New Zealand is well known for having more sheep than people; the ratio currently stands at a little over seven sheep for every one of the country’s 4.42 million people. Although the sheep-to-humans ratio has declined dramatically in recent decades, the animals are still a common part of New Zealand’s pastoral landscapes. I took this Read More …
Remember dominoes? The game with the little white tiles with the black dots may not get a whole lot of play these days in the U.S., but in Cuba it’s still hugely popular. At tables on sidewalks and in plazas, players plot their next moves, while spectators gather round to watch the action or just Read More …
Whenever I hear the words “whirling dervish” my mind automatically calls forth the nuns in The Sound of Music singing that Maria “could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl.” But the experience of seeing a dervish dance performed is about as far removed from Rodgers and Hammerstein as you could possibly get. Dervishes are members Read More …
In the far west of Mongolia, ethnic Kazakh nomads still follow a tradition of hunting with trained golden eagles. Although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit that part of the country, one of my two trips to Mongolia as expedition manager for National Geographic Expeditions did give me the chance to see one Read More …
Last June I had the opportunity to co-manage a tour program for three US universities aboard the beautiful Sea Cloud II, sailing the shores of Spain and Portugal from Málaga to Bilbao. The various places we visited along the way were memorable, but the ship itself was an unforgettable experience. I’ve been on many cruises Read More …
As I write this post, winter has much of North America in a firm grip. Here in Seattle, the season has been a mild one, and friends who have been up in the mountains have reported having to abandon snowshoeing and cross-country skiing plans for hiking due to the lack of snow. Since I’ve been Read More …