“Add a little sugar to the saffron,” Farzane said as she worked the combination in her mortar and pestle. “It makes it easier to grind.” Farzane, a 20-year old refugee from Afghanistan who’d come to Berlin with her family in the last year, was deep in the process of teaching us how to prepare several Afghan dishes she’d grown up cooking in her home town of Herat. … [Read more...]
Redefining Tourism: 20 Tips for the Mindful Traveler
Previously, we collaborated with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to explore Why The Freedom to Travel Matters. In connection with its latest campaign we have been invited to examine how we might redefine tourism. In doing so, we reaffirm a connection between the freedom and responsibility of the modern traveler. We follow by considering how we might … [Read more...]
Deep Travel: A New Project with Context Travel
A few thoughts on the current state of global discourse, the power of individual interactions in the world of travel, and an update on a new project we’ve undertaken in Berlin with Context Travel. … [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...]
Volunteering and Voluntourism: The Good, The Bad, and The Questions You Should Ask
If you are interested in volunteering internationally, what are the ethical considerations you should be aware of? Which questions can you ask to better ensure that your actions and any financial contribution are aligned with your values and expectations? That’s what this article aims to unpack. But first, a story. As we rounded a busy Port-au-Prince street … [Read more...]
The World Doesn’t End With The Blue Sky
“You can call me Airport,” Esupat said, laughing. She sat atop a Maasai hut with her legs crossed, straddling a half-built chimney. Small piles of bricks surrounded her; wet cement fell from her hands. She was dressed colorfully, ornamentally. But this is how she goes to work. When she smiles, it is wide. Wide from unforced practice. Wide with pride, wide with … [Read more...]
Should Travelers Give to Kids Who Beg?
We paused along the side of the road in what seemed like the middle of nowhere for a view over the hills outside of the Ethiopian town of Lalibela. Moments later, a boy of about four years ran up. He was shepherd to his family’s goats on a nearby hill. His clothes were torn, he poked curiously around us foreigners, using our guide as an interpreter. One of the … [Read more...]
Travel and Your Values: The Power of Deliberate Spending
A few dollars here, a few dollars there. Does how you spend your money when you travel really matter? Is it possible to align your travel approach and spending decisions with your values? In the first part of this series, The Importance of People in Travel, we explored the relationship between people and the travel experience and we spoke of serendipity and human … [Read more...]
Tourism, It’s the People’s Business
In pursuit of the iconic, sometimes we lose the people. Then we need to come back. Here are a few thoughts on the often overlooked importance of people to travel and the connection between travelers’ experiences, their spending decisions and the impact on the communities they visit. So much ink is spilled, understandably so, on the budget aspect of travel -- how … [Read more...]
Still Summer to Busy Fall: September Speaking Appearances
We don't often write about upcoming conferences and projects (i.e., the business side of things), but many of you have expressed interest, so we're trying to make amends. We also understand that this blogging and business stuff isn't for everyone, so we won't be offended if you decide to head to our thoughts on Paris or Mt. Fuji instead. Days get shorter, nights … [Read more...]