Passion – defined by Merriam-Webster “as a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something” – has become the buzzword of today. Philosophers, management leaders and talk show hosts alike have preached that following our passions is the roadmap to self-fulfillment, the key to happiness and the pinnacle of personal development. [...]
If you dream of trekking with mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the place to be for gorilla gazing. Located in the South Western part of Uganda, Bwindi is home to some 320 mountain gorillas. Visitors keen on eco-tourism should flock to this World Heritage site for a close-up view of the largest and rarest of all ape species.
The 5th century philosopher St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” For those looking to read all the “chapters” this world has to offer, consider booking a holiday with an inspirational element. There are plenty of places to inspire, from the tops of Machu Picchu, to the rose-red rock of Petra’s canyon-like Siq, from gorilla trekking in the Ugandan mountainside, to living with holy men in the divinely-inspired churches of Northern Ethiopia.
Sunset beach vista from my beach bungalow on Kendwa beach Not a dinner party goes by without someone asking me, “Out of all of the places you’ve been around the world, what’s your all-time favorite destination?” For me, the answer is simple. Tanzania. Home to the Serengeti, Mt. Kilimanjaro, rich Maasai traditions, welcoming people and [...]
I swear, I hear the Jaws “da na da na da na” theme song in all bodies of water, from oceans to bath tubs. That’s why it was particularly out of character for me to sign up for a great white shark cage-diving adventure off the coast of South Africa… and so can you. This day activity (also offered in parts of California) allows swimmers to snorkel with sharks from the safety of a metal cage. A boat trip takes you out to the middle of the ocean, dragging a trail of chum (a delicious stew of fish guts and blood) behind it. The great whites catch the scent and are lured towards the curious swimmers bobbing inside a protective contraption. Crazy? Yes, but if you’re looking for a deeper understanding of these deep-sea creatures, it’s an awe-inspiring way to spend an afternoon.
Sitting atop camels with knobby knees and yellow choppers, our group of young travelers trekked single file into Eastern Morocco’s Sahara desert. The scene was very Lawrence of Arabia: camel caravans, white gossamer head scarves and a setting apricot sun casting shadow puppets onto nearby sand dunes. This was day one of a two-day camel [...]
