Late afternoon to an approaching sunset on Botswana’s Chobe River. As I leaned back in one of the director’s chairs on the deck of our boat, I had what I might refer to as a “Pale Blue Dot" … [Read more...]
Botswana: First Impressions
Prior to our visit to Botswana, I pondered a 1959 East German school map of Africa hanging on our living room wall. I traced the red lines of its borders until I landed in a central patch of southern Africa. … [Read more...]
Melbourne Street Art: A Lens To Explore the City
When walking the world's big cities, we're often told to avoid back alleys. In Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, the go-local advice is to get lost in them.Why? … [Read more...]
Aboriginal Australia: An Arc Towards Understanding
“The kingfisher tried to warn the Mala men about the devil dog approaching, but it was too late. Some weren’t able to escape. You can still see them there,” Rachelle, our guide, pointed to the contours of the cave wall.It was as if the men were petrified for eternity in those reliefs, struck in a terror pose as they tried to flee. While my rational mind … [Read more...]
Australia in Two Weeks: An Experiential Guide
Australia offers the perfect storm for those who tend towards the fear of missing out (FOMO). It’s a huge country. It’s far away for many of us (that’s also part of its draw). And it fills a bucket list all its own of iconic experiences and destinations: the Outback, Aboriginal culture, cities, beaches, coral reefs, and wineries, just to mention a few. … [Read more...]
Investing in Women: A Traveler’s Perspective
Reflecting on the broader import of International Women’s Day and why, during the course of our journey, we became interested in women’s issues and involved in projects that aim to invest in them. … [Read more...]
The Power of Two-Way Storytelling
“How do you like your mother-in-law?” Shanti, a Bangladeshi university student asked me while our train made its way across western Bangladesh. After eyeing me for some time, she'd finally worked up the courage to sit next to me when our train compartment emptied at the previous stop.Odd question, I thought. But she was deliberate and determined in the way she … [Read more...]