things."

Having secured five major titles, Killy quit skiing aged 24. He also turned to motor racing, competing in the Paris to Dakar car rally, before he came out of retirement for one season only, winning the 1973 U.S. pro ski tour.

Now 69, he is still inextricably linked with Val d'Isere and was part of the committee that helped to organize the 2009 Alpine World Ski Championships.

Val d'Isere's village people weren't restricted to male stars -- the Goitschel sisters, Marielle and Christine, were also big names during the 1960s.

Both took home a gold medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, while Marielle won a further seven titles at various world championship events.

For a time, they were considered the best female skiers in the world and further enhanced the reputation of their village.

Allied to Val d'Isere's personalities is a world-famous race which takes advantage of the resort's altitude of 1,850 meters and plentiful early-season snow. It proved a masterstroke of timing.

Val d'Isere launched the "Criterium de la 1ere Neige" ("Races of the first snow") in December of 1955 -- a full month before the regular ski season began. This year's event, featuring men's and women's races from December 7-15, was the 57th installment. Heavy snow on Saturday meant the women's Super G race was canceled.

The 2013 World Cup season officially began in Austria in October before moving to North America, but the main European leg traditionally kicks off at Val d'Isere before climaxing in Switzerland in March.

"The great advantage of the Criterium is to be the first event in Europe," said Perret, who wrote a book marking its 50th anniversary.

"It is a different pressure for the athletes who come from North America. There are 20 or 30 races in the season but Val d'Isere, like Itteville or Wengen, are special.

"It is a little different than winning in other places. Like in tennis if you win Wimbledon or Roland Garros, it's much more important than winning in any other regular tournament. All the great skiers from the last 50 years have won in Val d'Isere."

The special aura that distinguishes Val d'Isere from its many competitors relates directly to its humble roots.

A single, perilous path was all that used to connect the village, tucked away near the border with Italy, to the nearest town 19 miles away where its inhabitants used to trek to sell their molded blue cheeses.

"The village plus the ski resort combines to create that special atmosphere," says Val d'Isere tourism official Jane Jacquemod, whose daughter Ingrid competed in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.

"We have families who have been here for generations; you get the farmer who has his stable of cows more or less in the middle of the village, rubbing noses with the five-star hotels."

Via: The hidden home of skiing's 'madmen'

Helsinki: World Design Capital 2012

Editor's note: This piece is taken from Grand Tour magazine, a new travel magazine produced by an international team with a passion for architecture.

(CNN) -- A city defined by the natural contours of the land, hugging the sea and pinpricked by rocky outcrops, Helsinki has been planned to fit around the landscape. This year, this mini metropolis has proven it's creative credentials in all aspects of urban life.

The Finnish capital has gained hugely from a shake up in the city planning department. New arrangements have changed the dynamic -- such as old railway tracks being converted into a pedestrian cycling route. Any fuss about old statues being overshadowed by contemporary architecture clearly belongs to the old order.

Below, our top four of the new architectural landmarks in the 2012 World Design Capital (WDC).

1. Kamppi Chapel of Silence

Between two of the city's main shopping malls, and the iconic 1930's Lasipalatsi building, this circular wooden structure is a surprisingly bold architectural statement in one of the busiest parts of Helsinki. Designed by the studio K25 (consisting of three young architects) the awarded building is a site for meditation, its plain minimalist form inviting quiet reflection.

Made out of Finnish timber, the design shows great sensibility for the use of local materials. Without side windows light falls from above through an oval gap around the ceiling, creating a sense of calmness. The chapel demonstrates how contemporary architecture at its best can fascinate and inspire. It is one of the true centerpieces of the WDC 2012 program.

Simonkatu 7, Helsinki. Opening hours: 7 am to 8 pm on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends

2. Musiikkitalo

The new concert venue and music academy, occupies a site between three of the city's architectural monuments. On the opposite side of Mannerheinintie stands the Parliament House in neoclassical style, to the north lies Aalto's Finlandia Hall from 1970s and across the lawn to the south shines Steven Holl's Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.

As most new buildings it has divided opinions. The architecture was criticized for not being bold enough, perhaps not living up to the expectations imposed by its neighboring buildings. However, the interior has great spatial rhythm with seven halls in different sizes, descending below the ground level. The largest hall follows a vineyard shape design, where musicians are surrounded by the audience and a row of windows allows daylight into the space when left uncovered.

The program is a combination of classical and popular music. One of the autumn highlights has been Tristan and Isolde conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and presented in collaboration with visual artist Bill Viola. World-class orchestras such as Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics have also been scheduled to perform in the main hall renowned for its exceptional acoustics.

Mannerheimintie 13 A, Helsinki 00010

3. Mattolaituri

A short stroll from the South Harbor, this cafe has become one of the most popular spots along the seafront for a coffee break and for drinks on warm summer evenings. Opened last year it also embodies the innovative attitude of the new city planning department. The long coastline has recently been enlivened by new cafes and industrial harbor sites are being redeveloped.

In the smart Kaivopuisto neighborhood, Mattolaituri occupies a beautiful site previously allocated for washing rugs in the seawater, hence the name "rug quay." The atmosphere is relaxed and the tipple of choice seems to be bubbly, with an unusually large selection of Cava and Champagne for a seaside cafe. Tapas style snacks sandwiches and pastries are also served.

Ehrenstrmintie 3 A, 00140 Helsinki

4. Galerie Forsblom

Since moving into new premises last year, Galerie Forsblom has established itself as the largest gallery dealing in contemporary art in Scandinavia. Despite its imposing scale, the gallery has a welcoming Nordic feel with whitewashed wooden floors and daylight falling through the ceiling in the main hall. And just one block away from Stockmann department store.

Designed by Gluckman Mayner, Forsblom relied on the New York based architects' expertise with exhibition spaces, seen in earlier commissions from big American art institutions and galleries such as Larry Gagosian. In Helsinki, Gluckman Mayner conjured an airy gallery out of an old office block, where Forsblom will showcase some of the best in Finnish art and design during the WDC year.

Lnnrotinkatu 5, 00120 Helsinki

Recommended by Susanna Petterson, director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation: the best places for a stopover in Helsinki.

CAFE ENGEL, Aleksanterinkatu 26, 00170 Helsinki

"A great spot for admiring the surrounding architecture over coffee and cakes."

Opposite Tuomiokirkko Cathedral, this cafe is housed in one of the oldest buildings around Senaatintori square. The facade was designed by C L Engel, whose neoclassical buildings adorn the square. The cafe is a popular place for lunch amongst locals from the nearby university buildings.

LASIPALATSI, Mannerheimintie 22-24, 00100 Helsinki

"An example of 1930's functionalist architecture with many cafes and a restaurant offering Finnish style cuisine."

Lasipalatsi, originally built as an office building, is close to the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Kamppi Chapel. Also a cinema and Eat&Joy Maatilatori, a store for local and organic produce, can be found here.

CAFE AALTO, Akateeminen, Pohjoisesplanadi 39, 00100 Helsinki

"Designed by Aalto in the 1960's this cafe is a unique place in the heart of the city. It is run by the same family as Cafe Engel."

Located on the second floor of the Akateeminen bookstore, the cafe represents Aalto's later design approach with wall surfaces in light marble. A serene environment for coffee or a light lunch.

2012 Grand Tour Magazine. All rights reserved.

2012 Grand Tour Magazine. All rights reserved.

Via: Helsinki: World Design Capital 2012

Flame Towers light up Baku

Editor's note: CNN's "Great Buildings" showcases six of the world's leading architects. We ask them to name the favorite building they have designed and to choose a piece of architecture they wished they had created.

(CNN) -- Baku has been a citadel amidst potentially destabilizing forces for centuries, routinely blasted by gale-force winds, seismic activity and positioned near one of the world's largest and most coveted oil reserves.

But, having declared independence and with the establishment of a lucrative oil pipeline, Azerbaijan now has its sights set firmly on urban renewal in its capital.

This year, the astonishing Flame Towers project was completed by global architecture giant HOK, creating a building that developers hoped would become an icon for Baku's coastal skyline.

Texan-born Barry Hughes, Vice President of HOK, says building an "icon" is one of the most intimidating briefs for an architect.

"It's probably dangerous to try to do something iconic. The biggest challenge a designer faces is that blank sheet of paper," he says, "and if you pile on the idea that you want something iconic ..."

UNESCO World Heritage: Historic buildings in peril

HOK ultimately created three flame-shaped towers, clad in orange and blue-tinted glass, encircling a honeycomb-roofed podium.

This is Hughes' favorite building, although he is reluctant to take all of the credit.

"I feel guilty because I get to take a bow for the work of 150 people who worked on this project," he says.

The towers' shape was inspired by the city's history of Zoroastrian fire worship and its ongoing connection with natural gas.

"The client absolutely latched onto the idea of the flame, and then it became an interesting conversation about how literal that would be."

View a hi-res gallery of Barry Hughes' favorite buildings

Whether your tower looks like a flame, or merely evokes the concept, comes down, it seems, to how much it flickers at the roof line, and Hughes says a dedicated team worked exclusively on refining the towers' quiffs.

"They had long conversations about that moment when a candle is burning, the gestural moment when it catches the wind. Somebody drew that a hundred times in the computer, and once that's drawn it gets passed through different programs, and the contractors have to further rationalize it."

Watch 'Great Buildings' on Connect the World

The towers posed numerous other challenges. They had to be weighted to withstand potential earthquakes, and parts needed to be constructed without the use of cranes, due to Baku's harsh winds.

The site is large, but dense, containing offices, a hotel and residential apartments above a shopping mall, above a parking lot. "Making all those spaces work in tandem was the biggest engineering challenge of all," Hughes admits.

But, standing at the top of one tower shortly before the building was completed, Hughes found himself marveling at another unexpected feat.

"Rare is the place in the world where you can stand in one tower ... and have two other towers that seem to form a space that I wasn't clever enough to anticipate," he says. "Maybe I was just drunk on the accomplishment but that space up there is really magical."

'Marilyn Monroe' towers shape city's future

"Somebody will have a hotel room or office where they'll look across and be part of those three objects in the sky and that, for me, is kind of spiritual."

The building Hughes most wishes he'd designed is the Notre Dame du Haut, a concrete Catholic chapel in Ronchamp, France, designed by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier.

Completed in 1954, long before the advent of computer-aided design, the chapel's roof and walls curve and slope in response to the hill on which they sit.

Today, many architects would find such complexity impossible to execute without the aid of computer, Hughes says.

"Within the context of that period, I think it's really a piece of sculpture."

He particularly admires the approach to the chapel, which winds up a hill and past some trees.

"When I went there, it was one of those charmingly underdone things. That's true of a lot of Corbu's work -- you have to work to get there. That processional route is special and comes from Corbusier looking at the Parthenon."

Hughes believes the inflection of humanity in Corbusier's work is what makes him relevant today.

"Modernists were really fascinated with the machine, and buildings as machines for living. I find that idea compelling but at the same time, machines can be soulless, and we're now in an age where we expect our machines to have a little spirit," he said.

"Corbusier was starting to do that in his later work. Mid-Corbusier was very angular, but Ronchamp is more gestural and evocative. You walk up and go 'oh, wow!' You get that lump in your throat. Which goes back to what everybody's trying to do when they start with that blank sheet of paper."

CNN's special coverage sometimes carries sponsorship. CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy

Via: Flame Towers light up Baku

What will travel be like in 2022?

(CNN) -- Fliers, drivers and rail riders, heads up: the next 10 years will dramatically transform America's traveling landscape.

Get ready to share the road with driverless, computer-controlled cars. Prepare to join millions of travelers who will start riding trains to nearby cities. Expect to be nickel-and-dimed (even more) by the airlines. Don't be surprised to see sleek new airline designs that run cleaner and burn less fuel, thanks to new materials and innovative technology.

In the air, the trend toward low-cost airlines and so-called "a la carte" pricing will likely become the accepted norm, as fliers finally accept a business model that reminds us: nothing is free and everything costs. By 2022, say experts, the consumer war over having to pay for every airline perk and option from pillows to snacks to window seats to legroom will be over.

Number crunchers will win. Grumblers will lose.

"It's the unbundling of services," said airline analyst Mike Miller. "Passengers are choosing the airlines that have the most fees, most often. These carriers are the most profitable and the most full."

Opponents fear the new hyper-itemized normal will create a group of "super elite" passengers who are treated very differently than the rest of us. More on that later.

On the ground, we'll see amazing technological strides in the development of self-driving cars during the next decade. But America's roads and bridges will continue to suffer from much needed repairs, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. But hey, at least we'll be able to multitask while our cars are dodging potholes.

Across the nation's sprawling rail lines, experts anticipate several states from coast to coast will continue investing in trains that connect regional cities. And the future looks bright, analysts say, for the nation's urban light rail and tramway systems. We'll get to that in a minute.

First, let's use four quick stats to remind ourselves what a big deal the transportation industry is:

Planes: By 2022, the FAA predicts more than a billion U.S. airline passengers.

Cars and trucks: Washington says registered passenger vehicles number above 250 million (for perspective, the entire U.S. population numbers more than 312 million).

Trains: Amtrak ridership set an all-time record this year: more than 31 million passengers.

The 'race to the bottom'

Prospects for the airline industry look good, but still, some experts are worried.

Airline consumer expert Brett Snyder of crankyflier.com fears continued success of low-cost carriers could hurt consumers in the long run. Low-cost airlines are growing fast and raking in big profits by charging ultra-cheap fares while nickel-and-diming passengers to pay for even the most basic extras.

Europe's RyanAir offers an extreme example. The airline's CEO has talked about charging his passengers to use on-board toilets and creating standing-room-only sections on some flights.

Apparently this matters: Airplane seat belts

The danger, said Miller, is creating two types of fliers: the "haves" -- "super-elite frequent fliers who get everything" -- and the "have-nots" -- passengers in economy "who get nothing."

That business model sounds familiar, said Miller, of the American Aviation Institute. "CEOs are earning more money than ever and the average wage is not going up. Now we're seeing that mirrored by airline service. That's a little troubling because the coach passenger seems to be always getting less."

By 2022, fliers will likely have accepted the idea that they must pay fees for every perk and service which, a generation earlier, was included in passenger fares.

Snyder is a fan of extreme low-cost carriers like RyanAir, but in general, he doesn't want to see the entire industry using that model. He believes passengers want choices and, to some degree, a la carte provides that. It's a system that allows passengers to choose the services they want. Some fliers may not be able to get their heads around it because they're stuck in the past.

"A lot of people who don't like this trend have in their minds the way it used to be," said Snyder. "They think that's how it should be."

If the low-cost model becomes the standard for success, Snyder warns, other airlines seeking profits will follow, triggering a "race to the bottom," as every airline tries to "slash and burn costs and do everything they can to make more money by cutting back. I think that would be really unfortunate."

Denver-based Frontier Airlines "is the hope for the future," said Snyder. "They're trying to become a low-cost carrier, but they have more amenities on board, although you do have to pay for them, such as live TV and extra legroom. They're trying to offer a bit more to people."

Expect more air passengers to demand Wi-Fi and personalized entertainment choices in the coming years. Airlines may provide access to movies stored on a digital media server aboard the aircraft, or, a third-party website where passengers can watch video now or later after they de-plane. Power outlets for personal devices ought to become standard on all passenger seats, say experts, not just in first class.

But some choices, such as seating, shouldn't be limited to all or nothing. Regular carriers, say analysts, should offer more "in-between choices," like Delta's Economy Comfort or United's Economy Plus, with more legroom and other amenities for a few dollars extra.

The coming 10 years will also affect airports. Some larger markets are developing additional airports which will ease traffic congestion. But smaller cities may be at risk. Many regional airlines may abandon some small towns, as tiny airports get squeezed by rising fuel prices and shrinking profits.

What can pilots expect? Changes in federal rules will require additional and more expensive training for new pilots, many of whom will earn a starting salary of about $20,000 a year, said Miller. Experts fear the result will be a temporary shortage of airline pilots, which might force airlines to take on the cost of pilot training. That expense likely would be passed on to consumers.

Related: U.S. pilots find higher pay overseas

New equipment

On the bright side, the coming decade will bring more fuel efficient aircraft. Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner started U.S. routes this month.

Boeing Dreamliner makes domestic debut

Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier's much anticipated CSeries boasts a variable speed, multi-gear engine that aims to save 20% more fuel than its competitors. The first CSeries plane is expected to begin service in 2014.

But what about a little further down the road? At NASA, experts asked a handful of top aircraft designers for their ideas on green airplanes of the future.

Firms like Lockheed Martin offered cool box-shaped wing designs while Boeing and Northrop Grumman played with fascinating "flying wings." Although the NASA program was really just an idea-sharing brainstorming project, some of these futuristic design ideas could very well make the jump to reality by 2025 NASA said, if economic conditions allow.

Whether fuel savings from efficient airliners will be passed on to consumers in the next 10 years depends on a lot of factors. It's possible, said experts, as long as passenger traffic is high and fuel prices are stable.

Letting go of the wheel

California and Nevada have passed laws authorizing driverless or self-driving vehicles, signaling the beginning of a new era.

These computer-controlled cars and trucks are coming, whether or not we feel comfortable about it. The idea is to allow computers to coordinate the safest and most efficient speed and route for each car, thereby reducing wrecks and traffic jams. Nevada and California require the cars to have a human behind the wheel who can take control of the vehicle at any time.

In five years or less, non-experimental self-driving cars are expected to hit California's public roads, says driverless car developer Google. Computer-coordinated vehicles could help cut the estimated 4.2 billion hours Americans spend each year stuck in traffic, according to the society of engineers. All that time costs $710 per driver.

Volvo is working with the European Union on what it calls Road Trains, several self-driving cars connected and coordinated by a wireless signal from a lead vehicle, which is driven by a human. The idea aims to cut highway congestion and save fuel. Bottom line: fewer traffic jams, less pollution, cheaper travel. Road Trains could hit Europe's highways as soon as 2022, according to the European Union.

Related: California legalizes self-driving cars

For Volvo scientist Jonas Ekmark, the driverless era began when he was testing the Road Train. He remembers what it felt like the first time he took his hands off the wheel, effectively putting a computer in the driver's seat.

"That was really a strange experience," Ekmark recalled with a chuckle. "I let go and then after 30 seconds I was like, 'and now what?'"

Eventually he felt comfortable enough to take his eyes off the road to read and answer e-mail on his smartphone. "After a while you adapt to it and you feel like you're on an aircraft or a bus or something."

Reading e-mail while sitting in the driver's seat may be safe enough, said Ekmark, but sleeping is probably not a good option.

If something goes wonky during a Road Train trip, the system triggers a very loud alarm along with a "quite strong vibration" in the driver's seat. The driver then has about 10 seconds to take control of the vehicle and leave the Road Train.

Road Trains could be a safe stepping stone toward the day when all cars are autonomously self-driven and not reliant on a lead vehicle, Ekmark said.

Rail riders

Americans are increasingly embracing train travel. Need proof? More passengers rode Amtrak this year than ever before in its 41-year history, the train company said. And there's no reason to believe the trend won't continue, say experts.

Better rail service and increased funding offers America its best chance in generations to get off the highways and get on the rails, according to analysts.

Regional inter-city rail systems in California, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia and elsewhere have been invigorated by 2009's federal stimulus legislation, said transportation expert Yonah Freemark, who runs TransportPolitic.com.

"Those investments are going to be built out and people are going to see better service on inter-city rail lines across the country," he said." And you'll see increasing ridership." That's good news for the nation's energy situation. Rail travel uses 20% less energy than traveling by car, according to the ASCE.

Still, U.S. train ridership ranks very low compared with other nations. The number of passengers on Amtrak and commuter rail total about 500 million a year, Freemark said. Compare that to the United Kingdom, a country five times smaller than the United States, which counted 1.35 billion rail riders last year. Other nations where railroads carry more than a billion passengers a year include Germany, India, China, France, Russia and South Korea, according to the International Union of Railways.

Via: What will travel be like in 2022?

Pensioner to sail world in 'bathtub'

Editor's note: MainSail is CNN's monthly sailing show, exploring the sport of sailing, luxury travel and the latest in design and technology.

(CNN) -- When faced with the most ferocious waves on the planet, most people would seek protection in the largest, sturdiest vessel they could find.

But when Swedish pensioner Sven Yrvind sets out on his ambitious mission to circumnavigate the globe, it won't be in a hefty ship piled high with food, creature comforts and telecommunications equipment. Instead, the 73-year-old plans to traverse the high seas cocooned in a sailboat only slightly bigger than a bathtub.

For many, the proposition of sailing non-stop around the world for a year-and-a-half in a vessel just three meters-long will sound rather ambitious, and coming from a man well past the retirement age, downright far-fetched.

Indeed, few would likely take the idea seriously were Yrvind not one of the world's most respected boat-builders.

During his accomplished life he has given lectures to the Swedish king and queen and received awards from the prestigious Royal Cruising Club in Britain, among others.

"People have said it's a suicide mission," said Yrvind. "But a big boat is actually more dangerous than a small one. You've got bigger forces throwing you around -- a bigger engine, a bigger beam, a bigger deck.

"My small boat is like a little capsule -- nothing can happen to you. It's like throwing a bottle in the water -- it will capsize, it will pitchpole (somersault), but it will always come back up," he added.

Read: Are traditional sailboats the future of trade?

If successful, Yrvind will make history for sailing the smallest boat around the world without docking on land.

The record is currently held by Italian Alessandro di Benedetto, who in 2010 circumnavigated the globe in a 6.5 meter yacht -- more than double the size of Yrvind's creation.

Yrvind, from the small village of Vastervik in south east Sweden, started building the ground-breaking vessel in March. Now half-complete, he is reluctant to put a time on its launch.

Click on the pindrops above to trace Sven Yrvind's proposed circumnavigation route.

Named Yrvind Ten after its 10 foot length, the miniature vessel will be just 1.8 meters wide with two six meter-tall masts.

Weighing 1.5 tons, it will be made out of a composite foam and fiberglass material which, he says, is "excellent for insulation and floatation."

Powered by wind, solar panels, gel batteries and a foot crank, Yrvind Ten will set sail from Ireland in a 48,000 kilometer return journey around the globe.

Read: The world's greatest yachting cartoonist

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail around the world in 1969 in a 9.8 meter yacht, said there was a real possibility Yrvind would complete the voyage.

Briton Knox-Johnston, who also founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, added that many people had thought his own bid to circumnavigate the globe was impossible at the time.

"One of the biggest challenges he'll face is when he's coming up against these massive 25 meter waves in the Southern Ocean. In a boat that size he's just going to be rolled around and around like he's inside a giant washing machine," Knox-Johnston said.

"He might also find he's using a lot more energy -- and will need a lot more food -- being rolled around like that."

Read: Life of a superyacht chef: Dream job or nautical nightmare?

The Swede will collect rainwater in sails, funneled by a hose to a tank. With no heating equipment on board, he'll rely on 400 kilograms of muesli and sardines, supplemented with vitamin tablets and fish caught from the sea.

"I need just half-a-kilogram of food a day and this will give me enough food for 800 days," he said.

"In the beginning I will have fruit but obviously that will run out. I also have a friend in Melbourne with a boat who will come out with supplies."

The self-described "recluse" plans to spend his days swimming, philosophizing and reading more than 400 books, which weigh around 100 kilograms.

"On land, people are watching TV, driving cars in traffic, smoking, drinking -- it's not healthy," Yrvind explained.

"Out at sea it's a cleaner environment -- mentally and physically. When I come back I will be a healthier, younger person. This will prolong my life, not the other way around."

Read: Paralympics sailor: 'My disability is a gift'

Growing up on the small Swedish island of Branno in the North Sea, Yrvind quickly learned to sail in an area so remote he needed to cross water simply to buy a loaf of bread from the shop.

In his 50-year career building boats, Yrvind has been lavished with awards from around the world. In 1980 he received a Seamanship Medal from the Royal Cruising Club in Britain for single-handedly sailing a six meter boat around the stormy waters of Cape Horn, Chile.

Eight years later he was inducted into the Museum of Yachting's Hall of Fame, based in Newport, Rhode Island, for his many single-handed expeditions.

The museum also has one of Yrvind's boats on permanent display -- a six meter yacht he built in his mother's basement and sailed from Sweden to Newport in 1983.

In 1989 Yrvind also built and sailed a 4.5 meter boat from France to Newfoundland, now on display at the Swedish National Maritime Museum in Stockholm.

And the sprightly septuagenarian is no closer to slowing down -- last year sailing a tiny 4.5 meter-long boat from Ireland to the Caribbean.

Yrvind, who is also on the look-out for sponsorship, hopes his boat will not simply break the record books, but pave the way for a new environmentally-friendly design for living.

"We are on Earth living beyond our resources -- oil is running out, fossil fuels are running out, water is running out," he said.

"If I can show I can live on a boat 10 foot-long for more than a year, with all the food I need with me, I think it might benefit mankind."

For a man who "loves all things small," should he accomplish the feat it would be a huge achievement in the history of sailing.

Via: Pensioner to sail world in 'bathtub'

5 real-life wonderlands

(CNN) -- With presents to buy and families to visit, the holiday season can become an endless to-do list.

But take some of that vacation time to explore the holiday spirit in action. At these five wonderlands around the country and the world, you'll find the wonder of winter, the wonder of shopping and the wonder of Santa Claus up close.

White River National Forest, Minturn, Colorado

This year, the White River National Forest is known for two things. It's the most visited recreational forest in the country, a hub of skiing aficionados, thanks to nearby Aspen and Vail, and it's also the home of the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

Since 1970, the Capitol Architect has partnered with a different National Forest to choose a new tree for the Capitol lawn. This year it was White River.

"This was the first time that White River's ever had the privilege of providing it, so it was a big deal for us," said Bill Kight, a Forest Service spokesman.

The Capitol Tree tours the country during the holiday season before making its way back to Washington -- and it offers visitors a chance to see a piece of the White River National Forest on the move.

Those who see the forest itself should expect a different experience than in the warmer months, according to Aurora Palmer, who works in public affairs and sustainable operations at the park.

During the winter season, the major attractions include skiing, snowmobiling and sledding, as well as other icy sports. The park even gives out permits for those looking to cut down their own Capitol Tree.

"Fantasy of Lights," Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Callaway Gardens' "Fantasy of Lights" is entering its 21st year. The resort hasn't added a new scene to the massive lights display since 2000. And yet it has lost none of its holiday power.

"It's amazing to see the faces of the people as they come through the gates, and they leave, and they make those Christmas memories," said Callaway Gardens spokeswoman Rachel Crumbley.

The Georgia resort draws guests year-round. But "Fantasy of Lights" -- which includes 8 million lights in 15 seasonal scenes, making it one of the largest displays nationwide -- is special, Crumbley said, drawing both couples and families.

"It's just on such a grand scale," Crumbley said. "And with the music combined with the lights combined with the themes, I think it kind of resonates."

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains see the majority of visitors between May and October, but that doesn't mean that the area is lacking when the weather gets colder.

Thanks to its proximity to the mountains, Lake Placid offers "just what the Adirondacks offer," said Kim Rielly, spokeswoman at the Lake Placid Convention and Visitors Bureau. That means a variety of outdoor recreation, in a park that stretches across 6 million acres.

That's equal to 6 million football fields, she said, although she says that's a conservative estimate.

In the last 100 years, Lake Placid has hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice, and it remains a destination for the athletic. Still, Rielly called Lake Placid a "cool little alpine village in the middle of the wilderness."

At the center of town is an old ski jump, while the surrounding wilderness of the Adirondacks holds multiple museums for exploring and 43 peaks for hiking. One of them, Whiteface Mountain, is paved all the way to the top, so that families can visit the peak by car.

And from December 7-9, Lake Placid will host a "Holiday Village Stroll," featuring workshops, holiday story time, a "Jingle Bell Run" and more.

Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota

The Mall of America remains a destination for any holiday shopper, if only because of its size, featuring more than 500 shops.

But this year, the mall is adding to its seasonal appeal with the unveiling of the "HGTV Holiday House," a life-size gingerbread house.

Guests can explore the space, which will feature demonstrations, meet-and-greets and regular appearances from HGTV's stable of home dcor and design personalities.

Beyond that, the mall is also hosting a Holiday Music Festival; and its multi-floor shopping selection, complete with an amusement park and larger-than-life Lego installations, dwarfs any other shopping experience as an indoor travel option.

Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Finland

Last on the list is a wonderland across the globe, "the official home of Santa Claus," at Rovaniemi in Finland.

It's not just a title: one of the town's main attractions is the Santa Claus Village. At the heart of the village is the Santa Claus Chamber, where Santa lives, ready to greet visitors.

One of the village's biggest draws is the Santa Claus Main Post Office, said Sanna Kortelainen, managing director for Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing.

"The Santa Claus Main Post Office is a real post office, which operates 365 days in the year," she said. "That is the place where all the letters to Santa are sent. The letters are opened by post elves and read through."

After that, guests can ride a sleigh or visit the reindeer farm or even explore the Arctic Circle, which begins at the edge of Rovaniemi.

The Christmas season is also the best time of year to visit, Kortelainen said. The season begins with a declaration from Santa on November 24 and goes into January, ending when the sun again begins to rise above the horizon.

Via: 5 real-life wonderlands

Turkish delight: A sweet tour of Istanbul

(CNN) -- Grandeur defines Istanbul: From architectural icons such as Hagia Sophia to the city's indomitable traffic, Istanbul pulsates with intensity and splendor.

Including sweet splendor.

Istanbul's passion for pastries and its history of inventing some of the world's most delightful desserts tempts visitors and residents to skip dinner and head straight for the meal's concluding course.

Where do you go to eat like a local? Share your photos and tips

Here's a taste of the most inventive, decadent and eccentric sweets from this culinary crossroads:

Sahlep: This mild beverage is Istanbul's answer to hot chocolate. Originating during the Ottoman Empire, sahlep's key ingredient is crushed orchid, which is used to thicken warm milk before being sweetened with sugar and cinnamon.

Common during the winter, but also available at other times, sahlep is great for warming one's insides during a brisk walk along the Bosphorus. It can be found in many of the stands near Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. If you want to sit down to enjoy it, Saray Muhallebicisi, which has locations throughout the city, prepares a particularly delicious mug.

Nut pastes (marzipan) and dragees: Istanbul loves nuts. Travelers can buy crisp almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts by the pound at the Spice Bazaar, but they can also find these nuts at the center of some of Istanbul's finest desserts.

Nut pastes -- literally made from a combination of crushed nuts and sugar -- are common in Istanbul confections, from the traditional almond-based marzipan to hazelnut and pistachio varieties. These pastes are available for purchase as bite-sized ovals, as well as in longer tube shapes or molded and colored to look like fruits.

Bring a big appetite to Bologna

Travelers may also want to sample dragees, which are nuts covered in chocolate and a hard candy shell. Known in the United States as Jordan almonds, Istanbul confectioners often use other nuts besides the almond as a base and utilize colorful coatings, including silver or gold.

With five locations across the city, including a charming one across the Bosphorus on the Asian side, the more than 200-year-old ekerci Cafer Erol sells some of the most delightful renderings of these sweets. And their nut pastes not only look like fruits but taste like them (imagine marzipan shaped as a strawberry that has a strawberry essence to it). After purchasing some of the various sweets, be sure to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee at one of their outside tables.

Candied fruits: Made by boiling fruit in sugar syrup, candied citrus rinds are the most popular form of this product. But Turkish confectioners take the process to new heights, candying everything from cherries to olives. Candying tends to give the fruit a chewy or hard texture along with intense sweetness, so you may only want to try this delicacy in small quantities.

Iconic confectioner Hafiz Mustafa, in business since 1864, sells a particularly creative mix that can be purchased a la carte, including pumpkin, fig, tomato, orange and chestnut (the chestnuts are especially delicious).

Across the Bosphorus on the Asian side of the city, the famed foodie restaurant iya sells not only some of the most delicious savory meals in Istanbul but also a variety of candied fruits with clotted cream or tahini and walnut toppings -- make sure to sample the pumpkin. The restaurant also has homemade ice creams in exotic flavors that change on a daily basis.

Lokum (Turkish delight): Confectioner Bekir Effendi is credited with popularizing this dessert in the 18th century, when it became known as Turkish delight in English. Originally, Effendi crafted his delights, known in Turkish as lokum, with honey or molasses and flavored them with rosewater, orange or lemon. He then cut gels into small squares and covered them in powdered sugar. Turkish delight can still be purchased in rosewater, orange and lemon today as well as in other imaginative flavors including sour cherry, hazelnut, cinnamon, apricot and ginger.

Purveyors also became creative with the outside covering, substituting ground coconut, nuts or cream of tartar for the original powdered sugar, and adding pistachio or almond pieces to the filling to lend the sometimes cloying dessert less intensity.

The confection can be now purchased with a "cream" base -- imagine a slightly firmer version of marshmallow fluff.

Turkish delight can be found throughout the city but is particularly abundant in the Spice Bazaar, where stall owners pile high pounds of the treat and offer samples to prospective buyers. Aladdin, located in the Spice Bazaar, sells an especially fine sampling (be sure to try the pomegranate with pistachios). For a more historic version, visit Haci Bekir, the confectionary started by Bekir Effendi.

Mastica: To understand mastica, you have to go back to its roots. Its linguistic roots, that is. Mastica shares the same origin as the English word mastication, which means to chew. So it makes sense that mastica kind of tastes like mouthwash -- when you think of chewing, you think of eating, and that makes you think of the need for minty clean breath, right? Mastica isn't so much a dessert as a flavoring that permeates a variety of Istanbul treats with a Pine-Sol-meets-spearmint-gum kind of taste.

Turkish delight is flavored with it; so are puddings and hard candies. While its taste may be acquired, it's certainly worth sampling to experience some true local dessert flair (and for its palate cleansing properties). Ficcin, a small restaurant in the Beyolu neighborhood near the Pera Palace hotel where Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express," sells a mastica pudding that provides a keenly concentrated burst of the flavor.

Baklava: Most nations in the Middle East claim baklava as a national treat, but Turks take particular pride in the dessert, dating it back to the Ottoman Empire.

Made from flaky phyllo pastry layered with pistachios and drenched in honey, millions of tourists and locals alike are addicted to the intermingling of the flaky pastry with the density of the nuts. While baklava is widely available throughout Istanbul, a baklava emporium that opened in 1949 today routinely wins awards for having the best rendering of the treat.

Situated near the waterfront on the European side, Karaky Gllolu, sells tens of thousands of pieces of baklava a day to loyal customers, some of whom have frequented there for more than 50 years.

The shop sells not only the traditional baklava recipe but also variations that include peanuts and walnuts, as well as one made with chocolate. After purchasing some baklava, make sure to stay awhile and eat inside at one of the tall tables (you'll need to stand at those) or one of the regular tables outside. Either way, watch the crowds of locals treasuring the decadent treat -- men in suits on their way to work, children speaking rapid Turkish and pulling on their mothers' sleeves as they beg for one more piece.

And as you take a bite of this buttery, luscious dessert, know that its distinct combination of lightness and intensity is not just delicious. It's also the essence of Istanbul.

Via: Turkish delight: A sweet tour of Istanbul